Anglia Farmer June 2021

June 2021

Anglia

Farmer

Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 35 years

Groundswell: Fifth anniversary for regeneration agriculture event

News Defra wants to pay farmers to retire

Harvest Preview Safety campaign targets farmers

Livestock Concern over animal welfare plan

Arable ‘Cleanest’ wheat cuts input costs

Sugar Beet Get the most from new varieties

Fen Tiger Farm agreements are too complicated

Driverless tractor: Robotic weeder goes to work on Suffolk farm

Tel: 01480 495956 www.flr-cropdrying.com

Anglia Farmer

OPINION Johann Tasker

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

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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.

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Retirement scheme is no answer to age-old problem

L

ong-awaited government plans to help farmers retire with dignity will be welcomed by some producers – but many people will feel they fall short.

Published last month, the proposals will offer farmers 2.35 times their annual basic payment to leave the industry – up to a maximum of £100,000. But few producers will receive anything like that amount.

In fact, many people taking up the offer will receive less than half the headline figure. That’s because the average basic payment is little more than £20,000. As one farmer said, it’s enough to buy a decent caravan, but nothing like a house.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage the next generation into agriculture. Younger farmers are more innovative and more productive, says the government. The basic payment will be phased out by 2028.

The Tenant Farmers Association points out that the proposals are a watered down version of the government’s original plan. When the reitirement scheme was first mooted three years ago, it was to be one of a package of measures

Contents

to revitalise farming. That said, the TFA acknowledges that even on its own it could be a catalyst for change – especially when combined with a “surrender payment” from a landlord to a farmer willing to relinquish a tenancy. Even so, the TFA says it needs to see full details.

Why? Well, a retirement scheme is only half the equation. We also need a scheme to encourage the next generation into agriculture.

Younger farmers – especially new entrants – tend to have less capital and can be easily outbid for tenancies by established farmers.

What is needed is a properly thought through career structure for the industry. One that is balanced and benefits those seeking to carve a future in farming – as well as helping those who want to take a back seat.

Unless such a structure is forthcoming, it is hard to see how an exit scheme alone will encourage the widespread generational change within the industry that the government is so keen to achieve.

Johann Tasker, Editor

Vol 41 • No 6 • June 2021

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

Profile: Norfolk Wagyu Beef . .................... 59

Arable . ................................................................. 8

Groundswell preview ................................. 63

Profile: TC Shaw & Sons ...............................31

Machinery........................................................ 69

Harvest preview . ........................................... 35

Property............................................................ 72

Sugar beet .........................................................49

Final Say............................................................ 74

Livestock........................................................... 57

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News Retirement scheme for farmers – good for some but not others •

•

•

Lump sum offered to quit farming Scheme is aimed at older farmers More needed to woo new entrants

A

long-awaited government scheme to encourage older farmers to leave the industry could be attractive for some producers, say industry leaders.

But it will not be the answer for everyone – and more details are needed about how the scheme will work.

Younger farmers say it is only half the equation – and new entrants must be encouraged into agriculture.

The proposals will see older farmers offered a lump sum payment to help them retire or leave the industry in managed way. The lump sum would be about 2.35 times the recipient’s existing annual basic payment – up to a maximum of £100,000.

“

We need to help an older generation retire with dignity

Defra secretary George Eustice said: “We need to address the twin challenges of helping new entrants fulfil their dream and gain access to land, while also helping an older generation retire with dignity.”

The exit scheme would offer farmers wanting to leave the industry a real incentive to confront what was often a difficult decision, said Mr Eustice. It would help them them clear bills and settle debts, he added.

Opportunities By renting out their farm or surrendering their tenancy, those exiting the industry would create opportunities for the next generation of farmers. Government plans to encourage this will 4 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

be published later this year.

The Tenant Farmers Association said farmers who might find the scheme attractive included smaller owner occupiers who were reaching the end of their career without successors. They could can retain ownership of their land but rent it out.

Tenant farmers in a position to discuss tenancy surrender and a compensation package with their landlords could also benefit. So too could tenants with suitable successors waiting in the wings to take over their farms.

TFA chief executive George Dunn, said: “As part of a portfolio, which might include a surrender payment from a landlord for a secure tenancy, sale of livestock and equipment and other pension provision, it could be a very useful catalyst.”

Generational change The scheme seeks to offer a fairer system for farmers, encouraging generational change by providing more flexibility for new entrants to start up their farm businesses and supporting those ready to leave the sector to do so on their own terms.

But Country Land and Business Association president Mark Bridgeman said: “The consultation does give much-needed information on the exit scheme. But for those considering the scheme, there are still many questions to be answered.

“The scheme will not be for everyone, but if the scheme is to contribute to industry restructuring and create op-

George Eustice says he wants a younger and more vibrant agricultural industry

portunities for new entrants and those wishing to expand, there are some critical issues to be addressed.”

These included clarity on tax treatment of lump sums payments, and the eligibility and exit conditions. “The biggest challenge is the timing, and there can be no further delays in launching the scheme later this year.”

How to have your say A government consultation on the new scheme is open for 12 weeks. It is seeking responses from farmers on two key areas:

Lump sum exit scheme The government proposes to offer farmers, who would like to retire or leave the industry, a lump sum payment to help them do this in a planned and managed way.

Delinked payments The government plans to phase out direct payments over seven years. The consultation

includes plans to separate payments from the amount of land farmed from 2024.

The government says it will also encourage farmers to take up the forthcoming environmental land management schemes.

Due to be fully launched in 2024, they will reward sustainable food production and environmental work.

The consultation will close for responses on 11 August 2021. For full details and to respond, pleasevisit www.bit.ly/defrascheme

ADVERTORIAL

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harvest dates. Regardless of your approach, it is important to consider variety suitability for different drilling timings.

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There are some significant risks to consider with early drilling such as less effective grass weed control, increased disease and lodging risk and potential for BYDV infection. Equally, there are challenges with late drilling, such as poor seed beds, challenges with getting the right weather window and poor establishment.

Arguably, the most critical factor determining a varieties suitability for different drill timings is speed of development and growth habit. For early drilling, varieties that have slow over-winter development with a prostrate habit are a better option. This helps minimise risk of

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damage from late frosts in spring and also reduces the risk of lodging. GRAHAM is an excellent example, which will be relatively late to initiate stem extension.

and Yellow rust. GRAHAM has an attractive combination of untreated yield and robust disease resistance helping protect consistently high yields when drilled early.

If delayed drilling is adopted, we are looking for quicker development both above and below ground which is where a variety like SY INSITOR fits well. Also, GLEAM has a very high tillering capacity and retention rate which allows it to produce high yields in most scenarios.

Yield performance, grain quality and maturity are also key considerations. GRAHAM has been proven on farm to perform well in the early drilled slot, whereas SY INSITOR has shone from mid-September onwards both on farm and in AHDB Recommended List trials. GLEAM has demonstrated flexibility and has demonstrated excellent yield potential from early September, through to mid-February.

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31 January

News

Farmers dogged by impact of extreme weather – report • Concerns over effect on business • Crops and livestock both suffering • Farmers struggle to plan for future

E

xtreme weather is a major challenge for many farmers who are finding it difficult to adapt to climate change , warns a study.

All farmers who took part in the research said they had experienced or witnessed serious issues caused by extreme weather – such as heavy rain or prolonged dry spells in recent years – and expect these to intensify further.

Many were concerned about the impact of heat and drought on crop and grass growth, the knock-on impacts for yield and winter animal feed, and the implications of heavy rainfall or flooding for soil run-off and erosion.

Some farmers, however, are doing little to make their businesses more resilient. They said changes to the weather and the UK climate were too uncertain and too long-term for them to invest significant time or money in planning for them now.

Business survival Instead, the study shows many farmers are focused on short-term profitability and business survival in a challenging economic environment. They are also more concerned about other political and public pressures.

Although farmers increasingly accept that the climate is changing and they should take action in response, the study says uncertainty about the scale, speed and nature of change locally, make it difficult for many producers to do so.

The research was carried out by Rebecca Wheeler and Matt Lobley from Exeter University’s Centre for Rural Policy Research, in partnership the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Rothamsted Research and Lancaster University.

Researchers carried out 31 in-depth interviews, 15 with farmers and 16 with stakeholders including advisors, consultants and industry representatives. Their findings were published in the journal Climate Risk Management.

6 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

A number of agricultural stakeholders said they were concerned too few farm businesses were taking sufficient action to increase their business resilience to extreme weather and climate change.

Some farmers said they simply “hadn’t got around” to implementing measures they would like to undertake, while others were “concentrating on the short term”.

Extreme weather is having an increasing impact on food production.

Dr Wheeler said: “Farmers have an array of challenges and uncertainties to cope with, and it is understandable they are focused on the short-term profitability and survival of their business.

“This seems to be preventing them from adapting to the effects of the climate emergency. It is essential the industry finds ways to build resilience, and that farm businesses are supported in planning and responding to changing weather patterns.”

Innovative approach More positively, the research highlighted the capacity for innovation and adaptability within the farming industry.

Many farmers are building resilience within their business through actions to improve soil health to cope with weather extremes.

Some of the opportunities posed by

“

Farmers face an array of challenges and uncertainties

climate change – such as warmer temperatures enabling the production of new crops and increased yields – could benefit farmers so long as they are able to “weather” the challenges posed by negative effects.

As well as improving soil health, positive actions taken to future-proof farm business included the continuous evaluation of crop and grass varieties and production techniques.

Some farmers had installed additional livestock housing with good ventilation, increased rainwater storage capacity, and spread exposure to risk by expanding the diversity of their crops and enterprises.

Prof Lobley said: “There are many innovative and exciting activities happening on farms across the country, but much is still to be done to improve the resilience of individual farms and the industry as a whole.”

ADVERTORIAL

BLACK-GRASS ISSUES DORMANCY RYEGRASS SETS SEASONAL DECISIONS MAPPED OUT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK-GRASS GEORGINA WOOD Syngenta Technical Manager and grass weed expert

MAPPING RYEGRASS POPULATIONS IN EARLY SUMMER DORMANCY COULD ALLOW ADJUSTMENTS INMORE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING GRASS WEED THIS SEASON, TO EFFECTIVE WEEDAGRONOMY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES MAXIMISE CONTROL. THIS AUTUMN.

IDENTIFYING THE SPREAD AND THE SEVERITY OF RYEGRASS WILL HELP TO PRIORITISE AGRONOMIC DECISIONS ON AFFECTED FIELDS, ADVOCATES SYNGENTA GRASS WEED SPECIALIST, GEORGINA WOOD. “Ryegrass is an increasing issue across most of the country, with some serious hot spots throughout East Anglia, particularly in Suffolk and Lincolnshire as well as Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and through to the midlands,” she warned.

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT Syngenta trials across the UK have also shown the importance of combining a robust herbicide programme with cultural control methods. Trials with hybrid barley have shown an 88% reduction in ryegrass heads vs. winter wheat and 85% reduction vs. winter barley, in untreated situations. With the addition of DEFY + flufenacet + pendimethalin pre-emergence, complete control was achieved, with no need for any post-em follow up. Reducing the population through cultural means places less reliance on chemical options, reducing the chances of resistance to them developing.

“Grass weed research across a range of species has reinforced the importance of accurate application and timing of the herbicide programme, along with the need to manage weeds throughout the whole farm rotation”.

“AHDB research has shown ryegrass is more competitive than black-grass, resulting in greater yield loss, and it produces more seed heads with more seeds – which facilitates faster spread.”

Many of the measures successfully employed by growers and agronomists to manage black-grass, also have a beneficial effect in controlling ryegrass. But where growers have erred back to earlier drilling after consecutive challenging autumns, ryegrass in particular, has the ability to return more aggressively.

“Precision farming tools, such as Syngenta Protector, now enables growers to map the extent of ryegrass populations within individual fields and to target agronomic decisions more accurately.”

Those decisions could include alternative rotations, more competitive cropping choices and how to prioritise farm workload, especially around drilling timing, to give the best chance of breaking the ryegrass cycle.

At the Syngenta Ryegrass Innovation Centre near Doncaster, for example, some plots were sprayed off with glyphosate in early December, and little or no further ryegrass germinated for the rest of the season. In addition to that, studies have shown that autumn germinating Italian ryegrass produces 23 times more seed than spring germinating.

This highlights the importance of the autumn pre-emergence herbicide programme. In herbicide work at the Doncaster site, the combination of DEFY® at a full 5.0 l/ha, in mix with flufenacet + diflufenican at 0.6 l/ha, has consistently been the most effective treatment.

“The weather and other farm pressures can interfere with the best laid plans. Syngenta have developed the Spray Assist app to help you to optimise spray timing and nozzle choice on the go, to maximise application success”

RYEGRASS AGRONOMY ACTIONS • Identify the scale and severity of ryegrass population in fields • Map populations to track changes and spread • Test for herbicide resistance if concerns over control • Plan cropping to drill worst fields later • Focus on autumn actions to achieve best control

Download new Syngenta Spray Assist with added improvements Syngenta UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037. CPC4 Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 883400 Technical Enquiries: +44 (0) 800 1696058 Email: customer.services@syngenta.com.

