EM News

Mixed farmers James and Anna King of Cowley Farm near Buckingham, UK, were featured in the Farmers Guardian for their innovative approach to manure management using EM Bokashi, supported by guidance from Agriton UK.

Sustainable Manure Management with EM Bokashi
On their 170 hectare mixed farm, where they raise pigs, sheep, and beef cattle while growing wheat and maize, the Kings are reducing waste and improving soil health with EM Bokashi. They create a nutrient rich amendment by fermenting pig manure and straw bedding with Effective Microorganisms. This amendment supports crop growth and reduces odor and emissions.

"Straw seems much more efficiently broken down in bokashi than in normal manure," says James King. He applies the EM·1 solution weekly with a knapsack sprayer directly to the pig bedding. This process enhances nutrient retention and contributes to better air quality and animal welfare.

Closing the Loop on the Farm
The Kings' farming system combines EM Bokashi with digestate from anaerobic digestion. This allows them to efficiently recycle nutrients and reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers. Remarkably, they achieved maize yields of 50 tons per hectare in 2023 without using additional fertilizer. In 2022, even under drought conditions, maize yielded 33 tons per hectare. The harvested crop was sent to a local anaerobic digester to help generate renewable electricity. Wheat has also performed well, yielding 10 tons per hectare in 2023 and 9 tons per hectare in 2022. This demonstrates the system’s consistency and resilience, even in challenging weather conditions.

Beyond Agriculture
They also offer holiday accommodations, which makes odor reduction and environmental management even more important.
EM Bokashi plays a key role in maintaining a clean, guest-friendly environment.

A Model for Regenerative Agriculture
With continued soil testing and microbial support from Agriton UK, the Kings’ farm exemplifies how traditional mixed farming can evolve through natural, sustainable innovations like EM Bokashi composting.

* This article is based on a feature published in the Farmers Guardian (May 10, 2024 issue). farmersguardian.com

For further information, contact:
EM Agriton Limited
Ebear Farm, Westleigh, Tiverton, EX16 7HN. Devon. UK.
Tel: +44-(0)-1823-67-33-44
email: info@agriton.co.uk
Website: https://www.agriton.co.uk/