Midland Farmer - June 2024

News

Sustainable Farming

Incentive – new offer

Cereals event

Innovation aims to wow visitors

Groundswell

Thousands prepare for two-day festival

Harvest Preview

What to expect after challenging season

Livestock

Blowfly warning for local sheep farmers

Clodhopper

How to keep ramblers on the right track

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Midland Farmer

EDITORIAL

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OPINION Johann Tasker

Think before you cast your vote

Next month’s general election has been described by NFU president Tom Bradshaw as the “most important in a generation” for British food and farming.

He’s not wrong. Farmer confidence is at its lowest for more than a decade. Growers and livestock producers are grappling with the phasing out of direct payments, high input costs and uncertain commodity prices.

It used to be that the Conservatives were the party of the countryside – at least for the vast majority of farmers who would religiously place their cross in the blue box on election day. But that is no longer the case.

Right and wrong

Midland Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) or companies supplying goods and services to the sector. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares.

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Farming faces huge challenges. Rising input costs and volatile commodity prices are the bane of many farm businesses. So too is increasingly unpredictable weather. But some challenges are much less fair.

British growers and livestock producers are rightly expected to adhere to high standards. Yet at the same time they are wrongly expected to compete with food imports grown and reared using methods that would be illegal here.

After the past 10 years, it is clear that the Tories can no longer rely on the farming vote. A recent poll by the Country Land & Business Association found that swathes of the countryside are defecting to Labour and the Liberal Democrats after years of economic neglect.

Politically homeless

Despite covering 85% of the UK, rural communities feel unseen. Their support is up for grabs. The rural economy is 19% less productive than the national average – yet closing this gap would add £43 billion to national GDP.

Little wonder that CLA president Victoria Vyvyan says many rural votes feel politically homeless. But there is still time for parliamentary candidates to grasp the key issues and help unleash the potential of the rural economy, she adds. Recent years have seen a rapid turnover of prime ministers. But general elections come around less often. It is important to consider all the options before we vote, rather than placing our cross in the usual place out of habit.

Johann Tasker Editor

New improved SFI offer is broader and more flexible

More than 100 options available

Mwho sign up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The government’s latest offer –which increases the number of SFI options from 23 to 102 from July –was published on 21 May as the government made a flurry of announcements before calling the general election.

Improvements

The SFI pays farmers to take actions that can help improve farm productivity and make farm businesses and food production more resilient, while improving the natural environment and climate.

The 102 actions include 22 existing actions, two of which have been merged. On top of that, there are 23 new actions – including on precision farming, flood and water management, agroforestry and notill – and 57 actions previously offered

Applicants should first register their interest with the Rural Payments Agency, which will then invite an

application when the offer opens.

He added: “It is important now that Defra and the RPA ensure that all these schemes have the resources needed to make delivery a success, with clear timelines for the application process.”

This would provide farmers to put together a comprehensive SFI agreement. “It’s vital the next government looks at the agricultural budget to ensure the UK farming sector is resilient and thriving.”

Call for next government to recognise farming

Would-be MPs are being urged to recognise the role of food and farming as candidates pitch for the rural vote ahead of next month’s general election.

Confidence among farmers is the lowest since the NFU began its annual state of the industry survey in 2010. Farm businesses are being hit by the phase-out of direct payments (86%), rising input costs (80%) and red tape (80%).

High stakes

escribing the general election on 4 July as the “most important in a generation for British food and farming,”

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The stakes are very high. If the next

government gets it right, then this huge sector can grow, contributing even more to the UK economy, to the health and welfare of Britons and to the environment. But farming is under huge pressure.”

The NFU is working to ensure prospective MPs from all political parties understand the importance of boosting home-grown food production and supporting farmers who look after the environment, added Mr Bradshow.

The union’s manifesto outlines what it believes the next government must deliver to support the nation’s farmers and growers. It includes food security, fairer supply chains and trade agreements that recognise high food standards.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw met prime minister Rishi Sunak during last month’s Farm to Fork summit at Downing Street.

DRAINAGE IS AN INVESTMENT, NOT AN EXPENSE!

January 2024, torrential downpours left a lot of land looking like this. Planted crops being washed away or having little or no value, taking weeks to dry out sufficiently before machinery can be driven on it without causing severe rutting and soil compaction. This is where a well planned drainage scheme can help.

Drainage wont stop the rain but it will certainly help to keep fields workable, increase productivity, help with soil health, remove surface water quicker, even helps with black grass. Coupled with ditch maintenance and where suitable, mole ploughing, the positive effects will be seen pretty much immediately. As we have said many times before. . . “You can’t farm wet land”.

‘Arable extravaganza’ to bring farmers together in celebration

Organisers of one of the biggest agricultural events in the Midlands are calling for farmers to come together and celebrate arable farming.

More than 1,500 farmers are expected to attend the Arable Event – hosted by Bradford Estates, near Newport, Shropshire. Organised by Wynnstay and GrainLink, the day of farm demonstrations, learning and socialising takes place on 19 June.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event. Organisers say it be an opportunity for farmers to come together with other growers.

Health and wellbeing

A study by Farm Safety Foundation found that almost 95% of farmers under 40 regard poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing the industry today.

Arable Event organiser Kelly Dolphin said: “This month is Mental Health Awareness month and what better time to call out to farmers to come together. The Arable Event is a great place to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.

“Farming can be a lonely business, and it’s so important to sometimes just step away from your own work to interact with other people and find out what’s going on in the industry beyond your own farm gate.

“The speakers we have lined up are guaranteed to be both interesting and informative. But there is more for visitors to see, including tours of the seed trial plots, machinery

Ceres Rural, Charlie Ireland will be the keynote speaker alongside influencer Olly Harrison and Ryan Wooley, a technical support engineer for Morris Lubricants.

Accidental YouTuber

Mr Harrison, who became an “accidental YouTuber” at the start of lockdown and now has 120,000 subscribers to his channel, posts daily video updates about life on his farm and as a contractor near Liverpool.

Free fast track tickets are still available to book and include entry into a prize draw sponsored by Morn-

It’s a great place to meet up “

Seed trial plots this year include a full complement of new and conventional winter cereals, including a wide variety of winter cereals including wheat, barley, oats, hybrid rye and triticale.

The trial plots have been expanded to showcase a range of fertiliser and bio-stimulant demonstrations with industry leading fertiliser manufacturers Yara, ICL, LKAB and Omex on site to provide advice on their product ranges.

For full details, including directions and to secure your ticket, visit www.thearableevent.co.uk

Bluetongue outbreak expected this year

Abluetongue outbreak is highly likely this year, say government experts who are urging farmers to remain vigilant for the virus.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said there was a very high probability of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) being introduced into Great Britain again during 2024 following last year’s outbreak in southern and eastern England.

Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges. It affects cattle, sheep, and other ruminants such as goats and deer – as well as camelids such

as llamas. The virus does not affect people or food safety.

APHA said it expected the virus to arrive via midges blown over from northern Europe. Midges are most active between April and November but the exact timing of a potential incursion will depend on the temperature and wind patterns.

Monitor livestock

Farmers should monitor livestock frequently, ensuring farm details are registered with APHA. This makes locating animals easier in a disease outbreak.

The impact of bluetongue depends on animal species and virus strain. Some animals show no symptoms while others suffer reduced productivity, such as lower milk yields. In severe cases, the virus can be fatal.

APHA and the Pirbright Institute identified the first case of the disease in Great Britain last November. Since then, 126 bluetongue cases have been confirmed across 73 premises across four counties.

There are no authorised vaccines available for bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) in the UK or Europe.

flake. Visitors to the Arable Event can also collect BASIS and NroSO

Arable

Latest arable pest management tool unveiled

• Real-time information now available

• Helps growers make better decisions

• Benefits for range of crop enterprises

The latest version of a free Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tool includes a new benchmarking feature so users can compare control strategies.

In a season of early pest, disease and weed pressures, more than 880 farmers, agronomists and advisors have used the free IPM Tool to create over 1200 bespoke IPM cropping plans.

The latest update includes a benchmarking functionality for users to view real-time crop risks and information – locally and nationally – and compare their IPM actions and practices with other growers.

The new function will enable growers and their advisors to understand important trends for risks affecting their particular crop at any given time.

Benchmarking data is dynamically updated as IPM cropping plans are completed so users always have access to the latest information, says ADAS consultant John Gadsby, who led the development of the tool.

“The ability to see how other farmers are approaching IPM interventions will give users a chance to learn from all those who have completed an IPM plan, and ultimately provide a means for peer-to-peer learning with an everexpanding pool of farmers.”