DEFY® is a Registered Trademark of Syngenta Group Company. DEFY (MAPP 16202) contains prosulfocarb. All other brand names used are trademarks of other manufacturers in which proprietary rights may exist. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information, warning phrases and symbols refer to www.syngenta.co.uk. ©Syngenta UK Ltd. May 2021. 11486

Arable Take T2 action to maximise wheat potential • Yellow rust is priority this season • Septoria tritici influence by rainfall • Stick to correct T2 spray timings

H

igh grain prices and variable spring weather mean finalising T2 or flag leaf fungicide decisions in winter wheat must be carefully assessed this season.

Grain prices of over £170/t make it worth protecting crop output properyl, says Syngenta senior field technical manager Iain Hamilton. At these prices, just an extra 0.25 t/ha from a fungicide is worth a healthy additional £42/ha, he points out.

“Even when we had low disease pressure last year, fungicides still lifted yield by 2 t/ha on average across different wheat varieties over the season.

This year, disease pressure is probably higher.”

With yellow rust very much the main disease after a dry early spring, Mr Hamilton says it could remain a key target for T2 – particularly as outbreaks are less predictable with the appearance of new races.

Similarly, brown rust thrives when there is a warm, dry end to the season, so growers and agronomists should check the brown rust resistance of any varieties.

Septoria risks “If rust is your main concern, Elatus Era has been proven in independent trials to be an outstanding SDHI/triazole combination for both these disease, with significant yield benefits and return on investment.”

After a slow start and cold, dry early spring, development of Septoria tritici will be influenced heavily by rainfall levels between T1 and T2 – and by variety resistance. Mr Hamilton says development tends to be slower on varieties with greater resistance, such as Graham.

“If you are in a situation of preventing Septoria tritici, various SDHIbased fungicides are available – and the differences in products are much smaller than with rusts.”

Growers trying to cure infection may need to increase the dose of the SDHI treatment or look at a newer fungicide with more curative activity at an appropriate rate. In both cases, remember that long-lasting activity will help protect grain-filling.

Weather effects Rainfall increases Septoria, says Mr Hamilton, but do not be lulled into a false sense of security if dry. Growers should also consider how the weather

8 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

Long-lasting activity protects grainfilling, says Iain Hamilton Left: Flag leaf protection is key to optimise yields

after T2 will influence diseases.

Two years ago, deluges in June sparked a late-season Septoria epidemic. On the other hand, rusts like drier weather. If it does turn into a dry end to the season, certain fungicides have also been shown to have physiological benefits.

In trials, a T2 application of Solatenol – the SDHI in Elatus Era – gave an extra 0.23 t/ha over untreated wheat in drought situations, even without visible disease.

Slow leaf emergence due to the cold spring meant the growth stage for T1 fungicides was often later than normal this season, says Mr Hamilton. But growers should not delay the T2 fungicide – because doing so could leave the flag leaf unprotected for too long.

“For maximum protection, the correct T2 spray timing is still as soon as the flag leaf has fully emerged,” says Mr Hamilton. “If the T1 to T2 interval was short, view this as a bonus for protection. If rain delayed the T1 even further, then timely T2 spraying becomes even more important.”

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A

host of new features has been added to Xarvio’s Field Manager software package – helping to improve agronomic decision-making from drilling to harvest.

Growers now have access to more advanced crop management features – including buffer zone maps that automatically prevent nutrient applications where runoff or leaching risk is high; and the ability to run and assess onfarm trials.

Management zones allow the protection of environmental strips; and a new field notes feature allows growers to accurately record, image, and pinpoint the location of issues, such as weeds, in any given field.

BASF solutions and services manager Louis Wells says the new features are based on user feedback, so they add add real value to farm businesses. “It’s really exciting how quickly Xarvio is developing,” he says.

Decision-making Xarvio Field Manager supports decision-making for more than 45,000 farms across Europe – covering more than 3m hectares of arable land. They include some 2,500 UK farmers who have signed up since its launch18 months ago.

Norfolk farmer David Hurn, of E&M Hurn, tried Xarvio Field Manager for the first time last year. He grows root vegetables

Xarvio is ideal for smaller farm businesses, says David Hurn

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new features and combinable crops at Terrington St Clement, King’s Lynn, in collaboration with neighbour David Means of DS Means Ltd. “I knew I needed to start digitising my business and was looking for a suitable platform,” says Mr Hurn. “I wantedsomething cost effective that would add value but wouldn’t require duplicating data input.”

After researching the options, Mr Hurn chose Xarvio. “It’s comprehensive, easy-to-use and has good cross terminal compatibility, making it ideal for smaller farming businesses like mine.”

Input timings Mr Hurn has linked Field Manager to his two Arable Lab weather stations. He has used it to plan crop input timings on a field of winter wheat – and also uses the Xarvio Scouting app.

“We’ve found the disease and growth stage forecasts to be very accurate,” says Mr Hurn. “If all goes to plan, we’ll be using the new variable seed rate functionality, together with the crop protection.”

Mr Hurn uses the Scouting app whenever out crop walking to help identify and record weeds and diseases. He then transfers the digitised information into Field Manager to help plan crop protection applications.

“Going forward this sort of information is almost certainly going to be required to justify the use of crop protection products – and for fulfilling criteria around traceability and integrated pest management.”

‘Deep learning’ BASF says Field Manager and Scouting are simple and intuitive to use. But they are also highly sophisticated tools – fuelled by a massive amount of data and driven by 150 computerised models to generate precise agronomic recommendations.

This makes for a powerful combination, says Xarvio head of agronomy Bjoern Kiepe. “Deep learning and artificial intelligence are not buzzwords – they are what drive our phenology models and buffer zone concepts.”

“

It’s exciting how quickly Xarvio is developing

Growers need to input very little information to get the best from Xarvia, says Mr Kiepe. This data is then merged with satellite information, soil maps, high-density infection and weather data.

In turn, this is then used to deliver agronomic information and data-driven insights.

Mr Kiepe says the future for Xarvio lies in even more sophisticated data analysis. This will see data sliced, diced, aggregated and pivoted – enabling deeper insights for growers and more advanced integrated crop management.

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ptimising the use of inputs to make production as efficient as possible is a key goal for Norfolk farm manager Toby Hogsbjerg.

“The reduction in the basic payment scheme and prospect of lower incomes [mean] we need to grow crops for less, so reducing costs is a priority,” says Mr Hogsbjerg, of Wicken Farms at Castle Acre, near Swaffham.

Restrictions on agro-chemical products have also fuelled a different approach, he adds. “Given that backdrop, and with less new chemistry in the pipeline, our focus is very much on harnessing developments in plant breeding technology.”

The 900ha privately-owned business produces cereals and

root crops. This includes winter wheat and hybrid winter barley.

No set rotation BASIS qualified, Mr Hogsbjerg does most of the cereal agronomy himself, with input from an independent agronomist. “We don’t really have a set rotation because of all of the root crops which are produced here, both by ourselves and others,” he says.

“We grow a significant area of irrigated crops – 80ha of po-

tatoes on at most a one-in-eight rotation, and 80ha let for onions and parsnips.

“We try to produce as much first wheat as possible, because a second cereal is not ideal on this light land.”

“Growing winter wheat seed commercially works well because ground can be ploughed or mintilled late after root crops.

This reduces the incidence of disease and aphids, allowing clean seed crops to be produced, says Mr Hogsbjerg.

“Being inland, we don’t have any major disease issues and compared with many other farms our spray programme would be considered fairly light.”

Lower fungicide spend Enabling spraying decisions to be further refined through fewer, more timely applications based on crop requirements rather than traditional timings is a key aim, says Mr Hogsbjerg.

Another reason he wants to grow more cereal varieties with greater in-built disease resistance

“

Given the year, I was pleased with the outcome

is to reduce the pressure on the 24m self-propelled sprayer.

“We grow a significant area of potatoes and it goes through the crop every seven to 10 days, as well as applying liquid fertilisers. We don’t want the added pressure of unplanned fire-engine sprays to protect susceptible cereal varieties.”

This season, Wicken Farms has contracted 150t of Theodore for seed production and the remainder of the 60ha being grown will be sold for feed.

“DSV Theodore is a robust allround variety with a good allround disease package. It did all we wanted it to last season from a fungicide spend of just £70/ha.

“Because of the very wet autumn and winter in 2019/20 it was early February before we could get on the land to drill our first crop of Theodore: 20ha for seed.

“It was never going to be our highest-yielding crop but given the circumstances I was pleased with the outcome.”

Reduced costs This year, much of the variety was drilled in reasonable conditions following sugar beet on land that had been ploughed.

The crop went in on 17 October using a combination drill and a “sensible” seed rate of 180kg/ha to provide 350-360 seeds/m2, says Mr Hogsbjerg.

“Theodore was drilled at the right time, came out of winter looking in good and by mid-March was looking promising.”

Sarah Hawthorne of seed breeders DSV says the variety is very much in tune with the times because of its ability to cope with disease threats and potential for lower inputs.

“It also provides growers with greater flexibility in terms of fungicide use when weather and other commitments prevent perfect timing of applications.

“Farmers are increasingly focusing on the overall economics of growing a variety and its resilience in the face of adverse conditions rather than just its outright yield potential.

“DSV Theodore provides hope that genetics will be able to replace the sprayer to a larger degree in the future.”

In the 2021/22 RL, DSV Theodore has the highest septoria resistance score of all listed varieties at 8.3.

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Arable

Ruling paves way for gene-edited crops

60

F

armers and consumers stand to benefit after scientists concluded that gene-editing techniques could make food production more sustainable, say plant breeders.

The long-awaited European Commission study into the regulatory status of Novel Genomic Techniques (NGT) paves the way for gene-edited crop varieties to be grown in the UK and across Europe.

The study concluded that NGT products have the potential to make plants more resistant to disease, environmental conditions and the impact of climate change – creating healthier foods and reducing the need for farm inputs.

Gene-editing, which involves cutting and splicing DNA within the same organism to create new characteristics, is banned across the EU. But that could now change after the study concluded that current rules are not fit for purpose.

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Reduced costs The European Commission will now embark on a wideranging and open consultation to discuss a new legal framework for these biotechnologies – a decision welcomed by NIAB chief executive Tina Barsby.

“This is great news,” said Dr Barsby. “The EU study goes further than many in the scientific community were expecting in highlighting the potential benefits of these techniques in provid-

Tina Barsby: ‘Great news’

ing faster, more precise access to genetic improvement.”

The study was prompted by a European judgement which classified products of precision breeding techniques as genetically modified organisms – regardless of whether they could have occurred through natural variation or conventional breeding.

Dr Barsby said the ruling made no scientific sense – and was at odds with the regulatory stance of most other countries. It wsa encouraging that the new study explicitly recognised the need for change, she said.

“The UK government has consistently made clear its opposition to the ECJ judgement, and the recent Defra consultation on gene-editing paves the way for a more enabling and science-based approach to regulating these techniques in England.”

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Arable

New varieties look set to forge better future for winter barley •

•

•

Improvements to two-row varieties More profitable than second wheat Helps to spread summer workload

A

new generation of winter barley varieties could boost rotations and margins while helping growers achieve greater crop diversity.

Investment is delivering varieties with higher yield potential, says Kirsty Richards of breeders KWS. The leading two-row varieties now offer yields comparable to those achieved by the best sixrows with improved agronomic features as well, she says.

“KWS Tardis created a bit of a stir when it was added to the 2021/22 RL at the end of last year.

Not only was it the highest yielding two-row on the list, it was also producing yields equivalent to many six-row hybrids.”

For many growers, this means there’s no reason why a conventional two-row barley cannot now be a more profitable cropping option than a second wheat – so long as the management and variety choice are correct.

Variable costs for barley can be 75% of wheat, says Dr Richards. Then there is the additional revenue from barley straw which, at about £65/t baled ex-field, can add an extra £180/ha to the sale price of grain.

“Winter barley is often the first crop to be harvested, helping to spread the summer workload and make way for cultivations so for many there is no better entry for oilseed rape.”

Increasing yields In addition, Dr Richards says fungicide timings are typically a week earlier than wheat, helping to spread the sprayer workload – and reduce the pressure on wheat application timings.

KWS Tardis follows a line of two-row barleys that have been steadily pushing yields higher in

KWS Tardis is the highest yielding two-row on the 2021/22 Recommended List

recent years. Varieties like KWS Cassia and KWS Orwell are proving very popular with growers, she explains.

“With over 10 years of service under its belt, KWS Cassia has served feed barley growers well but many realise the newer varieties can deliver so much more,” says Dr Richards.

“KWS Hawking, for example, is an ultra-reliable high-yielding low-risk variety, with strong straw and no agronomic weaknesses that takes two-row feed yields up a notch.

“At 103% of control in 2021/22, it is a variety recommended for the whole of the UK, but experience

Fungicide timings are typically a week earlier than wheat, says Kirsty Richards

has shown it’s at its best in the east where it has delivered 105% of control in KWS trials.

“Not only does it deliver on straw strength over KWS Gimlet, it has better lodging resistance than LG Mountain and Jordan, and at a score of 5, better mildew than KWS Orwell.”

An added benefit is that KWS Hawking is earlier maturing. In KWS UK trials for the past two seasons, the variety was way ahead of its stablemates by reaching ear emergence in May. “At 106% of control in the current UK RL, it’s the highest yielding two-row barley by some margin but it’s only 1% behind the highest yielding six rows and hybrids,” says Dr Richards.

