In this issue... Join the Groundswell page 16 Regenerative Agriculture comes of age Soil-led success page 82 - cpm magazine
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£3.99 In this issue... Join the Groundswell page 16 Soil-led success page 82 Regenerative Agriculture comes of age Hants estate journey to Net Zero Cultivating choice page 66 Sprouting solutions page 92
Opinion
4 Talking Tilth - A word from the editor.
Volume 23 Number 8 6 Smith’s Soapbox - Views and opinions from an Essex peasant…..
July 2021 64 Tech Respect - CPM ’s machinery editor surveys the search for UK Ag’s next step.
99 Last Word - A view from the field from CPM’s technical editor.
Technical
8 Cereals Event report - For the greater good…
After an online-event in 2020, Cereals returned to its in-person form.
16 Groundswell report - All’s well at Groundswell
The first in-person technical event since the onset of the pandemic.
20 Countryside Stewardship - The ‘brutal’ side of the RPA
The farmers in environmental schemes who’ll never trust RPA again.
24 Pipeline fungicide - First glimpse of Adepidyn
New cereal fungicides are now coming along like London buses.
26 Carbon farming - Tools of the trade
Three of the latest tools and partnerships which could help growers.
30 Take-all - Research informs integrated control
Editor Control of take-all currently relies on long-standing cultural methods.
Tom Allen-Stevens 36 Bioscience insider - A boost from within
Technical editor There are many times in a crop plant’s life that it may need a nutritional boost.
Lucy de la Pasture 40 OSR - Early benefits outweigh risks
Machinery editor Could the secret to growing OSR successfully be early drilling?
Charlotte Cunningham 44 Theory to Field - Fine-tuning the RL
The AHDB Recommended List is part of the fabric of arable farming.
Writers
Tom Allen-Stevens Charlotte Cunningham 47 Insiders View - Insist on a barn-buster?
Melanie Jenkins Lucy de la Pasture A new hard Group 4 offering looks to provide a table-topping option.
Rob Jones 50 Real Results Pioneers - The confidence to champion OSR
Wilts grower Martin Smart has come back into on-farm oilseed rape trials.
Design and production
Brooks Design 54 Pulse progress - A blend of benefits
Durham grower Richard Suddes is growing winter peas and beans together.
Advertisement co-ordinator
Peter Walker 58 Forward-thinking farmers - The risk of reliance
Glyphosate is under threat, both from resistance and public perception.
Publisher
Steve Kendall 61 Agri-intelligence update - Break it apart to bring it together
Agrii’s trials at Stow Longa have defined an integrated approach to blackgrass.
Commercial Director
Angus McKirdy
Machinery
To claim two crop protection BASIS points, send an email to
cpd@basis-reg.co.uk, quoting reference CP/112061/2122/g.
66 Cultivators and ploughs - One size doesn’t fit all
To claim two NRoSO CPD points, please send your name, Iit’s important to match a new purchase with on-farm objectives.
NRoSO member number, date of birth and postcode to
angus@cpm-magazine.co.uk
70 Balers - Output powers innovation
Balers everywhere are about to get put through their paces.
*the claim ‘best read specialist arable journal’ is based
on independent reader research conducted by
74 Sustainable farming - Sustainable solutions
Technology could play a key role in the future of sustainable farming.
McCormack Media 2020
78 Innovation Insight - 40 years of innovation
Editorial & advertising sales A look back on Claydon’s founding innovation, as well as the journey.
CPM Ltd, 1 Canonbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 7AG
Tel: (01743) 369707 E-mail: angus@cpm-magazine.co.uk
Innovation
Reader registration hotline 01743 369707
Advertising copy 82 Climate Change Champions - A respect for the soil
Brooks Design, The Lockerley Estate has made impressive headway on its journey to Net Zero.
24 Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1RD
Tel: (01743) 244403 E-mail: fred@brooksdesign.co.uk
85 Research Briefing - Mind the gap…
Hutchinsons’ Helix project identifies and then proves the latest technology.
CPM Volume 23 No 8. Editorial, advertising and sales offices are at
CPM Ltd, 1 Canonbury, Shrewsbury, SY1 9NX England.
Tel: (01743) 369707. CPM is published eleven times a year by Roots
CPM Ltd and is available free of charge to qualifying farmers
and farm managers in the United Kingdom.
88 Sugar beet disease - Rethink beet disease control?
In no way does CPM Ltd endorse, notarise or concur with any of the The 2020 season threw up some massive challenges.
advice, recommendations or prescriptions reported in the magazine.
If you are unsure about which recommendations to follow, please consult 92 Potatoes - All in the timing
a professional agronomist. Always read the label. Use pesticides safely. Controlling the risks of sprouting begins long before a potato goes into storage.
CPM Ltd is not responsible for loss or damage to any unsolicited
material, including photographs.
crop production magazine july 2021 3
CPM (Print) ISSN 2753-9040 CPM (Online) ISSN 2753-9059
because there are a few A special thanks too to the things on your farm that
select people who truly Charlotte Alexander, who has mean the most to you. That has
understand farming, worked tirelessly to promote the been such a privilege and
what it is to be a farmer, interests of CPM readers and I have learned so, so much.
and what would has been responsible for It’s a privilege, too, to
interest the CPM putting all the content online write about it. By far the best
reader. They have and for our email shots. Lottie aspect of this magazine is its
helped to shape change is also moving on to pastures readership –– those who are
over the past ten years, as new –– if you’re a Suffolk sugar currently reading these words.
well as brought us the best beet grower you’ll have the It has been so rewarding to
Thank you stories –– CPM is genuinely pleasure and the benefit of share what I’ve discovered with
top of the list for something her drive and energy. those who are undoubtedly the
new and interesting in arable One aspect that’s remarkable finest farmers in the world. So
Of the 108 Talking Tilth articles farming. about CPM is the way we work thank you.
