Midland Farmer - May 2022 by Countrywide Publications

May 2022

Midland

Farmer Serving the farming industry across the Midlands

Cereals 2022: Flagship arable event makes welcome return this summer

‘Champion’ wheat: Strong performance and good quality

News Ag-inflation fuels farm input costs

Precision Farming Robot has ‘simplicity on its side’

Livestock Dog owners slammed over sheep attacks

Arable GM barley could use less fertiliser

Farm Energy Self-sufficiency tops farm carbon agenda

Clodhopper Why we must look back to go forward

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Midland Farmer

OPINION Johann Tasker

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

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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. If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, please email your name, address and postcode as it appears on the wrapper to adam.gunton@micropress.co.uk

Better returns needed to combat ag-inflation

arm input costs are rising much faster than food prices – piling pressure on farm incomes, according to the latest ag-inflation figures. Published by the AF Group, which measures input costs across nine different categories, the ag-inflation figures show that input costs have risen by almost 24% in the past six months. But the food retail price index has risen only 5.6% in the same time. Over the past 18 months, ag-inflation has now soared by 46%. The situation is clearly unsustainable. Why? Because food prices are rising too slowly to offset massive increases in production costs. It means somebody will have to take a big hit – and at the moment it looks like it will be farmers. How so, some might ask? After all, farm commodity prices have surged. That is true in some cases – with oilseed rape going past £800/t and wheat selling for more than £300/t. But huge cost increases are overshadowing even these headline grabbers.

Contents

Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd T: 01502 725800

News . ................................................................... 4 Arable . ................................................................. 8 Cereals 2022......................................................21 Profile: Woodhall Growers..........................31

Vol 11 • No 4 • May 2022

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Precision farming & technology............. 35 Farm energy.................................................... 39 Livestock.......................................................... 43 Clodhopper....................................................... 47

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Cashflow is king in any business – and it is now taking almost 50% more cash to run a farm business than it was 18 months ago. Few farmers have access to that sort of money – forcing producers to do things differently. More farmers are joining buying groups – seeking strength in numbers and bargaining power to get the best deal possible on inputs. Still more are changing the way they farm – opting for lower-input lower-output business models to maintain margins. Both are good options. But the inescapable fact is that neither will fully cushion any farm business from the impact of rampant inflation – prompting stark warnings that some farmers could be driven out of business. It's up to retailers and processors to decide how much they charge consumers for food. But one thing is clear, farmers need a bigger return at the farmgate if they are to continue feeding the nation by growing crops and rearing livestock. Johann Tasker Editor

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MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 3

News Farm input costs to climb higher as inflation soars Some growers are paying more for farm inputs while receiving less for farm outputs. Potato prices, for example, fell by 2.3% during the same six months saw potato input costs rise by 26.72% – a combined impact of 29.02% on enterprise margins. All sectors are suffering – but some more than others. Dairy farm input costs rose 21.32% during the six months but the increased value from milk retail of 19% is closing the gap. Beef and lamb producers costs climbed by 21.49% – but retail mince and lamb prices rose by only 10.7%.

• No farm sector left unscathed • Cereals among worst affected • Fuel, fertiliser and feed all up

apidly rising ag-inflation has see farm input costs increase almost 25% in just six months, according to the latest industry estimates. The 23.86% increase in the six months to the end of March 2022 follows a rise of almost 22% in the year to September 2021. It means costs have risen 46% in the past 18 months, says the latest interim AgInflation Index published by the farmer-owned AF Group. All farming enterprises measured took a hit with four out of nine categories of inputs seeing double digit aginflation. The greatest cost increases were animal feed (27%), fuel (29.4%) and fertiliser (107.7%).

More for less The AF Group describes the index as a useful tool for farmers to review production costs. The biggest cost increase was 28.05% for cereals and oilseed pro-

duction. The smallests increase was 18.97% for sugar beet. The cost increases dwarf the 5.6% increase in the total food Retail Price Index over the same six months period. This suggests retail food prices are rising too slowly to offset the increased costs faced by farmers.

Fertiliser prices have more than doubled in the past six months

Difficult situation Farm input buyers describe the situation as difficult. Farm business consultants Andersons said high ag-inflation was likely to persist – putting increasing pressure on working capital and farm credit facilities. Annual input costs were already rising at about 10% before Russia invaded Ukraine, says Andersons. It estimates that ag-inflation now stands at 30% for the past year as a whole, with much of the increase coming in the past two months. But there are some glimmers of hope, suggested AF head of crop inputs Matt Kealey. He said: “Turbulence in the fertiliser markets has been challenging but AF members have secured product despite early concerns regarding availability.”

‘Consequences will be felt by all of us’ Record-breaking prices for wheat and oilseed rape may be welcomed by some growers. But it is important to consider both sides of the equation – and input costs are rising much more rapidly for most farmers than the value of their farm output. “The evidence in our latest AgInflation Index illustrates the crisis many farmers are facing – and the consequences will be felt by all of us in society,” says AF Group chief executive David Horton-Fawkes. The causes are deeply rooted, he adds. “They go beyond the Russia-Ukraine war and continued lockdowns in China. Farmers are inherently resourceful, but cash

4 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

flow now poses an existential threat to many businesses because some farmers simply won’t be able to afford to grow crops or raise livestock next year.” Beyond the immediate crisis, the combination of war and post-pandemic disruption highlights the imperative to secure more resilient supplies of essential farm inputs and energy and the need for more collaborative relationships with supermarkets and processors. “Sadly, the most acute pain will be felt by those who can least afford to bear it, but these numbers reveal that the whole supply chain web needs to reset to secure affordable food in the UK and beyond.”

Some farms could be forced out of business, says David HortonFawkes

Off we go, our first big drainage job of the year. After four frustrating years, a Kenilworth farmer has managed to secure funding from HS2 to carry out important severance drainage works between his land and their site.

We started putting in a 160mm land drain around the perimeter of the HS2 site. In some areas we went to surface level with the gravel, similar to a French drain. This is needed as the run off from their site and haul road is so severe it floods the farm land. Previous to the advent of HS2 the 120 plus acres was very productive and drained well.

With no

thought of drainage or water management from HS2 the area has suffered significant flooding for the last four years.

The land used to produce good quality milling wheat and with things as they are in the world at the moment, we are in need of as much home grown wheat as we can possibly produce.

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News

Popular Arable Event returns following Covid absence

Technology. Those attending the event will also be able to collect points towards BASIS and NroSO qualifications.

Trial plots Trial plots, grown by Bradford Farming LLP in partnership with Syngenta, will include winter and spring cereals and cover crops with regular tours on the day from Wynnstay specialists. There will be demonstrations of the latest working farm machinery and a moisture meter clinic run by Sinar

Wellbeing This year’s special focus is on wellbeing in the farming community, with talks from mental health campaigners. This will include a session with Farming Community Network chief executive Jude McCann, speaking about securing farmers’ resilience in a changing world. Event manager Kelly Dolphin said: “The pressures of working in agriculture are clearly documented and will have been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and issues of isolation caused by lockdown. Protecting the emotional wellbeing of people in farming is a key priority, which is why we are bringing this to the fore this year. Our speakers will talk about identifying the triggers and warning signs that someone needs help and discussing available support. “These sessions, combined with our

ore than 1,500 farmers and industry specialists are expected to descend on a farm on the Staffordshire border when one of the Midland’s leading farming events returns this summer. The Arable Event, which is organised by Wynnstay and GrainLink, will take place on June 15th at Woodlands Farm, part of the Bradford Estates in Weston Under Lizard. Free to attend, the event sees visitors sharing knowledge and expertise, viewing extensive trial plantings while also getting hands-on experience of the latest farm machinery. Technical seminars will also be run with guest speakers.

6 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

“

Holistic day of actvities for arable specialists

Visitors will be able to tour Arable Event trial plots

regular popular features such as the trial plots, trade stands and machinery demonstrations will provide a holistic day of activities for arable specialists.”

Regenerative Woodlands Farm is part of Bradford Estates and is operated by Bradford Farming LLP, which is establishing the largest regenerative farm in the West Midlands and, a centre of farming excellence. Farm manager Oliver Scott said: “We are delighted to welcome the Arable Event back to our site at Woodlands Farm where it is our mission to help advance the understanding of sustainable farming systems and practices. “We are growing cereals on land that has mainly light sandy soils with little body and are showcasing seed trial plots for winter and spring crops and cover crops with Syngenta. We all look forward to sharing the results.” For details, visit www.thearableevent.co.uk.

