Arable Farming November December 2023

Talking Arable

‘Seedbeds are a mixture of good, bad and ugly’

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November/December 2023

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Volume 46 Issue 11

PREVIEW Our guide to this year’s CropTec Show

UNRIVALLED BROAD-SPECTRUM WHEAT DISEASE CONTROL. THIS SPRING. WE’RE ON IT.

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R&D Strategic Cereal Farm East finds a new home Page 40

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Safe spreading and spraying with drones Page 55

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CONTENTS: REGULARS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 VOLUME 46

In this issue of

10 Comment 10

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Talking Arable An oilseed/pulse area payment must be the way forward?

Talking Agronomy The great news has been the amount of black-grass that was flushed prior to drilling Talking Roots BCN-resistant cover crops are an under-utilised tool in sugar beet rotations Talking Policy The #YourHarvest campaign brings the public on a journey from farm to fork

Business 6

UK looks to Horizon once again Why the UK’s return to the EU’s Horizon science programme has been welcomed by researchers

The CropTec Show Preview 18 20 24 26 28 30

Essential information and overview What to see - technical What to see - business and farm management Precision nitrogen management providing a boost for nature-positive farming What to see - sprayers What to see - machinery and technology

Technical 34

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36 48

Your farm as a data hub Could embracing the farm as a data hub propel farming towards a more sustainable future?

Rising to the sustainability challenge A new R&D station in Shropshire will be home to a trial programme focused on biological solutions Agronomy provider puts drone technology centre stage How one agronomy advice business is fast-tracking drone services for growers

BASIS news 66

A practical guide to IPM

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CONTENTS: FEATURES

50

44

40 R&D

Strategic Cereal Farm East finds a new home The second iteration of AHDB’s Strategic Farm East is underway in Norfolk

44 Decision support

Data-driven decisions inform rotational planning How multi-layer data management software is using scenario creations to aid rotational planning

50 Farm robotics

Robots at work We take a look at some of the machines that have made it into the field in the UK

55 Technology 62

Preparing for safe spreading and spraying with drones How one business is working to make drones a viable option for aerial seeding and crop input applications

62 Machinery

Innovation in precision cultivation Vaderstad TopDown and Opus with E-Services provide a step change in cultivation automation

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a word from the

editor

Contacts Group Editor – Arable Teresa Rush 01787 282 822 teresa.rush@arablefarming.com Senior Arable Technical Specialist Alice Dyer 07966 445 458 alice.dyer@arablefarming.com Arable Technical Specialist Ash Burbidge, 07786 190 188 ashleigh.burbidge@agriconnect.com Machinery Editor Toby Whatley 07583 054 831 toby.whatley@arablefarming.com Head of Creative Services Gillian Green, 01772 799 417 gillian.green@agriconnect.com Picture Editor Marcello Garbagnoli 01772 799 445 marcelllo.garbagnoli@arablefarming.com Key Accounts Manager Jane Newton 01948 780 783 jane.newton@arablefarming.com Key Accounts Manager Mark Jackson 01322 449 624 mark.jackson@arablefarming.com Account Manager Chris Knowles 01772 799 550 chris.knowles@agriconnect.com Sales Director Mike Hartley 01772 799 532 mike.hartley@arablefarming.com Advertising Production Justine Sumner 01772 799 437 justine.sumner@arablefarming.com Circulation and subscriptions 0330 333 0056 help@subscribe.farmers-guardian.com © Agriconnect 2023 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher.

The contents of Arable Farming are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. ISSN 0269-6797

T

he day-to-day ups and downs of work and home life pale into significance against the truly dreadful scenes flashing across our screens from Israel and Gaza. Whatever your view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the human misery we are witnessing is almost unbearable and it was saddening to hear that farmers were among those to lose their lives in the early days of these devastating attacks.

Autumn has finally put in an appearance, and I am sure many of us who venture out in the early morning were taken by surprise as temperatures plummeted overnight from the mid-teens to 0degC or below, depending on location. And while wet weather has disrupted drilling plans, windy weather has caused more than a few glyphosate and pre-emergence herbicide application headaches, the knock-on effects of which we will no doubt encounter as the season progresses.

The combined November/December issue of Arable Farming is traditionally focused on all things agri-tech as we look ahead to our sister event The CropTec Show and we’ve stayed true to that theme this year. With CropTec just around the corner, we look at just some of what’s on offer in the seminars, hubs, exhibition and on the sprayer testing ground at this year’s show (p18-32). Putting together the preview has certainly piqued our interest; we hope it will do the same for our readers.

Away from CropTec, we’ve been busy catching up with some of the latest developments in agricultural technology. Data is an important asset in modern farming, and while the debate continues as to who owns it, it is clear that as a sector we are making big strides forward in terms of what we can do with it. In this issue we hear from a York-

shire farm business making good use of its data to optimise rotational planning.

Drones have become a familiar piece of kit on many farms, hitherto deployed for scouting and mapping, but work is underway to facilitate their use for seeding and input application tasks in the UK and they have been used this autumn to patch areas of failed oilseed rape (p55-57).

While drone swarms may be part of farming’s future, innovation in more conventional machinery continues and we’ve news in this issue of the latest developments from Case and Vaderstad.

The Arable Farming team will be at The CropTec Show, which takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh on November 29-30. We look forward to seeing you there.

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Arable Farming, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9NZ

www.croptecshow.com November 29-30, 2023

Origination by Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ. Published by Agriconnect. Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Halesfield 1, Stirchley, Telford TF7 4QQ. No responsibility can be accepted by Arable Farming for opinions expressed by contributors.

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BUSINESS

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hile part of the EU the UK contributed to and participated in the Horizon science research programme. There was a deal as part of the Brexit negotiations that the UK would remain a member, but that was never ratified because of disagreement over the status of Northern Ireland.

However, further negotiations have meant that the UK can return to the programme from January 1, 2024. It is expected that the UK will have to contribute £2.2 billion a year to the programme and the European Earth Observation programme Copernicus.

Horizon covers all aspects of science including food and agriculture. The current seven-year programme called Horizon Europe began in 2020 and has a £85bn

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The UK’s return to the EU’s Horizon science programme has been welcomed by researchers, but what will it mean for arable farmers? Cedric Porter finds out more.

UK looks to Horizon again budget, although that will be boosted by the UK contribution.

That funding is shared across sectors including food and farming.

The return to Horizon has been welcomed by scientists.

Professor Angela Karp, director and chief executive of Rothamsted Research, says: “I’m very pleased about the UK’s return to the full Horizon programme.

“It will make a huge difference to the scale and scope of the research we can do which will ultimately benefit farmers in the field.

Collaborating with a wide range of scientists with different experiences and perspectives results in much better results and is a much better use of resources. It also means that new systems and techniques can be tried out in a greater range of

environments, which is very important.

“While the UK has still been involved in Horizon projects in the last three years, it has not been able to lead them. That has meant that it has lost out. The UK has a good reputation for its agricultural science and as a partner of choice with a range of world-respected researchers and institutions. I’m very excited

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BUSINESS that we will be able to take the lead again.”

The return to Horizon is also welcomed by Prof Mark Horton, pro vice-chancellor at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).

He says: “This is really good news. The RAU has several Horizon Europe projects on animal welfare and farmer participation, and we are all so excited that we can once again apply for new grants.

“The world is facing a climate and ecological emergency, and at the RAU we have experts who are keen to be able to expand their research with our European colleagues.”

The current Horizon Europe’s agricultural programme focuses on four areas: food, bioeconomy, natural resources and agriculture and the environment. There is also a special project called ‘A soil deal for Europe’. The topics fit with the EU’s new Farm to Fork Common

The UK’s return to the Horizon programme in January 2024 will ultimately benefit farmers, says Rothamsted Research chief executive Prof Angela Karp.

Leaf is currently completing work on the legacy Horizon project AgriCaptureCO2, which is aiming to combine satellite images with farmers’ data and soil samples to make soil carbon measurement more accurate and cheaper.

Agricultural Policy, which may mean they are not fully aligned with the UK’s ‘Public funds for public goods’ approach, although both are seeking to encourage more sustainable agriculture.

What is called a multi-actor approach is being adopted by the Horizon programme.

“The multi-actor approach requires that end users and multipliers of research results such as farmers and farmers’ groups, advisers, enterprises and others, are closely involved throughout the whole research project period,” says the European Commission, which administers the programme.

“This should lead to innovative solutions that are more likely to be applied in the field, because those who need the solutions will be involved right from the start: from defining the questions, to planning, to implementing research work, to experiments and right up to possible demonstrations and dissemination.”

Linking farm science In the past, Leaf (Linking Environment And Farming) has been very involved in Horizon by linking researchers and farmers. It still has some legacy projects begun before the UK left the programme, says Dr Dawn Teverson, knowledge manager at the organisation.

“We are in the last stages of the AgriCaptureCO2 project with 14 partners from seven countries. It combines satellite images with farmers’ data and soil samples with

the aim of making soil carbon measurement more accurate and cheaper than before. This should allow farmers to track how their efforts in the field are translating into increased carbon in their soils.

“One of the partners is Duncan Farrington. We will be demonstrating the benefits of the system on his Northamptonshire farm at the end of October. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Lancashire County Council and not-for-profit One Carbon World are also UK partners.

“Another Horizon project we have been involved with is IPMworks which is encouraging the adoption of integrated pest management strategies based on an EU-wide network of farmers. It involves 31 organisations from 14 European countries. They include the James Hutton Institute in Scotland and ADAS. “We have not been involved in any new projects since the UK left the Horizon project but are looking forward to partnering others again now the UK has returned. We will be focusing on projects that fit with our aim of developing integrated farm management techniques. Potential partners value our links with world-leading farmers, including our network of demonstration farms and innovation centres.”

In the current round of the Horizon programme there are 180 projects relating to food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture

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and the environment. These include research into plant health, fertiliser use and targeted pesticide use.

There are also 29 projects relating to soil health. There will be more opportunities for UK organisations to lead and join projects from January when the UK has fully returned to the programme.

Pioneer Earlier this year the UK announced its alternative to Horizon called Pioneer covering science, innovation and technology in all sectors. It committed £14.6bn to funding it.

There has been no announcement about the future of the Pioneer programme since the news of the UK’s return to Horizon.

Defra has also committed to boost investment in agricultural science as part of the move away from direct support. UK Research and Innovation has a Farming Innovation Programme that provides funding of up to £6 million and as little as £28,000 for businesses to explore an idea and develop a team.

Prof Karp adds that Brexit has brought some benefits, including the UK’s decision to allow gene editing research, something which her EU colleagues are envious of and also made researchers look more internationally for partners.

However, new labour laws make it more difficult to attract European researchers to the UK, which has traditionally been seen as a world leader in farm research.

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NEWS REVIEW

DNA loops may explain herbicide resistance PICTURE: Gary Naylor

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hether or not black-grass will be herbicideresistant depends on more than just its chromosomes, a new study has shown.

Rothamsted researchers, in collaboration with scientists at Clemson University in the United States, have found that black-grass has small loops of DNA that are outside the plant’s chromosomes. These loops, called extra-chromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA), are not inherited in the same way. They evolve separately from the main chromosomes and could help explain how black-grass can rapidly evolve resistance to herbicides or other stresses.

The research team identified the similarities and differences in the eccDNA in both resistant and sensitive populations.

Although the numbers and size of detected eccDNAs varied between the populations, comparisons managed to identify

Small loops of DNA outside its chromosomes could be why black-grass evolves herbicide resistance.

shared and unique coding content, predicted genes, and functional protein domains.

Compared to black-grass that is herbicide sensitive, the eccDNA of herbicide-resistant black-grass has extra copies of genes known to confer the resistance, including genes related to herbicide detoxification.

Previous analysis of resistant and non-resistant varieties clearly showed that resistance develops across multiple genes, but until now the mechanisms of how

black-grass could rapidly evolve these differences have been hard to pin down. The research teams have shown that a combination of differences in chromosomal and eccDNA encoded genes might be responsible for the rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in black-grass.

Sequencing Dr Dana MacGregor, who was part of the Rothamsted study team, says: “Because of advances in sequencing, we are now

finding eccDNAs in many different species and are starting to understand what they do. Our findings show that black-grass has eccDNAs, and on them are copies of chromosomal genes we know to be correlated with herbicide resistance.

“Having these eccDNAs may contribute to the genetic diversity we see in black-grass and explain how it has so successfully adapted to man-made and abiotic stresses, including herbicide treatment.”

‘Tech anxiety’ concerns for agricultural leaders JAlmost half of agricultural business leaders (43%) see artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as key to the digital transformation of the sector, according to new research.

However, the same study also shows that these disruptive technologies are causing sleepless nights for leaders, with 41% attributing ‘tech anxiety’ to insufficient funds.

The research, from global digital transformation consultancy Kin and Carta, defines ‘tech anxiety’ as a

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feeling caused by concern about the rapid pace of advancements in technology and how a business will operate alongside this.

Agriculture leaders’ self-reported worries show that factors and technologies with the most disruptive potential generate the highest level of anxiety; 27% of agriculture leaders cited AI and ML as their biggest worries, while 24% were concerned about sustainability strategy and tracking.

The findings are collated in ‘2024 Leadership Priorities in Tech:

Leading through tech anxiety in Agribusiness’ as part of Kin and Carta’s industry-spanning ‘2024 Leadership Priorities in Tech’ report, which showcases priorities and concerns from 800 senior business leaders in the US and UK. Strategic The report shows that 92% of agricultural businesses plan to invest in data over the next year in order to aid strategic decision-making around rollouts.

Richard Neish, global chief

strategy officer at Kin and Carta, says: “Agriculture is a sector at the forefront of innovation as farmers turn to AI and ML to de-risk production. It’s no surprise that change is evoking mixed feelings; you need to invest in the right places to drive significant impact.

“Digital transformation may seem daunting, but it also unlocks exciting possibilities.

“Strategic data investment can help agricultural business leaders to harness new capabilities while mitigating risks.”

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NEWS REVIEW JWith the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy targeting a 50% reduction in nutrient losses by 2030, John Deere and Yara have announced a partnership to help farmers in the EU and UK contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable food system.

Combining Yara’s agronomic expertise with John Deere’s precision technology and advanced machinery, the new partnership will harness advanced connectivity between the John Deere Operations Center and Yara’s Atfarm digital platform to provide farmers with tailored crop nutrition recommendations.

The Atfarm platform uses Yara’s N-sensor algorithm and satellite technology, which enables monitoring of crop growth and nitrogen uptake in fields. The algorithm looks for growth differences and creates variable rate application maps for N fertilisation that farmers can access.

This data can now be shared seamlessly and securely with the John Deere Operations Center as a

Partnership aims to increase efficiency of fertiliser use

John Deere and Yara’s digital platforms will be combined to provide farmers with tailored crop nutrition recommendations.

workplan. Farmers can add field and crop information, and wirelessly synchronise their workplan and

recommendations to any machine which has a John Deere Gen4 or G5 Display. The new connectivity is set

to be piloted with a group of farmers in the UK, Germany and France from spring 2024.

As well as this new collaboration, Yara and John Deere will continue to work together on further opportunities to improve nutrient use efficiency for farmers.

James Craske, vice-president Digital Solutions Europe at Yara International, says: “Through partnering with John Deere, UK farmers will be able to use our recommendations in an easy, practical way. This contributes to more sustainable food production without adding complexity.”

Agri-tech centres merge JThree of the four UK agri-tech

centres are merging, it has been announced.

Crop Health and Protection; Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock; and Agricultural Engineering, Precision and Innovation Centre will become a single entity, which will facilitate a stronger cross-sectoral approach and drive better outcomes for the agri-tech sector across innovation,

The UK has long been a scientific leader in academic agricultural research GEORGE FREEMAN

commercialisation and adoption, as well as research, says Innovate UK. The organisations are being invited to develop a proposal to establish an ‘agri-tech catapult’.

Established by Innovate UK, ‘catapults’ are technology and innovation centres spanning over 50 locations across the UK, transforming the UK’s capability for innovation in sectors of strength.

Minister of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: “The UK has long been a scientific leader in academic agricultural research, but for 40 years we have not commercialised it effectively.

“Having launched our first Agri-Tech Industrial Strategy in 2013, I’m delighted to be back driving the next wave of investment with much clearer frameworks, and an offer for global investors to back UK agri-tech.”

Analysis of DNA extracted from soils can reveal the organisms present, no matter how small, according to a new report.

DNA clues to soil health JWhile large organisms, such as earthworms (macrofauna), are relatively easy to detect in the soil, specialist skills and equipment are often needed to detect smaller organisms, such as springtails (mesofauna), nematodes (microfauna) and bacteria, fungi and viruses (microorganisms).

The latest report (number 6) from the AHDB/BBRO soil biology and soil health partnership describes how an analysis of DNA extracted from soils can reveal the organisms

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present, no matter how small. The researchers refined extraction approaches and found the best ones account for intracellular and extracellular DNA. The project analysed biological communities in long-term trials.

Nematodes and springtails were mainly influenced by site factors, such as soil type and land use.

Microbial community composition was affected by geographical location and relatively small changes in soil pH.

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ALEX Wilcox Alex and Joanna Wilcox live and farm with their three sons at Hill Farm, near Downham Market on the Norfolk County Council Stow Estate. With 240 hectares of Fen silty clay loam, they grow winter milling wheat, winter feed barley, spring malting barley, spring beans and sugar beet.

