CPM February 2023

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Follow the clues inside to a better NUE...

In this issue...

New Inatreq guidelines page 7

Pioneering nutrition page 72

Just how practical are they?

An approach from Integrated Soils

LAMMA lowdown page 79

CUPGRA Conference page 97

Editor’s pick Volume 25 Number 1

February 2023

Editor Lucy de la Pasture Sub-editor Rachael Harper Writers Mike Abram Tom Allen-Stevens Adam Clarke Charlotte Cunningham Melanie Jenkins Rob Jones

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As the spring begins to beckon, thoughts inevitably turn to crop nutrition. With the full impact of the rise in nitrogen prices likely to be felt this season, nitrogen use efficiency comes under a laser focus –– matching crop need to supply and making sure the crop can get hold of it, then use it to build yield, has never been more important for profitability.

Inside this issue are pages and pages of clues to improving nitrogen, and nutrient, use efficiency –– from soils, to spreaders, discussion on form and function, biologicals, fungicides and the list goes on.

All of these play a role in NUE. Joel Williams provides real food for thought as he discusses nitrogen as a case study when presenting a model to transition to agroecology at the Hutchinsons’ conference at the end of last year (page 71). He digs into the detail of how different N forms are metabolised and how N can be stabilised –– it’s a quick precis of the detailed course Joel’s running this spring, which several CPM readers have taken advantage of by the look of my Twitter feed!

A more input-focused approach is detailed on pages 50 and 53 –– this would be the substitution phase in Joel’s ESR model. On these pages the role of biologicals and biostimulants is explored as well as taking a tailored approach to crop nutrition so growth is never limited by poor supply.

Late last year Corteva announced new guidelines for the use of its fungicides containing the active, Inatreq. We talk to some growers who had problems after spraying it last spring –– some approached for comment weren’t able to because of an ongoing dispute –– and get some views on just how practical the recommendations are and whether they will be adhered to (page 7).

Theory to Field addresses wheat bulb fly –– a pest that has mostly gone off the radar, unless it’s a problem for you. With no available insecticides left to treat

invasions, in the vast majority of cases controlling damage falls entirely to cultural methods.

To get this right, it’s important to accurately assess the risk and this is where research funded by AHDB is beginning to reap the rewards (page 29).

Another thorny pest gracing the pages in this issue is cabbage stem flea beetle (page 26).

On-farm assessments, as part of the NIAB-led csfbSMART project, yielded some interesting results last season –– seemingly dismissing the role oilseed rape volunteers could play as a trap crop, an idea previously thought by researchers to be helpful.

Another OSR problem without any plant protection products to aid growers is verticillium.

Innovation Insight (page 20) tracks how a plant breeder found multi-gene resistance to the disease and explores the disease itself, which has only been of importance in the UK within the past two decades.

As the conference season draws to a close, we bring highlights from just a few –– there’s never enough room to properly do these gatherings justice. We bring politics and policy from Oxford Farming Conference (page 37), soil science from AHDB’s Agronomists Conference (page 45) and highlights from the CUPGRA (page 97) –– the go-to conference for potato growers –– as well as how to take those first steps when transforming to an agroecological-based farming system, the main topic at Hutchinsons’ Agroecology Conference (page 70).

New technology in plant breeding is tackling the question of sustainability from a different direction, using gene-editing to enhance crop associations with beneficial soil microbes. We explore this in detail on page 66.

I hope you enjoy reading this February issue of CPM as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together.

crop production magazine february 2023 3

In this issue 52 Sustainable solutions – Playing NUE detective

Opinion 6

Smith’s Soapbox - Views and opinions from an Essex peasant…

65 Nature Natters - A nature-friendly perspective from a

Getting the most out of nutrition involves following the clues to improve NUE.

58 Biostimulant usage survey – Looking to 2023 We find out how, what and why you may be using biologicals or biostimulants this season.

Cambs farmer.

96 Styles’ Stance - A tongue-in-cheek look at farming.

62 Agri-tech – Growing tall to nano small A look at the future of nanobubbles and vertical farming technology in UK agriculture.

106 Talking taties - Plain talking from a Yorkshire root grower.

107 Last Word - Topical insight from CPM’s Editor.

Technical 7

Sustainable farming 66 Genetic technology – A special relationship Gene-edited barley trials demonstrate the interaction between the crop and soil microbes.

Cereal agronomy – Inatreq – a headache for 2023?

With new guidance on best practice for Univoq, we find out how it’s being received.

69 Agroecology Conference – Making the transition Things to consider when on the agroecology path, from those early steps to the more advanced.

14 Real Results Pioneers – Contemplating knee-jerk

barley

A chance crop of hybrid barley is causing a Yorkshire grower to reconsider his cropping options.

20 Innovation Insight – Apprehending the hidden thief

72 Regen Pioneers – A road less travelled Joel Williams outlines ‘Efficiency, Substitution and Redesign’ as a route to agroecology.

76 Carbon trading – Eliminating asymmetry A look at how to align interest and caution when considering trading the farm’s carbon.

We find out how a plant breeder has bred for resistance to Verticillium is a disease without any fungicide options.

26 Cabbage stem flea beetle – Outsmarting the beetle Results from the first year of NIAB’s csfbSMART project throws new light on the pest.

29 Theory to Field – New tools for post-insecticide era

Machinery 79 LAMMA 2023 – The storm before the calm?

Highlights from the LAMMA Machinery Show, which had plenty of interest on offer.

New tool aims to provide growers with better risk-management info for wheat bulb fly.

33 Managing uncertainty – Steering through

84 On Farm Opinion – The seeds of a new way on

weeds

unchartered waters

With market and input price volatility, we find out how to build resilience with spring barley.

37 Oxford Farming Conference – Farming a new future

We find out how a Redekop seed control unit is bashing grassweeds into shape.

89 Fertiliser spreaders – Weighing up for accuracy A look at some of the new spreader models available which a im to improve efficiency.

Highlights from the first day of farming’s most prestigious meeting of minds in Oxford.

41 Pushing performance – Achieving with adjuvants Choosing the right adjuvant for the job in hand is crucial for best results. We find out how.

45 Crop nutrition – The functionality of soils

Roots 97 CUPGRA Conference – Change required from top

to bottom

A nugget from AHDB’s Agronomists Conference which considers the world beneath our feet.

47 Crop nutrition – Lightening the N footprint Three growers are looking at how they can use N more efficiently with the help of a digital tool.

50 Bioscience in practice – Maximising efficiency

Highlights from the annual CUPGRA Conference where potato barons gathered in December.

100 Potato agronomy – Cease and Decyst We visit a farm where trap cropping is being investigated to help reduce PCN populations.

103 Seed treatment – Rolling their eyes Two Cornish farmers have moved to a roller table to treat seed tubers before planting.

Supplementing natural processes provides a way to help the crop help itself to nutrients.

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72

79

103 crop production magazine february 2023 5

Would you credit it?

I’ll confess we have somewhat unkempt hedges on this farm.

I’ve never been one for an annual campaign of recreational flailing with the hedge trimmer.

Aside from the ones that overhang highways, our hedges will only be cut once every three to four years.

Some farmers will view this as neglectful laziness, whereas I see

it as advanced hedge management –– although, if I’m honest, I’ll admit I do have a character flaw that makes me prone to thinking up reasons not to do things rather than exerting myself to get off my backside. For example, when the kids were babies, I used to convince myself it was sometimes better just to leave them crying in the cot as a way of teaching them self-reliance.

Leaving my many parental failings to one side, let’s get back to hedges and their management or, as some may call it, lack of management. There have always been valid reasons not to routinely cut hedges in the autumn and winter. One good one being that the haws on the hawthorn in its winter rouge provide a larder for birds, such as finches and

6 crop production magazine february 2023

thrushes, that are facing a seasonal shortage of food. To my mind these little scarlet calorific avian treats are best left in place rather than scattering them to the four winds before they had time to mature.

Aside from this feeding of the peckish flocks, there is also the highly fashionable goal of carbon capture. Hedges like trees absorb carbon so –– to my simple mind –– the more mass they have, both above and below ground, then the more carbon they will sequester. But there is a complication in this logic in that careful pruning can encourage new vigorous growth, which in turn will sequester more carbon. Regular cutting could encourage more growth and lay down more carbon through the spent trimmings being mixed with soil they fall on.

On the other hand, hedges that are annually whacked back to denuded three-foot stumps aren’t going to be doing much business in the carbon exchange. But somewhere in the middle ground there may be an optimum. I’m not aware of any research on this. Maybe it should be done.

And when we discuss carbon nowadays in terms of practical farm management, you can be sure it won’t be long until someone mentions carbon credits. I don’t suppose I’m the only farmer who is looking at the potential of selling carbon credits with a sense of jeopardy.

On the one hand, a smart business should utilise all its assets to create profitable income streams. This seems even more keenly felt now that BPS is going the way of the dinosaurs. If by fine tuning our farm management we can monetarise it by creating carbon credits, then what’s not to like?

But on the other hand, it does feel this trick of creating carbon credits through somewhat

Guy Smith grows 500ha of combinable crops on the north east Essex coast, namely St. Osyth Marsh –– officially the driest spot in the British Isles.

Despite spurious claims from others that their farms are actually drier, he points out that his farm is in the Guinness Book of Records, whereas others aren’t. End of. @essexpeasant

creative carbon accounting has elements of being the latest scam soon to be bracketed with PPIs and Volkswagen’s ‘emissionsgate’ scandal.

I recollect in the early days of renewable energy subsidies that it could pay to shine electric lights onto solar panels.

Furthermore, there are some ethical questions when it comes to the buying and selling of carbon credits in order to absolve or justify a polluting activity. Getting on a jet plane with a clear conscience because the airline reassures you it has stopped someone cutting down a bit of rainforest seems as dodgy as the medieval trade in religious pardons –– whereby you could commit your favourite sins, safe in the knowledge that if you were rich enough to buy a pardon then you would still gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

At the end of the day coveting your neighbour’s wife should stay in the ‘do not do’ drawer, irrespective of what dodgy coupon you might have purchased. Similarly, if you want to contribute to a society-wide attempt to reduce the use of fossil fuels, then it’s probably best to not take too many air flights –– even if someone in the Amazon rainforest has been persuaded to keep their chainsaw in its sheath.

“

Inatreq – a headache for 2023?

The company appears to have buried its head in the sand over the problem and is suggesting it’s everyone else’s fault.

”

Cereal agronomy Corteva has recently issued detailed best practice application advice for Inatreq-containing fungicides for the coming season after worrying problems were reported by spray operators in 2022, its first season of use. But will farmers follow it? CPM reports.

By Mike Abram

Investigating the cause An investigation was also initiated, with a team of Corteva technical experts and field scientists assembled to work together with distributors, equipment manufacturers, sprayer operators and growers to try and get to the bottom of the problems reported on the ground.

The firm says all farms affected were contacted as part of the investigation, as well as farmers who used the products successfully, in order to try and find a root cause. Most farmers who used the product encountered no problems, according to Corteva, and experienced good disease control.

A faulty batch was quickly ruled out by the manufacturer, and in a statement to CPM it said: “The issue is believed to be due to a complex of factors, which is why it did not occur during the wide range of applications made during development and the early stages of commercialisation. To date, extensive investigations indicate sprayer parts are only affected when a number of factors converge.”

These factors include (see box) the type of material and age of sprayer seals and diaphragms, the concentration of the spray

solution, how long it is in contact with the sprayer parts, and sprayer operator practice – especially around wash out procedures.

While the investigation was not complete at the time of writing, those findings had led Corteva to issue detailed best practice application advice for using Inatreqcontaining products this spring.

The advice splits into two main areas: winter maintenance and in-season best practice. Over the winter Corteva is recommending that sprayer operators replace pump diaphragms with new ones, ideally made with Blueflex or NBR, as well as the diaphragm seal in the Ramsay box and anti-drip diaphragms, again with EPDM where possible. It also suggests operators can modify air shut off anti-drip valves to use Teflon replacements.

If it’s not possible to replace anti-drip ▲

It was slap bang in the middle of the wheat flag leaf spray window when farming social media started to explode with worries about recently approved fungicides containing new active ingredient Inatreq, such as Univoq (fenpicoxamid+ prothioconazole).

Problems were being reported by farmers and sprayer operators, who were asking whether anyone else had had issues with degradation of nozzle O-rings and diaphragms after spraying T2s containing the new active.

It was the last thing anyone in the industry would have wanted for the promising new fungicide, which is the top performing active against key wheat disease septoria according to the latest AHDB Fungicide Performance trials. But there were seemingly plenty of farmers who had experienced issues, with a small minority also expressing

concern over degradation to pump diaphragms.

Corteva immediately issued statements suggesting growers increase water volumes to as near to 200 l/ha as practical and to reduce the number of products in any tank mix. It also reminded sprayer operators to observe best sprayer practice, especially concerning clean out procedures.

Tom Robinson says it’s impossible to clean out a sprayer completely because of the circulatory system. Typically there’s between 0.5-1% left in the sprayer’s pipework when the tank is empty. crop production magazine february 2023 7

Cereal agronomy

Cleaning out the spray tank and flushing the lines as fully as possible is important when using Inatreqcontaining products. On Andrew’s sprayer the clean water tank is one-tenth of the volume of the main tank, and he’s able to time emptying one-third of the clean water tank into the main tank. He then sprays out that water and will stop when air is coming out of the nozzles, having got the sprayer as clean as he can with the first rinse load. By repeating that process a further two times, it ensures the cleanest possible rinse with the smallest amount of water. ▲

Has this happened before?

Inatreq isn’t the first product to have similar problems attributed to it, says Tom. Both Tilt (propiconazole) and an early formulation of sugar beet herbicide Betanal (phenmedipham) had similar issues.

With Tilt it was a solvent in the formulation which attacked the rubber diaphragms, at the time were all made of EPDM. Switching to ones made of Viton solved the problem and have become more widely used ever since.

“It’s unfortunate that in this instance EPDM seems a more resilient material to Univoq than Viton,” suggests Tom. While Corteva deny this was a problem identified before last season, one Twitter user suggested last spring that he had experienced similar issues while trialling the product for Corteva, and separately two CPM sources have suggested trials officers had noticed syringes not lasting as long when being used to measure out Inatreq products for trials.

8 crop production magazine february 2023

That last point is critical, according to independent spray consultant Tom Robinson, who has been part of the investigation team.

“Everybody who has passed their PA1 and PA2 sprayer training should remember that daily cleaning is a requirement for reliable performance and passing the test, but not everybody does it in practice.”

▲

diaphragms with EPDM or Teflon, it suggests replacing all pneumatic/automated anti-drip diaphragms/pistons before spraying products containing Inatreq and checking these after use.

During spraying Corteva is recommending a minimum spray volume of 200 l/ha. If lower water volumes are used, then the spray concentration should not exceed 0.7%.

Spray solutions should not be left in the spray tank overnight, and the tank, pump and lines should be rinsed at the end of each day’s spraying.

having got the sprayer as clean as he can with the first rinse load.”

By repeating that process a further two times, you ensure the cleanest possible rinse with the smallest amount of water, says Tom. “The amount of chemical left in the pipework after a triple rinse is 20 times less than if the sprayer is rinsed with the same volume of water transferred in one shot.”

Preventative winter maintenance is also good practice, he suggests. “It’s always better to change things, like diaphragms, before they start leaking, and how long they will last will depend on the general washing out maintenance.”

The advice from Corteva is “belt and braces”, he admits. “They don’t want anyone to have any problems and if you follow their recommendations, you really shouldn’t have any trouble.”

Most sprayer operators would expect to get 3-4 years out of a pump before changing diaphragms, depending on area covered, says Trevor Johnson, managing director of Acare Services, which supplies sprayers, servicing, parts and accessories.

“Sprayer operators typically only change

Good practice “I can’t comprehend when operators don’t wash sprayers out because no spray mix is going to be a tonic for the inside of a sprayer. The most important thing of all is washing out at the end of every day, and doing it properly,” he stresses. “It’s the starting point for a long life for your sprayer.”

That’s a point reiterated in a video Corteva has made with Tom and sprayer operator Andrew Myatt of Stowell Park Estate in Gloucestershire.

“It’s impossible to clean out a sprayer completely because of the circulatory system,” says Tom. “Typically there’s between 0.5-1% left in the sprayer’s pipework when the tank is empty. What we are doing when washing out is diluting the chemical left in the machine.”

The best way of completely flushing the system is to start by spraying out the spray mix completely in the field, and then splitting the water in the clean water tank in three equal parts. In Andrew’s sprayer the clean water tank is one-tenth of the volume of the main tank, and he’s able to time emptying one-third of the clean water tank into the main tank.

“He then sprays out that water and will stop when air is coming out of the nozzles,

David Lines says that contractors in his area are unlikely to use Inatreq-based products as they can’t risk the downtime.

Contributing factors Factors Corteva says could converge to cause sprayer damage when using Inatreq products: ● The materials of the sprayer seals and diaphragms ● The age of the sprayer seals and diaphragms ● The concentration of the spray solution ● The duration of contact between the spray solution and seals / diaphragms ● Individual user practices and adherence to guidelines / traditional sprayer hygiene good practice

Cereal agronomy maintenance guidance will cost from £300, but Tom suggests sprayer operators should perhaps be changing these components more often than they currently do.

“If you wait for them to fail, the farm will lose more money in downtime than taking the time to change them beforehand.”

But it does create an incentive to look at alternative products, which don’t have the same maintenance obligations, so how will the industry react?

Industry reaction Virtually every nozzle blocked after using Univoq last season, despite a meticulous cleaning process, says Roger Wilson. ▲

pump diaphragms when they notice they have a pressure drop rather than as part and parcel of a normal service routine. It’s unlikely we will see a change in mentality,” he predicts.

That’s partly due to the cost of a full pump service, including changing diaphragms and valves, which can set growers back by £800 to £2000, depending on the sprayer.

A do-it-yourself change of typically six diaphragms on a pump would be much cheaper –– each diaphragm on average costs around £28, although some brands can be more expensive, he says.

A Ramsay Box replacement kit costs £55 to £185, depending on manufacturer, while replacement anti-drip diaphragms, whether DCVs or O-rings, cost around £1-3 each, adds Trevor.

He suggests that it might be worth having a set of spares available during the season in case of any issues.

At a minimum, following the Corteva

Independent agronomist David Lines, based in Herefordshire, says his clients are happy to use Inatreq-based fungicide on around two-thirds of the wheat area he advises on.

“They are mainly the ones that didn’t have an issue or have read the guidelines and are happy to use it.”

The other third is mostly sprayed by a contractor, who had a minor issue last year, but isn’t prepared to risk the downtime this year, preferring to wait to see what happens this season, says David.

Those who plan to use Inatreq are unlikely to follow the maintenance advice, given they didn’t see any problems last season, but will likely raise water volumes to 150 l/ha to comply with the 0.7% concentration target, despite some unhappiness at needing to do this, he adds.

Decisions to not follow the guidance are likely to be at a grower’s own risk, he suggests. “Corteva has come out with a set of guidelines and if you’re not prepared to follow them, and you use the product, it’s at your own risk.”

Wiltshire grower Roger Wilson says his experiences last season and the new guidelines are making him think twice about using an Inatreq-based product this spring.

Virtually every nozzle was blocked the

Why has Corteva made these recommendations?

Evidence from the investigation found that damage to rubber components was more likely to occur at spray concentrations above 0.7%, which is why Corteva is recommending higher water volumes that are below that level, or ideally to use 200 l/ha.

“For growers who normally apply fungicides at lower water volumes, this will slow the operation down,” says Tom. “This is not ideal, but ultimately Univoq is a good product that growers will want to use. Hopefully this is a short-term mitigation while an alternative formulation can be developed.”

There is some contradiction in Corteva’s water volume advice. Currently showing on its

website, it’s still recommended to apply in 200 l/ha water for doses above 1.45 l/ha even though spray concentrations will be above 0.7% concentrations.

A component trial is part of the evidence supporting the recommendations around sprayer maintenance. One method of testing for problems with rubber components is putting them in a spray mix and looking for shape or weight changes, explains Tom. Corteva also used spray rig tests. “These tests showed that brand new components showed much less change than ones that had already been used.”

Ed Banthorp used Univoq last season at low water volumes without any serious issues and is likely to risk spraying at 100l/ha, unless widespread problems are reported again in 2023.

▲

next time he went to use his sprayer after using Univoq, he says, despite a meticulous cleaning procedure.

“What they are suggesting you do over winter isn’t going to come cheaply and will take time to do as well. It’s not a very user-friendly product.”

After a relatively dry spring with low disease pressure last year, it was also difficult to gauge whether the hassle was, or will be, worth it in terms of product performance, he adds.

“We used it because the trials suggested it would give an uplift in effectiveness, but it wasn’t really a year to show it was so good that it was worth all the hassle. I’m certainly thinking twice about using it again,” he says.

“I’m also not impressed with Corteva, the company appears to have buried its head in the sand over the problem and is suggesting it’s everyone else’s fault.”

Suffolk grower Ed Banthorp is more likely to use Univoq again, despite a few issues with Chemsavers going last spring while spraying the majority of his 600ha wheat with the new fungicide at T2.

“Compared with some people, we were incredibly lucky –– I’ve been told of some horror stories. But we had all the diaphragms in the pump changed in mid-April, so if they hadn’t been brand-new maybe we would have suffered more.”

Like Roger, he says it was difficult to judge performance last year but feels it would be a shame to write off a new active and will likely use Univoq again this spring.

Most of the sprayer maintenance has been done recently, but the farm will follow washing out procedures more closely.

Spraying at higher water volumes would be a pain, he admits. “It will be a shame to have to go at a higher water volume –– we typically spray fungicides at 100 l/ha –– so

10 crop production magazine february 2023

Cereal agronomy North Yorkshire farmer Thomas Simpson also had issues with nozzles dripping and blocking after using Univoq, albeit on a sprayer where the nozzle diaphragms were getting old. Despite some down time, he carried on using the product across 360ha of wheat.

On the fence

About 10% of users reported problems to Patrick Stephenson, who reckons that those who used Univoq last year without issue will probably continue to do so, but he sees the sprayer compatibility issues as a big hurdle for some. ▲

that will double the amount of time it takes us to get round. Having got away with it once, we might risk it, but if we hear of people having problems again then maybe we will change.”

For this season he’s on the fence about using it, after a new Horsch sprayer arrived on farm. That should mean he’s covered for the overwinter maintenance, which he describes as a lot to do just to use Univoq, but says he wants more clarity over what the problems are to decide whether to use it or not.

“Our sprayer wasn’t cheap, so I don’t want to damage that, but equally it’s a good product. Corteva seems to be covering its back to make it your problem if you use the product. I think they should be a bit clearer to encourage you to use the product.”

Yorkshire AICC agronomist Patrick Stephenson says that within his client base around 10% had some problems last season, which he thinks is probably reflective of the wider industry,

although perhaps only 1% resulted in formal complaints.

“We need the active, but the issues around its sprayer compatibility are substantial hurdles. Those people who used Univoq last year and had no problems will probably use it again, while some bigger contractors or larger farms will probably veer away from it,” he says.

He says Univoq is unlikely to be used at T1 because of the bigger tank mixes used at that timing. “But I don’t think there will be enough of the next best product, Revystar (fluxapyroxad+ mefentrifluconazole), in the system, and I’m also nervous whether that will be robust enough if we have a very wet April and May.” That should point to Univoq being used at T2, but Patrick thinks many growers will choose an alternative if they can, partly because of the water volume and overwinter maintenance required.

“If you’re planning on getting maintenance done and you’re think of using Univoq, don’t stint on anything and get it done while you have the chance, rather than waiting in-season and finding you have a problem.” ■

A new star is born A ‘new’ post-emergence herbicide will be available to wheat growers this spring as Bayer announces its latest evolution of Atlantis (mesosulfuron+ iodosulfuron) with the approval of Atlantis Star, which contains a third ALS-inhibitor, thiencarbazone-methyl.

The newly approved herbicide doesn’t promise revolution for post-em blackgrass and ryegrass control but instead an incremental improvement in performance over its Atlantis-derived predecessor, Pacifica Plus (mesosulfuron+ iodosulfuron+ amidosulfuron).

Although both herbicides contain three actives that are ALS-inhibitors, thiencarbazone-methyl (TCM) isn’t a sulfonylurea, it belongs to the chemical class of sulfonyl-amino-carbonyltriazolinones so there could potentially be a small metabolic resistance benefit, says Bayer’s Tom Chilcott.

Tom believes that it’s becoming more and more important to look beyond herbicide actives and consider their mode of action (MoA) so that we become much better at alternating different MoA in herbicide programmes to avoid driving selection pressure for resistance.

“Atlantis Star offers a slight improvement in blackgrass (5% over Pacifica), brome, ryegrass and wild oat control, with extended broadleaf weed control which includes speedwells,

12 crop production magazine february 2023

dead-nettles, pansy, poppy, bindweed and cranesbill,” he says.

While Atlantis Star plus Biopower holds its own with blackgrass and ryegrass, it’s bromes where the most significant improvement in control is seen, with the Bayer Chishill weed screen data (2017-2022) indicating a 10% uplift over Pacific for meadow brome and 20% for rye brome species.

Uptake of TCM is mostly foliar, though some residual activity remains which facilitates some activity on germinating seedlings, though root uptake is very limited –– especially in dry soils, explains Tom. It’s also an active which is non-volatile and photo stable but has high soil mobility (water solubility = 998 mg/l) and is rapidly degraded in soil by a combination of microbial breakdown and chemical hydrolysis.

Atlantis Star can be applied from 1 February from GS21 up to before GS33. At the full label rate of 0.33 kg/ha, Atlantis Star delivers the same amount of mesosulfuron as Pacifica Plus without the additional restrictions Pacifica has relating to timing, application technique and following crops. This means that a full rate of Atlantis Star can be used for early weed control where an equivalent rate of mesosulfuron as Pacific Plus can’t be applied until 1 March.

For those who have blackgrass to tackle this spring, a new post-emergence herbicide, Atlantis Star, may provide a little extra control but it’s evolution not revolution.

Tom adds that Atlantis Star can be tank-mixed with a wide range of herbicides to provide additional protection from additional weed germination and widen the spectrum of broad-leaf weed control. It can also be mixed with fungicides if farmers are looking to combine a T0 or T1 spray with weed control.

The Bayer advice is to apply Atlantis Star plus Biopower alone for best results, but the physical and biological compatibility of tank-mix partners is available on the Bayer website.

Real Results Pioneers

After careful consideration of what was a knee-jerk reaction, a last-minute alternative to oilseed rape provides food for thought for a North Lincolnshire grower.

CPM reports.

By Mike Abram

14 crop production magazine february 2023

as any winter barley variety, the range falls much higher on the graph in terms of total yield, he says.

A malting variety wasn’t an option with previous experience with spring barley grown on the farm suggesting it would be difficult to meet grain nitrogen spec.

“We grow out and out feed –– it’s just not worth the risk of anything else,” comments Pat.

Tackling blackgrass He followed the breeder’s recommendations for a seed rate of 200 seeds/m2, drilling the crop on 24 September. A pre-emergence herbicide stack of Liberator (diflufenican+ flufenacet) plus Defy (prosulfocarb) plus Stomp Aqua (pendimethalin) was applied across the field for blackgrass control.

In most of the field blackgrass is reasonably under control –– helped with the strategies Pat has put in place, including growing spring barley –– but there’s a 4ha patch where the blackgrass is more difficult, he says. “That area is a little wetter with a heavier soil type and the crop establishment wasn’t as good –– perhaps 85% of the target plant population.”

Hybrid barley is sometimes marketed on the basis that its competitiveness can help swamp out blackgrass, he notes. “In hindsight it has made me wonder just what crop competition would have done without the herbicide knock it suffered, because I’d opened the canopy even more with the treatment and the crop took a backward step [in competitiveness].

“It wasn’t a disaster –– blackgrass was hardly visible in June, so we’d got on top of it. In the low to moderate areas in the rest of the field, the crop did a reasonable job,

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Winter barley looked the best option, not least to create an earlier and longer window for drilling oilseed rape this season.

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although not as good at breaking the lifecycle in the way you can with spring barley.”

A dose of ammonium sulphate in early March, once there was crop growth, helped keep crop competition high for blackgrass suppression. That was followed with 60kgN/ha urea to promote and maintain tiller numbers to help maximise yield, he says. ▲

A knee-jerk reaction to grow winter barley when it became clear the conditions and calendar were going to threaten successful oilseed rape establishment last season has opened Pat Thornton’s eyes to the potential benefits of the crop in the rotation.

According to Pat, it was going to be too dry to drill oilseed rape in August 2021 at his 150ha Low Melwood Farm, near Owston Ferry –– just 20 miles east of Doncaster.

“It was obvious I was up against it, in terms of how dry it was, and looking at the calendar it was going to be a task to get a decent crop,” he explains.

“So after making the decision not to go ahead with OSR, I started looking at alternatives as there was certainly an opportunity to get something into the ground. Winter barley looked the best option, not least to create an earlier and longer window for drilling OSR this season.”

The hybrid feed variety SY Kingsbarn was chosen after discussions with a local agronomist, with its high yield potential and decent specific weight attracting him. While in variety trials, it has as wide a yield range

Contemplating knee-jerk barley

Given the relatively low disease pressure seen visually in the trial, the relatively big difference in yield between fungicide treatments was a surprise, says Pat Thornton.

Real Results Pioneers Pat Thornton, SY Kingsbarn winter barley trial at Owston Ferry Treatment T1 (8 April) T2 (27 April) Yield MOIC v farm standard treatment**

Field comparison Siltra Xpro (0.45 l/ha) Revystar (0.5 l/ha) 11.05 t/ha

BASF treatment Tevos (0.4 l/ha) + Innx (0.4 l/ha) Revystar (0.5 l/ha) 12.29t/ha £300.80/ha

*Estimated yields by ADAS Agronomics **Winter barley price: £250/t; Fungicide costs from 2022 industry panel

Source: BASF, 2022

Relative likelihood of yield benefit from BASF treatment Yield benefit or loss relative to Field comparison >(Greater than) 2.00t/ha >1.75t/ha >1.50t/ha >1.25t/ha >1.00t/ha >0.75t/ha >0.50t/ha >25t/ha >0.00t/ha

Probability 6% (very likely) 15% (very unlikely) 30% (very unlikely) 49% (about as likely as not) 69% (likely) 84% (likely) 93% (very likely) 98% (very likely) 99% (virtually uncertain)

MOIC v farm std trt* >£490.30/ha >£427.80/ha >£384.70/ha >£302.80/ha >£240.30/ha >£177.80/ha >£115.30/ha >£52.80/ha >£9.70/ha

Relative likelihood of a BASF yield benefit of different sizes, according to the Agronomics analysis of this trial. *Winter barley price: £250/t; Fungicide costs from 2022 industry panel Source: BASF, 2022 ▲

In total around 185kgN/ha was applied to the crop during the growing period.

“I was confident I could keep the crop standing so I was more thinking about maximising yield, but with the blackgrass at the back of the mind as well.”

Kingsbarn’s disease weaknesses are net blotch (rated 5 on the AHDB Recommended List) and brown rust (5). It also has moderate susceptibility to rhynchosporium (6). Brown rust was the disease most easy to find as the crop approached the

Variable rate nitrogen interest from xarvio trial Pat’s interest in the potential to variably apply fertiliser has been piqued after taking part in a joint BASF and Amazone trial using BASF’s digital platform xarvio on the farm.

Insight gained from satellite-sourced normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) imagery and yield data was used to create a xarvio powerzone map that split a winter wheat field into five different zones.

Those zones were used to drill the field using seed rates that varied by 15-20% using tined and disc Amazone drills, and to variably apply nitrogen using in-season biomass data.

“It was an interesting exercise,” Pat says. “My view is that on a farm of our scale we don’t really want to mess about too much

xarvio was used to produce a powerzone map that split a field of winter wheat into five different zones and nitrogen was variable applied using in-season biomass data. with variable seed rates.

“But with the way fertiliser prices are going, variable rate fertiliser was interesting in terms of the potential savings with the xarvio maps. Over the course of the season, there seemed to be a levelling up effect across the field and took out some of the range of results we’ve seen in previous years.”

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16 crop production magazine february 2023

key T1 (GS30-31) timing in early April, says Pat. With little winter barley grown on the farm in the recent past, the field was a good opportunity to gain knowledge and compare key fungicide products for the crop in a BASF Real Results farm-scale tramline trial.

The comparison in the trial was between long-standing market leader Siltra Xpro (bixafen+ prothioconazole) and newer BASF treatment Tevos (pyraclostrobin+ fluxapyroxad) plus Innox (prothioconazole) at T1.

Both sets of tramlines were treated with Revystar XE (mefentrifluconazole+ fluxapyroxad) at T2. That timing suits Revystar with mefentrifluconazole’s relative strength against ramularia, suggests Aliona Jones, agronomy manager for BASF in Pat’s region. Tevos, on the other hand, is more suited to the T1 timing, with its combination of fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin, she says.

“Technically, it’s a mix of two very good actives in barley. The SDHI Xemium (fluxapyroxad) is an extremely strong active

against rhynchosporium, while pyraclostrobin is the best strobilurin for the mutated strains of net blotch [that are difficult to control],” she explains.

“At the T1 timing, the biggest issue is usually rhynchosporium and net blotch, so for this threat and keeping disease low, the combination is perfect.

“By adding prothioconazole on top, we also cover the risk of mildew as well as adding extra control of rhynchosporium, making it a very good three-way combination.”

The co-formulated Tevos plus Innox (prothioconazole) will be widely available as a co-pack option for the coming season, she notes.

In the trial, which used standard commercial rates of Siltra Xpro (0.45 l/ha) and Tevos (0.4 l/ha) plus Innox (0.4 l/ha), disease remained visually low during the season, says Pat. A disease assessment was due to be made on 28 June, but like many crops last summer, warm dry weather in late June caused rapid senescence so that the trial couldn’t be assessed.

Despite that, as the majority of the crop senesced rapidly Pat thinks the Tevos-treated tramlines hung on a little longer. “You could start to see slight differences in the treatments,” he notes.

That difference became more evident when the combine went through. The yield data was analysed using ADAS Agronomics, which helps clean the data by removing headlands, any anomalous combine runs when the header might not be full or spans both treatments and locally extreme data points.

The data is also corrected for offsets created by changes in combine direction.

Statistical analysis is then used to estimate treatment effects and associated standard errors. In this case, the farm standard Siltra programme yield was measured as 11.05 t/ha –– higher than the true average due to the exclusion of headlands, while the Agronomics analysis estimated that the BASF

Real Results Pioneers ▲

treatment increased yield by 1.24 t/ha.

With the variation in the yield data, ADAS is 90% confident that difference ranges from 0.43 t/ha to as high as 2.05 t/ha, with 1.24 t/ha as the best estimate, says ADAS research consultant Susie Roques, who manages Agronomics trials.

In this case, the statistical model suggested the yield benefit in the trial was unlikely to have been the result of underlying soil variation, she confirms.

The analysis also gives growers a guide, based on the trial result, of the probability of different levels of yield response. Susie says the analysis’ best estimate (1.24 t/ha) has a 50% probability of occurring, with higher yield responses becoming more unlikely, and lower yield responses more likely (see table).

“If we think our estimation of the treatment effect is 1.24 t/ha, then we’re pretty sure it is over 0.5 t/ha –– hence the 93% probability,” she says.

The table is intended to be used in conjunction with relative costs of different treatments to determine the likelihood for an economic benefit, she explains.

While given the relatively low disease pressure seen visually in the trial, that kind of difference was perhaps a surprise, although Pat says he definitely saw a noticeable difference in yield as he was combining the field.

Aliona says it wasn’t the only result like this, however. “We had a few trials which were similar, and in all the barley trials I think growers are convinced of the value of Tevos treatment.”

But what was behind the yield increase?

