Anglia Farmer - May 2022

May 2022

Anglia

Farmer

Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 40 years

Cereals 2022: Flagship arable event makes welcome return this summer

Solar-solution: Robot has 'simplicity on its side'

News Ag-inflation fuels farm input costs

Livestock Dog owners slammed over sheep attacks

Professional Services ‘Race for space’ sees higher land prices

Arable GM barley could use less fertiliser

Farm Energy Self-sufficiency tops farm carbon agenda

Fen Tiger Why we must look back to go forward

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Anglia Farmer

OPINION Johann Tasker

EDITORIAL Editor: Johann Tasker | T: 07967 634971 E: johann@ruralcity.co.uk

Design: Mark Shreeve | T: 01502 725839 E: mark.shreeve@micropress.co.uk

Advertisement production: Jade Soanes | T: 01502 725840 E: jade.soanes@micropress.co.uk

ADVERTISING SALES Chloe Miller | T: 01502 725844 E: chloe.miller@micropress.co.uk Danny Lewis | T: 01502 725862 E: danny.lewis@micropress.co.uk Daniel Rice | T: 01502 725858 E: daniel.rice@micropress.co.uk Eden Cuffe | T: 01502 725811 E: eden.cuffe@micropress.co.uk

Anglia Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares.

Subscription is £18 a year (including postage). No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for the opinions expressed by contributors.

If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, please email your name, address and postcode as it appears on the wrapper to adam.gunton@micropress.co.uk © Countrywide Publications 2022 Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Ltd, Suffolk.

T: 01502 725800

Better returns needed to combat ag-inflation

F

arm input costs are rising much faster than food prices – piling pressure on farm incomes, according to the latest ag-inflation figures.

Published by the AF Group, which measures input costs across nine different categories, the ag-inflation figures show that input costs have risen by almost 24% in the past six months. But the food retail price index has risen only 5.6% in the same time.

Over the past 18 months, ag-inflation has now soared by 46%.

The situation is clearly unsustainable.

Why? Because food prices are rising too slowly to offset massive increases in production costs. It means somebody will have to take a big hit – and at the moment it looks like it will be farmers.

How so, some might ask? After all, farm commodity prices have surged. That is true in some cases – with oilseed rape going past £800/t and wheat selling for more than £300/t. But huge cost increases are overshadowing even these headline grabbers.

Contents

Vol 42 • No 5 • May 2022

News . ................................................................... 4 Arable . ................................................................. 8 Cereals 2022 .................................................... 26 Precision farming & technology.............. 43

SHORT OF STORAGE SPACE? 02476 459000

Farm energy...................................................... 51 Livestock........................................................... 57 Professional Services ................................. 63 Final Say........................................................... 66

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Cashflow is king in any business – and it is now taking almost 50% more cash to run a farm business than it was 18 months ago.

Few farmers have access to that sort of money – forcing producers to do things differently.

More farmers are joining buying groups – seeking strength in numbers and bargaining power to get the best deal possible on inputs.

Still more are changing the way they farm – opting for lower-input lower-output business models to maintain margins.

Both are good options. But the inescapable fact is that neither will fully cushion any farm business from the impact of rampant inflation – prompting stark warnings that some farmers could be driven out of business.

It's up to retailers and processors to decide how much they charge consumers for food.

But one thing is clear, farmers need a bigger return at the farmgate if they are to continue feeding the nation by growing crops and rearing livestock.

Johann Tasker Editor

RIDBA

Rural & Industrial Design & Building Association

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 3

News Farm input costs to climb higher as inflation soars • No farm sector left unscathed • Cereals among worst affected • Fuel, fertiliser and feed all up

Some growers are paying more for farm inputs while receiving less for farm outputs. Potato prices, for example, fell by 2.3% during the same six months saw potato input costs rise by 26.72% – a combined impact of 29.02% on enterprise margins.

All sectors are suffering – but some more than others. Dairy farm input costs rose 21.32% during the six months but the increased value from milk retail of 19% is closing the gap.

Beef and lamb producers costs climbed by 21.49% – but retail mince and lamb prices rose by only 10.7%.

R

apidly rising ag-inflation has see farm input costs increase almost 25% in just six months, according to the latest industry estimates.

The 23.86% increase in the six months to the end of March 2022 follows a rise of almost 22% in the year to September 2021. It means costs have risen 46% in the past 18 months, says the latest interim AgInflation Index published by the farmer-owned AF Group.

All farming enterprises measured took a hit with four out of nine categories of inputs seeing double digit ag-inflation. The greatest cost increases were animal feed (27%), fuel (29.4%) and fertiliser (107.7%).

More for less The AF Group describes the index as a useful tool for farmers to review production costs. The biggest cost increase was 28.05% for cereals and oilseed pro-

duction. The smallests increase was 18.97% for sugar beet.

The cost increases dwarf the 5.6% increase in the total food Retail Price Index over the same six months period. This suggests retail food prices are rising too slowly to offset the increased costs faced by farmers.

Fertiliser prices have more than doubled in the past six months

Difficult situation Farm input buyers describe the situation as difficult. Farm business consultants Andersons said high ag-inflation was likely to persist – putting increasing pressure on working capital and farm credit facilities.

Annual input costs were already rising at about 10% before Russia invaded Ukraine, says Andersons. It estimates that ag-inflation now stands at 30% for the past year as a whole, with much of the increase coming in the past two months.

But there are some glimmers of hope, suggested AF head of crop inputs Matt Kealey. He said: “Turbulence in the fertiliser markets has been challenging but AF members have secured product despite early concerns regarding availability.”

‘Consequences will be felt by all of us’ Record-breaking prices for wheat and oilseed rape may be welcomed by some growers. But it is important to consider both sides of the equation – and input costs are rising much more rapidly for most farmers than the value of their farm output.

“The evidence in our latest AgInflation Index illustrates the crisis many farmers are facing – and the consequences will be felt by all of us in society,” says AF Group chief executive David Horton-Fawkes.

The causes are deeply rooted, he adds. “They go beyond the Russia-Ukraine war and continued lockdowns in China. Farmers are inherently resourceful, but cash 4 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

flow now poses an existential threat to many businesses because some farmers simply won’t be able to afford to grow crops or raise livestock next year.”

Beyond the immediate crisis, the combination of war and post-pandemic disruption highlights the imperative to secure more resilient supplies of essential farm inputs and energy and the need for more collaborative relationships with supermarkets and processors.

“Sadly, the most acute pain will be felt by those who can least afford to bear it, but these numbers reveal that the whole supply chain web needs to reset to secure affordable food in the UK and beyond.”

Some farms could be forced out of business, says David HortonFawkes

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News

Essex herd lifts dairy Gold Cup

T

he Torrance family from Essex were finally presented with one of dairying’s most prestigious awards – after delays caused by the pandemic.

John Torrance was presented with the 2020 NMR Royal Agricultural Society of England Gold Cup at last month’s Dairy-Tech event. Mr Torrance farms in partnership with father Robert, mother Janet and wife Lucy at Stapleford Abbotts, near Romford.

The family’s Curtismill pedigree Holstein herd comprises 670 cows and 430 followers. It is part of their farming business run on 429ha of crown estate land, just inside the M25 corridor.

Among the top UK herds when ranked according to Profitable Lifetime Index, the family’s focus is on efficiency. The aim is to breed cows that produce 70,000 litres of milk, during an average of five lactations.

The all-year-round calving housed herd is milked three times a day. Average annual yield for September 2021 was 13,700kg of milk sold at 4.08% fat and 3.26% protein, with a calving interval of 382 days.

Judges said close attention to the cow environment and parlour routine – and commitment to disease control and eradication schemes – contributed to the herd’s low disease incidence and high health status seen.

Future developments aim to raise the benchmarks for performance, with environmentally sustainable measures high on the agenda. The Gold Cup competition was launched in 1920, making 2020 its 100th year.

New champion for farming in East Anglia

T

he NFU has created a new role in East Anglia to drive the union’s policy work forward on behalf of its members.

Charles Hesketh starts work as regional policy manager at a time of unprecedented change, challenge and opportunity for agriculture. Previously NFU adviser for Suffolk, he will work to ensure members' views are represented as policies are developed.

“I have really enjoyed my three years as county adviser,” he said. “I’m now excited to be moving into this new strategic role, championing our fantastic industry across East Anglia and supporting colleagues and members with the wide range of policy issues on the horizon.

“Farmers are facing some major immediate challenges, including the soaring cost of fuel and fertiliser, labour shortages and adapting to the biggest change in agricultural policy in more than 50 years.

“We also mustn’t lose sight of longer-term challenges and opportunities, such as helping businesses progress towards the NFU’s ambitious goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2040.”

Mr Hesketh grew up in rural Yorkshire near Harrogate. He first fell in love with farming at 15, when he began working on a nearby family friend’s organic farm during weekends and holidays.

After completing a four-year business and economics degree at Liverpool university, he joined the MDS fresh produce graduate student scheme.

6 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

Robot demo day for ‘hoes with brains’

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Charles hesketh has a range of industry experience [Photo credit: Pagepix]

Before joining the NFU, he worked in the seed potato industry for five years.

NFU regional board chairman Tony Bambridge said: “The NFU has created this new role at a time when a strong voice for farming has never been more important. It will be of real benefit to members across the region.”

Mr Hesketh will be based at the NFU regional office in Newmarket. The NFU’s new county adviser for Suffolk will be announced shortly.

Gold Cup winners: John and Lucy Torrance (centre) with Robert Torrance (left) and Rory Torrance (right)

he first public demonstration of robotic farm machinery in Norfolk will take place on Tuesday, 24 May, near Fakenham.

Organised by the Norfolk Farm Machinery Club (NORMAC), the demo day comes amid an upsurge of interest in weed control technology that relies less on chemical solutions and more on “hoes with brains”.

Thanks to the kind permission of Raynham Farms, NORMAC has secured a field of recently drilled maize for manufacturers to demonstrate a range of robotic equipment and camera guided hoes. All interested parties are welcome to attend.

The field will be open for visitors all day, with a number of manufacturers and distributors actively hoeing the crop with their equipment. A small number of static stands will exhibit ancillary equipment connected to this new technology.

A refreshment kiosk will be available. The site is close to the postcode NR21 7LJ at Hempton, near Fakenham. Once in the vicinity, visitors should follow the NORMAC signs to a central car park near the field.

For full details, visit the NORMAC website at www.normac.org.uk

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 7

Arable GM barley could help to reduce fertiliser usage

C

ambridge scientists are growing a trial crop of GM barley to see if soil fungi can improve cereal production by using less fertiliser without reducing yields.

The trial is being conducted by the Crop Science Centre, which is an alliance between Cambridge University and crop research organisation NIAB. The crop was planted this spring after receiving the go-ahead from Defra's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.

It will evaluate whether improving crop interactions with naturally occurring soil fungi can boost the way plants absorb water, soil nitrogen and phosphorous. If successful, the trial could pave the way for crops to be grown using less synthetic fertiliser.

While the use of synthetic fertilisers increases agricultural productivity, excessive applications can reduce biodiversity and generate greenhouse gas emissions, says crop science professor Giles Oldroyd (pictured below), who is leading the work.

'Significant benefits' “Working with natural and beneficial microbial associations in plants has the potential to replace or greatly reduce the need for inorganic fertilisers, with significant benefits for improving soil health while contributing to more sus-

tainable and equitable approaches to food production.

“There is an urgent need for ecologically sound approaches to food production that can satisfy the demands of a growing global population while respecting limits on natural resources,” said Prof Oldroyd.

“We believe biotechnology can be a valuable tool for expanding the options available to farmers around the world.”

The trial will evaluate a barley variety that has been genetically modified to boost expression levels of the NSP2 gene. This gene is naturally present in barley and boosting its expression enhances the crop’s existing capacity to engage with mycorrhizal fungi.

In addition, the trial will test varieties of barley that have been gene edited to suppress their interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This will allow scientists to better quantify how the microbes support plant development by assessing the full spectrum of interactions.

Nutritional content They will measure yield and grain nutritional content in varieties with an enhanced capacity to engage the fungi and those in which it has been suppressed – while comparing both with a typical barley plant.

Prof Oldroyd said: “Barley has properties that make it an ideal crop for stud-

The performance of the GM barley will be compared to conventional crop

“

Biotechnology can be a valuable tool for farmers

ying these interactions.

“The ultimate goal is to understand whether this same approach can be used to enhance the capacity of other food crops to interact with soil fungi in ways that boost productivity without synthetic fertilisers.”

The trial will assess production under high and low phosphate conditions.

It will also investigate additional potential benefits of the relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, such as protecting crops from pests and disease, said Prof Oldroyd.

The trial will follow the regulations that govern the planting of GM crops in the UK. Regular inspections during the trial will be carried out out by the Genetic Modification Inspectorate, which is part of the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency.

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Arable

High-yielding Typhoon wheat available for autumn drilling

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ewly recommended high-yielding Group 4 hard wheat LG Typhoon will be available in time for autumn drilling.

A consistent and resilient variety with a solid all-round disease package and pest resistance, the new addition to the 2022-2023 AHDB Recommended List is the package growers have been asking for, says seed breeder Limagrain.

“LG Typhoon delivers an exceptional consistency of performance across very different seasons and regions of the UK, yielding 102% – a great attribute to have in any variety,” says Limagrain UK’s arable technical manager Ron Granger.

While yield is important, Mr Granger acknowledges that growers fundamentally like to grow robust varieties that deliver time and again – whatever the situation. “This is exactly what LG Typhoon does.”

Consistent performer He attributes LG Typhoon’s consistency of performance across locations, seasons and rotations, mostly down to the variety’s excellent allround foliar disease resistance and agronomic characteristics.

“It has a very good untreated yield (89%); an important attribute even in the hard feed sector, that was traditionally a high input, high output scenario, and is a valuable tool regarding fungicide programmes and timings,” he says.

