AHDB Agronomy 2019 East Anglia 7 th February 2019, Ravenwood Hall - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

AHDB Agronomy 2019

East Anglia

7th February 2019, Ravenwood Hall

09:45 Chair’s welcome and AHDB Update Teresa Meadows 10:00 Agronomy of the future? Nitrogen-fixing bacteria use in wheat Professor Edward Cocking, University of Nottingham 10:50 Lessons learnt from YEN to-date Roger Sylvester-Bradley, ADAS 11:15 Refreshment break 11:30 Disease management in 2019 Stuart Knight, NIAB TAG 12:00 ASSIST programme Ben Woodcock, CEH 12:20 Arable research round-up Sajjad Awan, AHDB Charlotte Rowley, AHDB 12:40 Arable research priorities Group Discussion 12:50 Monitor Farmer’s closing comments David Hurst and Tom Mead, Duxford Monitor Farm 13:00 Lunch and event close

Agenda

AHDB Update

Teresa Meadows, Knowledge Exchange Manager, AHDB

Key focus areas

Recommended List Review IPM Strategy Knowing your cost of production Business planning and decision making tools for post-Brexit era

Grower 52% Agronomist 19% Grain Trade 3% Breeder 8% Maltster 0% Miller 2% Other grain processor 1% Researcher 7% Seed specialist/merchant 8% Other (please specify) 0%

Recommended List Look Ahead survey

• December 2017 to August 2018

In total 623 responses

Which of these factors are important when making a varietal selection decision?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Advert/publications from breeders (n=372) Subscription service (n=361) Seed merchant (n=371) Other publications (n=359) Advice from a Distributor/merchant agronomist (n=370) AHDB Monitor Farm (n=364) I have grown the same varieties before (n=385) End users (n=368) Discussions with other growers (n=368) Seed availability (n=376) Advice from an Independent agronomist (n=376) AHDB Recommended Lists (n=383) My own experience (n=378)

Not important Important

• Question answered by growers and

agronomists

What is important to growers?

Grower & Agronomist response Other stakeholder response

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Breeder (n=383) Availability of contract (n=376) Specific trait (n=370) Availability of seed (n=382) Regional performance (n=389) Yield/Gross Output (treated) (n=391) Yield/Gross Output (untreated) (n=377) End use quality (n=388) End user demand (n=385) Good agronomics (n=382) Economics (n=386) Disease resistance (n=392) Crucial Very important Somewhat important Not important

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Breeder (n=111) Specific trait (n=110) Availability of contract (n=113) Availability of seed (n=114) Yield/Gross Output (untreated) (n=111) Economics (n=113) Regional performance (n=113) End use quality (n=113) End user demand (n=114) Good agronomics (n=114) Disease resistance (n=114) Yield/Gross Output (treated) (n=115)

Crucial Very important Somewhat important Not important

What new information would you like to see in the Recommended Lists?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Something else e.g. more agronomic information (please specify) Fewer varieties More varieties More regional information Economic potential

• Demand for more regional &

economic information

n=484

• Specific traits
• Weed control including autumn vigour and tillering ability
• Performance under different establishment techniques
• Performance under different nitrogen regimes
• More information on sowing windows including early and late drilling
• Stability and consistency of varieties over seasons and regions

What new information would you like to see in the Recommended Lists?

Potato Industry Storage Concerns

• Industry at risk of losing most effective sprout suppressant (CIPC)
• Final chance for vote at SCoPAFF meeting at end of month
• If a further no vote happens then it will automatically go to an appeal panel
• Appeal panel “tends” towards EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) opinion, not industry
• Maleic Hydrazide label change
• Any crops treated under the new label cannot go to stock feed
• Sutton Bridge team continuing work on sprout suppressant

alternatives

• Work on varietal dormancy has also been expanded
• Please make use of the Storage advice line: 0800 0282 111
• Also visit one of the many storage events over the coming weeks.

GREATSoils

• Phoma forecast

Provides information on the date when 10% of oilseed rape plants are expected to show symptoms of phoma leaf spot, generally regarded as the treatment threshold

• Light leaf spot forecast

Shows the proportion of the oilseed rape crop (disease resistance rating of 5) estimated to have more than 25% of plants affected by LLS in the spring for the current season

• Sclerotinia risk report

Weekly reports on forecasted sclerotinia infection risk, during the main risk period

Sign up to alerts: comms@ahdb.org.uk

• r visit:

cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitoring

• Fusarium infection risk report

Weekly regional report on fusarium infection risk which may help complete mycotoxin risk assessment

• BYDV management tool

The tool can be used to help you calculate when cereal crops are at the greatest risk of infection

Disease management tools

• AHDB Aphid News

Provides regional information on aphid numbers at key times of the year

• Wheat bulb fly survey

The survey can aid decision-making on whether a seed treatment is justified Sign up to alerts: comms@ahdb.org.uk

• r visit:

cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitoring

Pest monitoring tools

• Seed rate conversion

The seed rate conversion tool to allows you to calculate the kg/ha of seed you require based on your planned seed rate/m2 and the thousand grain weight

