Midland Farmer March 2021

March 2021

Midland

Farmer Serving the farming industry across the Midlands

Sugar beet: Growers look to future after ‘catastrophic season’

Arable Check temperatures for nitrogen success Soil health New incentive to reward best practice

Water management Pay farmers to store flood water – MPs Clodhopper Why high rents must be reduced

Pig & Poultry: Big reduction in farm carbon footprint

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11/03/2020 14:27

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

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 Bethany Andrews | T: 01502 725813 E: bethany.andrews@micropress.co.uk Alistair Bailey | T: 01502 725854 E: alistair.bailey@micropress.co.uk Daniel Rice | T: 01502 725858 E: daniel.rice@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 jade.soanes@micropress.co.uk © Countrywide Publications 2020 Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd T: 01502 725800

Time for Defra to unveil farm support plans

A

s the days become longer and soil temperatures warm up, March is the month when things start to hot up again in farming after the dark, cold days of winter.

So long as the ground is fit to travel, fieldwork can resume. There are winter crops to nurture, spring crops to get in the ground and thoughts about turning out livestock. As always, good management now will pay dividends later.

Efforts to optimise yields and margins are more important than ever. Later this year, we will see the first reductions in farm incomes as the government starts to phase out the basic payment scheme, which will disappear completely by 2028.

The first reductions will be small – just 5% for most farmers. But the cuts will gradually get bigger over the coming years and the annual basic payment will be halved by 2024 – which in itself is just three years away.

Farmers will be able to recoup at least some of the income lost by signing up for the govern-

Contents

ment’s forthcoming Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, which will reward growers and livestock producers for undertaking environmental measures on their land.

Until now, the government has revealed little detail about how the ELM scheme will work. But just as winter turns to spring, that will all change as Defra embarks on a flurry of activity and starts to ramp up its preparations.

In the coming weeks, farmers will be invited to take part in a pilot version of the ELM scheme.

Called the Sustainable Farming Incentive, it will test plans to reward farmers for improving soil health, maintaining landscape features and looking after watercourses (see page 17).

It won’t be suitable for everyone, of course. But getting involved now will give participants a head start about what to expect when ELMs is fully up- andrunning in 2024. At a time when margins and profits are under pressure, it could prove to be a valuable experience.

Vol 10 • No 3 • March 2021

News . ................................................................... 4

Pig & Poultry Review ................................... 33

Arable . ................................................................. 9

Midland Machinery..................................... 39

Soil health ......................................................... 17

Professional services................................... 42

Water .................................................................. 25

Final say............................................................ 46

Livestock . ..........................................................31

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14:27

News One million incidents of illegal rubbish dumped in countryside • Landowners bear brunt of fly-tipping • Call for stiff action against offenders • Industry leaders say fines too low

M

ountains of illegally dumped waste are piling up in the countryside – hidden by official statistics that fail to reflect the true extent of fly-tipping, say farm leaders.

Incidents of fly-tipping on public land increased by 2% across England in 2019/2020, according to new figures released by Defra. Local councils now deal with almost 1 million fly-tipping incidents every year.

But the figures account only for waste illegally dumped on public land.

The vast majority of fly-tipping incidents occur on privately-owned land – and aren’t included in the statistics which farm leaders say fail to reflect the severity of the situation.

“While these figures are alarming, it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Mark Bridgeman, president of the Country Land and Business Association. Cases of fly-tipping on privately owned land were significantly higher, he added.

“Part of the problem is that it’s currently too simple to gain a waste carrying licence that enables firms to transport and dispose of waste – and this needs urgent reform with correct checks put in place. A revamped system would act as a deterrent.”

Huge cost Mr Bridgeman said one CLA member was paying £50,000 each year for illegally dumped rubbish to be cleared from his land. Incidents included discarded tyres, fridges, tents, barbecues and building waste, he said.

“Although the maximum fine for anyone caught fly-tipping is £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment, if convicted in a Magistrates’ Court, this is seldom enforced. Unless tougher action is taken to combat this kind of rural crime, 4 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

it will continue to increase.”

The NFU says proportionate penalties for offenders and easier ways for the public to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, will help in the fight against the scourge of fly-tipping that continues to be a blight on the countryside.

NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said he believed the situation would have worsened further still due to the closure of local authority household waste and recycling centres during the cornonavirus lockdown.

Illegally dumped waste on farmland isn’t included in official statistics

Fairer approach Mr Roberts said: “Every day I hear how farmers’ fields are being bombarded

with rubbish being illegally dumped.

It’s extremely costly and time consuming to remove, is dangerous to human health and harmful to wildlife and livestock.”

Last year’s NFU fly-tipping summit examined ways of taking a fairer approach to fly-tipping on privately owned land, said Mr Roberts. It simply should not be down to the farmer to have to deal with the problem.

“Just because you don’t dump the rubbish yourself does not mean you’re not criminally liable if someone else does. It’s your rubbish so you have a responsibility for it all the way through to the final destination.”

Spearhead crowns Attlefield dealer of the year A specialist machinery supplier near Daventry has been named Spearhead’s Dealer of the Year 2020. Noted for tremendous energy and after sales support, the owner, Henry White, is just 29 years old.

Attlefield Farm Machinery first stocked Spearhead equipment three years ago. During the last 18 months, their sales performance placed them at the top of Spearhead’s league table.

Henry White comes from a well-known family with industry heritage. His father, Patrick White, runs PJ Services, the well-known in-

ternational haulage company. In his early 20s, Henry started selling quad bikes.

The White family also run farms in Poland.

They used a 450-9S flex-wing topper to bring the farm back into production after 20 years of being fallow. As a youngster, this, Henry says first sparked his interest in the product.

Today, Henry operates from brand new purpose-built premises with Spearhead equipment at the helm. The Hellidon site includes fully stocked showrooms, offices, and well-run workshops. For a fledgling dealer, the level of investment and product knowledge is impressive.

I know we mentioned this last month but we feel the need to say it again. Keep your ditches clear. As you can see below the pooling of the water in the corner of this one field has turned it green. The drainage itself was in good order except for a bit of root growth along the ditch line.

All of this could have been avoided with a bit of annual maintenance of the ditches and outfalls.

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News

Warning over dog attacks at peak lambing time

D

og attacks on livestock cost farmers across the Midlands more than £220,000 last year, according to figures released by NFU Mutual.

The cost of dog attacks on farm animals nationally rose by 10% to an estimated £1.3m in 2020 – with growing concerns that the coming weeks will see an influx of walkers as the easing of lockdown restrictions coincides with the peak lambing period.

The worst-affected region by cost was north-east, where livestock worth an estimated £240,000 were savaged by dogs. The Midlands was the next most seriously-affected areas alongside the south-west and Wales.

“

Large numbers of sheep are being killed and maimed

tryside during the pandemic, and that The Midlands responsibly and keep dogs on a lead 81% of survey respondents have no- is among the whenever there is a possibility liveticed more people exercising their pets worst areas for stock are nearby.” dog attacks on in rural areas.

Many dog owners don’t realise the “We have seen many more horrific livestock pain and anguish sheep can suffer simattacks resulting in large numbers of ply by being chased by a dog. AlarmingIncrease in ownership sheep being killed and a trail of horly, only 40% of the dog owners surveyed NFU Mutual statistics believes the rific injuries,” said NFU Mutual rural accepted that their pet could cause the increase was largely driven by an in- affairds specialist Rebecca Davidson. injury or death of a farm animal. crease in dog ownership and more peo- “These attacks cause unbearable suf“Even if a dog doesn’t make physple walking in the countryside due to fering to farm animals as well as huge ical contact, the distress and exhaustravel and social-distancing restric- anxiety for farmer” tion of the chase can cause sheep to tions imposed due to the coronavirus She added: “There is widespread die or miscarry their lambs. It’s impandemic. concern as we enter the peak lambportant that owners realise that all A recent survey of dog owners com- ing season, that there will be a surgeEquipment in dog-breeds, not-just the big, fierce - Livestock - Feed Fertiliser Seed - Cash Flowlookmissioned by the rural insurer reveals new visitors who are simply unawareDiversification Projects -ing ones, are capable of attacking Building - Debt Consolidation livethat 64% of dog owners are letting their of the countryside code or how their stock, or chasing them.” pets roam free in the countryside, de- dog will behave around farm animals.

The upward trend in attacks folspite half of owners surveyed admitlows some encouraging decreases in ting their dog doesn’t always come back Distress and exhaustion incidents. “Although we had seen some when called.

Ms Davidson said she wanted people encouraging decreases in the overall The research also reveals that to enjoy the countryside because it was UK cost of livestock attacks over the Equipment - Livestock - Feed - Fertiliser - Seed - Cash Flow 42% of Diversifi dog owners have been -walkfor their wellbeing. But she last two years, sadly 2020 has seen an cation Projects Buildingimportant - Debt Consolidation ing their pets more often in the coun- added: “It’s vital that dog owners act upward trend.”

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18/12/2020 14:53

Arable Monitor soil temperatures for nitrogen application success

S

oil temperatures should be managed carefully to time fertiliser applications for best results on cereals this spring – especially in barley.

Slow-to-climb soil temperatures mean close attention is needed to ensure nitrogen application coincides with the onset of spring root growth and is available for immediate uptake, says Yara agronomy manager Mark Tucker.