‘Really useful’

ADAS project coordinator Philip Walker said: “The latest update shows we have considered that a real time functionality is a useful addition and allows users to make up to date decisions for practicing IPM.”

The IPM Planning Tool is proving

App offers accuracy for crop treatments

An upgraded weather app is helping growers improve the timing of crop protection treatments – ensuring they are safe and effective.

Released by Sencrop, the new weather app module helps users select and apply the most appropriate fungicides, insecticides, or bio-solutions. It then provides specific recommendations for each product.

A four-day local weather forecast is used to identify the best treatment time amdmake a pinpoint application – taking into account wind speed, humidity, temperature and rainfall.

Users can view their fields and crops, and select the area of interest, says Sencrop. They then choose the type of product they want to apply, and the app will generate hourly weather forecasts for the next four days.

Growers can compare their IPM actions with other farmers

“

It means better up-to-date decisions

to be a useful and popular support for farmers and agronomists.

Among the users who have been impressed are mixed farmer Thomas Clayton, who runs a range of arable, root crop and livestock enterprises in west Suffolk.

“The IPM Tool has been really useful for us managing crops across such a diverse rotation,” he says.

“It allows us to see we are on the right track for IPM during the season and gives us the opportunity to adapt our approach for the year head.”

BASIS crop protection and environmental advisor points are available for completing the tool. For full details and to download the IPM Tool, visit www.ipmtool.net.

Mark Herriman, of Sencrop, said: “When it comes to forecasts, we compare the data collected by the station with the main existing weather models and then aggregate the most reliable forecasts for the

Sencrop App helps ensure pinpoint applicatons

chosen location.”

The forecasts continuously evolve as the station records local weather data, explains Mr Herriman.

This ensures the best forecasts at all times,, he adds –helping growers and agronomists to make better decisions.

“It’s difficult for farmers to take into account so many meteorological parameters – but applying products at exactly the right time will improve efficiencies, reduce waste and benefit the crop, ultimately boosting the bottom line.”

Arable

Renewed focus on hybrid rye in arable rotations

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Arenewed focus on hybrid rye as an energy crop for anaerobic digestion could lift the UK planted area well beyond 50,000ha, say industry experts.

“Hybrid rye is super flexible in the rotation and an excellent choice for growers,” says Agrovista arable seed product manager and agronomist Ted Williams (below left). “It can be drilled early or late on any soil type – helping to spread the harvest.”

Other benefits of hybrid rye include low seed rates, rapid spring growth, exceptional water efficiency and an aggressive root system that can scavenge for moisture and nutrients.

These attributes equate directly into economic benefits for growers seeking to improve profit margins by lowering input costs, explains Mr Williams.

It also offers good nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), requiring up to half the fertiliser of a second wheat and has far less susceptibility to take-all, making it an attractive option as a second cereal.

Crop management

“On inputs it ticks all the key sustainability boxes and is relatively straightforward to manage compared to other cereal crops. In challenging climatic conditions, such as recent hot, dry summers, it adapts well and generally copes much better than either wheat or barley.

“But it’s not completely bullet proof, and with low seed rates and a wide autumn drilling win-

dow it can be susceptible to slug activity, so growers do need to be cautious, particularly with late drilling and in wetter autumns.”

That point aside, the financial return on a 10-12t/ha hybrid winter rye crop make it a compelling argument for growers to include it in their rotations – especially with sluggish winter wheat prices.

When it comes to anaerobic digestion, wholecrop freshweight yields up to 50t/ha on good land are regularly achieved by established varieties such as SU Performer and SU Baresi – both bred by German breeder Saaten Union and available via Elsoms Seeds. Wynnstay combinable crop seed specialist Danny Richardson (below right) agrees that the cropped area could double in size within half a decade. He’s already seen a 10-15% increase in farmer customers growing hybrid rye in the last two years.

But Mr Richardson says new markets will be key to unlocking more growing area in the shortmedium term.

“We see future interest in hybrid rye coming from mixed farms, specifically those that grow feed crops for their own livestock. A switch to rye-based diets within the pig sector is already happening.”

Trial results have shown little difference in liveweight gains between rye and wheat-based diets, with improved gut health and reduced levels of aggression favouring rye over wheat.

Another potential new mar-

Hybrid rye – relatively straightforward to manage ket could be bio-ethanol production. Although wheat is still the primary source for this, rye could do the job equally well – if not better, given rye’s requirement for fewer inputs.

Crop varieties

Mr Richardson says his customers have been particularly interested in SU Performer and SU Arvid –with many rye growers now splitting their area between these established varieties and newer ones coming onto the descriptive lists.

“With wider market opportunities for hybrid rye, combined with possible future yield penalties for maize crops, I can certainly see the area of hybrid rye rising above 100,000ha in a relatively short time frame.”

Saaten Union UK general manager Stephen Goward (below) says rapidly rising input

nities for market growth in winter hybrid rye. Grain yields of 10-13t/ha are readily achievable with a crop that is relatively easy to manage and can be grown on all soil types.

“Many growers have found that it out-performs both wheat and barley as a second or third cereal and with a wide drilling window from September to early November it is incredibly flexible within the rotation.”

Looking ahead

Of 13 varieties currently on the UK descriptive list for hyrbird rye, six are bred by Saaten Union. They include dual purpose variety SU Baresi, which can be grown for biomass or grain, achieving a yield of 103%.

The breeder aims to introduce one or two new varieties each year – including wholecrop varieties

LG TYPHOON WINTER WHEAT FUTURE FOR THE

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Desirable agronomics for early drilling

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disease resistance, says the AHDB. A relatively early maturing variety, it has high resistance to yellow rust, brown rust and mildew, based on limited data.

Cope says Everlong has a wide drilling window – either as a late autumn-drilled wheat or as a true spring wheat option for the feed market. It is said to clean, easy to manage, and produces the boldest grain of any spring wheat.

Early maturing winter barley candidate variety Aretha boasts high yields and tall, stiff straw. It offers Type 1 & 2 Barley yellow mosaic

Gemma Clarke launches the rebranded business

Below: Cope says it is supporting growers with high-performing varieties

We’re forging

candidate variety. It is said to perform consistently across various sites with good resistance to downy mildew.

New era

Cope managing director Gemma Clarke said the launch of the three varieties and the unveiling of the company’s rebrand marked a new era for the business. All new varieties would be available through merchants.

Ms Clarke said: “Not only do we want to support farmers with leading varieties, but we’re also forging longterm partnerships with breeders, growers and producers, to support resilient food systems.

“We work with world-leading UK and EU plant breeders to increase genetic gain, by developing climate adapted, low input, healthy, highyielding crop varieties and we reinvest 25% of our earnings into research, development, and trials.”

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Pioneering pulse project enters second year

Benefits for domestic pulses

Sharing ideas key to success

For farmers and environment

Ato show how pulses can reduce greenhouse gas emissions is set to enter its second year – including a number of Midland farmers.

novation Network (BOFIN).

Bringing together knowledgeable individuals like this – and sharing ideas between partner organisations – is at the heart of NCS, explains Mr Vickers. “There’s never been a project on this scale with this much ambition.”

Pulse Pioneers

The Nitrogen Climate Smart (NCS) initiative aims increase pulse and legume cropping in arable rotations to 20% (currently 5%) – and displace up to half the soya currently imported into the country for animal feed.

BOFIN founder and farmer Tom Allen-Stevens says has been delighted by the level of interest from across the farming industry. “The engagement we’ve had has been fantastic,” he says.

The PGRO-led initiative involves a consortium of 17 industry partners – and hundreds of farmers. It seeks to rapidly evolve knowledge and understanding of growing peas and beans – while testing and trialing new feed rations.

Funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme and delivered by Innovate UK, the consortium aims to reduce emissions by 1.5Mt CO?e per annum – equivalent to 54% of the maximum potential for UK agriculture.

Achieving the goal will be steered by science – and proven by farmers through a series of paid-for on-farm trials, says PGRO chief executive Roger Vickers. These are being coordinated by the British On-Farm In-

“We’ve had a huge amount of press coverage and well over 300 people have got involved with our PulsePEP, an online hub for the farming community to discuss best-practice pulse cropping, exceeding our initial target.”

Ten innovators – called Pulse Pioneers – have been selected to receive payment in Roger Vickers: growers and the environment stand to benefit

exchange for working with scientists. They are co-designing trials to carry out on their own farms, with crops being drilled this spring.

The Midlands is well represented amongst these trials. The ‘Pulse Pioneers’ – a group of innovative farmers working with scientists to co-design and carry out crop trials on their farms – include Paul Barnes in Lincolnshire, Will Oliver in Leicestershire, and Anna Pearce in Northamptonshire.

