In this issue... Spring impact page 19 Rust mistrust page 8 Drilling decisions affect OSR variety choice The science behind the headline findings

Technology trials page 40 Fine-tuning nutrients page 51

Opinion Volume 21 Number 3 4 Talking Tilth - A word from the editor. Arable Extra March 2019 6 Smith’s Soapbox - Views and opinions from an Essex peasant….. 59 Last Word - A view from the field from CPM’s technical editor. Technical 8 Cereal disease - Pathogenomics provide rust insight Earlier this month the UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) held its annual stakeholder meeting. 12 Tech Talk - Robbers with umbrellas There’s a family of weeds on the increase across the country and they’re very competitive if left unchecked. 16 survey - Switch up strategy to boost broadleaf control ALS have been a long-standing tool in the herbicide armoury. However, with increased weed pressures, resistance has become a problem. 19 OSR agronomy - Bending the rotational rules Editor Spring is generally considered a poor entry for oilseed rape, but Tom Allen-Stevens one Cambs family business has made it work. Technical editor 22 OSR improvement - Establishment path to crop success Lucy de la Pasture Improving oilseed rape performance isn’t necessarily about rapid or radical change. Writers 25 Insiders View - Setting standards in vigour? Tom Allen-Stevens Rob Jones Now under new ownership, the InVigor line has another choice for growers Andrew Blake Lucy de la Pasture looking for strong vigour in the late-sown slot. Charlotte Cunningham Paul Spackman 28 Intercropping - Shared learning on sharing space Kent grower Andrew Howard has been pioneering ways in which pulse Design and production crops can be grown together with other spring breaks to shore up returns. Brooks Design Advertisement co-ordinator 32 Real Results Pioneers - The icing on the cake Peter Walker Bringing together the building blocks of a farming system forms the focus of activities at Forrest Farms in Suffolk. Publisher Angus McKirdy 36 Grain storage - Rewards in store? Business development manager Britain’s largest farmer-owned grain storage co-operative Camgrain has Charlotte Alexander completed an internal review and picked up an industry award for its efforts.

To claim two crop protection BASIS points, send an email to [email protected], quoting reference CP/67207/1819/g. Innovation To claim two NRoSO CPD points, please send your name, 40 Helix project - A field focus for digital dreams NRoSO member number, date of birth and postcode to Novel technologies are being put into field trials to assess their value [email protected] for growers. *the claim ‘best read specialist arable journal’ is based 42 Precision agronomy - Digital tool drives agronomy decisions on independent reader research conducted by An AHDB Monitor Farmer is using a precision agronomy platform as the Research Engine (Mar 2018) basis for making changes to management practice. Editorial & advertising sales PO Box 4856, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 9NX 44 Take control - The tools to tailor nutrition need Yara’s suite of digital farming services has been relaunched, with new Tel: (01743) 861122 E-mail: angus cpm-magazine.co.uk @ options and smart refinements aimed at optimising application. Reader registration hotline 01743 861122 48 Research Briefing - The science of crop stress Advertising copy Recent research has shed more light on the interaction seaweed extract Brooks Design, has with crops and how it can bring best results. 24 Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1RD Tel: (01743) 244403 E-mail: [email protected] 51 Crop nutrition - Nutrient availability unearthed One of the hardest things to predict in crop nutrition is the quantity of CPM Volume 21 No 3. Editorial, advertising and sales offices are at nutrients in the soil available for uptake by the crop. White House Barn, Hanwood, Shrewsbury SY5 8LP. Tel: (01743) 861122. CPM is published ten times a year by CPM Ltd and is available free of charge to qualifying farmers and farm managers in the United Kingdom. Roots In no way does CPM Ltd endorse, notarise or concur with any of the advice, recommendations or prescriptions reported in the magazine. 54 Potato weed control - Life after If you are unsure about which recommendations to follow, please consult It’s time to look elsewhere as the EU Commission finally calls time on diquat. a professional agronomist. Always read the label. Use pesticides safely. CPM Ltd is not responsible for loss or damage to any unsolicited material, including photographs. crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 3 they should be treated as Committee on Releases to the see whether these claims of conventional crops, and Environment) for a licence environmental and crop also went against the costs several thousand pounds. improvement actually ring true. opinion of the EU’s own The location of the site must be A scientist can create a 20% advocate general. publicly declared and published increase in thousand grain The decision took in local newspapers; buffer weight, for example, but it’s the everyone in the UK by strips should be planted to farmer who adapts fertiliser and surprise, not least Defra minimise pollination of nearby fungicide regimes to turn it into itself, and you may be crops; fencing erected to 20% higher, more sustainable Are you ready aware that an industry-led prevent the ingress of animals yield. A scientist can create a initiative has been underway that could take material off the grain rich in iron to address one to explore? to address the issue and site; and monitoring undertaken of society’s fundamental dietary discuss the best way forward. for any volunteer plants for deficiencies. But only a farmer How do you feel about That initiative culminated last several years afterwards. It’s can balance the nutrient regime growing gene-edited (GE) month with a roundtable, for these reasons very few across a range of soils and crops, and more importantly, attended by Michael Gove and plant-research institutes choose situations, that will consistently how would you feel about Defra chief scientist Prof Ian to do any GM field trials at all deliver that potential, as well as pre-breeding research trials Boyd. The main purpose was in the UK, and that’s before an economic return. So it’s not of these new breeding for the scientists, representing they’ve even considered the just the initial discovery, but the technologies (NBTs) taking the UK’s world-leading possible threat of demonstrations ensuing co-creation that could place on your farm, or on plant-science research base, from anti-GM activists. deliver the sustainability goals, land nearby? to discuss with the Secretary To be fair, Defra is sympathetic. and though the route to get Just to clarify here, GE crops of State the environmental There’s a palpable drive within there may involve GE or GM are different from genetically and crop improvement benefits government to encourage crops, the ultimate solution modified (GM) crops in that the NBTs they’re developing innovation, and gene-editing may involve neither. the DNA has been edited to will bring. It was also to sits front and centre of this. So take a look at the bring about a specific genetic highlight how the work will be Mr Gove’s response to the threshold on which you stand. mutation. Such mutations jeopardised by the CJEU ruling. initiative is that he’s keen to You must decide whether to happen regularly and randomly Importantly, much of their know what will enable field step over it and explore, or turn in nature –– it’s these that work has now reached the research, and more importantly, away and look for something breeders look for when stage where it needs to make it accessible to a wide else. What’s it to be? Tell me developing new varieties. come out into the field. To research base within the UK. your views and I’ll make sure Scientists can now precisely do proper field trials of any But he acknowledges there will Mr Gove receives them. Go to edit the plant genome to create pre-breeding material is a be resistance, and any move www.cpm-magazine.co.uk and GE crops that express the serious undertaking –– there are that could be seen to diverge look for the link in the Opinion desired trait. In GM crops, by strict protocols to ensure their from EU regulation will not be section. contrast, foreign DNA is actually scientific integrity, and it’s these undertaken lightly. It’s not just inserted into the plant genome that preserve the value of the about the science, but about –– arguably an event that breeding industry itself and the perception of the science. wouldn’t happen naturally. deliver new varieties onto our And that’s were you come in. Tom Allen-Stevens has a 170ha In July last year, the Court of farms that are distinctly different Farmers are the linchpin in this arable farm in Oxon, and has Justice for the European Union and progressive. discussion. Ultimately, you will been leading the Gene Editing (CJEU) decided that GE crops, But to do field trials under decide whether or not to grow for Environmental and Crop and indeed all NBTs, should be GMO regulations introduces these crops, and whether they Improvement initiative. classed as GMOs. This is in an extra, unwelcome tier of do actually have a commercial [email protected] marked contrast to authorities expense and hassle. Just to future in the UK. But before @tomallenstevens around the world, who believe apply to ACRE (Advisory that, you will be needed to

of legislation will have considerable since the 1980s we’ve seen a few to do and how much and when impact on British farmers but the CAP policy changes come and they will be paid. Bill stands out as go but they’ve been incremental One mustn’t be too cynical but having the potential to colour changes usually brought in with Defra’s record on delivering new the fortunes of our industry not much input from the British schemes is not a happy one, for a generation. government. Now Whitehall is in especially in the initial years. Just It’s quite a thought that the driving seat but you worry that as with SPS in 2013, it would be it’s the twenty to thirty year with all the distraction of leaving a bitter irony that after taking olds, (I’m reliably informed the EU, they haven’t got their eyes years to get BPS properly these people are called on the road let alone a good map delivered, at the very moment ‘millennials’) that should be giving to steer them in the direction we when competence is achieved Big balls this most attention as it’s their need to take. the apple-cart gets overturned generation that have most to win Originally the idea was that the as new schemes are ushered in One of the many worrying or lose. Agriculture Bill would be passed without what is needed, such aspects of the current For the current middle- aged into law before we left the EU at as fit-for-purpose IT. Parliamentary melt-down being generation of farmers, and let’s be the end of March. But as we The question I suppose for caused by Brexit is that there is honest these are the people who know, at the moment the House many of us is should we be in a queue of major bills not usually have most control of the of Commons is so dysfunctional some way preparing for this getting the parliamentary farm cheque book (or whatever the would be incapable of phoning radical policy change? Given the attention they merit. digital equivalent of cheque books out for take-away pizza. So the current lack of clarity, for most of Amongst others, there’s the are nowadays) we are probably Agriculture Bill timetable has now us the answer is ‘probably not’ Environment Bill, the Immigration at the tail end of this policy been thrown up into the air to the unless, of course, we were Bill, the Trade Bill and the finally, maelstrom. But then again, there’s point it is not inconceivable that it thinking of buying or taking but by no means least, the sometimes a sting in the tail. could become a dead document on land. Agricultural Bill. All these pieces For those of us who’ve farmed if there was a general election this I suspect I’m not the only one side of the autumn. At the who isn’t scanning the ‘Farms for moment it is waiting to go for sale’ section of the farming press a reading in the Lords but the quite so avidly as I used to. But constitutional position is that if then again, I’m reminded my Parliament is dissolved then grandfather bought land in the anything in the Lords gets struck 1930s when farming’s fortunes from the record and you have to were not in a good place and go back to square one. turmoil was just around the Meanwhile the narrative corner. The princely sum he around the Bill remains –– by borrowed to fund what was then 2028 we will have a new suite of seen as a reckless purchase at agri-environment schemes to tap crazy prices was £4000 to buy into to plug some of the gap the 300 acres. In his case fortune loss of BPS will leave. But there favoured the brave. I sometimes are a lot of known unknowns in worry that there is one key there including size of budget as genetic trait that didn’t get well as design and delivery of handed down the Smith family schemes. If they are based on the tree –– big balls. principle of income foregone then they will struggle to compensate many arable farmers for loss Guy Smith grows 500ha of of BPS. combinable crops on the north However, if they generously east Essex coast, namely pay for tweaks to productive St. Osyth Marsh –– officially the farming such as cover crops and driest spot in the British Isles. establishment techniques then Despite spurious claims from they will become more interesting. others that their farms are But even if they were production actually drier, he points out friendly by design, they will need that his farm is in the Guinness to be delivered smoothly and Book of Records, whereas others aren’t. End of. competently with farmers knowing exactly what they need @essexpeasant

6 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019

Pathogenomics provide rust insight I’d hesitate to“ describe the yellow rust population as stable. ”

Technical Cereal disease

Earlier this month the UK in the samples tested.” The Red group is related to the incursion Cereal Pathogen Virulence of the original Warrior group of yellow rust in Survey (UKCPVS) held its 2011, now renamed the Pink group. Since the original incursion, subtle changes in annual stakeholder meeting. virulence patterns has occasionally led to Although there were no some varieties unexpectedly breaking down badly to yellow rust infection. major surprises, CPM finds out there’s more going on Resistance rating Since 2011, a total of 17 wheat varieties than meets the eye. have dropped in resistance rating for this reason, with seven varieties being By Lucy de la Pasture down-rated by two RL rating points or more after the 2016 season, when the Red 24 group of pathotypes was identified as the Sarah Holdgate says there were no step-changes in pathogen populations last year. For the first time in several years the prime cause of unexpected behaviour in UKCPVS was able to report that last year the field. all appeared calm, with no particular In 2017, UKCPVS reported that five new reason to expect varieties to behave pathotypes of yellow rust had been identified These two pathotypes, together with Red 24 differently to their resistance ratings on within the survey, with Red 30 and a further (most common), Red 28 and Red 26 were the AHDB Recommended List. complex pathotype (unassigned to any put into adult and seedling trials which Yet underneath the headline, the field group) giving particular cause for concern. demonstrated all varieties were of science studying pathogen virulence is paddling furiously to keep up and maybe Guide to new yellow rust groups even get ahead of the constant changes in Group colour Quick Guide the UK’s pathogen population, particularly for yellow rust. Pink Original Warrior type = Yr 6, 7, 9, 17, 32, virulent on Warrior “I’d hesitate to describe the yellow rust population as stable,” says Sarah Holdgate, Red Warrior variation = Yr 6, 7, 9, 17, 32, +/- Warrior plant pathologist at NIAB who leads the UKCPVS project. “But what I can say is that Blue Similar to old Solstice = Yr 6, 7, 9, 17, 32, avirulent on Warrior there have been no major shifts since the last big change in 2016, when the Red 24 Purple Kranich race = Yr 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 32, Kranich group of isolates came to prominence. But in 2018 we have seen some stabilisation, Source: UKCPVS 2018. with a couple of pathotypes most dominant

8 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Cereal disease

Common isolates found in 2018

Race Name Pathotype Frequency

Red 27 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Re,Sp,Ro,So,Ca,Ap,Ev 33%

Red 3 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Sp,Ro,So,Ca,Ap 19%

Source: UKCPVS, 2018.

New isolates found in 2018

Name Pathotype

Red 43 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Sp,Ro,So,Wa,Ca,Ap Red 47 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Sp,Ro,So,Wa,Ca - 2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Sp,Ro,So,Ca,Ap New isolates found in 2018, Red 43 and Red 47, - 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,17,25,32,Re,Sp,Ro,So,Ev may be associated with slightly higher than expected levels of disease, says Amelia Hubbard. Source: UKCPVS, 2018.

susceptible to one or more of the isolates 8 on RL),” she explains. a true infection and KWS Siskin is still likely except Costello, KWS Crispin, KWS Siskin, “Yellow rust found on variety Freiston (9) to be resistant.” KWS Trinity and KWS Firefly, reports NIAB’s was identified as a new pathotype to the The genetic data for 2018 wasn’t Amelia Hubbard. UK, Red 43 and we found Pink 10 on available at the time of the UKCPVS “In 2018 we identified some new Revelation (9). Also of interest was meeting to give a complete picture of any pathotypes in the yellow rust isolates yellow rust found on KWS Siskin (9), but population changes, but Amelia was able tested. Red 27 was the most common unfortunately the sample failed during to confirm the most commonly found pathotype in 2018 and was first seen the incubation so we weren’t able to test for its isolates were Red 27 and Red 3 based year before in Graham and Shabras (rated pathotype. This normally means that it isn’t on pathology data produced at NIAB. L

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 9 Cereal disease

surveillance, field pathogenomics can be 14 different sites, and we found pathotypes used to answer fundamental questions mostly from the Red group, with few from about how the yellow rust develops over the Pink and Purple groups. The following time and space. season all the pathotypes were found to be “The yellow rust population is very from the Red group and there was much diverse and changes can happen extremely more diversity than we had expected,” quickly,” explains plant pathologist, Chris he explains. Judge. How changes occur within the field “The intensive monitoring found a total throughout the season at the pathotype of 36 different pathotypes, with some not level is something he set out to try and seen within the UKCPVS programme of understand in a two-year series of trials testing. Six of the most commonly found at sites across the UK. pathotypes were found in every region of the country,” adds Chris. Causing epidemics One of the interesting findings of the Getting a handle on whether isolates study was the diversity found at yellow rust Diane Saunders explains that field pathogenomics found in the autumn are the same ones infection loci. “We found diversity in each can give an insight into how the host plant interacts responsible for causing epidemics later in affected ring of plants, which highlights with the pathogen. the season, or whether isolates found in that although yellow rust may be in the one part of the field are the same as those same area within the field, it may not be found a few metres away, could possibly the same pathotype.

L “Of the new isolates found in 2018, Red help us provide an early warning of “As well as variation in space, we found 43 and Red 47 may be associated with changes in the yellow rust population, the same is true in time. Testing of isolates slightly higher than expected levels of he comments. found in Jan found they were different to disease, but this needs to be confirmed,” Chris intensively scouted the trial the pathotypes found in March at the same she adds. fields for yellow rust infections, marking location within the field. This means early The field pathogenomics utilised their location within fields and sending season pathotypes may be lost later in the within the UKCPVS was developed as a samples for RNA sequencing to elucidate season and different pathotypes gained. partnership between NIAB, the Earlham their genotype. “This means it’s impossible to predict Institute and John Innes Centre. Aside from “In the 2015-16 season we had trials at how yellow rust may behave later in the

Revised timing advice on T2 for ramularia

Syngenta trials suggest chlorothalonil applied at top three leaves by spraying earlier than this the T2 riming for ramularia control should be used –– either at the flag leaf emerged timing (GS39) slightly earlier than the conventional GS45-59 or at booting (GS45),” he explains. timing. T2 applications at the latest application timing, According to their field technical manager GS59 showed it was too late and control of Iain Hamilton, Ramularia collo-cygni, traditionally ramularia had already been lost. a problem in Scotland, has become more “These results were echoed by improvements widespread over the past five years, with in green leaf area by spraying at these earlier infections occurring from the north to the south timings and, more importantly, by increases in of the UK. yield.” Infection starts from the seed, he says, though Based on the new findings, Iain suggests can also come from crop debris, with the disease growers should consider these earlier spray then entering asymptomatic phase. The damaging timings in winter and spring barley –– either by Including chlorothalonil in fungicide phase is triggered later in the season when the applying Bravo at GS39 followed by an SDHI, such programmes at GS39 and GS45 spray timings crop is put under stress, causing the pathogen as Elatus Era (benzovindiflupyr+ prothioconazole) has given substantial reductions in ramularia to produce a toxin which results in spotting as ears emerge at GS55-59; or by applying a tank on upper leaves, says Iain Hamilton. symptoms on leaves. mixture of Bravo and Elatus Era at GS39-45. The “With no effective seed treatments against former approach may suit situations where late ramularia, and variety resistance ratings not brown rust is expected, he notes. at this time anyway. Other trials have also shown currently available, the multi-site fungicide Bravo “Bringing the Bravo spray forward from the better net blotch control, better green leaf retention, (chlorothalonil) has become a mainstay for tackling traditional T2 timing fits with what we know about better yield and better margin over fungicide cost it, especially since the reduced performance or ramularia. Although this is just one year’s results, with the GS39-45 Bravo plus Elatus Era timing.” resistance seen with other fungicide groups. chlorothalonil is a protectant fungicide so needs to Iain estimates that in general, there’s a 14-day “Historically, Bravo has been applied as part of be used preventatively, so it’s important to treat the gap between GS39 and GS49 which makes a the conventional T2 fungicide spray at the awns crop before symptoms appear. fungicide sequence at these timings possible. emerging to ears emerged timing (GS49-59). But “Applying Bravo at GS39 isn’t necessarily an “But for spring barley it’s unlikely to be a practical new results from last season showed a much extra spraying operation. An ethephon-based plant option as the crop can race through its growth greater ramularia reduction was achieved on the growth regulator (Terpal) is often sprayed on barley stages in just a few days.”