• Spray volume calculator

This tool to can be used to convert gallons/acre to litres/ha and vice versa

• Yield calculator

This conversion tool converts tons/acre, tonnes/acre and tonnes/ha and vice versa

• Fertiliser conversion

This spray tool can convert gallons/acre to litres/ha and vice versa

• Machinery cost calculator

This calculator allows you to calculate the cost of farm machinery per hectare or per hour. It can illustrate the savings or cost of owning your own equipment, hiring

• r getting in a contractor
• Soil monitoring tool

This tool has been designed to guide propyzamide planning

Visit: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/tools

Management tools

Decision making tools

• WeatherHub

Provide evidence-base to farmers to make better informed decisions regarding current and future crop and soil management

• Excess winter rainfall

We publish information on excess winter rainfall (EWR) to help you estimate potential losses of nitrate through leaching.

Sign up to alerts: comms@ahdb.org.uk

• r visit:

cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitoring

• RB209 App

The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) provides guidelines for crop nutrient requirements and the nutrient content of organic materials

New publications

All publications can be accessed at cereals.ahdb.org.uk/publications Hard copies can be ordered by emailing: comms@ahdb.org.uk

Farmbench and benchmarking

Visit:

ahdb.org.uk/farmbench

FARMBENCH

What was your cost of production for harvest 2018? Log on and find out. Join us to discuss.

• www. ahdb.org.uk/brexit

Monitor Farms – Farmer Led, Farmer Driven

• Aimed at business,

technical and personal development.

• 4 to 6 open meetings per

year over 3 years, plus closed benchmarking sessions.

Strategic Farms - Putting research into practice

• Focus on improving arable

productivity through the formal testing and demonstrating of innovative practices on a field or farm scale.

• Aim to drive the adoption of

innovation.

• 3 open meetings per year
• ver 6 years, plus closed

group visits.

Farm Excellence Programme

Cereals and Oilseeds – East Anglia

Simon Brock Dereham Monitor Farmer Christy and Hew Willett Chelmsford Monitor Farmers Brian Barker Strategic Farm East Tom Mead and David Hurst Duxford Monitor Farmers

Monitor Farm Meetings

• Farmer led, farmer driven
• Range of topics, meeting reports available online
• Join us!

Strategic Farm East

Open Day – 6th June 2019

Demonstrations:

• Cover crops and water quality
• Managed lower inputs
• Early crop biomass

Crop assessments Baselining

Find out more…

Cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitorfarms Cereals.ahdb.org.uk/strategicfarms Cereals.ahdb.org.uk/research Cereals.ahdb.org.uk/markets AHDB Events Portal

Subscriptions and Publications

• Crop Research News
• Market Analysis
• Aphid News
• Grain Outlook
• New publications alerts
• Recommended List

cereals.ahdb.org.uk/signup Webinars and AHDB Podcasts

Thank you. Any questions?

NITROGEN-FIXING CEREALS

• THE DREAM IS ALIVE

PROFESSOR EDWARD COCKING CENTRE FOR CROP NITROGEN FIXATION SCHOOL OF BIOSCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM UK

Despite fixed nitrogen being the key to crop yields, the on- going unsustainable pollution of the environment from the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is currently highlighting the need to minimise their use in agriculture, and to replace them by biological nitrogen fixation

07/02/2019 28

A KEY NEED FOR THE EVERGREEN REVOLUTION

BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION (BNF)

• The conversion of inert N₂ gas to reactive

ammonia (NH₃) is called nitrogen fixation, and in biology is restricted to a select group of bacteria .

• This BNF by bacteria is catalysed at ambient

temperature and pressure by a complex, extremely oxygen-sensitive metallo-enzyme, called nitrogenase.

07/02/2019 29

The Pathway of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean Root Nodules

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 31

BACTERIAL PLANT SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION

• Atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia using

energy from plant photosynthesis.

• Occurs within cells of nodules formed on legumes by

rhizobia and on shrubs and trees by frankia.

• Occurs within stem gland cells of angiosperms

(Gunneraceae) invaded intracellularly by nostoc cyanobacteria.

• Requires the formation of membrane-bounded

vesicles containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria within the cytoplasm of plant cells.

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 33

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 34

BORLAUG’S DREAM

“In my dream I see green, vigorous, high-yielding fields of wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and millet which are obtaining, free of expense, 100 kilogram of nitrogen per hectare from nodule-forming, nitrogen-fixing bacteria … This scientific discovery has revolutionized agricultural production for the hundreds of millions of humble farmers throughout the world, for they now receive much of the needed fertilizer for their crops directly from these little wondrous microbes that are taking nitrogen from the air and fixing it without cost in the roots of cereals, from which it is transformed into grain … “

The Green Revolution: Peace and Humanity Norman E Borlaug 1970 Nobel Peace Prize

 Ability to colonise any crop plant – has a simple

natural route of entry

 Ability to colonise each cell of the plant forming a

symbiotic relationship with the plant-

 Ability to move throughout the plant - not restricted

to just the roots

 Ability to fix-nitrogen under a range of conditions –

including different fertiliser regimes

 Have additional plant growth benefits  Harmless to mankind, animals and environment

35

If nitrogen-fixing bacteria (blue dots) penetrate through the cell wall (shaded) they can become internalized in vesicles by endocytosis.