Mr Barnes recalls his grandfather telling him to “look after the soil and it will look after you.” That advice has stayed with him since his childhood, he says. “We’re exploring lots of things on the farm, but everything has to start with the soil.”

Understanding soil

Mr Barnes has been farming organically in Lincolnshire for 20 years, joining the South Ormsby Estate as estate manager in 2018. After two years of conventional farming, he started the two-year process of converting the estate’s in-hand land to organic. Today, 640ha (1,600 acres) is either fully organic or in conversion.

“We continued farming conventionally for a couple of years so that we could understand where we were at the beginning – that was key,” Mr Barnes explains. “We did a mass soil audit across every bit of land, and we still do that today when we take on new land.

The estate has a seven-year

temporary ley rotation which predominately grows pulses, spring wheat, spring barley and spring oats. “We aim to grow winter barley and winter oats after vining peas, but we focus on spring cropping because in between crops we’re trying to support our livestock rotation.

“We’re paddock mob grazing across arable fields, so as soon as the combines go in we plant cover crops as we’re trying to keep the cattle outside 365 days a year.”

Mr Barnes has taken part in the ADAS Bean Yen project and has tried different practices with spring beans to try to understand what the crops needs.

“We first grew beans on a conventional system during the transition period – we direct drilled them and worked with an inter-row demonstrator.

“My organic beans were conventionally established through ploughing, pressing and drilling to give them root mass.

The organics outperformed the conventional system. But I think that was down to the establishment process and that’s the key. Everyone is trying to go for a regenerative approach (minimum till or no till) but when a crop turns around and tells you it needs open space and air for a rooting system, you need to give it to them.”

At present, spring beans and vining peas suit his system best. “We’re based on the Lincolnshire Wolds, so the soil is undulating. Spring beans suit our rotation, >>

Beans and peas have a big role in reducing greenhouse gas emisions

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“People often question the returns, but I’m interested in the bigger, wider picture of what we can do. We’ve got to try to understand the benefits of pulse crops. However, we need to know the failures too, such as harvest losses.

“Being organic, I need to fully understand the benefits of including them in a rotation and where they should sit. “The spring wheat that followed spring beans last year was excellent – we need to know exactly why that is.”

Mr Barnes thinks understanding more about pulse production and how the UK can become more self-sufficient in its protein supplies should be a priority. “We know pulses will fix nitrogen in the soil but where else can we lead this crop?” he says.

“We had a lot of discussions when I was doing the bean YEN about how we can introduce anti-pod shatter into the system because one of the big losses we do get on a bean crop is through

To find out more about becoming a Pulse Pioneer and joining the PulsePEP, visit ncsproject.co.uk

Valuable forum for growers

The PulsePEP online platform is a hub for farmers striving to achieve the best from their pulse crops and reduce carbon emissions. Led by ADAS, it is also a place for valuable discussion about best-practice pulse cropping.

Now, BOFIN is calling for this support and discussion to be turned into action, says founder Tom Allen-Stevens. “For a four-year project to have this much engagement in the first year is great. But we need to build on this now and get proper action on the ground.

“We are already one year into the four-year project and our energy and focus must now be on delivering what we need to in order for this project to fulfil its potential.”

An urgent step required is for the 300 farmers who have signed up to the PulsePEP to establish their carbon baseline using the Farm Carbon Toolkit.

“This is a vital measure as the GHG emissions from these farms will be tracked throughout the project and form a fundamental part of the dataset,” Mr Allen-Stevens adds.

“If we’re going to prove to the industry that we can have a farmer-led imitative like this then farmers must lead. We’re here to help but the driving force and engagement must come from those on the ground.”

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King’s award for slug pellet manufacturer

The UK’s only manufacturer of slug pellets has received a King’s Award for International Trade –recognising the company’s growth in overseas sales.

Supplying both the farming and the amateur home and garden sectors, Nottinghamshire-based Doff Portland has seen overseas sales growth of 300% over three years. Exports now represent well over 10% of the business.

Doff Portland chief executive Ben Shapiro says: “For our agricultural exports, the award acknowledges Doff’s success in France, which is testament to the market’s acceptance of our latest formulation of ferric phosphate slug pellets.

Weather-proof

“We recently launched the same formulation in the UK under the Firescale brand and look forward to continued growth in both markets,” adds Mr Shapiro, who attributes the company’s success to its expertise in pellet manufacture alongside innovation and investment.

“Our team has designed and registered a high-quality, rainfast pellet – formulated for British weather using British wheat, which is proving popular with farmers, both at home and in France,” says Mr Shapiro.

“Quick turnaround has been key, to ensure thousands

of tonnes of product can reach farmers – whether in the UK, or on the continent, at short notice.  We understand pest pressure is closely linked to weather conditions and a responsive service is critical.”

UK farmers gain from the export success, with slug pellets manufactured using British wheat which is then milled at the Nottingham plant. Doff Portland’s local sourcing and manufacturing methods mean the process has the lowest carbon footprint in the EU.

Mr Shapiro also points to the company’s growth in retail exports to the EU.  Growth has resulted from the company extending its UK authorisations for slug control to over 15 EU countries.  This has facilitated the export of a wider product range spanning biocides, herbicides, and insecticides.

“Navigating the hurdles of Brexit over recent years has been a challenge, but it’s credit to the entire team and our suppliers that we’ve secured a portfolio of key authorisations and established ourselves in important EU markets with both retail and agricultural customers.”

Ben Shapiro: Doff Portland supplies slug pellets to farmers and gardeners

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film, which disrupts the acquisition and transmission of virus by the aphid’s stylet.

Emergency application to combat key potato viruses

• Go-ahead for entire 2024 season

• Will help protect vital seed stocks

• Good potato health maintained

An emergency approval has been granted for paraffin oil product OlieH in seed potato crops – helping growers tackle non-persistent aphid-vectored viruses.

Non-persistently transmitted potyviruses – sometimes called mosaic viruses – are the most problematic viral diseases affecting British potato production. Currently, the dominant species is potato virus Y (PVY).

PVY is most damaging in ware crops grown from infected seed (secondary infection), depending on the variety affected plants can lack vigour, producing smaller and sometimes misshapen or cracked tubers.

When aphids probe the leaves

of plants infected with PVY, they can pick up the virus on their stylet (or mouthparts) and transmit the disease very quickly – within minutes or even seconds of prob-

through potato crops. This wider range of vectors and speed of transmission make it very difficult to manage, and key vector species have developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides – including to their rapid ‘knock-down’ action – so it has only become trickier in recent years.

Applying mineral oils as adju-

Certis Belchim UK potato crop manager Caroline Williams said that until now mineral oil products have only been permitted from emergence up to tuber initiation (BBCH 40) in seed potato crops.

This led to an emergency application for the company’s paraffin oil product Olie-H to be used from tuber initiation onwards. Applicants were Horticulture Crop Protection, Seed Potato Organisation, GB Potatoes, SAC Consulting and VCS Potatoes.

Ms Williams said: “The application has been successful and seed growers will benefit from the proven efficacy of oils for the entire growing season in 2024, helping suppress non-persistent virus levels in seed stocks.

“We recommend that Olie-H is always applied to a dry leaf and growers avoid applying it in the heat of the day. It’s also best used as part of a virus control programme containing

Potato virus Y in a crop of seed potatoes [Photo credit Eric Anderson / Scottish Agronomy]

BRED IN BRITAIN FOR UK FARMERS

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Liquid fertiliser: why more growers plan to switch

• Wet season focuses decisions

• More efficient and higher yields

• Proper consideration required is essential.

Growers switching to liquid fertiliser are being advised to start planning now for the autumn cropping season.

A wet eight months mean more arable farmers are moving away from solid fertiliser, says Phil Burrell, head of crop nutrition for Yara. Now is a good time to start planning for the 2024-25 cropping year, he adds.

“Large parts of the arable area haven’t been planted with winter cereals, the oilseed rape crop has continued to present challenges – and there are still farmers out there who haven’t got any spring barley drilled.

“It’s been very challenging and it’s inevitably going to lead to fertiliser carryover as we go into the new cropping year. For farmers thinking about fertiliser strategies and moving from solid fertiliser to liquid, now is the time to start planning.”

What to consider

The main difference between liquid and solid fertilisers is that liquids come in solution form rather than solid granules or prills. Beyond these basics, there are other factors to conside when thinking about switching to liquid.