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MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 7

Arable GM barley could help to reduce fertiliser usage • Trial crop was planted this spring • Will absorb nitrogen from the soil • Could be extended to other crops

ambridge scientists are growing a trial crop of GM barley to see if soil fungi can improve cereal production by using less fertiliser without reducing yields. The trial is being conducted by the Crop Science Centre, which is an alliance between Cambridge University and crop research organisation NIAB. The crop was planted this spring after receiving the go-ahead from Defra's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. It will evaluate whether improving crop interactions with naturally occurring soil fungi can boost the way plants absorb water, soil nitrogen and phosphorous. If successful, the trial could pave the way for crops to be grown using less synthetic fertiliser. While the use of synthetic fertilisers increases agricultural productivity, excessive applications can reduce

biodiversity and generate greenhouse gas emissions, says crop science professor Giles Oldroyd (pictured below), who is leading the work.

'Significant benefits' “Working with natural and beneficial microbial associations in plants has the potential to replace or greatly reduce the need for inorganic fertilisers, with significant benefits for improving soil health while contributing to more sustainable and equitable approaches to food production. “There is an urgent need for ecologically sound approaches to food production that can satisfy the demands of a growing global population while respecting limits on natural resources,” said Prof Oldroyd. “We believe biotechnology can be a valuable tool for expanding the options available to farmers around the world.” The trial will evaluate a barley variety that has been genetically modified to boost expression levels of the NSP2 gene. This gene is naturally present in barley and boosting its expression enhances the crop’s existing capacity to engage with mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, the trial will test varieties of barley that have been gene edited to suppress their interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This will allow scientists to better quantify how the microbes support plant development by assessing the full spectrum of interactions. Nutritional content They will measure yield and grain nutritional content in varieties with an enhanced capacity to engage the fungi and those in which it has been suppressed – while comparing both with a typical barley plant.

8 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

The performance of the GM barley will be compared to conventional crop

“

Biotechnology can be a valuable tool for farmers

Prof Oldroyd said: “Barley has properties that make it an ideal crop for studying these interactions. “The ultimate goal is to understand whether this same approach can be used to enhance the capacity of other food crops to interact with soil fungi in ways that boost productivity without synthetic fertilisers.” The trial will assess production under high and low phosphate conditions. It will also investigate additional potential benefits of the relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, such as protecting crops from pests and disease, said Prof Oldroyd. The trial will follow the regulations that govern the planting of GM crops in the UK. Regular inspections during the trial will be carried out out by the Genetic Modification Inspectorate, which is part of the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency.

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Arable

‘Hidden threat’ posed by disease to oilseed rape

amage caused by stem-based diseases in oilseed rape must not be ignored, warn UK plant breeders. As the climate becomes warmer and wetter, rape is at higher risk of light leaf spot, phoma and verticillium stem stripe. All three diseases can seriously reduce yields and oil quality – causing hefty losses at a time when rape is worth more about £800/t. “It’s crucial to keep the plant as healthy as possible if it has any chance of reaching its full yield potential – and this includes the health of the stem,” says Liam Wilkinson, arable technical officer for Limagrain UK.

Harder to control “A flat crop is of no use to anyone. Over the last few years there has been much ds.qxp_Layout 1 canopy 16/05/2019 09:06 Page 16 focus on health in oilseed rape, but stem health is an area that is often overlooked and can have a serious impact on gross output.” While phoma and Verticillium are

generally well recognised stem-based diseases, Mr Wilkinson considers light leaf spot to be the biggest disease threat – warning that it is increasingly harder to control. “In recent years, phoma has become less of a problem with the use of resistant varieties,” he explains. “Verticillium stem stripe is a more sporadic disease, more closely linked to region, weather and crop factors. “Light leaf spot used to be considered to be a disease of the north, but this is no longer the case. Mutations and a reduction in azole efficacy, alongside milder winter weather, have resulted in it spreading across the UK, with yield losses of up to 1 t/ha.” Often only considered to be a disease of the canopy, light leaf spot infection can spread to the stem resulting in serious issues from stem distortion, stunting, poor pod formation and oil quality issues. These are often overlooked, says Mr Wilkinson. Cylindrosporium is the stem-based

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stage of light leaf spot, a disease caused by the pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae. LLS is a polycyclic disease, producing more than one infection cycle per season, and Cylindrosporium concentricum is its asexual stage. “Varieties offer good light leaf disease resistance ratings on the RL, but it’s important to recognise that in the UK, light leaf spot on the stem is not something that is scored for in the AHDB RL, it’s only the leaves that are scored for disease.”

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Arable

High-yielding Typhoon wheat available for autumn drilling

ewly recommended high-yielding Group 4 hard wheat LG Typhoon will be available in time for autumn drilling. A consistent and resilient variety with a solid all-round disease package and pest resistance, the new addition to the 2022-2023 AHDB Recommended List is the package growers have been asking for, says seed breeder Limagrain. “LG Typhoon delivers an exceptional consistency of performance across very different seasons and regions of the UK, yielding 102% – a great attribute to have in any variety,” says Limagrain UK’s arable technical manager Ron Granger. While yield is important, Mr Granger acknowledges that growers fundamentally like to grow robust varieties that deliver time and again – whatever the situation. “This is exactly what LG Typhoon does.”

Consistent performer He attributes LG Typhoon’s consistency of performance across locations, seasons and rotations, mostly down to the variety’s excellent allround foliar disease resistance and agronomic characteristics. “It has a very good untreated yield (89%); an important attribute even in the hard feed sector, that was traditionally a high input, high output scenario, and is a valuable tool regarding fungicide programmes and timings,” he says.

"LG Typhoon’s resistance rating of 7.2 (3 year data set) for Septoria, comes from a combination of genetic sources different to those in the majority of current RL varieties, and is a significant factor in protecting this resistance rating going forward.”

Yellow rust resistance “It has an excellent yellow rust resistance of 9, combined with YR seedling resistance – a valuable insurance around the earlier spray windows of T0 & T1, where yellow rust can be the main focus in regional high pressure situations.” But Mr Granger is keen to point out that all crops should be closely monitored and treated appropriately as both yellow rust and septoria strains are continuously evolving – a lesson learnt in the 2021 season. Typhoon offers the bonus of Orange Wheat Blossom Midge (OWBM) r e sist-

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More second wheat is expected to be grown this year Typhoon is the whole package, says Ron Granger (left)

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It has a very good untreated yield

ance, in addition to a (6) for eyespot and fusarium. As a second wheat, it yields 104% of control, putting it among the most popular varieties in this rotational position. LG Typhoon also offers valuable onfarm agronomics. Its stiff straw and good lodging resistance is in line with other feed wheats, such as Gleam. With a specific weight of 76.3 kg/hl, it is also similar to Gleam.

Later maturing It can be drilled from mid-September to mid-February but performs particularly well when sown early, yielding 105% over controls. This is more than hard wheats Graham and Gleam in this sowing period, says Mr Granger. Typhoon is slightly later to mature (+2), similar to Costello, but Mr Granger does not see this as an issue. “As we learnt with our later variety Revelation (+3), it is important to have a range of maturities across the farm to spread harvest risk."

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Arable

New wheat traits build on outstanding UK varieties • High efficiency ‘breakthrough’ wheats • Builds on RL-topping DSV Champion • Big emphasis on disease resistance

etter nitrogen efficiency, greater drought tolerance and enhanced nutritional properties are all on the radar for new wheat varieties. Although a relative new entrant to the world of wheat breeding, DSV’s UK-based programme has already achieved major success with several breakthrough varieties in recent years. DSV Champion is the highest yielding wheat on the 2021/22 AHDB Recommended List, DSV Theodore is widely regarded as the cleanest wheat on the list, and DSV Oxford is on the AHDB candidate list.

“That could be a trio of very strong varieties on the recommended list by the end of 2022,” explains DSV wheat breeder Matt Kerton (right), who says several factors have led to the success of the company's programme. “With the current pressures on growers and those likely to emerge in future, our approach is to focus on disease resistance and agronomic traits first and then select for yield.” DSV's UK breeding station is in a strong septoria pressure area, for example, but one which also has a lot of yellow rust. This allows the breeder to select for

septoria resistance first knowing that yellow rust will also be a factor, says Dr Kerton. “The stronger the disease pressure in the early breeding stages, the stronger the genetic material coming through these is.” DSV also has breeding programmes in France and Germany – as well as trials sites in Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands. These are supported by a stateof-the-art molecular laboratory at Thule in Germany.

