Anglia Farmer - October 2022

Anglia

EDITORIAL

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Anglia Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares. Subscription is £18 a year (including postage). No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for the opinions expressed by contributors.

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OPINION Johann Tasker

'Shock and awe' is high risk strategy

t has been a turbulent few weeks since Liz Truss became Prime Minister. Inflation has risen, interest rates have increased and the value of sterling has plummeted – all of which have a huge impact on businesses.

The cost of borrowing is more expensive. So too are farm input costs, which were already eye-wateringly high. They include the price of imported feed, fertiliser and fuel –all putting a squeeze on farm profitability.

The Bank of England and the government are pulling in different directions. Tasked with controlling inflation, the Bank is trying to take the heat of out of the economy by increasing interest rates.

But the Bank's work is being undone by the government's determination to cut taxes – giving people more money to spend and pledging more tax cuts to come.

The situation is clearly untenable. Something has to give. Despite Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng pledging that the Bank of England's independence is 'sacrosanct', things cannot continue as they are. Markets, like farmers, need certainty.

On top of that, the government says it is

rapidly reviewing farm support. A series of meetings with stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) was cancelled last month with no explanation.

Little wonder then that farmers – as well as the money markets – are nervous. How high will interests go? How low will sterling sink? Where will it all end? Does the government know what it is doing?

One thing is clear – Liz Truss has ripped up the rule book when it comes to Tory fiscal management. She has embarked on a high risk strategy which even at this early stage could come to define her premiership.

Many respected economists say slashing tax and funding public investment through staggering amounts of longterm borrowing is doomed to failure. The markets too have made up their minds that it is likely to fail.

When it comes to agriculture, ministers have signalled that they want to prioritise food security and productivity. But we need action and clarity – not words. British farmers deserve much, much better.

Johann Tasker Editor

England

Call to 'back British farming' amid fears for support

• Concern over size of Defra budget

• Review of environmental scheme

• Payments remain vital, say leaders

MPs and government minis ters will be urged to 'back British farming' this month – and show their support for growers and livestock producers.

The cost of living crisis means the government is under pressure to re view how it spends taxpayers' money. And the election of Liz Truss as Prime Minister has fuelled concern that De fra's budget could be reduced.

Industry leaders fear newly ap pointed Defra secretary Janil Jay awardena is already planning to scale back farm support by ordering a re view of the government's Environmen tal Land Management scheme.

Food production

The NFU's seventh annual “Back Brit ish Farming” day will take place on 2 November. It usually takes place after MPs return to the House of Commons in September. But this year's event was postponed following the death of the Queen.

Politicians will be asked to wear wheatsheaf and wool lapel badges to show their support for British farming. Previous years have seen them worn by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition during parliamentary questions and debates enant Farmers.

Dunn said it was vital to maintain cur rent levels of public support so farmers could provide environmental benefits as well as correcting market failures within supply chains.

sure that tenant farmers had access to new schemes and were not sacri ficed so that their landlords could be rewarded with public money by recov ering possession and removing land from the let sector.

Political football

The Country Land and Business Asso ciation was more positive. CLA spokes man Jonathan Roberts: “It seems likely that the Environmental Land Man agement (ELM) rollout will continue on its current trajectory.”

Mr Roberts said he feared that the transition towards ELM would be come a political football during the Tory lead ership race, forcing the candidates to backtrack from recent progress. But this had not come to pass.

The NFU believes war in Ukraine and the energy crisis reinforces the im portance of food security – and oth er benefits brought by farmers. NFU president Minette Batters said: “Brit ish farmers and growers are often pil

The contribution of farmers must be recognised, says Minette Batters

“Whether it’s maintaining land scapes people love to visit, helping neighbours in times of extreme weath er or fundraising for local charities, NFU members often go the extra mile. With the help of MPs we're recognis ing and celebrating their invaluable contributions.”

Farm minister Mark Spencersaid he was delighted to be joining Defra – and looking looking forward to sup porting food production, the environ ment and rural communities.

Defra said it had legislated through the Environment Act and would con tinue to improve wildlife laws.

More details needed on energy relief package

An emergency package to ease spi ralling energy costs faced by busi nesses leaves too many questions unanswered, say farm leaders.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will see reduced energy prices for non-domestic en ergy customers – including farm businesses. The government says the scheme will sup port growth, prevent unnecessary insolven cies and protect jobs.

But the NFU says urgent clarity is need

ed on support for food businesses after the initial six month period. NFU president Minette Batters said: “We simply can’t pro duce the food the nation needs without af fordable energy.

Energy played a core role in food produc tion – and throughout the supply chain –from fertiliser production and heating glass houses and livestock buildings to baking bread and keeping facilities clean.

“Because of this close link between ener

gy and food, the government must prioritise access to affordable energy for food produc tion and the food supply chain. Continued support will be key for curtailing food price inflation going forward.”

Country Land and Business Association president Mark Tufnell said: “A six-month cap is too short a time span for most busi nesses. They need certainty of their cost base if confidence is to return in the me dium term."

Regenerative farming conference at machinery show

The NFU will hold a half-day con ference on regenerative farm ing at the Midlands Machinery Show on 16 November.

The ‘mini conference’ is aimed at farmers who want to find out more about regenerative farming. It will in clude sessions on regenerative farming practices, their impact on farm prof itabilty, and talks from regenerative farmers.

Conference organiser Simon Fish er said: “Soil health is under the mi croscope at the moment, and that’s the foundation of regenerative agri culture – Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy focused on it, as does the NFU’s own Foundation of Our Food report.

“We also know that Defra is putting together a soil health action plan, and there is generally a lot of interest in regenerative farming amongst farm ers themselves – this conference will therefore help them make a bit more sense of it all.

Next generation

“We know a lot of soils are depleted, and if we’re going to be a more sustainable industry going forward then we’ve got to start putting some of these things right – if nothing else for the next gen eration of farmers.”

Precision technology to minimise inputs and no-till drills can help with more sustainable farming. This will be a focus at the show itself, including farm business consultants offering ad vice on the various environmental and grant schemes available.

The NFU is also hoping to use the conference to run a survey about what regenerative farming practices farm ers are already using in the region, says Mr Fisher.The study aims to paint a picture of regenerative farming in the region.

“There are five regenerative farm ing principles, and a lot of farmers are probably already doing at least some

Nature recovery

Local councils will soon start to lead nature recovery strategies, so it will be important to have some hard data to help inform these.“It will be interest ing to see who is doing what, and how many are engaged in the full regener ative farming spectrum.”

This is the third time the NFU has held a mini conference at the Midlands Machinery Show – always with a fo cus on the environment. Previous top ics have included carbon and farming

said: “The growth in interest about re generative farming is clear. Our role is to help members understand the prin ciples and how it might fit into their businesses as food producers.”

The Midlands Machinery Show will be held on 16-17 November at Newark Showground, with numerous compa nies exhibiting machinery which those looking to farm more sustainably and reduce their inputs may be interest ed in.

For tickets and information visit www.midlandsmachineryshow.com

New owners complete purchase of RABI's Manson House home

Family-run care group Stow Healthcare has completed the acquisition of Manson House care home in Bury St Edmunds, purchased from farming charity RABI.

The 31-bed care home also provides 23 self contained independent living apartments. Stow Healthcare managing director Roger Catchpole said residents could expect the same level of ser vice provided by RABI.

“As a farming family, we are honoured to be taking over the care home from the oldest ag ricultural charity in the UK,” he said. “We will also ensure the premises are well maintained,

to provide first-class living accommodation with modern amenities.”

Mr Catchpole said it was important to bring the community to residents by holding events where local people could get involved with the care home. Jobs at the care home would be pro moted to local people, while continuing to devel op loyal staff at Manson House.

RABI trustee John Hoskin said: “RABI has gone to great lengths to carefully select highly rated and experienced care providers who will continue to run Manson House in the way staff, residents and tenants would want.”

•

Soil health is key action point

• Technology can reduce inputs

• Impact on farming profitability

The Midlands Machinery Show takes place next month

Local speakers take to stage at farm management conference

Representatives from across East An glia will take centre stage at a nation al farm management conference next month in London.

The Institute of Agricultural Management (IAgrM) farm management conference takes place on Tuesday, 1 November, at the QE2 centre, Westminster. The theme is ‘Agricul ture’s defining decade: Balancing food and environmental security’.

High-profile speakers at the event include Emily Norton (pictured right), head of ru ral research at land agents Savills; and Will Gemmill, executive partner at farm business consultants Ceres Rural.

Nature recovery

Sessions will cover the value of natural cap ital, how we can kick-start agricultural pro ductivity growth and the role vertical farming, alternative proteins and cultured food could play in strengthening food security.

Ms Norton will lead the session ‘Stacking and bundling: how should public policy and private market interact?’. Speaking ahead of the conference, she highlighted the im

portance of understanding changing agri cultural policies to make the most of future opportunities.

“Many farmers have felt that the balance of policy has swung too far towards environ mental outcomes and has forgotten to take account of the multiple needs farm business es face in producing high quality, low cost, low impact food for consumers.

“In reality, investment is needed in both environmental outcomes and food produc tivity. Emerging private markets provide a new and potentially highly valuable source of income, which could outcompete existing land uses.

“The key policy challenge, is how mech anisms such as stacking and bundling can ensure profitable ecosystem service needs of society are met in harmony with demands for plentiful and affordable food.”

The conference will end with the prestig ious John Alliston Memorial Lecture, held in memory of IAGrM founder Professor John Alliston, who died in 2017. Mr Gemmill will reflect on Prof Alliston's legacy and the im pact of his work on future industry leaders,

including his time at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.

“My lecture will focus on the changes that have happened in a career of farm manage ment and consultancy, while acknowledging the future changes that need to happen,” said Mr Gemmill, explaining that this year's con ference theme was extremely timely.

“This is centred on a desire to reduce car bon emissions to reach net zero by 2050 and leaving a sustainable legacy for the next gen eration all while maintaining food security and self-sufficiency in indigenous foods to sim ilar percentage levels as today.”

For more details, and to secure your ticket, visit www.iagrm.com/conference.

Arable

Hold your nerve to beat blackgrass, growers told

• Avoid temptation to drill sooner

• Delayed sowing is good strategy

• October crops often yield better

Growers with a known black grass burden shouldn’t be lured into bringing winter wheat drilling dates forwards, say experts.

Much of the region has seen im proved soil moisture following the dry, early harvest. But farmers should hold their nerve and delay drilling for as long as practicably possible, says Mike Thornton, head of crop production for agronomy firm ProCam.

“Rushing out to drill just because we’ve seen some decent rainfall events in the last few weeks would be coun ter-productive,” says Mr Thornton.

“Instead, delaying drilling until mid-October – or even into Novem ber where weather conditions allow – provides a fantastic opportunity to create some really good stale seedbeds after this year’s early harvest.”

While a significant proportion of wheat growers with a severe blackgrass problem might aspire to delay their drilling date for as long as pos sible, it remains to be seen how many will actually hold their nerve.

“There’s a lot of talk about how this year might mirror the historic sum mer drought and infamously wet au tumn of 1976,” says Mr Thornton. “We could be heading into another wet end to the year – but the truth is no-one re ally knows.

Yield impact

“Delaying drilling so weeds can germi nate and be controlled before the next crop is planted is still the best tactic on high-risk land. It therefore makes sense to play the long game and to keep the brakes on the drill until the first flush of weeds is eliminated.”

ProCam recently undertook a se

ries of multi-year trials at its Stock bridge Technology Centre to demon strate how delaying drilling can affect yield. The results confirmed that de layed drilling is a good strategy, says Mr Thornton.

Different winter wheat varieties sown at monthly intervals from Sep tember onwards sought to demon strate how drilling date can affect yield. Crops sown in October produced the best yields, rather than those sown in October..

Lots of sense

“That might sound illogical but it ac tually makes a lot of sense. That’s be cause, compared with September, there’s likely to be more soil moisture for germination in October and seed beds should be more weathered down to aid crop establishment.

More grass weed seeds should also have germinated by October therefore allowing for better control before plant ing commences. Residual herbicides should also be more effective and per sist for longer in October’s cooler, moist soils, says Mr Thornton.

Autumn conditions are ideal for stale seedbeds, says Mike Thornton.

“This will benefit later-drilled crops where there may only be time to make a single treatment compared to earli er-sown crops which might need both pre- and peri-emergence applications.”