“It absolutely flies in the east, being beaten by just one hybrid six-row variety on the entire RL and then only by 1%. In the field KWS Tardis is very vigorous getting out of the blocks quickly with good standing power.”

KWS Hawking is the only variety on the recommended list with 1% lodging without PGR. Its overall lodging resistance score is 8, which Dr Richards says plays a key role in its performance on heavier soils. This is 110% of control in the list, where it outields everything bar one hybrid.

“Agronomically, it’s a medium height variety at 92cm with a really strong disease package including a 7 for Rynchosporium resistance and a 5 for net blotch plus it’s BYMV resistant.”

BYDV tolerance As for the future, it isn’t all about high yielding two-row barley varieties. KWS Feeris – the latest variety – is a conventional six-row winter barley that brings BYDV tolerance to the market in a realistic package.

“It’s a variety suited to all regions of the UK. Like other sixrow barleys, KWS Feeris has excellent yield potential but really stands out in the west.

“It has a good all-round disease package including 7 for Rhynchosporium and 8 for net botch coupled to BYMV resistance and BYDV tolerance.

“KWS Feeris is reasonably tall-strawed at 94cm but a good 5-10cm shorter than commercial hybrid 6-rows.

“It’s a great variety in itself but when coupled with the added benefit of BYDV tolerance, it provides excellent risk management for barley growers in high pressure hotspots – and those looking to push drilling as early as possible.”

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 17

Arable

Soil carbon levels measured by new mapping service • Organic and active carbon assessed • Sets base for carbon sequestration • Pathway to mitigate climate change

A

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Be part of our growing future, visit agricentre.basf.co.uk/real-results/potatoes © BASF 2021. All rights reserved.

18 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

mapping service to help farmers assess soil carbon levels has been launched by agronomy company Hutchinsons.

Called Terramap Carbon, it claims to be the first mapping service to provide an accurate baseline measurement of both organic and active carbon in the soil – helping farmers reduce their environmental impact.

Unless carbon is measured, there is no way it can be managed, says Matt Ward, Hutchinsons services manager. The service will help the industry meet the NFU’s target for UK agriculture to be carbon neural by 2040, he adds.

“The pressure to manage carbon is only going to become greater as other industries are already showing positive change,” says Mr Ward. Unlike many other industries, farmers can also store carbon – helping to mitigate climate change.

TerraMap uses gamma-ray detection technology that delivers resolutions of over 800 points/ha and it measures naturally emitted isotopes – including caesium and potassium – that are stable with long half-lives.

Data collection in the field is carried out in two steps: first, the field is scanned by a lightweight ATV fitted with a sensor; then soil samples are taken so each scan to be used to create individual map layers.

Why measure carbon?

Terramap Carbon is available as a standard or premium service. The standard service maps 17 micronutrients, soil type acidity – including total organic carbon in terms of percentage carbon and tonnes/ha.

The premium service maps 27

layers – including a wider range of micronutrients – and cat-ion exchange. It includes measuring total organic and active carbon percentage and tonnes/ha – giving thepercentage of carbon active in the soil.

Measuring carbon to determine how much can be stored in the soil is the first step in carbon sequestration – a service other industries are willing to pay for as they seek to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon storage is set to become an important source of farm income as the basic payment scheme is phased out over the next seven years. Eco-system services such carbon sequestration are seen as a keen way to help replace this lost income.

“We need to move away from seeing carbon foot-printing as a burden or simply a tick-box exercise and see that this is beneficial, as a proxy measurement for efficiency and profitability of a farm as well as simply a measure of waste,” says Mr Ward.

Storing carbon is an income opportunity for farmers, says Matt Ward.

QUALITY STILL STACKS UP

Carbon capture: (l-r) agronomist Sam Hugill with farmers Jane and Nick Wilson

Why baseline measurement makes sense The Terramap Carbon has been tested on a number of farms – including Hundayfield Farm at Marton cum Grafton, near York.

The farm consists of 260ha of mainly arable cropping, with land let out for potatoes, and winter sheep on stubble turnips. There are also bed & breakfast cattle which utilise the farm buildings and some of the permanent grass in the rotation.

For farmer Nick Wilson and agronomist Sam Hugill, carbon is part of the whole farm system. Both men believe it is useful to obtain a baseline measurement now, so they have an accurate figure to work from going forward.

Mr Wilson says: ”We always look at what we do and how we can do better and carbon is part of that. How much we do about it will ultimately be driven by policy – but whatever decisions we make have to be good for us agronomically and economically.”

Scanning highlighted big differences in the carbon balance between arable fields and permanent pasture. The average across arable fields was about 30t/ha of organic carbon with almost double that for the permanent pasture.

Mr Hugill says: “Now we have a baseline measurement, we can look not just how we can manage our processes to build carbon on the arable fields up to the levels of that of the pasture, but also to prevent any unnecessary losses of carbon.”

Other benefits There are other benefits too. Having a negative carbon balance also means lower input costs – using more efficient fertilisers and reducing usage of fossil fuels. “It’s a win– win on all levels,” explains Mr Ward.

Results from Terramap Carbon can be aligned with the carbon costs of different machinery operations. This includes detailed calculations for power, width, work rate and fuel – generated using the specialist Farm Carbon Toolkit.

The impact of different rotation

scenarios can then be calculated – from cropping types and varieties to stewardship and management practices. From this, growers can see first-hand the projected CO2 impact and financial performance for each scenario.

This data is used to calculate carbon costs – and whether it makes sense to continue producing food or take land out of production under Defra’s forthcoming Environmental Land Management Scheme.

“This is where the ability to look at different scenarios is invaluable,” says Mr Ward.

10 years Recommended and still going strong Highest protein content of any Recommended Group 1 Winter Wheat Best combination of Yellow Rust and Septoria tritici resistance in the sector Fully Approved as a bread wheat for export Highest yielding Group 1 variety in 2019

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Arable

New seed treatment available for winter cereals this autumn • Comprehensive long-lasting efficacy • Rapid germination and establishment • Performs well across range of crops

N

ext generation seed treatment Kinto Plus – which protects against a range of diseases – will be available for use on winter cereals this autumn.

The seed treatment provides comprehensive and long-lasting efficacy against a wide spectrum of seed and soil borne diseases – and confers growth promoting effects to the crop, says manufacturer BASF. Kinto Plus assures comprehensive and long-lasting efficacy – whether applied to farm saved seed, hybrid, conventional, or seed production crops, helping growers secure higher yields from the outset, says seed market manager Sarah Middleton.

“The name Kinto may be familiar to some – from previous seed treatment Kinto which is no longer available to market since the revocation of prochloraz – but Kinto Plus is a different, new generation product.”

Disease control Kinto Plus combines the active ingredients triticonazole, fluxapyroxad and fludioxonil. This gives it a broad label against a range of diseases including seedling blight and foot rot, common bunt, loose smut, covered smut, leaf stripe, snow rot and stripe smut.

Mrs Middleton says: “The control

of leaf stripe and loose smut, which can be seen as forgotten diseases, are key attributes of Kinto Plus – particularly for seed production crops, where there are tolerances for infection levels of these diseases.”

The seed treatment is said to improve germination and enhance root development – both in terms of mass and length – particularly during times of stress. This means quicker crop establishment, better tiller retention and more vigorous plants.

BASF says independent trials have shown that the product performs consistently no matter what the winter cereal crop – or the variety. Kinto Plus is also approved for use on barley seed in crops destined for brewing.

Built-in resilience Treated seed is able to continue growing in sub-optimal conditions. This makes it a useful tool, particularly for growers who practice delayed drilling because it performs well whatever the sowing date.

“Stale seed bed techniques used to deal with arable weed pressures mean drilling dates are often moved back, resulting in shorter weather windows for establishment, at a time when ground conditions are often challenging,” says Mrs Middleton.

The seed treatment is said to improve germination

“

It helps to secure higher yields from the outset.

“The same is true for crops where drilling is delayed to reduce the risk of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus. It is in these situations that Kinto Plus can play a pivotal role in getting crops off to the best possible start with the physiological benefits it offers.”

Growers are advise to adhere to best practice – particularly relating to ensuring seed is buried and that any spillages are cleaned up or buried to minimise the potential for birds or wildlife to forage for treated seed on the surface.

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www.jhvaudrey.co.uk 20 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

The thinking farmer’s wheat!

KWS CRANIUM n

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SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

Arable

Syngenta showcases new varieties at Cereals

U

p to 20 different cereal varieties will be demonstrated on Syngenta’s stand at this month’s Cereals event in Lincolnshire.

The two-day show is due to take place on 30 June and 1 July at Boothby Graffoe, Lincoln. It will be the first opportunity for growers to find out about an advanced new SDHI fungicide developed by the company.

Headlining seven hybrid winter feed barley varieties will be high-yielding hybrid SY Thunderbolt. Newly recommended for 2021/22, it boasts the highest treated yield on heavy land (111%), early maturity and good wet weather disease resistance.

A second new hybrid barley on the 2021/22 AHDB Recommended List and in the plots, SY Kingston, has performed particularly well in the north and west regions, says Syngenta – again with strong wet weather disease resistance.

Also on the stand will be plots of established hybrids SY Kingsbarn, Belfry and Belmont. A further new hybrid barley, SY Armadillo, will also feature.

Malting barley Continuing its heritage in malting barley breeding, Syngenta will demonstrate nine malting, or potential malting, barley varieties – three for winter drilling and six for spring sowing.

Among the winter variety plots Electrum is the newest winter malting barley on the 2021/22 recommended list. It is in its first full season of having full approval for brewing use on the malting barley committee approved list for harvest 2021.

SY Thunderbolt will be one of seven winter feed barley hybrids showcased

Six spring barley plots will include newcomer varieties SY Tungsten and SY Splendor, which Syngenta has been progressing for malting. Others are potential malting varieties SY Lowry and SY Bronte; and malting favourites, Laureate and Fairing.

Four Syngenta winter feed wheat varieties with Septoria tritici resistance ratings of 6.1 or above will be on the stand. These are newcomer SY Insitor, launched last summer, Gleam, Graham and Shabras.

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SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

Arable

Crop enhancer produces ‘impressive’ results

A

crop enhancer that improves chlorophyll production and maximises green leaf area is increasing yields in cereals.

Klorofill is a liquid formulation of pentanoate – an organic compound that contains a keto acid. Agrovista technical manager John Murrie says it is a vital precursor in chlorophyll manufacture within plants.

“Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, so maintaining efficient production is key for healthy yields and profits,” says Mr Murrie. All crops stand to benefit, he adds.

“Klorofill can help high potential crops live up to their promise by optimising yield, quality and return on investment – especially during rapid spring growth, when chlorophyll production can lag demand.”

Pentanoate significantly increases the photosynthetic rate, says Mr Murrie. “Klorofill seems to build a bigger flag leaf and convert this into yield in many

cases. We’ve seen 0.4-0.5t/ha increases in wheat and barley crops on farm.”

Derived from plant material, Klorofill is supplied in a soluble and tank-mixable liquid formulation applied at 1 litre/ha.

It can be partnered with fungicides, plant growth regulators, magnesium and other nutrients.

On winter wheat and winter feed barley, the product should be applied at T2 for maximum benefit, and on winter malting barley at T1. On spring barley the optimum timing is GS30. It is not recommended on malting crops after that time.

Jim Anderson at Newton of Guthrie, near Arbroath, Angus, tried Klorofill after good results with Terrasorb, an amino acid-based biostimulant designed to aid establishment and relieve early crop stress.

Mr Anderson treated 10ha of winter wheat and winter barley, both grown on medium loam soils, with 1 litre/ha

Pentanoate significantly increases photosynthesis, says John Murrie

at T2, during what was a pretty dry season. Wheat yields rose by 0.35t/ha and barley yields by 0.6t/ha.

“In the wheat, you could see to the mark where we had applied it,” he says.

“The flag leaf was bigger and greener and the whole crop looked healthier. I couldn’t see any difference in the [barley] crop, but when the combine went in it was obvious.”

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Illuminate your wheat with a touch of magic!

KWS FIREFLY n

Super wide sowing window with great yield potential from mid September to end of February

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Good disease package, including 6.8 for Septoria and OWBM resistance

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One of the stiffest varieties on the Recommended List

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SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

Arable

Biofuel could help UK reach Net Zero

Terravesta wants more farmers to grow miscanthus

Finance agreement set to boost miscanthus crops

A

new finance package aims to encourage more farmers to grow the green energy crop miscanthus – by covering virtually all establishment costs.

Oxbury Bank has teamed up with miscanthus specialist Terravesta to deliver the finance package. As well as helping with upfront costs, it includes a long-term agreement providing growers with index-linked annual returns.

“One of the main barriers to entry for Miscanthus growing is the upfront cost of planting,” says Oxbury Bank managing director Nick Evans. “Our finance package with Terravesta ensures a quick release of funds to help farmers to grow a sustainable business.”

The loan structure allows

farmers to pay interest-only for up to two years while the crop is establishing. They pay back the capital over an extended period when the crop is producing an economic return.

