Arable challenges discussed at NFU conference

Arable farmers in Wales had the opportunity to learn more about overcoming some of the challenges facing the sector earlier this week, thanks to a joint HGCA/ NFU Cymru conference.

The half day conference held in Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan included high calibre speakers who covered global grain markets, the challenge of keeping one step ahead of black-grass and research which looks at improving crop yields and soil structure by adding organic matter to soil.

Opening the conference, Jack Watts and Anna Lockwood from HGCA, spoke about global grain markets for 2015 and beyond. Those present heard how volatility in global grain prices was largely a product of weather events, and the impact these events can have on global production. The message to farmers was that although prices are not controllable, there are mechanisms in place to manage them so as to produce greater certainty for them as sellers.

The second speaker of the day, Dr Paul Gosling, who manages research and knowledge transfer for the HCGA, spoke of the challenges farmers faced in controlling black-grass, and resistant black-grass in particular. Black-grass able to resist herbicides first emerged in Peldon in Essex in 1982, and is now found on some 20,000 farms in 35 English counties, although it has yet to be detected in Wales.

For farmers in Wales the challenge is therefore to prevent the spread of resistant and non-resistant black-grass, so that it cannot compromise crop yields. Some of the control techniques outlined include ensuring bought in seed is free from black-grass contamination, ensuring that harvesting equipment brought on to farm is clean of black-grass seed. The growers at the conference heard of the control methods that could be engaged if black-grass did make an unwelcome appearance on farm. These included cultural methods such as ploughing techniques, delayed drilling, fallowing and chemical control methods.

The final speaker of the day was Professor Andy Whitmore of Rothamsted Research who spoke on research into the impact of increased soil organic matter on soil structure and crop yields. It is thought that soil organisms (such as worms) use the added organic matter as a food source, and it is the increased activity of these soil organisms which modifies soil structure allowing for better root growth and an improved yield. Exactly how much organic matter to apply, for what period of time and at what time of the year, remains an area for further research.