10 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Cereal disease season from sequencing the infections insight into the other side of the coin it’s possible to elucidate its role in disease found earlier in the season,” he comments. –– how the host plant interacts with the progression. Why yellow rust exhibits so much pathogen, she says. “This information can be used by variation in time has two possible “Identifying which pathways of the breeders in their breeding programmes explanations, says Chris. “It may be host cell are targeted by the pathogen and although the resistance trait for because of simple variation between is crucial to get a better understanding this gene may have an associated yield samples, but I believe it’s more likely that of the mechanisms involved in disease penalty, this approach is starting to new pathotypes emerge when new spores response. By looking at the interaction of uncover new knowledge into how blow into the crop.” the pathogen and host we can work out pathogens manipulate their host that On a practical level, the study has shown genes which are being turned on or off,” could ultimately help breeders to produce up some potential holes in the sampling she explains. new varieties using this insight that process when agronomists collect yellow have an acceptable yield potential,” rust samples for UKCPVS testing. Genetic lineages comments Diane. I “In light of the study, we suggest JIC PhD student, Pilar Corredor-Moreno, sending in 4-5 leaves from a 2-4m2 area. has been researching just this –– using the When samples arrive at NIAB, we sample varieties Solstice, Cordiale, Oakley and Whisky prize winners a single lesion for spores from a single Santiago. The latter two varieties are from pustule, so wrapping leaves separately will closely related genetic lineages, otherwise Many thanks to all readers who took mean we have a better chance of picking the varieties are genetically distantly part in the recent print vs. digital survey up the pathotypes that may be present in related to one another and show differing (p8, CPM Feb 2019). A resounding 86% an infection loci,” adds Sarah. levels of susceptibility to yellow rust. said they prefer to read CPM in print rather The mind-boggling world of molecular “Pilar has found a difference in the than on screen –– although 68% said they genetics may also be able to provide expression of genes related to the like to have access to back-copies and information to plant breeders which will chloroplasts of susceptible varieties news stories online as well. be ultimately be of use to aid disease and those with greater resistance to The winners are –– Colin Chappell, management, explains Dr Diane Saunders yellow rust. She’s identified one gene Lincs; David Jacobs, Suffolk; Brian Jones, of John Innes Centre. –– encoding a branched-chain amino Cheshire; Mike Gothard, Devon; John Hogg, Field pathogenomics isn’t only useful to acid aminotransferase –– which appears Perthshire; Matthew Paul, Cambs –– who help understand changes in the pathogen involved in the plant’s defence response. each receive a bottle of quality malt whisky. population, it can also give a valuable By knocking out the function of the gene,

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 11 Tech Talk

Early control“ is the best approach. Tackling umbelliferous weeds ” Pressure on an ever-dwindling armoury of broadleaf weed herbicides, essential for keeping a plethora of common and unfamiliar species in check, is putting increasing pressure on growers and agronomists to deliver cost-effective control solutions. FMC manufactures many of the leading SU products with a proven track record, enabling the industry to keep one step ahead of this growing problem. Robbers with umbrellas There’s a family of weeds on the increase across the country and they’re very competitive if left unchecked. CPM finds out how to prevent the umbellifers from stealing your yield. By Lucy de la Pasture

More often than not it’s Apiaceae family, better known as parsley (Aethusa cynapium). be tricky, with several looking grassweeds that dictate the Umbelliferae. Identification of the different very similar at the cotyledon herbicide programmes and any FMC’s commercial technical umbelliferous weed species can stage. Bur chervil, shepherd’s surviving broadleaf weeds are manager, Jeff Fieldsend, shares needle and cow parsley are mopped up in the spring. That his knowledge on the best particularly hard to tell apart approach has led to a spectrum tactics to get on top of these at early growth stages. of broadleaf weeds that has very competitive weeds. But it’s important to know changed in response to herbicide exactly which species you’re use and the development of What are umbelliferous dealing with because some are herbicide resistance in some weeds? more problematic than others. broadleaf species. Important arable weeds within Bur chervil is becoming a particular The result is a swing in the this family are bur chervil headache in some regions and is spring weed population towards (Anthriscus caucalis), wild extremely competitive, as well as certain weed species that are carrot (Daucus carota), being difficult to control. able to capitalise on holes in shepherd’s needle (Scandix autumn herbicide programmes pecten-veneris), spreading Jeff Fieldsend says a predominance Why are they a problem? and exploit the gap left by the hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis), In many areas of the UK, it’s of winter cereals and oilseed rape successful control of other weed cow parsley or wild chervil blackgrass that dictates autumn has caused umbelliferous weeds species. Most notably on the (Anthriscus sylvestris), hemlock weed control programmes, with to increase. increase are weeds from the (Conium maculatum) and fool’s broadleaf weeds assuming a

12 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Tech Talk

lesser importance. Strategies targeted in the first place, has which means there’s more than Where are they for blackgrass hinge around become the norm. Over the past one flush of weeds, and they prevalent? delayed autumn drilling and decade umbellifers have grow away very quickly in the Traditionally these umbelliferous building a stack of residuals, increased in arable rotations spring –– two factors which make weeds have been found on sandy largely based around flufenacet in response to this change in timing critical for good control. soils but are now being widely since the demise of the herbicide practices and tillage Each weed plant has the ability reported on heavier soil types. substituted- (such as regimes. to produce 500-600 seeds, so in Bur chervil began as a IPU and chlorotoluron). Competitive umbelliferous situations where they’re poorly regional problem in the eastern As a result, a spring tidy up weeds, such as bur chervil, controlled, problems can counties but it’s becoming more of broadleaf weeds that have have a prolonged period of escalate very quickly. widespread, spreading further survived the stack, or weren’t germination (autumn to spring), It’s a weed that’s extremely north and west. There’s a link with competitive with the crop for rotation and the prevalence of resources such as water, winter cereals and winter oilseed nutrients and light because of rape has favoured a build up of its growth habit, which can be umbelliferous seeds in the seed

up to 1m tall. bank, although the balance is L

How ‘difficult’ weed species have changed in time

Decade Troublesome weed species 1960s Charlock 1970s Cleavers 1980s Pansy 1990s Cranesbill 2000s Groundsel, hedge mustard Umbelliferous weeds can look very similar at early growth stages – wild carrot 2010s Umbellifers (left) and bur chervil (right). Source: FMC

Broadleaf weeds set agronomist challenge this spring

Changes in rotations and cropping He highlights bur chervil as a the best possible chance of control strategies, coupled with product loss particular challenge, which although without any worries of contamination and herbicide resistance, may be historically sporadic, is now appearing in the spray tank.” contributing to agronomists facing to be more widespread and turning up Fool’s parsley can also be an issue, increasing pressure to prevent yield in fields with no previous record of he says, often requiring applications as loss though weed competition. the weed. late as flag leaf to deal with late weed That’s certainly the experience for “It’s really bizarre,” he says. emergence, especially in a dry spring. Agrii agronomist David Clark, based in “20 years ago bur chervil would never Another headache has appeared in Yorks. He advises over a range of soil have appeared, but this is one weed recent years with advent of Clearfield David Clark says timing of application is types, from the heavier clays of the which is unpredictable and very difficult OSR, which has become more popular crucial to get good bur chervil control, and Holderness region to the loamier soils to manage. It’s not only erratic, but very year by year. without any compromise on dose rate. and lighter sands of the Yorks Wolds, invasive.” “The Clearfield volunteers have now in predominantly arable rotations with Having used a -based got to significant levels and conventional be factored in, although they are usually potatoes. residual product in the autumn for SU chemistry has little or no effect,” he well controlled where we include With 40 years of experience behind grassweeds and broad-spectrum weed says. “With the acreage doubling every in with the mix.” him, David’s very aware that weed control, his winter cereal crops can year in response to the ease it offers in David also faces challenges on his profiles have changed significantly appear very clean apart from patches of overcoming brassica weed issues in sandier soils, where amsinkia and over the years and with many effective bur chervil. These can smother crops OSR, it’s a problem that certainly isn’t bugloss are species which can be products no longer registered, it means and grow very quickly throughout the going to go away.” hugely competitive in situations where his toolbox has had to adapt. spring if left unchecked. Other volunteer weeds that cause the crop might be struggling due to dry SU chemistry has traditionally played “Whereas cranesbill and cleavers problems in David’s rotations include conditions, though they’re controllable a major role in post-emergence contact are usually quite predictable in their volunteer potatoes and borage –– using SU chemistry. weed control, in conjunction with a distribution, the bur chervil is now the latter grown historically for the “We really do have specific weed broad-spectrum residual herbicide probably our number one problem pharmaceutical industry, but still a threats right across our whole area. programme. Where gaps in the latter weed. SU’s are still effective but timing perennial problem. The spectrum is continually evolving exist, he’s finding it harder to achieve of application is crucial and without any “Once you’ve grown borage and, with little or no new products on the control he requires, especially compromise on dose rate. you’ve always got it,” he admits. the market, stewardship of actives late in the season where dry spring “I also prefer to use the SX formulated “It’s controllable with the SU products, coupled with accurate and targeted conditions followed by late rain can SU products, such as Ally Max SX or but again it can appear quite late and advice is of paramount importance. It often alter the look of a previously Harmony M SX which although they needs extra treatment and that adds can be difficult, but it’s achievable with clean crop. carry a premium, mean that you have extra cost. Volunteer potatoes have to products that have integrity.”

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l approach. Target the weed in i v

r Relative activity of SUs on bur chervil Tackling umbelliferous mid-March to April, when it has e 100 weeds: top tips 3-4 true leaves and hasn’t yet h 95

c 95

90 90

begun to extend away rapidly. r 90

G u Identify the weed correctly – The best performance is 85 b

bur chervil is more difficult to achieved using a sulfonyl l 80

o 75 control and many umbelliferous (SU) product containing a r t 70

weeds look similar at early n high-loading of thifensulfuron 65 growth stages. o –– such as Harmony M c 60

G Target umbelliferous weeds SX (metsulfuron-methyl+ 55 early – aim for mid-March to thifensulfuron-methyl) –– % 50 Jubilee 30g AllyMax 42g Harmony M 100g early April. with the addition of a phenoxy G Use a mixture of chemical herbicide, such as CMPP Jubilee (metsulfuron-methyl; AllyMAx (metsulfuron-methyl+ tribenuron-methyl); groups or fluroxypyr – best or . Harmony M (metsulfuron-methyl+ thifensulfuron-methyl) applied 12 April 2018 control is achieved using a SU against small weeds in a competitive crop. herbicide containing a high level What’s best practice? Source: FMC trial at Avebury, Wilts in 2018. of thifensulfuron plus a phenoxy To get the best performance from herbicide. any SU herbicide it’s important tank and during spraying. correct washout procedure, but in that the weed is actively growing Generally, only two applications general all equipment should be at the time of application and for of SU herbicides are permitted cleaned immediately after use most weeds this occurs when and there are also sequencing by completely rinsing all interior the temperature reaches 5-60C. restrictions, dependent on tank surfaces (including lid) But when there’s a large diurnal individual product labels and with water, taking care to remove range, which can often happen tank-mixes. Sequences can be any visible deposits. Then flush in early spring, then conditions checked for legality using the the pump, filters and boom aren’t ideal as the performance FMC ALS-sequence app, which after removing in-line strainers, of SU’s can be reduced. contains the most up-to-date nozzle tips and screens Prolific seed production means In FMC trials, further information from CRD. (clean separately). Finally umbelliferous weeds can build up improvements in performance drain the tank and repeat the quickly if not well controlled. have been seen where Fortune What wash-out procedure. I (75% methylated seed oil) is procedure is best?

L Non-cereal crops, and sugar being slightly redressed since used with the SU, though it’s beet in particular, are very the spring cropping area has important to be mindful of sensitive to SU herbicides. So it’s increased in response to the potential phytotoxic effects if important to follow the approved blackgrass epidemic. using in a multiple tank-mix. wash out procedure using All There’s also a link between the Phenoxy herbicides aid control Clear Extra to avoid any possibility increase in the umbellifers and a of the umbellifers but watch of crop damage caused by SU change in tillage practices, with out for their latest times of residues left in the sprayer. the move away from inversion application to the crop. All FMC SU cereal herbicides tillage probably favouring the Achieving a good level of have the SX formulation which survival of their seeds within control is all down to the means they have a faster, safer the seed bank. spray coverage so a minimum Always use All-Clear Extra to clean wash-out procedure and pose less water volume of 200 l/ha is the spray tank and lines after applying risk to the following crop. Always What approach works recommended, with higher an SU. best? volumes advisable if the weed check the product label for the Since the withdrawal of Lexus SX population is particularly dense. (flupyrsulfuron) in Dec 2017, Using twin caps or forward and Sponsor’s message the only option for the control backward facing nozzles can also help achieve better spray of the umbelliferous weeds is For more than a century, FMC FMC recently acquired a coverage. in the spring. Although there Corporation has served the significant proportion of DuPont’s can be some activity from global agricultural, industrial and Crop Protection business including autumn-applied residuals, these What about sequences consumer markets with quality the well-known cereal sulfonyl-urea run out of steam and weeds start and mixtures? products and innovative solutions. (SU) herbicides, sugar beet herbicides SU herbicides should be added to grow away. In the UK, FMC is based in and DuPont’s ground-breaking to the tank first when using in a It’s important to target these Deeside and is a leading supplier insecticide portfolio. In addition, tank-mix. The advice is to quarter umbelliferous weeds when of both speciality, crop protection FMC have also acquired DuPont’s fill the spray tank with clean they’re small for complete control and foliar nutrition products, crop protection research and water, start the agitation and add because later applications to including a wide range of development capability, including an the required quantity of herbicide larger weeds will only result in advanced micronutrients, soluble extensive pipeline directly to the tank without prior some top-growth burn down. fertilisers and adjuvants to UK of new and creaming. Agitation should be For bur chervil, in particular, agriculture. exciting products. early control is the best continued while topping up the

14 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019

Switch up strategy We need to“ take a proactive approach to resistance to boost broadleaf management – waiting to be reactive is too control late.”

Technical Herbicide survey

ALS herbicides have been According to a survey carried out by management –– waiting to be reactive CPM and Nufarm, 43% of growers have is too late.” a long-standing tool in the faced issues with broadleaf weeds in their Interestingly, nearly a third of growers herbicide armoury. However, winter cereals, with 47% noting issues in (31%) said resistance management wasn’t both winter and spring crops and just 10% an important part of their strategy. with increased weed facing issues solely in spring cereals. “Resistance to ALS chemistry is pressures, resistance has “With spring crops, there is a much bigger predominately seen in poppies –– which opportunity to control weeds by creating a is mainly a problem in the East,” explains become a problem. CPM stale seedbed and allowing for a flush of Andrew Watson, agronomy manager at explores the alternative weeds prior to drilling,” says independent consultant, Keith Norman. “Some of the options available to growers blackgrass residual herbicides have good and what they can do to broadleaf weed control and inadvertently protect existing chemistry. can knock out a lot of weed problems.” Growers’ radars By Charlotte Cunningham With growing weed pressure comes increased chemical demands. So with broadleaf weed issues evident across the For many arable growers across the UK, country it comes as no surprise that 79% broadleaf weeds are the cause of a major of growers revealed ALS resistance headache, leaving many with reduced management was an important part of crop yields and delayed harvesting. their strategy. “It is really reassuring to While ALS herbicides have been see that this is problem that is on growers’ effective at reducing the pressures of radars,” says Daniel Macdonald, weeds such as chickweed and poppies, agronomy manager at Nufarm. “If there over-reliance on such products has led are farmers who aren’t doing anything in to resistance issues in many species terms of a preventative strategy, then that If there are farmers that aren’t doing anything in –– leaving growers desperately seeking is slightly worrying. It’s best to take a terms of a preventative strategy, then that is an alternative solution. proactive approach to resistance slightly worrying, says Daniel Macdonald.

16 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Herbicide survey

NIAB. “They’re a light land very much a win-win situation A small percentage of weed so it may not be an for growers.” growers (6%) stated they were issue in all regions.” To assess the extent of treating other resistant weed Keith agrees: “Some farmers resistant weed populations, populations, however, Daniel don’t actually realise they have growers were asked to state reckons they may be mistaken a resistance issue, so they are which ones –– if any –– in terms of resistance. not doing anything to mitigate they were currently treating. “However, there is often against it. Unless you have Chickweed dominated confusion between clear, tested evidence you may the results, with 41% of resistance and poor control. not realise there is a problem. respondents treating it, while “Lots of factors –– such as However, it is always better 33% also noted issues with application rates or the weather to pre-empt a problem than to mayweed and the same –– can contribute to a reduction wait until it is an issue.” proportion (33%) having in control levels and this is Higher costs could also problems with poppies. often mistaken as a sign of be a reason why some The severity and presence of resistance issues.” aren’t prioritising resistance individual populations can be When it comes to combatting management in their strategy, very regionally dependent. ALS resistance, 74% of growers We know how to use Phenoxy adds Andrew. “The prevention “Resistance in chickweed is a highlighted that alternate herbicides and they make brilliant of ALS resistance is always well-known problem –– more modes of action are at the heart mixers, says Andrew Watson. a difficult thing to sell –– commonly found in Scotland of their strategy. “There are two especially if you are asking –– whereas poppies are a very major ways of combatting ALS in poppies and chickweed farmers to spend more money. Eastern issue and mayweed resistance in cereals,” says –– it either works or it doesn’t. However, it can also lead to seems to pop up here and Andrew. “The first is alternating “Fluroxypyr is incredibly better weed control so can be there,” adds Andrew. the modes of action used.” good for cleaver control –– great as part of a mix Do you treat any of the following ALS resistant Reduced efficacy and very cost effective.” Over-usage of chemistry is, usage weed populations? of course, one of the main was also well represented in reasons behind reduced the survey. The results showed chemical efficacy. With the that 35% of respondents survey showing 72% of growers incorporate MCPA, with 39% include the ALS herbicide using CMPP-P and 19% opting metsulfuron in their crop for 2,4- D. rotation, it comes as no surprise Despite being available that ALS resistance is on the since the early 1950’s, rise. “This is a fairly typical phenoxies are still an incredibly result,” says Daniel. useful tool in the armoury, says “Metsulfuron has always been Keith. “It’s a very significant applied, and it is very good for fact that there are no known broadleaf weed control.” resistance issues to phenoxies. While ALS chemistry is I can definitely see them undoubtedly effective, there are becoming more important in other options that can provide the future.” just as much benefit and Andrew agrees: “They’ve protect resistance at the same been around for an incredibly time. However, they also come long time. Phenoxy herbicides with their pros and cons, are extremely cost effective, we Do you use any of the following active ingredients explains Andrew. “Arylex is a know how to use them and they in your cereal crop rotations? really exciting product as we make brilliant mixers. very rarely get new active “CMPP-P can really improve Fluroxypr ingredient launches. It has control when used in a mix Florasulam proven to be brilliant for poppy –– there are around 15 control. But it is expensive and different combinations that 2, 4-D we are still learning exactly how I’d recommend to use them CMPP-P to use it. with. MCPA is another really MCPA “Bromoxynil can be useful useful active –– great for poppy Arylex as a mixer with ALS chemistry breakouts –– and 2,4-D has Thifensulfuron as it’s not hugely resistant,” the added benefit of pansy Tribenuron he adds. “However, it can be a control.” Metsulfuron little harsh on crops. Florasulam Interestingly, when asked Other is very narrow spectrum and if they had used a phenoxy

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 there are issues with resistance herbicide within the past five L

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 17 Herbicide survey

unaware of the benefits in rid of,” says Keith. “Then, mix from opting for more resistance management while and match products according competitive varieties that will 14% said they’d had a previous to this. smother weeds. Obviously, bad experience and the same this has to balance out with number (14%) said they hadn’t Prescriptive approach other characteristics such heard of them. “There is often “There are clearly still some as yield, but it is a way of a stigma attached to phenoxy gaps in knowledge on how minimising risk.” usage,” explains Daniel. products work and what the With concerns rising over “There is a presumption that best options are, but I think it is chemical usage, mechanical they [phenoxies] can cause wise to take a more prescriptive weeding is also a great option crop damage, but they are approach to herbicide usage for combatting ALS resistance actually pretty safe –– MCPA and resistance management. on farm, he adds. “This is can be used right up to GS39. Really look at what issues certainly going to play a They do need more care when you’re facing and exactly more important role in the it comes to application, but what is available to help you future –– particularly due to It is always better to pre-empt a they’re a very useful product.” achieve your goal.” the rate at which chemistry problem than to wait until it is an The overarching point, Daniel agrees: “ALS efficacy is falling. Unfortunately, issue, says Keith Norman. however, is that growers are chemistry is facing resistance at the moment much of evidently using a range of issues, so it is really beneficial the technology is still only

L years, 24% of growers said active ingredients. “The advice –– for both immediate and available in the fruit and no, while a further 9% didn’t from me is to firstly know what long-term protection –– to vegetable sector, but it is know. To justify this, 36% of weeds you have an issue with spice things up by using other developing for use in arable participants said they were and which ones you want to get chemistry.” crops.” The second major way of In contrast, Keith believes combatting ALS resistance in that mechanical weeding is a Have you used a phenoxy herbicide in the last five cereals is using different crops very niche area which may not years? (e.g. MCPA, dicamba) within the rotation. “Having a be suitable for all arable farms. wider range of crops –– such “There are issues such as as broadleaf or grass crops wide tramlines which mean –– within the rotation means mechanical weeding might not more availability of different work for arable farms. For me, herbicides,” says Andrew. the key is to use alternative The survey found that modes of action.” extending rotations was also a Daniel adds: “Whether you popular solution to managing currently have resistance ALS resistance, with 57% of issues, or not, there is no growers noting this as an denying that we are losing important action to take. products very quickly. We While utilising different must look after the chemistry modes of action is key, varietal we have, pay more attention choice could play a more to detail and switch up important role, says Daniel. our strategies to reduce “Growers could really benefit pressures.” I

Winner announcement If ALS resistance is an issue what actions can be taken to help manage it? Congratulations to our lucky response: “monitor for problems, winner, Catriona Bancroft from encourage competitive crops and 140 Roxbs who responded to the use mixed modes of action” stood

120 CPM/Nufarm survey on broadleaf out the most, with the judges weed control and has won the commenting on her pragmatic 100 fabulous prize of a 5-in-1 Bresser approach to weed control. 80 wireless weather station. The aim of the survey was to Catriona responded to the explore the different broadleaf 60 survey and completed the weed control options in search 40 tie-breaker question, explaining of the optimum strategy for the best strategy to keep one step growers. To take part in the 20 ahead of broadleaf weeds. While next survey, make sure we have 0 there was a wide selection of your correct details by emailing Reduce dose ratesMore than one Using different Longer rotations application to a crop modes of action strong answers, Catriona’s [email protected]

18 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 You need a“ variety which will get up quick and get going in the late slot. ”