Aliona suggests both the physiological and disease control benefits from pyraclostrobin and fluxapyroxad could have been playing a part in the dry spring and summer period.

“In barley, physiological effects are even more important than in wheat, for example,” she claims. “It’s one of those crops where you only have to breathe on it and it starts yellowing. So keeping stress out is extremely important.”

That’s particularly important for ramularia, she points out. “Keeping the crop clean as long as possible delays the switch in the ramularia pathogen from being a benign fungus in the barley plant into a pathogen.

“The moment the crop gets stressed, the switch happens as ramularia is already in 80% of barley plants, so keeping the crop clean from disease is important as that will cause stress, and that’s obviously a strength of both pyraclostrobin and fluxapyroxad.”

Fluxapyroxad also has a physiological effect that will help the crop during period of 18 crop production magazine february 2023

dry weather, she notes. “It’s helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata in the plant and controlling water loss, so if there is drought Xemium has this positive physiological effect.”

If the effect of the treatment was to keep the crop greener for longer, as Pat thinks, that will also have contributed to extra grain fill and higher yields.

Despite the success of the winter barley crop, Pat hasn’t planted any for the coming season. The early harvest gave him an extra two weeks over wheat for a good entry into OSR, and with rain forecast in mid-August he was able to drill the crop just before it came.

“We were able to spread some sewage cake and get it drilled on 10 August, and it’s looking really well –– I think the sewage helped keep flea beetle off, and by the time we got to August bank holiday and peak migration it was well-established and big enough to withstand attack,” he says.

That success has also got him considering whether winter barley should return next season to help give the best entry into OSR, he says. “It was a bit of a kneejerk reaction to put it in, and another one to not grow it.

“But now having seen the data, it will come back, particularly if we don’t get the opportunity to put OSR in after wheat in good time. In the autumn we don’t know the OSR would come up as well as it did, so we’ve got a one-year lag.”

Being able to continue with OSR in the rotation has other benefits including stretching the rotation for his other main break crop, winter beans, which would benefit from a longer break.

Pat says his YEN results highlighted that there was very little in the way of limiting factors for the crop, which was why it yielded

Future Real Results plans Next year’s Real Results trials are still in the planning, but Pat would be interested in investigating winter bean yields.

“Last year, the top one third of the pods basically died when it came hot. But the top one-third is where the profit is in my opinion. We’re establishing them differently now using shallower cultivations than the plough, pest control isn’t too bad, but we need to be pushing yields.

“We can’t be growing the standard 5-6 t/ha that we were 20 years ago; it needs to be 8.75 t/ha to start competing with other break crops. So yes, I’d like to look a bit harder at how I can keep that top third greener longer and take them through to harvest.”

so well and took advantage of the free resources (eg water, sunlight, etc). But blackgrass would potentially stop the crop being able to take advantage of those things because of either its innate competitiveness or the check from herbicides –– hence wanting to grow it where blackgrass was under control.

“So maybe I was too quick to act and I can see barley coming back. The only caveat is that I would need to be confident on those fields around the blackgrass, because I think the secret from these results was putting the barley crop in the field and not putting anything in its way to stop it. It had all the free resource it wanted, and captured it all, with the fungicides we applied giving it a little extra boost to take the yields to those levels,” he concludes. ■

The Real Results Circle BASF’s Real Results Circle farmer-led trials are now in their sixth year. The initiative is focused on working with more than 50 farmers to conduct field-scale trials on their own farms using their own kit and management systems.

The trials are all assessed using ADAS’ Agronomics tool which delivers statistical confidence to tramline, or field-wide treatment comparisons –– an important part of Real Results.

In a continuation of this series we follow the journey, thinking and results from farmers involved in the programme. The features also look at

some other related topics, such as environmental stewardship and return on investment.

We want farmers to share their knowledge and conduct on-farm trials. By coming together to face challenges as one, we can find out what really works and shape the future of UK agriculture.

To keep in touch with the progress of these growers and the trials, go to www.basfrealresults.co.uk or scan the QR code.

Apprehending the hidden thief

we’re still seeing issues. For the past two to three years, we have been protecting our local trials from cabbage stem flea beetle and this has allowed us to identify a correlation between verticillium resistance and yield, with some popular varieties yielding 20-25% lower than expected when compared with the AHDB Recommended List.”

But verticillium resistance has proven to be particularly hard to breed for compared with some other OSR diseases.

However, LSPB has produced several innovative new varieties with good quantitative Breeding resistance to the disease, is the main weapon with one topping the RL, we have against the says Chris.

This came about as part of disease. a wider company aim started

by LSPB’s parent firm NPZ. “Once verticillium was identified as an issue, the company wanted to start screening for it in the breeding programme,” explains Craig.

“The island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea had high levels of the disease in the soil making it ideal as a trial site. So we’ve been screening there since 2010 as we can get repeatable scores. From this work, we have been able to identify several lines with good resistance to verticillium and these have been developed for our current and future hybrid offering.”

But even on the island, verticillium One of those diseases is verticillium, symptoms aren’t strong every year, originally named verticillium wilt but says Christian. So further work has since renamed in 2016 to verticillium stem stripe been done to develop a bioassay in due to lack of wilting symptoms in OSR, glasshouses, which has given more clarifies Christian Flachenecker, NPZ winter repeatable results and allowed the firm oilseed rape breeder. to supplement its field screening with “Breeding is the main weapon we have additional glasshouse trials. against the disease and is a high priority LSPB is routinely screening its hybrids for breeders as there’s no fungicide control for resistance and has pre-breeding against verticillium,” he stresses. activities undergoing to identify novel sources of resilience toverticillium and Relative newcomer other diseases, adds Craig.

Although not a new disease, its history in the UK is relatively recent. OSR was first recognised as a host of verticillium stem stripe in Sweden in 1969 but the disease has only been officially recognised in the UK since 2007, explains LSPB’s Craig Padley.

“The first plant material I saw with verticillium was at the OSR congress in Copenhagen in 2003 and I first experienced the disease in the UK at local trials in 2009.”

For LSPB, verticillium has become an Chris Guest and Craig Padley both feel that the increasing issue at the firm’s trial site north impact of verticillium may be overlooked if farmers of Cambridge, says Craig. “Our typical haven’t grown oilseed rape for several years. rotation has OSR one in five and even then,

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Innovation Insight

By Melanie Jenkins

Breeding disease resistance into new plant varieties has become vitally more significant as access to the arsenal of pesticides gradually tightens and pressures mount for a more holistic approach to integrated pest management. And in some cases, no pesticide options are available at all.

20 crop production magazine february 2023

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Innovation isn’t always about light bulb moments, sometimes it’s a case of joining the dots. CPM gets an insight into how an oilseed rape plant breeder discovered genetics with resistance to verticillium.

Innovation Insight LSPB’s variety Murray has demonstrated good resistance to verticillium. ▲

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Research has also involved looking at exotic materials related to OSR, such as cabbage, to try to identify resistant genes, says Christian. “But no single gene has yet been identified that provides significant resistance against verticillium, which has meant it’s been incredibly hard to breed varieties with quantitative resistance to it.

“We have looked for one, and there were

some hints that there could have been promising genetics in related brassicas, but there’s never been a major resistance gene found. If we discovered one then we’d be able to develop a marker for it, but this still isn’t possible with verticillium which is why field screenings and bioassay testing is so important,” he explains.

“What we believe we have at the moment is a number of genes working together to provide quantitative resistance to the disease.”

The hidden thief Although the highest incidences of the disease are historically seen in the East and central England, says Craig, verticillium has spread far and wide, having been recorded as far west as Herefordshire and north into Yorkshire.

So why is it becoming more widespread? ADAS plant pathologist, Philip Walker explains more about the disease. Caused by the pathogen Verticillium longisporum, it’s a soil borne disease which –– a bit like club root –– can survive for up to 10 years or longer in the soil, he says.

“So once you have it, verticillium is there for a long time –– the disease is very persistent.

“The fungus survives as microsclerotia on the previous crop debris. When the next OSR crop is planted, the root exudates stimulate the germination of the fungus which then penetrates the root hairs, surviving in the plant tissue asymptomatically for a long time,” he says.

“When a crop goes through stem extension, the fungus grows into the vascular system and is transported to other plant tissues. A few weeks before harvest, brown striping on the stems become visible,” describes Philip. Now the fungus invades from the vessels and starts to damage surrounding plant parenchyma, leading to Post-harvest verticillium can be seen in the stems as black striping.

22 crop production magazine february 2023

senescence and finally the formation of microsclerotia beneath the epidermis.

In contrast, this systemic spread of the fungus at the early plant growth stages is reduced in plants which exhibit resistance to the disease.

The main issue verticillium causes in OSR is a premature ripening of the plant pre-harvest, explains Craig. “Like phoma stem canker, verticillium switches at one point in its lifecycle to a destructive phase and compromises plant stem performance, leading to reduced thousand seed weight and therefore yield.

“Pre-harvest the disease displays as striping on the stems and branches, as well as premature pod senescence –– they turn black, and seeds don’t develop. Post-harvest it can be seen in the stems as black striping.”

And with the disease still being relatively new to the UK, there’s a concern that the symptoms pre- and post-harvest may be going unidentified, suggests Craig. “We have known growers with promising looking crops that have failed to deliver on expectations, so we’re encouraging agronomists to look at the stems to see if verticillium is present. NIAB can soil test for the disease, but once you know the symptoms it’s fairly distinctive.”

Capable of robbing growers of up to 30% of their yield, losses from verticillium may not be inconsiderable, adds Chris.

And in 2017, the Defra pest and disease survey estimated that around 20% of the UK’s OSR cropping had some form of infection, adds Craig.

“And I’m pretty sure it has increased since then.

The reason being that there’s a prominent movement towards min and no-till practices, which means trash is left on the surface of the soil and could be helping it spread.

“And going back 10 years or so, a lot of growers had quite tight rotations, which may also have exacerbated the issue by feeding the fungus.”

Christian also believes that climate change is helping the disease. “We have found that higher temperatures in the autumn leads to conditions

Philip Walker says that there are certain varieties which do have resistance mechanisms against verticillium. more conducive to infection. Warmer autumns might be good for growers as it means they can drill later and still get good establishment but on the other hand this exacerbates fungal diseases such as verticillium.”

It’s also a disease which hasn’t had a lot of work done on it for quite some time, according to Chris. “A lot of the information out there is based on older research but AHDB is doing some work on establishing an index scoring system, however this isn’t publicly available yet. So far, there’s one year’s worth of data and they require two years of data before they can rate the varieties and publish the information on the RL.” ADAS has been running variety screening trials to identify verticillium resistance for the past 10 years, says Philip. “We know certain varieties do have resistance mechanisms against verticillium spores growing in stem tissues, so they don’t express symptoms, essentially preventing infection. An index score from 1-100 is allocated to varieties based on assessment pre-harvest with the most susceptible varieties scoring 90 or above and those more resistant scoring about 30. We find our assessment method is very reliable in confidently discriminating between the varieties for verticillium.”

Innovation Insight for three or four years and both Turing and Murray coped with it.”

Managing genetics

No single gene has yet been identified that provides significant resistance against verticillium, according to Christian Flachenecker. ▲

LSPB’s latest variety, Turing, has demonstrated a high level of resistance to verticillium and has topped the UK RL for gross output, at 107%, according to Christian.

Murray –– with 106% on the RL for the East/West region only –– is another variety which has demonstrated good resistance to verticillium, while Vegas –– 105% UK gross output on the RL –– has medium resistance.

“With all three of these varieties, growers don’t need to fear verticillium too much as they’re among the best on the market for resistance,” says Christian. “Our Cambridgeshire site had the hardest attack by verticillium last year it had experienced

One thing NPZ/LSPB has noticed in its breeding programme is that a good verticillium resistance also prevents pod shattering, notes LSPB’s Chris Guest.

Although this is anecdotal, he comments that despite LSPB’s hybrids currently not having the pod shatter resistance gene, they still perform very well under field conditions due to their healthy condition throughout the growing season, particularly in the latter stages.

But while breeders continue to look for more advanced solutions to the disease, the advice is to spread risk, says Chris.

“It’s about managing the genetics that are on offer and not over-utilising or relying on a specific variety. We’ve seen the OSR area pick back up for the coming harvest and I feel it’ll go up again next year, so consider verticillium resistance as a selecting factor for the autumn.”

Being aware of the disease’s presence means growers can plan for it, adds Craig.

“If it’s in your soils, you ought to consider growing varieties that are more resistant.”

NPZ/LSPB is now trying to combine verticillium resistance with other disease resistances, says Christian. “In Turing and Murray, this is already combined with light leaf spot resistance. Now we would like to add TuYV and/or clubroot resistance as well, but due to the quantitative nature of the verticillium resistance, it's very hard.

Innovation Insight CPM would like to thank LSPB for kindly sponsoring this article, and for providing privileged access to staff and material used to help put the article together.

“Even with the development of gene editing and CRISPR-Cas9, you need to identify a major resistance gene first. As long as it hasn't been found we have to keep working on a broad basis and continue with our classical breeding efforts,” he adds. ■

LSPB has produced several innovative new varieties with good quantitative resistance to verticillium.

A view from the field As many growers return to oilseed rape for what might be the first time in a number of years, they’re being advised to not forget the lurking dangers to yield posed by verticillium stem stripe.

This sly disease is known to sit in soils for years and though it may infect plants in autumn, will silently damage the plant’s systems throughout the season, only evident through physical symptoms immediately pre-harvest –– meaning it can go undetected, warns Chris.

“OSR growers have been through quite a few challenges in the past two years, including drought and cabbage stem flea beetle –– especially those in East Anglia and the southeast of England –– while others had gone away from the crop altogether and therefore may have forgotten about the silent killer that’s verticillium,” he says.

The proof of the pudding is always in the eating. That’s one of the reasons why Agrii puts varieties through their paces to get

24 crop production magazine february 2023

an insider’s view.

David Leaper’s assessment of Agrii’s trial sites last year highlights the advances in resistance to the disease in LSPB varieties. “Turing, Vegas and Flemming demonstrated very clean stem health towards the end of the season with low levels of verticillium symptoms. This was in contrast to other hybrids, which, although still high yielding, had high levels of symptoms,” he explains.

He also suggests that growers shouldn’t be put off by the lack of turnip yellow virus resistance in the LSPB varieties. “They generally have good disease resistance and are yielding at the top end.

So even though they don’t have the full traits package, they’re still bringing a great deal to the party.”

Prior to verticillium being formally identified in the UK, its symptoms tended to be masked by other diseases, adds David. “Now, I find one pair of eyes late in the season can get consistent

In trials, David Leaper says the resistance to verticillium was noticeable in LSPB varieties. information on it. And while some argue that opening up rotations help, it still tends to feature later in the season, especially if there’s stress on the plants from things such as drought conditions.”

Outsmarting the beetle Cabbage stem flea beetle It might appear the challenge of cabbage stem flea beetle is insurmountable, but the industry has not sat on its laurels since losing neonicotinoids. CPM gets the scoop on the latest results from NIAB’s csfbSmart project.

During the 2019/20 season, NIAB picked out some differences in adult CSFB preference towards certain OSR varieties in small plot trials, explains Colin. “There appeared to be some favoured movement of adults when they were laying eggs.”

To test this, NIAB looked at three different varieties (based on informed discussion about in field CSFB behaviour) grown as monocrops in 24x24m plots. “We also drilled 80:20 splits of the varieties but at 900 to one another so as to easily pick the different varieties for stem sampling at two Cambridgeshire sites.”

By Melanie Jenkins Larval burdens

26 crop production magazine february 2023

The varieties used were Aspire, Aurelia and DK Expectation. “Aspire picked up the least stem larvae in both situations, followed by Aurelia and then Expectation. But there was no statistical difference between Aurelia and Expectation at all, and Aspire might only have had the least larvae because it emerges more slowly.

“In the control plots based in Cambridge and Dorset, there was a difference in larval numbers but when we tried to integrate the different varieties into a blend with the aim of using one variety to take the higher burden, there clearly was no difference,” he explains.

“It was a very exciting idea but, unfortunately, when we looked at these varieties there was no difference at all so this won’t be something we will be following up on,” says Colin.

Another investigation NIAB has undertaken has involved looking at longer lasting companion crops which are thought to work by masking OSR crops from CSFB adults looking to lay eggs or feed on young plants through the late autumn and winter period.

It does appear that there’s a reduction in stem larvae where longer lasting companion

Based on what we have seen so far, volunteers don’t act as a trap crop in any way.

”

crops are grown, says Colin. “This fits with what we’re seeing with the emergence data.

We’re looking to sample as many crops as we can this winter that have later lasting companion crops such as vetches, beans, phacelia and are happy to visit any farmers that have such crops to sample and provide information that may help their management moving forwards.”

And diversity of companion crops may play a role in deterring CSFB adults from OSR plants. “We noticed that where a grower had a wide mix of companion crops there

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Growers could well be resigned to the fact that cabbage stem flea beetle is a problem that’s here to stay and that in some years it will cause large losses and in others it won’t. But as part of the csfbSmart initiative, NIAB has been looking at practical ways to keep this most nuisance of pests from damaging oilseed rape crops, driven by farmer led involvement.

And based on stem samples sent to NIAB from growers in 2021, the geographical spread of CSFB has widened across the country, with the pest now found north of Berwick-upon-Tweed and in higher numbers in North Wales than previously witnessed.

“It’s not just in the home counties anymore, but has spread much further,” says Colin Peters of NIAB. One of the big headaches with CSFB is its larvae, which may be found in stems and petioles of plants. Three years ago, a large chunk of the crop was lost after Christmas because of this, says Colin. “This is still causing difficulties now and growers have asked, ‘if I get my crop established, how am I going to help get it to fruition’?.”

“

Results from the csfbSMART project show that the geographical spread of CSFB has widened across the country.

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was a significant reduction in stem larvae, which we can only assume is due to the crop being masked at the time the adults were flying around looking for it.”

But what has the project learnt about adult movements?

In 2021, NIAB used water traps in volunteers next to emerging OSR crops to assess whether these can act as trap crops, which is one of ideas which has seemed promising in previous ADAS research.

Trap cropping “We hardly saw any CSFB in these traps, so it looks as if the adults are emerging from August through to November and leaving the field,” says Colin.

“But we’re well aware that many insects are programmed to leave the site they emerge from to go and populate other areas.”

The 2022 season was unique in that the hot, dry summer and early autumn meant volunteers were only just emerging in September, but again, none of these showed any CSFB damage, adds Colin. “So that rubber stamps it. We do have to be careful as this is only one year’s worth of data, but based on what we have seen so far, volunteers don’t act as a trap crop in any way.”

A further idea NIAB is investigating looks at the concept that the pest may have a

The csfbSmart project looked at whether CSFB had a preference towards one OSR variety over another.

Longer lasting companion crops are thought to mask OSR crops from CSFB adults looking to lay eggs, says Colin Peters. vulnerable stage in August when pupae are in the soil, and that could be taken advantage of through the use of shallow cultivations. It’s a similar strategy to one being employed to reduce wireworm in arable soils, says Colin.

“We had two farmers carry out different depth cultivations on their farms, with traps placed in both cultivated and uncultivated fields. The first farm’s cultivated fields demonstrated a 68% reduction in CSFB emergence to the end of September,” says Colin. “The pests started to catch up a bit, so by the end of November this dropped to a 63% reduction. This intimates that this window of vulnerability exists.”

At the second farm, which had slightly deeper cultivations, there was a 93.7% reduction in emergence to the end of September, which fell to 90% by the end of November. “These cultivations were done straight after harvest and didn’t affect the emergence of volunteers, so the fields still greened up nicely. We think this is quite exciting and we will hopefully look at this in more detail by taking core samples of soil to understand what’s going on with the larvae.”

To help further its investigations, NIAB requests any growers who still have living companion crops with their OSR to get in touch as it would be interested in taking samples. ■

New tools for post-insecticide era Wheat bulb fly is a pest that’s been in slow decline over the past 10 years but, given the right conditions, it can still pack a punch in cereal crops. CPM looks at some new research that will better predict seasonal risk and how to manage it without insecticides.

Arguably, insect pests now provide one of the greatest challenges for crop producers and their agronomists. While other threats, like weeds and fungal pathogens, are becoming harder to control due to loss of crop protection products and resistance, concerns over the impact of insecticides on non-target fauna has hit insecticide availability hard.

As a consequence, it’s become very difficult to bring new products to the market.

And that’s before considering the impact of a changing climate, which is making local seasonal risk much harder to predict.

One insect that has become more complicated to manage over recent years is wheat bulb fly. Previous control relied on organophosphate insecticides, chlorpyrifos

Pest surveillance The product losses led to DOW AgroScience (now Corteva) withdrawing commercial funding for PestWatch, an ADAS-led initiative which monitored wheat bulb fly egg hatch progress across the country and advised growers when to apply Dursban WG (chlorpyriphos).

AHDB continued to fund an autumn survey –– an ADAS-led initiative running since 1984 –– which identifies annual wheat bulb fly risk using egg extraction from soil samples taken at 30 reference sites.

However, the process is both costly and time consuming, says AHDB crop protection scientist Siobhan Hillman.

“Large quantities of soil are processed to get the results and isn’t necessarily representative of a farm’s local risk, given the relatively low number of reference sites,” she says.

To try and improve the information the autumn survey provides, a recent

“

We’re heading towards a future where we are far less reliant on insecticides.

”

AHDB-funded research project has explored the potential of mathematical models to help growers manage the pest in the absence of the most effective chemical controls. ▲

By Adam Clarke

and dimethoate, which were withdrawn in the mid 2010s.

Chlorpyrifos targeted the larvae after they hatched and before they managed to burrow into cereal seedlings, preventing the dead heart symptoms synonymous with wheat bulb fly attack.

Dimethoate was utilised as a dead heart spray, giving some control of larvae already feeding inside plants, and provided a last line of defence against significant crop damage.

Steve Ellis explains that entomologists have been working with crop physiologists to try and develop a non-chemical WBF control strategy to limit impact on yield. crop production magazine february 2023 29

Theory to Field “We’re heading towards a future where we are far less reliant on insecticides because the ones that are available are likely to become more expensive and fewer in number. We need to start thinking of other ways to manage these pests,” notes Steve.

On top of the modelling work, the project has also looked at how technology and modelling can make the soil egg count work more efficient. Currently, the process involves the ADAS team roaming around the 30 reference sites with a golf hole borer, taking 20 soil cores over a 4ha area. With each core weighing about the same as a bag of sugar, it means there are huge ▲

WBF eggs hatch from January to March and burrow into crops, feeding on shoots through March and April.

threshold advice for pollen beetle in oilseed rape, by taking into consideration the amount of flower buds a plant could afford to lose before losing yield, similar logic was applied to the wheat crop.

A wheat crop requires about 500 shoots/m2 by GS31 to achieve its full potential. This can be increased to 600 shoots/m2 where a yield of 11t/ha plus is expected. Steve says this leads to the argument that, like oilseed rape and its flowers, there’s a reservoir of excess shoots most wheat crops can afford to sacrifice to wheat bulb fly before losing yield. Most conventionally timed drillings often have 1000 shoots/m2 at GS31, he points out.

Autumn 2022 survey results Management information

▲

According to the project’s lead, ADAS entomologist Steve Ellis says it’s hoped that this will lead to more timely and accurate forecasting of WBF risk, allowing cereal growers to adapt cereal crop management to minimise damage.

He explains that thinking on wheat bulb fly can be divided into two strands –– one which looks at conventionally timed sowings (September to October) when growers have no chemical options to control WBF. The second is late sowings (November onwards) when growers have the option of using Signal 300 ES (cypermethrin) to protect seedlings from invading larvae at their most vulnerable stage.

“Because most crops will be sown in the conventional window where there’s no chemical intervention, we’ve been working with crop physiologists to try and develop a non-chemical control strategy to limit impact on yield,” says Steve.

So why are physiologists involved?

Having successfully helped update the

Wheat bulb fly adults lay their eggs on bare ground from July to September, which means potatoes or sugar beet may increase the risk in the following wheat crop.

30 crop production magazine february 2023

“When we started to investigate this, we realised that we needed to be able to model or predict the number of shoots a crop will have at GS31, based on seed rate and sowing date. What the physiologists have done is produce that model, and it provides extremely valuable information to use in terms of managing wheat bulb fly.”

Knowing how many shoots a crop will produce and how many WBF eggs/m2 there are in the soil allows an estimate of how many shoots a crop is likely to lose, he explains.

Steve highlights that this calculation must also consider established knowledge about WBF biology, including the fact that not all eggs hatch –– literature suggests just 46% produce a potentially damaging larva.

Furthermore, it’s known that each larva has four instars and get bigger and hungrier each time it moults. As the larva feeds and moves through those growth stages, it has the potential to eat up to four shoots.

“So, if we multiply the number of viable eggs by four, that will give the number of shoots that could potentially be lost in each crop. You can then subtract that from the potential number of shoots you expect to achieve from your sowing date and seed rate.

“Then you can start to think about how you can manipulate the seed rate and/or sowing date to produce more shoots if the damage takes you below the optimum 500-600 shoots/m2 threshold,” explains Steve.

The model needs further validation in the field, but it has the potential to be incorporated into a digital tool, he adds.

This will allow a grower to enter basic data, such as wheat bulb fly infestation at a given location, sowing date, and planned seed rate. It could then offer a valuable management recommendation.

AHDB’s wheat bulb fly survey suggests it may be one of the lowest-risk seasons on record for this cereal pest. Despite the relatively low risk, almost one-third of sites had egg populations at levels that could have justified the use of seed treatments in late-sown winter wheat crops.

As part of the ADAS-led project, researchers analysed soil samples from 30 fields at elevated risk of economic damage. Siobhan, who manages pest research at AHDB, says the egg counts from the survey of soil samples provide a useful indication of risk.

“When combined with site-specific information, the results can help farmers determine the need for chemical seed treatments to protect their crops from attack,” she adds. ● Eastern England survey results (15 sites) ● Twelve were in the low-risk category (<100 eggs/m2). ● Two were in the moderate-risk category (101–249 eggs/m2). ● One was in the high-risk category (250–500 eggs/m2). ● No sites were in the very-high-risk category (<500 eggs/m2).

The highest egg count in this region was 274 eggs/m2, following potatoes at a site in Cambridgeshire. The average egg count was 62 eggs/m2. ● North of England survey results (15 sites) ● Nine were in the low-risk category (<100 eggs/m2). ● Six were in the moderate-risk category (101–249 eggs/ m2). ● No sites were in the high-risk or very-high-risk categories.

The highest egg count in this region was 173 eggs/ m2, following vining peas at a site in North Yorkshire. The average egg count was 100 eggs/m2.

Theory to Field

Gout fly is on the increase in many areas and it’s possible the new WBF model can be adapted to this and other Dipterous pests. ▲

volumes of soil to take back to the lab for analysis, he explains.

Soil is then washed through sieves and all the bits of organic matter collected. This is then immersed in magnesium sulphate so the eggs float to the top and are picked off by a lab technician.

“It’s a lot of hard work taking the samples and takes a long time to wash it all through the apparatus, particularly if you have a clay soil that’s difficult to break down with the water,” explains Steve.

This led the project team to look at ways of assessing the numbers of wheat bulb fly eggs more cost effectively, a concept

originally explored in the 1980s when researchers attempted to produce a model which made predictions based on weather data.

The original work accounted for about 50% of the variability in egg numbers from season to season, which Steve says was a reasonable start but not accurate enough to provide the basis for a management decision. Building on this, current ADAS researchers brought in a wider range of weather variables to see if it would increase the prediction accuracy.

“One of the issues with the current system is that we don’t get the autumn survey results until late September or early October, which is a bit too late for people to make seed treatment decisions.”

Wheat bulb fly facts ● WBF (Delia coarctata) is a significant

pest of all cereals, apart from oats, in eastern areas of the UK ● Adult flies lay eggs on bare soil in July to September ● Eggs hatch in January to March and burrow into crops and feed on shoots ● Feeding continues through March/April, when dead heart symptoms appear ● Larvae emerge from plants during April/May and pupate

Dead heart symptoms are the tell-tale of wheat bulb fly damage and show up in wheat crops through March and April.

32 crop production magazine february 2023

Improved accuracy “We’ve managed to get the weather-based model up to about 70% accuracy. The advantage over the survey is that weather data is live, and it gives an indication of wheat bulb fly risk much earlier in the season,” says Steve.

There are much higher numbers of wheat bulb fly eggs in organic soils in areas like Cambridgeshire than there are mineral soils, he adds. “Currently, there’s no concrete explanation as to why that might be.

However, it’s information like this, contained in historic data from the autumn survey, that can be fed into the risk model to further improve its accuracy.”

Previous crop could also be another layer of information to incorporate. Some crops increase risk, such as potatoes and sugar beet, because they can leave soil exposed during the WBF egg-laying period.

“That’s something we’re looking into now.

It’ll mean instead of lugging huge volumes of soil around each year, we’ll be able to plug meteorological and other data into the mathematical model to give growers an accurate and early indication of risk. It just needs some refinement,” says Steve.

Wheat bulb fly is just one of several Diptera stem-boring pests that could benefit from similar models, with gout fly, frit fly and yellow cereal fly some examples relevant to UK cereal crops. Gout fly, in particular, has been on the rise in areas where blackgrass populations have historically been high, and growers pushed growers into more spring cropping, he says.

Most cereal crops (except oats and maize) can be affected, and the greatest risk is to those emerging before the end of September, which catch the autumn generation of flies, and late-sown winter and spring cereals which catch the spring

Gout fly larva pupated in upper stem of wheat plant after ear emergence in summer. generation. Gout fly larvae only takes out single shoots, but in late-sown winter and spring cereal crops that have little time to tiller, it can result in economically damaging infestations.

“While you are solving one problem with spring crops, you are potentially opening the door to another. Using the philosophy of entomologists and physiologists working together to combat the pest –– looking at the crop first, rather than the pest –– is something that we’re much more interested in now and it can be applied to gout fly.

“It should produce much more practical, sustainable thresholds and control strategies which take into consideration the needs of the crop to hit optimum yield,” says Steve.

Siobhan says that before deciding if the autumn survey will continue, AHDB needs to understand its priority for levy payers. If wheat bulb fly does remain important, then it should attract some funding to keep the project going.

Similarly, developing a digital tool, like an app or web platform, for the wheat bulb fly models would need to be identified as a priority in grower feedback before making the leap. “We’d need to ensure that the tool is useful growers and would have longevity, as AHDB doesn’t want to start something that will only be stopped soon afterwards,” she concludes. ■

Research roundup From Theory to Field is part of AHDB’s delivery of knowledge exchange on grower-funded research projects.CPM would like to thank AHDB for its support and in providing privileged access to staff and others involved in helping put these articles together.

For further info: AHDB Project 21510022 (2112003): Autumn survey of wheat bulb fly incidence invested £32,000 in monitoring the pest and exploring alternative methods of predicting risk. Reports can be downloaded at https://ahdb.org.uk/autumn-survey-ofwheat-bulb-fly-incidence

“

Remember that the scores on the AHDB Recommended List are a variety’s potential.

”

Steering through Managing unchartered waters uncertainty In an environment where no one is completely cushioned from volatility, it’s never been more important to select varieties to better manage risk. CPM takes a look at decision-making for the spring barley crop for a more certain outcome.

By Melanie Jenkins

Market opportunities According to Kathryn Hamlen of Syngenta, the breeder of Laureate, the aim is to produce varieties that suit both the malt distilling and brewing markets in the UK, but they are also trialled across Europe to open up opportunities for export as well.

“This means that varieties must be both stable and consistent in the field and also when going for malting. Our varieties have to perform for the end users as well as the growers,” she says.

Mike also believes it’s important to consider whether a few extra percentage points in yield is worth the risk compared with dependability. “People often select varieties for the extra yield potential, but I’m not always convinced this is the right thing as different weather conditions can quickly knock off that possibility. Whereas other traits, like later maturity or better standing power, may have helped more.

“Remember that the scores on the AHDB Recommended List are a variety’s potential. So also think about your workload and how quickly you can get on to spray, if necessary,” he adds.

Volatile weather conditions are one of the challenges we’re very aware of, says Kathryn. “Conditions have been very extreme over the past couple of years and there’s been a shorter window to get spring barley drilled because it has been so dry. As breeders, this is something we’re very conscious of and the company is actively looking for varieties that can perform in different climates as well as consistently with differing weather patterns.”

The three years of official RL trials currently operating in the UK means varieties can be faced with very different seasons during this period, she explains.

“Before we get plants to the registration

▲

With volatility in mind, having a range of crops which spread the workload at drilling and harvest and are destined for different markets is bound to spread risk, says Mike Thornton of Procam. He believes the first thing to consider with spring barley varieties is to make sure there’s market access.

“The end users of spring barley usually want something specific which can make for a conservative market. Plus, when growers find what they like they tend to stick with it, which can mean innovation with the crop can be restricted. But Laureate has pushed things on –– the variety has end user acceptance, so you can grow it and be reasonably sure you won’t see many claims or rejections, taking the headache out of growing spring barley.”

As a tool to manage volatility, Mike feels the variety offers several potential market outlets and so can be grown in more areas of the country. “Varieties with the possibility of more than one home means you don’t have to just grow a feed variety, removing you from the hiccups, such as end price volatility and risks associated with that.”

Mike Thornton believes the first thing to consider with spring barley varieties is to make sure there’s market access.

crop production magazine february 2023 33

Laureate could be a tool to manage volatility as the variety offers several potential market outlets and so can be grown in more areas of the country. ▲

phase, we look at their development in different locations, environments and weather conditions. They are trialled across our wide European and UK network which allows us to determine their environmental adaptability as well.”

Meeting challenges But volatile weather conditions aren’t the only challenge growers are faced with, they’re also having to contend with some of the highest input costs ever experienced.

“When growers are faced with a year of high prices, like nitrogen and chemical inputs, their risks are greater, so having consistent performance is important in any crop,” says Mike. “Laureate has been around for a few years, so it’s proven on farm.”

The price of N is affecting everybody at the moment, adds Kathryn. “We have looked extensively at varieties in different N programmes but are now conducting further trials looking at how it affects both malt distilling and brewing quality.

“Obviously, the aim is for under 1.65% N for malt distilling and between 1.6% and 1.75% for domestic brewing, so we’re looking at higher N rates and also at breaking points, with applications ranging from zero N up to 200kgN/ha. This is so we can identify what the optimum application rate for yield is, as well as hitting the right N levels for the specific market.”

“But what we have also seen is that once you go past a certain quantity of N in trials, there’s no longer a yield increase and the grain N just keeps getting higher and higher. So putting too much N on doesn’t result in a win-win situation.”

This is where varieties such as Laureate are advantageous.

“The variety doesn’t require too much N,” says Kathryn. “It’s also a high tillering variety that has relatively small ears compared with other varieties that came before it, and this is what we believe makes it so consistent.

“In poorer years where varieties might lose a tiller, high tillering varieties can retain yield. But if yield is built into the ear, losing one tiller is a big deal.”

Mike advises that spring barley wants almost all of its nutrition at once because of its rapid development. “Make sure your soil analysis is up to date –– for both macro and micronutrients. Lots of spring barley is grown on high pH soils where manganese, copper and zinc might be locked up, and you don’t want crops to stop growing because of this and become more susceptible to disease.”

The other aspect of Laureate its breeder feels can help in volatile times is its untreated yield, which reflects its resistance to foliar diseases.

“Laureate was added to the RL in 2016 and its untreated yield has kept up with newer varieties. Rated as 94% of

Managing uncertainty control on the 2023 RL, there are only four varieties with a higher untreated yield,” says Kathryn.

And as more growers look to drill earlier, there’s greater potential for disease to build up over the winter months, she explains. “This means it’s important to have a variety with good disease resistance that fits into this slot.”

