In this issue... Glimpse of the future page 49 Launch of the Lists page 8 Tech treats and Hanover highlights AHDB unveils Recommended varieties Outcome-based pricing page 61 Black eye on scurf page 72 Opinion 4 Talking Tilth - A word from the editor. Volume 21 Number 11 December 2019 6 Smith’s Soapbox - Views and opinions from an Essex peasant….. 75 Last Word - A view from the field from CPM’s technical editor. Technical 8 Recommended List launch - A baker’s dozen AHDB has expanded its Recommended Lists with almost 30 varieties added for 2020 and OSR markets looking set to see the biggest change. 12 Theory to Field - New perspective on RL A new variety selection tool has just been released by AHDB. 16 Spring cropping - Patience will pay The monsoon this autumn has dictated an unplanned swing towards spring cropping as ground conditions prevent drilling. 20 Real Results Pioneers - Challenge set for new chemistry One of the farmers who’s been comparing a new azole with his standard farm approach is building a picture on how it’s best used. 23 Pulses - A virtuous spirit Editor The Arbikie Highland Estate in Scotland is noted for the award-winning spirits Tom Allen-Stevens distilled on site from a staggering array of local produce. Technical editor 26 Better buying, better selling - Testing times for the grain trade? Lucy de la Pasture A grain trade that’s ready for Brexit needs to be efficient, far-reaching, fully Technical writer digital and trustworthy. Charlotte Cunnigham 30 Weed control survey - Shifting strategy Writers Blackgrass has dominated the headlines as the weed to watch for, but Tom Allen-Stevens Rob Jones now it appears other issues are causing similar headaches. Charlotte Cunninghan Lucy de la Pasture 33 Fertiliser - Urea on a knife edge? Nick Fone The urea versus ammonium nitrate debate has always been a fiery one. Design and production Brooks Design Machinery Advertisement co-ordinator Peter Walker 37 LAMMA preview - Tractors, combines and tyres Next month’s LAMMA event looks set to be a hotspot for innovation. Publisher Angus McKirdy 42 LAMMA preview - Drills ’n’ hoes Business development manager A huge array of cultivation kit was launched at Agritechnica. Charlotte Alexander 45 LAMMA preview - Spread and spray From guidance sensors to triple-fold booms, the market has made great strides. To claim two crop protection BASIS points, send an email to [email protected], quoting reference CP/84198/1920/g. 49 Agritechnica - The future is now There were plenty of interesting innovations on display. To claim two NRoSO CPD points, please send your name, NRoSO member number, date of birth and postcode to 54 Tech Talk - The fertile furrow [email protected] Drills that deliver fertiliser into the rooting zone are back in vogue. *the claim ‘best read specialist arable journal’ is based 57 Robots - Small robots roll out ambitious plan on independent reader research conducted by In less than two years, the Small Robot Company has progressed from Research Engine (Mar 2018) mere concept to a commercial, high resolution weed ID service. Editorial & advertising sales PO Box 4856, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 9NX Innovation Tel: (01743) 861122 E-mail: [email protected] 61 Global briefing - No gain, no pay Reader registration hotline 01743 861122 Bayer and BASF announce plans for outcome-based pricing. Advertising copy Brooks Design, 64 Research Briefing - How application affects efficacy 24 Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1RD Every spray droplet counts when it comes to blackgrass control. Tel: (01743) 244403 E-mail: [email protected] 67 Pushing performance - Acquiring knowledge through experience Understanding is growing about when to use Bridgeway to best effect. CPM Volume 21 No 11. Editorial, advertising and sales offices are at PO Box 4856, Shrewsbury, SY1 9NX England. Tel: (01743) 861122. CPM is published eleven times a year by CPM Ltd and is available free of charge to qualifying farmers Roots and farm managers in the United Kingdom. In no way does CPM Ltd endorse, notarise or concur with any of the 72 Tuber treatments - Rethinking tuber treatment? advice, recommendations or prescriptions reported in the magazine. For growers who’ve relied on Monceren its withdrawal means a change If you are unsure about which recommendations to follow, please consult of strategy. 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 december 2019 3 Millennials –– those born from believe that, just look at the through to the consumer. 