Anglia Farmer - April 2022 by Countrywide Publications

April 2022

Anglia

Farmer Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 35 years

Pigs and poultry: Successful launch for livestock welfare training platform

News Call for action on food security Arable Rethink needed for crop nutrition Potatoes Watch out for illegal potato seed Lamma Welcome return for machinery event

Foskett Farms Organic vegetables in the Deben Valley

Professional Services Beware of pitfalls when selling carbon Fen Tiger Why sugar beet needs sweeter future

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Anglia Farmer

OPINION Johann Tasker

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

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Runaway farm prices are nightmare stuff

ew people will have seen prices rise as rapidly as they have in recent months – and that goes for farm inputs as well as farm outputs. Input and output values have reached dizzying heights. A year ago, few people would have forecast that wheat prices would hit £300/t. And paying £1000/t for fertiliser would have seemed just ridiculous. Inflation was rising rapidly before Russia invaded Ukraine. Now it has accelerated. The conflict has highlighted how much we rely on other countries – not only for our food but also for our feed, fertiliser and our fuel, including red diesel. The question many growers and livestock producers are rightly asking at the moment is how high will prices go? And are those prices worth paying? At this rate, many farmers will simply decide that farming isn’t worthwhile. It is already clear that rising input costs are out-stripping the future value of wheat.

Anglia Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares. Subscription is £18 a year (including postage). No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for the opinions expressed by contributors. If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, please email your name, address and postcode as it appears on the wrapper to adam.gunton@micropress.co.uk

Contents

News .................................................................... 4 Arable .................................................................. 8 Potatoes & Root Crops ................................ 26 Profile: James Foskett Farms ................... 33 LAMMA 2022 ................................................. 42

Vol 42 • No 4 • April 2022

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Livestock...........................................................49 Pig & Poultry .................................................... 51 Professional Services ................................ 63 Final Say .......................................................... 66

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If things stay as they are, high fertiliser costs and lack of availability mean many growers will understandably think twice before drilling cereal crops this autumn. The government seems oblivious to this fact. Food security isn’t on the Westminster menu. Ministers seems to assume we can import any shortfall, despite drastically lower plantings in Ukraine – still the breadbasket of Europe – this year. Bizarrely, even Defra secretary George Eustice – a man with a farming background – seems to think growers can apply farmyard manure and slurry to offset the worsening shortage of mineral fertiliser. This sort of nonsense might seem all very well when stomachs are full. But in reality it is plainly short-sighted. We need a properly thought-through policy that ensures we are able to produce our own food – rather than relying on others to do it for us. Johann Tasker Editor

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APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 3

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

rgent action is needed to ensure UK food security amid ongoing disruption to supply chains following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, say farm leaders. Soaring input costs for fuel and fertiliser have triggered warnings that farm output will be down by as much as 20% this harvest. At the same time, imports of feed and grain from Russia and Ukraine have ground to a halt. The NFU says a rethink of government policy is needed to ensure food security is best served by policies that promote sustainable and profitable domestic food production alongside international trade. Russia and the Ukraine are responsible for about one third of global wheat exports. But shipments from Black Sea ports are at a standstill due to the conflict and sanctions imposed by other countries.

Huge repercusslions The situation had huge repercussions for food security across the world, said NFU president Minette Batters. The UK government had a moral obligation to do everything it can to resolve the situation, she added. Meanwhile, fertiliser availability remains tight, with prices three or four times higher than they were this time last year – forcing UK growers and livestock producers to reconsider their intentions for spring crop and grassland management. Ms Batters said: “There are massive implications for the world too and [for] global food security. It’s going to be a huge issue when I look to the countries that Russia and Ukraine provide 100% of their grain.” UK farming families were keen to help Ukrainian refugees, said Ms Batters. Many NFU members had already indicated they would like to give shelter and house refugees under the new government scheme, she added. 4 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

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

“

There are massive global implications

The NFU president made the comments after speaking with Mariia Didukh, director of the Ukrainian National Agrarian Forum. Despite horrific challenges, farmers in Ukraine were still keen to grow food, rear livestock and secure their livelihoods, said Ms Batters. She added: “The knock-on effects of this war will be felt globally. Ukraine is famously the breadbasket of the world – 400m people rely on Ukrainian crops, some living in the poorest parts of the world.”

Defra said the UK’s reliance on eastern Europe for food imports was very low – and it sdid not expect any significant direct impact on UK food supplies. But it acknowledged that cereals and oilseed prices could remain high for some time. A Defra spokesman said the department was in regular contact with grain traders, manufacturers and food retailers to understand the impact of the conflict on the supply chain. “At the moment, supermarkets are reporting high levels of product availability.”

Deadline nears for basic payment scheme

armers have until 16 May to apply for their basic payment – and claim for countryside stewardship revenue and environmental payments. Applications should submitted ahead of the deadline if possible, says the Rural Payments Agency. Applicants can update their personal and business information by applying through the online rural payments service. RPA chief executive Paul Caldwell said: “I am pleased that last year we paid over 98% of all basic payment claims in the first month. This year we are committed to match this target, and ensure timely payments to all farmers and land managers. “We will continue to build on our performance while also supporting farmers across

the country to make the most of the opportunities arising from the transition to the new farming schemes.” Since last year, direct payments are being gradually reduced – with the biggest reductions made to the higher payment bands. Reductions will be applied until the last payments are made in late 2027. Defra says savings from phasing out payments will free up funds which will go back to farmers and land managers through new grants – and the roll-out of three environment land management schemes. These are the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery. Defra says they will encourage more sustainable farming practices.

News

Nuffield conference held at Norwich Research Park

uffield scholars from across the world gathered at the Norfolk Research Park outside Norwich to discuss the challenges facing global agriculture. Some 150 delegates attended the annual Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust event. Scholars explored issues surrounding agriculture, meeting industry leaders and some of the brightest thinkers in farming. A two-day design sprint was at the heart of the event. It saw delegates work together to devise innovative ways of feeding the world while meeting the challenge of combating climate change.

Net Zero Topics included achieving net zero carbon agriculture, reducing water consumption in food production, slowing soil erosion and improving the quality of agricultural soil. Biodiversity, meat consumption and phasing out antibiotics were also discussed. Workshop sessions were facilitated by experts from Norwich Research Park. Visitors attended from 15 different countries – including Brazil, Japan, Paraguay and Zimbabwe. Delegates also visited of the region’s four key food and farming businesses – the AF Group, Fischer Farms, Condimentum and the Goat Shed at the Food Enterprise Park – and Holkham and Houghton Halls. A selection of delegates then visited the Houses of Parliament to pres-

ent their findings to Nuffield scholar and MP Robbie Moore. From a farming family in Lincolnshire, Mr Moore is the MP for Keighley in West Yorkshire. The international Nuffield event was delayed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nuffield Farming Scholars chairman Chris Grote Graf said the group were delighted to hold this year’s conference at the Norwich Research Park.

Global hub “It is recognised globally for being the hub for world-leading research in the areas of agri-tech, bio-tech and food-tech that will help the world address the issue of improving crop disease-resistance, crop production and crop yields.

“Our scholars are promised the very best people in the world to learn from and I am positive that they will really appreciate engaging with the scientists and researchers during the conference. Norwich Research Park chairman Pete Jackson said group members were knowledgeable and inspiring. “The pandemic might have delayed the event a year but I am certainly confident that this made the delegates even more determined to get the most value out of their time in Norfolk. “Hosting such a prestigious international farming conference really does underline the stature that Norwich Research Park holds worldwide and I hope to see many of this week’s delegates return to the park in years to come.”

Visitors from 15 different countries attended the event

Farming estate on the market after 80 years A Norfolk farming estate which dates back to the 16th century is on the market with a guide price of £24.25m. Gawdy Hall, near Harleston, sits in the heart of the Waveney Valley. In the same family for more than 80 years, it is described as a “significant farming estate in a beautifully private location” with an extensive residential portfolio. The property includes 1,510 acres of productive arable land, 117 acres of mature parkland and approximately 79 acres of ancient woodland. It is offered for sale as a whole or in seven lots. The farming operation also includes 4,500 tonnes of modern grain storage, a range of general purpose buildings and a purpose built spray store, says Christopher Miles, from the rural agency team at Savills, which is mar6 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

keting the estate Mr Miles said the estate’s trustees and family had made a decision to sell following the proposed retirement of David Green – the long standing managing director of Gawdy Hall Estate Company. “Gawdy Hall is a first class arable and amenity estate,” he added. “The fields are a good size and shape and the soils are well suited to growing arable and some root crops, with a current rotation of winter wheat, winter and spring barley, oil seed rape, beans and maize. “The farm has consistently produced high yielding cereal crops with the 10-year average winter wheat yields being 9.7t/ha and oilseed rape averaging 3.54t/ha over the same period. In a record year it achieved an average wheat yield of 11t/ha.”

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Arable Radical rethink needed for crop nutrition, says expert Arable advice ‘out-of-date’ raising questions of relevance to modern demands

lant nutrition guidelines require a radical rethink to ensure arable production remains profitable while meeting environmental needs, says an expert. Arable advice is largely is decades old – raising questions about its relevance to modern production systems, rising input costs and the need to combat climate change, says Chris Martin, head of soil health at Agrovista. Crop requirements have changed dramatically over the past five decades, says Mr Martin. Winter wheat yields were on average 1.75 times higher between 2010 and 2019 than they were between 1970 and 1979, he adds. “We all know crops must receive adequate amounts of each nutrient to achieve optimum yields. However, these days we all need to be much more precise in targeting nutrition to crop need to ensure we optimise the return on increasingly expensive inputs. Other influences that weren’t even considered a few decades ago complicate decision making, says Mr Martin. Fertilisers, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous, are key polluters and the need to protect air, soils and water is now enshrined in legislation. “Agriculture is expected to play a key role in the UK’s drive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, nitrogen fertiliser is a major source of

nitrous oxide emissions and is the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of many arable crops. “For all these reasons, we believe plant nutrition needs a radical rethink, backed up by the latest advice and appropriate tools, to ensure it meets the needs of crops, the environment and carbon reduction a cost-effective manner.”

Measure to manage Good soil health is the key starting point, which means a comprehensive soil test is a must. Mr Martin says it should be backed up with tissue testing, ensuring each nutrient is matched to crop requirements at every key growth stage. Agrovista’s Gold Soil Heath report provides a clear indication of the physical, chemical and biological conditions within soils and their ability to support optimum plant growth and enhance nutrient use efficiency. Encouragingly, says Mr Martin, extensive trials carried out by Agrovista show that identifying and utilising the right tools in this way can produce positive results in a surprisingly short time frame. It is also increasingly important for growers to manage soil carbon content. Failure to do so will compromise nutrition. This is particularly important

“

Soil health is the key starting point.

where soils have suffered from intense cultivations and the excessive use of manufactured nitrogen fertiliser. Excessive bacterial blooms and associated high respiration levels can reduce soil carbon levels through carbon dioxide losses. Restoring soil carbon and balancing soil biology is therefore an essential part of long-term soil functionality and nutrient use efficiency. There is enough phosphorus in most soils to last for decades, but the majority is locked up in high-calcium or high-pH soils. Soil-applied products are available that dissolve this boundup phosphorus, making it available to plants and improving soil health.

