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ARABLE
Talking Arable Andrew Robinson, Jim Bullock and Iain Green
FARMING
February 2016 ÂŁ2.95
Minor crops Healthier alternatives to wheat?
Page 8-13 www.arablefarming.com
EVENT REPORT Our pick of the Lamma 2016 highlights
Weed control Precision farming Taking crop inspection to a new level
The real cost of black-grass
Crop nutrition Fine-tuning N for wheat Innovation in action for progressive arable farmers
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LEADER
a word from the
EDITOR o, we are into a new year and costs are on our minds. The very real costs of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) delays and flood damage, the potential costs of Brexit, and perhaps a high disease pressure season to come – these last two prime examples of the need for better and more timely information, albeit in very different contexts. Increasing yield, not cutting inputs, is the route to reducing costs the experts tell us, and they are right to a point. But surely the risk is of doing more or less what we have always done – give or take a quarter of a litre here or a kilogram there – and missing an opportunity to cut costs where it can be achieved and redirect limited budget to where it might be more productive? Of course the starting point is to know precisely what costs of production are and this is something many growers can get a whole lot better at. Now, there is a New Year’s resolution if ever there was one. As Arable Farming went to press, large numbers of farmers had yet to hear when their Basic Payment would arrive – and even in some cases how much it would be. There is no doubt the uncertainty will mean a miserable start to the New Year for some and it seems farmers are not the only ones looking for Defra to step up to the mark. The ‘wobbly start’ to the much-maligned new Countryside Stewardship Scheme was down to the department’s ’focus’ on the BPS, Natural England CEO Guy Thompson told January’s
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NFU Council meeting. He is a man quite clearly hoping for better times in 2016. Improvements have been promised; time will tell if they are delivered. As I write it looks like the first (and possibly the last?) real cold snap of winter is coming to a close. Here in the eastern counties a few days of cold, crisp weather, hopefully, have put the brakes on the disease thriving happily in lush, soft crops. And the winter sunshine was certainly welcome at Lamma’16, where the crowds would suggest while machinery manufacturers may be sharing in the pain of poor commodity prices and an uncertain economic outlook, growers are continuing to reassess their businesses, seek out new ideas and innovations which will help take them forward, and invest, albeit perhaps more cautiously. It has been a tough start to the year and there are difficult times ahead, but the farming industry is well-practiced in meeting challenges head-on. All the best for 2016.
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www.croptecshow.com 29-30 November, 2016 © Briefing Media Ltd 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of Arable Farming are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. ISSN 0269-6797
Arable Farming, Briefing Media Ltd, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ Origination by Farmers Guardian, Briefing Media Ltd, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9NZ. Printed by Headley Brothers, Invicta Press, Queen’s Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH. No responsibility can be accepted by Arable Farming for the opinions expressed by contributors.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p2 3 Contents TR EP _Layout 1 22/01/2016 12:12 Page 1
THIS MONTH
CONTENTS february Volume 38 Issue 2
Lamma
Event report 42-47 Comment
Regulars
4-6 8-13 22-28
14-15 62 64
Latest news Talking Arable Talking Agronomy
Top picks from the UK’s machinery showcase
Market analysis Arable marketplace BASIS news
Renewables
Conference What is in store for AD?
57 2
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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THIS MONTH
Spring weed control
36-38
Sugar beet and potatoes Tackling grass-weeds
Research in Action
Crop nutrition Fine-tuning N inputs on-farm
60-61 48-56 Precision farming
Unmanned aerial systems Buying, using and staying legal
Minor crops
58-59
Healthy Minor Cereals project Making the most of spelt, rye, oats, einkorn and emmer FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p4 5 6 News TR _Layout 1 22/01/2016 13:29 Page 1
NEWS
CLA warns about water abstraction rule upheaval
assive upheaval of the rules governing water abstraction will create winners and losers within the farming industry, the CLA has warned. Defra has published proposals for regulatory reforms it says will create ‘a better, fairer and more modern approach’ to water abstraction in England from the early 2020s. The proposals signal the end of the current abstraction licence system, set up in the 1960s, which Defra said is ‘no longer flexible or modern
enough’ to respond to pressures on the environment and farming. The key elements of the reform include new permits, with abstraction limits reflecting a farm’s likely water usage, moves to make it easier for farmers to store water and a system enabling abstractors to trade water more easily at times of low supplies. CLA head of land use policy Damian Testa said: “There are likely to be winners and losers from the proposed new system. “We welcome the ability to store bonus water in waterscarce catchments when flows
Farmland bird count
Openfield back in black with £2.4m profit
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JThe Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust is urging all farmers to join in with the annual Farmland Bird Count. To help farmers improve their identification skills ahead of the count, identification training dates have been arranged throughout the country. Each course is run by an expert birder and will take place from 11am through to 3pm. At the end of each course, farmers should be able to recognise the top 24 bird species likely to be seen on farmland this coming winter. The 2016 count takes place between February 6 and 14.
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JOpenfield has returned to profit following significant losses last year. The grain and inputs co-operative’s results, covering the 12 months to June 30, 2015, showed a £2.4 million profit before tax following a £4.2m loss in 2014. Company bosses pointed to a wet year affecting 2012 harvest quality and a smaller national crop in 2013. Openfield said in comparison 2014 saw above-average yields, claiming its business performance was also supported by the acquisition of Countrywide Farmers’ grain marketing activities. Openfield chairman and Worcestershire farmer Richard
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
Defra has published detailed proposals for new water abstraction rules.
are high and the removal of seasonal restrictions.
Restrictions “However, if unused licence volumes are removed or restrictions imposed based on average usage, farmers will be hit hard.” The proposed new water shares system in water-scarce catchments could see farms priced out of the market, with commercial implications for primary producers supplying supermarkets.
Beldam said: “The headline numbers illustrate the scale of the turnaround. “Clearly, the much improved harvest was helpful, but the executive management, led by chief executive James Dallas, are to be congratulated in achieving not only this result, but on refocusing activity for the long-term success of the business on behalf of members.” During the period, group revenue grew 0.6% to £749m and grain volumes grew 19% to 4.3m tonnes. Operating profit was £3.2m compared to a £3m loss in 2014. Borrowings grew by about £2m to £7.75m. The results came despite Openfield losing the marketing
NFU national specialist for water resources, Paul Hammett, said it was ‘absolutely vital’ the changes deliver a fair share of water to help farmers and growers produce affordable, high quality food. “The reform package must be underpinned by measures which encourage more surplus river water to be stored by helping farmers to construct more reservoirs, including by offering tax incentives,”said Mr Hammett.
partnerships for two central storage bodies. They also came amid a year prices remained depressed for UK arable farmers, weighing on farm incomes for much of the sector. “It is disappointing other farmer-owned businesses chose not to share our vision for returning value to members, however, we are financially better for it and the reaction from consumers has been entirely positive,” said Mr Beldam. “We remain committed to our co-operative principles of building long-term alliances with consumers for the benefit of UK farmers and are willing to welcome those farmers who share this philosophy with us.”
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NEWS
Sugar beet industry has optimistic future, experts say
ugar beet prices are unlikely to fall much further in the coming years, one commentator has claimed. Robin Limb, agricultural consultant and former British Sugar agriculture manager, said the fortunes of farmers in the coming year would largely depend on their yields. Contract prices for the 2016/17 beet crop were announced by the NFU and British Sugar in July at £20.30/tonne. Mr Limb said: “[The price] is unlikely to drop again because this will send a lot of psychological messages to growers” He suggested average beet yields would allow many growers to make a margin at current prices.
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He said: “The UK’s five-year average yield is now about 73t/hectare following the record crop of 2014 and, coincidentally, this is the likely average yield for the 2015 season. “My crude and conservative calculations suggest at such yields there will still be a positive net margin at a beet price in excess of £20/t, and equal to anything which may come off a combine harvester.” The coming year is the final full year before sugar beet quotas come to an end in 2017. Discussion has been rife in recent months over how a post-quota industry may look and operate. Speaking about this year’s contract price, William Martin, NFU sugar beet board chairman, said: “For an awful lot of growers the [2016/17] price is
Beet prices are unlikely to fall much further this year, says Robin Limb.
close to cost of production. This is why we have seen a number of growers decide to take a holiday from the crop for the next year.” But he claimed there was reason to be ‘cautiously optimistic’ about prices going forward. “If you look at market re-
ports, prices are turning a corner on a global and European level,” he said. One thing experts have often agreed on is that the UK sugar beet sector is already beginning to feel the volatility which will come in a less regulated sugar market.
Online ‘farm shop’ aims to cut out the middleman
JFarmers are being invited to sell their surplus stocks through a new website in a bid to cut down on the amount of food waste. Founder and CEO of Takestock.com Campbell Murray said farmers were already
using the website to trade direct with buyers and therefore ‘cut out the middleman’. “Until now, it has been very difficult to reach a buying audience for surplus stocks,” said Mr Murray, highlighting the 600,000 tonnes of food waste
sent to landfill each year from the food manufacturing industry alone. “This year most of the farming sectors in the UK have enjoyed a strong harvest, with an average yield uplift of about 12%. That means a lot of sur-
plus produce which will end up in animal feed, anaerobic digestion or landfill. Takestock helps farmers reach the market place direct – especially to caterers, niche food manufacturers and the hospitality trade.”
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NEWS
Squeeze on farm lending as downturn continues?
utstanding debt in agriculture ballooned 8% in the year to November 2015, to more than £18 billion. Some farmers are expressing concern bank lending criteria could be tightening and lead to the plug being pulled on financial support. Simon Eales, senior sales and agricultural manager with the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, said: “We believe lending will continue to rise, although we would not be surprised if the rate of growth slowed in 2016.” The UK’s major agricultural lenders have been swift to say
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Can we really grow potatoes on Mars? JAn experiment to grow potatoes under Martian conditions is underway, led by the International Potato Center in Peru and US space agency NASA. The research is seen as a major step towards building a controlled dome on Mars. As part of the project, tubers will be grown in a specially designed cube with dry quartz-like soil with no organic matter and subjected to a wide range of temperatures. The only missing element is gravity. The goal is to raise awareness of the resilience of potatoes in the face of climate change.
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they will help cash-strapped farmers hit by delays to Basic Payment Scheme payments. Despite these commitments, experts agree the opening months of 2016 could see lending become a more difficult proposition for some businesses, with those already under pressure feeling the pinch from lenders.
Nervous Andrew Suddes, regional consultancy manager for the north at Promar International, said: “There is some feeling banks are becoming more nervous about their exposure in certain parts of the agricultural sector.”
There are concerns bank lending criteria could be tightened.
Jimmy McLean, chairman of agriculture at Royal Bank of Scotland, said the bank was looking carefully at its lending to the UK farm sector. “I think the first thing to say is our overall approach to the sector is not changing. “However, having said that, none of us can be complacent. We have some sectors where it has been difficult for a while.” This was a theme underlined by Rob Hitch, partner at Dodd and Co chartered accountants and business advisers, who says there will be farm businesses which are already well-borrowed and will find accessing cash difficult. Robert Law, who farms 1,600
hectares on the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex border, bought land last year, believes there is a split between tenants and owner occupiers when it came to finance. “Farmers have to be very wary that banks are happy to lend if they have your deeds in the drawer,” he said. However, total borrowings by UK farmers continues to rise and this ongoing trend is stifling the growth of the farm sector, according to the NFU. NFU economist Anand Dossa said: “We worked out for every £1bn [borrowed] at an average rate of 3.7%, that is £90,000 interest every day taken out of farming businesses.”
Governments must make it easier for farmers to maintain watercourses
JFarm chiefs in Scotland have called on the Scottish Government to make it easier for farmers to carry out work on watercourses to reduce the flood risk to farmland, homes and businesses. Highlighting the need for a new approach, NFU Scotland said it would like to see a ‘change in attitude’ from Ministers. The call has been echoed by farmers around the UK, who said Government red tape surrounding watercourse maintenance made them feel as if they had their hands tied behind their back.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
In early January Environment Secretary Liz Truss told the Oxford Farming Conference Defra would give new powers to farmers to maintain ditches on their land. But the announcement was criticised by some farmers who said they already had such permission under the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme. A Defra spokesman said: “From April, subject to Parliamentary approval, farmers will be able to dredge up to 1.5km of agricultural ditches which currently need an Environment Agency permit, without the need for such a permit.”
NFUS has been collating information to gain a wider picture of the damage caused by recent flooding agricultural land across the country, including Perthshire, Dumfries, the Borders and the North East. Topsoil has been stripped from fields; debris dumped on land; fences, buildings and farmhouses damaged and livestock lost. NFUS president Allan Bowie said: “It is important farmers know SEPA and the Scottish Government now allow the re-instatement of flood banks without the requirement for any permissions.”
Syngenta Laureate - WP_Template 19/01/2016 08:46 Page 1
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Syngenta UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037. CPC4 Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 883400 Technical Enquiries: +44 (0) 800 1696058 Email: customer.services@syngenta.com Website: www.syngenta.co.uk *Source: AHDB Recommended List 2015. The full database can be consulted at cereals.ahdb.org.uk
AF Feb p8 9 Robinson TR EP _Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:02 Page 1
TALKING ARABLE
ANDREW Robinson
Andrew Robinson is farms manager at Heathcote Farms, Bedfordshire. He is a former winner of the nabim/HGCA Milling Wheat Challenge.
Spraying has been a very frustrating affair, with constant strong winds playing havoc with the programme
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ach year the weather just seems to get more bizarre, with the winter solstice producing temperatures similar to those for the summer solstice. The yearly rainfall ended up at 646mm, which is almost exactly our average here at Toddington. It is pleasing though to see the ground taking the rainfall really well, showing the soil structure is continuing to improve year-on-year. One early morning while spraying the rape I came across a five-hectare field at Liddlington which was very wet compared to the others and on investigation I realised the field was not moled two years ago when the rest of that block was done as I did not deem it necessary – definitely a mistake. Spraying has been a very frustrating affair, with constant strong winds playing havoc with the programme; I don’t quite remember an autumn with so few spraying opportunities, however we managed to get the Kerb/Crawler (propyzamide/carbetamide) mix onto the rape, which at present just keeps on growing. Phoma lesions can be seen easily in the Alizze, so it will be interesting to see how this affects yields later on, if at all. Wheat crops are now suffering due to the warm and wet weather we are experiencing. Skyfall has high levels of yellow rust and mildew as well as some septoria and it will be interesting to see if this variety gets downgraded for all three of these diseases next year. Gallant is really clean and is only showing a small level of septoria due to the
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
seed being treated with Epona (prochloraz + fluquinconazole). Crusoe, not surprisingly, is very clean and still looks a deep green colour too, so at present I would put this variety at the top of our list for next season. Fungicide programmes Past experience has told us a wheat crop full of disease in autumn does not produce big crops in summer, so the question is how do we approach the spring fungicide programme? Do we go all guns blazing with expensive fungicides to try to get a grip on these diseases and buy some yield, or do we go for early control with cheaper fungicides throughout the season? With wheat just hovering above the £100/tonne mark and my lowered, revised
Phoma lesions are easily found in the Alizze.
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TALKING ARABLE Farm facts rHeathcote Farms, Toddington, Bedfordshire rTwo farms, eight miles apart r930ha on heavy Hanslope Clays r218ha on Greensand r200ha contract combining rCropping: Winter wheat, winter barley, oilseed rape and spring beans rFarms manager Andrew Robinson plus two full-time employees
Mildew and rust are present in some of the winter wheat, prompting questions over 2016 fungicide programmes.
budgeted yields, it makes for some interesting thoughts. I have yet to make my decision, and will see how the season plays out with the weather and treat accordingly. The autumn-ploughed spring bean ground is taking the weather well but a dry spell followed by a few hard frosts would be welcome to help break the ploughing
down and enable us to produce a good seedbed in spring. Frosts and periods of cold weather would also be very useful for the recently applied Kerb/Crawler, so as I write, hopefully a colder, drier spell will arrive in January or February. A recent purchase of a new wheeled tractor with a drop in the purchase price was very welcome; the flipside
has been a huge drop in the value of the trade in resulting in a similar cost to change. The only upside to this is the lower trade-in value gives us a lower profit on the sale, therefore less tax to pay. With the price of crude oil on the decline and with Saudi Arabia falling out with Iran, I am inclined to hold off any forward summer purchases of red diesel this year.
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TALKING ARABLE
JIM Bullock
Jim Bullock farms in a family partnership at Guarlford, near Malvern, Worcestershire. He is a keen proponent of conservation tillage techniques and is a founder member of the conservation agriculture group BASE-UK.
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I am very tempted to try some poultry litter as a top dressing on some of the winter wheat
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o far 2016 has carried on where 2015 left off – wet. It is now two months since we have been able to take a tractor across any of our land, so any thoughts of winter ploughing, hedge cutting or spraying are firmly on hold. What has surprised me is although we have a reasonably new and weather-proof grain store, we are seeing wheat moisture contents rising. All the wheat was dried down to 13.5% moisture content, but doing my rounds at the beginning of the year I found it had gone up to 14.8%, obviously due to weeks on end of high humidity (85% plus) and unseasonably high temperatures. So even at £108/tonne I will be glad to see the back of it before it has to be re-dried. Out in the fields we seem to have got quite a lot of volunteer beans in our wheat, even where we managed to get a herbicide applied back in late October. They look a mess but on close inspection I am not so sure I should be too worried; we have not got a lot of black-grass due to late drilling and the beans have produced an extensive root system complete with nitrogen-
Double spring break We have one block of land which is having a double spring break to clear up black-grass issues. In 2015 it was spring beans and in 2016 it will be linseed, again the volunteer beans have been left to over-winter as a cheap nitrogenfixing cover crop. The thought of free nitrogen has brought me on to what we are going to use for fertiliser for the next growing season. No doubt many will have bought all their nitrogen requirements for 2016 months ago, but with grain still unsold and the probability the Basic Farm Payment will not hit our bank account until the end of February,
There are quite a few volunteer beans in the wheat.
Nitrogen-fixing nodules on the volunteer bean roots.
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fixing nodules, which can only benefit soil fertility and structure. It suits my, now rather laid-back, approach to crop growing; okay I missed a spray but it might mean I have more organic soil nitrogen and have not had to fork out on yet another spray. As they are volunteer spring beans and are nearly 150mm tall, all it would need would be a couple of days of frost and they would be gone.