According to Mike, establishment will really come down to what suits the grower

SY Splendor has stiff straw, meaning growers don’t have to worry so much about lodging and it can be useful in grassweed situations.

most. “Everyone will tell you how they did it best and cheapest, but it can be horses for courses. One thing isn’t right for everyone.”

Short growing season

According to Kathryn Hamlen, the aim is to produce varieties that suit both the malt distilling and brewing markets in the UK. finding favour as a feed barley. “It has a good specific weight and grain size,” says Kathryn.

“This is helpful for the variety’s yield, but it ticks other boxes for the feed sector as well. Its good stiff straw means growers don’t have to worry about lodging, and ▲

“However, the earlier you can get in, the better, as an extra week in the life of a spring crop is more comparatively than a week in the life of a winter crop. Just don’t go in with the drill if the ground is too cold –– making sure the seedbed is right can pay dividends.”

What really makes Laureate special for Kathryn is its market potential. “When spring barley varieties get recommended this is only the first hurdle –– getting approval from the Malting Barley Committee can take another two years.

“Laureate has proven very consistent for maltsters and has a very high water extract and predicted spirit yield (PSY) for potential alcohol output. This is why it’s got such a good following for use in both malt distilling and brewing markets.”

Laureate isn’t the only variety its breeder believes can help manage volatility. Although originally bred as a malting variety, SY Splendor is now

Consistency is valuable With a long history of growing spring malting barley, Hampshire grower Nigel Pond is no stranger to the importance of growing varieties that perform consistently well.

Farming for 43 years at Dene Farm, Nether Wallop near Stockbridge, spring barley plays a key role for Nigel –– featuring twice in his six-year rotation of winter wheat, spring barley, winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, spring barley, and peas. It also makes up almost a third of the farm’s cropped area –– at 100ha out of 330ha.

So reliable performance is key.

“Spring barley is important in the rotation and consistency is very valuable to us,” explains Nigel. “Being a spring crop, it also helps with our grassweed management –– it cleans the land up. We probably couldn’t grow winter wheat without it.”

Historically, Propino spring barley was grown for its ability to maintain good yields of 8-9t/ha on the farm and deliver low grain nitrogens for malting. Farming close to the port of Southampton also means that growing varieties with flexibility for regional malting markets or for shipping to elsewhere helps to spread risk. More recently, Propino has been replaced by Laureate.

“We’ve grown Laureate for six or seven years now,” Nigel continues. “Propino was a good

variety, but Laureate is particularly good, which is why we’ve grown it for so long.

“Typically for us it yields about 9t/ha, but in 2022 it did 10.25t/ha over a weighbridge.

Although it was a dry year it seemed that we had rain every time we needed it. We also don’t seem to get problems with screenings as its quality has been amazing.”

As well as having to contend with fertiliser costs, the farm also has to manage the risks from the weather on crop growth due to its shallow chalk soils. Sewage sludge cake is applied annually to build soil organic matter and to provide some nitrogen release to ease the costs of bagged fertiliser.

In 2022, Laureate received a total of 135kg/ha of granular nitrogen applied in three splits –– pre- and post-drilling applications of ammonium nitrate followed by a nitrogen plus sulphur fertiliser in early April. Potash is also applied, but no phosphate as the soil’s phosphate index is high.

Normally, spring barley is drilled in February, although most Laureate in 2022 went in on 4 March. With tillering limited on the shallow chalk soil, a relatively high seed rate of 430 seeds/m2 was used, with the aim of achieving 900 ears/m2.

Spring barley helps with Nigel Pond’s grassweed management and he says he probably couldn’t grow winter wheat without it.

Ramularia can also be a big problem in the area, and three fungicide sprays were applied through the season, including the multi-site folpet which was applied twice. The crop also received a PGR programme.

“The key is to keep it standing,” continues Nigel. “We’ve had brackling in the past and that’s not good, although that was probably before Laureate. We’re growing Laureate again in 2023 and we’ll probably grow it in 2024.”

crop production magazine february 2023 35

Managing uncertainty Managing uncertainty

Spring barley establishment will really come down to what suits the grower most. ▲

in areas where blackgrass and other grassweeds are an issue, it’s beneficial as weaker strawed varieties can get pulled down.”

According to Mike, spring barley has advantages for growers dealing with grassweeds. “As spring barley has a prostrate growth habit and is quick developing, it can keep up with grassweeds, such as blackgrass, ryegrass and bromes. Plus, as it’s drilled later, most grassweeds will have emerged and can be taken out with cultivations or glyphosate, potentially reducing the burden. Any remaining in the crop can be combatted with herbicides.”

Splendor couldn’t be more stable across the different regions in the UK, having performed pretty much the same

There’s always uncertainty in farming but UK growers are heading into unchartered waters as a number of global factors –– including the effects of climate change, the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine –– combine to cause market price volatility and input inflation.

Then there are more local variables to manage –– including weather-related risks, disease sensitivity shifts and weed pressures.

With all of these factors combined, the stakes have risen even higher.

To help navigate these mounting risks and uncertainty for cereal growers, CPM has teamed with Syngenta to draw on its experience from varieties through to crop protection. Looking at the whole picture, this series of articles aims to help manage

uncertainty for those growing cereal crops.

At Syngenta our purpose is to bring plant potential to life.

We invest and innovate to transform the way crops are grown and protected to bring about positive, lasting change in agriculture.

We help farmers manage a complex set of challenges from nature and society. Our approach is to ensure that everybody wins; that farmers are prosperous, agriculture becomes more sustainable, and consumers have safe, healthy and nutritious food.

everywhere, adds Kathryn.

Beyond variety choice, seed care is also of high importance, says Kathryn.

“One thing that is very important is the control of seed-borne diseases. Fungicidal seed dressings, such as Vibrance Duo (fludioxonil+ sedaxane), are a really good way of controlling these. We have seen time and again in plant digs that using the

seed dressing on barley and winter wheat improves establishment and rooting.

“Spring barley can be dealing with all sorts of different conditions when it’s drilled, so having better rooting really helps the crop get up and away. It also aids it if there’s a drought later on and helps plants be more resilient throughout the season, whatever happens,” she explains. ■

Farming a new future Oxford Farming Conference Highlighting the significance of small scale and global cooperation to tackle climate change in a sustainable way, the annual Oxford Farming Conference returned as an in-person event for the first time in three years. CPM attended the conference to get the lowdown.

By Melanie Jenkins

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What we must do is radically collaborate.

”

Policy announcements Mark stated that SFI has been made more accessible to tenant farmers by offering them a three-year agreement instead of five and by allowing tenants on shorter contracts to enter into the scheme without requiring their landlord’s consent.

He also detailed updated payment rates for Mid and Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship schemes which will apply to new and existing agreements, with an increase in payments averaging around 10%. Following pressure from farming lobby groups, a further announcement was made in mid-January that the rates for capital items in agreements starting from 1 January 2023 onwards which marked a government u-turn as capital rates were to remain unchanged.

The Farming Investment Fund will also see a further round of grants awarded for 2023, says Mark. “This will help you make investments to your business through equipment, technology and infrastructure.”

The Government has also released 45,000 visas for seasonal workers, with the possibility of an extra 10,000. “Looking forward we must have a strong and more structured way of providing the industry with the labour it requires,” says Mark.

But shadow farming minister, Daniel Zeichner, questioned whether the announcements would be enough to change the fortunes of farmers given the current challenges they face. “Welcome though some of it sounds, it seems relatively small scale and doesn’t look to be much more than inflation uprating. Only time will tell whether it’s going to be enough to encourage many farmers to participate.” ▲

Kickstarting the New Year, the Oxford Farming Conference, held on 4-6 January, presented a clear message that the world must work collaboratively to tackle climate change now, be that through the incremental steps made by individual nations, farming incentives or through global trade deals and international law.

Taking to the stage, Defra farming minister Mark Spencer detailed the Government’s plans to focus on more a sustainable, resilient food system to feed the growing population and halt the decline of nature.

“We’ve got to keep everyone fed and save the planet at the same time. In my book, those are two sides of the same coin. We must work together and it’s as simple as that.”

Announcing changes to the Sustainable

Farming Incentive (SFI), Mark dedicated a new £20/ha payment for the first 50ha, up to £1000, to cover the cost of taking part in the scheme. “This is in addition to the payments you’ll receive for the work you do to improve your farm and the environment.” This additional payment is available to all new and existing adopters.

Mark Spencer detailed the Government’s plans to focus on a more sustainable, resilient food system. crop production magazine february 2023 37

Countryside Stewardship payments have been revised upwards, on average by 10% for all new and existing Mid and Higher Tier agreements. ▲

Taking to the stage, Baroness Kate Rock, chair of the Tenancy Working Group, drew attention to the important role tenant farmers play in producing quality food, sequestering carbon, cleaning rivers and restoring wildlife.

She stressed that it’s vital tenant farmers have access to the financial incentives to continue to do so.

Detailing how tenant farmers incorporate regenerative agriculture into their businesses, she stressed this can take years, have yield penalties and associated costs. “We must have a modern take on those clauses that will reward good stewardship and natural capital. The positive benefits of moving to and operating a regenerative system can take many years, certainly more than the average length of Farm Business Tenancies, which is now less than four years.

“The SFI is meant to support farmers to make this transition.

However, the scheme cannot lengthen the terms of a tenancy, meaning farmers have to work within their existing tenancy

structure,” she explains.

Kate highlighted that tenancies have shrunk from being multi-generational post-war, to currently just over three years. “Even when agreements are assumed to roll over on a year-to-year basis, there’s no guarantee of continued occupation into the long term.

A landlord can serve a notice to quit at any time. Sadly, this has consequences for the management of the natural capital assets as a holding. So even if a tenant wants to take actions to move to a regenerative system, they aren’t incentivised to do so within a short-term planning horizon.

“So we must move to a state where agricultural tenancy is characterised by long-term agreements. And we have to seriously consider further structural changes so that tenanted land can play its role in a regenerative future,” she says.

“Issues around biodiversity, management of carbon and other ecosystem services in the context of using land for

Trade deals could help innovative investment if they don’t entirely focus on market access but instead look at regulatory cooperation.

Oxford Farming Conference “The other thing that’s really hot off the press and quite interesting is the Environment Act 2021, which is a post Brexit approach to setting environmental governance and broader environmental law framework in the UK, which includes a 25-year plan,” he explains.

The plan is vitally important as it sets out how the country will move forward regarding the environment and is where the phrase ‘public money for public goods’ comes from.

“It details improved regulatory baselines for water and air pollution from agricultural sources, but the devil’s in the detail and there’s questions around implementation and progress.”

Kyle highlighted that there’ve been u-turns and hesitations on the Government’s part and that it’s still unclear how previous financial incentives to farmers will be fully replaced or replicated. “And importantly, how these will link up to policy and targets.

It’s all still a bit vague and there’s been abysmal implementation of law and enforcement.”

EU retained law The further issue looming is the revocation of retained EU law at the end of December this year. “The ‘sunset clause’ basically means that if law inherited from the European system isn’t dealt with by government in some way before December, it just drops off the face of the earth. And that’s not just related to the environment and agriculture, but to a whole slew of things that are in the public and business interest,” warns Kyle.

So what should happen to change this?

“We must have government leadership across this. We require a clear, fair and proportionate regulatory baseline that deters pollution and establishes a living and level playing field amongst market participants,” he adds.

And it appears the devolved nations have perhaps been better at supporting agriculture and the environment than the UK government, according to Jane Davidson, author of #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country and previous Wales environment minister.

“This is about system change, because unless we have this, we’re not going to be able to make the adjustments in order to fully tackle the climate and the biodiversity crises.” To achieve a system change, a new set of values had to be established for how the Welsh Government did business.

“That set of values is the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act which came out in 2015,” she says.

“And now we are the only country in the

Wales is the only country in the world that has a legislative mechanism to deliver on the sustainable development goals by 2030, says Jane Davidson. world that has a legislative mechanism to deliver on the sustainable development goals by 2030. From the Act, what you will see is redefining prosperity as innovative, productive and low carbon, looking at resilience in terms of enhancing biodiversity, considering health, not in terms of ambulance waiting times, but what government can do to keep its people healthy.

“And being globally responsible means that you don’t offshore your negative effects.

You have to deal with them at local level,” she stresses.

So what does this mean at this moment in time in terms of current government commitments? “The Agriculture Bill is focused on sustainable land management.

It’s about how we produce food and other goods in a sustainable manner, mitigate and adapt to climate change, maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems, but also about conserving and enhancing the Welsh countryside and culture.”

To further its sustainability targets, Wales is looking to move its net zero goals to 2035.

“Because if we can move more quickly then we add a benefit, not just to Wales but to the UK and to the rest of the world,” says Jane.

“The lesson from a small country is be ambitious. Find your identity, your culture, your heritage and drive that towards regenerative farming.”

And although Wales may be leading the way, sustainable agriculture is of global significance and has to be driven by trade, according to Jason Hafemeister of the USDA. “In the US, we think farmers globally are at the intersection of two existential challenges: how do we feed a growing population and do it without burning up the planet.”

But, he admits, farmers won’t adopt new practices to tackle these challenges if the new techniques –– like genetically edited ▲

food production and for nature should become part and parcel of a new definition of agriculture.”

And environmental legislation impacting both the tenanted and owned farming sectors could soon be directed by international criminal law. “Environmental law is rapidly gaining momentum,” says Jojo Mehta of Stop Ecocide International.

“The true function of criminal law is to protect and there’s a deeper moral sense that the destruction of ecosystems is wrong and dangerous, and the current legal system doesn’t fully acknowledge this. But there’s an appetite for the gravest harms to nature to be recognised in law.”

She estimated that in around three to five years ecocide could be recognised by the International Criminal Court to act as a safeguard for the future of the living world.

“No amount of voluntary agreements and pledges can provide a safeguard, but the framework offered by criminal law is potentially transformative.

“So what do we mean by ecocide?

Ecocide means unlawful, or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there’s a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by these acts.”

Although this doesn’t target any particular industry, it addresses the level of harm or hazard whatever the activity and the definition has landed well in the political world, according to Jojo.

“It’s also inspired domestic proposals in a number of countries –– most prominently in Belgium, where the government recently announced it intends to legislate nationally on ecocide.

“And perhaps most powerfully, this definition speaks to common sense. We are all on the same ship. The only planet that we’re aware of that can sustain life as we know it. We can also see from a practical perspective that it’s nothing less than necessary if we want the soils and seas of our planet to be producing healthy food for our children and our grandchildren,” she adds.

But as things currently stand, the UK is still working towards its 2050 net zero target, says Kyle Lischak of ClientEarth. “We were involved earlier last year in a court case, which the Court held in our favour that the UK Government must do more in terms of detail around its net zero plan.

“It’s notable, as well, that the Committee on Climate Change comments in its most recent reports that there’s still a policy gap around agriculture and climate that must be addressed,” he says.

crop production magazine february 2023 39

Oxford Farming Conference

A key theme of the Oxford Farming conference was collaboration and how it can help tackle both food security and climate change. ▲

crops –– they use are banned in a world market. “So trade has to be the incentive to farmers adopting these new ways of doing things, and the market will encourage the right kind of practices.

“We do want to see a global market that is creating an opportunity and an encouragement for farmers to make these investments,” says Jason.

“But we also know that sustainability requires economic sustainability. Farmers have to stay profitable to make these investments, so we want to find an enabling environment to encourage them

to jump into that world.”

However, it’s important that trade deals do encourage this, according to Kimberley Botwright of the World Economic Forum.

“They must be balanced and shouldn’t entirely focus on market access but look at regulatory cooperation. So we must have conversations around similar mutual recognition, setting standards to align on, co-agreeing to reduce subsidies in set timeframes to level out the playing field.”

This could involve governments addressing disparities around carbon accounting or lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers on renewable energy, she says.

“This will filter down into the costs for you when buying inputs and applying that technology to your business.

“We should be advocating for the stability of a rules-based system today, through the WTO and existing free trade agreements that surround that,” adds Kimberley.

Also advocating collaboration as a means to tackling climate change and food system solutions, Cynthia Rosenzweig of NASA and co-found of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), highlighted this as the most significant environmental challenge of the time.

“Whatever farmers are growing around the world, climate change will be affecting different regions and different crops,” she says. Madagascar, Pakistan and Chile are already experiencing severe climate induced crises and even the UK suffered a heatwave last summer, highlighted Cynthia.

“Climate change is no longer way in the future, it’s happening now. So what we must do is radically collaborate. Take a food system approach that links the climate system, ecosystems, nutrition and sustainable development pathways.

“I think we must keep a laser focus on climate change solutions for food system stakeholders,” she says. “With an integrated emphasis on a reduction of greenhouse gases, adapting to the changing climate conditions, including the extremes and sustainability, not only for the environment, but for the livelihoods of all farmers across the world.”

Cynthia also believes that the way forward is to conduct radically cooperative multiscale assessments of solutions, including resilience to climate disasters. “This provides the evidence base for policy and decision makers to scale up and create programs to build on the solutions that the researchers come forward with.” ■

Achieving with adjuvants Pushing performance Though some may be sceptical about the benefits of using adjuvants, two growers are achieving great results by incorporating them into their spray programmes. CPM finds out more.

By Charlotte Cunningham

Essential companion Kantor is an activator adjuvant from Interagro which is designed to enhance compatibility in tank mixes, control drift and improve both chemical coverage and penetration. “It sounded impressive, so I tried it myself, doing trials with different types of jets. While the drift control was obvious immediately, what I was really impressed with is how much better the chemistry spread on the leaf –– when you turned around at the end of the field you could see the leaf was really wet, as if you’d wiped it, rather than just sprayed it on in little droplets. I think that was the best coverage I’d achieved to date at that point.”

Following a successful first impression, Kantor has become an essential companion in the spray programme.

A water conditioner such as Katalyst is a must-include in glyphosate mixes due to the lockup effect it can have on products, explains Martin. “To help tackle the hard water issues, we also use harvested rainwater where we can to minimise the impact on our chemistry.”

But the specialist adjuvant also has a more general purpose and is used any time Martin is concerned about drift or coverage being affected by the conditions, which has in turn improved the effectiveness of sprays at the key fungicide timing applications. “The majority of our applications now include

All spray operators are trying to achieve the same thing, and that’s getting the best out of the products they apply.

”

Kantor. Getting the right product where it needs to be at the right time is so important.

“We’re losing products left, right and centre at an alarming rate and efficacy is breaking down a lot quicker than people realise, so anything we can do or use to help make the most of what we do have has got to be a good thing.

“We’ve all – as sprayer operators –– got to be looking at what more we can do. It’s down to us to get products where they need to be and get as much out of them as we can. Good spraying is a bit like a good Formula 1 car –– it’s not one thing that makes the big difference to performance, it’s all the little things.”

As the 2022 Spray Operator of the Year, getting the best from chemistry is a core part of Steve May’s ethos. Steve is the arable foreman at Northamptonshire-based Fromant and Sanders and oversees the management of over 800ha.

“We’ve been using adjuvants for a long time here,” explains Steve. “The advice initially came from our agronomist, on the ▲

Despite sometimes being cast off as ‘muck and magic’, adjuvants can make for an incredibly beneficial partner in the crop protection programme.

When used correctly, the benefits can be meaningful, from reducing drift to minimising alkaline hydrolysis, as Wiltshire farm manager, Martin Smart, knows all too well.

Overseeing the management of more than 1200ha of arable ground spread over a 15-mile radius as part of the Ashton Farms operations, Martin has a busy workload which is put under further pressure due to catchy weather patterns and challenging soil and spraying conditions. “Our average rainfall is about 750mm a year, but no two seasons are the same. We can go through spells where it’s really dry, and then all of a sudden it turns. We’re also quite often affected by strong south-westerly winds,” he explains.

“Our spray days are often limited, so when sprayers are running, we have to make the most of it and get the best out of the chemicals we’re using –– which is getting more and more difficult every year. We’re

also in a very hard water area which has a big impact on the efficacy of some of the chemistry we use too.”

With these challenges in mind, Martin began exploring how adjuvants and water conditioners might help alleviate some of the pressure points in the spraying operations.

“I’m passionate about spraying and always looking to learn and improve on what we’re doing, so when an Agrii agronomist introduced us to Kantor, I was keen to know more.”

“

Martin Smart (foreground) believes that a lack of understanding about how to use adjuvants is the cause of criticism about their effectiveness. crop production magazine february 2023 41

Pushing performance Steve May has been using adjuvants for a long time in a bid to improve the efficiency of his spraying by increasing uptake of chemicals on crops and weeds.

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back of trying to improve the efficiency of what we do by increasing uptake of chemicals on crops or weeds.”

Much like Martin, Steve’s arable ground includes hills which are susceptible to the effects of wind, as well as hard water and high pH which causes havoc with some tank mixes. “Essentially what we’re looking to do is minimise drift and prevent alkaline hydrolysis.”

To achieve this, Steve has also been using Kantor, as well as other adjuvants from the Interagro stable, including Backrow –– a soil acting adjuvant for use with residual herbicides –– and Toil, a methylated rapeseed adjuvant oil, to aid wild oat control.

“Kantor is really easy to use. It mixes well, cleans out the can easily and does what it says it will.”

Use is selective and based on a decision around the chemistry being used, temperature and weather conditions at the time of spraying, he explains. “We’d typically use it with some of the fungicides in the spring and with plant growth regulators.

Glyphosate is an obvious one where we’d

Adjuvants overview – why, when and what to use On-farm challenge

How it could affect pesticides

Susceptible pesticides examples

How an adjuvant could help

Most suitable Interagro solutions

High pH spray water leading to alkaline hydrolysis

● Active ingredient breakdown

● Glyphosate

Kantor

● Pyrethroids

Buffer spray water pH, stabilising products in the tank

●

● Reduced absorption into

Can affect all products

Emulsify the mix, improving mixing and compatibility

●

Kantor

Risk to every application

Manipulate droplet size, optimising deposition and coverage on the target

● Kantor

Reduce surface tension, optimising coverage and retention on the target leaf

● Kantor

the leaf

● Carbamates

● Up to 50% loss in efficacy

● Ethephon

● Repeat treatments are

● Azoxystrobin

sometimes required Chemical or physical incompatibility of tank mixtures

● AI sediment in tank bottom

Spray drift

● Damage to off targets

instead of field ● Blocked nozzles, pumps and lines ● Thick paste residues ● Product disposal problem ● Sprayer out of action ● Antagonsim: poor efficacy and crop damage ● Can delay spraying ● Reduced deposition on target

● Toil

● Reduced coverage on target ● Wastes expensive pesticides

High surface tension which prevents spreading and retention on the leaf

Poor penetration into the leaf

● Gaps in protection expose

● Protectant fungicides

the crop to disease ● Insufficient coverage for contact herbicides to perform effectively ● Repeat application required

● Contact herbicides

● Slow herbicide uptake and

● Contact herbicides

reduced weed kill ● Poor control of difficult weeds ● Slow curative fungicide activity ● Poor regulation of crop growth, increased lodging risk

● Systemic fungicides

[Source: Interagro]

42 crop production magazine february 2023

● Sorrento ● Slippa ● Spur

● PGRs

Enhance penetration through leaf cuticles, optimising uptake

● Kantor ● Sorrento ● Toil

Pushing performance they can enhance biological efficacy and improve crop safety by modifying the physical characteristics of the spray solution to overcome the obstacles that may compromise performance.”

Adjuvants fall in to two different categories –– activator adjuvants and special purpose adjuvants –– and knowing the difference between the two is vital for deciding if and when they might be appropriate, explains Stuart.

Good knowledge of the adjuvant being used is key to getting the most out of them, believes Stuart Sutherland.

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look to use a water conditioner to prevent lockup and alkaline hydrolysis.”

The benefits of Kantor are meaningful, but Steve says something he always visibly notices is drift reduction. “It’s sometimes hard to see with your eye exactly how much you’re improving your chemistry, but you can definitely see an immediate noticeable reduction in drift with Kantor.

“Sometimes we’re quite pushed into spots we don’t really want to go into with the wind, so if you can put something in the tank just to help you out, it can make quite a big difference.”

Adjuvants and water conditioners were the topic of a recent NRoSO course attended by Martin and he says he was left ‘shocked’ at the attitude towards the products. “The course leader asked if anyone in the room used them regularly, so I put my hand up and there were murmurs around the room to the tune of ‘what a load of rubbish’.

“Lots of people still seem to think they don’t work and are just a bit of ‘muck and magic’, but in my opinion I think that’s down to a lack of understanding about what adjuvants are for, the different types of adjuvants and where you’d use each one,” he believes.

“Ultimately, all spray operators are trying to achieve the same thing, and that’s getting the best out of the products they apply. So while I know there are adjuvants out there which might not work as well as others, for me Kantor really works and does exactly what it says on the tin.”

Stuart Sutherland, technical manager at Interagro, agrees and says that using the wrong adjuvant at the wrong time is often the reason why many growers are left scratching their heads when it comes to their effectiveness. “As a general explanation, adjuvants are designed to fulfil a variety of functions –– from stabilising tank mixes to improving application. When used correctly, 44 crop production magazine february 2023

Types of adjuvants “Activator adjuvants include surfactants and oils, which are all designed to improve pesticide coverage and penetration. This is in comparison with special purpose adjuvants, which include buffering, compatibility and anti-drift agents. These types of adjuvants are targeted more at stabilising tank mixes and pH levels, as well as controlling drift, so it’s important to choose the most appropriate adjuvant for the job to optimise performance.”

However, Kantor combines the best of both, offering growers a ‘one-can’ solution, believes Stuart. “Kantor can be used on a wide range of crops, from the typical combinables like oilseed rape to other crops including potatoes, linseed and vining peas.

“The key functions of Kantor are to improve tank-mixing via a micro-emulsifying compatibility aid and reduce pH, as well as to boost spreading and retention by reducing surface tension between the spray solution and the crop surface,” he explains.

“Drift control is possible due to Kantor’s ability to reduce the number of ultra-fine spray droplets and instead maintain a more uniform droplet size which is key for optimum coverage and retention.”

To back the performance claims up, Kantor has been tested in various trials. This includes a 2018 study at Silsoe Spray

Applications Unit which looked at the effect of Kantor on droplet size and spray angle uniformity.

The performance of the fungicide Kestrel (prothioconazole+ tebuconazole) alone was compared with the performance of Kestrel plus Kantor –– a volume of 0.15% –– when put through a Lurmark 03F110 flat fan nozzle at a water volume of 200 l/ha. “In this study, Kantor was proven to significantly reduce the number of drift-prone Kestrel droplets and increased spray angle uniformity at the nozzle,” explains Stuart.

So when it comes to selecting the right adjuvant for the job in hand, where’s the best place to start? Stuart recommends taking a look at the pesticide label as the first port of call. “Advice may be given that must be followed regarding what type of adjuvant to use/avoid.”

He says it’s also important to select products from a trusted manufacturer, which has data to back up the claims of its products. “While adjuvant manufacturers may offer products with many of the same functions, product quality and adjuvant technology vary dramatically.

“It’s also important to remember that using an adjuvant is not always necessary. Think about your target, the pesticides you’re applying and what they need to do. In good conditions, you may not need one and you might therefore not see a benefit. On the other hand, there may be weaknesses in your spray preparation, application and delivery that can be improved,” says Stuart.

“Finally, keep in mind that although different adjuvants can perform a variety of different functions and significantly improve pesticide performance, no one adjuvant can perform every function for every situation.

Make sure you have a good knowledge of the adjuvant you are using and that it’s the right one for the job.” ■

Pushing performance At the heart of good crop production lies careful use of chemistry to protect the plant and maintain performance, right through the season. But optimising the efficacy of plant protection products can be challenging, while increasingly restrictive regulations limit just how far you can go.

This series of articles explores the science behind the use of adjuvant and biostimulant tools to help power both chemistry and crop performance, as well as increase understanding of why they’re needed and what they do. We’re setting out to empower growers and drive crops to reach their full potential.

Kantor is the unique one-can adjuvant solution that brings unbeatable performance to crop protection sprays by overcoming the physical and chemical barriers that compromise optimal targeting and delivery. Bringing durability to tank mixes, reliability in suboptimal application conditions, and versatility in use, Kantor is the perfect partner for dependable herbicide, fungicide and PGR performance all season long.

knowing how that affects the biology and it changes all the time.”

However, if the physics and chemistry are right, a lot of You can the biological aspects in have all the nutrition the soil will rectify themselves, he adds. in the world in your “Key aspects of soil but if it’s not physics are soil texture and structure –– you can extractable, the have all the nutrients in plants will the world but if the soil struggle. structure is poor, then the plants can’t access them.

“The colour of the soil can also be indicative of organic matter and how the layers of the profile merge into one another.

We’re ideally looking for a soil where there’s no distinct lines as this means there’s connectivity between the topsoil and subsoil.

Dig a hole to see what’s going on and note the smell –– it’s a really good indicator.”

Then there’s stone content to consider, there’s something called ‘peak demand’, he says. “If you think that all of your soil is where a crop requires a lot more of certain actually soil, it’s not –– up to 20% of it can be nutrients to grow leaf four, five, stems and stone –– and this can have a massive tillers etc, and to hold the grain and take it impact on how much nutrition is in the soil.” through to harvest.”

Bulk density is also a feature. “How heavy But plants still must have the capability to is your soil?

If it’s really heavy, then there’s access the nutrients in the soil. “AHDB has a high mineral content which can cause done a lot of work on root mass architecture problems with soil structure and root and I think plant breeders are looking at this accessibility.

So measuring these elements as well. The roots are the hands of the allows us to understand where and how soil plants: the bigger their hands, the more food should perform, taking the guesswork out of they can shovel in. This is what we want the physics.” plants to do in the early growth stages.

This leads to porosity, he says. “Water is “If they put a big root system down, they so important. The majority of nutrient uptake can intake nutrition to create the architecture water. No water means little is through to translate into yield. And don’t nutrient uptake and very poor microbial underestimate what a good root system activity and supply alters with different can do for your soils.” soil types.”

The next thing to consider is Cation exchange capacity –– the ability measurements –– so how functional soils for soil type to hold nutrients –– is another are. “We’re all talking about the health of soil vital element. “Sandy soils have very little but I think we should really be talking about

“

The functionality of soils Crop nutrition Soil might be being discussed left, right and centre but, rather like an iceberg, there’s so much more going on under the surface that is yet to be unearthed and understood.

CPM attended AHDB’s Agronomists’ Conference back in December to learn more.

By Melanie Jenkins

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Soil is not just a one-dimensional entity, but a plethora of interacting parts and organisms that function under the trio of chemistry, physics and biology working in unison, according to Ian Robertson of Sustainable Soil Management.

“When we join soils and plants together, we’re really looking to try and understand some key measures in the soil and what the plants acquire from it.”

The first part of this is knowing what nutrients are in the soil, he says. “There are lots of ways of measuring this and we have to think about how the soil is reacting with plants. So just because there’s lots of nutrition in the soil, this doesn’t mean plants can access it.

“Once you know what nutrition is in the soil, think about what plants actually require,” explains Ian. “And remember

”

functionality. It’s this that allows the extraction of nutrients by the crop. You can have all the nutrition in the world in your soil but if it’s not extractable, the plants will struggle.”

According to Ian, water plays a big part in the functionality. “Water is really important.

Along with nutrient cycling and biology, they’re all playing a massive part in how functional soils are.”

Looking closer at soils, Ian delves into the intricate and complex world above and below the surface.

“The three aspects of soil: the physical, chemical and biological are interactive.

If we affect the physics, that affects the chemistry and the biology. I believe we’ve over-focused on the physics and chemistry, because they’re easy. The difficult part is

The worst thing is to have bare soil because it will stop capturing sunlight, says Ian Robertson. crop production magazine february 2023 45

Knowing what the cation holding capacity of soil is helps growers understand how it should be fed nutrition. ▲

CEC, whereas clays have a lot.

Understanding what the cation holding capacity is helps you understand how the soil should be fed nutrition. Don’t go feeding low cation soils a lot of nutrition as these can’t hold onto it.

“But having a large holding capacity doesn’t mean it’s balanced,” he points out. “We’re then looking at what’s in the soil –– such as, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphate, aluminium, ammonium –– hydrogen –– as this will affect the pH and in turn impact on how nutrients cycle and root accessibility.

“One of the essential aspects of soil chemistry is the pH and this affects the availability of cations held in the soil, he says.

“The pH is a logarithm of the amount of hydrogen ions on the humus and clay colloids, and these can be replaced by any of the cations (the ums).

Ammonium will be held on these colloids as well.

“Then also consider measuring what readily available nutrients are in the soil. This should be measured in kg/ha rather than in mg/litre so that we can join this up with what a crop requires.”

But it’s the biology which is the really exciting aspect for Ian. “However, it’s really dynamic and changes. We tend to look at things like trophic levels and how imbalanced these are. We’re looking at what the food source is and if it’s enough to support the different layers. The easiest way to check on the state of the biology is to go out and count worms –– which is brilliant.” But Ian warns that a lot of people try

to count worms when it’s too dry.

And then there’s organic matter, says Ian. “I love organic matter. It’s living and breathing, and good soil microbial activity breaks down organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide –– that’s what it’s meant to do.

“The worst thing we can have is bare soil because then there is nothing to capture sunlight. And at that point, the soil is still breaking down organic matter and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but without a plant to capture it.”

Working tirelessly behind all of this are microbes, he adds.

“The microbes in the soil work in synergy with the plants to feed them, but they will only work if soil has the right structure –– which should be 45% minerals, 25% air, 25% water and 5% organic matter.

“If the structure isn’t right, there’s no point pushing big machines through. Structure starts at 0.003mm –– finer than your hair –– where the bacteria, fungi and nematodes live on the water film around soil particles.

These microorganisms require food and this comes from the organic matter and root exudates from the crop plants you’re putting in the soil,” says Ian. “Ultimately, we should be measuring all of this and thinking holistically. Tools like terra mapping, plant and grain analysis, tissue tests, SAP testing and above ground biomass can all create a picture and help you to develop a plan to nurture functional soils better.” ■

Lightening the N footprint “

I want to be targeting all inputs as accurately as I can and refine my nutrition strategy to improve margins and reduce our footprint

”

Crop nutrition Matching nitrogen rates to defined soil variability is an obvious route to optimise nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) but when that variability exists throughout the field, it’s a more demanding exercise. CPM investigates.

By Lucy de la Pasture

Farm practice Andrew typically applies N in three splits, each with a generous dose of sulphur as he feels this improves mobilisation. “Both treatments started with a solid application of 30kgN/ha with 40kg/ha SO3, followed by two further liquid applications of 96kgN/ha and 28kg/ha SO3 on the farm standard plots, which was compared with two applications of 64kgN/ha and 18kg/ha SO3 on the lower rate plots.”

Andrew points out this was just one trial but says it does pose a question over how far N rates can be trimmed before a yield penalty is observed. Analysis using FieldView showed a significant yield difference between the two treatments with the higher rates of N delivering the higher yields, though other farms haven’t seen this same trend.

The digital system also made it very easy to compare other parts of the field, particularly the poorest areas, he notes. This showed that in these areas the higher N rate didn’t increase the yield due to the inherently lower field potential.

Averaging out the high and low input results show a 12.5% uplift in yield for the higher N areas and, in this case, a £336/ha margin benefit. While any improvement in margin is welcome, like many, Andrew is conscious of the farm’s carbon footprint and, all things considered, fertiliser has a pretty hefty step.

But there is a question mark here too, he notes, pointing out that the unknown is which approach is better –– does a healthier crop sequester more carbon, offsetting the higher use of N? Andrew believes it will absorb more sunlight and have a bigger root mass to transfer more carbon back to the soil, although in this trial the kg of N per tonne of wheat produced was higher in the high N rate plots. ▲

The rise in nitrogen prices has put fertiliser use more firmly in the spotlight, but nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) isn’t just about better input targeting, there is the greenhouse gas emissions issue too.