I’ve had the pleasure of writing The other names you don’t with those who pay for it. It’s When I left practical farming
over the past ten years, this see are the others who share almost entirely funded by the behind and became a technical
one is the hardest. the space with the editorial companies who place adverts writer for farming magazines,
Because it’s my last. team on the left-hand side of or support sponsored features. I found I was better at writing
I’m moving on, so it will be the the previous page. Peter What unites the CPM team and about doing it right than doing
very talented Lucy de la Pasture Walker, aka Fred, has put the people who represent those it right. It’s no exaggeration that
and Charlotte Cunningham every single issue of CPM on companies is that we want our we’re now going through the
who will share this space from the page since it first started readers to have the information biggest period of change
hereon, I believe. in 1999. Words simply don’t they need to make the best farmers have faced for at
To take this space, to be mean a thing until you bring decision for their business. But least 100 years. The technical
editor of this magazine, has them alive with design and it goes further –– as a journalist capabilities we can bring in
been the greatest privilege. I’ve layout. Fred not only has an in this space, you stand at the make this an exciting and
totted it up. Over the time I’ve extraordinary talent for fitting edge and look into what can potentially empowering era of
been editor, we’ve brought you our ramblings on the page, but sometimes be an awe-inspiring opportunity for farmers. So it’s
2245 editorial articles. That’s also has the most incredible world of innovation. It’s a credit time to move on from writing
6077 pages and over 4M words. patience for an editor who to those we work with that we’re about what’s right and to start
The first thing I have to say is constantly pushes deadlines. let into that space to explore putting into action some of
thank you for reading them. But Angus McKirdy founded and to share what we find, those ideas we’ve shared. I do
I also want to give you an insight the magazine and is still trusted to do so without hope you’ll come along on that
as to how they reach you. responsible for almost misrepresenting or giving journey with me.
It is a remarkably small, but everything it does. As such, away trade secrets.
incredibly talented team. You he is almost unique in a And that brings me to those
will not find editorial skill that world where so many trade for whom I have the most
surpasses what Lucy and publications are run by faceless thanks, as well as the utmost
Charlotte bring to these pages. directors who don’t understand respect. Of the 3297 interviews
They also bring a passion for farmers. It is Angus I’ve worked I’ve done over the past ten
farming and a yearning to closest with since I joined as years, 544 of them have been Tom Allen-Stevens has a
explore what makes it better editor. He’s ensured the support farmers. I have arrived on your 170ha arable farm in Oxon,
and more interesting. It has and resource for all the editorial farm, probably parked in the has written 812 articles for
been so invigorating to work initiatives that have passed in wrong place, pummelled you CPM and is director of
alongside them. front of you since, and it’s his with questions. communications and PR for
The people you don’t see are singular drive to ensure the You have unreservedly Trinity AgTech.
the freelance journalists and PR interests of the CPM reader welcomed me, shared with me tom@cpm-magazine.co.uk
operatives we work with. There are always put first that has the thoughts that are closest to @tomallenstevens
aren’t very many, and that’s made them successful. you about farming. Shown me
not so much ‘freak’ but rather more conducive to a better
indicative of what’s to come. Guy Smith grows 500ha of
harvest for 2021. I do seem to
combinable crops on the north
The thought we’ve got more, remember there was a school
east Essex coast, namely
not less, of this punishing of thought doing the rounds St. Osyth Marsh –– officially the
weather to come does when climate change driest spot in the British Isles.
rather concentrate the projections were first emerging Despite spurious claims from
mind. I suspect I’m not 20 years ago that suggested others that their farms are
alone in thinking that in that the weather in northwest actually drier, he points out
autumn 2019 I shouldn’t Europe would become more that his farm is in the Guinness
have bothered to start the Book of Records, whereas
Long term cropping year. Even with
benign for farming not less.
others aren’t. End of.
But now things have taken a
weather woes improved prices, harvest 2020 far more ominous tone. These @essexpeasant
was the culmination of a lot of dark predictions of hellish
For the meteorologically bother and expense with little weather become all the more
squeamish among us the or no reward. engaging as we consider putting acres into schemes that
recent pronouncements of the But before we rush to shut the adjusting our farm business guarantee an income no matter
Climate Change Committee field gate, the key question is models in preparation for the what the weather becomes all
make for sobering reading. how much trust we should put demise of BPS and the advent the more appealing in the face
Basically, their expert opinion into long term weather forecasts. of a new suite of environmental of flood and drought with not
is that the ‘freak’ weather I’ve yet to come across a schemes. The prospect of much in between.
patterns we’ve seen over the reliable ten-day forecast, let
recent years whereby flood alone a ten-year one. Certainly,
gives way to drought and then the weather in the 2020/21
Nuffield and Knepp
returns back to flood again, are growing year has been a lot
Nuffield farming scholarships are
primarily about travel bursaries
that encourage farmers to look at
a particular aspect of agriculture
in foreign fields. The experience
certainly expanded my horizons
although admittedly from a very
limited parochial start-point where
I hadn’t ventured far from my
small Essex pond. Obviously
Covid has proven a huge travel
hurdle for those recently awarded
scholarships but hopefully the
vaccine programme will start to
open the world up again soon.
A stork’s nest on the Sussex Weald
Another aspect of the Nuffield
may be balanced as precariously
experience is the lifelong
as farming incomes.
camaraderie where scholars stay
in touch. There are various study
groups which attract Nuffields of nursed back to health in a new
all ages. As Chair of the Arable home on the Sussex Weald. The
Group, I had the pleasure of result is the first nesting storks in
arranging a trip to the Knepp the UK since 1400. Their scruffy
Estate in West Sussex. It was nests balanced precariously in
fascinating to see what happens the tops of trees make quite
to a large arable farm where you a sight.
shut the gate only allowing in a The Knepp experiment is very
small number of herbivores to on-trend as it has become a
browse plus the odd pig to snout honeypot attracting the the Defra
around. There’s also some more policy drones. While it was a
intense management such as the fascinating day most of the
stork project where young, injured Nuffield group walked away
storks from Warsaw zoo are with the F word on their minds.