Bending the rotational Technical OSR agronomy rules

Spring wheat is generally we’re finding, though, is that it makes quite making the seedbed in front of the considered a poor entry for a good entry for the OSR, which is yielding Väderstad Rapid drill. well, providing we use a variety that gets “The spring cultivations ensure a seedbed oilseed rape, but one Cambs away well in the late slot. Or at least, we free of blackgrass and also leave a good family business, determined seem to be getting away with it at the friable tilth for the autumn crop. There’s also moment.” less straw residue, so we drill the OSR to address problems with straight into the stubble.” blackgrass and cabbage Right variety That’s just as well, as the crop isn’t ready Will farms 650ha of arable crops with his to harvest until late Aug to the beginning of stem flea beetle, has made brother Tom and father Edward. Joining the Sept, pushing back the window for OSR it work. CPM visits to OSR, winter and spring wheat in the rotation establishment. “We get atrocious problems are mustard, grown for Colmans, sugar beet with CSFB here. To avoid the worst of the find out how. and peas. While most of the are damage, you have to drill either early or late. grown for seed, the strategy with the OSR Following spring wheat, clearly late is the By Tom Allen-Stevens is to pick the right variety for the situation. only option, which means you need a variety “When you find a variety you know you which will get up quick and get going in the can work with, you stick with it, otherwise late slot,” he reasons. As the last of the seed pours into the you don’t get a feel for how it performs,” Hybrids are the usual go-to option L hopper, the freshening breeze picks up he says. Previous varieties included growers’ the bag and turns it into a windsock which favourites DK Cabernet, Castille and thrashes helplessly on the loader fork, PR46W21. But currently the entire 97ha as if signalling a change of weather. has been cropped with Campus. Rain is indeed forecast, and Will Gee is The switch into the variety started in keen to push on and establish what he can autumn 2017. Some land had been brought of the KWS Cochise spring wheat into the into the business with a relatively high Grade 2 Fenland silts at Thorney, east of blackgrass burden. “We took the decision Peterborough, Cambs. The crop is being not to grow winter wheat in some areas and drilled a good month earlier than last year, go for spring wheat instead –– it’s a crop and it’s part of a rotation that’s both we’ve grown on and off for years. We have a addressing the farm’s blackgrass problem good relationship with Daltons, for whom we and allowing the oilseed rape crop to steer grow seed, and this is the second year we’ll a path away from cabbage stem flea beetle be growing KWS Cochise.” damage. It’s proven a successful choice, with a “The spring wheat is grown for seed, yield last year of 6.7t/ha, despite the late which locks in a premium. But being later spring and summer drought. The land is Will Gee is finding that spring wheat can make harvested, that pushes back the drilling date usually ploughed and pressed for spring quite a good entry for his OSR crop. for the following OSR crop,” says Will. “What wheat, with a spring tine or power harrow

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 19 OSR agronomy

“Last season we were lucky with the applied as a foliar treatment at the weather –– we drilled and three days later it green-yellow bud stage. rained. This year it didn’t go quite as well, “Once the crop got going there was but the crop looks just as good now, and plenty of growth, and we did apply a growth I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t regulator. The aim was to treat with Caryx perform as well.” (mepiquat chloride+ metconazole) at stem The seed had a standard dressing with extension, but in the end, it didn’t go on until the addition of Radiate, adding some key green-yellow bud stage. The spring cultivations leave a good friable tilth micronutrients. Diammonium phosphate for the autumn OSR crop. (DAP) was applied to the seedbed. “There Late-sown OSR: how the was no need for a pre-emergence herbicide. L for late-sown vigour, but Will isn’t so We just applied Falcon (propaquizafop) for finances stack up sure. “We’ve grown both hybrids and volunteers then followed up with Kerb (/ha) open-pollinated varieties here, and I don’t (propyzamide) for the blackgrass once really have a favourite. It’s simply a matter the soil conditions were right.” Campus certified seed £40.46 of picking the right variety for the situation. The crop received a fungicide treatment Fertiliser £128.15 Daltons suggested Campus –– it’s no longer in the autumn for phoma and a second Herbicides £49.94 one of the highest yielders available, but treatment for light leaf spot. “Coming into Fungicides £41.73 that’s not why we’re growing it.” the spring there was very little disease. Insecticides £16.66 It was drilled at a fairly high seed rate –– We applied Proline (prothioconazole) at Trace elements and other £27.77 5kg/ha –– which usually works out at around flowering to keep a check on sclerotinia,” 100 seeds/m2. “You need the plant numbers says Will. Variable costs £304.71 when you’re drilling later,” he says. Last year’s late spring delayed the first Yield (t) 4.95 But they didn’t get off scot-free from the nitrogen dressing, made as Sulphan OSR price (/t) £340 CSFB. Three pyrethroid applications were to bring in the sulphur. This was followed Output £1683 needed to pull the crop through this autumn, up with the rest of the N applied as Extran Gross margin £1378.29 while only one was required in autumn 2017. just before flowering. Boron was also

Partnership approach shares risk on establishment costs

opportunity for growers to benefit from the establishment fee of £28/ha. The scheme is genetics of a new, short and stiff conventional managed by the Breeders’ Intellectual Property variety with a high yield, good disease resistance Office (BIPO), entirely outside the BSPB royalty and strong tolerance of verticillium stem stripe, collection scheme. but they won’t suffer the full cost if the crop “There’s an on-line sign up, and BIPO will fails due to cabbage stem flea beetle or drought, coordinate any auditing required. We won’t for example.” initially be making specific requirements on The idea is that the partnership shares the establishment practice, but we will invite financial risk of a failed establishment between growers and merchants to join an online grower, merchant and KWS. The grower buys forum that will include crop updates and the seed from the merchant in the normal way at crop-performance reports. a reduced cost. There’s then an establishment “I hope it will evolve into a true partnership levy in Nov, which won’t be payable if the crop and the information shared will help growers The approach gives the grower all the has failed. achieve a more certain establishment and assurances of certified seed at a similar “It works in a similar way to the Royalty Area enhanced returns from a crop that remains up-front cost to farm-saved seed says Collection which is widely used for niche crops, the most profitable autumn-sown break,” Julie Goult. but until recently has not been offered for a concludes Julie. broad-acre crop such as OSR,” notes Julie. There are around 10,000 packs of Blazen “It gives the grower all the assurances of available for establishment in autumn 2019. KWS has introduced a new way to buy oilseed certified seed and benefits of new genetics at a The variety is an AHDB Recommended List rape seed that reduces the up-front risk similar up-front cost to farm-saved seed (FSS).” candidate for harvest 2019, with a gross output to growers. The aim is to encourage growers, who may of 104% of controls, stem stiffness score of 8 Under the company’s Oilseed Establishment have moved away from certified seed as a result and height of 151cm. It has a light leaf spot Partnership (OEP), those who buy the breeder’s of uncertainty over establishment, to reconsider rating of 5 and a 6 for stem canker. new variety Blazen will pay a reduced royalty the benefits it has over FSS. These include at the time the seed is purchased. The balance guaranteed genetics, independent purity and is then only paid if the crop is successfully germination assessments, and erucic acid established. content assurance, she points out. “We believe this sort of arrangement is Typically the price for a 4ha seed pack will unique,” says Julie Goult of KWS. “It’s an be £115-125. This will then be followed with an

20 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 OSR agronomy

Farm facts

Edward Gee and Sons, Thorney, nr Peterborough, Cambs G Cropped area: 650ha G Sprayer: Househam AR3500 with G Soil type: Predominantly mix of Grade 2 24m boom silts and heavier clay loam (Fen skirt) G Drill: 6m Väderstad Rapid G G A PGR treatment at the green-yellow bud stage Staff: 2 full time Loader: JCB Loadall 536.60 G G evened out the crop and there was a canopy like Cropping: Winter wheat, spring wheat, Fertiliser spreader: Sulky X40 with a billiard table all the way through until harvest. winter oilseed rape, mustard, sugar beet, 3000kg hopper peas G Cultivation: 5.5m Vaderstad Carrier; G “But the treatment evened out the crop Mainline tractors: John Deere 7280R, 2x6f Dowdeswell ploughs; 4m Kuhn power beautifully –– there was no variation when it 6930, 7530, plus one on hire at harvest harrow; 4m Maschio power harrow; G came to flowering and we had a canopy Combine: New Holland CR9080 with 12.3m Cousins rolls like a billiard table all the way through until 9m header harvest.” No desiccant was needed for the 2018 you can’t put OSR after spring wheat, but “With the pressure from CSFB, you need harvest, although is usually we’ve shown that if you give the crop every a good reason to keep OSR in the rotation, applied. The result was a yield of 4.9t/ha. chance to succeed, you can still get a good and I think the result we’ve had provides “That’s pretty good for us. There’s a view that result from late sowing. that,” concludes Will. I

Tailor agronomy to help OSR fulfil its yield potential

A “little and often” approach to spring fertiliser generate massive crop canopies, but equally we applications and tailored use of growth regulators have to ensure the crop isn’t starved of nutrients.” are two important ways growers can help oilseed The aim with spring fertiliser applications is to rape crops fulfil their promising yield potential this achieve a green area index of 3.5 by flowering, season, say Farmacy agronomists. and the focus for remaining nitrogen is usually Low disease pressure and good weed control around the stem extension timing. But Jason feels have resulted in many crops that are well forward, there are clear benefits from holding some back to with strong root and canopy growth. Jason Noy, apply later in the season to ensure the crop who looks after crops in Cambs, Herts, Wilts is well nourished during the important seed Peter Riley favours a “little and often” approach and Glos, says the first nitrogen has been applied filling stage. to spring fertiliser applications. to some early-sown crops that were beginning Norfolk-based agronomist Peter Riley agrees, to look “hungry”, in order to ensure early and favours a four-way split, if farm logistics, development is not constrained. equipment and product choice allow. The early reduction. But he also suggests trinexapac-ethyl “This is particularly true in the East where dose would be followed by another at stem can be a useful alternative for canopy manipulation we’ve tended to drill OSR very early in the first or extension (usually mid-March), a third at and creating a more even flowering period. second week of Aug due to flea beetle pressure. green-bud stage in early April and a final dose This works by reducing the plant’s apical Many crops had used up the standard dose of foliar urea at mid- to late-flowering. “A lot of dominance and encouraging side branches to applied at drilling, so received 45kgN/ha in research shows there are benefits from this kind flower at the same time as the main stem, early Feb. of approach,” he points out. he explains. “If flowering is less drawn out, it “Even further west where OSR hasn’t been “OSR also requires a lot of sulphur, especially increases the window for light to penetrate the drilled so early, crops will benefit from nitrogen if when the crop is taking up nitrogen, so I often canopy after flowering which helps the plant to it hasn’t already been applied. We don’t want to recommend applying both at the first three build yield potential through photosynthesis.” fertiliser timings. Sulphur can be very mobile in Peter advises growers not to get caught out A well-timed growth regulator can benefit large, the soil though so it’s sensible to apply it as close by applying growth regulators too late when crops forward crops and help create a canopy structure as possible to when it is needed and will be quickly are growing quickly in the spring. “We sometimes that maximises light interception. taken up by the crop.” find growth regulators are being applied too late, Additional micronutrients should also be applied which reduces their effectiveness. Ideally they as required, with boron in particular often needed should go on at early stem extension, but –– deficiency can impair stem elongation and sometimes they’re not actually going on until flowering, he notes. green bud stage which is too late.” Jason believes a well-timed growth regulator Spring disease control should now focus on can benefit large, forward crops and help create a sclerotinia sprays at flowering, he adds. He favours canopy structure that maximises light interception a two-spray approach including azoxystrobin and throughout the growing season. Mepiquat + boscalid, while prothioconazole-based products are metconazole is his favoured choice at stem also worth considering, especially if there’s any light extension for growth regulation and height leaf spot or phoma to mop up.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 21 Establishment brought in over-the-weighbridge yields as high as 6.5t/ha from their silty loam with chalk ground. “The consistent 4t/ha-plus we’re getting path to crop works for us,” says Rachel. “Wheat and potatoes are our main earners, but our break crops need to pay their way with the least success possible risk. We’ve extended our rotation in recent years, adding vining peas and winter barley. Like the potatoes, we’re now only growing OSR every six or seven years.

Hybrid barley “The advent of hybrid barley has made the crop economic here, giving us a better OSR entry than we ever had with wheat. We now have the flexibility to sow as early as the second week in Aug if conditions are right. Even where we incorporate chicken muck from a local broiler we generally have time for a stale seedbed ahead of sowing.” While blackgrass isn’t a problem on most of the partnership’s ground, pre-planting glyphosate ahead of the OSR is important in tackling the barley volunteers that are so competitive. “Success with OSR is all about getting the crop away rapidly and reliably,” stresses Andy Murr. “This has become Success noticeably more challenging “with OSR is all since the loss of neonics. As part of our recipe for about getting the crop the most consistent away rapidly and establishment, ensuring reliably. barley volunteers don’t suck-up all the N and ” out-compete our OSR is vital.” Barley stubbles ahead of the OSR are typically worked to 125-150mm with a Väderstad TopDown to create enough loose

Technical The Scholes family on the Yorks Wolds and Richard Budd on the Weald of Kent grow OSR improvement oilseed rape in very different situations, on very different soils and with very different Improving oilseed rape systems. But their approaches to improvement are remarkably similar. performance isn’t necessarily Both have focussed their efforts over the about rapid or radical past 10 years on better understanding the crop and its needs; exploring what works change. Indeed, as CPM and doesn’t work in making the most of it finds out from two growers under their own circumstances; and continually developing their regimes to build at opposite ends of the on the former while minimising the latter. country, sustained progress Across the 100-120 ha of OSR grown annually at Fimber Nab Farm near Driffield is more about steadily doing and on a variety of local contracts, five-year Andy Murr and Rachel Scholes (pictured above) average yields are running at 4.25t/ha. things even better. have brought in over-the-weighbridge yields What’s more, manager Andy Murr and as high as 6.5t/ha from their silty loam with Rachel Scholes –– who runs the 870ha By Rob Jones chalk ground. business with her mother, Maureen –– have

22 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 OSR improvement soil for the best early taproot development. Then vigorous, fast-developing hybrids are sown at 45 seeds/m2 with a standard coulter Väderstad Rapid as soon after the first week in Aug there’s sufficient moisture. “DK Extrovert has been central to our OSR progress,” Rachel explains. “We’ve grown it from the day the variety first became available and it’s never let us down. We really appreciate its vigour in the spring as well as the autumn. “The 6.5t/ha we harvested in 2011 Wheat and potatoes are the main earners at Fimber Nab Farm, but break crops need to pay their way underlined its potential on our ground when with the least possible risk. the conditions are right. We try a new variety alongside it every year and until the arrival of DK Expedient we couldn’t find anything to 30kg/ha of liquid N in the tank wherever the reliability as well as the performance match the Extrovert. We’re growing 34ha of crops haven’t had any chicken muck. level of 100-120ha of OSR he also grows the new variety this season and it’s really “We follow up with a graminicide for the as part of his 1100ha combinable cropping impressing us with its even greater barley volunteers, then go back in with a business on and around the High Weald get-up-and-go.” dose of prothioconazole in early Nov to tidy near Hawkhurst in Kent. “We haven’t seen any yield reduction up any phoma and give a head start to our Stevens Farm yields have long been on following the loss of neonics,” adds Andy. light leaf spot programme. We include extra the high side of 4.5t/ha from ground that has “We routinely need two or three sprays trace elements –– mainly boron –– at this grown little OSR in the past. But he’s been to keep on top of the flea beetle though. stage, together with Nutri-Phite PGA as an able to push them to an even healthier and And we’ve increased our seed rate from extra growth boost.” far more consistent 5t/ha in recent years. the 35 seeds/m2 we used to sow. At the same time, he’s ensured they deliver “Previously we sowed in bands too, Spring priority first class blackgrass control as a crucial but we’ve found we get higher yields from Little and often feeding is the priority in break in his 6-7 year winter cereal-based conventional sowing here. Drilling into the spring. While Andy and Rachel never rotation. soil previously set up with the Topdown want to starve their crops, they don’t want Serious cruciferous weed problems followed by a single rolling gives us a to lose nutrients through their free-draining haven’t stood in the way of this either. nice even sowing depth and first class ground either. With an average pH of 8.0, Indeed, last year the 60ha of Clearfield OSR seed-to-soil contact. they also need to guard against mineral he grew delivered exactly the same 5t/ha “It also means the best conditions for lock-up. average as his 40ha of conventional OSR. pre-emergence herbicide activity to tackle They use an N Sensor to target their main And at 5.7t/ha, the 5.5ha ADAS YEN crop of the broadleaf weeds that always seem to be two liquid applications carefully to crop need his preferred Clearfield variety, DK Imperial a problem,” he points out. “We spray as on the Absolute N regime, having applied a CL, was the fifth highest yielding in the soon as we can after rolling, including blanket first split of 40kgN/ha balanced with whole 2018 competition. sulphur as soon as spring temperatures “Resistant blackgrass and the verticillium begin to build. wilt threat make a wide rotation essential for With little local threat from LLS and a us,” he explains. “We keep things flexible on specialist PGR only used with ‘monster a field-by-field basis but we won’t grow OSR crops’, tebuconazole is generally employed more frequently than every five years. to steady the crop at stem extension, with “We sow well into Sept at 70 seeds/m2 extra trace elements –– especially boron –– –– even with hybrids –– and in 33cm bands and Nutri-Phite PGA. A single flowering through a Sumo DTS strip-till drill. This gives spray of boscalid is the norm with a close us the time to glyphosate off a good stale eye kept out for seed weevil in what is a seedbed flush of cereal volunteers even if L local hotspot for the pest and a specialist pyrethroid included wherever any are detected. “We hold off as late as we dare with our desiccation to give as much time for pod fill as we can, taking advantage of the extra insurance Dekalb pod shatter resistance gives us,” Rachel concludes. “It’s another thing we’ve learnt through experience, and all part of doing everything we can to allow the crop to fulfil the potential we know DK Expedient is the first variety they’ve found to Little and often feeding throughout the spring at it has.” match DK Extrovert, and impresses with its even Fimber Nab ensures an even crop of Extrovert Better understanding of the crop has greater get-up-and-go. at flowering. enabled Richard Budd to markedly improve

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 23 OSR improvement

immediately after drilling completes the us,” insists Richard. “The YEN competition is establishment regime. DAP is applied at really valuable in benchmarking what we do 30kg/ha at the cotyledon stage –– only once and highlighting areas like rooting depth, Richard knows he has a crop. For the same sulphur and magnesium nutrition we may reason pre-em herbicides are firmly off be able to further fine-tune. the agenda. “Another thing it’s confirmed is the “We set our OSR up as well as we can importance we’ve always attached to late at drilling and give it everything it needs to desiccation. We didn’t go in with the fulfil its potential,” he insists. “But we’re only glyphosate until 5 July last season by which prepared to spend on inputs when we have time the top of the crops had been brown a a crop that deserves them. good while and most others around us had been sprayed for at least a week. By waiting Right track until the stems underneath are beginning to “People think we’re nuts not starting to senesce we give ourselves valuable extra drill until the second week of Sept, sowing days of grain fill which certainly show a hybrid at 70 seeds/m2 in bands and through in the yields we achieve.” I Richard Budd finds the cross-cutter discs on his holding-off on early inputs. However, last Carrier just the job for stale seedbed preparation year’s Clearfield YEN crop proved to us that ahead of OSR. we’re on the right track. It wasn’t sown until 22 Sept and it still out-performed all but four

L the OSR follows second wheat rather than of the other crops in the competition. barley. It also gives us the least seedbed “Later sowing has also enabled us to blackgrass germination and the most avoid any problems with flea beetle at a time competitive crop. when so many growers round here have “It’s taken us time to get things right been having serious issues. For us, it’s all with the DTS. But we’ve sorted out the about dealing with volunteers and setting up best settings for our ground to get the the ground well enough beforehand, then consistently even depth of sowing we want. drilling thickly once the conditions are right. Working to 150-200mm, the loosening legs Vigorous varieties take off like a rocket, provide a good link to the drainage, and the get their feet down well and compete Dutch coulters we use sweep away then aggressively with both weeds and pests. replace the chopped straw we find such a “Cleranda (imazamox+ metazachlor) in valuable surface mulch.” early Oct does a great job in cleaning out Holding off as late as they dare at Fimber Nab Strip-till drilling for the past six years has the charlock, runch and hedge mustard that with the desiccation, allows plenty of time for improved the resilience of Richard’s soils no would otherwise make it impossible to grow pod fill. end, he says, while always running in the OSR on much of our ground and limit us to same tramlines with a 30m CTF approach winter beans as a cereal break. Wherever means he rarely has much in the way of we see a good flush of blackgrass coming OSR Improvement compaction to deal with these days. through Centurion Max (clethodim) in late Having tried various straw rakes over the Oct is very valuable in keeping on top of it In this latest series, Dekalb is once again years, he’s found the ideal solution in a until we go in with the Kerb (propyzamide) working with CPM to share the widest Väderstad Carrier with cross-cutter discs. in mid-Dec when it has the best residuality. possible experience of growers and their Operating at just 10-15mm, it scuffs the With rather large, thick crops coming out agronomists across the country in improving entire soil surface to encourage the best of the winter, Richard Budd also takes a little winter oilseed rape performance. volunteer growth for spraying-off the day and often approach to fertiliser, applying This is part of Dekalb’s role in providing before drilling. two splits of sulphur-N followed by a final trusted support to OSR growers and their Contour rolling with slug pelleting application of urea at yellow bud. Unlike the Scholes Partnership, though, he routinely agronomists that goes well beyond the most employs Caryx (mepiquat chloride+ robust and dependable varieties that have metconazole) for growth regulation at early always been the company’s trademark. stem extension to avoid the 2m+ tall crops We very much hope you’ll find this that would otherwise lose yield through series valuable in fine-tuning your OSR leaning in the summer winds, even if they improvement efforts to secure the most didn’t lodge. consistent returns from the crop both Trace element nutrition is an important financially and rotationally. part of his programme too, but only to meet actual need identified through regular tissue testing. Naturally acidic soils mean regular liming is essential and he’s well aware of the At 5.7t/ha, the Clearfield variety DK Imperial CL extent to which this can cause availability was the fifth highest yielding in the whole ADAS issues. YEN 2018 competition. “Continual improvement is essential for