"LG Typhoon’s resistance rating of 7.2 (3 year data set) for Septoria, comes from a combination of genetic sources different to those in the majority of current RL varieties, and is a significant factor in protecting this resistance rating going forward.”

Yellow rust resistance “It has an excellent yellow rust resistance of 9, combined with YR seedling resistance – a valuable insurance around the earlier spray windows of T0 & T1, where yellow rust can be the main focus in regional high pressure situations.”

But Mr Granger is keen to point out that all crops should be closely monitored and treated appropriately as both yellow rust and septoria strains are continuously evolving – a lesson learnt in the 2021 season.

Typhoon offers the bonus of Orange Wheat Blossom

More second wheat is expected to be grown this year Typhoon is the whole package, says Ron Granger (left)

“

It has a very good untreated yield

Midge (OWBM) resistance, in addition to a (6) for eyespot and fusarium. As a second wheat, it yields 104% of control, putting it among the most popular varieties in this rotational position.

LG Typhoon also offers valuable onfarm agronomics. Its stiff straw and good lodging resistance is in line with other feed wheats, such as Gleam. With a specific weight of 76.3 kg/hl, it is also similar to Gleam.

Later maturing It can be drilled from mid-September to mid-February but performs particularly well when sown early, yielding 105% over controls. This is more than hard wheats Graham and Gleam in this sowing period, says Mr Granger.

Typhoon is slightly later to mature (+2), similar to Costello, but Mr Granger does not see this as an issue. “As we learnt with our later variety Revelation (+3), it is important to have a range of maturities across the farm to spread harvest risk."

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 11

Arable

New wheat traits build on outstanding UK varieties • High efficiency ‘breakthrough’ wheats • Builds on RL-topping DSV Champion • Big emphasis on disease resistance

B

etter nitrogen efficiency, greater drought tolerance and enhanced nutritional properties are all on the radar for new wheat varieties.

Although a relative new entrant to the world of wheat breeding, DSV’s UK-based programme has already achieved major success with several breakthrough varieties in recent years.

DSV Champion is the highest yielding wheat on the 2021/22 AHDB Recommended List, DSV Theodore is widely regarded as the cleanest wheat on the list, and DSV Oxford is on the AHDB candidate list.

“That could be a trio of very strong varieties on the recommended list by the end of 2022,” explains DSV wheat breeder Matt Kerton (right), who says several factors have led to the success of the company's programme.

“With the current pressures on growers and those likely to emerge in future, our approach is to focus on disease resistance and agronomic traits first and then select for yield.”

DSV's UK breeding station is in a strong septoria pressure area, for example, but one which also has a lot of yellow rust. This allows the breeder to select for

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septoria resistance first knowing that yellow rust will also be a factor, says Dr Kerton.

“The stronger the disease pressure in the early breeding stages, the stronger the genetic material coming through these is.”

DSV also has breeding programmes in France and Germany – as well as trials sites in Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands.

These are supported by a stateof-the-art molecular laboratory at Thule in Germany.

Model outcomes “This allows us to model the likely outcome of crosses before we physically make them. It helps ensure the material entering our breeding programmes is as close as possible to our required specification from the start.

“This not only shortens the

time from concept to commercial reality, it also strengthens the lines by fixing certain traits from the earliest stages and ensures we can track these at all times through the breeding process.”

Creating the new varieties of the future could be based more on looking to the past, says Dr Kerton. It could be that strong drought tolerance genes from the past are useful when combined

with more modern high-yielding genetics, he adds.

This means DSV is increasingly turning back the genetic clock to see if older variety characteristics have relevance for the future – although the company strategy is very much to breed for today.

“There is no point in breeding now for an event that is potentially 20 years away,” says Dr Kerton.

With the average breeding cycle around 5- 10 years, timescales are important.

And Dr Kerton says some breeding aims have greater priority than others.

“Nitrogen efficiency of varieties is one of our biggest areas of focus, not just because of the current high price of fertilisers but also the environmental pressure to reduce use of nitrogen long-term.

“We are also looking at improving the nutritional quality of wheat by discovering genes involved in the control of micronutrient accumulation in the flour.”

“But varieties like DSV Champion, Theodore and Oxford are successful because they meet producers’ needs today – high yield, strong disease resistance and good untreated yields.”

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Good quality and strong agronomic performance DSV Theodore is the only variety on the recommended list to get a 9 for septoria resistance, says the company's Sarah Hawthorne (below). It also scores 9 for yellow rust and 8 for brown rust.

“DSV Champion combines a similar comprehensive disease package with outstanding untreated yield and real world versatility and it looks like DSV Oxford is following in the same mould.

“With a high level of versatility and consistency of production, DSV Oxford performs to its full potential in both higher input systems and more regenerative ones.”

Overall UK average yield for DSV Oxford sits at 103.7% of control with particularly strong performance of 105% in the West.

But an untreated yield of 86% underlines its in-built resilience too, says Ms Hawthorne.

“It’s a strong, well structured wheat standing at 84.6cm without PGRs so it’s going to be a tough contender in the more variable growing conditions now prevalent in the UK plus it is likely to be an easy harvester.

“Good grain quality and strong agronomic performance are particular features with orange wheat blossom midge resistance and a dependable package of genetics delivering 6s for septoria and mildew resistance plus, importantly, an 8 for yellow rust.”

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60

Arable

‘Hidden threat’ posed by disease to oilseed rape • Warmer climate puts UK crops at risk • Stem-health is particularly important • Light leaf spot still a serious challenge

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amage caused by stem-based diseases in oilseed rape must not be ignored, warn UK plant breeders.

As the climate becomes warmer and wetter, rape is at higher risk of light leaf spot, phoma and verticillium stem stripe. All three diseases can seriously reduce yields and oil quality – causing hefty losses at a time when rape is worth more about £800/t.

“It’s crucial to keep the plant as healthy as possible if it has any chance of reaching its full yield potential – and this includes the health of the stem,” says Liam Wilkinson, arable technical officer for Limagrain UK.

Harder to control “A flat crop is of no use to anyone. Over the last few years there has been much focus on canopy health in oilseed rape, but stem health is an area that is often overlooked and can have a serious impact on gross output.”

While phoma and Verticillium are generally well recognised stem-based

diseases, Mr Wilkinson considers light leaf spot to be the biggest disease threat – warning that it is increasingly harder to control.

“In recent years, phoma has become less of a problem with the use of resistant varieties,” he explains. “Verticillium stem stripe is a more sporadic disease, more closely linked to region, weather and crop factors.

“Light leaf spot used to be considered to be a disease of the north, but this is no longer the case. Mutations and a reduction in azole efficacy, alongside milder winter weather, have resulted in it spreading across the UK, with yield losses of up to 1 t/ha.”

Often only considered to be a disease of the canopy, light leaf spot infection can spread to the stem resulting in serious issues from stem distortion, stunting, poor pod formation and oil quality issues. These are often overlooked, says Mr Wilkinson.

Cylindrosporium is the stem-based stage of light leaf spot, a disease caused by the pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae. LLS is a polycyclic disease, producing more than one infection cycle per season, and Cylindrosporium concentricum is its asexual stage.

“Varieties offer good light leaf disease resistance ratings on the RL, but it’s important to recognise that in the UK, light leaf spot on the stem is not something that is scored for in the AHDB RL, it’s only the leaves that are scored for disease.”

Stem infections Recommended varieties with similar light leaf scores will in reality have very different stem health scores – so incidences of stem infection often go unreported, resulting in unnecessary yield and quality reductions.

In France, stem based light leaf spot, or Cylindrosporium, is recognised to be a serious disease of oilseed rape in its own right, says Mr Wilkinson.

As such, it is included in the French

“

It’s crucial to keep the plant healthy

Above: Health stems help oilseed rape crops reach their potential, Left: Light leaf spot remains a big disease threat, says Liam Wilkinson.

equivalent of the UK’s annual AHDB recommended list.

Cylindrosporium is a key focus for Limagrain across its European breeding programme. This means all Limagrain varieties on the recommended list are scored for cylindrosporium in the breeder’s own trials, as well as for light leaf spot by the AHDB. “The important message here is to look behind the headline scores and don’t assume that a good overall light leaf spot score translates into a good stem health score,” says Mr Wilkinson.

“The next generation of Limagrain lines are looking really clean for all the major stem-health diseases. These will begin to appear on the UK market this autumn, and will be more widely available in 2023.”

To earn a place on the UK recommended list, a variety must have shown itself to offer the top gross output and agronomics across a wide range of geographical locations across several different seasons.

“Limagrain’s rape varieties have now held the top positions on the RL consistently for three years which reflects the success of our ‘trait loaded’ breeding approach in bringing varieties to market that are resilient and perform consistently.”

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 15

Arable

Latest recommended list for sugar beet boasts nine new varieties • More improvements by breeders • Tolerance and resilience are key • Promising varieties in pipeline

the 2021 trial season was an improvement on 2020 and aphids were not a serious problem in the trials.”

Weather after drilling led to varying emergence and two trials were lost because of uneven stands. There were more bolters from early sown trials than in 2020 but fewer than 2019.

Trials drilled after mid-March had similar or fewer bolters than last year.

N

ine new sugar beet varieties have been added to the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list for 2023.

The new varieties – highest yield first – are Harryetta KWS, Annatina KWS, BTS3610, Morgan, Stewart, Tawny, Adder, Button and BTS Smart 9485. With four varieties withdrawn, this means growers have 22 varieties to choose from.

Button and Harryetta KWS are said to be tolerant to beet cyst nematode while BTS Smart 9485 is tolerant to ALS herbicides – although these claims are based on breeders’ data and are not tested in recommended list trials.

Bolting characteristics Morgan, Tawny and Adder are not recommended for early sowing before midMarch. But they have shown low bolting characteristics when sown after that date in the last three years of recommended list trials.

Annatina KWS, BTS3610, But-

ton and BTS Smart 9845 produced no bolters in those three years of normal sown RL trials. The BBRO said all the new varieties once again demonstrated improvements made by breeders to the crop.

The adjusted yield of control varieties was 112.0 t/ha compared to 105.8t/ ha in 2020. Recommended list board chairman Mike May said: “Fortunately,

New varieties once again have higher yields, says the BBRO.

Wet autumn Although generally good, wet autumn weather at times meant a careful watch was required to ensure trials were harvested under good conditions.

This prompted praise from Mr May for the researchers conducting the trials.

“Once again all credit must go to the harvesting and tarehouse teams and trial operators for ensuring sufficient trials were harvested and analysed to allow this RL programme to be completed,” he said.

“Before ordering any of the special varieties bred for BCN, AYPR, yellowing virus tolerance or ALS herbicide tolerance, growers should discuss options with the BBRO and breeders who will have more information.”

The average plant population of the five controls was 100,900/ha compared to 98,000/ha for the 2022 list. At 17.1%, average sugar content was the same as the previous year.

Individual b reeders and the BBRO will have more details on using all the varieties trialled in practice.

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wo new sugar beet varieties from SesVanderHave have been added to the British Beet Research Organisation Recommended List for 2023.

The inclusion of Adder and Tawny on the list reflects a decade of breeding and extensive UK trialling where both varieties have delivered consistent and resilient performance.

The new varieties join Wren and beet cyst nematode tolerant variety Lacewing – both from the same stable. SesVanderHave says both remain popular with growers for delivering strong performance and value for money.

Recent years have seen SesVanderHave mirror commercial practice in its UK field trials.

UK manager Ian Munnery (pictured) says this is generating an pipeline of products which will significantly improve beet production.

16 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

“We use SesVanderHave primed and pelleted seed drilled to a stand, and integrate different fertiliser regimes and spray programmes.

This allows us to screen genetics and seed treatments to help deliver the increasing need for resilience in the sugar beet crop.

Accelerating selection “Investment in Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy on our mobile tarehouse means we can now analyse sugar content as we harvest – thus accelerating selection of promising genetics and keeping down trial costs.”

The recently recommended varieties and promising future products will be on show for visitors to SesVanderHave trial sites throughout the summer. For details and to book a place, email contactuk@sesvanderhave.com.

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AE_132x186_draft 1.indd 1 AE_132x186_draft 1.indd 1 AE_132x186_draft 1.indd 1 AE_132x186_draft 1.indd 1 18 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

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Arable

How disease risk forecasting helps prioritise fungicides Many cereal crops at risk if spraying opportunities are limited

G

rowers wanting to ensure effective disease control in the event of limited spraying opportunities this spring should identify fields to prioritise for treatment.

“For large cropping areas, there can be a temptation to treat everything as one,” says Dave Howard, head of integrated crop management for Hutchinsons. “But even relatively small differences in drilling date can make a big difference to disease risk.”

This is particularly true for wheat varieties with medium Septoria resistance drilled in late September and early October. “They can neither be approached as a resistant variety or a susceptible variety so other risk factors become highly important.”

Temperatures fluctuate quite a lot at that time of year, says Mr Howard, so a variation of 7-10 days in drilling date can make a big difference to the speed of disease movement and risk going into spring.

Rainfall in April and May has long been associated with increased Septoria incidence. But last year demonstrated that it can take off rapidly later, even from a low base disease level, given the right conditions.

Omnia’s wheat disease risk forecasting model provides a baseline risk assessment for any crop location. It considers factors including recommended list variety scores, drilling date and critically historic and forecast weather data.

“This gives growers a visual representation of where the main risks

Septoria is a challenge in some crops with medium resistance Below: Growers should consider a range of factors, says Dave Howard.

are and strategically plan control programmes accordingly,” says Mr Howard. The model is being further developed to forecast Septoria severity based on weekly rainfall data.

Early sowing and a largely mild, damp winter means many cereal crops are at relatively high disease risk going into spring, making early fungicides a worthwhile investment, says Hutchinsons technical development director David Ellerton.

“We saw a lot of rust, mildew and Septoria on lower leaves at the start of the year, and although January frosts slowed disease down, generally thick, early-sown crops will be at higher risk if conditions are conducive,” says Dr Ellerton.

