Arable Farming articles from January 2004

Arable Farming archives from January 2004

Hybrid Single Farm Payment likely.
January 19, 2004... Delegates at the Oxford Farming Conference had the strongest hint from food and farming minister Lord Whitty that government is most likely to consider some form of hybrid option for the Single Farm Payment emerging from CAP reform. ...

Vigilance required to keep ring rot risk out.
January 19, 2004... Preventing a recurrence of potato ring rot infection during a hectic period for potato seed orders should be a high priority says the British Potato Council (BPC). Growers are advised to use practical risk assessment information in the...

Turning T1 on its head?
January 19, 2004... Bayer CropScience is promising that T1 spray decisions will be `turned on their heads' with the advent of prothioconazole - a new broad- spectrum fungicide that simultaneously tackles stem-base and foliar diseases. "This is the...

Sugar beet tops are their favoured diet.
January 19, 2004... Skeins of thousands of pink-footed geese every winter provide the UK with one of its greatest wildlife spectacles. They also provide a boost to tourism as birdwatchers travel to them, particularly to the North Norfolk coast where approx. 90,000...

More tractors.
January 19, 2004... A rise of 2.9% in tractor registrations in December took the 2003 annual total to 14,606 units, an increase of 4.1% on 2002 and the highest total since 1997. This result was much stronger than had been initially anticipated, largely as the...

Steyr out of UK.
January 19, 2004... Tractor manufacturer CNH has decided it will no longer market its Austrian-built Steyr tractor brand in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The decision was taken following a review of the market potential for Steyr in the two...

Deal completed.
January 19, 2004... The terms and conditions of the contract between Agco Corporation and Valtra Tractors have been fulfilled, and the transaction was closed on January 5, 2004. Valtra Tractors' parent company, Kone entered into an agreement for the sale of...

Environmental liability decision.
January 19, 2004... The European Parliament has agreed that farmers should not be forced to take out insurance as part of EU Environmental Liability proposals. Instead, they have asked for a further evaluation within five years of the Directive coming into...

Farms for Schools.
January 19, 2004... Farms for Schools says membership increased by 16% in 2003, thanks mostly to improved membership benefits and a recruitment drive. A redesign of its website, which received a 75% increase in traffic over the last 12 months, has further...

Biomass benefits.
January 19, 2004... A new seed treatment being developed to control insect pests in establishing crops has also been found to improve crop biomass in trials in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. TMX (thiamethoxam) from Syngenta is mainly being developed against...

Sensing soil moisture.
January 19, 2004... Scientists have developed a new "intelligent" soil moisture sensor to help growers accurately irrigate crops and enhance environmentally- friendly farming practices. A collaboration between the University of Warwick and McBurney Scientific has...

Smith's Soapbox: New Kit.
January 19, 2004... The farm accounts have not exactly been transformed but the hike in grain prices has still gone to my head. I've done something very rash - bought a new tractor. After 13 years of speedy service the Fastrac has sped up Wigboro Wick lane for the...

Smith's Soapbox: The cusp of the year.
January 19, 2004... At the start of 2004 I am vaguely content with the way the farm looks. Growth stages are backward and in many places I would like a few more plants per square metre. I would rather not see a bleak winter as I would worry about losing any more....

Smith's Soapbox: Chart show.
January 19, 2004... It is that time of year when the conversationally challenged amongst us start pouring over the annual rainfall figures. 2003 gave this patch of north east Essex 17 inches of rain. Our average is a little under 20 so it was a dry year and...

SPRING CROPPING: Spring strategies.
January 19, 2004... Trade forecasts have predicted a downturn in the spring cropping acreage for harvest 2004. But with continuing uncertainty over the viability of some winter oilseed rape crops and a reduction in the set- aside requirement the forecasters may be...

RECOMMENDED LIST: Spring linseed.
January 19, 2004... Spring linseed There are two additions to the descriptive list for linseed: * Marmalade, bred by Agriculture Canada. UK agent is John Turner Seed Developments. * Gemini, bred by Cebeco and introduced by Cebeco Seed Innovations...

RECOMMENDED LIST: Beans.
January 19, 2004... This was a quiet year for new Candidates after last year's flurry of activity when winter variety Wizard, and spring varieties Hobbit, Synchro and Nile were Provisionally Recommended. No new varieties were added to either the winter or spring...

RECOMMENDED LIST: Peas.
January 19, 2004... Three new varieties have been added to the Recommended List. Two varieties are for animal feed and one is for human consumption - a marrowfat variety. Kahuna (Cebeco Seed Innovations) is very similar to Princess both agronomically and on...

RECOMMENDED LIST: Spring oilseed rape.
January 19, 2004... The List for spring varieties of rape is descriptive, rather than Recommended. There are four newcomers to choose from. These are: * SW Oban, bred by SW Seeds. * Gladiator, bred by DSV, Germany. UK agent is Cebeco. * Foremost, bred...