Surely, in these days of massive food inflation, a viable oilseed/ pulse area payment must be the way forward ALEX WILCOX

Farmer facts rAlex studied for a National Diploma in agriculture at Moulton College before going on to Nottingham University to complete a BSc Hons degree in agriculture and agronomy rHe is a FACTS and BASIS diploma qualified agronomist working for Hutchinsons since 1997, with a significant portfolio of clients covering Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk

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ne of the major changes to the agronomic cycle over the last five years has been the reduction in flowering crops. As mentioned in last month’s article, the “political science’ which led to the neonicotinoids ban, whereby it was deemed that to save bees we need to starve bees, is still impacting on oilseed rape plantings.

My beekeeper, who is a lovely little Italian chap, calls round each autumn to see where the rape will be and for the last four years has left grumpy.

Unfortunately, the pollen gap will only now be further increased with the poor performance both agronomically and economically in the 2023 season of both oilseeds and pulses. With many more 2.5 tonnes per hectare than 5t/ha crops, the accountant and grower will be making some tough rotational decisions on their viability.

This will only inevitably lead to more continuous cereals and some Sustainable Farming Incentive options being selected instead of trying to maintain a balanced, sustainable and productive rotation. Add to this the fact that many of the stalwart wheat varieties, such as Zyatt, have performed very well indeed following a barley or as a second wheat at harvest 2023 and the risk-averse growers will only and rightly be increasing these choices.

As someone who has always detested political financial incentivisation in agriculture this disastrous scenario must surely be an exception. The Government is currently very happy to pay farmers to plant flowers/ Two leaves barely emerged, but aphids are present.

cover crops, etc., so surely, in these days of massive food inflation, a viable oilseed/pulse area payment must be the way forward to encourage these crops to be grown and to take some of the financial risk away from the grower. The bees, insects and soils will all benefit, plus the grower will rebuild rotational sustainability and the UK taxpayer will get value for money.

As for my beekeeper, we are planning on planting 40ha of peas which cheered him up enough for him to leave us a jar of his lovely honey as a thank you. This could turn out to be the most expensive jar of honey ever - or not . Who knows?

Green bridge Regarding cover/catch cropping, this autumn there seems to be a real issue with the dreaded ‘green bridge’.

Many fields have now moved from suffering the usual increased pest pressure on the headlands to having this throughout the entire field. While walking one client’s block of catch crop fields prior to wheat drilling the entire field was a mass of aphids, with every volunteer cereal plant infested with BYDV. Glyphosate had already been applied but the decision was taken to also pulverize the entire surface vegetation rather than to direct drill as the pest pressure would have simply been overwhelming.

By the time you read this article hopefully most of the winter cereal drilling will have been completed, with the usual nerve shredding studying of the weather forecast, date checking, assessing black-grass emergence and other crystal ball gazing put aside for another season. Without doubt, in terms of stress levels, it is much worse than Bisto assessing black-grass emergence before wheat drilling.

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TALKING ARABLE OSR crops look decent so far, but there is still a long way to go.

harvest or any other of the big arable growing decision periods and yet again another old saying of ‘well sown, half grown’ rings very true.

Fingers crossed we all get this balancing act as correct as possible for another year as it is the major factor in an arable farm making a profit or not.

The first lift of sugar beet took place in early October in lovely dry

conditions and no dramas, with British Sugar chomping at the bit to get it delivered into the factory and the hauliers clearing up the 900t heap in no time. As usual the beet returns were unfathomable, but needless to say the sugars were low and the adjusted tonnage much less than the actual tonnage delivered in.

As previously covered, if you are a beet grower you will sort of

understand this, if not don’t ask. But at £40/t, with harvested fields in great condition and my roadways in one piece there is no reason to complain.

We had our annual Red Tractor inspection at Hill Farm recently. All the usual reports, risk assessments and other relevant documentation had been compiled in triplicate and, with enough bytes of computer data to down a space shuttle, all seemed

in order, even the grain store bait box tethers were approved.

But where were our Mass Balance (MB) figures came the request? As I stuttered, blustered and looked around like a Mastermind contestant one year short on the date of the battle of Senlac Hill my wife handed over the relevant table. I will let you guess my view of what MB stood for, with the first part being massive.

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ROB Beaumont Rob farms on the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border with his parents and young family, growing combinable and forage crops with a mix of owned, tenanted and contracted land.

An agronomist for Edaphos, Rob also hosts AHDB Monitor Farm events.

We have used a variety of different establishment techniques and drills, so it will be interesting to see what comes out on top next August ROB BEAUMONT

Farm facts rFamily farm covering 200 hectares of mainly silty/clay loams, growing combinable and forage crops rRob is BASIS and FACTS qualified, having also received a post graduate diploma in sustainable agriculture from Harper Adams rCurrently in the fourth year of strip till establishment rFarming operation is focused on reducing inputs and maintaining profitability rRob is using cover crops and organic manures to build fertility rUsing integrated pest management practices to reduce pesticide usage

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rilling is heading towards completion at the time of writing. Seed beds are a mixture of good, bad and ugly. We have used a variety of different establishment techniques and drills, so it will be interesting to see what comes out on top next August. We have also tried some of Syngenta’s Nuello iN seed treatment this time; a blend of nitrogen fixing bacteria that should allow us to reduce artificial N applications. I look forward to seeing what the yield map will say.

In an unusual turn of events, conditions improved as we moved from September into October. The maize came off well and we were able to follow the forager out of the field with the Mzuri and get the wheat drilled, rolled and sprayed within 24 hours of harvest – a rare win in this challenging year. It was also gratifying to finish harvest on a high, with a happy customer whose cows will have full stomachs this winter. The imaginatively named P7948 is a variety we will be growing again next year.

Attention now turns to pre-emergence herbicide applications and slug control. This autumn looks set to be a vintage year for our slippery foes. Anything after oilseed rape will need particular attention. I’ve even found levels to be quite high after some bean crops, which wouldn’t normally cause much issue.

Speaking of beans, the removal of EAMUs for some straight pendimethalin products will prove an extra challenge for weed control going forward. The coformulations containing imazamox and PDM are

astronomically expensive for a crop which struggles to make a gross margin, never mind a net one. Kerb plus a sniff of glyphosate will probably have to make do as a winter pre-em spray.

Sustainable Farming Incentive I imagine more and more growers will be looking at Sustainable Farming Incentive options to replace some of the less financially reliable break crops.

Some of the summer cover crop options look useful

Wheat following maize was drilled, rolled and sprayed within 24 hours of harvest.

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TALKING ARABLE

A range of drills and establishment techniques have been used this autumn.

– the chance to grow a big biomass and get paid for it could be no-brainer in certain scenarios. As ever, the devil will be in the detail, and I’m not sure that those on short-term Farm Business Tenancies will be able to maximise the benefit, or the returns.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, all the drilling will be completed, the spraying up to date and the frosts taking care of the aphids (stay optimistic). This should give you chance to get to some winter AHDB Monitor Farm meetings in your area.

Those of you who are lucky enough to live in the West Midlands will have the opportunity to start attending the new Wolverhampton Monitor Farm hosted by Jack Houghton of D.W. Burton Farms. Jack has an interesting programme looking at fixed costs and maximising returns from integrating environmental options and some novel break crops.

Meanwhile, in the sunlit uplands that are Herefordshire, we will be hosting Joel Williams from Integrated Soils on November 14 at Ledbury Rugby Club. Joel will be discussing all things biology, nutrition and fertiliser. If you haven’t heard him speak before, he’s well worth listening to and has a huge amount of knowledge on soils and crop production. Please check out the AHDB website and book a place if you would like to attend.

Geopolitical At the time of writing, we are just beginning to digest the news from the Middle East. These geopolitical events have profound implications for us as food producers, as we saw with the invasion of Ukraine. No doubt gas and oil prices will respond to the instability, which will have knock-on effects for production costs.

Hold on to your hats – it looks like another interesting 12 months of farming ahead.

RGT ROUSE

Season-long control against BYDV and OWBM – Group 4 hard feed – Resistant to BYDV & Orange Wheat Blossom Midge – Highly suited to earlier sowings – Prostrate autumn/winter growth – High tillering capacity and retention Genserus includes high-performance varieties such as RGT Grouse which is resistant to both BYDV and OWBM, offering the very real prospect of insecticide-free wheat. Genserus simplifies managing crop pests in a more sustainable way that limits the impact of insecticides, while improving water and air quality and increasing biodiversity.

Insecticide-free wheat, think Genserus think RAGT.

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02/10/2023 19/10/2023 17:22 14:22

TALKING AGRONOMY

PHIL Warham The great news was the amount of black-grass that was flushed prior to drilling

L

et us clear up my first issue this month: the weather. Like most farmers, I’m rarely happy with what is being served up at the time, as regular readers of this column will by now appreciate. But this autumn has been particularly testing - a little consistency would go a long way when it comes to making decisions and acting on them.

This is especially the case with the autumn drilling campaign. We saw swamp-like conditions at the beginning of the month – when we felt we weren’t going to get any winter cereals drilled – followed by a few great days up to the time of writing in mid-October, when 60-65% of my crops made it into the ground.

Rotations continue to be fluid. Some ground planned for hybrid rye was not fit to drill and other fields were late going in. The crop ideally needs to be sown in mid- to late September so, like winter barley, it has some catching up to do.

Agronomist facts JPhil Warham has been an agronomist with Agrovista for six years. He gained a degree in land and farm management at Harper Adams University and managed farms for several years afterwards. He now advises on combinable crops, cereals, maize and vining peas in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and into Leicestershire. Key interests include direct drilling and soil health, as well as making farms profitable. In his spare time he is a keen runner and horseman.

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In fact, it really needs to get going as the relatively low seed rates and slower above-ground autumn growth of hybrid rye, compared with other cereals, are not great for ground cover and weed suppression.

Last season, forage rye for anaerobic digestion stacked up well and reduced pressure on the combine - this can be a win-win situation when taking on additional acres.

Winter wheat Winter wheat drilling started in earnest around October 7 where ground conditions allowed.

The great news was the amount of black-grass that was flushed prior to drilling. While wet weather always helps seeds to chit, it also helped overcome the main challenge of persuading growers to delay drilling a while. The key task this season was applying glyphosate during a very windy time.

Crops have flown out of the ground, which required plenty of juggling of pre-emergence programmes. In some cases, sprayers couldn’t keep up with the workload, so we had to plan around peri-emergence instead.

Winter bean drilling is ongoing. There does seem to be a lot of poor germination bean seed around, both bought or home-saved, which is worth bearing in mind by those still to sow.

Spring beans aren’t much better.

Pre-emergence sprays will be based around propyzamide.

Sugar beet lifting could be a steady and prolonged affair this season. It has been hard work for the harvesters and hauliers so far, and

early lifts have resulted in low sugar and bulky yields. Ground conditions have been less than ideal, resulting in lighter land crops being taken earlier than planned. We would really like to start on the stronger land to provide a decent entry for winter wheat.

Potatoes are done and dusted, although not much dust was seen at lifting. Nevertheless, it has been a good season considering that crops went into some less than desirable beds three weeks later than we would have liked.

Mother Nature is wonderful at sorting it all out and yields have ended up above average.

We now start planning for next season; most PCN testing is done along with nutrient sampling, so unless these flag up any serious concerns we can continue with our preparations.

Maize Maize was a fairly consistent affair with good yields which, like potatoes, were running above average. Crops did mature very quickly, which put pressure on harvesting schedules to try and maximise dry matter.

That said, I had a lot of crops which received late nutrition to keep them green and growing, which must have helped them bulk up more than they might have done otherwise.

I will break down the figures this winter with my customers to consider the viability of maize and return on investment. My current impression is that it continues to be a worthwhile break in its own right, particularly given the tight margins of other spring breaks and the ongoing gamble that oilseed rape has become.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:10

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18/10/2023 09:25

TALKING AGRONOMY

GEORGE Swann Top up or introduce new actives to maintain sufficient residual activity throughout grass-weed emergence

I

will start this month with an apology. I feel completely responsible for cursing this drilling period with some horrendous weather at times during late September and early October.

In my last article I wrote that we needed a ‘spot of rain’ to help the oilseed rape grow. Sure enough, the heavens opened and we quickly changed from too dry to too wet. I’m not sure why, but at the moment the rain seems to be very similar to a light switch, it’s either on or off.

As I sit here, there’s been approximately 50% of the planned wheat area drilled. The long-term forecast looks to be dry and most drilling seems to have gone relatively well, albeit that a few fields have been forced a little. The majority of the drilling so far has been on the easier working land and these tend to be the cleaner fields for weeds.

While it’s been very frustrating waiting

Agronomist facts JGeorge Swann is an independent agronomist, member of Arable Alliance and a proud member of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants. He covers south Yorkshire, north Nottinghamshire and north Lincolnshire. George has a BSc (Hons) in Biology, is BASIS and FACTS qualified and has completed the BASIS Advanced Potatoes module. George’s expertise lies in helping his clients achieve maximum output while remaining as economical and sustainable as possible for the future.

16 AF Nov Dec p16 Talking Agronomy Swann TR .indd 2

forssuitable conditions to get on with cereal drilling, I’m hoping this has been a blessing in disguise and the delayed drilling will help us achieve better levels of grass-weed control than were likely if relying on growers’ own self-control to hold off drilling some fields.

Hopefully pre-emergence herbicides have been applied to good quality, firm seedbeds and cereals are beginning to come up relatively grass-weed free.

I want to talk about the importance of follow up post-emergence herbicide chemistry and the importance as well as the rationale around choosing the most suitable products for the situation. I’m sure most with bad grass-weeds have been using aclonifen (Proclus) and cinmethylin (Luximo).

Importance Having spent a lot of time looking through our independent AICC trials results, the importance of follow-up herbicides can’t be understated.

As long as pre-emergence applications have been well chosen, many deliver a very similar level of weed control, often around 70- 85% control in very bad grass-weed situations.

We are aiming to achieve close to 95% control of grass-weeds and therefore need to apply further herbicides to add to the pre-em treatments.

Our own trials show that an additional 10-15% weed control can be obtained from a suitable post emergence herbicide application.

The selection of post-emergence ‘top-ups’ is often driven by crop safety and the persistence of the herbicides applied. Herbicide mixes for

grass-weed control may sometimes be walking the fine line between crop safety and the need to get as many different modes of action onto a crop as possible at an acceptable cost.

To provide a little more crop safety, many agronomists and growers are now applying a very early post-emergence herbicide mix once they’re happy the crop roots are growing down away from the ‘residual herbicide soup’ applied pre-emergence.

This approach provides better crop safety and also allows more varied active ingredients to be applied while weeds are small, rather than waiting until a more orthodox BYDV timing when grass-weeds are often approaching 2 leaves.

In addition, knowing the expected speed of breakdown of the chemistry applied is also very important. Warm soils and lots of bright sunlight causes pre-emergence herbicides to breakdown and lose their efficacy more rapidly.

A lot of actives are photolabile and warm autumn soils after drilling may speed this process up. A great technical review report from EFSA lists the half-lives or soil degradation (DT50) of active ingredients .

Flufenacet has a DT50 of 41 days, depending on the weather, meaning it has lost half of its activity around six weeks after application.

Pendimethalin has a DT50 of 107 days, cinmethylin 26 days and aclonifen 51days.

With such variation between the different actives it is essential to top up or introduce new actives (where it’s crop safe and legal to do so) to maintain sufficient residual activity throughout grass-weed emergence this autumn.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:18

ROOTS TALKING AGRONOMY

DARRYL Shailes BCN-resistant cover crops are an under-utilised tool in sugar beet rotations

W

e’ve recently been clearing the overgrown areas in the garden which are left to grow wild each year. Our task in October was to cut it all back, remove and compost the excess vegetation to maintain the low nutrient status of the wild areas.

We do this to encourage mixed species, such as meadowsweet and ragged robin, and reduce the nettles, thistles, etc. that would otherwise take over.

This is all on the advice of my daughter who works for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, although her time is now taken up looking after our first granddaughter.

This year’s area was bigger than normal as we got caught by all the rain and exuberant growth in summer and didn’t have time or suitable kit to sort the much longer than normal grass.

Luckily hiring an Oleo Apache makes short work of it. Other ride on brush-cutters are also available of course.

The secret to excellent growth, as if we didn’t know, is good soil conditions, nutrition, then

Agronomist facts JDarryl Shailes is root crop technical manager for Hutchinsons, with a nationwide remit. He has been working in potato agronomy for more than 20 years.

rain and sunshine with some agronomy input of course. Pretty obvious, but it’s amazing how often we don’t get all that come together.

This season some potato fields that were planted early into wet soil which then got heavy rain after planting suffered badly from poor rooting, but also free-living nematode damage on some of the light soils I work with, and yields were a long way down.

Conversely, where fields were planted later into better growing conditions, the yields were much stronger, even those crops planted in June were better than some in early March with the excellent growing conditions we had in summer.

PCN I wonder if next season patience will be the winner, or will the desire to get going even when we know we shouldn’t take over once again.

The excellent growing conditions has meant that the PCN catch crops I’ve been looking at recently have also been excellent.

PCN is still a huge challenge for growers, but crops of DeCyst Prickly (Solanum sisymbriifolium) and DeCyst Broadleaf (Solanum scabrum) can play a big part in a farm’s PCN management. These catch crops both being from the same plant genus as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) cause the cysts that are dormant in the ground to hatch out into the juvenile stage, but they cannot then reform

cysts. PCN declines of up to 85% have been recorded, but the crops need to be strong with good root systems to enable this to happen.

The trials I visited in Shropshire, run by the DeCyst trials consortium and Crop Health and Protection (CHAP), looked at all aspects of growing a successful crop and the host farm has had such good results over the years in combination with resistant varieties that its PCN problem is largely under control.