Shropshire farmer Andrew Williamson has been adjusting N rates on the back of N-Min tests, with applications typically ranging between 200-240kgN/ha. But he wondered whether rates could be tweaked a little lower, so he set about putting a trial together with the help of Dr Christina Baxter of ADAS and Bayer’s Max Dafforn.

Using a field of first wheat Graham, Andrew compared his ‘typical’ rate of 220kgN/ha with a rate of 160kgN/ha. He found that an interesting exercise itself but so was the nature of the trial, which involved

a novel chequerboard approach.

“Because of the variability throughout the field, straight tramlines might give a skewed result. So together we arrived at the decision to divide the field into strips, with each strip getting a broadly equal share of the higher and lower application.”

Simon Gent saw a mixed set of results with his OSR trials, with no real gain from varying fertiliser rates to reflect crop biomass last season. crop production magazine february 2023 47

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Last season’s trial was the first in a three-year initiative and Andrew is still to plan out the programme for the 2022/23 season. He could look at a similar trial design but he’s also considering other options, such as a straightforward 50/50 field split. But the goal remains the same, to optimise NUE. “I want to be targeting all inputs as accurately as I can, and if I can refine my nutrition strategy to improve margins and reduce our footprint then so much the better. This first year suggests that for fields with inherent soil variability, maintaining fertiliser rates is the better option. But it is only one trial in one season.”

Variable application Richard Cross of Oxton Estate, Southwell in Nottinghamshire, is looking to develop precision farming practices across the enterprise. He also wanted to test his theory that a slight reduction in total nitrogen is possible by varying rates to match crop biomass, based on the crop biomass data captured using FieldView satellite imagery.

“Feed wheats typically receive 220kgN/ha and milling wheats an additional 20kgN/ha as a top up.

For the trial, the standard dose was reduced to 200kgN/ha, with a further variation of plus or minus 20 based on whether the biomass was high or low.”

Like Andrew, he stresses it’s only one season’s results and more data is needed before any conclusions can be drawn, but through a combination of improved yield and reduced inputs the trial field delivered a £105.86/ha improvement. Had he achieved a similar result across his wheat area that equates to an extra £35,887.

A similar approach was employed with two oilseed rape fields. Here the results were more variable, with one field delivering an improvement and the other a slight reverse. But still a modest margin gain over the two was recorded.

Richard sees the data as a

Richard sees FieldView data as a valuable insight for refining future agronomic practices and he will build up his ‘data library’ with further trials this season. valuable insight for refining future agronomic practices and he will build up his ‘data library’ with further trials this season. He has added variable rate seed to the 2022/23 farm trials agenda, with three rate bands based on historic field performance.

Simon Gent of Stocksbridge in Hampshire also saw a mixed set of results with his OSR trials. This revealed no real gain last season from varying fertiliser rates to reflect crop biomass. Although the variable rate areas brought input savings, it resulted in a 0.1t/ha yield loss, with rapeseed at £508/t he was worse off to the tune of £20/ha.

But caution is needed when it comes to interpreting these results, says Simon. “For the purpose of the trial, it was decided to cut back N on the higher areas of biomass and apply more to the thinner areas for all applications. Interestingly, at Stocksbridge where higher rates were used on the low biomass areas, there was a return of £91.51/ha compared with the farm standard N rate.”

Some might see this as a wasted exercise, Simon doesn’t.

It’s another piece of data in the library that might be useful in the future. “Rarely are two seasons alike. I’m building up data over several seasons which I can use to refine future decision making.

It’s not just about improving NUE and MOIC but also our farm footprint,” he notes. ■

Bioscience in practice With rising input costs putting a hardened focus on maximising the efficiency of nutrients applied to crops, biological aids could prove to be an important tool in the armoury. CPM speaks to the experts.

By Charlotte Cunningham and Lucy de la Pasture

50 crop production magazine february 2023

Water content and availability is key too –– if you have no water, you have no uptake.”

Nutrients, like sulphur and magnesium, will also affect how nitrogen is utilised by the plant, and so will previous cropping and how these factors may, or may not, have interacted with soil supplies of nutrients, he explains.

“

With the price of nitrogen at the moment, efficiency is critical.

”

Practical decisions And then there are practical fertiliser decisions such as application timing and the type of fertiliser used –– foliar or solid. “The timelier you can apply fertiliser, the better it is for efficiency,” adds Mark. “Foliar applied fertilisers can also be more efficient than solid. Practically, this means that if you applied at the correct timing, it could give you a higher protein yield because it’s more efficient. But the effect can be inconsistent depending on the year.”

Variety choice can also play an influential role in the efficiency –– or not –– of a crop.

However, Mark says that varieties come in and out so quickly, that sustained, replicated scientific research to prove this is hard to achieve.

So with so many factors that could affect nutrient efficiency in the plant, how can growers practically tackle this on farm?

Mark believes that using biology is a good place to start. “If we’re using biology to improve nitrogen use efficiency, we’re using it to reduce reliance on fertiliser. If we can use biology to reduce and even substitute ▲

As fertiliser costs rose to new heights last season, ‘nitrogen use efficiency’ –– or NUE as it is abbreviated to –– spent much of 2022 trending on ag Twitter.

But the fundamentals and science behind NUE is far greater than just a Twitter trend and is imperative in getting good results for both crops and the wider environment when it comes to nitrogen applications.

But to achieve, and eventually improve, NUE requires a methodical approach, starting with a sound understanding of the factors that can impact it, says Agrovista’s Dr Mark Fletcher, who is a specialist in plant physiology and nutrition. “One of the main things to start with is what we’re growing in –– the soil. Factors like compaction, soil structure, soil type all have the potential to impact the efficiency of what you apply.

Maximising efficiency

Dr Mark Fletcher says it’s important to understand all the factors that can impact nitrogen use efficiency in order to improve it.

Bioscience in practice Rethinking crop nutrition Plant nutrition is undergoing a revolution.

The role of the soil microbiome in both making nutrient available to plants and nutrient acquisition is beginning to be appreciated, but it’s only in the past ten years that science has brought biology back to the forefront when it comes to plant nutrition.

Sam Knowlton of US-based company Soilsymbiotics explains that for the past century, agriculture has followed a chemical paradigm that has looked at plant nutrition as the interception and uptake of mineral ions by plant roots. But it’s actually a much more complex process.

“This linear and simplistic approach to farming leads to the over application of soluble fertilisers at the expense of the linchpin of soil and plant health — the invisible herd of soil microorganisms.”

As a result, the role of soil biology in nutrient cycling and how it interacts with plants had largely been ignored in plant nutrition, highlights Sam. “Through the process of photosynthesis, plants produce energy in the form of sugar-rich exudates that are released into their root zone to attract and feed beneficial microorganisms. In turn, bacteria and fungi retain nutrients from the soil, which are made available to plants when a nematode or protozoa consumes them,” he explains.

“Aside from some specialised symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium, this is the primary mode of nutrient cycling.”

Sam goes on to say that in 2013, a group of Australian scientists discovered a plant/microbe interaction that broke all of these rules and completely blurred the line between plants and their bacteria and fungi counterparts. This association between plants and microbes was named rhizophagy.

A few years later, Dr James White of Rutgers University discovered that rhizophagy is more than a one-off interaction. “It’s a recurring cycle with far reaching repercussions for plant health Plants initiate the rhizophagy cycle by attracting microbes into the root zone by exuding sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and fats, the microbial equivalent of a five-star buffet.

and the future of agriculture,” he says.

“Like other plant and microbe interactions in the soil, plants initiate the rhizophagy cycle by attracting microbes into the root zone by exuding sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and fats, the microbial equivalent of a five-star buffet.

“The microbes then colonise the root meristem, at which point they are ‘internalised’ into the root cells. In other words, the plant roots eat the microbes — specifically bacteria and some fungi.”

These microbes, now within the plant’s tissues, are known as endophytes, explains Sam. “Once inside the root, the endophytes are shuttled throughout the plant and exposed to reactive oxygen called superoxide that ruptures the microbe’s cell wall allowing the plant to harvest nutrients from the remaining protoplast.

“Some of the subsumed microbes survive the nutrient extraction process and begin to move throughout the plant. Some microbes are deposited up into the leaves, seeds and fruits.

Others are cloned within the root where they spur the rapid growth and elongation of root hairs.

“As the root hairs elongate, microbes are ejected back into the soil, along with a trail of exudates to feed them. While in the soil, microbes acquire more minerals nutrients and are then triggered to follow the exudate trail back to the plant root tips, and the cycle continues,” explains Sam. The role endophytes can play in agriculture has attracted a lot of interest, particularly because it’s estimated that plants can acquire up to 30% of their nitrogen needs through the rhizophagy cycle.

“Given the steep economic and ecological costs associated with most nitrogen inputs, this free nitrogen source is a boon to farmers,” says Sam. But the importance of rhizophagy goes beyond the acquisition of nitrogen. “It’s not just N, plants receive all other essential plant nutrients. With the rhizophagy cycle, plants have a vast menu of nutrients to choose from as needed. This is far superior to the conventional practice of force-feeding plants with soluble fertilisers.”

Sam also points to other advantages to the plant conferred by the rhizophagy cycle.

“Through a unique mechanism, the endophytic bacteria involved in the rhizophagy cycle provide their host plant with heightened resistance to disease and pathogens. Essentially giving plants natural immunity for free and without the adverse side effects of chemical interventions.

“The big caveat is we’ve taken away the ability of plants and microbes to form rhizophagy symbiosis. Due to sterile plant breeding practices,

The importance of rhizophagy goes beyond the acquisition of nitrogen, plants receive all other essential plant nutrients, explains Sam Knowlton. overuse of chemical inputs, and other soil disturbances like frequent tillage, the link between plants and microbe symbionts is broken.”

Dr Nigel Grech, director of UK company Unium Bioscience, has spent much of his career as a university researcher studying agricultural biostimulants, biopesticides and sustainable nutritional efficiency in both plant and soil systems. Now concentrating on his own farming enterprise in California, he picks up on Sam’s point about breeding practices.

“In modern germplasm, a key is developing ‘clean’ tissue which typically means free of pathogens. A negative consequence of this is that you also eliminate all the “good” guys as well, just like when we take antibiotics and kill much of our beneficial gut microbes.”

So can this break in microbial associations that should begin with microbes on the seed be somehow ameliorated? Discoveries by Professor Sharon Doty, who has spent much of her career researching endophytes at the ‘Doty lab’ in University of Washington, have led to the identification of generalist strains of endophytic bacteria. Some of these have recently been incorporated into seed treatments and foliar sprays which can give crop plants a helping hand, explains Nigel.

But by supplying endophytes as a foliar or seed treatment, is this mimicking nature (i.e reinstating a system the plant should have recruited itself?) or is it just a sticking plaster?

“Our endophyte products, Tiros and Tarbis, contain two of the Doty bacterial strains and effectively augment nature,” believes Nigel.

“Endophytes have many known, and I’m sure unknown, mediation effects on plants. What they bring is balance. We know under certain stresses plants exude molecules to encourage microbial associations. Endophytes do this, for example, in eliciting plants to release more organic acids that encourage P solubilisation and microbial rhizosphere colonisation.”

crop production magazine february 2023 51

Putting biology down in the root zone can aid the breakdown of nutrients and organic matter which are then re-released to the plant. ▲

fertiliser input, then it’s likely we will at least save a few quid,” says Mark. “But with that, there’s a chance we could reduce reliance on pesticides, insecticide and herbicides too –– so there’s an added benefit.”

But the benefits go beyond just economics because plants also become more resilient when the right biology is used at the right time, he adds. “As a plant goes through its lifecycle, it can start to break down. Biology can be used to keep them ‘fitter’ for a bit longer and keep them going.

This in turn might mean it’s less prone to fungal issues and pressure from pests, for example, which again reduces reliance on these inputs.”

Mark says that while carbon footprints are a ‘sexy’ topic at the moment, there’s a real tangible benefit on this front from optimising biology. “If we can use these products to reduce inputs and therefore the carbon footprint to grow crops more ‘ethically’, then that’s a benefit to everyone.”

Away from the plants themselves, using biology can also improve soil health and resilience, he adds. “Soils are very complex in terms of their interactions –– there’s a lot of microbial and fungal mass down there which helps break down organic material with the soil and release it to the plant. So, allowing us to maximise that through biology can only be a good thing.

“Going back to fertiliser and inputs, ammonium nitrate is acidic up to a point. So, if we can reduce an acid going onto the

crops then it’s going to be better for the environment and our ‘friends’ in the soil.”

The market offerings and their efficacy when it comes to biological products is also complex, but Mark has trialled and tested a suite of options from the Unium Bioscience stable over recent years, which he believes can all work scientifically to the benefit of both crops and the soil.

This includes Tiros –– an endophyte seed treatment targeted specifically at fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and sequestering other key nutrients from the soil. “How this is beneficial goes back to the advantages from having microbial mass in the root zone and breaking material down –– it works in a similar way.”

Nutrient supply Mark adds that Tiros essentially helps ‘mine’ nitrogen from the soil which in turn reduces the reliance on bagged inputs, and also makes what is there much more available. “Improved nutrient supply also reduces stress in the plant. If the plant isn’t stressed and it’s getting the optimum amount of nutrients, then it can grow better.”

At the business-end of the season, this can translate into better results at harvest, he adds.

There’s more to NUE than enhanced uptake, the plant then has to utilise it. This is where T6P (trehalose-6-phosphate), can be useful. It’s a foliar product, applied typically around the T3

Bioscience in practice timing, explains Mark. “It works by relocating sugars from the ‘storage organs’ of the plant into the grain and ground to improve efficiency and uptake needed for growth by the plant. In work I’ve done with growers, we’ve found that you generally get a bigger grain –– and yield with T6P.” Tarbis is the foliar applied endophyte in the Unium portfolio and can be applied if Tiros hasn’t been used as a seed treatment.

Though Mark hasn’t done much with this yet as it’s a fairly new-to-market product, he says that data suggests efficiency comes via improved yield. “The science behind this is a very interesting one, which requires a bit more work for us to fully understand.”

Twoxo XL is another option to enhance nutrient use via a unique signalling molecule which increases nitrogen assimilation in plants and up-regulates photosynthesis.

The result is better NUE but also increased yield, which according to Agrovista trials is an average increase of 12% compared with untreated crops.

“Everything is always changing –– whether it’s a loss of actives or a reduction in the number of fertilisers we can apply through legislative changes –– so we have to start to look at these different areas and resources like biology and biostimulants products,” believes Mark. “There’s scientific background behind them and because of this, they have a place within the system which is going to become more important as we move into the future of farming.

“But it’s like anything, if you never try, then you’re never going to know.” ■

A plethora of factors can influence nitrogen use efficiency in crops, from soil health and rainfall to fertiliser type and variety choice.

Bioscience in practice As the chemistry toolbox continues to shrink, a mesmerising array of new bio-solutions are coming to market, offering a range of benefits and complementary additions. Evaluating just how effective they are, and where they’re best placed can be tricky.

In 2021 CPM teamed up with Unium BioScience to open the science behind these innovations. In this third series of articles, we explore how bioscience can be utilised in the field, building on our understanding of the physiological processes and trials data. Above all, these articles give the grower an inside view on some of the exciting opportunities biosolutions offer in the field.

This first article in the series looks at how NUE can be improved by using biology and supporting it with specialist biostimulants.

In the Unium programme, Tiros provides endophytes which fix nitrogen, giving plants a natural boost for life. Twoxo XL helps the plant assimilate that nitrogen, increasing its efficiency and 3-Alo T6P supports carbon sequestration and signals to the plant to enhance sugar metabolism and transport, which benefits both the crop and the endophytes.

Playing NUE detective

Sustainable Solutions Making sure crops get ‘just enough’ of the right nutrients at the right time so that they have every chance of living up to their potential requires some detective work. CPM takes a forensic look at some of the tools available to help plants make best use of available nutrients, maximising NUE.

By Lucy de la Pasture Until relatively recently, crop nutrition has taken a simple approach to a complex issue. The nutrition bible has been RB209, which essentially looks at the amount of nutrient the crop will require while taking into account the soil indices for phosphate, potash and magnesium.

But following some of the real clues that indicate just how well crops are utilising nutrients can help identify where things aren’t optimal and where crops aren’t getting all the nutrients they require, even if soil analysis indicates they are in plentiful supply.

Jim Carswell, Agrii R&D manager, has advocated a tailored approach to crop nutrition for a long time and recommends growers look back at last year’s crop in 54 crop production magazine february 2023

order to consider the requirements for the one currently in the ground.

“I encourage people to get a post-harvest grain analysis done as this will reveal any gaps in their nutrition strategy. It’s also the key to working out nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), which requires forethought and planning to do properly,” he says.

NUE has become a prominent metric, partly because of the increasing price of synthetic fertilisers but also because capturing and retaining nutrients in the crop provides a public good by safeguarding the environment.

So what exactly does NUE mean?

Jim explains that it’s a measure of the efficiency with which N –– the most critical crop input both economically and environmentally –– is used.

“NUE describes the efficiency with which N is taken-up, metabolised and partitioned and it fundamentally depends on the balance of all the other essential nutrients as well as soil and plant health.

N use efficiency (NUE) =

“

Getting the rate of nitrogen right is vital for profitability and for environmental considerations.

”

locations, crops and seasons.

“In winter wheat, we saw NUE vary from 71.6% to 101.5% (indicating some available N wasn’t accounted for) last season, whereas in 2021, the range was

N removed in harvested crop (kgN) 100 N supply from all sources (kgN) *

“Although NUE may be the key measure, improvement efforts really need to be focused on nutrient use efficiency, rather than nitrogen alone. That’s the key to reducing nutrient wastage, getting better crop performance, having lower environmental impact and increasing profitability.”

Agri has looked at NUE across its northern iFarms and has found that it’s something that varies hugely between

Although NUE may be the key measure, improvement efforts really need to be focused on nutrient use efficiency, rather than nitrogen alone, says Jim.

Technical seed treatments in spring barley

Figures show return on investment.

Source: Agrii iFarms: six trials at four sites, 2016-18

58.3 to 67.1%. In OSR, the NUEs were lower with 2022 values ranging from 46.5% to 56.6% compared with 47% to 57.1% in 2021.

“Some of the factors influencing NUE can be managed, such as soil structure, health and pH; use of organic manures; crop type, variety and rotation; nitrogen type, timing and application; other macro and micronutrients; agronomy; as well as cultivations and drainage. Other factors are out of your control, including soil texture, climate and topography,” explains Jim.

Enhancing in-season

▲

There are a number of things that can be done to enhance NUE in-season and Agrii has looked at the value of these at Bishop Burton in East Yorkshire and a number of other iFarms. Many of these utilise the other tools Jim considers vital for managing nutrient use efficiency. These include broad spectrum soil analysis, accurate N-min testing and effective tissue analysis –– when taken together with grain analysis this completes the circle of monitoring for the life of the crop.

Jim’s a great believer in the adage that the most important day in the life of a crop is the day it’s planted. It also provides the first in-season opportunity to boost NUE, he says.

“In our trials, starter fertilisers have really helped to maximise early growth and development,

setting up the yield potential of the crop and equipping it to better deal with any subsequent challenging conditions.”

Using the clues gleaned from previous grain analysis, soil and historical tissue analyses, planting is the time to begin to address any nutritional gaps that are likely to arise due to nutrient interactions or inadequate soil supply, highlights Jim. “Ideally, drill or place fertiliser to optimise early root uptake, making sure there’s available phosphate to support root growth, conserving the plant’s energy and reducing stress.

Manganese and zinc are also very valuable as Mn boosts chlorophyll production and N utilisation, while Zn stimulates auxin production and hence growth.”

It’s not just when nutrients aren’t present in sufficient quantities that a benefit can be seen, adds Jim. “Soil pH should be factored in too, with sub-optimal pH having a major effect on nutrient availability, particularly phosphate,” he says.

“In many cases, routine additional early nutrition can be really valuable. Plugging a potential hunger gap also helps the crop stay ahead of blackgrass during autumn,” he believes.

“By using a basal fertiliser, it’s possible to take a more targeted, precision approach right from the word go,” he adds. “For some, it may be

▲

more appropriate to supply starter nutrition in other ways and seed treatments is one way of doing this. Phosphite is a very effective biostimulant seed dressing that has many years of usage behind it.”

Agrii trials have shown benefits from both starter fertilisers and technical seed treatments across different crop types, with consistent yield responses in spring barley, pulses, and winter oilseed rape.

Wheat trials showed particular positive responses to manganese-coated TSP on soils with a high P index but low pH. Some of the most important sleuthing helps determine just how much nutrient has to be applied to the crop –– balancing what the crop will require to fulfil its yield potential, while taking

account of both the soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) supply and the additional nitrogen that will become available in the soil as the season progresses, explains Jim. “Getting the rate of nitrogen right is vital for profitability and for environmental considerations. We found in our iFarm trials last season at Bishop Burton that reducing the rate of N by 40kg/ha had a negligible adverse effect on yield or specific weight in winter wheat, with just a small reduction in grain protein.”

The trials looked at 13 varieties of winter wheat and eight varieties of winter barley on the site’s high pH, sandy silt loam soils with high indices for both P and K. For winter barley it was a

Gathering the evidence Making good cropping decisions is all about evaluating the evidence to support them and for Peter Cartwright, who manages the 1220ha Revesby Estate in Lincolnshire, that means having trials on the farm.

Peter has been doing large block evaluations since 2018, says Tom Land, Agrii’s regional fertiliser manager. “With our team, he’s been generating a huge amount of data looking at 40m wide plots and evaluating different varieties, N rates and timings, and NUE on the mainly clay loam ground. In 2022, the trials also investigated varietal performance, with and without fungicide inputs and PGRs.” On 15 October 2021, 19 varieties were direct drilled at 350 seeds/m2. The SMN level was assessed as 60kgN/ha and in the spring, nitrogen was applied at different rates –– 170kg/ha, 220kg/ha, 270kg/ha –– in three splits (9 March, 14 April and 4 May). An untreated control plot received 220kgN/ha.

Peter applies strict criteria when it comes to interpreting the results of his large block trials. In the untreated plots, varieties must achieve 8t/ha as a minimum to be

credible. The second metric he applies is for the treated crops, which he likes to see perform with yields no less than 10t/ha.

With very little information available regarding the NUE of different varieties, Peter’s results make for interesting reading and are showing some apparent differences in the performance of varieties using his metrics –– especially when no fungicides or PGRs were applied.

The data from the Revesby trials does pose the question, what do you want from a variety? For Peter it’s not outright yield that makes a variety a good performer, says Tom. “For him, the resilience of a variety and the margin take priority and he’s able to assess varieties best suited to the farm by analysing the data from the large block trials.

“In 2022, reducing nitrogen by 50kg/ha across all the varieties (220kgs v 170kgs) reduced margins by £205/ha, so it clearly didn’t pay. As for consistency over years, Graham, KWS Extase or Fitzroy have been leading in the work, but for ‘safety and resilience’ LG Tapestry, KWS Cranium and RGT Bairstow are amongst those standing out on this site.”

Sustainable Solutions very different story, he explains.

“Reduced N rates gave a marked reduction in ear numbers with a direct consequence for yields.

Although this was one site in one season, I’d expect this effect to be representative of the outcome from reducing N on different sites and in different seasons. It’s the number of tillers –– and therefore ears/m2 –– which are key yield determining factors in barley.”

There’s been a definite trend over recent years for the spring period to be unusually dry.

Many growers are adapting to this new norm by shifting their fertiliser applications earlier.

“It’s a good idea to use a nitrification and/or a urease inhibitor with liquid fertiliser or solid urea when applying the bulk of N early in the spring and it provides another opportunity to improve NUE. In trials, we’ve found it’s possible to move to a two-spray approach, rather than the more traditional three-way split, by adding Liqui-Safe (maleic acid+ itaconic acid) to the tank.”

The trials at West Lutton in Yorkshire took place on a silty clay loam soil in six replicated strips of SY Insitor. A total of 200kgN/ha plus 59kg/ha SO3 was applied as liquid UAN in two splits, with and without Liqui-Safe. Adding the urease and nitrification inhibitor improved average yield by almost 1 t/ha at same level of total N supply.

Further trials at Stow Longa investigated the importance of balancing macronutrient supply in 2020/21. The Cambridgeshire soil is a high pH, high calcium clay ground, with indices of 2+ for P, K and Mg. A mixture of second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth crops of Skyfall were late-October sown, with identical crop protection and micronutrition.

“The aim was to look at N rates and timing as well as key supporting nutrients,” explains Jim. “High yields of the Group 1 specification milling wheat were

produced from 100kgN/ha less than is commonly applied.

The best results came from a back-loaded N timing where the supporting nutrition was balanced to overcome classic mineral lock-up on this soil.

Having already touched on the benefit of fresh phosphate to crops, Jim moves on to work done at Bishop Burton in 2021/22. This explored the use of a phosphate availability enhancer to overcome any soil induced limitations.

“In this trial we looked at 13 winter wheat and 17 WOSR varieties and applied the enhancer, Agrii Start Release, in autumn or spring and at both timings. We found there were considerable all-round improvements in crop growth and clear yield benefits without any loss of crop quality. These benefits also translated into marked improvements in NUE and margins.”

Seasonal influences It was perhaps the timings of treatment that yielded the most interesting information in the trial. “There was no overall autumn response in the wheat last season, probably because sufficient rainfall is required after application to take the product down to the rooting zone. In a similar 2020/21 trial, though, we got a considerable benefit at this timing when conditions were wetter,” explains Jim. The P-enhancer contains tricarboxylic acid which works by preventing Ca from binding to P in the soil, which would lock it up. Jim believes it makes sense to use such a product if no fresh P is being applied and says in the autumn it will help make P available to enhance rooting and in the spring it can ‘wake the crop up’ to help improve early N utilisation.

Although they may not be required in the same quantity as macronutrients, micronutrients are also essential to crops –– often acting as catalysts to many important biochemical

Response to N timing and macronutrients, winter wheat Treatment* 1: Standard N 2: Reduced N 3: Reduced N (back-loaded Standard N + K/S Low N + Spring S/K/Mg/Ca

N (kg/ha) 214 164

Yield (t/ha) 8.47 8.29

Protein (%) 12.0 12.4

NUE (%) 67 83

Gross Margins (£/ha) £803 £840

164

8.90

13.7

98

£1030

214

8.65

13.7

78

£901

164

8.90

13.7

98

£1030

Trials took place in Skyfall winter wheat Nitrogen: treatments were balanced with a spring dressing of 48 S03:14 K:6 Mg:17 Ca. Reduced N merely eliminated final nitrogen split. Back-loaded treatment received reduced N early to provide in final split.

Macronutrients: both treatments had a similar balance of mid and late season N. Standard N received 60kg/ha early with balanced S and K. Low N received a dressing of 48 S03:14 K:6 Mg:17 Ca instead of early N with K and S. Source: Agrii, Stow Longa 2021

processes within plants. For this reason, their adequate supply is intrinsically linked to NUE and improving this aspect of overall nutrition was something the Agrii team also investigated at its Bishop Burton site last season.

“We looked at 13 winter wheat varieties and supplying additional Ca. We also investigated 23 OSR varieties/seed treatments with regards to Cu supply. In both cases we found solid improvements in crop performance from providing extra micronutrients identified as likely to be lacking in previous grain and tissue testing,” comments Jim. It highlights the importance of detective work –– tracking the

nutrient status of the crop through to harvest to identify possible hunger gaps which may not have immediately come to mind and helping the crop’s NUE and, ultimately, yield.

“If you read the textbooks, OSR isn’t generally responsive to Cu, but OSR seed analysis indicated sub-optimal copper levels and we’ve seen a response from supplying it.

Making use of all the analysis tools means you can follow the clues and tailor a nutritional approach to each crop. There’s also a role for biostimulants to boost crop physiology, which is another thing that can help boost NUE in-season,” he concludes. ■

Sustainable Solutions With input prices still high but grain and oilseed prices struggling to maintain the level reached in 2022, there’s little doubt that the stakes are rising in 2023. That means making decisions on the farm which maximise profitability have never been more important.

In this new series, CPM has teamed up with Agrii’s Green Horizons initiative to explore ways in which farm-focused research is helping to raise both economic and environmental sustainability.

Increasing nitrogen use efficiency is just one part of this initiative’s practical programme of action, which includes charting paths to net zero, maximising soil health and evaluating crop protection alternatives as well as all-round farm efficiency improvement.

Up-to-date information on all these areas is available from www.agrii.co.uk/greenhorizons

crop production magazine february 2023 57

Looking to 2023

Biostimulant usage survey As growers firm up crop management plans for the 2023 season, could biologicals and biostimulants find themselves becoming a more frequent part of production? CPM explores the concept.

By Charlotte Cunningham The beginning of a new year often marks an apt time to reflect on the 12 months passed and make plans for those that lie ahead as progress towards harvest 2023 steams ahead.

This might mean looking at how to tackle weeds and disease after a mild, wet winter, how nutrient management could be tweaked after the winter or even how biologicals and biostimulants could play a role ahead of the 2023 harvest.

Looking at the challenges growers face, a recent CPM/Interagro survey revealed the top factors limiting the ability of crops to yield to their full potential are lack of rain at the right time (52%), followed by loss of active ingredients due to regulatory policy and lack of sunshine at the right time –– which each received 28% of the vote.

While these factors are out of the control of growers, there are measures that can be taken to help put soils and crops in a better place to cope with some of the challenges.

West Midlands farm manager and CPM’s 2022 Climate Change Champion, Michael Kavanagh, concurs with this and says the 58 crop production magazine february 2023

lack of active ingredients available was in fact the trigger point for his journey towards a more regenerative way of farming. “I was very aware that in my farming lifetime we were probably going to lose access to a lot of chemicals, so I started thinking about how we could farm without them.”

Eight years on, and he’s now in a place where no insecticides are used and no bagged P and K –– though soil indices are still improving –– as well as no lime and only using one fungicides in wheat over the past three years. Getting to this point has involved incorporating a number of techniques, including moving to min and then no-till crop establishment and using alternative tools like biologicals and biostimulants.

Not a silver bullet “I started using biology about five years ago and, like everyone else, I was a bit unsure –– did it really work or was it just witchcraft?” remembers Michael. “So I trialled it first on my wheat, with the aim of better priming the plant against disease pressures, and it really worked. It made me lift my head and realise there was something in this, but it’s very much part of the jigsaw rather than a silver bullet.”

Stuart Sutherland, technical manager at Interagro, picks up the conversation and explains that tools such as biologicals and biostimulants can help crops get off to a better start and protect themselves from stress situations. “We can’t do much about the weather, but early applications of products like Bridgeway have been proven in trials to increase root mass. If you’re improving root biomass early on, then the crop has better access to moisture and

“

We’ve seen a huge difference.

”

nutrition, so it’s possible that this can help to better prepare the plants ahead of any stress periods, such as drought and disease pressures.”

And these benefits have been seen in the field too, with 55% of growers stating they’ve found biologicals and/or biostimulants to be beneficial in improving root and shoot growth and 50% said they can improve the plant’s

Early applications of products like Bridgeway have been proven in trials to massively increase root mass which helps crops better cope under stress situations, like drought, says Stuart Sutherland.

Biostimulant usage survey

Simon Bayliss has seen vast improvements to root size and structure through trials using peptide-based seed treatment, Newton. and evidence in the field of faster emergence, as well as improved root and shoot biomass.”

Newton is a peptide-based biostimulant seed treatment which can be used on both conventional and organic crops and is designed to promote increased seed health at the point of drilling. “The signalling peptides within Newton play a fundamental role in the regulation of crop growth and development, which in turn leads to faster germination and emergence,” explains Stuart. “What’s more, these peptides also have a role to play in helping crops cope better under stress situations.”

Simon has seen first-hand the benefit of seed treatments and has had what he says are ‘excellent’ results since incorporating Newton into his system.

The change in practice stemmed from his desire to move away from chemical dressings in his home-saved seed system, so he set up a three-way tramline trial comparing untreated seed, seed treated with Beret Gold (fludioxonil) plus Latitude (silthiofam) and finally Newton-treated seed. “We’ve seen a huge difference,” says Simon, who noted a considerable improvement in both size and structure of roots where Newton was used. “We don’t use anything else on seed now –– no chemical dressings –– and we think it’s far better. Once you get the seed off to a good start, the better it’s going to be throughout

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own natural defences against disease infection. A further 49% said they’ve found biological products to improve nutrient use efficiency (NUE), while 29% revealed that they’ve seen a benefit when it comes to protecting crops from drought stress.

Staffordshire farmer, Simon Bayliss is now into the ninth year of his regenerative farming journey and is focused on building resilience into his soil in order to grow better crops that are more prepared to withstand the challenges that come with modern day food production.

This year the farm has gone completely biological. “We’re using a dose of biostimulants every time we go through the crop to increase the strength of the plant,” he explains.

The challenge with using products like biostimulants and biologicals is justifying the return on investment, but Simon believes that the visual benefits are clear. “We can see that the crops stay so healthy and with them being healthier, we don’t see stress and they stay green.”

But it’s not just environmental and climate conditions putting pressure on crop performance –– high input prices seen over the past season have also caused many to rethink their crop nutrient management decisions.

Almost half (49%) of growers said they’re already tackling this by using more organic manures, while 46% stated that they are making use of biologicals and/or biostimulants to optimise uptake and use of what they do apply to the crop, with many saying they’ve already used seed treatments this past autumn to speed up establishment, optimise nutrition close to the seed and maximise soil biology, to name just a few reasons.

“A seed treatment is the earliest point at which you can use a biostimulant so by using one, you’re ensuring the crop gets off to a good start,” explains Stuart. “There’s trials evidence to show our product, Newton, can speed up germination in the lab

crop production magazine february 2023 59

Biostimulant usage survey A D V E RTO R I A L

Springing into action Total crop nutrition advice to boost plant health and improve crop yield

Contact the Liquid Fertiliser Experts Call: 01526 396000 Email: agriculture@omex.com Visit: www.omex.com

60 crop production magazine february 2023

Drought is a particular problem on Michael Kavanagh’s light soils, but he says using biostimulants is proving to help keep crops healthier for longer. the rest of the season and we have shown this by using Newton.”

Looking ahead to crop management plans for 2023 in light of higher input prices, 52% of growers said they’ll be growing varieties which lend themselves to reduced fungicide inputs, while 37% said they’re planning to reduce ag-chem inputs where they can and use biologicals and biostimulants to improve soil and plant health.

Where inputs such as nitrogen fertiliser are used, ensuring application, uptake, utilisation and partitioning into grain is efficient is key. And with NUE a hot topic last year, work was carried out by Interagro in 2022 to test if there was a relationship between NUE and amino acid biostimulant usage.

This involved analysing the effect of different levels of nitrogen inputs to wheat treated with Bridgeway at GS12-14, explains Stuart. “This showed that we were able to increase the level of nitrogen in the leaf with an application of Bridgeway in situations of 100% nitrogen, 60% nitrogen and 30% nitrogen –– with 100% nitrogen being equivalent to 80kg/ha. Having more nitrogen in the leaf is just one of the ways we thought we could prove better efficiency when Bridgeway is used. So if you are in a position where you have to reduce nitrogen, this ▲

With Spring season just around the corner I’m sure you’ll all be making final preparations for the Scott Baker, National Agronomy Manager months ahead. One of the most important tools you can be prepared with is knowledge – knowing what your crop needs and precisely when it needs it. Utilising crop data through methods such as SAP analysis, will provide you with real time information on what nutrients the plant is using during active growth. This information helps you apply the correct level of nutrition, without under or over applying, maximising your nutrient use efficiency on farm.

Once crops are in the ground the race to create strong establishment begins, helping the plant build a healthy root system will pay dividends throughout the crops growing cycle. Nutrition needs to be applied effectively and accurately, and a liquid fertiliser system allows nutrients to be taken up and utilised by the crop. Consider a dose of foliar fertiliser to give the crop an additional boost, with a dose of Kickstart – a proven root stimulant.

