Midland Farmer - April 2022

April 2022

Midland

Farmer

LAMMA 2022: Welcome return for flagship farm machinery event

Serving the farming industry across the Midlands

Grass and forage: How to manage fertiliser effectively

News Call for action on food security

Potatoes Watch out for illegal potato seed

Professional Services Beware of pitfalls when selling carbon

Arable Rethink needed for crop nutrition

Pigs and poultry Welfare training platform launched

Fen Tiger Why sugar beet needs sweeter future

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Midland 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

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ADVERTISING SALES Alistair Bailey | T: 01502 725854 E: alistair.bailey@micropress.co.uk 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

Midland Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) or companies supplying goods and services to the sector. 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.

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 Printers Ltd T: 01502 725800

Runaway farm costs are nightmare stuff

F

ew people will have seen prices rise as rapidly as they have in recent months – and that goes for farm inputs as well as farm outputs.

Input and output values have reached dizzying heights. A year ago, few people would have forecast that wheat prices would hit £300/t. And paying £1000/t for fertiliser would have seemed just ridiculous.

Inflation was rising rapidly before Russia invaded Ukraine. Now it has accelerated. The conflict has highlighted how much we rely on other countries – not only for our food but also for our feed, fertiliser and our fuel, including red diesel.

The question many growers and livestock producers are rightly asking at the moment is how high will prices go? And are those prices worth paying?

At this rate, many farmers will simply decide that farming isn’t worthwhile.

It is already clear that rising input costs are out-stripping the future value of wheat.

Contents

Vol 11 • No 4 • April 2022

News .................................................................... 4 Arable .................................................................. 9 Potatoes & Root Crops .................................. 17 LAMMA 2022 .................................................. 25

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If things stay as they are, high fertiliser costs and lack of availability mean many growers will understandably think twice before drilling cereal crops this autumn.

The government seems oblivious to this fact. Food security isn’t on the Westminster menu. Ministers seems to assume we can import any shortfall, despite drastically lower plantings in Ukraine – still the breadbasket of Europe – this year.

Bizarrely, even Defra secretary George Eustice – a man with a farming background – seems to think growers can apply farmyard manure and slurry to offset the worsening shortage of mineral fertiliser.

This sort of nonsense might seem all very well when stomachs are full. But in reality it is plainly short-sighted. We need a properly thought-through policy that ensures we are able to produce our own food – rather than relying on others to do it for us.

Johann Tasker Editor

RIDBA

Rural & Industrial Design & Building Association

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 3

News Farm leaders demand action to protect food security • Concern over rising input costs • Farm output expected to slump • Rethink needed of farm policy

U

rgent action is needed to ensure UK food security amid ongoing disruption to supply chains following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, say farm leaders.

Soaring input costs for fuel and fertiliser have triggered warnings that farm output will be down by as much as 20% this harvest. At the same time, imports of feed and grain from Russia and Ukraine have ground to a halt.

The NFU says a rethink of government policy is needed to ensure food security is best served by policies that promote sustainable and profitable domestic food production alongside international trade.

Russia and the Ukraine are responsible for about one third of global wheat exports. But shipments from Black Sea ports are at a standstill due to the conflict and sanctions imposed by other countries.

Huge repercusslions The situation had huge repercussions for food security across the world, said NFU president Minette Batters. The UK government had a moral obligation to do everything it can to resolve the situation, she added.

Meanwhile, fertiliser availability remains tight, with prices three or four times higher than they were this time last year – forcing UK growers and livestock producers to reconsider their intentions for spring crop and grassland management.

Ms Batters said: “There are massive implications for the world too and [for] global food security. It’s going to be a huge issue when I look to the countries that Russia and Ukraine provide 100% of their grain.”

UK farming families were keen to help Ukrainian refugees, said Ms Batters. Many NFU members had already indicated they would like to give shelter and house refugees under the new government scheme, she added.

4 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

Minette Batters takes Defra secretary George Eustice to task on food security

“

There are massive global implications

The NFU president made the comments after speaking with Mariia Didukh, director of the Ukrainian National Agrarian Forum. Despite horrific challenges, farmers in Ukraine were still keen to grow food, rear livestock and secure their livelihoods, said Ms Batters.

She added: “The knock-on effects of this war will be felt globally. Ukraine is famously the breadbasket of the world – 400m people rely on Ukrainian crops, some living in the poorest parts of the world.”

Defra said the UK’s reliance on eastern Europe for food imports was very low – and it sdid not expect any significant direct impact on UK food supplies. But it acknowledged that cereals and oilseed prices could remain high for some time.

A Defra spokesman said the department was in regular contact with grain traders, manufacturers and food retailers to understand the impact of the conflict on the supply chain. “At the moment, supermarkets are reporting high levels of product availability.”

Deadline nears for basic payment scheme

F

armers have until 16 May to apply for their basic payment – and claim for countryside stewardship revenue and environmental payments.

Applications should submitted ahead of the deadline if possible, says the Rural Payments Agency. Applicants can update their personal and business information by applying through the online rural payments service.

RPA chief executive Paul Caldwell said: “I am pleased that last year we paid over 98% of all basic payment claims in the first month.

This year we are committed to match this target, and ensure timely payments to all farmers and land managers.

“We will continue to build on our performance while also supporting farmers across

the country to make the most of the opportunities arising from the transition to the new farming schemes.”

Since last year, direct payments are being gradually reduced – with the biggest reductions made to the higher payment bands. Reductions will be applied until the last payments are made in late 2027.

Defra says savings from phasing out payments will free up funds which will go back to farmers and land managers through new grants – and the roll-out of three environment land management schemes.

These are the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery. Defra says they will encourage more sustainable farming practices.

Storms Dudley and Eunice have kept us busy this past month which then led onto other works. We like it when this happens. We had a late afternoon call to help move some fallen trees across a road at our neighbours on the next door estate. The 20t 360 complete with tree shears was mobilised for the job. The road surface was quite new so we thought it best to put mats down to stop from scoring it up. Of all the things we did, the client was most impressed with that!

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News

Tony Harris – ‘unfaltering champion’ of British agriculture dies aged 92

T

ributes have poured in for Tony Harris, former principal of Harper Adams, who died last month aged 92.

Described as an unfaltering champion of agricultural education, Dr Harris was Harper principal from 19771994 – the pinnacle of a career which encompassed more than five decades and the development of some of Britain’s most successful farmers.

During his time as principal, Dr Harris transformed Harper’s fabric and educational offering – turning what was a more traditional college into the forward looking, technologically focused and dynamic agricultural university it is today.

Over that period, Harper almost quadrupled in size – from 400 undergraduates in 1977 to 1525 students in 1994. Students were given a voice on the board of governors for the first time and new ideas encouraged.

Dr Harris introduced honours degree routes in agriculture, agri-food marketing, rural enterprise and land management and placed greater emphasis on on postgraduate and postgraduate research education.

Despite pressure on agricultural colleges to amalgamate, Harper remained defiantly independent. It took on more students. Expansion included new halls of residence, including Harris Hall, which continues to be used today.

Harper vice-chancellor Ken Sloan said: “Dr Harris’s confident securing of the college’s – now university’s – independence has led to it achieving its position as the largest and leading UK specialist institution in agri-food and the disciplines that contribute to it.”

Bishop Burton College principal Bill Meredith described Dr Harris as one of agricultural education’s greats. “I was a student at Harper Adams when he began as principal.

Within a matter of weeks he had interviewed every student and had a clear idea of who his most effective lecturers were.”

Dr Harris was awarded an OBE for services to agriculture in 1991.

Two years after his retirement, he was awarded a fellowship of Harper Adams. He received a CBE in the 2005 New Year honours list.

Success for regional farm safety day More than 400 farmers attended a regional farm safety day at the Newark Showground last month.

The special free day – aimed at keeping people safe while working on the farm – included practical demonstrations, displays and talks. Organised by the NFU, it attracted visitors from across the East Midlands.

Some 34 people died while working in the farming, forestry and fisheries sector during the year to March 2021, according to the Health and Safety Executive. There were 12,000 non-fatal accidents and 11,000 workers suffering from work-related ill health.

NFU county adviser Rhonda Thompson said: “Farming is a dangerous industry with a very poor safety record – and farmers and agricultural workers are the people who can change that.”