Fertiliser – protect, replace, reduce A range of products are now available to growers to help ﬁne tune nutrition and reduce its unwanted impacts. Here are just a few examples: Replacing some late-season bagged nitrogen with foliar-applied, controlled-release nitrogen fertiliser can substantially reduce a crop’s environmental/carbon footprint. Nitriﬁcation inhibitors slow down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, reducing losses to water and air and helping to keep crop-available nitrogen in the soil for longer. Foliar-applied products can convert nitrous oxide into plantusable nitrate, reducing pollution and opening up a new revenue stream, similar to carbon credits. Crop inputs are vital – but becoming increasingly expensive

8 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

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Arable

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

igh prices make investing in oilseed rape crops worthwhile this spring – but variable growth means management must be tailored to individual fields. “A lot of winter oilseed rape seems to have escaped significant cabbage stem flea beetle damage this season,” says Mike Thornton, head of crop production for agronomy firm ProCam. “But pigeon damage in some fields has been awful.” Crop sizes range from plants barely above the ground to those almost kneehigh. Pigeon-damaged crops with decent root structures have a chance to recover. But Mr Thornton says it is important to ensure recovery is not hampered by lack of nutrients. “Badly-affected crops may need extra nitrogen – particularly in the worst parts of fields,” he explains. “It will be important to avoid micronutrient deficiencies, especially boron and molybdenum.”

Flower buds Preventing pigeons from grazing flower buds will be vital as the season develops, adds Mr Thornton. Winter oilseed rape that suffers delayed flowering due to pigeon damage can become badly infested by pollen beetles later, he warns. Growers with crops that flower unevenly will find it hard to time sclerotinia fungicide sprays accurately. Canopy

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

“

Badlyaﬀected crops may need extra nitrogen

size in forward crops may need regulating as temperatures rise and days get longer. This reduces lodging and opens the canopy to let in light. “If you’re also having to target light leaf spot or phoma infections, canopy management can be achieved at the same time using a treatment combining a suitable fungicide with a plant growth regulator. This will also help to even the crop up.” Light leaf spot outbreaks appear sporadic – but have been reported in some areas. Even varieties with greater resistance can be affected – making it important to remain vigilant to ensure it can be controlled early. To safeguard yield potential during flowering, Mr Thornton urges similar vigilance against sclerotinia, botrytis and alternaria infections. These are highly weather-dependant – but most fungicides work preventatively, so timeliness is key.

Club root After the mild winter, another disease being reported this year is club root. Little can be done against it at this stage of the season – although applying a calcium carbonate dressing to raise soil pH is an option. “It’s important to look after the crop nutritionally because nutrient uptake via the deformed roots of infected plants will be restricted. For the future, however, what you can do is note down fields that are affected.” Mr Thornton says doing this helps with longer-term crop management, including rotation planning, liming of infected fields, choosing more tolerant varieties, and the delayed drilling of

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winter rape. Once rape comes into flower, Mr Thornton says growers should guard against pollen beetle. Although normally less of a problem in winter rape than spring rape, crops that flower later are more susceptible. “If treating pollen beetles, do so only according to pest thresholds – we need to use insecticides sparingly to protect against resistance.”

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Arable

Septoria warning for T1 timing this season • Infections could continue to build • Yellow rust also being monitored • Growers advised to stay vigilant

rop monitoring suggests the possibility of a Septoria threat at the T1 timing this season, growers are being advised. Three East Anglian growers are taking part in Bayer’s CropCheck initiative. They are using rapid quantitative PCR detection to monitor two varieties with varying disease ratings for Septoria and yellow rust. At all three sites, earlier drilled and susceptible varieties are carrying high infection levels in the base of crops. Agronomists say infections are likely to build ahead of T1 applications if favourable conditions remain. The most notable is at GH Hoyles, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. September-drilled variety Graham (6.4) is carrying significant infection, with a CropCheck score of 97 (late-stage infection) and the disease is visible in the

crop base. But December-drilled Cranium (5.7) is fairing better. Septoria is building in Extase (7.3) and Gleam (5.5) at Ovington Hall, near Sudbury, Suffolk. Both varieties have similar CropCheck scores to Graham at Long Sutton. The Extase was drilled on 29 September and the Gleam oneyear rating is 5.5. Bayer technical manager Ella Crawford says she isn’t overly concerned, explaining that the disease is to be expected in the base of the crop canopy following the mild winter. But she does urge growers and agronomists to remain vigilant. “Septoria has come through the winter, what’s important now is to see how it progresses,” says Ms Crawford. “Although the disease is present, it doesn’t mean it is guaranteed to move up the canopy as plants develop.”

‘Sudden changes’ At Troston Farms, near Bury St Edmunds, varietal resilience could already be coming into play. Both Astronomer (6.2) and Skyscraper (4.6) were drilled in mid-October. But Skyscraper is carrying significantly higher latent infection – five times that of Astronomer. Again, the disease is visible in the crop base of Skyscraper. But the yellow rust situation is better. With testing now weekly, the disease is being detected in the newest leaf layers, although signs of earlier infec-

Septoria is visible in the base of some crops Left: Growers should keep a close eye on crops, says Ella Crawford

tion are visible. Lincolnshire technical manager James Wilkins says it is worth factoring septoria into T1 strategies for susceptible varieties. “With the weather volatility we experience, sudden changes or fluctuations in disease threat and severity are possible. “Although Septoria is likely to be the focus it is worth building in broad-spectrum protection and a product like Ascra (prothioconazole + bixafen + fluopyram) offers strong Septoria and yellow rust protection as well as stem-based activity.”

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Arable

Campus still performing strongly • Variety still a top ﬁve choice • Consistency of yield over the years • Set to strengthen its position

ampus oilseed rape has produced over £0.5bn of revenue for UK growers since its RL listing in 2014/15 with plantings for 2022 harvest showing no let-up in its popularity, report KWS UK. Analysis of AHDB trials shows the variety has the highest equal gross output of all conventional varieties in 2021 underlining its ongoing success with growers despite being taken off the RL in 2019/20, says the company’s oilseed rape specialist Julie Goult (pictured below). “Campus continues to perform over and above other options which is why it is still one of the top five most popular varieties in the UK. “Whilst other conventional and hybrid varieties have dropped off over the years in terms of performance, Campus has remained stable. “Since its commercial launch now eight years ago, Campus has maintained a gross output of 103% fairly consistently, significantly more than its competitors over the same period and not far behind the peak yields of the best hybrids in the occasional high output year.”

Enduring Combining Defra average yield data with KWS’ known area of the variety grown in each year and using average prices for these, shows Campus’ enduring popularity producing some remarkable results, she explains. “Campus has contributed £523m of revenue to British farmers since its launch and shows no signs of stopping. Over the last year three years it has averaged nearly £70m/year and this next year will not be too far behind this. “It’s also worth bearing in mind these figures are based on UK average yields, rather than Campus’ likely higher yields, and exclude any oil bonuses. “If you factor in a conservative 5% yield advantage alongside an oil bonus of 7.5% for an average oil content of 45%, the total value of Campus to the UK could be closer to £600M since its launch.” Alongside Campus’ remarkable consistency of yield, the variety has a strong agronomic

“

Campus has contributed £523m of revenue to British farmers since its launch

package which adds to its resilience and its reliability, Julie Goult says. “It’s still an AHDB RL control variety so sets a pretty high bar for new varieties to beat with hybrid-style levels of vigour both in the autumn and spring helping it grow away from pest and disease threats, plus it’s got good lodging resistance and stem stiffness. “It also gets a 6 for light leaf spot and stem canker so is suitable for all regions of the UK and has been shown to perform well in trials where verticillium wilt has affected other varieties.

Farmer friendly “So, it’s very farmer friendly and being such a long established conventional variety, seed is plentiful and always available for the increasingly popular earlier growing slots, although its inherent vigour makes it ideal for later sowing too. “It can certainly give a lot of the new hybrids a run for their money when it comes to speed of development – and that is still what matters to most growers.” “It’s easy to get carried away with the latest traits and yield protection features and think of these as being important in safeguarding the crop, but if you don’t have the right establishment properties to start with then you won’t

have a crop to protect anyway. “I think it’s something farmers understand and is probably why many tend to stick with the genetics they know rather than switch to something that on paper should give them more.” The former ADAS Yield Enhancement Network winner Richard Budd, who farms at Hawkhurst in south Kent, agrees saying ‘high input – high output’ is not necessarily the best approach with oilseed rape. “We try to grow the crop as cheaply as possible and our Campus has averaged 6t/ha in recent years with our YEN winning crop achieving 7.19t/ha which according to ADAS is equivalent to 85% of crop potential. “This was also from one of the lowest input spends I’ve had. For me this more than proves the importance of the right variety, good management and a healthy soil rather than relying on lots of inputs.” Julie Goult says whilst it’s going to be a long time before the area of UK oilseed rape grown approaches that from before the Neonicotinoid ban, there are definitely signs of renewed confidence in the crop. “Prices are good and a considerable number of growers have tried alternative break crops to try and replace oilseed rape in the rotation but are coming back around to realising there are very few that fit as well as oilseed rape.” APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 15

Arable

Survey puts spotlight on spring barley agronomy • Half of growers to reduce nitrogen • Important to optimise eﬃciency • Room to improve on some farms

Granger. But cutting nitrogen rates is a false economy if plant health, tiller retention and yield are compromised, he warns. A yield benefit of 500kg/ha can be achieved with negligible impact on grain nitrogen by applying an extra 30kg N/ha at late tillering before stem elongation – after an initial seedbed application of 120kg N/ha.

Good plant health and soil moisture is essential, says Ron Granger.

Cost and benefit “With feed barley prices of £220/t, that could be worth £110, or more if there’s a malting premium, which far outweighs the cost of the extra nitrogen. Why reduce rates if it compromises yield and, more importantly, the return on investment?” Effort is better focused on timing applications to

lmost half of all spring barley growers plan to reduce their nitrogen use this spring, suggests a survey of more than 100 farmers by Limagrain UK. Some 52% of growers usually apply 100-120kg/ha of nitrogen to spring barley, with one third applying 120-150kg. But 45% plan to reduce nitrogen use this season – mainly in response to high fertiliser prices. This is unsurprising given rising farm input costs, says Limagrain arable technical manager Ron

16 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

Varieties like LG Diablo (left) offer spring vigour and high tillering capacity

optimise uptake efficiency adds Mr Granger. “A ‘little and often’ approach can give good results. But good plant health and soil moisture is essential for crops to efficiently take up nitrogen whatever the strategy. All the UK’s main barley-growing areas were represented in the survey, which found that while farm practices are generally in-line with recommended approaches, there are some potential areas for improvement.

Spray regime Most growers (70%) apply two fungicides, which is preferred in “normal” seasons, Mr Granger says. Typically, the first application is between GS 2531, with the second targeted between GS 39-55. “We all know how quickly spring barley moves, so close monitoring of growing crops is essential. Spring barley doesn’t have a main yield-building flag leaf, so all leaves, especially leaves two and three, must be kept clean and green as long as possible.”

Very dry conditions with no disease may offer potential for cost savings. But Mr Granger suggests this is best achieved by adjusting product selection and rate – ather than omitting sprays altogether. “If you’re only spraying once, it’s difficult to judge the best time to apply it, and you’re second-guessing the weather. Remain flexible and react to the season.”