Beet cyst nematode is an often-undiagnosed issue on many farms and this year has seen a lot of infection and subsequent yield loss. Testing soils in a heavy sugar beet rotation is a way forward but done much less often than testing for PCN. Richard Austin Associates is one lab that can quickly identify BCN from soil samples.

Oilseed rape can also increase BCN, and it wasn’t long ago that beet and rape weren’t grown in the same rotation because of this.

While we don’t have any truly resistant varieties the tolerant varieties have to have a PfPi (final population divided by initial population) of less than 2 to make the list. This means that they will reduce the build-up over non-tolerant varieties which can have PfPi of 5 or more, as well as maintaining yield in the presence of BCN. With the increasing use of cover crops in sugar beet rotations I’m surprised that we don’t see more use of BCN resistant crops such as certain species of oil radish which reduce BCN numbers in the same way as the DeCyst crops. A tool underused at present I suggest.

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17 19/10/2023 14:16

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW The CropTec Show moves to a new venue at the NAEC Stoneleigh this November, but its core ambition of providing farmers and their advisers with access and connections to the latest arable sector developments and ideas is unchanged.

A

new season is underway and will bring its own set of challenges and opportunities. A visit to CropTec will provide an opportunity to catch up with the latest news, views and developments from across the arable sector in the show’s seminars, specialist hubs and exhibition, to inform decision-making on-farm.

CropTec event director Verity Hyland says: ”Together with our impressive programme in the seminar theatre and exhibition halls, CropTec continues to deliver amazing opportunities for knowledge exchange for the arable sector. CropTec is cemented as the premier technical knowledge event in the UK, with farmers and agronomists using the show to make vital business decisions and find new ways to improve their arable practices.”

The CropTec Show takes MORE ONLINE place on November 29-30. For full details and to register for a free ticket go to croptecshow.com

Exchanging ideas and innovation with UK arable farmers Regen Zone JA new feature is the Regen Zone hosted by Soil Association Certification.

Visitors are invited to get involved in the conversation about regenerative farming.

With a wide range of regen practices to engage in, the term is open to interpretation, but the importance of healthy soils, clean water and protected biodiversity are rising up the agenda. Expert panellists will dig into the concept and challenges of regen farming.

Seminar programme JThis year, The CropTec Show’s carefully researched seminar sessions address new markets for public goods and novel crops; nitrogen management and nature-positive food production; balancing crop protection opportunities and challenges in an environment

of change and, brand new for this year, three forward-thinking farmers will discuss why and how they have made significant changes to their businesses in a session chaired by former Elveden Estate farms director and co-founder of TEAM Ag (UK), Andrew Francis.

Specialist hubs JThree specialist Knowledge Hubs at this year’s event will offer a ‘deep dive’ into some of the arable sector’s most pressing topics - water, technology and smart farming.

Anglian Water is inviting farmers and agronomists to visit its ‘Water Hub’ to discuss the issues surrounding water and to learn about support available from its catchment advisers.

The Innovate UK ‘Transforming Food Production’ (TFP) Hub will showcase the successes of a £90 million programme of the same

name, which has been running for the last five years. Over the two days, Innovate UK will be promoting what has come out of the TFP programme and look ahead at what is available for innovation funding in the future.

UPL will host the ‘Smart Farming’ Hub. Visitors can discover more about the Natural Plant Protection range of biosolutions, providing farmers with an opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional chemical pesticides without compromising efficacy or yield.

Also in this section 20 26 28 34 36 40 44 48

What to see at CropTec – agronomy Precision N management boosts nature-positive farming What to see at CropTec – machinery Your farm as a data hub Rising to the sustainability challenge New home for Strategic Cereal Farm East Data-driven decisions help select right rotation Drone-driven technology takes centre stage

18 AF Nov Dec p18 CT AE TR.indd 2

Sprayer test drives JVisitors to this year’s show will have the chance to put some of the latest sprayers through their paces. Find the Amazone Pantera 4504, Bateman RB35,

John Deere R41, Mazzoti MAF 4080HP and Sands Infinity self-propelled sprayers and the Horsch Leeb CS mounted sprayer on the sprayer testing ground.

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17/10/2023 08:46

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW As CropTec prepares to open its gates at its new West Midlands venue, the NAEC in Stoneleigh, Ash Ellwood finds out what the arable exhibitors are showcasing this year.

What to see at CropTec TECHNICAL

Crop nutrition and protection JProducts including seed treatments, biostimulants, and plant health boosters are due to be exhibited by Fielder this year to demonstrate to growers how, according to Fielder, it has been trusted to optimise plant health, maximise yields and reduce growing costs in the industry for more than 20 years.

In replicated trials over the past two years, the phosphite-biostimulant seed treatment Kick-Off has improved yields by as much as 7%, with a return on investment of 19:1.

With a focus on natural plant protection products (NPP), UPL will host the Smart Farming Hub on its stand at CropTec. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover more about its NPP range of

biosolutions, which enable farmers to reduce reliance on traditional chemical pesticides without compromising efficacy or yield, says the company.

Spring Looking ahead to spring agronomy programmes, UPL’s biofungicides Thiopron (sulphur) and Iodus (laminarin) are predicted to feature prominently.

UPL’s technical experts will be on hand to advise farmers and agronomists about how to best use them in combination with conventional chemistry for costeffective disease control.

Gemma Nokes, UPL’s head of marketing for the UK and Ireland, says: “We are delighted to be returning to CropTec and hosting the Smart Farming Hub

Biological seed treatments are among the solutions showcased at CropTec.

and we want to discuss how smart farming can improve sustainability.

“Smart farming creates multiple layers of sustainability.

What a farmer chooses to apply to their crops is important, and biosolutions like those in our

NPP range are a big part of this, but so is technology to support decision-making and precision application.

“We have some exciting speakers lined up for the hub and look forward to seeing visitors there.”

Pea and bean Descriptive Lists

The 2024 DL for combining peas and beans will be launched on November 27.

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JPulse and vining pea growers visiting the CropTec Show will have the opportunity to talk to experts about the new season Descriptive Lists (DL), and hear about other pulse sector opportunities and advances, says the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO).

The 2024 Descriptive List for combining peas and beans – as well as the DL for vining peas – will be launched on November 27, meaning CropTec is the first opportunity growers will have

to meet experts to discuss the results.

Since last year’s event, PGRO has also announced the start of the Nitrogen Climate Smart Project – an ambitious initiative which aims to quadruple the UK pulse cropping area.

Engage Farmers who already grow combining beans and peas, or who could introduce them to their rotation, are being urged to engage in the

project by becoming Pulse Pioneers. Anyone who participates in trials for the project is paid for their work, and even those who do not conduct trials will benefit from the knowledge and information sharing over the three years.

PGRO also has another year’s worth of findings from intercropping trials to share, as well as new information about pest, disease, and weed control in pea and bean crops.

Continues over the page.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 17:11

SU BARESI & SU ARVID Hybrid Rye SU Baresi and SU Arvid are hybrid ryes with flexible end market potential for UK growers. With high-mass dry matter yields and consistently high methane content out of whole crop harvests, both are excellent choices for biogas. SU Baresi has shown stand out gas yield and quality 6% higher than controls. Both benefit from strong standing power and new genetics give improved brown rust resistance.

When you’re after new generation biogas varieties, these are the two to go to.

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18/10/2023 20/07/2023 08:32 14:18

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW TECHNICAL

Breeding for resistance JPlant breeding company RAGT will highlight the potential of its Genserus (genetic security virus) winter wheats resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) at CropTec. The company believes this is a very pertinent topic given the high numbers of aphid vectors that have been threatening crops this autumn.

Lee Bennett, RAGT UK managing director, says: “The potential of these wheats, which offer season-long protection against BYDV, has been clearly shown in several trials in the 2022/23 season, confirming several years of UK research and two decades of commercial production in Australia.”

In RAGT trials at Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, seven Genserus varieties are said to have significantly outyielded a range of popular and pipeline conventional varieties in aphidinoculated trials. No insecticide treatments were used.

RGT Grouse, RAGT’s current commercial Genserus variety, is said to have yielded 8% higher

than Champion and 15% more than Skyscraper.

In a Goldcrop trial in County Cork under natural BYDV infection Genserus varieties took the top three places, with RGT Grouse equal top at 106% of controls.

New fungicide Iblon can deliver broad-spectrum activity against the main foliar diseases of wheat.

High pressure Genserus varieties have also performed well in AHDB Recommended List trials where BYDV was confirmed or likely to have occurred. So even where conventional varieties are supported by insecticide, Genserus varieties are still holding their own in what are likely to be high-pressure situations, says Mr Bennett.

“Wheat resistant to BYDV will become an integral part of UK wheat production shortly,” he adds.

“We look forward to discussing the technology with visitors at CropTec who want to eliminate the risk of this potentially highly damaging disease in their crops.”

Find out more about the potential of Genserus winter wheat varieties resistant to BYDV at CropTec.

New fungicide for use in wheat JThe Bayer team will be on hand at CropTec to discuss newly-approved fungicide active ingredient Iblon. Visitors can expect to hear how the new fungicide can deliver broadspectrum activity against the main foliar diseases of wheat, including yellow rust, septoria, and brown rust, while providing useful activity against stem-based diseases such as eyespot, according to Rosalind O’Hare, Bayer campaign manager for combinable fungicides.

She says: “In septoria trials spanning 2021 and 2022 across multiple sites, Iblon was far better than either the existing standard. It has performed equally impressively against yellow rust.”

Curative In a 2021 trial conducted by the University of Nottingham it was the best-in-class fungicide against this unpredictable disease, adds Ms O’Hare.

“Importantly, it has demonstrated strong persistent protection and curative activity

against both septoria and yellow rust and is active at all stages of the pathogen lifecycle,” she says.

In addition to septoria and yellow rust, Iblon also delivers excellent protection against brown rust and useful activity against both the W and R types of eyespot.

Iblon will be available in a co-pack with Proline (prothioconazole), adding a second mode of action where the activity against eyespot is further improved and its spectrum of activity extended to include fusarium and mildew.

ADAS researcher Jonathan Blake says the flexibility to use Iblon against either rust or septoria depending on the season, will be appreciated by growers.

He adds: “Iblon is excellent on both yellow and brown rust and very good on septoria. It is a more active SDHI on septoria than existing standards, and the flexibility it will add to programmes will make it a valuable addition at either the T1 or T2 timing.”

Continues over the page.

22 AF Nov Dec p20 22 24 25 CT What to See TR GG.indd 3

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 17:11

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17/10/2023 10:05

Growers are being advised to fit agrienvironment schemes around their farms rather than farms around schemes.

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW BUSINESS AND FARM MANAGEMENT

Increasing payment potential JHave you worked out how to make the 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer work best for you on your farm?

How can the options on offer be most easily integrated into your farm system to help bridge the gap in loss of the Basic Payment Scheme? Are your soils cycling nutrients effectively to allow you to reduce fertiliser applications?

What is the most effective way to work your clay soils in an agroecological farming system?

According to agronomy firm, Hutchinsons, these are some of the most challenging topics in UK arable farming, and growers across the country are looking for solutions that fit their farm businesses.

The company plans to provide discussions from industry leading experts on any or all of these questions, as well as offer an insight into what services and technologies are available to address these.

Hutchinsons believes that it is important for farmers to remember that success in any agri-environment scheme comes from fitting the scheme around the farm rather than the farm around the scheme and being realistic with desired outcomes.

Soil health is widely recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming systems. However, it is key growers understand their soil before making any significant

structural or operational changes or reducing input, says Hutchinsons.

Learnings Two years into trialling and testing agroecological farming practices on a farm scale level at the Helix Agroecology farm, there are many learnings about how these practices may be adopted on-farm in a practical but also profitable and sustainable way, and Hutchinsons plans to share

CropTec provides an opportunity for visitors to receive tailored advice for their farm.

Strategic business decisions JAt this year’s show, Frontier Agriculture is shining a spotlight on the importance of robust risk management strategies.

Its team will be sharing specialist advice across all aspects of sustainable crop production while demonstrating a range of tools designed to help farmers make the most effective business decisions in a changing industry.

Key to this is helping growers access key insights about their own farm activity and performance, as well as how to use the data in a meaningful way so future decisions can be

24 AF Nov Dec p20 22 24 25 CT What to See TR.indd 4

based on evidence and insight.

Frontier’s MyFarm platform brings all this together and live demonstrations at the event will highlight the scale of data available to users, alongside the ease with which it can be interpreted and used to support practical actions across the season.

This, coupled with the technical advice and market insights of Frontier’s experts, gives farmers access to a breadth of information, with the show providing an excellent opportunity for visitors to receive tailored advice for their farm.

information obtained from these trials.

The Omnia Digital Farming platform aims to help farmers use farm data more profitably and has continued to evolve and develop. The company offers a range of services using farm data, such as cost of production and yield performance mapping, Terramap, carbon mapping, E-Seed and most recently the business performance planning module.

Break crops for the 2024 season JOilseed break crop growers will have the first opportunity to discuss Premium Crops’ new 2024 contract prices as the company plans to showcase its new, exclusive contracts.

Offering up to £550/tonne in 2024 for spring linseed, the early maturing variety ‘VT50’ is set to be a top earner at record high values, says the company.

Borage growers are also encouraged to visit the Premium Crops stand as competitive contracts continue to upset the established market share, according to Matthew Lewis, marketing specialist at Premium Crops.

Added value options are available for wheat, rapeseed, and oat growers, with a range

of services available for all crops such as harvest movement, deferred seed payment, and agronomic support.

Low input break crops such as linseed and canary seed have been thrust into the spotlight in the wake of fertiliser price increases. These are both low risk and highly profitable choices, according to Premium Crops. Linseed has the highest Omega-3 content of any seed, with demand ‘through the roof’ for human consumption and animal feed, it is claimed.

Mr Lewis says: “We welcome all farmers who are looking to diversify their rotation with financial success and environmental sustainability in mind.”

Higher fertiliser prices have resulted in growing interest in low input break crops.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 15:18

Inform decisions with data JFarm data experts Yagro will be asking CropTec visitors to imagine effortlessly visualising their crop, variety, and field level costs of production, net margin, input regime, and other key operational activities in one glance.

The Yagro team will be showcasing how farm data can swiftly become a powerful tool for driving efficiency, growing your business, mitigating risks, and enhancing your knowledge base.

User-friendly tools are designed to inform decisions with real-time, actionable insights at crop, variety, or field level, including the business’ sell side supported by live commodity trends.

Using the tools growers

can benchmark true farm performance and streamline essential data, plus receive a detailed, bespoke report, tailored to each current need, without spending time poring over spreadsheets.

The Yagro team will be showcasing how farm data can become a tool to drive efficiency, mitigate risks, and enhance knowledge bases.

Demonstrations Yagro is offering free demonstrations and an introduction to its three main tools: rAnalytics: This is where clean, validated information is presented in one easy-tonavigate platform, providing historical analysis and a detailed overview of the costs of production. Identify year-on-year trends, and drill down to review programmes in greater detail while gaining an understanding

of farm performance versus the wider market. rTracker: Use Tracker to help make the most of the current growing season. Using existing farm software, input invoices, and sales contracts, the platform is updated as the season progresses, tracking costs and sales for all crops.

The easy-to-use budgeting feature allows the user to adjust and review their approaches as

market conditions change. rMarketplace: This tool aims to take the hassle out of fuel procurement. Yagro describes it as ‘the original and free tool for farmers, allowing growers to connect with suppliers in their local area in seconds’.

The connection allows growers to request any products ithey require and receive a range of competitive quotes back from suppliers within a set area.

One Machine.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p20 22 24 25 CT What to See TR.indd 5

25 19/10/2023 15:18

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW

Precision nitrogen ma n boost for nature-posit iv

T

here is no doubt that improving nitrogen fertiliser efficiency is one way farming can become more productive, profitable and sustainable.

The farming industry is being challenged to provide the world with nutritious food while also protecting the planet, so sustainable fertiliser use and the carbon footprint of N fertiliser are inextricably linked.

There are two main issues to consider from an arable cropping perspective: the carbon footprint associated with the fertiliser product, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser use.

In many respects the fertiliser industry is making good progress with addressing the former, says Yara sustainability and business

solutions manager Mark Tucker.

“The industrial manufacturing process is being improved; we are moving to green ammonia-based fertilisers over the next decade, and we are starting to look at the use of organo-mineral fertilisers,” says Mr Tucker.

However, as the carbon footprint of fertiliser products shrinks, the proportion of the total fertiliser use footprint associated with in-field emissions will increase, and this is something that is going to occupy the minds of farmers and their advisers going forward, he suggests.

How to tackle in-field emissions poses a significant challenge for agriculture, but the good news is that technology and precision farming are already helping to address this challenge and deliver

PICTURE: GARY NAYLOR

Better nitrogen management is a win-win for productivity and the environment.

Arable Farming reports.

Climate change is providing farming with an opportunity to reset its approach to fertiliser use and crop nutrition and rethink the role of technology, says Yara’s Mark Tucker.

improvements in productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Yield gains Mr Tucker cites variable rate N application as an example, with this technology showing yield gains of 3-5% from using 10-12% less fertiliser. This not only represents an

improvement in productivity, but from an environmental sustainability perspective, using less fertiliser for equal or more yield signals an immediate benefit in terms of improved N use efficiency, which in turn brings down the carbon footprint of a crop from a per tonne production perspective.

tricks in the tractor cab.”

Another piece of technology he hopes will help further unlock the potential of precision N applications is a protein monitor fitted to the combine, which will

map grain moisture content, yield and protein content.

Mr Means is particularly interested to see the range in protein content across varieties, crops and fields; where different levels are occurring in the field; and to investigate any correlation with yield.

The ability to interpret grain protein levels will allow for more cost-effective and efficient N use, he suggests.