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TALKING ARABLE Farm facts rMember of a family farming partnership r292 hectares part owned, part share farmed, part tenanted rCropping over the last five years includes: Wheat (winter and spring), oilseed rape (winter and spring), oats and beans, along with an area of temporary grass and permanent pasture rSoils predominantly: Silty-clay-loams (up 45% clay) rAll crops established either by direct drilling or min-till rAverage field size: 6ha rRainfall five-year average 700mm (865mm – 2014, 950mm – 2012)
or perhaps even later, I have not ordered anything yet. I am very tempted to try some poultry litter as a top dressing on some of the winter wheat as I understand contractors can spread it (accurately I hope) up to 24 metres. It will probably work out more expensive than using the chemical equivalents, but I think it would bring more to the table in the fact it would add organic matter and stimulate more soil biology. Biosolids are another option, only really to replace phosphate and sulphur, so useful, but as a base preplanting application. I think in future we are going to have to use far more bulk products, whether they be poultry litter, biosolids, compost or whatever, instead of concentrated chemical products. They are not nearly so convenient and less
One block of land is having a double spring break to clear up black-grass.
predictable in nutrient availability, but in the longterm will benefit our soils. Off topic, but probably, in my opinion, one of the main reasons we are seeing natural soil fertility dropping is due to the short-term nature of many farming agreements and uneconomic rents being tendered (and I assume being paid) which means some operators
need to see an immediate return on their investment. It’s not good for the soils, it’s not good for them if they did their sums right and in the long-term it’s not good for the landowners. I know there is the argument ‘if times get better’ but many of us have been there and know only too well that as commodity prices rise so do all other costs.
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Early maturing and high yielding Excellent standing power Stiff stemmed Short strawed Good disease resistance Conventional variety
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TALKING ARABLE
IAIN Green
Iain Green farms in partnership with his parents Jimmy and Nan Green at Garmouth, Morayshire. He is currently president of the council of the British Simmental Cattle Society and is a past president of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.
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We didn’t receive our first real frosts of this winter until after the middle of January
nce again we have been extremely lucky to have missed most of the torrential rain which has fallen over some areas of the country through December and into January. We have only received just under 50mm since the start of the year, whereas some areas have had several hundred millimetres. There has been widespread damage throughout some parts of Aberdeenshire and Deeside, with fellow farmers losing crops, ground, vehicles, stock and having their homes badly damaged, several towns and villages have been very badly affected. However, our ground hasn’t been dry enough to carry out any field work. We are lucky this
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Fairing, Olympus, Odyssey and Concerto will make up the farm's spring barley acreage for harvest 2016.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
year in that we have all the heavier land ploughed apart from one field which needs a drain repaired. The lighter land left to plough will receive an application of farmyard manure prior to ploughing and several of these fields still have out-wintered cattle in them. Due to the land being too wet to get on with muck spreading and ploughing, we have been busy carrying out other duties, including building a handling and feeding area for 210 spring-calving cows with auto-catching yolks and assisting the pedigree stockman in preparing our entry of 15 bulls for the Stirling Bull Sales in the middle of February. Oxford Farming Conference I was fortunate to be invited along with an Aberdeenshire farming friend to the Oxford Farming Conference as guests of Yara. We were wined and dined to the highest standards and met other fellow farmers from throughout the country. It was a great way to kick-start the New Year with some very thought-provoking and interesting speakers, although after returning home I felt as though it would have been better if I had gone to bed earlier the previous three nights. One of the fringe talks had me thinking about why our country has to import between 40-50% of our food when one major fast food burger chain uses more than 250,000 tonnes of British potatoes and more than 40,000t of British and Irish beef in a year. Why cannot other retailers and food outlets be as totally committed to helping British agriculture? We didn’t receive our first real frosts of this winter until after the middle of January, up until that point young grass reseeds and winter cereals were continuing to grow and look very green. The winter cereals look well-established,
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TALKING ARABLE but some fields of winter barley are full of lush soft growth and I suspect will need an early application of manganese. I have made my final decision on spring cropping plans and after discussing varieties with my local maltings. This will be the first year for almost 20 years I will not be growing Maresi, which was grown for a specific market but has become both outclassed in the field and also the distilling process. Slow to break It will be replaced with Fairing and a smaller area of Olympus. Last year was the first year of growing Olympus and it performed well on both yield and quality, but unfortunately it has been very slow to break dormancy at the maltings and they are not keen to commit to large tonnage for the coming harvest. It is always difficult to find a new variety to suit both the grower and the end user but we must grow what the market requires. The remaining acreage of spring barley will be made up of Concerto and Odyssey for the low nitrogen market. I will also be keeping a
Farm facts rW.J. and J. Green is a family partnership based at Corskie, Morayshire, in the north east of Scotland r1,234 hectares of owned and contract farmed arable land and grass for livestock enterprises, which include a pedigree Simmental herd and indoor pigs rSoils: Light sandy loam through to clay loam rCropping includes 107ha winter wheat (distilling/ feed), 72ha winter barley (own use for pig feed), 411ha spring barley (malting) and 10ha spring oats (own use for feed) rOne farm has been in continuous barley since the 1960s rW.J. and J. Green also runs a UK-wide haulage business
Take the gamble out of weed control.
close eye on the new variety Laureate, which on paper does look good both in terms of yield and disease resistance; hopefully I will manage to get some seed for a trial plot. I will also sow about 10 hectares with spring oats for feeding to our young pedigree bulls.
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With no real frosts until mid-January, winter cereals look very green.
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BUSINESS MARKET ANALYSIS Volatile markets make it essential for farmers to seek expert advice, says ODA UK.
Wheat now ‘stable to up’ he latest reports from the USDA highlighted a very sluggish old campaign and a new campaign with a reduced production potential. After a similar situation in India and Ukraine it is now the turn of the USA, where a low winter wheat acreage is reducing the harvest forecast by 2.7 million tonnes. In the short-term, two unknowns give cause for concern. Firstly, hedge funds have a record short position of 130,000 lots which is bringing a high probability of sharp buyback. The question is when? Secondly, renewed sales by farmers, who are experiencing cashflow problems and cannot continue to retain their grain indefinitely. Again, the question is when? When the sales start to pick up, we will see major pressure. Key factors to watch out for, therefore, are export dynamics, the positions of funds and levels of retention by farmers. Wheat
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Feed barley The world is well supplied when we take into account the 141.2 million tonnes of barley which was harvested in 2014 and an estimate of 144.8mt for 2015. This situation is repeated in Europe, which has experienced a rather stable and comfortable production over recent years. For the UK, the scenario is a little different, with a continuous increase in area sown to barley. Indeed, several elements, including black-grass and the three crop rule, have motivated UK farmers to
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Cashflow pressures mean growers are unlikely to retain grain indefinitely but the impact on the market is an unknown.
include more and more barley in their rotation. Combined with a record average yield, 2015 UK production was the highest for about 20 years. With a rather large global production, prices are currently fluctuating depending on the demand level. EU demand for feed and malting barley is currently not enough to keep a balance on the balance sheet between supply and demand. Feed barley is currently in competition with other European feed crops. The large wheat crop harvested in 2015 and high maize imports into Europe explain the high availability of feed crops, despite poor EU maize production. The malting barley market is really quiet because of the decrease in beer and distillers’ demand, combined with the fact buyers have already purchased most of their requirements. The European export pace for barley has been sustained for the last few months due to high demand from China. High
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
domestic maize prices as well as logistics issues in the country have resulted in the rise in imports of other feed crops. European exports to China have supported barley prices by reducing the discount of feed barley compared to feed wheat. However, a change in policy regarding the domestic maize markets resulted in the reduction of feed crop imports into the country. Since September, the European export pace has decreased and if European exports do not pick up again, then ending stocks for the 2015 campaign will grow. The key factors to monitor in this segment are market pricing compared to wheat and export dynamics. Oilseed rape Europe is sweeping up everything available internationally. For the first two months of the Australian campaign, the EU has captured 96% of the canola, compared with its normal market share of 50%. For the first four months of the Canadian
Consultant details rOffre et Demande Agricole (ODA) is a private, independent consulting firm which helps buyers and sellers of agricultural commodities manage market volatility and price risks. The key UK personnel within the company’s Pan European Group include Gary Phillips (country manager), Manon Leygue (consultant) and Sebastien Mallet (consultant). For more information call 01223 894 791, or visit www.odaconnect.co.uk campaign, the EU has imported almost 150,000t of canola, whereas it normally imports none. Lastly, since the beginning of the Ukrainian campaign the EU has purchased 80% of the rapeseed, against 65% last year. Here we can see the effects of Euronext’s firmness relative to the other international markets.
AF Feb p14 15 Market Analysis TR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:07 Page 2
MARKET ANALYSIS BUSINESS The direct consequence for farmers is a fall in local bases to the unusually low levels of €10/t (£7.63/t) in Rouen and €8/t (£6.10/t) in the East. This fall is likely to lead to lower prices on nearby expiry on Euronext, especially as (on nearby expiry) our market is still €60/t (£45.76/t) higher than Canadian prices and, at this level, even China is not able provide us with any competition in Australia. At the same time, the strength of the demand from crushers in Europe, and in Canada following the opening of new factories and China concentrating on Canadian supply, means rapeseed is firm against other agricultural products. The canola/wheat ratio is 1.7 in Canada and 2 in Australia, while the rapeseed/wheat ratio has risen to 2.2 in Ukraine and 2 on Euronext, for harvest expiry. The spring acreage is therefore likely to increase this year. Nonetheless, these ratios must remain in place until April/May so as to guarantee an increase in acreage. Factors to bear in mind are the impact of trade figures, bases in Europe, Euronext’s premium over competitor markets and the rapeseedcanola/wheat ratio. Maize South America’s (Argentina and Brazil) maize is still in very good condition, with more than 90% rated good-excellent. In Brazil, the maize flowering period is ending in very good conditions and the first harvests are starting, as are the second-crop sowings after soya. The weather in South Africa, however, is still a cause for concern, because the drought is intensifying and temperatures are high. Incidentally, the USDA has reduced its production estimate for the country by 4mt to 8mt, although some
Overview rWheat: In the short-term
The malting barley market is quiet due to the decrease in distillers’ demand.
What to watch rWheat: Export dynamics, the positions of funds and levels of retention by farmers rFeed barley: Market pricing compared to wheat and export dynamics rOilseed rape: The impact of trade figures, bases in Europe, Euronext’s premium rainfall is expected next week. It comes as no surprise to hear European maize is still not competitive when compared to imported maize, which is boosting imports. The EU, however, may soon reintroduce import duties, which will severely limit the potential for falls. This is because the price for US maize delivered Rotterdam works out at close to €152/t (£116/t), which is the threshold at which a €5/t (£3.81/t) import duty is implemented. Keep a close eye on the competitiveness of EU maize, import certificates and the
over competitor markets and the rapeseedcanola/wheat ratio rMaize: The competitiveness of EU maize, import certificates and the weather in the Southern Hemisphere rSoybeans: Trade figures, sales by Argentina and the weather in South America weather in the Southern Hemisphere. Soybeans The USDA’s monthly report saw the USA’s 2015 harvest revised down by 1.2mt. Furthermore, the USDA has increased its crushing estimate for Argentina following the liberalisation of the market. Campaign ending stocks are therefore down by 3.3mt at global level. In South America, the harvest is starting in Brazil and sowings continue in Argentina. Production forecasts are therefore likely to stabilise at about 100mt for Brazil. In Argentina,
lower levels of retention of wheat by farmers is unlikely and funds may buy back before then, so the market is ’stable to up’ rFeed barley: There will not be enough demand to reduce the discount between feed wheat and barley rOilseed rape: At the moment, the European market has done its job by providing optimal supply levels for factories. Furthermore, all the rapeseed/canola markets are already paying for an increase in acreage. Given the sharp falls in crude oil prices and the ensuing weakness of oils, rapeseed is likely to continue trending down rMaize: The context is still sluggish and there is a potential for falls until the European Commission introduces import duties rSoybeans: The latest USDA monthly report provides a good sales opportunity for soya producers in the Americas. No rally above the $9/bu mark is expected and the general trend is likely to be a fall the harvest is likely to be higher than the USDA’s 57mt. In our opinion, therefore, most of the bullish factors regarding supply have now been taken on-board. With regard to demand, Chinese imports may have been underestimated by the USDA, when the 9.12mt imported in December are taken into consideration. Nonetheless, economic risks in China are likely to limit the undeniably bullish effects of such a level of imports. Key factors to monitor are trade figures, sales by Argentina and the weather in South America.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p16 17 Oxford TR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:04 Page 1
BUSINESS CONFERENCE Momentum is said to be growing for the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference to forge links. Alistair Driver and Olivia Midgley report from this year’s separate events. Entrepreneurialism JFarmers have been urged to embrace a more entrepreneurial approach in a new report commissioned and funded by the Oxford Farming Conference. The 84-page report, ‘Entrepreneurship: A kiss of life for the UK farming sector’, concluded farmers were less entrepreneurial than other sectors, but those who were ran far more profitable businesses. However, according to the report’s authors, Graham Redman, of the Andersons Centre, and Muhammad Azam Roomi, of Cranfield University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurialism could be learned.
Farmers’ new flood powers
armers will be given new powers to maintain ditches as Defra ‘decentralises’ decision-making on flood management and other environmental work, Defra Secretary Liz Truss announced. Despite pledging £2.3 billion over the next six years on flood protection, a ‘real terms increase’, Mrs Truss has come under fire over the Government’s flood defence policy as the wettest December on record caused horrific flooding across much of northern England and Scotland.
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She used her speech to highlight steps Government was taking to address the problem, including maintaining Defra’s capital budget in the face of 15% cuts to its alreadydepleted resource budget. This will mean continued investment in flood defences, which she claimed would result in the protection of an additional 404,000 hectares of ‘our best-quality farmland.’ Mrs Truss also announced, subject to Parliamentary approval, changes to legislation to enable farmers across England, from to maintain ‘small PageApril, 1
Liz Truss
ditches up to 1.5km long’ on their land without requiring special permits. The move, which follows ‘successful ‘pilots in eight areas, would enable farmers to dredge to clear debris and manage land to stop it becoming waterlogged, she said.
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AF Feb p16 17 Oxford TR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:04 Page 2
CONFERENCE BUSINESS
No Brexit plan B for farming
JThere is no plan B being developed for farming in the event the UK public votes to leave the EU in the forthcoming referendum, Defra Secretary Liz Truss revealed. Mrs Truss was challenged by UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew to divulge the Government’s plans for supporting farmers if the UK cuts its ties with Brussels. She dodged the question, instead stressing her immediate focus was supporting Prime Minister David Cameron in his efforts to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with the EU. Later, when asked by journalists if there was a team in Defra working on a ‘plan B’ for farming in the event of a ‘Brexit’, Mrs Truss added:
“That is not the case. We have teams in Defra working on animal and plant health, environmental improvement, increasing exports and supporting farmers. But we do not have any team working on that.” With polls suggesting the referendum vote, which will take place later this year or in 2017, is in the balance, Shadow Defra Secretary Kerry McCarthy criticised Mrs Truss’ stance. Ms McCarthy, who will be campaigning for the UK to stay in Europe, said: “The question of whether the UK would continue to subsidise farming if we did have a Brexit is something the Minister needs to be able to answer.”
New rural manifesto JA new rural manifesto aimed at challenging the ‘elitism’ which ‘dominates countryside policy’ was launched at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The document, produced by the Land Workers’ Alliance and supported by the Family Farmers Association, includes 46 action points on matters such as housing, land ownership, agriculture and rural employment. One of the top priorities would be to limit Common Agricultural Policy subsidies at £120,000 per individual farmer, which the alliance said would free up about £4 million for new entrants and smaller family farms who do not receive any subsidy at present. Other recommendations aim to halt the sell-off of county council farms, to increase the
greater weight of return
amount of affordable rural housing and to develop a land registry which is freely accessible online. The report’s authors said they intended to challenge the ‘dominating influence’ of the CLA, NFU and Scottish Land and Estates. Rebecca Laughton, of the Land Workers’ Alliance, said: “For decades, the number of farms and the number of farmworkers have declined remorselessly, while the cost of rural housing has become increasingly unaffordable. It is time we reversed these trends and it is not rocket science to do so.” Shadow Defra Secretary Kerry McCarthy said she supported many of the alliance’s policies and ‘looked forward’ to working with them.
AF Feb p18 19 20 Biz TR EP _Layout 1 21/01/2016 14:56 Page 1
BUSINESS FEATURE
With the UK population now 82% urban and latest UN predictions expecting the country to be 89% urban by 2050, feeding ourselves will be a challenge.
Urbanisation is expected to be a key issue as the world faces the challenge of feeding itself. But there is plenty of evidence it can be a spur agricultural production and eventually lead to lower levels of consumption. Cedric Porter finds out more.
Feeding an urban world he UK is a largely urban country and is unusual in that it has been for many decades. The 1851 census was the first to show there were more British people living in towns than the countryside. It is only in the last 10 years the world has tipped from the point of being more urban than rural. Now the UK is more than 82% urban and the latest UN predictions expect the country to be 89% urban by 2050. Feeding an urban population is challenging. Food has to be grown and then transported to
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where it needs to be eaten. Urbanisation naturally leads to a move away from subsistence farming, where a community would feed itself and then sell surpluses to a system of more commercial farms where a fewer number of specialist farmers produce larger volumes to be sold to a more distant market. There is evidence urbanisation is one of a number of incentives to increase agricultural production, others being a rising population and new technology. Perhaps the most dramatic example of this is China. In 1981 only a fifth of the country’s 988
million lived in towns and cities, about 198m people, according to World Bank figures. Jump forward 32 years and the proportion had increased to 54%, meaning 722m people were living in towns and cities. Rise The move to the city was accompanied by a significant rise in the supply of food calories per person. According to UN FAOSTAT calculations, with the 3,080kcal/ head/day in 2011 up 41% on the 1981 figure and 90% of the average UK calorie supply.
