Anglia Farmer September 2021 by Countrywide Publications

September 2021

Anglia

Farmer Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 35 years

Spud success: Potato growers David and Tom Caton are improving productivity

Capable combine: Claas unveils Trion harvester

News Thieves target high-tech farm equipment

Crop establishment How cover crops can bridge BPS gap

Forestry Benefits from better hedge management

Arable Funding for flight against flea beetle

Winter livestock Top tips for feeding this year’s silage

Machinery Vervaet slurry spreader goes on tour

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Anglia Farmer

OPINION Johann Tasker

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

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Anglia Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares. Subscription is £18 a year (including postage). No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for the opinions expressed by contributors. If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, please email your name, address and postcode as it appears on the wrapper to annie.fish@micropress.co.uk © Countrywide Publications 2021 Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Ltd, Suffolk. T: 01502 725800

Clampdown on organic manure is unworkable

rop nutrition plans are in turmoil after the Environment Agency decided farmers jump through numerous hoops before spreading organic manure this autumn (see page 14). On any level, the agency’s move to potentially limit and even prohibit the spreading of manure, slurry and biosolids is a truly bizarre decision. And it was one greeted with surprise, shock and then anger. It means laboratory analysis of all manures will be essential to know their total and available nutrient content before they can be spread this autumn. Soil testing every field for nutrients must also be undertaken. The agency’s interpretation of the government’s Farming Rules for Water is confused and lacking in clarity. And many farmers will find it unworkable – particularly the requirement to plan nutrient applications so as not to exceed soil and crop needs. The rules were introduced three years ago. But the agency says large amounts of organic manure are still being applied to arable stubbles each autumn – even though there is no crop need or where phosphate levels are already sufficient.

Contents

It has been suggested that manure applications must not be planned on land with a slope greater and eight degrees, light in soil type with P indices of 3 or above or that has been sub soiled or mole drained within 12 months. But as has been pointed out, none of these factors are regulatory. Perhaps most confusingly, however, the agency’s interpretation of the rules flies in the face of Defra’s efforts to encourage farmers to improve the structure and organic content of their soils – a cornerstone of government policy. Applying organic manure to fields is a centuriesold way to improve soil health. It is also a key way to dispose of treated sewage sludge which was – until recently – pumped out to sea at great environmental cost. Who knows where those biosolids will end up now? But that is the least of many worries for farmers who now face significant changes to the way they store and spread manure – and a significant cost too. Johann Tasker, Editor

Vol 41 • No 9 • September 2021

News .................................................................... 4

Property ........................................................... 48

Arable .................................................................. 8

Farm forestry .................................................. 51

Crop establishment ..................................... 27

Machinery ........................................................ 61

Winter livestock............................................. 39

Final Say .......................................................... 66

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News Cost of rural crime falls but remains big problem • Crime drops by more than 20% • Hi-tech equipment still targeted • Warning over lockdown easing

he cost of rural theft fell by 20.5% in East Anglia last year as the coronavirus pandemic kept thieves out of the countryside. Farm theft cost some £6.4m in 2020, suggest latest figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual. The decline matches a fall of 20.3% to £43.3m across the UK as a whole – making it the lowest annual cost recorded in five years. But highly-organised criminal gangs continued to plague farms – stealing GPS systems, agricultural vehicles and tools – as they focus on smaller, high-value targets to get more “bang for their buck”.

Crime wave The value of stolen GPS systems almost doubled last year to £2.9m, as global demand for hi-tech kit fuelled the rural crime wave. Other crimes – including dog attacks on livestock and fly-tipping – rose sharply. The value of sheep and cattle attacked by dogs increased by 10.2% in 2020 to £1.3m. The situation continues to worsen with NFU Mutual warning that the cost of dog attacks rose 50% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Fly-tipping in fields, gateways and country lanes reached epidemic proportions as waste recycling centres restricted access. This left farmers to deal with the clean-up and risks to their health and that of their livestock and the environment. Beefed-up security NFU Mutual regional manager Mike Adler said: “Coronavirus restrictions, beefed-up security on farms and more effective rural crime policing provided a welcome fall in rural thefts last year.” But Mr Adler warned: “Rural crime hasn’t gone away. Thieves are now returning armed with new tactics and targets. As the economic impact of the pandemic bites, we are very concerned that rural theft may escalate. “Last year saw sharp rises in other crimes such as dog attacks on livestock which caused appalling suffering to farm animals and huge anxiety for farmers and their families as they dealt with the aftermath.” NFU Mutual was continuing to work with police, farmers, communities and other rural organisations to tackle 4 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

Police check a tractor to ensure it isn’t stolen

“

Thieves are returning with new tactics and targets.

rural crime, said Mr Addler. It was investing more than £430,000 in rural security schemes – helping to recover more stolen machinery. “We believe this is vital support because rural crime isn’t just about money to replace stolen tractors. It causes disruption, seriously affects farmers’ mental well-being and destroys the trust which enables rural communities to flourish.” Farmers and other rural residents should report suspicious sightings and crimes to the police, said Mr Adler. “By working together, we can help stem the tide when the criminals become more active again.” Over the past two years, NFU Mutual has invested over £850,000 in the fight against rural crime – including a UKwide agricultural vehicle crime tracking and recovery unit working with police forces, Border Force and Interpol.

New AHDB service offers bespoke farm advice

new Farm Business Review service from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board aims to help 4,000 farmers secure a better future. The free, independent service combines an online self-assessment tool, expert advice and peer support to help businesses prepare for the biggest agricultural policy shift in a generation. The easy-to-use tool illustrates how the loss of direct payments will affect individual farms. It then allows users to evaluate their business resilience and performance – and decide what action to take. Funded by the £3.9m AHDB secured from the Defra Future Farm-

ing Resilience Fund, the service is designed for beef, sheep, dairy, cereals and oilseeds producers. Results from the Farm Business Review tool, will see special advice given to 600 farmers with the greatest need for additional support. AHDB head of business resilience Steve Dunkley said: “With reductions in BPS payments having started, taking a wait-and-see approach isn’t an option for farmers who have been most dependant on this income.” The AHDB says its Farm Business Review service will run until February 2022. For further details, visit https:// ahdb.org.uk/farm-business-review.

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News

Farm sunflowers generate £2m for wildlife charity

Lincolnshire farm has raised £2m for wildlife conservation – by growing bird seed – including 40ha of sunflowers. The black sunflower seeds are grown by Vine House Farm at Deeping St Nicholas, near Spalding. They are part of 160ha ha of bird seed crops, which go into wild bird food mixes, along with red millet, canary seed, oil seed rape and naked oats. Thanks to farmer and award-winning conservationist Nicholas Watts, the farm is a haven for flocks of wild birds including tree sparrows, red-listed linnets and lapwing. Money raised over 14 years supports the conservation work of the Wildlife Trusts. The farm is managed by Mr Watts’ daughter Lucy Taylor. “It’s been a proud time for me, my father and all our family to be able to reach the £2m milestone,” she said. “Now we look forward to the future and being able to eventually reach £5m and more.” Wildlife Trusts chief executive Craig Bennett said the Watts family had enabled many other people to experience the joy of nature. “We are extremely grateful to Nicholas and his family for their support and look forward to working with them for years to come.” Money raised is used top restore wildflower meadows, and wetlands, and enable more people to feel the health and wellbeing benefits of con-

necting with nature. Vine House Farm customers play an important part too, helping wildlife thrive.

More customers Mr Watts said the Covid-19 pandemic had seen more customers than ever coming to the farm for expert advice and wild garden bird food. It was important to offer a range of feed so each bird was able to eat what it needed. Although Vine House Farm is a commercial business supplying the general public, growing wild bird seed mixes will become increasingly important under the government’s forthcoming Environmental Land Management scheme. The AB9 winter bird food option which currently pays £640/ha under mid- and higher-tier Countryside Stewardship provides important food resources (small seeds) for farmland

birds, especially in autumn and winter. A similar option is set to be introduced under the ELM scheme, which is due to be up and running by 2024. The scheme is expected to be an important source of farm income following the phase-out of basic payments.

Nicholas Watts and daughter Lucy Taylor [photo credit: Matthew Roberts]

Call for clampdown on fly-tipping

andowners have joined more than 150 local councils and organisations to call for tougher action against fly-tippers. The Country Land & Business Association said current sentences failed to match the severity of the offence committed – or fairly reflect the costs incurred by local councils and private landowners forced to clear up the mess. CLA deputy president Mark Tufnell said: “Fly-tipping continues to wreck the lives of many

of us living and working in the countryside. “It’s not just the odd bin bag but large household items, from unwanted sofas to broken washing machines, building materials and even asbestos being dumped across our countryside.” The maximum fine for fly-tipping is £50,000 or 12 months in prison if convicted in a Magistrates’ Court. Mr Tufnell said it was crucial that the Sentencing Council listened to concerns to ensure offenders faced justice.

NORMAC demonstration ‘is biggest yet’ The Norfolk Farm Machinery Club will hold its largest cultivation demonstration this month – courtesy of Albanwise Farming, just outside Downham Market. The one-day event on Wednesday 8 September starts at 8.30am and will finish at 4.30pm. The 80ha (200 acre) site is fully booked with working and static plots demonstrating agricultural machinery, products and services. A record crowd of farmers, contractors and other machinery specialists is expected. For the first time this year, the show includes a bar. NRoSo and BASIS points are avaialble from a number of participating companies. The Norfolk Farm Machinery Club is the oldest farm machinery club in the country. It was established in 1946 to educate farmers and operators about newly available machines arriving on farms after World War Two. For details, visit www.normac.org.uk. 6 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

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Arable Fight against flea beetle gets fresh funding injection

Cabbage stem flea beetle on a young oilseed rape plant

• £1.8m against cabbage stem ﬂea beetle • Industry is working to combat problem • Resistant varieties are potential solution

esearchers working to combat a cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape have secured a fresh injection of funds. The £1.8m BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award will help scientists at the John Innes Centre and Rothamsted Research work with industry partners to find much-needed solutions to tackle the devastating pest. UK crop losses to flea beetle were estimated at 6.4% in 2016/17 rising to 15% in some counties. Some crops were written off entirely. The pest is increasingly problematic since neonicotinoid-based pesticides were banned as seed treatments. The escalation has led to questions over the future of the UK oilseed rape crop. Although high prices have seen some growers return to the crop, the oilseed rape area declined by 35% between 2012 and 2019. In place of pesticide use which is damaging to biodiversity, the research-industry partnership led by the John Innes Centre is implementing an integrated pest management approach. Key to this is the use of pest resistant oilseed rape cultivars. The project will enable research-

ers to identify genetic markers – landmarks within the crop genome. Scientists say this will guide breeders in developing resistant varieties of oilseed rape that are less palatable to flea beetle. Further research into the lifecycle and feeding preferences of the beetle is being carried out by entomologists and two post-graduate researchers at the John Innes Centre where the first in-house breeding population of the pest was established.

Partnership approach Project manager Rachel Wells, who is the principal investigator of the successful bidding team, said: “This is fantastic news, and it means we can accelerate vital work in combating this significant pest. “The success of the bid has been made possible with the support of a strong network of industrial partners which we have built over time. Through this partnership approach we are addressing an important problem for industry, turning scientific discovery into solutions.” Dr Wells will be working with the group of John Innes Centre colleague

“

It means we can accelerate vital work aganst this pest

Steve Penfield who is a co-investigator in the project. Industrial Partnership Awards encourage and support collaboration between academic research groups and industry. They are academic-led grants with significant industrial involvement. Industry partners contribute at least equivalent to 10% of the full project costs. Partners in this research project include seven crop breeding companies – DSV, KWS, Limagrain, Bayer, Elsoms, RAGT and LS Plant Breeding – and the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board. Rothamsted Research scientific project leader Sam Cook and colleague Frederic Beaudoin will examine the mechanisms that determine the feeding preferences of adult cabbage stem flea beetles – and the survival and development of their larvae. For more about establishing oilseed rape successfully, see page 29.

Winter bean variety extends grower choice

new winter bean has been launched by LSPB – the first from the breeder which is well known for its successful spring varieties. Pantani is a candidate for the 2022 PGRO Descriptive List. Two years of official trials results show that it has competitive yields with a set of agronomic characters that offer a contrast to control varieties Wizard

8 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

andTundra. A short, stiff strawed and very early maturing variety with a rating of 8, Pantani can spread the harvest workload for growers who already have a larger acreage of winter beans, says LSPB managing director Chris Guest. After limited seed availability in 2021 across the market place, growers are looking again at winter beans to diversify their

rotations and help with the cultural control of blackgrass, says LSPB – especially at the later sowing dates. “With Pantani – and other winter bean varieties we have in the pipeline – we hope we can bring growers the same improved yields and agronomic characters we have brought to spring beans over the years,” explains Mr Guest.