Thursday, February 7, 2019 Event Name and Venue 37

Creating new strains of rice, wheat and corn that fix their

• wn nitrogen could achieve in the twenty-first century

what the Haber-Bosch breakthrough managed for the twentieth, and without the serious environmental drawbacks of industrial ammonia production. Environmentalists should not be scared of this prospect; they should welcome it. There can be no more important task than feeding people whilst protecting the

• planet. We must use the best of science and technology

to help us to achieve this vital aim. The God Species Mark Lynas (2011) How the Planet can Survive the Age of Humans THE NITROGEN BOUNDARY

Professor Johanna Döbereiner discoverer of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus.

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 39

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus

• An “extraordinary”, nitrogen-fixing, acid tolerant, IAA

producing bacterium isolated from sugar cane juice (Döbereìner, 1988). It is non-nodulating.

• Possesses no nitrate reductase and nitrogen fixation is not

inhibited by nitrate. Ammonium shows only partial

• inhibition. Excretes half of the nitrogen fixed in a form

potentially available to plants.

• Plant cell wall penetration facilitated by bacterial genes

encoding a ß-expansin and an endo-1, 4-ß-glucanase.

• Fixes nitrogen aerobically. Its production, from sucrose, of

a mucoid levan fructan is an effective resistance to oxygen diffusion.

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 40

MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INTERACTION OF G. diazotrophicus (Gd) WITH CEREALS AND OTHER NON-LECUME CROPS

• Using seedlings grown aseptically in sucrose containing

media.

• Inoculation with very low numbers of ß-Glucuronidase (gus)

labelled Gd enabled histochemical localisation of blue- staining Gd.

• Microscopic examination of the sections of resin embedded

inoculated roots, stems and leaves showed blue-staining intracellular Gd in the cytoplasm, and systemic colonization.

• Electron microscopy confirmed that blue-staining Gd in the

cytoplasm were within membrane-bounded vesicles.

• Similar results were obtained for maize, rice, wheat, oilseed

rape and tomato.

• Field evaluation of reductions possible in the use of synthetic

nitrogen fertilizers are in progress.

• Section of maize root showing intracellular blue-

stained G. diazotrophicus (Bar 10 µm).

Section of maize leaf showing blue-stained

• G. diazotrophicus associated with chloroplasts.

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 43

THE FORMATION OF DIAZOCHLOROPLASTS

Very close association of chloroplasts with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in leaf cells could result in their fusion to form a “diazochloroplast”. This close association could increase photosynthetic efficiency, by decreasing photorespiration, with resulting increase in crop yields.

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 44

• University of Nottingham, Azotic Technologies and University of

Manchester collaboration on the use of labelled 15N2 to demonstrate nitrogen fixation in Gd with the the NanoSIMS microscope.

• Gd in vitro culture (red and yellow/green) with a non nitrogen

fixng bacteria (blue) Enterococcus faecalis.

Direct evidence of Gd fixing nitrogen

Gd-Nitrogen fixation in maize leaves using NanoSIMS microscopy

University of Manchester University of Nottingham AzoticTechnologies Ltd

15N2 is present at elevated levels in maize

leaves. red = high levels of labelled 15N2, yellow = medium levels and green = lowest levels.

45

Rice

Section of rice root showing intracellular colonies of blue-stained

• G. diazotrophicus associated (Bar 10 µm).

Tomato

Section of tomato root showing blue-stained

• G. diazotrophicus (Bar 10 µm).

Efficacy of Intracellular Colonisation - Validation

Staple food crops: Wheat, maize and rice Forage crops: Pasture grass and white clover Horticultural crops: Tomato and potato Oilseeds: Oil seed rape (Oil Palm, 2015) Commodity crops: Tea, cotton and coffee Ornamental and amenity: Turf grass

Every crop species evaluated with N-Fix Successfully colonised by Gd!

Example: Independent Field Trials Results Research undertaken by Contract Research Organisations

Example: Independent Field Trials Results Research undertaken by Contract Research Organisations

52

Initial Rice Field Trials – Vietnam 2017

In the first trial yields at all levels of Nitrogen fertiliser were 30% higher, than untreated controls. In Trial 2 the yield increase was 9-15%

53

Grain protein improvements

Summarizing across all the 2016 UK (10), US (3) and Canada (2) field trials, N-Fix increase grain protein at all N fertiliser levels tested by 4%.

Implications of Yield and Fertiliser Benefits? Moving from a nitrogen pollution reduction and maintenance of yields to improved food security and nitrogen pollution reduction with enhanced yield performance!

• Ability to provide a sustainable N alternative for

nitrogen vulnerable zones across the world

• Ability to enhance yields and reduce N fertiliser use,

costs and pollution in commercial agriculture

• Ability to enhance yields in countries where

conventional N fertilisers are unavailable or inaccessible

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 55

2/7/2019 Event Name and Venue 56

HABER LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

“It may be that this solution (the chemical synthesis of ammonia) is not the final one. Nitrogen bacteria teach us that nature, with her sophisticated forms of the chemistry of living matter, still understands and utilises methods which we do not as yet know how to imitate.”