Yellow rust control should be the focus of the first fungicide spray, usually applied to winter wheat around growth stage 25-30. “If you’ve got yellow rust, it’s important to knock it out early with a tebuconazole or metconazole-based fungicide.”

Modes of action Including a strobilurin such as azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin, can bring extra persistence – but strobilurins should not be used alone. “Resistance management guidelines state strobilurins must be mixed with a fungicide with a different mode of action.”

Spray programmes should priori-

tise susceptible varieties rated 3 or 4.

These include Skyfall, KWS Kinetic, KWS Zyatt or RGT Wolverine, which were hit particularly hard by yellow rust last year, but will give greatest yield response to treatment.

“Varieties with higher Recommended List ratings cannot be ignored though, especially if it is based on adult resistance, which may not kick-in until late in the season,” says Dr Ellerton.

“Varieties with reasonable adult resistance, such as KWS Barrel or RGT Gravity can still be vulnerable to disease as young plants. If disease establishes early, it can cause significant damage before adult resistance takes effect, so needs controlling.”

Early treatment is paramount for yellow rust control. But Dr Ellerton advises growers check product labels carefully and consult their agronomist, as some products cannot be applied before GS 30.

Nitrogen strategy “Straight tebuconazole or azoxystrobin cannot be used pre-GS 30, whereas some mixes containing tebuconazole can. Also, remember nitrogen strategy affects disease risk, with stressed crops, or those with excess nitrogen, potentially more prone to yellow rust.”

Last year’s emergence of Septoria races with virulence to Cougar makes early protection particularly important for varieties with Cougar parentage, such as RGT Saki or KWS Firefly, adds Dr Ellerton.

Following the withdrawal of multi-site chlorothalonil, which was the goto option, folpet is now the main fungicide for Septoria protection where risk is high. Where mildew is a threat, prothioconazole offers reasonable early season control.

The strongest mildewicide, cyflufenamid, cannot be used until the beginning of stem elongation. “The biostimulant Scyon can play a useful role within integrated disease control programmes,” says Dr Ellerton.

“Its combination of naturally occurring, signalling metabolites strengthens the plant’s natural defences and maximizes nutrient uptake, making plants healthier and better able to fight off disease,” he explains.

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 19

Arable

Big interest in grain handling systems

G

rain specialists BDC Systems will be showcasing its Moisture Monitoring Systems at this month's Cereals event.

Increasingly unpredictable weather and high energy prices have seen more farmers look for ways to maximise crop quality. And the system accurately and automatically checks moisture content as grain leaves the drier on the way to the store.

“Weather conditions last harvest resulted in a significant rise in enquiries for our grain handling systems with customers taking initial enquiries forward to the design stage more quickly than usual,” says BDC sales director Andrew Head.

The system can be pre-configured to automatically send text alerts should moisture content vary beyond predefined levels – so farmers and store operators can make any necessary adjustments remotely and swiftly.

Being able to remotely adjust grain drier settings ensures drier settings are optimised to maintain the correct mc, helping to significantly reduce energy costs – a big benefit with today’s higher energy prices.

The Cereals event will also see BDC display Skandia Elevator’s range of elevating and conveying equipment. The H-Line system will be of interest to larger farming enterprises, commercial grain store operators and milling plants requiring high tonnage grain handling capability.

Mr Head says H-Line designers have worked hard to deliver what customers want: elevators that are easier to maintain, optimised grain flow which means less wear and tear to machinery, and a system which can reach an overall height of 70m.

Ventilation solutions from BDC Systems will also be exhibited. They will include drive-over level floor sys-

Andrew Head: reducing costs Right: The system monitors grain moisture as it goes into store.

tems, Corraduct half-round above floor ventilation laterals and a range of suitable ventilation fans.

The first Svegma drier was installed in the UK 38 years ago – with more than 1000 installed since. “In readiness for a potential wet harvest, interest in continuous flow driers will no doubt be strong,” says Mr Head.

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 21

Arable

Surge in hybrid rye sees UK area increase again by 25% workload on farm. Its agronomic benefits also equate directly into economic benefits for growers seeking to improve profit margins by lowering input costs.”

Rye requires far less fertiliser than winter wheat and performs extremely well in drought conditions, where its ag-

Saaten Union, Hybrid rye gas output comparison (M3gas/ha) 4300

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S

ome 50,000ha of hybrid rye is expected to be harvested this year as wholecrop demand for biogas production continues to drive market growth.

This represents a 25% year-on-year increase in the UK hybrid rye area.

Wholecrop rye for biogas production now accounts for about half the UK market – which makes choosing high performing varieties for anaerobic digestion key for most growers.

The agronomic benefits of rye are clear, says independent agronomist Craig Green, of CMG Agronomy. It performs better than winter wheat on light land, has aggressive early growth which smothers blackgrass, and requires fewer agrochemical inputs.

“There’s no doubt rye fits well into wheat rotations,” says Mr Green.

“It’s an excellent crop choice for growers and can be drilled and harvested early, helping to spread the

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“Having set up the first independent Norfolk based trials site several years ago, it’s given myself, my customers and other rye growers an unbiased view when assessing new hybrid rye varieties that stand out in a biogas situation.”

Strong pipeline Four out of five new winter hybrid rye varieties on the AHDB 2022/23 Descriptive list last December were bred by Saaten Union. UK partner Elsoms Seeds has clearly secured a strong pipeline of varieties well-suited to UK growing conditions, says Mr Green.

“With most of my growers working on a pound per tonne basis it’s all about sourcing new varieties that can produce consistently high yields and

[this follows] the success of SU Performer which had set the benchmark in recent years.

“Saaten Union and Elsoms now seem to have another winner in SU Arvid, a variety that went onto the DL in 2021/22, offering a significant step forward in yield than Performer, lower inputs, and which can be grown on a wider range of soils.”

Three customers who trialled SU Arvid last year all averaged 48.5t/ ha on wholecrop yields – about 2.5t/ ha higher than they had previously achieved with any other hybrid rye variety, says Mr Green.

“The variety holds its tillers well over the winter months very well and offer growers better brown rust resistance than SU Performer. Recent grower reports confirm that its in-field performance is better than its overall list ratings.”

Market future Saaten Union UK cereal product manager Andrew Creasy sees a strong future for rye cropping in the UK. He and some other breeders and industry experts believe that the UK rye area could double in size

Left: Saaten Union product manager Andrew Creasy Below: CMG Agronomy’s Craig Green

within the next few years.

“SU hybrid rye varieties have established an excellent track record over the last 10 years and are readily identifiable for strong attributes that suit UK farm rotations including early vigour and early drilling.

“In trials, it’s that consistent ability of SU varieties to achieve the critical 32% dry matter figure a little bit quicker than competitors which makes all the difference – particularly when temperatures rise in June.”

Saaten Union has recently increased its efforts in screening hybrid rye varieties specifically for wholecrop quality. This year, it is launching its first dedicated wholecrop trial to replicate results from varieties such as SU Arvid and SU Baresi in real farm situations.

“Our 2021 trials have already shown that SU Baresi achieved a 6% higher total gas yield m3/t than the control variety. At 102%, it’s a high yielder and, with a strong disease profile and good lodging resistance, it has the potential to secure a good market share.”

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 23

Arable

Partnership to build on legacy of AHDB Potatoes

S

ome of the region’s biggest potato producers have joined forces in a bid to solve some of the sector’s biggest challenges following the demise of AHDB Potatoes.

It follows a vote to abolish the statutory levy paid by producers – and the subsequent demise of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board sector council which conducted research for growers and promoted potatoes to consumers.

Farm advisers and trials specialist Agrii is leading the collaborative Potato Partnership project. It involves Foskett Farms, East Suffolk Produce, Matt Gregory of Greenwell Farms and independent agronomist Graham Tomalin.

The project leader is Nick Winmill, Agrii head of potato technical development. The goal is to expand on the work of AHDB Potatoes and maintain the provision of quality information to growers and the industry, he said.

“We need to find solutions to some

considerable pest and disease threats.

How we manage populations of potato cyst nematode and wireworm against a backdrop of reducing product choice will be foremost in our minds.”

The partnership says it will work with other interested growers. Challenges and opportunities include the need for a suitable successor to metribuzin for broad spectrum weed control and actions for the integrated control of aphid borne viruses.

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“It will take time to develop strategies that consider the challenges facing us, so it is imperative that this work begins sooner rather than later,” said Mr Winmill. “With the right partners

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and interest from growers, we hope to continue beyond this period.”

The partnership plans to share its learnings with other growers through a series of field events beginning in July and August this year. The events will be followed by a summary briefing during the winter.

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 25

Cereals 2022 Big names ‘flocking back’ to flagship Cereals event

When 8-9 June 2022

• Crop plots display new varieties • 30 exhibitors make show debut • Technology and advice on offer

What Situated on a working farm, Cereals aims is to equip farmers with the latest knowledge, ideas and technology to help them embrace the challenges and opportunities which will arise in the coming years.

E

xhibitors are flocking back to the Cereals event, say organisers, who are putting the finishing touches to next month’s show.

Technology will be a key theme for this year’s flagship event, which takes place on 8-9 June at Chrishall Grange, near Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Exhibits will include new varieties in the cereal crop plots and latest agricultural drone developments.

Event director Alli McEntyre says: “There will be a wide range of technology and practical advice on offer that will help boost returns on visitors’ own farms. At a time of great change in the industry, staying ahead is increasingly important.”

Methane tractor Big names set to return to the event include KWS, Corteva Agriscience, Bayer and Senova. Another returnee, New Holland plans to pack its stand with the latest technology including the first methane powered tractor.

“We have missed seeing our customers face to face during the pandemic years but this year blue and yellow are back and we’re excited to meet everyone in person again,” says marketing manager Mark Crosby.

There will be more than 30 new exhibitors at this year’s two-day event.

They will include Nitrasol, Fisher German, Spreadwise and Limex.

Senova will be back alongside the Just Oats stand, which covers the entire supply chain through companies like Morning Foods.

Drone applicator “It could be the first year when people really come to shows again – last year was a bit half-and-half,” says Senova marketing manager Alison Barrow. “We are looking forward to seeing the crowds return.”

Agricultural drone company Crop Angel is exhibiting for the first time in its own right, with a new small 10 26 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

“

Staying ahead is increasingly important.

The show’s wide range of practical demonstrations and displays are popular with show visitors

litre drone on display. There will also be a drone pellet applicator – suitable for sowing a cover crop in a standing crop of wheat, says director Chris Eglington.

The Civil Aviation Authority now permits the agricultural use of drones with a £9 licence. Spraying chemicals remains illegal but Mr Eglington says gaining permission is looking more promising than ever.

If spraying is allowed, drones could play a key role in allowing chemicals to be applied at the right timing – even though the ground may be too wet to travel, he adds.

New varieties Crop breeding company LSPB is exhibiting for the first time. Many of its varieties – such as spring bean Lynx – are well-know among farmers. But LSPB itself is less well recognised, says product manager Michael Shuldham.

“It is an opportunity to showcase our varieties and talk to farmers directly. We have some crop plots with a wide range of varieties. We will have

GETTING THERE Where Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, SG8 7NT

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For full details and tickets Visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk.

two clubroot resistant hybrid oilseed rape varieties and new varieties with phoma gene resistance.”

LSPB has a strong spring bean portfolio. There will also be a new LSPB spring wheat variety. Mr Shuldham says it is likely to prove popular with farmers who have blackgrass problems – or as a crop to follow sugar beet.

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Cereals 2022

Charities benefit from Cereals tickets

T

he Cereals event is raising cash for good causes – with half the money from ticket sales donated to three farming charities.

A full-price ticket costs £10. Visitors can choose whether their donation goes to the Farming Community Network, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) or the Yellow Wellies farm safety charity.

“We know farmers are facing a challenging time, with soaring input costs, the transition away from basic payments and the uncertainty of global trade deals,” explains Cereals event organiser Alli McEntyre.

currently work in agriculture – and to those who are no longer able to work due to ill-health, accident or age.

Also known as Yellow Wellies, the Farm Safety Foundation campaigns for safer working practices in agriculture.

With poor mental well-being a known contributor to farm fatalities, the charity also promotes practices which improve mental health.

Jude McCann of the Farming Community Network.

Help and advice The Farming Community Network provides practical and pastoral support to people across agriculture. Each year, it helps some 6,000 people with a range of issues – including mental health, family relationships, animal disease and future planning.

The RABI provides local support to the farming community. Confidential support is available to those who

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'No cliff edge' The government has promised there will be “no cliff edge” with payments gradually phased out by 2028. But experts warn that a new system of environmental payments will not fully offset the lost income.

The Cereals event will include a seminar programme focusing on topics that include the financial impact of agricultural policy changes. Speakers will also explore how to tackle high input costs, environmental schemes and carbon trading.

“Now is a time of huge change for farmers,” says Ms McEntyre. “The fourth agricultural revolution is under way and Cereals 2022 will offer farmers all the tools and advice they need to navigate it successfully.”

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Cereals 2022

Easier comparisons from side-by-side crop plots • Breeders centre-stage at event • All best varieties represented • Cereals and pulses on display

C

rop plots will be centre-stage at Cereals – enabling visitors to compare the top-performing varieties side by side.

Winter wheat and barley plots will showcase new and popular recommended list varieties, says arable project manager Jonathan Backhouse, who has curated 26 winter wheat and 14 winter barley varieties.

“We have worked with seed breeders on what they feel are the most popular, in-demand varieties that we need to be showcasing,” he says.

“While many of these varieties are also on display elsewhere in the show, this central feature gives growers the opportunity to walk among

“

Crop plots are a long-standing popular feature at Cereals

them in one place for side-by-side comparison.”

There is at least one variety from every breeder.