Liquid fertilisers are available in a range of different formulas including nitrogen, nitrogensulphur mixtures, and nitrogenphosphate-potash and sulphur (NPKS) mixtures. Like solid fertilisers, they are applied to the soil.

First, liquid fertilisers are applied with a crop sprayer, so farmers need to consider their sprayer capacity, so they don’t put it under too much pressure. Secondly, fertiliser can be corrosive, so good sprayer hygiene

Another consideration is the concentration of compound NPKS fertilisers. Nutrients like potassium are water soluble so it is not possible to achieve the same concentration in a liquid as you would in a straight solid fertiliser, such as muriate of potash.

Although there are limitations to using liquids in some farming systems, they can bring improved operational efficiency, says Mr Burrell. Liquids are stored in a tank, so don’t require any shed space, he adds.

“You won’t need to take bags off the lorry, put them in the shed, then bring them back out of the shed and put them in a trailer to take down to the field. Plus,

you’ll have no bags to dispose of at the end of it. There are several efficiency savings here.”

Liquid fertiliser can also encourage farmers to upgrade their sprayer and go to a wider tramline to improve output as well as reducing labour costs. If farmers strategically locate their liquid fertiliser tanks, application can be a one-person job.

Preparing to switch

Achieving these benefits requires some preparation.

Before the storage tank arrives, a reinforced concrete base must be put down for it to sit on. The tank should be bunded for best practice.

The location of the tank must also be risk assessed. “The last thing you want is a tank in the middle of a busy farmyard – it’s a recipe for an accident.”

“

Now is the time to start planning

“Before switching to liquid fertiliser, one of our farm business managers would visit the farm, do a site survey, and make sure it’s away from watercourses, aquifers, pylons, electric poles, and traffic.”

Sprayer nozzles also need to

be changed. A conventional crop protection nozzle sprays a fine mist to target the leaf of the weed or plant. Liquid fertilisers use a dribble bar or specific fertiliser nozzle so a steady stream of liquid hits the soil.

“Our team has lots of knowledge on application and can advise on the best type of fertiliser nozzle for your sprayer, whether that be a dribble bar or a singular nozzle with multiple outlets to make sure the liquid goes where needed.”

Liquid fertiliser enables more flexibility with timings. Unlike solid fertiliser, liquid can be applied in the rain – applications can be made even when the weather is changeable. Applying liquids early where possible also minimises scorch risk later in the crop’s life.

Other benefits

Using liquid fertiliser minimises the impact on the environment thanks to the improved accuracy that’s possible. “When we think of the outsides of a field, we don’t want to be putting fertiliser where it’s not needed, particularly into the environment.”

As well as environmental benefits, there are also yield benefits, particularly for farmers with irregular-shaped fields and lots of headlands.

Farmers should plan now before switching to liquid fertiliser, says Phil Burrell

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Innovation and efficiencies to be in the spotlight at Cereals 2024

The latest farming innovations, demonstrations and technical developments will take pride of place at this month’s Cereals event.

To be held on 11-12 June at Bygrave Woods in Hertfordshire, the two-day show will include new products and scientific techniques being developed to improve crop health, farm efficiencies and profitability.

Organisers say the catalogue of exhibitors exceeds 450 arable-focused companies, with some 98 new firms coming on board this year for the first time – showcasing everything from regenerative agriculture to cuttingedge precision techniques.

Arable farmer and new exhibitor James Hart is founder of Husk Data. He will be demonstrating how his business can help farmers eliminate paperwork and save time while collecting data and improving operations.

Unable to find a tailorable digital application, Mr Hart developed his data management system for his own arable enterprise and diversifications. He launched it for other farmers as a desktop and mobile application in 2022.

“Data capture is an increasingly vital element in determining a farm’s efficiency. As we move forward, so is calculating carbon reduction payments and providing proof of action under schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).”

With six members of staff, three enterprises, and 1,000ha to manage, Mr Hart designed the HUSK application to be flexible, functional on/offline, and simple to use – be that by a one-man-band or a large, staffed enterprise.

Data capture is increasingly vital “

Registering online, the farmer or contractor logs farm and field details and sets up staff user accounts. They can then create a series of tailored forms that prompt the data they want to collect, from cultivations and inputs to diesel usage and grain movement. All users then simply download the mobile app.

Data can be inputted as figures, notes, file attachments and pictures, for which the latter can be time-stamped and geotagged –a valuable feature when submitting evidence of work under schemes.

Regenerative

New exhibitor Regenerate Outcomes is helping farmers and landowners pursue an education-based approach to regenerative farming, to generate both ecological and economic gains for their businesses.

With expertise in farming and project finance, Regenerate Outcomes works alongside soil health consultancy Understanding Ag. It has also partnered with Agricarbon to monitor soil organic carbon stocks under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).

Combined, it provides a robust one-toone mentorship programme which not only improves the ecological condition of land, but also generates new revenue streams, says Understanding Ag director Tom Dillon.

“The programme offers one-to-one soil health training with the aim to help farmers reduce input costs and improve plant health,” he says .

“As soil health improves, it is expected that soil organic carbon stocks increase and the need for greenhouse gas emitting inputs also reduces. This data is collected according to the VCS, so that the farm may qualify to earn third-party verified carbon credits.”

Being adaptive rather prescriptive, the programme works alongside a farm’s changing plans, government schemes, stewardships, and other projects or partnerships, says Mr Dillon.

Farmers who join the programme will also become part of a network of regenerative farms, enabling them to have a sound knowledge-board made up of like-minded farmers, he adds.

For details, visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk.

New products aim to improve productivity and efficiency

Drainage experts help rejuvenate waterlogged fields

Farmers are invited to attend a special Land Drainage Hub hosted by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors at Cereals.

Experts will be on hand at 10.30am and 1.30pm on both days of the twoday event to help pinpoint the best way forward for growers looking to upgrade drainage following one of the wettest seasons in living memory.

Building blocks

With recent waterlogged fields still fresh in farmers’ minds, the ‘Conversation about Drainage’ will take place adjacent to the NAAC Land Drainage Hub. It will feature companies who are experts in field and land drainage, explains NAAC chief

executive Jill Hewitt.

“The benefits of drainage are proven, but the main obstacle is the investment cost. Drainage is the building block of all soil management, and we will be calling for a government review to incentivise drainage to benefit productivity, flood protection and profitability.”

The exhibition will include a demonstration area, hosting a drainage trencher and plough.

NAAC Land Drainage chairman Rob Burtonshaw, of agricultural contractors Farm Services, said, “The past year has highlighted the vital importance of well drained land, and we have all seen the impact on improved trafficability, crop growth and yields.”

Drainage can be expensive – but it brings

Topics to include

• Why bother with drainage?

• How drainage helps soil structure

• DIY or get a contractor in?

• Costs and return on investment

• Where to start a drainage scheme

• Do we need government funding?

Other speakers will include George Firth, of Lincolnshire Drainage. Midland farmer Will Oliver will review the impact of drainage on his land on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border.

David Calvert / Shutterstock.com

formulations for reliable performance

Sugar beet review

‘Seek advice when ordering tolerant sugar beet varieties’

• New varieties added to list

• Consult breeders and BBRO

• Data is limited on tolerance

Growers are being advised to discuss their requirements with plant breeders before ordering sugar beet seed tolerant to challenges faced by the crop.

Six new sugar beet varieties have been added to the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list for drilling in 2025. They include varieties tolerant to Beet Cyst Nematode, AYPR rhizomania, yellowing virus, cercospora and ALS herbicides.

New varieties are Chyma, Josephina and Smart Uma – all from KWS UK; Magpie from SesVanderHave; and ST Tweed and ST Trent from Strube UK. Three varieties were withdrawn which means the 2025 list comprises 22 varieties.

Limited data

Data is limited on the tolerance of the new varieties to foliar diseases such as rust, powdery mildew and

cercospera. Chyma KWS tolerance to cercospora, for example, was determined elsewhere and not in the recommended list trials.

Chyma KWS has tolerance to cercospora but unsuitable for early sowing. In recommended list trials, it produced 101.0% adjusted tonnes at 16.9% sugar content – but the trials did not determine its cercospora tolerance.

Smart Uma KWS is ALS tolerant –likely to produce higher yields when

A number of new beet varieties have built-in tolerance

used with partner ALS herbicides than with conventional products. Treated with non-ALS herbicides, in trials it yielded 95.3% adjusted tonnes with

Mike May, who oversees the annual recommended list, said: “Growers should discuss options with the BBRO and breeders who will have more information on their performance and use in the presence of the specific

In terms of the other new varieties, Josephina KWS from KWS UK produced 99.5% adjusted tonnes at 17.3% sugar content. This was the highest on the list. It had the lowest number of bolters in the early sown

ST Tweed from Strube UK produced 98.2% adjusted tonnes at 17.0% sugar content. It had lower establishment than the other varieties.