She added: “The idea behind this 6 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

event was to pull together the best farm and safety expertise into a onestop shop, with the emphasis on it being accessible and informative.”

Demonstrations taking place on the day included livestock handling safety

by Nottingham Trent University. Visitors were also able to see ways to work safely around farming equipment, with mock accidents by students from Lincoln College.

Indoor sessions covered risk management with RMS, working safely with overhead power lines by Western Power Distribution, and firefighter to farmer training with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue.

Topics covered included mental health and wellbeing, working safely at height, machinery safety, safe workwear and personal protective equipment – with advice on hand from Lincolnshire Rural Support Network.

Former principal Tony Harris helped make Harper Adams what it is today

New recruit for farm agency team Henry King has joined the Savills Lincoln office as an associate farm agent.

Mr King made the move from the firm’s Peterborough office where he has worked as a surveyor in the rural professional team since 2017. Before that, he worked as a graduate surveyor in the estate management team in the same office.

Having started at Savills as a placement student in 2014 while studying for a degree in rural enterprise and land management at Harper Adams University, Mr King qualified as a chartered surveyor three years later.

Andrew Black, head of farm agency at Savills in the Midlands, said: “We are delighted to welcome Henry to the farm agency team, where he will cover the East Midlands from his Lincoln base.”

Mr Black added: “He has a sound understanding of the rural sector and wideranging professional and personal experience which will no doubt be invaluable to our existing and future clients.”

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Arable Different approach makes family farm more resilient • Long-term strategy for whole farm • Fewer cultivations bring dividends • Profit remains key to farm success

A

Shropshire grower says a whole farm approach to crop management is helping his business become more resilient.

Harry Heath took over the running of Whitley Manor Farm, Newport, in 2010. Back then, pigs were the mainstay of the business. Some 575 breeding sows produced 17,000 pigs annually with 200ha of arable land including potatoes and sugar beet.

Today, the pigs have gone and the business is dominated by combinable cropping and contracting. Keen on agro-ecology, or regenerative agriculture, Mr Heath says the goal remains to be profitable.

“Our soils had a legacy of over-cultivation and were not in a good way – worm counts were down, the soil profile was slumping, erosion was increasing after big rain events. We were taking more out of the soils than we were putting back in,” he explains.

“It was definitely time to re-evaluate and look at a long term strategy that would help restore soil structure.

This was our platform into agroecology, so we began to look at which practices we could adopt – while also keeping a firm eye on profit. ”

Changing strategy Now crops are established with minimal cultivations. The rotation has broadened to include winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, spring beans and oats. The farm is trialing hybrid rye to make it easier to adjust the timing of drilling oilseed rape.

Most seed is farm saved. Cover crops and catch crops are grown where possible and livestock has been introduced to graze these off. Crop and nutrition planning is crucial – as is analysing cost of production.

“It’s all about keeping an open mind

and challenging every decision. We are on a learning curve and it’s important to remember that agroecology is not a religion and sometimes plans need to change – ultimately the crop has to be as profitable as possible.”

The business is also the Helix agroecology host farm for agronomy company Hutchinsons. It involves testing and trialing different management practices to find which work best on Mr Heath’s farm – and elsewhere.

“

It’s all about keeping an open mind Hutchinsons head of innovation and technology Stuart Hill says: “It allows us to trial and evaluate new evolving practices or technologies on a farm-scale level so we can determine the measurable benefits they offer in particular situations.”

A long term project, Mr Hill says the idea is to look at the whole farm as a biological system, rather than focusing on certain fields or areas. The goal is to make more profitable and sustainable decisions, he adds.

On the farm itself, Mr Heath hopes Helix status will help him control resistant ryegrass populations, build back up lost soil structure and encourage input reduction without compromising crop performance.

Agronomist Ed Brown agrees – and suggests flexibility is key. “A core principle of agroecology is minimising soil disturbance [but] controlling a challenging weed burden within a min-till system can be difficult.

“In this situation, where we have resistant ryegrass, we have had to bring back the plough – but what is impor-

tant here is keeping the plough depth to minimum. Sometimes it is necessary to re-set and start again.

Cover crops After ploughing, any emerging ryegrass is sprayed off with glyphosate, and cover crops established to stabilise the sandy soils. This means cover crops with lots of fine hairs that will hold the sand together – such as vetch, linseed and oats.

Adding in radish and cereals with bigger roots helps drainage. Winter cereals are not grown in fields with bad ryegrass. Instead, the farm is trialing a mix of spring beans and spring oats as a competitive spring break crop.

The farm business is now more sustainable, says Harry Heath

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 9

Arable

Growers benefit from high-yielding pea

A

high-yielding green pea is delivering good marketability, downy mildew resistance and decent standing power.

Justin Barrett, of pulse traders Askew & Barrett, says he has seen some good quality samples of Bluetime from the 2021 harvest. “With colour retention greatly affected by geographical weather patterns, it has generally held its colour well.

“In a year when early samples of green peas were noticeably better than usual, the quality received soon deteriorated once the rain came. But Bluetime continued to more than hold its own with regards to size, colour retention and cooking performance.”

Maximum value The good colour meant samples have achieved maximum contract values, says Mr Barrett. Along with the good seed size and cooking performance, many open market crops are finding their way into export markets for human consumption, he adds.

Chris Guest, managing director of

10 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

LS Plant Breeders, said it was reassuring news for pulse growers who have been wary of combining peas because of concerns about issues like standing ability and ease of harvest.

Good attributes Varieties like Bluetime, Stroma, Blueman and Greenwich each have one or more positive agronomic characters – such as high thousand seed weight, high downy mildew resistance, high resistance to powdery mildew and good standing power.

LSPB’s yellow pea Orchestra has the highest thousand seed weight on the descriptive list with high standing power. Marrowfat pea growers can look to a substantial yield boost over older varieties with Akooma, which is the highest yielding marrowfat pea on the list, says Mr Guest.

“We have more improved varieties in prospect for spring 2023 sowing – Carrington is the highest yielding pea on the entire PGRO combining pea descriptive list with high standing ability plus good resistance to downy mildew.”

LSPB managing director Chris Guest in PGRO trials

How to PLAN for success Housing delivery is firmly on the Government’s agenda and this controversial topic is rarely out of the headlines of both national and local news, but who really decides where these houses will go?

Local Plans vs Neighbourhood Plans The Government sets the housing target for each authority area; however the responsibility is passed to the Local Planning Authorities to prepare a Local Plan which determines where those houses will go. Every area in England and Wales is obligated to have an up to date Local Plan in place and this must be reviewed every five years.

Councils can choose to identify specific sites or allocate a number of homes to a specific village or town. Local Plans will also include policies which are used to manage the character and appearance of development. These will include policies for the biodiversity improvements, affordable housing, the size of homes to be built as well as specific energy and design requirements. All of which will influence the overall number, type and appearance of the homes which are built. Whilst Local Plans are evidence based documents, they are subject to consultation with local stakeholders which feeds into their drafting.

Local Plans are not the only Plan which will determine where housing will go or what it will look like; introduced through the Localism Act 2011, Neighbourhood Plans became part of the wider

Local Plan. These Plans were introduced to allow communities to have more influence and control over their area to ensure they get the right type of development for their neighbourhood. Whilst these Plans cannot be used to block development identified in the Local Plan, they are an extremely powerful tool when it comes to determining where development will go and potentially what it will look like.

These Plans identify a vision for the area and set objectives for the next 15 to 20 years. These are produced by an authorised local community organisation such as a Parish or Town Council but can also be a separate Neighbourhood Plan Group. There is not the same requirement for these to be regularly updated, however they must be in general conformity with the adopted Local Plan and are therefore often subject to review following the adoption of a new Local Plan.

Where a Local Plan seeks to allocate a housing figure to a settlement, a Neighbourhood Plan has the ability to identify where those houses will be built. It is important to note that these Plans can also protect land from development which is considered to be of particular importance to local communities.

Local Green Space can be land which holds a particular local significance of which the definition is quite wide. However, a site’s recreational value is a common justification, its beauty, historic significance, tranquillity or richness of its wildlife are also potential valid reasons to seek its designation. It is important

to note that for a site to qualify as a Local Green Space it does not require to be open to the public or have permission from the landowner to be allocated.

Once designated the land has a similar level of protection as Green Belt.