Chinese consumption of traditional foodstuffs was muted in the 30+ year period, with rice supply per person up just 4.3% and wheat supply up 0.3%. There were significant increases in corn/maize supply and sugar (both more than 50%), but still below North American and European levels. The biggest and most impactful change was in the consumption of animal products. Meat consumption rose 336% to 61.1kg/head/year and about 85% of average UK consumption, while dairy consumption was up more than 1,000% to
Table 1: Chinese urbanisation, food supply and consumption
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
2013
% change 19812011/13
Av %/yr ‘81-11/ 13*
Urbanisation % 20 24 27 32 37 44 51 54 +170 +5.2 Population million 987.8 1,061.9 1,153.2 1,221.1 1,268.3 1,302.3 1,336.7 1,367.5 +38.4 +1.2 Kcal/head/day 2,178 2,433 2,444 2,704 2,821 2,886 3,080 +41.4 +1.4 Rice kg/hd/yr 112.4 125.7 110.2 116.2 117.2 114.4 119.9 117.2 +4.3 +0.1 Wheat kg/hd/yr 63.2 76.1 78.4 78.4 72.5 67.6 63.4 63.4 +0.3 0 Corn kg/hd/yr 4.5 4.5 4.6 7.8 6.6 6.6 7.4 6.8 +51.1 +1.6 Oilcrops kg/hd/yr 5.3 5.6 4.5 6.5 6.9 5.9 7.2 8.2 +54.7 +1.7 Sugar kg/hd/yr 4.3 5.9 7.2 6.9 5.6 5.8 6.2 6.2 +44.2 +1.4 Meat kg/hd/yr 14 18.7 25.4 34.6 43.8 50 56.8 61.1 +336.1 +10.5 Dairy kg/hd/yr 1.9 3.1 4.2 5.7 8.7 21.1 28.6 29.4 +1,447.4 +45.2 Notes: Calorie and crop figures are FAO supply estimates. 2013 urbanisation and population figures relate to 2014. Rice figures are for paddy equivalent supply and dairy for whole milk equivalent. Note: *Averaged over period Source: World Bank, UN and UN FAOSTAT
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
AF Feb p18 19 20 Biz TR EP _Layout 1 21/01/2016 14:56 Page 2
FEATURE BUSINESS Table 2: Chinese population, crop yields and meat production
Urbanisation % Population million head Kcal/head/day Rice t/ha Wheat t/ha Meat production mt
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
20 987.8 2178 4.3 2.1 15.4
24 1,061.9 2,433 5.3 3 22.1
27 1,153.2 2,444 5.6 3.1 32.6
32 1,221.1 2,704 6.2 3.7 45.8
37 1,268.3 2,821 6.2 3.8 58.4
44 1,302.3 2,886 6.2 4.7 68.7
51 1,336.7 3,080 6.7 4.8 79.3
2006
2011
2013
2013
% change 19812011/13
54 +170 1,367.5 +38.4 NA +41.4 6.7 +55 5.1 +139.8 85.2 +451.6 Source: UN FAOSTAT
Table 3: UK urbanisation, food supply and consumption
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
% change 19812011/13
Av %/yr ‘81-11/ 13*
Urbanisation % 79 78 78 78 79 80 82 82 +3.8 +0.1 Population millions 56 56.6 57.4 58.2 59.1 60.5 62.3 64.1 +13.9 +0.4 Kcal/head/day 3,091 3,212 3,210 3,270 3,402 3,440 3,414 +10.4 +0.3 Wheat kg/hd/yr 80.52 83.86 82.63 86.37 92.21 97.21 96.91 NA +20.4 +0.7 Corn kg/hd/yr 3.23 3.24 3.19 3.45 3.39 3.31 2.93 NA -9.3 -0.3 Oilcrops kg/hd/yr 3.04 3.73 3.53 4.11 4.28 3.83 4.02 NA +32.2 +1 Sugar kg/hd/yr 42.37 40.41 40.38 38.4 38.29 30.81 38.94 NA -8.1 -0.3 Meat kg/hd/yr 69.3 71.66 72.51 73.13 78.49 85.71 82.46 NA +19 +0.6 Dairy kg/hd/yr 139.57 133.72 122.89 120.93 120.91 120.16 115.29 NA -17.4 -0.6 Notes: Calorie and crop figures are FAO supply estimates. 2013 urbanisation and population figures relate to 2014. Rice figures are for paddy equivalent supply and dairy for whole milk equivalent. Note: *Averaged over period Source: World Bank, UN and UN FAOSTAT
29.4kg/head/year, although that is still only a quarter of UK dairy consumption. The need to feed these animals and a growing Chinese population meant the production of cereals in the country has risen by 80% to 500m tonnes and China has become one of the most important importers of grain. What is as striking about the Chinese figures is the increase in demand at a time of urbanisation is the increase in productivity. UN FAOSTAT figures show between 1981 and 2011 Chinese yields of rice rose by 55% and there was a 140% increase in wheat yields. Again
increases have largely kept with that increase in demand, with wheat yields up by more than a quarter between 1981 and 2013, sugar yields doubling and meat production up 22%. There has been a small lag in the increase in yields of oilcrops, which include oilseed rape, at just 10%. What is important for UK farmers are recent trends in consumption by a largely urban population. Higher prices, fears over obesity and waste and the need for lower food intake in a predominantly non-manual workforce have seen marked reductions in food consumption over the last few years.
the most striking changes have been in the meat sector, with meat production up more than 450% to 85m tonnes in 2013.
UK urban maturity While China has been one of the fastest developing countries over the last 35 years, the UK can be described as a mature, developed nation. Between 1981 and 2013 the proportion of the population which was urban rose by just 3.8% at a time when the population rose by 14%. There was a steady increase in the consumption of wheat, oilcrops and meat, but declines in dairy and sugar intake. Yield
Since the mid-1970s the Ministry of Agriculture and then Defra have published a family food survey on the food intake of a sample of 6,000 representative families. Between 2009 and 2014 (latest survey results) total volume of food consumption in either kg or litres per head dropped by 6.7% to 974.4kg a year. That was at a time when the population of the UK rose by just 3.4% to 64.331m people, according to UN estimates. The result was the total amount of food consumed fell by 3.7% to 62.686m tonnes. The per head declines in X
Table 4: UK population, crop yields and meat production
Urbanisation Population Kcal/head/day Wheat t/ha Oilcrops t/ha Sugar beet t/ha Meat production mt
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
2013
% change 19812011/13
79 56 3,091 5.8 1 35.2 2.984
78 56.6 3,212 7 1.2 39.6 3.289
78 57.4 3,210 7.2 1 45.1 3.433
78 58.2 3,270 8.1 1.2 52.4 3.560
79 59.1 3,402 7.1 0.9 47.1 3.264
80 60.5 3,440 8 1.2 56.5 3.402
82 62.3 3,414 7.7 1.4 75.2 3.612
82 +3.8 64.1 +13.9 NA +10.4 7.4 +27.6 1.1 +10 72.1 +104.8 3.642 +22.1 Source: UN FAOSTAT
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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BUSINESS FEATURE Table 5: UK food consumption 2009-2014
Total in kg or ml/hd/wk Total in-home in kg or ml/hd/wk Total out-of-home in kg or ml/hd/wk Total takeaway in kg or ml/hd/wk Population Total consumption per head in kg or l Total food consumed in million tonnes
2009
2010
2011
20,112 18,025 1,929 158 62,221 1,045.8 65,073
19,896 17,885 1,849 162 62,717 1,034.6 64,887
19,814 17,887 1,769 158 63,165 1,030.3 65,081 Source: Defra
2012 19,481 17,671 1,649 160 63,574 1,013 64,399 Family Food
2013
2014
19,257 17,520 1,584 153 63,956 1,001.4 64,044 Survey and
% change 2009-14
18,739 -6.8 17,042 -5.5 1,540 -20.1 157 -0.6 64,331 3.4 974.43 -6.8 62,686 -3.7 UN population estimates
Table 6: Urbanisation levels and rates 1990-2050
World Asia China India Africa Nigeria Europe UK Latin America and Caribbean Brazil N. America USA Oceania Note: *averaged over period
in-home consumption were in bread (down 15.4%), potatoes (11.9%), meat and dairy, sugary soft drinks (down 36%) and alcohol (down 9.3%). The biggest gains were in yoghurt and fromage frais (up 732%), speciality breads (up 147%) and fishbased ready meals (up 117.3%). Consumption of food and drink out-of-home was down 20%, driven by a 29% drop in alcohol consumption/head out of the home, with sweet, biscuit and savoury snacks per head also down. Unfortunately for
% urban 1990
% urban 2014
% urban 2050
43 32 26 26 31 30 70 78 71 74 75 75 71
54 48 54 32 40 47 73 82 80 85 81 81 71
66 64 76 50 56 67 82 89 86 91 87 87 74
UK farmers, the only significant rises in out-of-home included a 12% increase in rice and pasta consumption, although salad eating out-of-home was up by a similar proportion. The big change in takeaway consumption was a 13.2% drop in fish consumption, suggesting the chips which go so well with them would also be down. While urbanisation may have transformed the world over the last few decades, there are now signs the rate which people are moving to cities is slowing
% change 1990-50
Urbanisation %/year 1990-50
Urbanisation %/year 1990-14
Urbanisation %/year 2014-50*
+53.5 +0.9 +1.1 +0.6 +100 +1.7 +2.1 +1 +192.3 +3.2 +4.6 +1.2 +92.3 +1.5 +1 +1.6 +80.6 +1.3 +1.2 +1.1 +123.3 +2.1 +2.4 +1.2 +17.1 +0.3 +0.2 +0.4 +14.1 +0.2 +0.2 +0.2 +21.1 +0.4 +0.5 +0.2 +23 +0.4 +0.6 +0.2 +16 +0.3 +0.3 +0.2 +16 +0.3 +0.3 +0.2 +4.2 +0.1 +0 +0.1 Source: World Urbanization Prospects, UN. 2014 Revision
down. Estimates from the UN suggest the annual rate of urbanisation across the world over the next 35 years will be nearly half what it was between 1990 and 2014 at just 0.6% a year. Different China continues to urbanise strongly along with India. Africa also continues to urbanise rapidly, but what is different to India and many parts of Africa is their appetite for meat is not so voracious as it is
in China. In the 30 years to 2010, India supply of meat/head remained at about 4kg/head/ year, with 40% of the population culturally and religiously vegetarian. In Africa, meat supply per head rose by just 27% to under 20kg/head/year. The message has to be that while urbanisation is an important factor in increasing the demand for agricultural products, it might not have quite the same impact over the next 35 years as it did over the last 35 years.
Consumption of cereals, oilseeds and meat has increased in the UK, but consumption of dairy, sugar and potatoes has fallen.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p22 Martin TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:04 Page 1
TALKING AGRONOMY
CHRIS Martin
Thoughts on crop rooting and available nutrients
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This season, in particular, I will be focusing on ensuring crops have a readilyavailable form of phosphate as we come out of winter
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new year, but not much change with regards to the weather in early January. I can’t but help remember a radio feature back in August suggesting we would be in for one of the coldest winters on record. I guess there is still time for this and there is nothing so unpredictable as the weather, but having spent Christmas pretty much sunbathing rather than skiing in the Alps, it was thoroughly depressing coming back home to the unseasonally warm and incredibly wet weather. While most parts of the North East have not suffered quite as badly from flooding as other parts of the UK, it’s still frustrating to look at crops which established so well in the region last autumn now swimming just to stay alive. If and when conditions allow, first thoughts must be to try and encourage rooting and provide readily available nutrition. The big yields from last season have mined fields of nutrients, and this combined with the unprecedented amount of rainfall encouraging leaching and run-off means crops are going to need all the help we can give them if we are to salvage decent yields again. Crops require all 17 essential nutrients, and if any one is lacking a yield penalty will result, so it will be particularly important this year to carry out soil and regular tissue tests to allow any deficiencies to be corrected before visible symptoms appear. This season I will be focusing on ensuring crops have a readily available form of phosphate as we come out of winter. It has an important role in stimulating early growth and development, root development and stress management. Phosphate is immobile in the soil, so is difficult for poorly rooted crops
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
to access. Availability is further reduced in cold, waterlogged soils, and this is exacerbated if the pH is not close to optimal level of 6.5. Growers should follow soil sample results and the Fertiliser Manual (RB209) for full recommendations, but where required, if phosphate has not yet been applied to the crop, a water soluble form should be applied at first chance. Useful range Slurries and digestates can also provide available phosphate and a useful range of other nutrients, but due to their high readily available nitrogen content, they should be used together with a nitrification inhibitor product such as N-Lock. The main problem is the N can be easily lost through leaching to surface and groundwater, and de-nitrification to nitrogen gasses. This leads to poor N efficiency, reduction in optimal yields and harmful emissions to the environment. Nitrification inhibitors slow down these losses, ensuring more efficient use of nitrogen. N-Lock contains the active ingredient nitropyrin, which keeps nitrosomonas bacteria inactive and so more of the nitrogen source in the stable ammonium form, which is less susceptible to losses via leaching and de-nitrification. This stable form of nitrogen binds with the soil, but is still available for plant growth, ensuring most efficient use of fertilisers, slurries and digestates while minimising losses to water and the atmosphere. Wishing all readers a very happy New Year; here’s hoping 2016 brings better weather, better prices and a successful harvest.
Agronomist facts rChris Martin is a technical manager for Agrovista, based in the north east of England. His role is to provide technical advice to growers over an area extending from Lincolnshire to Scotland. Prior to this, he was an agronomist with the company for 15 years and continues to provide agronomy advice to a number of growers producing combinable crops in the Scotch Corner area
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AF Feb p24 Symes TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:06 Page 1
TALKING AGRONOMY
SARAH Symes
Taking time to reassess
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Most crops are looking well despite sitting with wet feet for so long
24
anuary has been spent sitting patiently waiting for some frosty weather to arrive, for the rain to give us some respite, and hoping the slugs, which were active before Christmas and New Year, have now given up and drowned. Needless to say, field visits have been a bit on the thin side. However, February will be spent reassessing old recommendations and planning new recommendations for those farms with outstanding work leftover from autumn. Fortunately, most crops are looking well despite sitting with wet feet for so long. This is probably due to the soil being worked in good conditions in autumn, so structure has remained good and therefore drainage has worked well. Late drilling in autumn has meant lower black-grass and brome levels going into spring, so reliance on the likes of Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron), Axial (pinoxaden) and Broadway Star (florasulam + pyroxsulam) will be reduced, which is no bad thing considering resistance statuses. The mild weather has also encouraged foliar diseases, particularly mildew in forward barley crops. In one low-lying, sheltered area of wheat we have also seen septoria covering 50% of new leaves. Both diseases need to be considered life threatening before treatment at this stage, as leaves which are infected now will not contribute to yield at harvest, only green area is reduced, therefore photosynthesis slowed. Nevertheless, spring fungicide programmes will more than likely feature a mildewicide at T0. A question which keeps cropping up is application of insecticides for BYDV. According to surveys carried out by Rothamstead, aphid incidence in the South has been notably low from the start, so combined with the rain and wind there would have been little chance for aphid movement. The eastern counties have had the larger populations. We are still looking out for them and it is likely we may add an aphicide at T0 if we start to see aphids in crops or
J
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
where risk will be higher, for example along the south coast. Spring cropping is now being finalised and seed ordered. Spring barley and beans will feature heavily, with spring wheat taking a back seat due to its poor competitiveness against black-grass and threat of gout fly. Malting barley varieties have been studied closely; in the South we grow for the export lager market and there are some varieties with good potential on the list this year. Promising RGT Planet has provisional IBD approval and Laureate looks promising as long as it gets full approval too in the future. For this year we will be focusing on KWS Irina now it has full malting approval and Propino is still a good, longstanding malting variety. Sowings will begin shortly on the chalk and lighter soils. If black-grass is an issue a pre-emergence half-rate Liberator (flufenacet + DFF) or Crystal (flufenacet + pendimethalin) will be planned under EAMU approvals. Some of the fertiliser may be applied at sowing or as soon as tramlines are visible. Light leaf spot seems to be ever more acute each year, Proline (prothiocoanzole) was recommended before Christmas at between 0.3-0.5 litres/hectare which will allow for protection until February. The disease also has several infection cycles throughout the season, so treatment will be required in the winter and spring months. Few varieties have good genetic resistance, so a treatment of tebuconazole will be needed or metconazole if some growth regulation is required. Pigeons have so far not seemed to be problem, there is still plenty of food available, such as acorns and ivy berries for them not to be eating OSR, but if the weather turns cold and food sources dry up we may see pigeon damage occur quickly, so remain vigilant.
Agronomist facts rSarah Symes is an independent agronomist working with the Hampshire Arable Systems partnership. Based in Hampshire, she advises clients growing cereals, oilseed rape and pulses
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AF Feb p26 Brooks TR VR_Layout 1 21/01/2016 14:59 Page 1
TALKING AGRONOMY
VICKI Brooks
Looking forward to at least a little winter weather
“
Well-timed T0s should be quite sufficient to deal with the disease levels we’ve seen so far
26
e should always be careful what we wish for, but with January fast disappearing a little less rain and a decent cold snap would be really welcome. Although soil temperatures dropped away in early December, in most cases conditions were far too wet to get propyzamide onto our rape. Temperatures then warmed up again until some useful frosts in the past week have helped to cool and harden the ground. So it looks like most of our applications will be hard against the end of the January cut-off. A timely dose of winter would be valuable too in managing our more forward rape and cereal crops, as well as checking early mildew and septoria across much of our wheat. Well-timed T0s should be quite sufficient to deal with the disease levels we’ve seen so far. Our earlier sown wheats, though, could do with being rather less lush. Despite the wet season to date, all but our later-drilled crops after potatoes and sugar beet have good, deep root systems and look promising at mid- to late-tillering. Little and often nitrogen will be essential here, while our less forward wheats, with more rooting closer to the surface, could do with an early pick-me-up to balance winter leaching losses. They’re also showing a distinct appetite for micronutrients. Robust early management of our red-coded fields is continuing to pay dividends in keeping black-grass infestations under control in the sort of wet season the weed loves. However, the exceptionally mild conditions mean we’ve already seen a surprising amount of usually spring-germinating weeds – as well as the inevitable charlock and volunteer potatoes. For which some sharp frosts would be also welcome.
W
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
While there’s still much to learn about cover cropping and its real benefits to soil health and rotational margins, a variety of cover and catch crop mixtures are performing well for us; particularly as far as soil structuring is concerned. Just like my Agrii research colleagues at Stow Longa, we’ve been impressed by the way in which covers of just a few weeks have improved soil conditions ahead of winter wheat drilling. Fields with longer-term covers are also standing noticeably less wet over winter than cultivated ground. Initially, if this means they’re quicker to warm, it could make a valuable difference for our spring crop establishment. Covers With the possible exception of buckwheat, most of our covers established well from careful September sowing under favourable conditions. Radishes have rooted deeply and grown away strongly. Phacelia and vetches have also developed excellent rooting systems and canopies, as have rye and black oats. The more we work with cover cropping the more we come to realise how vital it is to fine-tune our mixes to what we want to achieve – soil structuring, weed competition or nutrient capture – as well as ground conditions, rotations and season. The fact we’ve seen a greater number of slugs under our covers than on the cultivated ground is an obvious concern, although rotational history may also be playing a part. Equally, winter aphid populations appear markedly higher in the covers than in our cereals. If the aphids prefer the covers, then all well and good, but they could be providing a worrying BYDV bridge. Cover cropping is a learning process. It’s one we are approaching with as much caution as enthusiasm in seeking consistent, economic value.
