Arable Farming articles from July 2002

Arable Farming archives from July 2002

AGCO to close MF Coventry plant.(Massey Ferguson production plant)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... One of the few remaining large scale agricultural machinery manufacturing/assembly plants in the UK is set to close after AGCO's recent announcement regarding its Massey Ferguson production plant in Coventry. In a statement issued from...

Self-propelled sprayer.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Gambettibarre UK's Mac 4000 self-propelled sprayer goes through its routine at this year's Sprays & Sprayers event at Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. After a two year absence, the show returned with a new machinery exhibitor layout including an...

Chinese to take away?(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... British farmers could find a market for this year's expected bumper wheat crop in the world's most populous country after a meeting this week between HGCA and China's biggest grain buyer. Mr Yu, the vice president of COFCO, the company...

"Insulation" for US farmers.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The US Farm Bill became law on 13 May 2002 and will provide $170 billion over the next decade, a substantial increase in spending. The new bill abandons the 1996 Farm Bill's policy to reduce farm support over time. NFU president Ben Gill...

Sweet deal.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A consortium of French sugar beet growers has just made an offer of #24/share on the largest sugar-producing concern in France, Eridinia Beghin-Say. Equivalent to around #600 million, the farmers are trying to prevent the processor from...

Fewer seed potatoes.(fewer Dutch crops planted)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 6, 2002... The Dutch seed potato area is down 2% this season. Figures just out from the Dutch NAK approval service confirm that this is a similar drop to that recorded last year. The organisation has just confirmed that growers planted 37,592ha for the...

New Xerion.(Claas KGaA mbH's Traxion CIT farm tractor)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 6, 2002... Claas appears to be getting ready to fill a gap in its product range since losing the Challenger rubber-tracked tractor. Last year, we reported that the company was working on a new Xerion tractor, which is fitted with a brand new...

See soya in the field.(Soya UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Soya UK invite farmers to see crops of soya and white lupins this summer. The new crops are creating great interest in both the stock and arable sectors, and many growers have not been able to see these crops in the field, especially...

Husbandry guide.(Nickerson (UK) Ltd. publishes `Exsept Winter Wheat Husbandry Guidelines')(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 6, 2002... Nickerson (UK) has published a 20-page colour booklet offering practical advice on growing Exsept, its winter wheat variety, which has the potential to earn a NABIM Group 2 bread-making premium, says the company. Complete with data and...

Integrated systems.(Pear Technology and Landmark Systems)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 6, 2002... Pear Technology and Landmark Systems have announced new integration capabilities between Pear's Fieldman Farmer crop management software and Landmark's Key Accounts. The linkage between the two programmes means that growers can now transfer...

HSE advice.(Health and Safety Executive advises on pesticide exposure)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Farm workers and agricultural engineers should be reminded to wash their hands thoroughly to minimise exposure arising from pesticide residues on spraying equipment, a Health & Safety Executive study has found. Copyright: CMP Information...

Growing partnership in clover.(white clover; alternative to chemicals for cereal crops)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Scientists have discovered that cereal crops can be grown with fewer applications of fertilisers and pesticides, simply by planting them alongside white clover. If widely adopted, this 'bi-cropping' technique could deliver significant...

Blight support system.(County Crops' Met Poles)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Burscough-based County Crops has set up a sophisticated blight decision support system in Lancashire and Cheshire, based on a network of weather stations linked to a powerful computer programme located in Holland. Called Met Poles, the stations...

Endangered species.(British farm machinery industry)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
July 6, 2002... Walking round the Cereals event I was, as ever, attracted by the shiny new paint on the machinery stands. I know my machinery budget is a big round zero at the moment but when the jackdaw in me sees something new and shiny I desperately want to...

On the border.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... I spent a couple of very enjoyable days in the borders recently. The borders is truly God's country. Coming from flat old Essex I find the scenery breathtaking (that "white settler" Guy Lee is a lucky bugger to farm in such picturesque...

Early start to harvest.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Millie Smith in a crop of Disco OSR. With the rape turning in mid-june I can see an early start to harvest 2002. Drought as usual started to bite the wheat crops but hopefully the rape was too far advanced to lose yield for lack of moisture. By...

