Arable Farming articles from February 2002

Arable Farming archives from February 2002

Local loaf.(Safeway PLC offers East Anglican Country Bread)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Sixteen Safeway stores in East Anglia are stocking a range of bread products made from grain from the March-based grain marketing business Fengrain. The new locally produced bread initiative, called "East Anglian Country Bread" uses only...

Dow trial mildew alert.(Dow AgroScienes; Fortress quinoxyfen)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Dow AgroSciences says reduced field performance was recorded in single trial plots in 2001 at a site in north Germany following an application of Fortress (500g/l quinoxyfen) for control of wheat powdery mildew. Dow says this reduction in...

Tackling the T's.
February 16, 2002... FUNGICIDES can provide one of the highest returns on investment of any crop protection input. So it makes sense to use them wisely. Arable Farming is committed to help you do that. We will be running a series of in-depth features this...

UK Pesticide Guide available.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... The 2002 editions of the UK Pesticide Guide and the e-UK Pesticide Guide are now available. The 15th edition lists over 1,400 pesticide products and 150 adjuvants. The e-Guide is a fully searchable CD with a weblink to the on-line Maximum...

Precision event.
February 16, 2002... Accurate implementation of management decisions through compatible control systems and equipment is vital to the production of arable crops. The latest technology will be on display at Precision Farming 2002 on Wednesday 6th March at...

GM trial locations.(U.K. locations of genetically-modified rapeseed and beet plantings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 16, 2002... The locations of spring-sown sites of GM oilseed rape and beet within the government's farm-scale evaluation programme have been released. 27 sites of rape and 17 sites of sugar and fodder beet have been selected by the independent...

Biodiesel green light.(reduction of biofuels tariff recommended)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... One item in the Curry report is definitely welcome news: The report recommends that government reduces the duty rate on biofuels to 4.5p/l - the rate currently levied on gas fuels. The 2002 budget proposed a 25p/l tax rate for biodiesel -...

Optic accolade.(barley receives NIAB Cereals Cup)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Spring barley Optic has been awarded this year's NIAB Cereals Cup. The cup is awarded to the variety that contributed the most technical advance toward improving UK farm profitability each year, and is based on a combination of NIAB trial...

Line-up for Linola.
February 16, 2002... Seed company Nickerson is looking for 100 growers for guaranteed buy- back contracts for 30 acres apiece of edible linseed Linola. "We are offering growers #180/t ex farm," says Nickerson's David Pearson. "Linola grown in the UK already has...

Enter FWAG award.
February 16, 2002... Entries are invited for the 2002 Farmcare FWAG Silver Lapwing Award. The competition gives farmers an opportunity to demonstrate how they have encouraged wildlife and enriched the rural landscape, and be rewarded for their good...

Boxed in by bureaucracy.(reaction to the Curry Report)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Expert comment on the Curry Report by Robert Gooch The recommendations of the Policy Commission on Farming and Food will do little to improve farm incomes. But this is hardly surprising given the Commission's rather vague terms of reference...

What is CEL going to do to the Recommended List system?(Crop Evaluation Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Ben Miflin (right), chairman of Crop Evaluation Ltd (CEL) - set up by HGCA to manage the Recommended List - explained to conference delegates how his organisation is going about the task. * CEL's board (formed in July 2000) is made up of...

Winter weather can predict premiums.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Peter Kettlewell (right), who is conducting HGCA-funded research at Harper Adams, told delegates that winter weather data can be used to predict, in late March, specific weight, protein levels and Hagbergs for the coming harvest. He...

Cleaner air putting crops in bad odour.(wheat crops lacking sulfur)
February 16, 2002... Does your wheat look yellow coming into spring? Would you assume nitrogen will give it a boost, or would you test for sulphur deficiency? Dr Steve McGrath of IACR-Rothamsted estimates that only a third to a half of farms that need to apply...

The colour of money.(alternative crops in demand)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 16, 2002... Alternative crops give a splash of colour and variety in the arable landscape but do they pay for looking pretty? Markets are opening up, and, at the same time, great effort is going into breeding varieties suitable for UK conditions, and...

Take a trip with hemp.(farming hemp)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 16, 2002... Essex-based Hemcore is looking to double its hectarage of fibre crop hemp to 6000ha this year as demand for its products is really taking off, mainly for the motor industry - over 90% of UK hemp fibre goes to Germany, mostly for car door...

TILLAGE STRESS.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Down-to-earth views on making `more from less' in crop establishment from independent soil husbandry consultant, Steve Townsend. Noticed how much more horsepower it's taking to plough these days? How much less effective power-harrowing has...

