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Benchmarking, new technology, science and research are key themes running through this year’s CropTec seminar programme, which has been developed specifically to help UK arable farmers to be profitable in the increasingly dynamic, volatile and competitive world of global crop production.

Technical excellence is one of the keys to future-proofing any farm business, the need for which has been exacerbated by Brexit, according to Stephen Howe, The CropTec Show’s development director.

“Growers and their suppliers are, quite rightly, concerned about the run up to the UK leaving the EU in less than two years,” he said. “There are also concerns about the level and form of support payments once we are operating outside of the CAP.

“Whatever the future holds, CropTec’s seminar programme is designed to arm growers with the knowledge they need to make the right technical decisions to drive down production costs while increasing productivity.”

Seminar programme:

The CropTec Show opening presentation by Adama Agricultural Solutions UK Ltd

Opening Address: Understanding your Competitors

A snapshot of cereal and oilseed production costs and some constraints faced by the UK’s main competitors. Discover how benchmarking can help you modify your farming business to make it fit for the future.

Speaker: Jack Watts AHDB, lead analyst, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds

Crop Breeding Sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Session Chair: Russell McKenzie, Cambridgeshire farmer and Nuffield Scholar

Variety recommendations: where to find the information you need?

How to navigate the minefield that is new variety selection? What are the critical factors? What information is available and where?

Speakers: John Purslow, Farmacy Norfolk (day1); Peter Riley, Farmacy Norfolk (day 2)

Selecting for margin, yield or quality?

Selecting varieties based on financial performance achieved under local conditions.

Jock Willmott, partner, Farming, Strutt & Parker

Breaking down resistance

Why resistance breaks down and how new technologies might provide the answer.

James Brown, project leader Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre

Session chair Russell McKenzie says:

“Selecting a variety of wheat used to be a straightforward process. Pick the highest yielding variety on the list and the rest took care of itself. Nowadays, it is a revolving door process and the speed of replacement is much quicker, but is performance better than before or are we running to stand still?

“This exciting session will explore if there is more to variety selection than the status quo, how to get the best margin and returns for varieties under local conditions and how new technologies can help growers pinpoint and avoid potential weaknesses in new varieties.”

Crop Establishment Sponsored by Horsch

Session Chair: Robert Lockhart, Staffordshire farmer and vice-chairman NFU Combinable Crops Board

Soil Health: The keystone of profitability

Looking after your soil’s health and biology is key to maintaining profitability.

Jacqueline Stroud, soil scientist, Rothamsted Research

What’s the drill for drill selection?

Our independent specialist provides technical answers for specific scenarios.

Philip Wright, Independent Consultant

Containing cultivation costs

Getting crops off to the best possible start while keeping an eye on costs.

Brian Barker, Suffolk arable farmer

Session chair Robert Lockhart says:

“This session highlights the importance of looking after and getting the best from farming’s most basic asset, soil. The higher our expectations of the soil, the more we must put back into it for sustainable production.

“Matching drills and cultivation to our soils, and the constraints they impose with regard to weed control, is difficult, especially as farming operations grow and take in different soils.

“Costs of establishment are always a concern to all. Balancing the theory with on farm practice is down to the skill of the farmer and operator, with an eye to work rates and timely establishment.”

Crop Nutrition Sponsored by Yara

Session Chair: Mark Tucker, head of marketing and agronomy, Yara UK

Nutrient management strategies

Long-term or short-term? Which is the best nutritional strategy?

Natalie Wood, country agronomist, Yara UK

Targeting phosphorus for yield and profit

Guidelines on best farm practice.

Roger Sylvester-Bradley, head of crop performance, ADAS

Measuring, managing and utilising nutritional data

Maximising nutritional value and cost savings from cover crops and organic materials.

Ian Matts, farms director and agronomist, Brixworth Farming

Session chair Mark Tucker says:

“The Crop Nutrition panel will outline and discuss the latest advances in soil fertility and guidelines on the best farm practices in soil management, in particular how to target phosphorus for yield and profit discussing how targeting can help you manage soils at Index 1 rather than Index 2.”

“Visitors to the nutrition seminar can expect to leave with up-to-date knowledge on how they can most effectively use nutrients to boost crop, efficiency, performance and yield, allowing them to assess which is the best nutritional strategy for their business for the long term and short term.”

Crop Protection Sponsored by Belchim Crop Protection

Session Chair: Guy Smith, Essex farmer and NFU vice-president

What’s in the pipeline?