Who decides?

Neighbourhood Plans and Local Plans are both part of the overall Development Plan for an area once adopted and therefore both have the potential to determine where development will and will not go.

To ensure the right promotion strategy for your land it is important to understand the timetable for the Council’s Local Plan, the level of housing likely to be directed towards your town or village and whether a Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared in your area.

However, the important point to note is that both Plans are the subject of consultation; it is important to actively engage with the plan making process and ensure that the Council is aware of the availability of your site and that you can show its achievable and deliverable. The best way to do this is through the Council’s call for sites process. A similar exercise is often completed as part of the Neighbourhood Plan process.

Our planning system works best if development is properly planned for and therefore understanding how the Council’s Local Plan intends to identify housing sites and the role that a Neighbourhood Plan could have in the selection of sites is vital to ensuring your site has the best chance of success.

Could your land have development potential?

Find out more about land promotion: www.catesbyestates.co.uk Victoria Groves Associate Planning Director

01256 637914 victoriag@catesbyestates.co.uk www.catesbyestates.co.uk

Arable

Why oilseed rape crops need tailored protection • Good nutrition is key to success • Manage canopy size if needed • Keep careful eye on winter rape

H

igh prices make investing in oilseed rape crops worthwhile this spring – but variable growth means management must be tailored to individual fields.

“A lot of winter oilseed rape seems to have escaped significant cabbage stem flea beetle damage this season,” says Mike Thornton, head of crop production for agronomy firm ProCam. “But pigeon damage in some fields has been awful.”

Crop sizes range from plants barely above the ground to those almost kneehigh. Pigeon-damaged crops with decent root structures have a chance to recover. But Mr Thornton says it is important to ensure recovery is not hampered by lack of nutrients.

“Badly-affected crops may need extra nitrogen – particularly in the worst parts of fields,” he explains. “It will be important to avoid micronutrient deficiencies, especially boron and molybdenum.”

Flower buds Preventing pigeons from grazing flower buds will be vital as the season develops, adds Mr Thornton. Winter oilseed rape that suffers delayed flowering due to pigeon damage can become badly infested by pollen beetles later, he warns.

Growers with crops that flower unevenly will find it hard to time sclerotinia fungicide sprays accurately. Canopy

Badly-affected crops may need extra nitrogen, says Mike Thornton Right: Yield potential should be safeguarded during flowering

“

Badlyaffected crops may need extra nitrogen

size in forward crops may need regulating as temperatures rise and days get longer. This reduces lodging and opens the canopy to let in light.

“If you’re also having to target light leaf spot or phoma infections, canopy management can be achieved at the same time using a treatment combining a suitable fungicide with a plant growth regulator. This will also help to even the crop up.”

Light leaf spot outbreaks appear sporadic – but have been reported in some areas. Even varieties with greater resistance can be affected – making it important to remain vigilant to ensure it can be controlled early.

To safeguard yield potential during flowering, Mr Thornton urges similar vigilance against sclerotinia, botrytis and alternaria infections. These are highly weather-dependant – but most fungicides work preventatively, so timeliness is key.

Club root After the mild winter, another disease being reported this year is club root.

Little can be done against it at this stage of the season – although applying a calcium carbonate dressing to raise soil pH is an option.

“It’s important to look after the crop nutritionally because nutrient uptake via the deformed roots of infected plants will be restricted. For the future, however, what you can do is note down fields that are affected.”

Mr Thornton says doing this helps with longer-term crop management, including rotation planning, liming of infected fields, choosing more tolerant varieties, and the delayed drilling of

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Once rape comes into flower, Mr Thornton says growers should guard against pollen beetle. Although normally less of a problem in winter rape than spring rape, crops that flower later are more susceptible.

“If treating pollen beetles, do so only according to pest thresholds – we need to use insecticides sparingly to protect against resistance.”

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£10m available for woodland creation Carbon scheme will pay a guaranteed income for 35 years, says Defra

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armers have until 24 April to apply for funding from the latest tranche of money to support woodland creation and tackle climate.

Some £10m is available from the Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme. It gives land managers the option to sell Woodland Carbon Units to the government at a guaranteed price protected against inflation.

Farmers must apply ahead of a fifth auction which will take place online on 9-15 May. Previous auctions have helped stimulate 2,650ha of tree planting, with long-term payments made to farmers for the amount of carbon a new woodland will store.

Administered by the Forestry Commission, the £50m Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme aims to help accelerate woodland planting rates and permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Successful bidders have the option to sell woodland carbon in the form of Woodland Carbon Units – a financial value given to each tonne of carbon stored – to the government over 35 years at a guaranteed price protected against inflation.

Defra says the scheme reflects the government’s confidence in the continued growth of markets for woodland carbon. It says landowners will continue to benefit from a reliable revenue stream in selling carbon on the

The schenme will generate long-term revenue, says William Worsley

domestic market.

Before applying, land managers must register with the Woodland Carbon Code. Farmers are also advised to take independent advice so they are happy with the income they are expected to receive from the scheme.

Forestry Commission chairman William Worsley said: “This pioneering scheme could be the perfect fit for land managers of all kinds looking for long-term income support for creating new woodlands.

“Now in its fifth round, it’s encouraging that this scheme has continued to grow in its success. I strongly encourage farmers, foresters and land managers across England to submit their applications.”

Previous auctions supported a range of projects – including in the east of England and parts of the Midlands where tree planting has been lower in recent years. The average bid accepted in the fourth auction was £18.62 per woodland carbon unit.

Encouraging diverse woodland types and tree species is a key goal in the Forestry Commission’s efforts to treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament. It aims to see 30,000ha of trees planted across the UK per year by 2025.

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Potatoes & Root Crops Illegal potato seed threat • 1000 tonnes ‘smuggled’ to UK market • Small ware potatoes supplied as seed • Offenders told they face prosecution

P

otato growers are being warned to ensure any seed stocks planted this spring are properly certified and from a reputable source.

It follows reports that 1000 tonnes of small ware potatoes were imported into the UK and supplied as seed to growers in the eastern region – breaking rules designed to maintain biosecurity and keep plant disease out of the country.

Richard McIntosh, Defra’s assistant chief plant health officer, said the risks associated with any attempts to circumvent biosecurity requirements were extremely serious and could not be overstated.

Growers should remember that classified seed potatoes had been officially assessed as meeting prescribed quality and pest and disease requirements, said Mr McIntosh. Growers should not put themselves – or others – at risk by purchasing anything other than genuine seed potatoes.

Enforcement Marketing ware potatoes as seed potatoes is illegal. The Animal and Plant Health Agency said it would be pursuing robust action against any infringe-

ments of both the seed potatoes marketing and plant health legislation.

Offenders are are liable on summary conviction to a fine. This includes the planting of ware potatoes or any other potatoes not obtained under an officially approved programme for the certification of potatoes.

As the authority responsible for enforcing the regulations, APHA said it would be carrying out general and targeted surveillance to ensure that both farmers and seed suppliers are complying with plant health and marketing legislation.

Mr McIntosh said interpretation the legislation was ultimately a matter for the courts. Other offences, such as criminal fraud, may also be pursued depending on each individual case.

“

Biosecurity risk cannot be overstated

The potatoes are believed to have been imported from Europe

Serious threat “Some operators are considering attempts to circumvent the plant health and/or marketing requirements, in particular bringing in, and marketing/ planting as seed, small ware of varieties that are unavailable or difficult to grow as seed,” he warned.

“The biosecurity risk of such practices cannot be overstated.

“Pests and diseases known to occur in Europe – such as Epitrix, ring rot, brown rot and zebra chip – pose a serious threat to the GB potato industry and growers should not take the economic and reputational risk with either their own businesses or those of their industry.”

Defra confirms end of potato levy Defra has confirmed the end of the levy paid by potato growers to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

From this month, potato growers and processors will no longer pay the levy. Neither will horticultural growers. Farmers who pay levies in other sectors will be able to vote on how they want their money spent.

Defra said the move would end the “one size fits all” approach to levies. It said the vote would deliver enhanced accountabili-

ty and value for money for farmers across the UK – and help ensure the organisation focused on levy payers’ priorities.

An arms-length body of Defra, the AHDB was established in 2008 to help improve farm performance, productivity and drive growth through research, knowledge exchange, improving market access and marketing activities.