Oilseed blueprint.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... The prestigious Oilseed Rape Grower of the Year 2002 gives Arable Farming readers the chance to win prizes worth over #2000, including a break to Rome and valuable oilseed rape seed. This year, sponsors Syngenta, Banks Cargill Agriculture,...

Investing in the land bank.(pest free potato farming)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Landowners letting land on annual contracts should be taking a more active interest in potato cyst nematode control by tenants, if the long- term rental value of their land is to be protected, advises specialist potato and root consultant, Jay...

Docking disorder rears its head.(in a sugar beet crop, Norfolk, England)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 16, 2002... A slipping granular applicator drive was all it took last year on one Norfolk farm to show that docking disorder, perceived by some as a sugar beet condition of the past, is still a threat. Last year on 20 March at High House Farm, near...

Strobs offer barley benefits.(strobilurins from Sygenta and BASF)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Two strobilurins hit the marketplace this spring. Teresa Rush checks out technical messages from manufacturers as they battle for a share of your fungicide budget this spring. With the ever-increasing T1 market in cereals its primary...

Weed challenge - 2002.(weeds forecasted for cereal crops)
February 16, 2002... After a reasonable autumn for herbicide application, the weed pattern in cereals this spring could be quite different to that faced by growers in previous years. With this in mind, Edward Long asks four agronomists the key 2002 risks and...

Treated weed areas compared.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... BLACK-GRASS is the number one weed that growers seek to control in cereals - in terms of numbers of hectares treated (figure 1) - but around two thirds as many hectares were treated for wild oats and cleavers last season. That's according to...

Spring spraying practice on trial.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Correct application and timing of spring herbicides pays dividends with wild oat control, according to new Syngenta field trials. Recommended nozzles and spray volumes for Topik Water volume Water volume Water...

Wising up to the spring wild oat threat.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Wild oats remain the most competitive of all grass weeds and they need increasingly robust control. We found out how one agronomist and his customer deal with the problem - particularly in quality wheat. Wild oats can be found virtually...

Brome awareness.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... An annual grass which germinates freely in the autumn, has little innate seed dormancy and shows minimal spring germination, shouldn't be difficult to control. Yet brome is causing serious yield losses and posing increasing headaches for many...

Spring clean opens up options.(managing grass weeds)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Keeping on top of grass weeds is one of the main objectives of the agronomy programme at Chamberlayne Farms, Maisemore, near Gloucester. In the autumn, black-grass is the main concern and the aim is to spray it at the three-leaf stage. The...

Which brome-buster?(Monitor or Ethos)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... UAP trials on a heavily infested sterile brome site have put two new spring herbicides for grass weed control in wheat to the test - Monitor (sulfosulfuron) launched by Monsanto last season and Ethos (propoxycarbazone-sodium) from Bayer this...

Widespread ryegrass resistance.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Herbicide resistant ryegrass is on the increase. Weed scientists believe resistant populations may be widespread. Teresa Rush spoke to one of the UK's leading experts on herbicide resistance to find out more. Resistant black-grass remains...

Ryegrass recommendations.(herbicide application)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Dave Ellerton and his team of agronomists at ProCam find ryegrass even more troublesome than black-grass in many areas these days. Whereas it used to be an occasional weed on some farms, they now find it a persistent problem across most parts...

Spring control gives autumn boost.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... According to Procam agronomist, Tom Scotson grass weed herbicide programmes used to be based on IPU/chlortoluron plus DFF or IPU plus pendimethalin mixes, giving good residual activity. But with black- grass resistance now a real problem on...

ALS Answers.(ALS herbicides)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Many growers are unaware of the rotational, crop and product restrictions associated with ALS inhibitor herbicides. Teresa Rush paid a visit to DuPont to find out some of the do's and don'ts of this important herbicide group. ALS...

Zero tolerance.(cleavers control)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... With a new cleavers control herbicide available this spring and a 'zero tolerance' strategy, one ag-chem manufacturer believes it has at least some of the answers. Teresa Rush reports. Cleavers are the most competitive weed in cereals. They...

Optimising weed control in peas.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Independent pea and bean consultant, Cathy Knott provides some answers for pea herbicide choice and ways to optimise their performance. Spring pre-emergence herbicides have proven extremely effective for weed control in pea crops over...

Oil premium benefit from effective disease control.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Oil bonuses generally offer the biggest potential to increase oilseed rape revenues. But growers could be jeopardising those bonuses by failing to control disease in oilseed rape crops. The FOSFA contract on which oilseed rape is traded...

Don't ignore oilseed rape oil premiums farmers warned.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Arable farmers must pay more than lip service to growing oilseed rape if they hope to maximise gross margin potential. With prices exceeding #145/t and potential oil premiums worth over #37/ha, establishment and disease control is the key to...