For both strategies, the correct seed depth is crucial, so it pays to scrutinise herbicide product labels before drill ing commences.

Added benefits

Later-drilled crops might also face a re duced threat from barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection – due to lower air temperatures reducing the activi ty of disease-vectoring aphids – with later-drilled second wheats also less likely to be affected by take-all.

“In both cases there’s no guaran tee later drilling will reduce the level of risk, especially as it’s unlikely tem peratures will suddenly drop off a cliff over the next few weeks, so both risks will still need to be monitored.

“But these are added potential ben efits for growers whose resolve to delay drilling might be wavering.” For more strategies to beat blackgrass this autumn, see pages 25-28

Farmers should try to hold their nerve “

Network brings growers together to cut emissions

ADAS has confirmed the return of its crop carbon benchmarking network YEN Zero..

Established in 2021, the network brings growers together to discuss and uncover ways they can cultivate productive crops while reducing their farm’s overall carbon footprint.

With an initial focus on combinable and forage crops, the network allows growers to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their crop production.

Each grower is then benchmarked anonymously against other farms entered into the network so a fair and accurate picture can be drawn on how well they are performing.

The network is building a dataset of crop GHG emissions across the UK, allowing researchers to identify how and why emissions vary between fields and farms. On the back of knowing their emission calculations, growers will be offered bespoke mitigation strategies

that have the most potential to reduce their on-farm emissions.

Participants can also be part of the network’s discussion workshops to gain and share knowledge regarding agricultural net zero issues. Previous workshops have included debates around the science and uncertainties of soil carbon sequestration; and advice on reduction strategies.

Close link

Network manager Christina Baxter said: “It’s of great value to growers and members of the industry to understand fully how to best address emissions from crop production. Each grower and system is different, making it essential to understand the close link between different management systems and their associated emissions.

“Understanding the source of individual greenhouse gas emissions and benchmarking this data to find out what reduction solutions will tru-

The network will focus initially on combinable and forage crops.

ly work for them is vital if we are to meet net zero targets whilst continuing to feed the nation.”

YEN Zero receives support from 11 organisations across the farming industry. The network is open for 2022/23 applications from growers and agronomists. For more information, please visit www.bit.ly/YenZero

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Reduced nitrogen costs

Recent trials prove when N levels are reduced, Mayflower’s relative yield increases compared to other established varieties.

When everything’s going up, it pays to bring your costs down.

Three key decisions for cereal establishment this autumn

Rainfall last month has thankfully ended fears of a prolonged drought. But skyrocketing input costs – including fertiliser – mean a challenging autumn for crop establishment.

This means growers must balance the need to get crops in the ground with long-term term weed problems. A consequence of this is difficult decisions ahead – but three considerations can help farmers achieve the desired outcome.

1 Drilling date

Drilling wheat from mid-October typically reduces blackgrass and Italian ryegrass numbers .It also provides better conditions for residual herbicides to protect crops. But the downsides are the possibility of lower yields and the risk of a repeat of 2019 where crops simply couldn’t be drilled.

This season, we expect financial drivers will push people to get drilled up earlier than when market conditions were more stable and farmers could focus on cleaning up weed problems. Without knowing what the weather will be in mid-October, there is no right answer, it’s just about balancing the risks.

Growers should prioritise fields so those with major weed problems get drilled last and can be switched to a spring crop if the weather turns. Whatever date crops are drilled, apply any pre-emergence herbicides at the true pre-emergence timing for the most reliable control of weeds.

who are wary of weeds. It is generally more competitive and the lower nutrient requirements could be helpful this season.

Establishment is vital in winter barley to get the benefit of crop competition. Make sure there is enough moisture in the seedbed for consistent germination at the typical drilling date in late September.

This season, growers have the option of using Proclus (aclonifen) with Liberator (flufenacet + diflufenican) in winter barley. The last two autumns has shown it is an effective combination against grass weeds in wheat.

Aclonifen also retains efficacy in drier conditions which may be a factor if dry weather returns.

autumn workloads may be quite tight. One option to simplify workloads is to apply glyphosate in the pre-em tank mix rather than as a separate spray pre-drilling.

There are two scenarios where this might help. The first is where there is limited germination and farmers are keen to start drilling. The second is where there is a gap of a week or so between spray off and drilling.

Barley is an alternative to wheat for farmers who want to drill early but

Lack of moisture delayed plans for cultivation and subsequent germination of weeds. As a result,

There can be lots of germination in this gap particularly in early October when we start to see the main flush of black-grass and ryegrass.

Any tank mix with glyphosate must go on at the true pre-em timing, within 48 hours of drilling, for obvious reasons. But provided all necessary precautions are taken, it may solve some workload difficulties this autumn.

Getting value for money from costly farm inputs is vital, says Tom Chillcott of Bayer.

Difficult decisions can be overcome, says Tom Chillcott (below).

It's just about balancing the risks“

Seedbed moisture is important for consistent germination

Why warmer winters mean lower yields

Scientists unlock secret of dormancy

Temperature-controlled trial plots have helped scientists explain the link between warm early winter weather and lower arable yields.

Colder weather during late November and early December encourages growth during early floral development of the crop, say John Innes Centre researchers who used laboratory and in-field technology to simulate full growing seasons.

They showed that oilseed rape plants can undergo flower bud dormancy if winter temperatures are too warm. It sees newly formed buds lie inactive waiting for low temperatures to signal growth.

Although this development stage is well understood in perennial plants which grow year after year, it was not known to exist in annual crops which complete their life cycle in a single growing season.

Oilseed rape plants that were chilled at this key developmental stage developed faster and were higher yielding, producing more seeds per pod. Conversely, plants grown in warmer conditions grew slowly and were lower yielding.

Flower bud dormancy

John Innes Centre group leader Professor Steve Penfield says: “It was surprising to find that winter annuals have this flower bud dormancy – no one has ever suggested that this mechanism is important to flowering time control in annual plants.

“Our experiments further show that if flower buds experience warmer temperatures then growth slows down

and plants produce aberrant flowers and low yield. Conversely, if plants get chilled at this stage this promotes faster growth and higher yield.”

Previous studies have shown a strong correlation between late November-early December temperatures and yield in crops such as oilseed rape, which are winter annuals, planted in the autumn and harvested the following summer.

Colder temperatures during this weather window are linked to higher yields, while warmer temperatures result in lower yields. The differences in conditions during this important weather window account for a variation of up to 25% of total yield.

Strategies

Understanding the reasons behind the statistical correlations between climate and yield is important for predicting the impact of climate change on crop production and could be used to develop strategies to adapt the crop to produce higher yields with warmer winters.

First author of the paper Dr Carmel O’Neil says: “We want to understand the effect of climate change on the UK crop yields.

“To predict these effects and respond to them we must understand all the processes by which varying weather affects yield. And that is what we have done here in this study – proving experimentally what we have seen previously in correlated studies.”

In what is believed to be a unique set of experiments, the researchers used indoor Controlled Environment

Rooms programmed to simulate a winter annual growing season based on weather data collected from a farm.

After the indoor, laboratory-controlled trial, the team moved the experiment outside. They used a heated field plot system outdoors at the John Innes Centre’s field trials and experimentation site at Church Farm.

The results from both the laboratory and the field trials were the same, warmer conditions led to slower growth and reduced yield.

Chilling response

Using molecular techniques, the team analysed the genes in oilseed rape plants affected by temperature changes. This showed that a previously well-known chilling response gene called FLC was mediating plants’ bud dormancy response to winter temperatures.

Prof Penfield says: “Until now we could not say that chilling was linked to the physiology of the crop – it is not for example that chilling just kills some disease or pest – although it might do that as well.

“But we now know why chilling influences yields and it is down to physical effect on the growth rate of the

Previous research has identified the importance of temperature on a plant biological developmental process called vernalisation which in oilseed rape occurs in October. One strategy under consideration is to identify less temperature sensitive varieties.

The findings appear in PNAS –Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers and breeders hope they will encourage a response to the challenge of climate change.

We now know why chilling influences yields “

Above: Heated trial plots were used in the field

Researchers were surprised by the results, says Steven Penfield (below).

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Dry summer delays sugar beet harvest

Lack of rain is expected to affect sugar beet yields this autumn, with the first crops lifted and delivered to British Sugar last month.

The processor said it was opening its Bury St Edmunds and Cantley fac tories later than previous years due to exceptional climatic conditions over the summer, with these areas receiv ing less rainfall than the Wissington and Newark factory areas.

British Sugar said the later start dates would allow for greater yield im provement by leaving the crop in the ground longer – thereby hopefully ben efitting from some much-needed rain.

Beet deliveries

It said East Anglian growers who were affected by the decision and needed to lift their crop before their contracted factory opened would be able to deliv er sugar beet to Wissington from 26 September.

Any additional cost from this in creased distance would be met by Brit ish Sugar, it added.

Updates on the situation are being provided as the campaign progresses, including on factory performance and national crop updates.

Growers are advised to contact their British Sugar account manager if they have any queries.

In a trading statement last month, British Sugar parent company Associ ated British Foods said it expected AB Sugar revenue this financial year to be

substantially ahead of last year driven by higher sugar and co-product prices.

Better performance

Higher market prices and a continued focus on cost savings had broadly off set the effects of significant input cost inflation, particularly energy, it said. The company said it expected oper ating profits to be ahead of last year.

“European sugar prices moved much higher this year. Looking ahead we expect European sugar demand to remain in excess of production in our next financial year. These stronger prices have been supported by higher world market sugar prices.”

UK sugar production was 1.03m tonnes in the last campaign, compared to 0.9m tonnes the previous year. Sugar yields were much improved due to good growing conditions, said AB Foods. The factories performed well.

“Forward cover of gas costs mitigat ed much of the impact of very high en ergy prices in the year. We have ben efitted from improved margins for electricity produced for export to the grid and from bioethanol derived from sugar beet.”

Factory opening dates

Newark 19 September

Wissington 26 September

Bury St Edmunds 5 October

Cantley 20 October

How silicon boosts crops against slugs

Silicon as a seed treatment and foliar spray can strengthen crops against slug damage, accord ing to a series of trials.

The biostimulant product Sirius – which contains 21% silicon – protects seeds and also strengthens the cells of plants by enhancing their cuticle thickness and increasing leaf hair length.

“The application of Siri us at early emergence (GS11 stage) as a foliar spray has been shown to reduce slug damage by 44% over a 72hour period in laborato ry conditions using wheat seedlings,” says Kate Wil liams, technical manager for supplier Orion FT.

Natural defences

Sirius delivers silicon in the form of monosilicic acid. This is achieved using Ori on FT’s iNHiB technology which makes silicon avail able to the plant immediate ly, helping to strengthen its natural defences.

The effect is a crop that is less palatable to slugs and more resilient to attack.

Top: Trials show a reduction of 44% in wheat seedling slug damage.

Above: Silicon boosts plants by making the crop more resilient to slugs.

While using Sirius as a foliar spray can help the crop as it develops, Orion FT has also tested the benefit of applying the product as a seed treatment. Wheat seeds were treated with Sirius and exposed to slugs to estab lish the reduction in seed hollowing.

“Slugs usually cause the worst damage to winter wheat very early on, feeding on seeds almost immedi ately after sowing. Sirius reduced grain hollowing by more than 60%. When slugs were offered 25 seeds, only 7 were damaged when treated with Sirius, versus 18 with untreated seeds.”

Slugs are attracted to seeds within hours of sowing and will feed as soon as the seed has taken in water, eating the embryo, killing the seed, and often eating part or all of the endosperm, resulting in the charac teristic seed hollowing.

Ms Williams says: “Sirius essentially makes the seed less palatable to the slug. When applied as a seed treat ment this helps enable the seed to germinate. When ap plied as a foliar spray it strengthens the plant and also makes it less palatable to slugs.”

Delaying harvest will improve yields, says British Sugar.

Drilling for oil?

• Oilseed Rape price at unprecedented level.

• Beans coming into rotations on 300% Nitrogen price rise.

• The Triton is unique in its ability to drill rape as effectively as it drills beans.

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Drought underlines case for resilient varieties

Unpredictable weather – highlighted by this summer’s drought – emphasises the case for resilient winter wheat varieties in different conditions.

Good root growth in particular is associated with improved scavenging for soil moisture and nutrients –useful when conditions are drier, says Syngenta wheat seeds technical expert Matthew Bull. Other characteristics also improve resilience.