Spring growth usually starts once root zone temperatures reach 4.55.0ºC – so fertiliser is taken up immediately rather than sitting unused in the soil. This year, however, soils have been tracking 0.5ºC colder than last year – not helped by over-winter water-logging.

“Track your rising temperature proactively,” advises Mr Tucker. “Look at soil temperatures 5-10cm deep because that’s where a lot of root activity is going to happen.

Keeping momentum “Soil temperature across the country varies, but is generally at its lowest in early January then starts climbing. It can be getting to 4ºC by the end of February in an average situation. Once growth starts, we want to keep that momentum.”

Although temperature monitoring is used commonly for grassland fertiliser applications, Mr Tucker sees scope for greater use in cereals. Accuratelytimed early nitrogen is particularly pertinent to sustain the optimum number of ear-bearing tillers in barley.

This is important in hybrid barley because it is sown at a lower seed rate, agrees Paul Roche, technical manager for seed breeder Syngenta. Hybrid barley’s vigorous spring growth responds well to a first nitrogen application at about mid-tillering (GS25).

“Early application allows the already-robust root system to scavenge for nitrogen and other nutrients to really give the crop that early boost.

Fuelling hybrid barley’s early-season growth in this way also drives its suppression of grassweeds, such as blackgrass, ryegrass and brome.”

s

Barley guidance Syngenta started to check soil temperatures at its trials sites a few weeks ago.

Tracking temperatures proactively pays divdends, says Mark Tucker

“

Once growth starts, we want to keep that momentum

Make most of early fertiliser Fertiliser applications will need careful planning after a second consecutive wet winter and varying crop requirements, says agronomy firm Hutchinsons.

Indications are that heavy winter rainfall across much of the UK could have increased losses of some of the more soluble soil nutrients, such as nitrogen and sulphur, particularly on lighter, less nutrient retentive soils, so it is important crop requirements are fulfilled as growth increases.

The aim is to get going just as soon as fields dry out and soil temperatures are in the zone – avoiding applications on soils that are covered in snow, frozen or waterlogged.

Current hybrid barley guidance is to apply 30% of the season’s total nitrogen dose at about GS25, says Mr Roche.

This should be followed by 50% at or just before GS31, with the final 20% two to three weeks after the second application, typically by the end of April.

To reduce workloads at the time of the final application, or to boost thin crops such as any recovering from waterlogged soils, an alternative programme of 50% at GS25 and 50% at or just before GS31 is another option.

Water-logging will also have caused soil nitrogen levels to decline, adds Mr Tucker. “As soon as we see water-logging going, so that oxygen is available, that’s normally when we expect to see those first roots appearing,” he concludes.

Good potential “We’re still waiting for results from N-Min testing, but my feeling is that given the rain we’ve had, there will be a low reservoir of nitrogen in the soil, and with crops generally showing good potential, it will be vital to protect that from the outset,” says agronomist David Stead.

“September-sown wheat looks healthy and well tillered, while even late October and early November-drilled cereals are nicely established with two to three tillers. We need to make sure we can maintain this biomass growth and not compromise the yield potential that’s there.”

Main focus Nitrogen is the main focus for early fertiliser as crop requirements increase significantly as canopies develop. Although NMin tests are best done early in the year, Mr Stead says soil testing to gauge the extent of any winter losses can still help inform later applications.

Several other nutrients, notably phosphate, potassium and sulphur, influence how efficiently plants assimilate nitrogen. Magnesium is also important as it is fundamental to chlorophyll production and any shortfall reduces photosynthesis, which in turn reduces nitrogen uptake.

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 9

14:53

Arable

Check oilseed rape crops and rectify boron deficits

B

oron deficiency could pose a threat to the oilseed rape crops this spring following a wet and cold end to winter.

Growers should monitor for micronutrient deficiencies and treat rape with boron applications where necessary to get the most from the crop, advises Chris Bond, commercial technical manager for crop nutrition at FMC. “UK growers have been tormented by wet weather over the past few weeks, with reports of severe flooding and snow across the country. Wet weather is one of the biggest risk factors for boron deficiency, with the micronutrient easily leaching.”

Boron is a key nutrient for rape and has a range of important roles in crop development, particularly in cell division and enlargement. As the crop begins to grow rapidly at stem extension, these processes encourage healthy plant progression.

Boron will also promote successful

flowering, pod, and seed development.

Mr Bond says a close eye on the situation will pay dividends – especially in a season where there appears to be renewed optimism for the crop.

“We’ve heard many reports that crops were healthy with good canopies going into winter, so it would be a shame to let things faulter at this point in the season as a result of preventable nutrient deficiencies,” he says.

The first step growers should take to halt micronutrient deficiencies should be tissue testing in the early spring when crops are coming out of dormancy. Once growers understand what nutrients are lacking, applications of foliar nutrition can help rectify any deficiencies.

Liquid applications of boron, such as Bo-La or Boron 15, should be applied at stem extension at 2.5 l/ha in at least 200 litres of water. Bo-La also contains a source of molybdenum which is linked to nitrogen utilisation and as-

similation into amino acids.

“Micronutrient deficiencies are often easily remedied through nutritional applications but getting on top of the issue as early as possible before visual symptoms develop will help ensure yield targets are reached later down the line,” says Mr Bond.

Any boron deficiencies should be resolve sooner rather than later, says Chris Bond.

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Arable

Processor and growers clash over beet support package • Enhanced support after terrible season • British Sugar ‘will work more flexibly’ • Growers say package is ‘jam tomorrow’

A

n enhanced support package for sugar beet will do little to stop many growers giving up the crop for good when their current contract finishes, say industry leaders.

It comes after British Sugar offered growers a Beet Package Plus for the 2021/22 crop following a disastrous season. The package includes an enhanced contract beet price with a guaranteed minimum market linked bonus from 80p per adjusted tonne (see box).

Yields during the 2020/21 season were decimated by a bad start to spring, widespread problems with virus yellows disease and a wet winter. Many growers reported yields had halved with poor sugar contents compounding the problem.

As well as enhanced beet price, farmers are also being offered cash flow support with the opportunity to defer their seed invoice interest-free until harvest.

But NFU Sugar chairman Michael Sly claims it is worth just 1p per tonne of beet.

Flexible approach British Sugar said its factories would also operate more flexibly to accommodate beet deliveries, recognising that growers understandably did not wish to operate harvesters in fields that were waterlogged and simply unsuitable for lifting.

A £12m virus yellows assurance fund remains in place. The fund is provided by British Sugar for three years, starting from the 2021/22 campaign, to

compensate growers for a proportion of yield losses suffered where virus yellows is present in their crop.

British Sugar agriculture director Peter Watson said: “Following a difficult season in 2020/21, we are pleased to offer this enhanced support package to our sugar beet growers, to help the whole industry for the upcoming season.”

The guaranteed surplus beet price would be fixed at £20.30 adjusted/tonne for 2021/22. “We thank growers for their considerable support over the last year and look forward to working with all our colleagues across the home-grown beet sugar industry in the upcoming season.”

‘Jam tomorrow’ But NFU Sugar board chairman Michael Sly said: “NFU Sugar in no way supports or endorses British Sugar’s Beet Package Plus communication sent to growers and does not believe it is anywhere near enough to stop many growers giving up sugar beet for good.”

Mr Sly, who farms at Thorney, near Peterborough, said NFU Sugar had expressed its concerns to British Sugar about the viability of the home-grown crop for months. Low contract prices, and the rising risk of disease, meant it was no longer viewed favourably by many growers.

“Throughout, NFU Sugar has argued for a targeted package to acknowledge the risks growers have and will continue to face in growing the crop.

This has not been delivered.

It’s been a tough season from beginning to end for sugar beet growers

“

Sugar beet needs to give growers a viable financial return

The Beet Package Plus offered by British Sugar for 2021/22 Contracts

2021/22 1-year contract 2021/22 3-year contract

Beet price (adj/t) (no crown, new sugar scale)

Guaranteed minmum Market-Linked Bonus (adj/t)

£20.30

80p

£21.10

£21.18

82p

£22.00

12 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

Enhanced package (adj/t) (no crown new sugar scale)

“NFU Sugar also urged British Sugar to increase the support for those growers who are honouring their multi-year contracts and so risk big losses again this year. British Sugar refused.

“NFU Sugar urged British Sugar to pay growers some of their 2021 contract in early summer to help with the desperate cash flow situation many growers are facing. Again, British Sugar refused.

Increasing concern Mr Sly said growers would also see the guaranteed surplus price for 2021 for what it was: a desperate need by British Sugar to help secure all the beet it could get for the coming year given the smaller than normal area being drilled this spring.

“To our growers British Sugar claims poverty, but to the City its parent company Associated British Foods recently announced a £100m profit for the global sugar division AB Sugar, driven in part by improved profitability at British Sugar.

“Market conditions this year indicate British Sugar’s profitability will likely continue to improve. We believe that growers will not be seduced by British Sugar’s vague promises of ‘jam tomorrow’ in this letter to growers, or in its previous communication.”

Mr Sly said NFU Sugar believed in the future of the home-grown sugar beet industry. But he and other growers remained increasingly concerned that British Sugar stance was putting the sector at severe risk.

