Grow the future

For the next episode of the Grow the Future Podcast, we’re diving into the topic of soil carbon with Mark Tucker, Yara’s Senior Manager for Partnerships and the Value Food Chain.
The conversation begins by exploring a common question facing modern agriculture: as farmers work to reverse historical practices that have depleted soil organic matter and carbon levels, are nitrogen fertilisers being unfairly blamed for declining soil health? Mark addresses this perception head-on, explaining the role of fertilisers within the wider soil management picture and providing a clear overview of what soil health and soil quality really mean.
Throughout the episode, Mark discusses how different farming systems have influenced soil condition over time and shares practical insights into how farmers can rebuild organic matter levels. He also highlights why soil analysis should be the foundation of every farm’s nutrient management strategy and explains the vital role it plays in improving both productivity and sustainability.
The discussion goes on to examine the importance of flexibility in cultivation practices, including the benefits of reducing ploughing and adopting low- or zero-tillage approaches where appropriate. Mark also explains how cover crops can help improve soil health, retain nutrients and contribute valuable nitrogen back into the system.
To conclude, Mark outlines the key principles farmers should consider when managing their soils, offering practical advice on maximising nutrient-use efficiency while maintaining strong soil structure and resilience for the future.

As a manufacturer of both solid and liquid plant nutrition, Yara is dedicated to advancing precision farming. In this podcast episode, Roger Bacon, Yara’s Farm Account Manager for Lincolnshire, dives into the key advantages of liquid fertilisers with Ken Rundle. He discusses their reliability during dry springs, ease of application, reduced labor demands, and improved accuracy.
Roger also shares storage recommendations and explains how Yara supports farmers transitioning to liquid systems. He highlights our comprehensive range of NPKs, Straight Nitrogen, and Nitrogen Sulphur products, alongside precision tools like the N-Sensor for real-time crop monitoring and the new YaraPlus app for creating variable-rate application maps. The episode wraps up with a summary of how liquid fertilizer maximizes overall farm efficiency.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your fields? Head over to the YaraPlus website today to transform your crop nutrition strategy.
UK - https://uk.yaraplus.com/
Ire - https://ie.yaraplus.com/

As grass growth accelerates across the UK and Ireland, livestock farmers face the challenge of maintaining forage quality while maximising productivity from grazing and silage systems.
In this episode of Grow the Future, host Ken Rundle is joined by Yara's Country Grassland Specialist, Philip Cosgrave, to discuss the key grassland management decisions facing farmers at mid-season. They explore how to maintain grass quality during periods of rapid growth, the importance of managing grazing covers, and why timely nutrient applications are critical for both grazing and silage performance.
Philip also highlights the significant nutrient offtakes associated with silage production, the growing importance of potassium, phosphate and sulphur management, and how farmers can use nutrient planning to improve efficiency while remaining compliant with evolving environmental regulations.
Whether you're focused on grazing performance, silage yields, or long-term soil fertility, this episode provides practical advice to help you get the most from your grassland this season.

In this episode, we are joined by James Willis, Area Manager based in Norfolk, to discuss strategic nutrition planning for upcoming crop rotations. The conversation opens with an analysis of current geopolitical challenges and their macroeconomic impact on agriculture, before transitioning into a technical discussion on the critical relationship between sulphur and nitrogen in driving photosynthesis and maximizing nutrient use efficiency. 
James emphasizes the financial necessity of mastering agronomic fundamentals, highlighting how sub-optimal soil pH can incur significant costs—and how regular soil sampling and leaf testing can mitigate these risks. Additionally, the episode explores recent grower feedback regarding a shift toward less intensive crop rotations, examines the broader market implications of wheat production challenges in the US and Australia, and evaluates the operational advantages of transitioning to liquid fertilisers. 
The episode concludes with key, actionable advice from James to help growers navigate the complexities of the upcoming season.

In this episode of Grow the Future, we focus on a critical priority for livestock and dairy producers across the UK and Ireland: maximizing sward recovery and pasture productivity. Joining us to share his expertise is Philip Cosgrave, a specialist Grassland Agronomist with Yara UK and Ireland, who provides a comprehensive overview of the spring 2026 season from a grassland perspective and addresses the strategic decision between spring and autumn reseeding.
This discussion highlights targeted nutritional interventions to accelerate sward recovery, specifically reviewing the role of YaraVita Croplift Pro—a highly effective foliar fertiliser designed for co-application with herbicides to deliver a precise balance of essential nutrients. Furthermore, for maize growers looking to optimize crop establishment, the episode explores the strategic application of YaraVita CropBoost and YaraAmplix Optitrac, supported by a review of recent independent trial data demonstrating their significant impact on yield and quality.