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Arable

Remarkable recovery for oilseed rape in Suffolk • Good agronomy boosts performance • Rape crop drilled ‘as soon as possible’ • Disease resistance among attributes

poor start hid the true potential of conventional oilseed rape variety Aspire – which came back in time to pip other hybrid varieties for yield on a Suffolk farm. “It yielded half a tonne more than any other variety on the farm,” says Tom Jewers, of Woodhall Farm, Rattlesden. “Based on this we will be using Aspire to replace our previous mainstays of Cabernet and Campus.” Growing oilseed rape remains high risk as well as high reward, so Mr Jewers tries to limit exposure as much as possible. While disease resistance is key, a good agronomic strategy can help the crop too, he says. In the battle against cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), Mr Jewers has found that rape plants should not drilled too close together. He aims for 20 plants/ m² irrespective of the crop being a hybrid or conventional variety.

Drilling date “We try to drill as early as possible so the crop has a chance to get away before CSFB numbers build. By creating more space the crop has a chance to grow thicker stems which are just that bit more resistant to the pest.” Reflecting on his decision-making process, Mr Jewers says one of the most important traits he looks for in a variety is still its resistance package – par-

ticularly to turnip yellows virus (TuYV). He was interested when Amalie was introduced as the first variety with TuYV resistance. An open-pollinated conventional rape with good gross output potential, it combines good lodging and excellent disease resistance as well as high oil content. Although official figures showed Amalie to be behind on yield, Mr Jewers decided to trial it on farm. “It out-yielded everything else – showing us that it was likely that our yields had been held back by TuYV,” he says. For the past few years, Mr Jewers has also grown companion crops. Having started on a small scale, they are now grown across the whole farm. Mixes of berseem clover and buckwheat are killed off over winter having given the rape a good start, he says..

In the past, turnip yellows virus restricted yields, says Tom Jewers

Loosened seedbed Benefits from companion crops have been general and sometimes inconsistent. One year they seemed to deter flea beetle. In another year, they seemed to deter pigeons. More consistently, they FARM FACTS Farmed area: 390ha (265ha home farm, 125ha contract farmed) Soil: Hanslope medium clay soil Seed rate: 40 seeds/m²

appear to deter slugs. Normally the oilseed rape is planted by direct drilling. But this year, Mr Jewers has had to undertake remedial work from wheelings in the previous barley crop. “If you have an issue with your soil you have to go in to repair it,” he explains. “This means that some of the crop went into a loosened seedbed on 27 July, although we were concerned that it may be more vulnerable to flea beetle. At the moment it is markedly forward from mineralising the nitrogen (N) from the cultivated soils. “Oilseed rape crops are a big risk, but the rewards can be equally as great, and there are no other break crops that we can grow on the farm that offer the same margins. Ultimately it is a case of trialling things to find out what works for you on your farm.”

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Cope Seeds adds Terravesta Athena to its portfolio

ope Seeds & Grain has linked up with miscanthus specialist Terravesta to market the rhizome hybrid crop variety Terravesta Athena. The new opportunity has been launched to help support the growing need to decarbonise the UK economy with bio-based solutions – and fits with Cope Seeds’ regenerative and organic portfolio. “We work with organic and regenerative farmers, and believe miscanthus is part of a wide mix of solutions to help store carbon, enhance biodiversity and improve soils on less productive land,” said Cope Seeds director Gemma Clarke. She added: “This new partnership extends our offering to growers, and will support the need to decarbonise agriculture, to reach net zero by 2050.” Miscanthus is a long-term perennial crop. It is a profitable option for marginal land where farmers find it hard to grow conventional crops and long-term agreements mean it is relatively risk-free compared to some other options Interest in miscanthus has never been greater, says Terraves-

ta. Farmers can now benefit from a finance package from Oxbury Bank to remove virtually all upfront costs of establishment and secure index-linked annual returns for 10-15 years. Terravesta’s chief operating officer Alex Robinson said: “Cope Seeds is a fellow Lincolnshire-based business operating all over the UK, and prioritises regenerative crop varieties suited to agroecological, low input or organic systems. “The addition of Terravesta Athena to the Cope Seeds portfolio is a milestone for Terravesta – where miscanthus sits alongside arable varieties – as a key part of the climate change solution, but not competing with food production.” Earlier this year, Terravesta published the first dedicated study into the miscanthus carbon lifecycle. It shows the crop to be net carbon negative, capturing at least 0.64t/ha of carbon annually in the soil. Terravesta Athena is harvestable from year two. Some of our growers report a first harvest of 8t/ha increasing to a mature yield of 10-17t/ha depending on soil type.

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Arable

‘Ticking time-bomb’ warning for seed disease resurgence

armers are being reminded to test untreated farm-saved seed for diease after Bayer recorded high levels of bunt in trial plots. Cereal seed diseases like bunt (Tilletia tritici) or loose smut (Ustilago tritici or U. nuda) have rarely been seen over the past decade because seed treatments have been very effective at controlling them. But more growers are using untreated farm saved seed and certified seed – prompting concern that efforts to save costs are having unintended consequences, says Kerry Maguire, Bayer’s agronomic solutions manager for arable diseases.

Untreated gamble Growers who don’t know their seed disease status are gambling by not using a treatment, says Dr Maquire. “Previously well-controlled seed-borne diseases have the potential to emerge unexpectedly and at high levels, causing significant yield loss.” Bayer is conducting the disease resurgence trials at Shelford in Cambridgeshire, and at its Stockbridge Technology Centre in Yorkshire. The trials began with untreated KWS Basset wheat seed and Cassata barley seed – saved two years ago and split into treated and untreated trial plots. Both received maintenance fungicide sprays during the growing season as required. Treated wheat plots had Redigo Pro (prothioconazole and tebuconazole) ap-

plied; while treated barley plots had an application of Raxil Star (prothioconazole, tebuconazole and fluopyram).

Extraordinary results No trial plots at Stockbridge have shown any visible disease yet – but results from year two in the untreated wheat plots at Shelford have been “quite extraordinary,” says Dr Maguire, “Bunt infection in the untreated plots ranged from 6.3% to 28% infection, with an average of 15% of ears infected across the trial. In the barley plots there is a small amount of loose smut, but no net blotch or leaf stripe have been seen yet.” One reason behind the trial was to look at what might happen if seed treatments are no longer available – and the difficulties growers may then face when growing certified seed crops – and when saving seed for their own use. Surprising outcome Bayer UK regulator manager Dave Holah says: “We were not expecting to see results in year two, so the Shelford wheat trial is a surprise. We hope that we will be able to clean sufficient seed from the untreated plots to be able to drill again.” One of the challenges of seed-borne disease is that unlike bunt, which occurs on the seed surface, other diseases such as loose smut exist in the seed embryo and cannot be detected without lab testing, nor removed by surface cleaning.

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Arable

Slurry spreading rules ‘remain unworkable’

arm leaders are continuing to highlight industry concerns after the Environment Agency confirmed a stricter approach to spreading organic manures. It follows an agency announcement last month which critics say will prevent many farmers from spreading slurry, manure and sewage sludge on farmland during the autumn and winter months. The latest interpretation of the government’s Farming Rules for Water means farmers must ensure they have a pollution prevention plan in place – and ensure applications to not exceed the needs of the soil or the crop. The government says the decision will allow farmers to continue spreading organic manures. But critics say the interpretation is unworkable – including the requirement for farmers to notify the agency of any applications.

the farming rules for water regulations is being interpreted. “I am deeply disappointed with the content of the statement by the Environment Agency, which sets an idealistic and impractical barrier in many farming situations.”

Wider benefits Mr Roberts said the NFU had made multiple approaches over the past two years urging Defra and the Environment Agency to set achievable objectives to make best use of organic manures, slurries and biowastes. “This seems to have been ignored, and I am still to hear from Defra ministers despite having written twice in recent months. To find ourselves in this situation so close to autumn shows a complete lack of appreciation of the

“

It shows a lack of appreciation of the bigger picture

bigger picture.” Legislation must be applied in a way that recognised the wider benefits of using organic manures, said Mr Roberts. Organic manures improved soil health – replacing manmade fertilisers while reducing ammonia emissions compared to spring applications. “Farmers have made great strides over recent decades in reducing key agricultural emissions. We’ve seen a major reduction in the amount of manures and fertiliser applied to farmland and held in the soil.”

Voluntary action This meant fewer nutrients reaching rivers. “Much of this progress has been made by farmers taking voluntary action through industry-led initiatives to drive improvements that benefit the water environment, as well as on farm productivity. “We can do more with investment through incentives, such as the Slurry Investment Scheme and the Environmental Land Management scheme, working alongside initiatives such as Catchment Sensitive Farming.” Organic manure spreading faces extra scrutiny this autumn

Independent advice Farmers wishing to spread organic manures should take independent advice to ensure that they understand any potential implications of doing so – and to ensure they are compliant with Farming Rules for Water, says the NFU. Many of the rules are unclear – including an uncertain timescale for measuring potential leaching rates. There is also concern that farmers could incriminate themselves by telling the agency they are spreading manure. NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “This announcement is a missed opportunity to provide much needed clarity for farmers who have significant concerns on how Rule 1 of

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Arable

A growing role for cover crops on your farm EXPERT VIEW Cover crops can smooth the transition to the Sustainable Farming Incentive, says Dick Neale.

hen any new technique is employed, its initial benchmark for success is a measure of the financial return it provides over the technique it replaces or enhances. In that respect, catch and cover crops have had a rocky start in their introduction to UK farms. This is largely because the financial positives – or negatives – from a cover crop in the initial stages of introduction are marginal with the potential

for a negative financial impact often overriding the positive. But measuring the success or value of a catch or cover crop based purely on its yield impact in a single fails to recognise the significant improvements in soil structure, biology, nutrient flow and water management that happens over a longer time. As details of the Sustainable Farming Initiative become clearer, there is little doubt that cover crops, reduced cultivation practices, soil assessments and improvement will be central to accessing government support over the coming decade. Due to launch next year, the Sustainable Farming Initiative is part of the government’s forthcoming Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs). It will be introduced as the basic payment is phased out over the next few years.

Benefits from cover crops include better soil health, nutrient flow and water management, says Dick Neale.

Organic matter Increasingly research is demonstrating the importance of below ground biomass in the building of soil organic matter (SOM) with figures recording over 40% of root matter being retained as SOM while top growth contributes only 8% to SOM. Cash crops must not be forgotten in the process of building SOM but catch and cover crops play a vital role in filling the gaps in rotational cropping, in particular being present during the August to November period when UK soils are traditionally bare from post-harvest cultivation. The value of catch and cover crops is immense when sown earlier during this period to intercept those longer days of sunlight energy and recharge the soils biological battery. For this reason, growers should choose a cover that works for their situation.

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Choice of cover is crucial to performance, addressing issues in individual fields and matching the farm’s management approach out of the cover period – be that grazing, rolling, spraying and direct drilling or cultivation. Cover crops can be used to improve carbon sequestration. Nitrogen ratios within the soil can impact the its ability to ‘digest’ high lignin residue like wheat straw. And they also can be used to slow the ‘burn rate’ of SOM in lighter soil fractions. The focus is knowing what the state the soil is in and what it needs. Cover crops can add significant diversity into rotations and are an ideal opportunity to get legumes into the cropping cycles – and reduce reliance on applied artificial nitrogen.

Reducing risk The following crop must also be considered as there is significant risk of yield reduction where oats or rye form a high proportion of the cover crop mix prior to spring barley or wheat. Where cereals dominate the rotation, utilising oats as the cover adds little in diversification terms. Consistently successful cover crops

“

Growers should choose a cover that works for their farm

are made up of multiple species. The species mix should be optimised to the targeted impact required while bringing diversity, nutrient fixation, storage and release. Ease of use like seed flow characteristics through air seeders and overall rates of use to fit with smaller air seeder hoppers is a further consideration along with reliability of species with the UK climate. At Hutchinsons, our seed mixtures have been optimised for reliability and performance. Typically, they contain eight species with crop volunteers making it a nine species population. Ratios in the mixtures are adjusted to optimise the area of performance, be that soil structural impact, nutrient release and fixation, water pumping or surface protection. Transition from one cultivation system to another takes time – both for growers to gain confidence and for soil to improve. Now is an ideal time to make the change while support payments remain to help counter the risks and tweaks required for any system as it establishes itself on farm. Dick Neale is technical manager for agronomy company Hutchinsons.