“Some wheat varieties might get closer to their yield potential at 9-10% protein, as opposed to the optimal 11% for milling wheat. We cannot yet visualise that,” says Mr Means.

In the field Mark Means, Norfolk JWest Norfolk farmer and contract farmer Mark Means has over 800 hectares of arable cropping and 600ha of that is winter wheat, either as first, second or continuous wheat.

The soils are mainly silty, clay loam, which is good wheat ground.

“If we do the right things, we normally get rewarded,” he says.

Technology plays a part in his approach to nitrogen planning. He has been using the N-Sensor for the past 12 years, mounted on the sprayer for liquid fertiliser applications.

A second N-Sensor will arrive in time for granular fertiliser

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applications next spring, and a hand-held N-Tester BT is used to determine the N requirements of milling wheats, with a target of meeting a Group 1 milling wheat specification.

Mr Means says: “N-Sensor gives us the opportunity for realtime variable rate application instead of waiting for satellite imagery or NVDI images.

“Sometimes we can get frustrated with these due to cloud cover.

“And you don’t need to download, transfer or reconfigure the maps to application maps; everything is in the box of

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:28

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW

a nagement delivering t ive food production to give a basic indication of variability in the field, from which you can create an application map.

“There are also systems which provide more bespoke maps derived from satellite data which describe N uptake of the crop.”

“There is an incentive to adopt technology not only from a crop production point of view, but also from an environmental point of view,” says Mr Tucker, who suggests that climate change is providing farming with an opportunity to reset its approach to fertiliser use and crop nutrition, as well as rethink the role of technology.

Entry level For those growers wanting to adopt precision technology to help meet sustainability goals, where is the best place to start?

At entry level, field mapping is probably the single most common approach used currently, says Mr Tucker. The area to be mapped is an important consideration, and while tractor-mounted sensors can provide an affordable option, growers need to work out if they are going to be mapping a sufficient acreage to justify investing in this technology.

There are also differences between mapping systems.

Mr Tucker says: “You can have a very basic NDVI mapping system which produces a simple NDVI map and measures the biomass of the crop

Options Mr Tucker advises growers to explore options within and differences between systems, and think about what they want to get out of the technology, as well as investigating levels of integration and compatibility.

“From a Yara perspective, we’ve always developed technology so that it is measuring N uptake in the crop and providing a map which is reflective of that, not just from a biomass point of view but also in terms of colour and greenness.

“When we look at the two, we get a better understanding of soil supply of N into that crop and a map of the crop which is more indicative of N uptake,” he says.

Satellite imagery brings challenges for precision farming activities in the form of cloud cover, which may mean application maps are based on out of date data, adds Mr Tucker.

Tractor-mounted sensors such as N-Sensor overcome this problem because they are operating at field level, work at a higher resolution and see more of the crop in detail.

“You are constrained by the working width on the spreader but have more accurate data coming in to reflect what’s happening in the field,” he says.

However, tractor-mounted sensors come at a cost, and this is where scale becomes important, but a farm operating with a couple of hundred arable hectares could expect to see a positive return on investment, says Mr Tucker.

Word from the sponsor J“With an ever-changing climate, technologies and responsibilities, Yara is here to share knowledge and discuss our focus on ‘Growing a Nature-Positive Food Future’ to support our UK farmers and growers. Join the Crop Nutrition seminar, sponsored

by Yara, at CropTec 2023, as

we look at introducing impactful changes to our fertiliser products and digital tools.”

He says: “Once you make the decision to invest, then do consider the support that is there.”

Precision agriculture consultants such as Taylored-Agri are available

to help with training, back-up and support, and peer-to-peer learning between farmers with experience in these systems is important, says Mr Tucker.

CROP DRYING & STORAGE EQUIPMENT

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Email: office@challowproducts.co.uk Web: www.challowproducts.co.uk

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p26 27 TR .indd 3

27 19/10/2023 14:29

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW There will be plenty to see in the machinery and technology areas of The CropTec Show, with opportunities to get hands-on with the latest equipment and software. Jane Carley reports.

T

he sprayer demonstration is a popular feature of CropTec and will take place in the outdoor areas of the NAEC. Visitors can sign up for a test drive with one of the six companies that will have their machines in action and try out the latest sprayer technology for themselves.

Sprayers

Machinery and technology at CropTec 2023

Sam Crop Sprayers Sands Infinity self-propelled sprayer JSands will demonstrate the Infinity sprayer. The Infinity series comprises two models of 5,000 or 6,000 litre tank capacity.

An all-new chassis means the Infinity can accommodate larger wheels, yet ensures a turning circle of just 7.6 metres, easing manoeuvrability on headlands with options including maximum turn, true tracking, speed-related switching, and

spray on/off engagement.

New suspension ensures comfortable travel, while those with a wide range of cropping will appreciate a track width that can be adjusted from 1.8 to 2.2m.

Further highlights include the Sands Overhead Screen control system, which provides full fingertip operation of filling, lights, machine health check management and hydraulic sliding axles.

Amazone Pantera 4504 self-propelled sprayers JThe Pantera 4504 has a nominal tank capacity of 4,500 litres and is available in boom widths from 21 to 42 metres. It offers intelligent chassis management with front wheel, all-wheel and dog leg steering for manoeuvrability.

Models with clearance up to 1.7m are available.

Power is supplied by a 218hp engine with an infinitely variable hydrostatic single range drive, offering speeds from 0 to 50kph, and spraying speeds of up to 30kph ensure high outputs. Tech includes the DistanceControl or DistanceControl plus fully

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automatic boom guidance system, ContourControl active boom guidance for optimum vertical boom guidance in difficult terrain, and SwingStop active boom tip swing compensation to reduce horizontal boom movements.

Circulation DUS or DUS pro pressure recirculation systems ensure continuous circulation of the spray agent. The Pantera offers 50cm part-width sections and AmaSwitch or AmaSelect electric individual nozzle control, plus true 25cm nozzle spacing.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:35

Bateman RB35 self-propelled sprayer JFeatures on the RB35 include a 4,000 litre fully baffled tank, a choice of two booms – Standard Contour 18 to 24 metres or Variable Geometry 24 to 36m – and dynamic braking.

A John Deere 225 bhp, six-cylinder turbo diesel engine supplies the power, enabling the RB35 to achieve road speeds of 55kph.

An available option is ‘Capstan 3 Pulse Width

Modulation’ nozzle control: predictive rate and flow control enable operators to lock on to target and spray under even the most challenging field conditions and machine configurations.

This year’s model features new optional upgrades: a ‘Slow Fill’ plumbing system, premium leather seat and premium stereo system.

Horsch Leeb CS mounted sprayer and other proven features have been added from the trailed sprayers.

The 25cm nozzle layout is also available for the new Leeb CS. The optimised centre of gravity makes the sprayer easy and safe to operate. A newly developed coupling triangle and hydraulic drive to the pumps allows the Leeb CS to be mounted easily and quickly.

All functions are controlled via the Horsch user interface that customers already know from the Leeb LT and advanced Leeb GS.

JHorsch will demonstrate the new Leeb CS mounted sprayer.

The CS models are available with three different tank sizes: 1,400, 1,800 and 2,200 litres with front tank option. Available with the technical innovations of its larger siblings, such as the BoomControl active boom control system, the Leeb CS be easily adapted and specified to each customer’s requirements.

Active boom control is a unique feature of Horsch in this sector of the market. High productivity components like the continuous cleaning system (CCS Pro), the induction tank

Mazzotti MAF 4080HP self-propelled sprayer JThe Mazzotti MAF 4080HP is equipped with a John Deere PowerTech PSS fourcylinder, 4.5-litre, 175hp, Stage V DEF or new 6.8-litre, six-cylinder, 225hp Stage V DEF John Deere engine, and also John Deere-derived Level Four pressurised cab with a Mazzotti-developed interior.

It features the Mazzotti/ Sauer automatic four-wheel

and simplified hydraulic track adjustment axles, which hydraulically move each individual wheel.

The capacity of the tank is 4,200 litres, and the booms are from 18 to 36 metres, with a choice of 25 or 50cm nozzle spacing.

Mazzotti sprayers are available from selected John Deere dealers.

Continues over the page.

N BR CO E W A N M WE D IN BS G SO ITE ON

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29 19/10/2023 14:35

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW John Deere R41 Series 40i and 50i self-propelled sprayers JJohn Deere’s self-propelled R41 series can be equipped with a 5,000-litre solution tank and booms from 24 to 36 metres. Features include the PowrSpray dual pump solution system for precise application and faster filling, plus AirRinse for easy and stress-free rinsing.

It has TerrainControl Pro and TerrainCommand Pro automated boom height and roll

control to offer boom control precision, and ExactApply droplet management can also be specified.

XtraFlex individual wheel suspension offers a smooth ride in the field and on the road, and hydraulic track width adjustment – to match different tramlines – provides convenience for contractors and others working with a range of crops.

Machinery and technology

Treffler Man@Machine JTreffler-Man@Machine will introduce a range of minimal disturbance cultivators alongside precision harrows for mechanical weed control.

The harrows can be used pre-emergence or by adjusting the pressure and the tines to break open a crust or combat

intense weed pressure. Treffler offers a range of more than 30 harrow models from 1.2metre to 20m working width for tractors up to 280hp, which can weed between the rows and in the rows with hydraulic pressure adjustment and contour following.

John Deere J John Deere’s latest developments will be presented by dealer Farol. There will be a strong sprayer and technology focus, including the sprayer demonstrations (see above).

There will be live demos of the JD Operations Center, pulse width modulation technology and the ExactApply droplet management system. Visitors

can try their hand with Farming Simulator, which is being used to show the concept of the See and Spray spot spraying system; currently being used in the USA and headed for the UK in the future.

There will also be the new Gen5 display and the 7000 Starfire receiver available for inspection and discussion.

Vaderstad JVaderstad will show examples from its range of cultivation and seeding machinery, including its latest Carrier XT 425-625 disc cultivator.

As the newest addition to the Carrier disc cultivator family, it is used for high speed primary tillage and seedbed preparation – from ultra-shallow tillage to a deeper incorporation.

The Carrier XT is available in three different working widths: 4.25 metres, 5.25m or 6.25m, and as trailed or mounted versions. All Carrier XT models

30 AF Nov Dec p28 29 30 31 32 TR GG.indd 4

can be equipped with a range of both single- and doublepacker options.

Depth precision A main feature of Carrier XT is its hydraulically rotating disc axles to optimise the cut-out performance at shallow depth, while increasing the depth precision at greater working depths.

Carrier XT can either be fitted with the 450mm disc, 470mm TrueCut disc or the ultra-shallow CrossCutter Disc.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:35

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

15-16 NOV O 2023 OV NEC BIRMINGHAM

OPEN THE GATE TO DIVERSIFICATION Experience the power of innovation, inspiration and industry expertise at the UK’s premier event for farmers, landowners and agri-professionals.

Whether you are seeking to expand your current rural business or explore Farm Business Innovation is the place to be.

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SCAN ME

18/10/2023 08:35

THE CROPTEC SHOW PREVIEW Kuhn JExploring ways to increase the accuracy and consistency of fertiliser application, plus ease daily operations through an additional joystick, are the key focuses for Kuhn Farm Machinery.

On the stand will be Kuhn’s high output Axis H EMC 40.2 fertiliser spreader, with a spread width up to 42 metres.

The electronic mass flow control offers precise regulation of product onto each disc.

Users wanting a dedicated screen to run IsoBus equipment can see Kuhn’s CCI 800 and 1200 IsoBus terminals on the stand. The

latter is a 12.1-inch touchscreen that can display fertiliser settings, guidance maps, additional cameras, and field details all on one display. It also has the benefit of displaying two IsoBus machines, should it be required.

Further integration via a CCI A3 IsoBus joystick allows users to operate 30 programmable functions from the single controller. Each function is shown in symbol format for increased ease of use and instant recognition, with a switch on the rear of the joystick to toggle between control screens.

SiWare NeoSpectra scanner JPhotonic Solutions will showcase SiWare’s NeoSpectra scanner– an all-in-one, universal material analysis solution platform, suitable for scanning crops or soil.

The offering combines portable, IP-65 protected analysers with the NeoSpectra LabStore, which offers thousands of calibration models accessible via a mobile phone.

Having a single, hand-held system connected to a library of calibration programs via the Cloud allows the operator to

carry out the analysis in-house, and then use these calibrations to help with management decisions rather than having to send samples to a lab.

Near Infrared Spectroscopy is a long-established, welltested technique to measure Near InfraRed light reflected and scattered through a sample. The reflected wavelengths allow the identification properties, including the nutritional, physical and chemical makeup of the sample.

set of customer requirements regarding farm or tractor size.

The Pronto DC is a universal drill that offers precise seed placement in all conditions.

The 3m to 6m models can now

be specified with the MiniDrill as an additional third tank to extend the tank capacity by 400 litres, and can place up to four components on up to three horizons.

Horsch JHorsch will show several cultivation and seeding developments at CropTec. The Fortis AS cultivator has been developed to take advantage of increased tractor power up to 600hp and provide more flexibility in working depth and adjustment options. Fortis 6 and 7 AS, with six-metre and 7m working widths, can operate with a working depth between 4cm and 30cm; ideal for deep loosening and primary tillage.

Depending on the conditions, the operator can decide to manoeuvre on the packer or on the chassis, and the

32 AF Nov Dec p28 29 30 31 32 TR GG.indd 5

changeover is carried out simply by means of a three-way valve. The Fortis is equipped with an integrated traction reinforcement system which transfers up to 1.2 tonnes to the rear axle of the tractor to help prevent slippage.

Visitors will also be able to see the Avatar SD drill which now comes in 8m to 12m working widths – featuring the popular 25cm row spacing – while 3m to 8m Avatar SD models are available with 16.7cm row spacing. With the 8m available in both, the Avatar SD can meet a wider

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:36

Yara host seminar at CropTec 2023

29th & 30th November 2023 Come and see us at stand 2:634

p33_AF_Nov_Dec_2023.indd 1

20/10/2023 10:01

TECHNICAL DIGITAL

Your farm as a data hub Could embracing the farm as a data hub propel farming towards a more sustainable future? Arable Farming reports.

A

s an industry, agriculture is constantly changing. The pressure on farmers to manage farm inputs, adopt sustainable practices, and manage risk has never been greater. Amid these challenges, farm businesses must also remain productive and profitable.

Having better data management tools and digital connectivity can help farmers to future-proof their farm businesses.

Reflecting similarities to the consumer digital transformation trend, UK farm adoption of farm management software is predicted to increase by 21% between 2018 and 2024, according to data and business intelligence platform Statista.

Yet, 20% of respondents to the McKinsey and Company Farmer Global Insights Survey highlighted that there are still several barriers to adoption, such as perceived return on investment and access to data.

However, these are being overcome as precision agriculture demonstrates its ability to transform farms, and software moves into the Cloud, significantly improving its usability, says Ben Hatton, of Farmplan, part of Progagrica.

Farm management software not only benefits farmers and agronomists with enhanced record keeping and improved efficiency, but it also has the potential to enable collaboration with third parties in the supply chain as well as with machinery and advice channels. This collaboration can provide streamlined workflow, compli-

34 AF Nov Dec p34 35 Data Hub TR.indd 2

ance and traceability alongside trading opportunities, which in turn form the foundation for more robust relationships, he says.

Opportunities “We are starting to see rural businesses embrace these opportunities even further. For example, by using sustainability tools or unlocking carbon and environmental income streams, it is allowing their farm data to be more integrated and connected. Integrated systems can underpin these innovations, helping farm businesses take advantage of opportunities and become more sustainable.”

A lack of standardisation of data is a challenge for farmers and for their partners and stakeholders in the supply chain.

To address this problem, Proagrica is focused on its software development and integrations for farms, as well

It’s an exciting vision of the future, to think of the farm as a data hub that can ‘talk’ to a variety of systems for different reasons BEN HATTON

There has never been a greater need for digital tools which create a connected data environment, says Farmplan’s Ben Hatton.

as furthering its relationships with many diverse businesses whose mission is to take farming and food production towards a more sustainable future, adds Mr Hatton.

“When a third-party company works with farmers, their systems often require core agronomic data to drive their functions, whether that be a sustainability assessment of the farm or for contractual requirements. Gatekeeper provides the information they need all in one place. Farmers who use Gatekeeper are receiving software that is independent, provides core traceability and compliance features, is well supported, and future focused to facilitate these types of interactions.”

Good farm management software provides the ability and opportunity to digitally connect the farmer to tools, services, and providers that will help drive

their farming business forward.

The bottom line is that key data being permissioned does not need to be entered multiple times, providing confidence and saving huge amounts of time that can be spent doing other farming activities.

Collaboration Ensuring collaboration and data sharing is safe and straightforward is crucial. For example, Proagrica sees numerous requests to integrate core agricultural data to support farmers’ use of other tools, says Mr Hatton.

Farmers want to integrate quickly, easily, and efficiently with these systems while maintaining control over their data.

“It’s an exciting vision of the future, to think of the farm as a data hub that can ‘talk’ to a variety of systems for different reasons, all agreed by and

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:41

DIGITAL TECHNICAL delivered by the farmer,” he adds.

That ‘talking’ might include integration with farm machinery; facilitating office and field connec-

tions, together with farmers’ connections with their advisers and agronomists who would make recommendations; feeding back these recommendations and receiving completed records back. Integration of decision support functions, such as nutrient management and crop protection verification tools that work on the same set of information, is also important.

“It’s fascinating to think about where these integrations and collaborations could go. Could we help facilitate farmers marketing their farm assets through data connections?