Agronomist facts rVicki Brooks is an Agrii agronomist based in Essex. She provides agronomy advice to clients growing cereals, oilseed rape, sugar beet, potatoes, maize and field vegetables in Essex and Suffolk
AF Feb p27 Ear 2 Beer (signed off) VR TR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:21 Page 1
SPONSORED EDITORIAL BASF’s Ear 2 Beer competition gave malting barley growers the chance to promote the tale behind their crop, with three finalists having their samples made into beer.
BASF announces Ear 2 Beer finalists T
he effects of the climate
sure flag leaf greening is extended for
probably represent the biggest
as long as possible to help produce
pean malt trade which presents the
challenge for malting barley
bold, high starch grain.
biggest challenge, but in the field,
growers, at least this is the consensus of opinion among the three finalists. Wiltshire farmer Richard BruceWhite, who grows 280 hectares of wheat, barley and oilseed rape on light
“Last season this was based on
Off-farm it is the volatility of the Euro-
seedbed conditions have a big influ-
an early triazole followed by Vortex
ence on establishment strategy. While
(epoxiconazole + fluxapyroxad +
the aim is to begin drilling in the last
pyraclostrobin) at flag leaf.”
week of February, it all depends on the
Spraying windows can be difficult
state of the soil.
loam over chalk at Winterbourne
to hit on the southern edge of the
Gunner, says moisture conservation
Salisbury Plain, which is a key reason
ally follows over-wintered stubble, so
pre-drilling is the key issue.
a protective strategy is preferable to
we plough and press to ensure a clean
a curative approach.
start, but aim for a level seedbed in as
He says: “My preference is to drill
Mr Watts says: “Spring barley usu-
CHALLENGE
few passes as possible. Usually, we
available soil moisture. If conditions are
“Rhynchosporium can be a challenge
can go straight behind and drill with
right, there is usually a slot between
if we get bad weather, but modern
our Vaderstad Rapid.
early January and mid-February.”
fungicides make management much
spring barley early to ensure plenty of
Agronomy focuses on using previous experience and on-farm trials data
easier now than it used to be.” The beer to be created from part of
“We grow Propino on contract to Crisp Malting, targeting 1.6-1.65% nitrogen levels using no more than
in applying nitrogen to optimise both
his 2015 crop will be labelled ‘Fat Bird
120kg/ha N, and quality comes before
target grain N percentage and yield, as
of the Barley’ and centres on a drawing
yield.
well as ensuring the crop has sufficient
of the corn bunting by his daughter
minor and trace elements, such as
Charlotte.
magnesium and sulphur. Mr Bruce-White says: “We grow
“Seed rate, depending on grain weight, is 160kg/ha, and the crop gets
Chalk downland provided the inspiration for the ‘Farmer’s Reward’
most of its nitrogen at drilling. We are also looking at pre-drilling application.”
Propino and target the higher 1.85%
label from Hertfordshire farm manager
nitrogen content market which enables
Andrew Watts, who grows about 95ha
an Adexar (epoxiconazole + fluxapy-
us to meet European export demand
of spring barley on chalky soils around
roxad) flag leaf application, preceded
from nearby ports at Avonmouth, Poole
Royston, as part of 2,500ha Wallington
by prothioconazole, to give protection
and Southampton.
Farms.
primarily against rhynchosporium,
“Good early control of leaf diseases
Sowing date, accurate nitrogen dos-
to maintain green leaf is essential and
ing and a good fungicide programme
we use the best available flag leaf dis-
are the critical factors he finds create
ease control with SDHI chemistry to en-
a successful crop.
Fungicide strategy is based around
mildew and net blotch, adjusting rates according to risk and conditions. “Propino is a clean variety, but with a short growing season and often brief
weather windows for spraying, protection is important.” At Holkham Estates, North Norfolk, manager Oliver Scott has taken a new job since designing his ‘Coke of Norfolk’ beer label, named after Thomas Coke, the local agricultural innovator of the 1700s and 1800s. Mr Scott identified this rotational mix as an important part of meeting specification demand with a good understanding of market requirements, and his replacement James Beamish agrees. He says: “We grow 350-400ha of spring barley here each year, mainly Concerto to supply local malting outlets such as Ryburgh Maltings, Boortmalt and Adnams with their requirements for 1.5-1.6% N crop.
ROTATIONS
“It fits in well to rotations with root crops and maize, after which we can plough and press straight behind, leaving the ground three-quarters of the way to a seedbed before drilling begins in March as soon as conditions allow, followed by early nitrogen.” Good consolidation helps ensure moisture is retained ahead of drilling, but again this can be an issue, while May and June rainfall can be unreliable. Mr Beamish says: “Possibly our biggest challenge is producing a consistent sample in an ever-changing environment. A strong fungicide programme based around Adexar [epoxiconazole + fluxapyroxad] at flag leaf helps here, as part of a protectant
RICHARD BRUCE-WHITE
ANDREW WATTS
JAMES BEAMISH
two-spray programme covering all key threats.”
Visit www.ear2beer.co.uk now to learn more FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
27
AF Feb p28 Roots TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 16:43 Page 1
TALKING AGRONOMY ROOTS
DARRYL Shailes
Planning a route to higher yields
“
As we come out of a lengthy wet period the obvious first thing to focus on is soil
28
otatoes, pomme de terre, kartoffel, aardappel – call then what you will – the drive for improved saleable yields in an increasingly competitive Western European market is essential for the modern potato grower. Reducing cost per tonne is the major focus in many commodity crops at present, and increasing yields is the best way of driving production costs down. It’s very easy to focus on input costs when looking at the cost of production – but they can only be driven down so far without quality and yield being affected. So what should be considered to get these higher yields when at least 60 tonnes/hectare is what is needed in today’s maincrop market? The ultimate aim is to capture light from the sun to allow the crop to convert this sunshine and light into carbohydrate via photosynthesis. In the UK the highest light incidence, as we know, is in midsummer, with the longest (and usually warmest) days being in June and July. Anything we can do to ensure the potato canopy is presented at its maximum potential for light interception during this period is a crucial aspect of maximising yield. As we come out of a lengthy wet period the obvious first thing to focus on is soil management and after the International Year of Soils in 2015 – during which Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO director-general said: “The multiple roles of soils often go unnoticed. Soils don’t have a voice, and few people speak out for them. They are our silent ally in food production,” – focusing our minds on managing this most precious asset should be uppermost in our thoughts at the start of 2016. All the recent work done by CUPGRA, NIAB and AHDB Potatoes confirms there is one sure-fire way to stop a crop from reaching its full potential and that is causing soil compaction with the pre-plant-
P
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
ing cultivations. The immediate consequence of this will be the crop failing to achieve early canopy completion. Potato roots are very sensitive to compaction, so all efforts should be made to ensure roots can grow effectively in the soil. It’s amazing how badly canopy development is affected by compaction, and yield reductions of up to 60% have been recorded in badly compacted soils. Planning now around soil management will make a big difference come planting time. At Hutchinsons we have our own soil management site, FENCe FARM, where we are looking at various methods of managing soils more effectively to increase crop performance. PCN grazing Another big factor which affects early potato root growth and hence canopy development is PCN grazing. PCN management planning may have already been done, but it’s still worthwhile reflecting on where we are. Look at the maps produced – preferably 50 cores per 1ha block or strips – so we know what we are up against. This allows us to then choose the appropriate strategy for control – whether it’s the use of nematicides, a resistant variety, or more likely a combination of both. One thing which may be forgotten, or left and then rushed, is recalibration of the nematicide applicator. It is vital to ensure it is going to deliver the correct dose of the product being used – the dose and flow rates differ for all nematicide products. There are several different organisations offering calibration courses over the next month or so for those handling application machines to ensure all nematicides are applied under good stewardship and provide maximum efficacy. So while we are all waiting for the rain to stop there are just a couple of things to consider to maximise production and achieve those higher yields needed by the modern potato grower.
Agronomist facts rDarryl Shailes is root crop technical manager for Hutchinsons, with a nationwide remit. He has been working in potato agronomy for more than 20 years
AF Feb p29 30 31 32 Black-grass TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:07 Page 1
WEED CONTROL FEATURE Do you know how much black-grass is costing your business? One agronomist has done a detailed analysis for a typical heavy land farm. Teresa Rush reports.
Counting the cost of black-grass
Rising black-grass costs are down to more than additional herbicide inputs.
ake one eastern counties heavy land farm. It has historic blackgrass issues; confirmed resistance to ALS group herbicides (mostly EMR); failing control from post-emergence herbicide chemistry and ‘average’ field drainage. Last season black-grass control on this farm cost on average over ÂŁ50/hectare more than it did a decade ago. The man crunching the numbers is Cambridge-based Strutt and Parker partner and agronomist Jock Willmott, who was using actual figures from a Bedfordshire farm managed by the business to highlight the cost of black-grass to agronomists and scientists at the British Crop Production Council’s annual weed review meeting. According to Mr Willmott, there are several factors contributing to the rising blackgrass cost burden and significant among them is the decline in efficacy of postemergence herbicides seen in recent years.
T
Expenditure The farm’s Gatekeeper figures show a total expenditure of ÂŁ65/ha on grassweed control in 2006/2007. Mr Willmott says: “You can see Atlantis working. It takes the pressure off what we do in the oilseed rape, where control is fairly straightforward.â€? Good control of black-grass in wheat at that time also helped to keep down grassweed control costs in oilseed rape crops – total spend in oilseed rape during the same season was ÂŁ72/ha. But since then costs have climbed steadily; so what is going on? “Where we are finding the pinch in X
BBroadway roadway SStar tar ggives ives eexcellent xcellent ccontrol ontrol ooff bbrome r ome sspecies, pecies, rryegrass yegrass aand nd w wild ild ooats. at s. IItt iiss aalso l so eeective  e c t i ve aagainst ga in s t a w wide ide rrange ange ooff bbroad-leaved road-leaved weeds. weeds. Use Use eearly arly oonn aactive c tive ggrowth row th aand nd gget et your your ccrop rop o o to to a cclean lean sstart tar t this this spring. spring.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
29
AF Feb p29 30 31 32 Black-grass TR EP_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:34 Page 2
FEATURE WEED CONTROL
Adexar provides a robust body and a good head. ®
Rotational changes to combat black-grass have seen a shift into crops with lower output potential than wheat, such as spring barley.
terms of increasing costs is in residual black-grass materials. Chemistry has got more expensive and in addition we are finding we are having to use so much more of it.
Stacking “Where we were using a light pre-emergence and a followup post-emergence, we are now into this situation of stacking residual chemistry. This, as we all know, isn’t sustainable,” says Mr Willmott. “The staggering thing is
how much the cost has increased, partly because of [price] inflation of the actives, partly because we are having to use so much more.” For this Bedfordshire arable business, black-grass control costs have increased from £65/ha to £134/ha in wheat and £72/ha to £103/ha in rape – increases of £69/ha and £31/ha respectively across the two crops, with most of the extra cost incurred in the wheat crop. The total cost across wheat
Adapting rotation to increasing resistance
Source: J. Willmott, Strutt and Parker
30
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
AF Feb p29 30 31 32 Black-grass TR EP_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 3
WEED CONTROL FEATURE Herbicide programme autumn 2006
Winter wheat Pre-drilling glyphosate x1 Pre-emergence – 3 litres/ha Crystal + 2 litres/ha trifluralin Post-emergence 0.4kg/ha Atlantis + 1 Bio power Total spend on grass-weed control in wheat
£/ha 6 26
Ha
Total
33 65
575
£37,375
Oilseed rape
Not once but twice.
Centium 0.25 litres/ha 19 Trifluralin 2 litres/ha 5 Falcon 0.5 litres/ha 8 Kerb Flo 2 litres/ha 40 Total spend on grass-weed control in oilseed rape 72 427 £30,744 Source: J. Willmott, Strutt and Parker Herbicide programme autumn 2015
Winter wheat Pre-drilling glyphosate x3 Pre-emergence stack (Avadex, Crystal, DFF, Liberator) Early post-em (pre-leaf 2 of grass) Total spend on grass-weed control in wheat
£/ha 15 78
Ha
Total
41
134
480
£64,320
Oilseed rape Glyphosate x1 5 500g/ha metazachlor 13 120g/ha clethodim 23 Late-autumn full rate propyzamide + carbetamide 62 Total spend on grass-weed control in oilseed rape 103 369 £38,000 Source: J. Willmott, Strutt and Parker
and oilseed rape amounts to an extra £34,200 a year on the crop protection bill and furthermore there is now less wheat and oilseed rape in the rotation (the 2015 combined wheat/OSR area was 85% of the 2007 area). “As a result of not really being able to control the grass, we have to grow less wheat and that acreage has been taken up with spring barley and spring beans,” Mr Willmott adds. And this forced shift in cropping has also contributed to increased costs. “Wheat is important, wheat is the cornerstone, it is the most profitable crop, it always has been,” he says. But the
In spring our support grows.
“
The staggering thing is how much the cost has increased Jock Willmott
winter wheat acreage harvested in 2016 will be down 10% on harvest 2007. (See graph, left). “With the inclusion of spring barley and spring beans, the earning potential of the rotation has come off by £30,000,” he adds. X
Not just the best fungicide for wheat, Adexar has proven it is equally effective on barley. In fact, it produces the kind of healthy plants and top quality grain needed to brew the best beer. No surprise, because as well as providing excellent disease control, Adexar also promotes stronger stems, prevents brackling and delivers far more efficient water use. Benefits any grower would drink to. To find out more visit www.agricentre.basf.co.uk ®
®
Adexar is a registered trademark of BASF. Adexar contains fluxapyroxad + epoxiconazole. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning phrases and symbols refer to www.agricentre.basf.co.uk. ®
®
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
31
AF Feb p29 30 31 32 Black-grass TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:10 Page 4
FEATURE WEED CONTROL
“
Wheat is important, wheat is the cornerstone, it is the most profitable crop, it always has been Jock Willmott
But that is not the end of it. Drilling wheat three weeks later is reducing the output potential of crops. Spring barley and spring beans are lower output potential crops. Some 23ha of land worstaffected by black-grass have been taken out of combinable crops and put into grass, or let. Savings in input costs on spring crops deliver some cashflow advantage, Mr Willmott acknowledges. “But you ask any farmer, he would rather have the income potential on the top line, push it hard and make costs fit underneath it. “We would like to grow lots of wheat, we have been there before but at the moment we absolutely can’t, we have no choice. We can’t have uncontrolled black-grass.” And still there is more to consider.
“So we’ve changed the rotation, we have got extra crops; we are being forced to drill into a narrower window and we have pushed that window closer to Christmas, when it gets wetter. “Since Atlantis control dropped off there has been more [black-grass] seed return, more glyphosate use, much more spraying and because we are drilling later, the crops are harvested later. We need to do all that over a shorter period, so we need more resource to do it.” Extra resources The extra resources required have included a larger sprayer and combine, additional labour and greater quantities of herbicide. Yet despite this extra investment and the rotational changes, the black-grass battle is by no means won, believes Mr Willmott. “I am concerned the spring cropping we are putting in will change the population dynamics of what [blackgrass] we have got. We are seeing quite big flushes in spring crops where we haven’t had them before. “Maybe it’s because we’ve such a big burden of blackgrass and a proportion of that happens to germinate in spring, but it does seem we are getting more grass in spring crops than we used to and our
Black-grass control – associated costs
Increase in farm costs £100,000 in extra depreciation cost Finance One more staff member at 75% of time Additional herbicide costs Total extra cost to farm of black-grass control
£/year £13,000 £2,000 £23,000 £34,000 £72,000 (6% increase in overall farm costs)
Plus extra seed to compensate for later drilling, more competition ? Source: J. Willmott, Strutt and Parker
32
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
Difficulties in controlling black-grass are leading to a reduction in the winter wheat acreage on the farm, compared to that of a decade ago.
only real push-back against that is higher seed rates. “Pre-emergence spring residuals are notoriously variable but on the plus side we can push these [spring] crops hard and get some tremendous yields.” With black-grass costing the farm £72,000 a year, he is calling on scientists and weed control experts to help deliver new approaches to blackgrass control. These might include, perhaps, very local information on black-grass seed dormancy which could help inform cultural control decisions, or novel control methods. “The decision to go drilling in autumn is the big decision
and is a very much a roll of the dice. We need some sort of localised information to help, with black-grass dormancy. If we get it wrong it contaminates the crop and the rotation. “Chemicals are cyclic, we know that. We are coming to the end of Atlantis and perhaps to the end of some of the residuals we use across the rotation. Novel control methods are required – can we make use of natural predation [of seed]? Are there ways of affecting black-grass dormancy or seed set perhaps?” In some fields only a break from cropping will get the farm ahead, concludes Mr Willmott.
A4 Template_Template 15/01/2016 14:24 Page 1
Chemistry
““For For tthe he m most ost effective effective black-grass black control, ck--grass control, choose choose your your moment.” moment.” IIff you you want want to to maximise ma ximise black-grass black-grass control, control, you’ve you’ve got got to to get ge t the the timing timing right. right. Be Be prepared prepared to to take take advantage advantage of of any any window window of of opportunity oppor tunity to to spray. spray. Atlantis Atlantis WG WG provides provides the the best best control control when when applied applied at at the the 1-3 1-3 leaf leaf stage. stage. So So keep keep monitoring monitoring black-grass black-grass emergence emergence and and be be ready ready to to swing swing into into action. action. For For optimum optimum control, control, start star t planning planning with with the t he Black-Grass Manager at www.bayercropsicience.co.uk/bgtm ww w.bayercropsicience.co.uk /bgtm Black-Grass Task Tas T ask Manager
www.bayercropscience.co.uk/bgtf
Atlantis is a registered registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer. Atlantis WG contains mesosulfur mesosulfuron on and iodosulfur iodosulfuron. on. Use plant pr protection otection products products safely. safely. Always read read the label and product product information before before use. Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety pr precautions ecautions on the label. For further information, please visit www www.bayercropscience.co.uk .bayercropscience.co.uk or call Bayer Assist on 0845 6092266 (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’ company’s s network access char charge) ge) or 01223 226644. © Bayer CropScience CropScience Limited 2016.
AF Feb p34 35 iOSR (Signed off) BB TR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:22 Page 1
SPONSORED EDITORIAL
Secrets to enhancing OSR yield and quality and strategies for coping with this year’s big crop were the focus of the first 2016 meeting of the Syngenta growers’ discussion group.
