Anglia Farmer - November 2022

EDITORIAL

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together to beat AgInflation

imal feed and crop protection products. As seen in recent weeks, volatile movements in the value of Sterling can have a rapid affect on prices.

if

been on the sharp end of huge

the past 12 months – and

cost of living crisis shows few signs of easing in the immediate future.

The AF Group, which compiles the AgInflation Index, purchases more than £250m of farm inputs annually. This includes standard inputs such as feed, fuel and fertiliser –as well tyres and building materials.

High costs are affecting all farm sectors, it says, with seven out of nine input categories

double digit inflation. Animal feed and medicine, fuel and fertiliser have seen the biggest increases at 36%, 42.8% and 133.8% respectively.

So what can be done?

is no doubt that planning ahead is more important than ever. With input prices changing daily – and sometimes hourly – accurate budgeting and forecasting will have a big impact on farm margins.

is particularly the case when it comes to imported inputs – including fertiliser, an-

Energy is a real challenge. Prices have soared – and have a knock-on effect on other input costs. The government's energy relief scheme has capped price rises to some extent – but it is only a temporary fix.

Suppliers as well as farmers are under pressure. Many businesses have been unable to fix their energy costs for the coming year. Others – including those who operate on liquefied gas or heating oil – haven't been offered contracts at all.

Farmers who haven't already done so should consider joining a buying group which procures inputs on behalf of its members –securing lower prices while reducing admin costs and time spent in the farm office.

No-one will escape these cost increases completely. But it is clear that working together can help mitigate their worst effects. This includes farmers and suppliers better understanding each other's challenges and requirements.

Johann Tasker Editor

Call to work together as farm input costs soar by 34%

AgInflation by input category 2022

FInflation Index – prompting calls for farmers to work together to find the best deals on prices.

ing 34.15% in the year ending 30 September 2022, according to the farmer-owned AF Group, which compiles the figures. The annual increase is way higher than the 22% increase recorded last year., it said.

show no farming enterprise has avoided double digit inflation. Seven out of nine input categories have seen double digit inflation with animal feed and medicine, fuel and fertiliser seeing greatest increases at 36%, 42.8% and 133.8% respectively.

the highest cost increases at just over 40%. Potato production costs rose by almost 40%, with dairying next at 37%. Beef and lamb producers saw costs rise bny 35%. The lowest increase was in the sugar beet sector, but event there growers saw costs rise almost 30%.

Plan ahead

AF Group chief executive David Horton-Fawkes said: “The results of our latest Aginflation index can only be described as alarming. The spiralling costs of farm inputs exceeds anything we have seen since we first published our index in 2006."

The findings posed an existential threat to many farmers, added Mr Horton-Fawkes. The AF Group was seeing signs that some businesses were beginning to struggle. The consequences would be felt by the rest of the food supply chain, he said.

“We are urging our members to plan their cash flows and use our index to work with processors and advisors to confront these brutal facts because business as usual in 2023 is not going to be an option.

“The energy price cap will provide only temporary respite because the cap is limited and is not an open-ended commitment. Farmers are tough and

resourceful and we’ve all had our fill of doom and gloom but no one can afford to ignore these results.”

Food prices

Retail food prices are failing to compensate for higher farm costs. The total food Retail Price Index for a basket of foodstuffs has risen over the same oneyear period by an average of 13.1%, according to government figures.

It is the steepest annual RPI rise since the AF Group started monitoring

ag-inflation in 2006. But it is still far below the cost increases faced by farmers. The exception is retail milk which rose 44.2% – slighting above dairy cost increases of 36.94%.

By comparison, the gap is widening between the retail price and the cost of producing many other foods.

The AF Group reports serious shortfalls for beef and lamb (18.1%); granulated sugar, bread and margarine (all about 20%); and potatoes (29.1%), the hardest hit sector of all.

Switch to organic brings many benefits

More than 300 farmers are expected to attend this year's Norfolk Farming Conference, which takes place on 30 November at the Norfolk Showground.

Guest speakers include organic farmer John Pawsey, of Shimpling Park Farm, near Bury St Edmunds. He will explain his decision to convert his farm from conventional production in 1999.

Mr Pawsey says going organic has brought many benefits – including to his farm's natural capital. He says the soil is in a better condition, biodiversity has improved and he’s making a profit from food production.

"When we thought of going organic, I talked to my neighbours and my agronomist at the time and I was told it was impossible. Now, years down the road, I wish I hadn’t listened to them as probably I would have done it better to begin with."

Meanwhile, energy and cost savings are also a big consideration. Mr Pawsey says: “We are doing quite a lot of ploughing this year but we are looking at saving on fuels and fixed costs with our tractors.

"The only trade off – we are probably spending more money on establishing crops.”

The rise can only be described as alarming.

“

Awards ceremony for farming's high achievers

Three high achievers from the East of Eng land were recognised at an awards cere mony last month at the House of Lords.

The English Panel of the Council for Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS) cel ebrates the achievements and contribution of in dividuals across food and farming. The awards ceremony was hosted by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 11 October.

Cambridgeshire farmer David Walston re ceived an associate award for his work building soil health, supported by Rosie Carne and Geoff Dodgson. Norfolk farmer Tony Bambridge re ceived a “privileged to farm” fellowship support ed by Henry Cator and Nick Tapp

AgriTechE director Belinda Clarke also re ceived a fellowship award for facilitating links between farmers and innovators. This was sup ported by the late Caroline Drummond and John Shropshire.

The awards embrace both practical farming

Special recognition (l-r): Tony Bambridge, Belinda Clarke and David received their awards at the House of Lords

and the development of new husbandry prac tices. They also recognise research, technology, economics, education, farming care, communi cation and administration.

Speaking at the event, awards chairman Nick Green said: “We are delighted to be able to or ganise such a fitting ceremony to highlight in dividual personal achievement in such a histor ical and grand setting.”

A Fellowship (FRAgS) or Associateship (ARAgS) recognises an outstanding contribu tion by an individual to the understanding, ef ficiency and well-being of agriculture. To date, there are currently over 800 fellows and over 350 associates.

The awards recognise personal achievement in a professional capacity. Recipients are fre quently individuals of influence within agricul

Top speakers for East of England conference

Atop line-up of speakers has been confirmed for the East of England Farming Conference, which takes place on 17 November at the East of England Showground, Pe terborough.

Now in its sixth year, the confer ence theme is ‘Greener and Leaner –growing resilience in a changing land scape’. Delegates can look forward to discussing ways to overcome the chal lenges facing their businesses.

Conference chairman Tom Mar tin said “With changes in the agri cultural and political landscape over the last year and ongoing, this event is ideally timed for you to listen and debate the many changes and oppor tunities amongst like minded influ

Crossbench peer and farmer Lord Curry of Kirkharle will be joined in the morning policy session by AB Agri head of commercial responsibil ity Jen Butcher; and Country Land and Business Assopciation president

The afternoon session will discuss ways to increase input efficiency on the farm. Speakers include ADAS crop sci entist Christina Baxter, Hugh Marti neau from Map of Ag, and farmers Will www.eoefarmingconference.co.uk

Good response to new autumn farming event

Half of all farmers are positive about the future – although many say it looks complicat ed, according to a poll at last month's Larking Gowen Autumn Farming Con ference.

The conference – a new event for the agricultural sector – was held on 4 October at Trinity Park, Ipswich. It was organised by accountants Lark ing Gowen in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Associ ation East.

A straw poll of delegates revealed that 50% are optimistic about their farming future, although 40% believe it is complicated, while 10% said were less confident. Respondents included farmers, landowners, suppliers and end customers.

The YANA (You Are Not Alone) farming charity received a £1500 do

nation from the event. Larking Gow en partner Bruce Masson said: “The farming industry faces numerous chal

lenges [so] it was pleasing that most delegates were positive about the fu ture, albeit with some reservations.”

Conference speakers included Izzi Rainey, Emma Hayley, Stuart Mayhew, Daniel Zeichner MP, Cath Crowther, Steven Rudd, Alec Smith, and Jason Cantrill.

Dairy farmer swaps slurry for after-dinner speaking

Derbyshire dairy farmer Peter Slack will be the guest speaker at this month's Peterborough Dinner, which takes place on 16 No vember at the East of England Show ground.

Praised for his sharp observation al humour and his ability to bring the countryside and its characters vibrant ly to life, Mr Slack is a third gener ation Peak District dairy and sheep hill farmer, where he works alongside his family.

The dinner takes place on the eve of the East of England Farming Con ference, which is held at the same ven ue on the following day (see page 6)

Long service awards

Hosted by East of England Agricultur al Society, the Peterborough Dinner is a celebration of the agricultural year, an opportunity to catch up with friends and associates working in agriculture,

horticulture, food production and the allied industries.

It will also see the presentation of the society's long service awards, rec ognising farm staff who have worked

The annual dinner is a celebration of the farming year

for the same employer for longer than 25 years. The event will also see the presentation of the 2022 Tony Whit sed Award.

Society interim chief executive Alistair Beattie said it promised to be a great event. “We are delighted to have Peter as our after-dinner speaker, who will no doubt engage with our audience with his brilliantly funny wit – sharing experiences and personalities many of us are familiar with."

Farming celebration

“The Peterborough Dinner is such a wonderful celebration of everything our surrounding agricultural and horticultural industries have to offer.

“The long service awards are also an important appreciation of the commit ment that many workers in the east of England area make to the sector, and we are delighted to ensure that those employees are recognised in this way.”

The four-course meal including a roast rib of locally sourced beef carved at the table and accompanied by an ar ray of seasonal local vegetables.

Tickets can be booked individual ly or by hosting a table (8-10 guests) by calling 01733 961016.

Farmers warned to store urea safely this winter

Abig increase in demand for ahead of the 2023 season has prompted reminders for grow ers to ensure they store and handle urea fertiliser correctly.

Strict regulations govern the trans portation and storage of all fertilisers. Hutchinsons fertiliser and crop nutri tion specialist Rob Jewers says farmers must careful abide by these rules, par ticularly when storing both urea and ammonium nitrate products.

Urea is relatively inert compared with ammonium nitrate, but Mr Jew ers says regulations ban the two from being transported or stored together.

More

Failing to follow the appropriate stor age guidelines could risk

fail ing ACCS or Red Tractor assurance inspections, he adds – as well as in creasing the risk of significant losses in the event of an incident.

“Urea has

more competitive

ammonium

quite some margin. A kilo of AN

priced at around £2.60 at the end of September, whereas a kilo of

Ammonium nitrate and urea should be stored separtely

urea nitrogen was about £1.90, so we have seen more demand for it.