“Although grain prices are healthy, high fertiliser costs mean there is very little slack in the system to gamble with yield,” says Mr Bull. “Unpredictable weather only adds to the argument for choosing varieties that perform reliably.”

Characteristics to consider include choosing varieties that have five years of solid yield data on the AHDB Recommended List (RL) – and which have maintained good yields over this timescale, adds Mr Bull.

“Consider how the variety has performed on light soil, which is likely to dry out sooner if rainfall is lacking. And consider varieties which maintain a good specific weight, which have good tiller retention, and offer drilling date flexibility.”

Increased interest

In addition, Mr Bull says the rooting ability of varieties is attracting increased interest. Hybrid barley is known for its vigorous rooting, but there is also emerging evidence of strong root growth in the winter feed wheat variety SY Insitor.

“Independent seedling rooting as-

sessment revealed that SY Insitor produced 13% more total root length than a leading alternative variety,” says Mr Bull.

This is in addition to other independent measurements where SY Insitor was found to have very strong root anchorage. SY Insitor also has the highest light land yield figure on the AHDB winter wheat recommended list for 2022-23.

“We believe its good rooting is due to SY Insitor being a fast-growing variety. Rapid-developing roots also help to facilitate a variety’s performance when drilled later.”

Different crop characteristics help improve resilience, says Matthew Bull.

Where November-drilled SY Insitor was protected with the seed treatment Vibrance Duo in trial work last season, its root length was increased by 85% over an alternative seed treatment, says Mr Bull.

Early yield data suggests that several earlier-maturing varieties, such as Graham, outperformed their five-year average yield during the drought-hit 2022 season, according to Syngenta.

“Other important variety characteristics to look at include disease resistance and orange wheat blossom midge resistance, if this is a concern.”

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New generation varieties challenge second wheats

• Varieties deliver 'superb' field results

• Group 1 wheats face disease threat

• Good interest from trade and millers

Anew generation of Group 2 second wheats is proving its worth when later drilled – giv ing farmers a value option when grow ing the crop.

“Think of a typical second wheat and it’s likely to be a strong Group 1 with bread-making wheats being first choice due to their lower yield potential boosting protein levels in the grain,” says Kirsty Richards of breeder KWS.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, some 60% of all second wheats drilled in recent years have been milling varieties, says Dr Richards. Groups 1 varieties have been the preferred choice but there are indications that this could be changing.

“It’s a combination of factors, but the increasing disease susceptibility of some of the varieties we have tra ditionally relied on and a very limited pipeline of new Group 1s coming for ward are at the forefront.”

Yellow rust is an increasing prob lem for some Group 1 varieties and oth ers are being outpaced for yield. As well

as these weaknesses emerging, there are genuine concerns across the trade about the lack of new Group 1 milling wheats coming to market.

“Two difficult growing seasons have not helped the situation and many ex isting varieties are struggling gener ally with the more challenging grow ing conditions we are now facing in the UK.”

Most popular wheat

Against this backdrop, the perfor mance of new generation Group 2s, typified by KWS Extase and now the newly RL-listed KWS Palladium, have not gone unnoticed in recent years, says Dr Richards.

“The principle properties of a good second wheat are reliable grain quali ty, good yield performance and robust agronomics with Extase and Palladi um showing these traits in abundance across trials and in the field.

“As the UK’s most popular wheat, Continued overleaf Newly RL-listed KWS Palladium

Trials show benefits of seed treatment in second wheats

Treating second wheats with seed treatment Latitude (silthiofam) is important – with both KWS Extase and Palladium showing significant respons es, according to ADAS trials

An average yield response of 1.4t/ha was recorded from a 2021-22 trial set up to inves tigate the interactions be tween winter wheat varie ties Latitude and the soil born pathogen take-all.

In what turned out to be a favourable year for the disease, Certis Belchim seed treatment portfolio manager Tim Eaton says the results underline the importance of treating second wheats with Latitude to ward off heavy yield losses.

The trials were executed by ADAS at a site near Sutton St Nicolas in Herefordshire. They tested four winter wheats, including

Group 2s Extase and Palladium, plus Group 1 KWS Zyatt and Group 4 KWS Dawsum.

“Plots were drilled on 11 October 2021 and treated with a single purpose dress ing (SPD) or SPD plus Latitude, the only seed treatment that directly controls the take-all pathogen,” says Mr Eaton.

“After final plant assess ments were carried out, the work showed that selecting the right variety is the build ing block for second wheat success. Take-all severity on roots was lower on Palladium than the fast-developing Extase,

Final yield data in the absence of Lati tude reflected these differences, along with the response to silthiofam. On the most sus ceptible variety Extase, it resulted in an ad ditional 1.85t/ha, and 0.9t/ha in Palladium.

The average across the trial was 1.4t/ha.

“It shows that in a high-pressure situa tion, Latitude is essential on a susceptible variety, but even on the more robust Palla dium, it protected against significant yield loss and gave a very good return on invest ment,” explains Mr Eaton.

ADAS plant pathologist Chloe Morgan says early senescence was clearly visible in the worst effected plots later in the sum mer. Latitude seed treatment is a wise in vestment to prevent primary infection in the autumn from develop into something more serious later.

Plots where Latitude was applied were greener and more consistent, with less root damage, said Ms Morgan, who led the trial.

“Take-all is a yield robber in fields where it’s severe, and cultural control options post sowing are limited. Rolling post drilling and early nitrogen can help, but neither are like ly to be as effective as a seed treatment.”

Arable

the Extase story is pretty well known but its success is based on outstanding treated and untreated yields, exceptional disease resistance and a quality specification that has made many millers think of it as genuine Group 1 replacement.

There are good 13% contracts out there for Extase and we fully expect Palladium to follow suit. On the current RL Palladium’s protein

content is 13.1% – the highest in its class – specific weight is 76.9kg/hl and its HFN is 315 making it perfect for a range of baking uses.

Consistent yields

But field-proven high yields make both varieties suitable as barn-fillers too, she says. While KWS Palladium is suited to earlier drilling than KWS Extase it also performs well in the mainstream slowing slot.

It works well in partnership with KWS Extase that can be drilled from

the start October onwards. That’s the case whether you’re targeting the Group 2 marketing sector or simply wanting to add high quality grain to the feed heap.

“It’s important not to see any yield loss between first and second wheat positions and this can be as much as much as 2% with some varieties. In the 2022/23 RL KWS Palladium show 100% of control yield in both first and second positions.

“When you consider we’ve seen yields topping 13.5t/ha in the field this year, that shows the outright potential of the variety as a second wheat.”

Strong agronomic performance is another key factor for a second wheat.

“Palladium has a three-year septoria resistance of 7.4 combined with a 9 for yellow rust and an 8 for mildew plus it scores favourably for Eyespot resistance with a 6 compared to other milling varieties with 4s and below.

“All these are instrumental in giving it an untreated yield 90% of the treated control on the current RLjust 3% behind KWS Extase. It’s an extremely robust variety equally well suited to full agronomic approaches as lower input ones.”

It could be a genuine Group 1 replacement “

KWS Palladium is suited to earlier drilling, says Kirsty Richards (left)

Study highlights grassweed successes – and concerns

• Autumn pre-emergence strategy works

• Mix of measures are yielding results

• Ryegrass and wild oats are challenge

East Anglia growers are finding success against blackgrass – but more problems with ryegrass and wild oats, says a study.

What’s more, many farms appear to be missing a valuable trick by concentrating their wild oat control on the spring rather than making the most of the opportunity they have with autumn pre-emergence sprays.

These are among the key findings of the latest national grassweed management study undertaken this summer by Gowan Crop Protection. The survey included more than 50 growers from the eastern counties.

In total, some 260 farmers across the country participated in the study. Together, they manage almost 90,000ha of cropping, with a range of enterprises, establishment regimes and weed management practices.

The study shows blackgrass, ryegrass, brome and wild oat infestations continue to be widespread across the region. Fully 94% of growers are having problems with blackgrass, for

instance, 88% with wild oats, 68% with bromes and 48% with ryegrass.

More growers are still reporting an increase than a decrease in problems in most cases. But the proportion seeing more blackgrass is much lower than

FIGURE 1 PROBLEMS

it was in the similarly comprehensive national survey conducted by Bayer in 2016 (Figure 1).

“This clearly suggests the integrated approaches growers have been taking to deal with black-grass in recent years are having the desired effect,” says study co-ordinator Hank King of Gowan.

“Some slight improvement also seems to be evident as far as bromes are concerned. Unfortunately, the

Below: More growers are reporting challenges with grassweeds

same cannot be said for ryegrass and wild oats, though. In both cases, the proportion of growers seeing increasing problems with these weeds over the past four seasons has risen noticeably.

“Equally concerning is the fact that problems with mixed grassweeds rather than just single species are being reported by around a quarter of eastern growers; especially so since control measures that work well with one species may not be the most appropriate for others.”

Key challenges

The 2022 study shows black-grass remains the most significant grassweed issue for most Eastern growers, with nearly a third reporting problems across half or more of their winter cereals area, and almost two thirds across more than 10%.

Wild oats are the second most problematic grassweed with bromes and ryegrass both somewhat less significant in their scale.

Blackgrass with wild oats and blackgrass with bromes are the most widely encountered grassweed combinations, with wild oats proving problematic in combination with other species for more than half the growers.

“Grassweed problems continue to be most significant under reduced tillage regimes and less so in ploughbased establishment systems,” says Mr King.

“At the same time, noticeably higher proportions of growers than average with both shallow min till and no till regimes are reporting increases in blackgrass, brome and ryegrass problems.”

Herbicide resistant blackgrass is continuing to cause issues for large numbers of East Anglian growers, reveals the study, almost 70% reporting serious or very serious problems with resistance.

Around 15% are seeing similar-

ly concerning resistance problems in ryegrass, with 7% finding issues that may be resistance-related in bromes.

Underlining the generally improving black-grass control position, rather fewer growers than in 2016 say they are encountering particular resistance problems. In contrast, greater proportions now are finding resistance problems with ryegrass.

Herbicide programmes

Chemical blackgrass, brome and ryegrass control efforts in winter cereals continue to be concentrated on pre-planting stubble and pre-emergence treatments, with noticeably greater reliance on pre-ems than in the past.

In all three cases, however, around a third of growers are using a spring herbicide as part of their treatment programme. This increases to over 40% and two thirds respectively where mixed grassweeds and wild oats are the targets.

The winter wheat grassweed herbicide bill averaged just over £85/ha last season, with nearly a third of eastern region growers spending more than £100/ha (Figure 2).

The highest winter wheat grassweed herbicide bills are clearly associated with greater use of shallow or min-tilling; more widespread blackgrass problems; particular issues with resistant blackgrass, ryegrass and bromes; and mixed grassweed populations.

Just over half of growers are currently using Avadex (tri-allate) as part of their pre-em programmes. Usage is closely related to the scale and severity of black-grass, brome or ryegrass problems. Interestingly, though, this is not the case with wild oats.

“Growers and their agronomists are missing a valuable trick here,” says Mr King. “Avadex was introduced way

back in 1961 as a wild oat killer, and

perience shows it is highly effective at controlling spring-emerging wild oats from autumn pre-em application.

“The data shows the vast majority of Avadex users value the herbicide for adding extra grassweed control beyond just blackgrass to their pre-em programmes, while large numbers also appreciate it for the protection it gives other herbicides against resistance development.

“Sadly, though, around two-thirds of growers are failing to appreciate tri-allate’s value in wild oat control. This is a great shame since employing Avadex in the autumn for its additional blackgrass, brome and ryegrass control will, in many cases, make spring wild oat treatment unnecessary.

“What’s more, our liquid formulation, Avadex Factor which is compatible with the vast majority of pre-em herbicides eliminates the need for specialist application equipment and or an extra pass.”

Cultural controls

Alongside their herbicide programmes, growers are currently employing an average of 9.7 of 12 main cultural techniques to manage grassweeds. This is an encouraging increase on the average of 6.3 of the same techniques identified in the 2016 survey.

The six most widely used cultural grassweed controls – each employed by 85% or more of growers – continue to be spring cropping, delayed autumn drilling, stale seedbeds, competi-

FIGURE 2 SCALE OF GRASSWEED PROBLEMS

Percentage of Eastern & East Anglian winter cereals area affected [Source: National Grassweed Management Study 2022 – Gowan]

The plough still has a place in weed control, says Hank King Integrated approaches are having the desired effect “

tive varieties, rotational ploughing and increased seed rates.