6 crop production magazine july 2021
“ Now is
the right time
for good teamwork
and knowledge
exchange.
”
For the greater
good…
Technical
Cereals Event report
After an online-event in growing medium to hold, we know that soils farmers to ‘increase their ambition’ within
2020, Cereals returned to its are alive, and farmers know that the extent to those standards, but also, to add additional
which they have humus and organic matters ones. “Initially we’ll be looking at nutrient
in-person form once again in the soil is key to plant health. analysis.
this year. CPM paid a visit to “That is why we want to ensure that as we “I’m also interested in whether we can do
move forward, we can support improved soil more to incentivise the use of green fertilisers,
the Lincolnshire site. health through new agriculture policies. That whether there can be more on min and no-till
is why we want our future policies to support systems and also whether more can be
By Charlotte Cunningham this movement and that is why today we are done on companion crops which can assist
announcing more details on our Sustainable in tackling diseases as we lose more and
Farming Incentive. more pesticides. And whether we can look
Crop plots, a jam-packed seminar at options to incentivise fallow crop options
programme and more tyres to kick than Soil custodians as well.”
one could dream of could all be used to “It’s going to start with soils –– a better Turning focus to payments, proposed
describe this year’s Cereals Event, which understanding of our soils and incentivising rates so far are only available for improved
took place at its Lincolnshire home in farmers to be custodians of their soils.” grassland soils and arable and horticulture
Boothby Graffoe at the end of last month. As such, the Secretary of State soils, with the standards set to be finalised in
But it was ‘what’s next for farming?’ that announced that there is going to be four November this year –– when a payment rate
was the question on everyone’s lips –– with different soil health standards going forward for moorland and rough grazing is expected
many seminar sessions focusing on what –– three specifically relevant to arable to be announced too.
▲
may lie ahead for the industry and how growers –– and each linked to different
growers can best prepare for change. payment rates.
And providing some clarity on what These are (and will be available from
the industry can expect in terms of 2022):
government direction, was Secretary ● Arable and horticultural soil
of State, George Eustice. ● Improved grassland soil
Speaking at the event, the minister ● Moorland and rough grazing
announced a first look at how the new “The fourth is the beginning of our animal
Sustainable Farming Incentive –– one of health and welfare pathway where we are
three new schemes which will reward going to pay farmers to have a vet to do an
environmental land management –– is annual review of their herd and come up
going to shape up. with a management plan to try to manage
“In recent years, we’ve seen a renewed down diseases and the overall health of their
interest in an ancient knowledge –– the herd, thus promoting profitability as well.”
Secretary of State, George Eustice, gave a first
knowledge around what makes healthy, The Secretary of State added that
glimpse of some of the key priorities of the
fertile soil. Farmers instinctively understand additional modules would be added in
Sustainable Farming Incentive.
this – we know that soil is more than a coming years, with the aim of enabling
8 crop production magazine july 2021
Cereals Event report
that the quid pro quo for moving away from methodology been applied. I know that that’s
an arbitrary area-based payment system is going to be a really powerful incentive for
that we should also depart from the income farmers to get involved in these schemes.”
forgone payment methodology the European The question is, will the RPA be able to
Union previously used for agri-environmental handle managing another payment scheme?
schemes. While the minister was confident that this
“We need to start to have payment rates would be the case, there was some concern
attached to the Sustainable Farming in the room. (Find out more about growers’
Incentive that better reflect the cost current challenges with the RPA on p20)
NIAB’s crop plots provoked many discussions associated with those options which are CPM will be examining the scheme and
about getting the best from crop protection. set at a rate which genuinely creates an how it will work practically in upcoming
incentive for farmers to take part. issues, so watch this space…
The table below highlights the new “So the payment rates that we are And though the government were keen to
▲
payments, compared with how they stack publishing for those three new soil standards push the new schemes, consultancy, Ceres
up against the rates being offered under the roughly equate to a 30% uplift in what would Rural were also on hand, offering advice for
current pilot scheme “I’ve always been clear have been the case had the old EU those still getting to grips with the fall out of
life after BPS.
Taking a closer look at current business
Sustainable Farming Current Sustainable
Incentive payments Farming Incentive performance and using the transition period
from 2022 pilot scheme to make changes –– especially where
Improved grassland soils farming is the major contributor to profitability
Introductory £26/ha £6/ha –– is the priority, according to the firm.
Intermediate £44/ha £6/ha As such, it issued a five-point plan at the
Advanced £70/ha £8/ha event, aimed at helping growers prepare for
Arable and horticultural soils what is to come.
Introductory £26/ha £30/ha 1. Focus on efficiency
Intermediate £41/ha £47/ha Start by benchmarking, urged partner,
Advanced £60/ha £59/ha Richard Means. “Knowing how the farm is
performing compared with others and
whether your business is amongst the top
FSOOTY winner announcement 25% gives a good basis for decision-making.
“There will be new opportunities or
Congratulations to Luke Haynes who was changes to consider and it’s much easier to
crowned winner of this year’s Farm Spray do this with your current performance in
Operator Of the Year. mind.”
Followers of the award will know that this Reducing costs will be a priority on
was Luke’s second consecutive appearance as most farms, but any changes should be
a FSOOTY finalist, however, during the past introduced in a gradual way so that
year he has changed both jobs and sprayers. margins are maintained, he added.