Could we allow more farmer relationships to happen via digital engagement? The answer is potentially yes to all of these and more,” says Mr Hatton.

There has never been a greater need for digital tools that create a connected data environment where various functions are interoperable and can connect at the right time and in the right place, he maintains.

Support “So how do we support farmers to do that? We have to make sure that we can structure data and information in a way that facilitates message flow between various systems, and that’s not exclusive to a particular brand or type.

“Change is inevitable, so let’s structure the systems and the connections in the right way that means we can help farmers future-proof their businesses.

UK farm adoption of farm management software is predicted to increase by 21% between 2018 and 2024, although barriers to adoption remain.

“When we talk about systems, we understand that one system or one product doesn’t have to do everything and that is not necessarily what a customer wants. They want the right tool

with the correct information readily available when needed.

Often this isn’t possible from a single system, therefore there is a requirement for a connected interoperable network of systems.”

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TECHNICAL BIOLOGICALS

All of UPL’S early-stage research for northern Europe is carried out at Shray Hill, where cropping includes forage and grain maize, wheat, barley, oilseed rape, potatoes and sugar beet. The business has also invested in a covered growing facility, strawberry beds, a vineyard, and apple and pear orchards.

U

PL purchased the 72-hectare former dairy farm at Shray Hill, Shropshire, close to Harper Adams University, in 2020, following a nationwide search.

“We wanted a site where we could research wet weather diseases, so the west of the country fitted us best,” says Marc Willis, UPL’s UK research and development station manager.

“Our average rainfall is 850mm per year, which was one of our key criteria. It is a former dairy farm with high soil organic matter, and the sandy clay loam on the research part of the farm also allows us to plant a wide range of crops.”

Research Shray Hill is divided into two, with the farm’s northern half forming part of UPL’s OpenAg global network and is where all early-stage research for northern Europe is carried out.

Crops including sunflowers, soya beans, forage and grain maize join more familiar wheat, barley and oilseed rape, as well as potatoes and sugar beet.

The business has also invested in a commercial covered growing facility, strawberry beds, a vineyard, and apple and pear

36 AF Nov Dec p36 38 39 AE TR.indd 2

This summer UPL opened the doors to a new research facility in Shropshire, showcasing an array of trials focused on biological solutions which it will also showcasing at the CropTec Show. Arable Farming reports.

Rising to the sustainability challenge orchards, bringing the total sum spent on the site to more than £5 million.

In the polytunnel, a trial in collaboration with an external deep tech firm is monitoring plants’ response to external stresses using sensors fixed to tomato plants.

The plants are being subjected to drought stress and their reactions to experimental biostimulants observed.

The top and soft fruit facilities will allow UPL to expand its wet weather research into speciality crops. The varieties have been

chosen specifically for their susceptibility to wet weather disease.

The strawberry beds are planted with Malling Centenary, and there is ongoing trials work examining UPL’s plant elicitor products for disease control.

Trials work on the vineyard and orchards will not begin until 2024 as these are still being established. UPL has partnered with a local wine producer to grow the 350 vines.

Mr Willis says: “We followed their advice and planted Bacchus.

This is a commonly grown

variety in the UK and should produce good wet weather disease data. As there are no trials on the vines this year, we hope to harvest the grapes and produce a Shray Hill wine.

“We have just invested in a robot to maintain our vineyard and orchard autonomously, which should allow our research agronomists for this area to focus their time on the trials.

“We had a huge challenge keeping everything alive in last summer’s drought. Fortunately, one of the farm’s first infrastructure projects was installing a

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TECHNICAL BIOLOGICALS

UPL R&D station manager Marc Willis expects to run up to 250 trials a year at Shray Hill, including work on biopesticides, biostimulants and plant and soil health enhancers.

reservoir and ring-main irrigation. The reservoir was emptied to keep everything alive.”

Now that the station infrastructure has been completed, Mr Willis expects to run 200-250 trials per year at current capacity.

These originate from multiple sources within UPL’s global network, including their R&D hub in North Carolina, USA, where new potential biosolutions are screened for activity on critical research targets and crops before going into the field for the first time.

If the candidates succeed in initial testing, they are sent to

global OpenAg research sites, including Shray Hill.

UPL’s commitment to more sustainable crop protection is in evidence at Shray Hill, with 70% of the research at the site comprising work on biopesticides, biostimulants and plant or soil health enhancers, which are marketed under the Natural Plant Protection (NPP) brand.

Sustainable Gemma Nokes, UPL’s head of marketing for the UK and Ireland says: “UPL has been on a journey to be more sustainable over the last five years. We started by

creating OpenAg research sites like this one. Next, we developed the NPP brand to promote the biosolutions we bring to the market.

“The most successful products in our NPP portfolio are Iodus and Thiopron, which are biofungicides. These are both registered fungicides which is crucial, because it means they have been fully approved for disease control according to a weight of evidence that we have demonstrated to the authorities.

“We do not see NPP replacing conventional chemistry.

“We want biological and

chemical crop protection to work together in appropriate programmes. This will create a sustainable approach which maintains what we already have and develops exciting new solutions.”

UPL UK country manager, Vaughn Stansfield, believes that to drive the adoption of biological solutions by farmers, there is a need to show that NPP can deliver the same value as conventional crop protection.

“Agronomists and farmers are always balancing risk and reward.

They need to have confidence that the data on our NPP

Seed treatment increases speed of emergence JSince the withdrawal of Wakil XL (metalaxyl-M + fludioxonil + cymoxanil) in 2021, pulse growers have been searching for new options to help with plant establishment.

Trials conducted at Shray Hill have revealed significant increases in the speed and percentage emergence of peas and beans treated with the organic acid-based, biological seed treatment Sunagreen ST (salicylic + anthranilic acid) Both acids are precursors to the plant growth hormone auxin, which promotes cell

38 AF Nov Dec p36 38 39 AE TR.indd 3

UPL trials manager Joanne Hawke.

division and elongation in plants.

“The amount of auxin available to a seedling is fixed,” says Joanne Hawke, UPL trials manager for the UK.

“By providing the plant with its precursors, it can produce more than is available from the seed, promoting quicker growth.

“The cold and wet conditions we experienced this spring

were challenging for pulse establishment. Peas and beans particularly struggle in waterlogged seedbeds, which is what this trial was like.

“The spring beans treated with Sunagreen had almost 100% establishment, whereas the untreated was just over 60%.

“It was a similar story with the peas, where the Sunagreen improved emergence by nearly 30%.

“Not only did more plants emerge, but the seedlings grew much quicker when treated with Sunagreen.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 15:01

BIOLOGICALS TECHNICAL products has been collected to a high standard. We must develop quality products that deliver a benefit in use. Take Iodus, for

example. We launched it two years ago as a plant health elicitor to be applied at T0 in winter wheat fungicide programmes.

New pulse herbicide options JDespite calls for more homegrown protein to replace imported soya in the food chain, the area of pulses grown in the UK remains stubbornly static.

Farmers frequently reference the limited options for controlling weeds in pulses as a reason for not planting the crop.

However, hope could be on the way with crop protection manufacturer UPL applying for label extensions for two well-known herbicides for combinable pulses Dossiers have been submitted to the regulatory authorities for approval

to apply herbicide active ingredients clethodim and ethofumesate to field beans and peas.

Both actives are currently used in sugar beet and oilseed rape herbicide programmes.

Joanne Hawke, UPL trials manager for the UK, says: “We hope to have both herbicides approved in pulse crops by the 2026 season.

“Farmers can expect a similar performance from the actives to what they get in sugar beet and oilseed rape, and we haven’t seen any crop safety issues when the guidelines are followed.

“It is an unconventional product used within a conventional framework so that farmers can understand it more easily.

“We have seen the adoption rate increase over the two years, and now agronomists and farmers have witnessed the product performing in a high disease-pressure year.

“We expect its use to increase

significantly next spring.

“NPP is central to UPL’s strategy, illustrated by our investment in R&D in this area.

“Our target is for double digit growth of biosolutions every year for the foreseeable future. If the industry is going to transition to a more sustainable footing, then this kind of ambition is required to rise to the challenge.”

Plant health elicitor for barley JThe harvest 2023 season was a tough test for barley disease control programmes.

The wet weather in March, April and early May ideally suited rhynchosporium and net blotch development.

Trials at Shray Hill investigating the plant health elicitor, laminarin, showed good disease control from just one application at T0, according to UPL. Laminarin is the active

ingredient of Iodus, which is registered for use in winter wheat and UPL is now seeking a label extension into barley.

Laminarin works by triggering the plant’s natural defences against fungal diseases.

When used at T0, it is said to reduce disease pressure throughout the programme by activating the plant systemically, including in newly formed tissue as it grows.

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Establishing a better way

19/10/2023 15:01

Norfolk-based David Jones (right), who farms on sandy loams, has taken over as host of the AHDB’s Strategic Cereal Farm East from Brian Barker (left) who, with his cousin Patrick, works heavy clay in Suffolk.

RESEARCH IN ACTION The second iteration of the AHDB-funded Strategic Cereal Farm East is underway.

Andrew Blake reports.

Strategic Cereal Farm East finds a new home

T

cereals and oilseeds, says: “This gives the farmers involved more freedom to tackle longer term challenges as well as run farm-scale demonstrations and trials.”

he first of the AHDB-funded Strategic Cereal Farms (SCF) was launched in 2017 in Suffolk. Since then, four others have been set up – in Hampshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire and Scotland.

Unlike the board’s Monitor Farms, which run for only three years, the SCFs have six-year lives.

Joe Martlew, AHDB senior knowledge transfer manager for

Heavy clay Cousins Brian and Patrick Barker hosted the Strategic Cereal Farm East between 2017-2023 on E.J. Barker and Sons’ 545-hectare mainly heavy clay farm in Suffolk.

The baton recently passed to the

Project details *AHDB Strategic Cereal Farm East rAutumn 2023 – post-harvest 2029 rFunding: £50,000/year

by AHDB (estimated total £300,000) with the investment allocated to scientific contractor(s) to carry out applied agricultural research

750ha of mixed soils at Morley Farms in Norfolk, managed by David Jones.

SCFs investigate and demonstrate new ways of working in a commercial setting.

“The overall aim of the new

Strategic Cereal Farm East in Norfolk is to investigate and demonstrate the transition from farming systems that rely on a continuous cycle of agrochemical inputs, to a flexible approach that combines cultural and conventional

populations. It identified a large variation in the diversity, distribution, and number of invertebrate species. No clear evidence of in-field impacts of strips on invertebrates was identified and grassweed ingress from flowering margins was noted. However, the mission is to boost biodiversity across the farm, which now buzzes with wildlife – more than 20 species of butterfly were recorded in the margins alone. rMarginal land (2022-2023): An analysis of the farm’s long-term data sets (covering rotation, yield, soil, drainage maps, satellite imagery, and

costings) aimed to identify the land most suited to stewardship schemes. This revealed a large variation in crop productivity, although even the poorer areas generally delivered a profit.

Grain nutrient analysis results also identified lower-yielding areas that would benefit from adjusted nitrogen rates.

Dr Martlew says: “Through constant innovation, including the use of trials, the team has reduced production costs by targeting artificial inputs and maintaining average yields, whilst supporting the farmed environment.”

E.J. Barker and Sons’ main trials rCover crops and water quality (2019-2022): This trial examined the effect of cover crops on soil quality and nutrients (compared to plough and stubble treatments). It showed that well-established cover crops reduced drainage water nitrate concentrations to far below 50mg/litre.

However, a negative effect on subsequent cash crops was occasionally detected, especially when establishment conditions were poor. rManaged lower (fungicide) inputs (2019-2023): AHDB fungicide performance data was used to build lower-

40 AF Nov Dec p40 41 RIA TR GG.indd 2

cost winter wheat treatment programmes. The trials included untreated and seven timing treatments (combinations of T1, T2 and T3). The harvest 2023 trials used a single variety with a strong set of disease ratings – earlier trials (low disease pressure seasons) showed that varieties with good disease resistance and a low input regime produced the best net margins. rFlowering strips (20202023): This trial used perennial flower strips, both around and within the field, to determine the impact on beneficial insect and pest

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 17:10

RESEARCH IN ACTION Bridging the knowledge gap

management, to create solutions that last,” says Dr Martlew.

“The programme supports applied research through a series of trials and demonstrations, in addition to knowledge exchange events and resources to share the results with the wider industry.”

The first year’s work at Morley Farms will comprise a mixture of field- and desk-based research work to:

JNew Strategic Cereal Farm East farm manager David Jones has hosted trials

by NIAB, the British Beet Research Organisation, John Innes Centre and others at Morley Farms for 15 years.

However, the land – owned

by The Morley Agricultural Foundation – has been home to trials for more than a century.

Mr Jones says: “I’m responsible for the commercial aspects of the farm, but I am also very familiar with the requirements and how people do field trials.

“Part of our goal and remit is to bridge the knowledge gap and demonstrate how some of this scientific effort works or doesn’t work in practice.

“It’s easier to talk about it directly, so that visiting farmers can go home and say, ‘Oh, I could do that tomorrow’.

“The days of production, production, production are gone, and we’ve got to be sympathetic to the environment.

Without impact “I still want to see weedfree barley waving its ears in the wind, but we need to achieve it without impact on the environment, whether that involves energy, fuel, chemicals or anything else that we use.”

Noting how times have changed, he points out that the first 70 miles of the M1 motorway were built in just 20 months.

The days of production, production, production are gone, and we’ve got to be sympathetic to the environment DAVID JONES “It required a ‘can-do’ mindset. Overthinking and never trying can hold back or prevent progress. It is important to get on and experiment to push farming forwards.”

rEstablish field-scale experiments. rRecord baselines to allow robust

comparisons of treatments. rSet up a framework from which to build on for the rest of the project.

A managed lower fungicide input trial at E.J. Barker and Sons showed that varieties with good disease resistance and a low input regime produced the best net margins.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p40 41 RIA TR.indd 3

41 19/10/2023 14:39

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20/10/2023 10:05 16/10/2023 15:35

TECHNICAL DECISION SUPPORT

Omnia’s Business Performance tool has enabled analysis of the long-term effects of cropping changes on fields, the rotation, and the business as a whole at Low Lindrick Farm, Ripon.

The Business Performance module introduced for Hutchinsons’ Omnia multi-layer field data management software uses data-driven scenario creations to aid rotation planning. Martin Rickatson spoke to an early adopter.

Data-driven decisions inform rotation plans

F

rom concerns over drilling or spraying timings to potential harvest clashes and worries about storage, committing to changing a farm’s cropping pattern can be unnerving.

But using data processing software to model the potential outcomes and likely performances of different scenarios can help make the right decision when considering significant changes.

That is the principle behind the rotational planning element

44 AF Nov Dec p44 45 46 TR GG.indd 2

that is now part of Hutchinsons’ layer-based Omnia digital field recording and management software.

With the recent release of its Business Performance module to complement the 2021-launched Field Performance module, Omnia now enables calculation of the financial scenarios of different rotation choices year by year and across the rotation’s full length, by entering calculated or estimated variable costs for each crop scenario.

From this the tool calculates

income, variable costs, gross margin and fixed costs per hectare, and a net margin, with CO2 production per hectare also possible.

Once set up, different cropping and crop management scenarios can be entered to trial different approach outcomes.

Exposure With some looking to lengthen rotations to boost cropping diversity and reduce exposure to input and commodity price volatility and farm support reduction and with new part and

whole-field stewardship options, many farmers may be considering rejigging their cropping and rotation planning, suggests Will Foyle, farm business consultant at Hutchinsons.

“Omnia’s rotational planning tool allows users to analyse the long-term effects of cropping changes on fields, the rotation, and the business as a whole,” he explains.

“As a simple example, if considering extending a four-year rotation to six with the addition of spring break crops, the tool can analyse potential

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:45

DECISION SUPPORT TECHNICAL In the field Andrew Mason, Ripon JAndrew Mason manages 348 hectares of Grade 3 land for Tom Ramsden at the allarable Low Lindrick Farm, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Being in a mixed farm area means he has opportunities including muck for straw swaps with local livestock producers, and incorporating maize and grass into his rotation.

However, with significant changes in areas from input prices and output costs to farm support, David Stead, his Hutchinsons agronomist, and Hutchinsons’ Will Foyle have helped Mr Mason assess the merits of broadening the farm’s rotation further.

“Andrew and Tom are enhancing their commitment to building soil health and resilience, examining the whole picture of cropping, rotation,

costs and likely income from such a move.

“It is also possible to analyse changes in things such as field splits where parts are entered into Countryside Stewardship.

“By inputting the financial and operating data for each crop and field activity, Omnia’s rotational planning tool can calculate whether each crop at each stage in the rotation in each field will be profitable.

Resilience “Input price sensitivity analysis indicates the resilience of a crop and rotation choice, so the potential impact of changes can be measured and risks assessed.

“And if only certain areas of the field should make money, then field splits can be considered for stewardship schemes on the low-performing areas.”

It is also possible, by inputting the relevant operating costs, to assess what a change in practices such as a different cultivations strategy or a move to direct drill-

Issues with frit fly after grass meant a post-GS4 bean break crop would be required, delaying wheat cropping.

soil health and sustainability and moving from a deep loosening and cultivator drill system to a low-disturbance subsoiler and a direct drill,” explains Mr Stead.

“This has been aided by Terramapping to support soil

ing may do, says Mr Foyle – and to calculate the carbon costs/ savings of a rotational change.

“Of Omnia’s three subscription levels, more than half of our users subscribe to the top Business Manager level, which includes the rotational planning tool.

“Farmers often start to look at stewardship schemes, crop choice and rotations in times of uncertainty and market volatility in both inputs and outputs.