“Farmers who haven’t bought urea before, or haven’t used it for a long time, perhaps aren’t aware the two [AN and urea] shouldn’t be stored together. It is something to think about, otherwise you might be in for a shock if there’s an ACCS inspection.”

The reason urea and AN cannot be stored or transported together is not because there is a danger of them spon taneously reacting with each other and causing a problem, more the fact that urea is an organic material that acts as a carbon source.

Storage principles

Carbon dioxide produced in the HaberBosch process gets added back into the ammonia to produce urea. “If there was an incident with the ammonium nitrate, such as fire, the urea would provide an additional fuel source,” ex plains Mr Jewers.

risk failing your

assurance inspection

“

Principles of safe fertiliser storage

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Low levels of light leaf spot detected

This makes treating the dis ease challenging.”

could puncture bags

the surface

not store bags

at least 1-2m

than three high

any

machinery

Arapid test launched this autumn for light leaf spot in oil seed rape is already identi fying low levels of the dis ease with no visible signs on the plant.

using

sources of

(e.g. naked flames,

welding/ grinders)

the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) Fertiliser

Continued from previous page

This is why the two products can't be put on the same vehicle for farm de livery, Ideally they should not be stored in the same shed, he says. If they are, guidelines suggest leaving at least a 5m gap between any urea and AN fer tiliser bags (see panel).

Urea fertiliser can be slightly more

(see

prone to drawing moisture from the at mosphere than AN, says Mr Jewers. This is generally prevented by keep ing bags in the correct storage condi tions and taking care to avoid damage when moving or storing bags.

Urea is also a bulkier product than AN and growers should factor this in when assessing storage requirements.

Initial results from sam ples submitted since Sep tember have detected light leaf spotin varieties with re sistance ratings of 5-6 de spite no evidence on the leaf, says Microgenetics, the company behind the Swift Detect test.

Crop diagnostics product manager Chris Steele says the disease is out there – you just can’t see it yet.

“With a long latent peri od and almost microscopic early symptoms, light leaf spot can be easily missed without using a latent test.

SwiftDetect can detect a single cell of light leaf spot in oilseed rape from a sam ple of 10 leaves. “It provides farmers with a cost-effective and accurate way to reveal how much disease is in the crop, when fungicides will be at their most effective.”

Results are returned in one business day – helping farmers and agronomists optimise fungicide efficacy, delay costly fungicide ap plications in low detection fields and target applica tions to specific fields with high and early pathogen de tection.

“This can potentially re duce overall cost and min imise crop protection use,” says Mr Steele.

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Four key soil nutrients are 'deficient' in East Anglia

• Tissue test can reveal shortfall

• Knock-on effect on crop yields

• Tailored applications can help

East Anglian fields are frequently deficient in four key nutrients –with potential knock-on effects on crop development and yields, say scientists.

Crop nutrition company FMC has collected 3,600 cereal crop samples over the past five years – including 466 tis sue samples from East Anglian grow ers. It is conducting extensive tissue tests to better support growers in tack ling nutritional deficiencies.

“This local data has highlighted that across East Anglia, crops are commonly deficient in a few key nutrients includ ing magnesium, zinc, potassium and phosphorous,” says FMC commercial technical manager Chris Bond.

“It’s important that East Anglian growers who are aiming for high yields remain aware that there is potential for deficiencies of these nutrients. They should then be able to tailor their nu tritional application programmes to be as targeted and effective as possible.”

Right: Crops could be at heightened risk of deficiency, says Chris Bond. Below: Crops should be tissue tested ahead of key spray timings. [Photo credit: Blackthorn Arable]

Magnesium

“Magnesium is a nutrient which we’ve seen to be commonly deficient across the country for the past few years. But we can see that East Anglian crops could be at heightened risk of defi ciency,” explains Mr Bond.

On average, some 72% of samples in East Anglia were found to have a below optimum level of magnesium.

“Magnesium is a nutrient which can sometimes be overlooked, or only ap plied late in the season, but is essential for cereal crops throughout the grow ing season. It helps to release energy in the form ATP and ensures a deep rooting system while playing a vital role in photosynthesis.”

Growers should consider using fo liar applications to boost magnesium levels to ensure healthy crop devel opment from the early stages right through to the standard flag leaf sprays, says Mr Bond.

Zinc

“Another nutrient we’ve observed sig nificant deficiencies of in East Anglia is zinc, where 73% of crop samples were found to be deficient, which is much higher than the UK average of 64%.

“Zinc is especially important in the early stages of crop growth for root de velopment, and in the latter stages for grain quality. So local growers are en couraged to pay particular attention to this nutrient when preparing nu trient application plans.”

Potassium

Mr Bond explains that East Anglian farmers should also keep an eye on po tassium levels.

“Some 53% of the tissue samples from the region showed a lack of potas sium, which is again, higher than the UK average of 46% deficiency.

“A potassium shortage could un knowingly cause issues, we know it’s important for straw strength to avoid lodging but it’s also crucial for water management and the transport of nu trients throughout the plant, which help to ensure crop quality and health.

“If we experience another dry grow

Efficiency

ing season, giving crops a beneficial top up of potassium will be a smart investment this spring, as it will aid water management and build resilient crops for the summer ahead.”

Phosphorous

The final nutrient that growers need to pay particular attention to is phosphorus. Some 25% of samples deficient the nutrient, in comparison with the UK average of 17%.

“Phosphorus acts as a vital energy source for the crop as it’s a crucial component of the ATP molecule. This is a particularly important nutrient for both autumn and early spring, as it encourages good establishment and root growth, but also helps to get crops moving again after winter dormancy,” says Mr Bond.

Solutions

To tackle these deficiencies, Mr Bond encourages growers tissue test crops ahead of winter dormancy and again in the spring before each of the key spray timings.

Why are East Anglian crops deficient in key nutrients?

Although nutritional deficiencies are common across the UK, Mr Bond explains that it can be challenging to identify why these occur. There can be multiple explanations, he adds.

“With the fertiliser prices being high in the last year, and a sector-wide drive to reduce inputs, growers may have chosen to cut back to save on costs or meet environmental targets. This could be an explanation for why some deficiencies of phosphorus or potassium are being seen, for example.

“On top of this, East Anglia is characterised by a vast array of soil types which all associate with nutrients differently. Three main groups of soils in the region which can directly impact nutrient availability are clays, sands and fenland peats.

“Clay soils are usually incredibly nutrient

“Tissue testing will help growers to understand where their crops are nutritionally, as it gives an accurate snapshot of their nutritional status. When

rich, but crops in these areas can be at risk of antagonism. On the other hand, sandy soils can struggle to retain nutrients, so plants may face difficulty accessing nutrients from the soil,” he says.

“Peat soils contain a very high level of organic matter, and this can lock up nutrition, particularly micronutrients such as zinc and manganese, making them unavailable for plant use.”

Understanding how your soil may be interacting with nutrients alongside tissue testing is an effective way to start creating an accurate and targeted nutritional application programme that will best suit both the land and crops, says Mr Bond.

“If you’re interested in carrying out tissue testing or soil testing to understand crop nutrition speak to your agronomist.”

armed with this information, I’d recommend incorporating foliar nutrition applications, to deliver specific nutrients direct to the plant.”

Thomas

How climate change affects

UK wheat yields

Growers must adapt

Increasingly uncertain weather is testing the resilience of UK wheat varieties, say researchers.

Wheat yields have been largely resil ient to varying weather over the past 30 years. But climate change is now threat ening the security of what is the UK's most widely grown food crop.

Wheat yields and weather condi tions across the UK's main agricultural areas since 1990 were analysde by re searchers from Oxford and Bristol uni versities, the Met Office and UK Cen tre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

The study found substantial resil ience of UK yields to single extreme weather events such as low or high rainfall or temperature.

This was largely due to effective crop management by farmers and wheat’s ability to tolerate a range of climatic conditions.

But the researchers also observed significant negative impacts on yields and production where combinations of extreme weather occurred over the course of a single growing season.

In 2020, for example, torrential au tumn rain hampered drilling. An ex

normal, say scientists

ceptionally dry spring then affected plant growth before heavy downpours in August meant a challenging harvest. This resulted in some of the UK’s poor est wheat yields for decades.

Study co-author Richard Pywell said: “Until now, farmers have large ly been able to compensate for adverse weather conditions by changing when they sow or harvest crops, or by alter ing the timing and amount of fungicide, pesticide or fertiliser applied.

“However, climate change will push the boundaries of what can be achieved though crop management, and it could become increasingly difficult for farm ers to deal with the impacts of more fre quent extreme weather events."

Predict

Researchers also used high-resolu tion climate projections to predict how possible future changes in tem perature and rainfall might affect key crop growth stages in major wheat-pro ducing regions up to 2080.

They found that significantly warmer winter temperatures might offset the negative impacts of increas

“

Climate change will push the boundaries

ing rainfall between October and April, while warmer temperatures and drier conditions in June and July would be generally beneficial to yields.

Louise Slater, of Oxford Universi ty's of School of Geography and the Environment, said: “Our research shows that, on average, warmer tem peratures are likely to have generally positive impacts on yields in key UK wheat-growing regions.

“However, there may be multiple ex treme weather events, such as intense thunderstorms or prolonged drought, occurring over the course of a year and therefore greater uncertainty over fu ture wheat yields.”

The study was published in the jour nal Earth System Dynamics. UKCEH climate scientist Chris Huntingford said the increase in extreme dry and wet spells over the past 10 years was expected to continue further.

“Even with large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change will still generate weather conditions outside those in which our intensive agricultural systems have developed.”

New variety tempts farmer to go back into spring peas

ALincolnshire grower who has returned spring beans to his rotation says he is pleased that decent prices and a new variety tempted him back to the crop.

After several years away, Andy Pearce, of WA Pearce & Sons, drilled 20ha of high-yielding green pea variety Greenway in late March across two sites comprising silt and black land soils in south Lincolnshire.

“There were a combination of factors involved in bringing spring peas back into our rotation this year,” says Mr Pearce.

“They are still the best entry for a following wheat, we needed to bring our 2022 harvest date forward having grown lots of spring wheat the previous year – and both prices and domestic demand for peas have risen since we last grew the crop."

Establishment

Mr Pearce applied starter fertiliser at 100kg/ha before drilled Greenway at a rate of 95 plants/m2. The crop establishing well on the back of early April rain and stayed ahead of the normal weed burden of thistles, speedwell,

cleavers and mayweed.

“All went very smoothly up to midMay, then we had no significant rain until our eventual harvest in late July,” says Mr Pearce.

“Having been caught out before with long dry spells, Mr Pearce says he was pro-active this time adding two applications of manganese and a foliar feed to our aphicide and pea moth sprays in May and June.