Magpie from SesVanderHave UK produced 97.7% adjusted tonnes at 17.1% sugar content. ST Trent from Strube UK produced 97.7% adjusted tonnes at 17.2% sugar content – the second highest on the list.

The BBRO said it should be noted that many differences between individual varieties are small and not statistically significant and should be treated with caution.

Dip in sales restricts sugar profits

Lower sales by British Sugar restricted profits for parent company

Associated British Foods during the six months to March, suggest latest figures.

Interim results show ABF global sugar revenues reached £1.170bn compared to £1.168bn for the same period in 2022/23 –equivalent to a 9% increase when measured in constant currency.

Operating profits improved significantly – from £86m to £121m – driven by lower losses at Yorkshire biofuels plant Vivergo and stronger performance in Spain. But this

was partially offset by the phasing of profits at British Sugar.

British Sugar sales were lower during the period, said the company. This was due to lower stock levels held over from last year’s production campaign, which ABF said was severely affected by adverse weather.

“We were also impacted by lower coproduct prices in the period,” says the interim report. “As expected, profits were somewhat lower as a result.

“However, despite some disruption caused by wet weather, sugar production

from the 2023/24 campaign is expected to be 1.1 million tonnes, significantly ahead of last year’s unusually low crop (740,000 tonnes) and broadly in line with historical levels.”

Meanwhile, the report says British Sugar continues to make progress in decarbonising its operations.

“In the period we approved two projects: the replacement of a coal boiler at our Cantley plant and new evaporators at our Wissington plant to increase efficiency and significantly reduce energy usage.”

Breakthrough offers hope against sugar beet virus

• Combats virus yellows disease

• Safe and long-lasting protection

• Effective and pollinator-friendly

Ascientific breakthrough could provide UK farmers with environmentally friendly protection against a key sugar beet disease.

Researchers at the Norwich-based John Innes Centre have developed a non-chemical molecular approach to protect crops against virus yellows –a disease which can reduce sugar beet yields by as much as 50%.

Research leader Dr Yiliang Ding says her team has successfully used naturally occurring ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules to design anti-

viral products which target and degrade virus yellows inside sugar beet plants.

The discovery is a boost for UK growers who have struggled to control virus yellows since the routine use of neonicotinoid seed treatments was banned in 2018 over concern about their impact on pollinators.

Beneficial insects

Because the RNA technique specifically targets the virus, Dr Ding says it could protect sugar beet in a way which is safe and long-lasting – with no det-

rimental effect on bees or other beneficial insects.

Agronomists and growers believe the discovery could help to secure a sustainable future for the crop – one which is good for farm businesses and for the environment, as well as for the wider economy.

Virus yellows is a complex of three viruses transmitted by aphids. Once it takes hold, the virus reduces the photosynthetic capacity of sugar beet leaves, reducing the crop’s yield and sugar content.

Sugar beet yields have fallen since the neonicotinoid ban.

A virus yellows epidemic in 2020, for example, saw yields plummet by 25% compared with the five-year average, costing the industry more than £65m, according to Defra figures.

Emergency use

Although the government has authorised the emergency use of neonicotinoids under strict conditions when the virus yellows risk is deemed high, en-

vironmental campaigners continue to warn against their use.

Instead, growers have been trialling alternative methods of combating the disease – with varying degrees of success. Cover crops, for example, have helped repel aphid populations but hampered growth of young beet plants.

The discovery is a boost for growers “

The latest findings have received international recognition.

Earlier this year, Dr Ding became the first UK plant scientist to receive a Blavatnik Award, recognising her work in the life sciences and the potential of RNA technology to improve plant health and yields.

Dr Ding said: “It’s wonderful that the global community has recognised the importance of plant science in trying to solve the critical challenges of feeding the world, improving crop yields, and combating plant health threats.”

Virus Yellows can reduce sugar beet yields by as much as 50%.

How to shield your business from lower harvest profits

Revised forecast for net margins

The likelihood of lower profits this harvest will emphasise the need to shield arable businesses against high levels of risk and volatility.

A typical arable farm will generate just £80/ha in net margin – equivalent to profit before rent and finance – for combinable crops from harvest 2024, according to revised estimates by Strutt & Parker.

This is 60% lower than in 2023, which itself was a year in which net margins dropped significantly on the previous couple of years because of high input costs, says head of farming Jonathan Armitage.

“Even when applying this ‘best case’ scenario, our analysis points to worryingly low net margins for an average-performing farm for harvest 2024, considering the level of risk involved,” he explains.

with growers also entering more land into schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

Six months of wet weather, changes in commodity prices and reduced basic payments are set to culminate in lower combinable crop yields and tighter cereal margins this summer, says Mr Armitage.

Although variable costs have fallen considerably this year, mainly due to lower fertiliser prices, income from crop sales is forecast to be down on 2023 levels, due to expected lower yields, he warns.

Farm finances

This means growers should assess and address the full range of risks faced by their businesses as part of a strategy to

“The impact of the weather has been felt everywhere, but some areas are clearly worse affected than others and different soil types will also have an impact, so in that sense farm profitability is somewhat of a postcode lottery.

David Calvert / Shutterstock.com

Growers should assess risks to their businesses, says Jonathan Armitage (below)

Management implications

“The estimates highlight the importance of applying the behaviours and attention to detail needed to get into the top 25% of performers,” says Mr Armitage.

“Our estimated net margin for a higher-performing combinable crops business is much higher at £271/ha –based on the assumption that they will achieve higher yields and with lower fixed costs than the average business.

“However, this figure is still significantly lower than our 2021 baseline when the net margin was £622/ha.”

Assuming that crop rotations and

“Research consistently points to the top-performing businesses being led by, and employing, people who have a mindset which is open to change, an attention to detail, a focus on marginal gains and who are constantly looking for new opportunities.

“This message is more important than ever in this business environment. So, too, is actively managing risk which is a way for growers to put themselves in the driving seats of their businesses and protect themselves from the worst effects of extreme volatility.”

Harvest preview

Strategies for de-risking your farm business

Agri-environment schemes

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can be valuable in terms of implementing a more active risk management strategy. The SFI allows growers to take out the worst-performing areas, or lowest margin crops within a rotation, and replace them with a fixed return with almost zero risk. The return may not be as high as that produced by a really good crop, but it does avoid the risk of costly losses.

Taking this approach should also mean that growers can focus their efforts on the more profitable crops in the rotation, managing them in a more timely fashion to make them even more profitable.

Financial management:

Working capital required by farming businesses has risen significantly over the past three years and the costs of machinery and equipment have also risen, so securing favourable terms for funding is a priority. Shopping around for the best deal and getting the right financial structures in place is becoming an increasingly complex process with businesses often needing specialist advice to guide them through the process.

Good farm business consultants often have access to financial brokers with relationships with every major lender in the rural and agricultural sector, who can unlock competitive deals.

Business structures

Higher-performing businesses have lower overhead costs per hectare, which is largely down to lower machinery costs, although their labour, property and administration costs also tend to be lower because resources are being deployed more efficiently If businesses are reducing their cropped area, they will need to look for ways to reduce their fixed costs with possible solutions including machinery sharing and greater use of contractors or alternative business structures such as a joint venture or contract farming agreement.

Crop marketing

Other strategies for reducing risk might include taking a different approach to crop marketing to reflect the greater production risks growers are now facing. Spotting opportunities to sell into special markets which deliver a premium is another possibility.

Staff management

Having a staff member unavailable for a long period because of illness or injury can also be incredibly difficult, so some farming businesses are now offering private healthcare as part of their financial package.

‘Boot camp’ offers on-farm pest control training

Farmers and grain store managers are being invited to attend a training event to improve their pest control strategies.

Co-hosted by pest control supplier Killgerm and BASF, the one-day event in North Yorkshire costs £60+VAT. It will include live demonstrations, presentations, group discussions and practical sessions from industry experts.

The training day will run from 8.30am to 4pm on Thursday, 20 June at Top House Farm, Rawcliffe Bridge. Attendees with appropriate stewardship certificates will receive a 3kg tub of Selontra and a 3kg tub of Monitoring Paste. Delegates will also receive a complementary breakfast and fish and chips for lunch.

Attendees can expect to cover topics such as trap-

ping and baiting techniques, wildlife management, proofing and monitoring methods, as well as advice writing environmental risk assessments. BASF country business manager Laurence Barnard says there will also be an in-depth review of the Red Tractor specification, along with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with representatives from Assured Food Standards.

