The 2021 edition of Arable Scotland – Scotland's premier event focussing on arable crops - took place online on 29th June and was very well received: more than two hundred e-delegates registered to take part in the event, from countries including India, the United States, Brazil, France and the UK. Many more have caught up with the recordings of the 2021 series of Arable Conversations on YouTube, which included sessions on markets, integrated pest management, sustainable rotations and net-zero.
Content from the event remains freely available for consultation – you can visit Arable Scotland's 2021 Virtual Field Map below.
Arable Conversations: Alternative Markets and New Cash Crops
Arable Conversations: Integrated Pest Management - Deriving the Benefits
Arable Conversations: Sustainable Rotations - Soils, Integrating Legumes, Cover Crops and Cash Crops
Arable Conversations: Net-Zero - Making Carbon Pay
A video about how to efficiently produce biomass from winter crops of cereal-legume mixtures and their potential beneficial effects on subsequent crops, presented by Adrian C Newton.
Contact email: adrian.newton@hutton.ac.uk
A video about how to get the best from barley mixtures or blends, presented by Adrian C Newton.
Contact email: adrian.newton@hutton.ac.uk
The NOVELLA project is a three year project funded by the Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust. It aims to increase knowledge of the varieties and agronomy that improve performance of winter pea-barley intercrops in Scotland. This video summarises findings from the first year of field trials at the James Hutton Institute and how these results have been used to devise the second year of trials currently growing at research and commercial farm sites.
Contact email: ali.karley@hutton.ac.uk
Pete Iannetta of the James Hutton Institute discusses faba bean and pea varieties, and their cultivation in Scotland, with Steve Belcher of PGRO (the Processors & Growers Research Organisation).
Contact email: pete.iannetta@hutton.ac.uk
Yara fertiliser solutions help farmers increase yield and profit. For over 170 years the company's focus has been to be a leading crop nutrition provider specializing in nitrogen and NPKS fertilisers. We provide sustainable crop nutrition solutions, supporting farmer profitability through knowledge, quality and productivity. From the very first step in the form of soil analysis, Yara are with you on your journey to get the very best from your crop in a sustainable, traceable and ethical way. By using our branded solutions, such as YaraBela, YaraMila and YaraVita, you can be assured that you have chosen a fertiliser which has been manufactured in our own factories using ethical means. We also offer agronomic advice and support with a range of tools designed to guide farmers in making informed and sustainable crop decisions.
Although nothing can equal a face to face conversation we look forward to sharing our crop nutrition advice and interacting with you on our virtual stand at Arable Scotland 2021.
Contact email: heather.barrett@yara.com
Website: https://www.yara.co.uk/crop-nutrition/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Yara_UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yara.UK.Agronomy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaraukagronomy/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yara-united-kingdom
A new podcast is now available discussing both the SEAMS and DIVERSify crop mixtures projects.
Other SEAMS related material from previous events include:
A SEAMS video produced for the 2020 online Arable Scotland event - watch below.
A Virtual Field Day held in collaboration with the Agricology network and the Designing Innovative Plant Teams for Ecosystem Resilience and Agricultural Sustainability (DIVERSify) project bringing together insights from farmer experience and scientific research.
An episode of LEAFcast, the podcast produced by our project partner Linking Environment and Farming UK (LEAF). In it, LEAF Technical Assistant Emily Trivett chats with researchers from the SEAMS and DIVERSify projects about the benefits of intercropping.
You can also download a leaflet providing an overview of the SEAMS project.
We are the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Our purpose is to inspire our farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We equip the industry with easy to use, practical know-how, which they can apply straight away to make better decisions and improve their performance. AHDB is a statutory levy board and is funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain.
AHDB is delighted to support this year’s Arable Scotland event.
We have a wide range of information available to help cereal and oilseed growers and farmers. Please visit our Summer Hub.
Links to areas of particular interest
Integrated Pest Management Hub
Arable Connections Series – Here you will find resources and information divided into regional information including up and coming events and localised topics/updates.
The AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) for cereals and oilseeds. Download the 2021/22 booklet and access other RL resources.
Variety Selection Tool is an online interactive tool providing a dynamic way of looking at the Recommended Lists.
Farm Excellence Discover our strategic farm network where farmers put research into practice and farmers help each other make positive changes. Webinars, How to videos, Arable Business Groups, YEN, Scottish Arable Farm of the Year Award.