“

Cutting nitrogen rates can be a false economy Some 70% of growers said they did not generally use an insecticide. “BYDV can be a problem in some areas, especially if there’s high activity of virus-transmitting aphids after a mild winter, so it’s something to monitor and treat if necessary.”

Seed rates The survey suggests that growers are generally using the right seed rates. About half (49%) of all respondents said they were sowing spring barley at 300-350 seeds/m2, and most (76%)

targeting an 8t/ha yield. Limagrain’s work suggests 350 seeds/m2 is optimal for modern, high-yielding varieties sown in good conditions during mid-March. An 8-9 t/ha crop needs around 800 ears/m2 – and 350 seeds/m2 will give 2.5-3 tillers per plant at harvest. But seed rates must be adjusted to drilling date, weather and seedbed conditions, says Mr Granger. Sowing early on light land in perfect, warm seedbeds, could generate similar results with a lower seedrate of 300 seeds/m2. “Equally, if it’s late March, or soils are cold and/or cloddy, then go to nearer 375-400 seeds/m2, and for anything sown into April, or in a black-grass situation, consider 400-450 seeds/m2.” Late-sown crops inevitably produce fewer tillers and fewer ears, which must be compensated for by increasing seed rate. Modern varieties offer excellent spring vigour and high tillering capacity, says Mr Granger. “The biggest issue is often the weather. Drought will cause tiller loss, so ensure numbers are high enough at the outset by driving establishment and early rooting with front-loaded nutrition.”

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 17

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Arable

Growers target more sustainable maize production A survey of nearly 100 UK maize producers carried out by the MGA, BGS and Grainseed has highlighted the changing face of the crop’s agronomy particularly with regard to environmental management.

anagement standards in maize are improving all the time with growers increasingly focused on cost-effective production of high yields at the same time as minimising the potential impacts of the crop, says Neil Groom of Grainseed (pictured below). “You’ve only got to look at the figure of 91% of growers in the survey saying they use the services of a qualified agronomist to realise maize producers are taking management of their crops very seriously now. “Growers are increasingly realising that as well as being a very valuable forage for both livestock and biogas production, maize is potentially more reliable than many other options with regard to the wider variations in growing conditions we are now experiencing and are likely to in the future. “Incidence of pests and diseases, for example, remain low compared to many other crops with 56% of growers saying they never experience eyespot, the main disease risk for maize, and 16% saying they have had only one episode in the last five years. “In terms of soil pests, only 33% report experiencing problems, with wireworm being the most common.” Weeds are a bit more of a concern, however, with only 5% say they have no problems with them at all, he says. “Fat hen is the most common problem with 35% experiencing issues, followed by Mayweed at 32% and Blackgrass and Nightshade each at 28%. Couch grass and Thistles follow with 16% each.

Particular challenges “Barnyard grass, Orache, Annual meadow grass, Knotgrass and Cranesbill are also cited by some growers as being particular challenges. “Over 28% use pre-emergence herbicides, 35% apply a post-emergence herbicide and 35% apply both.” Maize growers are also increasingly focused on nutrient management and ensuring their crops get off to the

best possible start, Neil Groom says. “Just over 40% of growers report the pH of their maize fields is 7 with the majority of the remainder saying it lies marginally either side of this, so that seems to be under control but P and K levels are the subject of ongoing monitoring. “While 72% of growers say their P index is around 2 or 3, 14% say it is above this and another 14% report it is below. For K, 69% say it is around index 2 or 3 with 19% saying it is below this and just 5% reporting it is above. “Consequently, around two thirds of maize growers now say they always use a starter fertiliser with a further 7% saying they use one sometimes. DAP is by far the most popular choice with just under half of growers also saying they use foliar nutrient sprays when appropriate.” When it comes to cultivations, just over half of growers subsoil regularly, 24% do when its needed and 16% never do, he adds. “Ploughing followed by cultivation remains the most popular seedbed preparation with 69% doing this, with 18% min-tilling and only 1% direct drilling. “Over half of growers - 55% - drill at 75cm row width and 44% at 50cm with 43% using 42,000 seeds/acre, 23% at 40,000 seeds/acre, 14% at 45,000 seeds/ acre and 5% at 50,000 seeds/acre.” “At the other end of the growing season, a third of growers say they now

“

Post harvest management is also the subject of growing attention

sample for dry matter prior to harvest with 32% saying they start cutting at 30% DM whilst 18% wait until 35% DM. “One in four growers surveyed said they use a chop length of 8 - 12mm at harvest with 50% saying they use 12 - 16mm and 20% saying 16 - 20mm is their preferred choice. Only 5% use 20mm or more. “When it comes to ensiling, 55% say they always use a clamp oxygen barrier sheet with a further 7% saying they do sometimes. Tyres remain the favourite means of securing clamps at 48%, followed by clamp nets at 46%.

Cover crops Post harvest management is also the subject of growing attention with a significant increase in the use of cover crops in evidence, he says. “Just over half of growers - 51% mainly grow a winter cereal crop following their maize as they rotate maize around the farm and 28% now say they drill a cover crop. “Of the remaining fields 11% are cultivating or disturbing the stubble to aid water infiltration, but 36% still leave part or all of their maize stubble bare over the winter. “In terms of the main objective of their post-harvest management, 28% say it is to protect the environment, 22% to retain nutrients and moisture content, 25% to improve soil structure and 12% say it is to prepare the land for winter wheat.” APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 19

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Growers benefit from high-yielding pea

high-yielding green pea is delivering good marketability, downy mildew resistance and decent standing power. Justin Barrett, of pulse traders Askew & Barrett, says he has seen some good quality samples of Bluetime from the 2021 harvest. “With colour retention greatly affected by geographical weather patterns, it has generally held its colour well. “In a year when early samples of green peas were noticeably better than usual, the quality received soon deteriorated once the rain came. But Bluetime continued to more than hold its own with regards to size, colour retention and cooking performance.”

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

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

Good attributes Varieties like Bluetime, Stroma, Blueman and Greenwich each have one or more positive agronomic characters – such as high thousand seed weight, high downy mildew resistance, high resistance to powdery mildew and good standing power. LSPB’s yellow pea Orchestra has the highest thousand seed weight on the descriptive list with high standing power. Marrowfat pea growers can look to a substantial yield boost over older varieties with Akooma, which is the highest yielding marrowfat pea on the list, says Mr Guest. “We have more improved varieties in prospect for spring 2023 sowing – Carrington is the highest yielding pea on the entire PGRO combining pea descriptive list with high standing ability plus good resistance to downy mildew.”

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APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 21

Arable

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

armers have until 24 April to apply for funding from the latest tranche of money to support woodland creation and tackle climate. Some £10m is available from the Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme. It gives land managers the option to sell Woodland Carbon Units to the government at a guaranteed price protected against inflation. Farmers must apply ahead of a fifth auction which will take place online on 9-15 May. Previous auctions have helped stimulate 2,650ha of tree planting, with long-term payments made to farmers for the amount of carbon a new woodland will store. Administered by the Forestry Commis-

sion, the £50m Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme aims to help accelerate woodland planting rates and permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Successful bidders have the option to sell woodland carbon in the form of Woodland Carbon Units – a financial value given to each tonne of carbon stored – to the government over 35 years at a guaranteed price protected against inflation. Defra says the scheme reflects the government’s confidence in the continued growth of markets for woodland carbon. It says landowners will continue to benefit from a reliable revenue stream in selling carbon on the domestic market.

be the perfect fit for land managers of all kinds looking for long-term income support for creating new woodlands. “Now in its fifth round, it’s encouraging that this scheme has continued to grow in its success. I strongly encourage farmers, foresters and land managers across England to submit their applications.”

Long-term income Before applying, land managers must register with the Woodland Carbon Code. Farmers are also advised to take independent advice so they are happy with the income they are expected to receive from the scheme. Forestry Commission chairman William Worsley said: “This pioneering scheme could

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Arable

Timing vital for aphid control in fodder beet

odder beet growers are being urged to ensure they have an effective control strategy to control high aphid counts this season. Virus incidence levels in fodder beet crops without treatment are expected to be nearly as high this year as they were in 2020. Current advice is to treat the threat seriously and time applications to maximise results Correct insecticide timing is vital with only one application of Teppeki (flonicamid) permitted for use on fodder beet crops this season, says Stuart Harder, technical account specialist at Belchim Crop Protection. “Don’t compromise on timing. Use your one allowable application as effectively as possible to prevent a buildup of either black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) or peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae) that can lead to significant fodder beet yield losses.” Key viruses including beet yellowing virus (BYV), beet mild yellowing

24 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

virus (BMYV) and beet chlorosis virus (BChV) jointly account for annual yield losses in fodder beet crops of up to 50%, says Mr Harder. Farmers should begin monitoring their crops from early April. Both the peach potato and black bean aphid are found in all parts of the UK and can be expected to begin their migration into crops from mid-April with a likely peak of activity due in mid-May.

Early or late “With only one application available it is important that the application is timed well. Try not to compromise your timing by tank mixing Teppeki with herbicides to save a crop pass. If you do, the likely outcome is that the tank mix may be mis-timed. Earlier aphid infections do more damage than later infections, says Mr Harder. Growers should apply Teppeki at 140g/ha of product in 200 litres of water to ensure good coverage. once

the key threshold of one green wingless aphid per four plants is reached. “Don’t be alarmed if, after applying Teppeki, aphids still appear to be moving. Teppeki works as a feeding inhibitor so, while aphids may be alive for a while, they can no longer feed and will not be transmitting the virus.”

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

otato growers are being warned to ensure any seed stocks planted this spring are properly certified and from a reputable source. It follows reports that 1000 tonnes of small ware potatoes were imported into the UK and supplied as seed to growers in the eastern region – breaking rules designed to maintain biosecurity and keep plant disease out of the country. Richard McIntosh, Defra’s assistant chief plant health officer, said the risks associated with any attempts to circumvent biosecurity requirements were extremely serious and could not be overstated.

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

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

ments of both the seed potatoes marketing and plant health legislation. Offenders are are liable on summary conviction to a fine. This includes the planting of ware potatoes or any other potatoes not obtained under an officially approved programme for the certification of potatoes. As the authority responsible for enforcing the regulations, APHA said it would be carrying out general and targeted surveillance to ensure that both farmers and seed suppliers are complying with plant health and marketing legislation. Mr McIntosh said interpretation the legislation was ultimately a matter for the courts. Other offences, such as criminal fraud, may also be pursued depending on each individual case.

“

Biosecurity risk cannot be overstated

The potatoes are believed to have been imported from Europe

Serious threat “Some operators are considering attempts to circumvent the plant health and/or marketing requirements, in particular bringing in, and marketing/ planting as seed, small ware of varieties that are unavailable or difficult to grow as seed,” he warned. “The biosecurity risk of such practices cannot be overstated. “Pests and diseases known to occur in Europe – such as Epitrix, ring rot, brown rot and zebra chip – pose a serious threat to the GB potato industry and growers should not take the economic and reputational risk with either their own businesses or those of their industry.”