24 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Setting standards If growers “are pushed to later sowing this variety has in vigour? the vigour to get away quickly. ”

Technical Insiders View Now under new ownership, the InVigor hybrids have aiming for the late window, InV1035 and varieties –– good, all-round disease InV1155 stand out as the best options to resistance, pod shatter resistance and another choice for growers go for.” early maturity,” he says. looking for strong vigour This assertion follows quite a bit of “One of its stand-out features is the research undertaken into the InVigor varieties, autumn growth which means if growers are in the late-sown slot. CPM previously by , and now by BASF pushed to later sowing this variety has the reviews InV1155 and some (see panel on p26). That’s the aspect many vigour to get away quickly.” growers may find interesting, and it’s certainly And this is the feature that seems to lie of the research aimed at something that’s attracted United Oilseeds, at the heart of both InV1155 and its more getting the best from one of three UK agents for InV1155. established stable mate InV1035. Vigour isn’t yet recognised on the AHDB Recommended the variety. Agronomic ratings List, however, notes BASF product manager “In terms of the agronomic ratings for for seeds Sarah Middleton. By Tom Allen-Stevens InV1155, we value the trials data from “It’s surprising because we believe BASF and believe that growers can have establishment is the number one priority for Vigour seems to be the buzzword in confidence in both the seed breeder’s growers, which is why we’ve done research L oilseed rape at present, and there’s one information and the variety’s performance,” player in the market with such confidence says the company’s seed manager on this score, it’s even built the word into Beckii Gibbs. the brand name. “As a hybrid, InV1155 ticks all the boxes InV1155 is one of the latest offerings from for a good dependable variety. It has a high the InVigor stable, now owned by BASF, gross output, scoring 110% in proprietary after Bayer was forced to divest its seed trials, a stand-out seed yield of 111% and a portfolio on purchasing Monsanto last year. high oil content at 45.2%. Combined with a It joins InV1035, a variety exclusively strong disease package which features an available from Agrii that’s taken an 8 for phoma resistance and a 7 for light leaf impressive 10% of the non-Clearfield spot, it offers growers a powerful overall hybrid market, says BASF’s Dr Carol Norris. agronomic package.” So how does InV1155 shape up against Gleadell’s Chris Guest has very similar its stable mate? “Those two are the most impressions of InV1155. “It ticks a lot of boxes for a reliable hybrid variety. It has solid gross vigorous varieties in our portfolio,” she says. InV1155 loses less yield than many other output potential, made up of high oil contents “They lose less yield than many other varieties when sown late, says Carol Norris. varieties when sown late. If you’re a grower –– something seen in a wide range of InVigor

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 25 Insiders View

The research that underpins the InVigor lines

Variety selection can be an weather factors associated with high drainage is important, but also plant She advises using Caryx important factor in OSR or low OSR yields. vigour –– where there’s vigorous (mepiquat chloride+ metconazole) establishment under low “We wanted to determine what growth before Dec, the crop is less from the green bud through to temperatures, according to physiological processes were taking affected by water-logging,” she adds. yellow-bud. “It has stronger effects BASF-funded research carried place in the crop and how we The significance of the research on shortening and lodging control outby Nottingham University. can mitigate against non-ideal to BASF’s Clare Tucker is that it when applied at the start of stem “It’s generally recognised that conditions,” notes Dr Christina Clarke quantifies the factors in OSR. “So if extension and stronger canopy hybrids are more vigorous than of ADAS. you put in measures to mitigate effects when applied at yellow bud. conventional varieties, but how The study concluded that overall, against adverse conditions, or bolster ADAS field studies have also shown do you measure vigour?” asks four weather factors accounted the effect of favourable weather, Caryx increases rooting at depth, Dr Steve Rossall who carried out for 37% of yield variation (see you know the sort of return on which may help mitigate a dry the research. “One way to do so table below). investment you can expect.” summer.” is to study the germination at low So what can be done to mitigate In spring, for example, nitrogen Only crops with a green area temperatures.” against weather that isn’t conducive management and PGR use can let index above 0.8 before stem He took 15 varieties, including to high yields? Two factors in more light down into the canopy extension in late Feb should be eight InVigor hybrids, and compared particular can be countered by to improve seed set in the lower treated, she notes. the time of incubation at three choosing a variety with good early canopy. “In high yielding crops 60% BASF-funded work on green-leaf different temperatures (see charts vigour, notes Christina –– seasons of yield comes from the lower area duration, carried out by ADAS below). “All the varieties we tested in which there’s a cold Oct and/or canopy. A PGR used at yellow bud over four sites in 2017 and 2018, performed about the same at 15°C, a wet Dec. will also encourage secondary has shown a yield benefit of 0.2t/ha but there were big differences at low “A warm Oct encourages bigger branching which may help from applying Filan (boscalid) at temperatures.” stronger plants, more able to resist a compensate for CSFB larval damage flowering. “It protects you against InV1035, InV1155 and DK Exalte cold winter and kick off quickly in the in the main stem, although we’re sclerotinia, but in a low disease year did best at the lower temperatures, spring. Apart from variety choice, doing work to test this theory,” it also buffers you when conditions notes Steve. “This could have a good seedbed is important, and she adds. aren’t ideal,” reasons Clare. particular significance in the North timing of drilling to make the most and Scotland –– a variety that can of available soil moisture. Bigger Weather associated with high yields germinate quickly has a better biomass plants resist early pest Factor Difference Effect on yield Reason chance of tolerating other pressure better. Warm October +2°C max temp +0.17t/ha Good crop establishment, problems.” “Water-logged soils in Dec affect better rooting Another recent study, carried out OSR plants. Their roots don’t have Dry December -50mm rainfall +0.11t/ha Less waterlogging, better by ADAS, has looked at the impacts the ability to form aerenchyma, soft rooting of weather and frequency of drought plant tissue which aids air movement Sunny, dry April +32hrs sunlight +0.2t/ha High light penetration for 2 in OSR. Using average UK OSR yield and can be found in cereal roots. max seeds/m data from Defra from 1979-2017 Cool, wet May +15mm rain/ +0.12t/ha Reduce water stress, Anaerobic soil conditions can 1°C cooler prolong canopy duration and UK monthly mean weather data, therefore quickly affect the Source: ADAS/BASF, 2019 the study set out to investigate the photosynthetic ability, of OSR. So Effect of temperature on speed of germination of UK OSR varieties InV1035 InV1155 DK Exalte

Campus Alizze Anastasia

At 15°C (top line), the speed of germination for most varieties is about the same, but as temperatures fall to 7°C (bottom line), the differences begin to show, and some varieties lose overall germination. Source: Nottingham University; 10 seeds per rep; 10 replicates per interaction

26 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Insiders View

have confidence they will perform? Chris doesn’t see it as a problem. “Similar questions could be asked of numerous successful varieties that have been grown in the UK over many years and don’t appear on the RL. This is the case for much of the Dekalb material in particular.” InV1155 comes from the same stable as Harper, he points out, that quickly became a growers’ favourite. “These varieties have strong disease resistance, particularly to phoma/stem canker. This enables growers to target light leaf spot spray timings. With its high LLS rating, InV1155 will be an excellent partner to varieties which are perhaps not as Sarah Middleton believes establishment is the strong on disease. number one priority for growers, which is why “It fits the main drilling window but is also BASF has done research in this area. suitable for later sowing. Medium/early to harvest, it spreads the harvest workload.”

L in this area. NIABTAG trials show InV1035 InV1155 ticks a lot of boxes for Chris Guest as a as one of the top scorers on early vigour, Vigorous growth reliable hybrid variety. The variety will particularly suit a grower and InV1155 is a very similar low risk, high who’s looking for good autumn and spring output variety.” Carol. “It was a difficult time for us to move vigour, notes Beckii. “A vigorous growth Neither are on the RL, however, although last Aug, coinciding with our busiest time habit in autumn has increased in importance were close to being selected as candidates, of the year. We’ve now been through a because of the geographical spread of points out Carol. “They don’t really suit the ‘discovery phase’ with our new colleagues, cabbage stem flea beetle, as it means the RL system, that establishes plots at and there’s a renewed enthusiasm on all plant can grow away from pest attack and 60-70 seeds/m2 to ensure the whole trial is sides. We have new tools to explore, such establish more quickly. InV1155’s spring viable. InVigor varieties are best sown at as Clearfield, Caryx and a host of other vigour rating is also equal to that of 30-40 seeds/m2, which will not suit all products in the BASF portfolio.” DK Extrovert.” varieties and in a trial with lower populations One example is Integral Pro (Bacillus Medium maturing and late flowering, such as this, some plots will not establish at amyloliquefaciens), a new biological seed InV1155 also has pod shatter resistance. all so the whole trial is discounted. But in our treatment claimed to strengthen OSR “With an 8 for lodging resistance, it should experience, that’s the population at which plants and stimulate their natural defence prove durable during adverse weather they thrive.” mechanisms against pests and diseases. conditions and stand to the reel well at It means a lack of industry-standard It’s due to be available to UK growers for harvest,” she adds. independent stats on the varieties, and the first time this autumn, says Sarah. Carol confirms InV1155 is very similar in up-to-date figures are only available through “It’s great to have access to the very vigour, disease resistance and pod-shatter BASF proprietary trials. So how can growers strong BASF OSR product portfolio. Going tolerance to InV1035. “It’s National List yield forward, there’ll be more of a systems figures put it a shade below its stable mate, approach, with the seed-related aspects it’s slightly later to mature and a little bit feeding into current research we’re doing taller.” with ADAS and others. This will help us really The latest NIABTAG trial results show understand how we can join the pieces of InV1035 has verticillium wilt tolerance equal the puzzle together.” I to industry-standard Catana, she notes and initial results from internal tests in 2018 suggest InV1155 may also show a level of tolerance. “The trials are being repeated this year for confirmation.” InV1155 first went on sale last year, which coincided with the hand-over of the InVigor portfolio from Bayer to BASF. Growers purchase the varieties through the same agency model as before –– an on-line portal where you have to sign up to terms and conditions. It’s a one-off procedure designed to ensure full traceability in the advent of any novel traits that may become Initial results from internal tests suggest InV1155 available in future. The InVigor varieties have strong disease has the same high verticillium wilt tolerance as The change of ownership itself has gone resistance, with the RLM7 gene for phoma/stem InV1035. very smoothly, all things considered, says canker resistance.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 27 Mother Nature“ never has a monoculture, and there’s a reason for that.”

Shared learning on Technical Intercropping sharing space

Kent grower Andrew Howard pass, into this field of alluvial loam that would if they were drilled by themselves –– has been pioneering ways in edges the River Stour near Ashford. so the same diversity should work for cash “Everything we do is about improving crops,” Andrew reasons. “Mother Nature which pulse crops can be the soil and geared towards creating a never has a monoculture, and there’s a grown together with other healthy environment around the seed, reason for that.” and that’s allowed us to reduce our inputs,” It’s a sound principle from regenerative spring breaks to shore up he says. agriculture, but Andrew resists being returns. CPM visits to find labelled. “I’m neither an organic nor fully Direct drill how research through the Since 2001, the plough hasn’t touched the farmer-led network could 300ha of arable land, farmed by Andrew and his father Peter, based at Oaklands significantly boost benefits. Farm. Following ten years in a min-till and then strip-till regime, the business, By Tom Allen-Stevens Bockhanger Farms, bought its first direct drill in 2011. But it’s not so much the cultivations As the spit of soil splits open on the fork, as the cropping that’s of interest here. no fewer than three worms are caught Alongside the winter wheat, herbage like pink ribbons across the freshly seed and winter beans in the rotation is a cleaved surfaces, and retreat quickly spring-cropping approach that sees two into their interrupted burrows. or even three crops grown together as “I counted 60 worms in a spadeful I dug companion crops –– drilled the same day Everything operation at Bockhanger Farms is up last year,” remarks Kent grower Andrew and harvested together. geared towards creating a healthy environment Howard, who’s poised to plant not one “Cover crops always do better in a around the seed. spring break crop, but two, in the same mixture –– you get a better growth than you

28 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Intercropping conventional farmer –– I guess you’d ) in the spring. “It worked well, so call me a hybrid. But the reason we’re within two years we were establishing all companion cropping is to add value. our OSR with a companion crop, mixing Spring break crops are so variable, so by the seed in the same hopper.” planting two crops that complement each other you spread the risk.” Pigeon damage His first foray into the technique was The crop didn’t need a pre-emergence about six years ago. Inspired by the herbicide, there was less pigeon damage conservation agriculturalist Frédéric and he could reduce N inputs. He also Thomas, he established a 24m strip of found the companion plants helped the his winter OSR with a companion crop of OSR put down its roots. But a build-up of berseem clover and vetch. These were verticillium wilt, unrelated to the companion then sprayed out with Galera (+ plants, put a cap on OSR yields, and the farm has since moved away from the crop. “We were already growing beans so looked towards other break crops. The problem with peas has always been keeping them off the ground. But I’d heard about peola, which is intercropping peas with spring OSR, or canola as it’s known in North America. The OSR acts as a trellis Andrew Howard is looking to add value and for the pea crop.” spread the risk of spring break crops through Unlike the previous companion crop, in planting two crops together that complement this case both crops are taken to harvest, each other. potentially raising total yield. Intrigued to find out more, Andrew applied for a Germany, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, Each horizontal slot created on either side of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship, and thanks Sweden and Denmark. disc can be set at different depths, allowing two to funding from AHDB, set off in 2015 on The potential rewards are there, he seed types to be planted in the same pass. travels to farmers around the world. found. Total yield increases of 20-30% This included France, USA and Canada, are easily achieved by farmers in a L Intercropping

Biscaya (thiacloprid) was applied in early June for pollen beetle, but Andrew reckons the companion crops come under much less pest pressure than monocultures and plans to grow them without insecticide in future. He does spend on trace elements and biological treatments, however. “It’s about creating a healthy environment around the seed to encourage rooting and N fixation. So we applied diatomaceous earth, Phos-Life, seaweed and Bioplus Twith With peola total yield can be up to 30% higher, and the OSR acts as a trellis for the pea crop, the seed. It worked out relatively aiding harvest. expensive in 2017, but I think we can cut this to half rate and still get the

L climate similar to the UK. “What really This is needed at all stages of growing same benefits.” surprised me are the different crops and intercrops from seeding, weeding, through to More biostimulants and biological combinations farmers are trying. But there’s harvest and separation. Modern engineering treatments were applied with the early no blueprint –– you have to can solve any machinery issues found in June application of trace elements experiment to see what works for you.” intercropping –– it just needs funding,” following a leaf-tissue test, including What also surprised him was the amount he adds. Bacillus spp of bacteria believed of research that had been carried out, that to have growth promotion and hadn’t made its way onto farms. “There’s Cover crop disease-control properties. No actually a lot of literature on intercropping, His own system involved a John Deere fungicides were applied, however. much of it carried out here in the UK. But it’s 750A drill, but this year all crops will be “I’m fed up with input costs going up all sitting on a shelf –– what’s needed is established with a 3m Cross Slot drill, and not bringing a yield benefit,” says more on-farm research. There’s a fair bit purchased in 2018. His 2017 crop, Andrew. “Most farms don’t get massive of intercropping in organic agriculture, but established on 4 April, was drilled following yields, and it’s simply not sustainable –– precious little done by conventional farmers.” a cover crop of oats, vetch,linseed, phacelia, excess N application to crops is the worst So if the benefits are there, why isn’t buckwheat and sunflowers, grazed off and thing we do in terms of driving weeds, there more intercropping in the UK? then sprayed with glyphosate. disease and crop growth problems. “I believe the research needs to be funded “We drilled the OSR seed first at 12mm “I prefer to feed the biology around the and carried out by farmers, levy boards depth, then the peas at a 30° angle and plant, to help it build its own resilience and governments. We cannot rely on 50mm depth –– both need warm soil to help and take up what it needs, rather than agrochemical companies to fund and them get going. I think doing it that way put it under stress. Nutrients it can’t develop research in this field as there’s round helps press in the OSR seed, but you access are best applied through the leaf, little opportunity for patents or profits. can set the Cross Slot to drill each seed type in my view.” “We also need to develop specific at different depthsin just one pass.” Harvest management is where machinery for certain intercropping The crop was rolled afterwards and crop planning pays off. “There are two systems for them to be successful. received pre-em Centium (). essential rules with intercropping ––

Farmers sought to quicken the pulse on intercropping

PGRO has been carrying out its own fully in these crops, which can be a limitation when replicated small-plot trials into intercropping mixing pulses and cereals. But they are harder and is now looking for farmers to get involved in to separate at harvest,” he notes. larger tramline trials, reports principal technical PGRO is part-funding the beans and oats trial officer Stephen Belcher. at Bockhanger Farms. “The trial is very much led “The reasoning behind it is that you may by Andrew, and we’re providing some funding to produce a lower yield of each crop, but more help ensure there’s some scientific rigour,” in total, which makes for greater land use explains Stephen. efficiency. There are also other benefits, such as “We’re very keen to do more of these ease of harvest for some crops or less disease farm-scale trials as they can provide very useful or pest pressure.” pointers, particularly with practices such as Small-plot work at PGRO’s site in Stubton, intercropping. Ideally the ideas should come from Stephen Belcher is looking for farmers to get Lincs, is currently looking at peas and oats, the farmers themselves and we’d look to them involved in intercropping tramline trials. peas and beans and beans and oats. “The to provide most of the management, but would advantage of peas and beans is that similar provide some funding and scientific input.” the current Pulse Magazine included with this crop protection products are approved for use G There’s more from Stephen on intercropping in issue of CPM.