Synthesis of Ammonia Fritz Haber 1920 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

57

Symbiotic Nitrogen fixation with N-Fix

Thank you. Any questions?

Indicators of high cereal yields

… evidence from Yield Enhancement Network, 2013-2018

Analysis by: Roger Sylvester-Bradley Funded by:

Re Regi gion

• n

Cou Count nty y

Par arish ish

Fa Farm rm

Field eld

Zone

Normal field trial 0.1-0.5 ha

Solar energy 47% Energy Capture 9.5 t/ha Grain Biomass Root growth

2 20 Biomass t/ha 10 metres 1

Straw & Chaff Biomass 9.5 t/ha

= 11 t/ha Grain Yield

@15% moisture

Soil texture and depth dictate Soil Water Holding Capacity (e.g. 150mm / m for a medium soil type) April - July Rainfall e.g. 200mm 1,000 2,000 3,000

150mm Soil Water Capture

plus summer rain = 350mm total water capture Biomass growth

Metrics & benchmarks that explain yield …

YEN N Repo ports rts

YEN entries: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, & 2018

■ ~570 yields ■ From >250 farms ■ Almost all Winter Wheat ■ Each farms’ best crop(s)

─ or Field Zone(s): all 2+ hectares ─ Usually selected after emergence

■ Average yield = 10.8 t/ha

─ Range 5.0 to 16.5 t/ha

■ Multi-variate data analysis

─ gives Associations, NOT Effects ─ NB Associations are not Causes.

■ 15 t/ha is possible ... almost anywhere ■

It’s less about what you spend, more about …

‘Attention to Detail’ ■ Large yields come from large crops

─ With more ears than average … and tending to be taller, with greater straw N% ─ So important associations include good nutrition, and control of disease & lodging risks ─ Husbandry factors associated with high yields included: … following a break crop … narrow row widths … applying slurry … adequate N use … but liquid N (straight) was questionable … and several PGR applications.

< 21 < 20 < 19 < 18 < 23 < 22 < 20

Location, Site & Season:

Long Term Average Potential Grain Yields

Deep, medium soil

■ Large yield gaps are everywhere! ■ and High yields are widespread ■ ‘Year’ caused only ~25% of variation

─ Cool summers best and … ─ Dry, bright autumns-winters, & bright springs ─ Summer rain only important in 2018

■ 75% variation associated with farm, husbandry, etc.

Soil factors:

■ Water-retentive soils yielded more

Sands < Medium < Shallow (not over chalk) < Clay < Silty < Shallow over chalk

■ Yields larger with slurry applied (+0.9 t/ha, ±0.53)

…but no positive association with compost or biosolids

■ Lower yields after cover crops?

… (52 cover crops declared)

■ Soil nutrients and organic matter not significant

─ Positive yield association with soil pH (+0.3 t/ha/unit, ±0.14)

Species & Variety:

■ Wheat yielded more than other cereal species ■ Variety (& nabim Group) explained grain protein variation ─ but not grain yield ■ Site, weather and husbandry factors had more influence on yield than variety choice.

Previous cropping, and sowing:

■ Yields best after break crops

─ & with straw incorporation (+0.3 t/ha, ±0.18) ─ No association with cultivations or grass history

■ Higher yields with closer drill rows

─ (-0.03 t/ha/cm row width ±0.015)

■ Possible associations with seed treatment

─ Needs further investigation

■ No yield association with

─ Historic use of manures or previous grassland ─ Date of sowing, seed rate or Cultivation strategy ─ Herbicide use.

Crop nutrition

■ N fertiliser rate positive (~6kg grain/kg N, ±2.0) ■ Liquid N associated with lower yields

─ Less so if S included … needs further investigation

■ Yields may be higher with 5 or 6 N splits ■ Some association with P Fertiliser

─ Was stronger before 2018 data included

■ Yield not related to K, S, or micronutrients ■ Some association with biostimulant use.

Crop protection

■ PGR use showed strong positive association with yield level

─ Needs further investigation

■ Fungicide use related to yield ■ No association between yield and insecticide or herbicide use.

Crop characteristics

■ Large yields tended to come from large crops

─ With high ear populations ─ With high biomass, and …

■ Large shoots with high straw N% also important

Maybe … a) As stores of redistributable reserves (e.g. sugars) b) In maintaining photosynthesis … especially towards the end of grain filling

NB: Large crops require careful management of

─ disease risks and ─ lodging risks.

YEN 2013-18 results: Conclusions

■ Database analysis can only show ‘associations’

─ not ‘cause & effect’ … it just highlights good questions

■ Nevertheless …Yield Enhancement is possible! Yield was more about the farm than about weather! ■ Pray for: dry, bright winters, bright springs & cool summers

(& no extreme drought)

■ But a ‘Farm Factor’ affected yields significantly

─ Soil type played a part, but also … Attention to Detail

■ Yield appears vital for both Profit & Sustainability

─ Because yields did NOT relate well to inputs.

