The zero tillage systems promoted in the UK during the 1970s were radical. Pioneering farmers moved from ploughing to zero tillage using special direct drilling machines and non-selective contact herbicides. However they encountered serious problems with slugs, persistent grass weeds and straw and zero tillage was largely abandoned. Pressures to reduce crop establishments costs then led to the intermediate method of 'conservation agriculture' (CA).
The Soil Management Initiative (SMI) has been central to the development and promotion of CA. SMI is an independent non-profit organisation that was established by a small, committed group in 1999. Its aim is to promote the adoption of cultivation systems which improve soil quality, minimises soil erosion and water pollution and simultaneously maintain or enhance farm economic returns.
SMI brings together organizations with varied expertise and technical abilities and provides both research results and advice to the large number of farmers who are progressively adopting CA. Furthermore SMI was a founder member of the European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), under which there are 14 national organizations. Competence within SMI is drawn from research institutes, educational establishments, farmers and landowners, machinery manufacturers, crop protection companies, charitable trusts and from independent agronomists and advisers.
The EU life fund provided an initial three year allocation to support SMI. This ended in 2002. SMI now raises finance from the UK and EU governments, commercial sponsorship (International Agrochemical and Machinery Companies) and fees paid by farmers. In the current climate of privatisation of advisory services there is no targeted governmental advisory body to carry out such a function. DEFRA (The UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) does however provide some support to SMI with both funds and expertise and in an associate member.
Amongst SMI's methods for spreading the message of improved soil management and field days - where farmers pay to attend - an interactive web-based help-line on 'lo-till' and farmer's magazine. SMI also undertakes extension 'road-shows' visiting specific farms for question and answer sessions. A formal session with presentations from experts precedes a practical outdoor demonstration. SMI gains knowledge and practical experience from the 'joint venture' at Loddington.