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Arable

Promising results in quest for drought resistant beet • Spring weather is more unpredictable • Trials are encouraging, says breeder • Aim to breed more resilient sugar beet

ugar beet breeder SESVanderHave is reporting promising results as it strives to address the challenge of increasingly dry springs. This year saw one of the driest Aprils on record in East Anglia and much of the East Midlands – the UK’s main sugar beet growing area. It is yet another indication of more extreme climatic conditions that may affect crop performance and returns. Drought tolerance is one of several traits on the radar of plant breeders. It is particularly important for

sugar beet because the crop uses increasing amounts of water throughout the season – especially once crops have achieved full cover. Water demand from sugar beet peaks in July and August when yields will suffer if it becomes a limiting factor. On average, annual water demand is between 600-700mm, which can be met without irrigation only if sufficient water is available. Sugar beet requires only half the amount of water required by sugar cane. But prolonged drought can still

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needed. And Mr Robinson believes the most durable solution will be one that combines a number of these strategies rather than simply hoping we can target a single gene. “Drought tolerance is a complex trait. It impacts multiple functions within the plant and therefore potentially the impacts on many genes including those that modify rooting, leaf surface, stomatal opening, and more.” It is a compromise between limiting water loss and the need to absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis to continue, which in turn is the driver for yield. High yields are only

erties that allow a plant to maintain a high degree of tissue hydration, even when water supply is limited. There are four potential scenarios when it comes to developing more resilient sugar beet varieties: 1) Just carry on. Here plants develop normally in normal conditions. This is fine when crops come under stress for short periods. But the risk of significant underperformance increases as stress periods lengthen. 2) Reduce drought damage. Varieties that achieve this are able to reduce the energy and sugar that is used for regrowth or to repair cellular damage which can occur when drought is severe during the growing season. 3) Improve water efficiency. Varieties that require less water for growth. They are adapted to reduced water transpiration during carbon dioxide exchange. They are able to regulate temperature in a number of ways including curling the leaves, wilting or by closing the stomata in times of drought to reduce transpiration. 4) Increased water uptake. Varieties capable of this are capable of developing deep, highly branched roots to ‘dig deeper’ for better absorption of soil water. Which of these four scenarios is the best to adopt depends on the severity and duration of drought events.

Achieving potential Alternatively, the growing season for beet could be adapted to take account of more frequent droughts. In the hot climates of Italy and Spain, there is a shift to autumn sowing. But that is not an option for the UK because bolting would increase. The means a different approach is

“

Drought tolerance is a complex trait

achieved with high rates of transpiration. For some time, however, SESVanderHave has seen promising varieties in its trials. “What is clear, is that our breeding targets must routinely create varieties that use water more efficiently and withstand heat and drought. Conversely it needs to exploit the rain when it comes to maximise yield,” says Mr Robinson. Results to date are promising with drought tolerant lines losing no more than 10% of yield, where those without any tolerance recording losses of 30% or more.

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Arable

Profitable wheat production despite blackgrass challenge • Cover crops help enhance control • Spring cereals included in rotation • Legume fallow bolsters resilience

inter wheat can deliver decent profits – despite a high blackgrass seed burden, according to one of the country’s leading arable trial sites. Agrovista’s Lamport AgX site in Northamptonshire is examining how rotations, cover cropping and regenerative agriculture principles can interact to improve soil health and yields while maintaining blackgrass levels at manageable levels. Over the years, Agrovista has refined an autumn cover crop and spring cereal rotation to keep blackgrass under control. It is a tough testing ground, situated on heavy, high calcium soils that are difficult to manage, with a

Visitors on an open day at the Lamport AgX trials site

background blackgrass population of 2000 plants per square metre. A cover crop, based on black oats, is established in early autumn after a light cultivation to maximise blackgrass establishment, before bulking

up to condition and drain heavy soils over winter for spring drilling. The cover crop and ‘trapped’ blackgrass are sprayed off ahead of the spring cereal, which is direct-drilled to minimise soil disturbance and blackgrass emergence. “The aim is to get lots of blackgrass to germinate in the autumn, and none in the spring,” says technical manager Mark Hemmant. “Everything else bolts on around this.” While spring cereals have been the cash crop of choice so far, recent work has shown that a return to winter wheat is feasible, but perhaps only one year in three where the resistant blackgrass seed burden remains very high – even after eight years of cultural and chemical controls.

Legume fallow – AB15 One option to help farmers return to winter wheat uses a legume fallow,

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based on the Countryside Stewardship AB15 option. The official option was tweaked because it became swamped with blackgrass after being drilled in August – as per the guidelines – and it became puddled in the winter.

Niall Atkinson, consultant and trials coordinator at Lamport AgX, says: “It has done nothing to date for blackgrass control or soil health, and environmentally the mowing stipulated in the scheme has been a bit of a disaster.” In the alternative option, a black

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oat and phacelia cover crop was established in August 2018 to trap blackgrass and condition the soil. It was desiccated the following January and again just before the AB15 legume mix was established in the spring. “The mix grew away very well and we didn’t need to carry out successive mowing to control blackgrass. We sprayed it off in August 2020 and in October established winter wheat with a direct drill to minimise blackgrass germination,” says Mr Atkinson. “You can see the odd blackgrass continued on p22

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Arable Niall Atkinson (left) and Mark Hemmant in the trial plots.

continued from p21 plant but control is very acceptable – the wheat looks like a 10-12t/ha crop.” The winter wheat will be followed by a return to the cover crop/spring crop sequence for at least two years. “A second winter wheat might appear tempting, especially at current wheat prices,” says Mr Hemmant. “But blackgrass explodes. Even after seven years of very low seed return we still haven’t depleted the weed seed bank sufficiently to be able to rely on chemistry.” The modified AB15 is not allowed under mid-tier rules, being spring drilled, but could be under the Sustainable Farming Incentive. But, if the legume mix still has to be grown for two calendar years, it would have to be followed with a spring crop rather than winter wheat.

Winter wheat – Lamport style A further method tested under extreme conditions could enable growers to return to winter wheat without sacrificing one or two years of cash cropping. This trial follows a third winter wheat crop that failed in summer 2019 after being overwhelmed by blackgrass, despite a £150/ha herbicide spend. Half the plot was earmarked for ploughing and half for a cover crop/ spring crop sequence. However, heavy autumn rains put paid to ploughing plans, thoughts of a cash crop were abandoned and a cover crop was established the following summer. In the other half, the cover crop was drilled on 5 September 2019, trapping blackgrass and conditioning the soil. It was desiccated in early January and spring oats were direct-drilled on 27 March 2020 and went on to yield just under 8t/ha. “We then direct-drilled winter wheat in mid-October when conditions

were on the limit,” says Mr Atkinson. “Despite that, two years after a disaster, the wheat looks almost as good as that following our modified AB15. “And we’ve also had an 8t crop of spring oats in the meantime and have ended up with very little blackgrass. “Conventional wisdom says we should have pressed the reset button and ploughed, but this alternative appears to work well.”

“

The wheat looks like a 10-12t/ha crop

Regenerative principles A further study at Lamport is assessing the prospects of reducing reliance on conventional agrochemicals. A plot of spring wheat was sown in late March, along with sweet allyssum to encourage beneficials and berseem clover to condition soil and fix nitrogen. “We’ve basically taken away conventional chemical inputs,” says Mr Hemmant.

“We’ve used no fungicide seed treatments, no herbicides and minimal foliar fungicide.” The plot received 20kg/ha of controlled-release foliar N, replacing 100kg/ha of conventional N to reduce free nitrogen in the soil and to lower the carbon footprint. A comprehensive biostimulants programme was adopted, including Tiros seed treatment to fix N and, with seedbed-applied Phosphorus Liberator, to release soil phosphate. Amino acid products Klorofill and T6P were applied at conventional fungicide timings, along with L-CBF Boost, a food source for soil microbes and fungi. “This approach seems to have worked well. It’s a really interesting concept. If we can adopt areas of regenerative farming within a conventional system to make it more sustainable, that has to be good.”

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Precision biopesticide application under way

evising a method for the precision application of fungicides and biopesticides is being investigated in a newly-commissioned project funded by Innovate UK. Following a successful Smart Grant application, a three year feasibility study called SprayBot will take place delivered by Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) in collaboration with Newcastle University, the Small Robot Company and Fotenix. SprayBot will investigate how combining early disease detection techniques such as imaging and spore sensors with robotic machinery can create a system to improve the application of fungicides and biopesticides – reducing overall pesticide use. CHAP sector lead Richard Glass said: “Plant protection products remain an important input for growers, ensuring they can reliably produce crops to feed the world’s rapidly expanding population. “But their risk-based cautionary

use and application could be improved, helping promote the sector’s sustainability and environmental credentials, whilst helping protect the future of the effective chemistry that remains. “Thanks to significant advances within the world of agri-tech, it’s now possible to use targeted ‘variable rate’ applications of other inputs such as nutrition. SprayBot aims to investigate a system that can do the same for fungicides and biopesticides.” It is hoped that SprayBot will give farmers a valuable tool in implementing sustainable farming practises. In doing so, it could proactively help meet the government’s net zero target by improving and reducing inputs.

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Robot Company. Small Robot Company co-founder Sam Watson Jones said SprayBot could enable a new generation of spot treatment chemicals, reduce costs, and significantly reduce the impact on biodiversity. “Microspraying could be game-changing for the industry,” he added. “Up to 95% of chemicals are wasted in the current farming system. Robotic precision application technology will be both economically and environmentally sustainable.”

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Arable

Switch to fertiliser contractor frees up management time • Good potatoes are vital for success • Operation now runs more smoothly • Growers can save time and money

Cambridgeshire potato grower is improving productivity by using a contractor to deliver and apply fertiliser. Father and son David and Tom Caton, of J A Caton & Son, have passed responsibility for the supply of potato fertiliser and spreading to a dedicated Omex contractor. The 300ha family farm at Benwick, near March, supports 60ha of potatoes grown for the bag trade and chip shops – as well as growing onions, winter wheat, spring barley and oilseed rape. Growing quality potatoes is fundamental to the business, which relies on attention to detail to ensure crops achieve maximum value in an extremely competitive market. Two cold stores totalling 2200t and a 900t of ambient bulk storage mean potatoes can be supplied to customers

24 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

from November to June. Average yields are around 17t to20t/ac depending on the variety such as Markies, Sagitta and Maris Piper.

Time pressure Soils across the farm are black to medium fen but potatoes are kept off any heavy land, which has irrigation predominantly used for onions and potatoes when needed. Pressure on time and issues with the quality of bagged fertiliser last year resulted in the company switching to Omex. Sulphur in the bags kept blocking the Horstine Microband applicator, which was mounted on the front linkage of the farm’s tractor and the Standen planter was pulled behind of the 160hp New Holland Tractor. The potato fertilising operation al-

David and Tom Caton say the new system is much faster

ways used to be a three man operation – one on the forklift, another on the spreader and one delivering fertiliser to the field. Fertiliser would be taken to the field on a trailer and then seed bought separately. The operator would then fill the planter with seed as well as fertiliser. “The process never used to run smoothly because we could not get both applications synchronised,” says David Caton. “Planting became a slow operation, and despite being land wheel driven we couldn’t get the accuracy when travelling at speeds greater than 3kph.

Labour requirement “Granular fertiliser is also a bulky product to store and it was often delivered when inconvenient or there was nobody in the yard to receive it.” The switch to Omex’s delivered and spread service coincided with an increase in potato acres grown from 70ac to 120ac, but significant benefits of this system – including freeing up labour and storage space as well as low maintenance and repairs – meant that the acreage jumped again to 160ac. “When we realised that our fertiliser regime needed addressing we used the opportunity of the Cereals event to go and see Omex to discuss our concerns and options,” explains Mr Caton. “We really liked the way the company operated. Originally we thought we would do a trial first to compare a granular system with delivered and spread suspension application. In the end we

just went for it having been convinced of the benefits. Switching to Omex has made a significant impact on our potato operation. Crops are more even across the whole field, including the headlands. “We have found that a liquid fertiliser system is much more accurate, especially at 36m. It’s a dense product that is being applied out of a large nozzle, so even on a windy day we can still apply it. This increases our application window and allows us to select the best days to get on the land rather than being dictated to by the weather. “We can now also apply fertiliser right up to the field boundary with no risk of putting nutrients in the hedgerows or directly into water courses. The Microband was sold and the Sulki was retained because it is used in the winter wheat operation,” says Mr Caton.

Nutrient testing “We always carry out an annual soil test for nutrient levels, which are normally in the 3/4’s, because historically they always used to apply 20t/ac of pig manure every year,” he explains. “Omex now carries out our soil testing before ploughing.”

Using a contractor has reduced soil compaction, say David (left) and Tom Caton

Mr Caton places the fertiliser order with Omex based on the soil analysis and a tailored fertiliser mix is delivered in a tanker to the field edge, where it can be easily accessed by the fertiliser contractor. “Switching to the Omex system takes much of the time consuming element of the operation, which frees up valuable management time. It has also reduced the number of tractors need-

“

Our crops are uniform across the whole ﬁeld

ed in the field, which has saved diesel and reduced soil compaction. “If we also take into account the cost of the granular fertiliser application that we no longer need, then the Omex suspension fertiliser system has saved us money too. With no waste bags or leftover fertiliser at the end of season to dispose of or store, we feel that we are also having a positive impact on the environment.”