Model outcomes “This allows us to model the likely outcome of crosses before we physically make them. It helps ensure the material entering our breeding programmes is as close as possible to our required specification from the start. “This not only shortens the

time from concept to commercial reality, it also strengthens the lines by fixing certain traits from the earliest stages and ensures we can track these at all times through the breeding process.” Creating the new varieties of the future could be based more on looking to the past, says Dr Kerton. It could be that strong drought tolerance genes from the past are useful when combined

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with more modern high-yielding genetics, he adds. This means DSV is increasingly turning back the genetic clock to see if older variety characteristics have relevance for the future – although the company strategy is very much to breed for today.

“There is no point in breeding now for an event that is potentially 20 years away,” says Dr Kerton. With the average breeding cycle around 5- 10 years, timescales are important. And Dr Kerton says some breeding aims have greater priority than others. “Nitrogen efficiency of varieties is one of our biggest areas of focus, not just because of the current high price of fertilisers but also the environmental pressure to reduce use of nitrogen long-term. “We are also looking at improving the nutritional quality of wheat by discovering genes involved in the control of micronutrient accumulation in the flour.” “But varieties like DSV Champion, Theodore and Oxford are successful because they meet producers’ needs today – high yield, strong disease resistance and good untreated yields.”

Good quality and strong agronomic performance DSV Theodore is the only variety on the recommended list to get a 9 for septoria resistance, says the company's Sarah Hawthorne (below). It also scores 9 for yellow rust and 8 for brown rust. “DSV Champion combines a similar comprehensive disease package with outstanding untreated yield and real world versatility and it looks like DSV Oxford is following in the same mould. “With a high level of versatility and consistency of production, DSV Oxford performs to its full potential in both higher input systems and more regenerative ones.” Overall UK average yield for DSV Oxford sits at 103.7% of control with particularly strong performance of 105% in the West. But an untreated yield of 86% underlines its in-built resilience too, says Ms Hawthorne. “It’s a strong, well structured wheat standing at 84.6cm without PGRs so it’s going to be a tough contender in the more variable growing conditions now prevalent in the UK plus it is likely to be an easy harvester. “Good grain quality and strong agronomic performance are particular features with orange wheat blossom midge resistance and a dependable package of genetics delivering 6s for septoria and mildew resistance plus, importantly, an 8 for yellow rust.”

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MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 15

Arable

How disease risk forecasting helps prioritise fungicides Many cereal crops at risk if spraying opportunities are limited

rowers wanting to ensure effective disease control in the event of limited spraying opportunities this spring should identify fields to prioritise for treatment. “For large cropping areas, there can be a temptation to treat everything as one,” says Dave Howard, head of integrated crop management for Hutchinsons. “But even relatively small differences in drilling date can make a big difference to disease risk.” This is particularly true for wheat varieties with medium Septoria resistance drilled in late September and early October. “They can neither be approached as a resistant variety or a susceptible variety so other risk factors become highly important.” Temperatures fluctuate quite a lot at that time of year, says Mr Howard, so a variation of 7-10 days in drilling date can make a big difference to the speed of disease movement and risk going into spring. Rainfall in April and May has long been associated with increased Septoria incidence. But last year demonstrated that it can take off rapidly later, even from a low base disease level, given the right conditions. Omnia’s wheat disease risk forecasting model provides a baseline risk assessment for any crop location. It considers factors including recommended list variety scores, drilling date and critically historic and forecast weather data. “This gives growers a visual representation of where the main risks are and strategically plan control pro-

Septoria is a challenge in some crops with medium resistance

Below: Growers should consider a range of factors, says Dave Howard

grammes accordingly,” says Mr Howard. The model is being further developed to forecast Septoria severity based on weekly rainfall data. Early sowing and a largely mild, damp winter means many cereal crops are at relatively high disease risk going into spring, making early fungicides a worthwhile investment, says Hutchinsons technical development director David Ellerton. “We saw a lot of rust, mildew and Septoria on lower leaves at the start of the year, and although January frosts slowed disease down, generally thick, early-sown crops will be at higher risk if conditions are conducive,” says Dr Ellerton. Yellow rust control should be the focus of the first fungicide spray, usually applied to winter wheat around growth stage 25-30. “If you’ve got yellow rust, it’s important to knock it out early with a tebuconazole or metconazole-based fungicide.”

Modes of action Including a strobilurin such as azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin, can bring extra persistence – but strobilurins should not be used alone. “Resistance management guidelines state strobilurins must be mixed with a fungicide with a different mode of action.” Spray programmes should priori16 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

tise susceptible varieties rated 3 or 4. These include Skyfall, KWS Kinetic, KWS Zyatt or RGT Wolverine, which were hit particularly hard by yellow rust last year, but will give greatest yield response to treatment. “Varieties with higher Recommended List ratings cannot be ignored though, especially if it is based on adult resistance, which may not kick-in until late in the season,” says Dr Ellerton. “Varieties with reasonable adult resistance, such as KWS Barrel or RGT Gravity can still be vulnerable to disease as young plants. If disease establishes early, it can cause significant damage before adult resistance takes effect, so needs controlling.” Early treatment is paramount for yellow rust control. But Dr Ellerton advises growers check product labels carefully and consult their agronomist, as some products cannot be applied before GS 30.

Nitrogen strategy “Straight tebuconazole or azoxystrobin cannot be used pre-GS 30, whereas some mixes containing tebuconazole can. Also, remember nitrogen strategy affects disease risk, with stressed crops, or those with excess nitrogen, potentially more prone to yellow rust.” Last year’s emergence of Septoria races with virulence to Cougar makes early protection particularly important for varieties with Cougar parentage, such as RGT Saki or KWS Firefly, adds Dr Ellerton. Following the withdrawal of multisite chlorothalonil, which was the goto option, folpet is now the main fungicide for Septoria protection where risk is high. Where mildew is a threat, prothioconazole offers reasonable early season control. The strongest mildewicide, cyflufenamid, cannot be used until the beginning of stem elongation. “The biostimulant Scyon can play a useful role within integrated disease control programmes,” says Dr Ellerton. “Its combination of naturally occurring, signalling metabolites strengthens the plant’s natural defences and maximizes nutrient uptake, making plants healthier and better able to fight off disease,” he explains.

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Arable

Surge in hybrid rye sees UK area increase again by 25%

ome 50,000ha of hybrid rye is expected to be harvested this year as wholecrop demand for biogas production continues to drive market growth. This represents a 25% year-on-year increase in the UK hybrid rye area. Wholecrop rye for biogas production now accounts for about half the UK market – which makes choosing high performing varieties for anaerobic digestion key for most growers. The agronomic benefits of rye are clear, says independent agronomist Craig Green, of CMG Agronomy. It performs better than winter wheat on light land, has aggressive early growth which smothers blackgrass, and requires fewer agrochemical inputs. Rye requires far less fertiliser than winter wheat and performs extremely well in drought conditions, where its aggressive root system is able to seek out water and key nutrients, with efficient utilisation of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Strong pipeline Four out of five new winter hybrid rye varieties on the AHDB 2022/23 Descriptive list last De-

18 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

cember were bred by Saaten Union. UK partner Elsoms Seeds has clearly secured a strong pipeline of varieties well-suited to UK growing conditions, says Mr Green. “With most of my growers working on a pound per tonne basis it’s all about sourcing new varieties that can produce consistently high yields and [this follows] the success of SU Performer which had set the benchmark in recent years. “Saaten Union and Elsoms now seem to have another winner in SU Arvid, a variety that went onto the DL in 2021/22, offering a significant step forward in yield than Performer, lower inputs, and which can be grown on a wider range of soils.” Three customers who trialled SU Arvid last year all averaged 48.5t/ha on wholecrop yields – about 2.5t/ha higher than they had previously achieved with any other hybrid rye variety, says Mr Green. Saaten Union UK cereal product manager Andrew Creasy sees a strong future for rye cropping in the UK. He and some other breeders and industry experts believe that the UK rye area could double in size within the next few years.

