Arable Farming articles from November 2005

Arable Farming archives from November 2005

Arable benchmarking scheme gets funding.
November 14, 2005... Following completion of a successful pilot project in Shropshire, The Arable Group (TAG) has been awarded significant funding from Defra through its Vocational Training Scheme to launch an innovative benchmark training programme across 11 of...

Shift in OSR varietal plantings.
November 14, 2005... While the total UK winter oilseed rape area is very similar to last season at around 550,000 ha, detailed 2005/6 certified and farm-saved seed planting estimates from Masstock Arable Group member Dalgety reveal the biggest shift in varietal...

Coming soon: New waste regulations.
November 14, 2005... Around 137,000 farms in England will have to find alternative means of disposing of non-natural waste as a result of the new Agricultural Waste Regulations to be introduced in early 2006. At present much of the non-natural waste arising on...

Up-to-date pesticides.
November 14, 2005... The latest version of The e-Pesticide Manual, now available from BCPC, makes it easy to keep up-to-date with the very latest pesticide information. Edited by Dr Clive Tomlin, The e-Pesticide Manual version 3.2 updates the printed 13th...

Arable Post.
November 14, 2005... Guy Smith is wrong to resist calls for spray exclusion zones within one mile of all houses (Arable Farming, 17/10/2005). Although unproven, if pesticide sprays are the cause of ill health then it is right that there use should be restricted or...

ARABLE BRIEFS: Barley rejections.
November 14, 2005... Failure to meet nitrogen specifications was the main reason for malting barley rejections during 2004, according to figures released by the Maltsters Association of Great Britain. The survey showed the reasons for refusal of barley...

Sugar proposals of `little concern' for UK - Bach.
November 14, 2005... Defra Ministers have been accused of turning a blind eye to the concerns of the British sugar industry as they enter into crucial negotiations over reform of the sector. There is widespread industry concern within the UK and EU over the...

ARABLE BRIEFS: Food facts for school kids.
November 14, 2005... The British Potato Council, Home Grown Cereals Authority, Horticulture Development Council, Meat and Livestock Commission and Milk Development Council are jointly developing a comprehensive web-based learning aid. It covers all food types with...

ARABLE BRIEFS: Name change.
November 14, 2005... Plant breeding company Cebeco Seed Innovations is changing its name. From January 2006, it will be known as Innoseeds Ltd. The company has been required to find a new name following its acquisition by the DLF-Trifolium Group in Denmark. ...

ARABLE BRIEFS: Root research.
November 14, 2005... Scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to Ghent University in Belgium have analysed a complete plant genome in order to identify the genes that are essential for the formation of capillary...

Fair Play on farm-saved seed.
November 14, 2005... New-look farm-saved seed declaration forms will be dropping through farm letterboxes over the next couple of weeks, as part of the Fair Play campaign to combat evasion of farm-saved seed payments. Completed declaration forms for autumn 2005...

ARABLE BRIEFS: Potato seed restriction lifted.
November 14, 2005... The restriction limiting potato seed treatments with RhiNo (flutolanil) to within 90 days of planting has been lifted, allowing applications to next season's seed to be made from now on. According to Scottish Agronomy the benefits of...

Smith's Soapbox: Goosed.
November 14, 2005... This is the time of year we await the return of our feathered friends from the frozen wastes of Siberia - the Brent Geese. Several thousand of them test the patience of Essex coastal arable farmers as they seek sustenance from their favourite...

Smith's Soapbox: A man called Jim.
November 14, 2005... The main lesson from last year's grass weed control programme seemed to be that Atlantis doesn't need much back up and does the job on its own. On a very limited acreage we decided just to rely on a March application of Atlantis and by harvest...

Smith's Soapbox: Endangered species.
November 14, 2005... I see Defra has decided to spend #7.5 million of our modulated money on providing on farm advice for farmers adjusting to CAP reform. To quote its website: `The advice will identify the effect Single Payment Scheme issues have on...

STEWARDSHIP - MAKING THE MOST OF ELS: Planning for Extra Value.
November 14, 2005... Experienced Rural Development Service (RDS) adviser, Geoff Howe and West Country-based, Masstock Arable Group agronomist, Kevin Ashford of Agrownomics turn their attention to Nutrient and Manure Management Plans (EM2 and EM3) in the fifth of...

ENVIRONMENT: The plight of the bumblebee.
November 14, 2005... Arable farmers are being urged to help revive the declining fortunes of the bumblebee by establishing over 1,000 hectares of new habitat under a new initiative led by Syngenta. Teresa Rush reports. Just one hectare of specific habitat...

SPRING CROPPING: Spring crop - or not?
November 14, 2005... A spring crop could still be worth considering in the era of the SFP. Alison Lea gets expert advice on the pros and cons. On anecdotal evidence, there is still a lot of stubble around, even though conditions have been nearly ideal for...

TRACTORS: New technology and more muscle heralds the Fastrac.
November 14, 2005... The 260hp JCB Fastrac has been eagerly awaited for some time now and it is brimming with new features and technology. Mervyn Bailey reports on the British firm's new flagship, the 8250. The latest JCB Fastrac not only packs more power but...

