LJ Betts 

LJ Betts Ltd, a family business near West Malling, Kent, specialises in producing salads and cereals with a focus on integrity, quality, reliability, respect, and innovation. They supply us with a superb range of whole head and baby leaf salads. 

Their commitment to soil sustainability involves maintaining or increasing organic matter content, targeting a baseline of 3% in their medium clay sandy loam soils. To achieve this, they reduce tillage, incorporate wheat stubbles, rotate crops with 50% in wheat and 50% in salads, use farmyard manure and compost, and plant cover crops in winter. 

One example is the Hunton North field, sown with a cover crop mix including phacelia, black oats, wild radish, spring vetch, and berseem clover after a winter wheat crop. These plants improve soil structure, enhance nitrogen retention, and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers. LJ Betts planted around 60 hectares with winter cover crops in autumn 2020 and are continually refining their techniques to enhance soil health and reduce flooding. Their modern approach to sustainable farming ensures high-quality produce while protecting the environment.