Wheat Wheat varieties from Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 will all be represented. Malting, two-row feed, and six-row hybrid barleys will also be shown. They include varieties from KWS, RAGT, Limagrain, DSV, Syngenta, Senova and Elsoms.

“There is at least one variety from every breeder on the list,” says Mr Backhouse.

Growers continue to seek out high yielding varieties but disease resistance is also a key trait. “Yield is probably still number, but disease resistance is high on the agenda, as is versatility in wheats, allowing them to go for distilling or milling.”

LSPB sees Cereals as an opportunity to talk directly to farmers, says product manager Michael Shuldham. “We have crop plots with a wide range of

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varieties. Highlights include new oilseed rape varieties with phoma resistance gene.”

New LSPB spring wheat variety WPB Escape is a good, solid spring wheat, says Mr Shuldham. It is a hard Group 4 and is likely to prove popular with farmers who have blackgrass problems or as a crop to follow sugar beet.”

Pulses For visitors interested in pulses, new winter bean variety Pantani will also be on display.

“It is an early maturing variety and its shortness helps reduce lodging risk,” explains Mr Shuldham.

Back at the event for the first time since 2019, KWS will showcase its main portfolio of 16 wheats and barleys.These include winter wheats KWS Zyatt, KWS Extase and Group 2 candidate, KWS Ultimatum.

BYDV-tolerant winter barley KWS Feeris will be on display alongside spring malting candidate KWS Curtis. KWS is also exhibiting a number of oilseed rape, hybrid rye, pea, oat and sugar beet varieties, says head of marketing Scott Manning.

Agronomy On the agronomy side, a Corteva oilseed rape plot will demonstrate the performance of herbicide Belkar against cranesbill, cleavers and poppy. There are also plots showcasing the effect of biological products from Soil Fertility Services and Amino-A. Ceres Rural agronomist Will Cobley, who advises the event, says crops have been in glood condition after a kind autumn. But wet weather during early spring meant the first nitrogen applications were a month later than ideal.

Mildew has also been spotted in some winter wheats across the site.

But Mr Backhouse says: “It is representative of what we have in the East of England and not a cause for concern.

Everything is in good shape.

“A challenge we often have in this area is an extended period of dry weather in spring. Last year the rain came at the right time but in the two or three springs before there was a horrendous drought.

“We just need rain little and often through May before the show in June.”

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Cereals 2022

Cereals sets out its stall with latest spraying kit • Demos show all new technology in action • Latest innovation and equipment on display • Sprayer operator winner to be unveiled

V

isitors to Cereals will be able to compare the latest kit demonstrated in the central Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers Arena.

Sprayer technology is moving on apace and the event is wellknown for its emphasis on the latest developments. The arena – which showcases the latest in application technology and innovation – is a key highlight for many Cereals attendees, “Its a mainstay event for us – the best in the UK,” says James Dixon, managing director of spray component and parts manufac-

32 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

turer Cleveland Alliances. “The real sprayer focus works for us and attendance is good too.”

The show will also host the awards ceremony for the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year competition. The winner – chosen from six finalists – will be judged based on best practice, good results and environmental protection.

Arable farmers and agronomists facing tight cost pressures will find plenty of spray equipment technology that will enable them to improve productivity and efficiency, says Cereals event

director Alli McEntyre.

“Farmers have a second-tonone opportunity to see the latest spraying kit from all the major manufacturers in action and compare it to decide what would work best on their farms.”

Regular exhibitor Househam Sprayers plans to demo two self-propelled models – the flagship Harrier and the new lightweight Spirit.

“We have relaunched the Spirit with the latest generation features,” says area sales manager Barry Harness. “It is fitted with a Claas Jaguar X10 Cabin with excellent panoramic visibility, air suspended seat, 27 litre fridge and full climate control.”

At just over six tonnes dry weight, the machine has perfect front to rear weight distribution,

The latest manufacturers will be represented at the two-day event.

sion provides more performance and convenience thanks to a new cruise control function and individual wheel slip control. The cab boasts unobstructed views both ahead and out to the spray boom, as well as the Category IV cab filtration system offering the highest levels of operator protection.

Variable height Chandler Fendt will be demonstrating the self-propelled RG600 Rogator sprayer, which is unique in offering variable ride height, explains managing director Gavin Pell.

“For a large part of the season crops are short so the ground clearance can be low. This makes the sprayer more stable – its lower centre of gravity also makes it safer for road transport.

“It also helps when working on hillsides where small sprayers containing a lot of water are much less stable. Having a lower centre of gravity also means the sprayer can travel faster on more even ground with better output.”

Sprayer clearance can be inadds Mr Harness. Its height has been lowered to just under one metre ground clearance, making it a more stable, more nimble, light-weight sprayer.

Househam has also switched to Bosch Rexroth wheel motors for higher road speeds and improved torque for hill climbing.

The Harrier is the largest machine in Househam’s range with booms up to 36m and up to a 6,000-litre tank capacity.

Bigger machines John Deere will be demonstrating several trailed and self-propelled machines including the R740i and R975i and the latest Mazzotti MAF. This will be the first outing at Cereals for the R975i, which starts production in April 2022.

It is the biggest trailed model ever produced by the company, with boom widths of 24-40m.

It has a 7,500-litre capacity – topping the R900i Series lineup, says Mark James, the firm’s product sales specialist for sprayers across the UK and Ireland.

“The machine’s new larger volume will mean farmers and contractors can spend more time in the field spraying, and so increase productivity by covering larger areas with one tank,” says Mr James.

Among the self-propelled models being demonstrated will be the R4150i, a 5,000-litre machine.

Built for high output, it features the XtraFlex individual wheel suspension for a smooth ride at high spraying speeds.

The QuadControl transmis-

creased when crops become taller.

Also gracing the sprayer arena will be the trailed Chafer Sentry. It has a 30m boom with 5,000-litre stainless steel spray tank; Chafer plumbing liquid control; Raven Hawkeye pulse width modulation and Norac UC7 Active Roll boom levelling.

The self-propelled Chafer Interceptor will be on demonstration with a New Holland forage harvester cab. The machine features CVT transmission, a 30m boom with 4,000-litre stainless steel spray tank and Topcon GPS System.

“Cereals is the most important show that most sprayer manufacturers go to and have a successful time,” says Chafer sales and marketing executive Joe Allen. “Visitors can look at the machines together, all at once. It is an important show.”

The event will also see the winner announced of the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year award, with first prize being a trip to the 2023 Agritechnica event in Hannover, Germany.

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Cereals 2022

Disease control is NIAB stand focus

W

heat disease management will form the basis of the NIAB stand at Cereals, with advice on hand to aid decision-making on varietal, cultural and chemical control.

NIAB will have 125 different crop and variety plots on display at the twoday event. They will include 32 winter wheat and 16 winter oilseed rape varieties – either already established or candidates for the AHDB 2022/23 Recommended List.

This year, the stand features plots showcasing fungicide inputs versus yield in winter wheat, a comparison of new cereal fungicides and – for the first time – treated and untreated wheat variety blends.

NIAB agronomy director Stuart Knight says: “Our untreated winter wheat variety demo plots are always a top attraction, giving growers a head start on their variety selection for next season, with differences in disease susceptibility clearly evident.

Variety blends “The demo is complemented by the new variety blends feature, enabling visitors to assess whether bringing together the resistance profiles of several wheat varieties could potentially reduce disease, improve resilience and increase yield.”

The focus on disease continues in the plant pathology plots. They will showcase the latest developments on yellow rust with the UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey team and a look at varietal resistance to septoria, alongside disease diagnostics and imaging.

NIAB will also showcase a range of protein crops, including lupins, peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and soya. A pulse pre-breeding programme aims

34 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

to unlock the healthy-eating potential of these protein crops.

“Demo plots will explore research work on legume crop improvement, alongside opportunities for crop diversification, lowering inputs on farm and new market prospects as a plant-derived protein source in food and animal feed.”

Soil hole The 20m-long NIAB Soil Hole is back again. It will be demonstrating the benefits of soil monitoring – including the what, how, when and why, says Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB’s head of farming systems.

This will include a demonstration of an automated soil sampling robot from the Small Robot Company, which is working with a consortium led by PES

The Soil Hole will demonstrate the benefits of soil monitoring, says Elizabeth Stockdale.

Technologies including NIAB, alongside a working soil sequencing display.

“We will be highlighting how to use collected data to inform decisions. It is not just a question of gathering data – we need to make good choices based on it.”

Some soil parameters will be measured in the Soil Hole during the event.

“These include physical structure, water management and biological activity,” says Dr Stockdale. “Other samples will have been taken in advance of the show.”

NIAB has compacted some tramlines and will cut down some wheat plots a couple of weeks before the show to give us a stubble field, so we can demonstrate the recommended sampling point for general rotational soil health sampling.

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Cereals 2022

New features on show – and old favourites too • Innovation among key attractions • Selling direct among big exhibits • Other crop technologies on show

Trial plots will include a mix of established and unusual varieties

V

isitors to Cereals can enjoy all their favourite attractions plus some exciting new exhibits at this year’s two-day event.

New features for 2022 include Crop to Kitchen which will showcase arable farmers selling direct to consumers, a curated version of the winter wheat and barley recommended lists and a demo area for machinery and kit that qualifies for the Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme.

With farmers seeking new ways to generate income as basic payments decline, Crop to Kitchen will explore how growers are creating opportunities using redundant farm buildings and crop diversification, explains Cereals event director Alli McEntyre.

“Farmers will be able to talk to other farmers with experience of selling directly to consumers. Products featured include quinoa, mushrooms, rhubarb,

oilseed rape oil, wine, juices, heritage wheat, flour and beer.”

Wheat and barley Cereal growers will be able to see some 26 popular winter wheats thanks to arable project manager Jonathan Back-

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house, who has curated varieties representing groups 1-4 from every breeder on the AHDB recommended list.

This feature will also showcase 14 winter barleys, again with popular picks from all breeders to represent malting, two-row feed and six-row hybrid varieties.

“While many of these varieties are on display elsewhere in the show, this gives growers the opportunity to walk among them in one place for side-byside comparison,” says Mr Backhouse.

Visitors will be able to see new varieties firsthand

Farm productivity The Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme covers up to 40% of the costs for slurry treatment and robotics and innovation equipment. Such kit, including for robotic weeding and harvesting, will be on show in the dedicated demo area.

An expanded Direct Drill Arena will include demonstrators showcasing and discussing their technology. Aitchison, Amazone, Claydon, Horizon, Horsch, John Deere, Kuhn and Mzuri will be among the companies demonstrating in this area.

Regular exhibits will include breeder variety plots and agronomy trial

plots – with big hitters Bayer, Corteva, KWS and Senova/Just Oats back this year. The NIAB Soil Hole is returning and so too is the Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers arena.

Other machinery As well as inter-row weeding demonstrations, there are also plans to have in-row weeding demos – helping growers keep on top of the ever-present weed challenge. Garford, Lemken and Terrington will be among the companies represented.

“Inter-row weeding can be used for cereals whereas in-row weeding is used for salad crops such as lettuces,” says Garford technical sales manager Allan Knight. “There is more and more machinery being demonstrated at Cereals.”

Farmers are diversifying into other crops as well and this machinery will be showcased too. Visitors will be able to see working demo plots from Agxeed, Claydon, Horizon, J. Brock, Kuhn, Mzuri, New Holland and TWB Engineering.

After its successful debut at last year’s Cereals, the NAAC Drainage Hub will be back to help farmers find

out more about the subject. It will bring together agricultural contractors with land drainage expertise.

Seminar programme The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board will be running a Code Green for Farming seminar programme. This will analyse farm policy, rising input costs, making the environment pay and new technology.

Meanwhile, Farmers Weekly will be running seminars based on its popular Transition series. Hosted in the New Era Theatre, they will look at ways farmers can make their businesses more financially and environmentally sustainable.

Around the event, numerous exhibitors will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions, with post-harvest technology and the latest crop protection and nutrition products on show, says event director Alli McEntyre.

“At this time of transition for farmers, Cereals offers an ideal one-stopshop to see all the latest innovation in action so that arable farmers can get a real flavour of what technology will be most suited to their farm,” Ms McEntyre explains.

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Cereals 2022

How drainage pays dividends and improves soil structure • Boosts yields and productivity • Benefits far outweigh investment • Help and advice on where to start

S

oil structure and carbon sequestration at Cereals will be highlighted at a special Drainage Hub – hosted by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.

Drainage is key to a more regenerative approach to farming, says Philip Wright, soil consultant at Wright Resolutions. The hub will feature informative seminars and offering an opportunity to meet exhibitors from the drainage sector.

Good farming “all relies on drainage,” explains Mr Wright.

Offering a farmer viewpoint, Jake Freestone of Overbury Estates will talk about how land drainage improved his farm. Richard Price of the Tetworth Hall Estate will cover the same topic on day two of the event.

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Nuffield Scholar Rob Burtonshaw, director of Farm Services. He will also be on hand to answer questions.

Organisers say there will also be plenty of opportunity for visitors to pose questions to the panellists and go home fully armed with information on how to improve farm productivity through better drainage.

Around the stands in the Drainage Hub will be East Anglia-based Miles Drainage which offers a GPS-based land drainage design and installation service. It will be exhibiting the Miles single leg mole plough.

Land forming Trencher manufacturer Mastenbroek will focus on the relatively recent concept of land forming and land levelling. This involves scraping ridges and moving soil into divots or lower areas of a field.

“Land forming is common in the USA and Europe but yet to take off in the UK,” says managing director Matt Hammerton. “It creates more productive land, leading to better yields.”

Mitchell-Rowlands will exhibit a full specification Drainjetter for cleaning out land drains. It can

Better understanding For growers wishing to gain a better understanding of the costs and benefits, the economics of land drainage will be explained by Harry Henderson of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Some useful pointers for farmers unsure where to begin will be provided by land drainage contractor and

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“The latest feature is a double hydraulic telescopic arm which can easily reach the opposite side of a dyke,” says the company’s managing director Graham Mitchell-Rowlands.