30 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Intercropping choose crops that ripen at the same time a trial, which is funded by one of a and that you can separate. I found you growing number of sponsors and partner can’t separate oats and linseed very easily, organisations. Currently there are 50 for example.” field labs underway that can be on any A week of catchy weather at harvest issue that makes farm businesses more time helped bring the crops together, and sustainable and resilient. combining, with the pea sieve installed There are 25 farmers in the intercropping and wind speed turned down, progressed in arable systems group, with the Organic without a hitch. “The sample was Research Centre (ORC) providing the surprisingly clean, but the main thing research support. Andrew’s peola field was the crop was standing beautifully.” lab comprises four strips of up to 0.8ha The crop was passed through a replicated testing monoculture peas and second-hand cleaning plant the business different SOSR seed rates. “In 2017, we has purchased and installed, yielding just reduced the pea seed rate to 80% and under 3.5t/ha for the peas and 0.4t/ha for added 70% of a standard OSR rate, but Beans with oats are going to form the basis of a OSR. “I was slightly disappointed with the this time we’re going to keep the pea rate second on-farm field trial running this year. pea yield, so it was a success, but not a at 100% throughout. The OSR will be sown massive success,” he notes. “There are at half rate and a third rate with one trial a number of things we’re going to vary including 70 seeds/m2 of oats as a benefits, he stresses. “We’re reducing both this year.” nurse crop.” reliance on inputs and risk. While the Firstly, the pea variety grown will be return from many spring break crops is different –– the large blue crop in 2017, Flax flea beetle notoriously poor, through intercropping we although it brought a good result, was not This follows experience last year with a are trying to achieve good consistent the most lucrative, so a marrowfat variety, crop of linseed. “We had real problems returns.” (see table below) on contract to Gleadells will be grown with flax flea beetle but there was a patch He’s planning to use his experience in a for 2019. of wild oats and the linseed within this was consultancy role to help others get started The farm is also running a peola trial hardly affected. In the peola trial we want in no-till, cover crops and intercropping. with Innovative Farmers. This is a network to see if a nurse crop of tame oats will “We’re learning all the time and sharing for farmers and growers who are running help against cabbage stem flea beetle ideas. I’m convinced the farmer-led on-farm trials on their own terms. It was in the same way.” network is the right route to explore the launched in 2015, on the back of the Despite notable successes, the benefits of this approach. Through these notion that many of the best ideas in intercropping hasn’t been completely on-farm trials and close involvement with farming come from farmers themselves. successful, Andrew admits. “We drilled the research community we’re at last But instead of going it alone, with learning 30ha of spring beans last year with OSR, pulling some valuable R&D off the dusty staying on the farm, it’s done in groups, but the OSR failed to establish in one of shelves of research institutes, into fields with findings shared and a researcher the fields. I’m not sure whether it was and into the hands of farmers where assigned to each project to ensure slugs or CSFB, although the bean crop it belongs.” I sound experimental design and that still yielded 3.6t/ha.” knowledge and related R&D is truly put But the approach does work with spring Bockhanger Farms peola: how into practice. beans, he notes. “Two years ago we tried the finances stack up Although initiated by The Soil beans with spring oats. We were worried Association, any farmer can join the that the oats could compete too much (/ha) network and suggest a ‘field lab’ –– the with the beans, but that wasn’t the case term coined for the on-farm trials, with the –– we achieved a 15% increase in total Pea seed (Prophet) £82.53 aim being that they are set up quickly and yield, including 0.7t/ha of oats. I reckon OSR seed (Ability) £24.20 seen as practical. The group decides on there’s scope to raise the seed rate higher, Trace elements £39.28 the topic and the researcher helps design so this crop’s going to form the basis of Biologicals £12.82 a second on-farm field trial we’re running this year.” Molluscicides £13.75 This one’s part-funded and administered Herbicides £43.43 by PGRO (see box on p30). Five replicated Insecticides £13.80 large-scale plots will compare monocultures of each crop with intercrops sown at Variable costs £229.81 different rates. “We’ll have a 25% seed rate Pea yield (t) 3.33 of oats in a full stand of beans and also a Pea price (/t) £180 50:50 mix of each. Finally, we’ll see the OSR yield (t) 0.4 effect of lowering the bean seed rate and doubling the oats,” he explains. OSR price (/t) £300 The new cropping culture sits very Output £717.63 It’s essential to choose crops that ripen at the neatly within the regenerative agriculture same time and that you can separate – this is Gross margin £487.82 route that Andrew’s keen to pursue. handled by a second-hand cleaning plant. But there are also hard-nosed business Source: Bockhanger Farms 2017 harvest

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 31 Real Results Pioneers

The icing on the cake

Bringing together the –– you sense the quiet air of confidence choice all the more important.” building blocks of a farming from a team that’s at the top of their game. Working together as a team, to draw It’s a standard that fifth generation out where those differences lie, is what’s system forms the focus of farmer James Forrest is keen to maintain. brought them to BASF’s Real Results Circle activities at Forrest Farms in “The long-term view for any family (see panel on p34).. The Beccles series business is critical –– we’re custodians sandy clay loam and Hanslope series Suffolk. Once in place, using of the land,” he explains. “It’s my turn now, chalky boulder clay are easily capable of the best available technology and I’d hope to leave the land in a better putting up a wheat crop that’ll bring in over state than I found it. The trouble is, in my 12t/ha, so the on-farm trials are an integral brings results, as CPM case it was in a very good state when part of striving towards what will deliver finds out. I took over.” that potential. “We don’t want yield at any cost, but By Tom Allen-Stevens Building blocks we’re prepared to spend where we know His interest is in what he calls the “building we’ll get returns, and it doesn’t cost any blocks” of the 1600ha arable business. “The rotation’s very important –– I tend to From the moment you arrive at the focus not on individual crops but on what buildings of Forrest Farms, near they contribute as a whole. That puts an Stowmarket, Suffolk, you know the emphasis on ensuring the soils are at their farming operation you’re about to see best, that the field drains are in order and will impress. the machinery suited and correctly set to On one side of the yard, spray operator the task in hand.” Richard Farrow has drawn up the Agrifac The day-to-day decisions on the self-propelled sprayer with its 5000-litre cropping itself are put together, and have tank and 40m booms inside the new, been for 15 years, with strong involvement purpose-built spray shed. Opposite, in from Farmacy agronomist Peter Riley. the remarkably clean and well-ordered “I’m here to put the icing on the cake,” workshop, farm foreman Robert Hale he says. “I know that soil health is at its optimum, and the crop will be given and Dale White are putting the finishing There’s a quiet air of confidence from a team at every chance to perform. That makes touches to the Väderstad Tempo 12-row Forrest Farms that’s at the top of their game. drill, ready to establish the sugar beet decisions such as variety and fungicide

32 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Real Results Pioneers

I know rotation are winter and spring barley, that“ soil health is at oilseed rape, sugar beet and spring beans. its optimum, and the Parsley was grown for a local processor for the first time last year, and is being crop will be given considered as a possible permanent every chance to addition to the rotation. “With the wheats, for simplicity we try to perform. grow decent-sized lots of a few varieties. ” We’re keen to take advantage of new genetics, although some varieties do become good friends,” says James. Around 10,000t/yr of green waste compost A good example is KWS Santiago, which is spread on the land, which also helps with moved from the top wheat slot last harvest potash levels. to none grown for 2019. “It’s a year to call the changes,” notes Peter. “There are some excellent varieties available on the AHDB performance.” Alongside these are Recommended List that yield better and KWS Kerrin, KWS Zyatt and KWS Siskin. have traits that suit the farm. Gleam is Generations of good discipline, good for early drilling and RGT Gravity maintaining standards required for seed has a very impressive and consistent yield production, have kept blackgrass at L

more to grow a 12t/ha crop than it does for one that’ll yield 10t/ha,” reasons James. “So if you have the opportunity to maximise yield, you don’t want to stifle it through poor farming or a poor choice of inputs.” His farming philosophy has three main strands: “A good rotation is incredibly important. There should be no short-termism, and you farm the soils well –– they should be looked after properly.” Much of the wheat on the farm is grown for seed, and almost all are first wheats. Threaded into a seven-year

The YEN grain analysis shows up a thousand grain weight that fell below the AHDB benchmark, but that’s probably down to last summer’s low water availability. Real Results Pioneers

L hand-roguable levels on the home farm ong been a strong advocate of the (about half the arable area). For the most rubber-tracked tractor. At harvest, part, this allows a cultivations policy, chaser bins on wide flotation tyres keep tailored to soil type, that sets up the compaction levels low, and the team pay crop for maximum productivity. close attention to keeping tyre pressures at appropriate levels. Cultivation tool Soil conditioning comes through a range “We started moving away from the plough of what James terms “bulky organics”. about 25 years ago. We still use it where “We have two large muck spreaders and blackgrass remains a problem and for have applied Limex for the past 30 years. spring crops, although we are trying sugar This goes on typically after OSR at 10t/ha beet without ploughing this year,” says for a maintenance dressing or up to 25t/ha James. The main cultivation tool is a 7m if required. But we’re encountering some Väderstad TopDown with a double press, areas with a high pH now and currently pulled by a Quadtrac and taken to spread about 10,000t/yr of green waste Peter Riley (left) focuses on the crop inputs that 150-300mm depth, depending on soil compost, which also helps with potash.” put the icing on the cake of an arable system for type and situation. Straw-for-muck deals bring in another which James Forrest puts the building blocks Good discipline carries on through 3000t/yr of organic material, while poultry in place. every pass over the soils –– trafficking manure is also applied, generally before is minimised, and the business has l OSR establishment. Biosolids have been

The analysis of the ‘icing’ layers reveals the Real Results

Elm Field, cropped with KWS Siskin winter wheat, was not statistically significant at the 90% was chosen for the Real Results trial. This was confidence level –– in this dataset, that would monitored through NDVI scans provided by require the yield difference to exceed 0.28t/ha.” AgSpace throughout the season, which show up Peter believes the trial shows up the benefit differences in plant vigour. These revealed growth that comes from remaining flexible. “While the to be strong and fairly even throughout the yield difference may not be statistically significant, season, according to the ADAS analysis. the fungicide programmes themselves were,” The BASF treatment (see table on p35) was he notes. applied across two tramlines in the northern part “It was very wet early in the season and the T1 of the field and ADAS’s Agronomics approach was was delayed –– that was why we boosted the then used to compare the results with the farm application with extra SDHI. This was followed up standard treatment. This uses spatial modelling with a higher dose of Librax at T2. We spent an and statistics to allow yield-map data from the extra £20/ha, but the weighbridge results suggest Matthew Keane believes the Adexar/Librax combine to be assessed with scientific rigour. a marginal gain of around £50/ha, so on that standard should perform best, but encourages This analysis, which strips out much of the basis it appears to have paid dividends.” farmers to carry out their own on-farm trial. spatial variation that can undermine results from A disease assessment at GS73 showed the tramline trials, produced a yield result of 12.8t/ha farm standard area had slightly less yellow rust for the farm standard and 12.66t/ha for the and septoria than the BASF-treatment area. The of years, and it’s always proved a good site to BASF treatment –– somewhat different from green leaf areas (GLA) of the flag leaf and leaf 2 demonstrate the differences between various the weighbridge yields, reports Susie Roques were slightly higher in the farm standard area, inputs –– I rarely leave the farm without having of ADAS. but GLA of other leaves lower, although again learnt something new. “Our statistical model indicates that a yield none of the differences were deemed statistically “The farm standard approach in the Real difference of this size (0.14t/ha) could have been significant. Results trials reflects a programme that was due to other sources of variation, which could be There were also few notable differences in the tailored very closely to the specific pressures of soil-related. The difference between treatments YEN analysis of grain characters between the two the crop and the season. As such, it shows the treatments, notes Peter. “It’s excellent to have this Adexar/Librax standard we recommend performs very well and should perform best on most farms ADAS’s Agronomics approach was used to detailed analysis of components of yield, however. in most years,” he adds. compare results from the BASF treatment with One thing it’s shown up is that thousand grain “But I’d encourage every farmer to carry out the farm standard. weight fell below the AHDB benchmark, but I think that’s attributable to the low water availability their own on-farm trial –– you don’t have to be at the end of the season. Otherwise I think this one of the Real Results Circle farmers to take shows the crop was given every chance to part. Suffolk also has a very active On Track perform.” farmer group, and it’s this collaboration between Local BASF agronomy manager Matthew farmers that brings about some of the best Keane agrees the results bear testament to the innovation we’re seeing on farm at the moment.” “ultra-professional” approach taken by the farm. G The Stonham open day near Stowmarket takes “We’ve run trials with Forrest Farms for a number place this year on 25 June.

34 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Real Results Pioneers introduced recently and are used where tailored carefully. A multisite is applied at phosphate levels need building. The result every timing, with a relatively cheap azole is soil organic matter levels at around 4%, applied at T0, while tebuconazole or while 2.5-3% is typical for the soil type in prothioconazole goes on the ear. “For the the area, reports Peter. “It also delivers on past two or three seasons we’ve applied a average 96kg/ha of organic N per year, T1.5 where the situation requires it –– either which is unusually high for an arable farm a strobilurin or azole with CTL,” adds Peter. and proof that the strategy’s working.” Two building-block changes that he’s Sense check recommended are to introduce more winter The farm has been part of BASF’s Real barley into the rotation and a switch to Results Circle for the past three years, and liquid fertiliser. “Most of my clients have it acts as a useful sense check for Peter. now switched over to liquid –– the level of But it’s a progression on a long-standing precision you achieve is significantly higher. involvement with on-farm trials –– the What’s more, the farm is on 40m tramlines, business is a member and strong A switch to liquid fertiliser allows a significantly and you don’t need much of a wind to supporter of Fram Farmers and the farm higher level of precision and suits the farm’s make solid spreading inaccurate at that hosts variety and fungicide trials run by 40m tramlines. bout width.” BASF, notes James. “We have an open When it comes to fungicides, the farm day in June. Last year over 200 Fram icing on the cake, however. “We’re looking follows a similar policy to the approach members attended and were shown for full productivity across every ha. If you taken with other inputs. “I wouldn’t want round the plots.” don’t get the basics right, it doesn’t matter to compromise yields by skimping on For the second year in a row in 2018, how much fungicide you put on, you’ll never fungicides,” notes James. this was also the chance for a look-see at turn a poor crop into a good one. Getting At this point, Peter pulls out an impressive BASF’s new triazole Revysol, adds Peter. things right doesn’t happen overnight and array of spreadsheets he’s compiled that “It was a lowish-disease year, although we’re not there yet, but I hope we’ve got the help him refine the strategy the farm takes. there was still plenty of infection in the foundations in place that ensure we make “We’re aiming for big-canopy crops on this control plots. What you noticed where the most of new technology. I farm, and they need good disease control. Revysol was used was that the crop was That warrants using the best technology clean from top to bottom, and the levels available, and we match that to the variety of green tissue significantly higher. It looks The Real Results Circle and the specific situation.” as if it will be a valuable addition to the An SDHI is used with an azole and fungicide armoury, particularly if we lose BASF’s Real Results Circle farmer-led trials chlorothalonil (CTL) at both the T1 and T2 other active ingredients.” are now in their third year. The initiative is spray timings, with product choice and rate For James, it will only ever provide the focused on working with 50 farmers to conduct field-scale trials on their own farms using their own kit and management Forrest Farms 2018 Real Results trials systems. The trials are all assessed using ADAS’ Agronomics tool which delivers Farm approach BASF statistical confidence to tramline, or T1 (20 Apr) Elatus Era (0.75 l/ha) + Imtrex Adexar (1 l/ha) + CTL (1 l/ha) field-wide treatment comparisons –– (0.5 l/ha) + CTL (1 l/ha) a unique part of Real Results. T2 (19 May) Librax (1.4 l/ha) + CTL (1 l/ha) Librax (1.25 l/ha) + CTL (1 l/ha) In this series we follow the journey, Results thinking and results from farmers involved Yield (t/ha) 12.46 12.15 in the programme. The features also look at some in-depth related topics, such as SDHI Ears/m2 561 580 performance and data capture and use. Spikelets/ear 16.4 16.9 We want farmers to share their Grains/ear 44 43 knowledge and conduct on-farm trials. 1000 grain weight (g) 42.4 41.7 By coming together to face challenges as Specific weight (kg/hl) 77.3 76.6 one, we can find out what really works and Total biomass at harvest (t/ha) 18.9 19.6 shape the future of UK agriculture. To keep in touch with the progress of Harvest index (% biomass) 57 53 these growers and the trials, go to Variety – KWS Siskin; both plots received a T0 spray of Cherokee and a T3 treatment of Amistar www.basfrealresults.co.uk Opti plus tebuconazole. Cherokee contains cyproconazole+ propiconazole+ chlorothalonil (CTL); Amistar Opti contains azoxystrobin+ CTL; Elatus Era contains benzovindiflupyr+ prothioconazole; Imtrex contains fluxapyroxad; Adexar contains fluxapyroxad+ epoxiconazole; Librax contains fluxapyroxad+ metconazole. The results shown are from the YEN comparison of the two treatment areas, which does not account for any underlying spatial variation provided by the Agronomics analysis.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 35 We have the“ facilities to blend our intake to the exact specification customers require, no matter what the weather throws at our members during harvest. ”

Technical Grain storage Rewards in store?

Britain’s largest of a dubious colour as they pass over Lincs to south of the M4. It is the only a cascade. farmer-owned grain store group in the UK farmer-owned grain “We’re following a different set of with a Clean Wheat plant, and this was storage co-operative guidelines,” he explains. “What passes one of the reasons it picked up the award through here meets the food-grade for Supplier of the Year from Nestlé –– the Camgrain has completed an standards set down by the British Retail top accolade handed out by the food internal review and picked Consortium (BRC). There’s a similar manufacturer –– at its supplier event chamber on every floor of this eight-storey last month. up an industry award for building with processing equipment that “It’s an award we’re particularly pleased its efforts. CPM visits to assures our customers of the integrity of to have won,” comments Camgrain assess the benefits it claims the produce they’re buying.” to bring to its members. Unique facilities The facilities are unique to Camgrain, a By Tom Allen-Stevens farmer-owned co-operative that started in 1983 and now stores 500,000t of grain and oilseeds on behalf of its 550 As you’re swiped through the sealed door members. Along with its two main stores and enter the startlingly clean, air-filtered near Cambridge, there’s a 90,000t chamber beyond, it’s hard to believe Advanced Processing Centre (APC) near you’re actually standing in a grain store. Northampton, while the Stratford APC Harder still to fathom that this grain store stores 50,000t for Camgrain members, is owned by farmers. specialising in rapeseed processed Technical manager Alan King has through the new 100,000t capacity crush brought us to see the colour-sorter –– one that’s recently opened at the same site. But it’s not just its size that makes of the jewels in the crown of Camgrain’s The colour sorter sifts through grain at up to Camgrain stand out, nor its geographic Clean Wheat plant –– a mesmerising 20t/hr and selects out individual items of a reach –– it has members from the East machine that sifts through grain at up to dubious colour as they pass over a cascade. 20t/hr and selects out individual items Anglian coast to the Welsh borders, from

36 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Grain storage marketing director Simon Ingle. “We work opened in 2008, which then meant by consistently meeting the required very closely with Nestlé to supply the Camgrain could compete to supply the specification. “The close relationship we exact specification they’re after for their specialist breakfast cereal market.” have with our members means Nestlé breakfast cereal products –– every box of It’s a contract for selected Group 4 hard knows we can meet what it requires even Shreddies contains wheat produced by varieties, as well as KWS Siskin, that before the crop has gone in the ground, our members. We made the decision to returned an £8/t premium over the feed and we can trace the provenance of the invest in the Clean Wheat plant, that base to the Camgrain members last year wheat in Nestle their breakfast cereals L

The components of a compelling case

It won’t suit every farmer, but there’s a very Camgrain annual operational charges are strong case for most to consider co-operative £12.95/t, which include collection and haulage grain storage. That’s the conclusion of a study, to store, laboratory analysis, cleaning, storing, focused on Camgrain, carried out by David blending and out loading. Drying above 16% Neal-Smith of Bidwells. moisture costs £1.50/t per 1% removed. “We wanted to assess whether there really “On-farm costs are harder to quantify and was a compelling case, so looked in detail at hence compare. Maintenance, energy, labour the areas where Camgrain appears to bring and management are rarely allocated as a direct value to its members’ arable enterprises.” charge to grain storage, so cannot easily be He looked at three areas –– the capital cost, quantified. Then there are the hidden costs of the operational costs and then whether the grain deterioration and rejections,” notes David. facilities were truly adding value to members’ With Camgrain, there is the extra cost of grain. “In each case we compared Camgrain haulage to the store, he notes, which amounts to with what you can achieve yourself,” he notes. about £6/t of the operational charges, plus the David Neal-Smith looked in detail at the areas On-farm costs of constructing a new store facilities and level of management and staffing where Camgrain appears to bring value to its are in the order of £200-250/t, according to you simply wouldn’t find on a farm. “These have members’ arable enterprises. David, while a refurbishment of an existing benefits, which are hard to quantify but shouldn’t storage facility can cost in the region of £100/t. be ignored, such as those that arise from the Camgrain storage costs £110/t. This is paid immediate collection of grain at harvest. how their grain would be treated if they as a £40/t qualification loan in year one, Simplifying the harvest operation, freeing up of marketed it themselves and sold direct off farm followed by six equal annual instalments plus labour and better timeliness for cultivations and –– would it be downgraded to feed or subject to interest (although members can now opt for a drilling also have a value. Farmers generally quality claims?” repayment period of 10 or even 15 years). In underestimate all the costs associated with He also identifies a “third factor”. This is the year seven, your qualification loan is returned, on-farm grain storage.’’ cost to Camgrain members of around £6-7/t per averaging the capital cost to £16.50/t per year Finally, on adding value, David compared the year to enable “the Camgrain journey”, which for seven years. annual pool returns with two commercial grain encompasses expansion, supply chain capability What’s interesting, he says is when you merchants, a co-operative marketing group and consequential repayment of debt. “This is compare the cost for the various storage and two co-operative stores. Over 3 years to included in the costs and reflected in the pool alternatives over 15 years –– a reasonable 2015-16 Camgrain performed well across Group price return, but over time this will hopefully repayment period for this type of investment. 1 and 2 wheat, beating the average by £3.28/t reduce and result in further improved pool “Factoring in interest, capital repayment and and £4.86/t respectively and clean wheat by returns,” he reasons. tax allowances puts Camgrain storage, at £5.47/t. Malting barley was ahead by £6.47/t So how does this stack up overall for £7.64/t per year, a mere 45% of the cost of a and oilseed rape by £6.30/t. Camgrain storage? “It’ll depend on the particular new high-specification on-farm store. Over the “But the pool results don’t tell the full story,” circumstances of the individual farmer,” concludes whole life of the storage this reduces still further he points out. “Camgrain members successfully David. “But where on-farm investment is required, to £4.12/t per year, which is 40% of the annual manage to capture the quality markets, even Camgrain offers significant benefits and should cost of a new store and 60% of a simple store where grain doesn’t quite meet the top spec. be considered carefully. For many farmers there refurbishment (see table). The question prospective members may ask is should be a compelling case.” “In my view, when looking at the capital cost, this shows Camgrain storage to be no-brainer, The capital cost of grain storage even before you’ve factored in the potential Storage option Capital Life of Annual income some farmers could realise from letting cost (/t) investment cost (/t)* out their redundant on-farm storage buildings,” On farm – new high specification store £200 30 £10.33 says David. On farm – new moderate specification store £150 30 £7.75 “The taxation benefits are due to treating the On farm – refurbishment of existing storage £100 20 £6.68 annual instalments as trading expenses, rather Camgrain – new storage £110 40 £4.12 than capital allowances, although this isn’t Camgrain – used storage** £75 40 £3.51 available if you buy storage from another member, which is treated as a capital Source: Bidwells, 2019; *Annual cost is the capital cost shown over lifetime of asset, including interest and after tax; **Purchased from retiring member and subject to availability and price variability investment,” he adds.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 37 Grain storage

