Farming Focus

How can I start farming livestock beneath the ground as well as on top of it? - with Sally Ann Spence and Joel Williams

Episode Summary

Peter is joined by Sally-Ann Spence and Joel Williams to discuss soil health and the role played by invertebrates.

Episode Notes

Today we’re looking at livestock beneath the soil. Host Peter Green asks his guests to make the case for why we should be thinking about life beneath the soil surface as much as our livestock above the ground. 

He is joined by entomologist and Wiltshire farmer Sally Ann Spence who is a champion for dung beetles and Joel Williams who is a leading independent plant and soil health educator. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

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Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

00:57 Sally Ann introduces herself.

01:44 Joel introduces himself. 

02:22 Why should farmers be considering livestock below the soil as well as those above it?

03:00 What about farmers' interest in soil and how attitudes have changed?

04:21 The balance between physics, chemistry and biology. What is soil biota and why is it so crucial for soil health?

07:30 Sally Ann responds

08:45 How can soil health link to the health of livestock?

10:04 The science behind this. 

12:20 Dung beetles and their role.

17:30 Member focus.

20:03 Thinking about soil biodiversity - some practical things that farmers can do. 

22:32 Classic blockers?

24:00 Suggestions from Sally Ann and farm cluster groups

 26:00 Insects as pests

29:00 Where to contact?

29:49 Showstoppers

32:00 Peter rounds up.