Other exhibitors Cotterill Civils will be showing and discussing a wide range of land drainage solutions, culvert pipes, rainwater harvesting tanks, sewage treatment solutions, water tanks and more, says group marketing executive Izzie Smith.

“We are at Cereals to connect with existing and new customers and promote the benefits of land drainage,” explains Ms Smith.

The company’s Linewatch – a safety initiative which raises awareness of oil and gas pipelines around the UK and encourages people to work around them safely – is managed by Murray Peat, associate at Fisher German.

“Breaches to pipelines can damage the environment and cause death or injury to those working nearby,” he says.

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Cereals 2022

Hybrid sets benchmark in rape stress tolerance A new oilseed rape variety promises a range of yield-protecting traits

O

utstanding tolerance to environmental stress is among the key traits promised by Bayer’s latest high-reliability Dekalb hybrid oilseed rape – which will be unveiled at Cereals.

DK Expose possesses ideal characteristics for early sowing – as well as drilling into September. It is said to have excellent foliar disease and TuYV resistance and is highly resistant to lodging with very stiff stems, Proven pod shatter resistance means growers can make the most of Expose’s ability to stay green and accumulate yield over an extended period by delaying desiccation until optimum whole canopy ripeness without increasing seed loss risk.

A high oil, high agronomic merit candidate for the AHDB recommended list, further trials also suggest Expose is more nitrogen effi-

cient than other top-performing hybrids, says Dekalb breeder Matthew Clarke.

“We entered DK Expose into National List trials having seen it convincingly top our 51site pan-European trial set. A completely untreated yield of 4.33t/ha stood out at 107% of the control mean.

“Unusually, it performed equally strongly under the continental climates of Germany and France, the ultra-continental climates of Poland, Hungary and Ukraine, and the more maritime conditions of the UK, Denmark and Sweden.

“This gives us great confidence that the variety is as tolerant as it can be to a broad range of environmental stresses – including winter cold and summer drought as well as disease and viral pressures beyond those to which it carries known resistance.”

Reliable performance Being later maturing than many varieties, DK Expose is at a marked disadvantage in official UK trials, many of which are harvested too early for it to express its full potential.

Even so, its gross output averaged 105-106% of controls in the last two seasons.

These ratings were far from exceptional among the entries, But the variety was in the

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UK Dekalb trial work.

“DK Expose stands out as one of the most suitable varieties for early August sowing,” he sats. “Like all EX varieties, it carries the Dekalb vigorous establishment trait to get it out of the blocks quickly.

Dekalb breeder Matthew Clarke and Dekalb campaign manager Lizzie Carr-Archer.

top three for performance in later-harvested sites, with a gross output rating of 108-111% indicating its potential is as good as the best current RL candidates.

As well as the full set of major yield-protecting traits, a good degree of DK Expose’s performance reliability comes from its growth habit, suggests Bayer technical specialist, Richard Williams who co-ordinates all the

Strong resistance Alongside strong disease and viral resistance and standing power important for earlier sowing, Expose’s rapid early leaf development gives it an important edge in growing away from cabbage stem flea beetle, poor seedbeds and other challenges.

“A more restrained subsequent growth habit than many hybrids, though, makes it far less likely to get too forward ahead of winter and cause the sort of canopy issues that can badly compromise performance,” says Mr Williams.

“Even this season, where conditions led to some seriously over-developed crops with vulnerably high growing points before Christmas, Expose’s score for Development Before Winter (DBW) was good but not excessive from early August sowing.

“Reasonable DBW scores from sowing in the second week of September also show the variety can be almost as well suited to later-sowing as one of our most rapid developers, DK Exsteel,” adds Mr Williams.

“This flexibility is a particular feather in its cap where harvest delays or the conditions prevent the crop being sown as early as planned. We find it doesn’t take-off too early in the spring either, making it especially winter hardy.

“When it does start to extend, though, a fast speed of spring development continues to stand it in good stead in growing away from challenges and developing a well-branched canopy with a great depth of flowering.”

Fertiliser applications Four TuYV resistant varieties tested at two sites last season showed average gross output fel,l by almost 250kg/ha when spring nitrogen applications were reduced from 180kg/ ha to 140kg/ha. But at just 0.11t/ha, Expose lost less than half this amount.

This shows DK Expose is no slouch in performance terms, says Mr Williams, calculating that its superior nitrogen use efficiency offers valuable margin gains from input economies at current fertiliser and rapeseed values.

More than this, it suggests Expose is better able to cope with conditions in which nitrogen availability is restricted by drought or other environmental stresses. Mr Clarke says this may well be one reason it performs well across many different climates.

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Alice Montrose of Ceres Rural points out that even minor changes to the way that things are done can bring noticeable benefits.

The simple measures Ceres is due to discuss will help to move any farm forward and prepare it for the first component of ELMS, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will be open for applications shortly.

“We’ll be covering a breadth of topical matters, from insecticide and pesticide use, to fertiliser strategy and promotion of organic matter.

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Precision farming and technology

Solar-powered farm robot has ‘simplicity on its side’ • Accurate robot seeds and weeds • Runs completely on solar energy • Helps to reduce carbon footprint

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fully autonomous, solar-powered robot capable of precision drilling and weeding is selling well in the UK. The FarmDroid uses ultra-accurate GPS to record exactly where it places each seed. Then, because it knows where each seed has been planted, the machine weeds around them – keeping crops clean using a combination of hoes and blades.

This approach means the FarmDroid doesn’t need banks of high-definition cameras and complex computers to distinguish between plants and weeds. It also means the machine can start weeding before crops have emerged.

James Woolway, managing director of distributor Opico, says simplicity is just one feature that sets the FarmDroid apart from anything else on the market. And because the machine is also solar-powered, there is no fuel bill.

“

FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution

The robot makes good financial sense, says James Woolway

problem weeds like fat-hen. Mr Woolway says this in itself represents a saving of more than £250/ha.

Soil health Weighing just 800kg, FarmDroid has the lightest footprint possible. This means less compaction which is good for soil health. Headlands aren’t run down either, helping to maintain yields across the entire cropped area.

Organic growers across northern Europe and the UK have reported using the FarmDroid. They include beet yields 40-60% higher than tractor-hoed crops as precise seed placement and intra-row weed control encourages uniform crop development.

The FarmDroid concept was the brainchild of Jens and Kristian Warming – two farming brothers from central Denmark – who built the first prototypes with the help of some robotics specialists in their farm workshop.

The machine was launched to the world at Agritechnica 2019. Now located in a state-of-the-art manufacturing complex, the business has more than 250 machines out working across

northern Europe.

Savings in herbicides, fuel, labour and machinery costs make for a strong financial argument for purchasing the FarmDroid, says Mr Woolway.

The price and running costs are a fraction of those associated with traditional machinerym he adds.

“We believe robotics will form the backbone of the next major step in technological development for agriculture,” explains Mr Woolway. “FarmDroid ticks so many boxes in all these respects.”

There are other benefits too. Food retailers looking to demonstrate their green credentials are increasingly imposing carbon audits on growers. The FarmDroid is a step towards energy self-sufficiency – and herbicide-free crop production.

The current six-row FarmDroid FD20 retails at £59,500 with an additional £4,243 required for an RTK base station.

Grant funding is likely to be available to assist with the purchase of what is an innovative machine, says Mr Woolway.

Bottom line This approach benefits the bottom line at a time when energy marklets are volatile and fossil fuels increasingly expensive, says Mr Woolway. It is also environmentally friendly.

“FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution suited to large and small-scale farming systems. Our distribution network, parts and technical teams are more than capable of backing the product up so it’s a great fit.

“While it’s early days, we’re coming to the UK market with a product that is tried and tested. The timing couldn’t be better with rising energy costs, labour issues and environmental factors at the forefront of farmers’ minds.”

Capable of working to within 5mm of each seedling between the rows and 20mm in the row, FarmDroid means there is no need for hand-rogueing MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 43

Precision farming and technology

Store monitoring tool saves time and money

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gri-food software developer KisanHub has launched an in-app digital tool dedicated to monitoring in-store crops.

The company says the tool makes it easier for agronomists and store managers to monitor crops and share consistent data with business colleagues – doing away with the need for pen and paper to transfer the information into spreadsheets.

“Our customers are always at the core of what we do,” said KisanHub chief executive Giles Barker. “We were keen to build an innovative tool to help them collect and share this information with their network, which aids decision making.”

Users can also add images and access historical data to monitor defect levels over time – helping to ensure crops remain in optimum condition for customers by adjusting the management strategy accordingly.

The new tool enables users and their controlled network to stay informed of the condition of all crops in store – at any given time or place, says KisanHub. The status of crops in different locations can be accessed from desk or mobile device.

Data collected by staff or third parties can include environmental conditions, movement dates, defects, pests or diseases – all supplemented with notes and images and automatically shared with colleagues.

A KisanHub store inventory facility can help prioritise crop movements. Users can quickly see which crops will store for longer and which need to be moved on. This helps to minimise waste, says the company.

Being able to assess the severity of pest, disease or defect observations can also help ensure the right produce gets to the right place at the right time – identifying crops that need further in-

Groundswell Farmers Guardian half page Apr 22 135x195mm.pdf

1

07/04/2022

spection or treatment to prevent further wastage.

KisanHub says more efficient store monitoring is good news for growers as well as fresh produce supplier groups.

It says everyone benefits – including consumers – as food waste is reduced, thanks to a more efficient supply chain.

The in-app tool helps ensure crops are kept in optimum condition.

14:52

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44 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

Raspberry robots could replace harvest workers

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Cambridge-based company is making significant strides to develop a range of fruit harvesting robots to support the horticultural sector.

Developed by Fieldwork Robotics, the machines are fitted with four picking arms. They are successfully working autonomously, with sensor technology and grippers to select and gather 2kg of fruit per hour. All fruit picked passed all quality controls.

The raspberry picking robots have already been deployed commercially in two locations in Portugal. Fieldwork Robotics is also making progress in efforts to drive down production costs, with changes in the materials used for the robots expected to cut costs by more than 20%.

Fieldwork Robotics was launched in 2016 to develop and commercialise the work of Martin Stoelen, from Plymouth University. The goal is to create autonomous robots to replace or work alongside humans and fill any productivity gaps.

Fieldwork Robotics chief executive Rui

Andres said: “The UK alone is facing a shortage of around 90,000 harvest workers. Our purpose has always been to help growers harvest everything they produce, keeping waste to an absolute minimum.”

The robot’s sensor technology and grippers have been redesigned to reduce slippage and cut the harvesting time (Credit Fieldwork Robotics)

Machine learning The robots use a combination of 3D cameras, sensors and machine learning to identify if a fruit is ripe enough to be picked. Four picking arms then move towards the fruit and apply pressure to the stem of each fruit, rather than the berry itself.

This ensures the raspberries are not damaged, with tests showing the quality of picked fruit is the same as that harvested by humans. The robots can be adapted for different crops by changing the software and harvesting grips.

The long-term aim is that each robot will be capable of picking more than 25,000 raspberries over the course of a day. By contrast, human workers pick around 15,000 in a typical eight-hour shift.

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MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 45

Precision farming and technology

Bespoke disease forecasts are helping to protect crops

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rowers can now use super-local weather indicators combined with disease forecasting to make more efficient fungicide applications.

Sencrop, which is known for its local weather station systems, has joined forces with the Information System for Integrated Plant production (ISIP) to provide disease forecasting for farmers based on pooled and individual data.

Taking into account local temperature, humidity and precipitation, the system forecasts risk levels for a range of cereal diseases between 15 February and 30 June. This then enables farmers to react to high disease pressure and protect crop quality and yield.

“Farmers can connect their individual crops to local weather data via their weather station and app, to receive crop-specific information and risk calculations,” says Lucie D’Haene, product manager and agronomist at Sencrop.

Common diseases covered include septoria tritici, yellow and brown rust, powdery mildew, leaf blotch, net blotch, ramularia and leaf rust.

“This will support farmers in assessing the disease infection pressure and assist them in

taking the right actions.”

By integrating local weather data, the quality of the model statements is raised to a new level, says ISIP managing director Manfred Röhrig.

“No other data source can make it more precise,” he adds.

Ultra-local data Sencrop is working to provide ultra-local real-time weather data with farmers, producer groups, agronomists and consultants in 26 countries. The company says its system gives farmers on an easy and quick overview of which crops require action.

“By seeing the crop risk in real time, farmers can easily drive to the affected fields for on-site inspections, saving time and fuel,” says Sencrop business development manager Harry Atkinson.

“Given soaring inputs costs – from fuel to fertiliser – farmers want to hone efficiencies as much as possible. Combining individual and pooled data can help them to do that.”

Super-local weather stations help improve spray programmes

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• Oilseed Rape price at unprecedented level.

• Beans coming into rotations on 300% Nitrogen price rise.

• The Triton is unique in its ability to drill rape as effectively as it drills beans.

• Current farming strategy needs to be tight, very tight, no room for error • Big risks and big reward scenario requires a new level of drill capability to bring cost cutting and crop improvement.

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• Please call us or your area agent to visit our farms and to see the Triton working.

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Your Quad ..more than just personal transport "Proud to support British Farmers"

Honda dealers Fieldens are proud to supply H Melton & Son with Honda quad bikes ..more than just personal transport and associated equipment.

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48 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

18/

Precision farming and technology

‘World’s largest vertical’ farm secures £26m funding boost • Farm is set to open this winter • Growing salad, soya and wheat • Powered byrenewable energy

T

he company behind the world’s largest vertical farm has secured an additional £26m to develop the site outside Norwich.

Based at the Norfolk Food Enterprise Park, Fischer Farms will offer 25,000m² of vertically stacked growing xproviding the capacity to supply 6.5t of leaf salad, leafy herbs, and other fresh produce to UK supermarkets every day.