Networking … to develop the confidence to do better than ‘best practice’ Testing Measuring

Competition & Benchmarking Ideas & Understanding Learning, Confidence & Progress

YENs would not exist without their sponsors

Cereal YEN sponsors Oilseed YEN sponsors

For further information contact: Daniel Kindred, Roger Sylvester-Bradley or Mark Ramsden at ADAS Boxworth Tel: 01954 268200; Email: yen@adas.co.uk

= better than

‘best practice’

Thank you. Any questions?

Fungicide Performance and Disease Management 2019

Stuart Knight, NIAB

Fungicide Performance and Disease Management 2019

Stuart Knight, NIAB

Outline

• Season overview
• Wheat disease management

─ Septoria ─ Rusts ─ Head blight ─ Conclusions for 2019

• Barley disease management
• Oilseed rape disease management

Weather: 2018 vs 1981-2010 (East Anglia)

• 100
• 80
• 60
• 40
• 20

20 40 60 80 100 120 Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Rainfall (mm) or % anomaly Rainfall (mm) % anomaly

2017 2018

2018 Anomaly Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Max temp (OC) +1.4

• 1.6
• 1.9

+1.2 +2.4 +2.0 +3.9 +0.9 +0.6 +1.2 +1.2 +2.2

Min temp (OC)

+1.1

• 1.4
• 0.9

+2.5 +0.8 +0.9 +1.5 +0.8

• 0.4

+0.1 +1.3 +2.2

Frosts (days)

• 4.2

+4.6 +2.6

• 3.1
• 0.5
• 0.2
• 3.1
• 6.7

Source: Met Office

Wheat

Oakley 27 April 2015 Nr Kings Lynn

Disease development in 2018 limited to an extent by dry May / June So far this season, mild autumn and winter have been favourable for septoria On the 2019/20 Recommended List:

• 57% of varieties have RL disease rating of less

than 6.0 for septoria

• 34% of varieties have RL disease rating of

between 6.0 and 6.9

• Three varieties have RL rating of 7.0 or above:

KWS Extase (group 2, 8.1), KWS Firefly (group 3, 7.0) and LG Sundance (group 4S, 7.9)

Septoria

Fungicide Performance

Product Active(s) Bravo chlorothalonil Proline prothioconazole Bassoon epoxiconazole Caramba metconazole Folicur tebuconazole Soleil bromuconazole + tebuconazole Comet pyraclostrobin Unizeb Gold mancozeb Imtrex fluxapyroxad Vertisan penthiopyrad Ascra Xpro bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole Elatus Era solatenol + prothioconazole Librax fluxapyroxad + metconazole Keystone epoxiconazole + isopyrazam Priaxor fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin Products were not in all trials / years

Septoria protectant over-year 2016-18 (n=17)

Septoria curative over-year 2016-18 (n=9)

Septoria yield over-year 2016-18 (n=17)

Septoria: azole performance over time (protectant, full label dose)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 % Control Septoria prothioconazole epoxiconazole

Septoria: SDHI performance over time

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Imtrex (top curve = best control achieved, middle = average, bottom = worst control) Vertisan (top curve = best control achieved, middle = average, bottom = worst control)

Septoria: early-season sensitivity monitoring

Rothamsted (updated 2018): azoles

epoxiconazole prothio-desthio

Septoria: early-season sensitivity monitoring

Rothamsted (updated 2018): SDHI

bixafen

Sdh mutations detected for the first time in 2017

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Santiago* JB Diego Revelation* Santiago* JB Diego Revelation* Mid Sept sown Mid Oct sown

% Leaf area with S. tritici Untreated Low Medium High

Septoria: effects of sow date, variety & fungicide

Treatment T1 – GS32 T2 – GS39 Low CTL 1.0 CTL 1.0 Medium Brutus 1.5 + CTL 1.0 Brutus 2.25 + CTL 1.5 High Brutus 1.5 + CTL 1.0 + Imtrex 1.0 Brutus 2.25 + CTL 1.5 + Imtrex 1.5 All except untreated also received T0: CTL 1.0 and T3: Folicur

Mean of 10 sites, 2016 and 2017

Mean septoria levels on leaf 2 (T2 +3-4 weeks)

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Santiago JB Diego Revelation Santiago JB Diego Revelation Early Late % septoria on leaf 2 or 3 Untreated Low Medium High

Septoria: effects of sow date, variety & fungicide

Mean of 4 sites, 2018

Sowing date P = 0.003 Sowing date x Variety P = 0.051 Variety P = 0.003 Sowing date x Fungicide P = 0.004 Fungicide P < 0.001 Variety x Fungicide P < 0.001 Mean septoria levels on leaf 2/3 (T2 +3-4 weeks)

Mid Sept sown Mid Oct sown

Oakley 27 April 2015 Nr Kings Lynn

Cold Feb/March and hot summer compressed yellow rust development in 2018 Mild autumn 2018 and few frosts had been favourable for rusts (until last 2 weeks of Jan) 2019/20 RL disease ratings:

• 63% of varieties rated 6 or less for brown rust.