Potential novel solutions for crop protection in the UK.

Emma Hamer, senior plant health adviser, NFU

Application technology

Guidelines on nozzle selection, closed transfer systems and other ways to speed up spraying.

Tom Robinson, independent consultant

Pest and disease forecasting

Benefits of accurate monitoring and forecasting for pests and disease on field scale crops.

Francesca Salinari, R&D projects co-ordinator, Agrii

Session chair Guy Smith says:

“The challenges today's farmers face to produce profitable crops don't seem to diminish – loss of key actives, increasing pest, disease and weed resistance, climate change, political insecurity and burdensome legislation to name but a few.

“It's always good to hear from the experts, and I look forward to finding out more about potential solutions in the pipeline, to help offset our dwindling pesticide armoury.

“We are sure to pick up some valuable tips from the application session, while developments in pest and disease forecasting can only be positive.”

The CropTec Show takes place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Wednesday 29^th and Thursday 30^th November.

The event remains free for farmers and agronomists to attend, provided tickets are booked in advance.

WITH continued pressure on plant protection products, establishing crops this coming season will be as challenging as ever. Growers are encouraged to remember the relevance of rooting and root health to gain rapid establishment and avoid pest pressure. Don Pendergrast explains more.

Don Pendergrast - Product Development & Technical Manager for UK & Ireland

“The role of plant nutrition is well known in early crop development, but now, interest is growing in how best to harness this potential through improved rooting. Plants source nutrients via the root system and leaves, and one method of improving rooting is biostimulants - products that can improve the health, depth and size of roots.

Biostimulants work by improving the plant’s metabolism, facilitating nutrient and water absorption through the root system, and by boosting quality attributes such as fruit setting, grain quality and limiting flower drop. Plant health and vigor improves a plant’s ability to tolerate stress conditions, so allowing yield to reach its potential.

But Biostimulants certainly aren’t a replacement for traditional plant protection or nutrition products, instead they should be used as a complimentary addition to encourage overall health and vitality. Because we know so much more now about how crop nutrition works, we understand that stimulating a plant’s immune system and metabolism is key, and how this can be influenced in a positive manner, such as by using biostimulants.

The biostimulants and biosolutions market makes a considerable contribution to the sustainable agriculture agenda and we are proud to be developing our portfolio to include more of these products, such as active ingredient GA142.

GA142 was developed by Arysta LifeScience for use in biostimulants. It works by unlocking nutrients in the soil which may otherwise be unavailable to the plant, whilst stimulating the enzymes that enhance plant root growth. One of our GA142 products is Rooter. Trials have shown that Rooter increases root weight by up to 40% in a range of crops, allowing better access to nutrition which is vital in breaking yield barriers.

This is a valuable tool available to growers this autumn, an example application being for improving oilseed rape crops resilience against drought stress and flea beetle damage. It works because improved rooting can help crops to survive dry weather and access the moisture needed to grow away from cabbage stem flea beetle attacks. By applying Rooter, growers can help to alleviate both environmental and pest stresses and break the illusive yield barrier.”

Rooter will be among the products showcased by Arysta LifeScience at CropTec on

November 29&30. For more information, visit www.arystalifescience.co.uk

Tickets to the CropTec show are free providing you book your tickets in advance: Book here

Forward-thinking farmers and agronomists will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of novel science and innovative technology when the CropTec show returns to Peterborough at the end of November.

CropTec is now recognised as one of the key diary dates in the arable calendar, gaining a reputation as the UK’s leading knowledge exchange event in the sector.

Farmers and their advisers are attracted by CropTec’s unique informal atmosphere that creates the ideal forum to exchange ideas and experiences, according to Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, group head of events at Briefing Media, which organises the CropTec show.

“Content and knowledge exchange will remain the focus of CropTec. We want to build on being the show where visitors come armed with questions and leave with useful practical advice on how to become better at what they do,” she said.

“We would urge all those farmers and agronomists who are looking to the future to come to Peterborough in November to discuss adaptation of new technology, cutting edge agronomy and best business practices.

“They can get that advice from networking with like-minded industry peers, from the well researched, topical seminars and from visiting the exhibition hall and having the right conversations with relevant companies who have brought their best technical staff.”

CropTec’s key features include the trade stand exhibition which features a wide range of innovative products and thinking.

The popular seminar programme returns, featuring over a dozen leading speakers covering the four key technical areas of crop breeding, crop establishment, crop nutrition and crop protection. Seminar content is based on feedback and extensive research with farmers and agronomists to ensure it is both relevant and timely.