Highlighted in my previous column, ensure you’re utilising an inhibitor in your fertiliser application this Spring, this will help maximise NUE and keep the nitrogen where it needs to be during key growth stages. Improving NUE is key, not just for sustainability reasons but also profitability for your farm and using an inhibitor is an excellent way to help achieve this.

Keep in communication with your local FACTS qualified advisor throughout the season, they can advise on crop nutrition programmes bespoke to your crop and farm management strategy.

Wishing you all a successful Spring ahead.

Contact the Liquid Fertiliser Experts

might be one of the ways you can minimise the impact of that.”

Looking to foliar biologicals and biostimulants, 68% of growers said they plan to apply one of these types of product to their wheat area this spring/summer, while 20% are using the products on potatoes and other non-cereals such as spring beans and sugar beet.

For 56% of growers, the main reason for doing this is to help the crop access nutrition and increase assimilation, while 50% said they’re aiming to increase root and shoot growth. Over a third (37%) said they’re turning to biologicals and/or biostimulants to increase the plant’s defences to disease, and in turn hopefully reduce fungicide inputs, and a further 37% to optimise photosynthesis and the metabolic efficiency of the plant.

Michael says he’s had success with using two of Interagro’s foliar-applied biostimulants ––– Bridgeway and Zodiac. “We seem to be going into a pattern of more drought-prone springs, and on some of our light soils around here, it really is a problem –– it can be our biggest inhibitor of yield. So anything I can do to help that plant cope with that stress –– such Bridgeway –– is really beneficial. As part of the jigsaw, it’s a really crucial element in keeping crops healthy for us.”

With an eye on the likely high cost of growing crops this year, Simon says in his experience, taking a biological approach has economic benefits too. “It costs a lot less to do it this way –– we haven’t dropped in yield, either.

Last year we used a total of 120kgN/ha in wheat and that was it.”

Though according to the experts, the benefits of biologicals and biostimulants are clear, there are still some who see such products as ‘muck and magic’. Over half of growers said their biggest barrier to using more of these types of products is the need for more trials, while 17% said there’s too much

Biostimulant usage survey choice on the market and knowing where to start can be a challenge.

“When it comes to the Interagro products, there’s a whole host of trial datasets,” says Stuart. “So, I’d encourage anyone to take a look at that to get more information about our range of biostimulants.

Agronomists and manufacturers themselves are also a good source of information.

“If you’re still not sure where to start, data is always a good place. See who has done the work over multiple years on different varieties and various crops to get the confidence to go for it. There’s a lot of products out there, but some may not have large datasets behind them.”

Simon also recommends growers set up trials on their own farm to test whether or not biostimulants are something that can work for them.

Michael agrees: “Anything in place on this farm now is all because I’ve trialled it myself.

There’s no point reading something in a book or a magazine and hoping for the same results. Every farm and every system is unique, so it’s really important to get out there and trial these things yourself to find what works for you.” ■

In which situations have you found a biological and/or biostimulant application beneficial?

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At establishment to improve root and shoot growth To improve the crop’s own natural defences against disease infection To improve nutrient use efficiency To help the crop recover from drought To protect the crop from drought To protect the crop from abiotic stress in general To help protect/recover the crop from cold stress To help protect/recover the crop from heat stress To help protect/recover the crop from frost damage In with crop protection sprays to help alleviate any stress in the crop To help protect/recover the crop from fertiliser scorch Haven’t used any biologicals or biostimulants Other (please specify)

What are the main reasons you plan to use a foliar biological and/or biostimulant in 2023?

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To relieve crop stress if required To help the crop access nutrition & increase assimulation To increase root and shoot growth To aid spring crop establishment Preventatively to protect against weather related stress To increase the plants defences to disease so I can reduce fungicide inputs Late application to improve protein levels To increase grain/fill/fruit set In with crop protection sprays to help alleviate any stress in thecrop To optimise photosynthesis and the metabolic efficiency of the plant With fertiliser applications to optimise nutrient uptake Before liquid fertiliser application to reduce risk of scorch Don;t plan to use any My agronomist isn’t a fan so unlikey to use Undecided Doing trials on the farm to assess the benefits Other (please specify)

Simon Bayliss conducted tramline trials to find the best seed treatment, with Newton coming out on top. (left to right Beret plus Latitude Gold, naked seed, Newton).

What do you believe are the top two limitations impacting the ability of your crops to yield to their full potential?

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Resistance is reducing pesticide efficacy

Winner announcement

My workload impacts timeliness of crop protection/fertiliser applications Loss of active ingredients due to regulatory policy Increasing weed/disease/pest pressure

Congratulations to our winner Matthew Houldcroft from Lincolnshire who responded to the CPM/Interagro survey on biostimulant usage and has won the fabulous prize of his choice, either an Apple iPhone 14, worth £849 OR an Apple iPad Pro, worth £899.

Matthew responded to the survey and completed the tie-breaker question, which asked respondents to detail, in their opinion, what the best use of biostimulants is.

His answer was: “Where the benefits are clear to see that the future of crop production needs to be from a kill and defend nature to feed and nurture the natural biosphere already in the soil,” which impressed the judges.

To take part in the next survey, make sure we have the correct details for you by emailing angus@cpm-magazine.co.uk

Poor soil health Lack of rain at the right time Lack of sunshine at the right time Temperature stress Poor availability of nutrients when crop needs it Other (please state)

What are the barriers to you using more biologicals and/or biostimulants on the farm?

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Too much choice - hard to know where to start Not sure where to source the best option I don’t believe the claims I don’t believe they are worth the investment Need more trials results Believe they have a place and use when conditions are stressful Already fully integrated into our crop management plans Not convinced, but would be happy to trial Don’t know when is the best time to use them Don’t know enough about how they affect the plant My agronomist is not a fan Lack knowledge but would appreciate some information Other (please specify)

crop production magazine february 2023 61

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Growing tall to nano småll

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Nanobubbles are going to be of international significance, both environmentally and economically as we head into the future.

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Agri-tech Agri-tech innovation centres are helping pave the way to a more sustainable era of precision farming, be it through the medium of miniscule nanobubbles or to the heights of vertical growing. CPM learns more.

By Melanie Jenkins

Bubble project seeks to explore the potential for agricultural applications of nanobubbles and their integration with other technologies.

Initially focussing on irrigation, led by MagGrow UK in association with Agri-EPI Centre and the Centre for Crop Health and Protection (CHAP), the team are working with Cranfield University. The goal was to specifically compare the growth of plants treated with oxygen-containing nanobubble water with that of plants given untreated water, measuring root development, nutrient absorption, growth and crop yield.

Innovation technology There’s a character in Disney’s Finding Nemo, aptly called ‘Bubbles’, who is obsessed and hyperactively excited by its namesake being expelled from a chest in a fish tank. It might seem a far stretch to link agriculture to this but an emerging disruptive technology, known as bulk nanobubbles –– BNB for short –– is opening up an entirely new world of exciting opportunities for agriculture and all through the medium of bubbles.

Nanobubbles –– also known as ultra-fine bubbles (UFBs) –– are microscopic, stable and long-lasting bubbles that have the potential to revolutionise agricultural practices such as germination, irrigation, fertigation, spraying, disease management and more. “Nanobubbles are going to be of international significance, both environmentally and economically as we head into the future,” says Les Hurdiss of Agri-EPI Centre.

Funded by Innovate UK, the Ultra-fine 62 crop production magazine february 2023

Using Agri-EPI and CHAP’s Phenotyping and Soil Health facility at Cranfield University, the project partners assessed and explored the application of this innovative technology and its potential role in transforming UK crop production, explains Richard Glass of CHAP. For Agri-EPI’s Dr Trish Toop it’s a really exciting opportunity to further explore capabilities in plant phenotyping –– the ability to measure the structure and function of plants. “Nanobubbles offer great potential within agriculture and our research will allow us to greatly progress knowledge and understanding of useful treatments.”

But what makes this research into nanobubbles so special? According to Dr Anthony Furness of MagGrow, nanobubbles are based on existing established microbubble technology, which has been used in water, sterilisation, medical and mineral industries, but takes the science even further.

Nanobubbles offer a smaller, stabler and longer lasting solution, says Anthony. “These

bubbles are so small they’re invisible to the naked eye, being between 10nm and 1000nm in diameter.”

This means they’re hundreds of times smaller than the width of a human hair and are about the size of a virus. “Based on classical physics, bulk nanobubbles should dissolve in micro-seconds, but they don’t,” he explains.

The theory is that they behave in this unexpected way because they’re negatively electrically charged, adds Anthony.

“And when present in large numbers in water-based liquids, they don’t rise to the surface and burst but remain stable and buoyant for long periods of time.” This can typically be days or even weeks and when refrigerated have been found present up to a year later.

One of the key characteristics of nanobubbles is their surprisingly stable

Nanobubble technology could help reduce dependency on inorganic fertiliser, by optimising precision application and enhancing plant uptake.

Agri-tech Further avenues of agricultural-related research into nanobubbles include foliar feeding, gene switching, abiotic elicitation, soil remediation, seed germination and pathogen treatment.

“The versatility of nanobubble technology, and recent advances in research, suggests that there’s huge potential for their use in advancing spraying and irrigation processes,” says Anthony. “Not only will this help serve to address global food security challenges and the question of how farming can be more sustainable, productive and profitable, but also offers huge potential for new enterprises and job creation across the UK.” But from some of the smallest forms of agricultural science to the very tall, agri-tech is also helping to explore and further the possibilities of vertical growing. Although this technology has been around for a few years, it’s constantly advancing and expanding to new realms and presents the possibility to cut emissions and grow some food produce more sustainably.

Vertical research There are various research facilities looking at vertical farming across the UK, and the Vertical Farming Development Centre at Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC) was set up as a commercial demonstrator. In collaboration with CHAP, this 224m2 facility, split across two identical chambers, allows testing of vertical farming technologies, processes or crop varieties, as well as large scale trials before heading to a commercial market, explains Lucy Plowman of CHAP. One of the on-going projects being conducted at STC is looking at using hydrogel as a growing medium, something which offers an important step towards more sustainable production, says Lucy. “Typically, rockwool, coconut coir or peat are used in vertical growing but these have a notable carbon impact, so the project is looking at hydrogel as a sustainable alternative.”

Funded by Innovate UK, the Gelponics project is a collaboration between AEH Innovative Hydrogel and CHAP. Aimed at decarbonising the hydroponics element of vertical farming, this new substrate innovation could potentially transform the sustainable credentials of vertical farming, says Dr Beenish Siddique of AEH Innovative Hydrogel.

“Our focus is to phase out peat as a growing medium in agriculture, given the impending ban on its use,” she says.

“Although a challenge, this is a great opportunity for businesses to improve their position on sustainability. The global

According to Dr Harry Langford, some areas of possibility in vertical farming are only just starting to be explored, such as alternative proteins. substrate market was worth over $5bn in 2019, so it’s not just about sustainability but also a financial opportunity.

“We’re doing this through Gelponics –– a range of non-synthetic hydrogel formulations that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of systems such as vertical farming or greenhouse production.

“As part of development work we’re doing, we’ve conducted germination trials using the substrate. These have demonstrated more than 90% success rate for crops such as lettuce, basil and spinach, which is very promising,” adds Beenish.

“The unique selling points of the Gelponics system relate to the hydrogel itself, which has a significant water-holding capacity, is both recyclable and reusable, and can incorporate graphene technology that optimises nutrient delivery to the plant roots.”

As well as being recyclable and compostable, the hydrogel product can be reused locally as a soil amendment to help sequester carbon. It also has export potential in dry form to countries with water scarcity, adds Lucy.

Gelponics can be used in a wide range of agricultural settings and the product comes in three forms; plugs, sheets and granules, says Beenish. “The granules are mostly for use in traditional agriculture as they have natural N, P and K in them, so not only can they reduce water usage, but also help growers use fewer fertiliser inputs.”

The next phases of the Gelponics project will see CHAP and STC conduct full, semi-commercial trials of the sheet product within its own vertical farm, and work with AEH to optimise their automated Gelponics production system, says Lucy.

According to Dr Harry Langford of CHAP, some areas of possibility in vertical farming are only just starting to be explored, such as alternative proteins. “Examples such as ▲

gas-liquid interface, he says. “The surface area to volume characteristics of large populations of these bubbles means there’s a significant gas carrying capability. And they also have both internal and surface adhesion properties, meaning they can carry substances both inside the bubbles themselves and attached to their surface.”

Beyond this, nanobubbles can influence bodies of liquid they’re suspended in, particularly aqueous solutions. But their stability is influenced by things such as pH and salt content, adds Anthony. “They are more stable in alkaline conditions.”

Nanobubbles also have colloidal properties relating to how they aggregate with a medium, if they do so at all. Due to their size, there’s huge scope to further explore their penetrative abilities.

But how can this technology be used in agriculture? “There’s a real environmental significance relating to nanobubble for use in precision farming and for meeting global challenges, alongside commercial objectivity,” says Anthony.

As nanobubbles can be used to contain gases, there’s potential for them to be used to help with environmental issues, including removal of harmful pesticide residues, he explains. “Oxidised nanobubbles could well be used as a platform for tackling pollution problems such as pesticide residues and for water treatment.”

And it’s not just pesticides they could remove, their use could extend to both organic and inorganic compounds, including microplastics.

“Levels of nitrogen and phosphates are already at dangerous levels in some soils and watercourses, and we have to reduce the amount of these substances to limit pollution,” says Anthony.

Using nanobubble technology could prevent further pollution using flotation techniques, he adds. “As well as their potential for water treatment, they could help reduce our dependency on inorganic fertiliser, by optimising precision application and enhancing plant uptake, and could also help to prevent the ammonia and nitrous oxide greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser application,” he adds.

They could even be used as an agent to deliver nutrients and oxygen to plant root systems to enable better plant growth through root oxygenation and fertigation.

“Oxygen generated nanobubbles act as oxidants and can accelerate germination,” he says. “But hydrogen induced into nanobubbles acts as an antioxidant and can inhibit germination. This is an area of active research.”

crop production magazine february 2023 63

A benefit of vertical farms is that there’s no requirement for pesticides or chemicals, says Lucy Chapman. ▲

water lentils from a protein powder perspective, and short-stature soybean cultivars, are starting to be explored and optimised through research and development.

“Although the process takes time, we expect there to be commercialisation opportunities within vertical farming, or more broadly within controlled environment agriculture, for more novel crops like these.

Developments such as this make it a really interesting time to be involved in the sector.”

It’s not just individual projects such as Gelponics which are focused on the environmental benefits but rather the aim behind vertical farming. “There are a lot of environmental benefits to vertical farming,” says Lucy.

“The downside is the energy use but the way the technology is moving at such a rapid pace, we don’t think it will be long before we get to the stage where it’s economically viable for a greater number of

crops. Some of the benefits include reduced water usage as vertical farms operate on a closed loop system. This means there’s very little water loss as it’s recirculated –– which is great in drought-stricken areas.

“Additionally, closed loops prevent any pests from entering the water system, and UV sterilisation and filters prevent bacteria build up. The added benefit is that there’s no requirement for pesticides or chemicals when growing produce this way and we can grow all year-round –– taking the pressure off land,” she says.

A niche point about vertical farming is that a farm can be set up virtually anywhere, adds Lucy. “We’re seeing a lot in urban centres, which means the distance travelled from production to consumer is very low.”

But what about on farm? “We have had a few conversations with farmers who have looked at setting up a vertical farm to provide another diversification avenue, especially where there’s empty buildings that can be utilised or there are anaerobic digesters as a renewable energy source, as this de-risks food production.

“And there’s the potential for vertical farming to be a part of cereal breeding as it allows for speed breeding because of the controlled environment,” she says.

“Admittedly, a vertical farm is a very different environment for crops to grow in to know how they would perform outside, but it can be great for researching consistently and getting reproduceable trial results quickly.”

Although vertical farming isn’t likely to ever replace more traditional food production, it adds another tool to the toolbox and can remove some of the demand for land, which might instead be used for environmental benefits or energy production, explains Lucy. ■

Although vertical farming isn’t likely to ever replace more traditional food production, it adds another tool to the toolbox.

Putting credibility higher on the agenda Is the fog starting to clear, and are the details of future farm policy becoming clearer?

Defra is finally announcing more details on ELMs, including what the Sustainable Farming Incentive will offer for the next few years. This announcement should help us understand the value of our landscape management and how the various options can fit within our business and farming operations.

Farmers have been managing the landscape for generations, yet we see little recognition of this value in the returns for our produce.

Payments for environmental land management allow farmers to be fairly rewarded for improved delivery and maintenance of farm habitats. This is a fair deal for restoring and protecting the ecosystems that underpin our businesses.

I speak with many farmers across the country who are already finding that focusing on soil health and biodiversity brings financial benefits. Should Defra get the packages within ELMs right, it should adequately compensate many more farmers for the value of public goods delivered through environmental outcomes which simultaneously support profitable farming.

There is a growing number of supply chain trials and end-users focusing on the nature and carbon footprint of

their food. Many companies are committing to buy some or all of their produce from regenerative farms in the coming years.

There’s much to welcome within these developments, and as signalled by the wider industry –– including public and private sectors –– it seems this will be the direction of the marketplace.

Similarly, within the conservative and environmental NGO sectors, support for the marketing of nature-friendly farming is coming to the fore.

But how the supply chain measures regenerative agriculture will need to be standardised, so there is greater transparency and an equal playing field. I watch this space with hopeful curiosity.

I’ve entered several trials to measure our farm’s carbon footprint, including the carbon content of our soils and the biodiversity above and below ground. Given the variety of different yet similar tests, I’m interested in the outcomes and which tests will give the best results. Many major brands and key actors within the supply chains will expect farms to demonstrate their products’ carbon footprint. Much like the need for a common framework within the marketplace that measures and monitors farming systems, we need clear frameworks for understanding and communicating our carbon footprint, including benchmarks for demonstrating the opportunities for storing and sequestering carbon across farm landscapes.

As carbon calculating within the marketplace becomes more mainstream, bringing more companies wanting to promote their carbon footprint within the supply chain, I remain cautious about selling carbon to those wishing to offset their own. What we know about the carbon credits market is relatively little,

and we need regulation to make this industry equitable. Carbon capture can be sold only once, putting farmers at a disadvantage if they have sold the carbon credits they rely on to distinguish their produce as climate-friendly in the marketplace.

Farming’s data and data collection is evolving to be a significant component of the sector’s future. Our ability to measure and record the impacts of our systems, thus validating our claims to be regenerative and nature-friendly, should drive genuine outcomes. It should make greenwashing more difficult and, ultimately, align the government’s farming incentive schemes with the ethics of the wider supply chain.

We’re still waiting for the government to announce a coherent framework for what and how the industry will measure environmental delivery. Without this, we will end up with a fractured metrics system with many organisations measuring differently. This will impede a farmer’s ability to move between supply chains as the specifics of a single data collection will limit them.

These past few months, I‘ve spoken with farming organisations in different countries, looking at how to record and benchmark our supply chains’ nature and climate footprint. In the near future, large organisations will be required to publicly declare their climate and nature impacts, with many signing up for Nature Positive commitments. But for global trading to work, we will need a standardisation that establishes a common language around holistic farm-level sustainability. Otherwise, the results of many farms achieving genuine nature recovery, climate adaptation and soil restoration won’t be worth the paper on

Martin Lines is an arable farmer and contractor in South Cambridgeshire with more than 500ha of arable land in his care.

His special interest is in farm conservation management and demonstrating that farmers can profitably produce food in harmony with nature and the environment. He’s also chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network UK. @LinesMartin martin.lines@nffn.org.uk

which they’re written.

If the agriculture industry is to meet the NFU’s target of net zero by 2040, it needs to act now and start changing rapidly.

May 2023 be the year we collectively work out the what and how of measuring the positive impacts of our farm businesses, through data collection that will give us an accurate benchmark to show improvements. Only through seeing tangible evidence of what our farming systems achieve can we truly understand –– and prove –– how nature-friendly farming makes better sense in an ever-changing climate.

Is the fog over farming policies finally beginning to clear?

crop production magazine february 2023 65

A special relationship

Genetic technology Landmark trials with gene-edited barley have demonstrated the strong interaction between cultivated crops and soil microbes that stretches back over 460M years. CPM visits the trial site to explore the implications.

By Tom Allen-Stevens The seemingly stunted, haphazard growth of the barley in the trial plots could belie the significance of what lies below. For Dr Tom Thirkell, who’s moving through the small, square-metre plots of barley, just the fact they’re growing at all is already a landmark achievement.

“Every growth stage we reach is a milestone in itself,” he comments.

These are the first gene-edited (GE) barley trials in the UK. Tom and colleagues at the Crop Science Centre, Cambridge, have used the precision-breeding technique to explore the properties of a 66 crop production magazine february 2023

nodulation signalling pathway gene (NSP2). This allows plants and microbes to interact and it’s been knocked out of GE lines of Golden Promise barley.

These are grown in plots in the field alongside GM lines in which the gene has been overexpressed. It’s part of a long-term project to find out if cereals can be developed with the ability, like legumes, to fix their own nitrogen from the atmosphere.

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There is so much to learn about the cross-talk between plants and microbes.

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Mycorrhizal associations Tom’s real interest, however, lies in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that threads its way through the soil beneath his feet, or more rather, the relationship this has with the barley plants. “Mycorrhizal fungi are found in virtually all farm soils, forming this symbiosis with our crops. The challenge now is making sure the plants are getting the most benefit from the fungi as possible. Farmers I meet are also enthusiastic about beneficial soil organisms, and with good cause.

“There is so much to learn about the cross-talk between plants and microbes –– what tells a plant to block pathogens, or allows another organism to colonise. If we can understand and influence these signalling pathways, the potential to reduce reliance on synthetic inputs is immense,” he says.

So that’s been the point of the trial –– testing the effect of the gene believed to be at the heart of the relationship between

plants and AMF, and then exploring closely the effect in a field situation (see panel on p67).

It’s a relationship that’s one of the oldest and most successful in existence, but it’s one of the least understood and is considerably under-utilised, according to Professor Giles Oldroyd, who leads the research at Crop Science Centre. It could even hold the key to feeding the world and reversing the effects of climate change, he says.

“There’s a beautiful fossil record that shows the symbiosis started around 460M years ago. It began when plants first moved onto the land and had no roots, so built a relationship with fungi in the soil.”

AMF are remarkably abundant, accounting for 5-50% of the microbial biomass in agricultural soils. The network of hyphae they form can be equally astonishing, with as much as 100m in just one gram of grassland soil. These hyphae

Genetic technology

In the GE lines of Golden Promise barley (left), a gene that allows plants and microbes to interact has been knocked out while this has been overexpressed in GM lines. notably cereals, it has evolved into a complex system within plants of signalling pathways and the expression of genes that turn these on and off, producing a chemical, strigolactone, that soil microbes can detect.

“We know that NSP1 and NSP2 within plants are central to this process,” explains Giles. “If a plant needs nutrients, these genes are expressed which trigger a chain of signals. Phosphate and nitrogen, for example, can be taken up from the soil ▲

lack regular cross walls, allowing the rapid passage of materials through the network.

This massively increases a plant’s effective root length, depth, surface area and soil volume from which it can draw nutrients and other resources.

The fungi also grow inside plant roots, and that’s how the special relationship has developed. Where plant and fungal tissues meet, the fungi form special structures known as arbuscules. These have a large surface area that allows nutrient exchange between the partners.

Around 70% of all plant species have retained the symbiosis –– brassicas represent a rare crop type that has evolved a different method of extracting nutrients from the soil, and have long since lost the association with AMF. For other crops,

Field trials pave way to farmer involvement The first year’s trials were taken successfully to harvest this summer, and the team has been painstakingly trawling through the data and studying the properties of the material the plots have yielded.

Now a new, farmer-led project aims to measure the level of AMF in UK arable soils and explore this interaction further.

“We’ve yet to assess all the data, but initial analysis from the trials suggests we’re seeing comparable behaviours in the field to those we’ve seen in the laboratory. It shows we can have strong control over when plants engage with these beneficial fungi,” reports Tom. The field trials will be repeated for a further two years to confirm findings. There are also plans to look at other barley varieties –– Golden Promise has been used because much of its genome has been mapped and characterised.

“We’re screening other varieties, including those on the AHDB Recommended List –– we know the response to AMF varies so we want to explore this,” notes Tom. “The rewards may be substantial –– AMF can provide a crop with all of its phosphate requirement and a large proportion Following a successful harvest of the first year of trials, there are now opportunities for farmer involvement to complement the research.

(Photo: CSC)

of its N, sometimes more effectively than plant roots alone. There’s also the influence of P-solubilising bacteria, which is another symbiosis we’re keen to explore.

“But increasing AMF colonisation doesn’t always benefit the symbiosis and there may even be a level at which parasitic behaviour occurs. We simply don’t know and it’s why the field trials are important –– these are interactions you can’t understand if you only study them in the lab or the greenhouse.

“What’s more, we know very little about the actual amount of this fascinating fungi we have in arable soils, how this varies and how it’s influenced by management practice,” adds Tom. So this is the focus of a new farmer-led project, co-ordinated by BOFIN (British On Farm Innovation Network). “We plan to take plant samples with roots intact from around 30 first wheat crops in May or June this year,” he explains.

BOFIN is looking for around 30 farmers to join the Soil Squad –– a group who will have their plant roots analysed for AMF activity. BOFIN and CSC will then work with the Soil Squad to ensure the samples are taken correctly and give an accurate picture of the AMF levels for each of the samples taken.

“You can quantify and DNA sequence AMF relatively easily with the right lab and equipment from the plant roots alone. It’s not just the quantity that’s important for the symbiosis, but the agronomy too and we’re keen to understand more about that. We’re hoping to deliver the results at the Groundswell event in June.

“This is the first time UK arable soils have been benchmarked in this way, and I’m really excited about what we’ll find,” enthuses Tom. In future, there may also be an opportunity for farmers to actually test GE lines. Since March this

The aim of the farmer-led trial, coordinated by BOFIN, is to get an accurate picture of the AMF levels in the soil for each of 30 samples taken from across the UK. year, precision-bred organisms can now be included in field trials in the UK without the restrictive GM regulations that currently govern how GE crops are grown in field trials across the EU. Giles indicates he’s particularly keen to work with regenerative agriculture growers. “I don’t think the soil we’re working with here on the NIAB farm necessarily makes the most of the differences between the GE lines with the NSP2 gene knocked out and those where the expression is enhanced.

Similar trials with maize have shown a 30% yield difference.

“I suspect doing the trials with a regen ag farmer who understands the role of AMF and has nurtured levels in their soil would show a much stronger effect. What’s more, we have just developed a true GE line that overexpresses NSP2, so I’d be super excited to test that in a real farm situation. The only barrier that’s been in our way until now has been the GM regulation,” he notes.

Anyone can apply to join the Soil Squad –– the aim this year is to gather samples from a spread of farming systems and cultivation approaches.

An introductory webinar on Thursday 16 February provides details for those interested in being involved. More at www.bofin.org.uk.

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Genetic technology

The symbiosis between plants and fungi started around 460M years ago, says Giles Oldroyd.

is already there,” notes Giles.

“We understand reasonably well the nature of this capability, and that’s what we’re aiming to engineer into cereals. But it remains a big leap to actually build the ability for cereals to fix their own nitrogen, and we’re not there yet.”

In the meantime, the team is exploring further the signalling pathways related to NSP2. Barley is the chosen cereal as it’s a diploid –– less complicated to alter genetically than hexaploid wheat. There are four lines in the trial with the unaltered Golden Promise control –– two are GE lines in which symbiosis signalling genes have been disabled.

GM technology ▲

through this symbiosis.”

But the genes are only expressed when the plant goes short of nutrients –– synthetic inputs make the system redundant, so AMF tends to be more abundant in organic and low-input systems. Soil disturbance disrupts an AMF network, so its growth is most advanced and complex in no-tilled soils, especially permanent pasture, field edges and woodland.

So how does this relate to nitrogen fixation? “This is an ability that evolved later –– around 100M years ago –– but utilises some of the same signalling pathways,” Giles continues. “The interesting aspect is that there are many associations of plants with fungi, but only legumes have evolved this symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.”

The ultimate aim for Giles and his team is to pinpoint what it is that allowed this to happen in legumes and recreate it within cereals. Initial work in this area started around 25 years ago with work on a model legume, Medicago truncatula, exploring the genetics that allow it to engage with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

“We identified the genes responsible and created mutant plants in which their ability was knocked out. The result was very severe and they not only lost the interaction with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the mutation almost completely abolished the association with AMF.” What the researchers learned from this was profound. “For legumes, evolving the capability to engage with nitrogen-fixing bacteria was not something totally novel.

What they did was to build on a pre-existing framework that already engaged with AMF. So it follows that there’s a genetic framework present in most plant species that can be adapted to do the same –– the symbiosis signalling pathway 68 crop production magazine february 2023

Then there’s a GM line that has DNA from M. truncatula which allows the barley plant to overexpress NSP2. The fifth line has native barley DNA inserted in, such that the response of NSP2 is no longer triggered by nutrient starvation, but always active. This is a method known as cisgenesis, explains Giles, using DNA from within the same species, but classed as GM as it’s a genetic change that couldn’t occur naturally.

“It’s very easy to knock out a gene function with GE, but much harder to improve it through GE, although our capabilities in this area are progressing,” he says.

But whether GM or GE, nitrogen fixation or feeding the AMF, there’s a carbon trade-off –– around 20-30% of carbon captured by a plant can be transferred to the microbes in the soil. “Nitrogen fixation is a very energy-demanding process for a plant,” adds Giles.

“While you can probably enhance photosynthetic efficiency to compensate, the target market for nitrogen-fixing cereals is not initially here in the UK, where you’re already achieving relatively high levels of a

Fungal carbon is very long lived in the soil, so AMF has great potential as a way to sequester carbon.

Tom Thirkell’s real interest lies in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and making sure the plants are getting the most benefit from the fungi as possible.

plant’s potential productivity using synthetic inputs. The advantage is for the smallholder in Africa, who currently gets about 15% of its potential because they have just bare soil to work with, and no added nitrogen, whether organic or inorganic.”

Giles predicts the balance of priorities in wealthier nations is bound to change, favouring nitrogen-fixing cereals, as farming moves away from synthetic inputs towards more sustainable practices. But developing the relationship with AMF may hold far more promise for the UK cereal farmer.

“AMF are carbon auxotrophs –– the only way the fungi can get carbon is from the host plant. That comes in from photosynthesis –– the plant fixes CO2 from the atmosphere, shuffles it down into the root and then feeds it to the AMF which then builds a hugely complex fungal network in the soil.”

Currently this process is regulated by the plant’s perception of its environment, and when it’s optimal to engage with the AMF, which is currently only when it’s near starvation, he notes. “But what if you adapt this process so it’s optimised for agriculture? That’s what we’re doing right now with the genetics we’re developing.”

The potential advantages of cereal crops adapted and tuned to actively feed the soil go far beyond improvements to soil health and fertility and could outstrip the nutrient cost savings, believes Giles.

“Fungal carbon is very long lived in the soil –– much longer than plant carbon.

So as a way to sequester carbon in your soil, this is phenomenal. If farmers are going to be paid to sequester carbon, then this is the mechanism to do so,” concludes Giles. ■

Making the transition

Agroecology Conference When it comes to adopting agroecological principles, the destination may be the same but the journey there is different for everyone.

CPM attends Hutchinsons’ inaugural Agroecology conference to hear perspectives on how to plan the route.

By Lucy de la Pasture

can learn from mistakes as well as the things that have gone right.

“But in order to reach agroecological objectives, it can’t be a big shift. There has to be a well-planned transition,” adds Ed. Unsurprisingly, understanding your soil is the starting point for any transition, believes Ian Robertson, Hutchinsons’ head of soils.

“

It’s about ‘noodles’ – it’s a headspace movement.

”

Establish the baseline “Most people have an idea of where they want to get, but unless you know where you’re starting from, you don’t know which direction to go, what to do first, where to work and what needs to be addressed.

“Establishing the starting point enables you to make an action plan.

But fundamentally, what we can’t do is fall into the trap of trying to do everything at once.”

Ian warns about following the latest trends and highlights the failure of direct drilling in the 1980s as an example.

“There’s no one silver bullet. And the reason why is because you’re all farming with different aspirations. You’re all farming different soils and you’ve got different skill sets. There’s lots of differences, which is a good thing, but that means it makes it harder because you need to understand an awful lot.”

And that’s where baselining provides the information needed to begin the transition, believes Ian. He quotes Lao Tzu: ‘The journey of a thousand miles

There’s growing interest in agroecology, says Ed Brown, and the Helix outcomes allow everyone to learn from other people’s mistakes.

▲

As the UK’s largest agronomy company, the opening words from Hutchinsons’ head of agroecology, Ed Brown, at its inaugural Agroecology Conference may be a surprise to some people.

He promises the 220 farmers present, independent and trustworthy advice without a string of inputs attached.

That’s supported by an increasingly strong portfolio of services which dovetail with its agroecology services, which includes environment, soils, digital farming, farm business management and carbon, he says.

“Then we have the Helix farms –– where theories are put into practice and we share what we’ve learned. These give the big picture outcomes and means everyone

Photo: Ben Taylor-Davies

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Agroecology Conference

Ian Robinson reminds delegates that they’re actually growing biology, which is fundamental to everything. ▲

begins with just one step.’ “And the biggest step I’ve seen on farm over the past 10-15 years, isn’t about machines.

It’s about ‘noodles’ –– it’s a headspace movement.”

Baselining the soil means looking at its three pillars –– physical, chemical and biological –– and understanding what those mean in terms of the growing crop, explains Ian. “Physics, chemistry, and biology –– they all work together, you can’t separate them.

But as an industry, we’ve been really clever at separating them and we’ve been focusing on physics and chemistry.”

Biology is missing, he highlights.

“The reason I think we’ve not done a lot with biology is that it can be very difficult to see. But biology is fundamental to everything, microbes started to associate with plants 590M years ago. We’re actually growing biology.”

But Ian points out that understanding the soil chemistry alludes to its biology and physics. It gives clues as to how the soil is functioning and cycling nutrients.

These clues can be followed and lead to solutions to improve them, potentially making more nutrients in the soil available to plants.

“Baselining helps every decision you will make on the farm –– for example, about cultivation and establishment; rotations; soil and crop strategy; catch and cover crops; livestock integration and manures; and machinery requirements.

Guessing these won’t lead to optimum economic outcomes,” he says.

First steps into agroecology Harry Heath reached the decision to change his farming practices to an agroecological approach in 2018-19. He’s still near the beginning of his journey and hosts the Helix agroecology initiative on his farm near Newport in Shropshire.

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“It’s great, because we get to try lots of things and it really pushes me on to try more,” says Harry.

The farm’s primary enterprise has always been indoor pigs but the decision has been made to move out of the sector and, instead, run a smaller outdoor herd on the farm’s sandy soils, he explains.

The arable side of the business has now become its mainstay and Harry stresses that agroecology, and the ability to farm long-term with profit and sustainability, form its new foundations.

“Before we re-evaluated things, our cultivation practices were very, very intensive. We were still rotationally ploughing and we were combination drilling. We were sub-soiling everything and on our sandy soils, the more we did, the more we had to do to artificially create a soil structure.

And as time progressed, both my father, Martin, and myself started to feel that we were taking a lot more from the land than we were actually giving back and we had no connection with the biology that’s so important,” he says.

Harry’s ‘aha’ moment, which brought home the dangers of recreational tillage, came when the farm was still growing potatoes and he shows a photo to the delegates.

“This is the photo which acts as a sombre reminder of what happens when you do recreational tillage on our farm.

It’s light sand and this was a field where potatoes had been lifted. We thought it was the right thing in those early days to go in and subsoil and then put a tined cultivator back through it.