He applied Signum (boscalid + pyraclostrobin) at 0.44L/ha on 17 June to help the crop stay green and cope better with drought conditions. “The strategy worked well, and by June we had a healthy, still green crop that was standing waist high.”

Harvest saw a respectable overall yield of 2.75t/ha on 21-25 July. This was not quite what Mr Pearce was looking for originally, but he says it was very good result given the unprecedented dry spell.

Performance

“I have no doubt that, with more moisture, it would have been a 5t/ha crop given the crop grew well and produced lots of pods,” he says. “There

Far left: Andy Pearce harvested his crop of Greenway on 21-25 July

The crop flowered well and produced lots of pods (left) says Rebecca Gibson Seed Manager for Agrii (below)

were no issues with pod set, and it suited both our soil types and the change up in our rotation.

“Greenway has some excellent agronomic traits. It’s a tall variety with good canopy cover, produces an excellent straw length and we didn’t need to go overboard on herbicides to keep it clean during the spring.”

Echoing Mr Pearce's positive assessment, Agrii seed manager Rebecca Gibson says Greenway has several marketing benefits. “This is Agrii’s first full commercial year with the variety and, on the whole, our customers have been impressed.

“Based on our year one feedback I’d say it has shown significant promise. With an excellent uniform seed size and good colour retention it has the key attributes that the end markets are looking at, both for human consumption and micronizing.

“For the grower, it’s high yielding, having achieved 109% of control in 2021 trials, has very good standing ability so it’s easy to harvest, and is agronomically strong with good downy mildew resistance."

Record-breaking attendance at Fields of Innovation

British growers were among more than 1700 guests who attended Syngenta's annual Fields of Innovation open days at Grootebroek in the Netherlands.

The two-day event featured more than 550 varieties of 25 unique crops across the 4ha site. Growers and guests from around the world discovered, tasted, and discussed new varieties with a team of experts in the field.

Visitors joined experts to discover new vegetable varieties from the R&D pipeline and experience the Plant Pathology Lab detailing the 12 to 20 years of research, trials and development by breeders and researchers to bring new varieties to grower fields.

For the first time, the event included a TechZone, featuring cutting-edge developments helping growers become more productive, profitable and sustainable. Showcased technologies included a soil insect sensor.

Arend Schot, head of Syngenta Veg-

etable Seeds for Europe, said: “We set an attendee record with people eager to learn more about our key varieties and other Syngenta innovations. This has become a major meeting point for growers.”

Highlights included weatherproof

The two-day trip showcased a number of new varieties

cabbage – Syngenta's new Super Team cabbage developed to include tolerance to weather stress, such as too much or too little rain, and to pests such as thrips and Xanthomonas.

The company has also developed a number of other innovative vegetable varieties. They include the award-winning tasty iStem cauliflower, downy mildew-resistant Prediction onion, and a high-yielding disease-resistant squash.

“Breeding for resistance is both science and an art,” said Syngenta brassica expert Jan Bruin. “The science is obvious in every step, we’re combining alleles, working with plant biology, and understanding the genetics— to name a small part of the ‘science.’

“The art is taking all of that information and using it in a way that creates value. Finding those combinations often takes creativity and a close understanding of our customers and the end consumers.”

Molecular marker technology was helping breeders introduce resistant varieties faster, said Mr Bruin. This allows more crop cycles per year, which means quicker breeding advancements.

Root Crop Special

New organisation launched to represent potato sector

• Working together for benefit of industry

• Representing farmers and supply chain

• Voluntary membership, not compulsory

Anew organisation for the po tato sector aims to bring the industry together following votes to scrap the compulsory levy paid by growers and processors.

Called GB Potatoes, the new body will be funded by a voluntary levy. It will bring together cross-industry stakeholders through a voluntary sub scription on a membership basis fol lowing the demise of AHDB Potatoes and Horticulture.

The focus aims to meet the needs of the GB potato crop across the whole supply chain. But the organisation –which is being backed by a number of key growers – will also maintain strong links with the horticulture sector.

The proposal was put together by

a group of potato industry stakehold ers interested to explore the opportu nity for cross industry collaboration away from the Agriculture and Hor ticulture Development Board.

Working together GB Potatoes chairman Mark Taylor said: “Our launch couldn’t come at a more important time for the GB Po tato Industry. Working as a collective group must be the way forward if we are to both understand, and then work through these turbulent times."

Mr Taylor said the potato indus try collectively respected the outcome of ballot to scrap the compulsory levy. But he said the sector couldn't afford to “look into a void.” A new independ

ent industry body was needed to rep resent its interests and development.

“While recognising different views from across the industry, I strongly en courage everyone to engage and get in volved,” said Mr Taylor.

“The Great British Potato needs to be championed.”

The levy payer vote demonstrated that AHDB had lost the consensus of industry to run and manage an indus try body. But it remained important to work with trade associations and oth er bodies as a collective group to pro mote the sector’s interests.

Rather than a new AHDB body, it was also important that Defra recog nised past failings and engaged to sup port an acceptable alternative organ isation which reflected the whole GB potato supply chain.

More inclusive “We need a less bureaucratic, more in clusive and more appropriately fund

The new body is being supported by a number of key growersContinued overleaf

Root crop special

ed successor that gains engagement across industry and determines what future structures and priority activities are required,” said Mr Taylor.

This vision brings together all aspects of the GB potato supply chain – growers, packers, processors, seed supply, research organisations, independent advisors, trade associations and service providers to benefit from collaboration.

The group proposes the establishment of an “over-arching” structure so that the entire sector is represented with good governance and accountability. A cross industry foverning body is expected to will oversee this.

Focal point

GB Potatoes was keen to engage with all organisations working to the benefit of the sector, said Mr Taylor. As a focal point for the whole industry, we believe we can strengthen and complement their activity.

“If you lead any of these groups, please get in touch,” he said.

“Action is required now – and that’s what this new organisation brings. Industry needs leadership and a plan to

move things on. We believe this proposal sets that in motion.”

“We are not re-inventing the AHDB but believe there is mutual interest in fundamental research and protecting our industry. GB Potatoes needs to

demonstrate its value and continue to improve its performance and remain competitive.”

For more information, please visit www.gb-potatoes.co.uk.

The Great British Potato needs to be championed

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Natural. Effective. Powerful.

Root

£2m project to secure Net Zero potato production

Key goal is to reduce carbon footprint

A£2m project aims to change the way UK potatoes are grown, stored and transported – and ultimately secure a net zero carbon supply chain for the crop.

The Net Zero Hectare project is led by Lincolnshire-based potato supplier Branston in partnership with B-hive Innovations, Crop Systems, Lincoln University, David Armstrong Farms and the Arbikie Distillery.

Together, the partnership has se cured £2.06 million in funding ac quired from the government's Farming Innovation Programme, run by Defra in cooperation with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The three-year collaborative pro ject will work with industry experts in each part of the supply chain to idren

emissions in growing ware potato crops: fertiliser, storage, and transport.

New approach

B-hive Innovations managing direc tor Vidyanath Gururajan said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding to support our aim of net zero. Pulling different technologies to solve real world problems is at the heart of what we do at B-hive Innovations.”

Collaborating with Lincoln Univer sity, the project is trialling innovative approaches to growing potatoes. It aims to show how better crop management, including reduced tillage, improves soil composition and crop resilience much more than previously tested.

Lead researchers Sandra Varga and Iain Gould said: “This is a unique

ers usually are unable to trial due to capacity and cost limitations. The ad vances it could bring will significant ly transform the farming industry.”

Extensive research seek to under stand how by-products from the po tato peeling process can be used as low-carbon fertiliser. This aims to re lease 80% fewer kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare than in dustry-standard synthetic fertilisers.

Lincolnshire farmer David Arm strong will trial the field research. “Re ducing our on-farm carbon emissions is essential for the future of our plan et, therefore being involved in a pro ject like this from the start gives us the chance to make a real difference.”

John Stirling, farmer and owner of the Arbikie Distillery in Montrose, said he was delighted to be involved in such an innovative and potentially impor tant project.

Carbon emissions

“It is vitally important for us to look at all aspects of our carbon emissions and how we can make things better. This project gives us the opportunity to challenge some conventional thinking across all scopes and look to improve our carbon footprint substantially.”

Crop storage technology firm Crop Systems Ltd is also part of the consor tium to innovate store design to keep stored crops in optimum condition while minimising energy usage and

In the field: (l-r) Branston technical director Mark Willcox and B-hive managing director Vidyanath Gururajan

Left: Farmers will undertake field trials for the Net Zero project

Potato supplier aims for more sustainable production

Trials led by potato supplier Branston aim to help the company achieve net zero status by 2030 – benefiting producers and consumers.

Branston technical director Mark Will cox said it was more pertinent than ever for the food industry to reduce its carbon foot print given the speed at which retailers were rapidly preparing climate strategies to meet the government’s net zero target by 2050.

Some 85% of consumers are making more sustainable lifestyle choices, according to Deloitte – particularly when moving to a plant-based diet. Separate research shows that sustainable practices can also deliver better financial results for businesses.

Branston has continued to invest in sus tainable initiatives at all its sites. This year the company has invested over £1 million into doubling the number of solar panels on its roofs, feeding the energy supply back into its own production facilities.

All HGV drivers have undergone addi tional training to improve fuel efficiency and following a successful trial the fleet will have bulky refrigeration units removed from the trailers during the cooler months when they are not needed.

Branston is also helping develop a low-carbon fertiliser which uses potato pulp, a by-product of their peeling process.

This should release 80% less carbon than standard synthetic fertilisers and will be fully trialled as part of the Tuber Net Zero project.

The company has already trialled an in itiative to reduce reliance on wooden boxes in the harvesting, storing and transporting of potatoes. It says removing wooden box es will enable each lorry to carry an extra 4t of potatoes.

The transition to a box-to-bulk system will reduce transport costs, while removing the need for forklifts to load and unload lor ries as well as avoiding the return of lorry loads of empty wooden boxes to farms.

“

It could transform the farming industry

environmental impact.

The firm is also looking at how to improve crop transport. Pre-condition ing potatoes ready for retail during transport could reduce storage time in warehouses. A similar system to main tain the optimum temperature could reduce potato bruising.

Crop Systems managing director Ray Andrews said: “We are proud to be involved in this important project and can’t wait to impart our potato storage knowledge and experience, helping to work towards a net-zero supply chain.”

Branston technical director Mark Willcox said: “This funding marks a significant milestone in the collabora tion between Branston and B-hive and we’re incredibly excited to continue to share knowledge and innovate pota to production, storage and transport.