Cereals & Oilseeds publications
Arable Soil Management: Cultivation & Crop establishment
For our full range of publications, visit the Knowledge Library and filter by 'Cereals & Oilseeds'.
AHDB’s Benchmarking tool can be accessed here and to find information about it follow this link: Farmbench
Contact email: Chris.Leslie@ahdb.org.uk
Website: https://ahdb.org.uk/Cereals21
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ahdb_scot
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahdbscotland
CHAP is accelerating the identification, development and adoption of innovative agri-tech solutions to transform UK and global farming systems sustainably.
Contact email: enquiries@chap-solutions.co.uk
Website: https://chap-solutions.co.uk/join-our-membership-scheme/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CHAPAgritech
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CropHealthandProtection/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapagritech/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chapagritech/mycompany/
SoilEssentials are leading precision farming pioneers providing integrated solutions through the seasons. We provide expertise, products and services designed with agricultural efficiency in mind to make your life easier and more profitable, by farming smarter. We are Trimble authorised resellers for Northern UK, Scottish authorised dealers for Garford Farm Machinery and the exclusive UK distributor of 7Sense smart sensors. We are always ready to talk to people interested in any aspect of farming and agri-tech, so if you have a question, or an interest in how we can enhance your precision farming journey, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
Contact email: enquiries@soilessentials.com
Website: https://www.soilessentials.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoilEssentials
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilEssentials
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilessentials/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soilessentials-ltd/
Univoq™ fungicide is a new and unique solution for broad-spectrum cereal disease control.
Registered in March 2021, Univoq is a new product combining the strengths of Inatreq active - from a whole new class of chemistry – coformulated with the tried and trusted triazole prothioconazole.
Based on Inatreq™ active, Univoq offers robust disease control of the key wheat diseases such as rusts and Septoria – including strains resistant to other chemistry.
Optimised by Corteva’s i-Q4 formulation, Univoq provides near 100% leaf coverage allowing application flexibility while maintaining robust protection, so you can secure your yield and the future of your farm.
Although we are unable to show you our Univoq plots at Arable Scotland this year, you can find out more about our exciting new chemistry in our informative video with Colin Bowers, Corteva Agriscience Area Manager for Scotland. You can watch the video below or click here.
Meet some of the farmers putting Univoq to the test in 2021 in our short clip. If you are using Univoq this season, please get in touch with Colin and let him know how you got on (colin.bowers@corteva.com). For latest news, virtual trials and information about Univoq visit www.univoq.corteva.co.uk.
Contact email: events@corteva.com
Website: https://www.corteva.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CortevaUK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CortevaUK
This leaflet highlights key research outputs from Scottish Government funded strategic research including: optimisation of crops for environmental and nutritional benefits, integrated pest management, and the circular economy. Each article relates to ‘One Health’ with benefits to both the agricultural system and in public health outcomes. Crops play an important role in many systems with outputs delivering to Scotland’s Centres of Expertise for Climate Change (ClimateXChange), Waters (CREW), Plant Health (Plant Health Centre) and Animal Disease Outbreaks (EPIC).
The important topic of soil spans across Climate & Environment, Agriculture, Land & Communities, Healthier Diets and Plant & Animal Health. This leaflet highlights Scottish Government funded SEFARI strategic research to protect and make the best use of Scotland’s many and varied soils which deliver so many of the benefits to life in Scotland.
Contact email: andrew.kelloe@sefari.scot
Website: https://sefari.scot/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SEFARIscot
The James Hutton Institute is at the forefront of scientific progress where barley is concerned. It is the UK's only centre of expertise for the UK's second-largest crop, which is grown on about half of Scotland's arable land. As the commercial arm of the James Hutton Institute, James Hutton Limited showcases barley genetics projects led by James Hutton Institute colleagues, which will have a notable impact on commercial barley breeding and growing practices.
Details of all the projects we have highlighted for this year's Arable Scotland event are available in the web link provided with resources including videos, podcasts and news articles to enjoy at your leisure.
Contact email: laura.paterson@huttonltd.com
Website: https://www.huttonltd.com/better-barley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesHuttonLtd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesHuttonLtd
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/james-hutton-limited
The NEFERTITI project aims to support farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing and innovation through demonstration activities. The project brings together 45 regional clusters (‘hubs’) of demonstration farmers from 12 different European countries, and people who innovate in agriculture such as advisors, facilitators, researchers, industry representatives and policymakers. The Scottish hub focuses on encouraging new entrants to farming by exploring 'farm attractiveness' and pathways into agricultural careers.