Four knowledge hubs, which consist of short, sharp presentations delivering key-take away messages, will also feature at CropTec 2017. The popular black-grass hub returns, and three new hubs covering oilseed rape quality and weed management, biostimulants, and data & analytics also feature.

CropTec also includes a sprayer demo area where visitors can drive some of the most advanced sprayers in the market.

New for 2017 alongside the hubs is a Farm Innovation Zone, where visitors can speak to a range of leading agritech innovators.

Adama Agricultural Solutions returns as CropTec headline sponsor. “We are once again extremely pleased to be the headline sponsor for what we are sure will be another exceptionally successful CropTec show,” said Ali Bosher, marketing director for Adama.

“With a wide selection of industry-leading speakers covering a range of technical, practical and business issues, CropTec provides the perfect opportunity for farmers, agronomists and professional spray operators to learn more about the very latest developments in crop establishment, protection, nutrition, and yield enhancement.

“We look forward to the 2017 event and are proud to be able to support such a focused, professional and well-targeted event.”

A maximium of six BASIS and six NRoSO points are available each day. FACTS CPD points will also be available.

The CropTec show is free for visitors to attend, provided tickets are booked in advance.

The event will take place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Wednesday 29^th and Thursday 30^th November.

Tickets to attend are FREE providing you pre-register in advance: BOOK NOW

Biog: Tom is a second-generation arable farmer from near Maidstone in Kent, farming 1000 acres and cropping milling wheat, OSR and spring beans with some grass grown for hay and haylage. He is an AHDB Nuffield Scholar; on his travels he studied No-Till systems. He married to Sarah and has 4 young children. As well as my farming interests, he is on the leadership team of The Vine Church in Maidstone and involved in their local village with the school PTA.

Title: Dry autumn leaves crops behind

The ground is crazy dry like it might be in August. And there is still no rain forecast for the next week. As the days shorten, and with no moisture, it’s a worry.

I grow milling wheats; this year the quality was good, but Skyfall yields were variable – yielding just over 10t/ha down to 7-8t/ha, but the quality was good, with proteins in the 14% range. The weather was damp and gloomy in June and July, so it’s not very surprising that yields were down.

What’s been valuable is that our drying costs were nil for the wheat and we’ve only had to dry some spring beans, plus we are very low cost establishment using no-till.

Our oilseed rape (Elgar) is looking very good, we drilled it straight into Skyfall stubble and chopped wheat straw with 100 litres of liquid fertiliser; it won’t get anything else until the spring Astro Kerb. We will save seed back from this for next year’s plantings. We’ve had no issue with stem flea beetle – I don’t know whether it’s because we are no-till, with more soil beneficials, or because we never use insecticides, or because we are in a low pressure area; but we’ve been very fortunate.

Blackgrass is an ongoing headache, but I do think no-till is helping us with the war on it. In previous years I wondered whether Atlantis/Pacifica was having any affect at all on the populations; this year, we can see, to a line, where either of these herbicides were sprayed and where they weren’t, so I’m sure it’s making a difference.

We have 200 acres of cover crops in, but it went in late; as a result, and with the ongoing dry conditions, it’s not as far on as I would have liked. The mixture is oats + vetch + phacelia + linseed + fodder radish + vetch + clover. The seed cost was £30/ha.

In my experience, cover crops are best drilled after rape – it’s a good time to establish them in the longer days and when we are likely to have some heavy thunderstorms.

CropTec 2016

Good soil structure and factors that affect it, such as soil organic matter levels, cover crops and cultivation systems, are key to good establishment. All this and more discussed at this year's CropTec event.

We also have over 140 exhibitors at the event displaying the latest science and technology across the trade stands, while CropTec’s well established seminars and hubs will feature the latest thinking on a range of key arable topics delivered by leading specialists.

The event is free to attend for those visitors that pre-book their tickets. ALL visitors will be charged £15 on the day.

UK farmers face an increasingly uncertain and volatile global market place, exacerbated by the country’s decision to leave the EU. Factors outside their control, such as commodity prices, weather and politics, are set to have even more influence on the bottom line.

Reducing unit production costs and increasing productivity through technical excellence is becoming even more relevant to remain competitive. With that in mind, this year’s CropTec seminars highlight key areas farmers can influence that directly affect business performance, says CropTec development director Stephen Howe.

“The programme focuses on four areas affecting profitability that are well within growers’ control – crop establishment, crop nutrition, crop protection and crop breeding.