Carbon negative’ Miscanthus is seen as a carbon negative crop. “Agriculture is changing, and it is important that farmers have access to finance and capital for their low carbon initiatives and sustainable growth plans,” says Mr Evans.

Under the new contract, Terravesta will supply farmers with its miscanthus plants, planting equipment and agronomy throughout the crop’s life. It will also commit to a minimum number of plants emerging under its new planting promise.

Terravesta chief operating

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26 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

officer Alex Robinson says the company’s rhizome-based variety AthenaTM delivers higher yields and an 8% higher calorific value, producing 180% more energy per hectare.

The crop is generally harvested in its second year. It reaches maturity faster than the commercially available miscanthus giganteus.

Some growers have reported a first harvest of 8t/ha, with mature yields of 10-17t/ha depending on soil type.

“The beauty of this new package is that growers have a direct contract with renewable energy power plants, which enables Terravesta to provide a finance package and allows us to focus on crop establishment in the UK at a much greater scale.”

Grasses like miscanthus are a sustainable energy source that could be a driving force towards net zero carbon emissions, say scientists.

The miscanthus genus of grasses could quickly become the first choice for biofuel production, suggests a study by researchers at the Earlham Institute in Norwich.

The grasses can be grown in lower agricultural grade conditions, including marginal land, due to their resilience and photosynthetic capacity at low temperatures.

Miscanthus is a promising biofuel thanks to its high biomass yield and low input requirements. It can adapt to a range of climate zones and land types.

It is seen as a viable commercial option for farmers although yields can come under threat from insufficient or excessive water supplies such as winter floods or summer heat waves.

The Earlham Institute analysed various miscanthus genotypes to identify traits that provide insight into gene adaptation and regulation during water stress.

Study author Jose De Vega said: “Miscanthus is a commercial crop due to its high biomass productivity, resilience, and ability to continue photosynthesis during the winter months.

“These qualities make it a particularly good candidate for growth on marginal land in the UK, where yields might otherwise be limited by scorching summers and wet winters.”

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Trainee agronomist wins leading BASIS award

T

rials officer and trainee Procam agronomist Jodie Littleford has been awarded the Barrie Orme Shield for excelling in the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection.

A new entrant to agriculture, Ms Littleford secured a placement at Eurofins Agroscience as part of her biology degree at Cardiff University. She then spent three years in the crop trials department before taking on her Procam role two years ago.

“I initially started the BASIS training in late 2019, because I really enjoy seeing how biological processes affect crops,” says Ms Littleford.

“I wanted to better understand my research on new integrated approaches to crop husbandry.”

The gave her an excellent overview of everything involved in integrated crop management. “Part of the qualification involved carrying out a research task. My project involved looking into the plant health impact of mycorrhizal fungi on wheat varieties.”

Ms Littleford started her BASIS training with her research role in mind. But the knowledge gained during the course inspired her embark on a new career path. She is now in the process of becoming a fully qualified agronomist.

BASIS is the examining and awarding body for qualifications for agronomists. Each year, more than 200 people sit the BASIS exam – a required certificate of competence for anyone who sells or advises on crop protection products.

Ms Littleford said: “I certainly couldn’t have achieved this award without the excellent instruction and support from my expert trainer James Christian-Ilett. He taught me in a way that made information really stick in my mind.”

Now responsible for some 2,500 trial plots each year, Ms Littleford manages research and development at ProCam’s Stockbridge Technology Centre – and oversees other ProCam trials

from Aberdeen to Devon.

BASIS chief executive Stephen Jacod said it was great to see a new entrant to agriculture showing determination to excel in her career and the exam. It proved that hard work and extended learning truly does pay dividends, he added.

Jodie Littleford: Crop protection award

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PROFILE TC SHAW & SONS

Farm walk to say ‘thank you’ for local support Award-winning rapeseed grower Whizz Middleton is strengthening links with other food producers and consumers.

A

Bedfordshire grower and artisan food producer is holding a special farm walk to thank local people for their support during the coronavirus pandemic.

An influx of visitors to the countryside during the Covid lockdown led to more people appreciating where their food comes, says Whizz Middleton, of TC Shaw & Sons, Barton Hill Farm, Lilley, near Luton.

“Many more people visited the countryside during lockdown – and it was great to see such great support for farming – but many of those people were also oblivious that what they eat is actually what we are growing.”

The farm is home to Mrs Middleton’s award-winning cold-pressed rapeseed oil – produced from the highest quality rapeseed. It also grows Gallant wheat which makes plain natural white stoneground flour, ground using waterpower at a local mill.

“We’ve had a lot of support – and I have friends who have launched new businesses – from little coffee shops popping up in farm buildings to a pretty

big farm shop which has all happened in the last year,

Dedication Mrs Middleton started her rapeseed oil business in 2012 – driven by a desire to add value and generate extra income from oilseed rape, but also by a desire to show people how food is

produced and the dedication that goes into making it.

“I love the link between food and farming. It’s so basic but important to me – that you have a field field, you plant seeds, they grow and then you can be eating them. That’s where my whole business started.

“We were so amazed that people >>

Whizz Middleton collaborated with chef Phil Fanning, of the Paris House restaurant, Woburn, to extend her product range.

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 31

PROFILE TC SHAW & SONS >> didn’t know where their food came from. That’s why we’ve got on our bottles the grid reference and the field name of where the seed came from to produce the oil in that bottle.

“It means more to the customer when they know where it’s come from.

They can look at it on a map and find the exact location. We are also putting signs up telling people what we are growing in each field and this is what it makes.”

Education For children, farming can form an important part of their education, says Mrs Middleton, who took the farm tractor to her local school to help teach the children about science, technology, engineering and mathematics during STEM week.

“We are able to teach them that the fields they can see from the playground is where the tractor works – and where their food comes. We took a box of Weetabix and a bottle of rapeseed oil to show them and they were fascinated.

Due to be held in July, the farm walk will be an opportunity for older children and families to make a similar voyage of discovery. “Some local people live just a quarter of a mile from the farm – yet they’ve never been up here.

“We’d like to show them what we do – we have a really well established stewardship scheme on the farm and I think it’s important that people realise farmers really do look after the countryside.

“We do some voluntary bits as well – we have loads of margins and wild flowers because we’re at the north end of the Chilterns. We’ve got the chalk downland, native grassland, wild bird seed mixes and legume clover mixes too.

Collaboration Since starting her business with a natural rapeseed oil, Mrs Middleton has extended the range to include flavoured oils, mayonnaises and salad dressings – a collaboration with chef Phil Fanning, of the Paris House restaurant in Woburn.

The flour is hand-milled by Ray Kilby at Stotfold watermill. “The range has grown gradually and we’re hoping to develop some exciting new products too. And now the children are a bit older I can do the farming and the oil – it’s a good balance.”

Cabbage stem flea beetle and pigeons continue to be major challenges. The aim is to get rape in the ground early to combat the problem, direct drilling a mix of hybrid and conventional varieties into wheat stubble soon after harvest.

32 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

We haven’t actually lost any crop but we have had quite significant damage. The pigeons are an absolute pain because we have a lot of woodland and the birds drop straight out of the woods into the crop.

Other crops on the farm include spring and winter barley, beans and oats for the first time in 25-30 years.

As well developing new products, the plan is to see them sold in more places. “We are looking to go a bit further afield. We sell a lot down in Cornwall because that’s where my sister lives and we started the company together originally.

Excitement “We’ve got a distribution company down there who sell a lot to restaurants and it is so good to see that they are starting to open up again after lockdown. We also sell some to the Luton Hoo Hotel, which is a stunning place.

“There’s a real sense of excitement because that side of things completely dried up for a whole year and now it is starting to tick again. We love doing collaborations and it’s great when

“

It’s important that people realise farmers really do look after the countryside

you are able to work with fellow food producers.”

Lockdown meant a different way of doing things, adds Mrs Middleton.

“I think people realised it was safer to shop locally – we even set up a click and collect at the front door, which was something I didn’t think I would ever do.

“We got a little card machine and people were more than happy to come here to buy their oil, salad dressings, mayonnaise and flour because they didn’t have to go to the supermarket – we met some fantastic people.”

“We were very lucky – the farm didn’t stop obviously and we were able to carry on. It was very busy and the farm walk in July is a way of saying thank you to people for continuing to support us.”

CONTACT DETAILS Web: www.mrsmiddleton.co.uk Email: info@mrsmiddleton.co.uk Twitter: @MrsMiddletonOil Phone: 07989 300959

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Harvest preview Safety initiative targets farmers ahead of harvest

Farmers are among those most likely to come into contact with overhead lines.

[Photo credit: UK Power Networks]

• Campaign aims to reduce death toll • Farmers among groups most at risk • Check height of machines and lines

A

new safety campaign aims to stop farmers and farm workers from electrocuting themselves on overhead power lines.

Farmers are among four groups of workers with the highest number of safety incidents involving overhead power lines during the past five years.

The others are road hauliers, tree surgeons and builders.

Some 18% overhead line incidents during 2020 involved farmers, according to electricity distributor UK Power Networks. It said a further 44% involved road hauliers, 16% involved tree surgeons and 12% small or self-employed builders.

To help reduce the number of accidents, a new ‘Think, Plan, Locate’ initiative will see UK Power Networks join forces with the NFU and the National Road Haulage Association for a new safety campaign.

Moving vehicles With harvest approaching and the silage season under way, safe working procedures to reduce accident risks near power lines are essential. These

include when moving, loading and unloading vehicles which could come into contact with electrical equipment.

UK Power Networks safety advisor Ros Forbes said: “Safety is our number one priority and we saw a rise in incidents when locked down eased last summer, so it’s timely to remind people again of the dangers.”

Ms Forbes added: “Our research has shown us the trades and professions most in danger and we sense that a focus on being Covid-secure, has led to less of an emphasis on electrical safety in some areas.”

Touching high voltage cables could be fatal, said Ms Forbes. Accidental contact with live overhead power lines causing many serious injuries.

Reducing risk The new campaign will remind people to take care and concentrate on their safety. The goal is to prompt collaborative working and positive conversations about safety which will ultimately help save lives.

NFU farm safety advisor Tom Price said: “Almost all contact incidents can

“

Almost all contact incidents can be avoided altogether

be avoided altogether – the key is planning. Find out where power lines are and make sure everyone knows – workers and contractors.”

Farmers should also make sure they know the height and reach of their machines – and the height of lines. This is especially so when bringing new, large or unfamiliar machinery on to the farm, said Mr Price.

“If you suspect lines are low contact UK Power Networks and ask them to check – the service is free. Our advice is don’t rely on GPS and other tech to avoid lines – you must always be alert when driving any machine near a line.”

Free cab stickers for farm vehicles can be obtained by emailing MBX-HSSkit@ukpowernetworks.co.uk

#CornCart21 safety campaign launched

N

FU deputy president Stuart Roberts is supporting a new campaign to encourage trailer safety during the main harvest towing season.

The #CornCart21 initiative highlights the legal requirement to ensure trailers are safe and roadworthy. It follows the launch of the #HeadToTow trailer safety app, which is free to download on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

The app is an easy way to access trailer

maintenance checklists and operator manual. It was launched by the Tilly Pass trailer safety scheme last year.

Mr Roberts said: “I want us all to think more about what we are towing. You can download free of charge a range of trailer manuals and – most importantly – their recommended daily checks.”

Everyone should download the app, added Mr Roberts. Most importantly of all, they should make time each day to carry out their

daily checks as recommended by the trailer manufacturers.

Tilly Pass founder Jane Gurney said: “More UK trailer manufacturers are looking to promote the need for trailer safety. There has been a huge uptake by operators looking to safeguard themselves while towing..”

The #HeadToTow app is available to download free on smartphones and tablets by visiting www.tillypass.co.uk

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 35

Harvest preview

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Farmers face long delays for harvest workers this summer • Labour shortage as harvest looms • More overseas workers are needed • Pilot scheme needs to be widened

F

armers face costly delays in reruiting harvest workers this summer because the government is moving too slowly on seasonal labour rules, says a group of MPs. Delays to the government’s new immigration policy may leave British food suppliers without enough workers for the coming harvest, says the influential Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

The warning came as the committee expressed its disappointment at what it said was the government’s last-minute approach to finalising details of its scheme for recruiting overseas seasonal workers.

British producers were at the bottom of government’s priorities list, said the committee. Farmers were facing unnecessary and costly delays to pilot schemes allowing seasonal workers from overseas into the country.

The government announced the final two of four operators for its seasonal workers pilot on 5 May. The committee said this left a tight timeframe for operators to recruit labour from overseas and supply those staff to farms who needed them.

Shortages The group of MPs repeated its call for the seasonal worker pilot scheme to be broadened to include other food chain and agricultural sectors beyond the horticultural sector.

The committee said it was concerned about shortages of skilled workers, especially veterinarians inspectors working in abattoirs. More than 9 in 10 of these key workers come from the rest of Europe.

There was already a shortage of vets in abattoirs, said the committee. And it urged the government to closely monitor

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The government’s efforts to recruit more domestic labour cannot hope to be sufficient for this summer’s harvest.”

Reports of daffodils going unpicked this spring made clear the need for seasonal workers from overseas went well beyond just edible horticulture, said Mr Parish. The Home Office needed to start listening to minimse the impact on British farmers.