“Then, in the middle of August we had 130-150ml of rain in about three hours and about 2000-3000 tonnes of soil ran down that hill and ended up at the bottom of the valley. So we got a bulldozer and pushed it all back up and carried on.”

In 2018-19, the decision was made to take potatoes out of the rotation because of where the farm’s soil heath had got to.

“We did some soil baseline tests, just to put a line in the sand of where we were, so that we could work out how to get the basics right.”

Harry says he also felt he was on a bit of a treadmill which he wanted to get off and that’s where agroecology came in.

“I wanted to start to pull back inputs –– in terms of nitrogen, fungicides, insecticides –– and at the time, I was very inspired by those people who are doing that and I still continue to be so today. But what I loved about it was that it was a low-risk model

Harry Heath explains some of the factors that led him to change the way he farms, transitioning to a more agroecological approach.

and getting off that treadmill. And actually, that’s really where I wanted to be.

“Changing our focus by moving from out and out yield, which is what we used to focus on, to profit was a big step. Our light land tends to go very tight, so even though we’ve bought a direct drill to enable us to step back from cultivation, it’s a gradual process.

“A cornerstone of agroecology for us is keeping the ground covered with catch or cover crops. We’re also growing companion crops to add diversity; for example, planting buckwheat and clover with oilseed rape. It also bridges the gap because OSR doesn’t make mycorrhizal associations. But we’re also growing spring beans with spring oats.”

Adding diversity extends to the genetics of crops so Harry has had blends of wheat on the farm for the past couple of years.

“Probably the biggest thing for us is that it’s allowing us that flexibility to try and step away from fungicides more, as well as try and have some genetic diversity in amongst the crop,” he comments.

Being part of the Helix network has enabled Harry to take a measured approach to trying new things on the farm, with a trials programme that’s been set up to properly evaluate whether techniques are making a positive contribution or not.

This year’s trials include looking at biological extracts, with a Johnson Su reactor providing the goodies. Further trials are investigating primed seed, nitrogen rates, blends and Harry’s overall objective of decreasing glyphosate use on the farm.

Agroecology Conference “We need to understand and continually re-evaluate what our management impacts are on soil health so that we know we’re moving in the right direction. Now, we’ve definitely reaffirmed we’re reconnecting with the biology. And that really just means that we’ve got to be working with nature all the time and not working against it, because that’s ultimately really where we might have been going wrong in the past.”

#getonmyland At the other end of the spectrum is experienced agroecology consultant Ben Taylor-Davies, who has embodied its practices at Townsend Farm, near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. In fact, you could say there’s not much conventional about the way Ben thinks but his approach is actually to keep things simple.

“We focus massively on appreciation of appreciation. And we’re going to touch on what we do and how we do that.

Pointing to a photo of the farm, Ben says that his 220ha has received £1.2 million in farm benefits since 1993.

“I therefore think the general public probably has a right to come and have a look what we’ve done with what I consider taxpayers money. And therefore look at the public a little bit differently than most.”

Ben has the hashtag ‘getonmyfarm’ because he views the public as an integral part of his farming business. “We’ve got the farm shop. We have farm notice boards all over the farm. And we’re running farm walks all the time –– walks for a cardiovascular workout, a yellow walk for art –– with sculptures and paintings.

We have a nature trail and corners of the farm for quiet time,” he says.

Ben planted perennial Kernza winter wheat last autumn, which should provide a harvest for the next 15 years.

“When we start engaging with the general public, funnily enough, they engage back. Our farm is becoming the centre of the community again, as it once was in the 1930s. We’re having gatherings, whether it be Bonfire Night, whether it be Christmas Carols, we do all these sorts of things. Therefore, for me, this journey goes far beyond what we’re producing. But actually when you start listening and asking the questions of your local community, it’s amazing how much they will come and support what you’re doing.”

Ben’s engagement goes beyond the local community. “I’m finding as I’m engaging with more NGOs in demonstrations and things we’re doing on the farm to actually show what can be done, that great people are actually offering solutions. We also invite policymakers, there’s no point in moaning about policy if you’re not being the person to say, come to my farm, come and listen to my problems.”

The next thing about reinventing everything is diversity, diversity, diversity.

Typically Ben thinks out of the box when it comes to creating diversity on his farm.

“My father spent his lifetime specialising his farm because it became less risky.

So in actual fact, what we’re doing here is doing the absolute opposite. I want to be a jack of all trades, and certainly a master of none. I want to unspecialise to spread my risk.

Diversity comes in many shapes and sizes and Ben’s unconventional thread even runs through his new agroforestry strips where he has an eye on the future, planning for a warming climate.

“Our agroforestry scheme is underway and we’ve planted tea and olives. This is not for me, it’s probably not for my children but for my great grandchildren.

Is there going to be a scenario where actually olives are going to be a really nice sustainable crop for generations to come?”

Ben believes diversity applies as much to the animals on the farm as to the crops.

That’s why he has a ‘flerd’ and he’s found this mixed bunch can play an important role in pruning the grapevines in the farm’s Hands Off vineyard He’s also moved beyond reliance on glyphosate and instead utilises the green for integration of his livestock or flerd.

“Slugs thrive on thin and decaying material. They also thrive on the very new shoots of any emerging plant because of their very basic sugars. So it stands to

Ben Taylor-Davies has turned entrenched thinking on its head at his family farm, near Ross-on-Wye. He positively encourages the public to #getonmyland. reason if you ever want to attract slugs, then spray off cover crops with glyphosate and then plant a brand-new crop into it.

Ben has been experimenting with regenerative potatoes for several years and believes that, for the first time ever, he’s grown carbon negative potatoes across 35 hectares. He also says he has the first commercial crop of Kernza perennial wheat in the ground. “We planted it in September and we’re going to harvest every year for hopefully the next 15 years.”

Involving people in the business is what Ben does best, and none more so than his family who are as much a part of its success as he is. “I’m a family farmer, which means our family farms,” he concludes. ■

At Townsend Farm, the flerd take responsibility for pruning and mowing the vineyard.

Photo: Ben Taylor-Davies

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A road less travelled Regen Pioneers Renowned independent consultant Joel Williams of Canada-based Integrated Soils, put forward his perspective on how to make the transition into agroecology at Hutchinsons’ inaugural Agroecology conference, which took place in November last year.

CPM was there.

By Lucy de la Pasture With interest in agroecology sharpening, departing from the conventional view is often tricky –– with no route through the transition exactly the same. So where do you start?

Joel Williams of Integrated Soils suggests taking a stepwise approach.

“Taking steps into the unknown can feel very risky. There’s no set roadmap per se, it’s nuanced,” he says.

“There are many ways to approach the transition and one of those is called efficiency, substitution and redesign (ESR).

This is a way to plan a stepwise approach and to conceptualise the transition from your current production system towards something more sustainable,” says Joel.

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He highlights that first and foremost, a change in thinking is required.

“Conventional agriculture is very much built around the discipline of agronomy, which is often very input dependent. We use a lot of science and technology to manage a system we consider is under our control. But it isn’t really how natural ecosystems work,” he says.

“If we want to have this discussion about agroecology, we need some element of biomimicry. We’re looking at natural processes and trying to harness or mimic them, bringing them into the design of our agricultural systems. We have an immediate kind of juxtaposition –– the classic agronomy system under control versus working with natural cycles and systems.”

But Joel points out that farmers are already good at working with some natural cycles, such as the weather, so the change in thinking required may not be as alien as it seems.

The first step in the ESR system is efficiency, which means optimising the current farming model, he explains. “Let us be as efficient as we can be, use the least amount of fertiliser, plant protection products and diesel as possible. We’re still using all of those inputs and we’re still managing a conventional system, but it’s now a low input, high efficiency system where we’re using very small amounts of highly efficient inputs.”

Once this has been achieved, substitution becomes possible, says Joel.

“

There are many ways to approach the transition and one of those is called efficiency, substitution and redesign.

”

“It becomes easier to drop inputs because you’re using a small amount. It’s possible to substitute into alternative practices or alternative inputs –– these could be biological inputs or softer inputs, depending on the context.

“And ultimately this makes way for the final stage of the redesign. And redesign is the core of agroecology. It’s about redesigning the production system to decouple from input dependency so we make agriculture and food production compatible with nature.

It’s about nature-friendly farming and biodiversity-based agriculture. It’s using ecology, ecological principles and biodiversity as assets to then have a productive system to produce food.”

Joel emphasises that even though the efficiency and the substitution phases are really important first steps in making a transition, it’s important not to get trapped in these two stages. “We have to be taking the steps ultimately to redesign,” he says.

And that’s because the potential to

Regen Pioneers make deep impacts in the first two phases are limited, explains Joel. “In redesign, we’re mimicking nature and natural ecosystems work in virtuous circles –– they’re multifunctional and provide other ecosystem services.

“Farming systems typically are not so good at those things. But of course, they are very good at being productive. For natural ecosystems, it’s the reverse –– they’re good at providing some of those ecosystem services and other benefits, but they’re not typically as productive.

We have to strike a balance somewhere in the middle, and that’s really the future of farming.”

Joel considers different farming systems –– organic, conventional and regenerative –– and says it really doesn’t matter which type of farmer you consider yourself. “It’s just a label at the end of the day. All of those production systems would benefit from more ecology –– from bringing in more ecological design and bringing in more diversity. It would benefit an organic system, conventional system or regenerative system, it really doesn’t matter.

“Everybody can design more biodiversity into their farming system, irrespective of where you’re starting from. Mixed farming systems are a good example of that, integrating crops and livestock is exactly what happens in a natural ecosystem. We don’t really see plants existing in isolation.”

Efficiency, substitution and redesign in practice Efficiency – Reducing the amount of nitrogen applied or increasing uptake by plants

Everybody can design more biodiversity into their farming system, irrespective of whether it’s conventional, regenerative or organic.

Moving to an agroecological approach is about redesigning the production system to decouple from input dependency so agriculture and food production is compatible with nature, says Joel Williams.

“Conversely, when nitrate comes into the plant, it first has to be reduced to nitrite. Then the plant turns that nitrite into ammonium before it can utilise it as glutamine. So you can see here we have a multi-step process.”

And what’s the significance of this?

“One of pathways is long, the other is short. Each step of the chain is a metabolic or energetic cost to the plant and the more steps there are means there’s a greater drain of energy for the plant.

“So, straightaway you can see that nitrate is not such an efficient form because it’s very metabolically expensive for the plant to turn it into organic nitrogen, into those amino acids, compared with ammonium, for example.”

Joel says there’s also a cost to the plant in terms of nutrient demand, which is different depending on the form of N applied. “For example, manganese and magnesium are both essential to help with ammonium conversion. With nitrate, there’s a greater nutrient drawdown to go through the pathway to ammonium –– it requires molybdenum, sulphur and iron to catalyse the initial steps as well as magnesium and manganese for the last step,” he explains.

“So when we talk about managing nitrogen, we’re not just talking about managing nitrogen. You also have to be thinking about all of these other essential nutrients as well.”

Joel asks whether it’s possible to bypass these energetically expensive pathways and instead give the plants organic forms –– peptides, amino acids ▲

Joel goes on to illustrate how ESR can work in practice, using nitrogen as an example. “There are two ways to think about efficiency. One is simply the amount that you use –– we want to try to use less nitrogen and/or minimise the losses. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle, the other thing to consider is the form of nitrogen and how efficient it is.”

Foliar applied nitrogen is one way of improving efficiency over soil applied forms, he says. “There is no leaching from soil and less volatilisation off the leaf.

Once in the plant, the N is stable so straight away foliar offers an opportunity.

“But we know it’s a lot more nuanced than that and there are many factors to consider, such as formulation –– can we supply supporting nutrients to make the N more efficient? Then there’s the form of the N itself, is it stabilised or inhibited? What about the application –– the pH of the spray, nozzle selection and so on?”

Examining these in a bit more detail, Joel highlights that it’s environmental factors that drive the uptake of foliar nitrogen. “You want to be targeting sprays in early morning or late afternoon. High humidity is absolutely essential as it’s key to getting nutrients to pass through the leaf into the plant. If we don’t have good humidity, and I’m talking really anything from 70% upwards, then the nitrogen is more prone to just sit on the leaf. And the longer it sits on the leaf, it can potentially be washed off or volatilise.

“While stabilisers or inhibitors can help keep nitrogen in more stable forms, other strategies –– like applying a carbon source with nitrogen, such as humic and fulvic acid or molasses –– can also achieve this. What that carbon source does is to act like a sponge –– it binds to and wraps up the nitrogen and helps to stabilise it. And as it becomes a bigger molecule, it’s less leachable.”

Moving onto to discuss form, Joel highlights that an important function of nitrogen in the plant is to build proteins.

So how does form affect this?

“If we use ammonium nitrate or urea, for example, all of these forms of nitrogen have to be converted in the plant via ammonium enroute to amino acids. Some forms of nitrogen are more efficient at this than others.

“When ammonium comes into the plant, it’s a single little step to change from ammonium to glutamine –– this is one of the very first amino acids that the plant will produce, which then can get turned into all sorts of other amino acids and protein.

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Regen Pioneers Creating a balanced agroecosystem

Stabilised N

Applying a carbon source with nitrogen, such as humic and fulvic acid or molasses, stabilises it.

Ammonia versus nitrate metabolism

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or proteins –– in a process known as metabolic shortcutting.

“Organic forms of nitrogen are preferable because they save the plant’s energy which can be used elsewhere, such as in growth processes.

Examples of organic forms of nitrogen which can be fed in liquid form are fish hydrolysate, amino acid-based products, composts, biosolids –– there’s lots of these types of things out there. And this is an emerging

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piece of rethinking plant nutrition that’s happening at the moment.”

The classic, traditional views have been really heavily focused on inorganic N forms, adds Joel, but recent research is revealing a different story.

“We now know that the plant can take up more complex organic forms –– amino acids can be absorbed directly through the roots and bigger proteins can be absorbed directly through the roots as well.

“And even beyond that, plants can absorb bacteria –– whole microorganisms –– which they can also use for nutrition.

It’s a rethinking of the whole field of plant nutrition, where we were previously heavily focused on simple inorganic ions.”

So when the efficiency part of the puzzle has been addressed, it’s time to take a next step into substitution, says Joel.

Substitution An example of substitution would be to use nitrogen-fixing bacterial products.

Joel stresses that within the ESR framework, the substitution phase is often considered a vulnerable zone. One of two things can happen, you can either get stuck in efficiency and substitution or you can break through into the redesign phase.

“Nitrogen gives a great example. Because when we talk about substituting N inputs with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, biofertilisers and microbials have some big potential –– and also some big inherent problems, such as how do you know what you’re applying? Is it still alive? Are there pathogens in there?

“If you buy a nitrogen-fixing bacteria, it may or may not work for you and because of your experience with it, you may not progress and transition into redesign. Instead, you may feel ‘it didn’t really work for me, so I’m going to go back to

using foliar, artificial nitrogen’.

Joel acknowledges that biofertilisers have somewhat of a reputation, they can be difficult to use and can be inconsistent at times. “And that is the problem. I will also say that it’s a problem that we can overcome once we have filled in some of the knowledge gaps in soil microbiology.

“And ultimately, we’re interested in turning nitrogen gas –– there’s an abundance of that in the air –– into the plant available form that is ammonia.

But again, it’s really important to be holistic because other nutrients are required for the installation of bacteria to fix nitrogen from the air and deliver it to the plant. The bacteria themselves need molybdenum, plenty of iron, nickel and phosphorus on top of the plant’s own requirements. And if there is a limitation to any one of these, the potential for nitrogen fixation will be held back. So again, we need to manage all of the systems that are the pieces of the puzzle,” believes Joel.

“It’s not just about buying and applying a product, doing that you’re setting yourself up for potential failure. You have to put the product within a system that’s designed for it to work.”

Taking the example of nitrogen-fixation further leads into redesign.

Redesign Redesign an element that brings the diversity back into the system and introduces natural processes, such as nitrogen fixation.

“Legumes with rhizobia can fix nitrogen within these nodules but we also have associative fixing bacteria.

These are the bacteria that can associate with any plant whatsoever, they can simply live on the roots and around the root system, feeding off root exudates and fixing nitrogen for any plant.

“We also have free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, these

Regen Pioneers bacteria don’t even need to be on a plant and can still be fixing nitrogen. While there are potential knowledge gaps, there’s also lots of potential to harness some of these other nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

“When considering redesign, bringing the conversation back to legumes provides a good example. Legumes are the kings of nitrogen fixation –– they can do it the most and the best. So, I think wherever we can redesign these relationships into the production system, the better.”

Joel refers to the benefits of diversity within cropping systems. “We want to transition from monocultural, uniform, simplifying landscapes into diversity. That can be done in a whole host of different ways; from cash crops, wider rotations, cover crops, companion and intercropping, biodiversity strips, and agroforestry.

“All of these are great ways to diversify the farming system and therefore diversify the landscape and we could be using legumes as part of that process –– bringing in some free nitrogen into the redesign and building better ecological infrastructure to support wider landscape processes.”

Joel comes back to his point about getting stuck in the efficiency and substitution part of the process. “A highly efficient farm that has mainly substituted its inputs, and instead is using biologicals, is still a very monocultural, simplified landscape. But one of the other negatives of being stuck at this point is that you’re also still stuck in input dependency, you’re still buying something even if you’re buying biological.

“The thing about redesign is you are decoupling from input dependency, and that’s why bringing legumes into the system can be very advantageous. But there’s a whole selection of ‘plugins’ that you could potentially use to

move from uniformity to diversity,” adds Joel.

“If we use legumes, we can bring nitrogen into the system, but we also introduce multifunctionality. We get so many other benefits from cover crops; from soil protection to soil health, building soil organic matter, improved water supply and infiltration, minimising erosion and all of those kinds of things. There are benefits to the agronomy from unlocking nutrient cycling, nutrients that can improve soil fertility and reduce dependency on fertilisers.”

How then can legumes really help us reduce our nitrogen dependency? “It’s not just about growing legumes as cover crops to then terminate them, so they die and decay in order to release all of that nitrogen. We can utilize legumes to share nitrogen in real time in the current season –– from the legume to nonlegume companion –– through things like companion cropping or through intercropping.

“When legumes are alive and growing, they’re photosynthesising and releasing root exudates. When we talk about root exudates, we’re not just talking about sugars, there’s a whole host of different root exudates that plants release, some of which are amino acids, peptides, proteins, those organic forms of N we talked about. These get taken up by the plant, but they also get excreted by the plant as root exudates.

“So when we have a legume root system and a non-legume root system growing side-by-side and intermingling, that legume is releasing amino acids as root exudates and its non-legume companion can scavenge those, absorb them and take them up. So we can get direct sharing of organic forms, of amino acids predominantly, but again some proteins may also be taken up,” explains Joel.

“And if the two plants are

Nutrient requirements in N metabolism

There’s a cost to the plant in terms of nutrient demand, which is different depending on the form of N applied.

The invention of the light bulb was a revolutionary change whereas the low energy light bulb was an incremental change. also both mycorrhizal associated, so connected through common mycorrhizal networks, amino acids from the legume will pass through the mycorrhizal hyphae and be delivered directly into the non-legume. So, we do have these two other pathways of real time currency and the sharing of nitrogen.”

There is still nuance to the system, some varieties of legume are better at doing this than others, he says. “For example, small leaf clovers are better at sharing nitrogen as bigger leaf clovers have a higher nitrogen demand, so they hold more nitrogen back.

“We think about plants as so competitive against each other, competing for moisture, competing for nutrients, but we’re beginning to see examples where plants actually are very collaborative, and they work with each other and support each other,” he says.

Joel’s closing remarks provide further food for thought.

“If we think about this process of transition and making

changes to our farming system, there’s a lot of raging debate about how we go about this. Do we take small steps and make positive incremental change?

But many of you feel that this is not enough. Some say that we don’t need evolution, we need a revolution that brings transformative changes.

“But a really good example of how to think about this process is to look at Edison.

He didn’t invent the light bulb through incremental change of the candle. He thought out of the box and made transformative change.

“Now, even though he did that, we’ve gone through incremental change to a modern LED light, tweaking the efficiency of the light bulb without ever getting rid of it.

So it’s not necessarily that incremental change is bad, but let’s not get stuck in incremental thinking. Out of the box thinking can sometimes be very transformative or revolutionary, but change can also be very different stages.” ■

crop production magazine february 2023 75

Eliminating asymmetry

Carbon trading For some, the mere mention of carbon trading elicits confusion, while for others it’s optimism. CPM attended an industry roundtable, hosted by Soil Capital, to confront the concerns about what could be seen as a most modern of fairy tales.

By Melanie Jenkins The subject has been batted around for a while now, but is the industry any closer to definitively trading farm-stored carbon at a uniform and fair level? Many also doubt that farmers could confidently say that they know what carbon trading is and understand it.

The general consensus among the industry figures present at Soil Carbon’s ‘myth busting’ session hosted at Randall Farms in Berkshire last year, was ‘no’.

But united, it’s something that they’d like to change.

“There’s an opportunity for British growers in storing carbon in the region of around £500M per year,” says Soil Capital’s 76 crop production magazine february 2023

Andrew Voysey. “It’s timely to look at the financial opportunities, plus this money can be made available to transition to farming practices which have other merits as well.”

Soil Capital has its origins in Belgium, and now operates there, in France and in the UK. “But the information gaps that exist in the UK compared with France are stark and are holding farmers back,” believes Andrew.

The Soil Carbon Code is aiming to help standardise the industry in the UK, but Andrew reckons there are fundamental ‘myths’ about how the carbon market works that result in information gaps which still need plugging.

To highlight just how varied the attitudes and feelings are among the industry, each representative at the roundtable was asked to use one word to express their feelings towards the carbon markets in the UK. Some of these included: sceptical, excited, curious, unsure, undecided, intrigued, dubious, potential, opportunity, cautious, reluctant, defensive, and misunderstood.

“There are plenty of reasons to be cautious about the carbon market, but I’ll be the first to say that there’s opportunity too,” claims Andrew.

Soil Capital started out 10 years ago as an agronomy company. Its founders –– an agronomist and a financial expert –– came together over the shared understanding

“

It came down to a matter of use it or lose it.

”

that farming improves soil health should also increase profitability. “Three years ago the founders pivoted to unlock carbon payments for farmers, believing they should be supported to bring together the environmental and economic agendas,” he explains.

Today, the firm has 600 farmers enrolled

There’s an opportunity for British growers in storing carbon, in the region of £500M per year.

Carbon trading

Industry representatives all voiced very different attitudes towards the carbon trading market. in its carbon payment business across its three operational countries, and some of these have just been the recipients of the first round of payments, totalling around €1M (£866,000) between them.

But Andrew admits there are still bridges that need to be crossed. “There’s plenty that we don’t know and aren’t doing perfectly. But we do know enough to be doing something credible and substantive.”

So what were the key concerns raised about the carbon markets?

If I trade all my carbon now, I may regret it if I need it in the future.

For host farmer Andrew Randall, this was something that was very much on his mind when he started his due diligence before getting involved with carbon trading. “By nature, I’m very cautious and wouldn’t call myself a pioneer. But it quickly became apparent that there was a way of going about it that wasn’t going to be an issue.

“All we’re doing as a business is selling the benefits from our practices up to the field gate each year. Rather than being just about the build-up of carbon, it’s about capitalising on the benefits of not disturbing the soil, optimising nitrogen use, and growing cover crops,” he explains. “It came down to a matter of use it or lose it –– if I didn’t claim this year then the opportunity would be gone, so I felt the time was right.”

A fundamental driver for Andrew Randall was that he felt, as a farmer, he wasn’t solely a food producer anymore. “We’re running a very commercial, rural business and we’re looking to optimise every process and asset we have. And with the demise of basic farm payments, we wanted to recoup those losses, as well as being mindful of engaging with modern opportunities.”

The key aspect, according to Andrew Voysey, is that no one is mining or buying carbon locked up in soils before farmers enroll in a carbon payment

Carbon markets are paying for the improvements made each year – be that through reduced emissions or sequestered carbon.

Andrew Voysey believes there’s plenty that the industry doesn’t know yet, but it knows enough to be doing something credible and substantive. he adds. “There may be technological solutions that come along in 10 years that make a drastic difference to climate change, and those farmers who held back might miss out.”

If I trade carbon, I’m just giving the big emitters the right to pollute.

The confusion regarding this statement, according to Susan Twining of the CLA, is down to the language used. The CLA has been doing a lot of work to create a guidance note for its members to help them understand the concept and language around carbon trading, she says.

“The main area for distinction is between trading offsets –– where carbon stores can be used by another company as part of its net zero calculation –– and selling insets. Here, there’s a completely different agreement in place to help improve your own soil carbon and the certificate is verification of that achievement which can be used by the supply chain,” she explains.

“We must ensure that the language about these two aspects is very clear as it’ll go a long way to help people understand the soil carbon market. The distinction between offsetting and insetting, an agreement with the supply chain, is very ▲

programme. “People think they’re selling access to what’s already locked up, but what the carbon markets are paying for is the improvements made each year –– be that through reduced emissions or sequestered carbon. To the best of my knowledge, no carbon payment scheme is paying for the maintenance of what’s already in the soil.”

Antony Pearce has also entered the carbon market on his farm and was terrified to start with as he didn’t want future liability. “I was already a regenerative agriculture practitioner and I wanted to understand whether I was selling historical improvements or not.”

At present, the selling of historical improvements in soil carbon is not practiced in the UK, and the US is the only country where this happens as far as Andrew Voysey is aware of.

A concern voiced by Matt Culley of the NFU was that there are no regulatory limits yet. “It’s easy to step back and just let things develop until you get a clear perspective, but this is where we [the industry] should evolve the conversation.”

Andrew Voysey points out that the French regulatory framework is far more defined than ours.

“The French government has a clear view of the legitimacy of this market, which sends a signal to growers and the industry that all they have to decide is whether it’s for them, making it less risky.

“In the UK, the official line is more that they seem happy to see farmers take up private sector schemes so long as these work within public sector scheme rules,” he explains.

“We’re in an unregulated space and a voluntary market, so there are various values attributed to different practices, making it a confusing space.”

There’s also discussion that if farmers wait, technology could be developed which takes the opportunity from their hands,

crop production magazine february 2023 77

Carbon trading they work towards and surpass net zero.”

And farmers should also be aware that a single management decision could impact both their emissions and sequestration, highlights Andrew Voysey. For instance, reducing the intensity of cultivations will result in both lower emissions from fuel usage and more carbon being sequestered in soils through less soil disturbance.

And Matt questions whether, as schemes develop, carbon emissions and sequestrations could be counted separately but not necessarily paid for separately.

Farmers aren’t here to solve climate change, but they can help and try to capitalise on carbon markets while they do.

Carbon prices will only rise, so it’s in my best interest to wait until I value my carbon.

know a lot more than farmers, and that farmers aren’t fully informed about the value, income stream or the direction of price, and are therefore ripe for exploitation, unless the asymmetry of information in the industry is addressed.”

Antony points out that the opposite concern could be the case. “There’s a question concerning whether the price of older carbon credits will drop in the future as standards and technologies continue to evolve –– so should I sell them all now?

From my perspective, you’re being paid for your efforts this year. This is unlike in the US, where you can trade back 10 years. So if you want to be rewarded for your efforts, you need to trade it on the basis of ‘now’.”

According to Andrew Voysey, one of the most important things is that, at some point, soil will reach carbon saturation, so farmers won’t be able to meet market requirements to show that they’re making additional improvements. “So if you’re changing your practices for reasons other than carbon trading, there’s a possibility this will take you beyond the point of having anything left to trade into the current markets.”

One of the key issues for Emily is how carbon markets are talked about. “We spend too much time talking about what carbon markets want to achieve and not what farmers want to achieve. By understanding individual business motivations, we can see where they want to go and then how to get there through investment. We have to frame how farmers are participating in schemes better, rather than talking about what’s being done to them; to demonstrate how and why it’s good for their business and show that they have the power.”

Farmers aren’t here to solve climate change, notes Andrew Voysey. “The more carbon we remove from the atmosphere, while reducing emissions, the more we can potentially help, but it’s no silver bullet.

And agricultural transition has plenty other benefits for farmers and farming.” ■

▲

important to know.”

Andrew Voysey agrees that the insetting aspect is far less well understood. In this, the carbon improvement is paid for by the same company that is buying the crops.

The carbon footprint of crop production is part of the footprint of the buyer, so what the farmer reduces therefore decreases it across the entire supply chain.

“The role Soil Capital plays is intermediating this system, linking the farmer with the supply chain, helping the farmer identify areas for improvement, and verifying through a strict protocol the impact of any changes the farmer makes,” he adds. “And where it’s the commodity markets and there’s no traceability in the supply chain, there are mechanisms in place to draw a link between the area where the crop is produced and bought from.”

Another concern, voiced by Sarah Baker of AHDB, is that the benefits generated by farmers aren’t just being handed over to the supply chain. “Our major concern is that the buyers of carbon for offsetting

If I trade all my carbon now, I won’t be able to meet net zero requirements in the future.

According to Andrew Voysey, there’s a perception that once soils reach their capacity for carbon that can be sequestered, and if growers have sold all of this, they won’t be able to prove their own net zero performance. “This is the case when carbon is sold for offsets, but with insetting, the claim of carbon improvements is made by both the famer and supply chain, meaning both are aligned in demonstrating progress towards net zero.”

Emily Norton of Savills asks how many years can farmers be paid to add something to the system? She points out that if farmers could trade all of their carbon potential in the next five to 10 years, this might leave them in a difficult, and as yet unknown, situation in the future.

I have to get to net zero before I can get paid for carbon.

For Andrew Randall, selling carbon credits is also about capitalising on the benefits of not disturbing the soil.

78 crop production magazine february 2023

Farmers are both emitting and storing carbon simultaneously, says Andrew Voysey. “Most farms today are net emitters.

So there’s a challenge and an opportunity to transition from that starting point.

“The simple answer from the market’s point of view is ‘no’, farmers don’t need to be net zero before trading. But a farmer’s moral point of view might be different.

“The voluntary carbon markets pay for emissions reductions and carbon sequestration, and it has been comfortable paying farmers to reduce emissions as

Storm before the calm?

LAMMA 2023 While the rain didn’t let up from dawn until dusk, the first day of January’s LAMMA machinery show was busy throughout, thanks perhaps to the now-established indoor venue and the fact few arable farmers could do much else except workshop and office chores.

CPM was there.

The strong attendance at this year’s LAMMA suggested there was some serious window-shopping happening.

Will they be spending in 2023, though?

Those launching new machinery were certainly hoping so…

With largely good harvest results and decent commodity prices having softened some of the pain of high input costs over the past season, many arable farmers could be forgiven for considering opening the chequebook and renewing worn-out

Note of caution How much of that will translate into expenditure, though, remains to be seen, particularly as farm business advisers were sounding a note of caution to those considering investing recently-gleaned profits in machinery and equipment. At its LAMMA show press briefing, consultants Andersons urged farmers to think about more than minimising their tax liabilities when considering machinery investment.

“Machinery and equipment purchase decisions are often driven by the desire to reduce tax liabilities,” noted the firm’s Jamie Mayhew.

“Decision-making based on this as the priority can often result in production costs increasing rather than decreasing, and as such investments are often built into the business for the long-term, the effects can be long-lasting.

“Cash surpluses may be better used to reduce borrowings, especially with further interest rate increases looking likely. But one of the under-utilised options, that many farms are still not considering, is the value of pooling machinery, and machinery investment capabilities, via collaborative ventures,” he highlights.

“The savings from working together, from an informal arrangement to a full joint-venture company, can be massive, and may provide the justification for more efficient equipment investment.”

Some of the farm equipment industry’s larger names, including John Deere, Claas, New Holland, JCB, Kuhn, Amazone, Kverneland, Horsch and Lemken, continue to spend their marketing money elsewhere, so LAMMA visitors were unable to compare a full array of tractors, combines, handlers, drills and sprayers.

But there were plenty of other firms in attendance, particularly among the British drill and sprayer makers, and some key international suppliers. ▲

By Martin Rickatson

equipment or investing in the kit needed to adopt new systems such as minimum tillage or direct drilling.

Fendt Ideal combines for 2023 benefit from upgrades in areas including unloading augers, tracks and automated turning. crop production magazine february 2023 79

LAMMA 2023

Krone’s GX self-unloading trailer has applications in root crops and vegetables, as well as maize and even combinable crops. ▲

Combine upgrades

At the top of its combine range, Fendt has made a number of revisions to its Ideal

line-up for harvest 2023. Among them is the brand’s VariotronicTI Turn Assistant, which automates the headland turning process. In bed mode, the combine works the field in small sections, and keeps the unloading auger always on the cut side to ease unloading. For smaller fields there’s a ‘keyhole’ turn mode, while if several machines are working on one area it’s possible to programme U-turns to match the workflow and ensure the combines don’t end up on the same way line. By eliminating any likelihood of imprecise turns, the system is reckoned to save time, reduce driver fatigue, eliminate unnecessary manoeuvring, and minimise trafficking and fuel consumption.

Meanwhile, new 7.0m, 8.4m and 9.9m unloading augers replace the existing

▲

7.6m, 9.15m and 10.6m units, and provide respective unloading heights of 4.55m, 4.95m and 5.35m. Depending on the header width and auger length, this enables better tractor/trailer placement when unloading, says Fendt.

It means trailers can drive above or next to the swath and high trailers are loaded precisely and quickly even in uneven terrain.

Further upgrades include a heavy-duty drive option for Ideal 8T, 9T and 10T tracked models, featuring a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor that each have greater capacity for hilly ground and for high-speed roadwork, especially when towing a header, says Fendt. Operators also benefit from the upgrades, with improved noise insulation, new storage options and a new cooling box.

New track and tyre combinations include 76cm (30in) tracks or 800/70 R38 front tyres in combination with 520/85 R30 rear tyres, keeping machine width to 3.49m. The combination is claimed to provide more footprint and hence reduce ground pressure, while also increasing manoeuvrability through a greater steering angle.

Elsewhere in combines, tyre manufacturer CEAT Specialty highlighted its harvester tyre technology in the form of its Yieldmax combine tyre, shown in conjunction with UK distributor Nordic Tyres. Aimed at the OEM and replacement combine front tyre market, with models also suited to forage harvesters, Yieldmax radials are available in 650/75 R32 or 620/75 R26 sizes. They can be specified in either steel- and fabric-belted configuration, with both using a high denier textile casing plus an advanced rubber compound for the sidewalls and tread –– a combination said to

Available in 650/75 R32 or 620/75 R26 sizes, characteristics of CEAT Specialty’s Yieldmax combine tyres include a high lug angle around the centreline for maximum side stability.

80 crop production magazine february 2023

LAMMA 2023

Still undergoing development trials and likely to be heavily revised before a launch, Vaderstad’s Proceed hybrid drill uses many components from the Tempo precision seeder. ▲

maximise tyre life.

Specially-designed lugs have a high lug angle around the centreline for maximum side stability, and a sharp shoulder angle provides enhanced grip and good self-cleaning characteristics when working on soft, damp ground, claims CEAT. A rounded lug base provides good stubble resistance and a lower lug angle around the shoulders enhances traction, aided by a large footprint with a high number of lugs in contact with the ground, which is reckoned to also ensure smooth on-road performance.

Spraying technology Farm and land monitoring specialist Metos UK, the UK arm of Austrian firm Pessl Instruments, chose LAMMA to launch its DropSight spray coverage tool. The portable system works with a mobile phone to give spray operators instant information on deposition efficiency.

Claimed advantages include improved crop protection product performance, reduced risk of drift and plant run-off, reduced risk of exceeding maximum residue limits, plus minimised crop and sprayer damage risk.

After making a short pass with the sprayer to apply a solution visible under ultra-violet light, crop leaves are then selected and photographed using a smartphone. The DropSight software recognises and quantifies the deposition of solution on each leaf and measures and calculates the deposition efficacy of the spray application.