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Cereals 2022 Big names ‘flocking back’ to flagship Cereals event

When 8-9 June 2022

• Crop plots display new varieties • 30 exhibitors make show debut • Technology and advice on offer

What Situated on a working farm, Cereals aims is to equip farmers with the latest knowledge, ideas and technology to help them embrace the challenges and opportunities which will arise in the coming years.

xhibitors are flocking back to the Cereals event, say organisers, who are putting the finishing touches to next month’s show. Technology will be a key theme for this year’s flagship event, which takes place on 8-9 June at Chrishall Grange, near Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Exhibits will include new varieties in the cereal crop plots and latest agricultural drone developments. Event director Alli McEntyre says: “There will be a wide range of technology and practical advice on offer that will help boost returns on visitors’ own farms. At a time of great change in the industry, staying ahead is increasingly important.”

Methane tractor Big names set to return to the event include KWS, Corteva Agriscience, Bayer and Senova. Another returnee, New Holland plans to pack its stand with the latest technology including the first methane powered tractor. “We have missed seeing our customers face to face during the pandemic years but this year blue and yellow are back and we’re excited to meet everyone in person again,” says marketing manager Mark Crosby. There will be more than 30 new exhibitors at this year’s two-day event. They will include Nitrasol, Fisher German, Spreadwise and Limex. Senova will be back alongside the Just Oats stand, which covers the entire supply chain through companies like Morning Foods.

“

Staying ahead is increasingly important.

The show’s wide range of practical demonstrations and displays are popular with show visitors

litre drone on display. There will also be a drone pellet applicator – suitable for sowing a cover crop in a standing crop of wheat, says director Chris Eglington. The Civil Aviation Authority now permits the agricultural use of drones with a £9 licence. Spraying chemicals remains illegal but Mr Eglington says gaining permission is looking more promising than ever. If spraying is allowed, drones could play a key role in allowing chemicals to be applied at the right timing – even though the ground may be too wet to travel, he adds.

New varieties Crop breeding company LSPB is exhibiting for the first time. Many of its varieties – such as spring bean Lynx – are well-know among farmers. But LSPB itself is less well recognised, says product manager Michael Shuldham. “It is an opportunity to showcase our varieties and talk to farmers directly. We have some crop plots with a wide range of varieties. We will have

GETTING THERE Where Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, SG8 7NT

Access and parking There will be a forward parking area close to the visitor entrance for vehicles displaying the official blue disability badge. Please follow all ‘Cereals Visitor’ signage. If you do not have an official blue disability badge, but have reduced mobility and need to park close to the entrance, please contact the Cereals Team in advance. For full details and tickets Visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk.

two clubroot resistant hybrid oilseed rape varieties and new varieties with phoma gene resistance.” LSPB has a strong spring bean portfolio. There will also be a new LSPB spring wheat variety. Mr Shuldham says it is likely to prove popular with farmers who have blackgrass problems – or as a crop to follow sugar beet.

Drone applicator “It could be the first year when people really come to shows again – last year was a bit half-and-half,” says Senova marketing manager Alison Barrow. “We are looking forward to seeing the crowds return.” Agricultural drone company Crop Angel is exhibiting for the first time in its own right, with a new small 10 MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 21

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Cereals 2022

Charities benefit from Cereals tickets

he Cereals event is raising cash for good causes – with half the money from ticket sales donated to three farming charities. A full-price ticket costs £10. Visitors can choose whether their donation goes to the Farming Community Network, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) or the Yellow Wellies farm safety charity. “We know farmers are facing a challenging time, with soaring input costs, the transition away from basic payments and the uncertainty of global trade deals,” explains Cereals event organiser Alli McEntyre.

currently work in agriculture – and to those who are no longer able to work due to ill-health, accident or age. Also known as Yellow Wellies, the Farm Safety Foundation campaigns for safer working practices in agriculture. With poor mental well-being a known contributor to farm fatalities, the charity also promotes practices which improve mental health.

Help and advice The Farming Community Network provides practical and pastoral support to people across agriculture. Each year, it helps some 6,000 people with a range of issues – including mental health, family relationships, animal disease and future planning. The RABI provides local support to the farming community. Confidential support is available to those who

Jude McCann of the Farming Community Network

All three charities have had a presence at previous Cereals events. Their help and expertise is seen as key at a time of great change for the industry – amid warnings that many farm businesses will be unable to survive without direct payments.

'No cliff edge' The government has promised there will be “no cliff edge” with payments gradually phased out by 2028. But experts warn that a new system of environmental payments will not fully offset the lost income. The Cereals event will include a seminar programme focusing on topics that include the financial impact of agricultural policy changes. Speakers will also explore how to tackle high input costs, environmental schemes and carbon trading. “Now is a time of huge change for farmers,” says Ms McEntyre. “The fourth agricultural revolution is under way and Cereals 2022 will offer farmers all the tools and advice they need to navigate it successfully.”

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Disease control is NIAB stand focus

heat disease management will form the basis of the NIAB stand at Cereals, with advice on hand to aid decision-making on varietal, cultural and chemical control. NIAB will have 125 different crop and variety plots on display at the twoday event. They will include 32 winter wheat and 16 winter oilseed rape varieties – either already established or candidates for the AHDB 2022/23 Recommended List. This year, the stand features plots showcasing fungicide inputs versus yield in winter wheat, a comparison of new cereal fungicides and – for the first time – treated and untreated wheat variety blends. NIAB agronomy director Stuart Knight says: “Our untreated winter wheat variety demo plots are always a top attraction, giving growers a head start on their variety selection for next season, with differences in disease susceptibility clearly evident.

Variety blends “The demo is complemented by the new variety blends feature, enabling visitors to assess whether bringing together the resistance profiles of several wheat varieties could potentially reduce disease, improve resilience and increase yield.” The focus on disease continues in the plant pathology plots. They will showcase the latest developments on yellow rust with the UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey team and a look at varietal resistance to septoria, alongside disease diagnostics and imaging. NIAB will also showcase a range of protein crops, including lupins, peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and soya. A pulse pre-breeding programme aims

to unlock the healthy-eating potential of these protein crops. “Demo plots will explore research work on legume crop improvement, alongside opportunities for crop diversification, lowering inputs on farm and new market prospects as a plantderived protein source in food and animal feed.”

Soil hole The 20m-long NIAB Soil Hole is back again. It will be demonstrating the benefits of soil monitoring – including the what, how, when and why, says Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB’s head of farming systems. This will include a demonstration of an automated soil sampling robot from the Small Robot Company, which is working with a consortium led by PES

The Soil Hole will demonstrate the benefits of soil monitoring, says Elizabeth Stockdale.

Technologies including NIAB, alongside a working soil sequencing display. “We will be highlighting how to use collected data to inform decisions. It is not just a question of gathering data – we need to make good choices based on it.” Some soil parameters will be measured in the Soil Hole during the event. “These include physical structure, water management and biological activity,” says Dr Stockdale. “Other samples will have been taken in advance of the show.” NIAB has compacted some tramlines and will cut down some wheat plots a couple of weeks before the show to give us a stubble field, so we can demonstrate the recommended sampling point for general rotational soil health sampling.

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 25

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Advice on taking a more sustainable or regenerative approach to farming practices will be on offer from Ceres Rural at this year’s Cereals Event. With farming businesses facing a very challenging time and looking to reduce their reliance on increasingly expensive inputs, the leading consultancy has identified practical actions for growers, to improve soil health, encourage beneficial insects and support biodiversity. Alice Montrose of Ceres Rural points out that even minor changes to the way that things are done can bring noticeable benefits. The simple measures Ceres is due to discuss will help to move any farm forward and prepare it for the first component of ELMS, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will be open for applications shortly. “We’ll be covering a breadth of topical matters, from insecticide and pesticide use, to fertiliser strategy and promotion of organic matter. As well as providing some key consideration points and advice with regards to stewardship options and approaching farming practices regeneratively.” Montrose adds. Ceres Rural will be on stand number 224 at Cereals this year. Visit the team to understand more about the specific actions you should be taking to improve the output of your rural business - both in the immediate term and into the new era for our industry.

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Cereals 2022

Easier comparisons from side-by-side crop plots • Breeders centre-stage at event • All best varieties represented • Cereals and pulses on display

rop plots will be centre-stage at Cereals – enabling visitors to compare the top-performing varieties side by side. Winter wheat and barley plots will showcase new and popular recommended list varieties, says arable project manager Jonathan Backhouse, who has curated 26 winter wheat and 14 winter barley varieties. “We have worked with seed breeders on what they feel are the most popular, in-demand varieties that we need to be showcasing,” he says. “While many of these varieties are also on display elsewhere in the show, this central feature gives growers the opportunity to walk among them in one place for side-by-side comparison.”

