CropTec seminars to assist arable farmers meet trade challenges

CropTec has mentioned that seminars at this yr’s present will equip arable farmers with the data they should meet the challenges confronted by the trade “head on” and to maximise alternatives.

This yr’s occasion will happen on November 29 and 30, on the NAEC in Stoneleigh, for the primary time for the reason that closure of the East of England Showground.

The seminar programmes on provide at this yr’s occasion will probably be of profit to “forward-thinking arable farmers” who will get entry to unique updates and insights from trade leaders and innovators, CropTec organisers mentioned.

Occasion director for CropTec, Verity Hyland, mentioned: “With the arable sector dealing with such historic adjustments, our seminar programme is designed to equip growers with the data they should meet the challenges head on and maximise alternatives.

“As earlier than, the CropTec seminar programme will convey the specialist data of scientists, plant breeders, agronomists and coverage makers along with the ‘boots on the bottom’ experience of among the nation’s most progressive farmers to create a singular studying alternative.

“I’d encourage anybody with an curiosity within the sector to return alongside and learn and impressed. We sit up for welcoming you to Stoneleigh in November.”

The primary session – ‘Breaking down entry to new market to domesticate enterprise resiliance’ – will probably be chaired by the chief economics advisor of the Nationwide Farmers’ Union (NFU), Rohit Kaushish, on day one and by NFU vice chairman David Exwood on day two.

Exwood mentioned adjustments to authorities coverage and the excessive prices of manufacturing made this matter significantly pertinent.

“In a fast-changing world, having extra alternatives to supply new and various revenue streams for farms is important,” he mentioned.

Kaushish mentioned he hopes the session will provide readability on the rising help schemes and environmental markets in addition to coverage developments. 

“Farmers are searching for new diversified revenue alternatives to handle market threat and uncertainty and are more and more being approached by mission builders in environmental markets about new potential revenue streams,” he mentioned.

“There are a number of questions being requested in the intervening time on the potential of such markets at farm stage. It’s subsequently a very good time to be exploring these markets in additional element.”

Crop diet

Previous chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Growth Board (AHDB), Peter Kendall, will chair the second session which is able to discover points round crop diet.

As agriculture strives to realize its sustainability objectives, this roundtable dialogue will see consultants discover the significance of low carbon crop diet, whereas the way forward for fertiliser coverage in a altering local weather, CropTec mentioned.

Panellists embody enterprise growth and head of agronomy for session sponsor Yara, Mark Tucker, and unbiased agronomist, David Boulton, from Indigro.

“Anybody who has lived by the final 12 months of fertiliser costs will probably be contemplating actually rigorously all accessible choices for plant diet of their system. Now is a superb time to plan for the long run,” Kendall mentioned.

“I’m trying ahead to being a part of this yr’s CropTec at its new location. The present comes at a good time of yr when we have now the prospect to evaluate our earlier harvest and plan for the spring season forward of us.” 

Farmer experiences

The third session featured at this yr’s present goals to share farmer experiences and successes.

The ‘Connecting daring thinkers in a time of change: Actual tales from boots on the bottom’ session is sponsored by Horsch.

Supervisor of House Farms in Hacton, Andrew Williams, will focus on his experiences with robotics on the Suffolk farm producing standard arable crops and natural greens.

Robotics and different applied sciences are being developed at tempo, so being ready to make swift funding choices is important, he mentioned.

“These improvements are going to reach, come what could, so farming companies must familiarize yourself with developments coming down the highway,” Williams mentioned.

Farm director for AG Wright & Sons, Jack Smith, will then discover the significance of information in choice making.

“There’s a ‘sitting within the workplace’ reply, which must be squared with the ‘standing in a subject’ reply. It’s about taking insights from each and coming to a wise knowledgeable choice,” he mentioned.

Chair Andrew Francis from Crew Ag mentioned he hopes the displays from the “progressive farmers” will present the range of approaches in addition to the similarities.

“It’s at all times good to problem your self in the way you go about doing the day job. Regardless of the parts of your corporation are, any time is an efficient time to vary,” he mentioned.

Altering regulation

The ultimate session of the day will sort out crop safety and altering regulation, with skilled enter from agronomists and plant breeding.

David Schaffer of RAGT will give an overview of breeding analysis to enhance ranges and sturdiness of varietal resistance for UK farmers.

This may embody RAGT’s work on barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) resistant wheat in addition to new choice applied sciences to enrich subject scoring.

Different audio system embody agronomist and affiliate director for Strutt & Parker James Bairstow – who will share his experience on Built-in Pest Administration (IPM) – and chief government of CropLife UK Dave Bench.