A similar on-farm training day announced earlier in the year sold out almost instantly, says Mr Barnard. Places are limited and food will be provided – including fresh fish and chips for lunch.

“The agenda is packed with interesting topics to help broaden farmers’ knowledge on rural pest control, as

01502 725862

demonstrations are included in the programme

Left: Laurence Barnard – baiting and trapping techniques

tor framework and how this impacts rodent control on farms.

“The rural setting means we’ll be able to give guests real examples of problems that the farm might have experienced, as well as provide practical demonstrations showing how to combat these issues.

For details and to book your place, visit www.bit.ly/farmrodents

Trial to see if biostimulant can boost grain protein

Crop nutrient specialists UPL report good interest in wheat growers keen to trial an alternative method for increasing grain protein.

The company has given away 20ha of its biostimulant Ary-Amin to 50 farmers this spring – a popular try-before-you-buy offer with growers keen to take advantage of milling wheat premiums of more than £50/ tonne offered for harvest 2024.

Low soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) levels following the excess winter rainfall have exacerbated the annual challenge of achieving 13% grain protein, says UPL head of marketing Gemma Nokes.

Milling premiums

“This season, whether a grower achieves

23% organic carbon. It is sold as a natural growth stimulant for boosting green area index and chlorophyll formation.

Compatible with all of the major T3 fungicide options, the biostimulant is produced for cereal crops and oilseed rape – and is is specifically formulated for use from stem elongation to grain fill.

“By providing the crop with readybuilt amino acids, the plant can better use

Milling premiums this year could be worth £500/ha, says UPL

its resources, improve energy usage, build protein more quickly, and overcome stress.” It also helps increase carbohydrate synthesis and improves nitrogen use efficiency.

Growers in the trial receive grain protein analysis to measure the impact of the biostimulant on protein levels.

Mark Weatherhead Ltd

Telephone: 01954 210 355

Mobile: 07885 202 005

Hardwick, Cambs CB23 7QL

Keep safe on the road this harvest

• Motorists feel uneasy over-taking

• Spike forecast in vehicle accidents

• Look out for other rural road users

Farmers and seasonal workers are being reminded to take care this harvest when grain carting and moving machinery on the road.

Collisions between farm vehicles and other motorists are 61% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, according to the latest figures from NFU Mutual.

Some 25% of motorists people in the UK feel uncomfortable navigating agricultural vehicles on rural roads, says the rural insurer. To avoid unnecessary accidents, all road users should be patient and look out for hazards, it adds.

With the unseasonably wet weather continuing throughout March and April, NFU Mutual is concerned that a rush to complete tasks could lead to an increase in incidents involving tractors, trailers and other farm vehicles.

Holiday traffic

The next few months will see higher volumes of agricultural traffic than in autumn and winter – much of it wider than many people are used too. The summer months also coincide with a greater amount of holiday traffic.

The latest claims data from NFU Mutual shows that collisions between agricultural vehicles and third parties were 61% more likely to occur between the start of May and the end of September 2023 than in any other months.

On average, there were 447 of these accidents per month during silaging,hay-making and harvesting – a rise of 6% on the same period in 2022 – compared to 276 per month between October and April.

NFU Mutual rural road safety specialist Sara Western says: “With silaging under way in many parts of the UK, we’re beginning to see more tractors, trailers and large agricultural machinery such as combine harvesters on our rural roads.

Wide and slow

“Unfortunately, our claims data shows that, year after year, accidents involving these agricultural vehicles and third parties are significantly more likely during the harvesting season.

“Agricultural machinery is larger, wider and slower than other vehicles, which can tempt road users to overtake, but it’s vital to overtake only when it’s safe – when you can see a clear road ahead, there are no field openings, and you have space to pass.

road users should be patient

“Where it isn’t possible to allow traffic to pass, motorists and cyclists should remember they are likely driving only a few miles or to the next field opening, so be patient, give

agricultural vehicles room to turn and don’t drive too closely to them.”

There were over 1,000 rural road deaths in 2022, according to NFU Mutual’s most recent safety report, which analysed official statistics.

steeply in the summer months

Advice to farmers

Ensure all equipment is road worthy and pay particular care to trailers which may not have been used for months.

Check brakes and indicators and ensure your vehicle has reflectors and a beacon. Use the Tilly Checklist to inspect your trailer.

Be aware of vulnerable road users or hidden junctions, making contractors aware of these junctions and commonly-used walking, cycling and riding routes.

Familiarise yourself and your contractors with the speed limits for your vehicles.

If your agricultural vehicles leave mud in the road, remember to clean it up.

When turning, indicate in plenty of time and check more than once for road users on your inside.

Be respectful to fellow road users, but only allow them to pass when it is safe to pull over.

Groundswell 2024

Groundswell marks ninth anniversary

Soil at heart of two-day event

Ajam-packed programme of exhibitors, demonstrations and talks promises to greet visitors to this year’s Groundswell event.

Entering its ninth year, the Groundswell festival provides a forum for farmers and others interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of conservation agriculture – including no-till, cover crops and improving soil health.

The two-day event featuring talks, forums and discussions from leading international soil health experts, experienced arable and livestock farmers, agricultural policy experts, direct-drill demonstrations and agritech innovators.

Aimed at all types of farmers, Groundswell was founded by the Cherry family on their mixed farm in Hertfordshire. Brothers John and Paul Cherry have farmed for more than 30 years, converting to a no-till

The Groundswell event is set to be another major crowd-puller

system in 2010.

“We started Groundswell out of a sense of frustration that no-one was putting on a summer show to which we might want to go,” says John.

A visit to the fabulous No-Till on the Plains Conference in Salina, Kansas, showed us what could be

Tickets on sale – with discounts

Groundswell tickets are on sale for £85 including VAT (single day) and £125 (both days) – with discounts available students and group bookings of 10 or more.

The two-day event takes place on 26-27 June at Lannock Manor Farm, near Hitchin, Hertfordshire. As well as field demonstrations and static exhibitions, the show includes speakers across nine different stages.

Similar to last year, alongside ‘first principle’ sessions for those at the start of their regenerative journey, the event includes a series of extended advanced sessions for those keen to dive deeper into the science and practical applications of regenerative farming.

For full details, visit groundswellag.com

done. Farmers there were hungry for information about the soil and the ecosystems that lived in them.

Radical ideas

“A lot of the speakers were describing some fairly radical farming ideas and techniques and their audiences were lapping it up. We thought that if the good people of Kansas were ready for this, we sure as hell ought to be ready in Europe.”

“

The event goes from strength to strength

Groundswell now welcomes more than 5,500 visitors annually. This reflects increasing interest in regenerative agriculture – and the benefits of such systems in terms of carbon sequestration and flood prevention.

“Despite these other interest groups, Groundswell remains a show ‘for farmers, by farmers’; we aim to explore ways of working with nature to grow food in a profitable way,” says Paul.

“As the new saying goes: resilience is fertile – and profitability is one of the key factors that makes your operation resilient. It’s all very well regenerating your soil, but if you are not making money while you do it, you won’t be doing it for long.”

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Slurry inoculant makes Groundswell debut

Aregenerative slurry inoculant will be exhibited for the first time at Groundswell by manufacturers Sylgen Animal Health.

Called SlurryForSoil, the inoculant has been specially formulated for soil and plant health, says Sylgen director Geoff Hooper. It reflects the company’s commitment to foster sustainable and profitable agricultural practices, he adds.

“Our product represents a paradigm shift in slurry management, offering farmers a powerful tool to enhance productivity while enhancing the soil biome, and by facilitating the reduction in fertiliser use, lowering carbon footprints.”

Mr Hooper says he chose to exhibit SlurryForSoil at Groundswell because the event serves as a forum for farmers, growers and other people interested in food, the environment and regenerative agriculture.

“It provides an unparalleled platform for industry stakeholders

to immerse themselves in the latest advancements and best practices within the realm of sustainable food production and environmental conservation,” he adds.

“When formulating the product, we were inspired by a core factor of the world’s most resilient ecosystems –biodiversity. It’s why SlurryForSoil™ contains 18 different soil-borne microbes,” explains Mr Hooper.

SlurryForSoil is fast gaining a reputation for its ease of use and wide-reaching benefits, claims Sylgen. “It also helps farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic fertiliser –another key facet of the regenerative mindset.”

Most recently Leprino Foods announced that it would fund its use across suppliers’ farms in GB –a move that could potentially save nearly 4,000t of emissions through the inoculants ability to reduce the need for synthetic fertiliser.

