The record 200 visitors welcomed to this year’s Morley Innovation Day started to hear what’s to learn from the research we host as they drove down the track to the gathering. The route was lined with signs explaining our key themes and collaborators. And that was just the start …
Farmers, advisors, suppliers and others could choose between browsing the 20 stands of expertise in a clearing between grand oak trees or going on one of the regular guided plot walks.
Choices and cost implications of variety choice and disease control
The implications of 7 months of rain are visible across many arable fields. On the plots, growers at the Morley Field Day were keen to get honest perspectives and clear advice to guide their choices this year and beyond. And did not hold back on the questioning about variety choice and protecting their crops.
At stops between the hundreds of plots, there was practical advice and straight answers. On the question of disease control in barley the answer was a question back.
“At what point do you know get best efficacy at a cost-effective rate?”, posed by NIAB Regional Agronomist Patrick Stephenson “ and he gave examples of different scenarios. He also outlined the risk of nurturing problems in the next crop from what was grown before. For example, how cover crops such as phacliea increase risk of disease (rhizoctonia) in beet.
Cereal disease management specialist Aoife O’Driscoll challenged growers to think about their variety choice but also their use, or overuse, of nitrogen. “Less N equals less disease. Simple.”, she warned. Her disease control summary findings were eagerly photographed by many growers.
“The main reason I come here is to see new varieties”, says Hugh Lake from Caley Farms in West Norfolk. “But I have been interested to hear from Aoife about the fungicide, microbial or antibiotic resistance coming through. I was aware of it with livestock and now it’s happening in crops.”
How and what to think differently
In the circle of information providers, NIAB’s Jack Poulden points out the poster of evidence that is attracting the most interest: The Impact of Prolonged Rainfall on Soil Structure. He directs another group of farmers to notice that in the year’s monitoring the soil was 50% saturated for months on end.
“Even where there was a herbal ley in the rotation two years before, that has a positive legacy effect. We can always a expect a bad year, or several in succession, but you want to work with soil that has resilience. That is why you have to think differently about how you get your soil in good shape.”
Strategic farm lift off
For the first time, the newest Morley collaboration was on show. ADAS, NIAB, AHDB, Garford and Harper Adams showed the three themes they will be working on at Morley Farms.
An integrated approach to BYDV control, NUE and for weed control the virtues of chemical v. mechanical control with a weed surfer and inter-row hoe are all under investigation. “The results of what we do at Morley will be relevant to farmers nationwide” says AHDB Senior Knowledge Transfer professional Laura James. “In the coming years here at Morley”, adds Amy Catlin ,“we will be able to share the data we have gathered, what it means so that farmers can take away actionable ideas.”
Chance for people to get talking
Every time another guided tour of trial plots returned to the central hub of the event there was another injection of buzz from all the animated conversations.
“Today is a great day for talking.“ says Morley Farm Manager David Jones. “Yes, our visiting farmers can listen and learn from the field tours and from the experts in their tents. But, as I’d hoped, in this location – surrounded by lovely mature trees and with the tables and chairs in the centre today we have created a great atmosphere and occasion for people to talk with one another, exhibitor to exhibitor, researcher to researcher and farmer to farmer.”
As he left, North Norfolk farmer Kit Papworth commented “I go to several trial days. This is the best by far. Where else can you get world-leading scientists talking clearly like this about their work, their advice and how we farmers can use? It’s Morley Farms. Everytime.”