Oilseed rape growing: helping make the unpredictable predictable
In association with
H
eld at the ADM oilseed rape processing factory in Erith, Kent, James Southgate, field manager at Syngenta, said achieving maximum light interception was key to getting the best yield. Growers who planted early had seen their OSR rocket off the blocks and these crops were now exceptionally big. Even later-drilled crops look like normal August-drilled ones. Mr Southgate said: “Strategic management of this year’s potentially big oilseed rape canopies could make all the difference. “The growing points are already well extended, as the days become longer the crop will start growing even if the weather is colder. “If it remains relatively mild, it will start to romp away creating
tall main racemes and thick canopies which will start to shade lower leaves.” Thick pod canopies may look productive, but are more prone to lodging and disease, growers agreed. Mr Southgate said a timely application at stem extension of a fungicide, such as Toprex (paclobutrazol and difenoconazole), which has plant growth regulator (PGR) activity helps reduce canopy size in addition to synchronising delayed flowering and shortening the main raceme. Potential benefits of synchronising flowering also came under discussion. Minimising sunlight reflectance by flowers allows more light to be absorbed by green leaves, encouraging uniform pod development and maturation. “If you narrow the flowering
window you are bringing your side branches into bud at the same time as your main raceme. Early application when the plant is smaller has the greatest effect as the plant is still compact,” he said. However, he added, the product was a fungicide, so would give protection against diseases such as light leaf spot. “If crops are at high risk for light leaf spot or the disease is already present you need to control it very early in the spring rather than wait.”
Flea beetle reports Flea beetle pressure had varied greatly across the country, with many areas reporting wide year-on-year differences.
What is iOSR? iOSR is a new initiative from
growers aiming to deliver
Syngenta, published
timely information and
exclusively by Arable Farming
intelligence to enable more
magazine, to give growers
informed decisions for crop
and agronomists a deeper
agronomy.
insight into oilseed rape production. It will combine expertise
The Syngenta growers’ discussion group focused on enhancing OSR yield.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
To read more about the project and hear from some of the growers involved visit:
from across the industry, with
www.fginsight.com/iOSR.
in-field science from
In addition, you can ask
Syngenta innovation centres
Syngenta OSR questions and
and the practical experiences
join iOSR discussions on
of a group of successful
Twitter by using #iOSR.
For more on iOSR visit: www.fginsight.com/iOSR
34
Some areas which had been under heavy pressure in 2014 had not seen a repeat this year. Other growers who had not experienced high damage levels last season had seen greater pressure this year. Some growers had variation within fields, with the pest moving across parts of the crop. Mr Southgate said: “Damage appears to have occurred in pockets, but the derogation to use neonicotinoids in certain areas has helped.” Following a no-till regime can help avoid peaks and troughs of growing crops such as OSR, said Nuffield scholar Russell McKenzie, who has just finished a study on the subject. Recent trips to New Zealand,
AF Feb p34 35 iOSR (Signed off) BB TR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:23 Page 2
SPONSORED EDITORIAL
ADM Oilseed Processing; looking for consistency PROCESSORS were looking for
the factory to bring both ends of
consistency in the oilseed rape
the supply chain closer
coming into the factory, said
together.
Martin Farrow, general manager at ADM Oilseed Processing. The busy site at ADM Erith,
Some of the oil refined for the food industry is LEAF Marque certified and supplies some of
near Dartford, Kent, receives
the best-known food producers
some 150 daily truckloads
such as Hellmann’s, and carries
which it processes into refined
a healthy premium to the farmer
oil for food ingredients and
for the additional workload.
from contaminating
pigeon shooting after March on
biodiesel.
Mr Farrow’s top pointers for
conventional rapeseed for
land used for rape, as clay may
consistent high quality
human consumption*.
cause contamination and
for processing oilseeds and
processing:
■ Ensure effective weed control,
amount to considerable costs
making margarine, the factory is
■ Maintain moisture content at
particularly when dealing with
(please refer to Red Tractor
situated close to the M25 and
6-9%.
brassica weeds, as many of
Assurance scheme).
backs on to the River Thames.
■ Ensure crop is not tainted with
these weeds contain high levels
foreign smells.
of erucic acid and will
both seed suppliers and oil
■ If growing High Erucic Acid
contaminate your rapeseed
demand, said Mr Farrow, who
Rapeseed (HEAR) varieties,
sample.
was keen to build closer
keep rotations long enough to
■ As per Red Tractor
relations with farmers supplying
prevent any variety volunteers
regulations, do not allow clay
Initially constructed in 1908
This made it well-placed for
Australia, USA, Brazil and Argentina to look at no-till systems showed the system to be effective under both wet and dry conditions, with better water infiltration, no pooling and improved water retention during dry spells giving plants up to 10 days longer before soil moisture levels fell into deficit. Rotations and residue retention were key areas included in his study. Mr McKenzie said: “The carbon:nitrogen ratio in the rotation is something growers need to take into account. “For optimum break-down of residues the ratio needs to be 24:1, so crops such as peas [25:1] decompose relatively quickly leaving little excess. The ratio for oilseed rape is just a little higher than peas, so it fits well in a rotation. “Wheat [80:1] has more than three times as much carbon as
peas and therefore needs much more nitrogen to break down.” As a result, two wheat crops in succession are likely to lock up the N, making it unavailable for subsequent cultivations.
Compaction Oilseed rape is sensitive to compaction as it can be a lazy rooting crop. Compaction can be dealt with in a number of ways, including some form of sub-surface cultivation for an instant fix or use of robust cover crops. For some growers, volunteer oilseed rape serves as a simple cover crop. Mr McKenzie said: “Rather than spraying OSR volunteers off early, they can be a useful option between OSR and wheat as a short-term, low cost cover crop, as long as moisture is not limiting.
*Normal oilseed rape varieties have about 2% erucic acid, whereas the HEAR varieties, which are used for lubricants and plastics, have about 50%.
“We need to be mindful not to think of no-till as being only about the machine, it needs to include details, such as balanced rotations, retaining residues and replacing cultivation techniques with cover crops. “Improving organic matter is central to soil resilience. Notilling on heavy soils can be more challenging, but with the
right mindset it can be done, and done well. Results from a move to a no-till system can take time, so growers need to be patient while the soil builds organic matter and gradually become more resilient.” jRead Mr McKenzie’s full Nuffield Scholarship report at www.nuffieldscholar. org/news/russell-mckenziereport-published-/
Tweet panel j@russbmckenzie @SyngentaCropsUK nailed it. Was a very good talk #iOSR @johnhaynes84 jA good reason why OSR price is low, global increase of oilseeds from 184m tonnes in 95/96 to current levels at 428 @russbmckenzie jAs the first #iOSR article publishes in @ArableFarming, hear first-hand from one of the members @wheat_daddy
Use #iOSR to join the discussion
Join the discussion: #iOSR FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
35
AF Feb p36 37 38 Weed Control TR EP _Layout 1 22/01/2016 12:08 Page 1
FEATURE WEED CONTROL Thanks to reduced rates and product withdrawals there is an urgent need for new thinking on post-emergence potato herbicides and their effect on the crop. Heather Briggs reports.
Getting round the AMG control gaps in potatoes ontinual crop protection product losses over the past few years have left large gaps in the potato grower’s toolbox, says John Keer, of Richard Austin Agriculture. Actives previously used for potato desiccation prior to harvest, such as glufinosate-ammonium, are now only authorised for ‘flail and spray’ so they are applied in bands, leaving an area of the
C
Decisions to use post-emergence herbicides need to be taken on a field-by-field basis, says John Keer.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
AF Feb p36 37 38 Weed Control TR EP _Layout 1 22/01/2016 12:09 Page 2
WEED CONTROL FEATURE field uncovered. This means weeds not growing on top of the ridge are not controlled. In addition, rates for linuron are capped at 600g/active ingredient (ai), so they offer reduced control. This makes controlling annual meadow-grass (AMG) particularly challenging for potato growers in the latter stages of the season after crop burn-off or senescence. AMG thrives after desiccation, forming large clumps in the potato field and making harvesting both difficult and slow. This puts pressure on growers to try and maximise pre-emergence control. Prolonging life Dr Keer says: “The best way to enhance herbicide activity is to mix a contact and a residual and apply it as close as you dare to crop emergence so you can catch emerged weeds, including AMG, with the contact herbicide. This way, you are also prolonging the product life of the residual.” When considering tank mixes, it is important to take both soil type and weed pressure into consideration, he says. Pre-emergence tank mixes typically include metribuzin and the highest
permitted rate of linuron (1.2-1.35 litres/hectare) depending on formulation. “If you are on light soils, metribuzin rates need watching. The addition of Defy [prosulfocarb] or Gamit [clomazone] can bolster weed control. Maximum “However, if you are on heavy, organic soils you will need to go for maximum label rate. Metribuzin crop safety is greatly improved on heavy and particularly, organic soils. “It is often best to do a three-way stack of residuals as linuron rates are now so low.” X
Dr John Keer
New potato herbicide actives in the pipeline JAlthough Dr Keer is concerned the authorities may withdraw linuron completely, there may be some good news: one new herbicide Praxim (metobromuron) was first approved last year and there are some new potato herbicides due to receive registration in the next couple of years. Some of these actives are currently used as cereal herbicides which are completely new for potatoes and will be formulated into new mixtures offering greater residual control. Praxim may prove to be a successor to linuron, he says. “This new herbicide has excellent crop safety and a similar weed spectrum to linuron but is currently more expensive. “However, despite its broad activity, best results are obtained from tank mixing it with other actives.”
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p36 37 38 Weed Control TR EP _Layout 1 22/01/2016 12:09 Page 3
FEATURE WEED CONTROL Herbicide damage or weed infestation; the decision dilemma JLow pre-emergence herbicide efficacy levels caused by dry spring weather leads to more reliance on post-emergence herbicides capable of damaging the potato crop. This can cause a dilemma for agronomists as they have to assess whether the weed is more injurious to the crop than the herbicide. Dr Keer has worked on a two-year trial, funded by AHDB Potatoes, looking to discover which of the top 20 varieties grown in Britain are the most susceptible to damage from metribuzin and bentazone applied post-emergence. Pre-emergence residual herbicides do not work in dry periods, even when they are stacked with others because they are dependent on soil moisture to be activated. Growers rely on post-emergence herbicides at such times but none are entirely safe, he says. Making the study more challenging is the variation in damage done to the crop; Dr Keer has found differences between varieties from year-to-year.
Trials with bentazone, which is a scorchtype contact herbicide, revealed a higher base level of damage across all varieties than those treated with metribuzin. However, the magnitude of damage between different varieties was similar with both herbicides. Dr Keer says: “With bentazone, the crop shows scorch symptoms for five to seven days after application, but then it makes a complete recovery.” The studies revealed two different types of damage from metribuzin. “If applied pre-emergence, metribuzin enters the plant through the roots and moves around, capping yield for the whole season. However, if it is applied post-emergence, the crop can look terrible for a week or 10 days and then recovers completely.” Varieties susceptible to herbicide damage, such as Innovator, suffer much more from post-emergence herbicide damage and can lose more than half their foliage. However, there are other varieties, including Desiree, where levels of damage are consistently very low.
“If you are growing a susceptible variety, you really do not want to use metribuzin because you are likely to lose more crop than if you left it at the mercy of the weeds,” says Dr Keer. Not all post-emergence herbicides do as much damage; an alternative available to potato growers is rimsulfuron, but it has a limited weed spectrum and weed size should be a maximum of two true leaves for good control to be achieved, says Dr Keer. “We need more crop-safe, broad spectrum post-emergence herbicides. However, we are stuck with metribuzin and bentazone and the crop selectivity problems associated with them.” Decisions to use a post-emergence herbicide have to be taken on a field-by-field basis, he adds. “None of the results of the work we have done will be recommended; they will just help the grower make a more informed decision at a given moment on whether to allow weeds to eat into yield or treat with a herbicide which will affect the crop.”
Controlling black-grass in sugar beet JBlack-grass control in sugar beet has become more difficult as resistance has developed to ACCase herbicides. Recent BBRO trials have sought to determine the relative value of non-ACCase herbicides with activity against black-grass within a sugar beet weed control programme, and also to better understand the best way to use these herbicides. The BBRO trials tested the performance of a base programme comprising Betanal Maxim (desmedipham + phenmedipham) and Goltix Flowable (metamitron), applied alone and in combination with other treatments. In trials on a loam soil in Lincolnshire, the base programme gave 56% control of black-grass. Ethosat 500 (ethofumesate) applied pre-emergence tended to boost control.
38
Controlling black-grass with herbicides in sugar beet rTri-allate can be useful as part of a stacked programme on soils with <10% organic matter (limited data) rConsider using ethofumesate pre-em with the addition of metamitron as an anti-resistance strategy, but hold some ethofumesate in reserve for post-em applications rPost-em treatments containing trisulfuron and ethofumesate appear to show According to independent agronomist Dr Pat Turnbull, who was involved with the BBRO work, in recent studies conducted by Ethosat 500 supplier UPL Europe, pre-em application of ethofumesate gave better control than post-em
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
useful black-grass control rACCase inhibitors may offer some control, depending on degree of resistance, when used as part of a programme aim to use on small black-grass (1-2 leaf). ACCase inhibitors are best applied alone and not in tank-mixes rAim to include two to four modes of action in the overall programme Source: British Sugar/ BBRO application and control levels fell as black-grass progressed from 1- to 2-3 leaves. Dr Turnbull says: “This highlights the value of the active at the pre-emergence timing. However, it is advisable to keep back some of the total dose of ethofumesate permitted to help
boost post-emergence herbicide activity for both grass and broad-leaved weed control.” Black-grass control from programmes including ACCase herbicides Aramo (tepraloxydim) and Centurion Max (clethodim) was significantly higher than from the base treatment, even though a moderate (RR) level of resistance was present. Control from incorporated Avadex (tri-allate) granules was similar to that from a Goltix + Ethosat 500 (metamitron + ethofumesate) pre-emergence treatment, but the effect was not additive where the treatments were used in sequence. JFurther information on the role of sugar beet in controlling black-grass is available in the British Sugar/BBRO Sugar Beet Review winter 2015 and www.beetreview.co.uk
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16:18
AF Feb p40 Weed Control TR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:21 Page 1
FEATURE WEED CONTROL Broad-leaved weed control in spring barley and potatoes is becoming increasingly challenging. Teresa Rush finds out more.
Scots face rising weed control costs in key crops rowers in Scotland face challenging times ahead in terms of broadleaved weed control in spring crops, as the effects of active ingredient revocations and increasing levels of resistance to herbicides are felt. Speaking at the British Crop Production (BCPC) annual weed review, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) weed expert Mark Ballingall highlighted the impact of the loss of ioxynil, used for weed control in spring cereals and linuron (approval for use ends January 31, 2019), used in potatoes, together with the potential for limitations to be placed on the use of further products in the future. “We have resistant weeds. Largely in Scotland it is resistant chickweed which is the issue and there is probably more resistant chickweed than current surveys suggest. “If we lose the efficacy of ALS inhibitors that is going to have a major effect on cereals. If we lose pendimethalin that is going to effect potatoes and beans and a wide range of other uses as well,” he said. Weed control costs in spring barley, Scotland’s main arable crop, were set to increase from about £17/hectare to £21/ha
G
40
Potato growers are feeling the impact of loss of herbicide active ingredients.
Impact of loss of actives in spring barley:typical tank mixes
Product Harmony M SX (metsulfuron + thifensulfuron) Ally SX (carfentrazone + Spitfire (florasulam + fluorxypyr) 0.75l Harmony M SX 50g + Harmony M SX 50g +
Product
Product
Cost/ha
Oxytril CM (bromoxynil + ioxynil) 0.5l + Oxytril CM 0.5l + MCPA 0.5l
CMPP 0.5l
17.40
Saxon (dimethachlor) 1.0l Starane (fluroxypyr) 2 0.75l
(see table, above) and more if the inclusion of Liberator (flufenacet + DFF) was required for annual meadowgrass control. Potato growers also face an increase in costs with the loss of linuron likely to result in cost increases for weed control in potatoes of at least £20/ha (see panel, right).
Managing resistant broad-leaved weeds rKnow the history of herbicide use on-farm
rMonitor crops rChange herbicide use rUse pre-ems where appropriate Source: M. Ballingall/SRUC
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
CMPP 0.5l
16.30 18.35
21.50
18.35
Source: M. Ballingall/SRUC
“Linuron + Retro + Shotput is the current best mix and is a common combination. So what happens if we lose linuron? We have to use other products which pushes up the cost from £45 to £65,” said Mr Ballingall. Survey An SRUC survey of agronomists in spring 2015 sought to identify which broad-leaved weeds were most difficult to control; what changes had been made to weed control programmes as a result of the loss of Oxytril CM and whether ALS-resistant chickweed was an issue and herbicide programmes had been changed in response. It found fumitory was becoming a real problem across
Tank mix options in potatoes post-linuron Current best mix rRetro (diquat) two litres/ha + linuron 1.33 + Shotput (metribuzin) 0.5kg = £45/ha Future options rPraxim (metobromuron) two litres/ha + Shotput 0.5kg + Retro two litres/ha = £65.70/ha rPraxim two litres/ha + Gamit (clomazone) 0.15 + Retro two litres/ha = £69.70 rPraxim three litres/ha + Defy (prosulfocarb) 2.5 litres/ha + Retro two litres/ha = £89.45 Source: M. Ballingall/SRUC rotations; there was poor control of chickweed and herbicide use was changing to include more fluorxypyr and florasulam. These findings are backed up by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture figures, which show there was a step increase in the use of fluorxypyr in spring barley in Scotland between 2010 and 2014, from use on 10% of the acreage to more than 25%. And use of florasulam also increased during the same period, from use on just over 2% of the spring barley acreage in 2010 to more than 11% in 2014.
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AF Feb p42 43 Lamma Tractors JR TR VR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:12 Page 1
MACHINERY LAMMA 2016 While the machinery market continues to endure a slump, manufacturers are still eager to showcase their developments, evident at this year’s Lamma machinery show. James Rickard, Jane Carley and Geoff Ashcroft report. Pictures by Marcello Garbagnoli and John Eveson.
Latest machinery on show at Lamma 2016 Case unveils its IH Optum
Fendt 1000 Vario series
JCertainly one of the biggest crowd-pullers at the show was the development of the 1000 Vario series. This follows Fendt’s identification of a gap in the market between standard tractors, which currently have a tendency to top out at about 400hp, and where 17-tonneplus tracked and articulated machines take over. Four models make up the new series: the 380hp 1038; 420hp 1042; 460hp 1046; and the range-topping 500hp 1050.
Taking a leaf out of the truck industry, Fendt has adopted a low revving, high torque development approach to the power unit of the 1000 series. Using MAN engines, developed to Fendt specifications, the 12.4-litre motors used have been redesigned to become a structural part of the tractor. Rated engine speed is a lowly 1,700rpm, but more astonishing is the 2,400Nm of torque which is available between 1,100rpm and 1,500rpm.