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Crop establishment Event showcases options to ‘bridge payment gap’

Farmers must be flexible about how they grow crops, says Matt England

• Environment central to future support • Trials site highlights cover crop options • Range of seed mixes have been sown

gronomy firm Hutchinsons is helping growers plan the best way forward as agricultural support switches from direct support to environmental payments. As part of its Helix initiative, the firm has established a new trials site near Warboys in Cambridgeshire. It is testing stewardship options that will be central to future support within the forthcoming Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. This month, it will open its doors to the site, giving growers chance to see for themselves different stewardship mixes, learn how to establish them and discuss the benefits they deliver to biodiversity and soil health. The event provides the perfect platform for planning the next steps within the new policy framework and help bridge the gap that may develop in farm finances once the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is gone. “All farmers should be considering what they can do in terms of stewardship options now, don’t just wait until ELMS is launched in 2024,” says services leader Matt Ward. “There’s a great opportunity to get two bites of the cherry by trying different stewardship options at the same time as still being able to claim some BPS. “It is a very different world we’re looking at though. It will require growers to be more flexible about how and where they grow crops and think carefully about where stewardship options best fit into their own business.”

Explore the options Understanding what is available and seeing how various options perform in a normal farm situation allows more informed decisions to be made, says Hutchinsons environmental specialist Matt England, whose 180 ha (450-

acre) family farm is hosting and managing the trials. The site, which is predominantly on heavier clay-based soil, includes spring-drilled plots of 16 different species. These have beeb sown as straights, allowing growers to see the characteristics and growth habits of species like sorghum, reed millet, camelina and quinoa, alongside more familiar names such as kale, stubble turnip and sunflower. “Many species will be new to a lot of farmers, so it’s interesting to see their characterises and how they grow in UK conditions. We’ve been fortunate with the rain in May coming straight after drilling, which really helped plots establish, so they should look fantastic by September.” A range of seed mixes has also been established, including the twoyear legume option (with and without grass) and other flower/nectar-rich mixes, that are already attracting considerable interest among farmers in existing stewardship schemes, the ELMS pilot, and the regenerative agriculture movement.

Biggest challenge “Weed control is one of the biggest challenges many growers face when establishing stewardship mixes, which is why we’ve included a herbicide trial of pre-ems, post-ems and a combination of both to see what works across the different species and seed mixtures.

“

All farmers should consider what they can do

BOOK YOUR PLACE The Helix environmental stewardship open day takes place on Thursday 16 September, near Warboys in Cambridgeshire. Advance booking is essential. For full details and to secure your place, please call Matt England on 07866 197521 or visit the events section at www.hlhltd.co.uk.

“If you can keep these mixes weedfree, it is much better for biodiversity as it allows the flowering and seed-producing species to thrive, rather than having them outcompeted by weeds. Mr England adds: “Ultimately, if you’re going to be putting a percentage of your farm down to these kind of mixes now and in the future, then you’ve got to select the most appropriate options for your situation and manage them well to get the most out of them.” The impact of stewardship mixes on soil health is another area being investigated at the Warboys site, which has been assessed before drilling to provide a baseline from which any changes can be measured. “Many stewardship and cover crop mixes can have a beneficial impact on soil health, organic matter and biodiversity, so we hope to be able to show that change over time.” SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 27

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Crop establishment

How to improve oilseed rape establishment this autumn • Good seedbed and moisture important • Apply fertiliser soon after sowing crop • Devise appropriate nutrient programme

oist seedbeds remain key for oilseed rape establishment as high prices encourage growers to return to the crop. “With oilseed rape, it really depends on autumn sowing conditions,” says Natalie Wood country arable agronomist for nutrient specialists Yara. “Last year, we saw an increase as the weather was almost ideal for establishment. If we have enough moisture in that August to mid-September drilling window, we’ll see good establishment conditions again.”

Seed treatments Nutrition is a large factor in the successful establishment of oilseed rape. Where possible, Ms Wood suggests the use of seed treatments to increase that initial speed of emergence. Coating the seed ensures that the nutrients in the treatment are concentrated at the source, she says. “This means as soon as the seed germinates and roots start to develop, nutrients are being taken up.” Ms Wood recommends a product containing equal amounts of phosphorous and manganese, both crucial for this early growth stage. Phosphorous assists energy transfer and shoot development, providing a crucial supply for the freshly germinated seed. Manganese plays a role in chlorophyll production, enzyme activation, and carbohydrate metabolism – without it, deficiency will impact photosynthetic efficiency and limit the plant. But how much difference does the right product make? “A trial in 2020 showed weight increases of roots and shoots by about 20%. That can make a difference between a vulnerable growth stage to one more able to cope if flea beetle migration has occurred.”

“It can be tempting to wait until the crop is up and established before applying,” says Natalie. “But that can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you haven’t set the crop up with its best chance, you can’t expect it to establish very well.” Yara trials have also shown positive associations between NPKS addition and winter survival: a 38% survival rate for NS grades is far below the 90-100% when applying an NPKS, in part due to potassium acting as an antifreeze to prevent frost damage. “Looking at trial data, we also saw an increase of 0.21t/ha when placing fertiliser compared to broadcasting,” says Ms Wood. “At current prices, that’s roughly £90/ha.” Having both P and K in your fertiliser will also increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Over nine different sites, trials reported an average 20% increase in N uptake due to P and K – one site reached 40%, highlighting the importance of P and K for increasing nitrogen uptake. “We need to try and make sure there are no limiting factors as the crop moves through its growth stages pre-winter,” says Ms Wood. Key micronutrients im-

portant for oilseed rape in particular include magnesium, calcium, boron, manganese, and molybdenum. “If conditions are right, rape can put on a lot of biomass in the autumn, which risks deficiencies,”

“

If we have enough moisture, we’ll see good establishment Taking care of micronutrients will ensure there are fewer limiting factors and trials show an increase of about 310kg/ha from an application in the autumn and the spring – so micronutrient applications represent a good return on investment. Looking ahead to 2022, Ms Wood says taking the right steps mean it is possible to give oilseed rape the best possible start and take advantage of higher prices. For this reason, more people are expected to grow the crop this season. “If it’s possible and you still have capacity, give your seed the best possible start with a nutritional seed treatment. In addition, at drilling – or as soon as possible afterwards – apply an NPKS fertiliser to ensure key nutrients are not limited.”

Direct drilling oilseed rape

Fertiliser To improve establishment and get the crop away quickly, fertiliser should be applied as soon as possible after drilling. NPK is ideal as a starter fertiliser. Potassium also helps root growth and water regulation, which is beneficial if a dry spell hits after drilling. SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 29

Crop establishment

Room for improvement in slug control strategies Warning after spring boosts numbers

survey of arable growers has highlighted the need for greater accuracy when applying slug pellets – with application timing one of the biggest improvements needed to tackle a burgeoning slug population. Some 81% of growers perceive the threat posed by slugs has either remained static (65%) or increased (16%) over the last three years, according to the Adama UK poll. But only 28% of growers are using traps to assess slug activity. The survey found that 20% of growers were potentially applying pellets ahead of the slug threshold being reached, says Adama molluscicide and fungicide product manager Melanie Wardle.

“What we learned was that growers are anticipating another year of intense slug pressure predominantly because the wet weather in the second half of the spring coincided with the main breeding period resulting in the potential for an increased population this autumn.”

Adama’s ferric phosphate pellet Gusto Iron

Pellet management Ms Wardle said the survey also highlighted that the majority of growers were using pellets correctly. But there was still considerable room for improvement in terms of when and – to an extent how – pellets were applied. In terms of how growers assess the slug threat in their crops, 69% of farmers said they relied on visual inspec-

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Weather conditions have encouraged more slugs this year.

tions when crop walking, with 28% using slug traps and 3% using slug forecasting tools. “From a best-practice perspective it is essential that pellets are only applied once the threshold has been

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reached so it’s encouraging that almost a third of growers are proactively using slug traps to determine when slugs are active. In an ideal world, 100% of growers would be using traps to assess

the risk, says Ms Wardle. “Trapping is more reliable than basic visual inspections which can be more hit and miss depending on when the crop is walked and during what conditions.” Adama recently launched its new

Growers should use traps to assess slug numbers, says Melanie Wardle

ferric phosphate pellet Gusto Iron and has another novel active ingredient in development. Ms Wardle said the company was keen to identify what growers look for when choosing a molluscicide. The survey indicated that the most critical factors when choosing a slug pellet were palatability, active ingredient efficacy and pellet longevity in wet conditions. Spreading accuracy, mould resistance and pellet visibility were also important. Growers expressed a clear preference for high quality, value-added pellets which balanced palatability and longevity with colour retention and mould resistance. Gusto Iron had all these attributes said Ms Wardle. The survey also highlighted that 37% of growers are applying pellets to 12 metres, with an additional 24% spreading to 18m. A further 32% are spreading to 24m, with the remaining 7% spreading to 36m. “Even at relatively narrow working widths it’s imperative to ensure that spreading equipment is correctly calibrated and that it is operated at an appropriate forward speed according to the prevailing climatic conditions.”

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Crop establishment

Fertiliser applicator ticks boxes for organic farm • New machine has bespoke design • Larger than standard 1500L hopper • Suits conventional and organic crops

mproving fertiliser application accuracy across different row widths is improving productivity on a Cambridgeshire organic farm. Based just outside March, fifth generation Bedlam Farms Organic has supplied niche vegetables – including asparagus, broccoli, fennel and artichokes – to the UK’s major supermarket chains since 2006. The company invested in a new Placement Pro Air applicator from Cambridgeshire-based Techneat Engineering last autumn to reduce wastage and eliminate the need for additional inter-row weed control, explains company director Tobias Martin. “As it has for many UK businesses, Brexit has admittedly had an impact, particularly on staff retention – but I think we’ve shown great resilience and the future for the organic business looks very strong.”

Flexible requirement Before the purchase of the Placement Pro Air last year, Bedlam Farms used a traditional broadcast spreader. It worked well for conventional crops – but didn’t offer the flexibility needed for organic crops, many of which are grown on different row widths. “Without the placement accuracy we needed, a follow-on problem was that fertiliser was often placed in the spaces between crop rows leading to product wastage and an eventual build up of weeds requiring more time spent on additional weed control.” Mr Martin approached Techneat Engineering following a recommendation from the farm’s fertiliser supplier. The need for a new fertiliser applicator was discussed and Techneat agreed to design and build one. Bigger hopper The new Placement Pro Air applicator is a larger than standard 1500L hopper – saving time spent on re-filling. 32 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

The front-mounted Placement Pro Air with 1500L hopper on a John Deere 6135

More importantly, it has a fully adjustable set of repositionable outlets across the width of the boom to cover all different row widths we needed. By November, Techneat had delivered the new machine with managing director Tom Neat personally supervising the calibrating and testing together with some staff training to help us reduce set up time. “Like most of the Techneat range, the machine is simple to operate, quick to set up and easy to calibrate,” says Mr Martin. “Overall build quality is excellent with stainless steel components to ensure accurate, corrosion free operation.”

Electronic system Front mounted on a John Deere 6150R tractor, granular fertiliser is metered into an airstream via a powerful hydraulic fan. It is then distributed to a

“

It is simple to set up and easy to operate

number of outlets flexibly positioned along the full width of the boom to conform with any row width required. The Placement Pro Air has its own electronic control system to control forward speed and application rates that can run independently or be linked to the John Deere’s own GreenStar guidance system if desired. The simple and robust design means there have been no maintenance issues since purchase. Nozzle spacing alterations take around 3040 minutes to re-set the machine for different crops so there is very little ‘stop-start’ either. “Going forward we have an option to mount a cultivator on the tractor to work in tandem with the new applicator when applying starter fertiliser. This would further reduce crop passes helping to protect our soil as well as reducing fuel costs.”

Crop establishment

Hybrid rape delivers in Suffolk • Aurelia ‘vigorous and performs well’ • Good conditions help establishment • Nutrition important for decent start

ood yields have been achieved from a mix of oilseed rape varieties grown by HH Craske & Son – Michael Craske’s farm at Hadleigh, Suffolk. Mr Craske has always grown conventional rape varieties – carefully assessing the traits and resistances. Initially sceptical about moving away from them, for the past two years he has grown hybrid rape too. Conventional varieties this year were Acacia and Aardvark. Last year, 50% of the rape grown was hybrid Aurelia which was vigorous and performed well despite difficult conditions. This year, Mr Craske grew Aurelia again. “After drilling the first time, it stood in water,” he said. “Then in the spring

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we had lots of frosts, which may have affected the biomass. However, the crop was saved by the damp weather in May and June.”

Good conditions Aurelia has a good resistance package that includes Turnip Yellows Virus (TuYV) and light leaf spot, pod shatter and Phoma stem canker. It also has ratings of 7 for stem stiffness and lodging resistance. Choosing the right ground conditions is key to a good start – but nutrition plays a part too. Oilseed rape is often planted behind spring barley or second wheat prioritised for early harvest. This year, plans are to drill it on the farm behind winter barley as well as spring barley.

Michael Craske applies 40kg/ha of nitrogen for a running start.

B • Brigstock 01536 373238

Mr Craske has also planted after winter wheat with chopped straw, but if the weather is damp he advises applying slug pellets ahead of drilling and double rolling to ensure good seed to soil contact. “We have found that unlike wheat, spring barley does not leave any residual nitrogen in the soil to get rape off to a good start, so we have learned to apply some nutrition in these situations.” Some 40kg/ha of nitrogen is applied in January to help the crop get a running start. In total, 200kg/ha is applied over the growing season up until the middle of March. SOYL scans are used for variable rate potash and phosphate. Polysulphate is also applied.