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Arable

Agrii eyes bigger market for UK haricot beans

M

ore farmers could start growing haricot beans after agronomy specialists Agrii signed a contract to promote the commercial production of the crop in the UK The University of Warwick’s research commercialisation wing, Warwick Innovations, has signed a contract with agronomy specialist Agrii to promote the commercial production of UK haricot beans developed by university scientists.

Eric Holub, from Warwick’s Crop Centre, part of the university’s School of Life Sciences, has bred three haricot bean varieties specially adapted for growing in the UK climate and are more suited to standard farm machinery.

Professor Holub said: “Britishgrown beans can help us shift our diets to a healthier future, adding

to other UK ingredients to supply the growing trend of flexitarian diets with new markets like BritMediterranean and Brex-Mexican style food.”

als and research to enable a proofof-concept and move towards creating a growing model which fits with progressive UK broadacre farming systems.

Red haricot beans have alField trials ready been grown commercially Under the new contract, Agrii will in the UK – including by Camcarry out pre-commercial field tri- bridgeshire farmer Tim Gawthroup for specialist food producer Hodmedod’s. These new varieties could now widen the opportunities for growers.

Agrii believes growing haricot beans on a wider scale in the UK will offer a more sustainable alternative to beans currently imported from North America and some African countries. They could also help improve soil structure and help to extend farm roThe three haricot bean varieties tations.

The three new varieties are promise a range of benefits for growers, says Agrii white bean Capulet, blonde bean

Godiva and black bean Olivia – all selected for their quality, versatility and suitability for different uses. They are fast-cooking from a dry ingredient and also suitable for commercial canning in British baked beans.

Range of benefits Haricot beans are an excellent source of essential amino acids, dietary fibre and other micronutrients. The new varieties will make a versatile addition to healthy meals made with traditional British-grown ingredients.

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Careful management of spring wheat pays dividends

Professor Eric Holub after harvesting a large scale field trial at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire

S pulse seed manager Peter Smith said the company would be working working closely with Warwick and Princes Foods. “This is a great example of collaboration throughout the supply chain working towards increased UK crop and food production.”

The market is niche but substantial. The UK leading brand of baked beans imports 50,000t of North American beans annually. Agrii head of agronomy Colin Lloyd said haricot bean varieties bred for UK conditions could offer a range of other benefits for British growers too.

pring wheat is enjoying a resurgence with more growers turning to the crop after difficult sowing conditions for winter varieties and concern over spring barley margins.

While many growers made a move to spring barley after being enticed by the prospect of a significant premium for meeting a traditional 1.85% nnitrogen malting specification, few considered the potential implications, says Agrii’s Tom Land.

“Growers bought into the lure of premiums and promises that it was cheap to grow, yet a lot of spring barley grown in a black-grass situation goes as feed, unless on a specialist high nitrogen contract.”

The discount for feed barley can be between £8 and £30/t. Mr Land said reality was sinking in and many growers were beginning to question their chances of reliably achieving a 1.85% nitrogen premium specification.

“For some the pressure at drilling is equally unrewarding,” he said. “Modern spring wheats are at least a match for spring barley and, depending on the season, often out do it. They are strong contenders.”

Important choice John Miles, of seed breeders KWS, said spring wheat could have an increasingly important – but he emphasises that variety choice remains critical.

“Spring vigour is perhaps the most important feature but this should not come at the expense of grain yield and quality. Strong tillering varieties such as KWS Extase and KWS Cranium usually out-yield less vigorous varieties.

“Specific spring sowing varieties such as KWS Cochise and KWS Chilham have the ‘get up and go’ to compete strongly with weeds plus good all round disease resistance and OWMB resistance.”

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MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 15

Arable

Big demand for ‘high resilience’ wheat and barley • Challenges put focus on vigour and resistance • Ideal combination of yield and functional traits • Resilience becoming increasingly important

V

igour and disease resistance are becoming must-have traits in both wheat and barley with two stand-out varieties on the new 2021/22 Recommended List attracting considerable grower interest.

KWS Cranium sets important new standards in the Group 4 hard wheat sector including the best yield and yellow rust combination of all listed wheat varieties. And KWS Tardis is the highest yielding two-row winter barley on the new list.

“With the best combination of yield, Yellow Rust resistance and OWBM resistance on the 2021/22 RL, KWS Cranium ticks all the boxes for a high performance modern wheat,” says Kirsty Richards of KWS (pictured).

“It’s got the highest yield of all the RL late drilling varieties and the best combination of yield and straw stiffness on the list plus it has Orange Wheat Blossom Midge resistance too.

“KWS Tardis also rewrites the rules with a performance rivalling many 6-row hybrid varieties achieving a yield of 106% of controls on the new 2021/22 RL – just 1% point behind the highest

16 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

yielding 6-row hybrid. It’s also got an excellent agronomic package.”

Domestic markets Frontier seed manager Chris Piggott says challenges around disease in the future and large domestic markets for feed wheat mean KWS Cranium will appeal to growers looking to reduce production risks without sacrificing yield potential.

“KWS Cranium is yielding within 1% of the highest yielding variety on the Recommended List and is part of a select few varieties that combine a Septoria score of 6 and above and a yellow rust score of 8 and above.

“These two particular diseases are the most challenging in terms of yield penalty so to have high genetic resistance is an advantage. Late sown performance is particularly strong.”

Being a hard wheat, KWS Cranium offers a lower sprouting risk for a variety that is slightly later to maturity compared to the alternative soft wheats. To top everything off it also has good fusarium resistance and OWBM resistance.

Mr Piggott says: “High yielding feed

KWS Tardis is expected to have broad appeal

“

There is a great deal of marketing flexibility for feed wheat

wheat has been a significant portion of the market for some time – with a much reduced potential for not achieving specification – and many destinations local to a lot of growers, there is a great deal of marketing flexibility.

“I think KWS Cranium is going to appeal to a broad range of growers from both in-field performance and marketing perspectives.”

On the barley front, Openfield arable technical manager Duncan Durno says KWS Tardis will have broad appeal for growers across the country.

“Obviously its headline figure is the yield but there’s a lot more to KWS Tardis than just that. It’s got a really strong set of features that will make it appeal to all barley growers wherever they are.

“In the east, that yield figure and high specific weight are really going to make it attractive to any feed barley grower, but the variety’s Rhynchosporium score of 7 helps make it a safe bet wherever you are.

“The good thing about KWS Tardis is that its straw length is not at the expense of standing power as it has a strong lodging resistance score too. Its net blotch resistance is pretty solid as well. The other key feature of the variety is the potential flexibility it will add to rotations.

“With the good oilseed rape crops we generally have in the ground at the moment, this is a crop that could now have a better future in the UK than many were predicting.

“What is increasingly clear, however, is that oilseed rape success depends on having flexibility around sowing date so crops are drilled in the best conditions they can be.”

Soil health Farmers to be rewarded for improving soil health • Details of new scheme in coming weeks • Farmers invited to participate in pilots • Options can be tailored for own holding

I

mproving soil health will be among eight options farmers can select from a pilot version of the government’s the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.

Hundreds of farmers across the country will pilot the first tier of the ELM scheme later this year. Expressions of interest to participate in the scheme – called the Sustainable Farming Incentive – will be invited in the coming weeks.

Defra secretary George Eustice said: “Pilot participants will be able to select from an initial set of eight standards to build their own agreements and create greener landscapes and improve biodiversity in a way that is right for their own holding.”

The standards will be focused on natural assets based on specific features such as soils, grassland, hedgerows, water bodies, or woodland.

Farmers will be able to choose which standards they want to apply for and where they want to apply them on their farm.

Important features Mr Eustice said he wanted to properly recognise and reward important features looked after by farmers. He added: “The ethos at the heart of our future policy is to support the choices of individual farm enterprises.”

The ELM scheme is expected to be fully up and running by 2024. It will comprise three tiers – the entry level Sustainable Farming Incentive, a midtier local nature recovery option and higher level landscape recovery tier.

The scheme is important because it will enable farmers to recoup some income lost due to the abolition of the basic payment scheme, which is being phased out. BPS payments are being scaled back annually and will be gone completely by 2028.

Rather than paying farmers simply for occupying land – which was how

the basic payment scheme worked, Mr Eustice said the ELM scheme would reward practices which maintained the distinctive character of the English countryside.

“We will expand the scheme in the years ahead – adding more standards over time as well as taking the first steps of a new animal health and welfare pathway standard; and we will also develop more innovative approaches like payment by results.”

Ambitious actions The Sustainable Farming Incentive would focus on outcomes and improvements. Under the ELM scheme ambitious actions would be better rewarded.

Farmers would be encouraged to work in partnership with conservation organisations or accreditation schemes to help delivery.

“We are going to make the early version of the Sustainable Farming Incentive open to all farms from next year but the work this year to pilot delivery will help us with implementation. We will be setting out more detail of the pilot in the coming weeks.

“By the end of June we will make sure that farmers have the details they need to prepare – so they can take a fresh look at the land they farm, the natural assets that they have and de-

Farmers will be encouraged to adopt practices which improve their soils.

[Photo credit: Niamh Tye]

cide what will work best for their own individual holding.”

Defra hopes to work up plans for the Local Nature Recovery schemes this year, ahead of launching a pilot version in 2022. It will also release details of its Landscape Recovery scheme – with around 10 large land use change projects due to start next year.