“The project is sure to step-change the entire potato industry and leads the opportunity for dramatic change across the whole supply chain.”

As part of the Tuber Net Zero pro ject, Branston is working in conjunc tion with Crop Systems – a storage technology firm which is trailing the introduction of its WarmStor technolo gy while potatoes are in transit.

Root crops

Targeted fertiliser saves potato grower £300k

Jersey potato growers have saved £300,000 over six years through an unconventional but effective use of Stocks AG’s Rotor Meter.

As well as saving a significant amount of money by working with Stocks AG, the Jersey Royal Compa ny said it had also helped Jersey’s gov ernment improve the quality of the is land’s drinking water.

It follows a five-year water manage ment plan introduced by the island's government after Jersey’s drinking water was found to contain more than 50mg/litre of nitrogen in 2016.

Nitrogen reduction

Delivering the plan relied on work ing with the newly formed Action for Cleaner Water group, which brought together Jersey Water, the Department for the Environment and the farming community.

As a key member of the group, the Jersey Royal Company business direc

tor Mike Renouard and engineering manager Ricky Gallon looked at ways to reduce the amount of nitrogen used by the potato grower.

Mr Gallon asked Stocks AG to find a way to reduce the amount of fertiliser the company was using. Then he ask them help target fertiliser more accu rately. In response, Stocks AG designed a way to mount and control a fourth hopper on its Rotor Meter.

The Rotor Meter was originally de veloped in the 1990s as a gravity-fed, metered one, two or three outlet appli cator. For more than 30 years, the Ro tor Meter has been popular with grow ers applying seed, granules, pellets and micro granule fertiliser.

“We engineered a way to place four hoppers on a planter, with each hop per having one outlet,” explains Da vid Goodale, of Stocks AG. It helped reduce fertiliser usage by 15% – a re duction that was good for business as well as for water quality.

Jersey growers are saving big money by placing fertiliser

Over the six years of using the Ro tor Meter in this way, I think we’ve saved over £300,000 in fertiliser costs. Perhaps even better than the financial benefits is that since introducing the Rotor Meters, the presence of nitrates in our fields is now under 40mg/litre.”

Root crops

Potato yields hit by long hot summer

Potato crops have paid a heavy penalty as a result of this sum mer’s record-breaking temper atures and drought.

First digs from this year’s Quan tis heat-stress biostimulant field tri als suggest yields may be more than 30% lower in some untreated crops.

Marketable yields were on average 24% higher in the Quantis treated ar eas across a series of trials from southeast England to the west Midlands, ac cording to manufacturer Syngenta.

The total tuber numbers in mar ketable size grades have been on av erage 34% greater in the treated are as, said Syngenta technical manager Andy Cunningham.

Tuber inflation

“What appears apparent is that a Quantis application at early tuber in

itiation has been hugely beneficial in helping plants to set more tubers.

“Importantly, further applications during periods of heat stress through the growing season has enabled crops to keep growing and produce more marketable yield.”

All the trials yielded so far had re ceived an application at tuber initia tion, with two additional treatments during the tuber filling growth stages – at timings when the Quantis Heat Stress Alert tool forecast periods of challenging conditions.

“Quantis research has shown best results can be achieved with applica tions two to three days prior to onset of heat stress,” said Mr Cunningham.

“Nottingham University research has proven that Quantis helps plants to better regulate excess heat and con tinue to utilise available sunlight.”

Treated crops had higher marketable yields, says Andy Cunningham

Left: Pete Hawkins with potatoes harvested from the Quantis trial

Results of irrigated trials in Kent and the midlands were most noticea ble in producing the greatest uplift in tuber numbers in the 50-60 mm size category. At Weobley in Herefordshire, the crop of Nectar produced 24% more tubers of marketable size and over 30% higher total tuber weight of market able grades.

More extreme

“The results have been remarkable, but not entirely surprising given the season’s temperatures,” said Mr Cun ningham.

“However, it must be remembered even with consecutive days at 35-38⁰C plus, this season was the hottest sum mer since 2018.

“These events are becoming more frequent and more extreme – which growers need to prepare for.”

Mixed prospects as sugar beet harvest continues

• Crops green up after hot summer

• Some yields better than expected

• Keep vigilant for rot and disease

Sugar beet growers are being urged to continue assessing crops for disease amid ongoing wet and mild autumn weather.

Continuing warm and sunny con ditions have allowed many crops to ‘green-up’ – helping to improve root yield and sugar content, says the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). But other crops have affect ed by beet moth and foliar disease.

Assessing beet for for foliar dis ease, beet moth feeding damage and root rot would help growers prioritise crops for earlier or later harvesting, said a BBRO statement last month.

Selecting the best crops to optimise yield could be worth an extra 10-15% of yield, it added.

Infected crops

“Beet moth caterpillar damage contin ues to be reported, with adult moths still active. Early infected crops, es pecially where previously drought stressed, have struggled to regrow canopies due to caterpillar feeding on the new leaf growth.”

Severely affected crops should be prioritised for early harvesting, said the BBRO. “Warm conditions have fa voured foliar diseases such as rust but have not been warm enough for rap id cercospora development,” it added.

In general, crops with a single fun gicide application and those with a larger gap between sprays have high er levels of disease. Growers should keep a close eye on local disease lev els as these could change quickly, es pecially following rain.

“You may need to consider chang ing your harvest plan accordingly,” said the BBRO.

It was vital to monitor crops careful ly for incidence of any root rots such as fusarium, rhizoctonia and violet root rot during harvesting and ensure af fected sugar beet was lifted and deliv ered as soon as possible to avoid fur ther losses.

Harvest progress

A good start to the harvesting cam paign has seen low harvest losses and low levels of root damage. But a change to wetter conditions would undoubta bly make harvesting and delivery more challenging.

To avoid unnecessary yield losses, growers should undertake regular checks for surface losses, over-crown ing and root breakage. Root breakage should be kept to a minimum especial ly in crops stored in short-term clamps for more than 5-10 days.

Crops severely affected by beet moth are being harvested early to pre serve sugar levels and reduce the risk of secondary infection where there is crown damage. It was vital to avoid beet moth pupae spreading in soil from cleaning operations, said the BBRO.

Where there was lots of crop de bris, especially if harvesting condi tions changed, it was worth consid ering ploughing crop debris down to reduce over winter survival. Debris

two most prevalent foliar diseases. In crops that have received two time ly fungicides, the BBRO said diseas es had been kept in check, but recent warm temperatures had challenged their persistence and effectivity.

“Differences between varieties can be observed and are broadly inline with their RL disease ratings. Re member that fungicide resistance will also be factor.”

Levels of alternaria and phoma

Good clamp management will maintain crop quality

Below: Some crops are yielding better than others, says the BBRO

“Remain vigilant to the levels of disease in crops as this can change quickly, especially following rain. You may consider changing your harvest plan. Remember healthier canopies are key to autumn increases in root yield and sugar content.”

Sugar content

Minimising root breakage when harvesting is key to avoiding accelerated sugar losses, said the BBRO. The average sugar beet clamp loss rates are usually 0.1% of total sugar volume/day but this can be 3-4 times higher in poorly harvested and handled crops.

”Losses will be even greater where temperatures are above 10C,” said the BBRO. To minimise sugar losses, growers should monitor dirt tare, excessive green material and damaged beet.

Dirt tare reduces ventilation in the clamp by limiting airflow between the beet. Similarly, too much green material can limit air flow in the clamp. Poor ventilation in the clamp prior to cleaning will accelerate sugar loss.

That said growers should avoid scalping or over-topping the sugar beet crop by removing too much crown. This could accelerate sugar loss and lead to

rotting, mould development or bacterial infection.

Root rot

Growers should also check crops carefully for the incidence of root rots. Test digs before the harvester enters the field can give advanced warning of a problem but crops should also be monitored for rots at the clamp.

“Check crops which have been affected by beet moth once harvested, as feeding damage to the crown will increase susceptibility to secondary infection,” said the BBRO. “Prioritise affected crops for delivery to the factory.”

If the period before delivery is likely to increase, growers should avoid storing contaminated beet crops which contain fungal rots. Failure to do so would raise the clamp temperature, leading to greater respiration rates and increased sugar loss.

“Any parts of a field which are severely infected by rots should be managed separately and not mixed in the main clamp.” Where root rots are found the field of origin should be recorded so action can be taken to reduce future risk.

Technology

Croptec

Two-day event focuses on cost control and resilience

The latest machinery and tech nology will be exhibited at this month's CropTec show, which returns to the East of England Show ground on 23-24 November.

Celebrating its 10th year at the Pe terborough venue, the event will in clude networking and discussion oppor tunities – as well as valuable updates about developments across the ara ble sector.

“CropTec’s seminar programme is renowned for bringing together the in dustry’s top experts, policymakers and most successful farmers and this year is no exception,” says event manager Gareth Jones.

“In our 10th year we were particu larly keen to deliver a schedule provid ing the chance for farmers to invest in their knowledge and give practical in sight into controlling costs and culti vating business resilience.”

Coping with change is the focus of the first seminar sessions. With ag-in flation continuing to rise, speakers will tackle some of the most pressing ques tions around cost management in the arable sector.

Expert line-up

Speakers will include Harry Hender son of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, agribusiness ad visor Carl Atkin of consultants Terrav ost; and Cambridgeshire arable farm er Ed Reynolds.

Further sessions will explore how new technology and data can help grow ers and agronomists control fertiliser costs – and how farmers can generate revenue from delivering environmen tal deliverables on-farm.

Experts on hand for advice will in clude George Cook from Andersons and Michael Kavanagh from Green Farm Collective and Liz Reddy of ADAS.

Specialist hubs will explore subjects including Water (sponsored by Anglian Water), IPM (AHDB), Natural Capital (Trinity AgTech) and Digital Farming (Bayer). Each hub has its own sched ule and experts on hand for one-to-one discussion and questions.

The Training Zone provides visitors with practical information, advice and

inspiration on career development. It will include a number of sessions, in cluding best practice in agrochemical applications.

BASIS head of environment Tere sa Meadows will discuss the impor tance of continuous training for farm ers. She will introduce BASIS’s new course Principles of Sustainable Land Management and how it supports the transition to ELMS.

Andy Brooks, who recently joined

BASIS as head of operations from Harper Adams, will speak about how BASIS courses link to universities and education. Sprayer Operator of the Year Steve May will explain how BASIS helped develop his career.

A sprayer demonstration will once again give farmers the opportunity to experience a working demo of the lat est spraying equipment. Tickets are free and available now at www.croptecshow.com.

How to adapt farm business

Organisers say CropTec will inspire and inform visitors with the latest technol ogy, innovations and thinking to enable them to improve their businesses.