“Before Christmas, we warned the government of the huge consequences of keeping plans for seasonal labour vague until the very last minute. There can be no excuse for further hold-ups.”

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the impact of its new immigration policy on the supply of such skilled workers.

Committee chairman Neil Parish said: “Peak harvesting season [is] almost upon us and yet the government has only just appointed the final two operators for the seasonal workers pilot.

“British growers have been placed at the bottom of the Home Office’s priorities list. Unnecessary uncertainty could prove costly for producers.

“Despite last year’s Pick for Britain pilot scheme, our report made it clear that overseas labour is still very much needed.

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The government has scrapped its Pick for Britain campaign – launched last year to ensure enough seasonal workers were available to harvest crops during the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as helping to recruit seasonal workers, the campaign raised the public profile of the UK edible horticulture sector, and in particular the important role it plays each year in feeding the nation.

Defra said it wanted to extend its sincere gratitude to all campaign partners who supported the project – as well as to the growers, recruiters, retailers, and other industry organisations who participated.

“The Pick for Britain message generated unprecedented interest in these roles across the country, and helped our farmers and growers bring home the harvest. We are proud to have been part of this creative and collaborative campaign.”

Defra said the government would continue to help UK farmers and growers recruit the seasonal workers they needed – including support for workers from the domestic labour market and those from overseas.

The NFU said recruiting domestic workers remained difficult.

The British Growers Association said real concern remained over whether there would be enough workers for the sector.

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Ensure tyres are in good order before harvest

C

hecking combine harvester tyres before and during harvest is essential to increase operational efficiency and minimise soil compaction.

It can also help avoid sudden punctures. During previous harvests, tyres may have been damaged causing bulges, cuts, or tears, says Richard Hutchins, agricultural specialist with tyre manufacturer Continental.

“A thorough check of the tread area and sidewalls, including the rim of the wheel, will identify any areas of concern,” says Mr Hutchins.

He explains: “The low operating pressure and requirement to carry a heavy load creates strain on the tyre wall, so if there is a fault the tyre should be changed to avoid operational failure and down time.”

Continental CombineMaster tyres can now be specified with ContiPressureCheck, a new system that monitors the pressure and temperature of tyres to help prevent tyre related issues, such as underinflation or overloading.

Flat spots can occur when a combine is parked for long periods. “Flat spots are common with

combines because of the length of storage time.

Investing in a tyre with a more flexible carcass material will help,” says Mr Hutchins.

Continental has a patent pending for its N-Flex technology – a heat-treated nylon that sits beneath the rubber to help the tyre return to shape after impacts and heavy use. It reduces the likelihood of flat spots and provides a more comfortable ride.

The company has also developed a stronger single wire Hexa bead with a hexagonal cross section. Many agricultural tyres use as many as ten individual wires to create one bead. But Mr Hutchins says multiple joins in the bead can cause weaknesses.

There is a risk that the tyre can detach from the rim, especially at low pressures, he says. “A more flexible tyre, with a stronger Hexa bead construction, will grip the rim even at very low pressures.

“This reduces the risk of the tyre slipping off the rim, while spreading the weight of a combine.

This is especially important for the front tyres which take more weight and torque.”

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Harvest preview

How under-sowing maize paves way for better harvest performance

M

aize growers can look forward to better harvest performance by using under-sowing techniques to establish the crop, says Suffolk grass specialists Barenbrug.

Trialled last year, the company’s Proterra Maize – based on Barenbrug’s tall fescue technology – offers a quick and easy solution for establishing under-sown cover in maize, while addressing growers’ worries about competition from the main crop.

“Issues with soil erosion and nutrient leaching, coupled with damage to the soil structure at harvest and the knock-on effects on soil health, have spurred considerable interest in under-sowing maize,” says Barenbrug maize specialist Roger Bacon.

“Some water companies have even introduced their own incentives or subsidies to reduce run-off in water-catchment areas,” says Mr Bacon. Green manures or cover crops may soon become mandatory practice in maize cultivation, he adds.

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Deep roots also soak up nutrients from a far greater volume of soil – and allows carbon to be sequestered much deeper within the soil profile. Carbon sequestered in the top 20cm of the soil is much less stable than carbon at greater depths, says Mr Bacon.

Some growers have been reluctant to adopt under-sown techniques when growing maize. They cite concerns that a fast-growing cover crop could rob the main crop of critical sunlight, moisture and minerals.

“In selecting and developing this variety, we’ve opted for traits that favour rapid germination but far slower growth post-emergence. This gives it time to develop its deep, robust root system, while presenting little competition for the maize.”

Deep and intensively branched roots also endow the soil with a high-

er bearing capacity, allowing growers improved confidence to harvest when the crop is ripe – without the worry of structural damage, either to the soil or the cover crop itself.

Higher levels of soil biomass ensure a more fertile soil too – improving the performance of subsequent crops. Further research will examine the performance differences between different blends of Proterra Maize, and their potential applications.

“What we’ve seen so far is that performance is variety specific,” says Mr Bacon. “This confirms anecdotal evidence from early adopters, indicating that it’s not just a matter of buying any tall fescue, as not all work.

“With Proterra Maize, we’re trying to help growers have more confidence in the practice of under-sowing, allowing them to realise some or all of its valuable benefits on their farms with a product that’s designed for the task at hand.”

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Harvest preview

Poor weather drives up commodity prices

W

eather and crop conditions are continuing to drive day-today movements in grain markets, says the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Stocks of grain held by major exporting countries are thin – although last month’s USDA report showed more potential for stocks to recover next season than some analysts expected, pushing prices lower.

But AHDB analyst Helen Plant says potential for recovery remains small. This means any threat to global crops is still causing swings in market sentiment – and prices.

The latest USDA report suggests American farmers had planted less maize than forecast by 16 May. Delays to the US crop will have implications for US supplies in the last days of the season because of low stocks.

Lack of planting progress combined with an increase in demand for exports offered some support to old crop maize prices. Chicago maize futures for Jul21 rose $3.45/t to $256.89/t, said the AHDB.

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Harvest preview

Award-winning harvest technology at Cereals

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ohn Deere’s flagship X9 combine harvester will be on show for visitors to see at this month’s Cereals event – alongside a range of other new products.

The X9 1100 combine – which harvest 100 tonnes of wheat per hour with less than 1% grain loss – will be featured on the company’s stand (525) on 30 June and 1 July at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire.

John Deere says the X9 represents the next level of harvesting performance to help larger farmers achieve more tonnes per hour and more hectares per day, specifically in tough, high yielding, wet conditions.

In the lead up to this year’s show, the new X9 Series combines were recognised in the Robotics category of the 2021 CES Innovation Awards. This was the second straight year John Deere has received such an award, after the 8RX tractor in 2020.

The award recognises outstanding product design and engineering in technology products. The X9 Series combine also received a 2021 AE50

Award for innovations that improve production agriculture.

Other machines making their Cereals debut include the 7R 350 and 8RX four-track tractors. The R740i trailed sprayer and Mazzotti MAF 4080 self-propelled sprayer with 36m boom can be seen in the Sprays & Sprayers demonstration arena.

The new top of the range 7R 350 tractor develops up to 388hp. The 8RX has proved to be popular with UK farmers and contractors, who have recognised and experienced its suc-

The X9 combine can harvest 100 tonnes of wheat per hour

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Harvest preview

How to cut risk when returning to oilseed rape

H

AHDB analyst Anthony Speight.

Paris rapeseed futures for August 2022 closed as high as £390.64/t on 7 May, he explains.

“Fundamentals driving the whole oilseed complex have been well documented, and the continued bullish outlook is providing support to both Aug-21 and Aug22 contracts,” says Mr Speight.

With harvest 2022 prices considerably above 2017-2020 ranges, some growers may be looking to forward sell to lock in some of these gains.

But forward selling a percentage comes with the risk of unexpected yield loss.

The risk depends on the size of the commitment. But Mr Speight warns that overcoming such ex-

More growers are expected to plant rape this summer

posures may increase a growers cost of production – and subsequently erode potential margins.

This pressure could be mitigated by taking out an options contract on the Euronext rapeseed futures contracts.

By trading options, growers can gain an income off the market moving up or down depending

on if you buy a call or put option.

“Presently there isn’t enough data or evidence to steer whether the 2022/23 marketing year is bullish for rapeseed,” says Mr Speight. “But as plantings and intentions become more concrete by the end of this year, fundamentals can start to clarify market sentiment.”

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igh prices for harvest 2022 could encourage more farmers to return to oilseed rape this summer.

Positive net margins are possible if yields can be achieved, according to Farmbench data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board – encouraging farmers to consider growing the crop after turning away from rape in recent years.

Unreliable weather and pest problems such as cabbage stem flea beetle mean many growers abandoned the rape. But some farmers are thinking again after recent highs saw prices climb beyond £500/tonne.

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Supporting East Anglian Farmers during COVID-19 JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 47

Harvest preview

Management systems transfer harvest data

C

laas says its Telematics system can now be easily connected with Bayer’s Climate FieldView package – enabling the seamless transfer of harvest information.

The two management systems can be connected through the Claas API (application programming interface).

This ensures easy data exchange for field-specific and site-specific documentation, it adds.

Reliable data flows are essential for precision farming. Successful fertiliser, crop protection and planting and sowing strategies depend upon access to accurate information about the previous years’ yields and site-specific yield differences.

An automatic documentation addon option in Claas Telematics facilitates driver-independent, field-specific and site-specific information – making it possible to obtain a complete overview of each field worked.

This takes account of all recorded

48 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

parameters. Yield data and measurements from Near Infra-Red sensors can be documented in addition to machine data and consumption figures, says Claas.

When a farmer or contractor connects their Claas Telematics account to their FieldView account via the Claas API, the documented harvest values from the telematics system can be easily retrieved.

Values are then sent to the FieldView user’s inbox. From there, the customer can select the files they’d like to synchronise with their FieldView account and further process the complete field-related documentation in FieldView.

With this sort of connectivity, yield values and yield maps from a Claas combine harvester can be used in FieldView to generate site-specific planting prescriptions or fertiliser maps for the coming season.

This helps farmers increase their

profitability, actively manage risk and save valuable time by gathering data and conducting analysis all in one place.

Each individual customer connects their two accounts. Farmers or contractors can independently revoke the connection in the Claas Telematics or FieldView portal at any time and disable the data exchange.

Telematics is a digital data transfer system which continuously retrieves and records work data, tracks and yield data from connected combine harvesters, forage harvesters and tractors.

Users receive a complete overview of each field worked

Sugar beet Get the most from sugar beet crop • Nutrition is key to optimise yields • Phosphorus often limited in soils • Nitrogen is single most important

C

old spring weather has piled the pressure on sugar beet growers to get the most from crops and optimise yields.

A robust nutrient management programme is essential, says Natalie Wood, arable agronomist at Yara.

This will help achieve a full leaf canopy which is what produces the highest yields, she adds.

“By intercepting at least 90% of incoming sunlight quickly and maintaining its greenness throughout the growing season, sugar beet will accumulate sugar from very early in its growth cycle.”

Growing this canopy early is critical. For this reason, nitrogen is the single most important nutrient, as it promotes growth at all stages of the plant’s development. But care must be taken to ensure other nutrients are in order.

“A balanced crop nutrition program is key,” says Ms Wood.

“Make sure you have all the essen-

tial macro and micro nutrients to get the most from your crop.”

Essential nutrients Phosphorus – crucial for early growth, is often limited in many soils. Fresh applications help ensure availability and avoid deficiency. Potassium and sodium also boost growth rates, regulating water and nutrient movement within the crop.

Sulphur, too, can often be overlooked. “Sulphur is essential for high yields,” says Ms Wood.

“It is linked with nitrogen. The ratio of nitrogen to sulphur in a healthy plant would be about 15:1. A higher ratio than that could lead to deficiency.”

Magnesium drives yield development through photosynthetic activity. During root expansion and growth, rapid cell division needs large amounts of boron. Deficiency can lead to deterioration of root and leaf expansion, compromising yields.

Boron deficiency can lead to root deterioration

“

Growers should act sooner rather than later

While factors such as temperature and water supply will have an impact on yield and sugar content, one area where farmers do have control – and the chance to positively impact their crop – is in managing their nutrients.

“Making sure the right nutrients are applied at sufficient levels can make a real difference, ” says Ms Wood.

Essential nutrients “There are also micronutrients that play a key role: manganese, boron, copper and molybdenum.

“The best approach is to apply a product that contains several of these key nutrients, such as YaraVita Brassitrel Pro – that way we know we’re supplying the crop with what it needs for healthy growth.”

“Now is the time to act. Make sure you have an effective nutrient management programme in place to give your sugar beet crop its best chance for high yields.”

A balanced crop nutrition program is vital, says Natalie Wood.

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 49

Sugar beet

New varieties added to sugar beet list

S

ix new sugar beet varieties from three breeders have been added to the recommended list for 2022.

The varieties are Katjana, Maruscha and Smart Rixta (all from KWS); BTS3020 and BTS5770 (both from Limagrain UK) and Wren from SESVanderHave UK. They all demonstrate improvements which are being made to UK crop potential.

Katjana is the second highest yielding variety on the list and tolerant to beet cyst nematode. Wren and BTS 3020 also offer high yields, says the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). BTS5770 has the highest sugar content.