“But stewardship may work better for some farms, rotations or fields than others.

“Identifying worst-performing land to potentially remove it from production is relatively easy, but identifying where stewardship is a profitable alternative in the rotation as a whole is more challenging. That is where Omnia’s calculating and comparison power helps.”

Continues on page 46.

analysis, variable nitrogen application, and use over the past five years of Omnia’s Business Manager package to analyse data including combine yield mapping and provide cost/ha field maps.

“The rotational tool was

subsequently added to assess the potential benefits of rotation-tweaking to match the new crop establishment strategy, soil health focus and changes in farm support.

“While the farm has previously used stewardship for better returns on awkward field corners, its HLS agreement was nearing its end, and Andrew and Tom were considering deeper commitments to a new Higher Tier five-year scheme and revised rotation.

“Ahead of autumn 2022, when they planned to move from minimal cultivations to direct drilling, they asked if Will and I would advise, and we suggested using the Omnia rotational planning tool to assess how these changes might work.”

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45 20/10/2023 11:29

TECHNICAL DECISION SUPPORT Two years of GS4 offered the best solution JOne of the options under the current version of Countryside Stewardship is GS4, requiring, in return for a £382/ha payment, establishment of a legume and herb-rich sward, but with an allowance for cutting/grazing.

“On the surface, this appealed and the initial thinking was for three years of GS4 in an eight-year rotation, helping build soil organic matter, providing a combinable crop break that would aid weed control and a potential source of grazing for local sheep,” says Mr Stead.

“But questions included how this would fit financially within other crops in the rotation, and whether the time period was right.

“We started by assessing the current situation, and looking at where GS4 would fit as a break crop, focusing on the lower yielding wheat fields.

“The question was how much and how long to commit to GS4, weighing up the returns and the limited cost after establishment, plus other benefits including grass-weed control, against a quicker path back to a first wheat.”

The initial preference for a three-year GS4 commitment was due to the appeal of spreading the costs of establishment over the longer period.

“At current commodity and input prices, though, there is not a lot of difference in business benefit between committing to two or three years of GS4. Sensitivity analysis we conducted around rising input prices, showed a clear threshold where the amount of GS4 commitment meant the wheat area was too small to be profitable.

“In a scenario of sustained good wheat prices and average input costs, returning to wheat one year sooner was more profitable. This was compounded

46 AF Nov Dec p44 45 46 TR GG .indd 4

Costs and benefits including grass-weed control, were weighed against a quicker path back to a first wheat.

by issues we have with frit fly after grass, which would require a post-GS4 bean break crop — delaying wheat cropping by another year.

“The rotation tool therefore showed us that a two-year GS4 commitment, as part of an extended rotation, was likely to be sufficient to benefit soil health and manage risk, while ensuring that the farm’s wheat area always remains of a viable size for profitability.”

The farm had been under an all-winter rotation of oilseed rape, wheat, oats, barley and oilseed rape, with grass and maize also grown on some ground for local cattle farmers, explains Mr Mason.

He and farm owner Mr Ramsden were keen to incorporate GS4 for reasons including further rotational diversity, nitrogen fixation and weed suppression.

“We also wanted to add a further cropping option, to introduce a gap between grass and wheat to avoid that potential frit fly problem, and further aid soil health and weed control.

“Beans were the favoured option, but we did not want to make changes and find profitability falling down the line as a result, so agreed with Will and David that we would use the

The aim was to plan proactively as well as financially to minimise risk ANDREW MASON Omnia rotational planning tool to calculate what business effect different options would have.

“The aim was to plan proactively as well as financially, to minimise risk with a system that will offset some of the unknowns we cannot control, such as price variations and weather issues.

“Using Omnia we were able to test a handful of possible options and narrow them down, evaluating the selected plan under different scenarios of changes in crop and input prices to stress-test it thoroughly.

“A key driver was our desire to further reduce our cultivations.

“Previously we loosened ground with a Sumo Trio with low-disturbance points, with drilling then carried out by a contractor using a Vaderstad Rapid. To improve timeliness and reduce costs, for autumn 2022

we subsequently purchased a 4m Horsch Avatar direct drill, and a Grange low-disturbance subsoiler for loosening only where necessary.

“With this came a reduction in power requirement, with a 310hp John Deere 7310R swapped for a 185hp 6185R, meaning we factored in lower machinery costs for fuel, servicing and depreciation, plus less compaction from the lighter tractor. Drilling fuel use should now average 5.0 litres/ha.”

Both winter beans and the GS4 legume stewardship option stacked up favourably in the rotational planning calculations, with respective forecast margins of £614/ha and £485/ha, the latter taking into account GS4’s grazing/forage value.

As a result, beans were introduced on one 20ha block planted direct with the new drill in autumn 2022.

“The GS4 mix will be introduced in 2023-24 if the farm’s stewardship application is successful, as part of a new nine-year rotation that will comprise two years down to a GS4 mix, followed by winter beans, wheat, oats, wheat, barley, oilseed rape and wheat.

“We focus on winter crops, preferring to avoid spring types as we are often already still cutting wheat in September, and now will also be doing beans.

“The GS4 mix can be cut or grazed before weed grasses shed seed, and we can follow it with winter beans.

“The Omnia rotation planning tool gives us the flexibility to trial changes on-screen and see the likely results before committing.

“It has opened my eyes to the power of joined-up advice – within an hour we had made solid progress on our future direction with objectives we could test from every angle for resilience,” Mr Mason says.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 17:09

ENVIRONMENT AGRI-TECH

Nature start-up wins Tesco competition

N

ature intelligence business NatureMetrics is the winner of the 2023 Tesco Agri T-Jam Competition, securing the start-up fast track introductions to the Tesco supplier network and a trial with one of the retailer’s supply chain partners.

NatureMetrics, represented at the pitch event by its head of agriculture,

Tom Ludwig, won the competition for its innovative solution which measures biodiversity using eDNA analysis of soil, water, and insects.

The innovation converts this complex data into simple metrics which can be viewed through its Nature Intelligence Platform, allowing users to comprehensively report on biodiversity improvement in their supply chain.

Other finalists rViridian/Angus Middleton: Plans the sustainable use of land, using high-tech data modelling to calculate how landscapes are functioning, and designing ways to manage the whole landscape system to solve local problems rFlexifarm/Kevin Gooding: A cloud-based data integration SaaS platform for farms, integrating with third party hardware, software and data with advanced features and analytics. It aims to increase farm productivity, health and safety, and remote systems management rBloomfield/Mark DeSantis: Provides plant digitisation, providing automated, direct line of sight pixel-level inspection of harvests. Using imaging and AI, the technology allows growers to assess the health and performance of each and every plant, regardless of plant type, location or number

rLaguzze/Laurent Vigouelle: Laguzze is a fertiliser made from seawater that provides more than 60 trace elements.

The fertiliser acts as a natural repellent against all types of insects and pests and offers a significant reduction in fungal diseases rYard Stick PBC/Chris Tolles: Yard Stick measures soil carbon, making it possible to quantify carbon stocks on land and allow growers to increase their knowledge of their land.

The technology is designed for field evaluation of soil carbon stocks and changes rSnapp Laab/Donat Posta: Provides insect infestation monitoring and forecasting, using AI image recognition to provide actionable insights to growers. The platform offers a simple hectarebased subscription model to increase sustainability and profitability

NatureMetrics converts complex biodiversity data into simple metrics which can be viewed through its Nature Intelligence Platform, allowing users to report on biodiversity improvement in their supply chain.

Now in its sixth year, the Tesco Agri T-Jam pitching event, run in partnership with Leading Edge Only, saw 10 different agri start-ups pitch to a panel of Tesco sustainable agriculture and commercial experts, Tesco suppliers, and stakeholders to find the most promising agriculture innovation.

Commenting on the competition this year, Natalie Smith, head of sustainable agriculture at Tesco, says:

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p47 Agri-Tech Enviro TR GG EE.indd 2

“This competition is designed to help us find innovators who can help us build long-term resilience within our supply base, addressing key sustainability challenges so we can continue our progress towards our stretching climate and biodiversity targets. I’d like to thank all of our finalists for taking part – I’m sure there will be more opportunities in the future for these innovators to work with Tesco suppliers.”

47 20/10/2023 11:28

TECHNICAL DRONES Specific on-farm ‘wins’ using drone technology are already many and varied, says Agrii crop input specialist Thomas Perrott.

D

rones are set to be a transformational technology in crop production over the next few years with the benefits they could bring to increased productivity, cost reduction and the environment, only just starting to be understood.

So says Agrii’s lead pilot and technology trial manager Jonathan Trotter, who suggests that while initially the biggest steps forward are likely to be in the area of research and development, these could soon translate into an extended range of services and field applications with drones at their heart.

“As well as leading to more

Agri-tech company Agrii is embarking on a multi-layered initiative with regulatory and other key stakeholders to fast-track how growers can take full advantage of drone technology in the future. But there is much arable producers can benefit from already. Arable Farming reports.

Agronomy provider puts drone-driven tech centre stage precise applications of fertilisers and pesticides, these are saving growers’ time, money and labour,

The issue moving forward is not really the potential of the technology, but ensuring it aligns with the legislation surrounding it JONATHAN TROTTER

48 AF Nov Dec p48 49 Tech Drones TR.indd 2

as well as delivering significant environmental benefits. But it really is just the tip of the iceberg.

“There are so many possibilities including swarms of drones applying specific agrochemicals to crops as well as larger individual machines capable of carrying larger payloads, all controlled remotely and working with real-time data at an individual plant resolution.

“The issue moving forward is not really the potential of the technology, but ensuring it aligns with the legislation surrounding it and, to a degree, helping shape this,” he says.

Which is why Agrii is putting itself at the centre of this process, working closing with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and

other key bodies to establish safe working practices and operational strategies for the future, he adds.

“Producers are already starting to ask questions about different options for applications and we need to understand how far we can take this.

“Whether we have one drone or a swarm of drones flying to apply fertiliser or pesticides, all in line with regulations obviously, is something we are very keen to explore.

“Such developments are likely to start on a trial plot scale, but we would then be looking at how we can take these forward to see if they would be viable options on a field scale.”

Moving towards bigger drones capable of carrying significant

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:43

A drone image is much more accurate than a satellite image for use in producing GAI, says Agrii agronomist Andrew Lowe.

DRONES TECHNICAL

content is also something under consideration, he says.

“At the moment, the CAA will allow you to fly a drone up to 25kg with GVC qualifications. If you want to fly machines bigger than that you have to apply for an Operating Safety Case.

“So, it could be that in a few years’ time we are looking at operating drones weighing closer to 80kg.”

Remotely Being able to fly drones remotely from a central technology centre is also a key element of Agrii’s technology strategy, Mr Trotter points out.

“At the moment we fly with visual line of sight and we want to be able to take that to extended visual line of sight and then to beyond visual line of sight.

“At that point, we will be able to deploy ‘drone in the box’ systems whereby we can place containers wherever we want to, with a drone inside all pre-programmed and ready to go.

“We can then set it off autonomously, fly it over a field or trials site, collect the data required and it will then return to its box to be charged up again.

“You could take it out every couple of hours if needed, and that would give us really in-depth data and a level of detail that we just can’t achieve with field walking at the moment.”

Some more complex elements of the technology strategy will take a little time to develop fully, but this will not delay Agrii’s roll out to a wider customer base of the drone technology it has already developed, he says.

“At the moment we have several agronomists and crop input specialists that are A2CofC [A2 certificate of competency] trained, with more undergoing training all the time.

“Data-driven decisions are the future of effective and resilient farm management practices and the more data our agronomists have at their fingertips, the better

the advice they can give in the field.”

Specific on-farm ‘wins’ using drone technology are already many and varied, says Agrii crop input specialist Thomas Perrott.

“We’ve identified problems with drills, fertiliser spreaders and established crop nutrition approaches and the list is growing all the time as we learn more about how to make full use of the technology.

“In one case, for example, we wanted to evaluate the impact of a starter fertiliser in oilseed rape compared to using just AN and were able to use the drone to demonstrate the differences between the different approaches.

“The crop with the starter fertiliser established much quicker and had better canopy cover compared to the one where just AN was used by itself.

“Another case was a maize grower who was having issues in the hot conditions and low rainfall of last summer when some of his crop was starting to mature unevenly.

“We flew the drone over three or four fields and identified differences in the development of the crop on the farm’s chalk and sandy soils and were able to estimate what the potential losses would be.

“This resulted in the farmer ordering an extra 40 hectares of catch crop seed to grow over the winter to make up the predicted shortfall in production of the maize.”

Such a case is not unusual with the single most common intervention being the result of crops looking uneven as they grow, he adds.

“You can only see so much from the ground, but you can get a much clearer picture from above.

“There could be striping or missed areas resulting from machinery problems, or in some cases it could be down to the type of fertiliser being used and this can help with decisions on how the crop is managed in the future.

“It could end up in a reassess-

ment of the products being applied, how they are calibrating the spreader or, in some cases, it’s given a grower the evidence needed to make the decision to move to liquid fertilisers.”

Benefits Agrii agronomist Andrew Lowe has been working with drones in the field for two to three years and has seen real benefits.

“For the last 12 months, in particular, we’ve been concentrating on developing systems that can create an accurate green area index [GAI] in both wheat and oilseed rape.

“Combining this with a soil mineral nitrogen [SMN] test taken at the start of the growing season to assess how much nitrogen there is in the ground, allows us to create an accurate nutrient plan and use nitrogen as efficiently as possible.

“Flying the drone at 30 metres above the ground, we can pick how many points we want to drop down to, to look at the crop in more detail depending on how variable it is. We then take pictures at these points 1.5m above the crop.

“These are then analysed for crop uniformity, weeds, pests and diseases and we can do this three or four times a year ahead of each potential split of nitrogen.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p48 49 Tech Drones TR.indd 3

Flying the drone at 30 metres above the ground, we can pick how many points we want to drop down to, to look at the crop in more detail ANDREW LOWE “It’s much more accurate than satellite imagery as this can only distinguish between brown and green, so if you have black-grass in there or other weeds, it will say it is all crop. The drones allow us to filter all this out to give as accurate a GAI as possible.

“These GAI results are then taken in by the system together with the SMN results and combined with a realistic yield target and an accurate assessment of nitrogen requirement is produced.

“In that way, the crop receives precisely what it needs rather than what the next one also wants,” says Mr Lowe.

49 19/10/2023 14:43

MACHINERY ROBOTICS

Robots at work

AgXeed offers a range of AgBots designed to work autonomously with standard implements for various fieldwork tasks.

While there has been a rapid increase in robotic developments, the route to commercial viability is slower. Jane Carley looks at some of the machines that have made it to the field.

D

Agrointelli anish manufacturer Agrointelli was founded in 2015 and has more than 40 Robotti autonomous platforms working across the world. They have been used with a range of adapted proprietary implements for planting, weeding, spraying and mowing.

Agrointelli’s UK importer Autonomous Agri Services (AAS) supplied a Robotti LR to Sentry on a Robots As A Service (RaaS) basis this season to plant and weed 150 hectares of sugar beet grown in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

It was used as part of a trial working with British Sugar and BBRO, which also compared

conventionally seeded and managed sugar beet plots.

AAS’ Thomas Beach says: “Sentry were able to evaluate the benefits of an autonomous machine without the capital risk and we are hopeful that the company will go on to have its own machine in the future.

Diverse “Robotti can be used in diverse farming systems, and in the RaaS case, we supply all the hardware and labour, while Sentry provided seed, fuel, transport between fields where it was not practical to move the outfit using its own power, plus chemical where it was used for spraying.

“We use conventional implements in most cases, such

Also in this section 55 58 59 62

Preparing for safe input applications with drones Case IH launches its most powerful tractor Case IH and Steyr look to the future Innovation in precision cultivations

50 AF Nov Dec p50 52 53 54 Mach Robotics TR.indd 2

as a specially adapted Stanhay 7 planter and an inter-row hoe, but by developing our own band sprayer have been able to significantly reduce chemical use,” adds Mr Beach.

“The sprayer applies chemical to the 10cm band of crop rather than the full 50cm row as a conventional sprayer does, so we are covering just 20% of the area.”

He adds that the same levels of efficacy have been seen from crop protection products, and in the case of insecticides, considerably less cost or environmental impact.

The sprayer’s 600-litre chemical tank can cover 15ha, allowing the Robotti to work for eight hours autonomously.

“We’ve got further development work to do to the sprayer which will make it more versatile, and we decided to build our own system as proprietary sprayers needed too

We use conventional implements in most cases, such as a specially adapted Stanhay 7 planter and an inter-row hoe THOMAS BEACH much adjustment for autonomous use,” says Mr Beach.

Sentry is due to review this year’s trials ahead of a second season on a similar area in 2024.

Farms director John Barrett says: “We will look at the benefits achieved and consider Continues over the page.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:52

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18/10/2023 12:15

MACHINERY ROBOTICS Agrointelli’s Robotti has been trialled by Sentry this year, working in conjunction with BBRO and British Sugar on 150ha of beet.

real potential for chemical We can see see savings with cost and environreal potential for mental benefits.”

In-field experience with using chemical savings a robot at scale has also been useful for all parties, he adds. with cost and “We were able to observe the impact of the wheels, for environmental example, and given the weather benefits conditions in spring we were

JOHN BARRETT what we might change next year. Technology moves on and we could look at different implements for planting and particularly weed control. The inter-row hoe and band sprayer were used in one pass and I am sure there can be refinements made.

“This seems to be where the technology is changing fastest, with many new options coming to the market focused on reduced chemical usage. We can

52 AF Nov Dec p50 52 53 54 Mach Robotics TR.indd 3

able to get the crop in when we wouldn’t have been able to drill conventionally at the time. The hooded sprayer also extended application windows.”