1980-94, and sometimes called influence of Greta Thunberg, the There’ll be no more manipulation, the “me generation”. ultimate Gen Zer. McKinsey masking or distortion by other Millennials (Generation Y) carried out an extensive study actors in the chain. are more idealistic, more of people’s behaviour in Brazil, Another example of this confrontational, and less where Gen Zers already make ultimate truth is crowd-funding, willing to accept diverse up 20% of the population, to perhaps. In the past, for a good points of view. understand how this new idea to raise capital and become While Generation X generation’s views might affect a ground-breaking invention, this (1960-79) and Baby the broader population. required a large company or boomers (1940-59) generally The study concludes that the venture capitalist to back it. Now What is truth? accept authority and scientific search for truth lies at the root of a community can decide, each fact as the root of truth, Gen Y all Gen Z behaviour. They have an individual putting in a relatively feels that strong-held opinion ‘undefined ID’, expressing and modest amount of capital, that Whatever your political carries equal weight. Politically exploring individual truth, rather can build into a considerable persuasion or hopes for the this is important and in farming than one stereotype. They are collective total. future, it’s hard to imagine a it’s critical –– it doesn’t matter so ‘communaholics’, connecting Data may become the level of political posturing lower much that neonicotinoids and to different truths, in which foundation of ultimate truth. If you than what we’ve witnessed glyphosate, for example, are online and physical worlds have a platform that can connect during this General Election scientifically proven to be safe combine. They are ‘dialoguers’, and make sense of the vast campaign from those who if the perception, no matter how understanding and accepting amounts of data that define your would presume to govern us. ill-founded, is that they are not. differences of opinions. And they farming system, there’s arguably Empty promises wouldn’t begin This idealism and the authority are ‘realistic’ –– pragmatic and no better way to get a true picture to describe the pithy pledges put of opinion pervades every aspect analytical, they unveil the truth on how it’s performing. And then forward by candidates across the of our society and it’s not all bad, behind the vast amount of there’s knowledge –– while the political spectrum who don’t even I’d argue –– CPM itself relies on information at their disposal. authority of a scientist interpreting care if we believe them, so long the opinions of others as much as A good illustration of this a set of trials is valuable, maybe as they can persuade us they’re scientific fact to convey to you ultimate truth is bitcoin, the the ultimate truth is reached lying less than their opponents. the roundest and most concise currency Gen Z invented. This is when a community of growers all But could this be the last picture of a new product built on blockchain, in which a conduct their own trials, following election in which truth is distorted development or farming wide community of networked an agreed protocol, and pool and used in an attempt to progression. computers agrees on the value the results. manipulate voters in such a The difficulty is that this system of bitcoin. An individual can’t So as we enter a new decade, damaging way? A phenomenon is very open to abuse by change or influence its value, nor maybe this will be the one where that’s fascinating marketers, unscrupulous individuals. Throw even a government. The value Gen Z’s search for truth bears pollsters and consumer analysts in the internet, social media, a only changes if the entire network fruit. Let’s hope so, because the currently is the rising influence of healthy dollop of Russian, agrees it can change through a sooner it’s safe from political Generation Z. This includes those state-sponsored disruption, and defined protocol. manipulation, the sooner farming people born loosely between suddenly it can become very Extend that idea into other can find the true route to positive 1995-2010 –– they’re true digital difficult to trust the arbiters of truth areas where trust and integrity are change. natives, exposed to the internet, or even know who they are. It’s in important and it holds real merit. social networks and mobile this maelstrom of conflicting There are already pilots underway systems. information and fake news a using blockchain for farm Tom Allen-Stevens (Gen X) According to management voter’s asked to put a cross on a assurance, for example. You’ll no has a 170ha arable farm in consultants McKinsey, what piece of paper and make an longer be able to retrospectively Oxon and is heavily influ- defines this generation is their important choice. change your grain temperature enced by four Gen Zers. search for truth. It’s often said So enter Gen Z, tipped to be records, but the integrity, ethics [email protected] we’re living in the post-truth era, the most influential generation and sustainability of your @tomallenstevens which is influenced by the that’s ever lived.