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1. Productivity starts with seeds: Certified seeds lay the foundation for high productivity and improve a healthy foundation for crop growth, ensuring maximum yield benefits.
2. Soil conservation: To better conserve the soil structure and soil life, plowing was abandoned in 1985 in favor of minimum tillage.
3. Crop rotation: Alternation of autumn and spring crops, in combination with intermediate crops to avoid nitrate leaching, are an effective foundation for an integrated weed control strategy.
4. Digital farming: Machinery used from sowing to harvest is equipped with GPS to work as precise and efficient as possible. The connected weather station also makes it possible to make the right decisions at the right time.
5. Integrated crop protection management: Interactive decision support tools and insect traps make it possible to monitor the health status of crops in real time and protect them only when necessary, at the best moment.
6. Biodiversity conservation: Grass strips and honeybee-favoring hedges at the edge of the fields help to maintain the biodiversity of wild flora and fauna throughout the farm.
7. Beehives: Several beehives have been set-up in the heart of the farm in partnership with a professional beekeeper, providing the opportunity to exchange and understand each other’s practices.
8. Water protection: A filling and rinsing station and a Phytobac® bioremediation system ensure optimal on-farm wastewater management. Regular analyses of field drainage water help protect water sources.
9. Application technology: Use of GPS and the latest innovations such as pulse width modulation nozzles (PWM) and automatic section cuts enable high-precision applications.
10. Safe use & storage: The crop protection storage room allows for the secure management of products. Personal protective equipment is used according to the specific operator activity following best practices.
11. Partnerships: Bayer ForwardFarming builds on existing partnerships to leverage expertise and skills.
Preserving Water Quality Throughout all Farming Practices
Samuel Gachot’s main goal is protecting water resources. Together with Bayer experts, he set up an experiment to closely monitor the drainage on two plots, assessing links between rainy periods and increasing volume of water in his drains. The data acquired from monitoring will help to anticipate the drainage water flow, making it possible to determine treatment periods and adapt farming practices accordingly. Samuel uses a variety of methods to prevent point-source pollution when applying crop protection products, such as application methods designed specifically for drained soil and a Phytobac® system for on-farm wastewater management. Grass strips planted surrounding his plots prevent runoff. Challenging himself in the way he cultivates the land is a must for Samuel Gachot: "We reassess our practices on a daily basis. Even though we work with the same crops, we never do the same thing", he adds.
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We're happy to connect with you! Contact Guillaume Chancrin with any questions or inquiries.