Most susceptible: Crusoe, KWS Siskin, KWS Lili, LG Detroit, KWS Barrel, KWS Basset, KWS Jackal, LG Skyscraper, Shabras, KWS Crispin, Costello

• Only 17% of varieties have a rating of 6 or less

for yellow rust. Most susceptible are: Skyfall, Zulu, Bennington, Leeds, Myriad, JB Diego https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/ukcpvs

Yellow Rust and Brown Rust

Yellow rust over-year 2016-18 (n=3)

Brown rust

Head blight symptoms

Head blight DNA results 2018

Fusarium Microdochium

a ab bc c c a

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Untreated1Untreated2 Folicur Proline Soleil Unizeb Gold DNA (pg/ng total DNA) T3 treatment

a ab abc bc bc c

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Untreated1Untreated2 Folicur Proline Soleil Unizeb Gold DNA (pg/ng total DNA) T3 treatment

Caution: Data is from 1 trial/year

• nly

Septoria tritici

• SDHIs more effective than azoles, but efficacy beginning to decline
• SDHI+azole mixtures achieved highest levels of control
• Further sensitivity shifts (azoles and SDHIs) reinforce importance
• f multi-site protectants (especially CTL) in programmes
• Varietal resistance, sowing date and (under some circumstances)

seed rate offer opportunities to reduce risk Rusts

• Azoles and pyraclostrobin retain good activity against yellow rust
• SDHI + azole more effective against brown rust than azole alone

Head Blight

• Soleil performed similarly to Proline or Folicur against fusarium.

Unizeb Gold was most effective on microdochium

Wheat: conclusions for 2019

Barley

Oakley 27 April 2015 Nr Kings Lynn

In 2018:

• Rhyncho / net blotch limited by dry May/June
• Very little ramularia due to dry summer

2019-20 RL disease ratings:

• All but one 6-row winter barley rated rated 7 for

rhynchosporium (Belmont 6). Most 2-rows rated 5 or 6 (KWS Glacier 4, Surge 7)

• Spring barley varieties all have rhynchosporium

rating of 5 or 6 except Concerto (4)

• Only one w barley rated 7 for net blotch (Surge).

KWS Creswell and KWS Tower have ratings of 4

• KWS Orwell / Infinity /Glacier / Cassia / Creswell,

LG Flynn, Bazooka, Libra all rated 3 - 4 for mildew

Disease risk

Rhynchosporium over-year 2016-18 (n=9)

Net blotch over-year 2016-18 (n=4)

Barley: conclusions for 2019

Rhynchosporium

• Good control from Proline, Imtrex and the SDHI+azole mixtures
• Comet now less effective, but still giving reasonable control

Net Blotch

• Proline and the SDHI+azole mixtures most effective, with

mixtures more robust and giving higher yields

• Although partial resistance exists, Comet and Imtrex are giving

reasonable control. Kayak useful, with different mode of action Mildew: Proline, and mildewicides Talius and Cyflamid, continue to provide good control Ramularia: Occurrence of resistance to azoles, QoIs and SDHIs means that chlorothalonil is vital for control

Oilseed Rape

Preliminary Light Leaf Spot Forecast 2018-19

Proportion of the oilseed rape crop (disease resistance rating of 5) estimated to have more than 25% of plants affected by LLS in the spring (issued October 2018) https://www.ahdb.org.uk/lightleafspot

Preliminary light leaf spot forecast for 2018-19 in Eastern Region is lowest since 2013-14

Light Leaf Spot Of the 26 winter OSR varieties on the 2019-20 RL, all have ratings

• f 6 or 7 except Windozz (5) and Barbados (8). Nikita and Wembley

amongst the more resistant of the 7s

• Monitor crops treated in autumn. Spray asap if fresh LLS is found
• Azole (prothioconazole, tebuconazole) and non-azole (Pictor)
• ptions (resistance management). Note any product restrictions

Sclerotinia

• Range of actives: azole e.g. Proline, strobilurin e.g. Amistar, SDHI

e.g. Filan, mixtures e.g. Skyway, Propulse, Symetra, Pictor

• Half to three-quarter dose, depending on disease risk
• Fungicides protectant only, c. 3 weeks protection (at higher doses)

Oilseed Rape: conclusions for 2019

Paul Gosling, AHDB Jonathan Blake, ADAS Faye Ritchie, ADAS Neil Paveley, ADAS Fiona Burnett, SRUC Stephen Kildea, Teagasc Bart Fraaije, Rothamsted Research Simon Edwards, Harper-Adams University AHDB (Cereals & Oilseeds)

• Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Rep. of Ireland)

BASF

Acknowledgements

Thank you. Any questions?

funded by

Photo – Lucy Hulmes

www.assist.ceh.ac.uk

Aim: to develop and test innovative farming systems that increase food production & resilience to future perturbations, while reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture

• ASSIST is a 5+ year £11M National Capability* research programme that

unites expertise from NERC and BBSRC institutes, with integral support from the farming industry

• Develop a large-scale network of study farms &

new sensor networks to undertake hypothesis- driven experimentation

• Provide data, models, web portal, infrastructure

& opportunities for complementary research programmes & Horizon topics

Aims & key outcomes

* National Capability enables the UK to deliver world-leading environmental science, support national strategic needs and respond to

• emergencies. It includes specialist research facilities and long-term, large-scale environmental surveys.

