After starting his career in pharmacy, this farmer formally took over his family farm in the Somme, northern France, four years ago. He recalls:
“I’ve always been interested in agriculture, so I always followed it very closely. When organic farming became a trend in the 2000s, I started researching it. So I was always very aware of what was happening in agricultural innovation.”
Even during his pharmacy studies, he explored this link:
“I even wrote my pharmacy thesis on the connection between agricultural innovation and health.”
The turning point came when he took over the farm and found that his father had invested in collective equipment for direct seeding.
“When I started, my father had bought shares in a CUMA cooperative for a direct seeder. So that first summer, we immediately started sowing cover crops… we put them almost everywhere.”
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Here, cover crops are established immediately after harvest, sometimes the very same day: “I don’t shred; I sow as early as possible. Usually within a maximum of five days.”
The mix is dominated by legumes (fava beans, vetch, peas), complemented by oats, phacelia, and crucifers such as mustard or rapeseed: “In my mixes, I generally put a lot of fava beans, and overall, I try to reach 80% legumes by seed count.”
This rapid sowing ensures permanent soil cover, residue integration, and gradual nutrient release: “The ridge holds better, it stays together, it opens less thanks to the crop residues. There are always small straw residues, and I think that mineralises and improves the soil.”
Winter ploughing has been progressively reduced. For potatoes, instead of ploughing in the winter he let the cover crop through the winter for good soil structure:
“I’ve improved my seed mixes for flax and potatoes. I’m trying to establish cover crops that will be left in place longer before termination. What I want is to do without winter ploughing for these two crops.”
This approach avoids the drawbacks of inversion tillage in a wet northern climate, such as delayed soil warming. At the same time, it improves ridge stability:
“I’m sure I’ve gained a tonne of straw per hectare thanks to this.”
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Romain prioritises organic matter: compost and manure are applied during cover crop growth, with small mineral additions.
“During the cover crop stage, I add compost.”
Inherited practices involved 180 units of nitrogen on potatoes, but he has reduced this to 115–140 units:
“I used to follow the advice of the previous farmer, who applied 180 units of nitrogen. I think I’m now down to 140.”
Adaptability is central: “The potatoes were so green and healthy that I didn’t reapply… I just adapted.”
Romain’s journey shows that conservation agriculture in potatoes is not about rigid rules but about continuous adaptation. His results prove that resilient ridges, reduced nitrogen use, and stable yields are achievable through observation and innovation.
He remains ambitious: “I still think I haven’t reached the maximum potential I could achieve.”
He’s now exploring sap analyses and leaf sugar measurements to refine plant nutrition:
“I think we use too much nitrogen. Maybe with better plant nutrition, supported by micronutrients, we could reduce nitrogen use and avoid exhausting the soil so quickly.”
He laughs as he draws an analogy with human health:
“It’s like eating pasta every day — you’ll get by, but not be in the best shape.”
“Don’t wait until nitrogen costs double or €1 diesel is gone to think about it—adapt now. Nitrogen and diesel will only keep rising; it’s now or never.”
After starting his career in pharmacy, this farmer formally took over his family farm in the Somme, northern France, four years ago. He recalls:
“I’ve always been interested in agriculture, so I always followed it very closely. When organic farming became a trend in the 2000s, I started researching it. So I was always very aware of what was happening in agricultural innovation.”
Even during his pharmacy studies, he explored this link:
“I even wrote my pharmacy thesis on the connection between agricultural innovation and health.”
The turning point came when he took over the farm and found that his father had invested in collective equipment for direct seeding.
“When I started, my father had bought shares in a CUMA cooperative for a direct seeder. So that first summer, we immediately started sowing cover crops… we put them almost everywhere.”
Here, cover crops are established immediately after harvest, sometimes the very same day: “I don’t shred; I sow as early as possible. Usually within a maximum of five days.”
The mix is dominated by legumes (fava beans, vetch, peas), complemented by oats, phacelia, and crucifers such as mustard or rapeseed: “In my mixes, I generally put a lot of fava beans, and overall, I try to reach 80% legumes by seed count.”
This rapid sowing ensures permanent soil cover, residue integration, and gradual nutrient release: “The ridge holds better, it stays together, it opens less thanks to the crop residues. There are always small straw residues, and I think that mineralises and improves the soil.”
Winter ploughing has been progressively reduced. For potatoes, instead of ploughing in the winter he let the cover crop through the winter for good soil structure:
“I’ve improved my seed mixes for flax and potatoes. I’m trying to establish cover crops that will be left in place longer before termination. What I want is to do without winter ploughing for these two crops.”
This approach avoids the drawbacks of inversion tillage in a wet northern climate, such as delayed soil warming. At the same time, it improves ridge stability:
“I’m sure I’ve gained a tonne of straw per hectare thanks to this.”
Romain prioritises organic matter: compost and manure are applied during cover crop growth, with small mineral additions.
“During the cover crop stage, I add compost.”
Inherited practices involved 180 units of nitrogen on potatoes, but he has reduced this to 115–140 units:
“I used to follow the advice of the previous farmer, who applied 180 units of nitrogen. I think I’m now down to 140.”
Adaptability is central: “The potatoes were so green and healthy that I didn’t reapply… I just adapted.”
Romain’s journey shows that conservation agriculture in potatoes is not about rigid rules but about continuous adaptation. His results prove that resilient ridges, reduced nitrogen use, and stable yields are achievable through observation and innovation.
He remains ambitious: “I still think I haven’t reached the maximum potential I could achieve.”
He’s now exploring sap analyses and leaf sugar measurements to refine plant nutrition:
“I think we use too much nitrogen. Maybe with better plant nutrition, supported by micronutrients, we could reduce nitrogen use and avoid exhausting the soil so quickly.”
He laughs as he draws an analogy with human health:
“It’s like eating pasta every day — you’ll get by, but not be in the best shape.”
“Don’t wait until nitrogen costs double or €1 diesel is gone to think about it—adapt now. Nitrogen and diesel will only keep rising; it’s now or never.”