About Sustainable Farming Incentive The Sustainable Farming Incentive will provide a straightforward way for farmers to get paid to produce public goods on their land, says Janet Hughes, director of Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive will be piloted this year, with the first elements of the scheme launched for all farmers from March 2022. The pilot will test some of the more novel or untested elements of the new scheme to ensure it works.

Payment rates have yet to be confirmed. Defra wants to make sure that the scheme works for farmers and achieves the right outcomes.

The pilot version of the scheme will test different ways of deciding what and how much farmers will be paid for.

More information about the first phase of the Incentive and how farmers can get involved are due to be published this month. By June, Defra says it will publish further information about how it expects the scheme to work.

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 17

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Soil health

Soil at centre of new agronomy initiative

B

etter soil health is among the goals of a new initiative launched by agronomy experts Agrii. It improves the economic, environmental and social sustainability of UK farm businesses.

The Green Horizons five-point plan includes an advanced soil health assessment regime, a series of Net Zero Carbon demonstration farms, projects to reduce farm inputs, accredited environmental training and enterprise benchmarking.

Agrii head of technical Clare Bend said the initiative aimed to help meet the legion of challenges faced by farmers – including the diminishing number of crop protection products and growing legislative and environmental pressures.

Ms Bend said: “The only thing that seems to be stacking-up faster is the advice we’re getting from all sides on what we need to do – much of it based on a sadly-super-

ficial understanding of the practicalities.

“We keep being told to improve soil health, for instance. Yet few, if any, of those telling us to do so understand the complex physical, chemical and biological interactions that contribute to a healthy soil, let alone how best to harness them.”

Farmers and agronomists were being urged to replace proven crop protection products with bio-solutions, said Ms Bend – despite research showing that the vast majority of biologicals on the market were simply not up to the job.

“We’re constantly being exhorted to do more for nature even though so many of the habitat creation options on offer have been found to be impractical, unaffordable or both,” she added.

Green Horizons would offer practical advice while exploring integrated strategies for maximising crop performance with pro-

The project will help farmers overcome a raft of challenges, says Clare Bend

gressively less reliance on traditional inputs. Agrii’s first five-year study to achieve this was already underway with winter wheat on a Cambridge LEAF Farm.

Ms Bend said: “Working with the Centre for Ecology and Hy-

drology and other research partners, we will soon be unveiling what we believe to be the first practical way of monitoring soil health improvement based on the best available understanding of the soil.”

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point is positioned forward of the leading edge

fracture the soil before the wing comes into wing wear and preventing smearing by the

The Meir’s 25mm wide point is positioned forward of the leading edge of the wing in order to fracture the soil before the wing comes into

Soil Conditioner Specification

contact with it, reducing wing wear and preventing smearing by the

ifts the soil 40mm to ensure effective vertical

ps off the rear of the wing. The 200mm length

shallower angle of attack helping to reduce

wing.

Working widths: Hydraulically folding: Number of legs: Attachments:

cs positioned in front of the legs, help to

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enting mixing of the soil at the surface. Fitted

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Soil Conditioner Specification

3m

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Working widths:

3m

4m

6m

Hydraulically folding:

No

Yes

Yes

8

12

6

Number of legs: Attachments:

Cat 3 linkage

Leg spacing:

500mm

Maximum working depth:

275mm

Minimum power requirement:

50hp/m

work directly into thick cover crops and grass leys.

with deep angled points centred either side of

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Meir Soil Conditioner

ther proof, firm surface. Adjustable scrapers

ains clean in stickier going. Hydraulically

ailable on all models as an optional extra.

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MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 19

Soil health

How grazing winter cereals can aid soil biology

G

razing livestock on winter cereals could help aid soil biology, allow for earlier drilling dates, control pests and diseases and influence yield potential, suggests a study.

The project, which looked at grazing winter cereals with sheep, started as a Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group, facilitated by Peter Lindsay and Zach Riley of SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

“The project was developed to gain a better understanding on whether grazing livestock on winter cereals could have a detrimental effect on, for example, disease control and yield potential,” said Mr Lindsay.

Trials were carried out by Balgay Farming Partnership, a partnership between Iain Graham and Iain Wilkinson.

The experiment follow an agricultural drought during the summer of 2018 which severely reduced grass growth.

Balgay Farm is run as a mixed farming business with combinable cropping, beef and sheep. “The impact of drought on grass growth during 2018 prompt-

ed us to look at ways to utilise arable land to aid livestock performance, but also help soil biology,” said Mr Lindsay.

The trial consisted of two-hectare blocks drilled with winter wheat, winter barley and winter oats. Each crop block was split down the middle with an electric fence and sheep were allowed to graze one half, but not the other.

Mr Wilkinson said that the results from the trials were very promising and

Farmer Iain Wilkinson with lambs grazing this year’s winter wheat

demonstrated that the grazing of winter cereals can provide valuable winter forage for sheep and also have a beneficial impact on crop yield.

“We introduced sheep to the crops at the end of October 2018 and they ate the winter barley right down to the bone before moving onto the winter wheat and winter oats. We were concerned we had been too hard on the winter barley and it would have a detrimental impact on the crop.”

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Soil health

Miscanthus key to farmer’s net zero ambitions

S

oil organic matter is improving on a north Shropshire farm after grower Jim Mullock planted miscanthus to help reduce his carbon footprint.

Mr Mullock, who farms at Whitchurch, planted 36ha of Terravesta Athena miscanthus in spring 2020. The investment was justifiable because of the crop’s carbon sequestration potential – as well as benefits to soil and wildlife, he explains.

Soil quality on two heavy clay fields was drastically improved by a 16-year-old miscanthus crop recently removed from another part of the farm. But the new variety looks to be performing even better than the miscanthus giganteus planted in 2005, suggests Mr Mullock.

“We were pleased to see how fertile the two difficult fields have become,” he says. As you might expect, the organic matter readings are now high and the soil is alive again.

Growing miscanthus is helping Jim Mullock improve soil quality and sequester carbon

Terravesta Athena is higher yielding than standard miscanthus giganteus. It has undergone rigorous selection and development to ensure that it’s tolerant to different growing conditions. It is also more uniform so yields are more stable and biomass quality improved.

“Having had previous experience of growing the crop on heavy

clay ground 16 years ago, it was clear this last spring just how much the planting process and varieties have improved.

Miscanthus has other positives too, says Mr Mullock – especially around its ability to sequester carbon and the ongoing challenges many farmers have when trying to grow a successful crop of oilseed rape.

“We were mindful of the Net Zero ambitions of agriculture and the need for every farm business to take an honest look at its carbon footprint. Having discussed the merits of growing miscanthus with my agronomist, we agreed it was a good opportunity.”

The crop is grow on a longterm contract which sees miscanthus specialist Terravesta buy

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Water Farmers should be paid to store flood water, say MPs • More funding needed for defences • Farmers should be rewarded • Plan needed to save communities

F

armers should be paid to store floodwater on their land, says an influential group of MPs which has urged the government to show leadership on climate change mitigation.

Current flood defence objectives are leaving homes and businesses vulnerable to the impact of climate change, says a report by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Instead, the report says the government should commit to a clearly defined flood resilience plan – including paying farmers to protect local communities by allowing their land to be flooded where needed at times of heavy rain and high water.

This would help to improve protection for some of the 5.2 million properties across England which are at risk from flooding, says the report. Long-term fund-

ing for the maintenance of existing and new flood defences should match the government’s capital commitment, it adds.

Well-defined targets Committee chairman Neil Parish said: “If the government will not set well-defined targets for flood resilience, it will waste millions of pounds playing catch-up.

We must accept that as floods are here to stay, so must be the defences we build.”

Natural flood management initiatives, such as allowing land to flood, must be appropriately incentivised, says the report. Doing so will require involving farmers and land managers at every stage of scheme design and implementation.

Referring to another wet winter, which caused problems for farmers as well as rural communities, Mr Parish said: “It’s time to

Farmers should be compensated for allowing their land to flood

accept that severe weather events like Storm Christoph are the rule, not the exception.”

He added: “The government’s commitment to net zero demonstrates its willingness to act on the climate crisis, but it must recognise that in protecting homes and businesses from flooding, we are playing a long game.”

The report says the government should scale up natural flood management, while ensuring a catchment-based approach that takes account of local conditions. This should include slowing the flow of water through catchments.

Mr Parish said: “Long-term funding is needed, committing to the maintenance of existing and future defences. Meanwhile, local authorities lack the competencies and resources they need to factor flood projections into planning and development decisions.

This must be addressed.”

As well as scrutinising existing approaches to managing flood risk, the report also examines the mental health impacts of severe flooding, calling for an action plan addressing this alongside the economic and physical effects.

Mr Parish said: “Waters receding do not repair the psychological, economic and physical impacts of flood damage. It is high time that the government recognised this, and work with local authorities to properly resource mental health services for when the blue lights go.”

Clear objectives Other recommendations include setting out clearly defined objectives for a level of flood resilience which will protect homes and businesses in line with climate change projections. The report also calls for a long-term budget for the maintenance of existing flood defences.

Local authorities should be giv-

en the resources they need, says the document. This should include dedicated trained staff who can factor climate change projections into local planning decisions, helping to avoid development in areas at risk from flooding.

Recognising the work of charities in supporting victims of recent storms, the committee also calls on the government to provide funding to help the voluntary sector respond to flooding, and build capacity in other organisations.

