Reflections on my First Full Season
Laura Isherwood
Crop Health Consultant, North
As I reach the end of my first full season, I find myself reflecting on what has been an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening time in my new role. A full season deep, and I can confidently say I’ve learned more than I could have imagined.
Learning from Farmers across the North
Working across the North, I’ve had the privilege to visit and work alongside a range of farmers, each with their own approach and perspective. These conversations have been just as educational as any textbook. It’s amazing what you pick up when you’re genuinely listening to those with years of experience, trying things out, failing, adjusting, and moving forward. It’s from them that I’ve developed a clearer understanding of what regenerative farming looks like in practice such as focusing on soil health with integrating cover cropping, no-till farming, crop rotations and composting which have improved biodiversity and in most cases, higher yields.
Diving into Microbial Life
One of the most exciting areas I’ve gotten into is microbes. I’ve been learning how to brew beneficial bacteria’s and fungi’s that help cycle nutrients, boost plant immunity, and improve soil structure. It’s been awesome picking up knowledge from farmers and agronomists who work with this stuff all the time.
This has opened up a whole new appreciation for how different soils function. Clay behaves differently to sandy loams. Some fields bounce back fast after rain; others hang onto moisture for dear life. And understanding how biology interacts with those physical properties – how microbes break down residues, how fungal networks support plant health and learning from those tailoring their practices to suit local conditions has been incredibly valuable. Products like Aiva’s Bioplus T has really shown how adding beneficial biology can really adjust these soils and make them more resilient to stresses.
Exploring Foliar Nutrition with Joel Williams
I recently looked at the Foliar Nitrogen online course by Joel Williams – and had the honour of meeting him at Groundswell – an awesome deep dive into foliar feeding and nitrogen nutrition. It’s a 10-lecture series that covers everything from the nitty-gritty of nitrogen metabolism and uptake to practical tips like how to dissolve urea efficiently, adjust water pH, and use carbon-rich additives like fulvic acid to boost uptake. I also loved learning how to fine-tune application timing, nozzle choice, and spray conditions using his FACE framework (Formulation, Application, Crop, Environment) to dodge the “spray-and-pray” trap.
Bridging Regenerative and Conventional Approaches
Soon, I’ll be sitting an exam tied to the more conventional, commercial side of agriculture – a world that often leans heavily on inputs, yield metrics, and risk management. I’m genuinely curious to see how it contrasts with the regenerative insights I’ve picked up over the past year. Rather than viewing these two worlds as opposites, I’m interested in how they might inform one another. Having a foot in both allows me to better understand where the common ground lies – and how we might build more resilient, productive systems by drawing from the best of both approaches. I’m hoping the knowledge from that course will help me better communicate with those still firmly rooted in the conventional world, while also sharpening my ability to bridge the gap to regenerative principles. This season has reinforced that regenerative agriculture isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about being open to learning, observing, and working with nature rather than against it. It’s also about recognising that people are as much a part of the system as the soil, and that some of the most valuable insights come through collaboration and conversation. I’m looking forward to carrying this mindset into the next season, continuing to learn from those on the ground, and finding ways to connect different strands of knowledge into something that makes sense for the future of farming.
What Do you Think?
Every farm’s journey is unique. If you’re a farmer in the North exploring how to integrate regenerative principles or improve your soil’s biology, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s connect for a conversation about the practical steps you can take this coming season.
About the Author
Laura Isherwood
Crop Health Consultant, North
Greetings, I am Laura. As a Crop Health Consultant at AIVA, I’m here to guide you forward and support you as you embark on your regenerative journey. For much of my career, I’ve developed and advised on crop nutrition in arable systems, building nutritionally dense crops supported in a more beneficial way.
Got a question? Contact Me.