By maximising the use of land, the 1.62ha vertical farm will be able to produce the same amount of food as 400ha acres of conventional British farmland – using 98% less water and no herbicides or insecticides.

Powered by 100% renewable energy, investors say the vertical farm will produce the freshest, longest lasting, safest, most consistent, and highest quality British-grown produce all year round – with no impact on the surrounding countryside.

Fischer Farms says the indoor farm will lead the way in scalable food production and provide a more resilient and sustainable method to feed the nation. The £26m injection is from Gresham House, a sustainable infrastructure investment specialist.

The site is set to open in winter 2022. If all goes to plan, Fischer Farms will scale up its operations and reduce its cost base to grow soya beans, rice, and wheat in significant volumes, at costs that compare favourably to global farming prices.

“

We will use less water – and no pesticides

The additional funding will help employ, train and upskill a specialised labour force. New recruits will join an experienced team of employees, who all share the same goal of feeding a growing population and boosting food security.

Fischer Farms founder and chief executive Tristan Fischer said: “We are thrilled to have secured the backing of such a well-respected firm and it is fantastic to see investors recognising the potential and value of vertical farming.”

Positive Impact Mr Fischer said the investment demonstrated confidence in what was a revolutionary form of farming.

“We look forward to working together as we scale-up our operations to cre-

ate a more responsible and sustainable food supply.”

Gresham House invests in projects with a positive social or environmental impact. Recent investments include sustainable agriculture, digital inclusion, waste recycling and other infrastructure projects to support the UK’s levelling up agenda.

Peter Bachmann, the company’s managing director of sustainable infrastructure, said the technology, skills and expertise behind Fischer Farms promised to make a difference to people’s lives and the planet.

“At a time of unprecedented global food and commodity prices, investing in the future of sustainable farming is appealing for so many reasons,” he said.

It would help to shape fresh food production for decades to come.

Vertical farming has huge potential, says Tristan Fischer.

Royal award for lameness detection tool

A

n autonomous livestock monitoring platform which detects cow lameness has received a Royal Dairy Innovation Award.

The Cattle Eye detection system means no hardware or devices need to be attached to the cow. It can be used to detect deviations in locomotion, which are highly correlated to lameness in dairy cows.

The award, sponsored by the Centre for Innovation and excellence in Livestock

(CIEL), was announced at last month’s Dairy-Tech event at Stoneleigh. It is presented to the product or service judged to be the most significant innovation for the future of dairying.

Competition judge Tim Downes – who is a council member of the Royal Association of British Dairy – said Cattle Eye was chosen as the competition winner because of its success in the early and accurate detection of lameness.

“Cattle Eye supports farmers’ observations, is cheap to install and doesn’t require any collars,” he said. “It has the potential to help farmers tackle lameness early in their herds. They are also working towards a body condition score element.”

Two runners-up were the web-based DigiFarm Data Tool, which integrates veterinary and farm records; and the DeLaval Flow Responsive Milking system which create a more efficient milk flow profile.

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 49

Spotlight on Renewables with RenEnergy

There’s never been a better time for UK farmers to invest in solar The well-documented end to the Feed-in-Tariff subsidy turned many farmers towards other investment and diversification opportunities. However, as national pressure mounts for energy independence and climate conscious practices, in conjunction with record increases in energy price, RenEnergy explores why there has never been a better time for UK farmers to invest in solar.

Immediate Benefits: Energy Savings and Income Diversification As the cost of energy rises, farmers are no doubt considering alternative options for powering their farm, but rising costs also emphasise the importance of farmers having diverse revenue streams that ensure income security. RenEnergy offer a reliable solution by designing, installing and maintaining solar PV arrays that deliver a lifetime of value.

Farms are ideally suited for solar PV installations given the availability of both roof and ground space, and existing grid connections.

Investing in solar is an attractive proposition for all demand profiles. Using all of your solar generation on site has always delivered the best return on investment, and with energy prices exceeding 30p/kWh this is truer than ever. However, high import prices mean high export prices, and even those using little to no energy on site can reap the benefits of a solar investment. Most farmers will already have a substantial grid connection, meaning energy generated from their solar array can be readily exported and sold back to the grid, acting as a reliable revenue stream.

Whilst site specific factors such as energy supply price, self-consumption of generated energy, and relative ease of install will determine your specific business case, returns on solar outstrip many conventional investments, delivering reliable double-digit returns.

Table 1 Example return on investment based on varying levels of site demand*

Self-consumption of generated energy

10%

50%

100%

Pay back years

7

5

3

Return on Investment

14.2%

25.7%

37.5%

*Assumed energy tariff of 28p/kWh & export rate of 10p/kWh

Preparing for the Future: Sustainable Supply Chains

Contact: 01603 713448

As part of their Corporate and Social Responsibility strategies, supermarkets are increasingly looking towards sourcing locally, and subsequently will want work with sustainable suppliers that are actively engaging in environmental stewardship. An increasing number of supermarkets are adopting the LEAF Marque accreditation across their supply chains (Waitrose, Tesco, Lidl, Marks and Spencer) – Linking Environment and Farming – underpinned by the Integrated Farm Management principles, which includes Energy Efficiency as a criteria.

RenEnergy Woodbastwick Rd Blofield Heath Norwich Norfolk NR13 4RR

As we see increasing regulations being implemented on suppliers, it is inevitable that all farmers will need to acknowledge their environmental impact and the ways in which they can adapt their practices to meet new standards. When you also take into account the cost of energy and the potential for substantial returns on investment, there is no better time for farmers to be installing solar at their farms.

Benefit to Everyone: Climate Change Mitigation

Beyond the benefits that a solar PV investment can afford you and your farm, installing solar directly contributes to the UK’s Net Zero Strategy that commits to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in the fight to tackle climate change and global warming.

Whether you use your solar energy www. directly or export back to the grid, inrenenergy.co.uk creasing the amount of renewable energy that is being generated ultimately lessens our dependency on harmful fossil fuels – a non-negotiable action if we are to avoid warming above 1.5°C and irreversible climatic tipping points.

About RenEnergy Since 2003, RenEnergy has installed over 40MW of solar for farms across the UK, and can deliver a range of renewable energy solutions, including solar PV, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure and solar carports. Get in touch to find out how we can save you money and green your farm. email: info@renenergy.co.uk

Farm energy Energy security tops farm carbon agenda • War in Ukraine sparks concerns • Robust energy and food policies • Low impact agriculture important

F

armers are well-placed to help ensure the UK is better placed to meet more of its own food and energy needs, say experts.

The importance of renewable energy and robust food security has increased since the Ukraine war has triggered even sharper rises in food and energy prices, delegates were told at the recent Low Carbon Agriculture Show.

Speaking in a keynote session at the event, NFU renewable energy senior adviser Jonathan Scurlock said UK farm policy should address these concerns. “There are three big policy drivers: energy security, climate change and food security.”

Farm minister Victoria Prentis told the same session that the world had changed when Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The crisis had propelled agriculture up the agenda. Government schemes at all levels would encourage low carbon farm practices.

Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Association for Renewable Ener-

“

Flexibility is the key to security

gy and Clean Technology, said: “If we accelerate UK renewable energy, we could create over 238,000 jobs in renewable and clean tech by 2030. Flexibility is the key to security.”

Lee Waters, the Welsh government’s deputy minister for climate change, spoke about the need for farm leaders, policymakers and practitioners to work together to ensure the UK meets its net zero targets.

“We know farming can deal with change and the choice is ours – do we act? Spending less on fertiliser and fewer chemicals is a no-brainer and means we will spend less money and have less environmental impact.”

Patrick Holden, founding director at the Sustainable Food Trust, underlined the need to produce as much food as possible – without diminishing natural capital. “For the first time there might be a business case for producing food in harmony with nature.”

Long journey Other sessions focused on soil health, carbon farming and renewable energy. NFU environment forum chairman Richard Bramley said: “Regenerative farming is a long journey, but you need to start somewhere. Identifying the items for you to address is key.”

This point was echoed by Gavin

New farm energy policies are vital, conference delegates were told

Lane, vie president of the Country Land and Business Association. “Determining a baseline is crucial to highlighting areas we can do something about,” he said.

The two-day Low Carbon Agriculture Show attracted 100 speakers. Taking place at Stoneleigh on 8-9 March, it included four key areas focusing on energy, the environment, low emission vehicles and farm technology.

Event director David Jacobmeyer said: “The show covered some of the most important issues affecting society today – energy security, climate change and food security. It was wonderful to see so many farmers.”

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 51

Farm energy

RABI launches fuel poverty grants for farming families

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rants of up to £1,500 are available for farming families facing spiralling fuel costs as they try to heat their homes.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution launched the grants as part of its fuel poverty response. They are available as support towards home-related energy costs, such as energy bills or for making home energy efficiency improvements.

With gas and electricity prices rising over 50% on 1 April, research from National Energy Action (NEA) indicates that 6.5m households across the UK will soon be in fuel poverty – some 2m more than just six months ago.

“People facing immediate financial hardship in relation to fuel cost increases can apply for grants of up to £1,500 towards bill payments or making homes more energy efficient,” says RABI director of services Caron Whaley.

Heat or eat “We should all be able to stay warm at home, however many people are increasingly having to choose whether to heat their home, feed the

family or pay the rent.”

Ms Whaley said RABI wanted to minimise the effects of cold homes on the physical and mental health of farming people. It is working closely with the NEA to better understand the impacts and symptoms of fuel poverty.

“Our service delivery teams have a really good understanding of the many challenges farming people face. The additional NEA training will develop their knowledge of some of the less obvious impacts of fuel poverty.”

Fuel poverty grants can be used towards home heating costs and energy efficiency measures. These include boiler servicing, installing water tank jackets, addressing lagging for pipes, or installing loft insulation.

Charitable payments will be means tested against disposable income to ensure the funding is fairly distributed.

Applications can be made by calling the RABI 24-hour helpline on 0800 188 4444.

Grants are available from RABI for homerelated energy costs

Energy Efficiency Audits NFU Energy can help you with an in-depth assessment of when, where and how you use energy – and potentially waste it – on the farm.

Although an energy audit is not a legal obligation, knowing the efficiency of equipment and processes like heating, cooling and lighting to how well buildings, stores and specialist structures, like greenhouses, are built, maintained and used, can really help in your planning.

Our technicians carry out an onsite walk through and crunch the numbers to give you a full report. This arms you with all the knowledge you need to know how to make quick and efficient changes if-and-when you choose to.

Call us on 024 7669 6512 to discuss how we can help you with an on-site audit for your business.

www.nfuenergy.co.uk 52 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

Farm work is not necessarily the same as working on agricultural land, says HMRC

HMRC seeks to clarify red diesel rule changes • Government pushes green fuel • Farmers not so affected for now • Goal is to tackle climate change

C

“

oncern over the future for red diesel is set to be a hot topic at this month's LAMMA event at the Birmingham NEC. A special session on both days of the two-day show (4-5 May) will discuss changes to rebated fuel rules with advice from HMRC representatives and experts from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.

Entitlement for rebated – or red – diesel was withdrawn from various industries last month. The rule change is seen as part of the government's drive towards the development of cleaner and greener alternatives.

The big change applies to vehicles used off-road. These vehicles are no longer be automatically entitled to use red diesel. Instead, use of the rebated fuel will be based entirely on what the vehicle is used for.

work on agricultural land. The operation you are doing must be of benefit to the land or livestock.”

Farmers can also use rebated fuel in agricultural vehicles when cutting verges and hedges which border a road; clearing snow; gritting and assisting any clear-up following flooding, says Ms Hewitt.

Secondly, she addss, once a legitimate use has been established, it is important to then confirm the vehicle you are intending to use is also allowed to use red.

Cloudy issue.

Agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fisheries are among the industries which have retained the entitlement to use red diesel. But the fuel issue is complicated for farmers operating mixed-use businesses.

NAAC chief executive Jill Hewitt says farmers and contractors should consider two factors when working out if their business can use red diesel.

“The first is that any work you do is for an agricultural purpose. This is not necessarily the same as just doing

arming has a key role in helping the UK meet net zero targets – now and into the future, says the NFU. The role played by farmers in producing energy and food production – while helping to mitigate climate change – is expected to be highlighted in a speech next month by NFU deputy president Tom Bradhaw.

Mr Bradshaw will deliver the keynote address to the World Biogas Expo, due to be held on 1516 June at the Birmingham NEC. The World Biogas Association says anaerobic digestion is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Organic wastes across food, farming, landfill

Any work you do must be agricultural

Climate emergency Some industry commentators have suggested red diesel will eventually be phased out altogether. They in-

clude Priscilla Hall, who heads up the construction and green energy teams at national law firm Clarke Willmott.

Ms Hall said the rationale for changes to rebated fuel rules was understandable. The climate emergency needed to be addressed by a raft of initiatives and measures – including changes to the tax regime.

The construction industry in particular had been given time to prepare for change. But Ms Hall added: “The big question in my mind is while the agriculture and horticulture sector have not been affected, how long will this be the case.

“I can envisage significant challenges for the agricultural sector as margins are tight and practical and cost-effective alternatives such as electric or hydrogen tractors are not widely available if in the future restrictions are introduced.”

Speakers from HMRC’s fuel duty policy team and the NAAC will be on hand at LAMMA to bring farmers and contractors up to speed with the changes. They will lead the session at 1pm on both days of the event in one of two new speaker zones.

For more details, visit www.lammashow.com

Key role for green farm energy

F

and wastewater treatment are responsible for around 25% of global methane emissions caused by human activity annually, says the biogas association.

It says anaerobic digestion can process the organic matter from those sectors and transform it into biogas, biofertiliser and other valuable bioproducts which can displace their fossil fuel equivalents.

The NFU says renewable technologies such as anaerobic digestion offer business opportunities for farmers – but are also vital in helping to achieve the NFU target of ensuring UK agriculture is net zero by 2040.