When possible, in-person demonstration activities in the form of farm or croft visits supported farmer-to-farmer learning. More recently, virtual discussions with new entrants detailing their varied experiences pursuing an agricultural career allowed us to explore some of the different opportunities and pathways available in Scotland and elsewhere. To learn more about the demonstration activities and how you can get involved, visit the online FarmDemo Hub here.
Below you can view a snapshot of some of the recent virtual NEFERTITI demonstration activities:
Harriet Ross and Ben Lowe – our experiences as new entrant arable farmers
The Ramsays – Farming NZ Style
Advice for integrating woodland into new entrant farms and crofts (with Lynn Cassells)
In-Person & Online Demonstration Activities 2019-2020
Thank you to our guest farmers Matt Waldie and Ben McClymont for their enthusiasm and joining us at the Scottish NEFERTITI Hub virtual booth, as part of Arable Scotland 2021.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 772705.
Contact email: annie.mckee@hutton.ac.uk
Website: https://nefertiti-h2020.eu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NEFERTITI_EU
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM Adoption on Scottish Arable Farms Video
Fungicide Challenges and Choices in Barley for 2021 Video
Crop Resilience and Rotation
Towards Improved Resilience in Cereal Varieties: Review of Choices for 2021 Video
Old Rotation (1922 – present) Woodlands Field Experiment
Time-lapse Video
Technical Video
pH Rotation (1961 - present) Woodlands Field Experiment
Time-lapse Video
Technical Video: Crop rotation trials - pH | Information helping farmers in Scotland
Above studies are showcased here
The Global long-Term Agricultural Experiment Network
UK Soils Light Houses
Benefits and opportunities of Cover crops Video
Soil Health
Soil Health: What you need to know Video
The Soil Health Test Video
Valuing your soils:
Downloads
Soil Biodiversity and Soil Health Technical Note PDF
The soil food web PDF
OPAL Key to Common British Earthworms PDF
Factsheet – How to Count Earthworms PDF
Practical guidance for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon losses PDF
AgriVESS Scoring Table – SRUC
Crops
Download
Organic Oilseed Rape in Scotland: A technical guide PDF
Day in the Life of a Crop Clinic Video
The Winter Wheat Challenge Video
Training opportunity - The rural economy faces a number of future challenges which will undoubtedly require a first class education combined with a thorough understanding of the agri-food sector. SRUC course pathways in Agriculture and Rural Business Management will equip you with the skills required to join this dynamic, fast moving industry.
Contact email: alistair.trail@sac.co.uk
Website: https://www.fas.scot
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/fasscot
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FASScot
Contact email: paul@smartrural.coop
Website: https://www.smartrural.coop/
Hutchinsons - Crop Production Specialists
HUTCHINSONS & AGRONOMY
Continually providing growers with the very best advice to help crops reach their full potential.
Comprehensive and flexible services
Hutchinsons offers comprehensive and flexible services to suit every client’s needs, with all our services designed to meet the evolving crop management needs of growers and fully tailorable to suit individual circumstances.
Independent of manufacturers
All our advice is completely independent of manufacturers. This ensures we always provide growers with the advice and products that will benefit their business the most.
Building long-term relationships
Building and maintaining invaluable long-term relationships with our customers is essential to our business. All advice and decisions Hutchinsons agronomists make are based on sound business principles, practical implementation and what is right for individual growers.
MAPPING CARBON IN YOUR SOIL WITH OMNIA AND TERRAMAP
With the launch of Omnia’s TerraMap Carbon, the UK’s first carbon mapping service, it is now possible to accurately map both organic and active carbon in your soil.
Why is it important to measure carbon?
While pressure to manage carbon is only increasing, as an industry UK farming is in a unique and enviable position as farming activities can make positive changes to carbon, which most other industries are not able to do.
A reduced carbon footprint can only be achieved through more efficient fertilisers, different technologies, better soil carbon management or considering the energy used in storage, so it’s a win– win on all levels.
TerraMap - How it Works
TerraMap revolutionised the way in which soil nutrient mapping was undertaken in the UK - and it is now doing the same for carbon mapping.
- TerraMap uses gamma-ray detection technology
- Delivers resolutions of over 800 points/ha
- Measures naturally emitted isotopes, like Caesium and Potassium
- Data collection is carried out in 2 steps; scanning by driving a light weight all-terrain vehicle fitted with the sensor over a field, and then taking soil samples to allow for each scan to be used to create the individual map layers
- There are very few limitations to when TerraMap can be used – offering a much wider operating window compared to other soil scanning systems.