A Defra statement said: “We have committed to a reformed AHDB, one that works

for all of its levy payers. This response is testament to our endeavour to deliver a more efficient organisation, and better value for money for farmers and growers across the whole of the UK. A reformed AHDB would better support the delivery of a more sustainable and competitive agriculture sector, said Defra. It would help identify ways to reduce carbon emissions, improve productivity and explore new market opportunities.

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 17

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Potatoes & Root Crops

Neonicotinoids: Defra ‘considered all options’

D

efra says it considered all the alternatives before granting permission for neonicotinoid pesticide treatments to be used on the 2022 sugar beet crop.

The emergency authorisation was granted subject to strict conditions. Defra said the treatment could only be used if the forecast incidence of virus yellows was at or above 19% of the crop according to independent modelling.

Following a relatively mild winter, that threshold was passed last month. Modelling predicted a 68% level of virus incidence, triggering permission for neonicotinoids to protect sugar beet seedlings from virus-carrying aphids.

Other treatments Sugar beet crops have been severely affected by virus yellows in recent years, with 2020 yields down by a quarter on previous years. Other pesticide and organic treatments are not sufficiently effective in controlling viruses.

Defra said the strictly time limited authorisation of the neonicotinoid treatment – Syngenta’s Cruiser SB – would provide emergency pro-

tection against the virus, which could otherwise significantly impact sugar beet yields.

Using neonicotinoids remains tightly controlled. The maximum amount of treatment approved for use is 6% of the quantity of active substance applied on a range of crops in 2016 before neonicotinoids were prohibited.

‘Robust assessment’ Other conditions of the authorisation include a reduced application rate as well as a prohibition on any flowering crop being planted in the same field where the product has been used within 32 months of a treated sugar beet crop.

Scientists are working on alternative control methods. A Defra spokesperson said: “The decision to approve an emergency authorisation was not taken lightly and based on robust scientific assessment.

“We evaluate the risks very carefully and only grant temporary emergency authorisations for restricted pesticides in special circumstances when strict requirements are met and there are no alternatives.”

The decision aims to protect emerging beet plants

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 19

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Potatoes & Root Crops

How military technology is reducing potato waste

A

dvances in crop sensing using militaray technology have seen a major leap towards eliminating potato food waste.

The TuberScan system uses radar, GPS units and an in-field camera to survey potato fields throughout the growing season. It is based on field-based technologies originally developed for the military – reapplying the knowledge and tools to the arable farming environment.

Developed by B-Hive Innovations, TuberScan assesses crops above and below ground. It is funded by Innovate UK’s Research and Innovation scheme – working with Branston, Harper Adams and Manchester University.

TuberScan project manager Effie Warwick-John said: “Potato growing is not precision agriculture so it can be challenging for growers to understand the performance of the whole crop underground. With TuberScan we are trying to address this lack of clarity.”

Cutting-edge technology yielded better results than the current practice of random sampling followed by data extrapolation to cover the field, said Ms Warwick-John. Random samplying did not always account for variance within the crop and could lead to inaccuracies in forecasting.

“

“When developed, TuberScan will help growers to more confidently identify areas of poor performance, when to make all-important burndown decisions, and where growers should target inputs of fertilizer or irrigation.”

Vidyanath Gururajan, B-Hive managing director, said the goal was to reduce potato and energy waste, increase the crop’s marketable yield, enhance its quality and add value for growers and fresh produce businesses.

We want to empower growers with data-led insights

Insights “Placing actionable insights at the hands of growers to minimise wastage supports packers and retailers further along the supply chain and pro-

B-Hive’s TuberScan system assesses crops above and below ground

vides additional assurances on the quality of their potatoes, prior to hitting the shelves.

“By both understanding more closely what they will be harvesting and the opportunity to enhance marketable yield, farmers are better placed to market their produce, strengthen supply chain relationships and attain the best value based on their supply of potatoes and relative demand.”

B-Hive was working with growers to tailor the product to suit individual farm businesses, said Mr Gururajan. As the TuberScan technology evolved, further innovations could follow – including the development of precision-based equipment, such as intelligent sprayers.

Confidence “We want to empower growers with meaningful data-led insights to make better-informed management decisions based on potato size, count and variation,” said Ms Warwick-John. All these choices could ultimately make or break a crop’s marketable yield.

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 21

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Syngenta updates advice for Amistar application • New nozzle technology investigated • Good control of persistent black dot • Seed and soil borne control needed

N

ew advice for the in-furrow application of Amistar during potato planting will achieve a more complete zone of protection around the mother tuber when using high-speed belt planters.

Modern planters are capable of operating faster than traditional cup planters, says Syngenta application specialist Harry Fordham, who gave a special presentation to growers attending this season’s Potato Science Seed & Soil Pathogen webinar.

“That could compromise the consistent incorporation of spray in the soil target zone around the mother tuber with the original sprayer set up on the planter, along with potentially resulting in the risk of drift at the higher speed,” he warned.

With the essential role of Amistar for control of both black dot and Rhizoctonia pathogens in the soil, Syngenta has spent three years investigating new nozzle technology, water volume use and the set-up of nozzle orientation.

The original brass AZ in-furrow nozzle, which is no longer available, had a small orifice producing fine droplets susceptible to drift. Alternatives

include hollow cone technology giving a wide band of application covering more soil faster, with a larger orifice less prone to blockage and drift.

Trial results have shown the Lechler TR80 performs consistently well over successive seasons. The setup recommended was with two nozzles, one at the front and a second at the rear of the planter shoe, to spray the soil as it falls back in to cover the planted tuber.

With the research repeatedly showing application at 100 l/ha producing the best results for both crop yield and tuber quality, compared to 50 l/ha, the TR80 was operated with an 015 nozzle in both situations.

The Lechler TR80 nozzle performed consistently well

Drift reduction The other promising combination was a set-up instigated in Germany. It uses two Lechler FT90 nozzles, set up to deliver 33% of the spray at the front of the shoe, by fitting at 01 sized nozzle, and 66% at the rear on the closing soil, through an 02 nozzle.

“The relatively large nozzle orifice would be unlikely to block,” says Mr Fordham. “More interestingly it is a pre-orifice nozzle design, so offers some Syngenta application specialist Harry Fordham

level of drift reduction and may be a combination to consider, especially with higher speed planters.”

Trials undertaken in a Norfolk field selected for the high risk of soil borne black dot saw Amistar reduce the incidence of severe infection on the harvested tubers. Disease control for silver scurf and greater marketable yield also improved from all the Amistar application techniques.

Persistent problem Black dot is extremely persistent in soils, along with some indication that the pathogen is involved with the early die back complex that is being increasingly reported in potato crops.

“Microsclerotia of black dot can typically persist in the soil for eight years or more, which means that once established it can usually survive from one potato crop to the next in the rotation,” said Syngenta potato technical manager Michael Tait.

“We have seen very good results from Maxim seed tuber treatment, to prevent transfer of seed-borne pathogen onto the daughter tubers. But with this disease now so prevalent in soils, growers and agronomists need to be looking at the combination of both Maxim and Amistar.”

A combination of seed and soil borne controls was especially effective in countering Rhizoctonia black scurf – with better results achieved when they were used together as opposed to using either product individually.

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 23

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LAMMA 2022 Rescheduled LAMMA event celebrates 40th anniversary • Event returns after pandemic • More than 700 exhibitors on show • Latest products and farm services

T

he LAMMA Show will celebrate its 40th year as the UK’s leading agricultural machinery event when returns to the Birmingham NEC next month.

Originally due to take place in January, the show will take place on 4-5 May after it was rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 700 exhibitors are expected to fill 11 halls at the NEC. “To celebrate this important milestone in LAMMA’s history, we are not only looking at our past, but focusing on the future of our event and the UK farming industry,” says LAMMA event manager Kate Walsh.

New features “We are planning some exciting new features at the show and re-inventing others. LAMMA’s beginnings are deeply rooted in bringing the best of farm machinery innovation under one roof and looking to the future; something we aim to continue for the next 40 years and beyond.”

The Farm Safety Zone, sponsored by Safety Revolution, returns to the show for the fourth consecutive year. Key organisations, charities and industry figures will raise awareness on vital aspects of farm safety and how to minimise risk and accidents on farm.