Market volatility Last year, no seed was ordered due to the volatile rape market. Instead, it was bought for next day drilling when conditions were right. “It makes a difference when it is possible to work with

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suppliers that are able to operate on this basis.” Cultivation involves a Heva 9-leg subsoiler on a crawler with an Accura disc seeding mechanism. The coulters follow the leg of the subsoiler and the rest of the ground is not touched. Mr Craske finds he gets best results with 50cm rows and a seed rate of 2.53.3kg/ha. Having dedicated about one fifth of the farm’s combinable area to rape last year, the initial plan is to do the same for the 2021-2022 season. “Despite having grown oilseed rape on the farm since 1974, there is always something new to learn; but there’s no way of getting away from the fact that the crop remains something of a lottery.”

“

FARM FACTS

There is always something new to learn

Third-generation farm founded in 1951 Farm size: 700 ha, all farmed in-house Oilseed rape area (2020/21): 128 ha Soil: Hanslope, with sandy clay loam Rotation: 1st wheat, 2nd wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape, 1st wheat, 2nd wheat, legume (usually winter beans, but peas in more diﬃcult years).

Aurelia is being drilled behind winter and spring barley

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Crop establishment

tips to get combinable crops off to a good start Dr Paul Fogg of Frontier Agriculture reveals his ﬁve tips for successful crop establishment this autumn

1 Seedbeds, seed rate and seed treatments Soil type and cultivations have a strong effect on establishment. On nice light, sandy, loamy soil, you can achieve 90% establishment. But on heavier clays, it will fall away, be prepared to increase seed rates based on local conditions. As well as soil type, consider the weather, drilling date, sowing depth and disease risk – and whether you are using a seed treatment or cleaned-only seed. All those factors might seem basic but they still have a key role to play. Winter wheat crops should be established from mid-September. Tailor seed rate to drilling date. Drilling before 10 September, you should look at 175-250 seeds/m². That should increase to 350-400 seeds towards mid-October and potentially higher still afterwards There is growing interest in cleaned-only seed – but don’t forget the value of a single purpose seed dressing. It has an agronomic benefit and almost forgotten issues – including seedling blights,loose smut and bunt – can rear their head again without one. Added value seed treatments also have a key role to play and in trials have been shown to help promote rooting and shoot growth as well as overall plant establishment. – especially when drilling later into more marginal seedbeds.

Ryegrass has a low innate dormancy so in theory a high percentage of seed should germinate in October and November. The reality is, it doesn’t. It germinates all year. And it is difficult to control in a spring crop so drill as late as you can and adopt a robust residual herbicide strategy built around flufenacet and prosulfocarb. . Brome is also seeing a resurgence, especially where there is a min-till approach. The plough is probably the most effective effective tool, but that’s obviously not going to sit well with all growers taking a conservation agriculture approach. So again, you have to think about how to manage it to best effect. Understand the species. Is it sterile brome, great brome or a soft brome. Because all that will impact your post-harvest cultivation strategy.

3 Biostimulants There is a whole raft of technology out there but you need to get the basics right. Our approach is: if you don’t know what’s in it or how it works, don’t use it. You need to know what’s it trying to achieve.

A lot of these products are about genetic triggers – trying to make the plant do something. So if you don’t understand what it is doing, then you might be using it at the completely the wrong time. We’ve also been looking for key modes of action to use throughout the programme – from establishment to stem extension. Phosphite, for example, can give you a strong foundation by increasing root biomass and shoot numbers. One of the best vehicles for delivering phosphite in the early stage of plant life is via the seed as a seed treatmemt. But you can also use it as a foliar applications during autumn and early spring. Remember micronutrition too – not just phosphate and potash. Manganese, copper and zinc are also important. Consider the type of formulation the products you are applying and how effective they are at actually getting to the plant and correcting deficiencies. We are now using products that contain R-100, a dual action biostimulant. It encourages increased cell division and growth – and helps the crop utilise everything you’re applying as opposed to leaving a lot of it sitting on the leaf surface not doing anything. >>

2 Grass weeds Pressure from blackgrass hasn’t gone away, despite more focus on ryegrass and brome in some areas. Employ stale seedbeds wherever possible and moving as little soil as possible at drilling. Ryegrass is becoming a far bigger challenge. In places like Essex and Yorkshire there is significant resistance to flufenacet which is a concern. Spring cropping doesn’t work as well against ryegrass as it does against blackgrass.

Blackgrass remains a challenge – despite an increased focus on other grass weeds SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 37

Crop establishment >>

4 Slugs Autumn slug numbers and populations are set in April and May. This April was warm and very dry – but May was warm and wet. So the slug pressure is clearly there although only time will tell whether we are looking at a 2012-type year. Oilseed rape can probably tolerate one pest pressure at a time. It can be game over for a rape crop where the cotyledons are hammered by slugs on top of flea beetle so you need to be vigilant. In terms of control, obviously we’re moving away from metaldehyde. It is still legal to use until March 2022 but it can no longer be sold by suppliers or distributors. That said, we’ve had a long time to transition into ferric phosphate. Some people are sceptical about ferric phosphate but it works. It has a different mode of action and there no issues. It comes down to product choice – some labels allow pre-drilling use, subject to trapping and thresholds but most are from the point of drilling. After that, it comes down to ballistics and how far you want to throw the pellets or the number of baiting points. Slugs are indiscriminate feeders and you want them to encounter a pellet before they encounter a plantt. So

the more baiting points the better. Above all though, remember to use pellets according to the principles of integrated crop management. That means cultivation has a key role, as does consolidation – and take care if direct drilling when wet because open slots are like motorways for slugs.

5 Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus BYDV-infected cereals produce lower yields and reduced quality. The disease affects all cereals and grasses. Barley and oats are usually more severely affected than wheat. The earlier infection occurs, the greater the effect. In winter barley, severe infection can reduce yield by 70-80% and in winter wheat by 25-30%. Variety choice can reduce the risk of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). With varieties such as KWS Amistar and RGT Wolverine now available, offering BYDV tolerance / resistance, we now have another tool in the IMP armoury. It has big benefits especially in challenging autumns when it is difficult to travel to protect crops. We are also finding that more people are “drilling on the green” – adopting a more conservation-based agriculture approach. Ask

Some varieties tolerate BYDV more than others

yourself whether that increases the green bridge risk – and consider the varieties you are growing. You should also consider herbicide performance in that scenario. The value of a residual herbicides is still absolutely fundamental. Most Atlantis type products now give limited performance at best so you really are reliant on the residuals. Active choice comes down to what pressure and how much you need to load on. But you need to think about getting the best out of them – use a decent seedbed, consolidate and try and get them on properly pre-emergence.

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Winter livestock Top tips for feeding this year’s silage • Unusual season poses quality challenge • Test to ensure your forage is palatable • Supplement silage to boost digestibility

airy farmers are being encouraged to analyse forage regularly during feed-out this winter – to ensure rations meet performance targets and support rumen health. This year’s silage could present a challenge for the rumen due to variable spring weather playing havoc with usual cutting practice, says Lientjie Colahan, technical sales support at feed experts Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “It has been a tale of two halves this year,” says Ms Colahan. “Some were able to get their first cuts harvested very early and others had to wait much later than usual. As a result, we are faced with two likely scenarios. “Farmers will have either early-cut ‘rocket fuel’ silages that are highly digestible and could impact rumen pH, or high neutral detergent fibre (NDF) silages that were cut late and are not as digestible as you’d want them to be.”

Silage quality Where first-cut was later, silages will contain more lignin which cannot be digested by ruminants. As grass leys age the lignin content increases, lowering overall fibre quality and digestibility. “For those who took cuts later than planned, this could be an issue,” says Mrs Colahan. Farmers who cut early and made high quality silage, the problem will be the opposite. “These highly digestible silages will move through the rumen quickly and could inLater cut silage faces particular problems, says Lientjie Colahan.

crease the acidosis risk by challenging the stability of rumen pH.” In either scenario, Ms Colahan says it will be important to analyse forage regularly and balance diets accordingly to maintain cow health and performance. Highly digestible silages could be balanced with a cereal whole-crop that has a high straw content, she says.

Better digestion “This will slow down the passage rate through the rumen and maximise digestion of the rations fibre component.” Farmers with stemmy forage high in NFF should ensure the chop length of the total mixed ration is as short as possible to decrease the particle size of the feed. This helps microbes break down the fibre more easily and will maintain good dry matter intake of the ration. Mrs Colahan says including a rumen specific live yeast will prove beneficial in both situations. It can help good microbes outcompete bad microbes – and therefore establish a more favourable balance within the rumen. Positive impact “When it comes to high NDF silages, specific live yeast has a positive impact on the rumen fungi that work to break open the outer layer of the fibre particles. This allows rumen bacteria to break down the fibre further, making it more digestible. “On the other hand, in a situation where acid load may be increased as a result of highly digestible forages, a live yeast promotes the bacteria that utilise lactic acid as a food source as-well as competing directly with the lactic acid producing bacteria for their food source. “This regulates the rumen pH by reducing the amount of lactic acid present.” Regardless of the type of silage you have to work with, close attention to detail during feed-out will help you get the most out of the available forage and support productivity, says Ms Colahan.

Grass left longer recovered quicker – and produced the best silage

Raise mower to ensure quality silage

utting grass crops at 9cm rather than 6cm or 3cm, will give the highest quality silage and allow quicker regrowth, according to trials carried out by specialists DLF seeds. Visual assessments two weeks after cutting clearly showed 3cm plots of perennial ryegrass were still yellow and brown. But 6cm plots were returning to green and 9cm plots were lush and growing back well. “Cutting low will undoubtedly produce more silage in the clamp but the feed quality will be compromised,” says David Rhodes technical manager for DLF Seeds. “This is because there will be a lot of stem as well as leaf included. “Scalping grass plants will also mean they will struggle to photosynthesise because there are no green areas left to capture sunlight, so they will eventually die. Even cutting at 6cm will mean it takes longer for the crop to regrow for the next cut.” Farmers using a contractor should highlight the importance of cutting height, added Mr Rhodes. Some contractors might prefer to cut low to increase tonnages cut rather than adjusting mower height to optimise regrowth.

SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 39

Winter livestock

Alternative treatments for home-grown feed

rowers are being urged to look to alternative grain treatments to maximise the quality of homegrown feed this winter. Global stockpiling and trade restrictions are thought to have led to recent shortages of propionic acid – a treatment commonly used by UK growers to protect grain from pathogens and moulds. Although market disruption could pose major challenges for UK farmers who routinely use propionic acid at harvest, alternative urea and enzyme-based grain treatment options are available. PowerGrain is just one example. It can enhance stored grain for up to 12 months and provides growers with greater flexibility at harvest, says Andrew Sincock, commercial director for supplier Agriton. “Urea and enzyme-based treatments help to enhance the quality of grain for an extended period of time,

and importantly help reduce the risk of pathogens and mycotoxins contaminating winter feed stocks,” he explains. PowerGrain should be applied directly to harvested crops with a moisture content of at least 16% within 48 hours either via a mixer wagon or mobile mill. A reaction occurs when urea combines with the grain, boosting protein content and alkalinity, says Mr Sincock.

Chemical reactions Grain then needs to be stored under a plastic sheet for two to three weeks so that the required chemical reactions can occur. After this point, the sheet can be removed, and the grain can be stored safely for 12 months. Mindful of changeable weather this summer, Mr Sincock says PowerGrain can also be incorporated into harvest strategies – so cereal crops can be cut even in challenging conditions, such as in light rain or heavy dew.

“Recent market shortages have put a magnitude of pressures on the arable sector, but UK growers should feel reassured that there are fantastic alternative treatment options available that can deliver significant benefits for both the grower and the grain.”

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Winter livestock

Better ventilation cuts costs and improves livestock productivity

nergy efficient ventilation systems are helping to reduce costs and increase profitability in livestock and poultry units. Animal health and productivity are significantly impacted by ventilation in livestock buildings, says Kes Beech, technical manager at Invertek Drives. But too often air quality is overlooked. Poor ventilation can lead to increased risk of bacteria and viruses affecting livestock, impacting significantly on their welfare and financially on the farming business. In addition, inefficient ventilation systems can result in high energy use and costs. Invertek Drives – which manufactures of variable frequency drives (VFD) to control electric motors and fans – is leading the way in using the technology to improve ventilation in livestock and crop storage environments.

trolled and significant savings can be made in energy use. This can result in energy savings of up to 30 or even 50% in some cases.” Mr Beech adds: “It also means that as conditions change in the buildings, such as the number of animals, external temperatures or conditions, the flow of ventilation can be accurately controlled.”