A bioactive fertiliser certified by and fungi are also proven to increase grass root growth and yields.”

Targeted cultivation is focus at Groundswell

Kuhn’s popular Striger 600R strip-till cultivator will be a main feature on its stand at Groundswell, highlighting how growers can reduce soil movement to improve structure, along with lowering operating costs.

The Striger works soil in precise narrow bands to match seed placement. This leaves the rest of the field undisturbed, which saves fuel and helps to improve soil structure across the field.

Kuhn arable product specialist Edd Fanshawe believes Groundswell is an increasingly important show for a growing market. Growers are interested in optimising their costs of production and improving soil health, he says.

Versatile machine

“More growers are looking to reduce soil movements through innovative cultivation techniques and models we are displaying highlight the versatility of the Kuhn range and how it can be adapted to different field techniques.”

The Striger features a series of row units that are independent from the frame, with a depth gauge wheel at the front followed by an opening disc to cut through trash. Debris cleaners

clear surface residues from the strip.

A leg then loosens the soil between depths of 70-300mm. Following deflector discs prevent soil from leaving the strip before rear press wheels reconsolidate the planting line to preserve moisture.

“During a recent maize trial, the Striger was compared to a conventional establishment system. Key outcomes included significantly

The Striger improves soil

early growth.

The Striger 600R will be joined by a Performer 4000 with SH 600 tank and seeding kit fitted. The SH 600 option was introduced last year and offers growers the ability to sow a cover crop in a one pass system.

The machine will be on stand F42 in the demonstration field at Groundswell. Mr Fanshawe says:

“Machine travel at harvest was

Livestock

Mineral level warning follows wet winter

Advice to test grass and soil

Poor mineral levels in grass following one of the wettest winters on record could result in livestock deficiencies and production losses, say experts.

Testing fresh grass will indicate how well minerals are being taken up by the crop, suggests Lisa Hambly, head of grassland and forage agronomy at Mole Valley Farmers. Soil tests should also be considered, she adds.

This could be a broad-spectrum test or an animal health soil test. “If you know your soil has an underlying issue of over or under supply, you can take action to prevent any problems.”

Slurry analysis

“Having studied a lot of slurry analyses, you can see a massive difference with what is coming through the diet. If something appears in the slurry but does not show up in the soil analysis, it is being fed in the diet.

“Oversupply can be just as important as undersupply. Minerals that can’t be stored will just come out of the back end. Phosphorous is a prime example of this, which becomes a pollutant you have paid for.”

Alison Bond, technical services manager for Nettex and Rumenco, says land flooded for any length of time during the winter could see its mineral content affected – with knock-on effects for grass quality and livestock.

FOCUS ON BEEF AND DAIRY

Compaction

These can interfere with the availability of other minerals and impact the availability of other major elements such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Iron levels can also increase where there is compaction.

“This can prevent other minerals from being available to the animal. Areas known for high levels of molybdenum could see exacerbated levels caused by the overwinter conditions. For cattle close to calving, those levels are extremely important.”

Signs of livestock mineral deficiency

Reduced performance

Poor fertility

Twitching and nervousness

White muscle disease

“Take action to prevent problems

Magnesium levels can also be diluted by fast-growing grass, says Dr Bond. “If that grass is also relatively low dry matter, so it’s moving through the rumen quite quickly, the animal won’t be able to take up all the available magnesium.

Physical signs

“Blood tests can demonstrate in the short term what is going on in that animal before any physical signs are picked up. They can help understand the availability of elements in grass.”

Mineral supplementation options include free access in blocks or buckets and inclusion in compound feeds or through individual boluses. Bespoke minerals can be formulated where a mineral audit has been conducted.

“What an animal needs today might be very different from what it needs in six months, depending on what you are trying to do with those animals. It’s about looking at supply versus what they actually need.”

Blowfly warning for region’s sheep farmers

Sheep farmers are being warned to act now and take measures against blow fly – with alerts being sent to farmers in the east of the region.

Elanco ruminant technical consultant Matthew Colston says farmers should be vigilant and consider a cost-effective preventative treatment to protect flock health and productivity before strike occurs.

Blowfly can cost as much as £184 per breeding ewe. But Mr Colston believes even this figure is an underestimate. “We recommend protecting your flock by applying an Insect

Growth Regulator (IGR) product,” he says.

Blowfly strike can happen quickly, with 94% of farmers reported to have been taken by surprise at the speed of an outbreak. Treatments are best applied early in the season and forecasts should be checked regularly.

Blowfly Watch alerts can help identify the optimum time to apply a preventive treat ment before cases occur, says Mr Colston. Farmers can also report cases of strike on the Elanco Blowfly Tracker to alert other farm ers to local cases.

For details, see www.blowflywatch.co.uk

Sheep farmers should treat early for blowfly

A close eye is needed on grazing mineral levels this season

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Focus on dry matter for silage success

• Limited spring grass growth

• Inoculant to help fermentation

• Wet soil risks contamination

Afocus on dry matter when ensiling grass this season could encourage good fermentation following the wet spring.

Much first cut grass is high in fibre and lignin and low in sugars, with increased thatch and wet ground conditions increasing the likelihood of contamination. All these factors will mean making quality silage will be a challenge this year.

“Grass has not had the best conditions to start the season, with many people unable to graze, top, roll or fertilise this spring,” says Lientjie Colahan, forage technical support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “A lack of sunshine has limited normal spring grass growth.”

Good fermentation

To help mitigate these problems, Mrs Colahan advises farmers to aim for the optimum dry matter – about 2833% DM – because this is central to achieving good fermentation.

“Using a mower with a conditioner, tedding and also monitoring dry matter closely can all help get the grass dry before putting it into the clamp.”

An inoculant should also be used to help promote good fermentation and preserve what quality you have been

Right: Lientjie Colahan: optimum dry matter aids good fermentation

Below: Much grass has had less than ideal conditions this season

grass treated with only bacteria, contained half the levels of lactic acid as the Magniva treated grass, because they could not access additional sugar to drive the lactic fermentation.

“The rapid lactic acid production encourages the pH to drop rapidly, promoting quicker fermentation and better nutrient retention,” she says.

The idea that wetter grasses will be stable during feed-out is no longer relevant because the UK climate has changed in the last 40 years – and we are experiencing warmer winters and gen-

treated silage reached only 26.7C.

“This extra 8C of heating in the control group is the equivalent of losing 28MJ of energy for every tonne of silage fresh weight that is unstable. This equates to 5.4kg of milk lost.”

By combining homo- and heterofermentative bacteria with a specific enzyme formulation, we are ensuring you get a rapid and efficient fermentation followed by a stable, palatable silage during feed-out.

“Further research compared Magniva treated silage with the control and showed that the digestibility of the treated silage was 19% higher than the control silage after eight hours, again showing that cows can get more from the treated silage.”

• Good for farm and environment

• Much improved forage availability

• Better in-season grass recovery

Aregenerative approach to beef grazing cattle is helping a Shropshire farmer take his family business one step close to selfsufficiency.

Since returning home 15 years ago to farm with his parents, Angus Hawkins has been keen to make use the family’s grassland to cut costs and boost the long-term viability of their livestock enterprise near Newport.

Supported by fast-food chain McDonald’s and sustainability experts FAI Farms, Mr Hawkins says regenerative grazing is yielding positive results for beef profitability – and for the environment too.

Switching to a regenerative system involved implementing an adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing setup. This focuses on regenerating land to help protect pastures, improve recovery rates and increase plant biomass.

The switch has required a shift in mindset and considerable infrastructure changes. But Mr Hawkins says grass is now available all year-round for his livestock – and he is one step closer to total self-sufficiency for the 200ha mixed farm.

Family business

How new grazing system boosts beef profitability

of peatland soils present a particular challenge. “We’ve got a lot of bottom ground that floods and normally have a three-month window to graze a lot of grass,” says Mr Hawkins.

“With climate change bringing more extreme seasons, we wanted to make sure we were protecting ourselves against changing weather patterns. “Keeping a tall sward on the peatland helps maintain moisture, reduce airflow and keeps the peat cooler.”

leys, as well as growing fodder beet for forage. We split fields into paddocks, of roughly one hectare each, grazing the cattle in bigger groups and moving them more regularly.”

This approach to grazing massively benefitted productivity. “We can now grow the cattle on grass all summer then outwinter them on fodder beet. The following spring, the aim is to be finishing just on grass.”

Once running a suckler herd alongside store cattle, Mr Hawkins says the family initially trialled a more intensive approach. But they found that fluctuating input prices cast too much uncertainty over profit margins.