Spring action for oilseed rape fertiliser.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Oilseed rape has a high demand for nitrogen, generally achieving optimum yields from a total of 240 to 250kg/ha. Much of this requirement, from soil nitrogen and fertiliser, is taken up early in the season, reports Mike Slater of Terra...

The third way.(choosing wheat varieties based on market demand)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... John Ebbage has a challenge for growers: Follow his formula and try to prove him wrong. When choosing which wheat varieties to grow there is still far too little consideration given to what end users want, or willingness to look around for...

Dealing in diversification.(farm management)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Diversification and development of an existing farm business may look alright on paper but, stresses Graham Smith of Roythorne and Co Solicitors, beware the pitfalls. "The question on many farmers' minds currently is what to do with their...

Road train rebel breaks for the border!(Neil Unger transports a cultivator)
February 16, 2002... Just when you thought our Aussie farmer columnist, Neil Unger was done for, we hear that his mission to retrieve a 60' seeder from 700 miles away has been a roaring success! Due to an amazing amount of enquiries over my expedition into...

Days of discs and tines.(straw incorporation)
February 16, 2002... In the second in our series 'Straw Incorporation', Steven Vale asks the question: Which is best - discs or tines? Towards the end of last year we detailed the importance of the combine harvester in the first step of the straw incorporation...

Cultivation trends dominate in Denmark.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Last month's Danish Agromek show was dominated by news on the cultivation front. British farmers are not alone in searching for new ways to cut crop establishment costs. The Danes too, have been forced to look at ways to make less use of the...

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - SW Agriservices.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... DESIGNED to work with any item of trailed secondary cultivation equipment, the Sumo Centre Packer from SW Agriservices eliminates the uneven mound between the tractor wheels and gives full width consolidation on 3 and 4m wide systems. ...

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - Michael Moore Moles.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Michael Moore Moles has come up with the Triple Mole Hi-Rider. The #17,000 implement is a heavy duty mole plough for big crawler tractors. It can take one, two or three legs working at 18 to 25 inches deep. The distance between the legs is...

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - Vaderstad.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... Vaderstad has a new tyre packer for its Rapid drills. The larger diameter packer is designed to improve work in wet conditions. The manufacturer has also brought out a new control box for the drills, said to be more user friendly - and less...

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - Spaldings.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... SPALDINGS has introduced a 9 tonne capacity top link which, with threaded bare ends, can take a specially made range of category 2 and 3 standard ends, swivel ends and quick release hook. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - Opico.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... AVAILABLE as 6, 12 or 18-row machines, new inter-row cultivators were launched at LAMMA by Opico. There is also a choice of front or rear mounting and there is a steering system for accurate row-following. Guidance discs (wheels on...

What's new in CULTIVATIONS - LandMec Pottinger.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... A NEW hydraulic weight transfer system for all new Pottinger Lion 3000, 4000 and 4500 power harrows is now available from LandMec Pottinger. The new suspension system transfers weight hydraulically from the harrow onto the packer roller....

Talking Arable with our Shropshire-based farmer Arthur Hill.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... 24TH JANUARY 2002 A new year, a new beginning or more of the same? That is the question that everyone is asking at the moment. Last year, accentuated by the problems of a wet autumn and FMD, the scenario for most farming businesses was...

Letter: `HGCA has no usefulness'.(Letter to the Editor)
February 16, 2002... How do we get rid of the modern parasite that defies any treatment arable farmers have available to them? It robs us of a good proportion of our livelihood each year and is hardly ever brought to task in any of your articles. The farmers'...

Talking Arable with our Suffolk-based farmer John Kerr.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2002... 5TH FEBRUARY 2002 This month I will concentrate on the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food published 29th January 2002. Also known as The Curry Report - after the chairman, Sir Don Curry, CBE, erstwhile...

Looking into the future.(Statistical Data Included)
February 16, 2002... Since pre-war days the average sugar yield achieved by UK growers has trebled from 5t/ha to around 15t/ha. When seasonal blips are evened out there is a year-on-year improvement of 2%, and evidence from new varieties in trials suggests this is...

Talking Arable with our North Lincolnshire-farmer Ambrose Fowler.(Brief Article)(Column)
February 16, 2002... 28TH JANUARY 2002 What's the worst thing that can happen at breakfast? The phone rings just as you have poured milk on your cornflakes and it's someone who won't stop talking, so by the time you return to the table they're soggy. But no...

LAMMA lines up.
February 16, 2002... Last month saw the biggest ever machinery show put on by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers' Association at the Newark and Notts showground. Howard Walsh reports on new equipment at the event. Some visitors to LAMMA...