Photo – Marek Nowakowski

landscape

farm field

WP4: Synthesis modelling: Optimisation of future agriculture WP3: Sustainable solutions: farm platform WP2: Environmental impacts of agriculture WP1: Limitations on crop productivity

External data: Agrimetrics, SIP, SARISA etc. Model validation

Implementation

Refinement of management solutions WP5: Agri-informatics & tools 20% additional NERC funding Project co-ordination

Programme Structure

• Influence (a major Government research investment)
• Help shape agricultural future policy (co-design)
• Hi-tech monitoring & data
• Understanding of underlying processes
• Access to specialist scientists
• Demonstration / training / knowledge exchange

What is in it for agriculture?

WP1 limitations on crop productivity

• Understanding limitations on crop yield
• Overcoming the yield gap
• Influence of bio-physical factors on yield resilience
• Predicting future crop yields

Data collection & analysis Detailed infield measures National surveys

• Long-term yield data
• Crop input data
• Soil data

The Yield Gap

Image credit: Wikipedia Commons

Yield resilience

Bespoke AGRIMETRICS app to gather yield data

• FBS analysis - long-term

resilience

• ASSIST Yield Monitoring

Network – real-time precision yield data from 2800+ fields

Tier 1: Point measurements of yield to investigate drivers

• f within-field variation

In-field yield patterns

• Spatially accurate point measurements of yield from combines
• Wheat , barley and oilseed rape data for 20+ farms spread across UK
• Farm operations data (agrochemical application, pest outbreaks, etc.)

2

3000 fields

Tier 2: Average yield per field to investigate drivers of broader scale variation and resilience

Soils Climate Pollinators Pests etc…

• Average yields per field for

1300 FBS farms across UK

• Multiple years of data

(10+)

• Analyse along with national

scale datasets of biophysical variables

• Investigate resilience (year-
• n-year consistency of

yield)

1

2008-2017 1500

WP2 Environmental impacts of future agriculture

• Predicting the effects of agricultural

management on water quality and nutrient loss (extending the LTLS model: Long-term/Large-scale interactions of C, N and P in land, freshwater and atmosphere)

• Impacts of agricultural management
• n soil carbon and GHG fluxes
• Enhancing biological resilience of

agro-ecosystems through modelling species and ecosystem functions (pollination & pest control)

• 0.25 - -0.125
• 0.125 - 0

High FD Low FD

National distribution of functional diversity of native crop pollinators. Note potential deficits in areas of important crop production P (Tonnes) Predicted P fluxes from the LTLS model resulting from arable and improved grassland land use

Simulated P fluxes from the LTLS model

How do inorganic and organic fertilisers affect GHG emissions from crops?

Photo – Lucy Hulmes

Skyline experiment AHDB Monitor Farm Nov 2018

1. Provide information / support to beekeepers 2. eDNA approaches to assess what which flowers bees are feeding on 3. Identify threats impacts of environmental change on honeybees. 4. Detect sub-clinical bee diseases (future goal) 5. Link these pressures to performance of honeybee populations (size, mortality, production, health etc.) 6. A national time series of samples for future research

Next generation sequencing- millions pollen DNA reads/run

• Enhancing beneficial ‘services’ provided by good soil

health, pollination and pest control

• Management of soil & protection of water resources
• Delivered through space-efficient, multi-functional

habitats.

• Integration of biodiversity with intensive farming

WP3 Testing approaches for sustainable intensification in arable systems

What are we trying to promote

• Good soil health: Loss of

mixed farming and manure / reliance

• n inorganic fertiliser / Heavier

machinery – degraded soil structure

• Natural pest control:

Invertebrates damage 18% world crop production (worth €77 billion)

• Pollination: Honeybee

populations can supply only 34%

• f pollination demands. How do

we maximise wild pollinators

0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Yield deficit as ratio of Regional/National average

Whole field

Cross Compliance ELS ELS Extra

The evidence behind sustainable intensification:

The Hillesden platform.

Entry level AES (3% land out of production) Entry level AES (8% land out of production) Cross compliance (0% out of production)

Using detailed yield mapping we found that wildlife friendly habitats support greater yields though improved pollination and pest control.

Maximising the spatial delivery of ecosystem services

In-field strips Field margins To support pest control, pollination and in field delivery of soil biota

Maximising the spatial delivery of ecosystem services

In-field strips Field margins To support pest control, pollination and in field delivery of soil biota We are applying a systems level approach to assess the aggregate effects of sustainable management systems.

WP4 Synthesis: optimisation of future agricultural systems

Develop modelling framework for

• ptimising farm management for

multiple objectives (production, ecosystem services, biodiversity):

• Where to intensify/extensify

production.

• the impacts of changed

agricultural management on natural capital and biodiversity.