Demonstration plots on display.
July 6, 2002... Alison Lea toured the NIAB plots with seed producer farmer Mark Gibson and agronomist Colin Myram. Though NIAB's role in Recommended List system is now reduced to one of a number of contractors by CEL to test varieties, the organisation...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Rape in Ukraine.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Increasing interest in cleaner forms of energy and higher profit levels are thought to be the main reasons for the increase in the area of oilseed rape in the Ukraine. The area has increased rapidly since 1997, and Ukrainian arable farms have...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Beetle resistant potato.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Russian researchers claim to have developed a potato variety resistant to Colorado beetle. Produced from 3 years of research using GM techniques from Monsanto, the beetles die when they eat the leaves. The fact that there is practically no GM...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Deutz comes home.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Deutz-Fahr has transferred its new combine production from Lauingen in Southern Germany to Agco's Dronningborg facility in Randers, Denmark. The Danish plant now produces combines for MF, Deutz-Fahr, and Fendt, and it is possible that certain...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Slide in Danish farms.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Whilst the total agricultural land area in Denmark might have remained unchanged at 2,676,000 ha last year, the number of farms fell by 2% to 53,500. Most of the farms that stopped operated are less than 50ha. Not surprisingly, average farm...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Spanish potatoes.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The Spanish potato area is higher this year than a year ago. Figures just out from the Spanish ministry of agriculture confirm that somewhere in the region of 88,500 ha this year - an increase of 6.5% over 2001. It is still too early to confirm...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Belgian concern.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The Belgian Farmers Union has expressed concern regarding the fact that ring rot has got into the country via imported Dutch seed. The Union has asked the Belgian ministry of agriculture to find out how it is possible for controlled seed to...

CONTINENTAL COLUMN: Number one in tractors.(New Holland)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... New Holland topped the new tractor sales charts in six of the 12 western European countries, last year (Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Portugal and Switzerland). In addition, it secured second spot in a further five countries - Finland,...

Slug seed treatments more desirable than pellets.(treating oilseed rape seedlings)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A project has found that molluscicidal seed coatings are highly effective at protecting oilseed rape seedlings from slug damage. John Blackbeard reports. Traditionally we control slug damage to crops by broadcasting slug pellets, usually...

Trying times for the seed industry.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A runaway National List system, and untenable laws on GM thresholds in seed. Alison Lea finds that the British Society of Plant Breeders is having to battle for its members and for farmers in the corridors of power. Plant breeders are...

Brussels wants zero threshold for GM in seed.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Using GM seed may be a remote possibility for British farmers, but the implications of this technology could have an immediate and far- reaching effect if proposed legal thresholds of GM contamination of seed is allowed to go through. BSPB...

Tough testing.(fungicides against Septoria disease)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Fungicides are being put to a severe test as Ireland's cereal growers struggle to contain a Septoria epidemic. Teresa Rush reports. Disease pressure has come fairly late in the season for UK growers but their counterparts in the Republic of...

Talking Arable with our Suffolk-based farmer John Kerr.(William Kerr (Farms) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... 25TH JUNE 2002 June has been kinder than I dared hope in the manner in which the weather has treated our farms. Regular showers and good growth, though naturally, as a typical farmer, I am not wholly satisfied and would have preferred...

Crops for birds to cash in on.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Dr Chris Stoate of the Game Conservancy's Allerton Trust talks about providing food for farmland birds, based on experience at Loddington, the Trust's research farm in Leicestershire. Anyone who goes shooting will be familiar with the sight...

Congratulations on your 10th birthday.(Game Conservancy's Allerton Research Education Trust)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The Game Conservancy's Allerton Trust is celebrating ten years of research and demonstration at its Loddington estate in Leicestershire. Alison Lea went along to hear about some of the achievements to date. The year 2002 is a special...

Compaction needs curing.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Few arable fields escaped damage through the atrociously wet conditions of winter 2000. The Soil Management Initiative advises on putting right the legacy of compacted soils Compaction caused by cultivating damp soils and harvesting crops...

Talking Arable with our Shropshire-based farmer Arthur Hill.
July 6, 2002... 15TH JUNE 2002 It's smashing to see shows taking place again, especially Staffordshire and now the Shropshire and West Midlands next week. This is despite the efforts of DEFRA to make it as awkward as it can for the show organisers and the...

Lupins-cash in on live stock feed.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The price volatility of soya, coupled with concerns surrounding the GM- free status of imported soya, is leading to a resurgence of interest in lupins, writes John Blackbeard. Lupins, with their high protein content, are an obvious...