Plan to improve flood funding formula The government has issued a call for evidence to examine changes to its flood funding formula to help benefit frequently flooded communities.

At least 23,000 publicly funded property flood resilience measures have been installed since 2009. But the government says it wants to increase uptake across the country – alongside providing more funding for new flood and coastal defences.

Under the plan, householders in flood-hit areas who install property flood resilience measures – such as flood barriers, air brick covers and flood resistant coatings on walls – could soon be able to obtain discounted insurance premiums.

The call for evidence will explore how the government’s flood and coastal defence investment programme can be strengthened. It will also looks at ways to help householders and businesses better prepare for flooding.

The government says the plan includes investment of £5.2bn to create around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences.

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 25

Water

Big benefits from protecting watercourses by under-sowing maize EXPERT VIEW

Under-sowing maize can boost output – and be good for the environment, says Phil Billings

T

he uptake of under-sowing maize is on the rise and an establishment technique that more farmers are exploring. Doing it successfully is a fine art so careful planning is required to achieve optimum results Timings are key to the success of under-sowing maize, so close attention is needed. The timings of under-sowing very much depend on the maize maturity rating, weed profile and soil type.

Most people choose to under-sow with grass once the maize is established as otherwise, if drilled at the same time, it can cause weed management complications and outcompete the crop, tak-

ing energy away from cob development.

The size of the maize cob is determined up until the eight-leaf stage, so it’s essential that the crop gets off to a good start, as this is what affects the ME or metabolisable energy, and protein in the silage.

It’s also best to select hardier grass varieties, such as fescues or perennial grasses, as they’re likely to better withstand the harsh conditions they could be exposed to.

There are two different under-sowing options: 1) If you are planting an early maturing maize variety and planning to harvest in September, apply a post-emergence herbicide before the four-leaf stage so the grass seed can be planted around the six-leaf stage. This allows the maize to become well established before the grass emerges. It may mean the grass is slower to establish, but it will grow out well after harvest.

2) If you’re planning to harvest in Oc-

“

Growers should hope for the best, but plan for the worst

tober and plant a late maturing maize variety, drill the grass seeds once the maize is around the four-leaf stage.

However, before planting the grass seed, apply any herbicides that are required. The post-emergence herbicide should be applied before the four-leaf stage, so the grass seed can be planted, and emerging weeds don’t ‘rob’ yield from the maize crop.

A healthy and successfully established under-sown crop.

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Establishing a good maize crop is a fine art

A disc coulter is the most reliable way to plant the grass. It allows for a firm seed bed and good soil-to-seed contact, which is key for optimum establishment. If wet weather is expected drill the grass before the rain if possible, to avoid soil compaction when travelling over the ground.

Optimum timings Another top tip is to not under-sow your entire maize crop in year one. Planting a small area initially will allow growers to understand the optimum timings for drilling the maize and the grass, before rolling it out across the whole farm.”

I’d always advise farmers to ‘hope for the best, but plan for the worst’ when it comes to the weather and growing maize, that way they’ll be better prepared to deal with unexpected changes.

Harvesting an under-sown maize crop should be no more difficult than a traditional crop. If the timings are right from the outset, the grass should not have outcompeted the maize and grown tall enough to interrupt the harvest.

Once you’ve cut the crop, you’ll be left with a layer of grass biomass on the surface protecting the soil from rainfall.

But below the ground, the root mass will have grown considerably, resulting in a high level of microbes and rhizosheath around the root, improving soil structure, infiltration, and carbon storage.

Benefits Live roots in the soil allow microbes to thrive, which is fundamental for the storage of carbon and nutrients such

as nitrates, potassium, boron and many more, whereas bare soils cannot capture the sunlight and therefore prevent these processes from happening.

An under-sown crop will store these nutrients in the soil, making them readily available for uptake by the following crop. It’s key to keep the workforce of microbes and worms in the soil thriving, so they can benefit future crops in the rotation.

On top of the beneficial carbon and nutrient capture an under-sown maize crop brings, there are also major environmental benefits such as reduced run-off, soil erosion and leaching.

They can also provide financial benefits for farmers in that the nutrients captured in the soil can help fund the next crop, as producers don’t need to replace lost nutrients with slurry or fertilisers. Alternatively, the leftover grass can provide valuable grazing for sheep or cattle.

Phil Billings is an agricultural adviser at Severn Trent. If you are interested in under-sowing maize on your farm, contact your local Severn Trent agricultural adviser or visit www.stwater.co.uk/steps for advice and funding.

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Water

Herbicide faces withdrawal unless action taken

A

n important herbicide for beans and peas is under threat after four decades because it continues to be detected in watercourses.

Bentazone is a one of the few postemergence herbicides for beans and the only post-em available for challenging weeds in the pea crop, such as black nightshade. It is also used on linseed, alliums and potatoes.

The chemistry is absorbed through the leaves of target plants, disrupting the photosynthesis and causing a reduction in the carbohydrate reserves.

But it is highly soluble and mobile in soil – and continues to be detected in ground and surface water.

Manufacturer BASF and the wider agricultural industry have had a stewardship programme in place since 2014.

But records show no serious decline in the levels of bentazone detected in water, despite the Better Bentazone Together Campaign.

Bentazone is due review for re-approval in 2025. The Environment Agency – which will be part of the decision panel – has made it clear that the in-

dustry must reduce the levels and numbers of detects in water in order for reapproval to be considered.

BASF stewardship manager Paul Goddard said the area of pulses grown in the region could seriously decline without bentazone. And he called on growers to abide by stewardship guidelines and help secure a future for the chemical.

Mr Goddard said: “As bentazone can enter the water courses through both groundwater and surface, there are multiple chances for leaching so we must do everything we can culturally, and chem-

Pulse growers are urged to abide by bentazone stewardship rules

ically, to reduce the levels.”

BASF and industry partners have been working with the Environment Agency and water companies developing ls to offer guidance and support to growers. But Mr Goddard said he felt more could be done on farm.

“This can be as simple as how and where growers fill their sprayer,” he said. “Avoiding high risk areas, ensuring the field is suitable before planting crops and keeping the chemistry on the surface are other important considerations.”

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Livestock Maximise maize yields to offset threat of summer drought • Drought is increasing issue for growers • Choosing drought resistant varieties helps • Farmers should plan cultivations carefully

U

nderstanding the effects of delayed germination and poor nutrient uptake caused by drought stress could help maize growers unlock further yield potential for the crop.

With spring and early summer droughts becoming more frequent in recent years, changes in maize management could be needed for livestock producers seeking to secure adequate winter silage, says Wilson Hendry of forage specialists Grainseed.

Although Met Office data shows last summer had 7% more heat units between May and September than the 30-year average, lack of rainfall at critical times of the year stopped this translating into bumper yields on many farms.

“The early advantage in terms of heat units was gained in early summer with May over 20% ahead of the average and June over 12%,” says Mr Hendry.

“All maize growing areas experienced above average Maize Heat Units (MHU) with Southern England, East Anglia, the South East and Central England achieving over 1400 MHU – significantly more than the minimum 1200 needed for maize.”

Impossible conditions Early dry conditions were compounded by low rainfall at critical times.

Most areas suffered a real lack of moisture in May which caused widespread germination issues, especially on those difficult seedbeds on heavier land where drilling seed into moisture was almost impossible.

“Delayed germination and drought stress slowed plant progress with lack of access to N, P and K definitely playing its part.”

With drought stress appearing to be more of an annual occurrence, especially on lighter land in lower rainfall areas, growers need to factor this into their future crop management to mitigate against its effects, he says.

“The starting point is to take the possibility of drought conditions into your varietal choice decisions. If you’re in a drought-prone area, it’s worth taking a look at some of the more drought tolerant varieties like Marco and Crosbey.

“Both of these can be drilled on sand and gravel and, if grown at low-

“

Drought stress is becoming a more frequent occurrence

er seed rates, which helps to optimise the available moisture, Marco can produce two cobs per plant so starch yields can be up there with the best.

Preserving moisture Increasing organic matter in soils can definitely also help so you need to be thinking of making as much use of FYM manures, digestate and composts. Preserving moisture should also be a priority when thinking about your cultivations, he advises.

“Maize hates compaction so if you have a problem with this, then subsoiling will be needed. You need good seed to soil contact so a relatively fine seedbed has advantages but you need to be careful not to overwork soils.”

Lower seed rates can boost crop reslience Reducing seed rates can sometimes help make maize crops more drought resistant, believes Grainseed forage specialist Wilson Hendry.

“Lower seed rates could help limit moisture competition between plants and produce stronger growing crops more able to take up available nutrients.

“There is also a school of thought that says earlier drilling than normal

may help in situations where conditions are steadily drying.

“But you need to be careful. Maize is a subtropical crop and will only germinate at 10 - 12ºC and drilling is best when this is on a rising scale.

“To ensure successful establishment, therefore, you need soil temperatures of at least 10°C for four consecutive days at a depth of 10cm when taken at breakfast time.”

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 31

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Pig & Poultry Review Emissions have reduced for both outdoorbred pigs and indoor units

Big reduction in carbon footprint of pig farms

T

he carbon footprint of British pig farming has reduced by almost 40% over the last 20 years – making pork a much more environmentally friendly meat for consumers, suggests a study.

The independent research is based on conclusions from historic data on livestock systems across England, Scotland and Wales. Because data on agricultural inputs was sparse, a new methodology was developed to retrospectively estimate their contribution.

