To Till or Not to Till - In Conversation with John Pawsey

In this episode with farmer John Pawsey, we talk about the role of tillage in organic systems, balancing weed and pest pressures, how regenerative overlaps with organic, and how diversity drives success. John shares his journey from conventional spraying to organic, mixed farming (over 25 years ago). He explains why he ploughs selectively (once or twice in a six-year rotation) and how organic farming pushes innovation through the limits of its standards. His approach is rooted in observation, adaptability, and profitability. We explore how he adjusts tillage depth based on weed type and the importance of bringing complexity into your rotation and not letting one problem dominate – in relation to weeds, pests and diseases. John reflects on reducing his sheep flock, soil health gains (now having up to 6% organic matter), and embracing Groundswell and regenerative ideas with an organic mindset. He describes a farming system built on context: some years min-till, others plough, all underpinned by leys, cover crops, and diversity in crops and drilling dates. His honesty about the learning curve, headspace shifts, and financial sustainability gives real-world clarity to the tillage debate.

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.