Talking Policy

MATTCulley

Apart from trying to cool high grain temperatures, it has been a very low cost harvest

Writing this at the end of one of the earliest, quickest and driest harvests we have ever had, I am relatively pleased with what we have achieved.

We have managed to stay safe and accident free and having seen many reports of the horrendous fires across the country, I feel very fortunate.

Apart from trying to cool high grain temperatures, it has been a very low cost harvest, especially in terms of diesel and electricity usage, thanks to our harvest team who took on the late night and early morning harvesting with relish.

Yields have been varied. We started with an above average crop of Mascani oats, yielding 8.25 tonnes per hectare, then into spring barley with yields ranging from 5.75-7t/ha with soil type, establishment methods and use of biosolids accounting for the variations.

Winter wheat ranged from 7.5-11.5t/ha, again soil type and establishment method were a key factor in yield range.

We finished with an extremely disappointing crop of spring beans at 2.5t/ha, due to poor growth in April and subsequent poor pod set. In general, crops had above average specific weights and I now await sample results for quality.

Variations across my own farms are more than likely to be reflected across the various regions of England and Wales.

NFU survey

With this growing season being like no other, I know I will be completing the NFU survey once back in my farm office. By entering data around our harvest, the NFU can work to assess the impact of key issues this year like the fertiliser crisis, escalating input costs, market volatility and difficult weather.

With the present dry ground conditions presenting a major challenge for many growers across the UK hoping to drill oilseed rape over August, it highlights the importance of having reliable break crops across our arable rotations.

This is especially true when looking to develop opportunities for more niche arable crops, such as poppies and hemp.

Last week, Defra released the first of its long-awaited reviews looking at opportunities for diversifying UK agriculture through investment in underutilised crops.

This particular report looked at poppies, but the series looks at a range of key novel crops to identify opportunities for their use as forage/feed, for human consumption, or to produce pharmaceuticals.

These reports hope to look at the feasibility and practicalities of growing niche crops more widely and their potential contribution to helping diversify UK systems in terms of productivity, sustainability, and climate change resilience.

The process will ultimately result in recommendations which help shape future Government research work and investment.

These reports need to make the case to Government on the importance of support to help the industry capitalise on these new emerging market opportunities, the need to remove legislative barriers where possible, to fill growing knowledge gaps, and upscale knowledge exchange.

Breaking down these barriers would help put growers in the best position to feel able to begin to explore these opportunities.

This report is a great step forwards, but this is just part of the journey. Farmers and industry also need to work together to ensure these crops are fit for purpose and accessible to growers, alongside highlighting to Government the importance of commercially-viable, wider rotations.

About the author

rNFU crops board chairman Matt Culley is a fourth-generation farmer from Hampshire working in partnership with his parents and brother rThe 720-hectare enterprise produces wheat, barley, oilseed rape, forage maize and rye for anaerobic digestion across varying soil types, from chalk and chalk loam to clay cap. This includes 170ha of owned and rented land and 540ha of contract farming agreements rThe family also runs a pick-your-own soft fruit and summer vegetables business