By checking spray deposition during sprayer set-up, operators can optimise nozzle selection and calibration, water volume, adjuvant selection, boom height, and sprayer speed for best results, suggests the maker.

82 crop production magazine february 2023

Sprayer developments included a display of the pulse width modulation system from Chafer, now available on all its trailed and self-propelled sprayers.

Because it fluctuates application pressure to maintain application rate as forward speed changes, conventional pressure-based rate control has to make compromises with droplet size and therefore efficacy and drift characteristics, acknowledges the firm. This means nozzle choice is a compromise, often requiring multiple sets.

The PWM system uses an electric solenoid within each nozzle body to pulse its output on and off multiple times per second, from 10-40Hz (pulses per second), with rate changes achieved by varying the duration the nozzle is in the ‘on’ position, which is changed in relation to changes in forward speed. This allows instant rate control at each spray nozzle, and with the pressure constant, the result is said to be a consistent droplet size across the whole field. Further benefits include turn compensation, individual nozzle control and the ability to change droplet size from the operator’s seat.

The 2023 show was the first LAMMA for Sands’ new two-model Infinity flagship sprayer range, built on a new chassis that allows larger wheel equipment to be fitted and provides up to 1.2m clearance.

A new hydrostatic transmission comes with traction control, and there’s fully-independent suspension. Headland manoeuvrability is aided by a footengaged multi-option steering system, which produces a 7.6m turning circle, while track width can be adjusted from 1.8-2.2m (72-88in).

Tank capacities are 5000- or 6000-litres, and the tanks are steel rather than the firm’s traditional GRP, with fixed internal pipework. Steel booms are said to have been redesigned for a combination of greater strength and lower weight, and are available in sizes up to 40m.

The spraypack incorporates a new side-mounted filling station with 40-litre induction hopper.

Drilling developments Still undergoing development trials and likely to be heavily revised before a launch –– suggested to be at least a year away –– Vaderstad nevertheless gave UK farmers a chance to preview its Proceed hybrid drill development. It uses many components from the Swedish firm’s established Tempo precision seeder, including the hopper and the coulter arrangement.

Available on all Chafer trailed and self-propelled sprayers, the firm’s new pulse width modulation system uses an electric solenoid within each nozzle body to pulse its output.

Designed as a multi-crop drill –– for everything from cereals to oilseed rape and traditionally precision drill-sown crops such as maize and sugar beet –– the Proceed can be fitted with a wide variety of quick-change metering discs featuring different hole sizes and spacings. Such greater seed spacing precision enables cereals seed spacing within the row to be far more accurately set, with trials suggesting wheat seed rates could be halved for reduced seed cost and greater crop light interception without yield penalties, suggests Vaderstad. The firm says its trials have shown winter wheat drilled at 150 seeds/m2 produces 102% more plant biomass, 72% more root biomass and 62% more tillers compared with a crop sown with a conventional drill.

Row units can be adjusted to form 225 or 250mm spacings for cereals, 450 or 500mm for sugar beet or OSR, or 750mm for maize. In each row, a consolidation wheel features hydraulically-adjustable, 0-350kg downforce to allow direct drilling where possible or desired. This is followed by a debris-cleaning wheel and then an opener.

Seed from the 3000-litre hopper is metered via a PowerShoot air pressure-based singulation system, similar to that on the Tempo. It’s then fed down single disc coulters and firmed in by rubber press wheels before angled pairs of closing wheels follow up.

Cultivation kit Available in 3m, 4m and 6m models, the new Preparator cultivator from Grange Machinery is now in production after a period of prototype development.

Designed particularly with maize in mind, but with other potential crop applications, it works on the strip tillage principle of only

LAMMA 2023 tilling the soil ahead of the rows where the crop will be sown, to minimise fuel use and soil disturbance.

Key components comprise hydraulically depth-adjustable straight discs ahead of low-disturbance legs, with a maximum working depth of 30cm and possible spacings of 45/50/60/75/80cm according to the planned crop row spacing. There are then two rows of wavy-edged discs for tilth creation, again hydraulically adjustable for depth. Guttler roller units then follow to crush any remaining clods, consolidate and preserve moisture. Grange says granular or liquid fertiliser applicators can be fitted to distribute behind the legs.

Drying and haulage Among the trailer launches at LAMMA was the GX from Krone, a self-unloader which the firm is keen to promote for uses wider than forage crops. The trailer is available in GX 440 (44m3) tandem axle and GX 520 (52m3) triple axel versions, with an ‘intelligent’ mechanical or optional electronic forced steering system controlling the rear axle on the former and the front and rear axles on the latter.

Both models feature standard ISOBUS operation. Cargo is unloaded by a hydraulically-powered, chain-driven fabric belt floor, an arrangement which results in gentle discharge without squeezing of the load, claims the maker, an attribute it suggests will appeal to vegetable and root crop growers.

The unloading unit is driven by two hydraulic motors of 200cm3 capacity on the GX 440 and 250cm3 on the GX 520.

These operate a pair of flat-link chains with a break strength of 25 tonnes at selectable unloading speeds of 8m/min or 16m/min, with the latter emptying the GX 440 in 40 seconds. Rubber strips seal the sides for loss-free fillings, and Krone suggests

the GX is capable of hauling grain and oilseed crops.

Mobile grain dryer developments from Opico for 2023 include a ‘smart’ control system for its Magna automatic models.

Via a smartphone or similar device, it allows operators greater connectivity and remote control of machine operations, suggests the firm. Features include a 9.7in touchscreen display offering on-screen crop selection and management, and the ability to customise machine operation to suit individual installations. It can send batch progress reports and machine alarms via text or email, and provides real time remote monitoring of dryer operation and adjustment of settings as required.

Remote monitoring and fault diagnosis support is available from Opico. ■

The Grange Preparator strip-tillage cultivator has been designed particularly with maize in mind, but with other potential crop applications.

Granular or liquid fertiliser applicators can be fitted.

The DropSight spray coverage tool from Metos works with a mobile phone to give spray operators instant information on deposition efficiency.

crop production magazine february 2023 83

The seeds of a new On Farm Opinion way on weeds A farmer-led trial is putting harvest weed seed control through its paces. CPM visits a farm in Warwickshire with a New Holland combine harvester fitted with a Redekop seed control unit.

By Tom Allen-Stevens

84 crop production magazine february 2023

“

I’m not expecting a silver bullet, but something that will play a part in how we manage grassweeds.

”

New concept in UK Successfully used in Australia and Canada, the concept of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) has barely caught on in the UK. The Redekop SCU is a step-on from an integrated unit developed by researchers at the University of South Australia, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. It works on the principle that if you hit a weed seed hard enough four times it renders it unviable.

The chaff stream is separated from the straw and passes from the sieves into the SCU that’s fitted below the straw chopper. ▲

There’s a sense of determined exasperation from Ted Holmes as he moves through his crop of Skyfall. This field is ready for harvest, but he’s left it until last, because it’s teeming with ryegrass.

“It’s like you’re playing tennis with this weed –– just when you think you’re on the front foot, it snatches back a series of points, and you find yourself fighting again to stay in the game,” he says. “The other trying aspect is the extended germination period it has.”

He takes some heads of ryegrass in his hand to demonstrate. “Some of these germinated in the autumn, and the seed

just falls out if you brush past them. Then there are other plants you don’t even notice, then just before harvest they throw up their heads, are still green and haven’t fully ripened.”

It’s this aspect –– the amount of seed still standing at harvest –– that’s a crucial part of a farmer-led trial Ted’s taking part in. From the nearby field you can hear the farm’s New Holland CR9.90 bringing in another crop of Skyfall. More rather you hear the distinctive whine of the Redekop Seed Control Unit (SCU) fitted to its rear to intercept the chaff stream and pulverise any weed seed the combine takes in.

The amount of ryegrass seed still standing at harvest is a crucial part of harvest weed seed control.

On Farm Opinion Ted Holmes is looking to bring something else into his integrated approach to maintain control of grassweeds as the efficacy of the chemistry ebbs away.

Nuneaton in North Warwickshire, is keen to find out how much of this tricky grassweed is passing through the SCU. It’s this quest that’s brought him together with two other growers in the first year of a ground-breaking trial that’s set to shed light on just how much HWSC can contribute to grassweed control (see panel on pxx).

“I’m not expecting a silver bullet, but something that will play a part in how we manage grassweeds –– I’d be happy with around 50% control per annum,” he notes.

“We’ve had the ryegrass tested and it’s RRR resistant to contact chemistry, and I believe we’re seeing resistance to

▲

The mill operates at 2850rpm, passing the chaff at 400 km/h through two rotary sections of columns and three stationary sections. The tungsten-carbide coated mills are reversible to ensure a long life.

Independent testing has found this kills up to 98% of the weed seed that passes through it. But that’s not the issue that’s on trial. Ted, a Velcourt farm manager near

Trials open new window on grassweed control

86 crop production magazine february 2023

out the amount of viable seed standing at harvest. “What we’ve achieved this year is a useful snapshot, but we’ll need a lot more growers to take part to build a really valuable dataset,” notes Will.

And that’s the plan for harvest this year. Around the SCU trials, there’s now a knowledge cluster of 140 farmers, scientists and others who have registered interest in the trial and are kept actively involved.

“Feedback from the group has indicated they’re keen to do their own on-farm trials, so we’re going to develop the protocol into a simple procedure any farmer can apply just before harvesting their crop. They’ll receive a full sampling pack with instructions that will give them an accurate picture of how much seed has been shed to help them plan subsequent control.”

The value of sampling has wider implications, he adds. “It’ll build into a rich dataset, across crops, locations and grassweeds, on the

There’s currently very limited data on how much weed seed is available to HWSC machinery at harvest, notes Will Smith. efficacy of HWSC. This is data we simply don’t have at present in UK conditions.

“The more farmers who get involved, the more we’ll understand about the efficacy of HWSC and its potential to open a new, completely chemical-free window on keeping the trickiest of grassweeds under control,” concludes Will.

Effect of the Redekop SCU on Italian ryegrass in barley Spring barley

Winter barley 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

25 IRG Seedling (per m2)

into the following crop once autumn cultivations and drilling are complete.”

Will’s now developed a protocol for farmers to take their own pre-harvest sample. “It’s impractical to have to wait for a weed scientist before you get the combine out. But just a little instruction on how to sample helped the farmers take good, representative samples. They sent these into NIAB for assessment.

“For Italian ryegrass the figures were 62% in Warwickshire in winter barley and 87% for spring barley.

These figures are high, but testing of the seed found that a lot of the IRG seed in the spring barley was unviable, and we think that was due to the hot, dry conditions.”

The surprise result in the 2022 sampling was blackgrass in a field of winter wheat Adam monitored in Suffolk. “We found 54% of this was retained at harvest, so there’s more available to the SCU than we had thought. But we should consider the hot and dry conditions of the 2022 harvest,” notes Will.

So what was the result in the following crop? Will returned to the farms in late October to make a full assessment of emerged grassweeds.

“In the field following winter barley in Warwickshire there was a 60% reduction from the SCU. In spring barley, the result was lower –– a 44% reduction –– but then a lot of the seed was unviable, so we’d expect a lower result.”

The eventual aim of the study is to gather data across a range of crops and key grassweeds to find

IRG Seedling (per m2)

Ted is one of three farmers taking part in a trial led by the British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) into harvest weed seed control. The aim of the trial is to test the viability of this window on weed control under UK conditions.

“The only way HWSC will work is if the seeds are available to the machinery at harvest,” notes Will Smith of NIAB, who’s conducting the data collection and monitoring for the trial. “We currently know little about how much viable seed goes into the combine –– there’s very limited work on this in the UK and Europe.”

So Will’s been working with Ted and the other two farmers involved in the study to put some accurate figures around this. Jake Freestone of Overbury Enterprises in Worcestershire has a Redekop SCU fitted to his John Deere S790i combine and he has a bit of a problem with meadow brome.

In Suffolk, Adam Driver has noticed a build-up of blackgrass in the chaff lines behind his Claas Lexion 8800, running on a no-till 12/36m controlled-traffic farming system. He’s also hoping the SCU keeps meadow brome in check.

Two fields on Ted’s farm were closely monitored, in winter and spring barley, and both had a high Italian ryegrass population. “There are two critical monitoring periods,” explains Will. “Firstly, we want to know the population of viable seed standing at harvest, which involves taking representative samples just before the combine goes through.

“Then we monitor what emerges

Disengaged

Engaged

20 15 10 5 0

Disengaged

Engaged

Source: NIAB, 2022, Warwickshire. IRG seed shed into winter barley (left) and spring barley (right), with emerged seedlings counted on 26 October in oilseed rape and winter beans respectively.

Note: the spring barley field was subsoiled, which may have introduced more seed from previous years. Figures shown are averages across two strips in each field, with multiple transects taken in each strip.

On Farm Opinion been sure to feed back detailed reports to Redekop. “There were other niggles with the electrics and sensors that didn’t pick up correctly. But to be fair, Redekop have been brilliant at sorting them out, and we’ve worked closely with their importer, Oria Agriculture, to ensure we’ve barely suffered any downtime.”

Design tweaks Redekop and Oria confirm that the design of the SCU for the NH combines has now been altered so concerns that have been raised during harvest 2022 have been addressed. Ted points to one further issue with the rear axle. “It’s a low-slung unit and the drive comes to the side, so the axle had to be widened to 3.8m to accommodate it. This makes it a little awkward moving the machine on our

Ted and Pete McKerrell (right) discuss the attributes of the Redekop SCU. narrow UK roads.”

On the plus side, there’s a simple manual clutch that disengages the drive, which ▲

flufenacet creep in, too. What worries me is our reliance on glyphosate to keep the weed in check.”

Ted bases the autumn herbicide stack on mixtures and sequences of flufenacet, pendimethalin and prosulfocarb, supplementing these with tri-allate.

“We had really good results from Luximo (cinmethylin) in autumn 2022. Glyphosate is still working, and we keep rates high to ward off the risk of resistance.”

Cultivations are changing to keep them “as shallow as sensibly possible” with a low disturbance subsoil where appropriate across the 880ha of sandy clay loam.

The plough is used rotationally once every six or seven years on the worst ryegrass fields. “We operate a traffic-light system in how we prioritise for drilling, and any field classed as red is generally OK as long as it’s drilled in the second half of October or left until spring. We find hybrid barley is useful in the rotation due to its competitive nature against grassweeds.

“But ryegrass has been an on-going issue here for 20 years, and we’re looking to bring something else into our integrated approach to maintain control as the efficacy of the chemistry we’re using ebbs away,” notes Ted. That’s what’s brought him to HWSC, and to the Redekop SCU. He drives the pick-up back to the field where the CR9.90 has just reached the headland. A signal to Pete McKerrell in the driving seat brings the combine to a silent standstill and allows the two of them a close inspection of the curious addition.

Developed first for John Deere combines, the Redekop SCU is also now available for newer Case IH, New Holland and Claas models and can be retrofitted.

Like the company’s MAV straw chopper, it spreads residue across the full combine cut-width, although operates independently, so chaff can be milled and straw swathed, or vice versa. The unit that Ted wipes the dust off is the first one to be fitted to a UK NH combine, and a number of changes had to be made, he reveals.

“We had to replace the New Holland Opti-Spread straw spreader with the MAV for everything to fit. I wasn’t entirely happy with this as I’m a great fan of the Opti-Spread, but it’s worth the compromise as I believe the SCU will be crucially important going forwards. The other major change was we had to remove the positive straw discharge (PSD) belt.”

This feeds the straw off the back of the twin rotors into the chopper. While it hasn’t been a huge issue in a dry harvest, Ted’s

crop production magazine february 2023 87

On Farm Opinion easy to maintain, with a simple daily check.

“It largely looks after itself. Once it’s engaged there is more noise and dust, but when you’re up in the cab, you barely notice the difference,” he says.

Fuel efficiency

The drive for the low-slung unit comes to the side, so the axle had to be widened to 3.8m to accommodate it. ▲

Ted quickly demonstrates. “It’s incredibly easy to engage and disengage,” he notes.

Pete agrees, and adds the unit is also

When Pete arrived on the farm three years ago, he left behind a CR10.90 he operated in Essex for the Warwickshire farm’s Case Axial Flow. But that was swapped out and the current CR9.90 has now completed two seasons. “It’s a fantastic combine,” confirms Ted. “Two rotors are better than one.”

So what about the power requirement?

Ted confers with his notes. “So we had a 9t/ha milling wheat in lovely hot conditions, with grain coming in at 12.5-13%, chopping the straw. With the SCU engaged as well, fuel use was 18-21 l/ha.

The chaff stream is separated from the straw and passes from the sieves into the SCU that’s fitted below the straw chopper.

If you disengage the SCU this dropped by around 10-12%.

“Now one thing we noticed was that when you lost the sun at the end of the day, the combine got a wee bit thirstier and worked harder, but then you’d expect that whether or not you have an SCU. It’s the same with a fuller crop –– we had some KWS Extase doing 11t/ha, swathing the straw this time, but a lot of it, and the combine was drinking 17-20 l/ha with the SCU engaged. Again, disengage the unit and this decreased by about 10%-12%.”

Despite the niggles, Ted is committed to continue with the trial. “We have learnt a huge amount this summer. It’ll be different next year I’m sure, and we need to test the SCU in more trying weather and harvesting conditions to see how it will cope in a more typical UK harvest. But I’m convinced this will become part of the solution to our ryegrass issue, so it’s a thumbs-up from me.” ■

What is BOFIN? The British On Farm Innovation Network is a group of farmers who carry out their own on-farm trials and share the results, seeking a scientifically robust way to improve farm practice.

Anyone with an interest in HWSC can join BOFIN’s Seed Circle and take part in the sampling trial due to take place during harvest this year –– it’s free and there’s no obligation.

They’ll also play an active part in the SCU trials and be first to get the results and experiences of the farmers. To get involved, see the Harvest weed seed control project on Trinity GFP (gfp.global) or visit bofin.org.uk

88 crop production magazine february 2023

Weighing up for accuracy Fertiliser spreaders

High prices, high costs, high accuracy, low impact. These are the key drivers behind fertiliser spreader purchases and are directing the focus of new technology. CPM speaks to the manufacturers to get the lowdown on market drivers and the latest products.

The extraordinarily high peaks in the cost of fertiliser over the past year have driven farmers to invest more money in their fertiliser spreaders in an effort to optimise accuracy and reduce losses.

High end machines are making up the bulk of sales and weigh cells have become the standard, according to manufacturers.

Amazone Fertiliser cost is the most crucial and significant driver in the spreader market at present, according to Amazone’s Simon Brown. “Farmers, therefore, want to

“

Having section control can provide a 5% saving in fertiliser, depending on accuracy.

”

three pieces of information to help improve overall accuracy, he says. “There are torque sensors on the discs –– called ▲

By Melanie Jenkins

maximise the use of anything they’re going to apply, and this will come down to good calibration to make sure they’re putting on the right amount. And more often this is being done by weigh cell rather than by the more traditional bucket method.”

Simon has noticed an increasing number of customers looking to purchase increasingly technical machines to make cost savings by investing in more precise technology.

Simon suggests using maps to allow for variable rate applications and then only applying what the crop requires based on factors such as its biomass and nitrogen levels in the leaf.

Variable rate application has been a really positive step for fertiliser application and can now be done as simply as pushing a button, he says. “Often GPS systems can run a map which the machine will react to automatically.”

Similarly, technology has reduced overlaps on the headlands, lessening the likelihood of excess application, he adds.

“The technology available can detect the on/off point far more accurately and reliably than the operator,” explains Simon.

“Amazone’s hydraulic drive machines can have up to 128 switches to provide the ultimate number of on/off points. Having section control can provide a 5% saving in fertiliser, depending on accuracy.”

Once spreading, machines can use

One of Amazone’s latest precision additions to its spreaders is WindControl which senses the direction and strength of the wind. crop production magazine february 2023 89

Fertiliser spreaders

KRM has sold more high-level specification machines as customers opt to prioritise accuracy. ▲

FlowControl –– to allow for accurate correlation between this and application rates for all types of fertilisers. This works alongside FertFlow which monitors output to ensure the same quantity is distributed each side of the machine, checking for blockages or lumps out of the hopper that might slow down the flow.

The technology constantly senses for issues and automatically adjusts the flow to compensate.”

Further technology, in the form of Amazone’s Argus Twin system, monitors and oversees the spread pattern constantly and changes it automatically when variations in fertiliser, slope or speed are detected to bring it back to the set pattern, explains Simon. The system identifies lateral distribution using radar technology

which isn’t affected by dust and pollution.

One of the firm’s latest precision additions to its spreaders is WindControl.

“This senses the direction and strength of the wind and changes the settings of the spreader to optimise the pattern to compensate.”

Other considerations for users include the accuracy of headland spreading, he adds.

“Obviously, we used to do this using deflector plates and machines that tilted to one side. But now –– on the top of the range TS spreaders –– Amazone’s BorderTS system alters spread on either side, changing the discs and adjusting cutoff, so there’s no long tailing off pattern.”

Unlike conventional deflectors, the BorderTS system is integrated into the software of

KRM’s new E2 fertiliser spreading veins aim to improve headland performance by providing a more level cutoff and a sharper line at the border.

90 crop production magazine february 2023

Fertiliser spreaders operated manually, Mike believes this is far trickier for the user, whereas set automatically it’s both easier and more accurate. “The inclusion of section control means the value of machines we’ve been selling is quite high, but growers want to get the ultimate level of accuracy.

“When fertiliser was cheaper, there wasn’t as much point spending thousands on a spreader, but now it’s expensive, growers want a machine that can do the job as accurately as possible,” he explains. “And I think they’re also conscious of the environment.”

Mike also feels that more farmers might be opting for lesser quality fertiliser due to pricing and warns this can impact applications. “Be aware that if it’s cheaper, then there’s a reason for that. I would suggest getting your spreader’s tray tested

Kuhn has experienced an increase in demand for its Axis 50.2 model. to make sure it will spread to the distance of your tramlines.”

A new addition to KRM’s fertiliser spreader offering includes an updated design for its spreading veins, says Mike.

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the fertiliser spreader. The deflector is used in conjunction with the disc integrated AutoTS border spreading system and has a baffle construction, says Simon.

“The weak point of any twin disc broadcaster is the headlands and the in and out, so we have really concentrated on these with the BorderTS and AutoTS,” he explains. “AutoTS can give about 17% more yield than a conventional spreading system.”

To further help with precision application, Amazone has recently launched its GPS ScenarioControl software. “The software allows operators to plot the route of application around the field and automate functions based on this to avoid errors during future applications.

This includes plotting where the operator started the first time around, filled up and the direction of travel,” says Simon. “It’s essentially providing a sat nav from the first application to reduce wasted time and running out of fertiliser halfway along a tramline.”

Amazone has also just revamped its MySpreader app. “We have made it more user friendly and have built in spread pattern checking –– EasySpread and EasyMix –– to get the best pattern with blended fertiliser. It also includes EasyCheck maps and comes as standard with most spreaders except the bottom end range,” adds Simon.

“For those considering a new spreader, buying a more advanced spreader will typically pay for itself in one to two years, just because it’s able to do more for you.”

KRM Mike Britton of KRM has noticed a considerable change in the level of specification people are opting for when buying fertiliser spreaders. “We have seen this trend for the past few years, but in this last year it’s been really significant.

“The price of fertiliser has meant we’ve sold a lot more machines with weigh cells and customers are choosing fully automatic and self-operating machines to ensure that correct application is adhered to, come rain, shine or ground condition,” he explains.

“Customers have been opting to include section control, so that in irregular shaped fields they can reduce the spread path on one side, saving on fertiliser and producing more even results. This also makes subsequent chemical applications and combining easier.”

Although section control can be crop production magazine february 2023 91

Fertiliser spreaders

Kuhn’s new higher end models have moved to the CCI Connect services for all ISOBUS terminals. ▲

“The new E2 veins aim to improve headland performance by providing a more level cutoff and a sharper line at the border. All new machines come with the E2 veins and anyone ordering replacements will get these too.”

Kuhn According to Edd Fanshawe of Kuhn, the firm is seeing an increase in demand for the Axis 50.2 model, especially with the added connectivity that the firm’s new CCI Connect Lite remote view offers. “Being able to track, record and share data between machines is definitely becoming more sought after by contractors and larger farms, so we have also introduced CCI Connect Pro which enables machine data to be accessed and shared using Agrirouter.”

Kuhn’s new higher end models have

92 crop production magazine february 2023

moved to the CCI Connect services for all ISOBUS terminals, which is all about being able to record and share information.

CCI Connect is now available on all CCI 800 and 1200 terminals to enable operators to receive and send data, connect to Agrirouter machines remotely, and update machinery on the move.

“These terminals will now be fitted as standard with a wi-fi module. By sharing connected data, operators will be able to use the remote view function to update the CCI terminal and even share data with other machines on the Agrirouter platform,” explains Sian Pritchard of Kuhn.

The new CCI Connect is available in Lite and Pro packages and can be accessed through Kuhn’s existing MyKuhn platform which already allows users to access machine information, source parts and manage tasks. Once connected, operators can permit dealers remote viewing of the machines to enable set up, monitor tasks and provide training.

Updates to the ISOBUS terminal can be made remotely and while the operator is on the move. Additionally, task, telemetry, and map data can also be transferred between terminals and farm management software using Kuhn’s EasyTransfer and the Agrirouter platform.

Lite users will have access to remote view and online updates, while Pro users will be able to use the EasyTransfer system and can integrate with machines on the Agrirouter network.

Kverneland According to Graham Owen of Kverneland, the firm has also experienced a notable shift away from smaller

machines and a trend towards high end spreaders with weigh cells. “The move away from smaller spreaders may be due to grassland farmers not purchasing new equipment because they’re not putting the same amount of fertiliser on due to its price. Whereas the shift towards high end machines could be farmers trying to optimise the accuracy of the fertiliser they do apply.”

One technology Graham feels could offer farmers increased accuracy when spreading is Kverneland’s Multirate system. “Multirate, which was introduced about three years ago, uses tighter grid sampling and high-resolution maps to provide up to eight sections of variable rate capability across the full working width of the machine.”

However, one of its restricting factors is that Multirate works most effectively when field maps are in 3-5m? grids, so if growers have maps of 20-25m? they might be only getting one or two zones of capacity, explains Graham. “The difficulty with the higher resolution maps is the increased file size which requires bigger processors and some terminals aren’t able to cope yet. So there’s advantages and disadvantages, but given time it will likely get more uptake.”

Kverneland has introduced several new innovations to its disc spreader technology to assist operators with headland management and increased weigh cell utilisation.

The first development is an integrated hydraulic driveline called intelligent Disc Control (iDC). This driveline enables independent disc speed regulation on left- and right-hand discs, to help improve

Fertiliser spreaders application accuracy. The iDC uses two individually controlled hydraulic motors –– one to power each disc, eliminating the need for a mechanical PTO drive, he says.

“With headlands accounting for up to 54% of a field’s total area –– the smaller the field, the greater the headland percentage –– there is a requirement for enhanced spread pattern control during border spreading. And it’s not just on the headland side, but also in-field when border spreading where the full spread pattern has to be maintained,” explains Graham.

Using a tractor’s Power Beyond capability, iDC can deliver a more consistent disc speed, which is maintained through monitoring, he adds.

“Without the constraints of a fixed PTO speed to operate a mechanical driveline, tractor fuel efficiency gains are possible as a result of using much lower engine revs when spreading.” The iDC spreader is priced from £33,150 and is only available for the Kverneland Exacta TL Geospread model.

Additional spreader developments have been introduced to Kverneland weigh cell equipped Exacta models, enabling the CL, TL and TLX Geospread to be used in a front- and rear-mounted disc spreader combination.

Advancements in the software means that Exacta spreaders equipped with weigh cells are now more easily located as front-mounted implements and can be managed through any universal terminal.

“This flexibility can create payloads of up to 7000 litres from combining front- and rear-hopper capacities, and also offers the ability to make two separate applications with different fertiliser products in one pass,” says Graham.

Should the tractor lack a front PTO, all three models can also be equipped with an optional central hydraulic driveline to replace the PTO shaft, he adds. In addition, the ExactLine border spreading device can be specified for mounting on the left- or right-hand side of the spreader, so both machines can manage their border spreading on the same side.

Lemken

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Still relatively new to the fertiliser spreader market, Lemken sells three tiers of Sulky machines under its own colours.

“As we feel our way into this market, what we’ve really noticed is the focus of customers turning towards technology,” explains Lemken’s Paul Creasy. “Both UK and Irish farmers are really keen to look

Kverneland’s weigh cell equipped Exacta models can now be used in a front- and rear-mounted disc spreader combination.

Fertiliser spreaders

Lemken’s top tier machines, which offer the most advanced technology, are in its Polaris range. ▲

at new technology when it comes to spreading fertiliser. There’s a drive to make sure that the fertiliser being used is spread correctly and accurately, so this means keeping shut off and overlaps down to a minimum.”

Owners and operators aren’t just after the accuracy element in the top of the range machines though, according to Paul. “They’re also looking to be more environmentally friendly in their spreading

practices. This means not overdosing and accurate spreading around borders and watercourses.

“And operators want a border spreading system that’s easy to use,” he adds. “They don’t want to have to jump out the cab to change the discs but want to be able to make adjustments from the cab.”

The firm’s top tier machines, which offer the most advanced technology, are in its

Polaris range. “These are our top of the range models and as standard come ISOBUS ready, have weigh cells, GPS support, section control and a border spreading system,” says Paul.

Polaris models come with hopper volumes from 1900 litres up to 4000 litres and working widths of 18m to 50m. “The Polaris has epsilon double spreader vanes with two fertiliser streams, one above the other for an even spreading pattern.”

The mid-range models consist of the Tauri 8 and Tauri 12. “These models have weigh cells, ISOBUS and section control.”

Lemken’s basic range, the Spica, comprises hopper volumes from 900 litres up to 2100 litres, and comes in working widths starting at 9m, ranging up to 24m.

One way that growers can optimise machine use is by using Lemken’s app, says Paul. “Our Fertitest app allows users to determine their spreader settings by inputting their material and fertiliser spreader model details.

“If I were to use one word for the direction things are going in, it would be technology. Growers are looking to be as accurate as they can be with the equipment and products they use,” he adds. ■

Does crime pay?

This thought has been whirring through my mind for some time. Recently we were burgled by some nefarious swine in the middle of the night and all our satellite navigation systems off the tractors and combine were stolen.

This loss means that when ploughing behind some sugar beet, we’re having to drive tractors manually. When you’re used to simply sitting there reading a book while the machine purrs along, it comes as a bit of a shock to have to concentrate and then find I can’t drive in a straight line anymore.

In the long and distant past, I may well have prided myself that I once could drive as straight as an arrow. But not anymore as the knack has gone after 15 years of slouching behind the wheel half asleep has taken its toll.

In my son’s case, it may well have not been there at all as he has never known anything else…

Putting to one side the feeling of impotence and stress of not being able to do anything about being robbed, bar installing a few laser tripwires –– something the local police officer advised against for some strange reason –– the emotive tensions of a person damaging your machines, making your life worse off and then getting

away completely free is palpable.

It’s not just the financial loss that is irksome, as no doubt my insurance premium will rise next year, but the time spent sorting it all out.

I spent an afternoon last week being interviewed by the police. Originally, I had thought it was for a statement but, apparently, it was to assess my suitability as a witness for a court appearance. Unfortunately, I scored ten out of ten so if the culprits are caught by the police and the CPS (Crime Prosecution Service) do go ahead and prosecute them, it means another day of my life being questioned by a barrister if it goes to trial.

It’s also the loss of data –– all the wonderful field lines that were set up so the sprayer boom just kisses the infield electric poles. This has all gone as a new update occurred late last year and, guess what? Our backup memory stick is incompatible with the new software...

A second-hand cash safe has now been purchased –– there are lots of these about as the high street banks are closing at such a rapid rate.

Five thousand branches in the last seven years alone according to the papers and the safes are sold off cheap to keep up with the closures. Suffice to say my nearest bank is now 18 miles away.

A steel security door has been ordered for the building and tough steel bars on the window are on the cards.

This is costing some £2500 in total. I did think I might mitigate this expense by cutting back on the current police precept I pay through my council tax but that would

96 crop production magazine february 2023

be illegal. No irony there then.

I see in the farming press that two individuals, have recently been jailed for an average of 100 months in total.

The court also ordered the deprivation of one of their cars, which I might wager probably isn’t worth much.

They stole some £380K (replacement cost) of equipment so, let us make a few assumptions here. If they received half of the stolen amount for the kit that’s £190K. Both reprobates serve 50 months in prison and they are on remand for six months, but they get the 50% parole off their sentence after serving their remand portion, as advised by the Justice Department. Incidentally, I met a person from the said department once on a train from London and apparently, we are all victims –– of society.

That means they will serve 22 months each in prison after sentencing. Divide £190K by two meaning £95K each, divide that by 22 months and we arrive at £4318 a

Richard Styles is a third-generation farmer in central Suffolk who, dispute his best efforts, is still managing to farm and says he loves his job: tilling land and growing crops.

His land is Hanslope Clay and will produce some eye watering yields –– though mostly for his neighbours, as he’s never reached the apex of an average 13t/ha of wheat, yet. But perhaps he should visit the pub more often…

month. That’s a sum not to be sneezed at. Even a fully qualified nurse wouldn’t earn that. Not only that, it is more than some farmers earn in a year.

So, in answer to my original rhetorical question, does crime pay? Why, yes it does and quite handsomely.

I wonder if I should turn to crime then?

Rural crime is an increasing problem that’s expensive emotionally and timewise, as well as the financial loss.

Photo: Simon Collins/Shutterstock.com

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The industry isn’t doing enough and can do more.

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Change required from CUPGRA Conference top to bottom

By Mike Abram The potato industry could be in the last throes of using granular nematicides for coping with potato cyst nematode infestations. Just two remain and Nemathorin’s (fosthiazate) approval is currently under review in both the EU and UK. While its current expiry date has been extended by a year in the EU, to 31 October 2023, the UK authorisation currently expires a year later, with last sales by 30 April 2025 and another year to use up stock.

A re-registration would extend both these dates further, but there are no guarantees for this in either the EU or UK, explains

Eric Anderson, senior potato agronomist with Scottish Agronomy. Both Syngenta and ISK, the approval holder, are committed to supporting re-registration and have invested in relevant studies to meet regulatory demands.

“The outcome of the EU review will probably give us an indication of the probable course of travel in the UK,” suggests Eric.

Need for action With an uncertain future for granular nematicides, Eric believes the industry needs to act now to prepare for that possibility, with actions required throughout the supply chain –– from retailer, to grower, to laboratory testing facilities.

A key starting point is understanding your enemy, he says, and in the case of PCN that’s whether Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis or a mixed population is present.

The most recent PCN survey in 2016 clearly shows a further switch to dominance of G. pallida over G. rostochiensis, with 89% of populations comprised of G. pallida compared with just 5% for G. rostochiensis, and just 6% mixed.

“The most plausible explanation for this is the intensive use of resistant varieties to G. rostochiensis,” suggests Eric.

In Scotland, just 2% of the potato area is planted with varieties which could be classified as resistant to G. pallida, with resistance ratings of 7-9. Conversely, 83% of the area is planted with susceptible varieties,

with an average rating of just 2.2, he says.

Using AHDB’s PCN calculator suggests growing an intolerant, susceptible variety without nematicides would need a rotational length of 13 years to be sustainable, highlights Eric.

“Looking at the varieties grown in East Anglia in the processing, chipping, crisping and ware sectors, there’s a similar issue.

The industry isn’t doing enough and can do more. We need to focus on the [short] timescale and change direction to varieties that are sustainable.”

That will require more acceptance from end users when it comes to planting alternative varieties, and for retailers and processors to engage to make changes.