Wheat Wheat varieties from Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 will all be represented. Malting, two-row feed, and six-row hybrid barleys will also be shown. They include varieties from KWS, RAGT, Limagrain, DSV, Syngenta, Senova and Elsoms. “There is at least one variety from

“

There is at least one variety from every breeder.

every breeder on the list,” says Mr Backhouse. Growers continue to seek out high yielding varieties but disease resistance is also a key trait. “Yield is probably still number, but disease resistance is high on the agenda, as is versatility in wheats, allowing them to go for distilling or milling.” LSPB sees Cereals as an opportunity to talk directly to farmers, says product manager Michael Shuldham. “We have crop plots with a wide range of varieties. Highlights include new oilseed rape varieties with phoma resistance gene.” New LSPB spring wheat variety WPB Escape is a good, solid spring wheat, says Mr Shuldham. It is a hard Group 4 and is likely to prove popular with farmers who have blackgrass problems or as a crop to follow sugar beet.”

Pulses For visitors interested in pulses, new winter bean variety Pantani will also be on display. “It is an early maturing variety and its shortness helps reduce lodging risk,” explains Mr Shuldham. Back at the event for the first time since 2019, KWS will showcase its main portfolio of 16 wheats and barleys.These include winter wheats KWS

Zyatt, KWS Extase and Group 2 candidate, KWS Ultimatum. BYDV-tolerant winter barley KWS Feeris will be on display alongside spring malting candidate KWS Curtis. KWS is also exhibiting a number of oilseed rape, hybrid rye, pea, oat and sugar beet varieties, says head of marketing Scott Manning.

Agronomy On the agronomy side, a Corteva oilseed rape plot will demonstrate the performance of herbicide Belkar against cranesbill, cleavers and poppy. There are also plots showcasing the effect of biological products from Soil Fertility Services and Amino-A. Ceres Rural agronomist Will Cobley, who advises the event, says crops have been in glood condition after a kind autumn. But wet weather during early spring meant the first nitrogen applications were a month later than ideal. Mildew has also been spotted in some winter wheats across the site. But Mr Backhouse says: “It is representative of what we have in the East of England and not a cause for concern. Everything is in good shape. “A challenge we often have in this area is an extended period of dry weather in spring. Last year the rain came at the right time but in the two or three springs before there was a horrendous drought. “We just need rain little and often through May before the show in June.”

Crop plots are a long-standing popular feature at Cereals

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 27

Cereals 2022

New features on show – and old favourites too • Innovation among key attractions • Selling direct among big exhibits • Other crop technologies on show

isitors to Cereals can enjoy all their favourite attractions plus some exciting new exhibits at this year’s twoday event. New features for 2022 include Crop to Kitchen which will showcase arable farmers selling direct to consumers, a curated version of the winter wheat and barley recommended lists and a demo area for machinery and kit that qualifies for the Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme. With farmers seeking new ways to generate income as basic payments decline, Crop to Kitchen will explore how growers are creating opportunities using redundant farm buildings and crop diversification, explains Cereals event director Alli McEntyre. “Farmers will be able to talk to other farmers with experience of selling directly to consumers. Products featured include quinoa, mushrooms, rhubarb, oilseed rape oil, wine, juices, heritage wheat, flour and beer.”

Wheat and barley Cereal growers will be able to see some 26 popular winter wheats thanks to arable project manager Jonathan Backhouse, who has curated varieties representing groups 1-4 from every breeder on the AHDB recommended list.

Visitors will be able to see new varieties first-hand

28 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

This feature will also showcase 14 winter barleys, again with popular picks from all breeders to represent malting, two-row feed and six-row hybrid varieties. “While many of these varieties are on display elsewhere in the show, this gives growers the opportunity to walk among them in one place for side-by-side comparison,” says Mr Backhouse.

Farm productivity The Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme covers up to 40% of the costs for slurry treatment and robotics and innovation equipment. Such kit, including for robotic weeding and harvesting, will be on show in the dedicated demo area. An expanded Direct Drill Arena will include demonstrators showcasing and discussing their technology. Aitchison, Amazone, Claydon, Horizon, Horsch, John Deere, Kuhn and Mzuri will be among the companies demonstrating in this area. Regular exhibits will include breeder variety plots and agronomy trial plots – with big hitters Bayer, Corteva, KWS and Senova/Just Oats back this year. The NIAB Soil Hole is returning and so too is the Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers arena.

Trial plots will include a mix of established and unusual varieties

Other machinery As well as inter-row weeding demonstrations, there are also plans to have in-row weeding demos – helping growers keep on top of the ever-present weed challenge. Garford, Lemken and Terrington will be among the companies represented. “Inter-row weeding can be used for cereals whereas in-row weeding is used for salad crops such as lettuces,” says Garford technical sales manager Allan Knight. “There is more and more machinery being demonstrated at Cereals.” Farmers are diversifying into other crops as well and this machinery will be showcased too. Visitors will be able to see working demo plots from Agxeed, Claydon, Horizon, J. Brock, Kuhn, Mzuri, New Holland and TWB Engineering. After its successful debut at last year’s Cereals, the NAAC Drainage Hub will be back to help farmers find out more about the subject. It will bring together agricultural contractors with land drainage expertise. Seminar programme The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board will be running a Code Green for Farming seminar programme. This will analyse farm policy, rising input costs, making the environment pay and new technology. Meanwhile, Farmers Weekly will be running seminars based on its popular Transition series. Hosted in the New Era Theatre, they will look at ways farmers can make their businesses more financially and environmentally sustainable. Around the event, numerous exhibitors will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions, with post-harvest technology and the latest crop protection and nutrition products on show, says event director Alli McEntyre. “At this time of transition for farmers, Cereals offers an ideal one-stop-shop to see all the latest innovation in action so that arable farmers can get a real flavour of what technology will be most suited to their farm,” Ms McEntyre explains.

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‘Every single onion is

a winner’ PROFILE Growing vegetables for human consumption can be a risky business. But William Woodhall is doing it successfully.

Above: Helping hands – William Woodhall with daughter Madison Below: Woodhall were one of the first growers to bunch in the field

Shropshire vegetable grower is optimising margins by reducing crop waste, controlling costs and bringing more of the production process in-house. Woodhall Growers produces vegetables for all the major supermarkets. Annual production includes 6 million bunches of conventional spring onions, 500,000 bunches of organic spring onions, 200,000 bunches of organic beetroot and bulk beetroot too. Until a decade or so ago, it relied on an external packhouse to bunch crops. But wastage levels were as high as 30%. This prompted a decision to start bunching and packing crops in the field – a move since followed by other growers too. “It was getting crazy – we were sending away the equivalent of 100 bunches of onions in loose boxes and they were packing only 70,” says farm manager William Woodall. “Whole boxes were ending up on the waste line.” With two lorry loads of onions a day, wastage was considerable. “We decided to reduce the wastage by bunching in the field. We were probably one of the first growers to do it that way – it’s something we are very proud of.” Workers were soon packing more than 60 bunches an hour. Today, they average more than 150 bunches an hour throughout the year. “You can hardly see their fingers move and the quality is just superb. “Every single onion is a winner,” adds Mr

Woodall. “We’ve learned a lot. Our workers can pick up a handful of onions, skin them, sort them, bunch them, put a band around them and rip the tops off – all in less than 30 seconds. “We use the same onion crates as before. Rather than getting 30-40 bunches per crate, we are now sending 80 bunches ready to go. It has reduced transport costs, slashed wastage and boosted productivity. It makes complete sense.” Achieving this has required lots of investment. But it has also paid dividends. All onions go through an electronic root trimmer and have an extra 3cm cut off the top so they are crisp and fresh. They they go through the wash lines before being tagged. “Our pack-out rate now is 98-99%, which is fantastic. One or two onions might get thrown away but we don’t lose very much at all.” Based just off the M54 about 10 miles northwest of Wolverhampton, Woodhall Growers grows a range of vegetable, cereal and grass crops. It owns about 160ha and has long-term tenancies on a further 280ha of conventional and 300ha of organic land.