“Weighing up the financial aspects and issues with bovine tuberculosis, we decided to get rid of our suckler cows, in favour of buying in dairycross calves as weanlings to finish,” explains Mr Hawkins.

Another strategy was to rethink the grazing strategy to expand beef numbers and keep a lid on input costs. “The main aim was to make sure we’ve got grass all year round, to enable us to feed our livestock in a costeffective way.”

The farm’s 60ha

The more Mr Hawkins learned about regenerative grazing systems that prioritise soil health, the more it appealed as a ‘win-win’ solution.

“We only have one shed to house cattle in, and we had seen some issues with calf pneumonia, so adapting the grazing system offered us the opportunity to start outwintering too and maintain stock numbers all year-

To make the most of his grass, Mr Hawkins and sought advice from grazing consultant Marc Jones, who runs a beef and sheep herd in midWales and is similarly transitioning to an AMP system with guidance from FAI.

“This opened the door to rotational grazing with herbal

“The increase in forage volumes produced by the herbal leys has been awesome. We’ve found we have grass in front of the cattle all the time, helping to maintain growth rates but minimising day-to-day costs at the same time.

Transition

Before the AMP transition, Mr Hawkins let cattle graze down to the ground before moving them to a new paddock. He now moves them sooner and leaves more grass behind after grazing to encourage sward recovery.

Although AMP grazing is contextspecific and looks slightly different on every farm, the rule of thumb at FAI is to graze around 25% of available forage in spring, increasing to 50% during summer, and 50-75% in autumn.

Mr Hawkins explains how this currently works on his farm. “We’re aiming to start grazing each paddock when the leys are knee high, then move one

Grass is now available all year-round, says Angus Hawkins (below)

the cattle once it’s grazed down to around ankle length.

“We allow a minimum of 30 days respite between each graze to ensure the land has enough time to rest and regenerate. Looking after soil structure is key.”

The whole process has taken more than five years – including learning about soil science and the ecological principles behind AMP grazing. But Mr Hawkins says the biggest lessons have come from putting theory to practice.

Sharing advice

“We were trying a totally new grazing system [but] I also wanted to revert some arable land to herbal leys to accommodate more cattle, so the main challenge was getting the fencing infrastructure set up right.”

Grants from Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Severn Trent’s Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS) helped with the financial investment. Funding was also provided for additional water troughs.

“We’re in a high priority cryptosporidium catchment so had funding support for post and wire

Farming against the urban fringe of Telford has also presented challenges, with the occasional theft of electric fencing energisers – and having to navigate public footpaths established across the farm while making grazing changes.

Mr Hawkins says it has been invaluable to share his experience

It’s made farming more enjoyable, says Angus Hawkins

of overcoming these hurdles with other beef producers who are also transitioning to an AMP system with

The outcomes have been pleasing, he adds. “It’s a great forum for asking questions and getting other farmers’ perspectives on how to make changes successful. It prevents us making the

“Managing grazing more will help lower our worm burden too – with the AMP system, we’re not grazing the cattle right down to the soil so they are further away from the worms. Ideally, we want to stop using bought-

The benefits are not just financial. Mr Hawkins says AMP grazing has also improved drought resilience, as well as enhancing soil health and biodiversity. “It definitely makes farming more enjoyable,” he says.

“I’ve noticed a boost in farmland wildlife, including more owls and dung beetles. It could be that trying to work with nature more closely to encourage grass growth has opened my eyes to what’s around.”

For more details about the grazing system, visit www.faifarms.com.

Professional services

Policeman takes up fight against livestock theft

• First UK-wide livestock theft officer

• Intelligence gathering and sharing

• Livestock theft cost £2.7m in 2022

The UK’s first national livestock theft police officer has launched a new initiative to get on top of the crime.

Funding provided by UK rural insurer NFU Mutual has enabled the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to recruit Martin Beck, who has 30 years of policing experience in the field, as its first UK-wide livestock theft prevention officer.

Mr Beck’s role involves gathering livestock theft-related intelligence though a new initiative code named Operation Foldyard. It will share that

The appointment comes as the toll from livestock theft reached an estimated £2.7 million in 2022, according to the latest figures from NFU Mutual – an 8.7% increase from the previous year.

Prosecutions

Mr Beck said: “I will be working to ensure information is shared between the police forces and their key partners. As the intelligence picture grows, I expect to see individuals involved in livestock theft targeted and disrupted.

Livestock theft measures

• Ensure stock are clearly marked

• If possible, graze away from roads

• Check stock regularly if you can

• Consider high-tech marking system

• Join a Farm or Rural Watch scheme

• Ask neighbours to report sightings

• Call police – don’t tackle criminals

Information about livestock theft can be reported confidentially via www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111

The people involved are criminals “

experience. Mr Beck will work with police forces to help them understand the crime and how to investigate it so more prosecutions can be brought.”

While livestock theft is distressing to farmers and the animals involved, it is also a cause of food crime – and the quality and safety of stolen meat products cannot be guaranteed.

Horrific suffering

“Livestock theft needs to be exposed for the harm it is causing, and the people involved are criminals,” said Mr Beck. “We are regularly seeing both small and large numbers of thefts across the country.”

Matthew Screech, NFU Mutual’s lead on livestock claims, said: “Livestock theft causes horrific suffering to animals which are often treated badly by thieves and sometimes even slaughtered out in the fields.

“Martin’s experience as a rural police officer in Devon and Cornwall makes him ideally qualified to take up the role of the UK’s first national livestock theft prevention officer and we are delighted to be providing funding for his new role.”

Organised crime

“Livestock theft is no longer about single animals being stolen – it’s now a highly organised crime often involving 50 or more sheep being taken in one raid. It can have a devastating effect on farming businesses.

“As the main insurer of the UK’s farmers, we support a range of initiatives set up to tackle the growing menace of rural crime because we know it’s an issue which deeply concerns farmers and country people.”

Martin Beck is

Keeping ramblers on the right track

Despite being told otherwise, people still walk where they want in the countryside, says Clodhopper

About 30 years ago, I bought an 80ha (200-acre) block of land that nobody else was interested in purchasing.

It was a gamble. Like today, the early 1990s were a time of change. The 1992 MacSharry reform of the Common Agricultural Policy meant an uncertain future for farming. Few people could see a clear way forward for agriculture.

In the end, the purchase turned out welldespite several anxious moments, including a 15% interest rate when the UK tumbled out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday.

Apart from a few dodgy characters flytipping, my landowning experience has been a good one. But there was a sting in the tail. Despite carefully checking for legal rights of way on purchase, one field is still regularly used as a short cut by the public.

Trespass

I recently encountered two people who regularly walk across the field. I reminded them for the umpteenth time it was private land. The usual response in cases like this

On this occasion, one of the walkers admitted it felt wrong to trespass – but he told me trespass was a civil rather than a criminal offence and therefore could not be prosecuted.

Other attempts to restrict access have had little effect. Some near neighbours have erected signs and in one case a fence only for the terrible two to climb and smash their way through.

I am told that England will eventually follow Scotland and open up the countryside to all and sundry. I am pretty certain this does not include the right to trample crops and let dogs off leads – but try enforcing that.

Ownership

The unofficial right to roam began during lockdown in 2020. Frustrated that only 8% of all land is publicly accessible, the first recent mass trespass followed in 2022.

Restricting access has little effect “

In fact, about half of all land is owned by just one percent of the population. But my argument centres around the fact that I took all the risks to purchase my 80ha and it is wrong that all and sundry can walk across it without my permission.

What sticks in my throat is that farmers are accused of destroying the local bird population and yet the very route used by walkers is an old stewardship margin which has been left to encourage wildlife and provide food for barn owls.

Of course, some campaigners claim that letting the public roam willy-nilly across the countryside makes people feel more connected to their surroundings – so they take more care and notice if things are wrong.

Exercise

Other groups claim exercise in the countryside is good for physical and mental wellbeing. They argue that opening up the countryside for public exercise would alleviate pressure on the NHS and the taxpayer.

That may or may not be the case. In any case, we need to be respectful of the environment and look after the land. Hence the Countryside Code, which reminds us all of our rights and duties when out and about. It’s clear that disagreements between landowners and ramblers will continue for decades to come. Most ramblers respect rights of way. But a small percentage do not. They disregard ‘keep out’ signs no matter how friendly the message is phrased.

At the end of the day, it is all rather exhausting. I have lost count of the time spent challenging everyone walking across my field. And even when I don’t see them, I know they’ve been there by the amount of rubbish they leave behind.

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