Defra confirms end of potato levy Defra has confirmed the end of the levy paid by potato growers to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. From this month, potato growers and processors will no longer pay the levy. Neither will horticultural growers. Farmers who pay levies in other sectors will be able to vote on how they want their money spent. Defra said the move would end the “one size fits all” approach to levies. It said the vote would deliver enhanced accountabili-

26 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

ty and value for money for farmers across the UK – and help ensure the organisation focused on levy payers’ priorities. An arms-length body of Defra, the AHDB was established in 2008 to help improve farm performance, productivity and drive growth through research, knowledge exchange, improving market access and marketing activities. A Defra statement said: “We have committed to a reformed AHDB, one that works

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

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Potatoes & Root Crops

Neonicotinoids: Defra ‘considered all options’

efra says it considered all the alternatives before granting permission for neonicotinoid pesticide treatments to be used on the 2022 sugar beet crop. The emergency authorisation was granted subject to strict conditions. Defra said the treatment could only be used if the forecast incidence of virus yellows was at or above 19% of the crop according to independent modelling. Following a relatively mild winter, that threshold was passed last month. Modelling predicted a 68% level of virus incidence, triggering permission for neonicotinoids to protect sugar beet seedlings from virus-carrying aphids.

Other treatments Sugar beet crops have been severely affected by virus yellows in recent years, with 2020 yields down by a quarter on previous years. Other pesticide and organic treatments are not sufficiently effective in controlling viruses. Defra said the strictly time limited authorisation of the neonicotinoid treatment – Syngenta’s Cruiser SB – would provide emergency pro-

tection against the virus, which could otherwise significantly impact sugar beet yields. Using neonicotinoids remains tightly controlled. The maximum amount of treatment approved for use is 6% of the quantity of active substance applied on a range of crops in 2016 before neonicotinoids were prohibited.

‘Robust assessment’ Other conditions of the authorisation include a reduced application rate as well as a prohibition on any flowering crop being planted in the same field where the product has been used within 32 months of a treated sugar beet crop. Scientists are working on alternative control methods. A Defra spokesperson said: “The decision to approve an emergency authorisation was not taken lightly and based on robust scientific assessment. “We evaluate the risks very carefully and only grant temporary emergency authorisations for restricted pesticides in special circumstances when strict requirements are met and there are no alternatives.”

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Potatoes & Root Crops

How military technology is reducing potato waste

dvances in crop sensing using militaray technology have seen a major leap towards eliminating potato food waste. The TuberScan system uses radar, GPS units and an in-field camera to survey potato fields throughout the growing season. It is based on field-based technologies originally developed for the military – reapplying the knowledge and tools to the arable farming environment. Developed by B-Hive Innovations, TuberScan assesses crops above and below ground. It is funded by Innovate UK’s Research and Innovation scheme – working with Branston, Harper Adams and Manchester University. TuberScan project manager Effie Warwick-John said: “Potato growing is not precision agriculture so it can be challenging for growers to understand the performance of the whole crop underground. With TuberScan we are trying to address this lack of clarity.” Cutting-edge technology yielded better

results than the current practice of random sampling followed by data extrapolation to cover the field, said Ms Warwick-John. Random samplying did not always account for variance within the crop and could lead to inaccuracies in forecasting. “We want to empower growers with meaningful data-led insights to make better-informed management decisions based on potato size, count and variation,” said Ms Warwick-John. All these choices could ultimately make or break a crop’s marketable yield.

Confidence “When developed, TuberScan will help growers to more confidently identify areas of poor performance, when to make all-important burndown decisions, and where growers should target inputs of fertilizer or irrigation.” Vidyanath Gururajan, B-Hive managing director, said the goal was to reduce potato and energy waste, increase the crop’s marketable yield, enhance its quality and add val-

ue for growers and fresh produce businesses. “Placing actionable insights at the hands of growers to minimise wastage supports packers and retailers further along the supply chain and provides additional assurances on the quality of their potatoes, prior to hitting the shelves.

Best value “By both understanding more closely what they will be harvesting and the opportunity to enhance marketable yield, farmers are better placed to market their produce, strengthen supply chain relationships and attain the best value based on their supply of potatoes and relative demand.” B-Hive was working with growers to tailor the product to suit individual farm businesses, said Mr Gururajan. As the TuberScan technology evolved, further innovations could follow – including the development of precision-based equipment, such as intelligent sprayers.

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Growers to receive at least £27/tonne for sugar beet

ugar beet contracts for the 2022/23 crop year will pay at least £27/tonne – regardless of contract length, says British Sugar. The company said the price guarantee was “the right thing to do” with growers exposed to significant cost inflation and a rising sugar price. The blanket £27/tonne payment applies to all contracts linked to the crop planted this spring, it added. It means growers with a fixed price contract below £27/tonne will see their beet price automatically raised to £27/tonne. Growers on contracts with a market bonus element will receive a guaranteed bonus of £5.82. This will take their price to £27/tonne, paid as the crop is delivered. The surplus beet price for the 2022/23 crop will also pay £27/tonne. British Sugar agriculture director Dan Green said: “We are committed to strengthening collaborative relationships with our growers and identify opportunities for sugar beet to remain economically viable for everyone.” Mr Green said British Sugar had worked closely with NFU Sugar to understand the likely costs faced by farmers for this year’s sugar beet crop. B-Hive’s TuberScan system assesses crops above and below ground

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 31

Potatoes & Root Crops

British Sugar appoints new agriculture director

ritish Sugar has appointed Daniel Green as the processor’s new agriculture director – replacing Peter Watson who left the company in February. With a family arable farming background, Mr Green studied chemical engineering before joining British Sugar in 2003. He has held various roles with the company – most recently as factory manager at Cantley in Norfolk. British Sugar managing director Paul Kenward described Mr Green as a “natural fit” for what was an incredibly important role within British Sugar. He had transformed all aspects of the plant at Cantley – from the beet intake to the delivery of sugar to customers. Mr Kenward said: “Farmers are our customers, who can choose whether to plant our crop, or indeed another break crop, and therefore it’s incredibly important to understand the risks and rewards of making these crop choices.”

He added: “Daniel’s farming background, together with his knowledge and experience of running one of our factories, and strong leadership skills, is integral. I wish him every success in this role.” British Sugar is the sole processor of the UK’s sugar beet crop, working with around 3,000 growers. It processes about 8m tonnes of sugar beet and produces up to 1.2m tonnes of sugar annually.

Challenges But recent years have seen a decline in the area of beet grown. Prices to growers have declined and challenges around growing the crop – including virus yellows – have seen some farmers quit the sector. Mr Green said he was focusing on working with British Sugar’s partners to share in the success of what remained a thriving homegrown beet sugar industry. This included growers, hauliers and harvesters, he said. “I want us to further strengthen collaborative relationships with growers, understand growers’ increasing costs and crop alternatives so sugar beet can be a profitable crop on farm, and continue the partnership work.”

Daniel Green: ‘Incredibly important role’

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Profile: James Foskett Farms

Organic business has strong Suffolk roots Good staﬀ are key to the success of Suﬀolk organic growers James Foskett Farms

Suffolk farming business is supplying an increasing amount of organic vegetables to some of the UK’s most discerning customers – by employing a top team of staff and seasonal workers. James Foskett Farms encompasses some 1400ha (3500 acres) of light soil at Bromeswell, near Woodbridge. A combination of tenure types includes contract farming, farm business tenancies, annual licences and some owner occupied land. The main enterprises remain 385ha of potatoes and 140ha of conventional onions, with some cereals and sugar beet. But the farm also includes 220ha of organic carrots, radishes, sweet corn, green beans, beetroot and butternut squash..

the business. It employs 28 full-time staff and up to 100 seasonal workers. On a farm where much of the work is done by hand, good people are vital, he says. “Our organic business goes out the window tomorrow if we haven’t got the labour. We hand-bunch 3 million bunches of carrots, beetroot and radishes every year – and hand-pick about 200 tonnes of green beans.” About 65-70 of the seasonal workers are regular returnees. Some have been coming to back to the farm for 10

years or more. Most are Romanians but the business was due to employ 30 Ukrainians this year too. “They won’t be coming because of the war, which is an absolute shame,” says Mr Shapland. “We’re hoping that Proforce – the employment agency we use – will find us workers from somewhere else. But where from, at the moment we don’t know.” Producing good quality food means employing good quality people, he adds. “We need to make a return financial return so we can keep investing in the business – and secure a good livelihood for our employees. That’s really important. “We like doing everything to a high

Top:: Farm manager Mike Shapland (left) with James Foskett Below: The farm is a mix of organic and conventional enterprises

Seasonal labour “Organics has become a pretty important part of our business,” says James Foskett. “It accounts for about 40% of our turnover. Bunched carrots are a big backbone to what we do – and so too are hand-picked green beans. “We grow all sorts of things but we try to stick to what we do best. If you grow too many different crops just keep a customer happy, you don’t tend to make any money. So it’s important to concentrate on what you do well. It makes things more efficient.” Farm manager Mike Shapland looks after the day-to-day running of

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 33

Profile: James Foskett Farms >> standard and we want to enjoy the process too. So do our staff. We enjoy the satisfaction and we want our people to feel rewarded and proud of where they work and what we do. “Currently, we are doing that very well. We have a really good team. It takes a long time to do that. If you have good people in the business, it attracts other good people into the business too. That is where we are at.” Recent investments in the business includes an on-farm packhouse – packing radishes and green beans for supermarkets. “It is a natural progression to what we grow – the next link in the supply chain. It adds value to what we do.” Longer term, the packhouse will help optimise the delivery of organic produce to customers in whatever format they want – whether it is in a biodegradable or compostable sleeve or with a simple starch band. As well as supermarkets, James Foskett Farms supplies an increasing number of smaller customers – including farm shops and other local outlets. “We have just purchased a refrigerated van for local deliveries. Organics currently account for about 3.5% of total UK fruit and vegetable sales. That proportion is increasing by 7-8% annually, says Mr Foskett. Despite increases in the cost of living, the sector is robust and expanding, he adds. “Some of our biggest customers – half of our sales are via organic box schemes – have had a tremendous couple of years. They did really well during the pandemic and we don’t see that dropping back to pre-pandemic levels at all.” Being organic is a long-term commitment, says Mr Shapland. The rotation is flexible – although the goal is to avoid growing anything more often than one year in six, with 20-25% of the area in red clover at any one time. “We will probably cash-crop a field for two years, then give it a rest and put in red clover to fix some nitrogen from the atmosphere to build some fertility before going back into another cash crop.” A lot of the cropping is short duration. It might involve drilling carrots in March and harvesting it by the middle of July. For the rest of the year, it will go into a vetch or rye cover corp – again building fertiliser, supressing weeds and stabilising the soil.

Water availability Water availability is a constant concern. The local Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy means all time-limited abstraction licences 34 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

in the area are up for review, says Mr Foskett, who is a director of the East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group. “It’s one of my big worries. We’ve got new directives to ensure the public water supply is secure until 2050 – and they are suggesting that we are going to have to give up a proportion of our licences, which will be reallocated. “Half of that will go for the environment – but I don’t believe it should be taken away from existing licence hold-

ers who are using it to produce food, especially with the situation in Ukraine and the need for food security high on the agenda. “Trying to ensure we get our fair share of water is a real frustration – it all needs sorting out, particularly for growers like is who use all of our licences in a normal year when some people with licences of right don’t.” The business has access to about 250 million gallons of water annual-

Clockwide from top: Grading potatoes, organic radishes, onions and bunched carrots

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APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 35

Profile: James Foskett Farms >> ly. Farming on light land in one of the driest parts of the country means as many as 38 reels can be in action in a dry season, says Mr Foskett. “Without water, we don’t have anything. We are constrantly trying to explain that to the Environment Agency. Some of the land here is so poor you can’t grow cereals without irrigation, let alone vegetables.”

