ISTRO Controlled Traffic Working Group
At the 16th triennial conference of the International Soil Tillage Research Organisation
(ISTRO) in Brisbane in July 2003, a CTF working group was set up.
This is open to all interested members of ISTRO as well as invited specialists and some commercial
organisations. This page is being used to report the activities of the group as well as acting as a
notice board for events and for communications. The objectives of the group are reflected by the
following paragraphs:
"To critically review both scientific and practical evidence of the benefits and shortcomings of
controlled traffic farming systems and to identify gaps in knowledge and areas of research where
further work is needed. In particular, to pinpoint research that will appraise the linkage between
tillage, traffic and favourable soil structure.
"In addition, the group aims to encourage and if possible facilitate the use of CTF in a way that
delivers benefits in as wide a range of climates and ecozones as possible. This should be done in a
way that improves the financial viability of food production while addressing environmental and food
safety issues."
The group understands that CTF practitioners drive its core activity of identifying and undertaking
appropriate research. If you are a CTF practitioner and consider that an aspect of the system or its
deliverables needs attention, research or development, then please
email us.
ISTRO Working Group Events
Planned Events
23rd to 25th May 2007
Planning for this workshop in the Netherlands from 23rd to 25th May 2007 is now complete. We will be visiting three
farms that have converted to Seasonal Controlled Traffic Farming (SCTF). They are all in organic production, which is
particulary demanding in terms of sustainability. Crops include spinach, carrot, onion, green beans, potatoes, witloof chicory, winter and summer
grain crops, cabbage and grass seed. Those farmers who have been using SCTF for a number of years have had positive
outcomes and are planning extension of the system. During the workshop we will also be having presentations on RTK-DGPS guidance systems.
To view or download the programme and registration form, click on the links below. Please be aware that we now have more flexible arrangements
for payment, details of which are contained in the updated download files.
(Left click the link to open the file in your browser or right click the link and left click
"Save Target As" to save the file to your own specified folder.)
Netherlands Workshop Programme [pdf format]
Netherlands Registration form [Word format]
Past Events
The last group event was an evening session at the ISTRO 2006 conference in Kiel, Germany. This took place in
the week beginning August 28th 2006. The theme
of the conference was "Soil Management for Sustainability", which was perfectly in tune with the aims of
the CTF working group. A report from this meeting is available below.
ISTRO 2006 CTF Working Group meeting report [pdf format]
The previous event was a meeting of the group in Denmark between 16th and 18th November 2005. The 3-day workshop
was organized by our Danish colleagues and was a combination of farm visits, discussion forums and
presentations. We visited DIAS institutions at Foulum and Bygholm where research projects were described
and aspects of soil management and controlled traffic discussed. Twenty two people from widely differing
backgrounds and seven different countries (including several farmers from the UK) came together to exchange
ideas and experiences. The following report on the workshop activities and outcomes is available to download:
(Left click the link to open the file in your browser or right click the link and left click
"Save Target As" to save the file to your own specified folder.)
Danish Workshop Summary [Word format]
The previous meeting was held in July 2004. This was a 2-day workshop in Silsoe, UK. The following
reports from the meeting can be downloaded:
(Left click the link to open the file in your browser or right click the link and left click
"Save Target As" to save the file to your own specified folder).
Workshop summary [pdf format]
Summary slides [pdf format]
Dutch Controlled traffic farm-based trial [pdf format]
CTF Weed Management Strategies [pdf format]
Meeting discussion prompts [PowerPoint format]