The study was led by the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Agricultural systems have come under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and the UK government has set a target of carbon neutral farming by 2050.

Research leader Ilias Kyriazakis said: “The reason this research is so significant is that it shows an area of livestock farming where carbon footprint has been reducing over the past 20 years, almost under the radar.

“We hear a lot these days about the need for farmers to reduce their carbon outputs for the sake of the environment, especially as it applies to beef and dairy cattle farming. There is much more attention focused on ruminant food systems as they produce higher greenhouse gas emissions.”

Calculating the carbon footprint of a farming system is a complex metric.

It involves a large number of indicators including what kind of fuel is used on the farm, how soil is cultivated, the style of land management and the types of animals and crops farmed.

Although the environmental impact contribution per unit of meat from pig systems is relatively low, pig meat is the meat type most produced and consumed globally. Scientists says it therefore contributes significantly to several forms of environmental impacts.

The study estimates that pig production systems contributed 668 mil-

“

Calculating the carbon footprint of a farming system is a complex metric

lion tonnes of carbon dioxide to greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 – roughly 10% of emissions produced by livestock systems overall.

In addition, pig production systems are considered to be major contributors to the acidification and eutrophication of the environment. This is due to emissions of nitrogen and phosphorous from manure storage and spreading.

The new study suggests an overall drop in the carbon footprint across the British pig sector. This amounts to a 37% reduction in emissions for indoor production systems and a 35.4% reduction for outdoor-bred pigs.

Animal feed The role of animal feed was found to be central to the environmental impact of pig farms – accounting for between 75-80% of carbon footprint. Changes to feed ingredients, therefore, had the continued on p34

How better productivity reduces emissions Improvements in animal performance have contributed significantly to the reduction in the environmental impact of pig production.

This includes better breeding for leaner and faster growing pigs, increases in number of piglets born per sow per litter and reductions in overall mortality Advances in breeding leaner and faster-growing pigs alone was found to lower carbon footprint by 20%.

Professor Kyriazakis conducted the research in collaboration with scientists from other UK institutions, interrogating publicly available Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) data from Great Britain from 2000-2020.

He said he believed it is the first time inverted modelling has been used to investigate the environmental impact of any livestock system.

The findings have been published in the Agricultural Systems journal following peer review.

“I believe there are important lessons to be learned from this study – not only for better environmental management as it relates to pig farming, but potentially for all livestock systems,” said Prof Kyriazakis.

“Some of the improvements identified in this study could potentially be applied to other animal systems, which would ultimately help move our collective agriculture systems towards a carbon-neutral model.”

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 33

Pig & Poultry Review continued from p33 potential to significantly alter the carbon rating of pig farms and the industry as a whole.

More specifically, the increasing trend of replacing soya imported from South America with home-grown crops such as rapeseed and sunflower meal to feed pigs was found to have a significant mitigating effect on environmental outputs.

Advances in animal nutrition and feedstuff availability were also found to have had a beneficial effect, particularly the increased availability of synthetic amino acids and enzymes, the price of which decreased over the time period in question.

When added to domestic feedstuffs like rapeseed, these supplementary ingredients increased nutrient availability and improved feed balance, which was found to have reduced nutrient excretion in manure while boosting animal productivity by as much as 30%.

The study also found that such supplements in animal feed helped lower levels of phosphorous in run-off from pig manure by more than 20%, reducing the contribution of pig systems to freshwater pollution.

34 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

Disease prevention remains priority for pig producers • Producers help drive down antibiotics • Biosecurity among industry challenges • Good progress but more work needed

P

igs farmers are being urged to look at all aspects of disease prevention to meet new antibiotic reduction targets.

The targets have been set by the industry-backed Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Good progress has been made so far but further actrion is needed to meet revised targets for 2024.

A 5% reduction in antibiotic use has already been seen according to the latest figures for the first half of 2020, says Gemma Thwaites, a clinical director at Garth Pig Practice. But there is still

room for improvement, she adds.

“Producers need to look at all aspects of disease prevention, to identify where further improvements can be made in order to reach the further 30% reduction from the 2020 baseline RUMA has set out.”

Disease risks Biosecurity on pig farms is fundamental to preventing disease outbreaks and needs to be prioritised at all times. But it can be a challenge where weekly batches of pigs coming on to the unit rather than all-in all-out systems because

Producers should consider diagnostics more widely.

change needles when vaccinating, or to pop into a different shed and not follow the farrow to finish order. But it’s important sites do all they can to limit these actions, as this is how disease spreads.”

new disease pressures are constantly knocking at the door.

“Generally, external biosecurity has greatly improved across farms,” says Ms Thwaites. “It is internal biosecurity where producers still tend to fall down, especially on farrow to finish farms where it’s often the same people managing and vaccinating all the pigs.

“It can be easy to forget to change or disinfect your boots between sheds,

“

Internal biosecurity is where producers still tend to fall down

Diagnostics Producers are also being urged to consider diagnostics more widely to take a more targeted approach to disease control and reduce antibiotic use. Diagnostics are often an underused resource within the sector despite the benefits they bring.

“The industry can be guilty of looking into a problem once the mortality hits 10% or daily liveweight gains have dropped significantly, by which time it is often too late. Ideally action needs to be taken as soon as a slight change in performance is seen.

“As an industry, we need to work closer together on diagnostics. Pharmaceutical companies, such as MSD Animal Health, are also keen to support vets and farmers with on-farm diagnostics to help identify potentially significant diseases and prevent them taking hold of pig herds.

“Often different viruses present very similar symptoms such as PRRS and

flu and without diagnostics it’s hard to be sure of the exact problem on-farm.”

Vaccination Another key part of disease prevention is having a thorough vaccination protocol in place. This should include vaccination technique as well as the type of vaccines being used. An IDAL device allows for needle free vaccination to take place, says Ms Thwaites.

“While there are a number of benefits to this, such as operator safety, the biggest thing for me, as a vet, is the reduced risk of spreading disease. If you vaccinate one pig that is PRRS positive with a needle and then go and vaccinate another 20 pigs, this will potentially spread the disease.”

Huge steps have been made in the pig industry to reduce the need to use antibiotics and implement proactive disease prevention techniques, but there’s more work to be done, adds Ms Thwaites.

“I’m confident the target RUMA has set can be achieved if producers work with their vet to review their whole disease prevention protocol in detail, and identify areas where incremental improvements can be made.”

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Pig & Poultry Review

Timely reminder to check pen temperatures Pig producers are being reminded to check the set temperatures of pens following routine inter-batch pressurewashing and disinfection.

After cleaning, many operatives set the minimum temperature very high to keep the fans operating to help dry out house interiors before the next lot of pigs is moved into the building, says Tim Miller, an environmental specialist with ARM Buildings.

“I have come across cases recently where the stock person has forgotten to turn down the minimum temperature after restocking the pens and has then found that the occupants have become too cold. Chilling can be particularly dangerous in young pigs, if it is not picked up quickly.”

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perature too low in an effort to keep pigs warm, by reducing the amount of cold air entering the building. Care has to be taken to ensure that air is changed, whatever the outside temperature, he says.

“If the building is not warm enough at minimum temperature setting then supplementary heating should be considered,” he says. With low outside temperatures at this time of year, farmers should also check that their alarm systems are working properly.

Supplementary heating should be considered where necessary

Farmex is offering an upgrade to the software on its Dicam controllers to safeguard the health and welfare of housed pigs in controlled-environment buildings.

The £50 upgrade is on all controllers with an alarm function. It ensures that stockpeople cannot permanently deactivate the alarm, for example when emptying pens. An effective alarm system is a legal requirement to ensure pigs have sufficient ventilation.

If an operator mistakenly leaves a room inactive when restocking or while it still has pigs in it, the high – or low – temperature will still trigger the alarm. Individual rooms can be inactivated when empty, or when the power is to be turned off.

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Machinery

Hybrd tyre ready for busy silage season (p.40) Surge in demand triggers JCB recruitment (p.40)

‘Difficult decision’ to cancel this year’s LAMMA event

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vent organisers have cancelled this year’s LAMMA event, which had been postponed until May due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

LAMMA show owners AgriBriefing said it made the decision after listening to the concerns of stakeholders. It said the cancellation had to be made after appreciating how much planning and work went into preparing for a major event.

“The decision was not an easy one,” said LAMMA event manager Kate Walsh.

“As always, the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is our top priority.

With the lack of clarity around lockdown restrictions, particularly those related to holding trade exhibitions, it became clear an early decision was imperative.

Digital platform In the meantime, Agribriefing has launched a digital farm machinery platform. It brings together all facets of farm machinery – including a review comparison tool, product reviews, videos, podcasts, webinars and a directory of manufacturers and dealers.

The comparison tool enables users to compare reviewed machinery and technology side by side. Potential buyers can see how specs stack up between comparable machinery, compare pros and cons and view verdicts to help their buying decisions.

Users can compare tractors, loaders, ATVs and 4x4s, harvesting equipment, tillage equipment, application equipment and grassland and forage equipment. Manufacturers on the site include CASE IH, Fendt, John Deere, Keenan, Krone, Kuhn and New Holland.

Agribriefing says the driving force of LAMMA 365 will be superior multimedia content on phone, tablet or desktop, attracting everyone from buyers and sellers to enthusiasts – as well as those who to keep up with the world of farm machinery.