JReacting to an emerging need in the market for a high power to weight ratio tractor in the 250-300hp segment, Case IH has produced a new tractor series. Fitting in between its Puma and Magnum ranges, the new two-model Optum series will include the 270 CVX and the 300 CVX, rated to 271hp and 300hp respectively. Both models will be equipped with the firm’s own CVX continuously variable transmission. Under the bonnet, the Optum shares the same basic 6.7-litre, FPT
block as the Puma. However, to give the Optum increased strength, it uses a new sump design, which sees most loads and stresses transmitted through the sump and little through the ‘block,’ with the ‘block’ effectively just sitting in the sump. As the backbone of the tractor, the new sump design allows for a maximum gross vehicle weight of 16 tonnes and because it avoids the use of any additional chassis or side rails, turning radius is maximised. Available now, a standard spec 270 CVX retails at about £194,000.
New Holland extends its current range with the new T7HD
JMaking its Lamma debut was New Holland’s T7HD range of tractors, extending its current range of T7 tractors with two new models up to 315hp. Designed in response to customer feedback, the manufacturer says the tractors have
42
been developed from the outset to be versatile machines, able to carry out high power pto and transport requirements, but also with the ability to be ballasted up for draft applications. In doing so, the new models address a gap in the firm’s range which the heavier, more
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
load-lugging type tractors of the T8 range could not fulfil. More than just an engine tweak, the firm says the T7HDs are completely new tractors with many specially designed components. In particular, the engine incorporates a load-bearing
sump which carries much of the tractor’s stresses and strains. At the rear is an uprated version of the firm’s AutoCommand continuously variable transmission, standard on both models. Also standard is a four-speed pto.
AF Feb p42 43 Lamma Tractors JR TR VR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:13 Page 2
LAMMA 2016 MACHINERY
Claas Axion 870 fills a gap in manufacturer’s portfolio
JCurrently offering tractors from 200hp to 264hp in its Axion 800 series, Claas has extended the range, which sees a 295hp tractor added. This fills a gap between its Axion 800 and 900 series and satisfies a need for an increasing trend towards high power to weight ratio tractors. Now topping out at 295hp, the Axion 870 is 31hp more powerful than the current largest Axion 850, despite having the same operational weight. For all intents and purposes, the 870 is the same tractor as the 850, apart from being more powerful. This new-found
power is courtesy of engine power management, which makes 295hp available when the tractor travels above 14kph (9mph) and/or when the pto is engaged, providing 15hp extra on top of the 870’s rated 280hp. Unlike the rest of the firm’s tractors, which have full power available all the time, Claas has taken the power management approach to this model so it can still use the same ZF Terramatic continuously variable transmission as in the current 800s. Available now, the 870 retails at £179,440.
Versatile’s conventional tractor range
JFollowing on from its introduction of the Versatile Delta Track tracked tractor range into the UK, importer JPM Agriculture is now doing the same with the Versatile range of conventional tractors. Three models are currently being offered – the 260, 290 and 310 – with power ratings relating to model number. The firm also has plans to bring in two larger models, the 340 and 360. Like their tracked brethren, the conventional tractors use Cummins motors, in this case a nine-litre unit. This is married to a 16-speed full powershift transmission, capable of 40kph (25mph). Also similar to the Delta Track is the operating logic and cab frame. The new tractors are available now to order, with a rough on-farm price for the 260 of about £80,000.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
43
AF Feb p44 45 Lamma Tillage TR JR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 09:51 Page 1
MACHINERY LAMMA 2016 Tillage equipment
Horsch Avatar SD direct disc drill
JHorsch launched its first
direct disc drill, the Avatar SD, available in four-, six- and 12 metre working widths. It uses a single disc coulter, pressurised to 200kg for improved soil penetration, with a following press wheel to close the seed furrow and consolidate seed rows. Its coulter frame has been designed to eliminate sideways movement, says the manufacturer, maintaining consistent
sowing depth on uneven soils. Arrangement of the single disc coulters is in two bars said to reduce power requirement. Hopper and metering systems are taken from the Pronto DC and tank capacity is 1,500 litres for the 4m model, 3,500 litres for the 6m version and 12,000 litres for the 12m machine. Row spacings are 167mm and 200mm (4m and 12m models). Control and moni-
toring of the machine is carried out via a standard IsoBus terminal. The Avatar SD uses a number of designs tried and tested
on the Pronto drill, including depth control of the coulters via rubber suspension upgraded to take account of the high coulter pressure.
Vaderstad Tempo V JAdding to its Tempo
Pottinger Servo 45S plough JDesigned to be an all-round and versatile performer, Pottinger has added a new plough to its Servo family, the Servo 45S. Available as a six-furrow Nova or Nova Plus version, it can handle up to 350hp, says the firm. Nova versions feature a frame pivoting cylinder provided as standard, while Nova Plus versions are supplied with a furrow width memory cylinder. Inter-body spacing is 95cm and under beam clearance is 80cm. Pottinger says the use of high tensile materials enables
44
higher driving speeds and a longer service life. As standard, the six-furrow version is also fitted with double bearings on the mounting axle/cross shaft. For set-up, its front furrow width and plough alignment can be adjusted individually without affecting each other. Working width is also hydraulically adjustable. Several mould boards are available, from short turning to long, drawn-out mould boards to slatted bodies. An optional weight transfer system can be added, increasing traction when working.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
precision drilling family, Vaderstad showed a new three-point linkage model with vertical folding. With versatility in mind, the new toolbar design allows operators to configure the drill, accommodating for different row spacing requirements. This can vary from 12 rows at 450mm, to eight rows with 750mm spacing. Odd numbered rows, such as nine rows with 600mm spacing, can also be handled with the same drill, says the manufacturer. In addition, the machine is fitted with new aluminium seed metering units, featuring an emptying hatch for easier
cleaning. A new and narrower fertiliser coulter has also been developed, allowing for narrow row spacing. For fertiliser application, a front-mounted hopper has been developed for the Tempo V with a capacity of 2,200 litres, or 2,700 litres with extensions. Configuration Fertiliser rates can be up to 350kg/hectare for an eightrow, 750mm drill configuration, working at 15kph. The hopperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design also includes a wide opening hatch for easier filling with a loader, and a sloping front to aid visibility.
AF Feb p44 45 Lamma Tillage TR JR BB_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:20 Page 2
LAMMA 2016 MACHINERY
Fast, accurate and efficient drilling
ESPRO
Tillage equipment
Claydon TerraStar cultivator
JClaydon introduced the
TerraStar to complement its Straw Harrow and provide farmers with a low cost, low disturbance, shallow cultivation option. Operating at 15kph, it is designed to create a tilth which encourages volunteers and weeds to chit while also assisting with drainage. It is equipped with two knife bars on each side incorporating 68 rotating ‘star’ points which pluck 80mm-square divots from the top layer of soil on a 200mm grid pattern for a shallow cultivation effect. Weighing 1,750kg and with
a working width of six metres, the TerraStar should be used behind a tractor with at least 150hp to achieve the forward speed required for optimum results, suggests Claydon, which puts the machine’s hourly work rate at about nine hectares per hour. The TerraStar can also be used as a mechanical weeder, with multiple passes reducing the need for glyphosate, making stubble management much easier and reducing slug populations, says the firm. Folding to 2.8m for transport, the Claydon TerraStar costs from £15,000, plus VAT.
A 3m version of the ESPRO is also available
Less than 35hp per metre
Amazone AD-P Super combi
JAmazone added the new
AD-P Super IsoBus power harrow combination to its drill range, available in working widths of three or four metres, and with a base hopper of 1,500 litres which can be increased to 2,000 litres. Electric metering now comes as standard and features the same blower fan seen on the Cirrus trailed
drills, designed to offer quieter running and requiring less oil for reduced tractor power requirement. Speed source is either via radar, guide wheel, GPS or tractor source and controlled by a choice of either the Amadrill terminal or IsoBus. Calibration can be done at the press of a button in the cab, says Amazone.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p46 47 Lamma Sprayers JR TR VR_Layout 1 22/01/2016 10:23 Page 1
MACHINERY LAMMA 2016 Sprayers
Knight JCB self-propelled sprayer set to impress
JKnight Farm Machinery has extended its self-propelled sprayer range with a forwardcontrol conversion based on JCB’s latest 4000-series Fastrac. Developed specifically to meet the contract needs of Agrii – and with full approval from JCB – the Fastrac 4220 conversion is claimed to be the first self-propelled sprayer to feature a hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission. By moving the cab to the front, Knight created a larger platform area onto which a 4,000-litre spray tank and boom could be installed. Knight’s David Main says:
“We have achieved close to a 50:50 weight distribution when fully laden. “But getting the conversion completed has required a lot of new thinking with packaging. We wanted to maintain as much of JCB’s components as possible, although new fuel and oil tanks had to be designed to fit available space.” It is one of two Fastrac forward-control sprayer conversions bought by Agrii for its 37-machine contracting fleet, and they will replace two MultiDrive sprayers. Agrii contracts support manager Neil Millar says: “We wanted a high efficiency
sprayer with a mechanical transmission and the ability to fit 380/90 R46 Michelin
SprayBib tyres. The sprayer also had to be capable of towing a 12,000-litre bowser.”
Vicon adds iXdrive to range
JCompleting Vicon’s sprayer range, one of the headline grabbers at the event was the announcement the manufacturer was to re-enter the self-propelled sprayer market. Available with either a 4,000or 5,000-litre tank, aluminium booms up to 30 metres or steel booms up to 40m, the iXdrive is largely based on a Mazzotti skid unit, built in Ravena, Italy. Using tried and tested components, the powertrain includes a 240hp Perkins engine, Sauer Danfoss hydraulic pump and Poclain wheel motors. Operators get Claas’ Vista
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pressurised level four cab, while Mazzotti’s own chassis incorporates Vicon sprayer technology, with a central filling station, automated filling and cleaning cycles and boom. Three height clearance variants of the sprayer are available – 1.3m, 1.5m and 1.7m – all of which stay under a 4m transport height. Hydraulic track width adjustment is available, offering 1.8-2.25m adjustment on the 1.3m high machine and 2.25-2.95m of adjustment on the 1.5m and 1.7m high machines. iXdrive is available now with prices TBC.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
Lemken Vega trailed sprayer
JLamma hosted the inaugural UK outing for Lemken’s first trailed sprayer to be fully developed by the company itself, the Vega. Available this year in limited numbers, customers will have a choice of three tank sizes, 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 litres, and booms from 15-24 metres. A twin-pump system – one for spraying and one for mixing – offers outputs of 200 or 260 litres/min depending on spec. Pumps are mounted on the drawbar and pto-driven. It is fitted with mechanical suspension as standard, with air suspension as an option.
A steering drawbar is also an option, and thanks to its modular design, the machine can be upgraded at any time to get these features. Booms comprise the same aluminium construction as found on the firm’s mounted Sirrius 10 sprayers, featuring vertical folding. Booms offer sufficient space for five-way nozzle bodies to be fitted and, as an option, individual nozzle section control is possible. To maintain spray height in undulating conditions, Vega uses boom-mounted gyro sensors to electronically control boom angles, with a range of plus 16 to minus eight degrees.
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LAMMA 2016 MACHINERY Sprayers
Hardi Navigator Echo on show Kellands MultiDrive M380-4
JHardi’s updates included the Navigator Echo, a limited spec trailed sprayer with the competitive price tag of £27,500 for a 24-metre, 3,000-litre model. Features include full electric control, turbo filler and the Delta boom, with a couple of options, such as steering drawbar. The Delta Force boom is available as standard on the Navigator and Commander sprayers in 27, 28 and 30m
bi-fold versions and a 36m tri-fold. All booms fold to 2.5m using the ‘Stack fold’ design and offer hydraulic anti-yaw and the ‘stop-lock’ physical lock to protect the boom in work. Boom construction is of high tensile Domex steel, with a new ‘cross-weld’ system for strength. The boom is designed to be lighter in weight, offering greater strength, and a 24m version will be added later in 2016.
JKellands latest MultiDrive, the M380-4, appeared at Lamma with a 225hp Cummins 6.7-litre engine which meets EU Stage IV emissions requirements, taking the firm away from Deere Power Systems. In addition to a 32hp power increase and a torque peak of 950Nm, the sprayer gets a revised cab, which shares the AgriBuggy’s control console and screen. The change in engine, along with plastic interior trim panels replaced by material-covered items,
helps lower in-cab noise levels by 5dB(A), to 75dB(A). Changes include electrically adjustable mirrors, a revised front axle suspension and the integration of sideways-looking cameras on the restyled bonnet. Expect the MultiDrive to cost about £15,000 more than the outgoing model.
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p48 49 50 Precision TR EP _Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:16 Page 1
FEATURE PRECISION FARMING Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, are becoming increasingly popular tools for recording and monitoring farm operations. Here is Arable Farming’s 10-point guide to buying, using and staying legal with a drone. Jane Carley reports.
Taking a new view of arable farming 1 hat can I use a drone for? Drones can be used for a variety of mapping, imaging and surveying operations: ■ A common function is to study a crop in detail without extensive crop walking. Assessment of crop height and density allows evaluation of crops for uniformity and yield potential. ■ High-resolution plant count maps can provide early information on plant size by individual plant, row, plot or field, and can help to identify establishment issues, such as drill or planter skips. Yield potential can be estimated at early growth stages. ■ Crop coverage (canopy cover) in later growth stages can be reported as a coverage percentage, providing a base for crop productivity measurements. These measurements can be used alongside yield forecast models to give an understanding of expected output. ■ Comparing crops through-
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out the season to assess their progress and help determine contributory factors to yield success such as weather conditions, weed pressure or nutrition. ■ Mapping and quantifying areas of weeds, disease and crop stress, allowing targeted control strategies. ■ Monitoring the progress of wheeling systems in controlled traffic regimes and studying machinery at work. ■ Identifying areas of concern on large farms for further investigation by crop walking. ■ Basic photography and recording of crops, machinery and farming activities.
2 How are maps produced? Images captured by cameras on the drone are uploaded to a processing software package or processing service and are stitched together to produce maps which are ‘georeferenced’, i.e. contain data which positions them on the Earth’s surface. Once the georeferenced map
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
A multirotor UAV is a good way to start using the technology on-farm.
has been produced it can have additional image-processing algorithms run on it such as Enhanced Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, which can highlight plant vigour and/or disease. This data can be input into agronomic software which in turn produces variable rate prescription maps to control machinery such as sprayers, spreaders and drills. Mapping software can also be used to add other data sources, so historic data such as soil samples can be added.
3 What legislation covers drones? Drones are aircraft, thus subject to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations, specifically the CAP 393 Air Navigation Order. It is now a criminal offence to contravene this legislation and any incidents will be investigated/prosecuted by the police. The collection of images of
identifiable individuals, even inadvertently, is subject to the Data Protection Act.
4 Do I need a licence to operate a drone? Operators need a Permission for Aerial Work (PFAW) from the CAA if the flight is for the purposes of aerial work and if ‘valuable consideration’ is given. This does not have to be financial compensation, the CAA defines it as being ‘better off’ which would include using the images taken to improve yield by tackling weed problems, for example. This would also apply to an employee using a drone in the course of their employment. The CAA also requires that pilots demonstrate a level of skill when they register their aircraft, achieved via a recognised qualification. This qualification consists of a theory exam (ground exam) and flight test. The aim is to show the pilot is knowledgeable about their own aircraft
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PRECISION FARMING FEATURE and how they can use it in UK airspace. This includes preparation of an operations manual on which the flight test is based. A full list of ‘National Qualified Entities’ offering training and certification is available on the CAA website.
5 Is my agronomist likely to be able to offer drone-based services? Many agronomists are looking to add drone services to their portfolio. BASIS has developed an introduction to basic aspects of the agricultural sector designed for professional operators of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, drones). The BASIS agricultural awareness for the UAS industry module is a stand-alone
course providing candidates with a level of understanding and knowledge appropriate for their work in the agricultural industry. BASIS is also developing a national register of UAS operators for the agricultural industry. Members will need to apply with proof of qualifications for the category of aircraft intended for use for agricultural surveillance along with evidence of third-party UAS insurance. A UAS Special Interest Group code of conduct and a CPD process for drones is also being developed by BASIS, plus a platform for members of the register to interact.
6 Who else can offer photography/imaging via a drone?
Drones can also be used to record machinery operations and monitor fixed wheelings in controlled traffic systems.
A number of drone suppliers will also offer ‘service flights’ which include production and analysis of images, although specialist interpretation of the images via an agronomist may also be required.
Drone contractors are also becoming increasingly common, although many have most experience in the surveying and aerial filming markets. It is important to check whether their equipment X
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FEATURE PRECISION FARMING The type of filming required will dictate the control method employed.
and services can produce useful data. There are a few companies specialising in agriculture, offering processing and analysis packages, which can be purchased by the hectare. In all cases, it is worth checking anyone offering drone services has the required PFAW and insurance.
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7 What are the costs involved? Budget about £1,200 for an entry-level, multi-rotor machine with camera to take still photographs of crops and machinery. Training adds another £1,500 plus £150 per annum for the PFAW. Insurance costs are about £600 per year. Contractors aiming to offer a range of analysis services would be looking at
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Specialist contractors can provide a range of imaging services, charged by the hectare, such as crop cover measuring.
£15,000 for a full package of a fixed wing aircraft and cameras plus analysis software and support.
8 What different types of drone are available?
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
The generic term is drone; machines are further defined by their type: multirotor (tricopter, quadcopter, hexacopter, octocopter, depending on how many propellers) or fixed-wing aircraft, which most closely resemble a model aeroplane. The size of the UAV will generally dictate the camera payload. Most individuals start off with a small quadcopter capable of carrying a compact camera or video camera. Larger octocopters and hexacopters can carry more powerful cameras or multifunction sensors. A number of drones on the market can be fitted with NIR (near infra-red) cameras, which use bands of the light spectrum not visible to the human eye to produce imagery for reflectance mapping which can indicate the health of the crop and identify weed areas in fields, e.g. blackgrass. Other cameras can be added, such as Red Edge systems which measure light in a particular band of the IR spectrum. Red Edge shows how well a plant is photosynthesising by measuring chlorophyll. Control methods vary and include traditional transmitters, tablet and laptop control.
What are the main considerations when operating a drone? ■ Maximum flying height is 120 metres above the surface without additional permission. ■ Minimum visibility is 5km. ■ Maximum distance from the operator is 500m, and a visual line of sight must be maintained to avoid collisions. ■ UAVs cannot be flown at night without special permission. ■ Permission must be obtained from the owner of the take-off point. ■ UAVs cannot be flown within 50m of structures, vehicles or vessels which are not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft. ■ They must not be flown within 50m of people (there are exceptions relating to the operator during take-off and landing). ■ Flights must not go within 150m of ‘congested areas’, such as towns, cities and settlements or an‘organised open-air assembly’ of more than 1,000 people, such as an agricultural show or demonstration, without permission.