Maruscha provides partial tolerance to beet mild yellowing virus while Smart Rixta KWS is an ALS herbicide tolerant variety. The claims for these three tolerances are based on breeder data and were not tested in BBRO trials.

Maruscha and Smart Rixta are not

recommended for sowing before midMarch. Both have shown low bolting characteristics when sown later in the last three years of trials. Katjana and BTS5770 produced no bolters in those three years.

“The 2020 trial season was more difficult compared to recent years,” says Mike May, who oversees the list.

This was reflected in the lower yield of the control varieties (105.8 adjusted tonnes per hectare) compared to 2019 (118t/ha) and 2018 (112t/ha).

Yields were less than losses suffered by many growers. But the BBRO dataset is based on yields from good even sites – and only five out of 13 trial sites were successful in 2020.

Dry weather after drilling led to variable emergence and some trials were lost because of uneven stands.

The early arrival of aphids meant a number of foliar sprays were required to reduce virus levels.

“Once again all credit must go to

“

the harvesting and tarehouse teams and trial operators for ensuring sufficient trials were harvested and analysed to allow this RL to be completed,” says Mr May. The full recommended list and threeyear data for each sugar beet variety can be found on the BBRO website at bbro.co.uk.

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Sugar beet

KWS launches first virus yellows tolerant beet

S

ugar beet growers will be able to choose virus yellows tolerant beet in 2022 after Maruscha KWS was added to the BBRO Recommended List.

Other notable additions from KWS include Katjana, a high-yielding BCN tolerant variety with low bolting, and Smart Rixta, a Conviso Smart variety that is a good partner for the well-established Smart Janninka.

In virus yellows trials in East Anglia over three years, Maruscha demonstrated tolerance to Beet Mild Yellowing Virus (BMYV) and a positive response to Beet Yellows Virus (BYV).

KWS says it has made developing tolerance to virus yellows a priority for the UK, which has among the highest seasonal risks of infection of any country in Europe.

Breeding varieties with strong tolerance remains a difficult and complicated process because of the different nature of the closterovirus and polerovirus strains that make up the virus yellows complex.

The polerovirus genus includes Tur-

nip Yellows Virus (TuYV), which can cause yield losses of up to 30% in oilseed rape, and potato leaf roll virus, possibly the most important virus disease of potatoes.

The nature of the viruses involved means tolerance to one form of the virus does not necessarily confer equal protection against another, explains Ben Bishop, KWS country manager for sugar beet in the UK. “Maruscha KWS is the first variety to come through the KWS breeding programme with a level of tolerance that supports commercially viable

Maruscha KWS virus yellows tolerant sugar beet in a field of non-tolerant beet

yields,” says Mr Bishop.

KWS will have a series of demonstration plots of Maruscha KWS in commercial crops of sugar beet in the 2021 season. Mr Bishop says this means interested growers will have the opportunity to see how the crop performs under real-world conditions this summer.

While its tolerance to virus yellows is likely to pique grower interest, Maruscha KWS has also demonstrated good disease resistance to the principal threats, rust and Cercospora leaf spot in list trials.

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JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 53

Sugar beet

New technology bolsters beet EXPERT VIEW Better sugar beet varieties mean muchneeded efficiencies for Britain’s growers, says Ian Munnery.

S

ophisticated new technologies – from advanced genetics to unmanned aerial vehicles – are being employed in the search for ever improved sugar beet varieties.

Back in the day, human eye and experience were key to finding new, improved varieties of sugar beet. Skilled technicians walked field trials where seed from hundreds of different crosses were grown, looking out for those plants that looked just right.

Harvest involved lifting and bagging sample after sample which went off for lengthy detailed analysis. Today, technology has an ever-increasing role – with genetic analysis enabling the likely outcome of any cross to be predicted with more certainty.

By understanding the genetic ‘fingerprint’ of a plant’s parents, it is ever easier to identify and combine key traits that are likely to result in improved new lines leading to ever better varieties in the field.

Clear understanding Advances in genetic science have reached a point where, should the UK government accept gene editing as an aid to breeding, it will be possible to combine desired traits with ever more accuracy and certainty.

As a company devoted to sugar beet breeding worldwide, SESVanderHave invests more than 15% of its turnover in research and development.

This means we already have a very clear understanding of the contents of our ‘genetic toolbox’; a well-stocked library of information and knowledge of how these translate into different environments around the world.

This is why genetic promise must still be field-tested locally.

To understand the way a variety responds to its environment (soil, climate, topography) is known as phenotyping. Field performance is a combination of both the phenotype and the genotype (the genetic make-up).

So field assessment is still important, but science can also play a part here to broaden, accelerate and ampli54 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

fy our data collection. Aerial observations by drones equipped to analyse plants using a range of spectra means each plant can be assessed, but at a far faster rate than the most skilled technician walking the rows.

Combating disease What’s more, aerial technology observes and measures consistently throughout the operating period – something few humans can achieve.

But data gathered must still be sense checked and the experience of field teams provides added context.

In Belgium, a project called ‘BeetPhen’ has evaluated digital field phenotyping methods in a collaboration between SESVanderHave, Vito Remote Sensing and the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office.

The initial aim is to provide plant breeders with a fast, efficient way to detect and measure disease infections with support from artificial learning and machine intelligence.

Understanding how varieties respond will be increasingly important as climate change alters the spectrum of disease that threatens beet production.

Even at harvest, technology can aid the breeder’s work. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is well-es-

Drones and satellite images are increasingly used in plant breeding Breeding techniques are becoming more accurate, says Ian Munnery (below)

tablished in assessing grains. Now NIRs will bring benefits to trials harvesting.

Important traits NIR analysis on-board a mobile tarehouse will enable the trials teams aboard the harvester to lift, weigh and analyse the crop from each small plot for important traits such as sugar content and dry matter.

Modern communications ensure data from each plot is recorded in the laboratory before the harvester has left the field. This information joins the historic data sets from parent lines to provide enhanced assurance of how the variety will perform.

SESVanderHave UK draws on global expertise and advances in science and technology. But our goal remains to develop thoroughly tried and tested varieties to ensure they match the unique needs of Britain’s growers.

Our latest variety to be added to the BBRO Recommended List is Wren, which has emerged from more than a decade of research to identify new varieties offering robust performance, in terms of establishment, root yield and low bolting – whatever the season.

Sugar beet is one of the few UK crops to have shown significant increases in performance over the past decade or more. But there is much more to come as science and technology is applied with ever more sophistication to crop and seed treatment technology.

Ian Munnery is UK director for SESVanderHave. For more details, visit www.sesvanderhave.com/uk or call 01522 442000.

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Livestock Concern over government plan to ratchet up animal welfare •

•

•

Fears farmers may lose out to imports Anger at proposals to ban live exports UK farmers ‘must not be undermined’

G

overnment plans to ratchet up animal welfare rules must not leave UK producers unfairly disadvantage, say livestock industry leaders.

Plans for legislative changes in key areas covering animal welfare were unveiled in last month’s Queen’s speech. Although some of the intentions were seen as welcome, farm leaders say others could have unintended consequences.

The proposals cover five key areas, including recognition of sentience, and the consideration of animal welfare in policy making and trade negotiations, along with enhanced protection for livestock, pets, and wild animals.

National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said: “There were both welcome and unwelcome intentions outlined within the Queens Speech and as is often the case the devil will be in the detail as these Bills get developed.

“We are enthusiastic about being a global leader in health and wel-

fare standards, but these have to be based on evidence and practicality. It will not advance welfare of animals if these standards aren’t a requirement for food imports to the UK.” Mr Stocker said the NSA remained highly concerned over proposals on livestock journey times and welfare in transport. He added: “We do not feel that an outright ban on live exports for slaughter is necessary.

“We believe there are more creative and intelligent ways to ensure good welfare outcomes and that there are cases where moving animals short distances across the English Channel makes sense.”

Better animal health and wellbeing was to be welcomed, said Mr Stocker.

But he added: “Clarity is still sought on exactly what support will look like for health and welfare enhancements that are valued by the public.”

The UK already has some of the highest animal welfare rules

“I have serious concerns about the government’s intention to raise the bar at home, without any certainty that the same standards will be applied to imports. There are still many practices allowed [overseas] that are banned here on welfare grounds.”

Mrs Batters said it was not uncommon to see journey times for live animals in Australia exceed 24 hours without access to feed or water. In comparison, the UK had consulted on reducing domestic journey times in the UK to eight hours.

“If the government is to raise the welfare bar here, it must do so for food imports. We cannot have a situation where British farmers adhere to some of the highest standards, only to be undercut by imports that barely meet the lowest rung on the ladder.”

Low standard imports NFU President Minette Batters said British farmers were proud to have some of the highest standards of animal welfare in the world and it was clear the government wanted to be a global leader in this area.

But farmers must not be undermined by lower standard imports. “We want to see the same energy and leadership that is being proposed for protecting endangered species and wildlife crime to be applied to our asks in equivalence in trade.

Government to clamp down on dog attacks

T

he government’s action plan includes a commitment to introduce stronger powers to tackle livestock worrying – and combat hare coursing.

NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “I’m pleased that the government has recognised more can be done to tackle rural crime, which continues to plague farmers and rural communities.

The NFU had raised the issue of rural crime at the highest level of government, said Mr Roberts. It had shared with min-

isters and MPs just how farming families suffer emotionally, mentally and financially from increasing levels of rural crime.

“This plan to explore better powers to tackle livestock worrying and a pledge to introduce laws that crack down on hare coursing are significant steps that must be recognised,” said Mr Roberts.

The National Sheep Association said dog attacks on livestock caused emotional and economic distress. And it welcomed the plan to ensure the police had new powers to re-

spond to the most serious incidents.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “The National Sheep Association has worked tirelessly to achieve a change in legislation in England and Wales protecting sheep farmers more effectively from dog attacks.”

Scotland introduced new legislation earlier this year that will see dog owners face fines of up to £40,000 and prison for the most serious offences.

Mr Stocker said: “We hope the UK will soon be an equal playing field.”

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 57

Livestock

Micronutrients crucial to prevent lameness

F

Lameness can be increasingly noticeable during summer

armers looking to reduce lameness in cattle are being encouraged to consider trace element and vitamin supplementation to support hoof health.

Appropriate micronutrition, teamed with a suitable trimming strategy, can support the hoof horn and help prevent lameness and its costly consequences, says Tom Butler, group technical manager at Brinicombe.

“Lame cows will have a lower dry matter intake and their milk yield will subsequently be reduced. The problem most commonly occurs when the integrity of the hoof horn deteriorates, allowing disease and bacteria to enter the foot.”

Trace element and vitamin supplementation can play an important part in supporting hoof integrity, says Mr Butler. This helps to reduce the risk of hoof diseases, such as digital dermatitis and sole ulcers.

Biotin and zinc as particularly beneficial.

Essential for keratinisation, which is a key process in the healthy composition of the hoof horn, biotin is a vitamin often lacking in cattle diets. Zinc is also seen as important for good hoof health.

Mr Butler says: “Severe nutritional deficiencies in both biotin and zinc can lead to a

Photo: Tim Scrivener

fragile hoof, more susceptible to cracks and bacterial infections, thus increasing the risk of lameness.”

He recommends routinely incorporating trace element and vitamin supplementation into lameness management strategies.

“Trace element and vitamin boluses high in biotin and zinc, such as EnduraBol Biotin, are a good way to ensure a consistent and long-lasting supply of micronutrients to help support hoof health as well as general

cow health and performance.”

Based on scientific research, EnduraBol Biotin has been designed with hoof health in mind. Two boluses deliver approximately 20mg of biotin per day and a sustained release of zinc for up to 120 days.

“During the summer, lameness can be increasingly noticeable as cattle are more likely to be walking further to the parlour, often on sharp, stony tracks, which can cause wear and tear on hooves,” says Mr Butler.

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PROFILE NORFOLK WAGYU BEEF

Wagyu beef goes down a treat in Norfolk Breeding and rearing Japanese cattle is a new enterprise for Sam Frost – and their meat is proving popular >>

PROFILE NORFOLK WAGYU BEEF

A

Norfolk farmer is making a success of breeding and selling high-quality Wagyu beef direct to consumers after starting his business just four years ago.

Sam Frost, who farms at Besthorpe, near Attleborough, started Norfolk Wagyu Beef after tasting it in a restaurant while on holiday in Australia. The taste was fantastic, he says – and so was the story behind it.

“I’ve always loved producing something and selling it direct to the consumer,” explains Mr Frost. “We’ve always had turkeys. When I was younger dad and I would butcher them and put a sign at the end of the road for people to collect them for Christmas day.

“I always liked that one-to-one process – to farm something and then literally give the product straight to the person buying it. But Christmas is only one day and I wanted something that was all-year-round.”

Mr Frost says he wanted to start a high-value niche enterprise that would bring additional revenue into the business. Many people do turkeys, he says, But only about 50 farmers in the UK rear Wagyu beef.

Four cows with followers and a pedi-

gree Australian-registered Wagyu bull were purchased in 2017. “It’s a long process,” says Mr Frost. “I’m taking them to about 32-months-old – they are big boys when they are done.”

Respected breed Wagyu are a Japanese beef cattle breed descended from native Asian cattle.

