Practical information for improving farmers’ and growers’ lives and businesses.
The FFC Bulletin is a free, quarterly, extension newsletter for farmers and growers. It aims to providing concise, easy-to-read extension information that can help reduce costs, increase profits, make the job easier and/or improve environmental sustainability. It also provides links to a wide range of other information around agroecology / sustainable agriculture and horticulture, particually topical issues.
All issues and articles are listed on this home page so if you are looking / searching for an article this is the place!
A diverse range of information can also be found on the private website of the Dr Charles Merfield – head of the Future Farming Centre.
Subscription information. Disclaimer, copyright and licensing
2023 V3 July
An introduction to the principles of service (cover) crops and intercropping. This issues main extension report from the FFC.
UK Diverse Forage Project wrap up videos and information
EU-FarmBook – all EU agricultural research information in one place!
Farming with soil life: A handbook for supporting soil invertebrates and soil health on farms
2023 V2 April
DIY soil health tests – FFC report on do it yourself (DIY) soil health tests for farmers, growers and gardeners.
A range of new weed management articles and resources
Getting your head around soil carbon storage
Getting your head around the role of livestock and alternatives in diets and farming
BIOFRUITNET – Boosting Innovation in ORGANIC FRUIT production through stronger networks
Agroecology & digitalisation: Traps and opportunities to transform the food system
Growing Tagasaste / tree lucerene (Cytisus proliferus) in New Zealand
2023 V1 January
The global transition to agroecology – the examples of the FAO and EU
Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua — Our Land and Water Regenerative Agriculture reports
Quorum Sense – Aotearoa-New Zealand’s Regenerative Agriculture farmers’ network
Integrated weed management for herbicide resistance in arable cropping systems
Redefining weeds for a post herbicide era
‘A Lighter Touch’ agroecology projects
Our phosphorus future – towards global phosphorus sustainability
2020-2022
No issues due to the FFC being ‘paused’ due to lack of funding
2019 V4 October
Vineyard floor management: A sustainability nexus with a focus on undervine weeding. Report number 04-2019
Testing the compatibility of mesh crop covers with desiccant sprays in seed potato production. Report number 06-2018
An analysis and overview of Regenerative Agriculture. Report number 2-2019
Soil management for sustainable food production and environmental protection
2019 V3 July – No issue
2019 V2 April – No issue
2019 V1 January – No issue
2018 V4 October
IPCC special report on impacts of global warming of 1.5°C
CIDSE report: “The Climate Urgency: Setting Sail for a New Paradigm”
Silvoarable agroforestry in the UK
Updating the GREATsoils project
DIVERSify: Designing InnoVative plant teams for Ecosystem Resilience and agricultural Sustainability
2018 V3 July
Non-chemical management of docks (Rumex)
The Jena Experiment and The ReMIX Project – the benefits of multi-species mixtures
“Holy hay” – Sainfoin growers guide
Trees for bees NZ – smart planting for healthy bees
Overwinter legume cover crops reduce nitrate leaching
2018 V2 April
Mini-ridgers: Lethal burial depth for controlling intrarow weeds
The use of UV-A light insect traps for TPP control and monitoring in glasshouses
2018 V1 January
Crop Rotations – A Planning Manual from SARE
2017 V4 October – No issue
2017 V3 July
ReMix – Redesigning European cropping systems based on species mixtures
2017 V2 April – no issue
2017 V1 January
The State of Food and Agriculture Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security – FAO
Obsalim® livestock health cards
Soil Health – Growing Resilient Efficient And Thriving (GREAT) Soils
Sprouted seeds for chickens and tractor tyre app
2016 V4 October – no issue
2016 V3 July
Report on Indigenous Agroecology by FFC scientist Dr Marion Johnson
iPES FOOD – calling for a paradigm shift in agriculture
Two important soil publications
OSCAR – Optimising Subsidiary Crop Application in Rotations – Final outputs
BioGreenhouse – sustainability and productivity of protected cropping systems
2016 v2 April
New pollination opportunities using lucerne leafcutting bees
2016 V1 January
Understanding biostimulants, biofertilisers and on-farm trials
Back to the future – electrothermal, systemic, weedkiller
New sustainable and ecological extension and information website launched
2015 V4 October
2015 V3 July – No issue
2015 V2 April – no issue
2015 V1 January
The fundamentals of soil nutrient management, soil testing and fertiliser recommendations
Miscanthus – a new tool for NZ ag and hort?
Comment: Agricultural paradigm shifts, climate smart farming and agro-ecology
2014 V4 October
Tanalised post alternatives used in the national grape cultivar library-vineyard at the BHU
Spring has sprung and hopefully so have more white-tipped Californian thistles!
2014 V3 July – no issue
2014 V2 May
Hedging Bets: Legume Mixtures in Pasture
Crushing Californian thistles to death and other on-farm, non-chemical control techniques
‘Can healthy soil feed the world?’ Seven scientists give their opinion
Challenges for pest management in New Zealand
2014 V1 January
Combing out weeds – innovation in arable and pasture weeding
The end of cockies cocaine? Biological nitrogen fixation for any crop without genetic engineering
White tip disease of thistle: Short update
2013 V2 April
Better than herbicides? – FFC research
White tipped Californian thistles: Be on the Lookout!
2013 V1 January
Make Soil Organisms Work for You: Mythbusting practices that do and don’t work.
100% non-chemical control of Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) in field crops – FFC research
“Sort and Treat” parasite control for lambs