“Underlining their value, all these most widely used cultural techniques scored relatively highly for their effectiveness on our 1-5 scale,” says Mr King. Of the 12 main techniques, only cover cropping, grass breaks, fallowing, spraying-off infested crops and hand roguing scored less than 3.0 (Figure 3)

Paying dividends

“We must never be complacent, of course, but the increasing use of integrated weed management programmes utilising the best chemical and cultural controls seems to be paying dividends in allowing growers to combat even the most problematic black-grass.

“The key challenge is to maintain this progress while bearing down on the increasing threat from wild oats and ryegrass as well as bromes – often in combination – which can be even more damaging to crop performance.

“To do so while responding to growing economic and environmental pressures to reduce tillage as far as possible.”

FIGURE 3 SPENDING

Percentage of eastern region growers spending on herbicides [Source: National Grassweed Management Study 2022 – Gowan]

Crop drying, ventilation and storage systems

Post-harvest Focus Growers to have say on digital grain passports

• Webinars explain plan to growers

• Data-sharing challenge 'resolved'

• Benefits across the supply chain

Cereal growers are being given the chance to decide whether to do away with paper grain pass ports and move to a digital system.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board says the move will provide a two-way data flow for all com binable crop supply chains across the UK. It says the benefits include a uni versal system of returning weight and quality data back to growers.

The key proposal is to replace the existing paper passport with a digi tal solution. A similar plan ended up being shelved when it was proposed five years ago after farmers and pro cessors failed to reach agreement on data-sharing.

But the AHDB believes that chal lenge can now be overcome. It is hold ing a series of webinars throughout October to explain the proposal to

growers, storekeepers, merchants, pro cessors, hauliers – and anyone else in volved in grain logistics.

Prototype system

The webinar will introduce growers to the Digital Grain Passport – taking farmers through a demonstration of a prototype system so they can see how it

Benefits at a glance

The AHDB says a digital system would make everyone's life easier

will work in practice. The AHDB says there will be time for growers to give feedback and ask questions.

“While it might sound like a daunt ing change at first, switching to digi tal will mean you will no longer have to keep a stock of paper passports or worry about not having the right stick ers. Everything you need will be avail able at the touch of a button.”

The AHDB emphasises that a deci sion on the passport has not yet been made. It says growers will be given their say following a full consultation process with the industry,which in cludes the October webinars.

In terms of data protection, only those parties involved in each load of grain will be able to access data relat ing to that load. For more complex ar rangements such as string trades, the AHDB said it would ensure a solution acceptable to all parties.

How best to manage risk

Managing risk during a challenging economic climate will be the theme of the AHDB's annual grain market ing conference next month.

The Grain Market Outlook Conference will take place on 22 November at the Belton Woods Hotel, Grantham, Lincolnshire. Speakers will include market analysts and experts in eco nomic forecasting.

This year has brought some of the most chal lenging circumstances the domestic grain sup ply chain has seen for decades, says the AHDB. Rising energy costs, and the impact on fertil iser cost, poses a threat to domestic grain and oilseed production.

“With the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, price volatility in global grain and oilseed markets has heightened. While costs

remain high, making decisions in the domes tic grain supply chain remain very difficult.”

The conference aims to prepare growers and the wider UK grain and oilseed supply chain for another season of challenges by providing insight into the direction of domestic grain and rapeseed prices.

Usually held in London, this year's confer ence is being held in Lincolnshire to make it easier for farmers to attend. The AHDB said it hoped the event would be a useful tool against the challenging situation faced by the sector.

Discussion will include a debate about new demand for combinable crops within the in dustry – as well as a discussion around ways to manage risk in a volatile marketplace, in cluding when best to sell grain.

For full details, visit ahdb.org.uk

Exploratory work

The proposals have been years in the making. Discussions between key industry trade associations, in cluding the NFU, AIC and UK Flour Millers, led to the AHDB being ap proached to undertake exploratory work in 2020.

The key objectives were to review the work done during the earlier 20122017 pilot project. This was then built on – answering key questions such as how much it would cost to build and implement, and how could it be owned and funded

If the industry decides to go ahead with a digital passport, the new sys tem will be introduced over the com ing year. Paper passports would then start to be phased out over a two-year period from September 2023.

Post-harvest Focus

BDC Systems teams up with Kongskilde

Grain quality specialists BDC Systems has been appointed as a UK importer and specialised dealer for Danish crop handling company Kongskilde.

BDC sales director Andrew Head said: “Our existing and potential customers now have access to Kongskilde’s full range of post-harvest solutions, from its pneumatic conveying systems through to its range of aspirators and dual cleaners.”

Kongskilde’s equipment range sits comfortably within BDC Systems existing portfolio of grain drying, cleaning, storage, handling, ventilation, milling and mixing equipment and other specialised solutions from market leading manufacturers.

“With the addition of Kongskilde, BDC Systems can now offer an even more comprehensive range of post-harvest solutions,” said Mr Head.

“Unlike our perceived competitors we are not limited to offering products from a single manufacturer so are able to give customers the grain handling solutions that exactly meet their re-

quirements.”

Recognised for its expertise in manufacturing trusted pneumatic technology and conveying solutions worldwide, Kongskilde has renewed its focus on its range of grain handling equipment over the past year.

Ian Lind Seddon, chief commercial officer for Kongskilde’s grain division, said it was imperative for the company to continue building market share by partnering with specialised dealers who had a long and proven track record.

“There is no doubt that BDC Systems is a perfect fit,” he said.

BDC offers a range of grain drying, cleaning, storage, handling, ventilation, milling and mixing equipment, together with other specialised solutions. Brands include Skandia Elevator, Kongskilde, Svegma, Zanin, and BM Silo.

Kongskilde’s legacy of innovation for grain handling spans more than 70 years. It has sales offices in nine countries and delivers customer-specific product handling solutions for agriculture and the ancillary industries.

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'Super-rats' unwittingly bred on farms says study

• Rats resistant to rodenticides

• Traditional poisons don't work

• New product is now available

Most farmers don't know if their farm is in an area of known rodenticide resistance, reveals a survey.

The research – by agro-chemcial company BASF – looked at on-farm rodent control measures and rodenticide usage. It found that an overwhelming 88% of those surveyed were unsure if resistance to certain baits had been reported in their region.

When asked, one third of farmers were unaware that rodenticide resistance is even an issue to consider when selecting which bait to use on their land, despite over 90% of farmers having used rodenticides on their farm in the past 12 months.

In fact, farmers could be unknowingly contributing to the spread of “super rats,” which are resistant to baits containing first generation anticoagulants – as well as those containing second-generation anticoagulants difenacoum and bromadiolone.

BASF key account manager Helen Hall said: “The issue of rodenticide resistance is problematic for many farmers, who may be unknowingly contributing to the pest problems on their farms.”

Heavy cost

Although traditional difenacoum and bromadiolone baits should control non-resistant rodents, resistant rats could spread disease, destroy equipment, and contaminate animal feed –ultimately costing farmers a lot of money.

“Growing populations of super-rats will be unaffected by these traditional poisons and will continue to reproduce, thus breeding more rats with the mutated gene and creating an even wider issue of resistant rodents throughout the area.”

The findings come as BASF launches its new “resistance breaking” roden-

ticide Selontra, into the rural market. It features the active ingredient cholecalciferol, used to break the cycle of resistance and control infestations in as few as seven days.

Cholecalciferol, the active ingredient in Selontra, causes death by depositing too much calcium in the blood. It has a stop feed effect, causing rodents to cease feeding approximately 24 hours after a lethal dose has been achieved

Ms Hall said: “It also stops them moving around, minimising any further cost or risk impact such as the spread of disease, reducing damage to property, and preventing additional bio-security contamination.”

To help raise awareness of roden-

Rodenticide resistance is problematic “

ticide resistance and encourage best practice across UK farms, BASF has launched a new digital portal offering farmers an interactive rodent control training programme.

Developed by rodent infestation expert Oliver Madge, the Real Results Virtual Farm CPD portal, explains different areas of rodent control. It then asks users to complete a CRRU-recognised exam for the Safe Use of Rodenticides.

Ms Hall said three quarters of farmers said they are keen to learn more about rodent control on farms. “We hope this new platform will enable many to gain more knowledge and understanding of biology, behaviour and best practice.”

New rodenticide available this autumn

Aprofessional-use cholecalciferol rodenticide is now available for use in open areas and burrows.

It follows a partnership between Bayer and Lodi UK. Bayer national account manager Ken Black said this is the first new product on the market with extensive label usage for a very long time.

Mr Black said: “Harmonix Rodent Paste marks a new era in pest control, and we’re really excited to bring it to the market, at a time when anticoagulants resistance and labels on

other products are becoming more restrictive.”

The new product is not persistent or bioaccumulative in the environment. It also has a stop feeding effect. “Initial research shows that 50% less bait is consumed during a rodent campaign, when using this solution,” said Mr Black.

“The stop feeding effect means rodents lose their appetite after a few days, reducing bait intake while offering successful control.

“This option also has environmental advantages as there’s less rodenticides entering the environment.”

Don’t waste money storing rotten potatoes, growers warned

High disease risk and astronomical energy prices mean seed potato growers should apply a fungicide to tubers to avoid storing waste that will be thrown away next spring.

That is the advice of independent potato consultant Paul Overton, who added that many tubers would likely spend extra time in store due to uncertainty surrounding next year’s cropping plans.

This would push growers to make last-minute decisions on seed and force a larger proportion of grading and delivery of domestic orders into March, rather than February.

This extra month’s storage will only increase the already high risk of tubers breaking down to disease following a harvest where conditions have been very conducive for pathogens like Fusarium, said Mr Overton.

Dry rot

The fusarium species that infect tubers and cause dry rot are most prevalent when tuber damage at harvest is high, allowing the fungus to get under the skin and develop in store.

Despite conditions starting to cool and rain arriving to wet soils, the disease risk of dry rot is still present, says Mr Overton. So too is the risk of pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica) and watery wound rot (Pythium spp)

“Tuber temperatures are still 20C, or higher in some areas, which makes crops incredibly difficult to manage. It will be a slow process getting wounds to heal and crops down to cold store holding temperatures. The relatively warm nights aren’t helping either.”

At today’s energy prices, this will also be a costly process, and likewise keeping crops in store until spring.

Tuber treatment

A good strategy in a high-risk year like this is to apply a “base coat” of a fungicide tuber treatment like Gavel (imazalil) as soon as possible after harvest, says Mr Overton.

This will help protect open wounds and prevent disease ingress, leading to fewer losses at grading. “Storing tubers just to throw them out is very expensive – perhaps more than people realise – and the treatments will comfortably pay for themselves.

Treatments are often best applied using a nozzle over a roller table.

“Many varieties we grow are susceptible now and in very high-risk stocks, it might also be wise to consider mixing or sequencing Gavel with Storite Excel (thiabendazole) for additional protection.”

SAC Consulting and Certis Belchim’s Tubercare website both provide good reference material for carrying out storage disease risk assessments and how to apply storage fungicides effectively, says Mr Overton.

“Good coverage through sound application is key – they are best applied using a hooded sprayer with twin rotating nozzle over a roller table,” he concluded.

Remapping boosts power from combine harvester

Taking on extra land can sometimes mean buying bigger equipment. But increasing the power of existing machines can be a cost-effective alternative.

When it comes to farm ma chinery, Bedfordshire farm er Nigel Barnes prefers to invest in good quality second-hand equipment rather than buying new.

It’s a policy which Mr Barnes says means he retains full control over the machines he runs – including a be spoke engine remap to release some extra output from his 2015 Claas Lex ion 770 combine harvester.

Clayhill Farm is an 800ha setup with owned land and contract farm ing agreements for different customers near its base in Westoning, on the out skirts of Bedford. It relies on a variety of front-line machines up to two dec ades old to help cover the arable area.

The Lexion 770 was purchased after Mr Barnes took on extra land last year – although the move to Claas came with the inevitable learning curve af ter running New Holland combines for 20 years.

During the first season, Mr Barnes felt the Claas was lacking torque when presented with some heavy crops and required some extra power to maintain a consistent forward speed.

“The biggest issue was in heavy crops; the combine’s engine would become bogged down and reach 100 percent load too quickly. This meant I’d need to pull the lever back to re duce forward speed to allow the feed mechanisms to catch up. The result was lumpy crop flow and compromised rotary performance due to the lack of power.”