Today, Luke covers 1150ha at Stevens “Low input systems only work where soils
Farm, in Kent, and operates a Fendt Rogator are functioning well and management is top
645, fitted with a 5000-litre tank and 30m notch. Be cost appropriate rather than just
Pommier boom. His go-to nozzle choice has cutting costs.”
been the Syngenta 3D Nozzle which, with three Richard also added that putting the
different sizes fitted and his sprayer’s Kent-based Luke Haynes was crowned at this foundations in place for a consistent,
Optinozzle systems, can automatically select year’s FSOOTY winner. profitable farming system which avoids
the optimum spray pattern for any given water damage to the environment and delivers
volume and speed. Fungicides are typically part that the sprayer operator plays in public goods takes time.
applied at 100 l/ha and herbicides at 200 l/ha. ensuring the business meets its productivity “A good starting point is to improve the
resilience of your soils. That reduces risk,
▲
Syngenta application specialist and FSOOTY and efficiency goals.”
judge, Scott Cockburn, commented how all FSOOTY 2021 finalists:
six finalists had demonstrated a deep ● Luke Haynes: Stevens Farm, Cranbrook,
understanding of sprayer operation and Kent
exemplified good practice to consistently ● Steven Forbes: W H Gittins and Sons,
achieve optimum results, whilst achieving Shrewsbury, Shropshire
safe and accurate application. ● Tom Ingram: Sutton Cheney Farms
“Luke stood out for his appreciation of how Partnership, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
his role and the spraying activities integrated ● Jonathan Legg: Ashton Farms, Trowbridge,
into the farm’s overall agronomy, decision Wiltshire
making and strategy. ● Josh Whitear: Netherley Farm Partnership, DSV’s new ‘quad-layered’ oilseed rape variety,
“It really emphasised the vitally important Waterlooville, Hampshire Matrix, looked well in the crop plots.
10 crop production magazine july 2021Cereals Event report
a professional management structure.” significant development for industry, was
4. Grow profits from diversification/ the launch of Syngenta’s new 3D ninety
environmental management to spread risk nozzle.
With a 12% reduction in BPS already For those who didn’t catch it at the
introduced for 2021, farmers should look at event, the latest launch is designed to
other funding streams to fill this gap such as improve all round coverage –– by better
the Sustainable Farming Incentive and balancing the demands of improving
Countryside Stewardship, as well as the application efficacy and minimising
Farm Equipment and Farm Transformation environmental losses.
Funds, suggested partner, George Badger. The design comprises the benefits of
Kaleb Cooper said the best advice he could give “In-field practices which increase soil Syngenta’s 3D nozzle, but with the ‘ninety’
to the next generation is to seize every organic matter could earn you around element representing the 90% drift
opportunity. £70/ha under the SFI, which is piloting now reduction technology, explained Harry
and will be available next year. Help with Fordham, Syngenta’s new farming
allows for lower input use and paves the larger infrastructure projects or equipment technologies lead.
▲
way for ELMS and potentially future carbon purchases is on offer with the new funds.” “The 3D ninety comes as a result of
sequestration payments.” Diversification projects may also be three years of research and development
2. Make environmental management as relevant, especially where farming is –– including extensive laboratory testing
good as your farm management contributing less to profitability and there’s as well as field trials and on-farm
Accept that nature recovery and a need to spread risk. evaluations.”
environmental sustainability will be key 5. People make the difference Field trials were carried out at
requirements for future success, said Involve the farm team in decisions about the Syngenta’s innovation centre, where the
associate partner George Hoyes. future and use their enthusiasm to try out 3D ninety gave a 2.5% improvement in
With the guaranteed income stream from new ideas and practices, said partner blackgrass control, compared with
Countryside Stewardship still available until Charlie Ireland –– aka, ‘Cheerful Charlie’ conventional low drift nozzles –– equating
2023, George says that there’s time to from Clarkson’s Farm. to over 150 plants/m2 in the trial plots,
introduce management options to the “People are so important in farm he added.
rotation, see whether they stack up and if businesses and a great deal of effort goes “The 3D ninety also performed 9%
the desired environmental outcomes are into recruiting, training and retaining the better than the existing industry-standard
delivered. right staff. Now is the right time for good grassweed application 3D nozzle at the
“Farmers will be allowed to leave teamwork and knowledge exchange.” recommend 200 l/ha.”
agreements early to join ELMs when it’s Farm trials are an effective way of And for those interested in robotics,
available, so it’s a good way to mitigate assessing the contribution of new AgXeed’s AgBot Ecosystem was seen in
some losses from BPS reductions and techniques, or trying out a demonstration action in a series of demonstrations.
assess the right options for your farm.” drill, before sweeping changes are made, As a company who market themselves
Two-year whole field environmental he added. with the strap line ‘we do automation’, the
fallows might be a good solution where “Take independent advice, learn from AgBot is claimed to deliver advanced
break crops are struggling, while the best practice and get everyone on board digital path planning, autonomous task
enhanced over-winter stubble option can with your plans. They are far more likely performing and automatic data collection.
work well if grass weeds are threatening to succeed if you have taken the team Optional crawler tracks with belt widths
profitability, he added. with you.” from 300 to 910mm, combined with a low
3. Collaborate to use the best skills Chipping Norton’s most famous resident, maximum weight of 6.0 t (without ballast)
Collaboration is a proven way of bringing (closely followed by David Beckham) was it’s also a soil-friendly option. The vehicle
costs down and making better use of also on the Ceres Rural stand for a Young also features an adjustable track width,
machinery and labour, highlighted partner Professional’s breakfast. load-sensing hydraulics and a linkage
Will Gemmill. With talk of lump sum exit payments and with a lift capacity of up to 8t.