Grain that could a-maize.
January 19, 2004... For land that struggles to grow second or subsequent wheats, can't grow barley and disappoints with spring sowings, grain maize could be a viable break to get back into winter wheat. Growing grain maize may not be for everyone but, where it...

GRAIN MAIZE: Hampshire farmer's experience.
January 19, 2004... Hampshire grower Jim Greenwood, one of the early enthusiasts for the crop, has learned through experience. He has found on his light, drought-prone soils that the land should be prepared in the same way as for early potatoes. He ploughs, works...

Talking arable with our North Lincolnshire farmer Ambrose Fowler.
January 19, 2004... I suppose like many purely arable farmers, Christmas brings a compulsory holiday period, and we are no exception by breaking up for two weeks. After too much turkey and wondering why Great Aunt Nellie has given you a pair of gloves for the...

CEREAL DISEASE: Timing is critical for optimum eyespot control.
January 19, 2004... Many wheat growers choose to ignore eyespot but scientists argue the case for control is stronger now a prediction system is ready to roll this spring. David Millar reports. There should be no excuse for not factoring eyespot control into...

AGRONOMY: Strob battle lost, triazole problems looming?
January 19, 2004... It was bad news on disease control prospects at the HGCA's disease and weed management roadshow at Newmarket. Teresa Rush reports. In his opening remarks, the workshop chairman, HGCA R&D joint committee chairman and Suffolk farmer Bryan...

AGRONOMY: Strobilurin resistance.
January 19, 2004... Bill Clark, ADAS national cereal pathologist, brought news of continuing development of strobilurin resistance in Septoria and, perhaps more worrying, a shift in the sensitivity of Septoria to triazole fungicides. He also expressed concern...

SWEET TALK with Simon Fisher.
January 19, 2004... What on earth should I do with my `C' beet? This is becoming a regular problem despite cutting the crop area year on year. Are we getting too good at growing the crop and what, if anything, could increase returns for the future? `C' beet...

OXFORD CONFERENCE: `Politically justifiable' Single Farm Payment needed.
January 19, 2004... Food and farming minister Lord Whitty devoted an entire morning in his hectic schedule to speak at Oxford. He took the opportunity to deliver some key messages on CAP reform, and he remained on the podium long enough to field full and frank...

OXFORD FARMING CONFERENCE: Quotes from the Conference.
January 19, 2004... ".. if we were to adopt a simple historic basis for payment of the Single Farm Payment that system will not last long." - Lord Whitty, minister for food, farming and sustainable energy. " In my view, reducing protection at the border is...

OXFORD CONFERENCE: Beware tax risk.
January 19, 2004... The average subsidy payment to farmers is greater than the average return from farming, and, once this payment is divorced from production, the Treasury may take the view, where a farmer ceases active farming, that the farm is no longer a...

OXFORD CONFERENCE: EU enlargement `win:win'.
January 19, 2004... There is nothing to fear from the imminent accession of a further 10 countries to the EU, Graham Avery, Brussels' chief architect of enlargement, told Oxford delegates. He sees the new member states bringing a "win:win" situation from an...

OXFORD CONFERENCE: Learn from the retailers.
January 19, 2004... Farmers will need sensible management and partnerships with end markets to see them through the potential catastrophe that CAP reform could bring, Sir John Banham, chairman of Whitbread told Oxford delegates. He recommended that farmers...

FARM BUSINESS: What 2004 will bring for UK agriculture.
January 19, 2004... Farm business consultants Andersons has published its Outlook 2004. Alison Lea picks out a few of the consultants' predictions for the New Year. The details of Fischler's Reforms are to be revealed during 2004. Farmers can then start to...

CONTRACTOR: `Get on board with farming regulations'.
January 19, 2004... Disillusioned farmers facing new rules and regulations have been warned that food and farming assurance was not going to go away and were urged to jump on the bandwagon. Even if existing schemes failed they would be replaced by schemes...

CONTRACTOR: Contractors back food assurance calls.
January 19, 2004... Leaders of Britain's burgeoning farm contractor service are intent on throwing their weight behind the food assurance schemes being demanded by retailers and consumers. They see these as an essential element of their ability to grow their...

CONTRACTOR: Taking a steer on the headland.
January 19, 2004... Tractor management systems might allow a whole series of machine operations to be linked at the touch of a button at the headland, but there is still one task that requires a great deal of physical effort - steering. Take ploughing, for...

CONTRACTOR: Track option.
January 19, 2004... Self-propelled sugar beet harvesters tend to operate at one of the wettest times of the year, and as machine size and weight continues to increase, there is a real need to find new solutions to keep ground damage to a minimum. Some...

CONTRACTOR: Dual-rate nematicide cartridge.
January 19, 2004... A new version of the Nemathorin Cartridge, for more accurate nematicide application, will be available this season, pre-calibrated at both the full 30kg/ha rate, for the control of Potato Cyst Nematode, and the 15kg/ha rate for wireworm...