Stand space in the event’s four halls has now 80% sold out with an exciting number of first-time exhibitors including RAGT, Trinity Ag, Rhiza, YC Agro, RH3S, Eurofins, Thomas Bell and PES technologies.

Water, natural capital and digital farming will all be under the spotlight at three new ‘Hubs’. AHDB will also be returning to update visitors on its latest findings via a series of bitesized seminars at its Knowledge Hub.

The new Training Zone will showcase the

The CropTec show is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month

many and varied opportunities for profession al development while the Ag-Tech Zone will fo cus on the latest technological innovations to improve efficiency and sustainability.

Trinity Agtech head of marketing Jacob Dowl ing says: “Carbon is on everyone’s mind – and many of those minds will be confused. We chose to sponsor the Natural Capital Knowledge Hub as a means of relieving some of that confusion.

“Our Knowledge Hub will explore the latest thinking on measuring farm carbon and natu ral capital – and ways to generate income from those initiatives, whether that be through nat ural capital trading or provenance-backed pro duce.”

Seminars tackle arable sector's biggest issues

•

•

•

Arable experts will tackle the biggest challenges facing Brit ish farming in an exciting sem inar programme marking the CropTec show’s 10th anniversary.

Bringing together practical knowhow and scientific research the ses sions will help growers future-proof their businesses in a number of are as likely to be of interest to a range of growers. They include:

• Coping with change: Costs, environ

mental regulation & cultivating resil ience

• Trusting data: How tech adoption could be key to controlling fertiliser costs

• Maximising natural capital revenue opportunities

• Strategies for disease control in a changing climate: Where next?

"As farmers grapple with soaring input prices, whether energy, fertiliser or diesel, there has never been a bet

ter time to discuss cost management, said Abi Kay, head of news at Farm ers Guardian, who will be chairing the Coping with Change session.

Fewer chemicals

Another pressure point being ad dressed is the loss of agri-chemicals for combatting plant diseases and pests.

A strong line-up of speakers will be on hand for advice

The withdrawal of some products may be further exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

Eastern region NIAB agronomist Andrew Watson will be on the panel to discuss strategies for disease control. “It looks highly likely that tebucona zole, and some other related ingredi ents, will be banned in the UK within

two years,” he said.

“Teb is really the only pesticide that can quickly eradicate yellow and brown rust already established in a wheat crop. If it is banned, around a third of the current recommended list winter wheat varieties may be too risky to grow. Integrated control of yellow rust is possible, however planning and risk management are key.”

As costs of inputs continue to rise, farmers are under increasing pressure to improve efficiencies. NFU combina ble crops board chairman Matt Culley says plenty of advice will be on hand during his Trusting Data session, which is sponsored by YARA.

Crop nutrition

“It has never been more important to get crop nutrition right, which means not just focussing on nitrogen, but also potassium, phosphorus, and sulphur. My aim is to help growers learn a bit more about the technologies available and ways that they can get the best out of the fertiliser that they will use next spring.”

A session on Maximising Natural Capital will round off the 2022 Crop Tec Show seminar series. This session

Knowledge and practical insight

“In our 10th anniversary year, we were particularly keen to deliver a schedule providing the chance for farmers to invest in their knowledge and give practical insight into costcutting and cultivating business resilience.”

aims will help farmers understand how they can make the most of new oppor tunities. Itw will be chaired by ADAS policy and economics director Liz Lew is-Reddy.

“

Some wheat may be too risky to grow

“My goal is for this session is to break down some barriers and help others overcome their resistance to en vironmental markets and natural cap ital, and instead see them as an oppor tunity for the long-term viability of the agricultural sector.

“Every farm has natural capital and is generating environmental goods and services, so this is not necessarily about fundamental change. This is about re vealing that existing value, maximis ing its production potential and turn ing it into something that works.”

“CropTec’s seminar programme is renowned for bringing together the industry’s top experts, policymakers and most successful farmers and this year is no exception,” says event manager Gareth Jones.

Drilling for oil?

•

Triton

the

Build profitability and sustainability at CropTec

Agronomy company Hutchinsons will showcase ways growers can meet the challenges of rising costs and uncertainty at this year's CropTec event.

Visitors to the Hutchinsons stand will be able to discover how the firm's services and technologies can build more resilient farming systems that harness natural processes and reduce the need for artificial inputs.

This will include trialling and testing regenerative practices on its Helix Agroecology farm. A year into the project, Hutchinsons will explain how the findings can be adopted on to different farms in ways that are practical, profitable and sustainable.

Understanding soil Soil health is widely recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming systems. Hutuchinsons says it is key to understand your soil before making any significant structural or op-

erational changes.

The company's TerraMap soil scanning system provides the most accurate and repeatable soil mapping available. This can now be aligned with TerraMap Gold – a comprehensive soil analysis which provides soil nutritional and management service,

The Omnia Digital Farming platform has continued to evolve and develop offering a range of innovative new developments using farm data, such as Cost of Production and Yield Performance mapping, Terramap, Carbon mapping and E-Seed.

The most recent of these is the Business Performance planning module which uses this data to cost out a range of potential cropping and machinery scenario’s in terms of both financial and CO2 equivalent performance.

Omnia also now provides a management platform to complete all SFI Soil standard requirements in a functional and easy way, allowing farmers to im-

prove their soil health and gain their SFI Soils Standard payment.

To ensure it remains up-to-date as scheme requirements change, further updates are planned to accommodate the wider release of other SFI measures, including the Advanced Standard which is due in 2024.

Healthy soils encourage profitable crops, says Hutchinsons

Could robots be the future of slug control?

Robots are being used to track down and destroy slugs – saving growers time and money while reducing crop damage.

It follows work funded by Innovate UK – bringing together the Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) agritech centre, the Small Robot Company and farming enterprise AV&N Lee – to explore new cost-effective and environmentally-friendly ways to control the pest.

The SlugBot monitors the exact location of slugs in the field – and then spot-sprays a small amount of bio-molluscide to destroy the pest. Project leader Jenna Ross said: “Excitingly, we’ve shown that it soon could be reality.”

More than 1600 slugs were collected during the first stage of the project

– focusing the grey field slug and the Spanish slug. Image data was collected across a wide range of enivronments and scenarios.

For stage two, slug-mapping capabilities were trialled in the field using the Small Robot Company’s ‘Tom’ robot. This included testing Tom’s ability to take images, upload them or identification, and then triggering the spray application.

A final stage focused on developing the precision spraying capabilities of the robot, and trialing its use with a biological control agent. Rather than spraying a large area, the final

The SlugBot team who have developed the precision spraying system

protoype was able to spray 20x20cm square – reducing the cost.

Small Robot Company product manager Andy Hall said: “We can detect and map slugs in a field using our monitoring Tom robot and also an on-robot precision detect and spray system, which can be used to spray slugs in real time.”

The work has also proven the potential of autonomous monitoring and precision application within broadacre arable crops. Now established, the platform could be adapted to include new data sets to target a wide range of weeds, pests and diseases.

Farm tool expanded to optimise nitrogen use and water quality

Natural capital trading specialist Trinity AgTech has updated its Sandy software to help farmers optimise nitrogen use and reduce nitrate leaching.

Utilising more than 300 data points, the software module has the potential to protect water by reducing nitrate leaching and reducing costs. It does so by analysing each field’s daily nitrogen uptake efficiency.

“Sandy’s dynamic water protection module will help all farmers to manage and reduce their impact on water quality, while saving money by reducing nitrate wastage,” says Milad Toolabi, Trinity's director of artificial intelligence-machine learning.

“Sandy’s forecasting and scenario analysis capabilities can alert farmers to the optimum time and quantity of nitrogen to apply. This allows a precision approach to applications, contributing towards a cost saving and a reduction in water pollution risk.”

Having already been adopted by farms across Europe, UK farm trials have indicated that better applications have benefits not only in terms of financial savings and efficiency but also for farm sustainability.

“Reducing nitrogen usage also

The software helps save money reduce pollution, says Milad Toolabi (right) and can help keep nitrates out of watercourses.

reduces carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from fertiliser applications, which significantly improves a farm’s sustainability or carbon score,” says Dr Toolabi.

Sandy connects information already gathered from the farm, such as soil data, regionality, crop information, application and management practices, alongside weather data to help farmers make real-time, evidence-based decisions.

“Integrating with farm management software such as Gatekeeper and Muddyboots, farmers can use Sandy to map out the financial and environmental impact of immediate and future decisions,” says Dr Toolabi.

“Whether farmers are in the business of growing grass or arable crops, the tool can provide them with the right insights to support environmental and financial gains. Ultimately, it will help farmers profit from their decision making.

“It’s a useful tool for farmers in NVZs, and for those who are looking to improve the efficiency of farm inputs and save money, while also capitalising on the environmental gains of improved water quality.”

Hands-free Farm team marks six years of robot success

Celebration for autonomous project

Ateam of researchers who set out to prove that robots could be the fu ture of farming is celebrating its sixth anniversary.

Based at Harper Adams University – and in the Agri EPI Midlands Innovation hub – the Hands-free Farm team started out growing wheat on a 1ha field. It now oper ates across a 35ha robotic farm.

This autumn, the team joined 50 re searchers, sponsors and VIP guests to cel ebrate what was the world's first autono mous agriculture project – and look forward to the next steps in their mission to trans form global agriculture.

The event came shortly after the Handsfree Farm completed its 2022 harvest – its sixith without operators in the driving seats or agronomists on the ground – at the AgriEPI Centre on the Harper Adams campus.

Global reach

Harper Adams vice-chancellor Ken Sloan said the global reach of the project – led by Kit Franklin – had captured his interest in autonomous agricultural vehicles while he was in his previous role at Monash Univer sity in Australia.

“We are really keen to talk about the pro ject – not just what is happening now, but some of the next steps as well. As Kit has reminded me, this is not something the uni versity could have done in isolation – and I look forward to collaborating in the future.”

The project, which has come on in leaps and bounds, has been run in partnership between Harper Adams and Precision Decisions, along with the UK division of Australian precision agriculture

specialist Farmscan AG.

Organisations who have visited and worked with the farm include the British Standards Institute, NFU Mutual, OFCOM, and the Health and Safety Executive – as well as the Princess Royal and former De fra secretary Michael Gove.

Huge interest

The Hands-free Farm has won numerous awards and garnered huge media interest. But Mr Franklin said its true value had been in driving forward commercial research, pol icy development and learning for Harper Adams students across a variety of courses.

