Arable event to focus on overcoming business challenges

Cereals and oilseeds growers in Wales wanting to discover more about overcoming the challenges facing their businesses will have the opportunity to do so at an event which has been put on jointly by NFU Cymru and the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

The free event will take place on Tuesday, 18 November 2014, at The Bear Hotel, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. Following registration and coffee at 10.00am, the first session will cover the prospects for the grain market in 2015 with Jack Watts and Anna Lockwood of the HGCA. After delegates have heard from the grain market analysts, Dr Paul Gosling of the HGCA will speak on the spread of herbicide-resistant black-grass across England and Scotland, and how the lessons learnt there, combined with pro-active management could help slow, or even halt the spread of resistance in Wales.

Focus will then turn to soil organic matter, with Professor Andy Whitmore of Rothamsted Research, looking at the best ways in which to feed the soil, with the application of organic material at different rates, times and frequencies to optimise soil health and crop yields in a relatively short period of time.

Finally, delegates will hear from the HCGA’s Head of Regional Development, Richard Laverick, on the new HGCA Monitor Farm in Wales. Richard will illustrate how the monitor farm programme plans to help farms stay successful despite the current challenges, including the falling grain price and increasing cost of production.

Perkin Evans, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Combinable Crops and Horticulture Working Group said, “I am delighted that the HCGA are once again bringing some of the UKs foremost experts in their respective fields to discuss the issues facing the cereals and oilseeds sector with farmers and growers in Wales. I would urge all those involved with the sector to come along and discover more at what promises to be a very interesting day.”