“It also gives you access to other new opportunities for young farmers, star of An electric PTO, independent of the
expertise and skills, as well as assets. Clarkson’s Farm, Kaleb Cooper, said the engine speed, and external high-voltage
So while it is often introduced to bring best advice he could give to the next connections are also optionally available.
about economies of scale, it can also be generation is to seize every opportunity. The electric equipment includes all the
used to generate new income streams or “Have a go –– that’s what I did. I made a lot technology required for hazard and
increase sales.” of mistakes, but if you don’t make them, you obstacle detection, in addition to an RTK
Partnering with others ensures that any don’t learn from them. steering system.
skills that don’t already exist in the business “A mistake is not a failure –– it’s an In May this year, Claas announced a
can be secured, while also avoiding opportunity to learn.” co-operative venture with AgXeed with
expensive mistakes or over-stretching the the aim of working together on the
existing team’s capabilities, he noted. Innovation on display development and commercialisation of
“The key is to find a system of Outside of the seminar tents, there was an the bot, which could add some serious
collaboration that suits your needs. That array of innovation on display, giving many clout for UK markets.
may be a very simple sharing arrangement the first opportunity to see the latest Together with the associated software
between two neighbouring farmers or a launches from over the past 18 months. solutions and platforms, AgBot is expected
more complex joint venture agreement with Among those, and looking like quite a to be launched commercially in 2022. ■
12 crop production magazine july 2021All’s well at “ Regenerative
agriculture is a
Groundswell direction of travel – not
an absolute.
”
Technical
Groundswell report
Normality resumed this regards to how the five key principles of specific funding for providing natural
month, with the first regenerative agriculture can be adopted capital.
on a wider scale –– the overriding theme Gary believes that this will put a
in-person technical event of the event. financial strain on many businesses. “While
since the onset of the “Regen ag is quite simple –– it’s a many farmers have correctly attempted to
form of farming which at the same expand to deal with pressures, expansion
pandemic. CPM headed to time improves the environment,” said has meant tendering for contract farming
Hertfordshire to visit this Alex Cherry, event director. agreements but on average, a loss of
“This primarily means regenerating the £40-£60/ac £98.80-£148.20/ha) is made
year’s Groundswell event. soil, but it’s a direction of travel –– not an on contracted land.
absolute.” “But there is another way…”
By Charlotte Cunningham The 5 Principles of Regen Ag include: LFB has been benchmarking a group
1. Don’t disturb the soil of regenerative agriculture farming
2. Keep the soil surface covered businesses for the 2017-20 harvests ––
“How many farmers does it take to 3. Keep living roots in the sun known as the Groundswell Benchmarking
change a lightbulb? Change, what’s 4. Grow a diverse range of crops Group –– to identify if regenerative
▲
that?” an opening quip that drew 5. Bring grazing animals back to the land
laughs from the audience at this year’s
Groundswell event –– and wow, what a Stack up financially
treat the sound of ‘real-life’ laughter was And while satisfying all of those
after a difficult 18 months. principles may seem like a tall order, it
Now in its fifth year, Groundswell has can really stack up financially, as well as
become colloquially known as the environmentally, explained Gary Markham,
Glastonbury of the ag show world. Land Family Business, speaking at a
However, in the absence of miles of seminar on the future of agronomy.
quagmire, and with notably better toilet “Farming is embarking on a period of
facilities, the only real comparisons that change that most of the current generation
could be drawn between the two was the of farmers have not experienced. Moving
bucket-loads of new talent on display. from the comfort of area payments ––
And change isn’t something that visitors which on average make up around 84%
to this event resent, nor fear, with the of income on arable farms included in the
Gary Markham has set up a benchmarking group
seminar tents a hub for knowledge Land Family Business (LFB) annual
for regenerative agriculture farmers.
exchange and idea sharing with benchmark –– to having to apply for
16 crop production magazine july 2021Groundswell report
agriculture production systems can be
▲
financially viable.
“Some of the key findings are that
in regenerative systems, the average
output per unit area is 25% lower,
variable costs are 24% lower, gross
margins are 28% lower and labour and
machinery costs are 30% lower.
“This results in an average margin very
similar for both systems of production.
However, the range of results within the
A new direct seed drill from British manufacturer group is wide –– with the top performers
NIAB’s crop plots illustrated lower-input cropping
izona was launched at the event. achieving results well above the conventional
options.
top 25% group.”
Are livestock the future for arable farming?
The fifth principle of regen ag is ‘bring grazing things like flying flocks are a great idea, having a
animals back to the land’ –– something that shepherd who understands that you don’t want
mixed farmers have been doing for some time, your cover crop grazed completely to the ground
but large-scale arable farms are just starting to is a challenge.
edge towards. “The other thing that concerned me was that
And while the environmental benefits are clear, when we first started getting our soils moving in
can it work on a commercial basis? the right direction with no-till, the last thing we
Groundswell facilitated a debate with farmers wanted was a wet winter and being committed
David Miller, George Hosier and Jo Franklin, as to having someone’s sheep going across the
well as beef and sheep consultant Liz Genever to cover crops.
David Miller says livestock could compromise his
discuss the pros and cons of integrating livestock “Now the soil has moved on and improved,
simple, low input system.
into an arable system. maybe we could facilitate it, but for us, it’s not
First up was farm manager, David Miller, who yet an option.”
said that after experimenting with sheep in the On the other side of the debate was Jo Franklin
rotation, it wasn’t a viable option for the who is an advocate of the benefits sheep can
Wheatsheaf Farming Company. “We’re an bring to the arable rotation.
all-arable farm, all combinable crops –– Herts farmers, Jo and husband, Rob set up
farming about 700ha –– and made the change to their business ‘Kaiapoi’ in 2013 with 200 ewes.
optimising regenerative agriculture principles in Today, they run 2250 ewes across 405ha of
2010 and today, we’re satisfying four of them. semi-improved grassland, alongside 648ha of
“However, livestock doesn’t work for us. arable crops.
“In 2014, we had sheep on the farm. We grew Jo believes that integrating livestock and arable
some really thick cover crops and at the time systems bring huge advantages and cost savings
didn’t have a disc/no-till drill, so we needed to both enterprises and creates one big profitable,
something to remove the green matter. holistic machine. “Working with nature rather than Jo Franklin believes livestock can bring cost-saving
“We had no idea whether what we had in the fighting it to benefit sheep, crops, wildlife, and environmental benefits to arable farms.
mix was good for sheep, but we ended up with landowners, staff, farmers and the environment.