The future All said and done though, Mr Foskett is confident about the future. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to expand – so long as they are sensible, of course. It isn’t just about being good growers, it is about being good at business too.” Collaboration is key. On the sales side, the farm has its own marketing group – East Suffolk Produce – marketing potatoes with other local growers. On the purchasing side, being part of Fram Farmers has benefits too. Being a member gives access to collective deals like fertiliser, other crop inputs and electricity. It has also streamlined of the farm office as well – taking care of the finances that can be done by a third party.

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But at the end of the day, it is all about the people, says Mr Shapland. “Our customers rightly require a high level of service and that’s what we strive to provide. Good food produced by good people. That’s is why the right staff are so important to us. “We want our employees to feel valued. That means they take pride in working here – but also we give them opportunities too. It doesn’t matter

Light soil is ideal for root crops – but has its challenges

where they come from – but it does matter that they are right for us and we are right for them too. “In five years time we will still be here – doing the same thing but more efficiently and productively. “People talk about the need to be sustainable – but we already are. You can’t sustainably grow organic crops year in year out without looking after your soil.”

Potatoes & Root Crops

Potato supplier delivers 5m meals to food banks

otato supplier Albert Bartlett has reached the major milestone of redistributing the equivalent of five million meals through its partnership with FareShare. The company has been providing much needed surplus potatoes to FareShare since 2013, But it ramped up its support significantly last year – sending 1971 tonnes of potatoes and carrots during 2021 alone. Albert Bartlett has worked with FareShare to redistribute potatoes and carrots through the charity’s network of 30 warehouses across the UK – supporting thousands of local charities and community groups, including food banks. Diverting surplus potatoes reduces food waste and meant crops which would otherwise go to animal feed could be used to feed people, explained Albert Bartlett marketing director John Heginbottom. “We approached FareShare with

a proposal and they quickly found a distribution solution to supply their network. We enjoy working with the team at FareShare who are both dynamic and flexible in overcoming supply chain challenges.” More recently, Albert Bartlett has made use of FareShare’s Surplus with Purpose Fund. It helps cover the extra costs to farmers, suppliers and producers of redistributing their good-to-eat surplus food to people, rather than it going to waste. FareShare chief executive Lindsay Boswell said Albert Bartlett had provided the equivalent of 5 million meals to vulnerable people. “Regular access to good quality nutritious food is so important to the charities and community groups we support. “The volumes of potatoes that we have seen in the past year alone, are testament to Albert Bartlett’s commitment to reducing waste, and we thank you for helping FareShare to deliver

our mission to fight hunger and tackle waste.” Established in 1948, Albert Bartlett says consumers throw away 710,000 tonnes of potatoes every year, including the weight of peelings. Stopping this would save the same anmount of greenhouse gas emissions as planting 5.4 million trees.

Albert Bartlett sends surplus potatoes to charity

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Potatoes & Root Crops

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

ew advice for the in-furrow application of Amistar during potato planting will achieve a more complete zone of protection around the mother tuber when using high-speed belt planters. Modern planters are capable of operating faster than traditional cup planters, says Syngenta application specialist Harry Fordham, who gave a special presentation to growers attending this season’s Potato Science Seed & Soil Pathogen webinar. “That could compromise the consistent incorporation of spray in the soil target zone around the mother tuber with the original sprayer set up on the planter, along with potentially resulting in the risk of drift at the higher speed,” he warned. With the essential role of Amistar for control of both black dot and Rhizoctonia pathogens in the soil, Syngenta has spent three years investigating new nozzle technology, water volume use and the set-up of nozzle orientation. The original brass AZ in-furrow nozzle, which is no longer available, had a small orifice producing fine droplets susceptible to drift. Alternatives

include hollow cone technology giving a wide band of application covering more soil faster, with a larger orifice less prone to blockage and drift. Trial results have shown the Lechler TR80 performs consistently well over successive seasons. The setup recommended was with two nozzles, one at the front and a second at the rear of the planter shoe, to spray the soil as it falls back in to cover the planted tuber. With the research repeatedly showing application at 100 l/ha producing the best results for both crop yield and tuber quality, compared to 50 l/ha, the TR80 was operated with an 015 nozzle in both situations.

The Lechler TR80 nozzle performed consistently well

Drift reduction The other promising combination was a set-up instigated in Germany. It uses two Lechler FT90 nozzles, set up to deliver 33% of the spray at the front of the shoe, by fitting at 01 sized nozzle, and 66% at the rear on the closing soil, through an 02 nozzle. “The relatively large nozzle orifice would be unlikely to block,” says Mr Fordham. “More interestingly it is a pre-orifice nozzle design, so offers some Syngenta application specialist Harry Fordham

level of drift reduction and may be a combination to consider, especially with higher speed planters.” Trials undertaken in a Norfolk field selected for the high risk of soil borne black dot saw Amistar reduce the incidence of severe infection on the harvested tubers. Disease control for silver scurf and greater marketable yield also improved from all the Amistar application techniques.

Persistent problem Black dot is extremely persistent in soils, along with some indication that the pathogen is involved with the early die back complex that is being increasingly reported in potato crops. “Microsclerotia of black dot can typically persist in the soil for eight years or more, which means that once established it can usually survive from one potato crop to the next in the rotation,” said Syngenta potato technical manager Michael Tait. “We have seen very good results from Maxim seed tuber treatment, to prevent transfer of seed-borne pathogen onto the daughter tubers. But with this disease now so prevalent in soils, growers and agronomists need to be looking at the combination of both Maxim and Amistar.” A combination of seed and soil borne controls was especially effective in countering Rhizoctonia black scurf – with better results achieved when they were used together as opposed to using either product individually. APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 39

Potatoes & Root Crops

How pest management helps secure future for potatoes • Variety choice can reduce problems • Testing for pest is seen as crucial • Safe and responsible stewardship

proactive approach to pest management is helping Norfolk grower Christian Attew ensure potatoes remain a viable part of his rotation. Almost two thirds of UK land used for growing the crop is infected with potato cyst nematode (PCN). The pest has an estimated damage cost of £50m – and if left unchecked can become more of a problem. Mr Attew grows 260ha of potatoes for processing. A combination of long rotations, testing, variety choice and control with a granular nematicide is reducing the risk of PCN infestations building up in soil, he says. To help prevent the build up of PCN

populations in soil, Mr Attew aims to grow potatoes no more frequently than one in eight years. Rotations include wheat, barley, sugar beet, oilseed rape, carrots and maize. “Rotation is an important tool to help manage PCN and it must be associated with good volunteer potato control to achieve the required results,” he says. Testing to understand the population level of PCN is crucial. “We use a

“

Rotation is an important tool for us

GPS sampling system to test each field in mapped one-hectare blocks and analyse 200g per sample to give more accurate results than the traditional 100g sample.” If low levels of PCN are present, Mr Attew manages this by growing a resistant, and ideally tolerant variety. But when levels are higher – or the variety is intolerant – he combines this approach with use of a granular nematicide in a very targeted way. “The detailed testing allows us to differentiate between parts of a field and to decide whether certain areas of the field will need to be treated differently to others.” he adds.

Granular nematicide. Mr Attew recognises the need to maintain availability of granular nematicides to potato growers long term, and so takes stewardship extremely seriously when applying. To achieve an

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even application, he applies nematicides in a single pass. “The machine shuts off the flow with enough room for all granules to have passed through the system before the row end. This ensures all granules are incorporated into the soil before reaching the headland. “When we apply nematicides, application records are completed in real-time from an iPad in the tractor cab,” he adds. The Red Tractor fresh produce standard includes some preand post-application requirements too.

Stewardship Norfolk potato agronomist Simon Alexander says all operators applying granular nematicides for Red Tractor certified growers must complete an e-learning module on nematicide stewardship before applications. Online training aims to ensure operators are familiar with principles set out by the Nematicide Stewardship Programme for the safe and responsible use of granular nematicides. Nematicide applicators must be professionally calibrated annually so they meet National Sprayer Testing Scheme standards.

In addition, the operator must calibrate daily while the applicator is being used on the farm. “Professional calibration is an opportunity for fine-tuning and ensuring machinery is running exactly as it should,” says Mr Alexander.

Properly connected “Daily calibration includes checking pipework is properly connected, the hopper bungs are in place and the hopper lids are secure,” he says. “There’s a calibration video on the NSP website which demonstrates this.” Grower should walk the field 12-24 hours after the application of a granular nematicide, checking for any adverse effects to wildlife. Growers can record these checks using a form downloaded from the Red Tractor website. This helps show they are being proactive in monitoring for any affects to wildlife. So far, no impacts have been observed. Mr Alexander highlights that granular nematicides are an essential tool in any integrated management strategy to reduce yield losses Using them safely and responsibly will help retain their availability for the future.

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 41

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

he LAMMA Show will celebrate its 40th year as the UK’s leading agricultural machinery event when returns to the Birmingham NEC next month. Originally due to take place in January, the show will take place on 4-5 May after it was rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 700 exhibitors are expected to fill 11 halls at the NEC. “To celebrate this important milestone in LAMMA’s history, we are not only looking at our past, but focusing on the future of our event and the UK farming industry,” says LAMMA event manager Kate Walsh.

New features “We are planning some exciting new features at the show and re-inventing others. LAMMA’s beginnings are deeply rooted in bringing the best of farm machinery innovation under one roof and looking to the future; something we aim to continue for the next 40 years and beyond.” The Farm Safety Zone, sponsored by Safety Revolution, returns to the show for the fourth consecutive year. Key organisations, charities and industry figures will raise awareness on vital aspects of farm safety and how to minimise risk and accidents on farm. The Farming 4.0 Trail is centralised around the theme of “The Future of Agriculture”, highlighting the role data, robotics and other devices will play in achieving Net Zero. Exhibitors already on the 2022 Trail include Airial Robotics, Crop4Sight, Agrifac, Bayer, and more. Look to future Also with an eye on the future, LAMMA has partnered with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers to offer the 2022 Young Engineer Award, celebrating upcoming agricultural engineers. The award winner will be announced at the show. “We are delighted to be part of LAMMA’s celebration of this historic moment,” says Sanjeev Khaira, director of Arc Media, which recently acquired the LAMMA event from previous owners AgriBriefing. The 2022 event is the first LAMMA for two years after the show fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of holding an in-person event, organisers focused on their digital farm machinery platform LAMMA365 instead. The platform brings all facets of farm machinery together in one place. It contains the latest news and industry trends, review comparison tool, independent product reviews, videos, podcasts, webinars and a directory of leading manufacturers and their dealers. For full details, visit www.lammashow.com. 42 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

Thousands of visitors will attend the 40th LAMMA show

ALL ABOUT LAMMA Getting there

Early Bird Breakfast

Parking is free for the event and the NEC is clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes – just put B40 1NT in your sat nav. Once you arrive, don’t follow your satnav, look out for LAMMA on the signs. Once parked up, a free shuttle bus will be waiting for you to take you to the show entrance, or you can walk along the signposted footpaths.

