LearN-ing about nitrogen farm by farm. Prof Roger Sylvester-Bradley, Head of Crop Performance, ADAS

“CropTec provides an opportunity to discuss the results of an important project being carried out by ADAS, NIAB TAG, GrowHow and Agrii for HGCA called LearN. It is using on-farm experience to improve nitrogen management.

Three basic questions underpin nitrogen management – how much nitrogen will a crop need; how much nitrogen will come from the soil and how efficiently can I close that gap? In the past, nitrogen experiments were conducted in small plots on farms spread throughout the country on different soil types, using different varieties and cropping techniques. But in 2010 we started to run trials that took a farm-by-farm approach where five hectare blocks were analysed. This showed the huge importance of soil variation. Now we have 18 farmers who are applying three levels of nitrogen in three adjacent strips – one strip using a standard application of nitrogen, another using more than that standard, say an extra 60kg of N per ha and the third using less, say 60kg less than the standard.

We have been analysing the results of the 2014 harvest and hope to be able to present them at CropTec. What we expect is that these relatively simple trials will increase our understanding of nitrogen management as well as providing invaluable data for the farmers themselves – helping them improve their own strategy. Tramlines mean that growers can apply different rates easily across soil zones while yield monitors in combines mean they can assess the difference in output easily.

Although we cannot run trials on a large number of farms ourselves, we suggest that farmers could conduct their own trials for their own information and would be delighted if they shared that data with us. We’ll be demonstrating how farmers can get involved in the trials at CropTec.”

Prof Sylvester-Bradley will be presenting to the Crop Nutrition seminar on Day One of CropTec, while his colleague Dr Daniel Kindred will present on Day Two.

For more on CropTec go to http://www.croptecshow.com

“CropTec presents us with an ideal opportunity to let farmers know about the work undertaken by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, in the AgriFood sector and highlight some of the projects we have funded as well as ask them about their priorities for future innovations.

The Technology Strategy Board was set up in 2007, with theSustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform was established in 2010 with an initial budget of £90m. Since August of this year we have been known as Innovate UK to better reflect our role in supporting business-led innovation. With industry support, we have been able to fund in excess of 130 agricultural and food projects with further significant investments made through the £70m AgriTech Catalyst, part of the UK Government’s AgriTech Strategy.

As well as speaking in the Managing with Precision Seminar at CropTec, we will also be supporting the R&D Innovation Hub that will demonstrate some of the projects that we have helped fund. There will also be the opportunity at the hub for visitors to give their feedback on the projects and suggest what might be needed in future projects. Since the beginning, our aim has been to support the development of innovative, business led solutions that will improve production on the ground; feedback from farmers is essential in this process.

To date, there have been six main food and farming areas that Innovate UK have supported. These include:  – new methods of crop protection; sustainable protein production (reducing the UK’s reliance on imported protein crops); food processing; trait measurement technologies, agricultural engineering solutions and tackling animal and crop diseases. Projects are identified through a competitive application process. They must be collaborative and have to be both led and match funded by industry. We often have three or four times as many applications for funding than we can support, which clearly indicates the depth of innovation potential there is in UK agriculture. The first projects we have supported will be coming to fruition very soon, with some of the exhibitors at CropTec referring to the projects they have been involved in.

The need for sustainable intensification of agriculture is now an established concept with farmers challenged with feeding a growing UK and world population against a background of climate change and pressure on resources. If they are to meet that challenge on both a national and a global basis, they will need more innovative technical and system based solutions. At CropTec, we will demonstrate how Innovate UK is supporting agricultural technology and how farmers can help shape that technology.”

Two brand new feature areas at CropTec 2014 focussing on the key areas of innovation and business have been introduced to help forward thinking growers reduce their unit cost of production. Visitors will be able to see some of the latest crop technology being researched and developed and will have the opportunity to influence future research priorities. They will also be able to discuss the business performance of their own farms and compare it with units of similar size.

The R&D Innovation Hub will showcase the latest technological developments for arable growers and give an insight into some of the novel ideas that are currently in the pipeline. The feature is supported by Innovate UK, the new name for the Government’s Technology Strategy Board, designed to help business develop technology.

“All the products and ideas on show are designed to help UK growers become more competitive in an increasingly global marketplace,” says Stephen Howe, CropTec’s Development Director.