What passes through the clean wheat plant meets the food-grade standards set down by the British Retail Consortium. The close relationship with Camgrain members gives Simon Ingle the confidence he can meet exact specification customers require, farmer-owned businesses due to the customers’ requirements even before the crop no matter what the weather throws at our scale of our facilities, but it’s invested has gone in the ground. members during harvest.” in sector-leading assets that will be A good example was the 2017 harvest operational for a very long time, and –– AHDB’s Cereal Quality survey shows this compares very favourably with other L back to the individual farm. We outload just 24% of samples met the top spec for agri-food businesses,” he says. the wheat to a food-graded standard and high quality bread wheat. But in the same “We also invest in our staff –– those this past year have achieved a 100% year, 96% of Group 1 varieties sent to who work for us combine experience in score for quality and delivery to the Camgrain achieved a premium for the sector, with a strong understanding factories we supply –– another reason members. of members needs and, crucially, the why the Camgrain team were awarded This is one of the features Camgrain strategic knowledge to position Camgrain supplier of the year.’’ chairman John Latham appreciates most. as a business of the future.” It’s at the quality end of the domestic “I can harvest at the right time to suit my And this is where group CEO Simon wheat market that Camgrain sets its stall crop, safe in the knowledge it will leave Willis fits in. “My background is in the oil –– 90-95% of what it stores on behalf of my farm and be stored at its optimum industry, which on the face of it may members attracts a premium of some sort. condition. It means I can start harvest appear to be very different to the Its largest customers are flour millers in at over 20% moisture and preserve the environment in which Camgrain operates, the Midlands for breadmaking wheat. quality I’m looking for.” although the challenges of supply chain, “It’s consistent quality and reliability of personnel and financial management supply they’re after,” continues Simon. Deliver on spec remain the same,” he notes. “Our Northampton APC is ideally located This is one of the reasons he believes “The biggest change for me is the and we can deliver vendor-assured the group has grown at 10% year on year ownership structure –– I’m accustomed to produce to the mill day or night. We have –– this year there’s another 24,000t of businesses with faceless shareholders, the facilities to blend our intake to the storage being constructed at the but all the directors and farmer members Cambridge APC to accommodate this. play a very active role in Camgrain. The “The skill of Camgrain is to take in grain of all sorts of quality and deliver out on spec,” he says. This isn’t just down to size and logistics, though. There’s a strategic approach to marketing, managed through a close relationship with Frontier which has acted as an agent for the majority of the group’s produce since 2015. And John reckons Camgrain has successfully made the transition from a group of farmers who have pooled their storage requirements, to a competitive agri-business with the experience, authority and staff to deal professionally and on an equal footing with global food businesses. “Firstly, we have a very sound business model –– we have one of the strongest John Latham can harvest at the right time to suit Simon Willis upholds the long-term strategic balance sheets in co-operative storage his crop, safe in the knowledge it will leave his goals shared by all the members, deeply rooted with a loan to value ratio in the 30% range. farm and be stored at its optimum condition. in a cultural way of farming. Our borrowing may be higher than other

38 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Grain storage face-to-face contact is very important and that is part of a lean, competitive supply you understand the long-term strategic chain with tight margins and there are goals shared by all the members, deeply areas that have come under scrutiny as rooted in a cultural way of farming. we’ve made structural changes to ensure “But you’re also very conscious that it’s fit for the commercial world of the every penny you spend comes from the future.” members themselves. We’re a business That’s culminated in a review carried out by Bidwells (see panel on p37), that John sees as part of very much how the business will position itself for future challenges. “We wanted an independent view of the benefits members get, and the areas we need to address –– it’s very much a ‘warts-and-all’ review,” he says. But as far as Brexit is concerned, there’s a quiet air of confidence among Specialising in quality cereals, Camgrain works the senior management team. “99% very closely with customers to supply the exact of our target markets are domestic, specification they’re after for their products. while we don’t supply most of the feed Although it has a high level of borrowing, markets under threat,” points out Simon Camgrain boasts one of the strongest balance Ingle. “This puts us in poll position to displacing German E-grade wheat. It sheets in co-operative storage, and is growing explore specific opportunities, such really is a tremendous opportunity that 10% year on year. as supplying the distilling market, or we’re looking forward to.” I

Leave grain storage to the professionals

As yields increase, farms expand and the 2010 to purchase 500t of storage at Camgrain, volume of grain to be managed and marketed a tonnage which increased during the years to grows, surely there’s now a case for using the the 1100t of storage he has now. He adds that expertise available of an off-farm, modern grain having this facility also helped when he was store offering advanced cleaning and drying negotiating for new contract farming business. equipment? He reckons a modern storage and drying That’s the question posed by Hants grower plant requires an investment of around £250/t and contractor Nick Rowsell. “The point is that and, once built, there are running costs, labour grain in the field is worth nothing. Only after it costs, devaluation costs and servicing costs. has been harvested does it take on a value “Camgrain asks members to make a one-off and that value can be affected by the timing of payment of £110 for each tonne of storage they harvest, how it is managed in the store and how need, and there is an annual handling charge it is marketed when the time comes to sell it.” of about £12.95/t, which includes transport of Based at West Stoke Farm, near Winchester, grain from farm into Camgrain. Drying charges, Nick farms 1400ha of mainly chalk land, along if required, generally work out to be very The ability of the store to blend different grades with a further 290ha of less productive land reasonable,” he says. to reach a quality level specified by a miller or 12 miles away at Crux Easton, near Newbury. These only start on cereals above 16% brewer can’t be achieved on farm, points out Spring barley takes the lion’s share of the moisture and Camgrain also gives credit for dry Nick Rowsell. combinable area with 455ha being grown this grain. “You can put the combines in and have year. Winter wheat (441ha) and oilseed rape transport available to take the moist grain to the (416ha) feature strongly with winter barley store and put it through the driers so that the level specified by a miller or brewer. “This is (120ha), winter and spring oats (144ha and full quality and value of the grain is retained,” something that clearly can’t be achieved 72ha) and poppies (13ha) also grown. This he points out. on-farm and an example of the way a grain results in an annual production of about Transport is a big part of the co-operative’s store can use its expertise to achieve the best 11,500t of grain for which there is a storage operation –– farms with limited storage need to prices for its members,” he says. capacity of 5800t. have regular collections during the harvest and, in So for Nick, co-operative grain stores do “Like most other farmers involved in contract Nick’s experience, there have been few problems. have plenty of benefits to offer growers. “It’s not farming we had access to several grain stores Grain, he says, has been collected as and that there isn’t still a place for on-farm storage, and low output drying plants that had been when required with each lorry load sampled and but having access to central storage adds an installed several decades ago and, as such, weighed when it reaches the store and the element of flexibility. Then there’s the peace of were generally in a poor condition, or worse,” results recorded and immediately made available mind in knowing they can provide a safe haven he says. to the farm office. for your grain –– it gives you the confidence it’s And it was this lack of quality storage which Then there’s the ability of the store to clean, stored in modern facilities, regularly monitored, Nick says was the driver behind his decision in dry, and blend different grades to reach a quality and marketed at maximum value.”

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 39

And it’s the agronomist that lies at the heart of the Helix project –– Stuart believes the current We have agronomist and grower relationship will evolve as the opportunity“ to take the farming balances the lead, link knowledge with twin challenges of profitability and the innovation and environmental deliver sustainable farming sustainability over solutions. the next ten years. “The agronomist is not ” someone who will just be walking the fields. Here is the chance to be much more strategic and efficient. We have the opportunity to take the lead, link knowledge with the innovation and deliver sustainable farming solutions.”

Central research hub Focussing on key areas of innovation and technology, the Helix project will act as a central research hub bringing together all aspects of crop production through to field data and input measurement Several project areas have been identified, three of which are highlighted so far (see panel on p41). Within these, the relevanttechnologies will be assessed and developed. A field The outcomes will come to the grower mainly through Hutchinsons digital platform Omnia, continues Stuart. “Growers and agronomists want simplicity, so linking of focus for digital technologies and knowledge will lead to decision making through a one-hub system approach.” Innovation Collaboration will be a key aspect of the dreams Helix project –– an innovation strategy group Helix project steers it with a project development team. Agronomists will receive advanced training Novel technologies are being to ensure the fruits of the project are rolled put into field trials to assess and robotics to the test in real-farming out on farm. And the testbed for this is the situations in a similar way to how the Helix Technology Development Farm, hosted their value for growers. CPM agronomy group currently assesses crop by Andrew and William Pitts at Mears Ashby protection and nutrition products. and Whiston in Northants. finds out what it aims to “There’s a lot of science being directed “The fourth agricultural revolution is here, achieve and gets an insight towards agriculture, and those developing now,” says Andrew. “The question is how we this area want direct contact with growers, ensure the technologies we’re exposed to from the host of the project’s but there seems to be a trend for omitting are relevant, applicable and straightforward Technology Development the agronomist and they are the direct link to use so that they bring positive change.” for many growers,” says Hutchinsons head The mainly arable farm runs across Farm. of technology and innovation Stuart Hill 690ha. It’s always been a core aim for the “We’re being exposed to a plethora of business to make the best use of new By Tom Allen-Stevens technologies such as data analytics, climate, technology, and Andrew already runs a machine learning, sensors, monitoring, number of on-farm trials to develop novel Hutchinsons has launched an ambitious detection systems, autonomy and robotics. ideas. These are not just for the benefit of initiative to evaluate a plethora of novel But there’s a need to evaluate which of these the business –– he conducts farm tours and technologies, to understand how they can are relevant and ultimately increase hosts open days, inviting Government and be of value to agriculture. The Helix project productivity and profitability, as well other key influencers to see how policy will put innovative tools, such as data as efficiency, both for the grower and shapes up on an arable farm. analytics services, sensors, autonomy the agronomist.” For him, the main two challenges for

40 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Helix project

Growers seek a paperless, autonomous, more profitable future

A recent Hutchinsons grower survey has “They felt that future technologies such as identified the key concerns for farming satellite images as well as the use of diagnostic businesses over the next 10 years. tools would become increasingly common, and Conducted by Hutchinsons agronomists, that variable rate applications would become the including Andrew Goodinson from Herefordshire, norm. This was alongside the need to harmonise respondents identified that their main business different systems to have a paperless recording challenges as profitability, agronomics, staffing base. and technology. “In order to do this, farmers would expect “It was certainly clear when talking to growers agronomists of the future to have wider access Andrew Pitts is hoping the Helix project will help that they felt that they would need to develop a to information and solutions, become data him grow old disgracefully and fight the whims stable business not reliant on subsidies using interpreters, less field walkers and be ahead of politicians. existing resources, and to do this they would of the game in terms of skills and technology need to become more efficient through greater developments.” progressive farmers are improving profitability attention to detail,” says Andrew. in an ever-changing world and fighting the whims of single-issue pressure groups and Cost of production (CoP) analysis for 10ha field at Mears Ashby politicians. “I want to grow old disgracefully, and I need to be profitable to do that.” Yield % of Area Total CoP Already an Omnia user, Andrew has (t/ha) field (ha) yield (t) (/t)* generated cost of production maps of 0-4 1 0.1 0.4 £300 fields, then looked in detail at how overall 5 12.6 1.26 6.3 £240 100% of field farmed 5.9 0.59 3.54 profitability can be improved by taking areas 6 £200 Area farmed (ha) 10 5.9 0.59 3.54 80% of field farmed out of production (see panel right). “To really 7 Total yield (t) 82.42 1 0.1 0.7 £171 8.05 Area farmed (ha) 8 make the most of it, we need to be paid to Average yield (t/ha) 8.24 26.4 2.64 21.12 £150 9 26.4 2.64 23.76 £133 72.18 Total yield (t) deliver environmental public goods on those Average CoP (£/t) £145 10 10 1 10 £120 8.97 Average yield (t/ha) areas. Then we need to shift the remaining Wheat price (£/t) £150 11 5 0.5 5.5 £109 £134 Average CoP (£/t) lower-yielding areas of the field into high Profit (£/t) £4.51 12 2.8 0.28 3.36 £100 £150 Wheat price (£/t) Field profit £372 13 1 0.1 1.3 £92 productivity. That’s what I hope the Helix £16.29 Profit (£/t) 14 1 0.1 1.4 £86 £1,176 Field profit project will help with,” he says. 15+ 1 0.1 1.5 £80 “We have a seven-year clock before subsidies go and we should use that time to 80% of field area achieved by taking headland at both ends out of production; operational cost of build up a useful knowledge base that will production only – excludes farm overheads. deliver the sustainable farming gains.” Andrew agrees with the concept of combining agronomy with sensor technology The three bits of Helix and knowledge and delivering it through one central hub. “There should be one system The Helix project will focus on three key project tool to identify areas to take out of production, that links everything together. I never like areas to start with that will align new and old inform suitable management for reversion doing anything twice and hate double-entry. technologies, evolving and developing these to habitats, then monitor progress. You should be able to press a button and improve crop management decisions. More Project Nutrition is probably the most it’s done. Omnia seems to be the logical projects will become apparent during 2019. ambitious one of the three. It aims to develop delivery route for this.” Project Predict and Justify aims to predict remote, automated and rapid turn-around Working alongside Andrew and William and monitor risk analysis with regards to technologies for soil and tissue testing to deliver are Hutchinsons agronomists James disease, pests, crop growth and lodging risk. live analysis, alongside developing knowledge. MacWilliam and Michael Shemilt. Michael is It’s designed to help growers identify and It’ll field-test SporSenZ units from Rothamsted the ‘pilot’ agronomist of the future, testing understand where there’s risk and to help justify start-up FungiAlert, that monitor fungal and managing technologies with the farm farm decisions. Sensors and prediction software pathogens present in crops. There’s also a to understand how they will work and their will be used to forecast risk and model novel soil-scanning technique under test that’ll value in the farm-scale situation. outcomes. BYDV forecasting may become more generate high resolution maps of macro and Work has already begun on the farm on field specific with warnings coming before micro soil nutrient levels, as well as physical areas such as climate and pest prediction, threshold levels are reached. properties. nutrition technology, variety trait work and Project Environmental Sustainability environmental sustainability. encapsulates a sustainable farm business. “We’ll aim to demonstrate these Hutchinsons is working with the University of technologies by various means and not just East Anglia, for example, to develop technology the traditional farm open days,” says Stuart. to enable mapping of pollination species in “After all, this is about use and benefit of appropriate locations and timings on farm. This innovation, so technology will be used to could be used with the Omnia in-field profitability demonstrate it.“ I

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 41 The aim is“ to build the detail over coming seasons and use it to help increase efficiency. ”

Digital tool drives agronomy Innovation Precision agronomy decisions

An AHDB Monitor Farmer is Last season’s variable seed rate work, are just two of many aspects you must using a precision agronomy combined with the farm’s Yield Enhancement consider when planning how best to Network (YEN) entry, revealed interesting vary seed rates. It’s a multifactorial platform as the basis for results that will drive changes this year. decision-making process; you can’t look making changes to Variable seed rate plans were drawn at any one aspect in isolation or simply up in Omnia, based on different “layers” increase or decrease the amount of seed management practice. of mapped data, including soil texture used.” CPM reports. assessments, seedbed conditions, slug risk Moisture availability is a major limiting and weed pressure (notably blackgrass). factor in the south east of England, making By Paul Spackman it essential crop roots utilise as much water Plant population and nutrients below ground as possible, “On the worst areas of heavy clay, Andrew adds. While a number of farmers are now using germination has been as low as 40-50%, “We can’t afford to have unutilised areas precision agronomy to change seeding so we felt confident seed rates could be within the field. Wide gaps between rows rates and identify poor-performing areas, increased up to 480 seeds/m2 in these areas also let in more blackgrass and ryegrass. Essex farmer Hew Willett is determined to to give a more even plant population and Equally, we need to consider the rooting take the technology a step or two further. get closer to our target of 700 heads/m2 by demands [on nutrients and water] in very Hew runs Parklands Farm near harvest,” Hew says. thick crops.” Chelmsford with his mother Christy. An However, Omnia analysis of yield maps Hew plans to change his drill this year AHDB Monitor Farmer, he’s keen to reduce combined with results from YEN showed that and switch to more conventional 16-20cm production costs without compromising while plant stands were more even, the yield row widths in the autumn. There are also yields, and improve efficiency on the family benefit was harder to define. plans to build on the bank of agronomic data farm. So he’s rolled out the Omnia precision “We’re on wide rows of almost 30cm with held in Omnia at Parklands Farm, with the farming system across 475ha of arable our Mzuri drill and it seems this might have initial focus on soil health. cropping after a successful trial last season. been a factor limiting yields in our YEN trial A comprehensive soil sampling So far the system has mainly been used last year.” for analysing yield maps and producing Andrew says increasing seed rate on variable seed rate plans to improve yield wide rows increases intra-row competition, consistency on the heavy clay soil, but resulting in smaller plants and ears, and Hew and Farmacy agronomist Andrew leaves a band of under-utilised space Spackman are keen to expand its use to between the rows. aid decision-making. “The jury’s still out on what the definitive “I like the fact Omnia brings lots of data row width is, especially as varieties differ in together in one place and is very intuitive to their growth characteristics. Skyfall, for use,” says Hew. “The aim is to build the example will spread more in autumn than The wide rows of almost 30cm may have been a detail over coming seasons and use it to an upright variety like Crusoe. factor limiting yields in last year’s YEN trial. help increase efficiency.” “Row width and varietal characteristics

42 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Precision agronomy

programme based on zonal field mapping is is split 50:50 between winter and spring planned this spring to set a baseline of soil cropping, largely because of high health information and improve the existing blackgrass and ryegrass pressure. Crops data from previous grid-style surveys. include milling wheat, oilseed rape, spring Drainage maps can be overlaid in Omnia barley, spring beans, borage and millet. to highlight any correlations with poor yields Hew says Omnia’s gross margin or grassweed infestations and identify areas mapping function, provides a good way of for remedial work (e.g. mole draining, assessing the viability of alternative crops, subsoiling or ditch clearance). and for identifying potentially loss-making The aim is for more “targeted cultivations” areas of the field. and a move away from ploughing to a full He’s used the system’s ability to combine Omnia’s gross margin mapping function provides direct-drilling system with minimal soil multiple yield maps (4-5 years) to highlight a good way of identifying potentially loss-making disturbance. This in turn should reduce areas that consistently underperform. In areas of the field. establishment costs, and help improve soil total, 35ha has been taken out of production properties such as organic matter, structure, and put intoenvironmental stewardship managed efficiently; for example by making drainage, and water holding capacity. options such as wild bird cover and the stewardship area wide enough to “Soils in this region are naturally very wildflower strips. manage with existing machinery, and y good at retaining nutrients, so the key is “Where we’ve taken land out of leave an even tramline width on remaining creating the right conditions for crops to production, I’ve tried to plan it so the cropped areas to make it easier for the access them,” says Andrew. cropped and uncropped areas can be sprayer.” I Hew hopes to reduce artificial phosphate and potash applications while maintaining soil indices around Index 2. “To do this, we’ve got to have good structure that allows crops to root freely and extract nutrients throughout the profile.” It’s hoped grassweed management will benefit too. Indeed, the current rotation

Cover crops add to the mix

Autumn-sown cover crops are becoming an established feature at Parklands Farm, bringing soil health improvements and facilitating spring drilling on the heavy clay. This year’s mix was based on farm-saved beans, oats, OSR and rye, direct drilled into wheat stubble. “We want to keep it simple and low cost –– our seed cost is £20-25/ha at most,” says Hew. “The early harvest last year meant we got the cover in early and it’s done really well.” The farm has just bought a flock of 50 ewes which graze cover crops overwinter and provide an additional income source. Hew plans to try a wider species mix next season, potentially incorporating phacelia, vetch, stubble turnips, linseed or sunflowers. But brassica inclusion will be minimal as there’s OSR in the rotation.