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

Covid measures

CPD Points

The LAMMA event will be held in accordance with the latest government recommendations for COVID-secure trade exhibitions. Organisers say they are working closely with the NEC and the exhibitions industry to ensure the latest advice and best practice is being followed.

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

The event is an opportunity to get up to date with all the latest legislation. Organisers encourage knowledge exchange through professional development. Visitors to LAMMA will be able to collect DairyPro, BASIS, and NRoSO points on both days of the event.

LAMMA 2022

Farming 4.0 Trail showcases our future

new technology feature at LAMMA will showcase the latest technological advances that are helping to reduce input costs and redefine agriculture. Event organisers say the Farming 4.0 Trail will be the go-to feature for attendees who want to discover the next generation of farming technology. It will include robotics, autonomous machines and other innovations. The role of data and advanced devices is becoming more important as the industry strives to be more sustainable, efficient and profitable – particularly as the UK works towards its goal of net zero carbon emissions. With input costs such as energy at an all time high, many exhibitors are focusing on cost-effective ways of running farm businesses. They Crop Systems, which will demonstrate its SmartSola software to visitors. SmartSola monitors the power used to run a grain store,. If that power is available from a renewable source, like solar or wind, it utilises that power in preference to it being exported to the

grind. This maximises the use of cheap renewable energy. The system will work on up to 10 stores on site – prioritising certain stores if necessary. Crop Systems says it puts farmers more in control, reducing running costs and the farm’s carbon footprint. “To help achieve NetZero by 2050, the industry must look at using energy far more efficiently using more sustainable sources while minimising crop deterioration,” says the company. “Automating store monitoring and control systems will play a big role in reducing energy usage.” The Farming 4.0 zone will also cover training and development – especially in the machinery sector where technology is being introduced at a rate few people would have thought possible a few years ago. Organisers say they want to show the varied roles within agriculture to encourage new entrants into the industry. The Farming 4.0 Trail will be accompanied by a series of talks and seminars as well as exhibits.

Technology will a a key focus at LAMMA 2022

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How farm app can save you time and money

farmer who invented an app to reduce paperwork has been nominated for the LAMMA event’s young engineer of the year award. The Ag-drive app replaces time-consuming paperwork with digital timesheets, field mapping, job recording for teams of any size, health and safety checks, and integrations with common accounting software for easy invoicing. Will Dunn devised the app during the coronavirus lockdown. Launched last summer, the latest version is now even easier to use thanks to a significant number of updates to the desktop dashboard and app in response to user feedback. “We knew that there were parts of the app that could work better, but we needed to hear from our customers to ensure we made the right changes to meet the needs of their businesses,” says Mr Dunn. The most significant change has re-

moved the need for users to enter their credit card details to start a 14-day free trial. This makes it easier for farmers to see how much time they can save by before committing themselves. After the free trial ends, users can choose one of four pricing plans depending on the size of their team. Plans start from £10 per month. The screens on desktop and app versions have also been re-designed to make them simpler and faster to use. Bulk actions can now be processed, saving farmers and contractors even more time, says Mr Dunn.

Bulk imports Other changes make it easier to manage customer information and invoicing. Users can add customers without having to specify an email address and the platform supports bulk imports of customer data to save time when setting up accounts. “As contractors and farmers, we

knew there was a better way than operators manually completing timesheets, and then trawling through paperwork to send invoices to our customers,” says Mr Dunn. “With Ag-drive we’re taking the pain and hassle away from running a busy contracting or farming business, by putting everything on your phone, on a cloud based system.” The platform connects with accounting software QuickBooks and Xero for invoicing and record keeping.

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LAMMA 2022

Can-Am helps drive off-road revolution at LAMMA

wo new off-road Can-Am machines will be showcased at LAMMA – the Traxter HD7 and Traxter HD9. The company says its off-road lineup continues to prioritise users – and has been designed to handle the job demands of utility riders as well as the challenging conditions faced by farmers on a daily basis. The HD7 is a work-ready vehicle that provides the user with consistent performance. With the help of the new HD7 Rotax engine, the vehicle has been optimised for off-road use and produces 37% more power than the HD5 engine it replaces. The Can-Am Traxter HD9 offers class-leading power and lowend torque through the new Rotax HD9 engine – so travelling up steep

slopes or towing and carrying cargo on the flat is more efficient. Other vehicles on show include some of Can-Am’s most popular models. The price competitive Can-Am Outlander 450 boasts class-leading performance, no matter the rigours of the situation it faces, says the company. The Can-Am Outlander 570 XU combines controlled handling, power and performance, enabling the user to travel across multiple terrains with ease. A selection of Can-Am Traxter SSVs will also be on the company’s LAMMA stand. To support the vehicles, the CanAm off-road team will be on hand to highlight Digitally Encoded Security System key, which restricts access to the bike’s electronic ignition system BRP commercial manager James

Dalke said: “We are excited to physically be back at LAMMA to showcase the latest additions to our growing off-road line-up to an engaged and interested audience who use ATVs and SSVs on a daily basis.” He added: “We also see this show as a great platform from which to promote and highlight the importance of rider safety to visitors and as part of this we will be hosting the Farm Safety Foundation on our stand.”

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

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

heep farmers are being reminded to prioritise ewe nutrition before lambing to optimise productivity and reduce losses. SAC Consulting held three webinars in the run-up to the lambing season. They included advice from farmers, sheep specialists and vets on ways to maximise lamb crops in indoor and outdoor systems. The Lamb Crop 2022 webinars examined the importance of regularly condition scoring ewes to gauge nutrition levels – and analysing forage to understand how supplementary feeding can meet energy shortfalls.

Condition scoring Nutrition can make the greatest contribution to lambing success, says heep specialist Poppy Frater. “Fat reserves on the ewe are indicative of her health and have been shown to influence rearing success,” she explains. Farmers are encouraged to assess flock conditions frequently to build confidence in a scale from 1 to 5 that suits their flock. At lambing, the target condition score is 3 for lowland flocks, 2.5 for upland flocks and 2 for hill flocks. Ewes below a condition score of 2 at weaning tend to have lower scanning percentages. As the same time, farmers lambing outdoors should wean earlier – to ensure ewes achieve a better condition score before the winter. Rising feed and fertiliser costs mean basing

more nutrition around grass could be where the future lies in sheep farming, says Ms Frater. But it is important to rest grass through the winter to ensure spring grass yield. Resting lambing paddocks can be achieved by using rotational grazing, feeding silage or hay, and grazing on forage crops. But remember that a week-long transition period can help ewes adapt to different forages. Energy buckets and licks can be useful – especially in the hill situations – but they are designed to complement grass, not replace it, says Ms Frater. Energy buckets often only provide 1-2MJ of energy and a 60kg ewe requires 16MJ of energy pre lambing. They supplement grass and help act as a bit of insurance but Ms Frater says they are an expensive and challenging way to meet the majority of energy requirements.

Energy shortfall “It is important to understand the quality of your silage as this will influence how much energy you get from silage, and you can be more strategic in understanding what concentrate is required to meet that energy shortfall.” Supplementary concentrates can help mitigate any negative impact on rumen pH. But again they should be introduced slowly, starting with no more than 0.25kg and increasing by 50-100g per day.

Split feeds are better for bigger amounts Farmers who need to feed more than 0.45kg per ewe daily should split the supplement into two feeds, says sheep specialist Poppy Frater (above). “When feeding straights, things like barley fed whole, avoid excessive processing, and provide adequate feed space,” she says. Greedy ewes can often eat feed allocated to shy feeders and be susceptible to twin lamb disease as a result. “Space requirements are also important to minimise stress in the ewe which then has an impact on how easily she lambs and the lamb vigour,” The same logic should be applied to ring feeders. Ms Frater recommends that 24 ewes should be allocated per feeder to meet their energy requirements.

False economies Producers looking to save money on supplementary feeding she said to be wary of false economies. Cheaper concentrates may be poorer quality – requiring more feeding to provide adequate energy, which is not rumen friendly. “In addition to the protein content (target 18% crude protein) ask for the metabolisable energy content when comparing feeds and watch for high inclusion of poor-quality ingredients such as oatfeed, palm kernel and rapeseed meal.” Good flock management reduces losses at lambing APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 49

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

new training platform aims to make it easier for pig producers to maintain high levels of on-farm animal welfare. The first module of the UK Pig Industry Welfare Training platform focuses on pig movement and handling. Everyone involved in on-farm pig production must complete the training by 31 August as part of Red Tractor standards. Red Tractor technical manager Georgina McDowell said: “Having a professional workforce across UK farms underpins everything that we stand for. Ultimately this training is about reassuring consumers that Red Tractor pork has been farmed with care.” Ms McDowell added: “We have long required producers to maintain training records, but this platform represents a step forward in terms of providing a unified and consistent standard of pig care across the industry.”

Easy to use The module takes 90 minutes to complete, although delegates can pause and save their progress as they go along. A certificate issued after training is completed can be saved for Red Tractor audits and on PigPro, the industry’s online training record. Pig producer Rob Beckett helped test the training module with his farm staff before it was launched. It was simple to complete and served as a useful reminder of the right way to do things – with positive feedback from stockpeople, he said. “Every one of them admitted they have learnt something – including a couple who had more than 25 years experience in the industry. They all said that the software was straightforward to navigate and laid out in a simple format.” National Pig Association chief executive Zoe Davies said the training course would encourage consumer confidence in British pork. “This is a critical part of demonstrating that the

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

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

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

welfare remained a priority. Society president Jim Morris said: “We welcome the launch of this module as yet another way of demonstrably raising the already high welfare standards on British pig farms.” AHDB head of pork knowledge exchange Jen Waters said the training platform was a big step in ensuring good animal welfare. She added: “We hope that producers, as well as consumers, will find its presence reassuring.”

How to complete the pig course The course is free for the first 8,000 people who register within the next six months – saving the £10 annual fee to complete the training. Course content aims to ensure a consistent and high level of welfare across the pig industry. The training acts as a refresher for experienced pig handlers as well as a way of improving the skills of new entrants. The online training was developed by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board

in collaboration with Red Tractor, the National Pig Association, the Pig Veterinary Society, and the Pig Health and Welfare Council. The course and website development costs have been funded by the AHDB levy. The moving and handling course is the first module to be released on the platform, with further subjects likely to be released over future years. Full details can be found by visiting www. ahdbpork.vbms.co.uk/store

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 51

Pig & Poultry

Needle reuse challenge for piglet welfare

epeatedly using the same needle to inject piglets could lead to increased pain – posing an animal welfare problem, says a study. Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College say the findings support accepted recommendations that needles should be changed between litters of 12 piglets. Most indoor born piglets require an iron injection in the first few days following birth to prevent anaemia or iron deficiency which can reduce growth rates and increase disease susceptibility and mortality. Although the reuse of needles between animals is common in livestock farming, the force needed to administer the injection increases each time the same needle is used and may cause pain and distress for the piglet. Researchers led by undergraduate veterinary student Kathryn Owen examined the force required to puncture the skin of a piglet cadaver for the first

time, 12th time, 36th time and 100th time – mimicking the reuse of needles. Needles were then examined using a microscope to assess the damage caused by repeat usage. Puncture forces increased after 36 uses and the electron microscopy imaging showed visible damage to the needle tip after only 12 uses.