Extra capacity

As well as having Claas dealer Olivers on his doorstep, Mr Barnes researched the make and model, alongside talking to fellow Lexion owners, before com mitting to the purchase.

The 40ft 770 replaced a 30ft New

Holland CR9080 to allow him to keep his contract customers happy dur ing the busy period, he says. “We buy equipment that is right for the farm and Olivers had the machine when we were looking to change.

“We’ve never been afraid to own ma chinery outside of a warranty period and maintain it ourselves. For what I paid for the 770, I would be look ing at the range below if I spent the

Top: Testing the remap is key part of a successful installation

Above: Some of the characteristics being monitored after the installation

same money on a new combine, which means we wouldn’t be able to handle the acreage.”

However, to increase the power and avoid a costly decision to trade his re cent acquisition for a bigger machine after only one season, Mr Barnes con tacted Avon Tuning about its profes sional engine remapping service as a cost-effective alternative for increas ing work efficiencies.

“I went to see Avon Tuning at Lam ma, who said that uprating combine engine capacity was becoming popu lar and increasing power to the next model up in the range was possible if the running gear and cooling system were compatible.

“The Lexion 770 is almost identical to its bigger sibling, the 780. There are a few changes such as a bigger grain tank and different concaves, but the en gine, transmission and cooling pack ages are identical. Avon Tuning ad vised me that matching the power of

on p39

Post-harvest Focus

the 780 model on my machine would be safe and they had experience of doing it already.”

Installation

Increasing power and torque of an engine is fundamental for boosting performance. The install is carried out on farm but making sure the machine can handle the increase before the works is more important, as Gareth Jones, from Avon Tuning explains.

“We run checks on the machine we are installing a remap onto to know if it is running the drivetrain and ancillaries to match the increase in power. We will always advise the customer if we think their machine isn’t able to handle a boost in performance.”

An install is carried out in around two hours and involves downloading the original maps from the machine’s ECU, which are saved if the customer requires them to be uploaded back onto the machine later.

“The new map, in this instance from a Lexion 780, is then downloaded from the secure website portal and uploaded via our hardware onto the machine. We can tweak maps depending on what the individual customer requires, with the majority tailored to specific needs.

“For tractor upgrades we dyno test the output to ensure the changes we have made are having the required effect, while for combines we monitor the engine characterises over several hours to check the new software has changed the output as intended and within the engine’s verified tolerances,” adds Mr Jones.

Second-hand kit

Remapping engines to reliably achieve greater output fits with Mr Barnes’ ethos of buying good second-hand

chased for a fraction of the price of an equivalent new machine.

“We’ve reconditioned the Quadtrac’s gearbox and fitted two new tracks during our ownership, which would be like a regular finance payment on a new machine over the same period.

“It is a similar story when we want to increase engine power by remapping. There is no need for us to contact the dealer or do the remapping work behind their backs as we own the machines and won’t be invalidating any warranties. We maintain good relationships with dealers for backup, but the extra output from remapping will increase our work efficiencies.”

Better performance after remapping

The Avon Tuning remapping service uses OEM engine maps from a Lexion 780 to replace the original 770 map that left the factory on Mr Barnes’ combine.

The two machines both run a Mercedes 16-litre eight-cylinder engine, so it is only the engine management software that restricts the 770 from operating as a 780. Key figures on the 780 maps show a 250Nm torque increase and power upped from 543hp to 590hp.

By importing the original map, which has tweaked fuel delivery and timing characteristics among other settings, the Avon technicians can overlay the two maps to show

how the increase in torque and power will be delivered across the rpm range.

“It may not sound much, but it’s a 10% increase in the engine’s output, with the gains at the early stages of the torque curve helping the combine to perform better at the point where it was originally struggling,” says Mr Barnes.

Peace of mind

“Reliability is still essential at harvest as I only run one combine, so employing a professional company to do the remapping work gave peace of mind and backup should anything go wrong.”

After this year’s harvest, Mr Barnes said the combine had performed much better with the remap installed and there was a noticeable power increase when combining heavy crops.

“It was clear that we had more torque available in heavy cereal crops. Previously in areas that we would have usually eased back, the engine held on longer and wasn’t easily bogged down.

“The increase was also evident when we were chopping and unloading at the same time, as there wasn’t a need to reduce speed to allow the engine power to be used elsewhere,” concludes Mr Barnes.

Nigel Barnes believes in getting value for money from his machinery

How to choose the most suitable grain dryer

EXPERT VIEW

Growers should take steps now update ageing grain drying systems, says John McArthur.

Like many UK businesses, farm ing is having a bumpy ride. Ris ing inflation saw input prices increase by 33.1% in the year to June – largely driven by the spiralling cost of feed, fertiliser and fuel, according to the latest Defra figures.

One month later, farm business con sultants Andersons calculated a 23.5% increase in ag-inflation for the year to

July – outweighing the consumer price index which stood at 10.1% during the same month.

The prolonged dry spell this har vest provided some respite from the economic doom and gloom for arable growers. But the drought continued to curtail the potential of many crops, in cluding potatoes and sugar beet.

Many cereal growers were able to finish harvest in record time with rea sonable yields. But while lack of rain meant there was no need to dry grain, crops going into store required rapid cooling, limiting savings on fuel.

It is of course, impossible to predict the weather we can expect for harvest 2023. But a repeat of this year so soon is perhaps unlikely. And there is a good chance that grain driers will once again

Top: McArthur-Mecmar S 45 F with Skandia elevator grain hanlding equipment in East Midlands Above: McArthur-BDC Svegma SV5-4 27tph continous flow drier in the Scottish BordersContinued on p43

Post-harvest Focus

Continued from p40

be called into action.

Now is a good time to consider up dating ageing grain drying systems –or taking steps to increase grain dry ing capacity to help ensure harvest 2023 goes as smoothly and profitably as possible.

A grain drier will cost more to run over its service life than the initial cap ital investment so with the current eco nomic landscape, it has seldom been so important to think very carefully about which drier will meet your in dividual requirements.

A drier that optimises energy us age will help increase the return on investment.

Budget

It would also be prudent to take some time to discuss what you think you need – and your budget – with a grain equipment specialist, who is willing to share their expertise with you. This advice will help you to carefully and knowledgably consider the grain dri er options available.

If you have existing grain drying storage but need to increase your dry ing capacity, then you should consider a mobile grain dryer.

Mecmar mobile dryers are sim ple and easy to use and offer unique energy saving and performance en hancing features. Their full-length stainless-steel furnace, plenum air dis tribution systems and high open space perforated screens are designed to de liver more airflow and greater drying capacity with less energy.

Development work to further re duce the Mecmar’s energy usage while maintaining grain drying performance is currently underway. The accurate collection of fuel and power data will deliver a comprehensive view of run ning costs.

This visibility will enable the op timisation of the Mecmar to deliver greater economy or more performance.

The Mecmar mobile grain dryer is a good solution should you need flexi bility from your investment in a grain dryer. For example, if you are supple menting existing grain drying infra structure, the Mecmar adds another string to the bow. Or as a tenant or contract farmer you may need grain drying capacity without investing in fixed equipment.

Good solution

Another option is the Sukup grain dry ing silo which has long been the drier of choice across northern Europe and Scandinavia and is now building up a following in the grain shed loving

Continued on p44

Investment means boost for storage and drying capacity

Boo Parkes of Weelsby Estates, near Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, took the decision to invest in two 3607 Sukup drying silos, providing approximately 1,000 tonnes of storage.

“The new equipment replaced an ageing silo system and hugely simplified our harvest op erations” says Boo Parkes.

“The Sukup drying silos are a great fit for our system and delivered the extra storage and drying capacity the farm needed. They easily meet the additional demands of the larger com bine. In a word they are brilliant.”

David Casswell based near South Kyme, on the other side of the Lincolnshire Wolds to Boo Parkes, chose a single 4207 Sukup drying silo to provide approximately 700 tonnes of addi tional storage for his spring barley.

“From first contact, both McArthur Agricul ture and Sukup did an outstanding job”, says Mr Casswell.

“The silo was erected in a very short space of time by a passionate and dedicated team. Importantly, support has been readily availa ble as required during our first harvest with the new system.”

Post-harvest Focus

British market.

The Sukup silos combine the capability to dry, cool and store combinable crops, requiring little labour and eliminating the need for re-handling grain.

This all-in-one solution works perfectly for farming enterprises with no existing drying and storage facilities or looking to add to existing capacity. Those looking for a drier with a high daily throughput should consider a Svegma Continuous Flow drier.

Available from BDC Systems, part of McArthur Agriculture, Svegma driers have an industry leading reputation for outstanding quality and efficiency. Originally developed to withstand the harsh drying conditions in Scandinavia, Svegma driers are robust and reliable - manufactured from heavy gauge galvanised steel sheet they deliver long life and durability.

Track record

Suitable for all free-flowing crops the Svegma drier has the ability to handle 100 tonnes per hour, at the same time as delivering low energy consumption. With a lateral fixing system that has no fastenings or ledges inside the grain

column to hinder grain flow, the Svegma is able to handle grain that comes in wet.

“We chose a Svegma drier, not only because of its proven track record, but as we have to finish harvest as quickly as possible it is likely that we will need to combine grain with a high moisture content,” says Robert Huddlestone of Huddlestone Produce, East Yorkshire.

Harvest of his wheat, grown as a break crop, cannot hold up work around the main crop of swedes grown for wholesale markets.

To be sure that you select the right drier for you, don’t miss the opportunity to take advice from the experts in all things grain handling on 8, 9, 10 November 2022, when the McArthur Agriculture team will be hosting its annual Open Days at its Scunthorpe depot.

The Open Days will also give you the chance to take a closer look at McArthur Agriculture’s extensive range of grain drying, processing and storage equipment.

John McArthur is managing director of grain experts McArthur Agriculture. For more details, visit www.mcarthuragriculture.co.uk

Ukraine grain exports hit by Russia's invasion

Russia's invasion is expected to see a slump in Ukraine's 2022 grain harvest, according to estimates from market analyst APK-Inform.

A reduction in the harvested area could see Ukraine's 2022 grain output limited to as little as 54.1 million tonnes and 55.7mt, it said. This is forecast to include 30mt of maize, 19mt of wheat and 5.5mt of barley.

Last year, Ukraine harvested a record 86mt of grain. Output this year has been further hampered by logistical difficulties which are expected to reduce grain exports to between 22.6mt and 38.8mt in the year to June 2023.

Some 34 ships left the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk in the three weeks to 23 August, said APK-Inform. Analysts said the ships were carrying almost 724,000 tonnes of agricultural products.

The Ukrainian infrastructure ministry said maize accounted for 68% of the overall export volume, with wheat accounting for 14%. Other products shipped for export through the three ports included soyabeans, sunflower seed and vegetable oil.

Turkey and South Korea were the key destinations for Ukrainian shipments. In total, some 211 ships carrying 4.7mt of agricultural commodities have have left Ukraine so far under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

Technology designed to save energy and labour

Drying grain precisely is complex – but doing it correctly achieves the best grain quality for the best price. Future-proofed and automated dryer control – the sophistication of Tornum’s market leading application can make this a reality.

Relying on manual drying can risk either not attaining the desired moisture content or over drying the grain which is a costly exercise – by over drying to 13% instead of 14% can typically add up to 20% to your energy bill.

The Tornum Intelligent Dryer Control (IDC) is a software-based control system which continuously monitors incoming moisture content. It also controls dryer speed to ensure precise average moisture content – irrespective of outside weather conditions

Remote data includes the number of discharges per hour, chosen moisture content, drying air temperature and a moisture tolerance. The latter is a reaction to fluctuations with incom-

ing moisture content and is a reference to the intelligent control.

This lets the IDC counter any effect of over-drying grain caused by sudden moisture content fluctuations and is achieved by automatically releasing grain with a slightly higher moisture content, to average out in-store variations.

Labour hours are greatly reduced by not having to rely on basic monitoring systems and crucially over drying is always kept to an absolute minimum – thus having a huge impact on costs.

A recent installation of the IDC software at Laurence Kirkby Farms, Lincolnshire, has received positive feedback from George Strawson of Active Business Partnerships, who manages the 800ha estate.

“Drying grain is now a very easy process that no longer needs a member of staff permanently watching what’s going on,” says Mr Strawson.

JWI UK director Charles White

says: “All of our current and upcoming projects incorporate the IDC system – so it won’t be long before our customers are reaping the benefits of this market leading application.”

