Ceres Rural Diddly Squat Farm Trials

The Ceres Rural Diddly Squat Farm Trials sponsored by Grain Fumigation give visitors a glimpse into what is actually being grown at Diddly Squat as well as some new things they are trying out.  Check out nine leading varieties for side by side comparison with the additional opportunity to see untreated, low input and farm standard for each variety.  Don't miss the GP1 & GP4 blends plus Charlie's Protein Mix!  

 

This year, the trials take a new approach, with high input, low input and untreated treatments across each plot, allowing farmers to compare the impact of different management strategies on varieties they are already growing or buying.

The work is designed to be highly practical and figures-focused, with some high-input programmes costing more than £100/ha, giving visitors the chance to see how different levels of investment perform side-by-side without taking the risk on their own farm.

The trials also include spring cereal and companion cropping options, including herbal leys, legume fallow and Charlie Ireland’s protein mix, exploring how growers can build more diverse systems even without Sustainable Farming Incentive funding.

Charlie Ireland said Cereals is about giving farmers the chance to look closely at what is happening in the field and take useful ideas home.

“When you walk around a show such as Cereals, you need to have your eyes and ears open,” he said.

“Look at what is going on, what new techniques are out there, what opportunities there are to mitigate the need for as much fertiliser use, what technology can be used and there’s lots of that about.”