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 53

Farm energy

Tool to help landowners identify suitable energy scheme opportunities

S

oaring energy prices and the need to replace lost revenues as farm incomes come under pressure is driving fresh interest in renewable energy projects.

Strutt & Parker’s energy team is using special mapping software to help UK landowners identify if they have land suitable for a renewable energy project – such as a solar farm, battery storage or wind turbines.

The software produces a one-page report offering landowners an insight into where opportunities might lie and points possible barriers to a planning application, says Tom Charles, associate director at Strutt & Parker’s Norwich office.

“Now is a good time to investigate whether an energy project might be a possibility for a land-based business,” he says. Rents of £2,500/ha are available for solar farms and battery storage

54 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

generating about £2,000/MW. “With electricity costs spiralling and energy security becoming a bigger priority, it is anticipated that sites are going to be looked at more favourably within the planning system moving forward.”

Resistance Ideally land should be Grade 3 or below as any Grade 1 or 2 development is likely to meet resistance during the planning process. The tool also takes into account flood risk, ecological concerns and proximity to listed buildings or scheduled monuments.

The resulting report includes details of local grid capacity, where this is made available by the local Distribution Network Operator. The main limitation for any renewables project will be grid capacity, which is becoming increasingly constrained.

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Livestock Dog owners slammed over failure to report attacks

F

ewer than one in 20 sheep farmers are contacted by dog owners following an attack on their livestock, reveals a survey.

Conducted by the National Sheep Association, the survey sound that less than 5% of sheep farmers receive direct contact from the owners of dogs involved in a livestock attack – often with fatal and costly consequences.

Almost 60% of farmers said they were left to find evidence of an attack having taken place rather than being alerted by the dog owner or another witness. This suggests sheep are often left injured, suffering and in distress following an attack.

It comes as the government is proposing greater powers for police to trace and gain access to dogs involved in attacks. Doing so could encourage dog owners to take responsibility for their animals, said NSA chief executive Phil Stocker.

“It may feel daunting as a dog own-

er to come forward to a farmer to admit responsibility, but NSA believes that farmers would rather be informed by the dog owners themselves rather than finding injured, or even worse, dead sheep in their fields.

Amicable resolution “Sheep worrying by dogs is a crime but openness from the dog owner can mean a more amicable resolution can hopefully be achieved and it is better than having to explain a failure to report if the dog is able to be traced.”

Often dog owners simply do not realise their pet is capable of doing so much damage, and while we appreciate this crime is not one that any animal lover would set out to commit, taking responsibility is crucial and could help reduce cases for the future.”

The sheep worrying by dogs survey completed by sheep farmers across the UK and coordinated by NSA is run annually to gain an up-to-date insight on

the issue of sheep worrying by dogs’ continued severity and impact on the UK sheep industry.

Some 76% of respondents said they believed cases had increased over the past three years with many identifying the increase in dog ownership during the covid-19 pandemic as a perceived cause of the rise of cases.

“

Losses due to sheep worrying are unacceptable

Taking responsibility The survey also uncovered an improved response to dog attacks from rural police forces. Farmers give police 6/10 for responding to reports of a dog attack – a significant increase on ratings of 4/10 in 2021 and 3/10 in 2020.

Mr Stocker said: “At this time of spiralling costs in all areas continued losses due to sheep worrying are not acceptable and could easily be prevented by dog owners simply taking responsibility and keeping their dogs on a lead when walking nearby sheep.”

Guide to maximise homegrown forage

A

new guide aims to help livestock farmers maximise milk and meat production from home-grown forage.

Published by Field Options, the 2022 Grass, Clover and Forage Crop Guide includes details of the company’s specialist grazing, silage and forage crop seed mixtures alongside a wealth of useful agronomic advice.

“As a result of burgeoning feed, fuel and fertiliser prices, many dairy farmers are looking, with renewed interest, to maximise the milk their herds produce from home-grown forage,” explains Field Options manager Francis Dunne.

“Likewise, a significant proportion of beef and sheep farmers are reassessing their cropping and grassland management strategies to find new ways to cut costs and improve production efficiencies.”

Topics within the new publication include guidance on how to get the best

results from grass, clover and herbal seed mixtures by reseeding effectively – and practical advice on cultivation technique, soil nutrition and soil health, pH and structure.

The new publication also provides advice on pest and weed control. Simple changes to ley composition and management can offset rising input

costs and reduce fertiliser usage without impacting productivity.

Growing and utilising more grass and home-grown forage is key to the profitability and ongoing viability of all ruminant livestock enterprises, says Ms Dunne.

The guide can be viewed and downloaded at www.field-options.co.uk.

More livestock farmers are reassessing their feeding strategies

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 57

Livestock

‘Prioritise culling to ease cost pressures’

I

mplementing a hard cull policy in the year ahead could help alleviate rising costs facing many livestock businesses, say advisers.

Removing unproductive stock and utilising grazing more efficiently could protect the bottom line of many farm businesses, according to experts from SAC Consulting.

Sheep and grassland specialist Poppy Frater says farmers should try to take a step back from day-to-day challenges facing the industry and think strategically about the direction they wish to take their stock.

“If you are concerned about the costs involved in making enough forage, then one way to alleviate the pressure is to use this year as a hard cull year for animals that don’t suit your farm strategy,” she suggests.

Ms Frater says farmers should consider their genetic priorities. Farmers should at least cull those animals which as diagnosed barren, those that prolapse and livestock with severe feet or udder issues.

“If you want to prioritise low in-

tervention maternal genetics, select against those that have difficult birthing. If temperament is an issue, cull hard on the main offenders. If you wish to tighten the calving or lambing spread – cull those that birthed later.”

With input costs continuing to rise, Ms Frater says many farmers will face unnecessarily high bills unless they optimise their herd and flock management. Farmers should cut silage stra-

Better grazing management can help reduce costs

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tegically to mitigate future costs, she adds. Similarly, rotational grazing can increase grass utilisation without added inputs.

“With rising feed costs, making the best quality silage for pregnant ewes and growing stock will reduce the ration cost further down the line. Don’t be tempted to delay cutting to go for bulk with less fertiliser, as this will be more costly later.”

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5

ways to ensure your silage clamp remains airtight A properly sealed silage clamp pays dividends. Here’s how.

Good silage clamp management this season will maximise forage quality – more than justifying at a time when nitrogen fertiliser prices is at all-time high.

“Inadequate sealing not only results in poor fermentation and forage spoilage, it also means much of the money spent on nitrogen and other inputs has been wasted, says Lucy Johnson of film specialists Silostop.

“Considering the downsides, it is worrying that so many people still use a range of variously-sized black plastic sheets and a few worn-out tyres with rusty wires thrown on top of the clamp.”

Few farmers would tolerate 15% storage losses for any other crop, says Ms Johnson. Yet that is often the case with forage. But such losses can be kept within 5% by following some simple steps:

1

Plan sealing priorities carefully The starting point is to talk to a specialist and work out exactly how are you are going to seal the clamp and what you will need to do this.

“You’ll need to know the exact dimensions of your clamp to do this. The most effective method is a single sheet system, but these are available in range of sizes and the best fit will depend on individual circumstances.

“The intention is to keep the number of joins to a minimum to avoid potential air ingress, so a purpose-made side sheet is essential too.”

2

Using a proper oxygen barrier It is important to understand not all plastic sheets are created equal, explains Ms Johnson.

“A proper oxygen barrier has an oxygen transmission rate less than 5cm3/m2 of film, which means almost no air can get into the clamp, but with typical black silage plastic this is more like 300cm3/m2 .

“When this is stretched out to make an imitation oxygen barrier cling film, it can reach 1000cm3/m2 so quite a lot of air is able to pass through the film resulting in considerable spoilage and dry matter shrinkage in the top layers.

“Again, you need to talk to somebody who understands this and be prepared to ask the questions about oxygen transmission rates. A good film will virtually eradicate air from the clamp, a cheaper one could cost you dearly in terms of lost forage.”

3

Minimise plastic A modern single sheet system will not only minimise forage wastage, it will also help ensure you are using as little plastic as possible on-farm.

“Nobody wants to use more plastic than they need to. On a typical 16m wide by 50m long clamp, conventional black plastic with cling film will weigh around 110 kg, whilst with our most popular single sheet Silostop Max, this would be only 66kg.

“Furthermore, if you were to use an Anti-UV cover over a thinner film such as Silostop Orange, the weight could be reduced to 38kg - which is a reduction in plastic use of 65% compared to the traditional approach. All our films are 100% recyclable too.”

4

Manage films correctly Type of forage will also play a key role in choosing the optimum film.

“If you’re using a multi-cut system, where you will be repeatedly opening the clamp up to add material, a stronger film is advisable. This can then be used with a secure cover.

“If you’re clamping maize or wholecrop silage where the clamp is filled and then left until it is opened, the lighter sheets with an Anti-UV cover are the best option.

Whichever approach you take, bags and purpose-made mats are the best materials

Few farmers would tolerate 15% storage losses for any other crop says Lucy Johnson (below left)

for keeping covers in place and minimising pest damage.

“The other advantage is that sheeting time can be cut in half and that’s important in making sure clamps are sealed every evening when you are filling them and also whenever you remove material from it over the winter.”

5

Constantly review performance Keep an open mind about how you can improve the efficiency of your silage making in the future.

“We’re learning more about the best way to make silage all the time and when the cost of inputs and bought-in feeds is rising so quickly, it’s essential to make full use of every kg of forage you produce.

“With home-grown forage increasingly critical to the economics of dairy production, investing in the best film you can, will always create a significant return on investment.”

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 61

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Professional services ‘Race for space’ helps stoke demand for smaller farms • Urban buyers seeking rural living • Demand fuelled by covid lockdowns • More purchasers want to relocate

S

maller farms made the vast majority of land sold on the open market in East Anglia last year, reveal the latest statistics.

Farms under 100ha (250ha) accounted for 75% of those marketed publicly in the region during 2021, according to research has been compiled by Savills. Some 14% were 100200ha, with 7% 200-400ha and 4% more than 400ha.

Savills say the figures are reflective of a “race for space” seen since the coronavirus pandemic. Although broadly in line with 2020 and 2019, the number of farm sales under 100ha has increased by 65% since 2018.

Gi D’Angibau, of Savills in Essex, said: “A product of various lockdowns has been the well-reported ‘race for space’ by urban buyers seeking rural living or indeed a complete change of lifestyle – meaning that the desire for smaller farms and land holdings has grown.

Home and away “Over the past couple of years we’ve sold a number of these for this pur-

pose, as well as blocks of unequipped bare land. Through our network of offices, we regularly come across purchasers looking to relocate to East Anglia, with buyers coming from all over the country and abroad.”

Tourism and leisure businesses – such as wedding venues and glamping pods – have fuelled demand. Other buyers have included enterprises such as ice-cream producers, cider makers or online flower delivery.

Christopher Miles, who leads the rural team for Savills across East Anglia, said: “It is easy to get distracted by headline grabbing deals involving large farms and estates of 1,000 acres or more. But these are not the norm.”

Scarce market Sale of holdings sized 50-250 acres far outnumbered larger farm sales, said Mr Miles. “Our Farmland Value Survey reveals the strength of demand for farmland holdings of all sizes, with an increasingly diverse range of buyers competing in a scarce market.”

This supply-demand imbalance saw average GB farmland values rise by

6.2% to £7,180 per acre last year. This is the strongest annual growth since 2014, with poorer and average quality livestock land leading the way with price growth of 8.8% and 8.7% respectively in 2021.

“Given the increasingly diversified nature of demand, we now regularly sell larger properties in lots to create smaller farms which we can promote to a targeted and distinct groups of buyers. Indeed, when it comes to selling your farm, size does matter and small is often mighty.”

Sold last year: Folly Mill, Thaxted, included 222 acres with a six bed farmhouse

Farmland values climb to six-year high

F

armland values in England have reached their highest level since 2016 – with farms and estates often selling for more than their guide price.

The average value of arable land is currently at £9,500/acre – a rise of £100/acre since the end of 2021, according to Strutt & Parker’s Farmland Database, which records the details publicly marketed farmland in England over 100 acres in size,.

In recent years, 20-25% of arable land has tended to sell for £8,000/acre or under.

But this figure fell to less than 11% in 2021, with more land selling for £8-10,000/acre, says Matthew Sudlow, head of Strutt & Parker’s estates and farm agency.

In the eastern region, demand is expected to remain strong. Prices currently range from £7,750/acre to £11,000/acre.

“Land values continue to march upwards.

The average value of arable land is now 2% higher than a year ago and not far off the values seen at the peak of the market in 2014/2015. The average value of pasture is

£7,500/acre, which is also 3% higher.

“Of course, averages do mask wide variability in the prices being paid – dependent on location and the level of local interest. But the trend over recent quarters has been one of growth.”

Strutt & Parker says some 73% of farms marketed in the past 12 months sold at or for more than their guide – the highest level since 2014. High values are being fuelled by strong demand, coupled with a shortage of farms and estates up for sale.

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 63

Professional services

Chancellor ‘could have done more’ to ease rural crisis • Small measures are partially helpful • Reduction in basic rate tax unveiled • 12-month fuel duty cut announced

C Farmland is often seen as a safe haven investment

Land values outperform London property market

F

armland values are rising at their fastest rate since 2014 – outperforming the residential property market in London, suggest the latest figures from Knight Frank.

The price of bare land rose by almost 4% in the first quarter of this year, while annual growth hit 14%, according to the Knight Frank Farmland Index. This compares favourably with other investments, it says.

Only gold – which has seen a typical “safe-haven” bounce off the back of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – has performed more strongly over the past 12 months – as investors seek out assets classes that act as inflationary hedges.

Commodity surge The volume of publicly advertised land for sale so far this year is about 50% below the levels seen in 2021, itself an historically sparse year. Several additional dynamics that could lend momentum to the market have also emerged.