Mr Franklin added: “Going forward, the project as is comes to an end – but we have a unique opportunity to keep learning, and to learn more. We have some fairly uncon ventional equipment, but with this sort of equipment and this sort of land, it opens the farm – right here, right now – to start ing an autonomous strip crop field here on the Harper Adams site.”

As this new project develops, academics will work with the Hands-free Farm team to examine everything from soil quality to insect life and biodiversity on the site, which will be prepared for spring crops to be har vested in early 2023.

Team bolstered at world’s largest vertical farm

Vertical farming company Fischer Farms is bringing 27 new jobs to the Norfolk area – as the firm gears up to open the doors to the world’s largest ver tical farm.

Construction on the 25,000m2 vertical farm is now complete at the Food Enter prise Park on the outskirts of Norwich and the office facility is fully operational. Ten new employees have recently started work at the site.

The new staff members will bolster the senior management, technical and operation

al teams at the 1.6ha (4 acre) site. It will have the capacity to supply 6.5 tonnes of leaf sal ad, lettuce, leafy herbs and other fresh pro duce to supermarkets daily.

Sustainable food

When fully operational, the vertical farm will be powered by 100% renewable energy and will use significantly less water than tradi tional cultivation methods, paving the way for a scalable and more sustainable food pro duction industry, says the company.

In the coming months, Fischer Farms is

looking to take on a further 17 recruits. Suc cessful candidates will help create a resilient and sustainable fresh food supply chain, said company founder Tristan Fischer.

“It’s a really exciting time for Fischer Farms, as we prepare to open the doors to the world’s largest vertical farm.”

Mr Fischer added: “We are growing our highly skilled team in the coming months, which presents a fantastic opportunity for those who share our ambitio a resilient and scalable food production supply chain to join something really transformational.”

Livestock

Farmers urged to test silage after challenging season

forage

bre digestion

Beef and dairy farmers are being urged to draw up plans to make the most of this year’s ‘mixed bag’ silage following the drought-hit summer.

Lientjie Colahan (pictured), technical sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, says farmers should get silage tested and plan winter diets accordingly following one of the hottest and driest summers on record.

The plea comes as the Met Office confirmed that summer 2022 was the driest since 1976 and the UK’s warmest on record. Many areas went months without rain as temperatures soared for weeks on end.

Mixed bag

“It’s really a mixed bag this year in terms of forage quality and availability so it’s important for farmers to get their silage analysed so they can draw up plans to maximise the value of the forage available to them,” says Mrs Colahan.

“Some farmers have got very dry silage, which could influence intakes; some will be short of silage for the winter having produced lower volumes; and others have been forced to start

feeding their winter feedstocks early due to a lack of grass growth.”

In many cases, farmers will be faced with high dry matter (DM) silage, which Mrs Colahan likens to eating a dry breakfast cereal without any milk. “Steps will need to be taken to improve forage palatability to ensure adequate feed intake,” she says.

“Sorting can also be an issue in high DM total mixed rations – increasing the risk of digestive upsets and acidosis which can severely hamper rumen function and feed efficiency.”

Adding water to the ration can be a simple, yet effective option for dealing with this. In instances where silage is wet Mrs Colahan says cows will need to eat a higher total volume of silage to receive the same DM as they would get from drier silage.

“This can result in lower dry matter intakes (DMIs) due to the bulk fill of water from the silage,” adds Ms Colahan.

Optimum fibre

“Wet silage also tends to create an increased acid load in the ru-

Forage quality and quality are a 'mixed bag' this year.

men, due to higher lactic acid concentrations in the silage, so farmers should look to balance wet silage with drier silages such as wholecrop cereal silage where available.”

Farmers also need to be thinking about promoting optimum fibre digestion in the rumen, says Mrs Colahan. This leads to higher production, more fertile and healthier animals and improved margins.

“There are several practical ways to optimise fibre digestion, including feeding more often, pushing up regularly, offering a cool, stable and palatable ration, and avoiding overcrowding at the feed face to maximise eating.”

Live yeast

Mycotoxins could pose challenge in maize

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to look for signs of mycotoxins when feeding maize this winter to avoid a reduction in performance.

BCW Agriculture agronomist Dave Harris, says growing conditions suggest this year’s maize silage is at higher risk of mycotoxin contamination, which could hamper milk production.

“There’s an increased risk of mycotoxin problems due to the dry weather and higher levels of bird damage in crops,” adds Mr Harris. “Many crops have a dry matter (DM) of 40% or above, increasing the risk of heating and mould for-

mation once opened.”

The stover opened early in many maize crops, letting in birds and insects. Wet weather which followed increased the risk of mycotoxins. Producers should work closely with their nutritionist, says Mr Harris.

Farmers concerned about mycotoxins in their maize this winter and could find it useful to test silage to assess the risk. They should also consider using a proven bacterial inoculants that can minimise the development of mycotoxins for next year.

She says including live yeast in the ration is also another way of improving fibre digestion. Rumen-specific live yeast can enhance ruminal microbiota establishment, balance the rumen environment and improve fermentation conditions.

“This helps control rumen pH, reducing the risk of acidosis and significantly improves fibre digestibility within the rumen, as well as overall feed efficiency,” says Mrs Colahan.

She says data from trials using Lallemand’s rumen-specific live yeast – Levucell SC – shows dairy cows fed the yeast as part of their ration experienced an average increase in milk yields of 1.1kg a day as well as a 3% improvement in feed efficiency.

1. Identify the parasite risk

Taking an evidence-based approach using diagnostic tests at strategic times can help you assess the parasite risk, disease status and need for treatment.

Faecal egg count tests to detect worms and coproantigen tests for fluke should be used in combination with farm history, symptoms and post-mortem information to determine the issue and whether there is a worm burden, fluke burden, or both – a mixed burden.

Cattle may also present symptoms such as scours in younger cattle due to worms,

hair loss or scratching from ectoparasites or coughing from lungworm, for example. Speak to your vet about the most appropriate diagnostic test and any symptoms your stock encounters.

2. Treatment timing

Housing is a stressful time due to the change in housing, diet and mixing of groups. By eliminating parasites at this time, you are reducing the burden on the animal and stress by only handling the cattle once. This also cuts labour costs and saves you time.

3. Treatment choice

Treatment will depend on the parasites present. For a mixed parasite burden, a combination product such as Cydectin TriclaMox Cattle Pour-On will treat gutworms, lungworm, lice, as well as late immature and adult fluke.

Treatment choice will also be influenced by the animal's age and purpose, with meat and milk withdrawal times something that should be considered. It is vital to always work with your animal health care provider when drawing up a parasite control plan.

Protecting cattle will maximise growth during the initial housing period by removing the worm burden. It will also reduce the fluke burden. Animals can then be tested for fluke before turnout to confirm if further treatment is needed to reduce fluke egg output at turnout.

4. Correct application Administering the treatment correctly is essential for it to work properly and delay the development of resistant worms. Ideally, all animals should be weighed and dosed according to their individual weight. Dosing

Housing is the perfect time to get on top of cattle parasites, says Zoetis vet Ally Ward .

5ways to protect cattle from parasites at housing

equipment should be calibrated and thoroughly cleaned between use.

5. Monitoring stock during housing

It is vital to continually monitor stock throughout the housing period to ensure they are performing at their best and to nip any health issues in the bud.

In cases where cattle have not been treated at housing for parasites, diagnostic tests should be performed during housing to prevent stock from overwintering liver fluke and risking pasture contamination at turnout.

Clover could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

New varieties of clover will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improved nitrogen fixation – and boost farm performance.

That was the message at a ‘Net Zero for Productive Grasslands’ seminar hosted by Germinal and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at this year’s Countryside COP event.

“Clovers can fix between 100-380kg of nitrogen per hectare per year,” said David Lloyd, head of plant breeding for Germinal Horizon – Germinal’s research and innovation division based at IBERS.

“When fixed at the higher end of this range, there is enough nitrogen to support high production livestock systems. It is therefore possible to replace the vast amounts of nitrogen fertiliser applied to UK grasslands with clover-produced nitrogen.

“This could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1.4 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, and at current prices, could save UK farmers £904 million per year.”

To achieve this, clover needs to fix nitrogen

at the highest possible level, said Dr Lloyd. Germinal was developing improved clover varieties for climate-smart solutions, he added, as well as improving clover’s use of phosphorus.

“Phosphorus is a limited resource and its mining and production leave a significant carbon footprint – yet legumes like clover traditionally require phosphorus to reach yield potentials.”

Longer life

Clover varieties with a longer life span could also reduce emissions – by reducing the need to establish swards so frequently, he added. “We need to reduce how often we plough, and how much we disturb the soil.

“One way is to breed more persistent varieties which are productive for longer. With older clover varieties you would expect only a two-year lifespan – yet newly bred varieties like AberClaret can last five years.”

Further advances in this area included breeding disease and pest resistant clover varieties, said Mr Lloyd. Developing seed coating technologies would speed up establishment and further reduce the need for ploughing.

Midlands Machinery Show

Key machinery trends at fore of flagship regional event

Interest in regenerative farming is driving big changes in demand for machinery – with more farmers investing in robotics and data-based decisions.

Low disturbance tillage is becom ing increasingly popular as growers as continue to move away from plough ing and embrace modern regenerative farming practices, say exhibitors pre paring for this month's Midlands Ma chinery Show.

“After root crops or pigs, there is certainly a place for ploughing to reset the land,” says Chandlers managing director Gavin Pell. “But many grow ers are moving towards regenerative systems which leave the soil profile and structure intact,”

“Some modern subsoilers have very low surface disturbance and can be used to alleviate compaction with out disturbing the soil profile. For ex ample, with the HE-VA Stealth a disc makes a cut and a leg passes through.

About the show

The Midlands Machinery Show is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS).

It is a platform for agricultural businesses to showcase their latest range of tractors, machinery, services and technology to farmers, machinery operators, contractors and landowners.

An agricultural charity, NNAS objectives include promoting and organising the show, as well as supporting young people with careers in agriculture, through annual awards, including the Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship awards.

For details, visit www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.

soil to relieve compaction, assist drain age, aeration, nitrogen uptake and to encourage crop rooting.”

Very shallow surface cultivators are also proving popular for stale seedbeds, he adds. “They promote weed seeds to chit. As the cost of chemicals rises some growers are using cultivators instead of glyphosate.”

With less and lighter cultivation,

“

says more farmers are looking for low disturbance direct drills that don’t compromise on quality of the seedbed. In particular, they want good seed-to -soil contact, she adds.

“The flagship Pro-Til one-pass drill offers strip tillage and direct establish ment into stubble and cover crops and remains a popular choice with growers looking to reduce establishment costs compared to conventional systems.”