The Farming 4.0 Trail is centralised around the theme of the Future of Agriculture. It highlights the role data, robotics and other devices will play in achieving Net Zero.

Exhibitors already on the 2022 Trail include Airial Robotics, Crop4Sight, Agrifac, Bayer, and more.

Look to future Also with an eye on the future, LAMMA has partnered with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers to offer the 2022 Young Engineer Award, celebrating upcoming agricultural engineers. The award winner will be announced at the show.

“We are delighted to be part of LAMMA’s celebration of this historic moment,” says Sanjeev Khaira, director of Arc Media, which recently acquired the event from previous owners AgriBriefing.

The 2022 event is the first for two years after the show fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of holding an in-person event, organisers focused on their digital farm machinery platform LAMMA365 instead.

The platform brings all facets of farm machinery together in one place. It contains the latest news and industry trends, review comparison tool, independent product reviews, videos, podcasts, webinars and a directory of leading manufacturers and their dealers.

For full details, visit www.lammashow.com.

Thousands of visitors will attend the 40th anniversary LAMMA show

ALL ABOUT LAMMA Getting there

Early Bird Breakfast

Parking is free for the event and the NEC is clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes – just put B40 1NT in your sat nav.

Once you arrive, don’t follow your satnav, look out for LAMMA on the signs. Once parked up, a free shuttle bus will be waiting for you to take you to the show entrance, or you can walk along the signposted footpaths.

The early bird breakfast will be available to visitors again for 2022 more details will be released closer to the event

Covid measures

CPD Points

The LAMMA event will be held in accordance with the latest government recommendations for COVID-secure trade exhibitions.

Organisers say they are working closely with the NEC and the exhibitions industry to ensure the latest advice and best practice is being followed.

Disabled access LAMMA Show and the NEC aims to be fully accessible and user-friendly for disabled visitors. Contact show organisers to hire disability scooters.

The event is an opportunity to get up to date with all the latest legislation.

Organisers encourage knowledge exchange through professional development. Visitors to LAMMA will be able to collect DairyPro, BASIS, and NRoSO points on both days of the event.

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 25

LAMMA 2022

Farming 4.0 Trail showcases our future

A

new technology feature at LAMMA will showcase the latest technological advances that are helping to reduce input costs and redefine agriculture.

Event organisers say the Farming 4.0 Trail will be the go-to feature for attendees who want to discover the next generation of farming technology. It will include robotics, autonomous machines and other innovations.

The role of data and advanced devices is becoming more important as the industry strives to be more sustainable, efficient and profitable – particularly as the UK works towards its goal of net zero carbon emissions.

With input costs such as energy at an all time high, many exhibitors are focusing on cost-effective ways of running farm businesses. They Crop Systems, which will demonstrate its SmartSola software to visitors.

SmartSola monitors the power used to run a grain store,. If that power is available from a renewable source, like solar or wind, it utilises that power in preference to it being exported to the grind. This maximises the use of cheap renewable energy.

The system will work on up to 10 stores on site – prioritising certain stores if necessary. Crop Systems says it puts farmers more in control, reducing running costs and the farm’s carbon footprint.

“To help achieve NetZero by 2050, the industry must look at using ener-

gy far more efficiently using more sustainable sources while minimising crop deterioration,” says the company. “Automating store monitoring and control systems will play a big role in reducing energy usage.”

The Farming 4.0 zone will also cover training and development – especially in the machinery sector where

technology is being introduced at a rate few people would have thought possible a few years ago.

Organisers say they want to show the varied roles within agriculture to encourage new entrants into the industry. The Farming 4.0 Trail will be accompanied by a series of talks and seminars as well as exhibits.

Technology will a a key focus at LAMMA 2022

New telehandler machines exhibited LAMMA LAMMA visitors will be able to see Bobcat’s new generation R-Series agricultural telehandlers for the first time at a UK show.

Bobcat will be showing two new RSeries telehandlers – the top-of-therange TL43.80HF and the compact TL30.60 telehandler. Both machines will be displayed in full Agri 4 Star specification.

Also debuting at LAMMA will be the new range of light compaction products from Bobcat. It comprises seven different product families and 37 models, from vibratory rammers weighing 29 kg up to 2.6t tandem rollers.

New Bobcat attachments will be an important feature of the stand. On display will be a new range of flail mower attachments. Bobcat is also premiering a new family of pressure washer attachments for its loaders.

26 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

The firm says its R-Series telehandlers and light compaction machines combine innovative product development and diversification with more intelligent, connected technologies and services that reshape how work gets done on the farm.

Compact wheel loaders Bobcat has also recently entered the European wheel loader market for compact wheel loaders and small articulated loaders, as well as launching new generation R-Series compact loaders and R2-Series 5-6 tonne mini-excavators.

Regional sales director John Christofides said: “LAMMA is the perfect platform to give farmers their first close look at our ground-breaking Next is Now products, including the new RSeries telehandlers and the light compaction range.”

The new generation of telehandlers will be on show for the first time.

Come see us this year at Dairy-Tech on stand B94, Hall 2 and LAMMA on stand 7.822

LAMMA 2022

How farm app can save you time and money • Reduces paperwork • Easy to set up and use • Suitable for all farms

A

farmer who invented an app to reduce paperwork has been nominated for the LAMMA event’s young engineer of the year award.

The Ag-drive app replaces time-consuming paperwork with digital timesheets, field mapping, job recording for teams of any size, health and safety checks, and integrations with common accounting software for easy invoicing.

Will Dunn devised the app during the coronavirus lockdown. Launched last summer, the latest version is now even easier to use thanks to a significant number of updates to the desktop dashboard and app in response to user feedback.

“We knew that there were parts of the app that could work better, but we needed to hear from our customers to ensure we made the right changes to meet the needs of their businesses,” says Mr Dunn.

The most significant change has removed the need for users to enter their credit card details to start a 14-day free trial. This makes it easier for farmers to see how much time they can save by be-

The app is aimed at all farm sizes

fore committing themselves. ually completing timesheets, and then After the free trial ends, users can trawling through paperwork to send inchoose one of four pricing plans dependvoices to our customers,” says Mr Dunn. ing on the size of their team. Plans start “With Ag-drive we’re taking the pain from £10 per month. and hassle away from running a busy conThe screens on desktop and app vertracting or farming business, by putting sions have also been re-deeverything on your phone, on a signed to make them simpler cloud based system.” and faster to use. Bulk actions All actions can be done on the can now be processed, saving We knew there Ag-drive app, although the deskfarmers and contractors even top version is mainly used for was a better way Invoicing and processing time/ more time, says Mr Dunn.

Other changes make it easjob sheet information. Each job ier to manage customer information and sheet can be attached to the invoice for cominvoicing. Users can add customers withplete transparency. out having to specify an email address and The platform connects with accounting the platform supports bulk imports of cussoftware QuickBooks and Xero for simplitomer data to save time when setting up fied invoicing and record keeping, ensuraccounts. ing customers know exactly what work has “As contractors and farmers, we knew been completed and when. Sage integrathere was a better way than operators mantion will be enabled soon.

“

Chairman has farm safety in his sights

W

orking with farm machinery safely is a key focus for James Bannister, the newly elected chairman of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.

Mr Bannister, who succeeds Bedfordshire contractor Matt Redman as chairman, runs an agricultural contracting business in the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire borders spreading manures and lime, alongside crop spraying.

A farm safety campaigner, Mr Bannister lost his arm in 1998 when he became entabled in a potato harvester. It took him more 28 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

than 20 years to rebuild his life and business – JLR Farm Services – and he now wants to help others stay safe on farms.

‘If just one person changes the way they operate, based on my experience, that will be one life potentially saved. As chairman, I want to drive the NAAC forward, while putting particular focus on trying to improve our dreadful industry safety record.”

With rocketing input prices and declining farm support, Mr Bannister says the NAAC is working hard to ensure contractors future-proof their businesses, while helping growers and

James Bannister: focusing on safer working practices

livestock producers build sustainable and productive farming operations.

“As finances tighten and skilled, trained labour is harder to source,” he explains. This made it more tempting to cut corners and push boundaries – which was often when farm accidents were more likely to occur.

“It is critical to focus on safety management to ensure all our contracting workforce is kept safe and is supported. I am passionate about farm safety and have an unique opportunity to try and make a real difference to our industry.”