10 What type of insurance do I need? There are specialist UAV insurance companies able to provide cover for UAV operations. As a bare minimum, the CAA recommends the company or individual should have public liability insurance. Some insurance companies will not cover UAV use in high-risk areas though, so do check this beforehand.
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PRECISION FARMING FEATURE One Lincolnshire agronomist has embraced drone technology to assist with his crop walking services. Geoff Ashcroft reports.
Eyes in sky take crop inspection to new level ndependent agronomist Sean Sparling manages about 9,700 hectares of crops for 26 customers around Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. It is a task which sees him walk 10-12 miles a
I
day, as he aims to see all his customers on a weekly basis. He says: “I don’t use a quad bike to inspect crops – I’m old-school and having learnt my craft from the older generation, I believe traditional
Drones can be used to provide an additional crop viewing option.
methods do let me see more of what’s going on. Being thorough “Crop walking is about being thorough – walking slowly and searching, making the
most of what you can and cannot see.” But the logistics – and challenges – of getting around such an area, which includes combinable crops, sugar beet, X roots, turf, potatoes and
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AF Feb p51 52 54 55 56 Precision TR EP _Layout 1 21/01/2016 15:21 Page 2
FEATURE PRECISION FARMING poppies, has brought a natural ceiling to the amount of hectares he can manage. “A lot of my customers have adjoining fields, and this makes it easier to cover such a large area, relatively easily,” he says. “But I’ve recently switched to using technology to improve the level of crop inspections I can provide.” That technology is a small, unmanned surveillance aircraft – or drone. Multi-rotor aircraft Mr Sparling, who is also vicechairman of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC), put his money into a Phantom 2 Vision Plus, a multi-rotor aircraft with an integral camera which offers the capability to hover, while filming and photographing crops. He has been flying his drone for the last 18 months
Content to wait and see for now
Sean Sparling
or so, using it to see deep into areas of fields which become increasingly more difficult to access once crop canopies thicken. “The Phantom is a really useful bit of kit which lets me do my job much better, particularly when crop growth makes it harder to walk fields,” he says. “After all, I’m
JOxfordshire agronomist and farmer Sam Clarke has witnessed drone technology in use for field analysis, but has not yet bought. He says: “Drones definitely have a role in farming, but the technology is evolving so quickly, you’re better off waiting to see which way software, camera technology and application maps are likely to move.” But there is no need to jump in spending thousands to have the latest technology, he adds. “Information is no good if you can’t make use of it,” he says. “But as an extra pair being paid to look after my customers’ fields, so it is important I do not miss anything.”
of eyes, they do have a value. “Flying over a field could offer a quicker and easier way of determining when to apply pre-harvest glyphosate. Using a drone can let you see weed infestations in wheat for example, a lot sooner, than walking. “And you stand a better chance of spraying-off before the weed sets its head, without having to spray the entire field. “Field photography can also be a useful early warning if you’re looking for something specific, such as slug damage – you’ll see much more in less time.” He adds that from midApril onwards, it gets increasingly difficult to walk into dense crop canopies. X
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FEATURE PRECISION FARMING
Drones are a useful crop management tool but they can be costly and time consuming, according to Sean Sparling.
“The task can be infinitely more tricky with oilseed rape,” he says. “Having a drone provides another viewing option for me – it lets me fly over fields and look for weed patches, pests or diseases which have become harder to reach from ground level. “It has become a useful machine to help to identify
“
Having a drone provides another viewing option for me Sean Sparling
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FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
black-grass patches, but perhaps the best role is for spotting pollen beetle. I place sticky strips on fence posts in the middle of fields, but you can’t get to them very easily when the crop canopy fills out. “So I’ll fly my drone over the crop to the posts, take a photo of the strips, and then review the images with my customers,” he says. Use He has used the Phantom at least once on every farm he crop walks. “Its use is purely strategic. It’s not something I rely on, but it is another tool which helps me to work more efficiently. “I don’t charge extra for this – it just helps me to do a more thorough job, which keeps me
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PRECISION FARMING FEATURE ahead of the game. As a device to show customers what is going on, it is invaluable.” Mr Sparling says five of his customers have now bought their own drones, after seeing the value of a different perspective from flying over their own crops. “I do believe drones are a great management tool – and every farmer should have one,” he says. “I’ve also used it to photograph crop damage from spray drift, marking the image and location with GPS data, plus with time and date code. “Using an aerial photo, it is easy to measure the affected area using Google maps, to clarify an insurance claim.” But he warns there are drawbacks with using drones. “There is a considerable cost involved in getting your own kit,” he says. “And there are costs involved with operating them too. But a drone is more cost-effective than buying a quad bike.” Time consuming And using a drone can be time consuming, he warns. “It’s very easy to be distracted by them, and as a result, you can easily waste time you simply haven’t got. “By the time you set everything up, calibrate the compass and prepare for flight, you can lose a lot of time. If you can walk a field, you’re much better doing so.” He also believes there are limited opportunities for flight – if it is raining, misty or very windy, you are not going to take out a lightweight, electricallypowered drone. “It’s just like spraying – there aren’t many days when you can really make the most of aerial activity – but when you can, the basic information you can gather is still impressive.” Having used the device for about 18 months, he sees huge potential in the technology moving forward. “As technology evolves, farmers will rely more and more on this type of equipment for crop analysis and information,” he says. “I’m watching with interest – though it’ll be a year or two before I change my drone and step up to providing more advanced aerial services.”
Having used the device for 18 months, Sean Sparling sees huge potential in the technology.
Did you know? Arable Farming reaches further and deeper into the arable farming sector than any other title in G.B. Visit http://www.fginsight.com/readerresearch to view our latest independent media research. FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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FEATURE PRECISION FARMING Looking ahead JAgrovista’s head of precision technology Lewis McKerrow believes the biggest challenges yet to come from using UAVs will be how growers make the most of data being collected. “There has been huge growth in using UAVs in agriculture over the last 12-18 months, but understanding and acting on the information you see will be the next hurdle for growers to overcome. “Technology is changing rapidly, and we’ve been trialling different types of equipment with a view to extending our services in 2016,” he adds. “A UAV will help enormously with the continuation of our ongoing trials site work. It will enable easier identification of crop vulnera-
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bility and weed patches from the air, which should lead to more efficient generation of treatment maps and a faster response with chemical applications.” Fixed-wing He says the firm is leaning towards fixed-wing aircraft for their extended flight times and their ability to cover more area than rotary aircraft. But he accepts there are roles for both types. “Typical flight times of fixed wing UAVs is about 40 minutes,” he says. “It is about twice as much flight time as a quadcopter or hexacopter.” He believes such equipment has tremendous potential as an advanced early warning mechanism for growers. And in the right
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
Lewis McKerrow
circumstances, imaging – even simple photographs – can provide a rapid update on field and crop status, following a simple flight.
Though perhaps the biggest downside to a UAV, he suggests, is a lack of weather-proofing. “Electronics and the UK’s typically wet weather simply don’t mix,” he says. “And this alone will naturally restrict your flying opportunities.” For farmers though, he thinks the simple functionality of a quadcopter with a camera could easily lead them to an area of a field where they might not have crop-walked. “There is no doubt UAV technology is here to stay – it’s what you do with the information which will make them much more of an essential management tool, rather than the latest electronic gadget.”
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RENEWABLES TECHNICAL Farmers and growers have been urged to ‘add value’ throughout the anaerobic digestion (AD) chain in order to get the most out of the technology. Olivia Midgley reports.
Adding value to AD key to technology’s growth
ith further cuts to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) on the horizon, AD operators will have to ensure their plants enhance their farms’ viability, rather than relying on Government subsidies to prop-up installations. Speakers at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) national conference in London warned the Government subsidies which had helped kick-start the industry could be extinct within two to three years’ time. ADBA strategic adviser and former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said the renewables industry had been hit by a ‘triple whammy of cuts’. Mr Huhne said the proposal to end pre-accreditation would make many projects un-financeable without lending, as those investing would not be able to do so with any knowledge of what income to expect. ADBA chief executive Charlotte Morton said the on-farm surge in AD had been threatened by the changes to the FiT
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Benefits of AD to agriculture rNutrient-rich digestate as a by-product of AD process rOutlet for cover crops rHelping to meet GHG targets rImproved waste management rAdditional income
AD operators will have to ensure plants enhance their farms’ viability, rather than relying on Government subsidies to prop-up installations.
and added the industry must look at how farmers can secure recognition for non-energy benefits, for example rewarding CO2 abatement and use of nutrient-rich digestate on-farm. “The message from Government is it doesn’t value AD or renewable energy in the way we do; it thinks we are small and expensive, despite the fact we are already producing enough energy to replace the Wylfa nuclear point due to be commissioned this year,” said Ms Morton. “While we can deliver as much baseload energy as Hinkley Point C sooner than that will come online at less cost and risk, and contribute to keeping the lights on in winter and next, we’re also fighting hard to demonstrate to Government AD is about far more than just energy, and there are a range of ways the industry could be supported. “That’s why ADBA is looking at the future pathways
available to AD, including the contribution biogas can make to the UK’s renewable energy, heat, transport, recycling and climate change targets, as well as helping to keep farmers farming.” Richard Barker, adviser and investment committee member at Iona Capital, said for too long farmers had been ‘busy thinking about the subsidies instead of concentrating on the technology’. Value He urged farmers and the Government to value the ‘externalities’ of the process. He said using poultry, pig and dairy slurry as a feedstock for AD should be seen as an effective waste management tool. Mr Barker also highlighted the dispatchability of the technology, meaning the electricity can be dispatched at the request of power grid operators. AD plants can also be turned on or off, or can adjust
their power output on demand, unlike wind and solar. Bill Elliott, owner of Best Organic Solutions, said attractive subsidies in the past had led to plants being ‘built in the wrong places’, with some being constructed without securing a guaranteed, long-term feedstock. “We have to think more carefully about the plants,” he added. “I don’t think subsidies will be here for much longer, so plants have to be viable on their own.” He said the digestate was a ‘major burden’ for many plants, but added innovative solutions were being trialled. These included adding nutrients to the digestate and exporting the product as a fertiliser. “Let’s increase the income,” said Mr Elliott. “Let’s solve our own problems.” He added using the heat generated was another bonus and it helped to add value to the process. James Lloyd, CEO of Biowatt, agreed it was up to the industry to ‘set its own agenda’ as there was currently no ‘coherent strategy for AD from Defra and DECC’. Tom Beeley, renewable energy and climate change adviser at the CLA, added: “Today policy around AD is focused on the renewable energy aspect of it. With reducing tariffs and less certainty, what we need to do as an AD industry is to maximise the value AD offers and make sure AD is fully integrated in agriculture.”
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AF Feb p58 59 Minor Crops TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 16:37 Page 1
TECHNICAL MINOR CROPS Newcastle University invited growers, bread makers and millers to a discussion centred on Healthy Minor Cereals, an EU-funded project which is drawing on expertise from across the UK and mainland Europe. Abby Kellett reports.
Making the most of minor cereals
he Healthy Minor Cereals project aims to improve genetic resources, productivity and resilience against pests and diseases of so-called minor cereals, while producing crops which are healthier and more nutritious for human consumption. Dr Paul Bilsborrow, a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Studies at Newcastle, is head of the Newcastle research team, which is focusing on oats, spelt and rye. He said: “If we can identify superior genotypes in terms of yield, disease resistance and nutritional quality,
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With plenty of fibre, oats are seen as a desirable, healthy ingredient.
The Healthy Minor Cereals project rThe project started in September 2013 and will run until August 2018 rEU-funded, it has a budget of €6.5 million (£5m) rThe project involves 16 participant organisations from 10 European/associated countries: Austria, Czech breeding companies will take this on board and start a series of crossing programmes to produce a number of elite varieties.” Over the last 100 years of intensive breeding in Europe,
Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom rThe project aims to enhance the exploitation of five of the so-called ‘minor cereal’ species – spelt, rye, oats, einkorn and emmer wheat yields have climbed steadily. In the UK farmers are achieving an average of eight tonnes per hectare. However, nutritional losses have been a consequence of increased production.
Making minor crops competitive JIn comparison to conventional wheat, minor cereals typically grow well in poor soils and under low input conditions. “In the UK, there is a small area of rye grown, mostly in East Anglia, on brash soils. Where rye would conventionally produce 9-9.5t/ha, wheat would only produce 6-6.5t/ha
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on the same land,” said Dr Bilsborrow. Therefore, growing these types of crops on less productive land could be a viable option, particularly if higher yielding varieties can be crossbred with those of high nutritional value. Ultimately, minor cereal varieties have to be practical and
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
profitable in order to encourage farmers to grow them. “If we can introduce some minor cereals – which are lower input, better for the environment and better for nutritional health – back into a rotation, then we can tell the consumer about their benefits and educate the farmer about potentially growing them,” he added.
“While high cereal yields have benefited the farmer, it has come at a cost and this has been a much diluted range of nutrients and other beneficial aspects to human health,” said Dr Bilsborrow. In comparison, research has highlighted a higher concentration of nutrients and beneficial compounds in minor crops, such as oats, spelt and rye. For example, oats have a high fibre and antioxidant profile. US research has shown they can have significant benefits in reducing cholesterol. Similarly, spelt contains high amounts of zinc and iron, essential nutrients which, Dr Bilsborrow said, are becoming deficient in our diets because we are consuming too much wheat, which is typically low in these elements. Valued Given their high nutritive status, minor crops are valued highly by both producers and consumers of organic foods, and increasingly by conventional farmers. Dr Bilsborrow said: “There are a range of nutritional
AF Feb p58 59 Minor Crops TR EP_Layout 1 22/01/2016 12:00 Page 2
MINOR CROPS TECHNICAL Preliminary trial results JThe first year of trials on a number of spelt and rye varieties has revealed some unexpected results. In an assessment of the effect of different nitrogen sources on the yield of spelt varieties, biogas digestate (3.4% nitrogen) outperformed mineral nitrogen, composted farmyard manure and cattle slurry. Crops treated with biogas digestate were also taller than those which were treated with other forms of nitrogen and plants contained higher levels of protein. When applying a range of N sources on rye, biogas digestate and mineral fertilisers gave an average yield improvement of 2t/ha, compared to cattle slurry and composted farmyard manure. Dr Bilsborrow said: “We know we have a problem using farmyard manure in winter cereals because we do not get a supply of nitrogen in spring and summer, when it is needed.” Disease tolerance among different benefits associated with oats, spelt and rye. By screening a large number of genetic materials, we may find varieties which give us even higher nutritional benefits. Then we can cross them into new backgrounds which have a high yield so we can benefit the farmer as well as the consumer.”
varieties and nitrogen inputs were also tested. The only notable disease incidence within the spelt trial plots was septoria. Where mineral nitrogen was applied, yellow rust severity was higher.
eties by crossing them with wheat in order to boost yields, which has a negative impact on nutritional quality. In trials, speltwheat cross Filderstolz yielded the least. Dr Bilsborrow said: “I did not expect Filderstolz to perform the best as it is a shorter variety, plus it has the background of a high yielding wheat and still produced the lowest yield in UK trials.” Although more modern varieties yielded better, they were more affected by disease and so more work was still required in order to achieve a good balance between yield and quality.
Bigger impact However, N source had a much bigger impact on disease incidence in rye. While it did not affect yellow rust, powdery mildew severity was much reduced where cattle slurry or compost fertiliser were applied. Some European countries were moving away from traditional rye and spelt vari-
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Meadow w Foods under fire ARABLE
Government fostering ‘fear of theunknown’over EUexit rDefra urged to deliver an exit plan rQuestions over access to EU labour By Alistair Driver
JInitial trial results have been thoughtprovoking and the project will gather further data in the coming years to increase the viability of growing cereal crops, particularly with organic systems. Dr Bilsborrow said: “In our second year of trials we are looking to compare min-till to a plough-based approach which should reveal big differences in terms of weed control. On top of this, we are superimposing a conventional-based herbicide programme versus organic mechanical weed control. “There used to be a lot of work on varietal mixtures as a way of combating disease. For example, three or four varieties could be grown in a field in order to combat yellow rust. This is a strategy we could go down with an organic production system.”
4
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As farmers contemplate which way to vote in the EU referendum, the lack of an exit ‘plan B’ means there are still questions to be answered around policy and farm support.
Forthcoming trials
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A CYNICAL information vacuum within Government over the implications of leaving the EU is creating a ‘fear of the unknown’ among farmers ahead of the EU referendum, NFU president Meurig Raymond has warned. Prime Minister David Cameron was branded a ‘disgrace’ by leading figures in the ‘out’ campaign when he reiterated on Sunday the Government had ‘no plan B’ for a potential EU exit.
MACHINERY Y
clear over the years about its desire to slash CAP support. “We need that money to remain competitive. If it was denied to UK farming it would have a catastrophic effect on incomes and would be the death knell of farming,” said Mr Raymond. Stressing there would be advantages of leaving the EU, led by a new approach to regulation, there was further uncertainty over EU market access for the sheep and cereal sectors in particular and access to EU labour, he added. “We have not seen those plans. There is currently a fear of the unknown and we need answers to all those questions,” he said. Also speaking at the BGAJ debate, Sian Edmunds, a partner at law firm Burges Salmon, and
Brian Gardner, a consultant in EU agricultural policy, both predicted big cuts to farm support and tougher trading conditions if the UK left the EU.
Landscape Ms Edmunds said: “The Government is failing to tell us what the non-EU landscape will look like. “We are being asked to make a decision with only half the facts at our disposal. I urge the Government to stop treating us like children and come up with this information.” Former Defra Secretary Owen Paterson, a leading voice in the ‘out campaign’, criticised Mrs Truss for ‘not telling us what is going to happen’ and urged Defra to deliver a plan B.
He warned the debate was currently being driven by ‘scare stuff which is not valid’ and insisted a post-Brexit UK Government would continue to support UK farmers, initially, at similar levels to today but would come up with a more efficient agricultural policy. But he urged the farming industry ‘not to focus just on the money’, pointing out farm support would decline in the EU and elsewhere in the future. He stressed the benefits for an independent UK being able to influence regulation on global bodies and forming new global trading relations while still having access to the EU market. MORE ON EU DEBATE See page 10
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This followed Defra Secretary Liz Truss’ shock admission last week there was no work taking place within her department on an alternative post-EU policy for farmers. Speaking at a British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ) referendum debate at the House of Lords on Tuesday, Mr Raymond branded the Prime Minister’s comments as ‘irresponsible’. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support currently accounts for, on average, 55 per cent of UK farmers’ income, he said, adding the UK’s EU competitors were likely to continue receiving £173/ hectare (£70/acre) in future years. The UK Government, led by the Treasury, has been consistently
19
Sustainable nable farm practices r ctices ra
50
In-lamb b Te Texel exel sale at Carlisle IN YOUR FIELD ELD
64
STEVE HEARD, ARD, LINCOLNSHIRE HIRE
“Back in the p the workshop, as been welder has busy fabricating ricat ng snowplough ugh brackets to fit the new tractors” ctors”
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AF Feb p60 61 R in A TR EP_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:16 Page 1
TECHNICAL RESEARCH IN ACTION The LearN project is using farm experience to improve nitrogen management. Andrew Blake reports.