2500 sheep which took everything right down. “Recent events within British agriculture have which we seed with a legume-rich multi-species
“The issue for us is that we run an incredibly seen unprecedented change –– the ending of BPS grass and herbal ley. We spot spray these leys for
simple, low input system and adding livestock to payments, switch to ELMs and the “public money thistles, otherwise they receive no inputs –– a
that might complicate or compromise. While for public goods” mantra have all combined to great opportunity to let nature repair the soil.”
create a “perfect storm”. Though Jo is having huge success with her
“Add into the mix the emergence of flock, it’s not feasible for every grower who wants
regenerative agriculture and it is clear farming in to incorporate livestock into the system to go out
even five years will be very different from today. and buy a flock of sheep. And in all honesty, many
“Our farming approach positions us somewhat specialist arable growers would probably agree
uniquely to take best advantage of Hertfordshire’s that they don’t have the skills necessary to
mixed soil types. We take out all of the manage livestock.
uneconomic arable fields and put them into a Which is why consultant, Liz Genever, has set
mid-tier scheme as arable reversion –– which can up “carbon dating” –– a new hook-up service
be returned to arable production at the end of the for livestock farmers who want land and arable
Could sheep become an important part of the five-year term if it is profitable to do so. farmers who want stock. (Think Tinder, but for
arable rotation? “In the meantime, the scheme grants capital to sheep). “The overall aim is to help build carbon
cover fencing and running water to these fields levels in arable soils.”
18 crop production magazine july 2021Groundswell report
West, West Midlands and Wales –– with
the National Trust heading up activity in
the East.
The ‘FAB’ in FABulous stands for
Functional AgroBiodiversity –– targeted
measures of biodiversity in and around
fields to boost pollination and pest
management as well as soil and water
quality –– and the programme is designed
to help farmers identify and adopt the
relevant FAB-methods specific to
A carbon border tax is a measure Defra their farm.
secretary of state George Eustice revealed Examples of FAB practices include:
The seminar tents were a hub for knowledge
● Reduced tillage techniques
as an “ambitious” plan the UK Government exchange and idea sharing.
● Mixed crops/crop rotations
hopes to take forward in forthcoming
● Cover/catch crops
negotiations with world leaders. Answering 12.7cm coulter which drills individual rows
● Organic matter input such as plant
questions from Baroness Rosie Boycott and evenly spaced apart across the width of
in particular from one Groundswell visitor residuals, wood chips and biochar.
● Modified manure quality and diversity
the drill. The iPass can also be available
who highlighted how the UK is off-shoring its in 333mm row spacings with models
● Hedgerow management
responsibility on climate change through including the 618 and the 824.
● Field margin management
imports, the Minister indicated “there was Summing up the event, hosting farming,
● Reduction in the use of plant protection
increasing interest around the world” in a Paul Cherry said: “Back in 2016 when
tax that reflected commodities traded with a products
● Semi-natural landscape elements to
we started Groundswell, regenerative
higher carbon footprint. Asked to elaborate agriculture as a name was on the fringe
by CPM, he said the idea had been mooted provide habitats.
–– now, it’s on everyone’s lips. I see it as a
at the recent G7 summit in Cornwall. “It’s The Soil Association is currently setting
chance to really take the lead on showing
very early days, but we are doing exploratory up learning networks which are open to all
the best of farming to an increasingly
work to see how such a thing might located within the pilot regions.
demanding and aware public. We can
develop,” he added. And it wasn’t just all about seminars
build natural fertility, we can store carbon,
–– there was plenty of kit both on stand
we can improve drinking water and by the
and working in the demo zones.
way make our own businesses more
In addition to margins, Gary said there Among them was the debut of the
resilient. I’m more excited by what I’m
are savings in working capital of around izona iPass –– a new direct seed drill from
seeing in agriculture than I have been
£365/ha, which can have a huge impact British manufacturer izona.
in the past 35 years.” ■
on farming businesses.
“The main driver of lack of profitability High output seeding
in arable farms are the machinery costs The izona iPass is the brainchild of farmer
and in particular the depreciation which and engineer, Martin Lole, and has been
represents the capital. designed to offer flexible, high output
“We therefore have developed a key seeding across a range of establishment
indicator of machinery capital per tonne. systems.
The Groundswell group average is £74/t, Boasting a large 7000-litre split tank the
while the LFB conventional system is £91/t iPass can comfortably accommodate four
–– with the difference between the two bags of fertiliser and six bags of seed to
coming in at anywhere between £20 and allow an output of up to 16ha/tank fill when
£30/t over the past four harvests.” based on a 180kg/ha seed rate.
But what does this all mean in practice? Supporting the high-capacity tank,
A group of former Soil Farmers of the Year
“Firstly, the current traditional ‘yield is the monocoque chassis features a
finalists have come together to form the
king’ philosophy doesn’t work,” said Gary. commercial axle fitted with hydraulic
Green Farm Collective. (From L to R) Michael
“Secondly, expanding area is not feasible brakes as standard, as well as flotation
Kavanagh, Jake Freestone, Tim Parton,
by using traditional contract farming tyres to minimise compaction and impact.