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LAMMA 2022

Can-Am helps drive off-road revolution at LAMMA

T

wo new off-road Can-Am machines will be showcased at LAMMA – the Traxter HD7 and Traxter HD9.

The company says its off-road lineup continues to prioritise users – and has been designed to handle the job demands of utility riders as well as the challenging conditions faced by farmers on a daily basis.

The HD7 is a work-ready vehicle that provides the user with consistent performance. With the help of the new HD7 Rotax engine, the vehicle has been optimised for off-road use and produces 37% more power than the HD5 engine it replaces.

The Can-Am Traxter HD9 offers class-leading power and lowend torque through the new Rotax HD9 engine – so travelling up steep

30 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

slopes or towing and carrying cargo on the flat is more efficient.

Other vehicles on show include some of Can-Am’s most popular models and machines. Can-Am says the Outlander 450 boasts class-leading performance, no matter the rigours of the situation it faces.

The Can-Am Outlander 570 XU combines controlled handling, power and performance, enabling the user to travel across multiple terrains with ease. A selection of Can-Am Traxter SSVs will also be on the company’s LAMMA stand.

To support the vehicles, the CanAm off-road team will be on hand to highlight Digitally Encoded Security System key, which restricts access to the electronic ignition system.

BRP commercial manager James

Dalke said: “We are excited to physically be back at LAMMA to showcase the latest additions to our growing off-road line-up to an engaged and interested audience who use ATVs and SSVs on a daily basis.”

He added: “We also see this show as a great platform from which to promote and highlight the importance of rider safety to visitors and as part of this we will be hosting the Farm Safety Foundation on our stand.”

Can-Am says its most popular models have class-leading performance

Forage How to manage fertiliser effectively for first cut silage High nitrogen prices make astute applications vital this spring

R

ising input costs have seen fertiliser suppliers ramp up advice to help livestock producers get the most from first cut silage this spring.

Manufacturers say it is still possible to get a good return on investment – despite high fertiliser prices.

Yara held a special webinar for farmers looking at ways farmers can get the most from nutrients.

Sulphur applications Fields using a granular compound NPKS fertiliser can expect to see yields increase by up to 11%, according to Yara grassland agronomist Philip Cosgrave, who shared the findings from Yara/Farming Connect silage trials at three Welsh farms.

“With the typical cost of adding sulphur to each silage cut at around £7/ ha, the extra grass grown in this trial – 300kg DM/ha – is worth nearly £50 in terms of energy and protein. That gives a healthy 7:1 return on investment.”

Many farmers believe a good response to sulphur is only possible on very light soils with low organic matter. But other trials have demonstrat-

ed a response between 10% and 37%, even on heavier type soils, says Mr Cosgrave.

These days, sulphur deposition in soils is at pre-industrial revolution levels, which affects yields and nutritional quality of grass. “We’re not getting the same amount of sulphur from the atmosphere, so we need to top up in some way.”

Organic manure is not enough, adds Mr Cosgrave, so using the right product with sulphur is important. That said, organic manure does have its place, especially when fertiliser costs are so high.

“Slurry is variable in nutrient content. It should be used primarily as a resource for phosphate and potash, rather than nitrogen, because 64% of the value in slurry comes from P & K. “It’s worthwhile sending a sample to a lab for analysis or using a slurry hydrometer. For spring applications, we aim to optimise nitrogen content and use low emission spreading equipment.”

Nitrogen rates Reducing nitrogen rates by by 20kg/

Applying less nitrogen can be a false economy 32 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

ha from the optimal rate of 120kg/ha will save input costs. But it will also reduce output. In Yara trials, applying only 100kg/ha of N with slurry making up 31kg/ha of N in both scenarios reduced grass yields by as much as 2t/ha.

“The cash cost of growing and harvesting the 120kg scenario works out at £20.07 per tonne, while the 100kg N rates comes to £20.08,” says Mr Cosgrave.

“Costs are lowered per hectare when applying less N, but the cost per tonne didn’t change, because most of the cash costs are charged on a per ha basis and not by yield.

“In this scenario, for grass produced, they’re no better off and have two tonnes of silage less, which is equivalent to 70kg of protein. It’s a balance and reducing N rates needs to be carefully considered.”

Another option for those considering lowering N rates is to delay harvest for a week or more, this will increase the rate of dry matter you produce. But this will also cause a decline in quality.

“In just one week, quality falls by 3.3%,” says Mr Cosgrave. “It’s not a straightforward decision.

With feed costs still rising, a good first cut is important Below: Good returns are still possible, says Philip Cosgrave.

Consider all your options and whether allowing a longer period is right for you, as it obviously has an impact.”

Optimise nutrients Yara offers a range of extra tips for getting the most from first cut silage this spring. Chief among these is focusing on establishing a strong nutrient management programme to ensure the best results possible.

“Creating a fertiliser plan is key,” says Mr Cosgrave.

“Calculate the NPKS requirement of the crop and determine how much you can provide with slurry and how much mineral fertiliser you need. Ensure sulphur is going in and don’t put apply any more than 90kg/ha of potash.”

“Optimising nutrient applications for your first cut is important. This is where we see the best nutrient response, and ultimately helps produce the best quality silage.”

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Forage

Compass plant could be maize replacement

E

arly trials are underway of a perennial crop which seed breeders say could become a viable alternative to maize.

The compass or cup plant is a member of the Asteraceae family. With a lifespan of 10-15 years, it is said to be resilient, reliable and unaffected by major pests or diseases – and can be used as a ruminant feed or fuel for anaerobic digestion.

Nick Green, agronomist at Newtone Agriscapes, which is the UK distributor for the compass variety Sunergy. The crop’s complex root structure means it can act as a carbon sink while improving soil health – offering significant benefits.

Range of sites Sunergy is suited to range of growing sites. Being a perennial plant, its roots

Newly listed fodder beet available

L

imited amounts of newly listed fodder beet variety Goldimo are available for drilling.

The variety – from KWS Momont – was added to the UK’s national list in mid-February. It boasts good establishment vigour, high dry matter yield, uniformly-sized and smooth-skinned roots for easy lifting – and good disease resistance.

The offical listing suggests Goldimo has a fresh root yield 9 t/ha higher than the mean of control varieties. It also has a dry matter yield that is 2.4 t/ha higher than the mean of control varieties at a dry matter content of 18.7%, says the list.

Francis Dunne, of Field Options, which is marketing Goldimo, said: “Goldimo has very good seedling vigour and consistently produces high yields of uniform pink roots with a smooth skin for cleaner lifting.”

The variety was ideal for livestock farmers who want to take fodder beet yields and productivity to the next level, said Mr Dunne. It has good establishment vigour and a low bolting risk as well as robust all-round disease resistance. It is also rhizomania tolerant – and at over 18% dry matter it will have good storage qualities.

34 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

continue to grow year on year while the soil remains undisturbed. Its performance is being tested in Kent, north Lincolnshire and South Wales.

The crop’s root system also loosens the soil and supplies it with oxygen, causing it to absorb more water and reducing the risk of erosion. it has a low fertiliser and input requirement, making it cost effective and good for the environment.

Sunergy’s dry matter yield is similar to a good crop of maize silage – making it attractive for AD energy production. Gas yields are approximately 80% of that of maize but its low input requirement gives it an economic advantage, says Mr Green.

“Sunergy is a more consistent crop than maize so budgeting for production is made easier without concerns of over and under production of feed

stocks, meaning less land rents or outsourcing production.”

Harvested for 10-15 years, Sunergy’s wider usages are still being explored. Work is underway to develop use of its fibre in packaging and to use its proteins in products such as cosmetics, says Mr Green.

Francis Dunne: clean lifting with high dry matter

The low-input compass plant has a variety of uses.

New identify for Pasture for Life association

T

he Pasture-Fed Livestock Association has renamed and will now be known as Pasture for Life.

It said the switch was in response to growing interest in 100% grass-fed meat, dairy and fibre.

The past two years had seen more consumers looking for meant with high environmental, ethical and health credentials, it added.

The decisions coincides with Pasture for Life’s 11th birthday. It marks a significant moment for the organisation, which has grown from a few farmers in 2011, to a group of 800 members – including chefs and nutritionists.