Good airflow is better for animal health and welfare

Fresh air Research from the USA suggests 100% of fresh air kills airborne bugs 10 times faster than just 50% of fresh air. Similar research in the UK suggests im-

proving ventilation in cattle sheds can increase productivity by between 3-5 per cent. Mr Beech says fully enclosed systems are ideal for the harsh conditions often experienced in lviestock production. They can also be mounted close to the fan. This means there is no need for a dedicated control room or cabinet which saves costs and space. The drives can control any AC motor-controlled fan, such as wall, ceiling, roof-mounted, turbulator or plate fans. The fans can be used in a range of buildings that are used for livestock, poultry, crop or grain storage.

Electric motors “The fans used in ventilation systems are mostly controlled by AC electric motors. In many cases, these are operating without any form of motion control,” says Mr Beech. “This means they are running constantly at full speed using high levels of energy.” The increased wear and tear this causes can also increase the amount of maintenance needed – as well as downtime. But controlling fan speed to the level of ventilation required at different times of the day can resolve the issue. “Variants such as temperature, moisture, and humidity can be con-

Boost suckler genetics using free KPI app

uckler beef producers are dramatically improving their performance and financial returns by automatically monitoring key breeding indicators. A new feature on the free Breedr app generates automatic reports and easy-to-understand graphics – helping farmers to identify the best animals to breed from, including beef calves for finishing and heifer replacements. “Genetics affects almost every element of suckler cow performance, and by benchmarking farmers can speed up the rate of genetic improvement – particularly if they are calving at two years old,” explains farmer and Breedr founder Ian Wheal. “Our free tools enable farmers to ana-

lyse the genetic performance of their herd and individual animals quickly and easily.” The best place to start is logging when females are bulling. This will create an alert for 20 days later so producers can check to see if they’re cycling again. Logging the AI date or when bulls are turned out automatically calculates the likely calving date. “At calving, you can log the birth in seconds ready to sync with BCMS, and enter the calving ease, calf weight and vigour – by linking with the dam and sire. This makes it easy to identify the best cows and bulls to use,” says Mr Wheal. Medicine records and activities like disbudding can also be kept in the app, so all

the animal’s information is in one place. Furthermore, weaning weights for calves can be captured in just 10 seconds – helping to predict future growth rates. Farmers can use the KPIs to achieve a tighter calving period and ultimately boosting profitability. Achieving 10kg higher weaning weights can increase output by an average of £20/head, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. “This can be influenced by a compact calving period,” explains Mr Wheal. “The more calves born in the first three weeks of calving, the older they are at weaning, so the heavier they will be.”

SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 43

Winter livestock

Plan winter feed and bedding strategy sooner not later

ivestock farmers are being reminded to plan their winter feed and bedding strategy following reports of low straw stocks in some areas. The Forage Aid charity, which distributes fodder and bedding in times of need, says a reduction in baling and the cold wet spring could limit straw sales and push up prices – leading to problems later in the year. Forage Aid founder and chairman Andrew Ward said: “While the results are anecdotal, we do have growing evidence that forage stocks are looking better than expected, however stocks of straw are low and prices are rising.”

Diﬃcult position Livestock farmers had found it challenging to build forage and bedding stocks over the last few years, said Mr Ward. Droughts, wet weather and cold spells had all challenged the ability to

grow and conserve forage. Forage Aid has found it increasingly difficult to encourage donations of forage. In some cases, the charity has found itself in a position of having to purchase forage and straw rather than rely on donations. Livestock farmers who hadn’t yet done so should start planning for winter and secure enough forage to see them through to next spring. Farmers should also start planning straw purchases for the winter ahead. Forage aid trustee and Essex farmer Ed Ford put out a rallying call to his fellow arable farmers about baling straw for livestock farms and encourage more collaboration between the two sectors. “With arable crop prices looking healthy it might be an easier decision not to bale straw, however we would be grateful if all arable farmers considered baling some straw and get it into

the system to ensure that our livestock areas have good access to bedding.”

Extreme weather Early engagement by arable and livestock farmers with their local straw merchants would enable all parties to plan for winter with stocks being matched up with buyers early in the season, added Mr Ford. Over the years, Forage Aid has helped many farmers following extreme weather events. The most challenging years have been those where drought has been the problem – although the charity has also been called upon during harsh winters. Sourcing surplus forage and bedding for donation in a tough weather year is exceptionally difficult and makes it much harder to help farmers in need, said Mr Ward. Planning for the event becomes critical at times like these, he added.

Straw stocks are low and prices high in places

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Silo Crab helps cut forage waste

new machine makes it easier for dairy farmers to collect leftover forage from the feed fence – saving time, money and manpower as well as waste. Launched by JF Hudson, the Silo Crab is a telehandler or loader attachment with a wing that pivots on each side of a bucket and a rubber wear edge that runs on the floor. As it travels along the feed passage, leftover feed is guided into the bucket. The wings can easily be closed by the operator as required while moving. At the end the doors are closed which removes the need for digging the remaining leftover feed manually. The attachment is said to save up to 45 minutes daily. Its conception came from a request from award-winning dairy farmer Philip Metcalfe to provide a method of quickly and effectively collecting leftover feed from the feed fence. Metcalfe Farms

milks 1,300 pedigree Holsteins at Washfold Farm near Leyburn, North Yorkshire. The farm has 965 metres of feed fence, over six feed passageways, with 12 dead ends. Cleaning the feed passages was a labour-intensive process, at the end of each passage leftovers were shovelled into the bucket manually by the operator. “It saves time and is good for staff morale, says Mr Metcalfe. “We are also saving diesel because

the loader does not need to run for as long and the high capacity of the bucket allows TMR to be weighed more conveniently with no spillage.” JF Hudson managing director James Hudson, owner and managing director said: “Farming is a sector built on tight profit margins and this is where the Silo Crab offers real value. Leftover feed can be gathered and weighed allowing you to calculate the total intake.”

The Silo Crab attachment boosts productivity on dairy farms

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Winter livestock

Clover surge after nitrogen prices soar

How supplements can get more from your forage

ivestock producers looking to make the most of grazed forage can increase intake and digestion by 10% by using a nutrient-rich supplement, suggests research. “Supplying a balanced combination of nutrient-rich ingredients, forage supplement blocks stimulate the rumen to work harder by fuelling and increasing the rumen bug population” says Alison Bond, nutritionist for Rumenco. In multiple trials, Rumenco’s Rumevite forage supplements show an increase in intake and digestion. Dr Bond says this has been proven to have significant impacts on livestock performance. A study of 156 head of store cattle on five different farms found that livestock supplemented with Rumevite Cattle Booster had a 25kg liveweight gain advantage over 105 days compared to the control group. Performance advantages carried through into the finishing period, with supplemented cattle maintaining the 25kg weight increase and therefore finishing 28 days ahead of the control group. “When valuing liveweight gain at £2.00/kg, the margin over feed cost for supplementing grazing stock with Rumevite Cattle Booster was £137.36/head, compared to £109.00/head for the group without supplementation.” The un-supplemented cattle required feed for an additional 28 days, costing an additional £36.55/head in extra concentrate and silage costs,” explains Dr Bond.

Finished lambs Similar results have been seen in finishing lambs in a study at Plumpton College in Sussex. Despite having a 300g disadvantage to the control group at the start of the study, supplemented lambs had a daily liveweight gain of 189g, 46 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

which resulted in a 36.7kg liveweight at 45 days to slaughter. The control group only gained 94.3g/day, finishing in 83 days at 36.3kgs. “Not only did supplemented lambs have greater daily liveweight gains at grass and finish 38 days sooner, but they also achieved greater carcase grades than the control group,” says Dr Bond. For producers looking to improve ewe fertility, trials have found Rumevite Sheep Super, which contains fish oil, can increase the lambing percentage by up to 22% when fed in the eight week period around tupping. “The supplement block formulation helps ewes reach optimal body condition ahead of tupping, supporting ovulation – which can lead to more ewes holding service in the first cycle,” says Dr Bond. Rumevite is a multipurpose product, with high energy and protein options to meet livestock nutrient requirements and daily requirements of minerals, vitamins and trace elements to boost livestock performance while supporting immunity, health and fertility. Unlike concentrates, forage supplements allow for little and often feeding, which results in less pH variation in the rumen. Because stock can have 24/7 access to feed blocks, it is a great way to reduce bullying at the trough, adds Dr Bond. They are also convenient, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to feed. Supplementation can be tailored to suit livestock nutrition requirements at any point during the grazing or housing period. To budget for intakes, cattle will consume 300-500g/head/day and growing cattle will consume 200-300g/head/day. Ewes can be expected to take 100-250g/head/day while lambs will consume 100-150g/head/day.

oaring nitrogen prices are encouraging livestock producers to consider alternative sources – including white clover. UK-produced ammonium nitrate is currently nudging £297/tonne – an annual increase of nearly 50%. It means more farmers are looking to include clover in autumn reseeds because of its built nitrogen-fixing ability. “White clover will fix up to 150kg/ha per annum, depending on soil and climatic conditions, which can unshackle producers from their reliance on artificial nitrogen,” says Barenbrug research manager Mhairi Dawson. “Clover itself is higher in protein than grass alone, typically providing a crude protein (CP) content of 27%. And every 10% increase in the amount of clover in the sward translates into a 1% crude protein increase in firstcut silage.” Some livestock enterprises are now relying on white clover alone for their grassland nitrogen requirements, says Ms Dawson. “There’s no decline in productivity, yet they’re still getting the environmental benefit and the vastly lower costs.” Research has shown that the white clover/grass combination produces more dry matter than grass alone. Couple that with improved digestibility – typically clover has a D value of more than 75% – and the result is more meat and milk from the same area.

More producers are including clover in autumn reseeds

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Property Strong demand remains for eastern region farmland • Much farmland being sold privately • Values rise almost 2% in six months • Outlook remains positive for 2021

trong demand for farmland is continuing – with lots of activity across East Anglia for public and private sales – and notable increases in value for amenity land. The amount of farmland publicly marketed across the region fell 2% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2020, according to land agents Savills. But much farmland is being marketed privately. Across Great Britain, the supply of publicly marketed farmland rose 58% during the first half of 2021 compared to the same period last year, says Gi D’Angibau, who leads the rural agency team for Savills in Essex. Meanwhile, the overall average value of agricultural land has increased 1.7% during the last six months. But there are variations across the region depending on location and type of land.

Market details “There is more to the market than meets the eye,” says Ms D’Angibau. “The data tracks publicly marketed acres, but we know from our involvement that the private market continues to account for a large proportion of the farms and estates transacted, building on the trend seen last year. Some vendors are choosing to market privately where there is a likelihood of special buyers or they have particular reasons to do so. “The private market also remains popular for high profile farms and estates where both the vendor and potential purchasers value privacy. However it can often be prudent to set a time limit for such deals so buyers remain focused.” Significant rural estates to hit the market this year include Hill Farm in Martlesham which is now under offer, Clees Hall in Bures; Broxted Hall, near Dunmow; and Green and Wick Farms, near Thetford. Some 276 acres of productive ara48 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

ble land, grazing meadows and woodland have also gone under offer at Old Hall Farm in Burgh-nextAylsham, near Norwich. Meanwhile, 478 acre Munches Farms has a guide price in excess of £4m in Hertfordshire. There are a number of buyers with rollover funds to invest and commercial farmers seek-

ing quality farms, says Ms D’Angibau. However amenity buyers are also driving the market. “The lack of supply over the last couple of years means there is an accumulating number of active buyers competing for farmland,” she says. “The impact of this is that, generally, values are holding firm or showing slight increases with some exceptional prices for top quality farms. However, a two-tier market is evident in some areas, with significant price differences between the best and the rest.” Left: Gi D’Angibau of Savills; Below: Broxted Hall Farm.

Positive outlook for rest of year Prospects for the farmland market are positive for the remainder of the year, says Oliver Carr, from the Savills rural agency team in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. “Farmers will take time to process and review how the changes occurring in the industry affect their businesses. We may well see farms and estates siphoning off outlying areas to reduce debt or for reinvestment in diversification projects. “Our expectation is that value drivers remain largely unchanged, although amenity land is likely to continue to outperform other

farmland this year as we settle into the post Covid-19 pandemic way of life. The increasing importance of climate change mitigation and the environmental attributes of farmland agenda are also expected to encourage further investment into rural assets, said Mr Carr. “The ambition to cut the UK’s carbon footprint could result in farming businesses being asked to offset their carbon emissions at farm level, with areas of less productive farmland of increasing importance for carbon sequestration and reaching net zero.”

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William Hargreaves from Savills in Suffolk sets out his top tips for selling your farm • Find out who is likely to buy your farm and the best way to reach them. Points to discuss with potential agents include: do they have sufficient market knowledge and the local, national and even international reach to ensure your farm is seen by all prospective buyers? What is the most effective marketing and pricing strategy? Should the land be lotted to suit different types of buyers? Should it be publicly advertised in order to create strong competition or placed privately?