Once used as draft animals in agriculture, they weer selected for their physical endurance – which means more intramuscular fat cells.

The marbling this creates provides a readily available energy source – increasing their endurance. But it also means their meat is exceptionally tender and flavoursome, making it highly prized by top chefs across the world.

Although native to Japan, the Australian breed society is among the biggest and most respected globally. “The meat from the offspring sired by our bull is very good – he does his job and his progeny marble really nicely.

“The quality of the beef is the driving force behind what we do,” he adds.

“We have some pure Wagyu cattle in our herd and some crossbred animals.

Our aim is to produce high welfare and sustainable wagyu beef.”

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Mr Frost has overcome numerous hurdles to reach where he is today – but the meat is good and it is selling well.

The technical side of livestock breeding is rewarding, he says. So too is marketing Wagyu meat to consumers.

“The Wagyu are a great breed – and the meat they produce is exceptional.

Then there is the the breeding itself – and we have full control over it, which makes it fascinating.

“The marbling makes the meat really special – the intramuscular fat melts

The marbling makes Wagyu beef highly prized.

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when you cook it. It’s almost like butter when you eat it – a really rich but tender steak that has a good beef flavour – it’s the marbling that makes it unique.”

Farming system Low annual rainfall means Norfolk isn’t renowned for its grass-based livestock systems. But Mr Frost still manages to keep his cattle outside for at least six months of the year – and seven months if the weather allows.

Getting enough grass has been a struggle – the farm is mainly arable – but local farmers and landowners have helped out by providing grazing. “People have been really supportive and generous,” says Mr Frost.

When they come inside, young stock are fed on fodder beet. “We already grew sugar beet on the farm, so it was really easy for us add fodder beet into the rotation. It’s a good-value feed and it contains lots of energy, so they do really well on it.”

At first, Mr Frost says he thought he would rotationally graze the cattle to maximise the grass usage. But he soon realised that Wagyu won’t fatten on grass alone.

“A well-known breeder told me you should never let a Wagyu have a bad day in its life – you’ve always got to keep them fed nicely. They won’t marble so well off a grass-only diet so we make sure we supplement it with barley and beet pulp.”

Building up the herd is an expensive business – with animals bought in when money allows and when they become available. There are currently about 10 cows and 40 animals altogether.

“We will only finish three animals this year and five next year,” says Mr Frost. “The year after, we expect to be be doing one a month – which means one animal slaughtered each month.

“The goal is get to finishing one ani-

include specialist retailers, eateries and restaurants – now Covid lockdown rules are easing.

“

I didn’t want to be a farmer who grows a crop or rears an animal and then have no say in the price I receive. mal every week – which will represent a considerable achievement because historically we’re not a livestock farm with lots of buildings lying around doing nothing.”

Wagru meat products are currently sold through the farm’s dedicated online shop. Other outlets are set to

Sales and marketing “Restaurants are interested but we only started selling beef last March and then the pandemic came. We’ve since built up a good customer base by concentrating on private sales.”

Customers are discerning and demand quality, says Mr Frost. They willing to pay £10 for 500g of Wagyu mince.

It’s two or three times the price of regular beef – a premium price for a premium product, he adds.

“I didn’t want to be a farmer who grows a crop or rears an animal and then have no say in the price I am given. I wanted to be able to say: ‘This is how much it is’. The only way to do that is by having my own shop.”

Setting up the online shop was among his biggest challenges. But so too was learning about stockmanship.

“Traditionally, we’re turkey producers so it’s been a steep learning curve but I feel like I’m getting there.”

Thankfully, Wagyus are know being placid animals – although easily stressed – and easy calvers. “They are easy to manage and their calm temperament is a big bonus.”

Plans include improving the marbling by introducing more pure-bred animals. “I’m really enjoying this and I want to keep it going – and see where it can go as a business.”

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Groundswell preview What’s on at Groundswell Discussion panels & workshops include water catchments, AHDB Soil Pit and ‘Food for Thought’ area exploring links between soil health and a healthy diet.

Direct drill demonstrations will take place on both days, with 15 machinery manufacturers direct drilling into standing cover crops with minimal soil disturbance.

More than 100 companies and organisations will present their services and products for farmers with an interest in regenerative agriculture.

Trials and plot crops including herbal leys, cover crops, trials, biostimulants, spring wheat, bi-cropping, agroforestry, Heritage wheats and no-till potatoes.

Groundswell all set for bumper 2021 event A

transformed venue will greet visitors to this month’s Groundswell event – the agricultural show focused on notill techniques and soil regeneration.

The fifth annual Groundswell show and conference takes place on 23-24 June at Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire. It will include a host of ideas on ways to farm while regenerating the soil in the new environmental and political climate.

The overriding theme is set by the principles of regenerative agriculture. Workshops and exhibitions will include sessions by a range of innovative farming companies and field scale direct drill demonstrations.

New era Taking centre stage will be two new exhibitor and demonstration fields. All sessions

will take place in temporary structures dotted between the exhibitions.

Defra secretary George Eustice will be interviewed by former Fleet Street editor Baroness Rosie Boycott. Defra senior civil servant Janet Hughes will discuss how farmers will be rewarded under the government’s Sustainable Farming Initiative.

Host farmer John Cherry said: “The government’s stated ambition for the future of food, farming and the environment is that public money will be spent on public goods that enhance natural capital.

“The new Environmental Land Management scheme will usher in a new era for farming. For any farmer looking to adapt to this scenario while maintaining viability as a food producer, Groundswell is the place to be.”

Keynote conference sessions and rainfall simulator demonstrations will take place in a big top tent. The Earthworm Arms Bar area has evolved with live music taking place on the Wednesday evening and dozens of independent food traders.

Special sessions More than 100 sessions will take place over the two days. Attendees will hear from a range of people in regenerative agriculture.

Visitors will learn about the different principles and techniques – and how they are interpreted by different practitioners.

On stage will be leading soil scientists discussing with innovative farmers about how they are building organic matter and making their farming systems more resil-

ient. There will also be debates on the future of farming policy.

A series of motivating talks and workshops with farmers outlining their strategies for regenerative agriculture – whether through growing more nutritious crops or changing their business to operate more holistically.

Nearly half the attendees to Groundswell believe livestock are key in a truly regenerative system. Sessions will range from building soil carbon in pasture farming to the birth of regenerative dairy farming.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn how to maximise the value of a carcass with advice from veteran butcher Richard Summers. They will also be able to see how pasture-based livestock producers took on the vegan movement at their own game.

Expanding this theme, Groundswell is trying to help connect the dots between farmers and consumers. This year – more than ever – it is looking at different models for vertically integrating the supply chain.

Where: Lannock Manor Farm, Weston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7EE – within a mile of Junction 9 of the A1(M) in north Hertfordshire on 27-28 June 2018.

Tickets: £60 (+VAT) for one day or £95 (+VAT) for both days. 15% Student and YFC Discounts are available.

For more information, visit www.groundswellag.com

JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 63

Groundswell preview

Benchmarking group shows regenerative farming works • Take action to ease financial strain • Loss of payments poses challenge • Yield is king approach doesn’t work

R

egenerative agriculture can achieve similar financial results to traditional arable systems and benchmarking your business can help to manage the change.

Farming is embarking on a period of huge change that most growers and livestock producers have never experienced, says farm consultant Gary Markham, who helped initiate the Groundswell Benchmarking Group.

This will see the industry move away from the comfort of area payments – which make up around 84% of income on many arable farms. Instead, farms will have to apply for specific funding for environmental work.

“This will inevitably put farming business in financial strain as there will be a funding gap over the forthcoming few years,” says Mr Markham.

“Farming has become very capital intensive.”

Inevitable change Mr Markham, of the Land Family Business farm consultancy group, will explain his thinking further at Groundswell 2021. “Change is inevitable – but managing the change is where the difficulty comes,” he says.

The economic production value of arable land is about £4,000 per acre and the additional £4-6,000 has no bearing on production capacity. Added to this is the increase in the capital cost of machinery over the past few years to over £300 per acre.

Many farmers have quite correctly attempted to expand as a means of dealing with these pressures, says Mr Markham. But this has normally meant tendering for contract farming agreements and losing about £40-60 per acre on the extra land.

This results in many arable farms becoming increasingly unviable as businesses. The margin from arable farming before direct payments and income from other enterprises has been minimal over the past two years.

“One of the best tools to monitor the change and provide achievable targets 64 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

is to benchmark against farming businesses that have already made these changes,” says Mr Markham, who set up the Groundswell Benchmarking Group.

The group has been benchmarking a number of regenerative agriculture farming businesses for the 2017 to 2020 harvests – to identify if regenerative agricultural production systems can be financially viable.

Key findings for the performance of regenerative systems include: • Average output 25% lower • Variable costs 24% lower • Gross margin 28% lower • Labour and machinery costs which are 30% lower This results in an average margin very similar for both systems of production. But the range of results within the group is wide with the top performers achieving results well above conventional top 25% group.

In addition to margins, there are savings in working capital of around £148 per acre which can have a large impact on a farming business.

Lack of profitability in arable farms is mainly driven by high machinery costs and in particular depreciation which represents the capital per acre.

Mr Markham has therefore developed a key indicator of machinery capital per tonne.

The average machinery cost among the Groundswell group of regenerative farmers is £74 per tonne of wheat.

This compares with an average cost of about £91/t for arable farmers employing a conventional production system.

“The difference has been around £20 to £30 per tonne over the past four harvests.” says Mr Markham, who says it shows that the traditional ‘yield is king’ philosophy does not work.

It also shows that expanding the area farmed is not feasible by using traditional contract farming structures he adds. Furthermore, Mr Markham says benchmarking data proves that there is a different approach that is economically viable.

Traditional contracting agreements will be barely viable without basic payments, says Gary Markham

Five principles of regenerative agriculture 1. Don’t disturb the soil Soil supports a complex network of worm-holes, fungal hyphae and a labyrinth of microscopic air pockets surrounded by aggregates of soil particles.

Disturbing this, by ploughing or heavy doses of fertiliser or sprays, will set the system back.

2. Keep soil surface covered The impact of rain drops or burning rays of sun or frost can all harm the soil. A duvet of growing crops, or stubble residues, will protect it.

3. Keep living roots in the soil In an arable rotation there will be times when this is hard to do but living roots in the soil are vital for feeding the bacteria and fungi that provide food for the protozoa, arthropods and higher creatures further up the chain.

4. Grow diverse range of crops Ideally at the same time, like in a meadow.

Monocultures do not happen in nature and soil thrives on variety. Companion cropping (two crops are grown at once and separated after harvest) can be successful.

Cover cropping – growing a crop which is not taken to harvest but helps protect and feed the soil – will also have the happy effect of capturing sunlight and feeding that energy to the subterranean world, at a time when traditionally the land would have been bare.

5. Bring back grazing animals This is more than a nod to the permanent pasture analogy, it allows arable farmers to rest their land for one, two or more years and then graze multispecies leys – great in themselves for feeding the soil and for mob-grazed livestock.

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Groundswell preview

Overseeder requires less power – saving fuel

E

xhibitors at the 2021 Groundswell event will include JC Machinery, which will showcase the Vredo range of overseeders. The event takes place on 23-24 June at Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire.

The Vredo Agri Twin and Air Series are both renowned for their innovative grassland overseeding, but the addition of the award winning Crop Drill System (CDS) has made it a market first.

Now equipped with the CDS, the machines are able to sow arable crops directly on corn stubble without any tillage at a 15cm row distance, whilst keeping the well-known grass land overseeding features and 96% germination rate.

Because of this, it is the only machine capable of overseeding on grass and arable land, and since the system works through slitting instead of cultivating, less machine power is needed, saving on fuel costs.

The base of the machine remains a pair of slicing disks with an inter-row distance of 7.5cm. But, to sow arable

66 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

crops deeper, every second pair of discs can be pulled higher using hydraulics, creating a sowing distance of 15cm.

Soil is not disturbed, maintains its strength and keeps the organic matter in the top layer, giving healthier crops using less chemicals and fertilisers.

The seed distributors can quickly be diverted from ten to five exits to work with the pulled-up elements of the Seeder. This works with Vredo’s own pneumatic seed hopper, which can distribute very fine seed – or very large seed – evenly.

The working width of the models ranges from 2.5m to 5.8m, ensuring there is a suitable model for every situation. The multi-functional machine can operate all year round, doesn’t disturb the soil and creates healthier crops while giving more machine hours per unit.

Having the ability to carry out professional grassland and arable land management with one unit makes the new Vredo Agri Air and Agri Twin Series among the most efficient on the market, claims the company.

Slicing disks on the machine have an interrow distance of 7.5cm

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Machinery

First robotic tractor goes to work on Suffolk farm • Driverless machine weeds leeks in field • Makes light work of repetitive farm jobs • Good performance over range of crops

T

he UK’s first commercially available robotic tractor has gone to work on a Suffolk farm – weeding leeks and solving a labour shortage.

Better technology – and difficulty sourcing seasonal workers – meant a major investment for Home Farm Nacton on the outskirts of Ipswich. The Robotti 150D from Danish manufacturer Agrointelli is believed to have cost an estimated £160,000.

The fresh produce farm grows both organic and conventional vegetables, including a range of brassicas and root crops.