The next LAMMA show will now take place in January 2022

Customised experience Built with farmers and contractors in mind, the website provides a fully customised experience by allowing users to select and save topics of interest. Users are then notified about the latest news and reviews they most want to know about.

Ms Walsh said next year’s LAMMA event remained scheduled for 11-12 January 2022 at the Birmingham NEC. She added: “With the level of enquiries and pent-up demand we are seeing, I can promise you our best show yet.”

Heavy-duty bearing sets gold standard Agricast has introduced a new heavy-duty press bearing, offering over twice the dynamic rating of existing bearings. The supplier of replacement wearing parts developed the new bearing over 18 months following requests from customers seeking a more robust solution than the standard greaseable or fully sealed units.

Agricast’s heavy-duty bearing is designed to fit the company’s PRR packer assemblies. It is also backwards compatible with many Simba machines using the popular Double Disc packer. It is priced at £125-150.

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 39

Midland Machinery

JCB launches recruitment drive after surge in demand

The tyre is designed to be comfortable on the road and grippy in the field.

Hybrid tyre ready for busy silage season

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new hybrid tractor tyre from Continental aims to help with demanding road-to-field transitions during silage work.

The high flexion VF tyre is fitted with a pressure monitoring sensor and has a tread pattern that offers comfort and durability on the road – while protecting the grass sward in the field, says Continental agricultural tyre specialist Richard Hutchins.

“Hybrid tyres are safer, more efficient and offer better comfort to the operator,” he explains. “Pressure sensor technology is the future of tyre functionality because tyres can run at the optimum pressure on the road and in the field.”

The Continental VF TractorMaster Hybrid tyre tread is designed to be comfortable on the road and grippy in the field. Linked to a terminal in the cab, the tyre sensor helping the operator choose an the most appropriate air pressure depending on the conditions..

Underinflated tyres on the road increase fuel consumption, while overinflated tyres in the field lead to increased soil compaction. Coupled with onboard inflation technology, tyre pressure can 40 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

be adjusted without leaving the tractor.

The tyre was developed using computer modelling at Continental’s agricultural facility in Lousado, Portugal. “This tyre has been specifically designed for users frequently transitioning from field to road. It is perfect for silage making and tractors travelling long distances on the road.”

Heavier, more powerful tractors are increasingly being used on the road. The need to reduce wear through road use has inspired the design of the new hybrid tyre, adds Mr Hutchins. It can carry 40% more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure.

“Heat build-up through heavy road use causes conventional tyre rubber to soften and wear more quickly. However, the tread design of our new hybrid tyre helps to reduce the temperature of the tyre which reduces the wear rate.”

The structure of the VF tyre carcass is more resistant than standard tyres so it can operate at lower pressures or higher speeds depending on conditions. This makes hybrid tyres a popular choice for silage and harvest work where large loads are transported long distances.

“

This tyre has been specifically designed for users frequently transitioning from field to road

JCB is recruiting more than 400 additional UK employees as the company gears up for a surge in production following the pandemic.

It is looking for employees in a variety of jobs – including assembly, welding and fork lift truck drivers.

In addition, JCB is giving permanent contracts to up to 300 existing agency employees, including welders, fabricators and CNC machinists.

The company says the market for construction equipment has rebounded sharply after being severely impacted by Covid-19 in spring 2020.

The pandemic halted production at JCB factories around the world, it said.

JCB chief operating officer Mark Turner said: “While we were able to protect our shop floor workforce, regrettably many staff positions were impacted. It took more than six months for the business to recover to production levels we last saw in March 2020.

“This year has started strongly and our forecasts predict a continued solid recovery, with strong demand from mainland Europe and North America. This means we are now in a position to recruit many more shop floor colleagues.

“After a tumultuous 12 months, this really is good news.”

JCB says it expects strong demand to continue

Professional services Defra to consult on retirement scheme for farmers • Lump sum offered for farmers to quit • Scheme expected to launch in 2022 • Consultation to take place this spring

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government consultation on plans to offer farmers a one-off lump sum payment to leave the industry is due to take place this spring.

The lump sum exit scheme to help farmers retire is expected to launch next year. Farmers will be offered the chance to take a single lump sum in place of any further basic payments – which are due to be phased out by 2028.

It is not yet known how the payment will be calculated or the tax implications. The government says farmers who receive a lump sum will have to exit the industry – but it hasn’t been decided how it will work for family partnerships or limited companies.

Defra says rules for the lump sum payments will be set following consultation with growers and livestock producers this spring. Subject to the consultation results, the retirement scheme will open for applications in 2022.

Tenant farmers Some 75% of tenant farmers have expressed an interest in the scheme, according to a survey by the Tenant Farmers Association. Owner occupiers will also be able to take part. The scheme is being introduced as part of Defra’s post-Brexit agricultural transition plan.

TFA farm policy adviser Lynette Steel said: “The survey captured the

opinions of 360 tenant farmers. Threequarters of those responding said they were seriously interested – demonstrating a strong appetite among tenant farmers.”

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Value of the package is the biggest consideration Well over half the respondents (63%) occupied all or most of the land within their holding on an Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancy. One quarter occupied land on a Farm Business Tenancy. Some 8% of respondents occupied land under alternative agreements such as grazing licences.

New entrants Alongside the proposed new entrants’ scheme, the survey findings show that a well-executed retirement scheme could encourage new entrants into the industry and provide more opportunities for farmers looking to more on to bigger and better units “Not surprisingly, over three quarters of respondents said the value of the retirement package would be the biggest factor they would need to consider before taking part in the scheme. Oth-

er key factors were readiness to retire and whether succession rights would be affected.”

“On a practical level, negotiating exits from farm tenancies is often a lengthy and complicated process.

Therefore, given the short time frame Defra has outlined for the delivery of the scheme, we really need to see full scheme details by this autumn at the latest.”

Farmers who take a lump sum payment will have to leave the industry

Scheme is ‘only option for tenants to retire’ Retirement is a particular challenge for tenant farmers who have a smaller asset base than owner occupiers to fund their exit from the industry.

Just over 40% respondents to the Tenant Farmers Association survey said the proposed lump sum exit scheme would be their only opportunity to retire from agriculture – freeing up tenancies for new entrants and other farmers to take their place.

42 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

The value of the lump sum was cited by more than 75% of respondents as the most important factor they would need to consider before participating in the scheme. Meanwhile, 67% said tax implications would have a bearing on their decision.

Succession rights Half of respondents highlighted their readiness to retire as a bearing factor. The same

proportion said they would have to consider whether their succession rights would be affected by participating in the scheme.

TFA policy adviser Lynette Steel said it was important for farmers to know eligibility and payment rates sooner rather than later. Negotiating exits from tenancies was often a lengthy and complicated process – so the industry would need full scheme details by autumn 2021.

Residential Promotion Agreements, what makes them so attractive for landowners?

Promotion Agreements are a partnership between a landowner and a land promoter. A land promoter takes on the risk of obtaining planning permission, on behalf of the landowner and then market the site to housebuilders securing the highest possible financial return.

During the process the promoter works closely with councils, local residents and community groups, to deliver much needed high quality new homes sites as well as additional benefits for the local community.

Option Agreements are historically the housebuilders preferred way to secure control of strategic land for the future. Under an option structure, there can be a clear conflict of interest between the landowner and housebuilder. However, a landowner and land promoter’s interests are aligned, with both parties wanting to maximise land value and the promoter is not distracted by the development of houses.

At no cost to the landowner a land promoter uses its inhouse expertise and financial resources to fund the promotion of the land through the planning process.

Once planning permission has been achieved the site is then sold for the highest possible return through a competitive tender process, therefore maximising the value of the land. The landowner and land promoter work in partnership during the whole process and their return is based on a pre-agreed split of the sale proceeds.

A number of key benefits for the landowner include: THE REMOVAL OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Both parties have a common interest to work as a partnership and achieve the best price that can be achieved in the open market. The land promoter’s financial return is wholly dependent on a successful sale of the property following grant of a satisfactory planning permission.

The land promoter is therefore incentivised to maximise value through the process and use their experience and knowledge of the current market conditions to partner with the purchasing party who is best placed to deliver on their promises.

FINANCING THE PROJECT At no cost to the landowner, a land promoter uses their in-house expertise and financial resources to fund the promotion of the land through the planning process.

Obtaining planning permission can be expensive and challenging, with no guarantee of success. Using a land promoter removes the risk for a landowner.

The land promoters desire to achieve a satisfactory result is therefore paramount to its success and appointment of a land promotion partner should always be made following detailed references and past experience.

DETERMINATION OF BEST PRICE Following receipt of a satisfactory planning permission, the promoter will prepare a detailed marketing strategy for the disposal of the land and this will be agreed with the landowner as part of the partnership approach prior to the land being openly marketed to interested parties.

The promoter will formulate a detailed information pack containing a comprehensive list of legal, planning and technical reports assist to streamline the process, enabling the interested tenderers to de-risk their evaluation and maximise the premium they are prepared to pay.

MANAGEMENT OF THE PROCESS Land promoters employ a specialist team of experienced housebuilding and property professionals who understand the importance of a personal approach and landowner involvement throughout the process. Through the partnership approach, landowner involvement can be tailored to individual personal requirements on an open and transparent basis.