Following the surge in commodity and energy prices created by the war in Ukraine – around a third of the world's grain exports are shipped from Black Sea ports – inflation is spiralling and 64 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

food security has risen to the top of the political agenda.

A lack of supply and strong demand from a wide range of purchasers, particularly rollover and conservation-motivated buyers, continue to support prices. Buyers also have an eye on land as a source of environmental and carbon credits.

Green credentials William Matthews, Knight Frank head of farms and estates, said: “We’ve seen a significant increase and change in the profile of purchasers looking to acquire land.

There is now a far more diverse pool of buyers looking for farmland.

“Alongside traditional and land rollover buyers, many buyers are now looking to acquire land with the intention of environmental enhancement. This is all happening against a backdrop of a significant lack of stock, with opportunities few and far between.

“In light of this, now more than ever, landowners should be looking at their green potentials and credentials for their farms. The new buyer profiles and shortage of stock have set up a strong market for those thinking about selling.”

hancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement could have gone further to help ease the cost of living crisis in the countryside, say advisers.

Higher prices for fuel, energy, fertiliser and other materials will continue to put pressure on farm incomes – with inflation is expected to average 7.4% this year, says Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual.

Fuel prices “The Chancellor had to do something to reduce the impact of soaring fuel prices and cutting fuel duty was always on the cards but the reality is a 5p cut is unlikely to make a material difference with prices so high.”

Fuel duty has been cut from 57.95p to 52.95p per litre for 12 months. But VAT continues to be charged at 20%, which means petrol and white diesel are still double taxed. A proportionate cut is expected to reduce red diesel costs by less than a penny.

“The spiralling cost of petrol and diesel is having a huge impact on farmers who need it to run their businesses. The price of red diesel is roughly double what it was this time last year, impacting food production at a crucial time for farming.”

Mitigating impact On the £3,000 increase in National Insurance threshold, Mr McCann said: “Raising the thresholds for employees and the self-employed National Insurance by almost £3,000 goes some way to mitigating the impact of the 1.25% rise in April.

“All workers will benefit from this threshold increase, which will cost the government £25.9bn over the next five years, but it will make a real difference to many low earners.

“However, it’s disappointing the Chancellor didn’t go further and delay the hike in National Insurance, which will still hit employees and farm businesses hard

Velcourt acquires 50% stake in

F

arm management company Velcourt has acquired a 50% stake in Oakbank Game & Conservation – the regenerative farming, habitat and woodland consultancy and seed supplier.

Details of the acquisition are undisclosed. But the deal is seen as significant at a time when UK agriculture is increasingly expected to deliver multiple environmental benefits and help mitigate climate change – as well as producing food.

One of the UK’s largest farm management companies, Velcourt manages some 58,000ha

of land, has 120 employees and an annual turnover of £29.2m.

Oakbank has a team of 17 people and advises clients about all things environmental.

Velcourt executive chairman James Townhsend said Oakbank’s skills around natural capital and the environment were entirely complementary to Velcourt’s long established track record of profitable farm management and land use.

Fresh perspective Mr Townshend added: “Climate change and the threat to biodiversity, the natural environment

Is the lump sum exit scheme right for you?

Tim Frost from the food and farming team at Savills discusses the options for farmers thinking of leaving the industry.

In the next three to five years, eight per cent of farmers expect to retire, hand over their business to the next generation or exit agriculture for other reasons. Overall, 64 per cent of respondents to Defra’s October 2021 ‘farmer opinion tracker survey’ said that they would need to make changes to their farm business during this period.

To help those who wish to hand over their business or leave the industry completely, the lump sum exit scheme is now available.

It will provide a tax efficient lump sum payment of up to £100,000 in exchange for farmers selling, letting or indeed transferring their land to the next generation through gift or an agreed tenancy succession by 31 May 2024.

Cubankite / Shutterstock.com

There are certain eligibility conditions that have to be met – and complying with the scheme’s requirements will be more complex for those with a combination of owned and rented land – however; in acknowledgement of this, farmers have two years to work through the process.

Due to the payment cap, the scheme is most attractive to small and medium size farms of up to 450 lowland acres or up to 1,640 acres of moorland. Our calculations suggest over 85 per cent of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) recipients will be unaffected by the cap.

Rishi Sunak’s spring statement could have been more generous

at a time when costs for fuel, energy, and fertiliser are all spiralling.

Reducing benefit Employees and employers can reduce the impact of the 1.25% increase by making a pension contribution though a salary sacrifice arrangement. On the reduction of basic rate Income Tax, Mr

McCann said: “The Chancellor’s announcement that he would cut the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 19% in 2024 is a welcome move that will impact millions of people.

“However, the freezing of personal allowance and income tax bands until 2026 will reduce the benefit for many families.”

environmental consultancy and agricultural productivity dictate the need for a fresh perspective when it comes to rural land use in the UK.” Oakbank advises clients on countryside stewardship, woodland creation, woodland management, habitat creation, regenerative agriculture and biodiversity net gain. The company’s seed business develops mixes for game covers, stewardship, and cover crops for soil health.

Oakbank co-founder and director Ian Gould said: “When we started talking to Velcourt I felt that I could apply their mission to our own business – they be-

lieve in independence, efficiency and sound economic decision making.”

Velcourt’s farm managers were clearly very good and delivered results, said Mr Gould.

“Their team also understands that farming has to change to produce economic food with as light a touch as possible,” he added.

“Anything that farmers and land managers do has to deliver ‘good’ farming and to pay. Velcourt will give our team the scale and the scope to show what can be done in achieving this as farming wrestles with reducing its environmental footprint.”

In isolation a payment of up to £100,000 will not fund a retirement, but it could help unlock retirement plans when combined with other income such as from a farm stock or machinery dispersal sale. Tenants may also be able to negotiate a surrender payment with their landlord, and owner occupiers could sell land to generate capital.

Direct payments such as BPS will be decoupled from the requirement to occupy land in 2024. This could provide an alternative way to cease farming and receive the annual direct payments that are due each year up until their final year of 2027.

However, the lump sum exit scheme has a major benefit that this approach does not. Defra has successfully secured confirmation from the Treasury that the lump sum payments will be considered to be a capital receipt rather than income. This opens up the possibility of including the payment in a Business Assets Disposal Relief claim that would allow up to £1m of gains from the disposal of the business to be taxed at 10 per cent, rather than income tax of 20-45 per cent being charged on the lump sum payment.

The window for the lump sum exit scheme is now open and for anyone considering leaving the agricultural industry it is worth serious thought. At the same time, it remains essential to give careful consideration to the inheritance tax implications of any changes in land occupation or ownership.

Tim Frost Savills Cambridge tfrost@savills.com 07966 255 977

MAY 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 65

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

William's story Older farmers have lots of experience – and we dismiss it at our peril, says Fen Tiger

The chain was more off than on and only half a trailer load of parsnips was ever collected in a single day.

W

Little progress Yet William looks back on his first county council tenancy and the progression to his 120ha (300 acre) farm fondly. He wonders why today we need such big and heavy machinery.

No wonder we have so much soil compaction and water laying on the land. A two-furrow plough, single roll with harrows and a Dutch harrow to finish. That's all he had.

Back then, there was little artificial fertiliser. Instead, manure was carted from local cattle and pig farms and spread on the land so thick it would suck your boots off.

These days, applying natural fertiliser seems back in fashion – and William wonders why it ever became unfashionable in the first place.

Quite a mechanic in his day, he remembers driving a Clayson combine through his local city with the 10ft header on. It took a police escort and all the cars moved to one side.

But imagine doing that today, he says with a smile – and all at 20mph.

He also remembers his neighbours making a good living off 2ha (5 acres) of land. Growing an array of crops, he asks about the minimum amount of land required to make a living today. Has it reached 400ha (1000 acres) for combinable crops? Or even more?

William believes we need to go backwards today to go forward tomorrow. He doesn't advocate a return to such small farms but says they do still have lots to offer – and deserve a well-earned place in the farming world.

He might be 90 but William still leads a full and active life – and sits on a tractor seat when required.

Maybe more people should listen to the older generation. Their experience and views are often still relevant today.

ith so much uncertainty in the farming world today, it's sometimes good to listen to my old friend William. He is 90-yearsold and still wonders where we are all going.

Having left school at 14 to go straight on the land, William's first farm job was picking up potatoes into a basket. It was back-breaking work, he tells me. But the reward for his endeavours was to get to drive the tractor.

An old John Deere with three wheels pulled the trailer when full. William still has the old metal basket somewhere in his shed. On the back of this, his first full time job was with a local landowner who had several farms spread over the county.

Standard pay was £7 per week with plenty of over time if required. William repeats that the work was hard – but the days were short or long depending upon your appetite for work. If you wanted to earn more than £10 per week, you put in the extra hours.

Some older workers were regularly on £16 per week. One of his first jobs was beet drilling – a four row Webb drill with an electrical warning system which comprised one red bulb which lit up in a box.

If the bulb stayed on, it meant one of the units had stopped. But you didn't know which one. William had given the Stanhay drill a go but the belt-driven model was too erratic when it came to seed spacing so the Webb won the day.

The required speed was 2mph. Any faster would compromise the seed spacing. Beet drilling was a responsible job and paid a few shillings more. It meant the 2mph speed limit was adhered to – as advised by his employers.

66 ANGLIA FARMER • MAY 2022

William was a spray man in the spring and received a bonus if he completed 25ha (60 acres) a day. He also worked with horses briefly. But – in his words – he never really could control or understand the things.

Hard work The best job in the six years he worked for that particular farm was learning to drive a lorry.

Autumn meant taking three loads of beet daily to the nearby factory. In those days, it also meant loading lorries with a fork.

Driving the lorry all day meant a quick return home for tea before leaving again for the market run. As best as William remembers, this involved delivering vegetables to somewhere near Fleet Street in London.

After the market run, you had to drive the lorry home at 4am. Then it was two hours sleep before getting up to load beet again. The money was good, says William. But it came to an end when he became a father and saw his new born baby only once in the first month.

Winters were cold in those days. So cold one winter that the parsnips were frozen solid in the ground. It took 20 men with hammers and crow bars to break the ice while the rest looked after the single row harvester.

“

Manure was spread so thick it would suck your boots off

AF DIRECTORY EAR PROTECTION

Custom Moulded Ear Defenders

Ultra comfortable, re-usable & last for years. Acoustic filter allows you to still hear everything, whilst protecting you from harmful noise levels.

Available with CE approval. Earpieces are custom moulded from soft silicone, and offer the highest degree of comfort whilst providing an effective acoustic barrier. Choice of colours available.

Ideal for shooting - maximum protection without imparing hearing.

PEST CONTROL

COMMAND PEST CONTROL LTD

• RODENT CONTROL

• GRAIN FUMIGATION • GRAIN MONITORING • GRAIN STORE TREATMENTS

TEL: 01787 248049

Local staff in all regions covered by Anglia Farmer www.commandpestcontrol.co.uk Command House, Church Lane, Preston St Mary, Suffolk CO10 9NQ

TANKS

Autotel Ltd - 01508 528837 • www.autotelradio.co.uk NURSERY

Sandy Lane Nursery Wattisfield, Diss, Norfolk

Native and ornamental trees, hedging and shrubs Tel: 01359 251678 sales@sandylanenursery.co.uk www.sandylanenursery.co.uk

INDUSTRIAL STORAGE TANKS HIRE - NEW - USED 01502 710100 info@regaltanks.co.uk

KING KING

Horizontal Cylindrical Tank Don’t run short of fuel

MATERIALS & MACHINERY

this to Winter!

From 54,500 litres 27,250 litres (12,000 - 6,000

Grademore Ltd

Buy or hire a storage tank

Single and twin compartments, with crad from Kings

Bunded Tanks

Suppliers of Reclaimed Telegraph Poles, New & Reclaimed Railway Sleepers, Concrete Railway Sleepers, Motorway Crash Barriers.

4500L – 38,600L Bunded From 27,000 litres 10,000 litres (6,000 - 2,000 FueltoTanks c/w cabinet, gauge and alarm With cabinet, guage and alarm

01760 724237 www.grademore.com enquiries@grademore.com

T.G. ASKEW

BLUE PUMP FARM, LOW ROAD, BRESSINGHAM, DISS, NORFOLK IP22 2AA

Bulk haulage • Aggregate Road Planings • Stock Feed For further information please contact T: 01379 388156 F: 01379 388109 Email: jeremy@tgaskew.co.uk LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE

STORAGE TAN STORAGE TANKS

Tel 01638 712328 01638 712328

All suitable for fuel, water and efflu 2730L – 54,500L horiz/cyl Call today Water Tanksfor details

single or twin comp. with cradles

www.thekinggroup.co.uk/ta

tanks@thekinggroup.co.uk INSULATION

Sprayed Foam Insulation Specialists

FOR A FREE QUOTE CALL: 01405 812682 Crow Tree Farm, Crow Tree Bank, Thorne Levels, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN8 5TF info@webstersinsulation.com www.webstersinsulation.com WANTED

WANTED TO RENT

LARGE LIVESTOCK BARN FOR WINTER 2021/22 PREFERABLY NORFOLK/SUFFOLK Please email farmoff ice@yahoo.com with details/costs

TO ADVERTISE IN THE ANGLIA FARMER BUSINESS DIRECTORY CALL 01502 725144

Protimeter Grainmaster

Aeration Pedestals and Fans

Grain Stirrers

Straw Bale Moisture Meter

Moisture Meter Clinic 2022

Marrison Agriculture are holding our annual moisture meter clinic in Hingham on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th May 2022. Please call to make an appointment.

Call now for special offers on moisture meters, aeration pedestals and post-harvest storage equipment.

Sinar 6070

Sinar 6300

Sinar 6095

Sinar 6096

Marrison Agriculture Limited, 1 Ironside Way, Hingham, Norfolk, NR9 4LF.

www.marrisonagriculture.co.uk 01953 851 771