With it typically taking 10 years to breed ▲

CUPGRA’s 33rd annual conference in December highlighted some of the latest research and thinking on how the potato industry can overcome some major agronomic challenges that are developing, particularly when it comes to limiting damage from PCN with the possible loss of nematicides in the near future.

CPM reports.

Eric Anderson explains that the UK’s last remaining nematicide is currently under review, with a future that’s anything but guaranteed.

crop production magazine february 2023 97

CUPGRA Conference

Evaluating soil sub-samples for cyst numbers isn’t sufficient – knowing both the number of eggs and juveniles in a 400g sample is required, along with speciation of the PCN present. ▲

new varieties, and five years to breed up greater quantities of commercial grade seed of existing varieties, there is an urgency for the industry to respond, he points out.

Breeding varieties with good G. pallida resistance is complicated by the greater genetic variability in its strains in the UK compared with G. rostochiensis.

“For G. pallida, durable resistance is a polygenic trait which makes it more difficult to breed for,” explains Eric.

That variability could potentially also cause unintended consequences in the field, he adds. “If grown frequently, partially resistant varieties may lead to selection of virulent populations that will pose a challenge for deploying resistance that is both durable and effective.”

Resistance is only half the battle though, with tolerance also required to maintain yields in the presence of PCN. But currently there are no molecular markers for tolerance which would help make breeding for it easier, although research might have made a potential breakthrough recently.

Usually tolerance is assessed in field trials by comparing relative yields with and without nematicides. But field trials take a long time and are expensive, so crop height is being tested as a proxy –– this could give data in just nine weeks in glasshouse trials.

While stem height isn’t purely a genetic trait, there is a clear trend for known tolerant varieties to be taller in both field and glasshouse tests. Combining that with the knowledge that indeterminate varieties are taller, research is ongoing to see if there is a link that could allow genetic markers for determinacy to be used for tolerance, explains Eric.

Progress is being made in breeding new varieties with G. pallida resistance for processing and chipping markets. “But the problem is some have very little tolerance.

For example, Innovator has strong resistance but very little tolerance, so won’t yield in the 98 crop production magazine february 2023

presence of PCN without nematicides. It’s also susceptible to tobacco rattle virus, which is spread by free-living nematodes.”

Elland, which its breeder Cygnet PB suggests can be used for chipping or pre-pack, is one with good resistance to G. pallida and stands out for its relatively good tolerance, says Eric, while some other varieties –– such as Karelia and Amanda –– also have good resistance, for example.

Testing for PCN will also need more investment if granular nematicides disappear, he highlights. “Without nematicides you need to know which species of PCN is present and sample at a high enough soil volume to detect accurate eggs and juvenile numbers, not just cysts.”

Current laboratory tests effectively fail in all three regards, says Eric, partly because with the crutch of granular nematicides such information was less critical, using lower soil volumes, not doing speciation, or counting eggs and juvenile numbers.

For accurate PCN detection, soil samples of at least 400g are required, especially where lower populations which are spread spatially in the field are present. Currently, most labs will subsample and use only 100-200g, which lowers the probability of cyst detection significantly, while there is very little correlation between egg and cyst numbers.

“Getting accurate results back on eggs and juveniles per gram of soil is fundamental in driving the decision on variety and what your management will be without nematicides,” he stresses.

Improving procedures to provide those results in future requires capital investment so that the testing facilities can cope with the extra workload and accuracy required, including using the qPCR kit available to automatically detect PCN species accurately.

“The farmers can’t absorb all that cost, so fundamentally the packers, processors and crispers have to pay a realistic amount for the rising cost of growing potatoes, because there is cost involved in adopting an IPM strategy.”

Key agronomic messages from the CUPGRA conference Does free-living nematode damage open the door for blackleg?

Latest research from the DeS-BL (Building a Decision Support Tool for Potato Blackleg Disease) project is providing evidence of a link between free-living nematode damage to potato roots and infections by Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba), which causes blackleg.

Research is providing evidence of a link between free-living nematode damage to potato roots and infections by Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba), which causes blackleg, says Prof Ian Toth.

Primarily infections are introduced via seed but five years ago research showed blackleg developed on irrigated, non-infected first-generation seed, leading to new areas of research.

One of these projects is centred on free-living nematodes after preliminary data showed that potato plants, grown in the presence of Pba and a mixed population of free-living nematodes, had 100-fold bacteria increase in plant stems compared with plants grown without free-living nematodes.

“We haven’t shown it causes more blackleg,” says Prof Ian Toth from the James Hutton Institute. “But with 100 times more inside the plant, the suggestion is that it does.”

Follow up work used a laser to cause damage to a potato root and demonstrated Pba, which is found ubiquitously in soil, moves to colonise the damaged part of the root within 30 seconds.

A number of unanswered questions remain, says Ian, including proving whether free-living nematode damage causes a similar effect, which isn’t easy to design an experiment for.

Another area of intrigue is what prompts the bacteria to move from root to stem. In experiments, the bacteria stayed in the root which Ian suggests could be due to the fact that in very young actively-growing plants, the roots fulfil all the bacteria’s nutrient needs.

“In the field, is there some physiological change that prompts bacteria to decide the best bet is to move into the stem? But we have no idea what that signal might be.”

Should irrigation management change for blackleg?

The finding that irrigation is an exacerbating factor for blackleg is also leading to new ideas about irrigation management for the disease.

Trials conducted by NIAB CUF as part of

CUPGRA Conference

The finding that irrigation is an exacerbating factor for blackleg is also leading to new ideas about irrigation management for the disease. the DeS-BL project used different irrigation regimes on crops of Jelly and Estima.

Blackleg infections were highest on crops irrigated through the season, with lowest levels on non-irrigated crops, reports Simon Alexander, an independent potato agronomist.

Following an irrigation schedule to minimise common scab resulted in high blackleg infections, while the irrigation schedule for processing crops –– where scab control is less important –– resulted in a slower increase in blackleg infection during the season.

The link between irrigation and blackleg could require a shift in thinking about irrigation management depending on end market and storage plans, he suggests.

“Take Challenger and Markies in the processing sector –– both are very susceptible to blackleg. If I’m growing either for harvest movement, I’m going to go for yield. I’ll push irrigation and if we get a bit of blackleg, we can grade it out.

“If I want to store that crop until March or later, it will have a very different requirement.

I don’t want to be putting any more rots into store than is physically possible. On that basis, stretching irrigation, a little more than perhaps is desirable for optimum yield, to maintain quality is worth considering.”

including soil mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter and soil organic carbon, soil temperature and moisture, and pH. Using the device reduced the turnaround time for results compared with sending to a lab.

In a split field design, mineral nitrogen was measured twice by the Stenon FarmLab, before planting and before the second fertiliser application. These values were then used to make fertiliser recommendations which were compared with the farm standard practice, explains Kim ten Wolde, global program manager for Stenon.

It takes about 20 seconds to take a measurement, with three taken at each spot, he says. With cleaning of the sensor between measurements, typically it takes 5-10 minutes per location.

The probe measures to a depth of 15cm, with the data uploaded to the cloud and processed by Stenon’s algorithm, which has been calibrated to provide a nutrient value that equates to a soil sample from a depth of 0-30cm, explains Kim. On average, using the Stenon FarmLab reduced nitrogen requirements by 20%, with no statistically significant impact on yield.

“There was also an increase of up to 72% in nitrogen use efficiency. If we can improve efficiency in the field by 30%, it would make a huge difference in the way fertiliser is used.”

New bait traps helping assess wireworm risk Wireworm bait trap reliability is continuing to improve as more trials are being carried out, according to Martyn Cox, an independent agronomist at the forefront of wireworm management.

Soil temperature is critical when bait trapping, he says. Wireworms aren’t active

Handheld soil sensor could help increase N use efficiency Determining nitrogen inputs employing a data-driven approach, using real-time results from sensors on a soil sampling probe, has shown potential to reduce nitrogen inputs by 20% without impacting potato yields.

The sensor technology used in five trials in the UK and Germany was developed by German company Stenon. It has three sensors built into the hand-held device –– near infrared, ultraviolet-visible, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy –– which provide data on nine parameters,

Damage caused by wireworm is on the increase but the good news is that the reliability of bait traps continue to improve as more tests are being carried out.

Handheld soil sensor could help increase N use efficiency. below 80C, so Martyn suggests 100C as a good figure to use for baiting. He notes that the autumn is proving to be more reliable than spring for trapping as the soil cools down from the surface, while in spring it warms up from below.

“Ideally, soil also needs to be fairly dry –– not bone dry –– and definitely not saturated as wireworm mobility is poor in wet soils and it reduces air spaces for the volatiles that attract the wireworms to move into,” he advises.

Martyn’s now using a 50:50 mix of wheat and maize for his traps, rather than wheat and barley. He also emphasises that it’s important to use good quality maize seed that will grow, without any pesticide seed dressings.

“It’s not just the carbon dioxide given off when the maize seed germinates that attracts wireworms, but also other plant volatiles in the roots that confer more attraction. You can get attraction to chopped maize roots, which aren’t giving off carbon dioxide.”

Trap design is less critical, but this autumn he’s tested pre-growing traps, which have worked effectively. “One advantage is it gives less time for badgers to pull the emerging seedlings out of the ground.”

He pre-soaks the cereal seeds to stimulate germination, and then plants out in pots with compost. “Once the leaves have emerged it holds together nicely to plant out in the field,” he says. “We’ve caught larvae in just four days.”

But trials this autumn confirmed are unlikely to be reliable in predicted sub-optimal conditions, he says, catching less than 0.25 wireworms/trap in wet soils below 80C, compared with over three per trap in optimal conditions (drier soils, over 80C). ■ crop production magazine february 2023 99

Potato agronomy Potato cyst nematodes have always been one of those ‘hard to control’ pests and growers are turning to cultural controls to support a dwindling armoury of chemistry. CPM visits a Cambridgeshire farm where trap cropping is being evaluated.

By Rob Jones Potato cyst nematodes can lead to loss of saleable yield and the pest costs the GB potato industry around £25.9m per year, according to researchers at Harper Adams University.

Trap crops are one of a range of non-chemical methods which may help growers address challenges to the potato sector from PCN, believes Hutchinsons agronomist David Rushmer. He’s looking at the part they can play with John Scott, who farms in Cambridgeshire with his son Michael.

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Cease and Decyst “Tackling the pest is challenging because of the long persistence of viable cysts in the soil in addition to a reduction of chemical options available,” says David.

John has found PCN to be a problem in parts of his land at Friday Bridge, near Wisbech. Even where potatoes haven’t been grown for 12 years and volunteers have been well controlled, PCN have proved to subsequently be a headache.

Trap crop trials “As a result, we’ve followed the assumption that we’re dealing with Globodera pallida populations here, which take longer to decline.”

And it was this that drove his decision to trial a trap crop. Speciation tests have gone on to prove that John’s assumption was indeed right, with the farm’s PCN population proving to be 100% G.pallida.

Explaining how trap crops work, Hutchinsons root crop technical manager Darryl Shailes says trap crops are in the same family as the potato and, consequently, their root exudates stimulate the PCN cysts to hatch. “However, when this happens the female nematodes aren’t able to form cysts and therefore no eggs are produced. This should reduce population density.”

There are a number of different

“

Female nematodes aren’t able to form cysts and therefore no eggs are produced. This should reduce population density.

”

members of the Solanum family that have the potential to work in this way, including Solanum sisymbriifolium, S. nigrum and S. scabrum.

When approached by John and David, James Lee of Produce Solutions recommended and supplied DeCyst Broadleaf. He says it’s been seen to establish more quickly in cooler temperatures than DeCyst Prickly (S. sisymbriifolium), which needs higher soil temperatures. In addition, research undertaken by the University of Warwick found that S. scabrum can reduce PCN by up to 80%, he adds.

To facilitate drilling, the seed was mixed

Potato agronomy

Trap crops from the same family as potatoes, such as Solanum sisymbriifolium (Decyst Prickly), cause PCN eggs to hatch but as they’re not able to complete their lifecycle, the numbers in the soil are reduced. and healthy, he notes. “As it was following a recently harvested crop of spring malting barley there was sufficient ▲

Tackling Globodera pallida is challenging because of the long persistence of viable cysts in the soil as well as a reduction in the number of nematicides available, says David Rushmer.

with inert lentils which act as a filler for a conventional drill, says James, and drilled (with the lentils) at a rate of 20kg/ha.

He adds that while biomass is important as it indicates root size, he has also found that the ‘zone of influence’ of the plants is larger than their size, particularly in wetter conditions, as the PCN are attracted to the plants.

A former Writtle scholar, John held back from planting until the middle of June because the spring was very dry and he was waiting for rain to be forecast. He notes he’d also been advised that DeCyst Broadleaf shouldn’t be planted at a depth of more than 2cm.

“We broadcast the seed and then rolled it in, and we were lucky enough to receive 12mm of rain the next day which set the crop up for germination,” says John.

Although there was no further rain until mid-August, the crop was tall, vigorous

Resistance management to the fore Reports of a single strain blight pathogen in Denmark, where some samples were shown to be resistant to the highly important carboxylic acid amide (CAA) group of blight fungicides, has reinforced advice for growers and agronomists to prevent it occurring in the UK. The strain, EU_43_A1, had been identified in Denmark for the past four seasons, but never identified among the multitude of blight clones that make up the population in the UK. Researchers picked up five outlier isolates in Denmark last season which were identified as resistant.

Sensitivity monitoring programmes of the anti-resistance action group (FRAC) in 2022 showed ‘generally a full sensitive picture for CAAs over Europe, with a few suspicious isolates under further investigation’. No resistant isolates from A few isolates of the comparatively new blight strain – EU_43_A1 – have been found to have resistance to the CAA group of blight fungicides in sensitivity testing in Denmark.

field populations have previously been found since the introduction of CAA fungicides in 1993.

European research has shown that the gene mutation associated with CAA resistance is only observed in homozygous strains of pathogens and is therefore a recessive trait in any sexual reproduction creation of new blight clones –– which significantly reduces the risk of further resistant strains developing.

In previous reports, the James Hutton Institute has highlighted how difficult it is for blight pathogens to make the transition to the UK against prevailing winds, says Syngenta. However, some strains have previously succeeded so researchers keep a sharp eye on developments in mainland Europe.

Andy Cunningham, technical manager at Syngenta, reassures growers that its CAA blight chemistry, Revus (mandipropamid), remains as effective against the UK blight population as has always been the case.

“The key challenge continues to be to make sure the efficacy of the CAA chemistry group can be protected as an essential tool for growers.”

Syngenta’s dedicated European trial protocols, in the presence of high disease pressure and CAA resistant strains, have shown that using mandipropamid in mixtures with alternative modes of action had always delivered effective control of the disease, he explains.

Furthermore, the strategy reduced the level of resistance in the blight population, says Andy.

Outlining the research, he explains it demonstrated that adding a mixture partner was the most effective strategy. Alternating sprays with different

Andy Cunningham says the key challenge continues to be to make sure the efficacy of the CAA chemistry group can be protected as an essential tool for growers. modes of action was also found to be a useful additional resistance management tool.

Importantly, the work also demonstrated that simply raising the dose of CAA fungicide or increasing the number of sprays is counterproductive, increasing selection pressure and incidence of a resistant strain, he says.

“Our advice is for growers and agronomists to follow the FRAC recommendations,” advises Andy.

“That includes to always mix CAA fungicides with a product with an alternative mode of action on blight, as well as to alternate sprays with different modes of action where possible. The overall number of CAA fungicides in the season-long blight programme should also be limited.

“Furthermore, maintaining spray intervals to assure preventative treatment and good application techniques to achieve full protection of the crop canopy will reduce the risk of any blight developing.”

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Potato agronomy

Farming with his father John, Michael Scott says the farm has been in the family since the 1930s. ▲

residual N, P and K in the soil, so no further fertiliser was applied.”

As a frost-susceptible plant, the trap crop of DeCyst Broadleaf can be left to die off naturally or chopped and incorporated after a minimum of 12 weeks to add organic matter to the soil, adds David.

Soil sampling has revealed that no PCN eggs have been found in the trap cropped field. “While it doesn’t mean the land is PCN free, it is an indication that the trap crop has been doing its job,” he adds.

Reflecting on the history of the farm, John recalls that it belonged to a beef farmer in the late 1920s. “At that time, there would have been grass leys and fodder crops for the livestock, rather than just arable cropping,” he says.

“Unfortunately the beef farm wasn’t profitable and was repossessed by the bank, however it struggled to rent the farm out. At this time, my grandfather had three sons nearing school leaving age and he wanted to let each of them to have a farm to run and it was offered to my grandfather rent-free for three years in the 1930s.”

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Those were still difficult times, he says, and a simple rotation of wheat and potatoes was grown numerous times in a row. During the Second World War, the government backed War Agricultural Executive Committee (also known as War Ag) had executive powers which farmers were required to follow. They were told to lengthen the rotation to five years, advising that six would be better.

So the farm changed its rotation to five years and continued until the 1950s, by which time they had an PCN problem.

However, in the 1960s they started growing Maris Piper which suppresses the then-dominant PCN species G. Rostochiensis as it is resistant to this strain. Consequently, G. pallida got the upper hand and is the species the Scott family is now seeking to control.

John’s father had taken over running the farm and took the opportunity to buy it with a mortgage with the Agricultural Mortgage Association (AMC) at 12% interest. He continued with potatoes in the rotation and other varieties grown over the years have included Cara, and more recently he has been planting Markies and Sagitta. All the crops are unirrigated.

Attempts had been made over a number of years to get on top of the PCN problem. This included using a nematicide before planting and also trialling PCN resistant varieties.

“Despite recommendations, these resistant varieties didn’t work well for us; one multipurpose variety went pink when it was cut, while another was very susceptible to blackleg and had very few tubers per stem.

“We’re considering trying another resistant variety, but it has to be one that our customers demand.”

Although cyst counts were between one and three last year, David points out that as the pest tends to occur in hotspots

across the field, detection can be difficult.

Sometimes differences in crop development can help to identify affected areas, and John has found potatoes planted on the silty roddons (raised land over dried water courses) often tend to suffer more PCN-like symptoms. This may be because these soil conditions (silt and clay filled beds) create a worse effect than in other areas of the field.

“It’s a good idea to map PCN populations with sample sizes of 50 cores per hectare this will be more accurate than hand sampling,” adds Darryl. “It would be interesting to see if a TerraMap survey would pick out the roddons.

The two systems could then be utilised with a targeted programme to bring numbers down.”

He adds that Hutchinsons are conducting a wide range of trials to help farmers address the issues they are facing. These include research on wireworm and free-living nematodes (FLN), amongst others. ■

As a frost-susceptible plant, DeCyst Broadleaf can be left to die off naturally or be chopped and incorporated.

Rolling their eyes

Seed treatment Rhizoctonia remains one of the most important potato diseases and liquid seed tuber treatments are now increasingly important in control strategies. CPM visits two Cornish producers who’ve found that getting the most out of them is all about the application.

One potato grower who’s seen an advantage from moving to liquid seed treatment is Philip Pryor, who runs FG Pryor & Son near Truro in Cornwall with his wife Denise and son Warwick.

The farm grows about 500ha of potatoes each year, with the bulk heading to the fresh market through a diverse range of customers, including local restaurants, wholesalers, and supermarkets.

Planting typically starts pre-Christmas under fleece, on ground rented to the west of its base at Perranwell Station. It then continues eastwards to finish nearer home in the middle of May.

“

We tend to treat early and it’s particularly important this year as the seed is quite lively after a stressful growing season.

”

By Rob Jones Market outlets The farm’s major variety is salad variety Jazzy, which it’s been growing since 2010, and the business has helped nurture markets at home and in Europe in partnership with the Meijer seed potato company. It also grows chipping varieties for local bag trade and a small area of hand-planted, hand-harvested earlies for niche wholesalers.

The business has 8500t of cold storage and some additional ambient storage space for chippers, says Philip. “We pride ourselves on offering our customers a 12-month service and we are fortunate enough to be able to do that here in Cornwall.”

Seed production is an important part

Seed health is critical and if you don’t start the growing season correctly, then it won’t finish right, says Philip Pryor.

▲

With only one powder seed tuber treatment remaining for ‘just in time’ application at planting to control seed-borne Rhizoctonia solani, many are converting to pre-planting liquid treatment.

Options like RhiNo (flutolanil) and Maxim (fludioxanil) –– soon to be joined by Honesty (fluxapyroxad) –– all offer the chance to take a job off the planter and onto a roller table instead. When applied by the latest equipment, coverage is second to none for protection against black scurf and, in the case of RhiNo, control of stem canker caused by rhizoctonia infection, claim Certis Belchim.

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Seed treatment

Customers buy with their eyes so black scurf is a big no-no in salad potato production. ▲

of the system and Philip grows Jazzy seed under license for Meijer Seed Potatoes, which he then uses for the farm’s own fresh market production. “This seed is acclimatised to the local area, which gives an advantage in the following season and helps to reduce the farm’s carbon footprint,” he says.

“Seed health is critical and if you don’t start the growing season correctly, then it won’t finish right,” says Philip. “A lot of our own seed is grown on virgin land.

Because of where we are and the air that comes off the Atlantic Ocean, aphid pressure is usually a lot lower than other parts of the country. The only thing it brings with it is a bit of blight risk.”

There may also be a potential threat on the seed itself from R. solani, which can also be a soil-borne threat, and that is an area where Philip doesn’t take any risks in his seed or ware crops.

Allowing the disease into the system through infected seed creates more inoculum in the soil, which in turn increases the potential for poor emergence, stem and stolon canker and loss of marketable yield.

Customers buy with their eyes, he says, so black scurf is a big no-no in salad potato production. “Anything that isn’t what they perceive as perfect becomes a reject. That’s a real challenge because the cost of producing a reject is the same as the good stuff, so reducing that waste is a target,” explains Philip.

The unpredictability of how a season might play out is a significant risk factor in the management of rhizoctonia. If early planted crops spend a long time in cold soil conditions the potential impact of the disease increases, which can be particularly significant in salad crops where the aim is to produce many tubers of a similar size.

“It’s the perfect scenario and sometimes you can see it on the stems and get some stolon pruning. Last year we didn’t get any as we didn’t get any cold weather after planting, but now we are in a terrifically wet period and it could be a risk,” says Philip.

Rapid emergence With no control over what happens post-planting, it’s all about ensuring the seed is put into the best conditions possible for rapid emergence, he explains.

So once land is fit to travel, it’s ploughed, ridged, bed-tilled and destoned in quick succession.

Nutrition is becoming increasingly important, with an early compound fertiliser applied at planting alongside humates, allowing nitrogen rates to be cut by 10% in recent seasons.

According to Philip, a seed tuber treatment is the icing on the cake and there’s been a switch to liquid treatments applied with specialist application equipment. It was also an opportunity to take a job off the planter, which was a

A direct injection system feeds a Team Sprayer CTC2 hooded canopy with twin rotating nozzles, enabling all seed to be accurately treated inhouse at Pryor & Sons. complex operation including in-furrow application of Amistar (azoxystrobin).

Philip says there was some initial apprehension about liquid tuber treatments, as back in the late 1990s there had been some crop emergence issues with Gambit (fenpiclonil) and the

Most seed crops are graded into the right size fractions before store loading at the White’s farm – with some whole crop placed in store, then split graded in December and January before treating seed fractions with a fungicide.

Keeping application accurate Harry Raley, technical specialist at Certis Belchim, advises that application kit requires regular servicing and calibration to extract maximum value from seed tuber treatments.

With that in mind, the company has compiled a useful guide to applying liquid seed treatments over a roller table and advise that equipment should be serviced and cleaned at least once a year before each treatment period. It should also be cleaned with Jet 5 (peroxyacetic acid) between seed lots –– essential if there is a known disease problem –– to avoid transmission onto clean stocks.

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Harry also urges regular calibration to ensure the correct dose is applied, helping to maximise efficacy of products. This requires an operator to time how long it takes to fill a one tonne box then adjust pump settings and nozzle choice to match the desired output, he says.

“Our step-by-step guide can help PA12 qualified operators through this process. It includes a calibration chart for single and twin nozzle set ups, and both conventional and peristaltic pumps.

“Once calibrated, it’s important to maintain an even flow of seed as the nozzle applies the product at a constant rate,” explains Harry.

“Check tubers regularly under a light to see they are fully covered so you can identify any problems early.

“Products like RhiNo contain a surfactant, which helps spread the spray solution over the surface of the tuber, but that will only take it so far. Re-drying the seed post-treatment is also critical to prevent any disease issues arising when placed back in store, ready for planting,” he concludes.

For more info on best use of liquid seed tuber treatments for rhizoctonia control, go to www.certiseurope.co.uk/tubercare.

Seed treatment reputation stuck even though there have been no issues since then with the latest products.

“It’s vital the crop is treated when it’s still dormant and it’s dried off before going back into cold storage. We have had some blind tubers, but following this process minimises that risk. That’s why we tend to treat early, and it’s particularly important this year as the seed is quite lively after a stressful growing season,” he explains.

Ahead of switching to liquids, Philip invested in treatment equipment –– with a Team Sprayers CTC2 canopy with twin rotating-nozzle applicator enabling all seed to be accurately treated in-house.

This makes good use of the firm’s large workforce, which is maintained throughout the winter to treat about 2500-3000t of seed each year.

“Although it’s another process to oversee, if you’re treating any reasonable volume of seed, it makes sense to have control of the operation yourself and ensure it’s done right,” says Philip.

“The roller table and applicator cost about £10,000, which equates to a load of salad potatoes. The amount of work the machine does each season means it’s a minimal investment and gives crops the best possible start.”

Another Cornish potato business that has benefitted from investing in seed treatment kit is AR & SA White, based near Bodmin. Shaun White runs the business alongside his brothers Mark and Kevin, growing just above 280ha of cereals and 200ha of pre-pack potatoes for supermarkets.

Maris Peer is their main variety aimed at the early market, with the other being Lucera for Tesco’s Finest range. This year the farm is also growing a small area for Burt’s Crisps in Plymouth for the first time.

Shaun says certified input stocks are bought in at the start of a production cycle then multiplied up in-house to acclimatise the seed to Cornish conditions over field generations. Growing much of their own seed gives them the chance to identify minor issues and adjust management to ensure they don’t turn into major ones, he says.

“It takes the unknowns out of buying a lot of seed in. If we identify any issues in our farm-saved seed crops, we can change management to reduce risk of it affecting the crop,” explains Shaun.

The farm employs in-house agronomist Seth Pascoe, who walks every crop weekly, identifying problems early and

taking crops out of seed production if deemed high-risk.

Seth also advises cereal growers in the area who rent their land out for potatoes and is mindful of the need for a rotation-wide, integrated approach to potato disease and pest problems.

“You need to keep on top of volunteers and weed hosts, which helps reduce the risk of developing soil-borne problems, such as PCN and rhizoctonia. It’s an approach Seth applies across the board,” comments Shaun.

Patience pays Planting typically commences in early March and Shaun’s team throw everything at seedbed preparation to ensure they’re planting into optimal conditions. Winter ploughing is avoided as the land sits too wet ahead of spring, so the plough is never far ahead of the bed preparation and planting rigs. The plough stops when significant rain is forecast, as soils can cap and cause problems right through the season.

“It isn’t necessarily about the number of passes but doing them at the right time.

We try to be as patient as possible and wait for the right conditions before starting,” he explains.

Most seed crops are graded into the right size fractions before store loading –– with some whole crop placed in store, then split graded in December and January before treating seed fractions with a fungicide.

Shaun says they like to treat early, then get it dried for 24 hours on a drying wall before loading back into store, allowing at least 90 days between treatment and planting. The farm also has plenums in its cold store, with the positive ventilation keeping air moving through boxes and ensuring there’s no free moisture to aid disease development.

Treatment was initially done over a 2ft roller table with a single nozzle treating 8-10t/hour. It’s now split over two 4ft roller tables, which were incorporated into its newer twin Tong grading line installed in 2016.

Both have rotating twin arm, twin nozzle applicators with custom-made stainless steel hoods, and the two lines and applicators mean two seed sizes requiring different rates can be treated at once. This has doubled output to about 20t/hour, he says, with the chemical delivered via a pair of Team Storemaster spray units.

The key driver for switching to liquid treatments was to optimise coverage of

Stolon pruning caused by rhizoctonia stem canker can prove disastrous to salad crops which require a high number of even sized tubers. tubers, explains Shaun. Logistics at planting has been simplified too, particularly for the planter operator.

Integrating the treatment tables into his grading line, which has treated up to 1500t of seed each year for the past seven years, has proven to be a cost-effective investment. “Today it would work out about £1-2/t of seed, which isn’t a great deal, and if it has resulted in a crop or two being marketable rather than unmarketable, then it has been worth it,” believes Shaun.

Asked if he would recommend others to take control of their seed treatment by investing in a roller table, he says that would depend on the needs of the business. “As a salad producer, we’re handling large quantities of seed and want to ensure it’s done right. Farms handling a smaller tonnage might be better getting it treated at source, with a lot of seed houses now offering that service,” he concludes. ■

Shaun White likes to treat early and then get seed dried for 24 hours on a drying wall before going back into store, allowing at least 90 days between treatment and planting.

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Rash changes rarely result in gold Well, winter has arrived then!

What a year of weather volatility –– hot, cold, wet and dry. Resilience of everything was tested in 2022.

Our 2022 rainfall finished up at 644mm, about 83mm short of our 10-year average. Not insignificant, but in the past 20 years, we’ve had five years with less rain than 2022, yet three with over 800mm. Is the climate really changing on an average basis? The extremes seem more pronounced, but our local rain recorder’s historic records tell an interesting tale.

In the past 10 years, the number of months with over 100mm of rain averaged 1.4 for the year, with two years in that decade not reaching 100mm in any month at all. For the 10 years before that (including 2012), 1.7 months in the year hit 100mm, with three years not having a month that wet. Five Augusts in the last 20 years hit 100mm, but only one February, March and September. There are no real identifiable trends in this, other than since time began, Mother Nature has been

the gaffer of farm performance and likely always will be.

At the time of writing, we’ve lifted 80% of our sugar beet, which managed 66t/ha adjusted, with average sugar at 16.3% –– about in the middle of the range delivered so far.

Nothing exciting, but about where we expected. The bit that is left is holding up okay but we need to get it lifted and processed in as short a time as possible, so timing is crucial.

We’ve grown cover crops before root crops for 12 years now. All of this year’s have been clobbered by the frosts of mid-December, some of which we rolled at -6?C, which has resulted in total destruction bar volunteer winter cereals. This was a bit earlier than I think is ideal but a useful trial nonetheless.

Cover crop mixes have varied over the years, with lots of lessons learned, but before root crops we now generally include oats, oil radish, vetch and phacelia, with a (successful) trial of blue lupins this year. I recently attended BBRO’s advanced beet course, and among a myriad of other things, learned that phacelia in our covers won’t help Beet Mild Yellow Virus pressure, so that will get the boot next year!

Loading out of the potato stores has dragged a bit this winter but has gone okay and, at present, we’re up to date.

Notable observations include crops from sand land decayed first and once again maleic hydrazide has shown its worth, with the untreated crops showing dormancy break first –though perhaps 3-4 weeks

later than we feared given the physiologically old crops in store.

DMN has performed well on our crisping potatoes, with its mode of action fitting our system better than orange or mint oil, though they both have a place.

Some of our chippers are still in store under ethylene sprout control. The calculator will be getting some exercise again soon to ascertain next seasons storage strategy given the eye watering electricity prices we will be forced to face after March.

One of my stores has a north facing inlet louvre and runs a lot less fan hours than the other one that faces east, which needs to use its fridge in a mild season.

It’s a constant balance between fan hours, energy use, weight loss and sprout control. Lots more R&D required, but in these current times (post-Sutton Bridge) who is going to do and fund it?

Potato prices are all now finally on the table, with a few surprises in each direction. It’s decision time, which isn’t as straight forward as normal with less land available this year and a renewed focus on risk, reward and hassle. The weather is largely in charge of yield and totally out of our control, so we must concentrate on other elements and work figures on historic average paid yields, not contract targets, in order to reduce surprises down the line.

Payment terms, hassle factor, hoop jumping, longer term performance patterns, storage challenges and inputs required, are all playing a more visible role than ever before in our decision making –– it’s about

Andrew Wilson is a fourthgeneration tenant of the Castle Howard Estate in North Yorkshire.

He has a strategic approach to direct drilling on his varied soil types and grows a wide variety of crops. He’s passionate about the potato industry and having been utilising cover crops to reduce cultivation and chemical use since 2011, dipped his toe in the water of regenerative potatoes in 2021. @SpudSlingsby

much more than price alone.

The fortunes in any sector –– be it spuds, sugar, cereals, veg or livestock –– look far from settled and rosy just now. So I lean on our history and will follow the time proven line of ‘just do a bit’ –– rash changes rarely result in gold. We’ll tinker, tweak, experiment, trial, listen, talk and read to make the marginal gains needed to keep the wheels turning into the future, whatever it may bring.

Here’s to a kind spring!

The cold spell in mid-December was a perfect opportunity to get out and roll cover crops in the frost and appears to have done a good job at Brickyard Farm.

“What’s the bravest thing you’ve said?” asked the boy. “Help” said the horse.

I don’t know whether you’ve come across Charlie Mackesy’s book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse or caught the film on the telly over Christmas, but it’s certainly something I’ve found really comforting over the past few months.

Asking for help is one of the most difficult things in the world to do –– we expect ourselves to cope with whatever life throws at us and we see admitting that sometimes we can’t cope as failure. It isn’t, it’s the opposite of that.

Asking for help isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us. We fear being judged by others without realising that by doing so, we’re actually judging ourselves –– our thoughts are coloured by our perception of ourselves being somehow less because things aren’t going great so we assume that’s how other people will perceive us.

But mostly all they want to do is help and you’d be surprised how many have actually stood in your shoes.

Many different studies have

shown agriculture has high rates of depression and suicide. It’s an occupation which can at times be lonely and is at the mercy of things that can’t be controlled –– the weather, the market, and let’s not understate the effect of government policy. The future is full of uncertainty. It’s also high-risk, with huge investment in a crop that has no guarantees and takes months to come to fruition. Cashflow can be a nightmare, interest payments have sored and so have inputs –– it all adds up to potentially being mighty stressful.

Farming is also culturally isolated, with fewer and fewer people connected to the land but more and more people with an opinion about how it should be managed. Social media can add to those feeling, even within the farming community. It’s very easy to feel everyone is doing better.

And then there’s life, which has a habit of throwing things at us and sometimes too many things happen all at once and our resilience shatters. Just recently this has happened to me, and I tried to soldier on.

But I now realise it’s okay not to be okay. I’ve always been very open about the effects of my brain injury (Last Word, October 2021) and battle with fatigue –– it’s not like having a broken leg, being broken on the inside is far harder to understand. When my brain gets too tired then it manifests in a very similar way to depression –– feeling overwhelmed, unable to plan ahead, poor memory and the list goes on. It stops you functioning normally. There should be no stigma to this.

Even though my own hidden disability isn’t depression,

I feel it’s important to speak freely about not being okay because so many of us aren’t.

In farming, poor mental health is 46% higher than in other industries and we lose at least one farmer a week to suicide.

Although we’re getting better at talking about mental health issues, there’s still a long way to go. We have to do better.

When things get on top of you, even though you perhaps feel like hiding from the world, talking to people that understand helps. A simple

Based in Ludlow, Shrops, Lucy de la Pasture has worked as an agronomist, while among the Twitterati, she’s @Lucy_delaP. lucy@cpm-magazine.co.uk thing like Charlie Mackesy’s book helps and in his words: ‘This storm will pass.’ ● The Farming Community Network 0300 111999 ● YANA (You Are Not alone) 0300 3230400

Pictures: Courtesy of Charlie Mackesy

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