Popular robots

Some growers are looking at dispens ing with tractors altogether in favour of robots for some applications,. The FarmDroid is a fully autonomous, so lar-powered robot capable of precision drilling and weeding. It has just joined the Opico line-up.

The FarmDroid uses GPS to record exactly where it places each seed. On each subsequent weeding pass, it has no need to identify what’s a weed and what’s not – it simply knows where the crop plants should be and works around them.

JCB's Fastrac 4220 iCON will be among the exhibits at the event

“We believe robotics will form the backbone of the next major step in tech nological development for agriculture,” says Opico managing director James

“While it’s early days, we’re coming to the UK market with a product that is tried and tested. The timing couldn’t be better with rising energy costs, la bour issues and environmental factors at the forefront of UK farmers’ minds.

As input costs rise, Farol director Kevin Newman says efficiency is a growing trend. “We are collecting data like fuel consumption on field opera tions and spray/fertiliser application information. We then use this data to pinpoint inefficiencies which we can

A key talking point at the moment is idle times, adds Mr Newman.

“At busy times on the farm, it’s easy to jump out of a tractor or machine to do a quick job which turns into a big job. By leaving the tractor/machine run ning operators are using fuel, eating into servicing hours and negatively af fecting its residual value.”

The timing couldn’t be better

Double celebration for drainage experts at Newark showground

Drainage specialist Mastenbroek will celebrate two milestones at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

The UK manufacturer of agricultural drainage trenchers will be marking the 40th anniversary of its CT12 crawler truck and the first birthday of its innovative Magic Eye package at this month’s event.

The Mastenbroek Magic Eye package was developed to improve the accuracy of backfill levels when installing agricultural drainage schemes. It uses a radar sensor to control the amount of gravel or sand dispensed by the hopper when backfilling.

Available as an optional extra on Mastenbroek’s trenchers and retrofittable to any machine with a suitable hydraulic variable height gravel hopper, the Magic Eye regulates itself to the ground level, ensuring the optimum amount of gravel is dispensed.

“We developed the Magic Eye in response to requests from agricultural drainage contractors for an automated way of minimising wastage,” says Mastenbroek commercial director Christopher Pett.

“Gravel is increasingly expensive, and in the past, some contractors have found it difficult to ensure they are laying it effectively and accurately. The Magic Eye ensures that contractors are using just the right amount of gravel and is very easy to use.”

Crawler truck

Designed in 1982, the CT12 crawler truck has proved incredibly popular with agricultural drainage contractors.

It has been refined over the years –

most recently this summer when it incorporated a larger, full-width tipping hopper to reduce spillages when loading.

The hopper is fully visible when the operator cabin is raised to its highest position, and its variable speed conveyor provides a free-flow discharge for aggregates of varying viscosity.

As well as allowing the operator to place materials into trenches accurately, the hopper means the CT12 can be used as a dump truck to, for example, haul aggregate along pipeline rights of way.

At the front of the CT12, Mastenbroek’s variable height, variable speed, 180-degree swing conveyor makes it easy for the operator to place backfill material directly into a trench or the hopper mounted on the trencher.

Inside the specially designed cabin, the controls have been brought closer to hand and feature an improved er-

Mastenbroek is celebrating two anniversaries this year

gonomic design. Mastenbroek has also replaced the manual levers found on previous models with electronic track controls.

With colder days in mind, Mastenbroek is now fitting heated windows to the front and right-hand side. The 2022 CT12 can also be specified with a 360-degree camera system to provide the operator with complete visibility of their surroundings.

This year, a new front-mounted ladder provides easy access to radiator levels, with side-mounted wide-opening doors facilitating access to the CT12’s 248hp Volvo Penta D8 eight-litre six-cylinder Stage 5 emission engine.

Mastenbroek has now mounted the hydraulic oil cooler independently to the engine radiator, with both having opening grills for easy access and cleaning. A new central greasing system has been developed.

Pallet protection system aims to set the Pace

Pace Mechanical Handling will put the spotlight on an innovative new protection system for palletised products at this year's Midlands Machinery Show.

It follows a partnership with TMI – one of Spain's leading bagging, palletising and wrapping machinery manufacturers. The Midlands event is PACE's first appearance at an agricultural show since agreeing to represent TMI in the UK this summer.

Latest innovation

Established in 2000, TMI offers a range of end-of-line machines, used by some of the largest manufacturing companies in 25 countries. Pace will use the Midlands event to showcase TMI's latest innovation – the Ilerbox – a protection system for palletised products.

The Ilerbox automatic wrapping system places a protective layer of corrugated cardboard around the pallet. It is then stretch-wrapped securely to protect the product in transit and storage – reducing the pallet boxes used.

“We are very much looking forward to talking to Midlands Machinery Show visitors about it and our own range of robotic palletising and mechanical handling solutions,” says Nick Cesare, managing director at Pace Mechanical Handling.

“The shortage of labour is one of the most significant challenges faced by packers today.

“By introducing robotic packing, it is possible to reduce the number of people needed, increase throughput and lower downtime.”

Pace has been designing, installing and servicing automated packing solutions since 1996 and in that time has worked with more than 200 fresh produce growers and packers, automating the packing of potatoes, carrots and onions, among other crops.

The company offers a range of robots – from pick and place up to specialist heavy lifting models.

Machines are build and developed by Pace's own team of fabricators, software engineers and designers.

The Ilerbox – a protection system for palletised products – reduces the number of boxes used

Tide of interest expected in seaweed-based biostimulant

ALincolnshire company says it is anticipating a tidal wave of interest in its seaweed-based biostimulant at this year's Midlands Machinery Show.

Rising fertiliser prices, challenging weather conditions and increasing desire to use natural products have seen sales of Algifol surpass 6,000 litres per year – a 33% increase in sales over the past 12 months.

Distributed in the UK by MJP Supplies, Algifol is derived from brown algae, which is dried and refined. The result is a natural liquid containing trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones.

"It's not only new customers behind the surge in sales,” says Marcus Palmer, owner of MJP Supplies. “We've also benefited from lots of repeat orders from growers who have seen the benefits of using Algifol first hand.”

conditions during this summer have also seen more growers turn to biostimulants.

As well as an increasing number of farmers, there is a growing appreciation of biostimulants among agronomists, such as John Carney, of Carney Agricultural Services, who has recommended Algifol to his clients since 2018.

"We have sold seaweed products to farmers and growers for over 40 years and have always kept to products that are sourced solely from the correct plants and extracted without losing natural ingredients," says Mr Carney.

"We supply Algifol to our customers as a nutrient enhancer to the minerals already available to the plant. Biostimulants are best used before 'fire-engine' remedies are needed and are applied regularly during the growing season.”

“This is particularly so with fruit growing, where the evidence of quality is easily visible. Where any quality measurements such as tuber size, sugar content or grain specific gravity are made, Algifol has always been shown to be an essential ingredient."

Marcus Palmer of MJP Supplies at last year's machinery event

All

Professional services

Eastern region farmland now worth £10k/ acre

15% price rise over three months with strong demand for the right land

Farmland values in the east of England have continued to see year-on-year growth and re main ahead of the national average, reveal the latest figures.

The third quarter of 2023 saw ‘all types’ of farmland in East Anglia – pas ture and arable – trade at an average of £9,150/acre in the three months to 30 September 2022, according to the latest quarterly farmland price index from Savills.

The figure was an 11.2% increase on the same time last year – and ahead of the national average of £7,609 an acre.

The value of eastern region prime arable land increased by an average of 14.1 per cent to the end of Septem ber – up to an average of £10,099 an acre compared to an average of £8,849 an acre in September 2021.

This is the second highest value of any region, with the north (£10,787 an acre) topping the list. Nationally, the value of prime arable land sits at an av erage of £9,694, an annual rise of 7.1%.

East Anglia has also seen more farmland publicly marketed in the

last 12 months than anywhere else in the UK – rising 81% from 9,930 acres on the open market in September 2021 to 17,900 acres in Septem ber 2022.

The region makes up 22% of all farmland marketed in England to the end of September – with Great Britain as a whole see ing 110,669 acres public ly marketed to the end of September – a 4% rise.

Large farms

One of the largest farms to reach the market this year has been the 4,000 acre Coldham Estate in Cambridgeshire. But even without this, levels of supply in the East of Eng land would still have increased by 39%, according to the research.

Oliver Carr, of Savills eastern re gion team, operates in West Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. He said: “Multiple large farms and estates have entered the market since the start of the year –

Despite more land coming to the mar ket, an imbalance between supply and demand was continuing to drive values upwards with a growing pool of buy ers increasingly frustrated by a lack of opportunity.

“From smaller farms to larger com mercial estates, in some cases we have seen land go under offer for up to 20% more than its guide,” said Mr Carr.

“Lesser quality land that perhaps once upon a time would have strug gled to generate much interest has also been popular – particularly among buyers who are looking to invest for environmental reasons.

“With virtually no new farms on the market this autumn we expect values to continue to rise – in line with fore casts from earlier in the year. Cash rich investors continue to seek tangi ble assets in these volatile economic and political times and land has previ ously proved a hedge against inflation.

"Combined with farmers with de velopment gains, and overseas buyers taking advantage of the low value of the pound, demand – for now – contin ues to outstrip supply.”

There is a shortage of says Oliver Carr

The Coldham Estate (below) is among the largest

Carbon could unlock valuable farm income

payments are worth

needed to enter

require better information

Farmers could benefit from payments worth up to £500m every year if myths around carbon markets are corrected, say experts.

Growers could top-up their annual incomes by thousands of pounds if they monetise the carbon they capture each year through sustainable farming practices like reducing the intensity of their tillage and planting cover crops.

Speaking at a carbon round table event, more than 20 experts from across agriculture discussed ways to correct misunderstandings about how carbon markets work so more growers feel confident to enter the market.

Top of the list was how to help producers realise that carbon markets pay for carbon saved or added to the soil on-farm each year a farmer participates in a T

carbon programme — not for carbon locked in the soil in the distant past.

Wrong information

Farmer Andrew Randall (right), who hosted the round table on his 320ha arable farm, signed up to Soil Capital’s carbon payment scheme earlier this year – after researching the market and realising much of what he’d heard about carbon markets was incorrect.

Mr Randell told attendees he expects to make about £50/ ha in his first year by utilising sustainable farming practices,. These include direct drilling, multi-species cover crops, reducing nitrogen use and spreading organic matter across 240ha of his business.

“When people

ing

ickets are still available for this month's Agribusiness Conference – and the opportunity to network with likeminded peers and gain valuable insight from expert speakers.