Right step forward Home Farm farms director Andrew Williams (right) said he heard about the Robotti from Gordon Cummings, machinery manager at Fram Farmers, who has been researching the use of robotics in the fresh produce sector for the past two years.

Mr Williams said: “Gordon put us in touch with the team at Agrointelli, who have been enormously helpful and knowledgeable. By January, I had approval from Home Farm’s board of directors, who were convinced this was the right step forward.”

He added: “From a business point of view, we are confident that this is where the future lies.

A large amount of our produce is organic, so we are increasingly limited in how we can control weeds.

“Mechanical weeding is repetitive work, as is manual weeding, and sourcing seasonal, overseas labour is becoming increasingly difficult. We wanted to future-proof the farm and Robotti is perfectly suited to our set-up.”

The Robotti 150D has now been in operation on the farm since mid-April, weeding a number of vegetable crops using a harrow attachment. Agrointelli says

it is one of 50 robots which will be working across Europe by the end of the year.

“It can be in operation 24 hours a day, so there is a long window of opportunity for it to make a difference in the crucial weeding stages of the crops, fitting well into our cropping plan,” said Mr Williams.

“It does exactly what we need, moving soil in the early stage of growth with guaranteed preci-

sion. It will initially be used for weeding this year, but we also plan to use it for topping and drilling in the future, maybe even transplanting.”

The Robotti is autonomously controlled by GPS via an onboard computer. This means it does not depend on a human driver, instead following a pre-programmed planned route in the field.

Technical details The model at Home Farm has two Kubota 75hp diesel engines.

The left engine propels the machine and powers a conventional three-point hitch. The right engine drives the power takeoff which drives the implements.

The machine can be fitted with standard implements and perform multiple tasks in the field throughout the season. Each engine takes 110 litres of fuel, which is enough for the machine to run continuously for approximately 24 hours.

“The accuracy lies in the GPS mapped field, with Robotti taking the same exact lines every time,” explains Agrointelli sales manager Frederik Rom. “It is equipped with RTK GPS, so the set up on any farm is simple.

“It took approximately 10 minutes to map a 1.6ha (4 acre) field at Home Farm, and a further 10 Continued on p71 JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 69

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OROR COMMERCIAL OR COMMERCIAL • •INT TERNAL EXTERNAL INT TERNAL OR EXTERNAL •-INT TERNAL7th OR EXTERNAL See us at Agri Expo March RONS & SHED FLOORS • APR INT ERNALSTEEL OR EXTERNAL ••INT TTERNAL OR EXTERNAL FIXING STEEL FIXING • AN NAEROBIC DIGESTION • • • STEEL FIXING STEEL FIXING TANK ••AGRICULTURA STEEL FIXING • FOUNDATIONS ••• • APRONS &OR SHED FLOORS BRU UBASES SH, TAMP BRU USH, TAMP ORPOWER POWER • INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL, RAL A • BRU U SH, TAMP OR POWER • POULTRY UNITS AND POTATO• & ANAEROBIC DIGESTION • GRAIN, OR COMMERCIAL BRU SH, TAMP OR POWER ••BRU UUSH, TAMP OR POWER FLOAT FINISHES FLOAT FINISHES STABLE YARDS TANK BASES OR COMMERCIAL • INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL MACHINERY STORES FLOAT FINISHES • MATERIAL ADVICE AND • GRAIN, POTATO FINISHES & • STEEL FIXING FLOAT FLOAT FINISHES • PATHS, PATIOS AND • INT T ERNAL OR EXTERNAL COSTING MACHINERY STORES • BRUSH, TAMP OR POWER • •FOUNDATIONS FOUNDATIONS DRIVEWAYS • SILO BASES • PATHS, PATIOS, DRIVEWAYS FLOAT FINISHES • •FOUNDATIONS STEEL& PREP FIXING • GROUNDWORKS •& GROUNDWORKS FOUNDATIONS ••FOUNDATIONS • •POULTRY UNITS POULTRY UNITSAND AND • POULTRY UNITS AND PREPARATION • BRU SH, TAMPUNITS OR POWER •POULTRY POULTRY UNITS AND •U AND STABLE STABLEYARDS YARDS 01945 870 076 STABLE YARDS FLOAT FINISHES STABLE YARDS STABLE YARDS • •MM ATERIAL ADVICE AND ADVICE AND • nationwide coverage • www.sjstanberry.com •ATERIAL sales@sjstanberry.com • M ATERIAL ADVICE AND 01945 870076 • M ATERIAL ADVICE AND • MATERIAL ADVICE AND COSTING COSTING • FOUNDATIONS • nationwide coverage • sales@sjstanberry.com • www.sjstanberry.com COSTING www.agriculturalbuildingconstruction.co.uk COSTING COSTING • •SILO BASES SILO BASES • POULTRY UNITS AND Email: info@agriculturalbuildingconstruction.co.uk • SILO BASES Tel: 07981 031613 / 01945 660231 | Wisbech, Cambs SILO BASES ••SILO BASES STABLE YARDS RONS SHED FLOORS • •APR R ONS& & SHED FLOORS APR So•why should you call us today?

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Machinery Continued from p69 minutes to log the weeding plan into the system. It is important for this to be accurate from the start, as it will determine reliable performance.”

Safety and performance Field obstacles such as telegraph poles and trees are logged at the programming stage. Any obstacles outside of this will stop the robot in its tracks safely in the field, until the obstacle is removed from its path.

An online portal provides real-time updates of the machine’s progress. This means the operator can check the fieldwork progress remotely – rather than having to visit the field to see the machine at work.

“I can leave Robotti working in the field quite happily, knowing it will send me an alert if there is an issue, or if something unexpected is in its way. It has front and rear cameras, which I can view at any time,” says Mr Williams.

“The portal tells me how much fuel is in the tank, how many hours it has done, and how much time it has left before the fuel runs out. It will also tell me when it’s finished one field, so I can ensure it’s taken to the next field to start its new job.”

Robot performs well in all conditions Trials show the Robotti works well on heavier land – as well as lighter soil types like those at Home Farm Nacton. Agrointelli says the robot is especially effective with bed systems and row crops. This is because the robot carries the implement in the centre, distributing its weight evenly across all four wheels.

The machine’s low ground pressure, low weight and four-wheel drive capability make it less likely to get stuck than a conventional tractor while reducing compaction and structural damage to the soil.

Gordon Cummings of Fram Farmers was instrumental in bringing the Robotti to the UK.

The process was simple, and the farmer-owned cooperative was proud to be able to offer the supplier relationship to its other members too.

Mr Cummings said: “The interest in autonomous tractors has been around a long time, and we’re delighted to have been involved in bringing this to the UK for Andrew and the team at Home Farm Nacton.

“Many of our fresh produce grower members will have the chance to see Robotti in operation at Home Farm over the next few months, demonstrating the benefits and efficiencies that forward-thinking technology can bring to the sector.”

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Property Farmland can help UK reach Net Zero target – study • Farmers have key role, says report • Land seen as alternative investment • Hedgerows and trees are important

F

armed landscapes can contribute to carbon management while also offering opportunities for wildlife, says a study.

Peatlands and native woodlands are among the habitats with the greatest capacity to store carbon, says the Natural England report. But other habitats – including including grasslands – could have a significant role too, it suggests.

Hedgerows can increase carbon storage while benefiting wildlife and biodiversity as part of the farmed countryside, says the document. Future environmental land management schemes will reward farmers for doing this work.

The report says the landscape recovery tier of the forthcoming environmental Land Management scheme will incentivise major land management changes and habitat restoration across England.

Full potential Natural England climate change specialist Ruth Gregg said: “To achieve full potential in helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 we need to act now, basing decisions on robust science and taking a strategic approach.”

Land agents Strutt & Parker say increased demand from green investors looking at alternatives to food production is a notable de-

velopment in the farmland market over recent months.

“They still represent a very small subset of the market, but it does look as if that proportion is set to grow,” it says. Plans include tree planting, rewilding and other conservation and carbon-offset projects.

National Sheep Association chief Executive Phil Stocker said future land management schemes would provide the opportunity for the vast majority of the UK’s farmland to be managed in ways that enhance soil and nature.

This would be achieved through the forthcoming Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme – but go further with local nature and landscape recovery to create and maintain habitats with related net zero benefits.

The study says woodlands have high rates of carbon seques-

tration – depending on the species, age and location of trees. Old woodland can become substantial carbon stores, it adds.

Mr Stocker said protecting these habitats was important for biodiversity too. But he cautioned against a headlong rush to meet tree planting targets – saying it was crucial to remember the importance of site selection.

“The right tree in the right place is what is crucial and that future needs will be a mix of climate control, nature recovery and a need to feed ourselves healthily and not ‘offshore’ our footprint to somewhere that is simply out of sight.”

Trees and shrubs – alongside grazing animal systems – could support food production while providing wider environmental and nature benefits, helping the UK meet its carbon targets, said Mr Stocker.

Historic farm hits market for £7.5m

A

historic 138ha (340 acre) Suffolk farm on the banks of the River Deben is now on sale with a guide price of £7.5 million.

Hill Farm in Martlesham, near Woodbridge, is said to be one of the first places in England to export sugar beet to the Netherlands. It was once owned by a former RAF group captain who fought alongside World War Two flying ace Douglas Bader.

The property includes 91ha (224 acres) of productive, organic, irrigated farmland.

It has typically supported crop rotations including French beans, butternut squash, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, onions and parsley as well as cereals and clover.

In addition there are 35ha (86 acres) of grazing marshes, meadow and woodland, 72 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

The farm includes arable land, grazing marshes and woodland. Photo: Kevin Snell

a six million gallon reservoir and 7ha (18 acres) of water and saltings. Building include workshops, machinery storage and a five-bedroom farmhouse.

The property has been in the same family for almost 60 years and is currently farmed organically under tenancy. Land agents Savills describe it as “an exemplary residential farm in the rarest of coastal settings.”

Selling agent William Hargreaves said:

“The property provides a wonderful opportunity for progressive farming. Classified as organic for more than 15 years, the arable land is farmed under contract until the end of September 2022.”

Between 1956 and 1963 the farm was owned by Group Captain Edward P Wells, a New Zealander who served with 41 and 266 squadrons during the Battle of Britain, flying alongside Douglas Bader.

Been Been promised promised a a nest nest egg egg for for your your agricultural agricultural land? land?

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JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 73

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

Landlord vs tenant Farming agreements – which were once simple – have become much more complicated, says Fen Tiger.

I

’m not sure I fit the bill to be a farmer any more. Semi-retirement is in full flow, my brain frequently goes into autopilot mode and little things often slip by.

When I say “little things” I mean my attention to detail has slowed down.

Maybe it is called de-stressing after years of running a business. When a friend recently asked me to look over or comment on his land agreement, I couldn’t make head nor tail of it.

Like me, he has decided to take a backward step and let a near neighbour farm his land. There is nothing unusual about that you might think.

But I cannot work out whether it is share farming, contracting, renting or a combination of all three.

Next generation I understood share farming when it was all about a newer entrant to agriculture learning on the job while the older farmer eased himself into retirement. It’s a great way of passing knowledge down the line to the next generation.

It is also mutually beneficial agreement for two parties to come together while remaining two separate businesses. They both contribute their individual expertise to the mutual benefit of both parties.

Unlike contract farming, share farming agreements make no guaranteed payments. This means that

74 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021

both parties can benefit in the good times and share the burden of loss in the lean times.

Contract farming is different. It usually involves a pre-agreed amount allocated between the landlord and the contract farmer – with any subsequent surplus divided between the two.

Share farming agreements and contract farming agreements both have their good points – and have served farmers and their landlords well over the years. But my friend had been troubled by recent events.

Active farmer His farm accountant advised him against the simple idea of renting out the farm because he would lose certain allowances. There was also the ongoing requirement to be seen as an active farm business.

But my friend wants a quieter life and there is little doubt that the easiest solution is to take the rent and let the contractor take care of the finance and day-to-day running of the farm.

That said, it turns out that the agreed facts and figures were not what they seemed. After an initial agreement about cropping, it appears that the contractor – or tenant depending upon your viewpoint – had sublet the land to somebody else.

This meant a big chunk of the farm was growing sugar beet, maize and

“

My friend had been troubled by recent events

vegetables. It also explained why the contractor was paying a third party to drill the beet. The drillman showed him a substantial map of all rented land – on his farm and elsewhere too.

The same appeared to be happening with other land let for root crops.

So from being a straightforward agreement with costs agreed, a third party had become involved – and somewhat heavily as well.

Changing hands On tackling the contractor – or tenant – it appeared that money was changing hands without my friend’s knowledge.

In hindsight, my friend could have taken the rent-only option – cutting out the third party.

The whole situation raises a big question: with three parties involved, who is responsible for the cross compliance? One of the growers was under the impression that he was claiming the basic payment while the landlord was responsible.

Clearly though, that does not work.

And it appears that the agent involved had been acting for all concerned too.

It is a shady way to operate. It appears that the trick was to gain control of the land and then go back and renegotiate the finer details.

With fewer family farms able to survive – especially as the basic payment is phased out – I expect we will see more cases like this. Agreements are often no longer what they seem and agents should be closely inspected before pen is put to paper.

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