“But this is an interactive feature where visitors will be asked for their views on which areas of technology deserve further development and investment. That is what CropTec is all about – it is a knowledge exchange forum where farmers can learn about the latest technology and those responsible for developing and marketing that technology can interact with farmers to learn from their ideas and ensure what they are working on is what growers need.”

The second new feature is the Business Hub which includes a business advice area and the CropTec cost clinic. The hub will allow visitors to discuss their farm business with a range of business experts and advisers.

“Managing the cost of production is essential in a short-term   market where prices are volatile and there remains much political uncertainty. But growers need to take a strategic approach when they look at reducing unit costs of production to avoid any long-term damage to their businesses,” says Mr Howe.

“Advisers at the business hub will help farmers ensure that the decisions they make are made in a way that strengthens their businesses for the future.”

The R&D Innovation and Business Hubs will complement a full range of seminars covering the key topics of Crop Nutrition, Crop Protection, Plant Breeding and Managing with Precision. There are also more than 100 exhibitors at the East of England Showground venue in Peterborough.

“There are three Cs currently driving arable production in the UK – CAP reform, Compliance and Cost of production. A visit to the fourth C (CropTec) is essential for any farmer or their advisers seeking to strengthen their businesses to meet the challenges ahead,” says Mr Howe.

A visit to CropTec 2014 will provide farmers and their advisers with a great opportunity to concentrate on the three Cs now driving profitability in UK crop production: CAP reform; compliance and cost of production.

R&D Innovation Hub

Supported by Innovate UK, we have launched a R&D Innovation Hub designed to showcase some of the latest technological developments together with some of the novel ideas in the pipeline. All are designed to help UK growers remain competitive in the increasingly global world of arable farming.

You will also have the opportunity to suggest those areas of technology which you feel deserve further development and investment in order to benefit the UK’s arable sector.

Business Hub

We have strengthened the 2014 programme by introducing a business advice area and a CropTec cost clinic. This is designed to help growers identify the effect of the many challenges so that your technical decisions to reduce unit costs are made in a sound, sustainable way.

The British Crop Production Council (BCPC), which publishes the crop protection reference guide ‘the Green Book’ (The UK Pesticide Guide) is offering Arable Farming and Farmers Guardian readers the chance to subscribe to the on-line version of the guide –plantprotection.co.uk – and receive the Green Book 2014, worth £47.50 absolutely free of charge.

To take up the offer go to http://www.bcpc.org/FGoffer or call 01420 593200 quoting Farmers Guardian reader offer.
Visitors to CropTec can also take advantage of the offer by visiting the BCPC stand at the event on November 1

CropTec will be the first face-to-face opportunity many growers will have to discover how one of the UK’s newest agchem distributors aims to make a difference on farm.

Having recently added on-farm agronomy support to its range of services Zantra is exhibiting at  Crop Tec for the first time and will be using the event to highlight agronomic approaches to some key issues affecting UK arable farms.

One of the largest independently owned agricultural merchants in the UK, Zantra has recently opened two new depots in Kent and Shropshire.  It is also recruiting a team of experienced agronomists and has a new regional trials programme.

This, claims the company, will allow it to add to its core existing supply business and respond to increasing customer demand across England.

Over the last ten years, Zantra has grown to a position of sixth largest agrochemical distributor in the UK largely servicing the farmer group and independently advised market sector.

The new business direction will allow the company to continue its rapid growth and expand its customer base, while giving farmers more choice of crop protection products in a consolidated market.

Providing the best service for both customers and suppliers has been a main focus for the company and that will continue with the investment in our agronomy division, explains Zantra’s managing director Murray Mackay.

“Zantra’s aim is to be the benchmark for technical agronomy advice and services,” he says. “Our business to date has been built on reputation, trust and unrivalled customer service standards, so we are now in a position to offer a wider advice-based service to those customers who have been asking for it.”

Crop protection solutions for combinable, vegetable and root crops are provided, he continues, with products being chosen for their ability to provide the farmer with a good return on investment.

“Having a comprehensive product portfolio, backed up by technical advice and an efficient delivery service, means that we are in a position to meet local needs on a national basis.”

With the company’s headquarters in Cambridgeshire acting as a hub, there are BASIS approved depots in Yorkshire and Hampshire as well as Kent and Shropshire, operating a 24 hour delivery service.