Iron injection The researchers also sent a survey to a sample of UK pig farmers asking about their iron injection practices. From the 31 responses, some 81% of farms reported needle reuse. Of these, only 39% changed the needle between litters or earlier if damaged, and 23% changed the needle when it felt blunt or damaged, after each injection session or when changing the bottle of iron solution. Ms Owen said the findings would help to inform the advice veterinarians give to clients and their own prac-

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

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Sector challenges in the spotlight at Pig and Poultry event

inal preparations are being made for next month’s British Pig & Poultry Fair, which takes place on 10-11 May at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. Held in partnership with ABN, the two-day event is being billed as a long-awaited chance for pig, poultry and egg producers to get together and discuss challenges and opportunities following the Covid pandemic. “It’s important for people to attend, because we haven’t seen each other in person or been together as an industry for so long,” said ABN general manager Danny Johnson. “Coming together is always important, but this year even more so.”

Fresh thinking The fair seeks to address key difficulties across the sectors and encourage fresh thinking and inspiring discussion. It includes talks with top industry speakers over both days. In the pig forum, speakers will be examining labour shortages and rising costs as well as the impact of having more pigs than planned on farm. The poultry sector has seen difficulties too – including repeated outbreaks of avian influenza. Mr Johnson said: “This has been an incredibly difficult year. Attending the forums and understanding what learnings can be taken from the past 12 months might help us to plan our way back to a sustainable supply chain for the future.” For many producers, the current challenges facing the industry have only exacerbated feelings of isolation caused by Covid, said National Pig As-

sociation chairman Rob Mutimer, who farms 750 outdoor sows in Norfolk. “Mental health is a key issue for farming and recently it has become even more isolating. Being stuck at the end of a farm drive is a lonely place to be. The fair is a chance to see people and talk to them – I think it is really important everyone attends.”

Egg producers Demand for eggs soared during Covid, which boosted prices. But it has since waned, leaving producers facing a double whammy of low prices and an oversupplied market, according to the the British Free Range Egg Producers Association. But there is some positive news. BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch said: “The number of members with feed tracker or fixed price contracts has grown from 0% to 30% and we want to see that rise further – it’s a solution we’re working on.” NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee

“

It’s really important everyone attends

Thousands of producers are expected to visit the event

Mahony said: “We are facing some big challenges like avian influenza and labour shortages. Being able to exchange ideas and listen to viewpoints from people representing different parts of the supply chain is important.” In the broiler sector, consumer demand for chicken remains strong but it is changing. Chicken remains the nation’s number one choice of meat but customers increasingly want higher welfare, slower grown birds reared at lower stocking rates “That is a challenge, but businesses are looking at ways to offer consumers a choice, rather than a full switch for the whole sector,” said Ms Mahony. Many producers are continue to look to maximise efficiency and productivity in a changing environment. Seminars will also focus on driving sustainable performance as the industry works towards net zero targets. For full details avbout the event, visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk.

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www.peckandfeather.com APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 53

Pig & Poultry

Ramp up biosecurity, producers urged

he UK’s largest ever bird flu outbreak has prompted reminders that simple biosecurity measures can sometimes reduce the risk of flocks being affected. Farmers across the country have already culled some 500,0000 infected birds due to the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza. An Avian Influenza Protection Zone has seen all captive birds kept indoors since 3 November 2021. Limiting the number of people and vehicles visiting farms is the best way to prevent the virus, says Andrew Mann, general manager of EG Agri, parent company of pig and poultry suppliers All Agri. Farmers should take extra precautions such as using clean footwear before and after visits. Similarly, the correct PPE should be worn around birds. Mr Mann said farmers should wear disposable or polycotton coveralls with head coverage of CE type 5

and 6. “We’ve seen the widespread impact that bird flu is having, and farmers need to act fast to put protection methods in place.” Gloves should be made of lightweight nitrile or vinyl, or heavy duty rubber (not latex) that can be disinfected after use. Waterproof rubber or polyurethane boots that can be cleaned or disinfected are also advised.

Disinfectant Rodent control is also key – as is good sanitisation and restricting access for wild birds. To control rats and mice, a Defra-approved disinfectant should be used at entrances and exits. For extra peace of mind, phenol-based disinfectants such as Hysolv Interkokask are recommended by the British Egg Industry Council. “Bird flu is at a phenomenal level and if allowed to spread it will undoubtedly cause long-standing

implications for farmers, humans, animals and trade, said Mr Mann. But with some relatively easy and cost-effective measures, the disease risk can be greatly reduced.

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Pig & Poultry

An opportunity New scientific data on for top pig broiler application finishers to increase their returns

oultry performance can be improved by using live yeast probiotics and a bacterial litter conditioner to boost gut and litter quality, suggests new research. The use of live yeast has improved the performance of broiler chickens in several environments, says Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Yeast derivatives and litter conditioners have complementary effects on microbial ecosystems, it adds. Analysis of results reveal consistently better growth performance and a 3.5% mortality with the probiotic live yeast supplement against 4.3% for control groups. Benefits were even more pronounced under challenging conditions. Litter management in broiler production directly affects animal well-being, especially foot health, and air quality, notably building ammonia levels. The use of a bacterial litter conditioner helps maintain good microbial bal-

ance and litter quality. Better litter quality also improved bird performance. Moreover, foot health was also improved with fewer birds exhibiting signs of footpad dermatitis. Birds with footpad dermatitis had less severe damage in the inoculated pens. The study was conducted by two research teams at the universities of Thessaloniki and Ioannina to evaluate the combined effects of a multi-strain yeast fraction product and the coccidiostat salinomycin on the performance and health of broiler chickens. Compared to controls, the combined supplementation was the only treatment that showed significantly improved (P<0.05) bodyweight of chicken at days 21 and 26 of age and lower (P<0.05) feed conversion rate. The combined treatment, as compared to the coccidiostat alone, showed a lower lesion score at day 21 and significantly lower coccidia contamina-

Rattlerow Farms is looking for exceptional contract finishers to grow breeding stock tion of the different gut compartments (duodenum, ileum, and ceca). The authors concluded that a multi-strain yeast fraction product could be used in combination with a traditional coccidiostat to reduce the negative effects of an Eimeria challenge and preserve broiler growth performance.

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Pig & Poultry

RSPCA welcomes plan for better animal welfare

Enriched environments can improve bird welfare

new scheme which will see farmers paid to improve animal welfare has been welcomed by the RSPCA. Details of payments which will be made under the forthcoming Animal Health and Welfare Pathway were announced by Defra secretary George Eustice at NFU’s annual conference in February. The scheme includes some key areas which the RSPCA has been campaigning on – such as calling for all hens to be cage free, ending farrowing crates for pigs and encouraging farmers to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment to improve poultry welfare. RSPCA head of farm animals Marc Cooper said: “This is a groundbreaking moment for improving the welfare of billions of farm animals and a key step in our ambitious goal for seeing at least half of all farm animals reared to RSPCA welfare standards by 2030.” Mr Cooper added: “These payments will enable farmers to replace cruel cages for hens with cage-free systems, rear chickens that have better health and welfare and end routine tail docking in pigs.”

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The scheme would help pig and poultry producers meet consumer expectations that meat is welfare-friendly, suggested Mr Cooper. To make it easier for farmers to improve animal welfare, incentives will be given for a range of areas. They include: • Implementing the Better Chicken Commitment which requires slowergrowing breeds of meat chickens, lower stocking densities and restrictions on thinning birds • Shifting away from enriched cage use • Moving away from farrowing crates for pigs • Providing environmental enrichment to reduce tail-biting in pigs Mr Cooper added: “These are key areas that we want to see improved and have been calling on Defra to include as part of their incentives to farmers for four years. We’re really pleased to see this becoming a reality now.” As part of the pathway plan, the government will also fund an annual visit from a vet for cattle, sheep and pig farmers. Producers will be advised on ways to improve the health and welfare of their livestock.

Free toolkit to help combat porcine virus A free package has been launched to help pig producers identify and tackle porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Developed by MSD Animal Health UK, the toolkit gives farmerss the opportunity to receive robust data detailing the PRRS status of their herd – with advice on controlling and preventing the disease. MSD Animal Health technical manager Ruben Del Pozo Sacristan said PRRS virus was endemic in the UK. Many farms were likely to fall victim to the virus at some point, he said. “To control and prevent this disease, we need to ensure an awareness of the PRRS status of a herd is known and understood – hence the reason for creating PRRS Check.” The initiative will see producers work with vets to collect blood and saliva samples from their herd. They will note any clinical symptoms displayed in the pigs – and any vaccination programmes undertaken.

Samples will then be analysed in a laboratory after which technicians will provide an extensive report detailing the PRRS status of the herd. Appropriate and tailored advice will then be given to each individual farm to help control the disease. The toolkit is available to all UK pig farms with at least 250 sows, 2,500 piglets or 1,700 finishers. For full details, visit www. bit.ly/PRRScheck.

Vet consultant joins team at Poultry Sense Technology company Poultry Sense has appointed Michael McCreesh as a veterinary consultant to support the on-farm rollout of the poultry management software system. Mr McCreesh joins the business after 20 years in the poultry sector. He was previously a mixed animal vet working for MSD Animal Health in Northern Ireland.

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Pig & Poultry

Tests to tackle post-weaning diarrhoea

nimal health company Elanco is offering pig producers free diagnostic testing to identify the pathogens and strains that can cause post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). Some 54% of farms in the UK have PWD and explains Elanco swine sales lead Jack Fellows. And the F4 and F18 strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) are responsible for 50-80% of cases, he says. “Other strains of E. coli can be responsible for PWD,” says Mr Fellows. “Pathogens such as rotavirus, campylobacter and cryptosporidium can also play a role – especially if gut integrity is already compromised by ETEC infection.”

Managing disease Despite zinc oxide continuing to be available in the short-term, Mr Fellows says producers should start thinking ahead because it won’t be around forever. Farmers should begin integrating new tools to manage the disease now, he adds. “Knowing exactly what you are dealing with by identifying the likely causative agents on-farm, is important to develop an effective prevention programme. In the absence of zinc, which has served as a silver bullet, multiple measures will be needed.” For many herds, available options include vaccination with Coliprotec, an in-water oral vaccine. Piglets can

be vaccinated from 18 days of age with onset of immunity within seven days, providing early protection against the disease.

Good investment “Vaccination offers a good return on investment, particularly when used in tandem with other measures such as good hygiene and nutri-

tion,” says Mr Fellows. It helps reduce the need for zinc or antibiotics, while contributing to overall health. A growing number of herds integrating the vaccine into their PWD prevention protocols, adds Mr Fellows. To determine the suitability of vaccination, producers can access Elanco’s free diagnostic test via their vet practice. “Request a test at the first onset of PWD, which typically occurs in the first three weeks after weaning. If you have a positive test for the F4 or F18 strain of E. coli, it’s likely this will remain or increase in future batches of piglets.”