Angus Gowthorpe and Simon Cowell
structures. And thirdly, benchmarking data Interchangeable front points and
presented plans to offer enhanced carbon
from four harvests proves that there is an coulters allow the iPass to be converted
sequestration and food provenance services
alternative approach for growers that is from a no-till drill to a strip till or
to local and national clients, sourced from a
still economically viable.” conventional drill at the push of a roll pin.
regenerative agriculture system. This is
And if you’re looking for support to get Operators can choose 5cm single shoot
underpinned through carbon accounting and
started, the FABulous Farmers project and 7.6cm and 12.7cm double shoot coulters
biodiversity assessments brought together
could be worth looking in to. to achieve different row spacings to suit
through Sandy, the new digital assistant
The European project is supported by different seeding techniques. 250mm row
from Trinity AgTech. For more follow
the European Regional Development Fund spaced models, such as the 6m iPass
@TheGreenFarmCo1 on Twitter.
and the Soil Association for delivering 624 and the 8m iPass 832 can achieve
(Photo kindly supplied by Guy Eckley)
activity in three UK pilot regions –– South a conventional seed row finish using the
crop production magazine july 2021 19“ It’s the
way the schemes are
administered and that the
RPA communicates that
are all wrong, and it’s
the environment that
loses out.
”
The ‘brutal’ side
of the RPA
Technical Countryside
Stewardship
As the Government puts started in Jan. “By then it was too late to sow on the land and effectively received no
the AB9 wild bird cover option. An inspector income.”
forward promises of “trusted came out in August, right in the middle of In total, the business has lost around
advisors” who’ll administer harvest. He was really pushy, insisting on £25-30,000 in claims and penalties. “The
discussing what he’d found while at the time Government clearly doesn’t want to do its bit
ELMs, CPM talks to farmers I was trying to sort out the grain dryer that for the environment at all. It simply wants to
in environmental schemes was backing up. claw back the money it’s spent. I know the
“Then we heard nothing for a whole RPA has had restrictive EU rules it has to
who’ll never trust RPA again. 18 months but noticed payments were follow, but farmers seem to be paying the
missing. Eventually the report came through, penalty for a scheme the Government has
By Tom Allen-Stevens which I had to chase, and sure enough decided it doesn’t like any more.
and Melanie Jenkins they’d deducted the payment for the AB9 “But we’ve done nothing intentionally
and taken off penalties, even though it wrong. All we’ve done is try to enhance the
wasn’t our fault.” environment following the scheme options.
Instead, I’ve spent literally weeks of my time
Delays, administrative errors and Payment deducted trying to piece together from their haphazard
heavy-handed tactics from the Rural This year there’s been a fresh set of issues. way of accounting how and why they’ve
Payments Agency (RPA) when dealing with “We’ve been deducted payment for land deducted all the payments and fines.
appeals against hefty penalties are putting we’d taken temporarily out of arable into “You ring them up and even they can’t
farmers off applying to Countryside GS4, legume and herb-rich swards –– the work it out, but the RPA isn’t answerable
Stewardship and ELMs. option is disallowed on land parcels prone to to anyone. Being out of the EU won’t
CPM has been approached by several erosion, which is what we’d marked it as five help, because it’s the way the schemes
farmers and agents whose clients are years ago when we completed our Farm are administered and that the RPA
£10,000s out of pocket following fines and Environment Record. Also a remapping communicates with farmers that are all
▲
deductions. Some of them have agreed to exercise has meant three new tumulus
tell their story only if their identity is withheld sites have suddenly appeared in our fields,
for fear of reprisals and further deductions making options in them ineligible,” explains
on continuing contracts with RPA. the farmer.
One Herts mixed farmer has five Mid Tier “They haven’t said anything for four years
CS agreements and told CPM they’ve been about the GS4, and suddenly they just take
battling RPA ever since they applied for the back all the payments. Yet over that time the
first one that started in 2017. “They lost the soil has really benefited from the legume
application forms, and initially blamed us, and herb mix and the field is no longer an
until we provided written proof they had erosion risk. The options in the tumulus fields
been submitted correctly.” have helped preserve them. It makes no
Farmers have felt frustration at the considerable
It wasn’t until mid-June that they finally sense as we now have to rip it all up and put
time RPA has taken to deal with appeals.
received confirmation for the agreement, that it back to arable –– we’ve been paying rent
20 crop production magazine july 2021Countryside Stewardship
deal with client appeals. of the RDPE; the most recent has seen the
One case from 2014 involved a client in worst delays from the RPA in making
ELS and HLS schemes that paid £40,000/yr. decisions. One was for a small-scale tourism
After an inspection in the July of that year a project,” she explains. “The application was
letter was issued stating fines and withheld submitted on 30 April 2020 and only got
payment of £50,000 in total. “We went approval on 3 March 2021. It wasn’t even
through four different appeals and were a complex application. These are real
partially successful each time, with each businesses they are dealing with who have
appeal taking longer,” says Elton. to make decisions about their future.”
When mistakes are made by the RPA there’s a lack “Eventually, in 2016 they paid, by which This is just one of many cases where
of response to enquiries and nobody to talk to. point he was owed £65,000. But rather than applications have taken considerably longer
getting £40,000/yr subsequently the RPA than they should. “It’s not a customer friendly
wrong, and it’s the environment that reduced it to £35,000 –– something they still system and immediately puts a divide
▲
loses out.” can’t explain to our satisfaction.” between RPA and applicant,” she adds.
Another large farming business in the The bureaucracy involved may be per-
Eastern Counties is £130,000 out of pocket Nothing back ceived as a barrier to uptake of the ELMs
after a bitter battle with the RPA when it Elton currently has an on-going appeal from pilots, she notes. “Prior to the RPA running
imposed claims and penalties multiplied September 2019, where £54,000 in fines and and managing schemes, skilled staff from
over the entire business. withheld payments were administered to his the managing bodies would go out and
“It was brutal,” comments the farmer. client. “I appealed straight away and got a present to farmers and businesses,
“I was made to feel like a criminal, and they partial victory in November 2019, reducing developing relationships and understanding
withheld all subsequent payments from RPA the figure to £28,000,” he says. However, he that led to more trust and stronger projects.
to recover the deductions and penalties. has appealed again and despite chasing the Those days seem to have gone.”