There remains strong demand for farmland across the East of England – with robust levels of activity for both public and private sales and notable increases in value for amenity land. However selling a farm is often a once in a lifetime decision and it’s understandable that some people might be a little nervous about taking the plunge. And while there are always a number of ‘uncontrollables’ when it comes to a sale, there are also several steps that sellers can take to ensure they’re in the strongest possible position:

• Many farm sales are won or lost by first impressions, so it pays to do the basics: ensure buildings are clean and tidy, verges and hedgerows are cut as permitted, fencing is repaired and gates properly hung. • Continue farming as though you were staying: establish arable crops as normal – you can be compensated later or add a holdover clause to the sale agreement to allow you to continue your occupation until harvest is completed. • If your property has issues with rights of way, private water supplies or local developments, be open from the start. Buyers are less likely to

lose confidence if they’re aware of everything upfront. • The importance of gathering paperwork early should not be underestimated. Ensuring legal and compliance matters are addressed with your full team of professional advisors (typically a solicitor, accountant and land agent) will highlight any potential stumbling blocks, helping to avoid a price reduction further down the line, or a buyer walking away. • Depending on your holding, useful documents could include: five years of cropping and yield records, soil testing, support payments, planning history and drainage improvement records. Certificates awarded for performance, conservation or other noteworthy achievements are also worth finding. Essentially, what could be done is an endless list. Instead, look at what should be done to ensure your property reaches the widest audience, makes an immediate impression and allows a sale to proceed as smoothly as possible.

Talk to us today William Hargreaves 01473 234802 07870 999 113 whargreaves@savills.com

SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 49

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Farm forestry Scots pine seed harvested to meet planting targets • Ambitious tree planting initiatives • Trees from original orchard seed • Target is for 6.5m trees annually

housands of Scots pines at King’s Forest near Bury St Edmunds are being used by Forestry England to help meet tree planting targets. The stands of 13-year-old trees cover 10ha – and have been grown from original orchard seed identified from planting records. Trees are thinned and topped to produce higher numbers of cones and make it easier to collect the cones from ground level. Collected seeds will supplement those from Forestry England’s nine seed orchards throughout England which contain Scots pine, Sitka spruce and Lodgepole pine trees, specially bred for their timber characteristics and strong growth features. This is the first time a conifer stand has been converted in this way for many decades as the practice fell out of use when seed orchards were planted in the 1980s.

Demand for trees Forestry England stores about three years worth of seed at its seed processing facility at Alice Holt in Surrey. This ensures a secure stock of trees is available for planting across the nation’s forests. Annual demand for trees is at 6.5m and Forestry England grows 75% of the trees needed to meet this demand, with remaining trees, particularly broadleaved varieties, sourced externally. As ambitious new tree planting initiatives are announced, including the recent Forestry England Woodland Partnership leasehold opportunity for landowners, the organisation is focusing on ensuring a resilient seed supply for all species for the years ahead. Forestry England seed resource

manager Nicola Rivett said: “This is an important part of our plans to ensure we invest in new, secure seed resources to reduce imports, provide a greater variety of seed for species and replace some of our ageing seed orchards.

Climate change “With each Scots pine cone producing 20 seeds and a sack of orchard-origin cones giving up to 500g of seed, these stands will provide future high-quality trees and timber, well adapted to changing climate conditions for our forests.” As well as converting the Kings Forest stands, Forestry England is identifying other orchard-origin stands of Scots pine, Sitka spruce, and Douglas

fir. It is also looking for stands of oak, birch, and other broadleaved species. Identifyingspecies with appropriate origins to manage as seed stands instead of harvesting for timber will help to ensure a home-grown supply of even more varieties for future forests and woodlands to flourish. In 2019/20, a bumper season for seed harvesting, Forestry England collected three thousand sacks of Sitka spruce and Scots pine cones which contained around one thousand kilogrammes of seed – a potential 200m trees.

Trees are being bred for strong growth and timber characteristics

Guidance to help farmers invest in forestry projects

series of guidance notes provides practical information for farmers and other landowners interested in investing in forestry projects. The notes are designed to help develop a first understanding of economic evaluation of afforestation projects. Farmers are reminded that they do not replace a full assessment and advice by a chartered forest manager. The six guidance notes of the series introduce the basic steps involved in the assessment of such projects to allow some preliminary due diligence when considering an investment in forestry. The decision to invest in an afforestation project with the primary aim of producing timber may involve many personal and environmental factors alongside financial considera-

tions, says the guidance. Adoption of a forestry enterprise within a farming unit represents a change in land use and a long-term investment of land, labour and resources. Farmers and landowners should take this into consideration when reaching a decision. Afforestation projects can take a number of forms, from planting steep areas or wet corners of a farm to integrating timber trees with agricultural production or establishing plantation woodlands. Some afforestation projects such as commercial plantation woodlands have the potential to produce quality timber products alongside diversifying farm incomes and providing other environmental benefits. For full details, visit https://woodknowledge.wales.

SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 51

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Farm forestry

Tree Production Innovation Fund launched

new £1 million fund to increase and diversify domestic tree production has been unveiled by the Forestry Commission and Defra. The Tree Production Innovation Fund will encourage the development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that will ensure the quantity, quality and diversity of planting stock available for tree planting in England. It follows the launch of the the England Trees Action Plan which aims to treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament. The UK as a whole has an overall target of planting 30,000ha per year. The fund will support nurseries to increase and diversify the domestic supply of young trees to facilitate an increase in tree production while maintaining biosecurity, helping to reach planting targets. Applicants will be invited to apply for up to £200,000 in grant funding to support projects designed to address one or more of the following challenges

identified through stakeholder engagement as barriers to tree production. These include: • Making better use of available seed and vegetative planting material to maximise the quantity, quality and diversity of trees produced • Developing growing systems to enhance their efficiency and resilience to change, whilst delivering improved quality and diversity of product • Using innovative environmentally sustainable weed control solutions to reduce reliance on herbicides Forestry Commission chairman William Worsley said: “I fully believe forestry needs to embrace new technology, and in turn we need to develop technology that can support the future of forestry.” He added: “By enhancing the quantity, quality and diversity of planting stock available now, it will help our trees to be healthy and resilient to the impacts of changing climate and increasing threats from pests and diseases into the future.” The Forestry Commission says it

will welcome applications new entrants to the sector. The application window closes at 11.55pm on 8 September 2021.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 53

Farm forestry

How better hedgerow management brings wide-ranging benefits • Easy steps can pave way to hedge recovery • Free app can make management easier • Beneﬁts across wildlife and farm business

new app has been launched for farmers and land managers who want to ensure their farm management plans encourage the healthiest of hedges. The free Healthy Hedgerow app enables users to find out where hedges are within their natural lifecycle – and then offers instant feedback on how they can be best managed to ensure their continued health. Trying to manage hedgerow across a whole farm can be a challenge. The app strips away these complexities and asks just six easy questions to rapidly assess each hedge, making the task of creating a farm scale management plan much easier. The app was launched by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) wildlife charity. It says it wants to help farmers create a thriving network of healthy hedges that criss-cross the countryside – benefiting wildlife and the landscape. PTES habitats project officer Megan Gimber said: “The quality and structure of hedgerows will deteriorate if they’re managed in the same way for long periods of time, and over time they will eventually be lost.

Lifecycle management “The best way to prevent this is by managing according to their lifecycle, which may include more sensitive trimming, periods of non-intervention and, in time, rejuvenation. Whatever condition a hedge is in, it The Close the Gap project is creating better-connected hedgerows.

54 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

can be brought back to good health.” The app is part of a new Close the Gap project to create better-connected hedgerows. The year-long project is supported by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. Partners include the Tree Council, Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Moor Trees, University of Reading, Hedgelink, the Royal Parks Guild and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. “Hedgerows have been a pivotal part of our countryside since the Bronze Age,” said Ms Gimber” “Tragically we lost about half of our hedgerows last century through incentivised removal, which makes those that remain even more valuable; it is imperative we keep them healthy.”

Hedgerow revival Despite historic losses, some 500,000km of hedgerow habitat remain, much of which is incredibly old and has survived hundreds or even thousands of years, thanks to an unbroken chain of care management and periodic rejuvenation. “These have survived through careful management from generation to generation, farmer to farmer, through the centuries. The privilege and responsibility of managing hedgerows now falls to us, as we write the next

chapter of their history books.” But many hedges have dropped out of the traditional management cycle, and their structures are slowly declining as a result. Healthy Hedgerows aims to provide free advice to ease the transition back to lifecycle management, ensuring a better future. As well as providing food and habitats for wildlife, hedgerows are increasingly seen as an important source of farm income which can also act as carbon stores. They also aid flood control, reduce soil erosion and improve air and water quality.

Endangered species Prime hedgerow habitats can be home to several endangered species such as hazel dormice, hedgehogs and bats, acting as a safe corridor across the countryside and as a food source. One study found over 2,000 species with just an 85m stretch of hedge. Ms Gimber said: “The importance of a healthy, connected hedgerow network cannot be overstated, especially when we are seeing so many worrying declines in our native wildlife due to habitat loss. Keeping hedges healthy maximises all these benefits and ensures they thrive for years to come.” To download the app for free, visit the Apple Store or Google Play and search for Healthy Hedgerows. For those who can’t download the app, more information is available at: hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/healthy-hedgerows-survey

“

Any hedge can be brought back to good health

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NCD EQUIPMENT

Woodland Trust to end plastic tree guard use

he Woodland Trust has pledged to end the use of new plastic tree shelters from its sites by the end of the year – and is encouraging others to follow suit. The charity – which hopes to plant 10 million trees each year to 2025 – has spent the past two years carrying out rigorous trials of plastic free alternatives which will be scaled up dramatically by the end of 2021. Woodland Trust chief executive Darren Moorcroft said: “By committing to go plastic free in terms of the use of tree shelters, we are set to be the trail blazers in this field and catalysing a permanent change to the tree planting world.”

Sustainable approach Without protection from rabbits and deer, young trees didn’t stand much chance, said Mr Moorcroft. Plastic guards had long been the first port of call due to their longevity. But they didn’t biodegrade and were not environmentally friendly. He added: “We all need millions of new trees, want to turn the industry on its head once and for all and we have the chance to

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finally solve this puzzle through new sustainable approaches to tree establishment.” Although the Woodland Trust currently removes the plastic tubes from its sites and recycles them, the charity has been working hard for some time to find long term, effective alternative products.

AUGUR TORQUE Wool guards HEDGE TRIMMERS The research has seen a huge trial of plastic free alternatives at the trust’s Avoncliff site in Wiltshire where it has closely monitored closely the effectiveness of plastic-free tree protection. Alternatives range from innoThe perfect solution for a neat vative products made from cardand accurate cut, every time. board to one made from British wool and is totally biodegradable. It says this option has some “significant sustainability credentials” and would establish a Are you involved in hedgerow management or tree cutting? If so, you Areneed you to involved inshear hedgerow management orfor tree cutting? If so, you see this working! Contact us more information new market for wool. need to see this shear working! Contact us for more information The trust is also working www.ncdequipment.com with academic partners at the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub RABAUD FLAIL AND FIXED TOOTH MULCHERS at University College London. It says it is determined to understand the full life cycle impacts from such products to ensure its approach to tree protection is “ Half the cost, half the time” sustainable. “ Halfsales@ncdequipment.com the cost, half the time” Email

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Plastic tree shelters are unsustainable, says the Woodland Trust SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 57

Farm forestry

TreeAlert reports record number of pest and disease enquiries • • •

Species include oak, ash and chestnut Ash dieback present across most of UK Government action to eradicate disease

record number of tree pests and diseases have been reported in the last year, according to a TreeAlert system operated by Forest Research. The service received its highest number of enquiries since it was relaunched in 2014. The service is crucial in the early identification of new pests and diseases – and is used to help enable their control and track the spread of emerging problems. Members of the public and conversation groups are encouraged to report pest and diseases to TreeAlert. The increase in enquiries is thought to be partly down to more people visiting the countryside during the pandemic. Tree health enquiries in the 12 months to 31 March concerned a wide range of species and mostly broadleaf trees. The most common tree species was oak, followed by ash and sweet chestnut.

Highly destructive Ash dieback was the most commonly reported disease in 2020, and it is now present in most parts of the UK. A highly destructive fungal disease, it is predicted to kill 70-90% of the country’s 100m native ash trees over the next 20 years. Oak processionary moth (OPM) enquiries made up almost half of all pest enquiries in 2020. Processionary moth caterpillars are pests of the oak tree and are hazardous to human and animal health. Native to southern Europe and first detected in the UK in 2005, OPM is subject to a government-led programme of survey and control to minimise its spread and impact – although sometimes the caterpillers are confused with other species. Chestnut blight was diagnosed in a number of cases in 2020. This is a serious fungal disease of sweet chestnut trees. Since 2011 the disease has been found on a restricted number of 58 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

Oak trees were among those most affected

sites in the UK, principally in central and southern England. The government is taking action to suppress and eradicate the disease including surveillance and destruction of infected trees, and prohibiting the movement of susceptible planting material and wood products. Forest Research said it was investigating ways of combating the problem by using biocontrol methods based on naturally occurring viruses which infect the causal fungus and reduce its ability to cause disease.