Labour savings While labour savings were not a particular consideration in this instance, Mr Barrett says that in some circumstances the operator may be able to cultivate directly in front of the drill, allowing him to supervise the drill and take care of seed refills at the same time.

Larger scale operations such as the 150ha drilling workload

would justify investment in a machine rather than the RaaS model, he adds.

“It might be appropriate to hire the machine for the season; on 150ha it is likely to be tied up from March to May but we would look at other operations and crops to extend the season of use. Another option may be to use it for Conviso beet so fewer passes would be needed, freeing it up for other jobs in the spring. The opportunity to band spray insecticides and biostimulants just to the crop could offer significant benefits, reducing waste, one of Sentry’s key priorities.”

The Robotti itself has seen further development by Agrointelli since its launch and is now available in two versions.

The original 150D uses two 75hp engines, one of which drives the pto.

AgXeed JBased in the Netherlands, AgXeed offers a range of AgBots designed to work autonomously with standard implements for various fieldwork tasks. In Europe, several AgBots have already clocked up more than 1,000 hours of work on customers’ farms.

The company rolled out its first prototype in 2019 and began commercial production in 2022, setting up an international distribution network.

It has attracted investment from some key partners in the machinery trade, notably Claas which distributes AgXeed products through selected dealers in Germany and Switzerland, including via a rental model.

Amazone also came on board in 2022 and has adapted implements from its existing range to work with the AgBots.

The three partners also

Continues on page 54.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:55

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launched the 3A consortium this year. Its initial project is planning and execution software that enables highly automated to autonomous control of tractors and attachments using the AgXeed Box and a standardised IsoBus interface, allowing tractors, implements and autonomous machines to work together, plus systems to use this software.

Represented In the UK, AgXeed is represented by technology specialists SoilEssentials and ASC-Autonomy and delivered its first machines to customers this year.

The AgXeed range includes three models to suit different applications, with wheeled or tracked chassis. All feature hybrid drive from a diesel engine and optional electric pto.

Two four-wheeler machines were delivered to turf

grower Grasslands in Kent this summer, destined for a year-round role in cultivation, seeding, and mowing of turf. Commercial turf is mown on a ‘little and often’ basis throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions, so the 2.055W4 AgBots were fitted with Michelin Trailxbib tyres, designed to exert minimal ground pressure on the turf.

During the summer months, the demanding schedule requires mowing the turf every 48 hours, using specially adapted rotary mowers from Dutch specialist manufacturer EcoClipper. This operational intensity results in a coverage of about 1,200 hectares on a weekly basis by the pair of machines.

The 5.115T2 tracked AgBot will also be at work with a customer in Cheshire this autumn, while a major demo tour is planned by ASC-Autonomy.

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AgXeed’s AgBots have been delivered to UK farms this autumn; tracked units for arable farming in Cheshire and wheeled robots to a turf farm in Kent.

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19/10/2023 14:56

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MACHINERY ROBOTICS Mr Beach says: “We found that most farms don’t need the pto drive except to drive the fan for a drill, which can be achieved with an external hydraulic outlet.

“So the new Long Range [LR] version has a single 75hp engine, which cuts the cost and allows for a larger fuel tank for up to 60 hours run time.”

The 150D is still available, he points out, and is suitable for powered operations such as using a small rotavator, but the focus for the UK is on the LR. FarmDroid FarmDroid ApS was founded by brothers Jens and Kristian Warming who realised that technology could remove the costly and laborious hand weeding of their organic sugar beet; they built their first prototype robot in 2012.

Designed to both seed and mechanically weed with interchangeable tools, a single FarmDroid machine is powered by solar panels.

More than 250 FarmDroids are seeding and weeding across 15 countries in Europe.

In the UK, they are distributed by Opico – and sold through the company’s dealer network – and Shropshire-based Agridroid and have been used in crops from flowers to fodder beet.

Chapel Organics farms 210ha of vegetables and potatoes as its main enterprise, alongside grain, legumes and herbal leys, in East Lothian. The business purchased a Farmdroid FD20 two years ago to tackle labour shortages.

Partner Angus Elder says: “We just can’t get labour for

Weeding is our biggest expense as an organic farm, so this has been a highly positive experience ANGUS ELDER

hand weeding, but we’ve actually found the Farmdroid can do a better job as it can weed more crops and work closer to the plant.”

Deployed for seeding and weeding in onions, swede and beetroot, the robot has proved ideal for working in the multiple small plots needed to meet the needs of organic wholesalers, totalling slightly less than 20ha, which is considered to be the ideal workload for a single Farmdroid.

Useful It has proved particularly useful on swedes, says Mr Elder, which have to be covered with mesh to guard against flea beetle.

“This crop is hard to weed, but the Farmdroid can work in the row as well as inter-row; we’ve had some good crops since using it.”

As the Farmdroid weeds according to a path plan created at planting, it can weed ‘blind’ before emergence of crops such as onions.

“It has enabled us to grow onions from seed rather than

sets which extends our season of supply, as the younger onions store longer, and takes us into new markets,” says Mr Elder.

He adds that operators need to resist the urge to ‘hover over the machine’ and that there is no problem with working elsewhere.

“I get a message on the app if there are any error codes. It’s also straightforward to swap between seeding and weeding or change the discs for different crops once you get used to it.”

Support from both Farmdroid and Opico has been good, he says, with a visit to the factory providing a useful opportunity to ask questions and give feedback.

“Both companies have remote access to the robot to solve any issues. Wearing parts such as blades and weeding wires are easy to change and replace and the long daylight hours up here in summer mean that the solar panels top up the batteries.

“Weeding is our biggest expense as an organic farm, so this has been a highly positive experience,” adds Mr Elder.

Farmdroid’s FD20 has been used for a wide range of crops; drilling onions from seed rather than planting sets has extended the season for Scottish grower Chapel Organics.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:57

DRONES MACHINERY Drone use for widespread aerial seeding and crop input applications could be a viable option for growers soon, following one firm’s pragmatic approach to legislation. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

Preparing for safe applications with drones

I

n recent years, drone technology has emerged as a practical and efficient means of crop monitoring and mapping. Having an eye in the sky provides a different perspective to that gained at ground level. Drone imaging has also brought better timeliness to crop treatments, with the ability to capture field data across a vast number of hectares in just hours, rather than days when compared to field-walking.

Now, recent changes in legislation are starting to open up further opportunities for those looking to make the most of the technology

available through unmanned aerial systems. And that includes aerial application of seeds, fertilisers and non-chemical treatments.

Rob Pearson, of Staffordshirebased AutoSpray Systems, has been working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to develop safe working practices for spraying and spreading operations using a drone.

Having operated within the confines of a time-limited, pre-defined risk assessment from X

Rob Pearson, of AutoSpray Systems, is working with the CAA, CRD and HSE to develop safe working practices for spraying and spreading operations using a drone.

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19/10/2023 14:48

MACHINERY DRONES the CAA to fly drones up to 150kg with a specific exemption that enabled materials to be dropped from the drone, Mr Pearson and his team have been able to gain much-needed operational experience spraying water and dropping fertiliser. Doing so has started to open up a wealth of possibilities for those looking to make wider use of drone technology.

He says: “We had a limited period granted by the CAA in which to carry out our own R&D, to see what was safely possible with a large drone.

“When that permission expired, we had enough experience to put forward an Operational Safety Case to the CAA, to gain further authorisation so we could continue this essential development work.”

Authorisation As a result, AutoSpray Systems is currently the only drone operator in the UK with an Operational Authorisation from the CAA to carry out aerial spraying and spreading in agriculture.

“We can currently apply organic materials, nutrients, seeds and biological products that are not equipped with a MAPP number.

But before we can carry out aerial application of plant protection products, anything that currently has a MAPP number needs to be granted approval for aerial application.”

He says the next stage of the process is gathering drift data, and work is currently ongoing with Clare Butler Ellis at Silsoe’s spray applications unit.

There is a lot of scope for changing the way crop protection products and fertilisers are applied ROB PEARSON

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The XAG P100 has a 50kg payload, and 10-minute flight time, covering 15ha/hour.

Inset: CDA-type distribution is used for liquid applications.

Despite the many restrictions still in place, Mr Pearson believes it will not be long before farmers turn to drones for seeding, fertilising and spraying on a field-scale basis.

AutoSpray Systems is the UK’s importer and distributor for Chinese-built XAG drones, and the P100 model Mr Pearson is currently using offers a 50kg payload capability, plus the ability to switch between liquid and granular applicator modules for different field treatments.

The XAG P100 is a fully autonomous and waterproof agricultural drone that boasts an overall wingspan of 2.95 metres. It uses modular seeding and spraying attachments that can be swapped in less than two minutes.

The spraying module comprises two peristaltic pumps offering a flow rate of 12 litres/minute, with distribution achieved using two CDA-type applicators at the rear of the machine, while the spreading module uses two vertically mounted, contra-rotating spinning discs fed by augers in the base of the hopper. Working widths can be from 4-7m depending on the material being applied.

With dynamic radar and terrain sensing, the P100 is able to avoid obstacles during flight, and with a portable RTK base station, the firm claims centimetre-level positioning is achieved with every flight.

The spreader uses contrarotating vertical spinning discs to broadcast seed and fertilisers.

“Although XAG drones are new to the UK, they’re not an unproven product,” says Mr Pearson.

“Designed initially to improve safety and efficiency among terraced rice fields in China, these unmanned aerial systems are being used in 57 countries and have treated 66 million hectares of land.

Ninth generation “XAG has been making drones for 15 years, and this latest P100 version is the ninth generation. It has a maximum take-off weight of 100kg which includes 50kg of payload and two 7kg lithium ion batteries that provide a 10-minute flight time.”

In-field charging is from a petrol-powered, compact generator, which uses remaining battery power to automatically start and stop the charging process. Each 1kW battery reaches full charge in just eight minutes, simplifying in-field logistics

with multiple battery packs.

“We operate beneath a maximum height limit of 60m, though most applications are between 3-6m above the surface,” he adds.

“Once calibrated, the drone applies to the prescribed application rate, and follows A-B lines across the field. Using RTK, it also knows what has been covered, and will resume treatment where it left off, once the tank has been refilled.

He adds that output is around 15ha per hour, but with the capability to fly the P100 in swarms – multiple drones operating simultaneously – there is potential for a significant productivity boost that could easily rival conventional field sprayers.

“Using a pair of P100s to autonomously cover a field for example, suddenly puts a lot of potential at your fingertips, but to do so needs further authorisation.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 14:51

PRECISION SPRAYING

DRONES MACHINERY

Drones offer a safe way to apply treatments across hard-to-reach areas.

“With advanced drone technology, there is a lot of scope for changing the way crop protection products and fertilisers are applied – both in terms of efficiency and operator safety.

“There are no compaction issues, tramlines won’t be necessary and there’ll be a reduction in crop damage by removing wheeled vehicles from the process.”

Evolved As part of the ongoing R&D programme, Mr Pearson and his team have been using the P100 for contract application services. Having started with spraying roof spaces on commercial greenhouses to clean glass at a water rate equivalent to 600 litres/ha, the process has evolved to include under-sowing a cover crop mix and reseeding a failed area of oilseed rape.

“A grower in Yorkshire contacted us to see if we could apply farm-saved seed to around 40ha that had been decimated by flea beetle,” he says.

“The field was too wet to rework and drill, so we broadcast seed at a rate of 9kg/ha, using the drone. He no longer has bare patches in his oilseed rape crop.”

Another example has included the application of a winter feed mix for sheep, broadcast pre-harvest, into a standing wheat crop.

“This was a 200ha seeding job that we completed in two days,” he adds.

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As a CAA-approved Recognised Assessment Entity for remote pilot competency, AutoSpray Systems has recently introduced a series of training courses in collaboration with Harper Adams University and Drone Spray Precision, specifically to train operators for aerial application.

The £3,000 course currently combines four modules over a continuous five-day training period and includes a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate, pesticide training course, drone spraying operations and equipment maintenance. A fifth module is expected to be added, to include business training for those who are approaching the course with a view to carrying out contract application work with drone technology.

Mr Pearson adds: “We will also use the training course as an opportunity to interview and assess candidates to ensure they are responsible enough to buy a spray drone from us.

“And for the first 12 months of use, we have the ability to remotely monitor every customer’s flight.

With full telemetry, the levels of built-in traceability and enabling is considerable – and that will take field application records to the next level. Investing £40,000 in an aerial spraying and spreading system is one thing but using it for unintended purposes is something we are very keen to prevent,” he concludes.

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19/10/2023 14:51

MACHINERY TRACTORS

Case IH launches its most powerful tractor

O

ffering a peak power output of 778hp and a rated power of 715hp, the Quadtrac 715 claims the position as the largest tractor ever manufactured by Case IH. Available only in a tracked configuration, the 715 uses a 16-litre FPT Cursor engine with a two-stage turbo and 16-speed powershift transmission.

Maximum power is delivered at a claimed 1,900rpm with a peak torque of 3,255Nm at a claimed 1,400rpm.

Displacement Offered only on the 715 model, the new engine claims a 23% greater displacement than the comparatively smaller 13-litre block fitted to the lower-powered models in the range.

Fuel capacity has been increased by 11% to nearly 2,000 litres, split between two saddle tanks across the rear of the machine.

Offering a maximum output of 778hp, the Quadtrac 715 is Case IH’s most powerful production tractor.

Externally, the track drive has been redesigned for the 715 and includes a 305mm longer contact area.

The main drive wheel diameter has been increased to 1,008mm, which allows an increased track wrap with a

Cab changes include improved ride comfort and increased precision farming capacities with two IsoBus terminals.

58 AF Nov Dec p58 TR GG.indd 2

greater drive-lug engagement, with five points engaged on each drive, compared to the previous four points.

Case IH says the larger, redesigned bonnet allows improved service access with an increased opening area.

To account for its significant mass, the single-piece bonnet is opened with an electric actuator operated from an external switch.

Lighting LED lighting surrounding the tractors has been increased by a claimed 11% compared to that of the recently upgraded Quadtrac 645 stablemate.

Although a limited mounted implement range exists to operate with tractors of this size, buyers can specify the optional 10,092kg capacity, Cat. 4 three-point linkage, alongside a Cat. 5 drawbar.

Hydraulic options extend to a

maximum of eight rear spools with a standard output of 216 litres per minute or an optional twin-flow system with a 428-litre/minute capacity.

Cab access and operator comfort have been improved through the fitment of a revised design of rotating steps, four-point cab suspension and additional grab rails around the roof to improve operator safety when cleaning the windows.

Internally, the cab changes have been more limited and focus on the fitment of increased storage, internal LED lighting and an expanded range of speaker options.

The precision farming capacity has been increased with the provision to operate two of the manufacturer’s Advanced Farming System 1200 IsoBus terminals to run guidance, automated headland turning and implement control systems.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 17:09

TRACTORS MACHINERY With growing labour challenges and a focus on improving efficiency, a combined Case IH and Steyr press event in Austria had a lot to show. Tom Woolman reports.

Case IH and Steyr look to the future

M

achinery manufacturers are at a crossroads.

The power of technology, computing and artificial intelligence is set to revolutionise all sectors of agriculture, but the challenge that manufacturers of machinery face is which technology to invest their time and efforts into.

Over the next few years, some technologies will fall by the wayside and others will become mainstream and the cost of developing these

innovations is eye-watering. The rewards of getting it right are massive, but the risks of getting it wrong are equally frightening.

John Deere recently revealed that it now employs more software engineers than mechanical engineers.

It is against this backdrop, that Case IH ran a recent press event where it took the opportunity to showcase some of the areas it is developing for the future.

The autonomous Magnum prototype is part of the future vision from Case IH.

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19/10/2023 15:12

MACHINERY TRACTORS Autonomous tractor JCase IH sees a future in which farm labour and machinery operators in particular will become in increasingly short supply.

Not only is there a continued trend of urbanisation in virtually all parts of the world, but also agriculture continues to be a tough industry to recruit into, despite efforts to make it more attractive.

Equally, the challenges posed by climate change are going to make working windows shorter, with a need for increased efficiency and work rates in order to execute field operations effectively.

One of the solutions that Case IH sees to this challenge is machines with greater levels of automation and autonomy.

The manufacturer used its autumn press event to demonstrate some of these future technologies in the runup to Agritechnica 2023.

Taking place in Austria, not far from its St Valentin factory, around 60 journalists from all over Europe were invited to witness its driverless tractor perform cultivations.

CNH, the parent company

of Case IH and claiming to be the second largest tractor manufacturer in the world across its three brands of New Holland, Case IH and Steyr, acquired agricultural automation company Raven Industries in 2021 in a deal worth £1.7bn.

This allowed it to utilise Raven’s existing technology with its tractors, including radar, obstacle detection and perception cameras.

Raven technology has been publicly paired with Case IH in the US, with a video on its website demonstrating an autonomous tractor and chaser bin working alongside a combine.

The technology was demonstrated on a vehicle at the SIMA show 2022, but not utilised in field work until now.

The tractor on demonstration was a Magnum 340 pulling a Vaderstad cultivator.

“There is a lot of customer demand and a lot of people who want to run it. There is value in it for customers who are struggling with labour shortages, or those who have concerns about using their

operators for certain tasks,” said Quincy Milloy, staff design engineer with Raven Industries, who shared his viewpoint from the US market.

While Case IH is clearly demonstrating that it has the capability ready for the European market, driverless tractors will not be available to farmers any time soon.

“The problem that we have is that legislation around this area is not yet developed,” said a Case IH spokesperson.

