Written by Tom Allen-Stevens

Download PDF With Clearfield oilseed rape now a mainstream choice for growers, CPM visits a field in Hants where charlock problems had precluded any other options. By Tom Allen-Stevens More than 10% of oilseed rape varieties harvested this year will be Clearfield hybrids, according to figures released by BASF and Dekalb. The area grown to the varieties, which have resistance bred in to the herbicide imazamox, has doubled every year since 2014. “The technology is no longer just used by early adopters – it’s gone mainstream,” says Dekalb marketing manager Mark Shaw. “The largest uptake has been in the east and south east of England. We’ve seen the West Midlands gather momentum this year, although the varieties have been used less in Scotland.” Clearfield has gone mainstream, says Mark Shaw. Clearfield OSR varieties were introduced to the market in 2012. The genes conferring tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides were discovered by BASF who developed the trait and passed on the toolkit to breeders to bring into commercial lines in 1992. They can be oversprayed with the broad-spectrum post-emergence broadleaf weed herbicides Cleranda (imazamox+ metazachlor) and Cleravo (imazamox+ quinmerac). There’s now over 60,000ha of the varieties grown in the UK, according…
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Zero grazing machine uses low ground pressure kit

(Volume 5 - 1996 Winter Edition)

Farmers are beginning to realise that the ever increasing weight of farm machinery is doing soil no favours, yet it seems that the days of using the small tractor for as many jobs as possible have gone. The dealer's logic, that a large tractor will do all the work of a small one and also operate big equipment, forgets the literal impression the machine leaves on the ground.

Some ten years ago Raymond Quinn from Co Coleraine decided to experiment with his cows’ forage and take advantage of the feeding value of fresh grass by using it right through to the end of December. he made his own lightweight zero-grazing machine that cuts and picks up fresh grass from the field. Over the early part of the winter he is picking up two tons a day and mixing this with silage 50:50. It reduces silage consumption and, as importantly, increases the the feed value of the forage considerably by raising protein, D-value and ME and reducing ammonia levels as a proportion of total N.

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The low ground pressure rig is used to provide fresh grass all the way up to the end of the year​

Cutting grass throughout this period in a high rainfall area means low ground pressure. The tractor he uses is a David Brown 990, weighing well under two...

British Wool launches new scheme for first time sheep farmers

British Wool has introduced a new scheme designed to support producers who have recently entered the industry.

Launching for the 2018 season, the scheme will see eligible producers receive 100% of their clip value as an upfront payment for their first two years, along with a priority wool in-take and grading service through British Wool’s nationwide depot network. Producers will then transition on to the standard payment scheme over the next three years by way of adjusted balancing payments so that, over the life of the 5 year scheme, new entrants receive the same cash as they would have done had they been on the standard payment scheme throughout that period.

Eligible new entrants will receive their wool payments as follows:

• Year 1 – the advance payment will be set to 100% of the prior year’s clip value.
• Year 2 – the advance payment will be set to 100% of the prior year’s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year.
• Year 3 – the advance payment will be set to 75% of the prior year’s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year.
• Year 4 – the advance payment will be set to 50% of the prior year’s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year.
• Year 5 onwards – the advance payment will be set to 25% of the prior year’s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year.
• Year 6 onwards – payments will be in line with all other...

Farmers who participate in a voluntary environmental audit will receive fewer inspections under a new pilot project launched this week.

The pilot scheme, launched in Northern Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), aims to improve the environment and reduce the number of on-farm inspections.It also aims to help farmers comply with payment rules.

The Water Management Unit within Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has worked with farmers to develop the project, which will deliver on-farm environmental audits to farmers who request them.The scheme, which will operate in a number of targeted catchment areas, will see DAERA staff working one-to-one with farmers to carry out the audit and make recommendations on ways to address any issues.

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No tiller, all killer

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Tonight I'm heading down to Overbury Farms on the Worcestershire/ Gloucestershire border to talk to Farm Manager Jake Freestone @No1FarmerJake

We hear about the 1600ha mixed farm that he manages, that's been in the same family since 1722, and the wide range of soil types, conditions, crops, and enterprises that they have going on there.

We discuss Jake's non-farming background, and how he caught the bug initially helping out on his Godfather's dairy farm in Bedfordshire, and how from then on he wasn't going to do anything else but farm. We find out how he eventually ended up at Overbury, after stints at Seale Hayne Agricultural College and several different farms and estates, gaining a wide range of experience in different roles.

We hear what crops they were growing when he arrived, and what system they were using then, before moving on to discuss the impact of his Nuffield Scholarship and what he learned from innovative farmers around the World using a zero-tillage system, and his 'light-bulb' moment in Oklahoma.