Tracy Charlton named Ruskington site director

ilgrim’s UK has appointed Tracy Charlton (right) to the role of site director at its Ruskington processing facility near Sleaford, Lincolnshire Ms Charlton joined Pilgrim’s UK in 2018 from Kerry Ingredients where her roles included commercial accountant, plant controller and UK financial controller. At Pilgrim’s UK, she was financial controller for the company’s fresh division. She said: “I am a big believer in creating the right culture and environment to allow people to thrive in their roles. I will ensure these foundations are in place to allow the site to go from strength to strength.” 60 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

Ms Charlton took up the role last month, having previously worked as head of retail finance within the business. She will report into retail packing managing directors Neil Houston and Ian Bagnall. Commenting on the appointment, Mr Bagnall said: “Tracy has demonstrated a deep understanding of the financial, operational and commercial disciplines within the business units and wider business. “She lives and breathes our organisational values and will be a great role model and leader for the Ruskington team, and I have no doubt that she will help them to realise their full potential.”

Vaccination offers a good return on investment Left: Jack Fellows: herd health

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Professional services Beware of potential pitfalls when selling farm carbon • Make sure carbon is yours to sell • Assess greenhouse gas emissions • Be aware of the potential pitfalls

armers considering selling their carbon credits should take steps to fully understand their own greenhouse gas emissions first, say experts. “Carbon has become a major talking point for UK farmers and landowners – but most of the talk is about how to monetise it and not enough is about how to go about working towards net zero,” says Jonathan Armitage, head of farming at Strutt & Parker. “One of the questions I am asked most frequently by farmers is how they can sell their soil carbon. However, from our conversations it is clear that many people are operating with limited information.” Many farmers hadn’t worked out whether they actually have any surplus carbon to sell, said Mr Armitage. Nor did they know the difference between the voluntary carbon market and the compliance carbon market.

Informed decisions “Understanding the basics is important to make informed decisions,” said Mr Armitage. “Selling carbon may be an opportunity to generate a new income stream, but there are also potential pitfalls making it an area that requires careful navigation.” Strutt & Parker has produced a short guide to help farmers understand more about how carbon credits markets work and highlighting some of the wider considerations worth bearing in mind. It says farmers thinking about selling carbon should first understand how much carbon their land can sequester, how much carbon they are emitting as a business and whether there is any surplus that can be sold to third parties. People need more information, says Jonathan Armitage

“It’s about minimising the risk of unintended consequences further down the line, which might arise if a business is unable to demonstrate its own low-carbon credentials,” says Mr Armitage.

Hard to oﬀset “If a farmer has sold all the carbon their land can sequester to third parties, they could find themselves in a position where they cannot easily offset their own emissions, which might prove costly if carbon offsets are made a requirement for land-based businesses.” Looking into the future, Mr Armitage says it seems inevitable that supermarkets and food processors will want their own supply chains to be low carbon. This means a farmer who has sold all their carbon credits will find it hard to offset their own emissions. Establishing baselines now by measuring activities and verifying soil carbon levels will her farmers to make informed decisions, says Mr Armitage. It might also prove important in the future to be able to demonstrate the impact of any positive actions taken now.

Farmers should fully understand their own greenhouse gas emissions

What to consider before selling carbon credits 1. Ensure the scheme is bone fide There are currently only a small number of acknowledged international standards for verification. Buyers will want to rely on a trusted and rigorous process. Make sure the scheme you are considering is genuine. 2. Have a contingency plan Contracts between buyers and sellers of carbon can be as long as 30 years. A seller could have to provide the same amount of carbon sequestration for the duration of the contract. Consider how you will do this if things go wrong. 3. Protect your reputation by knowing your buyer Accusations of greenwashing can happen when buyers offset their carbon without taking other steps to reduce their unsustainable emissions of greenhouse gases. This means they remain major polluters. To avoid this, knowing your buyer is key. 4. Understand the implications of carbon trading These include considering the consequences for farming economics, interactions with other environmental schemes, effect on the capital value of land and property, tax issues, land tenure issues and the consequences of any land use change. 5. Investigate alternatives Delivering other ecosystem services might be more lucrative and less onerous. Big companies are increasingly willing to work with landowners on environmental projects, for example, if it helps meet their environmental social governance objectives. Source: Strutt & Parker

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 63

Professional services

Farm consultants pledge £50,000 to help Ukrainian refugees

Farming friends Brown&Co managing partner Charles ds.qxp_Layout 1 16/05/2019 Page 16 Whitaker said: “We09:06 as a partnership have been deeply concerned about the unfolding horror on our doorstep in Ukraine – we have Ukrainian

Grand Warszawski / Shutterstock.com

astern region farm business consultancy Brown&Co has donated £50,000 to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict caused by the Russian invasion. The company – which has had an office in Poland since 1998 – has undertaken an extensive amount of work work for a number of large farming businesses in Ukraine and the wider region over the past 25 years. It made the donation as it pledged to help find jobs and accommodation within the UK for up to 100 Ukrainian nationals who want to live and work in this country – if permitted to do so by the British government. friends and colleagues who live and work there.” Mr Whitaker said he felt compelled to act after watching the disaster unfold. He said he had received calls from farming friends in Ukraine who were

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worried for the safety of both their staff and families. “We feel we should be doing something significant to help,” he said. “This is a country not so different from ours and people who thought they

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wanted a future like us. They are being driven over, bombed and shot by a Russian regime that clearly threatens all of us in the West – they just happen to be in the way on the front line.” More than three million Ukrainians have fled the country and the number continues to rise. Mr Whitaker added: “We feel we should be doing our bit and shouting about it to encourage others to do so too.” The Brown & Co donation will go to the NGO Polish Humanitarian Action fund, which is working with Ukrainian refugees arriving in Poland. To donate money to charities working with Ukrianian refugees, please visit www.dec.org.uk. Charles Whitaker: country like ours

Survey reveals rural men ‘least likely to seek support’ Men in rural communities are less likely to seek support when they are struggling with their mental wellbeing, reveals a survey. Only 43% of rural men will talk to somebody or reach out for support when they have difficulties, found the study by the Samaritans. It compares to 60% of rural women who will seek help and 51% of men in urban areas. The charity has launched a new phase of its Real People, Real Stories campaign, supported by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, which aims to help men who are struggling from reaching crisis point.

Rural occupations Men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide than women, says the Samaritans Evidence also suggests suicide rates are higher in rural occupations, including agriculture. Two thirds of rural men said a variety of factors stopped them seeking support. They included stigma around mental health (18%), not knowing who to turn to (15%) and lack of awareness of available support (15%) The Samaritans can be contacted – day or night, 365 days a year – by calling free on 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org, or visiting samaritans.org.

Biodiversity net gain – what do farmers need to know? Alex Bragg from Savills looks at how land managers can benefit from proposed changes to the planning system We have known about the concept of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for several years. Very simply it means that developers will have to generate an environmental ‘uplift’ on all their housing schemes – either through on site or off site habitat creation or by purchasing statutory units from third parties. For rural land managers the emergence of an off-site biodiversity market offers an opportunity to monetise habitat creation. A recent government consultation sets out these plans in greater detail. While still subject to change, below is some of the key information:

1. Although it appears on-site biodiversity uplift will be promoted ahead of off-site habitat creation, a market assessment by environmental consultancy firm Eftec suggests that for 50 per cent of developers this will not be viable.

2. Biodiversity Gain Plans will contain details of how developers intend to meet BNG obligations and will be submitted and approved before development starts.

3. In order to count towards a development’s net gain requirement, off-site biodiversity gains will need to be secured through either a conservation covenant or a planning obligation. Offsite biodiversity units are legally required to be managed for at least 30 years.

4. Off-site biodiversity gain will not need to be completed before the BNG units are sold. However, off-site works must commence as soon as is feasible, and no more than 12 months after the BNG condition is discharged. Habitat created or enhanced after 30 January 2020 is eligible for the registration and sale of biodiversity units.

5. There will be a publicly available BNG site register published online. It will be a legal requirement to list all off-site biodiversity units allocated to a development.

6. The government is intending that brokerage of off-site agreements will be left to the private market or third parties, and that the pricing of units will be agreed between buyers and sellers. Current prices vary from £10,000 to £40,000 per unit.

7. The intention is that land managers should be able to

Helping young farmers build future skills A new guide is providing young farmers with career and business planning advice as direct payments are phased out over the coming years. The guide includes ways farms can adopt practices such as conservation agriculture, integrated pest management and agroforestry. It was developed by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs. GWCT head of training and partnerships Joe Stanley said: “We hope this guide helps young farmers identify the skills they may need, information to help progress their career or land management plans and provide training options.” For details, visit www.nfyfc.org.uk/fitforfuture

combine payments for biodiversity units with other payments for environmental services (for example nature-based carbon and nutrient mitigation) from the same parcel of land, provided they are paying for distinct, additional outcomes.

8. Planning authorities will set specific monitoring requirements for off-site habitat enhancements as part of their planning conditions. It will be the landowner’s or developer’s responsibility to ensure these are fulfilled. Alex Bragg Savills Cambridge abragg@savills.com 01223 347206

APRIL 2022 • ANGLIA FARMER 65

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

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

ecent years have seen much debate about the pros and cons of growing sugar beet. And with wheat prices nudging £300/t, many growers will be wondering whether there is still a place for beet in their rotation. Beet prices have always been an emotive factor. But growers have other challenges too – including virus yellows. The disease can have a devastating impact on beet yields – as many farmers know to their cost. The threat of virus yellows is deemed so bad this spring that Defra has approved the emergency use of neonicotinoid seed treatments – a decision which acknowledges that the beet area is in long term decline, particularly after the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The threat of virus yellows will have growers hoping to avoid a repeat of the 25% crop loss suffered in 2020. Beet is susceptible for the first 12-16 weeks and alternatives to neonicotinoids are less effective and offer shorter

66 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2022

protection. Natural predators do not control aphids quickly enough either – particularly in a high virus year. Environmentalists are dismayed by Defra’s decision to allow neonicotinoids But beet is harvested before flowering, so the treatment represents only a small risk to bee safety. From a grower’s point of view – and having once supplied British Sugar with 4000 tonnes of beet on contract for a number of years, I find myself unsympathetic to British Sugar’s plight. It is a company which remains highly profitable.

Maths won the day Beet once paid £38/tonne – making it the bread and butter of many farm incomes. We stopped growing the crop after the price dropped to £19/tonne. It would be hard to justify growing it again, including at this season’s guaranteed £27/tonne. In the end, maths won the day. Oilseed rape at the time was averaging about £400. Today, it is even higher. I don’t regret quitting beet – despite all the changes British Sugar says it has made to improve its relationship with growers. When loading my own beet – and employing extra staff to pick off clods on the cleaner loader – I found my dirt tare spirally upwards and my beet returns tumbling. British

Sugar says the situation has improved. Maybe it has – but farmers have long memories. Even now, the advantage always seems to be with British Sugar – despite the best effots of NFU Sugar, which represents growers. How many years did I straw up a harvested crop for winter only to have a load rejected because I missed one mouldy beet?

Little help These days, with British Sugar renting land and growing its own beet how many heaps do they cover up? Not many I know of. And how many loads of their own beet do they reject for frozen beet? Very few, if any at all. It’s probably true that fieldsmen are more helpful to growers’ needs. But back in the day they were frequently unable to alter transport permits and would extend factory opening times well into March while expecting beet to still be in good condition. Some farmers still favour the crop – and it is clear that it works for them. They are usually those who can consistently achieve high yields on good soil close to factories. But for others is becoming more challenging. Even with this season’s price increase beet, beet will be marginal for some. With input costs on the up – and higher prices available for other crops – it is going to be a very interesting growing season indeed.

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