“These seminars, in conjunction with CropTec’s specialist hubs and the wide array of technical exhibits from leading suppliers, provides the ideal catalyst for more detailed discussion to help visitors increase yield, improve efficiency and reduce the all-important unit costs of production.”

09.30-10.40

Crop Establishment Sponsored by Horsch and Alliance Tires

Session chair: Hertfordshire farmer Andrew Watts

Soil organic matter – the root to profitability Andy Whitmore, Rothamsted Research

Soil organic matter holds the key to consistent and higher yields. Raising levels can improve soil workability, nutrient release and yields.

Controlled traffic farming Tom Hawthorne, Flawborough Farms, Lincs

Can the advantages of controlled traffic farming outweigh the investment?

Taking the risk out of oilseed rape Andrew Blazey, Prime Agriculture

Key pointers to help oilseed growers mitigate the uncertainty of poor establishment.

Good soil structure and factors that affect it, such as soil organic matter levels, cover crops and cultivation systems, are key to good establishment, says session chair Andrew Watts.

“People accept that soil organic matter is a critical component of soils, but there is still a lot of confusion about managing it.

“I, along with many visitors I’m sure, want to hear more about current thinking and how this will help maintain our soils in the best of health.

11.30-12.40

Crop Nutrition Sponsored by Yara

Session chair: Mark Tucker, head of marketing and agronomy, Yara UK

ADAS - RB209 - What to expect in the next edition

RB209, the long-established guide for crop nutrition, is being revised to accommodate changing requirements, higher yielding crops and more nutritional uptake.

Day 1: Sarah Clarke, ADAS Day 2: Susie Roques, ADAS

Nutrient issues - Learnings from 'Big Dataset'

Nitrogen is the #1 nutrient for achieving average yields, however, consistent high yields are the consequence of understanding and reacting to other seasonal limitations – some we can manage, some we can’t. Jonathan Telfer will explore some findings from a ‘BIG DATASET’ held in the Yara Analytical Laboratory.

Jonathan Telfer - Yara Analytical services

Nutrient management - Measuring to manage and apply - A farmers view

Collating and managing a practical nutrient strategy is a challenging task for any grower. Here’s how one large-scale farmer balances nutrient demand and nutrient supply by integrating soil and crop knowledge with the application of nutrients from AD residue and mineral fertilizers. Here’s how the strategy is implemented at Bedfordia Farms and a description of some of the tools used to fine-tune crop management

Ian Rudge – Bedfordia Farms

The purpose of the crop nutrition seminar is to help farmers to make the best use of crop nutrition products and support services so that not a fertiliser granule or droplet more – or less – than required is applied, says Rosie Carne, communications and PR manager at Yara.

“The RB209 revision is about to be published. Researchers responsible for the rules will describe them, and other speakers will discuss the findings and implications for UK arable farmers.”

13.30-14.50

Crop Protection Sponsored by Belchim

Session chair: Andrew Ward, Lincolnshire farmer

Forces for change: Crop Protection Think Tank Panel:

Bill Clark, technical director, NIAB TAG; Guy Gagen, NFU chief arable adviser;

Jon Knight, AHDB crop protection specialist; Simon Leak, development and marketing manager, Belchim Crop Protection; Rob Edwards, Newcastle University (Weds); Catherine Tetard, Newcastle University (Thurs).

The crop protection arena is undergoing rapid change due to tightening regulatory, legislative and environmental pressure while pest, disease and weed resistance escalates. What does the future hold?

One area session chair Andrew Ward is keen to see discussed is the interaction between resistant varieties and cereal fungicide use.

“We have some fantastic varieties with high disease-resistance scores, but we are still being told we need very robust disease control programmes to get the best out of them.

“I am growing cleaner, newer varieties and have cut back on inputs. Comparative on-farm trials tell me I’m not currently losing out, but it’s an area I’d like to see explored further.”

15.30-16.40

Crop Breeding Sponsored by Bayer

Session Chair: Susannah Bolton, knowledge exchange director, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.

Risk-proofing the rotation

Planning the following year’s rotation with regard to cash-flow and longer-term implications for black-grass control and other management constraints.

Will Gemmill, head of farming, Strutt & Parker

High hopes for hybrid wheat

Why hybrid wheat might provide the answer to more profitable times for UK growers.

Bill Angus, independent wheat consultant

Hopes for the future – New breeding technologies

How new breeding technologies could improve growers’ competitiveness and profitability.