The dryer can be monitored via smartphone

Winter livestock

Drought-stressed maize is more likely to present mycotoxin risk

• Difficult conditions for forage maize

• Keep watch for mycotoxin problem

Dairy farmers are being warned of a heightened mycotoxin risk when feeding maize forage this autumn and winter.

Hot summer weather means many maize forage crops were grown under drought stressed conditions – increasing the likelihood of in-field mycotoxins developing, says Wynnstay dairy specialist Beth Parry.

“With potentially limited forage stocks following a difficult growing season, farmers are going to need to maximise feed utilisation and digestion to ensure performance isn’t impacted too greatly this winter,” she says.

“In-field mycotoxins are more likely to be present in silages if the crop experienced any kind of stress, such as growing in drought conditions, because moulds and fungi will have had more opportunity to take hold and produce mycotoxins.”

Mould and fungi

Ms Parry recommends farmers consider the impact of extreme weather during the growing season on their maize crops. “If a maize plant was under stress while it was tasseling, that will have added to the risk of in-field mycotoxins developing.

“Unfortunately, there’s no way to overcome the fact that stressful growing conditions increase the likelihood of moulds and fungi moving in and producing mycotoxins, which then remain present in the forage once it’s in the clamp.”

Feeding mycotoxins to cows can trigger a range of herd health problems, including loose muck, poor fertility, swollen hocks, elevated cell counts, impaired rumen function and a reduction in daily milk production.

“Essentially, any unexplained signs of poor health or performance can potentially be caused by presence of mycotoxins in forage,” says Ms Parry.

“If you’re aware there’s a risk of my-

er to prevent the negative impacts on your herd.”

There are more than 400 mycotoxin types which can cause health issues in dairy cows. But a broad-spectrum mycotoxin binder will lock up most mycotoxins before they are absorbed by the cow, allowing them to pass out in the muck without causing harm.

“There are some mycotoxins which

“Restore5+ contains yeast extracts which trigger these bio-transformations, enabling key mycotoxins to be bound and excreted. It can also prevent oxidative stress, restore liver function and stimulate an immune response, improving resilience to disease.”.

Including a mycotoxin binder into the ration costs about 10p per cow per day, says Mrs Parry.

High quality rations will help to maximise feed utilisation

For more on forage maize and winter fodder, see pages 53-58.

Crop trials to diversify winter fodder

Livestock farmers are leading research into diverse winter grazing crops to cut feed and input costs while boosting soil health and biodiversity.

The Innovative Farmers field lab project is comparing their usual winter forage of a single species brassica mono-culture with a diverse, 16 species fodder crop mix – including clovers, hairy vetch, ryegrass, spring oats, kale and linseed.

The aim is to provide a nutritional crop that maintains animal health and performance, while at the same time reducing soil erosion and create habitats for nature during winter grazing, said triallist George Greed.

Mr Greed milks 280 cows on a 230ha or-

ganic farm in Devon. Soils are a mix of aluvial with some deep loamy areas. “I am interested to find out what benefits diverse fodder can provide,” he said.

This trial is testing whether the higher biomass of a diverse crop can boost farm resilience by protecting the soil structure. It is hoped benefits will include reduced erosion and run off, and higher worm counts, infiltration rates, and water holding capacity.

The field lab’s findings could be particularly significant as keeping soils covered over winter is set to be rewarded in the new Sustainable Farming Incentive.

For more details about the trial, visit www. innovativefarmers.org.

Good maize silage to ease forage shortfalls

Attention to detail this autumn will get the best from winter feed

Ensiled maize could be particularly important this year –helping to offset low grass silage stocks caused by the summer drought and early opening of clamps.

The need for buffer feeding ahead of winter could make it important to employ extra vigilance to safeguard maize silage against losses this year, helping to stave off forage shortfalls, says Volac silage expert Peter Smith (right).

Other reasons are because of the high costs of supplementing low silage stocks with bought-in feeds, he says, and to capitalise on buoyant milk prices, with maize providing a cost-effective and high-energy homegrown forage.

In some areas, the drought has also

impacted maize yields, says Mr Smith. At the same time, high fuel and fertiliser costs mean maize has cost more to grow this year, so protecting the crop in the clamp will be important to cover this extra investment.

Avoiding losses

“In a normal year, it may be possible to tolerate a few losses in maize silage. But with grass growth halted in many areas during the summer drought, any significant in-clamp losses in maize could be disastrous for overall winter silage stocks.”

Even average losses in maize clamps equate to about one in every 10 trailer loads of dey matter being lost. Poor conservation can see this loss in-

crease. “When spoilage occurs around the vulnerable top and shoulders of clamps, losses here can reach 50%.

“It’s not just the least nutritious parts of the dry matter that the microbes that cause maize silage losses feed on. It’s the nutritious sugars and starches. So not only is there less dry matter, anything remaining is lower in energy.”

Certain microbes can also reduce silage palatability and cause mycotoxins, adds Mr Smith. To help conserve maximum maize quality and nutrients, Mr Smith suggests some key advice for farmers (see panel, right).

Don't leave maize harvest too late

It is easy to miss the ideal 30-33% DM content for harvesting maize, often because contractors cannot get to the farm in time. But harvesting maize too dry makes it less digestible to the animal and more difficult to consolidate.

Check your crop regularly so your contractor is on-farm at the ideal time. Remember modern maize varieties are often still green when ready to harvest.

Chop maize to the correct length

With maize so vulnerable to heating, chopping it to the correct length to aid squeezing out air from the clamp is crucial. Shorter chop lengths aid consolidation, especially if maize is dry, so consider chopping to 1.52.0cm, or down to 1.2cm if needed.

Resist temptation to cut crops too low

Although it might be tempting to cut maize crops closer to the ground this year in search of extra bulk, do not do this. The stem base is low in digestibility and contains high numbers of undesirable microbes from soil, which interfere with preservation in the clamp.

Ensile with the correct additive

Although maize silage is prone to heating, this is not the only way DM and nutrients are lost.

Invisible losses from poor quality fermentations,

caused by naturally-occurring inefficient fermentation bacteria on the crop, can account for half the overall DM losses, so it is important to target both problems with a dual-acting additive.

Dual-action additive Ecocool, containing the bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 and Lactobacillus buchneri PJB/1 enhances fermentation and can keep maize silage cool and stable for more than 10 days after removal from the clamp.

Consolidate and seal the clamp properly At 30% DM, it typically requires about 25% of its weight arriving at the clamp per hour to consolidate it, so 100 tonnes per hour requires constant rolling by 25 tonnes, for example by a loading shovel plus a good-sized tractor.

Fill clamps in horizontal layers at no more than a 20 degree angle, and at most 10-15cm deep, for maximum benefit from compaction machinery. Filling in a wedge shape makes consolidation more difficult.

To minimise air ingress, clamp walls should be lined with polythene side sheets, and an oxygen barrier film which is sucked into the surface contours placed on top of the maize to create a good seal.

Pull side sheets over this with a minimum 1-2 metre overlap all around, followed by a polythene top sheet, then a protective woven sheet well-weighted with silage mats, touching tyres or bales. Finally, protect your clamp from rodents and birds.

Maize variety selection for the 2023 growing season

Growers have a decent choice of maize varieties next spring

Nine new varieties have been officially approved for 2023 growing season by the British Society of Plant Breeders.

The 2023 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists includes new entrants Saxon and Dignity, both from Limagrain; alongside KWS Anastasio and KWS Pasco, both from KWS; as favourable first choices for growers.

Debalto (KWS) and ES Myrdal (Grainseed) have been added to the favourable second choice list. Dignity, Saxon and KWS Pasco also feature on the less favourable first choice list; with Debalto added to the less favourable second choice list.

Cranberri CS (Grainseed), Smoothi CS and Abrisse, both from Lidea France; have been added to the very favourable descriptive list.

The very favourable list is based on trials where breeders test later maturing varieties with the highest yield potential. It for producers looking to maximise yields for anaerobic digesters where sites have a long growing season and very favourable conditions.

The

favourable list is based on the performance of varieties in shorter, cooler growing seasons.

Challenges

Forage maize has faced significant challenges over the past few years.

Cold springs have delayed sowing and tested early vigour. Prolonged drought and high temperatures have challenged growth, with some high levels of lodging and some very wet conditions delaying harvest.

Of the new varieties, Saxon has the highest yielding on the favourable descriptive list, says NIAB forage crop specialist Ellie Sweetman. It yields 19.8t/ha dry matter, has a metabolisable energy (ME) yield of 231 kMJ/ha and starch yield of 6.50 t/ha.

But Saxon also has with some susceptibility to eyespot so is less suitable in damper growing conditions. KWS Anastasio is the next highest yielder at 19.6t/ha dry matter, an ME yield of 226 kMJ/ha and starch yield of 6.26t/ha.

It also has good standing power and eyespot resistance. Meanwhile, KWS Pasco has the highest starch yield across the entire descriptive list at 6.66t/ha, a dry matter yield of 19.3t/ ha, good standing power and eyespot resistance.

Standing tall: Varieties are trialled on their suitability

Of the Less Favourable DL varieties, KWS Pasco sits just behind Resolute with a yield of 19.0 t DM/ha at 33.4% DM, starch at 34.6% and very good re- for different situations

list

Dr Sweetman. Continued overleaf

Maize has out-performed grass silage on many farms this year (Photo: Claudia Harms-Warlies / Shutterstock.com)

from previous page

“Dignity and Saxon both yield well at 18.7 and 18.9 t DM/ha respectively, and starch levels at 33.6% and 33.4%, but both have some susceptibility to eyespot. Dignity is the earlier maturing with 35.1% dry matter at time of harvest, Saxon at 34.0%.

“Both have good early vigour so would be suitable for good quality silage in more challenging growing conditions where fungicides are used to control eyespot,” says Dr Sweetman.

Very Favourable sites

Of the three varieties added to the Very Favourable DL Smoothi CS is the highest yielding at 19.5 t DM/ha with a good ME yield, good early vigour and good standing power.

Abrisse is the earlier maturing at 35.5% at harvest with a yield of 18.6 t DM/ha. Cranberri CS achieved 19.2 t DM/ha at 34.4% dry matter. The ME yield is an important factor for achieving high biogas yields.

The BSPB 2023 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists are available to download from the BSPB and NIAB websites.

New varieties promise quality silage

Two new varieties from LG Seeds for 2023 will appeal to growers looking to fill clamps with high quality forage to help offset higher purchased feed costs.

“This year’s forage season has highlighted the need to focus on forage quality alongside agronomic attributes when selecting varieties,” says LG Seeds maize product manager Tim Richmond.

“For 25 years our breeding programme has been developing varieties that deliver superior feed, and Dignity and Saxon are the latest varieties to become available.”

Dignity is a top quality, high yielding variety which, being very early maturing (FAO 170) with good early vigour means it is ready for an early harvest, easing the establishment of successor crops.

Mr Richmond says it combines exceptional yield with ex-

cellent ME content and high Cell Wall Digestibility to ensure clamps will be full of high quality feed.

Producing high starch yields it is a perfect complement for grass silage in mixed forage diets and compares very well on yield with later maturing varieties, meaning farmers won’t have to compromise yield for superior feed quality.

Also new for 2023 is Saxon which is the highest yielding variety on the new list, making it ideal for all uses including anaerobic digestion.

Saxon combines superb early vigour with good standing power making it perfectly suited for all mainstream maize sites. Improved cell wall digestibility combined with a high starch yield means you are assured of an exceptionally high energy field.

Add this to excellent dry matter yields and Saxon is a variety that will deliver an excellent return on investment, says Mr Richmond.

“LGAN has long been the watchword for maize varieties that deliver what really counts, high yields of high-quality feeds that sustain excellent milk yields. Dignity and Saxon are the latest examples of the benefit of breeding varieties that deliver in the clamp.”

Good strategy in place is vital to ensure better maize crops

• Variable quality but decent energy

• Maize fares better than grazed grass

• Forage strategy must focus on risk

Hot and dry summer weather took its toll on UK forage crops with eastern region maize showing a range of yield and feeding quality this harvest.

“Maize growers in the east have been severely affected by drought con ditions this summer,” says Neil Groom of forage specialists Grainseed. “It’s been one of the worst years many can remember, not just for maize but for all forage crops.

“But it’s worth remembering that whilst many fields of grass just died after first or second cut was taken, by and large maize has survived and kept going. Even in the parts of the coun try hit hardest by the drought most growers have something harvestable.”