CONTRACTOR: Power spot-on for nine model range.
January 19, 2004... A word to the wise... think twice before querying the power output of your Deutz-Fahr tractor, writes Michael Bird. Warwickshire-based distributor Same Deutz-Fahr UK Ltd (SDF UK) has invested in the means to confirm that you are getting exactly...

CONTRACTOR: What a year for the NAAC.
January 19, 2004... NAAC has seen membership increase significantly, held its first major national conference (full report on p20), launched its health and safety package, employment package, merchandise and other offers through its corporate members, said NAAC...

CONTRACTOR: Rau enter self-propelled market.
January 19, 2004... Kverneland's portfolio of sprayers has expanded with the introduction of a range of high capacity self-propelled machines. Called Ibis, the new models use a mid-mounted cab with all-round visibility and a good operator view of the front...

POTATOES: Age concern for PCN control.
January 19, 2004... More detailed interpretation of potato cyst nematode (PCN) soil sampling results could give growers a better indication of the problems they face for the coming season. Information provided on viable egg and cyst numbers could give...

POTATOES: Nematicide news.
January 19, 2004... Nematicides are very much in the news at the moment as manufacturers seek to position their products and growers and advisors attempt to pick their way through the decision-making minefield for potato cyst and free living nematode control (FLN)...

POTATOES: Spotlight falls on safe use.
January 19, 2004... With the regulatory spotlight on nematicides, safe use is more important than ever to keep products on the market. Bayer CropScience, manufacturer of Temik and Mocap, has therefore announced an early start to its nematicide stewardship training...

POTATOES: Species test.
January 19, 2004... Too few growers undertake the speciation analysis that will help enormously with an Integrated Crop Management approach to PCN control, according to Michael Tait of Syngenta. Just 1% of ADAS Pest Evaluation Services PCN tests are separated out...

POTATO MACHINES: High capacity hectare-eaters.
January 19, 2004... It weighs 27 tonnes unladen and if you worked on perhaps #12,000 or so per tonne you would not be too far off the price at which Grimme's Tectron 415 self-propelled bunker potato harvester will be offered in the UK. Ten of these 2-bed,...

POTATO MACHINES: Sales rise expected.
January 19, 2004... Returns from potatoes can have a dramatic effect on sales of associated specialist new machinery, says Grimme UK's Michael Alsop. He said he was expecting total `all-makes' UK harvester sales for 2003 to be at an unsustainable 70 units on...

POTATO PRODUCTS: Keeping up with the de-stoners.
January 19, 2004... Standen Engineering has launched the Powavator 400 rotary cultivator to cultivate 3 beds ahead of potato de-stoning operations or as a conventional extra wide rotary cultivator. The Powavator 400 folds hydraulically to a transport width of...

POTATO PRODUCTS: Seed calculations on-line.
January 19, 2004... Potato supply company Higgins has incorporated a `calculating tool' on its website for growers to use when ordering supplies of seed potatoes. At www.higgins.eu.com the site processes information provided by the grower and can make...

POTATO PRODUCTS: Spares for Reliance separators.
January 19, 2004... Spaldings has introduced an extended range of spares to fit Reekie Reliance 1700mm wide stone separators. The new range consists of webs, rollers, sprockets and lifting shares. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

POTATOES: The future is - bigger and fewer.
January 19, 2004... Fewer and bigger enterprises will be the shape of future potato production, but yields won't rise by much, so those staying in the game will have to look how they can be more competitive, predicted Higgins Group technical director Graeme Byers....

POTATOES: Potato production out West.
January 19, 2004... In 1867 Abraham Kroeker fled religious persecution in his Russian homeland. In Manitoba, Canada, he found fertile land not only for himself and his family, but also for another successful migrant, the potato, a native of Peru that was first...

POTATOES: Suspension solution.
January 19, 2004... Omex marketing manager Ian Elliot said that his company's approach to potato crop nutrition focused on attention to detail. "Potatoes are the most expensive crop to feed, but also the most responsive," he said, and told delegates that...

Talking Arable with our Shropshire-based farmer Arthur Hill.
January 19, 2004... January 3, 2004 Here we are facing one of the most crucial decisions to come out of DEFRA in decades. Will she, won't she? Of course I am talking about the single farm payment. By the time you read this article I am confident the decision...

BACK CHAT: We like.
January 19, 2004... Fully portable in less than five minutes and usable on tractors, ATVs or any field vehicle, a new lightbar guidance system with remote control is being promoted by LH Agro, St Ives, Cambridge. While the unit performs many of the same...

BACK CHAT: GM spray increase row on Radio 4.
January 19, 2004... One of the leading benefits of GM crops for the technology, say enthusiasts, is that they reduce the need for pesticides. By developing strains that are herbicide-tolerant, so the argument goes, weeds and pests can be wiped out more efficiently...

BACK CHAT: We don't like.
January 19, 2004... Disappointed with what Santa left in your stocking? Here's some bedtime reading to lull you off to sleep. 'The Fatal Harvest - the Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture' by Andrew Kimbrell, published by Island Press. The 380-page volume...