Potato plan with MAPP.(Management Advisory Package for Potatoes)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Previously in Arable Farming we previewed the Management Advisory Package for Potatoes (MAPP) and how it's being tested on the British Potato Council (BPC) funded reference crops at Harper Adams University College. Here we look at the latest...

Talking Arable with our North Lincolnshire-farmer Ambrose Fowler.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... 19TH JUNE 2002 I was beginning to wonder if summer would arrive this year. We were hit by a couple of very severe hailstorms that travelled down the Trent valley and stripped some sugar beet and spring rape quite badly. The weather...

Maintaing potash.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Dr Keith Goulding of IACR Rothamsted, has written a new leaflet for the Potash development Association entitled: Why maintain soil potash reserves? The publication outlines current issues related to potash use on arable crops and explains why...

Cereals extra.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... We just couldn't fit all our Cereals event machinery coverage into the previous issue of AF, so here's a bit more! The Zero Pitch is a new type of continuous coil packer, which combines the advantages of both a standard packer and Cambridge...

Voluntary Initiative recommendations seek to boost operator skills.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A comprehensive set of recommendations for research, technology transfer and training support is being launched as part of the industry- wide Voluntary Initiative to further improve the skills of farmers and sprayer operators in the application...

Sign up to sprayers register.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Farmers and growers have for the first time been invited to apply for official recognition of their competence and commitment in applying crop protection measures. DEFRA Minister Lord Whitty launched the industry's first National Register...

Combine culture and chemistry in the battle against black-grass.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Cereal growers facing high populations of black-grass can bring about significant reductions in populations ahead of any herbicide treatment, so long as they adopt the right cultural control techniques. That's according to Iain Hamilton,...

Survey of farm sprayer practice results published.(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Results of a survey of current farm sprayer practices in the UK commissioned by the Voluntary Initiative reveal that 99% of the UK arable area was sprayed following recommendations from a BASIS- registered agronomist or farm staff member. ...

Sprayer showcase.
July 6, 2002... Dominic Kilburn reports from the re-vamped machinery lines and expanded in-crop sprayer demonstration area at this year's Sprays and Sprayers event. John Deere has a new 1000 litre cylindrical front-mounted spray tank to increase the...

Dual purpose ploughs increase flexibility.
July 6, 2002... There is an increasing trend towards on-land/in-furrow ploughs as growers continually seek greater flexibility in their ploughing operations. Steven Vale checks out who's doing what in the UK plough market and provides a guide to...

Hydro-pneumatic headstock suspension for plough range.(Kuhn)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A range of three-point mounted reversible ploughs featuring mechanically-adjustable furrow widths and with hydro-pneumatic suspension built into the headstock, is now availabe from Kuhn. The Multi-master 180 range includes 5, 6 and 7-furrow...

Stars keep it rolling.(Kockerling's plough packers)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... Kockerling might have sold over 120 Sternopack Star plough packers to Scottish farmers last year but last month's Cereals event provided the first opportunity for English farmers to get a look at the concept. A feature of the plough packer...

WHAT'S NEW: Cool for Claas.(Claas UK Ltd. Targo K and C Series Telehandlers)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... The latest specification Claas Targo K and C Series Telehandlers now benefit from being able to clean the cooling system at the press of a button as well as having reduced noise levels to meet new EU Legislation. Due to the repositioning...

WHAT'S NEW: Latest Laforge.(John Deere Series 6020, 7010, 8020, tractor enhancement to front hitches)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... A range of new Laforge front hitches have been developed for the latest John Deere 6020, 7010 and 8020 Series tractors, with models designed to fit both standard and suspended front axle machines. The Laforge GreenLink ST4.2 Standard and...

COLIN MYRAM'S CROP TALK: Crop research for the future.(article discuses future arable research)(Brief Article)
July 6, 2002... 21/6/2002 Colin Myram is an East Anglian-based consultant to the agricultural industry, including farmers and suppliers. In recent discussions concerning arable research for the future, it is clear that the government, in the form of...

Mid-term review really means revolution for farming.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Robert Gooch, policy analyst for Eurinco The Mid-term Review (MTR) of the CAP is not a review. It is not even a reform. It is a revolution in the way that the CAP supports farming. Timed to appear as Arable Farming goes to press, the...

Success in campaign to keep potato fungicide.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... The fungicidal fumigant 2-aminobutane, considered vital to the effective control of skin spot and gangrene on seed potato crops, will remain available to the British potato industry until 2007, thanks to a cross-industry campaign co-ordinated...