Pest control Other pests and diseases to look out for include bark beetles which are pests of coniferous trees. Some species can cause significant damage to spruce in the UK and the government is tak-

“

Enquiries concerned a wide range of broadleaf species

ing action in a bid to control the pest. A newly introduced pest is elm zig zag sawfly. First detected in the UK in 2017, its larvae feed on elm leaves and can severely defoliate trees, damaging their health and associated biodiversity. Acute oak decline is a disease of oak which has emerged since the 1980s and can kill mature oak trees within five years. Forest Research said it was pioneering research to understand the disease and protect oak trees for future generations. Forest Research identifies tree pests and diseases and provides advice on their management to both enquirers and government. The service is funded by Defra, the Forestry Commission and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

FARMING AND TREES GO HAND IN HAND Can trees really help you diversify your farm without you having to change the way you farm and your way of life? Yes. A woodland could help you more easily diversify your farm business without the need for you to change your main farming activities. With the recent launch of the new England Woodland Creation Offer, there has never been so much funding available or so much to be gained from planting trees: • Capital grant payments designed to cover 100% of planting costs. • Supplementary payments for public benefits provided by your scheme. • Woodland generated carbon income. • Increased amenity and overall value of your farm. • Sheltering livestock. • Income from the timber and fuel for your home. • Enhance or create recreational and sporting activities. • Wildlife habitat enhancement. • Flood alleviation both on the farm and the locality.

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Machinery

The Trion completes the replacement of the Claas combine range

Claas unveils Trion range of combines • New machine will ‘ﬁt your farm’ • 20 models available across range • Reduced costs and high capacity

achinery giant Claas has launched its new range of Trion combine harvesters – with 20 models including conventional straw walker machines, single and twin rotor hybrids. The launch completes the final stage in replacing the entire Claas combine range, which started with the introduction of the new generation Lexion 8000/7000 in 2019. It includes the availability of Terra Trac and Montana hillside versions. Claas says the new range has versions suitable for all types of farm – from simple machines for small mixed units to more technically advanced combine capable of maximising output on large arable units.

At its heart, the new Trion relies on well-proven five- and six-row straw-walkers and hybrid threshing technology. But it also incorporates many features that Claas says sset new performance standards on combines of this size.

Key features New British-built Cummins engines that provide optimum power are among the key features. Others include a large separation area for high-capacity threshing, tank capacities that set a new standard for this size of combine and an extensive range of chopping options. The base Trion range comprises of two 500-range five-straw walker models, three 600 range

six-straw walker models and three 700-range hybrid models, of which two have a single rotor and one has twin rotors. Common to all models is the well-proven APS primary threshing system designed to thresh out up to 90% of grains, leaving just the harder to thresh grains for the secondary separation system. For greater throughput capacity, Trion 500 and 700 range machines are fitted with a 1,420mm wide threshing system, increasing to 1,700mm for Trion 600 models. These are wider than on previous Tucano models, which were either 1,320mm or 1,580mm wide. The APS system comprises of a 450mm diameter accelerator and a 600mm diameter closed threshing drum – some 33% larger than the Tucano threshing drum. This means the concave area is up to 30% greater, depending on the model.

“

British-built engines are among the key features To keep maintenance downtime to a minimum, a completely redesigned and less complex drive system for the Trion means that there are now six fewer belts on hybrid models and three less on

straw walker machines compared to the previous Tucano range. As on the new Lexion, the drive system for the Trion is on system used in the Jaguar self-propelled forage harvester. This ensures a more positive, smooth engagement of the threshing and auger systems.

Secondary separation All 5- and 6-straw walker Trion 500 and 600 models come as standard with the well proven Claas Multifinger Separation System (MSS) which evenly fluffs the straw for greater separation efficiency, especially in difficult conditions. The straw walkers use an open walker design and are 4.4m long with four steps. Again, the total separation area for the Trion is considerably larger than the Tucano – and the largest of any combine of this size on the market. The 600/500 models have the option of 3D sieves with 4D sieves also available on Trion 700 models. Other options also include auto-slope fan speed adjustment, cruise pilot, auto crop flow and Cemos Dialog or Cemos Automatic. All Trion models come with dynamic power as standard. This cuts fuel costs by about 10% by reducing engine power output when not under load when, for example, not running the chopper or unloading. SEPTEMBER 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 61

Machinery

Deutz-Fahr offers better traction and comfort

he new 7-Series tractor by Deutz-Fahr offers greater comfort and higher traction force paired with highest efficiency, says the manufacturer. Deutz-Fahr is so confident of the quality and reliability of the newSDF TTV machine that it has increased the engine oil replacement interval to 1000hrs, while the transmission has been increased to 2000hrs. The Deutz TCD 6.1 Stage V engine now offers up to 247HP and a maximum torque of 1072Nm. The new SDF TTV Compound Transmission can reach 60kph at less than 1800 engine rpm and 40kph at less than 1200 rpm. The TTV transmissions combine two hydrostatic units paired with optimised mechanical components. Deutz-Fahr says this extreme robustness through a high mechanical power flow in typical working conditions at low and high speeds. Larger diameter rear tyres (2.05m)

are now available for the new 7-Series TTV and the payload has been increased to up to 6.5t, with a gross vehicle weight of 15.5t. This increases to 16t with the 7250 HD version. Intelligent front axle suspension is available, as are dry disc brakes, for improved road safety. The turning circle has also been reduced by almost 2m. A new steeper hood and raised cab, ensures greater all round visibility. A load sensing pump is available with three different flow rates with up to 210 litres per minute and a 90-litre removable oil capacity. Electronic control of all distributors means they can be programmed and controlled proportionally. The new 7-Series TTV is TIM ready, allowing two-way communication between the tractor and implements, further improving efficiency and work

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New engine powers latest John Deere foragers

ohn Deere has added two new models to its 9000 Series self-propelled forage harvester range. At the heart of the 9500 and 9600 is an all-new 18-litre John Deere engine producing 700 and 750hp respectively. The 9000 Series foragers are well known for HarvestMotion, the company’s low engine RPM concept with 10% more performance and 10% lower fuel consumption. Building on this success, the 9500 and 9600 utilise the new JD18X engine, which requires no DEF. This award-winning engine design introduces HarvestMotion Plus, which delivers increased torque and even more power at low engine RPM – up to 766hp more on the 9500 model and 787hp on the 9600. John Deere says these features will provide customers with a 10% reduction in fuel use and a 33% reduction in oil cost compared to other machines in the same horsepower class. The new foragers also come with a 20cm longer eight-row spout design, featuring optimised contours and styling to enable higher throughput. Ser-

vicing is made easier by additional openings to help increase machine uptime. A large crop channel width of 850mm is tailored to handle the higher throughput of these machines, to ensure the best possible forage quality and chopping efficiency. The DuraDrum cutterhead is designed to handle massive crop flows independent of the selected length of cut. The foragers also feature a reinforced drivetrain and improved mainframe. Kernel processor rolls are available with a standard sawtooth design on the Premium KP unit, and the sawtooth or new XCut spiral cut groove design across the roll surface on the XStream KP. These two new 9000 Series self-propelled forage harvesters are available with John Deere’s complete range of ISG (Intelligent Solutions Group) precision farming systems, for improved operator comfort and cutting quality. This includes the HarvestLab 3000 NIR (near infrared) sensor – enabling the operator to view and document re-

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Machinery

Demo tour for self-propelled slurry spreader to take place across region

armers and contractors can see the new Vervaet Quad 550 self-propelled slurry applicator at work following its UK arrival. A comprehensive demonstration tour of the new Quad will take place on farms across the region after harvest – organised by J Riley Beet Harvesters, UK importers of Vervaet products for more than 25 years. First unveiled in February, the machine is packed full of new developments and expands Vervaet’s range of professional manure application technology, slotting into place between the three-wheel Hydro Trike and five-wheel Hydro Trike XL. Boasting 550hp from a 13-litre Volvo Penta engine, its innovative hydro-mechanical transmission with diff-locks delivers all of this power to the ground. Its crab steer ability allows for onewheel-per-track working to minimise soil impact. “They ticked as many boxes as you can with a self-propelled slurry machine when designing the Quad,” says Riley sales manager Matt Carse. “It encompasses the best design features available on the market.” The slurry system incorporates a 21m³ tank and phenomenal pump capacity of up to 13,500l/min. And the suction arm is positioned to allow various booms to fold down the side for transport. It has more options available too, including tyre choice and pumps.

An 8000kg capacity rear-linkage can carry a vast array of application implements. A solid manure spreading body for the Quad is planned for the near future, further expanding its industry-leading capabilities. Developments include real-time slurry nutrient analysis. “During field tests we have been very impressed with the machine’s traction, power and qui-

The Vervaet Quad boasts a range of top design features

et running,” says Jonathan Hoekman, sales manager at Vervaet in Holland. “The British market was a very important factor behind the development of the machine, specifically the need to work in tramlines through growing crops. We see a bright future for this market, especially with our continuing advances in precision application technology.”

Sugar beet machinery in online auction

The auction includes numerous second-hand machines 64 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

An online auction on behalf of Agrifac UK includes a range of sugar beet harvesters, a self-propelled sugar beet chaser and a self-propelled sprayer. Highlights include a 2003 Holmer T2 six-row harvester starting at £15,000; a 2000 Holmer T2 beet chaser (£15k); a 1998 Agrifac WKM-9000 sixrow harvester (£12k); a 2006 Vervaet 625 six-row harvester (£15k); and a 2015 Rogator 635B 36m self-propelled sprayer (£40k). Organised by Cheffins, the online timed auction runs until 9 September. Cheffins associate Charles Wadsley said Agrifac wanted to widen the market for its second-hand trade-in machines and move on some of the abundant stock it currently has on offer.

“This sale is set to be of interest for those involved in sugar beet harvesting and will be an opportunity for Agrifac to dip its toe in the water when it comes to selling trade-in stock via auction,” said Mr Wadsley. “As timed online sales continue to pay dividends for not only famers but also manufacturers looking to dispose of copious stock, we have seen an increase in the number of sales which we are hosting at Cheffins – and the prices achieved.’ Agrifac managing director Chris Armitage said: “As we approach sugar beet season, we have a number of harvesters imminently ready for their next lease of life, so jumped at the chance of the combined auction-hosting to test the water.”

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FUTURE PROOF FARMING

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

Wringing the changes Few growers and livestock producers are likely to beneﬁt from the government’s retirement scheme for farmers, says Fen Tiger.

t first glance, it sounds like a generous offer. The government wants to pay farmers to retire – so we can leave the industry with dignity while paving the way for new entrants to agriculture. How much would we receive for leaving? A Defra consultation launched earlier this year suggests 2.35 times our annual basic payment up to a maximum £100,000. Other perks were suggested too. The overall package could include a surrender payment from a landlord for a secure tenancy, income from the sale of machinery and any associated pensions – a useful start to any retirement plan. But everything is not as it seems. A tenant farmer in a tied house would be hard-pushed to buy a new home for £100,000. And when the average basic payment is little more than £23,000, most farms will not receive anywhere near the that figure. Add in the cost of any tax bill plus any mortgages and debts accrued over the farming life and the final amount will be diminished further still. And I can’t see many landlords making a surrender payment to take back a secured tenancy.

Many questions So what can tenant farmers do? Can they take the payment, stay in the farmhouse and then sub-let or rent out the land. Unlikely. Owner occupiers have also raised many questions about the retirement scheme. I assume you can just rent out the land to a neighbour or share/contract farm. But

66 ANGLIA FARMER • SEPTEMBER 2021

how does it work if the farm is in the name of a limited company or partnership? What if father and son or daughter farm together in joint names? Can the father take the retirement package and rent the land out to the next generation? Perhaps a change of business name will be required. Perhaps a new company to rent the land. Yet the stated idea of the scheme is to attract new farming entrants. I can see some farmers taking the money, staying put and renting out their farm to existing farmers – their own family, near neighbours or other farming corporations. A 65-year-old farmer renting out their land to his 60-year-old neighbour. To encourage “generational change” and new faces into the farming world, it is clear in my mind that much-needed money should go to new farmers – or at least match the money spent by the government on these retirement packages. Such policies already exist in other European countries. But we have been slow off the mark here in the UK. That is one of the reasons that the average British farmer is al-

“

most 60-years-old and not any younger. Defra minister George Eustice thinks that younger farmers are better innovators and youth brings more energy. I agree. But without family backing or a lump sum of money, younger farmers will find it tough to break into farming.

Change is coming So the scheme is well intended but flawed. Change in farming is certain over the next few years. But it appears it will change with the same old faces. A case of musical chairs rather than a changing of the guard. The large farms will get bigger – boosted by low interest rates and the inability of smaller farms to adapt or survive. The large debts accrued by some farming companies will continue to rise – but be of little concern to their shareholders. For the rest of us, it is going to be a tough few years ahead. Struggling to get by while the basic payment is phased out and a new system of farm support is phased in. Let’s hope we all can knuckle down and survive the changes.

The scheme is well intended but ﬂawed

AF DIRECTORY EAR PROTECTION

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