Yielding 20-42t/ha (8-17t/acre), the first harvests in East Anglia were around two weeks earlier than nor mal. With cutting now moving west and north, crops away from the real drought regions look reasonable for the main part.

“Many crops were severely scorched and stunted with some only 3ft or so tall. For those growers it has been a sal

vage job really with cuts taken largely similar to grass silage as cobs, where the concentration of energy is, have just not developed.

“Others have been less affected and although less bulky than usual, good cobs have been produced.”

Where these have been cut to the maturity of the grain, some energy dense forage has resulted because with less stalk and leaf produced, the cob has formed a higher proportion of the silage than usual.

“For many, there’s no reason why maize crops should not be as good as any other year, but it’s worth bearing in mind some of the lessons learned so far this year. For a start in less than optimum years using an oxygen scav enging silage additive in the clamp is a good idea.”

Winter forage

Some leaves which died early from scorch or desiccation will have yeasts and moulds due to decay. These could increase in the clamp. The objective here is to get clamps acidic and an aerobic as quickly.

In these circumstances, Silosolve FC is an ideal choice, says Mr Groom. “It's a dual-action product with Lacto bacillus buchneri strains to promote rapid fermentation to stop any path ogens developing.”

Producers should also be thinking about what they can do to boost homegrown feed usage to address the inev itable forage shortfalls without turn ing to bought-in feeds.

“Winter forage stocks can be built up by drilling stubble turnips and for age rape a soon as possible to allow youngstock, heifers and dry cows to graze them over the winter.”

“These could be fed after 12 weeks if soil temperatures remain good through the autumn, however we would favour forage rape as getting stubble turnips to bulk up from a late sowing is more weather dependent.

“Rye, Westerwolds and Italian ryegrass can also be drilled to pro vide winter grazing and an early bite for the following season.” Looking to the future, dairy and livestock produc ers have to realise that years like 2022 will become more frequent in the fu ture, says Mr Groom.

“Drilling drought resistant varie ties such as Marco, Crosbey and Cathy can help the situation to a certain ex tent, but building real resilience into a production system relies on making

overleaf

Most growers have something harvestable

Above left: Neil Groom

Above right: The first maize harvested was two weeks early

Winter livestock

the right management decisions.

“There is no doubt that those grow ers who drill cover crops, manage their FYM in an optimum manner and pre pare seedbeds to minimise moisture loss do much better than others not following these basic practices.”

Risk management

Jon Myhill, of the Maize Growers Asso ciation (MGA), agrees. While nothing can completely eradicate the scorch ing affects of a really hot and prolonged drought, basic precautions can help, he explains.

“The biggest priority now is to con sider drilling a cover crop as these should be drilled as early as possible to avoid soil moisture losses after com bining.

“These are not only valuable from an environmental perspective, they also help condition the soil ahead of the maize and, depending on the mix of species used, following crops can also benefit from higher nitrogen availabil ity to build long-term resilience.”

Looking to next year’s crop, good cultivations and rolling immediately after drilling will help conserve soil

moisture, says Mr Groom. If you are in an area that has low rainfall, opt for varieties that have a proven high er levels of drought tolerance.

Seed rates

On really droughty soils, decide if it worth keeping seed rates down to 85,000-95,000 seeds/ha. A rough seedbed may be best early on in a colder season. Looser, rougher soil will warm up more quickly when temperatures do start to rise.

Later in the season, when temper atures are higher, a finer tilth will en able better moisture retention and absorption of heat units for speedi er germination. Correct use of organ ic manure is now essential in build ing a future production strategy for maize, says Mr Groom.

“Maize is a hungry crop and needs lots of good nutrition – specifically, pot ash and fresh phosphate to kickstart germination But as well as providing optimum crop nutrition, organic ma nure can also benefit soil structure and moisture retention which helps miti gate against drought.

“For best results, manures should be incorporated into the soil within 24

Professional services

Defra to offer five-year stewardship extensions

Five-year extensions will be of fered to farmers with higher-lev el environmental stewardship agreements, Defra has announced.

The move aims to give agreement holders greater certainty and clarity – and remove the burden of having to apply for an annual extension every 12 months. Five-year agreements are al ready offered to existing countryside stewardship holders.

“We recently wrote to everyone with Environmental Stewardship agree ments to outline some changes that we plan to introduce in 2023,” said De fra. “Rather than offering an extension of a single year, we're offering exten sions of five years.”

The decision could benefit some 8,500 higher-level stewardship hold ers. Defra says the scheme continues to deliver important environmental ben efits on some of England's most valua ble habitats, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Helping transition

Defra says it could only offer annual extensions for HLS agreements before Brexit. “Those in Environmental Stew ardship told us that although annu al extensions are welcome, longer ex tensions offer greater flexibility and certainty.”

The government says the move will reduce bureaucracy – and help ensure the continued delivery of environmen tal benefits as Defra rolls out its new

environmental land management schemes (ELMs).

For that reason, from 2023 on wards, we will offer existing agree ment holders extensions of five years, it said. “In exceptional circumstances, agreements could be extended for few er than five years.”

To aid the transition to ELMs, all countryside stewardship and high er-level stewardship scheme holders will be able to leave their agreements early, without penalty, if they are of fered a place on another environmen tal scheme.

Defra said this would include high er-level stewardship agreement hold ers offered a place on countryside stewardship in 2024, as well as stew ardship agreement holders offered a place on the new Local Nature Recov ery scheme.

“We plan to roll Local Nature Re covery out gradually,” said Defra. “It will be offered, in full, from the end of 2024. This flexibility gives continued stability up until then. It has no im pact on our roll-out plans.”

New approach

It added: “We are able to bring all exist ing higher level stewardship and coun tryside stewardship agreements on to these new domestic terms. This means our new flexible, supportive approach to controls will apply to all agreements from 1 January 2023.

For holders of environmental stew

Higher-level stewardship continues to bring benefits, says Defra

ardship agreements beyond 2023, De fra said it would set out your options for extensions in 2023 or 2024. “We'll also share more details for the extension arrangements for your agreement.”

The new ELMs scheme is expect ed to be fully rolled out by the end of 2024. Defra has pledged to make it as smooth as possible for farmers in ex isting agreements to transfer to the new schemes – if they want to.

“Anyone in an existing agreement can also enter into the new environ mental land management schemes – so long as the actions are compati ble and we’re not paying twice for the same actions.”

Tickets on sale for agri-business conference

Industry leaders, farmers and experts will discuss ways to manage shocks within the agri-food supply chain.

Taking place in Peterborough on 16 No vember, this year’s AIC Agribusiness Confer ence will bring together agricultural stake holders for a day of insight, networking and ebate at the Holiday Inn, west Peterborough.

The return to an in-person conference format is an opportunity for delegates to meet face-to-face after three years. An on line-only option is available for stakehold ers unable to attend in person.

The conference will be chaired by broad caster and BBC Radio 4 Farming Today pre senter Anna Hill.

It will feature speakers from the worlds of business, science and politics, with the aim of sparking thought and debate through out the day.

Alongside politics and the supply chain, the farming industry will be represented by NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw.

He farms combinable crops across some 950ha on contracted land and the home farm at Fordham, north of Colchester, Essex.

HSBC head of agri-foods Allan Wilkin son will also be speaking. Having held his current role for seven years, Mr Wilkinson sits on numerous industry bodies – includ ing the Food & Drink Sector Council’s ex port forum.

Addington Fund chief executive Bill Young will be the keynote speaker at the pre-conference supper. The fund provides housing and disaster relief in the form of animal feed or services to farmers in need. For full details and to purchase your ticket, visit www.agindustries.org.uk

Lack of business plans pose risk for farmers

• Plan to cope with end of payments

• Farmers need to manage transition

• Innovate to overcome uncertainty

Farmers without a business plan could struggle to cope with the withdrawal of the Basic Pay ment Scheme, say experts.

Most farmers lack formal business planning and fail to seek external pro fessional advice, suggests a survey of rural businesses conducted by the Na tional Innovation Centre for Rural En terprise (NICRE).

More than six out of 10 farms sur veyed said they did not have a formal written business plan. And almost 80% of respondents said they had not ac cessed external support from any ad visory service.

Regulations and red tape were the most commonly-cited obstacles to farm business success with 71% of farms identifying them as a key concern, com pared to less than half of other rural businesses.

“This is a period of monumental change for farmers,” said NICRE co-di rector Janet Dwyer.

“While our findings showed that farms fared better than rural busi nesses in respect of the negative im pacts of Covid-19, this doesn’t mean that they are better placed to cope with ongoing and future challenges for the rural economy.”

Potential risk

Farms were less likely than other rural businesses to engage in formal busi ness planning, said Professor Dwyer. This was a potential risk as farms sought to cope with big policy chang es and the slow roll-out of new envi ronmental schemes.

“Careful medium-term planning and building in headroom to innovate, remain essential tactics for farms’ sur vival just as much as for other rural businesses, in these challenging times.”

Prof Dwyer said the government should deliver its new policies in ways that were truly accessible. This would help more farms deliver a high-qual ity environment alongside excellence

'Big changes will have a huge impact'

usiness consultants have welcome the NICRE study – saying changes in agricul tural policy will have a huge impact on farm enterprises.

Changes include the removal of 75 years of publicly-funded sup port for farming activities, massive changes in input and output prices, and the need for different approach es to land management.

Jonathan Armitage, head of farm ing at Strutt and Parker (pictured said this makes it even more important for farmers to plan ahead

“The most successful businesses are driven by people who have a clear plan with focused objectives and who welcome engagement with all of their partners – including staff, customers, plus technical and business advisors.

“In these most challenging of times for UK farming, NICRE’s re port is extremely timely. While it demonstrates the concern over reg ulation, our experience has shown a really encouraging level of enthusi asm and innovation to address the

(54%) of all farms took advantage of Covid support, compared to 70% of ru ral businesses.

The survey suggests farms were more likely instead to draw on family support to reduce their pandemic-re lated costs, typically family members working longer hours, or family mon ey being used to support the business.

Defra farm minister Victoria Prent is said: “Our new farming schemes will be simpler, fairer, more proportion ate, more accessible and more effec tive, supporting the choices that indi viduals make for their own holdings.

“That’s why we’re working with thousands of farmers across the sector to co-design them to ensure they work for them. Engaging in formal business planning is important as farms pre pare for future challenges.”

Defra's Future Farming Resilience Fund provides free business advice to farmers across England. Over 9,000 businesses have already benefitted from the service, with help available for a further 32,000 farmers and land managers.

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) puts combines research with practical in novation to find new ways of unlock ing potential and supporting rural businesses and communities.

It brings together a number of uni

This is a period of monumental change “

Property

Eastern region farmers face big challenges over water

• Concern over future for farming

• Reservoirs boost farm resilience

• Opportunities not just challenges

More farmers in eastern Eng land may have to install res ervoirs to ensure they have adequate access to water.

Abstraction restrictions are seeing more farmers consider reservoir con struction in an effort to improve their on-farm water management, boost their water security and increase their business resilience, says a report by business consultants Savills.

The situation is being exacerbat ed by climate change. Constructing a reservoir on irrigable land can add up to £1,000 per acre to land values, suggests the report. In addition, rent al values can rise by 15-25%, depend ing on soil type.

Incredible strain

Kathryn Brown, from the rural man agement team at Savills in Chelms ford, said climate change was increas ingly affecting agricultural practices – but this presented opportunities as

Reservoirs can increase rental land values by up to 25%, says Kathryn Brown

months show just what a challenge water management is for farmers in the East of England – putting agri cultural production under incredible strain,” she said.

“However, the expectation that ab straction licences will be available for farming activity can no longer be as sumed. Some have already been re voked and the Environment Agency is being challenged for not doing enough to protect wetland habitats.”

Total UK demand for water is pro jected to increase by 2-9% by 2050. But

Food production is under incredible strain

pected to decline by 6-11% over the same period, according to the Savills report. Installing more reservoirs is seen as a possible solution.

Summer droughts

Doing so could increasing productiv ity, reduce vulnerability to summer droughts, provide opportunities to introduce higher-value crops and in crease land values in areas where wa ter is available and irrigation infra structure is in place.

Funding sees rise in construction rates

The last round of funding under the Country side Productivity Scheme saw a spike in appli cations, and the average reservoir construction rate in the two years prior to the pandemic (2018 and 2019) increased by 291% on the preced ing five years.