Tickets are available to both the conference, on Wednesday, 16 November, at the Holiday Inn (Peterborough West); and the pre-conference supper on the eventing of Tuesday, 15 November, at Orton Hall, Peterborough

Guest speaker for the pre-conference supper – described as a meeting of minds and discussion over food and drink – is Bill Young of the Addington Fund, the conference’s charity partner.

Gosted by the Agricultural Industries Confederation, this year’s conference centres on ‘Managing disruptive shocks in the agri-food supply chain’ – helping delegates to get a grip on the fast-paced and unpredictable environment they face.

Speakers include NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw, Sainsbury's agriculture director Gavin Hodgson, and HSBC head of agrifoods Allan Wilkinson. Further speakers are due to be confirmed. For details, visit www.agindustries.org.uk

bank of carbon – I’m benefitting annually from the practices we do on farm.

Generating income

“If we don’t benefit financially from those environmental gains we’re making, it’s simply a wasted opportunity. From now until next harvest, what happens in the field above and below ground is what we’re being rewarded for.”

Mr Randell said he was net se questering at least 2t/ha of carbon annually by adapting his farm’s rotation, increasing cover crops, spreading organic matter one year in six, and working to re duce nitrogen use.

“From Soil Capital’s calcu lations, that will hopefully see us make over £10,000 this year, which is a useful way of starting to get back what we’re losing from the basic payment scheme,” he added.

“It has been a leap of faith in some respects, but by doing my research and getting good advice I don’t regret signing up, and I’m considering whether to bring an other farm into the scheme.

“If we don’t capitalise on the opportunity now, we don’t bene fit from all of the improvements we’re making on farm to become more sustainable.”

Carbon certificates

Lack of good information means UK farmers are lagging behind growers in countries like France and Belgium when it comes to

carbon can be kept together, in line with industry net zero ex pectations.”

Trinity AgTech grows farm support team

Carbon calculator and natural capital trading company Trinity AgTech has recruited two new employees to help farmers measure, optimise and generate an income from their natural capital assets.

Scott Millar and Louise Rix will work with farmers who are looking to build their business resilience, profitability and sustainability. Mr Millar will work with livestock and dairy customers; while Ms Rix will support arable and horticulture customers.

Carbon payments could re ward farmers are they moved to net zero, rather than only be ing available once net zero was reached. Waiting for higher prices may mean growers were no longer meeting expectations that carbon improvements must be new to be rewarded.

Mr Voysey said: “In these are as and more, farmers have been presented with incomplete infor mation, which is why it’s so im portant that industry bodies and experts focus on sharing the best advice available.”

Savills to provide free business support for farmers

Changes to agricultural support, together with challenges caused by food supply chain pressures, rising input costs and extreme weather events are requiring many farmers to adapt their business models and carefully consider options for the future.

To help navigate the potentially choppy waters ahead Savills is working with NIAB and fellow consultants AKC to deliver free business advice.

The support is available to all farmers who receive BPS payments and is aimed at helping them understand the changes to agricultural support, the potential impact on their business and to identify options to adapt.

The initiative is part of the next phase of the Future Farming Resilience Fund and has been made available through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural A airs (Defra), which has committed £32 million to provide support to farmers as they move through the transition away from BPS.

The initiative, which launched this month and will run for two-and-a-half years, will allow farmers to access a one-to-one farm business review, online tools, resources and industry expertise.

The first phase of the scheme saw farmers seek advice on a wide range of topics, including environmental audits, natural capital, diversification, succession planning, joint ventures, development potential, carbon auditing and environmental scheme applications.

Support will be open to all farmers throughout England, helping to increase knowledge about the impacts of changes to direct payments, explore options for farming system change and develop change management skills.

In times of uncertainty it is more important than ever to have access to clear, reliable and trusted advice – and we would encourage anyone who might be interested to get in touch.

There is unlikely to be a single solution to the challenges and opportunities ahead – and we will work with farmers to help find the way forward that works best for their business.

Dan Murphy Savills Norwich 07870 999237 daniel.murphy@savills.com

Matt Riddington Savills Cambridge 07811 591630 matt.riddington@savills.com savills.co.uk

Farmers plan to diversify to boost farm incomes

• Goal to create new revenue streams

• Cost of living crisis fuels uncertainty

• Diversification hub to advise farmers

More farmers plan to boost their incomes by diversify their businesses to gener ate additional revenue streams.

Farmers see diversification providing a larg er part of their incomes over the longer terms, but they are holding back on investment due to uncertainty over government support, accord ing to research from NFU Mutual.

Some 37% of UK farmers plan to increase di versification over the next five years, up 3% on 2021’s figures, according to the rural insurer’s annual diversification survey which was pub lished last month.

But many farmers are waiting for details of forthcoming farm support schemesbfroe taking the plunge. The drop of 4% to 33% this year fol lows a sharp increase in 2021 when farmers pushed ahead with diversification plans after the coronavirus pandemic.

New opportunities

A further NFU Mutual poll shows that most farmers (46%) are currently diversifying to boost farm incomes, with safeguarding their farm’s future the second most common reason (29%).

Other reasons for diversifying are providing new opportunities for family members (18%) while 7% are seeking to make use of redundant farm buildings. But some are reluctant to invest because of the cost of living crisis.

NFU Mutual farm insurance specialist Chris Walsh said: “For many farmers, diversification is now essential to keep a decent income flow ing into their business with high input costs se riously affecting profitability in every sector of agriculture and horticulture.

“Farm diversification is a sophisticated sec tor of the rural economy, providing significant income and employment opportunities. It givess the public the chance to visit the heart of our spectacular countryside and enjoy our excellent food straight from the grower."

Staycations

Research carried out with over 1,650 farmers across the UK earlier this year found that income from diversification represented 12% of a farm business’ total income – down from 16% in 2021.

While a post-lockdown staycation boom sup ported income from agricultural tourism, a rise

in farm output prices pushed overall farm in come above the previous year’s figure, explained Mr Walsh.

Against a background of uncertainty over new farm payments and more recently an ex pected new direct support scheme, 11% of farm ers yet to diversify say they now plan to do so in the next five years.

Future farm diversification plans are also being radically changed by the energy crisis. NFU Mutual’s latest poll reveals that seven in ten respondents (72%) believe that renewables are now the enterprise most likely to be success ful in the future.

Popular

Camping, glamping, caravan sites, B&B and hol iday cottages are the most popular diversifica tions developed by farmers, suggests the NFU Mutual research. In joint second place was re newable energy together with non-holiday prop erty letting.

Mr Walsh said: “Farmers’ renewable energy schemes are providing an increasing amount of the nation’s power, reducing reliance on fos sil fuels and helping us towards the net car bon zero goal.

“We’re not surprised to see that some farm ers have put a hold on their plans while wait ing for more details of an expected new govern ment farm support scheme. For new ventures involving the public, such as holiday accommo dation, food processing and retailing,

Mr Walsh said it was vital to assess the like ly impact of the cost-of-living crisis on public spending. NFU Mutual had launched a new Di versification Hub to help farmers understand the opportunities and risks involved, he added.

Financial planning key to success

A financial planning review is a key part of launching a successful di versication, say business analysts.

Partnership and Sharehold er agreements, Wills, and Protec tion cover should all be revisited to make sure they reflect the diversi fied business. Diversifying can also have significant impacts on inher itance tax liabilities.

NFU Mutual chartered finan cial planner Sean McCann said: “Not only can diversification open up new sources of revenue, it can also offer business opportunities to younger members of the family.

But Mr McCann said it was im portant to consider the inheritance tax implications before making any changes. This could ensure farm ing families avoid a large and un expected tax bill in the future.

“A key requirement in securing Agricultural Property Relief is that the land or buildings must be occu pied for agriculture, so converting farm buildings and letting them out for non-agricultural use will nor mally mean that APR is lost.

To get Business Property Relief, the land or buildings must normal ly be used for trading rather than investment purposes. Diversifica tions that involve collecting rent with minimal management or pro vision of services, are less likely to qualify for BPR.

RURAL

ADVISORY

STEPHEN HOLLOCK srh@brooksleney co.uk 07960 055003

BETH DUCHESNE bhd@brooksleney co.uk 07399 293665

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

Licence to kill

Any attempt to send a paper application will be rejected, I discovered recently.

Before you ask, not having your own computer does not excuse you from this new process. I was advised to ask a trusted friend or tech-savvy family member to help. Or I could use the computer at my public library.

Unfortunately, my local library closed down several years ago.

a digital photo quickly enough. Then, once I had solved this particular puzzle, the photo failed to appear on the screen in time to complete the process.

Doctor's orders

So far as I know, I'm in full control of my faculties – and I have no mental or physical conditions that prevent me from having procession of shotguns or a licence to hold one.

But after nearly 50 years dealing with shotguns, it now appears vermin control is beyond people of a certain age. Try to obtain a licence today and the boys in blue will insist you apply online, refusing to accept paper applications for shotguns or firearms.

I was then informed that I might be entitled me to complete a paper form if I had a valid “protected characteristic” under the 2010 equality act. If so, I could contact my local police force and they would consider my request on an individual basis.

Big decision

What this means I am unsure. But it is not good enough to say I am incompetent in the use of computer technology or that I was born in the Fens. Neither are a valid arguments.

So, after much debate whether I should hand in my shotguns, retire from shooting and leave the local pigeon population alone this autumn, I decided to apply for a licence online – despite quietly knowing that my less than flexible joints can no longer jump in and out of hides too well.

First, I ticked the box stating I had read the guidance notes, even though I hadn't. I then completed two pages before realising I hadn't got all the information needed to hand. My second attempt failed because I didn't know my referee's middle name or place of birth. I've only know him 40 years.

On my third attempt, I got timed out because I couldn't work out how to download

I had thought I was well-prepared. Before this online game started, I had to ask my local doctor to complete a medical information pro forma – despite my not knowing my doctor's name because I last visited my GP in 2001 and he had since passed away.

Soon I was £40 lighter in the pocket – and in possession of a pro forma that the computer couldn't download because it was in the wrong format. Nevertheless, by 4.45pm on Friday, my online application was almost complete – apart from one last hiccup.

The police required my doctor's email address, which I had submitted but according to the application was incorrect.

I called the surgery but there was no answer. So I inserted my own email, paid my £49 and submitted my application.

In all, it took me four attempts and more than a fortnight to fill out the online form. My application was a success – despite the incorrect email address.

But this was modern technology at its worst and it would have been far quicker for me to complete the paper version.

I understand the reasons but forcing people online is discriminatory and makes a simple process ridiculously complicated – and not just for those of a certain age. If I survive another five years, I doubt I will bother again. Bring back pen and paper.

Applying for a shotgun licence has become ridiculously complicated – with no good reason, says Fen Tiger.

I called the surgery. There was no answer.