FIPL funded project enables farmer to lead the charge in biofertiliser research for better soils
Rod Everett farms at Backsbottom Farm in the Roeburndale Valley in Forest of Bowland National Landscape. The farm is a 100 hectare patchwork of wild flower rich hay meadows, SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) ancient semi-natural woodland and fell land (part recovering blanket bog). The farm is run organically and certified with the Soil Association.
Backsbottom Farm received just over £6000 Farming in Protected Landscapes funding to create two types of farm based biofertilisers.
The Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme supports farming and land management activities in England’s Protected Landscapes that make improvements for nature, climate, people and place. The programme blends national, regional and local priorities and devolves decision making to local experts. It fills gaps not met by other farming support available, especially for smaller landholders. Contributions to nature recovery and climate resilience, sustainable businesses, social wellbeing and community building, heritage conservation and better access for people to enjoy our nation’s landscapes all feature in programme delivery, coming together to make much more resilient rural places.
The aim of the Backsbottom Farm project was to ensure that production of the biofertilisers is low cost, will help enhance the soil's natural biological food web and enhance resilience to climate change and flooding. The liquid biofertiliser will be used along with an earth panbuster to enhance the infiltration of rainwater.
Initially Rod attended a biofertiliser course to enhance his knowledge, and received funding towards equipment to put his learning into practice on his own farm. The equipment included a microscope and large blue barrels to store the biofertiliser in. The farmer also attended a microscope course and an ecology course to further expand his knowledge to apply to his work.
Rod is now a leading force in creating farm based biofertilisers which may be able to replace artificial ones in the future. This can only happen with the research and testing that Rod and others is doing, and making available to other farmers. Rod has hosted several events on his farm to share his learnings, to support other farmers and land managers to follow his practice. These included two biofertiliser days, one of which was facilitated by Pasture for Life, as well as running a natural flood management day and an Apple/orchard day, two other areas Rod is extremely passionate in.
The earth panbuster helps improve rainwater infiltration
Rod shares his learning with other farmers