It was very heavy-handed and they’re RPA and speaking to senior staff, he has After successfully participating in previous
incredibly difficult to deal with once you heard nothing back. environmental schemes, entering CS has
start the appeal process. “Trying to get hold of the RPA is been a nightmare for one East Yorkshire
“I can see that most farmers would just impossible. You have to send everything to mixed arable and livestock farmer. “We
give up, even if they knew they were in the a generic email and it goes into a big black worked with an adviser to go into a 10-year
right, because it’s a tortuous process –– the hole. There must be loads of people with agreement –– but they left for personal
RPA must be reaping the rewards of clawing small fines who don’t think the time, effort reasons,” explains the farmer.
back money due to farmers.” and cost of paying an agent is worth “In the winter of 2017/18 we had an
The time taken for RPA to process appealing against,” he adds. inspection where a few things were flagged
inspections, and then subsequent queries Although Emma Powlett, rural as not being quite right, but we compared
from claimants is a common complaint from management consultant at Powlett and his prescription book to ours and they didn’t
many farmers who have contacted CPM. Associates, hasn’t dealt directly with CS match –– so he was measuring things we
Elton Moulds, a rural chartered surveyor cases, she is involved with the RPA through didn’t have to do.”
at Perkins George Mawer and Co, has the Rural Development Programme for After this the farmer heard nothing from
experienced numerous instances where England (RDPE). the RPA for 12 months. They then got a letter
the RPA has taken considerable time to “Since 2016 there have been three rounds fining them thousands of pounds –– some
‘Draconian’ CAP simply didn’t fit, says George Eustice
Defra Secretary of State George Eustice has put to put such a system in place, bearing in mind
the blame for heavy-handed tactics from the current failings, he blamed “the incredibly
RPA when dealing with claims and penalties onerous” EU rules for the “draconian” measures
squarely at the door of the European Union. the agency has been taking and for what it was
Going forward, he’s pledged a system where able to say to farmers.
“trusted advisors” will work with farmers on “The Common Agricultural Policy was
new agreements. hideous,” he said. “I spent many years dealing
Speaking at Groundswell, he said that with RPA appeals. Wherever it was possible
30,000 farmers are currently within Countryside I used to push for more proportionate outcomes,
Stewardship or other environmental schemes, recognising genuine error, for instance. George Eustice claims the UK incurred fines of
and the intention is to bring more farmers on “But bear in mind the UK Government was £100 million/yr from the EU for not being
board. In future, farmers will work with their typically fined £100 million each and every year draconian enough with farmers.
agronomists or other trusted advisors to put by the EU for not being draconian enough on
together agreements and then to monitor work farmers or claims where we were too soft or are out of the way, we’ve already made
undertaken. He estimated around 600-1000 weren’t using penalties enough –– it was an clear that we’re going to take a much more
professional advisors would need to be appalling position to be in.” pragmatic and sensible approach to penalties,
accredited, visiting around 80 farms per For schemes starting in Jan 2021, the Minister issuing warning letters where it’s appropriate.
person twice a year. pledged RPA will be dealing with farmers in an We’re not obliged any more to simply follow
When asked by CPM if RPA could be trusted entirely different way. “Now that the EU auditors the EU approach.”
22 crop production magazine july 2021Countryside Stewardship
for things they had cleared up with the it more attractive and streamlining the
inspector and should not have been inspection process.”
penalised for. However, there are still plenty of farmers
With the help of an adviser who pushed experiencing issues. “There’s a lack of
their case, the farmer launched an appeal, clarity and where things could be resolved
but it took until 2020 to get the money. quickly it’s overly complex and long, with the
“My family and I were really stressed by the various stages of complaints and appeals,”
experience, and we questioned why we says Harry.
even bothered to do CS in the first place. He’s found the system makes it difficult to
The thing that ticks me off is that there is no know what’s happening in individual cases
one to talk to and they don’t get back to you. where issues have arisen, and says the The rules and deadlines are so numerous that it
If it was any other public body, there would penalty notification letters during an appeal can be difficult to get full farm and environmental
be an inquiry. process increase farmers’ anxiety. value from an application.
“It doesn’t fill you with any confidence There are several occasions where
going forward.” appeals have taken one or two years to Government about the importance of
As a farm consultant, Rob Wilkinson, resolve. A lot could be done earlier if investing in sustainable farming and
at Strutt and Parker, finds the inflexibility improvements were made to the system and environmental land management. We can’t
of Natural England and the RPA very a case worker was allocated with authority improve our environment without farmers, so
frustrating. Though several recent to make decisions, he says. environmental schemes must pay well and,
inspections have seen quick responses, “There’s a case to be made to the just as crucially, be well-administered.” ■
with good inspectors who are able to clearly
explain things, there have been others with
a whole host of issues, he says. “Currently
there definitely seems a lack of response
to enquiries.”
The complexity of the application has
proven a real issue. “There are a lot of
additional requirements to some of the wider,
more exciting environmental options, which
are putting farmers off applying, or they feel
like options benefit bureaucracy only and not
the environment,” he says.
“I know of a case where a farmer’s best
land from an environmental perspective is
now not included within their agreement, due
to a deadline and permission being missed.
This is land which was previously managed
under ELS/HLS as the same option.
“The rules and deadlines are so
numerous that it can be difficult to get full
farm and environmental value from an
application, especially with such limited
flexibility,” says Rob. “Where farmers have a
number of options, there are so many times
and dates, it’s very difficult to manage.
Farmers will then choose the simple options
that have some environmental benefit –– but
it could be more.”
The real issue is the administration, he
adds. “The whole system needs completely
streamlining, in order to get wider farm
uptake.”
Helping members with agri-environment
schemes constitutes a large part of Harry
Greenfield’s work as senior land use policy
adviser at the CLA. “I probably have a bias
as the farmers who don’t have problems
don’t phone me –– I know some farmers in
schemes like CS think it’s a really good deal
and don’t have any problems.
“I also think the RPA has improved the
scheme a lot in recent years –– makingYou can also read