We then discuss at length how he's set about drastically changing the tillage system at Overbury; from the cross slot drill they use, to both cover and companion crops, and the huge environmental and cost benefit they've seen since making the change.

We also talk about his passion for sharing the knowledge he's...

Written by Jane

Eyespot could be lurking in the base of crops, growers are warned. The combination of wet weather and cooler temperatures during March and the first part of April couldn’t favour the disease better and it is being found where you wouldn’t usually expect it. For Crop Management Partners agronomist Tristan Gibbs eyespot is something he rarely sees in the south east corner of the UK. But it can quite easily be found this season, especially in earlier drilled crops. He puts that largely down to the weather but feels variety resistance might be a factor. “Eyespot ratings appear to have fallen away over time. We only have two varieties with better scores than six – KWS Zyatt and Revelation but we have numerous fours, and LG Sundance is less. Perhaps it is a factor.” He hopes it will dry out now that warm weather is forecast but will factor it into T1 sprays. “I’ve seen the odd bit in the past but usually symptoms disappear as leaf sheaths die off during spring growth. In prothioconazole, boscalid and fluxapyroxad we have enough choice that I can build it into T1 strategies focused on septoria or septoria plus rust. Septoria remains the…
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Written by Jane

Researchers have exposed weak spots in a fungal pathogen that wrecks crops by comparing it with a genetically similar fungus that yields mycoprotein for human consumption. Genetic differences between two very similar fungi, one that led to quorn, the proprietary meat substitute, and another that ranks among the world’s most damaging crop pathogens, have exposed the significant features that dictate the pair’s very different lifestyles. While the manufacturer of quorn cultivates strains of Fusarium venenatum via fermentation into a mycoprotein dough for human consumption, farmers try to fight off Fusarium graminearum as this pervasive fungal pathogen invades multiple crops and threatens global food security. Researchers have now pinpointed several significant differences between the fungal pair that seem to turn F. graminearum nasty, features that promise targets for controlling disease. The findings, by a team from Rothamsted Research, are reported today in the journal, BMC Genomics. The team discovered, for instance, that F. venenatum does not contain some clusters of genes that produce subsidiary compounds, or secondary metabolites, which are produced by F. graminearum during successful wheat infection. “Using improved computer software, we have enhanced gene predictions and secondary metabolite gene cluster predictions in both species to a level not found…
The...

Written by Jane

Wheat growers and agronomists should ensure as much as possible that their T1 spray timings are spot on this season after weeks of exceptionally wet weather forced some wheat growers to delay or even abandon their T0 applications. James Waterhouse, BASF agronomy manager for central England, says it is critical that the T1 fungicide is timed at final leaf three emergence and not by calendar date, regardless of when or whether a T0 spray was applied. “That advice doesn’t change with the seasons – the final three leaves contribute up to 80% of the yield and so need to be protected with fungicide,” says James. In situations where T0 fungicides have been applied at the right time, it is important to bear in mind these would not have provided any protection to leaf three, so the reasoning for the T1 timing is obvious, he explains. However, confusion can occur when a T0 is delayed. Although this results in a shortened time period between that spray and final leaf three emergence, it is important to not reduce T1 inputs or delay their application, James continues. “Even if the T0 spray is applied within a few days of the T1 timing, it…
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Mass resignations at Chinese owner of Australia's largest dairy farm cast doubt on investment

Written by Christopher Knaus

Andrew Wilkie says opponents of Van Diemen’s Land Company’s sale to Moon Lake Investments were ‘right all along’

A mass board resignation at the Chinese firm that bought Australia’s largest dairy farm has fuelled concerns it may not fulfil the promises of local investment and environmental protection that convinced the Turnbull government to sign off on the sale.

Moon Lake Investments attracted scrutiny in 2015 when it offered $280m for the Van Diemen’s Land Company, which owned Australia’s largest dairy farm in north-western Tasmania.

Australia’s biggest dairy producing asset has become just another Chinese mass production centre for low-value products.

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Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need...

A man who illegally buried more than 5,000 tonnes of waste on a farm has been fined and ordered to clear the site.

Ivor David John Powell, 65, was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to burying 5,335 tonnes of the mixed waste at Lower Aston Farm, Claverley.

The Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution, said that the cost of legally disposing of the waste would have been more than £500,000.

Mitigating, Powell's solicitor told Wolverhampton Crown Court he had been naive and had no previous convictions.

The case was heard on April 19 and Powell of Lower Aston Farm, Claverley, was also ordered to pay £4,000 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

The court has also told him to clear the site within three years.

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