Helen Sang, Roslin Institute

A good understanding of variety performance and the options that variety choice offer is critical in making the best decisions for farming businesses, says session chair Susannah Bolton.

“This session explores those options, ranging from rotation planning through to the potential of hybrids to manage sowing date and the exciting future that new breeding technologies could offer in pest and disease resistance and resource-use efficiency.”

CropTec, the essential technical event for arable and mixed farmers, their advisers and associated industries, will be packed with innovative features and content when it returns this coming November.

Building on three very successful years, the show promises to be the biggest and most relevant yet. More than 100 exhibitors will display the latest science and technology across the trade stands, while CropTec’s well established seminars and hubs will feature the latest thinking on a range of key arable topics delivered by leading specialists.

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Group Head of Events at show organiser Briefing Media Agriculture, said: “CropTec provides farmers with a unique opportunity to find ideas, inspiration and answers on everything from crop protection and nutrition to plant breeding and soil management in one place.

“But it is very much a two-way process – CropTec is all about knowledge exchange, creating the ideal forum for visitors, exhibitors and researchers to exchange ideas and experiences for their mutual benefit.”

CropTec Development Director Stephen Howe said the content reflected the show’s principal aim, to help the combinable crop sector remain profitable, and had been modified following visitor feedback from last year’s event.

“Farmers face a roller coaster world of crop production. Our aim is to help them manage the current agronomic and business challenges and manage their unit costs of production so they remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic global market place.

“The visitor survey confirmed that the seminars formed a major part of the event. But farmers also want to drill down into key aspects of business and pressing agronomic topics such as black-grass, soil health, OSR establishment and how the industry might practically address the loss of key crop protection chemistry.”

Seminar content will reflect this feedback, and two new knowledge hubs have been introduced, one covering grain marketing and storage and one on black-grass. These topical 15-minute presentations will provide plenty of material for detailed follow-on discussions with experts at the event.

To encourage this knowledge exchange among the British farming community, the event remains free for farmers and agronomists to attend, provided tickets are booked in advance.

CropTec 2016 programme summary

• CropTec seminars

The extensive seminar programme will feature over 20 leading speakers covering a wide range of technical cropping issues across four key areas – crop breeding, crop protection, crop nutrition and crop establishment.

• Exhibition halls

More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to discuss a wide range of developments across the arable sector.

• Knowledge hubs

Two new hubs feature this year, a grain marketing and storage hub and black-grass hub, augmenting the popular spraying technology and business hubs. These feature short, sharp presentations delivering key take-away messages.

• Sprayer demonstration area

Visitors have an exclusive one-to-one opportunity to test-drive the latest sprayers in the market from leading manufacturers.

• Careers forum

The perfect opportunity for students and others interested in a career in the arable industry to network and gain free advice from organisations, exhibitors and industry specialists.

• Opportunities to collect BASIS and NRoSO points.

Adama Agricultural Solutions is pleased to announce that it has agreed a new two-year deal to remain as the headline sponsor of CropTec.

First held in 2013, CropTec has rapidly become established as the arable sector’s key crop protection and technical event.

“We are proud to be associated with such a focused, professional and well-targeted event,” explained Ali Bosher, Marketing Director for Adama.

“With a breadth of industry-leading speakers covering a wide range of technical, practical and business issues, and an extensive seminar programme which provides various solutions to help increase yields and reduce costs of production, CropTec provides the perfect opportunity for farmers, agronomists and professional spray operators to learn more about the very latest developments in crop establishment, protection, nutrition, and yield enhancement.

“We look forward to another successful show in 2016 and are proud to be able to support such an influential event into 2017.”

The 2016 CropTec event will take place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Tuesday 29^th and Wednesday 30^th November.

For further information on CropTec 2016 and to book tickets go to www.croptecshow.com

For further information contact:

Nichola Bell, Marketing Manager, CropTec

nichola.bell@briefingmedia.com 01772 799424

Notes for editors

CropTec is organised by Briefing Media Agriculture, publisher of Arable Farming, AgriMoney, Farmers Guardian and Dairy Farmer and owner of the market-leading LAMMA Show.

Key contacts:

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Group Head of Events – elisabeth.mork-eidem@briefingmedia.com

Stephen Howe, Development Director – stephen_howe@btinternet.com

Gareth Jones, Sales – gareth.jones@briefingmedia.com

Nichola Bell, Marketing – nichola.bell@briefingmedia.com

CropTec 2016 programme summary

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