Vetch may be included in a wider species mix next season.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 43 It’s vital to“ stay in control as these crops are going to be lush. ”

The tools to tailor Innovation Take control nutrition need

Yara’s suite of digital “Many have already put on the first them through, but big crops will make spring dressing of N to encourage the bigdemands on all nutrients –– the farming services has been early growth we saw in Feb. The question availability of these must remain in relaunched, with new options is how to follow that up –– is it wise to encourage it, in the knowledge that and smart refinements aimed canopies may get out of control, or hold at optimising application. back, prompting concerns you’re holding CPM reviews what’s back potential?” available. Extra demands His advice leans towards the former. By Tom Allen-Stevens “The crop is growing and will be making extra demands from the soil that may not yet be readily available. It’s important to Few could have predicted the kind start encourage that momentum, to give the to the spring that arable farming has plant every opportunity to lay down the enjoyed. While conditions for March are biomass it’ll need to deliver its yield widely seen as more ‘normal’ for the time potential, and now’s the best time to of year, growers eager to take control of do that. Mark Tucker believes it’s important to encourage crops established last autumn will “Equally it’s vital to stay in control the crop momentum that’s accrued, but keep be wondering how to tailor nutrition as these crops are going to be lush. nutrient applications in tune with requirements. strategy, notes Mark Tucker of Yara. Appropriate use of PGRs will help steer

44 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Yara has just re-launched its digital farming tools – the N-Tester has been brought together with the app as YaraIrix. balance and in tune with across Europe as a reliable specific requirements.” tool to assess crop N need,” Yara has just launched –– or he continues. rather re-launched –– its digital “In France for example, there farming tools that help farmers are strict N limits based on achieve this. “Growers will nationwide monitoring, and this be familiar with Image IT, year permitted applications our free app that assesses have been lowered by crop canopies and makes 17kgN/ha due to higher soil N recommendations on nutrient levels. But those using an applications. There’s also the N-Tester can use the results as N-Tester –– a handheld device justification to apply more or that allows you to measure less N to their crop. There’s a precise crop N demand. We’ve similar approach in Denmark.” now brought these together The N-Sensor has also been as YaraIrix,” explains Mark. redesigned (see panel on p47). The N-Tester has been Launched at last year’s redesigned, and connects CropTec, the new version is directly to the Irix app, while lighter, smarter and has there’s also a new N-Tester detachable sensors, says Mark. Clip (see panel on p46). “The “The N-Sensor allows you to N-Tester is now recognised adjust N applications in real L

Atfarm brings in satellite-generated NDVI biomass maps and draws up application maps that can be exported in a range of formats. Take control

Free tissue tests for YEN entrants

Yara is offering all growers in the Yield coincide with key crop growth stages, which Enhancement Network (YEN) free tissue tests in cereals would be tillering, stem elongation, for the 2019 season to help them achieve their booting and heading, while for OSR it’s stem crop’s full potential. elongation, head set, flowering and pod set.” The offer is available for both cereals and Last year, early season UK leaf samples OSR, with up to four samples of each crop revealed higher than normal levels of sulphur analysed at Yara’s Lancrop Laboratory near deficiency in crops. Mark suggests taking a York. “Growers will receive results across the sample 2-3 weeks before the application is full range of nutrients,” says Yara’s Simon needed. “The turnaround of the test is just a Pogson. As well as N, P and K, this includes day or two, but you may need time to get calcium, magnesium, sulphur, boron, copper, product onto the farm. The key timing to focus iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. on in wheat would be GS37-39, to ensure the “We’d advise growers take the samples to crop has everything it needs for grain fill.”

area of crop, making it the most accurate the same wealth of trials information that The YaraIrix app allows you to measure the means of assessing crop need.” Yara’s built up to determine optimum N. nitrogen needs of your crops at the first dressing. For those who feel they don’t need such But it’s freely available to all growers.” a high level of accuracy, Yara launched To start using it, you simply go to L time, according to the needs a free satellite-based service last year. www.at.farm, sign up and upload or draw of the crop. The sensors and software “Atfarm is a digital tool that uses the same in your fields. Atfarm then brings in the have been improved and it scans a bigger algorithms as the N-Sensor and draws on latest satellite data and calculates the

Innovators sought to clip, connect and fine tune their N

Yara’s N-Tester has become something of As the name suggests, the Clip simply attaches a trusted tool for progressive growers and itself to your smartphone and uses the phone’s agronomists. It takes quick and easy readings own camera to make the assessment. “It’s simpler in a growing crop to establish its exact nitrogen and more portable than the N-Tester BT, but its status and help fine tune application during the accuracy is only as good as the camera on your growing season. phone,” notes Mark. The new N-Tester comes in two different forms. So how does the N-Tester work? The close-up The N-Tester BT is similar to the old model, image of the clamped leaf is assessed by the Irix although with a smaller, more compact design app for chlorophyll content, as this is related to with Bluetooth connectivity which is compatible the nitrogen status of the plant. Thirty random The N-Tester BT is similar to the old model, with all smartphones, says Yara. measurements from across the field give an although a smaller, more compact design with It now works in conjunction with the YaraIrix average value that’s used to indicate how much Bluetooth connectivity. app. You simply download the app and then N the crop requires. connect the N-Tester. All your measurements are By taking readings through the season at automatically sent to the app via Bluetooth, along weekly or fortnightly intervals, the N-Tester can with their location –– another new feature. Within be used as a crop-monitoring tool to determine seconds, you receive back an N recommendation relative changes in crop nitrogen values. to help refine each dressing. A three-digit reading suggests whether the crop The Irix app is free to download and use, and has sufficient N, is likely to be deficient, or is like its predecessor, Image IT, uses an image of somewhere in between, requiring a judgement your wheat, oilseed rape, barley or to work based on recent N applications, previous organic out the green area index (GAI) and give you an N manure/slurries, and current weather and growing recommendation. While this is fine for the first N conditions. Yara claims the tool can detect changes Yara is seeking growers to join its Innovator dressing of the season, the N-Tester gives the app in leaf nitrogen content well before these are Program and test the N-Tester Clip which uses a much more accurate information for subsequent noticeable to the naked eye. smartphone camera to make the assessment. fertiliser applications, says Yara –– a subscription In theory, it could be used on any plant to unlocks the capability within the Irix app. measure the chlorophyll content, although in the The N-Tester Clip is still in beta-testing, UK, it’s only been calibrated for use on winter example, can give an accurate idea of how much and Yara is looking for around 50 UK on-farm cereals. Yara’s taken the technology through a N the crop requires to achieve the desired protein innovators to give it a go this season free of series of thorough field trials and says these have content for a milling wheat. charge, says Mark Tucker. “We’re particularly keen shown it gives a significant benefit both on yield For more information and to join the YaraIrix for CPM readers to join our Innovator Program.” and grain quality. A test at booting (GS41-49), for Innovator Program, go to www.yarairix.com

46 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Take control

vegetative index. You can view standard Lighter, smarter N-Sensor sets the sensors free NDVI biomass maps, or N-Sensor biomass overlays, which have a better correlation to nitrogen uptake. Application maps can be pinpointed the wavelength and fine-tuned drawn up in just a few clicks and exported the software that now compensates for this, in a range of formats. giving you a true reading all day.” The new N-Sensor has been designed with Absolute N in mind. This is where you Cloud cover “Atfarm has its limitations,” notes Mark. completely hand over control to the machine, “The main one is that the images available without even setting a target field application will depend on cloud cover –– there was rate –– the system will determine exactly a 10-week period last spring during what rate of N your crop needs as it travels which the skies were just too grey for through and makes adjustments accordingly. decent data collection. The N-Sensor “It’s been available for OSR for some time, does its job whatever the light levels and you can now use it for winter wheat, are, even at night. although it’s still in its testing phase,” “Resolution is another issue –– the says Clive. N-Sensor will take higher resolution “Those mounting sensors on the spray boom images compared to satellites so it’s should note there is a slight time lag between horses for courses,” he reasons. sensing and changing the rate at the nozzle, so “But however you tailor N needs, the accurate real-time liquid fertiliser applications, Clive Blacker’s MiFarm software platform chances are you’ll be faced with crops for example, aren’t really possible unless you synchronises seamlessly with the N-Sensor, that require careful management this keep the sensors a suitable distance in front of backing up data to the cloud. year. There are also greater pressures the booms.” in terms of minimising ammonia emissions Precision Decisions have developed a and nitrate losses to ground water. The latest changes on the N-Sensor take software platform that automatically manages If we can maximise the amount the crop the tool into a different league and may this stream of data. MiFarm, has multi-layer takes up, we minimise these losses. potentially open up a whole new array functionality, allowing you to view information So we have to use all the tools available of precision application and monitoring, from the N-Sensor to help decision-making. to take control and make every kilogram reckons Clive Blacker of Yorks-based It’s partly compatible with Gatekeeper, reads of applied fertiliser count.” I Precision Decisions. your soil-sampling and other spatially Since 2004, the company has fitted, variable data, and the beauty of the system, provided training and support for the he says, is that everything synchronises N-Sensor. “It’s seen subtle changes over seamlessly. Take control the years as the technology behind the “It backs up the N-Sensor data to the cloud components has advanced. But this is the –– you don’t even need a memory stick to first wholesale change to the equipment transfer application maps to and from the When Britain exits the EU, the move will since the ALS sensor was launched in 2006,” tractor cab. The aim has been to make it simple create unprecedented uncertainty and he says. and as open as possible, so that every time the change for farmers. While much of the The biggest change is that the box of N-Sensor goes through the crop, all your change is beyond the control of the gadgetry that traditionally sits atop the tractor records are updated –– it puts the data at average arable business, it highlights the cab is smaller and neater, making it much your fingertips so you can take control of the importance of those elements that can easier to fit, and to swap between machines. big decisions that maximise productivity,” be managed. The design also ensures flexible mounting says Clive. Few aspects of crop production are options on sprayers so booms that fold up A new N-Sensor is available at a cost more critical than a plant’s nutrition, which close to the cab don’t hit the unit. of £4500/year. is why CPM has teamed up with Yara in Another major change is that the sensors a series of articles that brings in some are individual units. “This is really handy for of the latest understanding to build on The unit is smaller and neater, and the sensors those who’d like them mounted in different established knowledge. The aim is to take are individual units that can be mounted in configurations and you can now network up back control of how a plant draws in and different configurations. to eight sensors if you wish, which could be assimilates nutrients to optimise every useful on irrigation booms, for example. aspect of crop and field performance. The new sensors also see a 25% larger With decades of evidence-based area than the previous ALS unit, which further knowledge, Yara continues to be at the increases precision,” notes Clive. forefront of crop macro and micronutrient In a further change, the algorithms that advice. Investment in technology has work their digital magic on all the data resulted in world-leading churning through from the sensors, can now products that support even take account of a bit of morning dew. in-field decision making “It’s always been an issue that damp, wet and precision nitrogen leaves can skew the calibrations. Yara’s application.

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 47 The science of Crop momentum Research Briefing crop stress

Recent research has shed crops and the losses from abiotic and biotic contain were driving the crop benefits. more light on the interaction stresses. “However, we now know that any growth “In all cases losses from abiotic stress hormones that are present in these extracts seaweed extract has with were far greater,” says Charlie. are at such negligible quantities that crops and how it can bring “Abiotic stress events significantly limit they’re rendered ineffective. Moreover, the crop productivity worldwide,” adds John recommended application rates are too low best results. CPM explores O’Sullivan of biostimulant manufacturer to cause any effect that could be attributable the developments. BioAtlantis, based in Ireland. to them. “Compounding this, growth hormones By Andrew Blake Abiotic stress in seaweed readily break down in the “Crops exposed to abiotic stress factors presence of light, heat and oxidizing don’t reach their full genetic potential. conditions when exposed in the field. Depending on the crop and geographical As such, the ‘growth hormone’ theory Seaweed has long been applied to fields area, up to 70% of global yield losses are of how A. nodosum extracts work lacks by farmers in coastal areas, who claim due to abiotic stresses such as heat, adequate scientific support.” it has clear crop-enhancing properties. drought and cold.” But pin-pointing exactly what those Seaweed, in particular the brown plant are and more significantly how they Ascophyllum nodosum which grows on the work has taken time. Now it seems middle shore areas of the North Atlantic from researchers are homing in on their key the Arctic to Portugal, has been harvested function, namely countering so-called for many generations. abiotic stress. “It’s been used as a fertiliser for centuries, Crop losses from abiotic stresses such as and more recently extracts have been used drought and extreme temperatures can far as liquid crop feeds,” says Charlie. “But it’s exceed those caused by biotic stresses suffered ‘false starts’ through over-selling such as insect and disease attacks, and a lack of understanding of the science according to FMC Technical Manager behind it.” Plant Health, Charlie Bannister. Heavy marketing of seaweed products “A number of researchers have pointed over decades has led to a considerable out the effects of abiotic stress in terms of level of confusion and inaccurate claims Crop losses from drought and extreme lost yield and quality.” regarding their efficacy, adds John. temperatures can far exceed those caused One notable paper on the subject, Initially it was thought that the plant by insect and disease attacks, says authored by Elizabeth Bray and published in hormones –– , cytokinins, gibberellins Charlie Bannister. 2000, highlighted global yields for various and betaines –– which A. nodosum extracts

48 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Research Briefing

During Opinions differ on the role of hormones water“ stress periods

like the summer of 2018 The views expressed by John O’Sullivan and hormones within different sources from various products containing Ian Jackson on the plant-enhancing role of locations and found they contained varying seaweed kept the the hormones contained in A. nodosum show amounts, he notes. that the picture remains unclear, notes “The authors concluded that the effects of nutrient pump Charlie Bannister. So what’s actually going on? asco after application aren’t due to the levels moving. “The plant hormone story is a bit complex,” of exogenous hormones in the asco itself, ” he says. “The general perception at present is but that the application could well increase that some of the effects of ascophyllum are the levels of endogenous hormones in the due to the levels of plant hormones within the treated plants. seaweed itself.” “So the truth probably lies somewhere However a scientific research paper between the two opinions and the currently published in June 2012 in the Journal of Plant held general perception,” he says. Growth Regulation analysed levels of plant

not they provide a return on investment to the grower.” The latest emerging research from Germany shows that the extracts are most effective in the context of abiotic stress mitigation rather than as broad spectrum growth stimulants, says John. “A. nodosum contains high levels of a number of key compounds that may induce abiotic stress tolerance in plants, including Another problem has been poor advice phlorotannins and the polysaccharide, on how and when to apply seaweed fucoidan.” extracts, he maintains. Such compounds are anti-oxidants, he “In particular, the advice to apply these explains. “When plants become stressed products ‘little and often’ lacks both they produce Reactive Oxygen Species meaning and precision and provides no (ROS). guarantee in relation to product efficacy. “There are numbers of compounds which Compounds in the extract activate signalling “As a result, a degree of scepticism has could be classed as ROS, and which are pathways and bring about positive responses in emerged as to whether or not A. nodosum highly reactive.” That property means they plants under abiotic stress, notes John O’Sullivan. extracts actually work, and whether or have a tendency to cause significant L

Treated crops pull through hot dry summer

Procam agronomist Ian Jackson advises growers “Along with a tailored nutrient package, in East Anglia on crops grown on silt, heavy clay treated crops carried on growing during water and organic soils. deficit until the rain came. “I’ve used seaweed products for many “Wheat was the stand-out performer last years as a growth stimulant. They have added year with the seaweed nutrient package. The benefits of boosting the plants’ own defence crops stayed greener longer with a 15-20% mechanisms,” he says. better green leaf index. Average yields were Wheat was the stand-out performer last year, In contrast to John’s view he believes the about 10.3t/ha with the water retentive soils with the seaweed nutrient package keeping growth hormones such products contain do have giving up to 11t/ha. crops with a 15-20% better green leaf index. a beneficial role. “The specific weights, hovering around 80kg/hl, “During water stress periods like the summer made the difference showing that the plants had of 2018 products containing seaweed kept the time to fill the two lower and upper grains. most of ideal growing conditions once the nutrient pump moving in the plant by supplying “The SDHI chemistry mixed with seaweed temperatures eased. gibberellin, , cytokinins and betains. worked well both to protect the plant from “Following the extreme conditions, the yields “Once production of these hormones slows extremes of weather, and relieve heat and of later-lifted beet crops have equalled those or stops because of stress, the flow of nutrients water stress. of good years, and many have exceeded them. in the plant stops, the sugars build within it “Sugar beet surprised everyone when The crops lost six weeks of growing at what was and transpiration slows causing abiotic stress harvested after the programmed approach considered the peak bulking stage, but made up symptoms,” explains Ian. –– it kept the green leaf area ready to make the with the perfect conditions into Nov.”

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 49 Research Briefing

CropStrengthen research highlights gene link

The idea behind the priming technology action of distinct genes, he says. involves pre-treatment of a crop with a specific “This result represents a big step forward A. nodosum extract (Super Fifty). This makes the towards our understanding of how biostimulants plants more tolerant of future stress exposures, affect plant processes to increase their stress explains Prof Dr Bernd Müeller-Röeber of the tolerance. University of Potsdam. “An important task for the future will be to “Plants treated with the biostimulant are unravel the exact contribution of those genes to better prepared –– or in scientific jargon the stress tolerance mechanisms triggered by ‘primed’ –– to respond to an upcoming abiotic the biostimulant. stress challenge, like drought.” “Unravelling this will also help us to breed Bernd Müeller-Röeber has found the enhanced Studies within the EU-funded CropStrengthen new crop varieties that are even better suited stress tolerance triggered by the treatment is project found that in Arabidopsis thaliana (thale to interact with the biostimulant for improved connected to the action of distinct genes. cress, a widely-used model plant) and in diverse abiotic stress tolerance. crops, the enhanced stress tolerance triggered “So this research is of great importance for environmental impacts due to climate change,” by Super Fifty treatment is connected to the breeding varieties that can better cope with concludes Bernd.

“In some ways that can be a good thing Super Fifty, which contains a number of because it acts as a signal for the plant to distinct polysaccharide compounds. initiate its defence strategies. ROS can also “Research is showing that these act as a cordon sanitaire around the ingress polysaccharides have the capacity to prime of plant disease, but left unchecked and activate signalling pathways and bring significant damage will occur.” about positive responses in plants under Charlie believes the anti-oxidants in abiotic stress conditions such as cold, A. nodosum link with or essentially smother drought and heat stress.” the ROS and so neutralise their reactivity. He says that from working with experts from the University of Potsdam in Germany Extraction method the firm now has a better understanding Up to 70% of global yield losses are due to John says that it’s also emerging that the of Super Fifty’s modes of action and has abiotic stresses, such as heat, drought and cold. efficacy of A. nodosum extracts in abiotic developed a “stress mitigation and stress mitigation strongly depends on the plant-strengthening technology” (see L damage to membranes, cell walls and extraction method and the molecular size of panel above) based on pre-treating crops other structures in plants. the bioactive compounds, such as fucoidan with it. “When stress occurs, be it biotic or and phlorotannins, which are involved. “This research was conducted as part abiotic, these potentially very damaging “BioAtlantis has developed a highly of an EU Horizon 2020 project called ROS can arise. concentrated A. nodosum extract (500g/l), ‘CropStrengthen’, and the findings are due for publication within the next three to six months in a number of high impact Research briefing peer-reviewed scientific journals.” The papers are largely focused on methods of counteracting Reactive Oxygen To help growers get the best out of technology Species (ROS), as a means of mitigating used in the field, manufacturers continue to against abiotic stress in crops, he notes. I invest in R&D at every level, from the lab to extensive field trials. CPM Research Briefings provide not only the findings of recent research, but also an insight into the technology, to ensure a full understanding of how to optimise its use. CPM would like to thank FMC Agro for sponsoring this Research Briefing and for providing privileged access to staff and material used to help bring it together. FMC supplies an extensive range of foliar nutrition products and biostimulants. SeaMaxx cytokinins) which stimulate the plant’s contains Ascophyllum nodosum together with . This encourages nutrient uptake nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and a carefully and carbohydrate production. The presence of When plants become stressed they produce balanced blend of plant-available micronutrients. additional N,P,K and micronutrients helps to Reactive Oxygen Species which can cause Applied at the correct time, it provides localised optimize the plant’s nutrient status at a time significant damage to membranes, cell walls increases in hormone levels (particularly of rapid growth. and other structures in plants.