Local landlords “We also rent in other land on an annual basis. We have built up good relationships with a number of landlords and we grow conventional spring onions on their land on a six-year rotation – moving around as we go.” Mr Woodhall describes the business as preci- >>

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 31

PROFILE >> sion growers looking to produce highvalue high quality crops for human consumption. Alongside vegetable production, this includes organic cereals which are also farmed in-house. “Everything is on a two-year cycle. We can’t muck the vegetables so we muck the cereals hard in the preceding two years and weed the ground hard too. We are a massive advocate of cover crops too – and probably put in 250ha every year.” Attention to detail All vegetables are spring cropped. So are the organic cereals. “We do a bit of spring cropping on the conventional cereals side too. We are very well kitted up with lots of irrigation and weeding kit. It’s about attention to detail. Although spring onions are the mainstay of the business, the bunched beetroot operation is relatively new. Now it its third or fourth year, it is a growing enterprise – again producing a finished product ready to go off the farm. Working with supermarkets can be challenging. So too is the aftermath of Brexit. Mr Woodhall is set to lose up to £90,000 after border rules introduced in January saw European customers look elsewhere for beetroot, rather than the UK. The drop in demand has left him with 500 tonnes of beetroot without a home. Transport has been an issue and the idea of sending the beetroot to food charities has been politely declined. Instead, it is likely to be used as compost. “We are stepping away from supermarkets a little – we are looking more to deal with farmers direct. So this time around we are growing organic fodder beet instead – we’ve had a lot of interest in it – and conventional fodder beet as well. Organic spring beans for human consumption have proved popular. So too have marrowfat for mushy peas. “We are keen on trying new things – looking for opportunities where it is sensible too do so.” Cost conscious Overhead control is key to success, says Mr Woodhall, who works alongside director Richard Shropshire. “Overheads can kill a business like ours. Vegetable production is massive money in and massive money out – but the margins are tiny. “It is something we are very conscious of. “We know exactly what our costs are – right down to knowing how much time and how much fuel it takes to complete each operation. With the veg game, it is down to points of a penny – 32 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

and we are down to points of a penny with all our costings.” All costs are properly allocated to each individual crop. “I know that every bunch costs me 3.5p to grow – including rent, fuel and labour. We also know that each bunch costs 11.7p to harvest – including tractors and telehandling.” This highlights the importance of efficient harvesting and hand labour. “If a crate is 200 yards away from a worker, it means I am paying them to walk rather than paying them to harvest. So we make sure everything is done right.” Attention to detail is key, adds Mr Woodhall. To minimise non-productive time in the field and make everything as efficient as possible, all the canteens are in the optimum place and so are the field toilets. “It’s about being in control of your own destiny as much as possible. You have your farming hat on but also you have to become a bit of a salesman and that involves wearing a different sort of cap almost.”

Team players Supplied by distributor Agri-Droid, the recent arrival of a FarmDroid FD20

Clockwise from top: It’s all about attention to detail, says William Woodhall. Spring onions are the mainstay of the business. The business rents in land on an annual basis.

robot will help ease the need to hand weed crops. A completely autonomous weeder, it is solar-powered and GPSguided – and expected to save a considerable sum of money. But good team management remains vital too. Having worked abroad, Mr Woodhall had experience of running a harvest crew in Australia before returning to the UK and taking on his current role 11 years ago. “My boss in Australia literally gave me four combines, three lorries and a chaser bin. Then he gave me a list of farmers and told me to drive 12 hours north where there was a small village. We contacted all the local farmers and made it work.” Back in the UK, finding skilled hand labour remains a challenge. Although Mr Woodhall says 94% of his seasonal workers return year after year, he says he is lucky. Being close to Wolverhampton helps but it isn’t always easy. “It’s important to treat people well. We are a close-knit team but people grow up and they move away. But we create a community atmosphere and we have a big staff party at the end of the year so we tend to get people who want to work for us.”

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Precision farming and technology

Solar-powered farm robot has ‘simplicity on its side’ • Accurate robot seeds and weeds • Runs completely on solar energy • Helps to reduce carbon footprint

fully autonomous, solar-powered robot capable of precision drilling and weeding is selling well in the UK. The FarmDroid uses ultra-accurate GPS to record exactly where it places each seed. Then, because it knows where each seed has been planted, the machine weeds around them – keeping crops clean using a combination of hoes and blades. This approach means the FarmDroid doesn’t need banks of high-definition cameras and complex computers to distinguish between plants and weeds. It also means the machine can start weeding before crops have emerged. James Woolway, managing director of distributor Opico, says simplicity is just one feature that sets the FarmDroid apart from anything else on the market. And because the machine is also solar-powered, there is no fuel bill.

“

FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution

The robot makes good financial sense, says James Woolway

problem weeds like fat-hen. Mr Woolway says this in itself represents a saving of more than £250/ha.

Soil health Weighing just 800kg, FarmDroid has the lightest footprint possible. This means less compaction which is good for soil health. Headlands aren’t run down either, helping to maintain yields across the entire cropped area. Organic growers across northern Europe and the UK have reported using the FarmDroid. They include beet yields 40-60% higher than tractor-hoed crops as precise seed placement and intra-row weed control encourages uniform crop development. The FarmDroid concept was the brainchild of Jens and Kristian Warming – two farming brothers from central Denmark – who built the first prototypes with the help of some robotics specialists in their farm workshop. The machine was launched to the world at Agritechnica 2019. Now located in a state-of-the-art manufacturing complex, the business has more than 250 machines out working across

northern Europe. Savings in herbicides, fuel, labour and machinery costs make for a strong financial argument for purchasing the FarmDroid, says Mr Woolway. The price and running costs are a fraction of those associated with traditional machinerym he adds. “We believe robotics will form the backbone of the next major step in technological development for agriculture,” explains Mr Woolway. “FarmDroid ticks so many boxes in all these respects.” There are other benefits too. Food retailers looking to demonstrate their green credentials are increasingly imposing carbon audits on growers. The FarmDroid is a step towards energy self-sufficiency – and herbicide-free crop production. The current six-row FarmDroid FD20 retails at £59,500 with an additional £4,243 required for an RTK base station. Grant funding is likely to be available to assist with the purchase of what is an innovative machine, says Mr Woolway.

Bottom line This approach benefits the bottom line at a time when energy marklets are volatile and fossil fuels increasingly expensive, says Mr Woolway. It is also environmentally friendly. “FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution suited to large and small-scale farming systems. Our distribution network, parts and technical teams are more than capable of backing the product up so it’s a great fit. “While it’s early days, we’re coming to the UK market with a product that is tried and tested. The timing couldn’t be better with rising energy costs, labour issues and environmental factors at the forefront of farmers’ minds.” Capable of working to within 5mm of each seedling between the rows and 20mm in the row, FarmDroid means there is no need for hand-rogueing MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 35

Precision farming and technology

Bespoke disease forecasts are helping to protect crops

rowers can now use super-local weather indicators combined with disease forecasting to make more efficient fungicide applications. Sencrop, which is known for its local weather station systems, has joined forces with the Information System for Integrated Plant production (ISIP) to provide disease forecasting for farmers based on pooled and individual data. Taking into account local temperature, humidity and precipitation, the system forecasts risk levels for a range of cereal diseases between 15 February and 30 June. This then enables farmers to react to high disease pressure and protect crop quality and yield. “Farmers can connect their individual crops to local weather data via their weather station and app, to receive crop-specific information and risk calculations,” says Lucie D’Haene, product manager and agronomist at Sencrop. Common diseases covered include septoria tritici, yellow and brown rust, powdery mildew, leaf blotch, net blotch, ramularia and leaf rust. “This will support farmers in assessing the disease infection pressure and assist them in

taking the right actions.” By integrating local weather data, the quality of the model statements is raised to a new level, says ISIP managing director Manfred Röhrig. “No other data source can make it more precise,” he adds.