Fine-tuning N inputs for wheat
early a quarter of UK wheat growers could be starving their crops of nitrogen, according to initial finding from a five-year AHDB-funded research project* due to end in March 2018. Led by ADAS, with partners NIABTAG, Agrii and CF Fertilisers, LearN aims to help individual farmers determine whether their wheat is, on average, receiving too much or too little nitrogen. It also hopes to assess the proportion of UK farms which have their N fertiliser applications about right, too high or too low. ADAS researcher Sarah Clarke says: “Current N recommendation systems are, on average, correct. But those rec-
N
Research projects *LearN: Using farm experience to improve N management for wheat AHDB project 216-0005 rLead partner: ADAS rScientific partners: NIABTAG and Agrii rIndustry partner: CF Fertilisers rTotal cost: £347,000 rAHDB investment: £262,000 rIn kind contributions: £56,000 from CF Fertilisers and £30,000 from Agrii rFinishes: March 31, 2018
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ommendations conceal large variations in actual field requirements. There’s evidence from previous research some farms may consistently need more N than advised by Defra’s Fertiliser Manual RB209 to achieve higher profitable yields, while other farms may need less.”
Objectives The work has several specific objectives, says Dr Clarke. “The first is to test whether there are consistent differences in the economic optimum N requirement for wheat between farms beyond those expected from current recommendation systems. We want to understand the variations within and between farms, fields, seasons, rotational positions, soil types, and geographic locations. “The project is testing both first and second wheats but it’s not prescriptive about which varieties can be used. “The differential N rates are only being applied at the main timing – i.e. the start of stem extension – so if a farmer wanted to apply more later on for a breadmaking variety, that would be fine, and they would apply it to all treatments. “We’re collecting information about varieties and the amount and type of N being applied, so we should be able to tease out any varietal effects in the analyses. “Another objective is to demonstrate the practicality and value of farmers using field
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
George Renner's involvement with LearN suggests RB209 recommendations have led to under-application of nitrogen, which may have held back yields.
Dr Sarah Clarke
strips with 60kg N/hectare more and less than the recommended rate to show whether their N applications are about right, too high or too low.” The project aims to test, develop and demonstrate the value of other indicators of successful N management, she adds. These include grain yields and N content, soil organic matter and N content (both mineral and additionally available N) and canopy reflectance. “We also want to evaluate the best system of indicators to use, bearing in mind the management time and hassle
involved and the cost/benefit ratio, and to agree the best approaches and communicate them to growers.” The research is being conducted on 18 farms over four seasons, with experiments and tramline trials comparing the ‘standard’ N rate used by growers with rates of 60kg N/ha above and below. “The farmers are the key to its success with their feedback of experiences and the improvements which could be made,” says Dr Clarke. There are six ‘core’ farms in Eastern England on medium to heavy soils overseen by ADAS, Agrii and NIABTAG. As well as the tramline trials small plot trials are being carried out on each field, testing six N rates including the field ‘standard’ and the plus and minus 60kg N/ha. There are also 12 ‘extension’ farms, three in each of four groups reflecting different soils – eastern silts, Midlands heavy land, northern and shallow types. The small plot and tramline
AF Feb p60 61 R in A TR EP_Layout 1 22/01/2016 14:17 Page 2
RESEARCH IN ACTION TECHNICAL trials were harvested in August 2014 and 2015 and grain samples sent to NIAB for protein analysis. “N response curves were fitted to the small plot trials to determine the actual optimum N rate and these were compared with the tramline trial data in the same fields. Analysis “Most of the farms with tramline trials had yield mapping capability and these data were transferred to ADAS for analysis. Where growers didn’t have yield mapping, weighbridge data were analysed,” she says. The first findings suggest nearly two-thirds of farms are applying roughly the optimum levels of N, but there is clearly scope for others to improve their practices. “Results from the 2014 harvest indicated the ‘standard’ N rate was optimal in 63% of
Closer look at RB209 advice welcome on brash land JGeorge Renner and his father Christopher farm 300 hectares of mainly limestone brash soils at Normanton Lodge farm, Rutland, and have been using no-till to establish their crops since 2001. George Renner says: “The LearN project gives us the opportunity to take a closer look at our nitrogen strategy to ensure we make best use of this expensive input.” Crops on limestone land use nitrogen less efficiently than on most other soil types, he adds. “That isn’t really reflected in the RB209 recommendations. “Although we had some record wheat yields in 2014, our
involvement with LearN suggested the RB209 recommendations resulted in underapplication of nitrogen, which held yields back significantly. “Given those exceptional yields the results must be treated with caution, so I look forward to receiving the detailed analysis for last harvest in which some of our yields were reduced by drought during grain fill. “An unscientific look at our yield maps shows the additional 60kg/ha of nitrogen did increase yield, but it remains to be seen whether that extra N was cost-effective. “The yield maps clearly show
reducing nitrogen rates by 60kg would have been a disaster for us given the current low value of wheat. “Everyone is looking to trim costs as a reaction to the wheat price hovering just over £100/ tonne, and it’s important to make sure you trim the right costs. “For us it looks as though nitrogen rates should be kept at least where they are. “Having done the simple plus/minus 60kg tramline trials I’d encourage any farm which has yield mapping available to have a go in a couple of fields and see how their soils fit in with RB209 recommendations.”
fields, sub-optimal in 23%, and super-optimal in 13%, with a mean ‘standard’ N rate of 240kg N/ha at the core sites and
208kg N/ha at extension sites.” Analysis of the 2015 results continues. “A report template has been
developed which summarises each grower’s results and it will be sent to them after analysis of their data is complete.”
Early maturing Very high yielding Stiff strawed Tried and tested Ideal break crop
AF Feb p62 New Products EP TR_Layout 1 21/01/2016 14:02 Page 1
ARABLE MARKETPLACE
NEW
products Promising distilling variety to be fast-tracked to growers JScottish wheat growers will have access to a new highyielding distilling wheat a year earlier than expected following RAGT’s decision to step up seed production. RAGT managing director Simon Howell says RGT Knightsbridge, a Recommended List candidate variety, has generated phenomenal interest in the distilling market thanks to its high alcohol yields. This and its excellent yield potential mean it is ideally suited to Scottish growers, hence the decision to ramp up
seed production a year earlier than normal. Mr Howell says: “We have pre-released 38 tonnes this year which has been sown at low seed rates to maximise the area. We expect about 2,000 tonnes of C2 seed will be available next autumn.” Commenting on end-user acceptability, he says the variety appears well suited to distilling, Scotland’s premier wheat market, coming top in two years of industry testing. “Distillers have never encountered a problem with RGT Knightsbridge – all the com-
ments have been positive. The variety had the highest alcohol yield of all NL1 candidates, a performance it repeated in NL2, when it came in 4.1% above Invicta.” Growers can also expect barnfilling output, Mr Howell says. “RGT Knightsbridge’s yield potential is really exciting. In three years of our own screening trials RGT Knightsbridge has produced excellent yields, scoring 3% more than Oakley in 2011 and 2% more than Santiago and 4% above JB Diego in 2012 and 2013.” That performance continued
in NL trials in 2014 and 2015, with RGT Knightsbridge achieving a score of 107% of controls for the UK, and 106% for the North. “We know all this data is solid and robust – we are seeing a real step forward,” says Mr Howell.
Resistance The variety looks good agronomically, he adds, scoring a 6 for septoria tritici resistance, a key attribute in Scotland. It scores +1 for maturity but is coming back towards 0 and provides a decent amount of straw, says Mr Howell.
Joined-up crop sensing rMachinery business Claas has teamed up with agronomy specialist Agrovista to provide users of the Isaria N sensing and application rate management system with full mechanical support, backed-up by agronomy advice and software. Isaria is IsoBus compatible, so enables the sensor and the spreader to both be used with the same ISOcompatible control terminal. The sensor will automatically record all the input and biomass data from the crop which, using Agrovista’s MapIT Pro Advanced data manager, can be used to build an overall ‘picture’ of the crop. In addition to allowing easy access to
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Mechanical and software support for the Isaria N sensing system are now available from Claas and Agrovista.
view both field and input data, the data can also be easily used to create both yield potential and also variable seed rate maps, say the Isaria partners. The Agrovista MapIT Pro software will allow the user
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
to set up their own yield potential maps, either from field knowledge or by using other data layers such as soil conductivity data or yield maps. The collaboration between the two
companies will ensure that Claas yield data can be seamlessly imported into the cloud-based software to be easily accessed anywhere using a number of platforms, it is claimed.
AF Feb p63 Hambly TR VR v2_Layout 1 22/01/2016 13:39 Page 1
TALKING POLICY
MIKE Hambly
Mike Hambly farms in a family farming partnership near Callington in south east Cornwall. He is currently the chair of the NFU Combinable Crops Board and is the first Cornishman to hold the position.
All of us need to examine where we can ruthlessly exercise the surgeon’s knife to cut our costs
“
Farm facts rFamily farming partnership, farming 200ha in south east Cornwall rArable and beef enterprises rArable cropping includes wheat, oilseed rape, barley, oats rFive year average rainfall is 1,407mm
s I write this in mid-January I am beginning to feel left out; while Liz Truss, Defra Secretary of State, was congratulating herself and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) that more than 50% of Basic Payment Scheme claimants had been paid by the end of December, I was a little miffed I was not part of the chosen half. However, I draw some consolation from the fact I am not alone. Despite the PR fanfare that the majority of claimants had been paid by the end of December, it is both disappointing and costly to the industry only about 30% of the total funds have been distributed. A survey conducted by the NFU Crops Board identified only a paltry 20% had received their payment. There is much to do if Mark Grimshaw and the RPA are to deliver the ‘vast majority’ of payments by the end of January as promised. The outlook for the forthcoming season is challenging, with commodity markets in decline and financial markets under pressure across the world following sharp falls on the Chinese exchange. The Basic Payment is critical in terms of cashflow and making a profit at all this season. My local cereal discussion group makes use of the excellent CropBench facility provided by AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds. It is an invaluable tool in helping growers focus their minds on the true cost of production and something which can deliver real value to levy payers. Encouragingly my figures show I am moving in the right direction – but the sobering fact is the total cost of production for wheat for all CropBench producers in southern England for harvest 2015 averaged £133/tonne. The top third reduced costs to £117/t, while the bottom third were languishing at £168/t. This type of cost per tonne information is also critical
A
in understanding selling price. Provided we can persuade the regulators to allow farmer access to futures markets to continue, it also helps in managing price risk. Our problems closely mirror those of our dairy farming colleagues; all of us need to examine where we can ruthlessly exercise the surgeon’s knife to cut our costs in pursuit of retuning to profit. For those involved in trying to shape policy and regulation in the arable sector, efforts should be focused on delivering results which can have a positive impact on the producer’s bottom line. Those which seek, even demand, sustainability as their primary goal would do well to remember this aspiration is unachievable without first ensuring a level of profitability. Lobbying As an industry we need to direct our lobbying into two key areas: be aware and active in putting the case for the industry to maintain a regulatory environment which does not compromise technical efficiencies or place the UK arable sector at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors. And, secondly, focus on policies which will have a real impact on – and deliver – bottom line profit to growers. Issues which are identified as such must come ahead of the ‘nice to have’ policies which invariably add cost with no tangible financial benefit. Growers who use benchmarking services need to analyse, identify and then focus on where real improvements can be made. Grower representative bodies, such as the NFU, are active in a wide range of areas which can support farm profitability and the same information can prove equally powerful and important to those of us who represent agriculture’s interests in the political arena.
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
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AF Feb p64 BASIS TR EP_Layout 1 19/01/2016 09:20 Page 1
BASIS NEWS
BASIS news
The latest news for BASIS and FACTS-qualified farmers and advisers.
Experience pays for winner of BASIS Farmer of the Year award
JA passion for agronomy and a thirst for knowledge put Essex farmer James Nott in good stead to succeed when he embarked on the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection. He finished his exams as one of the highest achieving candidates in 2015 and earned the BASIS Farmer of the Year award, sponsored by Bayer CropScience. Mr Nott is the owner/manager of J.R. and E.H. Nott, a family-run partnership based in Gestingthorpe, north Essex. He currently farms 1,000 hectares of a mix of family-owned, tenanted and contract-farmed land. Cropping is predominantly combinable, including wheat, barley (malting and feed), oilseed rape and beans, plus about 40ha of sugar beet. He says: “I have always wanted to do my BASIS Certificate, but until recently I just didn’t think I had the time.” Though the business employs two agronomists, Mr Nott has been actively involved in the decision-making process for many years. “Sometimes I’ve had different ideas to the agronomists, or I’ve wanted to challenge the decision, often when I looked more closely at the costs. It could sometimes be difficult to
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do that when I didn’t have the qualifications to back me up. “Now I’ve got my BASIS Certificate I’m looking forward to being confident in making more decisions, but I’m not planning to do the entire farm’s agronomy, I still think it’s important to draw on the advice and knowledge of others. However, I have just taken on a small farm which doesn’t warrant the cost of an external agronomist, so I’m looking forward to doing it myself this year.”
Trainer He has praise for his trainer Debbie Wedge, from the Chelmsford and West Essex Training Group, for the quality of her teaching and for the exam preparation, including the mock exams, which he found very useful. Mr Notts’ project, a requirement for the qualification, was on ‘mycotoxins in wheat and the effects of future legislation on its control in the UK’. He says: “I wanted to do something different. Everyone seemed to be looking at black-grass or flea beetle and I thought the issue of mycotoxins might be interesting.” The project investigated the
FEBRUARY 2016 ARABLE FARMING
James Nott was among the highest-scoring candidates in the BASIS 2015 examinations and earned the BASIS Farmer of the Year award.
impact of new hazard versus risk legislation on the future availability of fungicides to control fusarium ear blight, which produces mycotoxins. Mr Nott concluded any ban on triazole fungicides in the future could make it difficult to control fusarium on wheat. A resulting increase in mycotoxins could present a food safety issue far greater than the original hazard posed by the fungicide. His advice to other farmers thinking about taking the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection is to keep up-to-date with farming matters, and spend time talking to agronomists and other farmers. Ask ‘why’ something is being done and don’t be afraid to challenge the accepted method. Getting a wider understanding is fundamental to building a broad depth of knowledge, he says. Of his award win, he adds: “I’m really pleased to have been
awarded Farmer of the Year. I feel proud of the work I put into the course and project. “Holding the BASIS qualification really adds to what I can offer to my contract farm customers too, so it’s good for my business as well as me personally. “I’ll certainly be keeping my Continuing Professional Development up-to-date and will actively be involved in the decision-making on-farm. I’m looking forward to starting my FACTS course this year.” Stephen Jacob, acting CEO of BASIS, says: “We’re delighted James was selected as winner of the Farmer of the Year award. His passion for agronomy and farming is clear, and that came across in his approach to the course, his exam, and the work he put into his project. We look forward to seeing him complete his FACTS exam in the near future.”
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Meadow w Fo Foods under fire ARABLE
As farmers contemplate which way to vote in the EU referendum, the lack of an exit ‘plan B’ means there are still questions to be answered around policy and farm support.
Government fostering ‘fear of theunknown’over EUexit rDefra urged to deliver an exit plan rQuestions over access to EU labour By Alistair Driver A CYNICAL information vacuum within Government over the implications of leaving the EU is creating a ‘fear of the unknown’ among farmers ahead of the EU referendum, NFU president Meurig Raymond has warned. Prime Minister David Cameron was branded a ‘disgrace’ by leading figures in the ‘out’ campaign when he reiterated on Sunday the Government had ‘no plan B’ for a potential EU exit.
Sustainable nable ra actices farm practices MACHINERY Y
clear over the years about its desire to slash CAP support. “We need that money to remain competitive. If it was denied to UK farming it would have a catastrophic effect on incomes and would be the death knell of farming,” said Mr Raymond. Stressing there would be advantages of leaving the EU, led by a new approach to regulation, there was further uncertainty over EU market access for the sheep and cereal sectors in particular and access to EU labour, he added. “We have not seen those plans. There is currently a fear of the unknown and we need answers to all those questions,” he said. Also speaking at the BGAJ debate, Sian Edmunds, a partner at law firm Burges Salmon, and
Brian Gardner, a consultant in EU agricultural policy, both predicted big cuts to farm support and tougher trading conditions if the UK left the EU.
Landscape Ms Edmunds said: “The Government is failing to tell us what the non-EU landscape will look like. “We are being asked to make a decision with only half the facts at our disposal. I urge the Government to stop treating us like children and come up with this information.” Former Defra Secretary Owen Paterson, a leading voice in the ‘out campaign’, criticised Mrs Truss for ‘not telling us what is going to happen’ and urged Defra to deliver a plan B.
He warned the debate was currently being driven by ‘scare stuff which is not valid’ and insisted a post-Brexit UK Government would continue to support UK farmers, initially, at similar levels to today but would come up with a more efficient agricultural policy. But he urged the farming industry ‘not to focus just on the money’, pointing out farm support would decline in the EU and elsewhere in the future. He stressed the benefits for an independent UK being able to influence regulation on global bodies and forming new global trading relations while still having access to the EU market. MORE ON EU DEBATE See page 10
FARM LENDING FINANCE OUTLOOK FOR 2016 p15
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Amazone ne n on test Cayron on-test LIVESTOCK
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Boost grassland ra assland management ement SALES
This followed Defra Secretary Liz Truss’ shock admission last week there was no work taking place within her department on an alternative post-EU policy for farmers. Speaking at a British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ) referendum debate at the House of Lords on Tuesday, Mr Raymond branded the Prime Minister’s comments as ‘irresponsible’. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support currently accounts for, on average, 55 per cent of UK farmers’ income, he said, adding the UK’s EU competitors were likely to continue receiving £173/ hectare (£70/acre) in future years. The UK Government, led by the Treasury, has been consistently
19
50
In-lamb b Te Texel exel sale at Carlisle IN YOUR FIELD ELD
64
STEVE HEARD, ARD, LINCOLNSHIRE HIRE
“Back in the workshop, p, the welder has as been busy fabricating ricating snowplough ugh bracketss to fit the new tractors” ctors”
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