“We have refreshed our visual identity and our core messages to better reflect the benefits of 100% pasture-fed farming,” said Pasture for Life executive director Jimmy Woodrow.

“We hope this will help our farmers communicate the benefits of the way they farm and help shoppers find and understand the health, welfare and environmental advantages of buying Pasture for Life certified food and fibre.”

“Grazing recognises the evolutionary advantage of ruminants to use land not suitable for growing crops,” said Michael Lee, professor of sustainable livestock production and deputy vice chancellor of Harper Adams University.

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Livestock Nutrition sets scene for lambing success Attention to detail gives best results for sheep producers

S

heep farmers are being reminded to prioritise ewe nutrition before lambing to optimise productivity and reduce losses.

SAC Consulting held three webinars in the run-up to the lambing season. They included advice from farmers, sheep specialists and vets on ways to maximise lamb crops in indoor and outdoor systems.

The Lamb Crop 2022 webinars examined the importance of regularly condition scoring ewes to gauge nutrition levels – and analysing forage to understand how supplementary feeding can meet energy shortfalls.

Condition scoring Nutrition can make the greatest contribution to lambing success, says heep specialist Poppy Frater. “Fat reserves on the ewe are indicative of her health and have been shown to influence rearing success,” she explains.

Farmers are encouraged to assess flock conditions frequently to build confidence in a scale from 1 to 5 that suits their flock. At lambing, the target condition score is 3 for lowland flocks, 2.5 for upland flocks and 2 for hill flocks.

Ewes below a condition score of 2 at weaning tend to have lower scanning percentages. As the same time, farmers lambing outdoors should wean earlier – to ensure ewes achieve a better condition score before the winter.

Rising feed and fertiliser costs mean basing

more nutrition around grass could be where the future lies in sheep farming, says Ms Frater. But it is important to rest grass through the winter to ensure spring grass yield.

Resting lambing paddocks can be achieved by using rotational grazing, feeding silage or hay, and grazing on forage crops. But remember that a week-long transition period can help ewes adapt to different forages.

Energy buckets and licks can be useful – especially in the hill situations – but they are designed to complement grass, not replace it, says Ms Frater.

Energy buckets often only provide 1-2MJ of energy and a 60kg ewe requires 16MJ of energy pre lambing. They supplement grass and help act as a bit of insurance but Ms Frater says they are an expensive and challenging way to meet the majority of energy requirements.

Energy shortfall “It is important to understand the quality of your silage as this will influence how much energy you get from silage, and you can be more strategic in understanding what concentrate is required to meet that energy shortfall.”

Supplementary concentrates can help mitigate any negative impact on rumen pH. But again they should be introduced slowly, starting with no more than 0.25kg and increasing by 50-100g per day.

Split feeds are better for bigger amounts Farmers who need to feed more than 0.45kg per ewe daily should split the supplement into two feeds, says sheep specialist Poppy Frater (above).

“When feeding straights, things like barley fed whole, avoid excessive processing, and provide adequate feed space,” she says.

Greedy ewes can often eat feed allocated to shy feeders and be susceptible to twin lamb disease as a result. “Space requirements are also important to minimise stress in the ewe which then has an impact on how easily she lambs and the lamb vigour,” The same logic should be applied to ring feeders. Ms Frater recommends that 24 ewes should be allocated per feeder to meet their energy requirements.

False economies Producers looking to save money on supplementary feeding she said to be wary of false economies. Cheaper concentrates may be poorer quality – requiring more feeding to provide adequate energy, which is not rumen friendly.

“In addition to the protein content (target 18% crude protein) ask for the metabolisable energy content when comparing feeds and watch for high inclusion of poor-quality ingredients such as oatfeed, palm kernel and rapeseed meal.”

Good flock management reduces losses at lambing 36 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

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Pig & Poultry Successful launch for pig welfare training platform High animal welfare standards will ‘encourage sales of British pork’

A

new training platform aims to make it easier for pig producers to maintain high levels of on-farm animal welfare.

The first module of the UK Pig Industry Welfare Training platform focuses on pig movement and handling.

Everyone involved in on-farm pig production must complete the training by 31 August as part of Red Tractor standards.

Red Tractor technical manager Georgina McDowell said: “Having a professional workforce across UK farms underpins everything that we stand for. Ultimately this training is about reassuring consumers that Red Tractor pork has been farmed with care.”

Ms McDowell added: “We have long required producers to maintain training records, but this platform represents a step forward in terms of providing a unified and consistent standard of pig care across the industry.”

Easy to use The module takes 90 minutes to complete, although delegates can pause and save their progress as they go along. A certificate issued after training is completed can be saved for Red Tractor audits and on PigPro, the industry’s online training record.

Pig producer Rob Beckett helped test the training module with his farm staff before it was launched. It was simple to complete and served as a useful reminder of the right way to do things – with positive feedback from stockpeople, he said.

“Every one of them admitted they have learnt something – including a couple who had more than 25 years experience in the industry. They all said that the software was straightforward to navigate and laid out in a simple format.”

National Pig Association chief executive Zoe Davies said the training course would encourage consumer confidence in British pork. “This is a critical part of demonstrating that the

standards we all expect within the industry are met by pig keepers.

Competent people “We know we have many competent stockpeople out there who know exactly what they are doing. For them, it will be a way of reassuring their supply chain, customers and the public that pigs are being treated in the way they would expect.”

The Pig Veterinary Society said pig

Everyone involved in pig handling must complete the course Inset: Zoe Davies: ‘Critical standards’

welfare remained a priority. Society president Jim Morris said: “We welcome the launch of this module as yet another way of demonstrably raising the already high welfare standards on British pig farms.”

AHDB head of pork knowledge exchange Jen Waters said the training platform was a big step in ensuring good animal welfare. She added: “We hope that producers, as well as consumers, will find its presence reassuring.”

How to complete the pig course The course is free for the first 8,000 people who register within the next six months – saving the £10 annual fee to complete the training.

Course content aims to ensure a consistent and high level of welfare across the pig industry. The training acts as a refresher for experienced pig handlers as well as a way of improving the skills of new entrants.

The online training was developed by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board

in collaboration with Red Tractor, the National Pig Association, the Pig Veterinary Society, and the Pig Health and Welfare Council.

The course and website development costs have been funded by the AHDB levy. The moving and handling course is the first module to be released on the platform, with further subjects likely to be released over future years.

Full details can be found by visiting www. ahdbpork.vbms.co.uk/store

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 39

Pig & Poultry

Sector challenges in the spotlight at Pig and Poultry event

F

inal preparations are being made for next month’s British Pig & Poultry Fair, which takes place on 10-11 May at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Held in partnership with ABN, the two-day event is being billed as a longawaited chance for pig, poultry and egg producers to get together and discuss challenges and opportunities following the Covid pandemic.

“It’s important for people to attend, because we haven’t seen each other in person or been together as an industry for so long,” said ABN general manager Danny Johnson. “Coming together is always important, but this year even more so.”

Fresh thinking The fair seeks to address key difficulties across the sectors and encourage fresh thinking and inspiring discussion. It includes talks with top industry speakers over both days.

In the pig forum, speakers will be examining labour shortages and rising costs as well as the impact of having more pigs than planned on farm.

The poultry sector has seen difficulties too – including repeated outbreaks of avian influenza.

Mr Johnson said: “This has been an incredibly difficult year. Attending the forums and understanding what learnings can be taken from the past 12 months might help us to plan our way back to a sustainable supply chain for the future.”

For many producers, the current challenges facing the industry have only exacerbated feelings of isolation caused by Covid, said National Pig As-

40 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

sociation chairman Rob Mutimer, who farms 750 outdoor sows in Norfolk.

“Mental health is a key issue for farming and recently it has become even more isolating. Being stuck at the end of a farm drive is a lonely place to be. The fair is a chance to see people and talk to them – I think it is really important everyone attends.”

Egg producers Demand for eggs soared during Covid, which boosted prices. But it has since waned, leaving producers facing a double whammy of low prices and an oversupplied market, according to the the British Free Range Egg Producers Association.

But there is some positive news.

BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch said: “The number of members with feed tracker or fixed price contracts has grown from 0% to 30% and we want to see that rise further – it’s a solution we’re working on.”

NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee

“

It’s really important everyone attends

Thousands of producers are expected to visit the event

Mahony said: “We are facing some big challenges like avian influenza and labour shortages. Being able to exchange ideas and listen to viewpoints from people representing different parts of the supply chain is important.”

In the broiler sector, consumer demand for chicken remains strong but it is changing. Chicken remains the nation’s number one choice of meat but customers increasingly want higher welfare, slower grown birds reared at lower stocking rates “That is a challenge, but businesses are looking at ways to offer consumers a choice, rather than a full switch for the whole sector,” said Ms Mahony.

Many producers are continue to look to maximise efficiency and productivity in a changing environment.

Seminars will also focus on driving sustainable performance as the industry works towards net zero targets.

For full details avbout the event, visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk.

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Pig & Poultry

Needle reuse challenge for piglet welfare

R

epeatedly using the same needle to inject piglets could lead to increased pain – posing an animal welfare problem, says a study.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College say the findings support accepted recommendations that needles should be changed between litters of 12 piglets.

Most indoor born piglets require an iron injection in the first few days following birth to prevent anaemia or iron deficiency which can reduce growth rates and increase disease susceptibility and mortality.

Although the reuse of needles between animals is common in livestock farming, the force needed to administer the injection increases each time the same needle is used and may cause pain and distress for the piglet.

Researchers led by undergraduate veterinary student Kathryn Owen ex-

amined the force required to puncture the skin of a piglet cadaver for the first time, 12th time, 36th time and 100th time – mimicking the reuse of needles.

Needles were then examined using a microscope to assess the damage caused by repeat usage. Puncture forces increased after 36 uses and the electron microscopy imaging showed visible damage to the needle tip after only 12 uses.

Iron injection The researchers also sent a survey to a sample of UK pig farmers asking about their iron injection practices. From the 31 responses, some 81% of farms reported needle reuse.

Of these, only 39% changed the needle between litters or earlier if damaged, and 23% changed the needle when it felt blunt or damaged, after each injection session or when chang-

ing the bottle of iron solution.

Ms Owen said the findings would help to inform the advice veterinarians give to clients and their own practices when reusing needles.

“Needle reuse increases the force required to puncture the skin, this indicates blunting which could cause pain and distress of piglets. Electron microscopy shows that after 12 injections the needle tip is visibly blunted.”

Anaemia can reduce piglet growth rates

New scientific data on broiler application

P

oultry performance can be improved by using live yeast probiotics and a bacterial litter conditioner to boost gut and litter quality, suggests new research.

The use of live yeast has improved the performance of broiler chickens in several environments, says Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Yeast derivatives and litter conditioners have complementary effects on microbial ecosystems, it adds.

Analysis of results reveal consistently better growth performance and a 3.5% mortality with the probiotic live yeast supplement against 4.3% for control groups. Benefits were even more pronounced under challenging conditions.

Litter management in broiler production directly affects animal wellbeing, especially foot health, and air quality, notably building ammonia levels. The use of a bacterial litter conditioner helps maintain good microbial balance and litter quality.

Better litter quality also improved bird performance. Moreover, foot health was also improved with fewer birds exhibiting signs of footpad dermatitis. Birds with footpad dermatitis had less severe damage in the inoculated pens.

The study was conducted by two research teams at the universities of Thessaloniki and Ioannina to evaluate

the combined effects of a multi-strain yeast fraction product and the coccidiostat salinomycin on the performance and health of broiler chickens.

Compared to controls, the combined supplementation was the only treatment that showed significantly improved (P<0.05) bodyweight of chicken at days 21 and 26 of age and lower (P<0.05) feed conversion rate.

The combined treatment, as com-

pared to the coccidiostat alone, showed a lower lesion score at day 21 and significantly lower coccidia contamination of the different gut compartments (duodenum, ileum, and ceca).

The authors concluded that a multi-strain yeast fraction product could be used in combination with a traditional coccidiostat to reduce the negative effects of an Eimeria challenge and preserve broiler growth performance.

Good performance is dependent on good flock health

APRIL 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 43

Pig & Poultry

Ramp up biosecurity, producers urged

T

he UK’s largest ever bird flu outbreak has prompted reminders that simple biosecurity measures can sometimes reduce the risk of flocks being affected.

Farmers across the country have already culled some 500,0000 infected birds due to the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza. An Avian Influenza Protection Zone has seen all captive birds kept indoors since 3 November 2021.

Limiting the number of people and vehicles visiting farms is the best way to prevent the virus, says Andrew Mann, general manager of EG Agri, parent company of pig and poultry suppliers All Agri.

Farmers should take extra precautions such as using clean footwear before and after visits. Similarly, the correct PPE should be worn around birds.

Mr Mann said farmers should wear disposable or polycotton coveralls with head coverage of CE type 5

and 6. “We’ve seen the widespread impact that bird flu is having, and farmers need to act fast to put protection methods in place.”

Gloves should be made of lightweight nitrile or vinyl, or heavy duty rubber (not latex) that can be disinfected after use. Waterproof rubber or polyurethane boots that can be cleaned or disinfected are also advised.

Disinfectant Rodent control is also key – as is good sanitisation and restricting access for wild birds.

To control rats and mice, a Defraapproved disinfectant should be used at entrances and exits. For extra peace of mind, phenol-based disinfectants such as Hysolv Interkokask are recommended by the British Egg Industry Council.

“Bird flu is at a phenomenal level and if allowed to spread it will undoubtedly cause long-standing

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But with some relatively easy and cost-effective measures, the disease risk can be greatly reduced.

Captive birds have been kept indoors since last November.

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Sugar beet needs sweeter future Rising input costs and high prices for alternative crops mean another challenging season for sugar beet, says Clodhopper

R

ecent years have seen much debate about the pros and cons of growing sugar beet. And with wheat prices nudging £300/t, many growers will be wondering whether there is still a place for beet in their rotation.

Beet prices have always been an emotive factor. But growers have other challenges too – including virus yellows. The disease can have a devastating impact on beet yields – as many farmers know to their cost.

The threat of virus yellows is deemed so bad this spring that Defra has approved the emergency use of neonicotinoid seed treatments – a decision which acknowledges that the beet area is in long term decline, particularly after the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The threat of virus yellows will have growers hoping to avoid a repeat of the 25% crop loss suffered in 2020. Beet is susceptible for the first 12-16 weeks and alternatives to neonicotinoids are less effective and offer shorter

46 MIDLAND FARMER • APRIL 2022

protection. Natural predators do not control aphids quickly enough either – particularly in a high virus year.

Environmentalists are dismayed by Defra’s decision to allow neonicotinoids But beet is harvested before flowering, so the treatment represents only a small risk to bee safety.

From a grower’s point of view – and having once supplied British Sugar with 4000 tonnes of beet on contract for a number of years, I find myself unsympathetic to British Sugar’s plight. It is a company which remains highly profitable.

Maths won the day Beet once paid £38/tonne – making it the bread and butter of many farm incomes.

We stopped growing the crop after the price dropped to £19/tonne. It would be hard to justify growing it again, including at this season’s guaranteed £27/tonne.

In the end, maths won the day. Oilseed rape at the time was averaging about £400.

Today, it is even higher. I don’t regret quitting beet – despite all the changes British Sugar says it has made to improve its relationship with growers.

When loading my own beet – and employing extra staff to pick off clods on the cleaner loader – I found my dirt tare spirally upwards and my beet returns tumbling. British

Sugar says the situation has improved. Maybe it has – but farmers have long memories.

Even now, the advantage always seems to be with British Sugar – despite the best effots of NFU Sugar, which represents growers.

How many years did I straw up a harvested crop for winter only to have a load rejected because I missed one mouldy beet?

Little help These days, with British Sugar renting land and growing its own beet how many heaps do they cover up? Not many I know of. And how many loads of their own beet do they reject for frozen beet? Very few, if any at all.

It’s probably true that fieldsmen are more helpful to growers’ needs. But back in the day they were frequently unable to alter transport permits and would extend factory opening times well into March while expecting beet to still be in good condition.

Some farmers still favour the crop – and it is clear that it works for them. They are usually those who can consistently achieve high yields on good soil close to factories. But for others is becoming more challenging.

Even with this season’s price increase beet, beet will be marginal for some. With input costs on the up – and higher prices available for other crops – it is going to be a very interesting growing season indeed.

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