Science-backed solutions for UK farmers

Providing practical science-based solutions for farmers to employ on their farms was the theme of this year’s Hutchinsons farmer conference. With over 500 farmers in attendance, the take home messages from a range of industry experts encouraged UK farmers to maximise yields in order to minimise costs of production.

Addressing one of the key issues threatening yields in cereals – disease – Bill Clark, director of Brooms Barn Research, presented the latest data on SDHI fungicides advising growers that including an SDHI in their fungicide programmes, “would raise the yield plateau through excellent protectant and erradicant disease control over and above that currently offered by triazoles. For example, the yield benefits of using Adexar over Opus, would be worth more than 100/ha at current prices.”

Dr David Ellerton of Hutchinsons added to Mr Clark’s advice, saying: “it will be the weather in early spring that will determine the choice of how and where to use these fungicides in a programme.”

Also addressing disease control in oilseed rape, Dr Ellerton warned growers about the increasing incidences of Verticillium Wilt and advised on careful variety choice to avoid the high disease interaction seen by some varieties such as Excalibur and Castille, in recent trials.

Surprisingly, only about 15% of the farmer audience used GPS or precision farming techniques, leading David Purdy of John Deere to pose the question ‘Is it worth going after the 10% of savings that can be achieved by adopting precision technology methods?’

Mr Purdy suggested that by employing measures such as more precise boom control, 1-2/ha chemical savings could be made, totalling up to 750 saving on a 500ha farm. He added that practices such as spraying to map, precision irrigation, variable seed rates and accurate record keeping would undoubtedly benefit the bottom line.

A practical application of this approach, Rootplanner, was presented by Hutchinsons own Matt Ward. Rootplanner is based on a scientific method of splitting fields into smaller ‘management zones’ to improve efficiency of input use’ such as PGRs, slug pellets and traced elements “with further work on SDHIs being conducted next year.”

An innovative and exciting new machinery concept was launched at the conference the V Form OSR Micro Wing. This is the result of a unique collaboration between Cousins and Hutchinsons that provides significant advances in crop establishment whilst minimising the burden of grass weeds in oilseed rape.

Responsible for the development of the Micro Wing, Dick Neale of Hutchinsons explained: “The Micro wing is based on the proven V form cultivation platform, and is coupled with a Teeracast seeder and Razor ring press wheels which minimises soil disturbance, significantly reducing the germination of problem grassweeds. This then allows for very high levels of grassweed control to be realised from herbicide inputs.”

However, it was not all about new chemistry and technology – James Clarke of ADAS reminded growers that the extensive knowledge that they have about their own fields and practices could be well adapted to improving weed control. “Purely by understanding the weed seed bank across the rotation, best practise can be employed for successful weed control. Knowing where and how deep the weed seeds are and when they germinated over various seasons will deliver a pattern of emergence that will provide the answers to more effective pre-emergence control.”

With turnover in excess of 150 million, the business has grown to become the leading national agricultural and horticultural input advice and supply company. Hutchinsons takes a dynamic, forward thinking approach to supporting grower clients in the production of quality crops and food in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Agriculture and horticulture have always faced fluctuating conditions and prosperity and the industry is once again experiencing a period of significant change.  After several decades where food security has been low on government agendas and householders have enjoyed high quality food at relatively cheap prices, the current situation has seen the unit price of staple foodstuffs like bread, milk, eggs, vegetables and meat increase significantly.