TRACTORS: New standards in speed for Vario range.
November 14, 2005... Agco's German-built Fendt brand of tractors has unveiled details of its 360hp top-end Vario newcomer - the 60km/hr, 936. Dominic Kilburn reports. Ten years after the launch of its first stepless transmission - Vario - Fendt has upped the...

TRACTORS: Vario shift to lower hp tractors.
November 14, 2005... Speaking at the announcement of a new 125hp 312 Vario, Fendt northern area sales manager for the UK, Alan Whitlow said the 90-125hp sector was a big focus for the company right now. "The 312 Vario will be a good tractor for the UK market....

TRACTORS: Power boosted across 200hp-plus range.
November 14, 2005... New Holland used this month's Agritechnica to unveil models from the next generation of TG tractors. Featuring new Stage III engines, and a range of transmission options, the new models are known as the T8000 series. Steven Vale reports. ...

AGCO SHOW.
November 14, 2005... AGCO is once again staging its bi-annual show at Bingley Hall on the Staffs Showground. From November 30 - December 3, more than 100 machines from AGCO's stable of top brands including Massey Ferguson, Challenger, Fendt, Valtra and Ag-Chem...

Show debut for Challenger MT700B.
November 14, 2005... Three powerful new Challenger tracked tractors make their UK debut at the AGCO Show. The MT700B Series feature more power and torque than previous models and are the most technologically advanced tractors in the world. The new Challenger...

MF flagships really fly.
November 14, 2005... New engines, 50km/hr top speed from standard Dyna-VT continuously- variable transmissions and front axle suspension head up a list of new features for Massey Ferguson's new MF 8400 high-power flagships. These new features provide the...

WATER PROTECTION: What's the catchment?
November 14, 2005... Is farming such a problem? As the UK struggles to meet targets on water quality set by the Water Framework Directive, there is pressure to reduce diffuse pollution from farming. How will arable farming be affected and what will you, as a...

Nutrient view.
November 14, 2005... Mark Tucker, head of agronomy for YARA said that soil sampling is under utilised, but it must be done well. "Accurate, disciplined sampling is hard work to do properly, but it is necessary, and is good value for money for the inputs it can...

POTATO EVENT: Soil focus at BPC seminars.
November 14, 2005... The Government's biggest drive in over thirty years to improve the state of the nation's soils is currently underway, and potato growers are high on the list of stakeholders it wishes to target. Bringing growers up-to-date on the latest...

POTATO EVENT: Tied Ridger returns.
November 14, 2005... Briggs Irrigation is re-introducing its water-saving Tied Ridger for potato and other crops grown in rows or beds. First launched more than 10 years ago, the Tied Ridger creates small dams between the ridges or beds of potato, vegetable and...

POTATO EVENT: Tractor makes UK debut.
November 14, 2005... John Deere's newest tractor can be seen in public for the first time anywhere in the UK at British Potato 2005. Increased power, performance and fuel economy are the hallmarks of the new 8030 Series tractors from John Deere (see full report...

AGRONOMY: Resistance key to control of soil-borne virus disease.
November 14, 2005... Disease experts from around the industry presented the latest information on soil-borne virus diseases of arable crops at a recent Rothamsted Research/Applied Research Forum workshop at Oundle, Northamptonshire. Teresa Rush reports. ...

AGRONOMY: Rhizo resistance breakdown?
November 14, 2005... The acreage of rhizomania-resistant sugar beet varieties grown in the UK looks set to increase to 20% of the beet area next season, Dr Mike Asher of Broom's Barn told the meeting. However, with resistance conferred by just one major...

BEET UK EVENT: Beet `collector' gives efficiency benefits.
November 14, 2005... The focus at last month's Beet UK event was on harvesting efficiency. Dominic Kilburn brings you some of the machinery highlights on display. Beet UK witnessed the first public showing of the Gilles self- propelled beet `collector'. ...

ROPA EURO-TIGER 2005.
November 14, 2005... CTM Harpley showed off its Ropa Euro-Tiger 2005 model at Beet UK. New additions to this model included a new flail topper with cutting speed control direct from the cab; speed-related, quick-acting hydraulic shares, a revised cab layout and a...

INTEGRATED TOPPER.
November 14, 2005... Agrihold Farm Machinery displayed its new integrated topper attached to the front of an Agrifac Big Six self-propelled harvester. Although featuring the same flails as on previous, side-discharge toppers, they now work at higher revs and a...

REVERSE ACTION ROLLER SYSTEM.
November 14, 2005... New for this year on the loading front was CTM Harpley's reverse action roller system seen operating on the company's 544 cleaner loader. The new design, of two spiral rollers working with two smooth outer rollers, offers greater...

IRRIGATION: H2O and microbes.
November 14, 2005... Water quality and the prevention of contamination of crops was the topic at a recent technical meeting of the UK Irrigation Association. Alison Lea reports on points made by speakers. What's the problem? All irrigators must be able to...

BALERS: Baler update improves quality.
November 14, 2005... Vicon has updated its range of fixed chamber round balers. Mervyn Bailey reports. The RF235 round baler, launched by manufacturer Vicon, replaces its RF135 range with 14 or 23 knife chopping units or just a straight forward rotor feed...