NVZ Directive goes too far.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... DEFRA has announced that it proposes to classify 55% of land in England as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone - a considerable improvement on the original proposal of 100% or a targeted area, estimated at 80%. The NFU is still concerned that many...

Farm-saved seed rates agreed.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 20, 2002... Revised farm-saved seed royalty rates have been agreed for 2002 between the farming unions and the British Society of Plant Breeders. The agreement follows a technical review of the formula used in calculating payment rates to ensure it...

Shirlan for blight.(potato blight fungicide proven effective)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Syngenta potato blight fungicide, Shirlan (fluazinam), now has a new specific label approval for tuber blight protection. Extensive trials have proven the efficacy of Shirlan in protecting against tuber blight and minimising storage losses of...

Rape sales direct.(ADM Direct provides marketing opportunity to rapeseed farmers)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Following the recent launch of ADM Direct, the new marketing initiative between ADM Erith Ltd. and United Oilseeds Marketing, farmers have been responding in large numbers to the opportunity to market their rapeseed direct to the crushers at...

Award nominations.(NFU Farming Excellence Awards)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... The search is on to find the very best achievers in the food and farming industry through the 2003 NFU Farming Excellence Awards, formerly known as the President's Awards. Nominations for the award categories, which aim to reward...

New HGCA guide.(explains quality of barley and wheat good enough for export)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... UK growers are offered a valuable new aid to focusing on export market needs as the "Wheat and Barley Exports - The Growers Guide 2002/2003," goes in the post to 28,000 of them. The guide explains the quality and varieties of wheat and...

Put safety first.(health and safety should be a priority on farms)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 20, 2002... NFU president Ben Gill recently urged farmers to continue to make health and safety vigilance a priority on farms. His plea followed the publication at the Royal Show of the Health and Safety Executive's annual farm accident figures. ...

Sulphur deficiency.(UK soils)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Rothamsted scientists have been surprised to find clear sulphur deficiency symptoms on the heavy soil of the 160 year-old Broadbalk experiment. Sulphur deficiency has never been reported on wheat growing on heavy soils before and the...

Contracting out.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... When growing wheat on this farm, I have always tried to take advantage of our local climate. With the sea on three sides of us keeping us warm we have earlier harvests than most. We usually start cutting wheat on or before August 1st. In...

The silly season.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... As we enter that part of the year when we seem to be permanently refilling the diesel tank and clocking up hours in the cabs, I start to worry about the fitness of my ageing machinery fleet. I notice the TX68 now has 10,000 acres on the...

More dollars to US farmers will depress world prices.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... September 11th shook America to the core. One reaction has been fundamental changes to domestic policies, including agriculture. A new US Farm Bill was recently introduced. We asked policy expert Robert Gooch to explain the implications for...

Boosting British cereals.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Alison Lea recently attended a seminar where #225,000 grant aid was handed out to companies with plans to use more home-grown cereals. What's the connection between clootie dumplings, dog food, flapjacks and bigger pigs? Answer: They are...

Pain artisan.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Supermarket bakeries attract customers like flies to the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries. Giles Foods can improve the efficient running of in-store bakeries by providing par-baked and pre-proofed frozen dough through new technology...

Pigging out on British cereals.(Dalehead Foods' pigs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 20, 2002... Taking pigs to heavier slaughter weight would increase cereal usage according to Suffolk-based Dalehead Foods which slaughters and processes 30,000 pigs/week. "The tough economic climate has resulted in pig farmers leaving the industry and a...

Bakin' USA.(Fabulous Bakin' Boys plan to export to US)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Fabulous Bakin' boys produces muffins and flapjacks that sell in a wide number of retail outlets in the UK. Gary Frank and his brother John who started the company 12 years ago, have been conscious for some time that there are US consumers...

Share the risk and the rewards.(CPB-Twyford to decrease seed prices to enjoy share of profits)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... A plant breeding company is prepared to cut the price of its seed in return for a share of the profits. Alison Lea reports. We believe that the fairest means of collecting reward for variety creation and supply is a payment based on the...

Disease arrives with a vengeance.(agricultural disease control)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Margin over fungicide cost calculations will provide the true judge of the efficacy of this season's disease control inputs. But the eventual arrival of high disease pressure has given manufacturers plenty to talk about in the meantime. Teresa...