CATCH AND COVER CROP MIXES
Catch and cover crops are now increasingly used across all sectors of crop production to improve key soil functions, add organic matter and cycle nutrients for the following crop. Our agronomists have considerable experience of using these crops to benefit our customers and provide the correct solution to match their objectives.
Hutchinsons offers its own range of catch and cover crop mixes, updated and extended for 2021. These mixes have been constructed around the reliability of the individual species and their ability to deliver key agronomic advantages and improvements in soil health.
Technical justification has been the driver in the selection of each species and the key aim with each mix has been to provide as much diversity as possible, while considering cost, reliability and confidence in performance.
Our core over-winter mixes all use the same eight species, with ratios of each adjusted according to the situation in which they are placed. Working consistently with the species ensures confidence in delivering the intended outcomes.
Our catch crop mixes present a great opportunity for those with more restrictive rotations to gain improvements in soil health, but also an additional opportunity for those already using cover crops.
For 2021 new specialist mixes have also been added, to better meet the needs of our customers - offering something for everyone.
HEALTHY SOILS
As an irreplaceable physical resource, it is essential to protect and nurture the soil if we are to continue producing crops under the current agricultural model. To help this process the Healthy Soils service provides essential information to growers and agronomists to actively manage soil resources and optimise crop performance:
- Measure and monitor soil health
- Maximise crop nutrition
- Reduce environmental impact
It is the only report to give both total and available nutritional and rotational nutrient-cycling, providing a programmed approach to soil improvement.
All our Healthy Soils in-field assessors are fully qualified agronomists, fully supporting each other with their shared agronomic expertise and knowledge. With agronomists trained to deliver our Healthy Soils assessment programme nationwide, we have a broad knowledge base to tailor our advice based on specific regional conditions. To further support our in-field assessors we work closely with major agronomy companies to share insights and develop our methods and technologies to always deliver the most cutting-edge soil service possible.
OMNIA E-SEED
The affordable Drill Conversion Kit that fits to any standard drill to enable variable rate drilling.
Convert your existing land wheel drill to variable rate with Omnia’s new seed drill conversion kit, Omnia E-Seed.
Omnia E-Seed is the first stand-alone variable rate drill conversion kit that fits to any standard drill and does exactly what it says on the box – it enables a standard land metered drill to be converted simply and efficiently into a variable rate drill.
The Benefits of Variable Rate Drilling
Accurately planning seed rates according to soil type, weed pressure and other relevant factors can increase yields and lower cost of production. Learn More
Omnia E-Seed offers an affordable way of moving to variable-rate drilling without the cost of a new drill.
Pays for itself in a season!
While investing in a new variable rate drill (which can cost upwards of £40,000) has been a barrier to many growers looking at moving over to variable rate, the Omnia E-Seed drill conversion kit now offers an affordable way of moving over to variable rate drilling without investing large amounts of money. In fact, it is possible to recoup the costs of Omnia E-Seed in just 48ha, working on a 0.6t/ha improvement using a variable approach.
HUTCHINSONS REGIONAL TRIAL SITES AND HELIX FARMS
Hutchinsons have a variety of crop trial sites situated around the country where we carry out independent assessments of varieties, fungicide programmes and nutrition products.
This year all of the regional centres have winter wheat variety trials linked into a fungicide programme. This enables bespoke agronomy and also allows us to discuss risk management related to cropping choice, rotation and variety choice - all part of Integrated Crop Management.
We are researching seed rate influences on establishment, subsequent crop management and the impact on yield. This includes assessment of Hybrid wheat and blends, in comparison to conventional varieties. There are also centres working on soils and nutrition.
HELIX TECHNOLOGY FARMS
We have a number of Helix Technology Farms kindly hosted by growers around the country, investigating how new technologies and experience can be used together in partnership and developing them to improve crop management decisions.
The aim is to develop new technologies that deliver more precise data that, along with agronomy interpretation and knowledge, then deliver added value advice.
There are five focus areas that we are concentrating on and asking ourselves what are the key challenges in these areas. These are data and sustainability, improving soils, optimising nutrition, genetic benefits and integrated crop management, which encompasses climate and environment.
Contact email: dan.abel@hlhltd.co.uk
Website: https://www.hlhltd.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hutchinsons_Ag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLHutchinsons
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h-l-hutchinson-limited