Ultra-local data Sencrop is working to provide ultra-local realtime weather data with farmers, producer groups, agronomists and consultants in 26 countries. The company says its system gives farmers on an easy and quick overview of which crops require action. “By seeing the crop risk in real time, farmers can easily drive to the affected fields for on-site inspections, saving time and fuel,” says Sencrop business development manager Harry Atkinson. “Given soaring inputs costs – from fuel to fertiliser – farmers want to hone efficiencies as much as possible. Combining individual and pooled data can help them to do that.” Super-local weather stations help improve spray programmes

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38 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

Farm energy Energy security tops farm carbon agenda • War in Ukraine sparks concerns • Robust energy and food policies • Low impact agriculture important

armers are well-placed to help ensure the UK is better placed to meet more of its own food and energy needs, say experts. The importance of renewable energy and robust food security has increased since the Ukraine war has triggered even sharper rises in food and energy prices, delegates were told at the recent Low Carbon Agriculture Show. Speaking in a keynote session at the event, NFU renewable energy senior adviser Jonathan Scurlock said UK farm policy should address these concerns. “There are three big policy drivers: energy security, climate change and food security.” Farm minister Victoria Prentis told the same session that the world had changed when Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The crisis had propelled agriculture up the agenda. Government schemes at all levels would encourage low carbon farm practices. Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Association for Renewable Ener-

“

Flexibility is the key to security

gy and Clean Technology, said: “If we accelerate UK renewable energy, we could create over 238,000 jobs in renewable and clean tech by 2030. Flexibility is the key to security.” Lee Waters, the Welsh government’s deputy minister for climate change, spoke about the need for farm leaders, policymakers and practitioners to work together to ensure the UK meets its net zero targets. “We know farming can deal with change and the choice is ours – do we act? Spending less on fertiliser and fewer chemicals is a no-brainer and means we will spend less money and have less environmental impact.” Patrick Holden, founding director at the Sustainable Food Trust, underlined the need to produce as much food as possible – without diminishing natural capital. “For the first time there might be a business case for producing food in harmony with nature.”

Long journey Other sessions focused on soil health, carbon farming and renewable energy. NFU environment forum chairman Richard Bramley said: “Regenerative farming is a long journey, but you need to start somewhere. Identifying the items for you to address is key.” This point was echoed by Gavin

New farm energy policies are vital, conference delegates were told

Lane, vie president of the Country Land and Business Association. “Determining a baseline is crucial to highlighting areas we can do something about,” he said. The two-day Low Carbon Agriculture Show attracted 100 speakers. Taking place at Stoneleigh on 8-9 March, it included four key areas focusing on energy, the environment, low emission vehicles and farm technology. Event director David Jacobmeyer said: “The show covered some of the most important issues affecting society today – energy security, climate change and food security. It was wonderful to see so many farmers.”

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 39

Farm energy

HMRC seeks to clarify red diesel rule changes

oncern over the future for red diesel is set to be a hot topic at this month's LAMMA event at the Birmingham NEC. A special session on both days of the two-day show (4-5 May) will discuss changes to rebated fuel rules with advice from HMRC representatives and experts from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors. Entitlement for rebated – or red – diesel was withdrawn from various industries last month. The rule change is seen as part of the government's drive towards the development of cleaner and greener alternatives. The big change applies to vehicles used off-road. These vehicles are no longer be automatically entitled to use red diesel. Instead, use of the rebated fuel will be based entirely on what the vehicle is used for.

verges and hedges which border a road; clearing snow; gritting and assisting any clear-up following flooding, says Ms Hewitt. Secondly, she addss, once a legitimate use has been established, it is important to then confirm the vehicle you are intending to use is also allowed to use red.

Climate emergency Some industry commentators have suggested red diesel will eventually be phased out altogether. They include Priscilla Hall, who heads up the construction and green energy teams at national law firm Clarke Willmott. Ms Hall said the rationale for changes to rebated fuel rules was un-

derstandable. The climate emergency needed to be addressed by a raft of initiatives and measures – including changes to the tax regime. The construction industry in particular had been given time to prepare for change. But Ms Hall added: “The big question in my mind is while the agriculture and horticulture sector have not been affected, how long will this be the case. Any work “I can envisage significant challenges for the agricultural sector as maryou do gins are tight and practical and costmust be effective alternatives such as electric agricultural or hydrogen tractors are not widely available if in the future restrictions are introduced.” Speakers from HMRC’s fuel duty policy team and the NAAC will be on hand at LAMMA to bring farmers and contractors up to speed with the changes. They will lead the session at 1pm Farm work is not on both days of the event in one of two necessarily the same as working new speaker zones. For more details, visit www.lamon agricultural land, says HMRC mashow.com

“

Cloudy issue. Agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fisheries are among the industries which have retained the entitlement to use red diesel. But the fuel issue is complicated for farmers operating mixed-use businesses. NAAC chief executive Jill Hewitt says farmers and contractors should consider two factors when working out if their business can use red diesel. “The first is that any work you do is for an agricultural purpose. This is not necessarily the same as just doing work on agricultural land. The operation you are doing must be of benefit to the land or livestock.” Farmers can also use rebated fuel in agricultural vehicles when cutting

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Livestock Dog owners slammed over failure to report attacks

ewer than one in 20 sheep farmers are contacted by dog owners following an attack on their livestock, reveals a survey. Conducted by the National Sheep Association, the survey sound that less than 5% of sheep farmers receive direct contact from the owners of dogs involved in a livestock attack – often with fatal and costly consequences. Almost 60% of farmers said they were left to find evidence of an attack having taken place rather than being alerted by the dog owner or another witness. This suggests sheep are often left injured, suffering and in distress following an attack. It comes as the government is proposing greater powers for police to trace and gain access to dogs involved in attacks. Doing so could encourage dog owners to take responsibility for their animals, said NSA chief executive Phil Stocker. “It may feel daunting as a dog own-

er to come forward to a farmer to admit responsibility, but NSA believes that farmers would rather be informed by the dog owners themselves rather than finding injured, or even worse, dead sheep in their fields.

Amicable resolution “Sheep worrying by dogs is a crime but openness from the dog owner can mean a more amicable resolution can hopefully be achieved and it is better than having to explain a failure to report if the dog is able to be traced.” Often dog owners simply do not realise their pet is capable of doing so much damage, and while we appreciate this crime is not one that any animal lover would set out to commit, taking responsibility is crucial and could help reduce cases for the future.” The sheep worrying by dogs survey completed by sheep farmers across the UK and coordinated by NSA is run annually to gain an up-to-date insight on

the issue of sheep worrying by dogs’ continued severity and impact on the UK sheep industry. Some 76% of respondents said they believed cases had increased over the past three years with many identifying the increase in dog ownership during the covid-19 pandemic as a perceived cause of the rise of cases.

“

Losses due to sheep worrying are unacceptable

Taking responsibility The survey also uncovered an improved response to dog attacks from rural police forces. Farmers give police 6/10 for responding to reports of a dog attack – a significant increase on ratings of 4/10 in 2021 and 3/10 in 2020. Mr Stocker said: “At this time of spiralling costs in all areas continued losses due to sheep worrying are not acceptable and could easily be prevented by dog owners simply taking responsibility and keeping their dogs on a lead when walking nearby sheep.”

Guide to maximise homegrown forage

new guide aims to help livestock farmers maximise milk and meat production from home-grown forage. Published by Field Options, the 2022 Grass, Clover and Forage Crop Guide includes details of the company’s specialist grazing, silage and forage crop seed mixtures alongside a wealth of useful agronomic advice. “As a result of burgeoning feed, fuel and fertiliser prices, many dairy farmers are looking, with renewed interest, to maximise the milk their herds produce from home-grown forage,” explains Field Options manager Francis Dunne. “Likewise, a significant proportion of beef and sheep farmers are reassessing their cropping and grassland management strategies to find new ways to cut costs and improve production efficiencies.” Topics within the new publication include guidance on how to get the best results from grass, clover and herbal

seed mixtures by reseeding effectively – and practical advice on cultivation technique, soil nutrition and soil health, pH and structure. The new publication also provides advice on pest and weed control. Simple changes to ley composition and management can offset rising input costs and reduce fertiliser usage with-

out impacting productivity. Growing and utilising more grass and home-grown forage is key to the profitability and ongoing viability of all ruminant livestock enterprises, says Ms Dunne. The guide can be viewed and downloaded at www.field-options.co.uk.

More livestock farmers are reassessing their feeding strategies

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 43

Livestock

‘Prioritise culling to ease cost pressures’

mplementing a hard cull policy in the year ahead could help alleviate rising costs facing many livestock businesses, say advisers. Removing unproductive stock and utilising grazing more efficiently could protect the bottom line of many farm businesses, according to experts from SAC Consulting. Sheep and grassland specialist Poppy Frater says farmers should try to take a step back from day-to-day challenges facing the industry and think strategically about the direction they wish to take their stock. “If you are concerned about the costs involved in making enough forage, then one way to alleviate the pressure is to use this year as a hard cull year for animals that don’t suit your farm strategy,” she suggests. Ms Frater says farmers should consider their genetic priorities. Farmers should at least cull those animals which as diagnosed barren, those that prolapse and livestock with severe feet or udder issues. “If you want to prioritise low in-

tervention maternal genetics, select against those that have difficult birthing. If temperament is an issue, cull hard on the main offenders. If you wish to tighten the calving or lambing spread – cull those that birthed later.” With input costs continuing to rise, Ms Frater says many farmers will face unnecessarily high bills unless they optimise their herd and flock management. Farmers should cut silage stra-

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44 MIDLAND FARMER • MAY 2022

Better grazing management can help reduce costs

tegically to mitigate future costs, she adds. Similarly, rotational grazing can increase grass utilisation without added inputs. “With rising feed costs, making the best quality silage for pregnant ewes and growing stock will reduce the ration cost further down the line. Don’t be tempted to delay cutting to go for bulk with less fertiliser, as this will be more costly later.”

