Spring is nearly upon us and it signals the end of the popular winter national Time to Talk events held by AIVA and hosted by a few of our growing partners. This year’s topic being “soil food web, on-farm nutrition and collaborative working” all key areas AIVA specialises in.

First off we would like to thank all of those who hosted and attended the various events. it was great to see such large groups gathering to engage with each other and our speakers.

The events consisted of several small presentations carried out by AIVA team members, our guest speaker Tim Ashley, and finally the event host farmer to give an insight into what is being done on their farm. Coffee and lunch were provided during various breaks throughout the day to allow all those attending to share ideas and opinions. As with anything hosted by AIVA, we believe the sharing of knowledge and our own findings to be vital as it allows everyone to learn from everyone’s mistakes AND successes.

Tim Ashley, of Ashley Agronomy, provided an in-depth look into the virtues of encouraging beneficial biology into our farming systems. Highlighting that providing the right conditions and home for a diverse microbial ecosystem adds another layer of resilience. Looking at ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratios to promote the correct fungal-to-bacterial ratios in soils for the desired cropping. Ensuring correct fertiliser and chemical practices are carried out, as well as our cultivation decisions being factored into this. Are we monitoring the impact via sap, soil or grain analysis or even brix testing?

There is no silver bullet but there are plenty of things that can be done to help boost these rhizosphere conditions. Compost teas, hybrid teas, compost applications as well as foliar feeding a plant to stimulate root exudates,

AIVA representatives Ed Cooper, George Hepburn and Nick Thorp all covered topics surrounding optimising foliar nutrition to promote a system that is less reliant on synthetic nitrogen and chemical inputs. Highlighting that carbon-based foliar and soil feeds can increase nutrient use efficiencies to ensure we are getting the true pound value of what we are applying. AIVA complexed foliar nutrients are another pillar to an integrated pest management approach, a healthy nutrient-balanced plant is less prone to pathogenic attack. Using amide complexes growers can increase nutrient uptake and reduce abiotic stress-inducing balances. As well as ensuring you are using the right products are you ensuring maximum application and nutrition efficacy? Ensuring optimal timings, spray conditions, spray patterns and even spray tank mix pH.

- George
Diversity in approach to nitrogen is key – types of N plus products. And get conditions just right for applications, timings, conditions, spray coverage, droplet size etc.. Shortcut the metabolic pathway – provide the plant an energy saving.