50 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Nutrient availability unearthed The analyses “behind RB209 aren’t sufficient to predict accurate fertiliser needs. ”

Innovation Crop nutrition Phosphate deficiency in rye grass

One of the hardest things to deciding how and when to use them is available for plant roots to take up, current predict in crop nutrition is proving to be a huge learning curve and single-extraction soil analysis is just not up there is a relationship between the two to the job,” he says. the quantity of nutrients in factors, he explains. Although the relationship between soil the soil available for uptake analysis and leaf tissue levels is more Refined approach positive for potassium and magnesium, by the crop. CPM talks to a Simon has been developing a more refined Simon explains that statistically the soil scientist who believes approach to plant nutrition for the past correlation isn’t generally that high (often 2 30 years and has developed a system R ≈ 0.4), so there’s a high degree of he’s developed a system tailoring the needs of the plant to the variation from the mean. which enables a more availability of nutrients in the soil. On top of “This is important because, not only are that, he’s incorporated new biostimulant we not meeting crop potential, but in hitting finely-tuned approach to products into a programmed approach to a yield ‘glass ceiling’, we’re also potentially feeding the crop’s potential. nutrition, which he says takes the guesswork wasting valuable and finite fertiliser away from deciding what and when they will resources, such as phosphates. L By Lucy de la Pasture provide a tangible benefit. He describes the bible of nutrient recommendations RB209 as ‘insufficient to As the major R&D institutes concentrate meet current and future demands, especially more and more on molecular research where greater yields need to be achieved.’ programmes, much of the applied So what exactly does he mean by this? research is being carried out by innovative “In my opinion, the analyses behind growers and entrepreneurial scientists in RB209 aren’t sufficient to predict accurate on-farm trials. fertiliser needs, particularly for phosphate. It marks a sea change from the way Analysis of the data shows that across the things used to be done, with trials data range of soil types, there’s generally a obtained from real commercial situations poor relationship between the amount of whichenables fast transfer of technology phosphate in the soil, determined using the into actual practice, says Simon Fox, soil usual extractant methods, and the amount scientist and founder of Emerald Research, of phosphate in leaf tissues. based in Glos. “But there is a meaningful relationship Simon Fox says the system uses RB209 as a One of the puzzles facing agronomists is between the amount of phosphate in the guide to the amount of base fertiliser, but how to meet the crop’s nutritional needs and roots of plants and in their leaves. This tells overlays this with output from the OptiYield get the most benefit from using biostimulant us that when it comes to predicting the model. products. While their potential is exciting, amount of phosphate that’s actually

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 51 Crop nutrition

L “There’s a significant lack of multi-variate, with an advanced soil analysis. This employs multi-disciplinary approaches to the new laboratory methods he’s developed advancement of agricultural systems. The alongside the existing methods, and a majority of experimental trials research still programme of foliar supplementation with appears to rely upon testing either single nutrients and biostimulants. It’s based on the or a very small number of variables. If output of the OptiYield model and tailored to these don’t show significant effects, then the needs of individual varieties and their they’re habitually excluded from future markets, explains Simon. work and the focus moves on to other trials,” To further complicate phosphate he comments. applications, recent research funded by “It may be these inputs would play a AHDB indicates that on average, only 4% significant part in increasing performance of phosphate applied as triple super if combined with other inputs (e.g. two phosphate fertiliser becomes available to the Enhanced methods of analysis and an innovative nutrients plus two biostimulants), but these crop in the year it’s applied, and the range of P-Sorption Index have been instrumental in types of trials are seldom conducted.” availability is also wide across different soils developing a more accurate prediction of Simon has made it his mission to develop and conditions nutrient availability. a better way of predicting the availability of “We still use the standards set by RB209 P, K and Mg to plants in order to supply the as a guide to the amount of base fertiliser, plant with what it needs, when it most needs but overlay this with the output from the P, K Mg and other nutrients for the crop. it. That was the motivation behind Emerald’s OptiYield model, which gives a more “We can then adjust recommendations OptiYield system, which provides growers accurate prediction of the availability of and ameliorate any shortfall with foliar

More refined approach to nutrition pays

Patrick first became interested in the OptiYield OptiYield’s range of biostimulants and system at a Puffin Produce meeting in early microbials are now standard inputs across 2016. “We conducted some replicated plot trials much of the Elliott’s potato area. in 2016 as well as a range of field-scale trials, “All maincrop will be treated with OptiYield mainly on maincrop varieties, and continued Complete and we’ll probably use OptiYield these in 2017 and 2018. Bioactive on most salad crops this season,” “The trials normally involve treating adjacent says Patrick. beds or beds between standard treatments. “The strength of OptiYield is the customised Where possible, we’ve alternated beds across programmed approach tailored to our needs, and a field in order to give some replication.” those of each variety. The soil analysis system is OptiYield programmes were applied with crop definitely better than others we’ve used. Rather protection products such as blight sprays to than simple analysis values, the availability According to Patrick and Tess Elliott, last year reflect commercial practice. Results were interpretation has proved to be significantly more their crops under the OptiYield system measured using boxes per block, test digs and valuable, not only for major nutrients but also for exhibited greater crop vigour and disease quality inspection. Plants in the treated areas minor and micronutrients,” he comments. resistance, as well as being less stressed. had healthier canopies and a bigger root mass, “We also like the fact that Emerald is he notes. involved closely with a variety of research Ian and Fiona Elliott, together with son and This translated into higher tuber counts, centres including Bangor and Aberystwyth daughter Patrick and Tess, grow around 170ha producing a very significant increase in yields. Universities, as well as other organisations of potatoes on the silty clay loams at Cresswell “Overall maincrop yield rose by 20-25% on overseas, which ensures the programme Barn Farm next to the Cleddau Estuary in average,” says Patrick. “Crops exhibited greater is updated as necessary to reflect current Pembrokeshire. crop vigour and disease resistance, as well as thinking.” They bought the farm in 1977, when they being less stressed. grew just 20ha, and embarked on a programme “We also observed better skin quality and The Elliotts found that by refining their approach of expansion soon after. more even distribution of tuber size, which has to nutrition they achieved a 20-25% increase in “As well as growing more of the crop, it’s helped our saleable yields go up by around 25% marketable yield. always been our aim to increase yields and on average over the past 3 years. quality, but we wanted to achieve that without “The effect on the bottom line was overly-depending on chemistry,” says Patrick. staggering, particularly last season which was “We wanted to aim towards greater sustainability very dry. We have little or no access to irrigation, while maintaining quality.” and OptiYield greatly improved crop growth and The team grow a range of maincrop varieties, maintained vigour and canopy. including Desiree, Electra, Maris Piper and “Overall, following on from previous years, several salad varieties, such as Belana, Charlotte for 2018 we estimate our net margin increases and Gemson. All are destined for supermarkets around 320% for maincrop and 150% for salads via Haverfordwest-based Puffin Produce. in what was a very low rainfall, high-stress year.”

52 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 Crop nutrition

adsorping phosphate, making it unavailable for uptake by plants. This then tells us how much phosphate may be locked up in the soil and how much is likely to be available to the crop.”

Unique algorithms The unique algorithms within the programme also take into account the effect of other soil factors on adsorption; including organic A more accurate prediction of nutrient availability matter content, cation exchange capacity, is a step forward to matching the crop’s need to clay content/type, pH and a number of other its yield potential. Emerald Research are working with over 15 soil factors included in the soil analysis. institutions in the UK and overseas to help Simon’s found his more advanced methods growers overcome the yield barrier. of analysis and the interpretation he’s applied actually work, he says. developed, has a much more accurate “Some foliar products can have a nutrition, which –– for many nutrients, but not correlation with the availability of P, K and counterproductive effect, depending on 2 all –– has a much higher level of efficiency Mg –– statistically having a typical R of 0.8 the way they’re formulated. In trials, some than soil-applied fertilisers,” he explains. or 80% confidence in the prediction of the commonly available forms of manganese The groundbreaking feature of the soil’s ability to adsorp. applied as straight salts have been shown OptiYield system is its available phosphate As with most new technologies, it’s the to reduce yields as they can be slightly predictor, which utilises a novel Phosphorus higher value crops where OptiYield has phytotoxic. In this form the manganese Sorption Index that Simon has developed. been met by keen interest from growers doesn’t translocate well to the growing “This calculates the capability of the soil for and packers, he says. points, where it’s needed, it sits in and on “Even though potatoes don’t have a the older leaves which may be already particularly high requirement for phosphate, ‘shocked’ by its application.” they’re a poor rooting crop which means Emerald has also developed a range OptiYield programmes they have a poor capability to scavenge of microbial products, which were phosphate from the soil,” he explains. demonstrated in a replicated trial at Potatoes Bioactive “We have growers in some parts of the in Practice (PiP) last year, and Simon UK who have very high P-indices of 5-8, G Down-the-furrow seed tuber treatment explains the thinking behind them. yet some potato crops show phosphate using beneficial microbes and “We’ve found multi-species and strains of deficiency. This demonstrates the inadequacy biostimulants. microbes that are highly effective in the field of the standard methods of analysis as G Foliar programme of organic and work together, so are beneficial to the they stand and shows how powerful the biostimulants designed to improve crop in parallel. For potatoes it’s applied adsorption capacity of a soil can be,” vigour, nutrient redistribution, enhance in-furrow at planting, in addition with a he adds. photosynthesis and reduce stresses. biostimulant which acts as a bug food to Having worked out the amount of nutrient G Designed for application with blight stimulate microbial growth. The microbes available to the crop, the next big challenge sprays. provide a beneficial environment, increase is to make sure the nutrients or biostimulants the hormones that encourage rooting and Core fix phosphate, sulphur and nitrogen,” G OptiYield Bioactive plus critical growth he explains. stage nutrition. Addition of high “Our PiP trial in Scotland mirrored the concentrate nutrition to bioactive foliar results we’ve had commercially across programme. the UK. Plots treated with microbial G Suited to short-season crops where mixtures emerged much faster than those focus is on securing vigorous growth and where tubers had no such application. In early-to-market benefits. commercial trials in Scotland, England and G Uses major and micronutrients specific to Wales, microbial treatments gave an overall crop and field applied at two or three yield benefit of 15-20%, with very clean crucial growth stage timings. tuber samples. G Designed for application with blight “We can’t rest on our laurels, but I believe sprays. it’s possible for us to break through the 30% yield increase barrier reliably in the next few Complete years by combining and refining these G Combines Bioactive and Core emerging technologies alongside more programmes with further applications of comprehensive soil analysis and bringing biostimulants and nutrients. on board new bioactive products. We’re G Typically delivers marketable yield Trials have shown potato emergence is quicker working hard on R&D as UK commercial increases of 15-30%. where an in-furrow microbial treatment has been lead in the Interreg NASPA project with over G Designed for application with blight sprays. applied. 15 European institutions to help bring this about,” he concludes. I

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 53 Life after diquat and then having to go back into the crop with Titus (rimsulfuron) and potentially knocking its growth back by a further two weeks if later emerging weeds prove troublesome,” she says. “When selecting a contact herbicide, it’s worth noting that Gozai has proven control on mayweed which has historically This must shown some resistance to “be the year to carfentrazone. But it needs to be applied in a tank- mix with actively try new methylated seed oil at a water systems. volume of 200 l/ha in situations ” when weeds are larger than four true leaves,” she highlights. While there are effective alternatives to diquat for early weed Roots Potato control, the bigger issue will be at the end of the season, believes Darryl Shailes, weed control Hutchinsons root crop manager. “Diquat is very quick at burning crops down, which has been great for preventing “With its grace period officially over by It’s time to look elsewhere disease such as black leg from getting into next Feb, there’ll be a temptation to use tubers at desiccation. There currently aren’t as the EU Commission diquat again in the same systems but, in my really any comparable alternatives though, opinion, this must be the year to actively try finally calls time on diquat. so this will add a further complication to new systems without it and get a proper feel management strategies post-2019.” CPM finds out how contact for what works best,” she says. Flailing will become an important option “Over the past two years I have already pre-emergence weed control for haulm management, but it’s far slower used Gozai (pyraflufen-ethyl) as an than spraying, he points out. “Some growers strategies may adapt. alternative to diquat on my seed crops might even have to take on an extra member and the ware crops I didn’t want to harvest of staff to flail crops, especially in a wet By Lucy de la Pasture too quickly. It’s proved to be as good as autumn.” carfentrazone and actually outperformed and Rob Jones Looking further ahead to a future it on some varieties, most notably on seed without diquat, Juliet also recognises other crops such as Taurus. significant challenges for the industry and For most UK potato growers and their offers her own insight into some of the key Good results issues facing UK potato growers. advisers, including Monmouthshire-based “On the basis of these good results in “There’s been a lot of recent discussion agronomist Juliet Anderson, there was previous seasons, my plan is to now also around stagnation of UK potato yields probably a sense of déjà vu following last incorporate Gozai within my early season following the release of yield data by the Oct’s announcement confirming diquat strategy and I’ll be applying my key AHDB; and while I agree that access to wouldn’t be renewed. residuals, Praxim (metobromuron) plus good irrigation, variety choice and soil “It seems to have been an open industry Defy (prosulfocarb) or plus compaction are all plausible reasons for secret for the past two years that diquat prosulfocarb 14 days after planting,” faltering yields, there are also two other would go the same way as and she comments. , so now that we have closure, we factors which need consideration.”

“I’ll then apply Gozai on some of my L First is the lack of availability of can at least move on to look at alternative messiest fields as a second spray on its own strategies for early weed control and around 4-5 days before the crop emerges, address the potentially bigger headache just as the ridges are cracking,” adds Juliet. of desiccation without diquat,” she says. Although there are often time pressures With just over 20 years’ field experience for growers when it comes to considering a as an agronomist, Juliet advises on 600ha of follow up to their residuals, she believes that potatoes across Herefords and Glos, most using a second spray, and delaying it until of which are destined for the crisping and the ridges have cracked, can be highly chipping markets. It’s a very challenging effective in tackling both fumitory and newly geographical area, where much of the emerging cleavers –– two species which rented land for potato production is sourced often come through alongside the emerging from livestock farmers, and Juliet is quick to potato plants. Juliet Anderson has been experimenting with acknowledge the problems in tackling a very “A later applied contact herbicide is also alternatives to diquat for the past couple of broad weed spectrum when planning early far better than simply relying on the residuals seasons. season weed control.

54 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019

Potato weed control

Diquat loss puts greater focus on spray timing

Darryl Shailes says that even though there are Many growers are applying diquat up until 10% alternatives to diquat for early season weed control, crop emergence, which can cause some chlorosis growers will have to be more proactive about timing (yellowing), but effects are generally not too severe. sprays accurately to get the best results and avoid However, he warns that crop effects from products compromising crop safety. like Shark and Gozai can be much greater when The main contact-acting foliar options for used at a similar early post-emergence timing, and pre-emergence broadleaf weed control are although crops will recover, growers must be careful products based on carfentrazone-ethyl (as in Shark) not to push the timing as potatoes will be burnt or pyraflufen-ethyl (Gozai). “Adding 1.0 l/ha of back to the ground. Darryl Shailes highlights that not all glyphosate Roundup Flex (glyphosate) can provide effective To minimise risk, he recommends applying products have pre-emergence use on their label. grassweed control where needed but take care and herbicides before the crop emerges and the ridges read labels because not all glyphosate has approval crack. This is absolutely essential if using Roundup rates of up to 300 l/ha. for pre-em post-planting use,” he highlights. Flex in the mix, he adds. This, combined with using forward and Metribuzin, prosulfocarb and metobromuron, “This may well mean prioritising the first backward-facing nozzles, should help reduce while having some contact activity, will generally treatments to particularly vigorous or shading effects on ridges and improve overall weed need bolstering from a contact material if many quick-establishing varieties to avoid getting control, he says. emerged weeds are present at the time of into a post-emergence situation,” he notes. Finding effective alternatives to diquat at either spraying. Using higher water volumes to improve end of the season is just one of many agronomy “We’ve seen comparable results to diquat from coverage over the ridges is also important areas under investigation at the Hutchinsons these kinds of mixes, so the biggest issue for most for maximising herbicide efficacy, says Darryl, Fenland Potato Demonstration site near Mildenhall growers will be timing,” says Darryl. who suggests growers should be using water in Suffolk this year.

Timing of pre-emergence contact herbicides will different inputs in their seed production and need to be more focused to avoid causing crop are exposed to different disease challenges. damage. One of my growers in Herefords now produces his own seed, giving him complete quality control on the inputs he uses and a

L UK-sourced and good quality potato seed, clearer picture on the traceability of the she believes. “Most of our seed currently seed,” she says. comes from Holland, where growers use Another issue that Juliet believes is having L

Herbicide trials highlight variety and weed concerns

Identifying which herbicide or combination of herbicide programmes, but there are some gaps, herbicides will best do the job vacated by linuron cleavers, for example, and use is restricted, or is still a work-in-progress for many growers rates need to be tailored to suit the soil type and and while trials have sought to develop an variety.” understanding of which products will give suitable This highlights the need for additional activity, control, several important considerations have says Edward, and with some weeds the product been identified. Factors such as soil type, variety chosen is critical to achieving effective control. choice and the weed spectrum involved have all “In trials in Fife in Scotland, Artist (flufenacet+ been identified as having a significant impact on metribuzin) gave better pre-em control of annual performance and consequently, herbicide choice. meadowgrass and fat-hen when applied on its “The weed burden and therefore the herbicides own than either metribuzin alone (applied at the Edward Hagues recommends matching the required and the rate at which they need to be same rate contained in Artist), or that achieved by strengths of a herbicide with the weeds likely applied will vary on a field-by-field basis,” says the three-way mix of metribuzin plus to be present on a field-by-field basis. Edward Hagues, Bayer campaign manager for pendimethalin plus metobromuron,” he says. root crops. A sound understanding of the weed spectrum The issue many growers are grappling with he will also help to manage the herbicide programme matching product choice to the weed burden. says, is what combination of actives to use to give effectively by ensuring a suitable mixing partner, “In these trials, Artist gave better control of high levels of broad-spectrum control. With linuron he believes. “For example, at the same Scottish groundsel, sow thistle and orache than either no longer an option, weed control in potatoes has trial, Artist plus clomazone gave better control of prosulfocarb or two applications of metribuzin. necessarily increased in cost. The preference is black bindweed than Artist in a mix with either There was similar control of mayweed and to control weeds pre-em where possible as it’s a metobromuron or prosulfocarb.” cranesbill by Artist and metribuzin, while the two reliable method with several options available. Separate trials investigated a wider range of sprays of metribuzin performed better on common “Metribuzin is an important component in most weeds, again highlighting the importance of field speedwell,” he comments.

56 crop production magazine arable extra march 2019

Potato weed control

Development herbicide continues to impress

Aclonifen, the active ingredient in Bayer’s new residual herbicide, continues to show promise in development trials. Those with experience of the new herbicide, currently known under its development code SP01644, believe it will Growers used to be able to get away with become a key herbicide for pre-em weed applying diquat at early emergence, but it’s not control in potatoes, and be a good partner for an option with the alternatives. Artist amongst other mixes. Product approval is expected in 2019. Pipeline active ingredient, , is showing

L The latest trials from 2018 considered an impact on yields is the availability of good activity on black bindweed in trials. clean, rentable land for potatoes. “There’s aclonifen in direct comparison with linuron, massive competition for available land right explains Edward Hagues. “In the weed screen, in 2018 trials. now with other crops, notably maize, aclonifen gave control on par with linuron at At the Cawood trial in Yorks last year, the increasing in recent years due to the growth high levels on six different weed species, was predominant weeds were annual nettle and in anaerobic digestion (AD) production,” better on cranesbill and black bindweed, not fat-hen, while at the Redbourne, Lincoln she concludes. I quite as good on groundsel, but significantly better against blackgrass and wild oats which trial site, there was a broader spectrum of linuron hardly touched.” weeds –– including pale persicaria, black Diquat important dates With the need to achieve robust pre-em bindweed, groundsel, mayweed and annual weed control in the potato crop, linuron was meadowgrass. G 4 May 2019 - cut-off date for sales largely used in mixes with complementary At both sites, the combination of aclonifen of diquat actives including flufenacet, metribuzin, at 2.0 l/ha plus Artist achieved full control. G 30 June 2019 - diquat approval officially pendimethalin and prosulfocarb. In its “This has proved to be a robust and widely expires exploration of how aclonifen will fit in UK used mix on the continent and we expect this G 4 February 2020 - end of use-up “grace potato crops, Bayer considered it in several product combination to become a standard period”- no applications allowed after different mixes with these actives as well as mix in the UK too, if aclonifen is approved,” this date. with the relative newcomer, metobromuron, he concludes. our pathogen surveillance placed on resistance in In the meantime, the lack of work provides results varieties to aid its control, it was any dramatic changes doesn’t which give a alarming to hear that, in the mean there won’t be a new retrospective look main, researchers have no incursion of yellow rust this at what’s happened understanding of virulence year. Anything could happen. in the past season, changes in the septoria There are some nasty yellow not what’s actually population. There’s obviously a rust pathotypes within Europe going on in the crops in pretty significant cost element which may or may not appear the here and now. to adding septoria to the in the UK with the passage The meeting also discussed UKCPVS remit but perhaps it’s of time. whether spore trapping, which time to consider the possibility? Sending in samples is key is increasingly being used to If the genetic wizards at as the UKCPVS relies on this monitor and forecast disease John Innes can produce a to pick out the newcomers, is of any particular benefit with mobile device to monitor strains particularly where infection yellow rust. The consensus of yellow rust, then could they is unexpected because of a Africa less rusty was that the yellow rust spores do the same for septoria and variety’s resistance rating. For sampled from the air will monitor for fungicide target site me, the intensive sampling of on rust? contain a cocktail of the many mutations at the same time. yellow rust research (see p8) different pathotypes, so while That would be useful, near was a stark reminder that the spore trapping may be of use real-time information to aid surveillance data is just a As the UKCPVS meeting to monitor total spore levels disease management at the snapshot of what’s going on in wrapped up earlier this month, of the disease, even if their coal-face. the crop. New genotypes are someone asked me ‘well, genotypes are analysed, the It may be mind-boggling constantly emerging –– it really how are you going to write results are unlikely to correlate stuff but understanding the is a race to keep up! that up then?’ With no closely with the pathotypes interaction of the host and headline-grabbing changes which may be blown into a crop pathogen at the level of the Based in Ludlow, Shrops, in any of the pathogen and cause yellow rust infection. genome is crucial stuff. This is Lucy de la Pasture has populations within last year’s In 2015, unexpected septoria how we’ll learn how to outwit worked as an agronomist, survey I was asking myself was reported in some wheat the pathogen without having to while among the Twitterati, the same question. crops in late season –– known resort to extensive fungicide she’s @Lucy_delaP. But in actual fact there’s as the Cougar outbreak use and one day this will be [email protected] some exciting, really because of the variety affected, possible. ground-breaking stuff going which had a resistance score of on around the peripheries of 7 on the AHDB Recommended Farmers in Ethiopia have access to real-time surveillance and sequencing of the UKCPVS. Not least is the List at that time. This new the yellow rust genotypes. MARPLE project, in which the variant was investigated in a John Innes Centre is a partner, two-year AHDB-funded project where they’re bringing mobile and the results presented at the diagnostics and surveillance UKCPVS meeting. for yellow rust to growers The conclusion from the in Ethiopia. research was that there was Researchers have developed not much risk from the Cougar a device which can fit into a variant of septoria to any hard case that’s able to varieties other than Cougar and sequence specific regions of its genetic derivatives, though the pathogen’s genome and there were very variable define individual strains of patterns of virulence seen. yellow rust. But that’s not the Reassuringly, when the variant limit of its capability. The device was genotyped and put through can be used to monitor key resistance testing, the isolates genes for mutations, such as were shown to be normal, with fungicide target genes. no differences to the majority of There seems to be some the pathogen population other irony that farmers in Ethiopia than in virulence. have access to technology With septoria the number which isn’t currently employed one disease in UK wheat and within the UK. At the moment more and more reliance been

crop production magazine arable extra march 2019 59