He explained that manufacturers were speaking with EU legislators about the technology, pointing out that the process of legislating around autonomous cars would, in turn, unlock legislation for dealing with farm vehicles.

There remain questions around the cyber security risk with such technologies and whether this could pose a risk to safety or food security.

“There is a lot of legislation on the horizon. Some of it relates to safety, but some of it relates to cyber security,” said Mr Milloy. “It is an important topic, but one that we are very familiar with.”

Case IH revealed that it had to work together with local authorities for permission

Steyr CVT Hybrid JWhile many in the UK may not be familiar with Steyr tractors, they are one of the brands that sits in the CNH stable, along with New Holland and Case IH. Named after the Austrian town of the same name, the brand was acquired by the Case Corporation in 1996.

Although not currently sold in the UK, Steyr maintains a strong following across Europe where it has a reputation for premium quality and innovation.

The European headquarters for both Case IH and Steyr is St Valentin in Austria, and both brands are manufactured there.

Technologies piloted in the Steyr brand may find themselves deployed in other tractor brands more familiar

to put on the event, with geofences used to completely safeguard any issues with the autonomous equipment.

Events like this demonstrate to farmers, but also to authorities, that the technology can be safe and effective, moving perception and debate around what is possible.

Case IH Connect Room

Control of the autonomous Magnum is through technology from Raven Industries, a business CNH acquired in 2021.

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JCase IH allows connected machines to be monitored 24/7 via its newly created Connect Room in St Valentin, Austria.

This monitors data generated through machine operations and the data can be used to identify opportunities to improve efficiency for individual machines, sharing with the farmer via dealer networks.

Faults with machines can be instantly reported to the dealer, with remote diagnostics possible in real time. Case IH claims problems can even be highlighted before they occur, as data is collected and predictive algorithms develop.

A machine’s data can also be stored, building up monthly operational reports and machine history reports, which can be sold on with the tractor.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 15:14

rid to UK operators once fully developed.

In 2019 Steyr released a futuristically styled concept machine, with a modular electric drive providing hybrid power which could generate and supply energy where needed.

Although the unusual Konzept machine grabbed some headlines, it was not a production model.

The Steyr Hybrid CVT is the result of four years of refinement of this original concept.

The result is a hybrid tractor which is capable of real work in the field and Steyr has announced that it plans for it to be available for European farmers to buy from Agritechnica 2025.

“It was always our intention to move progressively from concept to reality with the Konzept

innovations we have developed and, with the Steyr Hybrid CVT, I think we have made clear our intention to break new ground with innovative technology and integration on a tractor that will provide customers with greater efficiency, productivity and driving experience,” says Christian Huber, managing director of CNH Austria and vice president Global Tractor Product Management.

The Steyr CVT Hybrid is based on an Impulse CVT 180hp machine currently in production, but with the addition of electric technology alongside the combustion engine, the tractor is capable of achieving a maximum power take-off of 260hp.

A hybrid module sits at the front of the tractor, while the conventional combustion engine sits towards the back.

The module comprises two

Utilising a hybrid drive, the prototype Steyr has an electricallydriven front axle.

parts, a generator and a motor driving the front axle. The front module is combined with the back hydro-mechanical CVT drive through an intelligent 4WD clutch.

The tractor is not a plugin hybrid, instead relying on energy already generated by the machine. Supercapacitors located in the vehicle are capable of charging up to 0.8MJ using energy that would otherwise be wasted and providing a boost in power for short periods in a variety of

ways. For example, the E-Boost function can provide fast acceleration for situations such pulling out of junctions, with the supercapacitors powered by previous braking.

The range of benefits from the hybrid technology can be of use to both larger and smaller scale farmers. Although the prototype has a 260hp ability, Steyr is confident that the technology is scalable potentially up to 500hp, according to Markus Putz, global product manager for hybrid tractors at Steyr.

UNRIVALLED SEED PLACEMENT PRONTO 7 DC The new Pronto 7 DC is a universal seed drill ideal for use in different applications, conditions and after a wide range of tillage methods. The 7.2m working width has one less pass per 36m than 6m model with same power requirement for a 16% improvement in productivity. The Pronto 7 DC ensures a precise grain placement and safe emergence, even at high operational speeds, with new seed coulters available for very heavy and stony soils. HORSCH.COM

TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHY AGRICULTURE AF Nov Dec p59 60 61 TR TW.indd 4

19/10/2023 15:14

MACHINERY TILLAGE

Innovation in precision cu lt Vaderstad’s TopDown and Opus with E-Services provide a step change in cultivation automation. Tom Woolman reports from the launch.

S

wedish manufacturer Vaderstad claims to have broken new ground in cultivation technology with the addition of E-Services to its popular TopDown and Opus machines.

Adjusting cultivators has historically involved stopping the vehicle, grabbing a spanner and applying some elbow grease to make manual alterations. However, this time-consuming process has made it difficult to cultivate ground efficiently when dealing with different soil conditions.

Wolfram Hastolz, director of tillage product management at Vaderstad, says: “We have seen a demand from farmers to optimise the tillage operation even further.

By being able to adjust the machine setting to the conditions on the field, it is possible to optimise the agronomy and working results.”

Vaderstad’s new machines allow sections of the cultivator to be adjusted remotely from the cab, either pre-programmed using

The four-stage TopDown cultivator has been integrated into Vaderstad’s E-Services control system.

prescription maps through the IsoBus system or manually adjusted as required using iPad-based controls. Four preset profiles can be made in the cab, allowing the operator to manually switch between predetermined settings.

The first three sections of the TopDown – discs, tines and leveller – can be set via digital controls to within the centimetre. The roller can

also be adjusted for pressure, catering for ranges in moisture content or different soil types.

The machine is also said to compensate in real time for changes in settings or the wear of parts, with depth and pressure remaining constant at the set level required.

Ed Hutchinson, technical specialist for Vaderstad UK, has been working on the development

of the technology for some time.

He says: “We can dynamically adjust the machine on the move so we always have the right setting. It puts the operator in total command of the machine.

“If you think about the detail and effort we put into setting up a planter or seeder, we can now apply this same precision to cultivation.”

Many farmers will be familiar

Cultivating growth JDue to high demand for products such as the Tempo seed drill in worldwide markets, Vaderstad’s business has grown rapidly in recent years. In the 2022 financial year alone, revenues grew by 25% and annual turnover is now equivalent to just over £400 million.

The business is familyowned, with Henrik Gilstring being the third generation to run the company, assuming the chief executive position last year. Speaking at a recent press event, he commented

62 AF Nov Dec p62 63 Vaderstad TR TW.indd 2

on the company’s position.

He said: “The challenge has been to grow the capacity of the business while maintaining quality.”

Vaderstad has stopped supplying implements to Russia and has a reduced volume going to Ukraine, and the impacts of the conflict on farmers around the world was noted.

“With tough times for farmers there are also tough times for people supporting farmers such as ourselves,” added Mr Gilstring.

Similar to Vaderstad’s drills and planters, the E-Services system operates through an iPad-based controller.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 15:05

TILLAGE MACHINERY

u ltivation from Vaderstad Proceed V Update JVaderstad unveiled its precision drill, Proceed V as a concept in 2021. This takes the precision technology developed in the Tempo drill range and allows it to be used with crops with a wider range of seed sizes, including wheat, barley and oilseed rape.

The promise is that individual seeds can be planted at speed

for cereal crops as well as larger seeds, making it a ‘one machine for all’ when it comes to drilling.

According to Vaderstad, one of the main benefits of the Proceed V will be the ability to reduce seed rates while maintaining yield and saving input costs.

The manufacturer has conducted research reducing

seed rates with its Proceed V prototype over three harvests.

It claims to have demonstrated that by reducing seed rate from 200 seeds per sq.m to 150 seeds/sq.m, yield will remain the same or better than with the conventional drill equivalent.

Lower seed rates may bring benefits, not only for input costs but also improved efficiencies,

as drills can work for longer without the need to refill, therefore improving sowing logistics.

Vaderstad has been continuing to develop the Proceed V for the commercial market and has announced that it will be available to order from autumn 2024, with deliveries on-farm from spring 2025.

with the use of prescription maps for the application of fertiliser, allowing the optimal trade off between agronomy and economics to be made for individual parts of the field.

The same system can be used with the E-Services cultivations, with areas such as tramlines capable of being automatically cultivated at a greater depth.

The system uses hydraulic load sensing (LS) to maintain a constant pressure in the hydraulic system.

Mr Hutchinson says it means the machine can respond in one to two seconds, arguing that this gives an advantage over a regular spool valve.

However, he points out that the LS system can be replaced by conventional hydraulics if the tractor pulling the cultivator does not have those capabilities.

Other benefits claimed are a reduction in diesel consumption and

parts wear, as cultivations only need to be as deep as absolutely necessary.

Some operators may be wondering if this technology can be retrofitted to existing machines, but Vaderstad says this will not be an option.

The TopDown and Opus with E-Services are available to order now, with production commencing in early 2024.

The price for a four-metre wide TopDown 400 with E-Services will

be £95,465, rising to £133,140 for the 7m wide TopDown 700.

The Opus machines with E-Services will have a price range of £71,905 to £100,700 between the 4m and 7m models.

Above: Using field maps, variable cultivation working is offered depending on the soil type or compaction.

Below: The Proceed precision drill for cereals aims to reduce seeding rates without reducing yields.

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63 19/10/2023 15:05

MACHINERY TRACTORS Previewed in early September, the ErgoSteer option will be offered to customers as a retrofit across the 500-1000 Vario ranges. Toby Whatley reports.

Fendt launches joystick steering retrofit option

D

eveloped to reduce the number of operator steering movements associated with using a front loader, or tight headland manoeuvres when working in some vegetable crops, the ErgoSteer joystick option from Fendt replaces the function of the steering wheel for in-field tasks.

Fitted as a complete replacement of the left-hand armrest, the joystick module includes forward and reverse directional control triggers and a guidance activation switch.

The joystick uses a forced-feedback drive, which physically powers the joystick back to a neutral position as the vehicle moves.

This is designed to reflect the castor effect of steering and removes the need to look at the position of the front wheels when operating.

Alternatively, the position of the joystick can be maintained,

The joystick is fitted as a complete replacement of the left-hand armrest.

with the position of the wheels held until the operator makes an adjustment.

A maximum operational speed of 25kph matches the upper limit of the VarioGuide GPS, with the manufacturer highlighting that the system has

The joystick control can be installed on any machine with a FendtOne control system from the 500 to 1000 Vario series.

64 AF Nov Dec p64 TR TW.indd 2

not been approved for on-highway use, which would include verge mowing or snow-clearance activities.

When operated with a loader controlled through the righthand 3L joystick, the driving experience is similar to a skid-steer or large loading shovel, with the operator sitting further back in the cab, and using a wider area of the windscreen.

Limited For most UK businesses where the telehandler has largely replaced loaders on farms, the use of ErgoSteer with loaders will be limited.

Its use for cultivations with repeated headland turning or consolidation on an AD clamp could prove to be valuable,

particularly for operators who sit with the seat rotated to improve the view of the implement.

Currently, the option is offered as a dealer supplied retrofit from December 2023 with the system wiring harness connecting to the machine through the existing roof-mounted terminals.

The control can be installed on any machine with a FendtOne control system from the 500 to 1000 Vario series.

Users of the smaller 300 Vario cannot access the system as the joystick’s mounting position directly above the handbrake prevents it from being operated.

The manufacturer advises the option will become a factory-fit option from late 2024.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 11:19

TALKING POLICY

MATT Culley The #YourHarvest campaign brings the public on a journey from farm to fork

T

he NFU has recently selected its next cohort of farmers to be part of the Cereals Development Programme. Aimed at farmers and growers aged 25 to 35, the programme offers a comprehensive insight into the arable sector, providing a rounded view on what the sector has to offer and where future opportunities are likely to appear.

The programme has a history of developing and nurturing the next generation of decision makers and NFU representatives, with half of the current National Crops Board making their way to their current elected roles from the foundations of the Cereals Development Programme. Other alumni from the

About the author rNFU crops board chairman Matt Culley is a fourth-generation farmer from Hampshire working in partnership with his parents and brother rThe 720-hectare enterprise produces wheat, barley, oilseed rape, forage maize and rye for anaerobic digestion across varying soil types, from chalk and chalk loam to clay cap. This includes 170ha of owned and rented land and 540ha of contract farming agreements rThe family also runs a pick-your-own soft fruit and summer vegetables business

programme sit on regional NFU boards or have other industry roles, and there is an opportunity for one member from each cohort to help organise and attend the programme which follows theirs.

The programme is run in partnership with Openfield and, as a result, the group will visit the headquarters of both Openfield and the NFU to learn more about how each organisation operates. The programme will also take the cohort to Portbury Dock, Moy Park and the John Innes Centre, to enhance the group’s understanding of the wider supply chain and the research which goes into delivering the technology and chemistry behind what is grown on-farm.

Finally, a trip to Westminster will open the participants’ eyes to the political aspects of the agricultural sector, gaining a better understanding of the lobbying work that the NFU does on behalf of its members and the process by which agricultural policy comes to affect farmers and how they produce our food.

As the group works its way through the supply chain by attending the programme of visits, they will be encouraged to capture parts of their experience on camera to enable them to report on what they have learned. This photo and video content will also be useful for the #YourHarvest campaign next year, which will be in its sixth year following an extremely successful campaign this summer.

The #YourHarvest campaign is an awareness

campaign that brings the public on a journey from farm to fork, helping to connect what they are seeing out in the fields over the summer with the food on their plate. This year, 5.5 million people were reminded that there would be no food without farmers, with a focus on the under 35 age range.

To target this demographic, the NFU utilised its recently launched TikTok account (@backbritishfarming_) to share positive and informative stories explaining why certain things are happening at harvest and what farmers are having to do to adapt to the challenges they face during such a busy time of year.

The campaign reached more than four times as many people in 2023 as it did the year before, with the new TikTok account being the second most engaged with platform, behind the ever-popular Facebook.

The feedback received from across the platforms was welcome, with expressions of thanks and gratitude for farmers intertwined with acknowledgement of how technical some of the processes involved in harvest are, and that the public don’t usually get such an opportunity to understand what farming really involves.

The educational campaign will be back for harvest 2024, but in the meantime, the NFU will continue to share content to help inform the public about how and why farming works in the way it does.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 AF Nov Dec p65 TR GG.indd 2

65 19/10/2023 15:04

BASIS news

The latest news for BASIS and FACTS-qualified farmers and advisers.

Practical guide to IPM

I

[IPM] provides the whole industry with proof of the care being exercised to protect the environment TERESA MEADOWS

66 AF Nov Dec p66 TR AE.indd 2

Professional users of plant protection products are required to consider the principles of IPM before applying chemicals.

PICTURE: TIM SCRIVENER

ntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is an important part of managing plant protection, and under the Sustainable Use Directive on Pesticides, professional users of plant protection products are required to consider the principles of IPM before applying chemicals.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) now rewards farmers for assessing and producing a plan under IPM1 with a payment of £989 a year.

A range of help and support for this action is available, including a new lesson in an upcoming BASIS Classroom course.

IPM is about preventing or controlling pests, weeds and diseases using a whole range of measures and options: from rotations and cultivations, to monitoring pest levels.

According to the NFU, farmers and growers have been regularly using many IPM techniques for decades, or even generations.

However, they have not been good at recording this action and talking about it under the IPM banner. This has led to a myth

that farmers are not following these actions, which is not the case.

In addition to the potential income, IPM plans provide an auditable standard for many farm assurance schemes including Red Tractor and Leaf.

New course A new BASIS Classroom course called ‘Practical Guide to Arable IPM Planning’ will be launched before the end of the year.

The course will, as the title implies, provide knowledge and practical guidance on the importance of IPM. The course can be taken at any time to suit the participant and begins with an introduction to the principles of IPM. It then moves on to explain how farmers can assess the current IPM techniques that are already being employed on their arable land.

Many different plan options and practices exist to meet the

requirements of arable crop production as well as the Sustainable Use Directive, and the course explores the choices that can be made to control the challenges of pests, diseases and weeds within a rotation and ensure optimum crop health alongside that of the farmed landscape.

Armed with this knowledge, course participants are then guided in how to complete an IPM plan for their farm.

A plan is merely the start of the IPM process. The outcomes need to be evaluated and recorded, and where necessary, the plan needs to be revised to improve the results.

Benefits Applying IPM techniques can deliver benefits including reducing costs and improving control levels, but there are also risks, which the course explains.

This BASIS course is the latest learning opportunity and

supplements other courses including the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection and IPM, which gives farmers and advisers a recognised qualification to undertake IPM planning.

A wealth of resources are also available from other sources including the NFU, VI, agriculture consultant ADAS and SRUC. Teresa Meadows, BASIS head of environment and public affairs, says: “IPM is an important part of today’s arable farming. Not only does it help farmers to gain income under SFI, it also provides the whole industry with proof of the care being exercised to protect the environment using a range of prevention, monitoring and control options, while growing crops efficiently.”

For farmers who want MORE ONLINE help with IPM plans for their farms, BASIS also provides a tool to identify qualified advisers in their area. This can be found at basis-reg.co.uk/find-an-adviser

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 19/10/2023 11:24

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November 29– 30, 2023 NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

THE CROPTEC SHOW RETURNS Join us at the UK’s premier technical knowledge event for farmers, growers and agronomists.

Attend our insightful seminars

Learn from our knowledge hubs

Chat with expert exhibitors

Test drive the latest sprayers

Make sure to book your ticket for this year’s show Scan the QR code on the right to register for your FREE ticket or visit croptecshow.com and join us for this year’s show.

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