A Farming Transformation Fund Water Management grant was launched earlier this year to support projects which improve farm productivity through more efficient use of wa ter for irrigation and by securing water sup plies for crop irrigation.

The water management grant can pay up to 40% of the costs for constructing water stor

age reservoirs, abstraction points, pumps and pipework to fill a reservoir, explains Kathryn Brown of Savills.

“In the past, the government has been guilty of leaving water policy behind, despite the threat of both flooding and drought wors ening as climate change increases the frequen cy of severe weather events.

“But now we are seeing meaningful manage ment of water resources, most recently through its Water Management Grant. Although appli cations are now closed for this year, some busi nesses may decide investment water manage ment is still worthwhile.”

Analysis of full planning applica tions and prior notifications since 2013 shows the importance of government grants in catalysing investment in reservoirs – previous support led to a significant uptick in the number of reservoirs constructed in 2018 and 2019.

“However, although capital and rev enue returns are improved by reser voir creation, the long payback means that many businesses are not able to consider them and the tenanted sector in particular is excluded from switch ing to more sustainable water sources.

“It’s therefore critical that funding for reservoir creation is delivered with adequate timescales to allow collabora tion, planning and construction to take place, in order to ensure this commit ment to safeguarding one of our most precious resources continues.”

Storing soil can can boost income

Providing a home for soil from development sites could offer farmers an opportunity to generate reve nue and help the environment.

With ever-more residential and commercial development under way, significant amounts of soil will need to be shifted from such sites – and farmers could be ideally placed to take it, says CLM land consultant Matthew Berryman.

“Construction projects often generate big quantities of soil and, although many licensed tips take such commercial waste, this can involve moving it large dis tances. It cuts diesel use and re duces road congestion if it’s able to head to a more local farm.”

As well as benefiting the envi ronment, it can represent a ‘winwin’ for the farmer, providing a much-needed source of income, along with a material that can po tentially be used in a host of land scaping and building projects.

Visual impact

Soil can be useful when construct ing a bund to shield property from the noise of a road, railway track

or even a busy yard,”says Mr Ber ryman. “Bunds can also used to reduce the visual impact of bat tery storage and other energy-re lated developments.

“I’ve seen it used for a fish ing diversification where a par ticular type of soil was needed to create the lakes. It could also be used in landscaping projects de signed to provide habitats for bi odiversity or recreational spaces for visitors.”

Farmers could receive be tween £40 and £70 per lorry load, depending the distance it has to be transported and access ar rangements. Suitable locations can offer fantastic opportunities for land-raising – mounding soil

Award celebrates farm sustainability

Norfolk farmer Mark Means has been short listed for the British Farming Awards in the Sustain able Farmer of the Year category.

Mark Means farms as J S Means (Terrington) at Terring ton St Clement, King’s Lynn. The family-run business uses preci sion farming methods to grow a range of crops alongside environ mental and biodiversity work.

Mr Means said: “I am so thank ful to Richard Rampton of Anglia Rural Consultants for making the nomination. Richard has been an

immense support to us, helping to push our business forward with the ability to work collaborative ly for the mutual benefit of all.

“We are farmers of the soil, and what I mean by that is that if we don’t invest and care for our soil, sustaining it fertility, improving drainage, and organic matter, then nothing will make a differ ence. We learn from the past and invest in the future.”

The farm was purchased in the 1960s and Mark took over in 2010. Some 227ha of owned land is supplemented by a number of

Soil can be used for landscaping and building projects

above ground-level, says Mr Ber ryman. “Obviously it depends on where you are and how much ma terial you can responsibly take, but some farmers have been able to add hundreds of thousands of pounds to their bottom line in this way,” he explains.

Low-cost option

“Getting planning need not al ways be a lengthy process. In deed, some small-scale projects can be done under the permit ted development rights process, which is quick and low-cost com pared to submitting a full plan ning application.”

Farmers are no strangers to navigating the planning system

and Mr Berryman says it is vi tal to ensure all the right permis sions and paperwork are in place before bringing a single bucket ful of new soil on to farmland.”

“You certainly don’t want to risk taking what you think is ‘in ert, uncontaminated’ soil only to later discover it’s not, and to be faced with a bill for moving it to li cenced landfill that could be many times greater than the sum you received.

“Local residents may, under standably, also have questions so it’s important to keep your neigh bours informed,” adds Mr Berry man. “But carefully planned and site-sensitive projects can bring benefits for all involved.”

How to judge farm performance in a net zero world

As concerns around climate change climb the political agenda much work is still needed to align agricultural policy with net zero objectives.

A key recommendation from a recent Climate Change Committee progress report for example suggested that alongside land use change for carbon sequestration and biomass, is a need ‘to get more from less’ on the land that we have available for producing food – indicating that tonnes of wheat produced per hectare remains the primary determinant of farm viability in a net zero world.

It is obvious that using a single-metric, such as yield, could produce some perverse outcomes. Land ‘spared’ by intensification could be released to alternative uses, but the land retained in intensive usage has no greater guarantee of sustainability, and arguably it could be less resilient if yield enhancements require more inputs.

So what metrics should we be using? If carbon truly is the limiting factor, as suggested by policy and investors’ net zero ambitions, then measuring the land-based carbon balance (emissions v sequestration) per year will be desirable. However, this will only work whilst carbon sequestration can be factored in as a revenue stream to counteract the loss of income elsewhere, and only until habitats are at maturity. In terms of assessing production efficiency, tonnes of CO2e per tonne of wheat or litres of milk produced seems more logical.

The challenge is these metrics drive efficiency and intensity of production, when many proponents of regenerative farming would argue that nature can optimise its own systems of production. For those on the first step to more sustainable farming, abandoning yield per acre as the primary motivator will be key. For those looking at a completely alternative view, performance indicators need to reflect inputs, diversity and soil health.

Metrics should be tailored to each farm and designed to improve overall resilience, whilst helping businesses understand which resources are important for success. Benchmarking against other farms would be useful, but the variation in size, sector and type means this is difficult. Assessing carbon impact per pound of profit generated could be one metric that allows all farms to compete on a level playing field.

Savills - Norwich 01603 229212

john.dearsley@savills.com

contract farming agreements, with 820ha of erable enterpris es farmed in total.

The awards are organised an

nually by Farmers Guardian mag azine and supported by Morrison supermarket. Award-winners will be announced on 20 October.

Savills - Cambridge 01223 347206

alex.bragg@savills.com

Awards finalists: Norfolk farming family – George Means (22) Sharon Means, Mark Means and William Means (23)

Alex Bragg

John Dearsley

East of England Farming Conference

'Leaner and greener' to increase farm profit

• Change can be good for farming

• Fewer inputs can drive revenue

• How to strip costs from business

Atop line-up of speakers has been announced for this year's East of Eng land Farming Conference, which takes place next month in Peter borough.

Organised by the East of Eng land Agricultural Society, the oneday event is aimed at growers, livestock producers and the ancil lary industries. It will take place on 17 November at the East of England Showground.

The conference theme is "Greener & Leaner”. It will fo

cus on ways of optimising farm inputs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing profit ability – challenges faced by all farms in the current economic climate.

Overcoming challenges

As well as high agri-inflation, farmers are also striving to meet the challenges of climate change and huge changes in farm poli cy. These include the phasing out of basic payments and the intro duction of Defra's environmental

land management scheme.

Conference chairman Tom Martin said: “We have seen many changes in the agricultural and political landscape since last year and we hope you can join us in November to further explore and help resolve these issues for your business.”

The first session will welcome agricultural decision-makers, in dustry leaders and policymak ers to discuss the the main top ics surrounding the agricultural sector. This year's keynote speak er is peer and farmer Lord Curry of Kirkharle.

Jen Butcher from AB Agri will give her supply chain insight into the requirements of major food businesses in adapting for a sus tainable and resilient future – in cluding the importance of ensur ing farm practice meet consumer expectations

Fewer inputs

The second session will see Amer ican farmer Rick Clark speaking from his home in Indiana. He will reveal how he slashed his farm input costs by $1m by adopting regenerative measures and chal lenging accepted thinking.

The final session will see Leicestershire mixed farmer Will Oliver explain how he increased his use of organic manures and cover crops – investing in a large-

use efficiency and reducing syn thetic inputs on-farm – and the potential scope of soil carbon se questration.

Finally, Christine Baxter of ADAS will speak about the YEN Zero project and how it can sign post input reductions across the board – helping farmers to help profitability and reduce their emissions.

For full details, and to book your ticket, please visit www.eastofengland.org.uk.

Help ‘cultivate’ new skills and careers service

The new professional body for agricul ture and horticulture has renewed its request for volunteers to help de velop its online services.

The Institute for Agriculture and Horti culture (TIAH) will launch its online plat form next year. It will offer a range of per sonalised skills and careers resources for people working at every level of farming and growing.

TIAH is recruiting volunteers who work

in the industry to test and review various ele ments of the platform. These ‘TIAH Cultiva tors’ will help ensure it is intuitive to use and offers the most useful and relevant content.

Valuable feedback

TIAH head of digital Luke Harmer said: “Our existing Cultivators are giving us hugely valuable feedback – telling us about problems they often experience in accessing training so we can design ways to solve them.

“But everyone is different, so we are seeking more people to join our Cultiva tors scheme to help us discover what works, what doesn't, and where there are gaps. We’d particularly love to hear from employees of farming and horticultural businesses.”

TIAH asks its Cultivators to give just 20 minutes a month. In return, they will be en tered into a monthly prize draw. For more information, visit the TIAH website at www.tiah.org/tiah-cultivators.

Lively debate is at the heart of the conference

Yo u K n o w

T h e C o s t o f N i t r o g e n H a s R O C K E T E D !

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

Be warned: winter is coming

trap as Sri Lanka. But there are clear similarities between the decisions made there and the pledges made by our political leaders here in the UK.

Can you remember why you came into farming? I guess somewhere your answer involves the phrase “food production”.

Unfortunately, our political leaders don't seem to recognise the importance of food production. Agriculture appears seems of little interest. Yet soaring inflation means things are rapidly in danger of getting out of control.

If you look at the mess the party in power has made over the election of a new prime minister – and reflect on the promises of the final two candidates – you may begin to understand my concerns.

Liz Truss became prime minister on the back of promising tax cuts. Those cuts are now being made. But look what happened in Sri Lanka when a change in prime minister heralded the introduction of sweeping tax cuts and reduced VAT from 15% to 8%.

Tax revenues dramatically declined. It was good for some of the people you might think but not for the country as a whole. And Sri Lanka is much worse off financially than we

are – but like us it is also still recovering from the covid pandemic.

What happened in Sri Lanka was a catastrophe for farmers. The new government banned imports of chemical fertilisers, telling farmers they should use locally sourced organic fertilisers instead.

Crop failures

The results led to widespread crop failures and a 39% fall in food production, mostly rice. The monetary system became unstable and the currency shortage worsened, leading to spiralling food prices, fuel shortages and long queues at filling stations.

Does this ring any bells? I don't suggest for a minute that we may fall into the same

Ongoing concern about rising farm input costs – and the decision by CF Fertilisers to temporarily halt production of ammonia at their Billingham site in north-east England – only serves to illustrate the fragile nature of supply chains.

There is constant talk too from this new government about the importance of food production and food security – but there is little real action. Meanwhile, continued problems with Mr Putin will mean an uncomfortable winter for us all.

Talk is cheap. The commitment to reaching net zero, reducing our carbon footprint and lowering greenhouse gas emissions have eliminated much of our ability to maximise UK food ouput.

Tricky balance

Balancing environmental needs while feeding the nation is at a crossroads. Add in further environmental constraints and it means the farming industry faces mounting challenges over the next few years.

Like all industries at the moment, farmers also face soaring inflation. Reducing inputs such as nitrogen fertiliser is not the answer. Whether cost cutting measures will work is also questionable.

Although the livestock sector is suffering, many arable farms have had a decent harvest and seem content with current high prices, albeit unfortunately on the back of other people's misfortune. They are prepared to continue investing in their crops.

We may not see severe food shortages in the UK. But it is clear that food will continue to become more expensive for a while yet. Whether those the price increases are passed back to the farmers pockets remains to be seen.

It is clear too that large farms will continue to expand with ever increasing overheads – leaving smaller farms to fight among themselves over the best second hand machinery and worry about cashflow pressures.

Farming fortunes are mixed at best – with some businesses doing better than others. But that could all change, says Fen Tiger.

There is talk but little real action

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