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Welcome to Stockpen UK

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A family-run business for over 50 years, offering an excellent service. We supply high quality, heavy duty Sheep Handling Gates, Mobile Cattle Systems, Mobile Sheep Handling Systems, Stockyards and Calving Gates at competitive prices, delivered Nationwide.

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- Holds an average of up to 200 sheep - 16ft sheeted race - Guillotine plus sheep shedder - Ten 10’ panels - Eight-barred and double strapped

- 60ft holding pen - 20ft race - with cattle sliding gate - Safely holds 45 fully-grown cattle - Cattle sliding gate optional extra - Crush gate optional extra

Our price: £2,490 +VAT

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Nationwide Delivery Charge £100 Call us 01757 668 517 | 07810 516 499 www.stockpen.uk

MAY 2022 • MIDLAND FARMER 45

Livestock

ways to ensure your silage clamp remains airtight A properly sealed silage clamp pays dividends. Here’s how.

Good silage clamp management this season will maximise forage quality – more than justifying at a time when nitrogen fertiliser prices is at all-time high. “Inadequate sealing not only results in poor fermentation and forage spoilage, it also means much of the money spent on nitrogen and other inputs has been wasted, says Lucy Johnson of film specialists Silostop. “Considering the downsides, it is worrying that so many people still use a range of variously-sized black plastic sheets and a few worn-out tyres with rusty wires thrown on top of the clamp.” Few farmers would tolerate 15% storage losses for any other crop, says Ms Johnson. Yet that is often the case with forage. But such losses can be kept within 5% by following some simple steps:

Plan sealing priorities carefully The starting point is to talk to a specialist and work out exactly how are you are going to seal the clamp and what you will need to do this. “You’ll need to know the exact dimensions of your clamp to do this. The most effective method is a single sheet system, but these are available in range of sizes and the best fit will depend on individual circumstances. “The intention is to keep the number of joins to a minimum to avoid potential air ingress, so a purpose-made side sheet is essential too.”

Using a proper oxygen barrier It is important to understand not all plastic sheets are created equal, explains Ms Johnson. “A proper oxygen barrier has an oxygen transmission rate less than 5cm3/m2 of film, which means almost no air can get into the clamp, but with typical black silage plastic this is more like 300cm3/m2 .

“When this is stretched out to make an imitation oxygen barrier cling film, it can reach 1000cm3/m2 so quite a lot of air is able to pass through the film resulting in considerable spoilage and dry matter shrinkage in the top layers. “Again, you need to talk to somebody who understands this and be prepared to ask the questions about oxygen transmission rates. A good film will virtually eradicate air from the clamp, a cheaper one could cost you dearly in terms of lost forage.”

Minimise plastic A modern single sheet system will not only minimise forage wastage, it will also help ensure you are using as little plastic as possible on-farm. “Nobody wants to use more plastic than they need to. On a typical 16m wide by 50m long clamp, conventional black plastic with cling film will weigh around 110 kg, whilst with our most popular single sheet Silostop Max, this would be only 66kg. “Furthermore, if you were to use an Anti-UV cover over a thinner film such as Silostop Orange, the weight could be reduced to 38kg - which is a reduction in plastic use of 65% compared to the traditional approach. All our films are 100% recyclable too.”

Manage films correctly Type of forage will also play a key role in choosing the optimum film. “If you’re using a multi-cut system, where you will be repeatedly opening the clamp up to add material, a stronger film is advisable. This can then be used with a secure cover. “If you’re clamping maize or wholecrop silage where the clamp is filled and then left until it is opened, the lighter sheets with an Anti-UV cover are the best option. Whichever approach you take, bags and purpose-made mats are the best materials

Few farmers would tolerate 15% storage losses for any other crop says Lucy Johnson (below left)

for keeping covers in place and minimising pest damage. “The other advantage is that sheeting time can be cut in half and that’s important in making sure clamps are sealed every evening when you are filling them and also whenever you remove material from it over the winter.”

Constantly review performance Keep an open mind about how you can improve the efficiency of your silage making in the future. “We’re learning more about the best way to make silage all the time and when the cost of inputs and bought-in feeds is rising so quickly, it’s essential to make full use of every kg of forage you produce. “With home-grown forage increasingly critical to the economics of dairy production, investing in the best film you can, will always create a significant return on investment.”

FINAL SAY Clodhopper

William's story Older farmers have lots of experience – and we dismiss it at our peril, says Clodhopper

The chain was more off than on and only half a trailer load of parsnips was ever collected in a single day.

Little progress Yet William looks back on his first county council tenancy and the progression to his 120ha (300 acre) farm fondly. He wonders why today we need such big and heavy machinery. No wonder we have so much soil compaction and water laying on the land. A two-furrow plough, single roll with harrows and a Dutch harrow to finish. That's all he had. Back then, there was little artificial fertiliser. Instead, manure was carted from local cattle and pig farms and spread on the land so thick it would suck your boots off. These days, applying natural fertiliser seems back in fashion – and William wonders why it ever became unfashionable in the first place. Quite a mechanic in his day, he remembers driving a Clayson combine through his local city with the 10ft header on. It took a police escort and all the cars moved to one side. But imagine doing that today, he says with a smile – and all at 20mph. He also remembers his neighbours making a good living off 2ha (5 acres) of land. Growing an array of crops, he asks about the minimum amount of land required to make a living today. Has it reached 400ha (1000 acres) for combinable crops? Or even more? William believes we need to go backwards today to go forward tomorrow. He doesn't advocate a return to such small farms but says they do still have lots to offer – and deserve a well-earned place in the farming world. He might be 90 but William still leads a full and active life – and sits on a tractor seat when required. Maybe more people should listen to the older generation. Their experience and views are often still relevant today.

ith so much uncertainty in the farming world today, it's sometimes good to listen to my old friend William. He is 90-yearsold and still wonders where we are all going. Having left school at 14 to go straight on the land, William's first farm job was picking up potatoes into a basket. It was back-breaking work, he tells me. But the reward for his endeavours was to get to drive the tractor. An old John Deere with three wheels pulled the trailer when full. William still has the old metal basket somewhere in his shed. On the back of this, his first full time job was with a local landowner who had several farms spread over the county. Standard pay was £7 per week with plenty of over time if required. William repeats that the work was hard – but the days were short or long depending upon your appetite for work. If you wanted to earn more than £10 per week, you put in the extra hours. Some older workers were regularly on £16 per week. One of his first jobs was beet drilling – a four row Webb drill with an electrical warning system which comprised one red bulb which lit up in a box. If the bulb stayed on, it meant one of the units had stopped. But you didn't know which one. William had given the Stanhay drill a go but the belt-driven model was too erratic when it came to seed spacing so the Webb won the day. The required speed was 2mph. Any faster would compromise the seed spacing. Beet drilling was a responsible job and paid a few shillings more. It meant the 2mph speed limit was adhered to – as advised by his employers.

William was a spray man in the spring and received a bonus if he completed 25ha (60 acres) a day. He also worked with horses briefly. But – in his words – he never really could control or understand the things.

Hard work The best job in the six years he worked for that particular farm was learning to drive a lorry. Autumn meant taking three loads of beet daily to the nearby factory. In those days, it also meant loading lorries with a fork. Driving the lorry all day meant a quick return home for tea before leaving again for the market run. As best as William remembers, this involved delivering vegetables to somewhere near Fleet Street in London. After the market run, you had to drive the lorry home at 4am. Then it was two hours sleep before getting up to load beet again. The money was good, says William. But it came to an end when he became a father and saw his new born baby only once in the first month. Winters were cold in those days. So cold one winter that the parsnips were frozen solid in the ground. It took 20 men with hammers and crow bars to break the ice while the rest looked after the single row harvester.

“

Manure was spread so thick it would suck your boots off

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