EARL Gachot

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Challenging Oneself is the Way Forward
EARL Gachot is a cereal farm typical for the Côte d’Or (Gold Coast) in eastern France. Samuel Gachot runs the farm, and together with his wife he also works on a wine estate in Nuits Saint George. Crop diversification is the key farming strategy at EARL Gachot, where they grow important food crops as well as energy crops and grape vines. Located in a drinking water catchment area, the four streams that flow through it can cause flooding to some of the plots. With roughly 90% of the farmland drained, the emphasis at EARL Gachot is on preserving weather quality. The owner aims to adopt sustainable practices that ensure the quality of drainage water is maintained without compromising the efficacy of herbicides and thus risking yield and quality of the produce. Preserving biodiversity in the Côte d’Or region for future generations is what drives Samuel Gachot to test new farming methods. To him, the Bayer ForwardFarming network is a great opportunity to connect with other farmers and discuss best practices.
- Farm name and location: EARL Gachot – Gerland, between Dijon and Beaune, France.
- History: Samuel is the third generation of his family to farm the land and took over from his father in 1990. One employee supports him at the farm.
- Farm size: 240 hectares.
- Crops: Wheat, barley, oil seed rape, brown mustard, miscanthus, sunflower, grape vines.
- Notable partners: Beekeeper, Dijon Mustard Producers Association (Fallot).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.