*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*

*for sustainable production intensification and land management*

Dear Subscribers,

Please see herebelow the January 2018 Newsletter from Groundswell
Agriculture who will be holding their annual event on 27 and 28 June 2018.

Groundswell 2018 is merging the Grass-Fed and the No-Till Day into two
"Groundswell Days" - 27th and 28th June. Both days will incorporate talks
and demonstrations.

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Groundswell Agriculture <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 8:37 AM
Subject: January Newsletter
To: [log in to unmask]


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<http://mailchi.mp/3b678dc16879/november-update-1150969?e=cc65f60c27>
Groundswell January Newsletter
I'm never quite sure when we stop saying Happy New Year to each other, but
the wheels haven't completely fallen off this year yet so: Happy New Year
to you all.

January is a quiet enough month for most farmers and it's the same here.
We've still got a mob of 100 dry cows out at grass, which is the latest
we've ever managed. I like to think it is brilliant planning and a
side-effect of our mob-grazing regime that we've managed to stockpile a
wedge of grazing in front of them. They do look happy, but we'll soon be
bringing them in, otherwise we will compromise the fields we've set aside
for early spring grazing. The ground is wet here now, but moving the mob
daily and back-fencing, so they don't roam about too much, has resulted in
minimal soil damage. And a great saving in the amount of straw and silage
that we'd have used...

This is the kind of thinking that Groundswell fosters, we're producing
healthy animals more cheaply. Really, what's not to like? We will be
discussing the arable version of this at the Conference, with benchmarking
figures from no-till farms which we hope will show just how much farmers
can shave off their 'fixed' costs. When so many farmers are struggling to
make any money, it is nice to see how you can show a profit at the same
time as improving your land.

We nipped across to Oxford at the beginning of the month, to see what was
going on at the *Oxford Real Farming Conference*. First up there was
Michael Gove talking about no-till, the soil, natural capital and
stewardship. He even suggested that Defra should be linked to the NHS, as
healthy food is the best medicine. It is so refreshing to have a bright
politician in that position. Here's hoping he still has the job come June
and we aim to nurture political thinking at Groundswell 2018. We gather
too, that Defra is recruiting the cleverest and most ambitious civil
servants at the moment, as they all want to be part of restructuring a
broken system (agricultural policy) that has effectively been off the menu
since 1946.

We are busy coordinating plans and you should already have *27th and 28th
June* in the diary for Groundswell 2018 (tickets will go on sale 11th
March). We welcome your thoughts on how to make the ground well and we are
inspired by the groundswell of innovative farmers, sharing ideas and
techniques to make this happen.

John Cherry, Host Farmer

<https://groundswellag.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a6b5710701fe7563d2e6a429&id=dbad6e05a9&e=cc65f60c27>
Groundswell 2018 is merging the Grass-Fed and the No-Till Day into two
"Groundswell Days" - 27th and 28th June. Both days will incorporate talks
and demonstrations with the key ones repeated so there is less reason for
attendees to rush around the show.

*"If there was only one show I would go to in the year Groundswell would be
it, quite brilliant" - *2017 Attendee

<https://groundswellag.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a6b5710701fe7563d2e6a429&id=609feb5073&e=cc65f60c27>
*Exhibitors and Demonstrators *

There are exhibitor and demo stands at Groundswell where not only do
attendees witness the top direct drills on the market working in real life
conditions but also engage with a diverse number of organisations
supporting Conservation Agriculture.

Exhibitor and Demonstration Stands are still available, please make contact
<https://groundswellag.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a6b5710701fe7563d2e6a429&id=e0eefb698d&e=cc65f60c27>
if you would like more information.
<https://groundswellag.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a6b5710701fe7563d2e6a429&id=e5ad1c3391&e=cc65f60c27>
*Presentations and Discussion Panels*

Groundswell 2018 speaker line up is already brimming with inspiring people
who are helping positive change in farming and we are working hard to
coordinate the schedule to make sure as much information as possible can
pass from mouth to ear and hopefully ear to action!

If you would like to contribute ideas to the Groundswell we are welcome to
suggestions. Please make contact
<https://groundswellag.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a6b5710701fe7563d2e6a429&id=52d49d4acd&e=cc65f60c27>.

Please forward this email to anyone you know who may be interested in
joining the groundswell this year for the first time!

Kind regards,

The Groundswell Team
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