T1 key spray timing in 2002.(BASF Agronomy Centre research)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Further trials at the BASF agronomy centre have highlighted the benefit of applying a long-lasting T1 fungicide this season. In trials to compare the performance of just one application of the main strobilurins, those products applied at...

Seed treatment - can you cut back?(preventing seed disease)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Cutting back on seed treatments may seem tempting given current grain prices. But as one grower and two mobile seed cleaners observe, drilling naked seed can harbour unacceptable risks. Suffolk farmer Paul Baker won't risk drilling seed...

Keep soils spraing-free.(to grow potatoes)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... With no rapid or reliable diagnostic tests available for identifying the virus `spraing' in fields destined for potato production, SAC, in collaboration with the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and with funding from the British Potato...

Bloomin' marvellous.(potato skin bloom)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Both farmers and packers have expressed an interest in the `Bloom Meter' since its initial public viewing at the BPC's Potato Storage event in May. However, with a more advanced system on display at the Royal Show, it could be available in a...

Wash `n go.(washed potato drying method from F.J. Pirie)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... SAC, in conjunction with crop storage systems company FJ Pirie has developed a new method for drying washed potatoes prior to packing. The Wee Dram, as it's known, can be integrated into a packing plant and is a non-contact method of removing...

A more modern look.(Motokov UK's Zetor tractor)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 20, 2002... Motokov UK showed off a prototype of a new look Zetor tractor - the 105hp Forterra 10641. Replacing the old Forterra tractor models, the new range will consist of four models: 8641 - 86hp; 9641 - 96hp; 10641 - 105hp; 11741 - 120hp. The main...

Driven axle trailer launched.(by Joskin)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 20, 2002... Belgian company Joskin displayed its driven axle trailer, designed to get potato and sugar beet growers out of trouble in wet field conditions. The 14000 BCL trailer has two mechanically-driven axles with a 2+2 forward/reverse gearbox. With...

Chaser bin on show.(from Cross Engineering)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Northern Ireland's Cross Engineering displayed a 165 LGP (low ground pressure) chaser bin with a 16.5 tonne capacity.Able to unload completely in 3 minutes (5 tonnes/min) this chaser bin features low ground pressure tyres on high speed axles....

Thermal weeder on show.(Herbiogaz thermal weeder introduced by Terrington Machinery)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Norfolk-based Terrington Machinery has introduced the Herbiogaz thermal weeder from France. Where it differs from most other thermal weeders on the market is its 2-row flame injection system providing a more intense heat on the crop or weeds...

Backing biofumigation.(to eradicate soil-borne Rhizoctonia)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... With soil-borne Rhizoctonia becoming an increasing problem for potato growers and no current fungicide treatments to control it, an SAC project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of biofumigation as an environmentally-friendly means of control....

Government has critical role for the future of the industry.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... NFU president Ben Gill outlined the main challenges facing farmers in their sixth year of depression - and some of the positive ways they are trying to pull themselves out of the crisis. He pointed to the forthcoming Mid-term Review of the...

Stoneleigh Park to be a "European centre for rural interests".(redevelopment by Royal Agricultural Society of England)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... The Royal Agricultural Society of England unveiled ambitious plans for redevelopment at the Stoneleigh site at the Royal Show. Under the working title "The Open Country Initiative", the vision, said RASE director Mike Calvert, is to...

Look after lapwings.(farmland birds in the UK)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... The lapwing is one of the birds most closely associated with farmed land and perhaps, in closest affection with farmers - instantly recognisable for its spectacular tumbling displays and distinctive "peewit" cry. It is one of a group of...

Bring in bioethanol.(fuel from sugar beet crops)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 20, 2002... British Sugar highlighted the potential benefits to farmers and the public for bioethanol fuel from crops, particularly sugar beet. Bioethanol processing technology has been known about for a long time, but the cost is the crunch factor,...

LEAF at landmark eleven.(in existence since 1991 promoting integrated farm management)(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... LEAF's birthday always falls on the Royal Show as the organisation was launched at the event in 1991. This year on its eleventh birthday, chief executive Caroline Drummond reflected on its achievements, and set out LEAF's stall for the future:...

PRECISION FARMING: : Arable Farming Precision Farming Initiative.(Brief Article)
July 20, 2002... Used correctly, precision agriculture is one of the few routes left open to UK farmers that can help make significant improvements to farm profits. But, despite its potential, there is still a general reluctance among the majority of farmers to...