Project Timeline
Project updates as they happen
November 2018
CropTec Show 2018
Prof Rob Edwards and Dr Roma Gwynn were among the speakers at this year’s CropTec Show 2018. The event was held at the East of England Showground in Peterborough. Rob and Roma spoke to audience of 200 over the two day show. Their topic focussed on how biological products can help to strengthen a plants resistance to disease and pests as a result of the trials. In addition they focussed how much benefit do they provide; are they value for money and what about public perception? In conclusion, Rob and Roma shared two years of trial results comparing the effectiveness of synthetic and biological products on disease resistance, yield and quality for different wheat varieties.
You can see the presentation here: Biologicals for disease and pest control: a farmer-led case study
July 2018
10th July 2018 – Will biocontrol’s work for arable farmers?
Group discussion with farmers and researchers.
Dr Roma Gwynn, Biorationale and Prof Rob Edwards, University of Newcastle, led discussions at this year’s 160th Great Yorkshire Show, on whether biocontrol’s were the future for farmers, what was the perception of these bio-agents and would they would be cost effective for farmers to use. Discussions linked in the trials currently underway through Crop Health North.
June 2018
8th June 2018 – Demonstration Day at Stockbridge Technology Centre
A second day of trial demonstrations took place on the 8th June during Stockbridge Technology Centre’s Procam event. The audience was made up of farmers and agronomists with around 60-70 people, three groups in total, with plenty of interest.
7th June 2018 – Demonstration day at Stockbridge Technology Centre
Members of the operational group went to showcase the trials at the recent Stockbridge Technology Centre demonstration event, it was a great day for it!
The wheat trial is looking good. Septoria still not an issue. Just trying to keep a hold on yellow rust on the biological plots with another Serenade spray earlier this week.
Attendees included farmers, agronomists, representation from Bayer and a group from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) in York.
February 2018
22nd February 2018 – Crop Health North Team meet to discuss the trials
(L-R, Holly Jones, Phillip Davis, Emma Bumby, Nicholas Ashtree, Tom King, Roma Gwynn, Rob Edwards, Richard Bramley)
Crop Health North Team meet at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to discuss the details of the trials.
7th February 2018 – Nafferton Farm Spring Wheat trial photos
Progress photos of the Spring Wheat trial site at Nafferton Farm.
7th February 2018 – Cockle Park Farm Spring Wheat trial photos
Progress photos of the Spring Wheat trial site at Cockle Park Farm. The crop growing well. The project team are due to meet on the 22nd February to discuss spray regimes.
January 2018
11th January 2018 – Trail plots at Stockbridge Technology Centre
Trial sites at Stockbridge Technology Centre. So far the crop has good establishment. The ground is wet but not too bad for this time of year.
The project will focus on it’s spray program for 2018.
2nd January 2018 – Trial plot at Nafferton site
The trial plot at Nafferton, University of Newcastle
December 2017
19th December 2017 – Farmers Guardian
Following our conference last month there was a write up of the project details in the Farmers Guardian: https://www.fginsight.com/news/trials-show-biopesticide-potential-47360
9th December 2017 – Spore diagnostic equipment
Following on from the conference last month, discussions continue as to how the project could utilise spore diagnostic equipment to pre-empt disease periods. The operational group hope to obtain a device to monitor this in the New Year.
The Spore diagnostic equipment would be able to identify:
- Septoria – tritici but also nodorum
- Rusts – yellow (brown to a lesser extent)
- Tan Spot
- Powdery Mildew
- Fusarium
November 2017
23rd November 2017 – Crop Health North Conference
Crop Health North held a conference on Thursday 23rd November aimed to inspire farmers and agronomists to think differently about how biopesticides for wheat could have a role to play in the future. The audience learnt why biopesticides have been used and what effect they have on the plant’s health. This was an opportunity to explore different methods of practice sharing ideas on how to develop the project further. Following the presentations explaining the spring wheat trail findings, the biological product that is being used and the trial design for next year’s winter wheat trials, the audience had an opportunity to participate in a round table discussion. Themes that came up included;
- Can the project analyse conventional timings vs. optimum biological timings.
- Can the project use spore capture technology to identify when spores land?
- Can the project demonstrate financial viability?
- Can the project access crop monitor farm data as a comparison?
- Can the biological add value through nutrition uptake?
- What is the perception of biologicals with farmers and the general public?
You can view the presentations here:
Crop Health North Overview by Prof Rob Edwards
IPM and Biopesticide use in Arable Crops by Dr Roma Gwynn
An Introduction to Bayer Biologicals by Tim Lacey
Tom talks through the spring wheat trials and plot designs for next year’s winter wheat.
October 2017
23rd October 2017 – Further drilling
The crop was successfully drilled at Stockbridge Technology Centre.
16th October 2017 – Drilling preparations
Nafferton and Cockle Park farms successfully drilled for winter wheat earlier this week. The two wheat varieties the trial will focus on are Skyfall and Leeds. The thousand grain weight (TGW) for Skyfall is 54g and Leeds is 51g. Both have 98% germination. The trials will run 6 replicates on each site of the three sites, Nafferton farm, Stockbridge Technology Centre and Cockle Park farm. You can find out more about our work package 2 here: https://www.crophealthnorth.co.uk/work-packages/
July 2017
4th July 2017 – Spring Wheat Demonstration Day
It was a rather wet and drizzly day for our Spring Wheat Demonstration Day in the North East. The event took place on Tuesday 4th July near Morpeth and was open to all who were interested to learn about the progress of the trials.
Prof Rob Edwards chaired the discussions and we heard from Tom King, Eurofins, who is leading on the trial site analysis at Cockle Park and Nafferton Farms.
Left to right: Mulika variety Conventional, Conventional/Biological ( Integrated Pest management, IPM), Biological
Observations from the samples:
The Mulika examples look a lot dirtier – you can see the yellowish leaves. Due to the brighter and drier weather conditions this year, there has not been a great amount of disease. It will be useful to see the yield of the grain and the protein content and to make a visual comparison with Stockbridge Technology Centre based further south. These samples have not been counted and were for observation purposes only. This may not necessarily be a negative. The vision of the trial is to see how plants can increase their natural defences. A plant may have yellow septoria, however, could be a stronger variety as a whole and better equipped to fight off disease.
Trial Site, Cockle Park Farm, Morpeth
June 2017
5th June 2017
Progress image from Stockbridge Technology Centre trial plot.
4th June 2017
Nafferton and Cockle Park were sprayed today. Cockle Park has had some slug damage but should be ok once it catches up with the Nafferton site. Not enough damage that is worth treating. Still plenty of crop there though for results and yield.
1st June 2017
Images of the Nafferton site making good progress after some much needed rain. The trial site has thickened up well and is slightly further on than the Cockle Park site.
Discussions amongst the team about the potential for aphids.
May 2017
23rd May 2017
General growth stage update from Cockle Park Farm. Plant counts. Most plants have 3 or 4 tillers so around GS 23 -25.
22nd May 2017
The operational group met to discuss progress on the farms. Both Nafferton and Cockle Park trial sites have had help from some rain last week following a dry spell and that the plants are doing ok. There was about 20mm of rain. Cockle Park benefitted from some nitrogen. There won’t be any spraying taking place for at least another 3 weeks if not a little longer, weather dependant. The final protocol has been circulated for any final comments. All agreed that as the project approaches one of its key milestones to host the first demonstration day on Tuesday 4th July, Cockle Park Farm, Newcastle. All agreed to host a symposium in October 2019. Title: ‘Biologicals and alternatives to bio-agrichemicals for cereals – What’s available for broadacre?’