RETAINED USE OF YOUR LAND The land promoter is providing a service to seek to obtain planning approval and maximise financial returns for its landowner clients. The land promoter will not be the end purchaser and therefore interests are aligned to maximise value and deliver a sustainable new development at the earliest opportunity.

Throughout the partnership, the landowner retains legal ownership of the promotion site and can continue to farm and manage the land or property as is required as long as the activity does not impact on future development costs.

Could your land have residential development potential?

Find out more about land promotion: www.catesbyestates.co.uk

David Harper – Area Land Director 01926 836910 davidh@catesbyestates.co.uk

Retaining History.

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The conversion of agricultural buildings to residential use, and in particular more modern buildings, has come under much criticism since the adoption of Class Q Permitted Development Rights. It is evident though through recent television programmes such as Grand Designs for example, that there are significant benefits and in many cases the history of the buildings retained.

Offering a range of agricultural and commercial trailers for sale, including: • Low Loaders • Dump Trailers

Depicted is one of many cases that Acorus has been actively involved.

From an initial instruction to consider the diversification options and feasibility of utilising a range of mixed buildings, we proceeded to design a scheme and submit a Class Q proposal. The scheme was approved and Acorus progressed with the preparation of construction drawings and advised the client on the tender and contract management stages. The conversion to form two residential conversions, of an exceptionally high standard has enabled the retention of these buildings. In total, consent for 11 dwellings was achieved on the site.

Acorus are a national company specialising in rural development. We are a ‘one stop shop’ offering clients a turn-key solution based on planning, design, project management and property sales. For more information, please visit our website or call us to discuss your potential project.

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01789 734100 www.meadowq.co.uk 44 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

Professional Services

Poor rural connectivity ‘leaving farmers behind’ Lack of decent broadband is preventing farmers from running their businesses more efficiently, warns a survey.

More than four in 10 farmers still don’t have a fast and reliable internet connection, according to the NFU poll.

The union said persistent poor connectivity and inadequate mobile coverage was hampering growth in production.

Slow broadband speeds were being exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Many farmers were unable to participate in in virtual business meetings, undertaken online banking transactions or home-school their children.

NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “For too long, those living and working in the countryside have been

“

It is completely unacceptable that in this digital age we have a two-tier system

dealt a poor hand when it comes to digital connectivity; waiting for improvements which never seem to arrive.

“It is completely unacceptable that in this digital age we have a two-tier system of haves and have nots – particularly at a time when communication has become even more important.

This comes at a critical time for these food production businesses when much is changing.”

Huge potential Poor mobile signals in rural areas put farmers at risk and prohibited the adoption of new technologies which had much to offer the sector, said Mr Roberts. Rural communities risked be-

Solar farm contracts need careful consideration

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ising demand for green energy is bringing a new wave of solarrelated opportunities for farmers and landowners – but contracts need to be examined carefully.

Farmers are well placed to benefit from solar site demand and infrastructure upgrades mean that projects that have previously been thwarted by lack of grid capacity may now be able to go ahead, says Lauren Gibson-Green, of Strutt & Parker.

But it is vital that landowners put themselves in as strong a position as possible when dealing with a developer – right from the outset – because rental agreements can last for up to 40 years, explains Ms Gibson-Green.

“Contact details are often acquired via the Land Registry, which means enquiries don’t always go to the main decision maker, and even when they do, details about exactly what is being offered can be rather vague and somewhat speculative.

“Letters may suggest land is ‘suitable for a solar farm’ and ask that individuals sign an exclusivity agreement and/or letter of authority allowing them to apply for a connection to the local electricity grid.”

Landowners are being approached by developers or third party ‘site finders’ offering attractive deals in an attempt to secure sizeable parcels of land of typically 60-120ha (150-300 acres) to build large, up to typically 50MW arrays, which give developers economy of scale.

“Before agreeing to anything, it is

ing left even further behind unless the government raised its game on rural connectivity.

“We will continue to campaign for investment in the country’s digital infrastructure so farm businesses can meet their huge potential, not only as food producers and custodians of the countryside, but to help tackle climate change and deliver on our net zero ambitions.”

Earlier this year, a report by parliament’s spending watchdog warned that the government was failing to make any “meaningful progress” in delivering policies or legal changes to achieve a rapid rollout of gigabit broadband.

Make cut VAT permanent, say landowners A permanent cut in VAT for rural tourism businesses would boost the national economy, says the Country Land and Business Association.

Spending on domestic tourism is estimated to have fallen by more than £50bn over the past year – with rural tourism operators taking the major brunt. In a bid to boost the sector, the government slashed VAT from 20% to 5% for tourism businesses.

essential to step back, think carefully about what is being offered and seek professional advice,” says Ms GibsonGreen. “It is all too easy to sign up to something that looks good on the outside, but then discover hidden caveats and costs.”

Some landowners have been offered a guaranteed, index-linked rent of £600/acre for 40 years, which may sound attractive compared with the £150-200/acre from a farm business tenancy. But Ms Gibson-Green says many solar rentals are nearer £950/ acre or more.

“If it is the right option, avoid the temptation to sign up to the first person that comes knocking on the door.

Landowners with suitable sites and close proximity of land to a local grid with available capacity are in a relatively strong negotiating position, so it pays to shop around.”

Good agreements are still achievable on energy installations

Support Analysis by the CLA has found that retaining the VAT cut for rural tourism enterprises with a turnover of up to £500,000 would help businesses and consumers – adding £4.5bn to the economy over a 10-year period.

CLA president Mark Bridgeman: “With the tightening of restrictions over the Christmas period and the national lockdown looking to continue through the February half-term, many holidays have been cancelled, resulting in a loss of business for many.

“We must do what we can to support small businesses during this time, and the VAT reduction provides a solution that will benefit everyone involved, from rural tourism businesses to those in their supply chain, and ultimately the Treasury.”

MARCH 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 45

FINAL SAY Clodhopper

Future imperfect?

Investing in farmland remains attractive – but changes to support make it harder to invest in farming, says Clodhopper

“N

ow then, young man,” was the familiar phrase that bellowed from my mobile phone. And despite the caller being nearly 20 years younger than myself, I knew this conversation was going to be informative and told from the heart.

He farms more than 2400ha (or 6,000 acres in old money) and runs several successful diversification projects to keep the farm books balanced.

Without these projects, his farm would struggle to maintain healthy profits.

What I have enjoyed about our farming relationship is his honesty. It is rare to meet such an honest man. Not only honest, but also able to admit his mistakes. He is alsways enthusiast and optimistic about the future of farming – and his own future too.

But on this occasion, his tone had changed. He said he felt totally fed up with the farming world. He had spent many a long hour scanning his farming profits, margins and general farming practices – and the future was far from rosy.

Rental values At present, some rents are linked to grain prices. Until now, it has worked well and is fair to both parties. But with basic payments being reduced by at least 5% this year, his figures and forecasts made bleak reading.

From a landlord’s point of view, a proposed decrease in rent was unnerving. But having been on both sides of the fence, I could not disagree with his thinking. How long can farmland rents be sustained in the high hundreds?

For Grade 1 land, perhaps they will hold up for some time. But for average or heavy wheat land, three-figure rents are not going to be there much longer. The numbers simply don’t stack up.

And they will become more challenging as basic payments are reduced further.

The public don’t seem to care. It’s not so much that they would prefer the money to go to schools or hospitals. It’s their general ambivalence towards farmers, lack of respect for the coun-

Brave new world There is a lack of information too about how this brave new work of environmental land management will work.

Despite reducing our basic payments, there is little concrete detail about how the new system will function.

“The centuries-old structure of farming is about to change.”

It makes planning and investing for the future difficult indeed. Land payments from the government in various forms have historically been worth about £250/ha (£100/acre) But that will be down to little more than £75/ha (£30/ acre) by 2024.

Rents have been artificially supported by these payments so the only certain fact going forward is that rents have to decrease. Any decrease may be slowed when the new government schemes come into play – but we face a significant drop in income.

Given the challengers already faced by farmers, the situation has to be addressed. Whether these income levels will affect land values is open to question. Despite the drop in support, buying farmland is still attractive because of the tax breaks.

But it is clear that the centuries-old structure of farming is about to change.

Whether it will be for the better remains to be seen.

Photo credit: www:shutterstock.com

Young and old He aid he had felt concerned for some considerable time. But he had ignored it until he was encouraged to look further simply because of the number of phone calls he had received from likeminded people.

Other farmers were facing the same questions, he said. And they weren’t all old. Young farmers in their 30s and 40s were feeling unwanted or unappreciated by the government, the general public and often their local communities too.

Despite promises to Back British Farming, many of these farmers felt

the government was interested only in sourcing the cheapest food from wherever it could. And if this meant sacrificing British growers and livestock producers, then so be it.

Like my friend, they were fed up with working for pence per acre profits – or in some years no profit at all.

Weather patterns can be overcome but the lack of profit and re investment cannot be sustained for to long.

The reason for his phone call was concern for the long term rents he would be able to pay. His concern centred around the uncertainty of the government’s forthcoming environmental land management scheme which will replace direct payments.

tryside and disinterest in where their food comes from.

Just look at all the fly-tipping and people roaming where they like during lockdown. Not to mention repeated reports of livestock worrying by dogs being walked off the lead.

46 MIDLAND FARMER • MARCH 2021

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