• Build resilient future agro-

ecosystems

Targeting sites with potential for intensification / extensification(WP1) Risks to natural capital & biodiversity

• f future intensification (WP2)

Conflicts Avoidance & Mitigation strategies (agri-tech + nature-based) (WP3) Scenarios of environ. change Building resilience of agro-ecosystem (WPs2/3) Optimisation Optimisation

Planning future multi-functional agricultural landscapes

Trade-offs Schematic showing how ASSIST will be used to identify and manage conflicts for planning future multi-functional agricultural landscapes Synergies

¯

Scenarios of Intensity

• Scenarios identifying

large scale effects of switching dominant crop classes

• Scenarios are relatively

‘extreme’, but linked to potential socioeconomic priorities:

• Intensification
• Diversification
• Extensificaiton

https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/assist/

ASSIST Scenario Exploration Tool

ASSIST will provide the long-term, large-scale strategic underpinning for a community-led transformation of agriculture.

We welcome opportunities for new partnerships with the academic community and farming industry to address critical knowledge gaps.

Work with us

funded by

Photo – Lucy Holmes

www.assist.ceh.ac.uk

January 2019 update of RB209

Sajjad Awan Resource Management Scientist, AHDB

Key changes in RB209

• Sulphur management
• Nitrogen for grain protein in milling wheat
• Information on ammonia emissions
• New programme of research on

crop nutrition

Sulphur deficiency risk

Sulphur deficiency test

• Soil test in combination with tissue test (malate: sulphate)

Ammonia emissions

27% 25% 23% 9% 8% 7%

2%

88% ammonia from agriculture

Could reduce by following good practice on:

• Storing organic manure
• Applying organic manure
• Applying manufactured nitrogen fertiliser
• Feeding livestock
• Housing livestock

New programme of research;

(emphasis on quality)

• 1. N & S fertiliser recommendations for spring barley

Project Lead: Sarah Kendall; ADAS

7% increase in spring barley demand from 2018

New programme of research;

(emphasis on quality)

• 2. Optimising Nitrogen rates and timings and Sulphur in

winter and spring oats for yield and milling quality

BBSRC & AHDB: InnovOat project

Project Lead: Sarah Clarke; ADAS

New programme of research;

(emphasis on quality)

• 3. N and S fertiliser management to achieve grain protein

quality targets of high yielding modern winter milling wheat

Project Lead: Nathan Morris; NIAB

Research update: pests

Charlotte Rowley

BYDV & aphid management

Background

• Neonicotinoid seed treatments withdrawn
• Pyrethroids only remaining option for

control

• Grain aphid (S. avenae) has moderate

levels of resistance, bird cherry-oat aphid (R. padi) not yet showing signs

• No treatment threshold

Spray timing

https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/BYDV

• Review of decision tools for BYDV

Review of existing models Farmer/agronomist opinion survey

• Evaluation of field-specific monitoring of aphid vectors

Predictive capability of in-field monitoring Farmer attitudes/ease of use Reliability of trapping system

• Effect of landscape composition, aspect and type of tillage on

immigration of aphid vectors Contribution of landscape factors to aphid immigration Effect of cultivation on aphid immigration

Working towards a decision support system for aphid management in winter cereals BYDV survey can be accessed via:

cereals.ahdb.org.uk/aphids

DSS for BYDV

IPM of CSFB

IPM of CSFB

• Objective 1: Review how agronomic factors affect CSFB
• Objective 2: Determine experimentally the effect of variety and

seed rate on CSFB

• Objective 3: Understand crop tolerance to CSFB
• Objective 4: Assess alternative control options
• Objective 5: Create an IPM strategy for CSFB
• Objective 6: Transfer new knowledge to farmers and agronomists

Objectives

Summary of results

• Meta-analysis

Weather a large factor in CSFB damage August drilling lowers risk of adult damage, September drilling lowers risk of larval damage

• No obvious effect of variety from RL trials
• Volunteer OSR trap crops

Has potential to reduce pressure, large area of volunteers may be needed Trials on-going

• Winter defoliation

Plot trials showed reductions in larval infestation No impact on yield pre-stem extension Limited ability of larvae to re-invade Trials on-going, including disease assessments

Questions?

?

Thank you. Any questions?

Arable research priorities

Arable research priorities

Arable research priorities

What are your research priorities for the cereals and

• ilseeds or potatoes research?

Be specific….

Closing Closing comments comments

David Hurst and Tom Mead, Duxford Monitor Farm

Duxford Monitor Farm

David Hurst, Law Farming Tom Mead, Bleak House Farm Total farm hectarage 1,821ha 312ha Arable area 1,355ha 303ha Cropping Rye, wheat, barley, oats, spring barley, forage rape, spring mustard, sugar beet Winter wheat, oats, OSR, winter and spring barley, beans and sugar beet Other enterprises 1800 breeding ewes; 1000 store lambs bought in during autumn/winter; 40 suckler cow herd

Take home lessons for the season ahead….

Further Information

Use your resource….

cereals.ahdb.org.uk Webinars and AHDB Podcasts Monitor Farms, Strategic Farms, Business Groups Ask the question…

Thank you! Enjoy lunch and safe journey home.

@AHDB_Cereals - @CerealsEA - #monitorfarm – Podcast – teresa.meadows@ahdb.org.uk – 07387 015465