Soils are a vital component in both arable crop and forage production, and visitors to this year’s Cereals Event can see first-hand how minimum disturbance machines improve soil health and resilience.

Minimum disturbance machinery benefits soil health and crop quality by improving soil structure, preserving organic matter, and supporting microbial activity – to name just a few benefits. By reducing soil compaction, these practices allow roots to grow deeper and access nutrients more effectively, while maintaining soil aggregates that improve water infiltration and air circulation, explains Agriweld’s Dean Foster. “Leaving crop residues on the surface protects the soil from erosion and helps retain organic matter, contributing to better soil fertility and carbon sequestration.

“These practices also enhance water management, as healthier soil retains moisture better and reduces surface runoff. With fewer disturbances, beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and bacteria thrive, improving nutrient cycling and reducing the need for fertilisers,” he adds.

“Additionally, minimum disturbance machinery promotes healthier, more vigorous crops, leading to more consistent yields and potentially better forage quality – something which is likely to be particularly important to those arable farmers looking to incorporate livestock into their rotations.”

This year, visitors will be able to see the firm’s Min-Disc subsoiler and multi-till cultivator working. “The Min-Disc low disturbance subsoiler is designed to lift and alleviate compaction and promote soil structure while causing minimum disturbance to the top layer of soil,” explains Dean. “It features a leading row of 460mm serrated ODS discs that cut through the top layer of soil and trash, allowing the following low disturbance leg to pass through the soil without great disruption. Leaving the cover of trash on the field is good protection against water and wind erosion of the soil. The disc bar is fully height adjustable independent from the legs.”

The following leg combined with a standard low disturbance point drives through the opening left by the disc at a maximum depth of 300mm, he adds. “The angled wings on the point lift the soil before it sits back down, causing a shattering effect across width of the machine, alleviating compaction, aerating the soil and helping water infiltration. This is all done with low disturbance to the top surface of the soil.”

This subsoiler will be complemented by the Multi Till 5T low disturbance cultivator, which suits both small and large farmers, with several models available, adds Dean. “It leads with a set of 460mm ODS discs followed by auto-reset legs behind, with a double row of mixing discs and finally the Agri-packer. Each aspect can be individually raised out of work, which gives five combinations for maximum versatility.

“The Agri-packer also features our easy-clean scraper bar for easy cleaning of debris, which helps prevent the transmission of debris from one field to another.”

Tips on transitioning

For those visitors looking for more general advice on where to get started with transitioning to a more regenerative way of arable farming, ADM Agriculture’s regenerations programme is likely to be a topic of interest.

Launched in 2023 in North America, regenerations was designed to support farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices that enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has gradually been rolled out across the globe since.

In the UK, this programme offers both financial incentives and technical assistance to encourage implementation of regenerative techniques.

Breaking this down in more detail, the programme has three key components.

• Financial incentives

Through the programme, farmers receive payments for implementing regenerative practices. These can include practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, better nutrient management, and enhancing biodiversity. As an example of the reward those involved can expect, farmers growing oilseed rape can earn premiums of around £47/ha through the programme.

• Technical support

ADM has partnered with industry experts including Ceres Rural to provide tailored agronomic advice. The firm says this support will help farmers understand the best regenerative practices for their specific farm systems and how to implement them effectively.

• Data and monitoring

Finally, the programme uses modern technology like satellite imagery and data analysis, in partnership with Map of Ag, to monitor and verify the adoption of regenerative methods. ADM says this data helps farmers understand their environmental impact, like their carbon footprint, and track their progress over time.

The Cereals Event takes place on 11-12 June, 2025, at Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolnshire, LN5 0QE. Early bird tickets are priced at £10 for both days of the event.