New ‘Whole Crop Agronomy’ systems on show - June 15

The UK’s first ’Whole Crop Agronomy Open Day’ of a new vegetable demonstration site for eastern counties vegetable growers will take place on Tuesday 15 June.

Hosted and managed by the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) near Peterborough, the innovative demonstration site is sponsored by the combined strength of Syngenta Seeds and Crop Protection, and in association with Yara Fertilisers. The first season will see production systems for a range of brassica, allium and lettuce varieties.

Syngenta Speciality Crops Manager, Bruce McKenzie, highlights that, after recent cuts and closures in vegetable crop research, there is now some positive news for growers, with the introduction of a dedicated field vegetable demonstration site.

"Historically, trials sites that just show the end result in the autumn have often failed to give sufficient insight and value for growers to make practical in-season decisions. The new demonstration site is unique in giving open access for growers to see ’whole crop’ production systems demonstrated in the field right through the season, with the chance to talk direct to specialists from Seeds and Crop Protection."

As host of the new Syngenta Vegetable Demonstration Site, PGRO Chief Executive, Salvador Potter, added: "At a time when there are so many exciting developments in vegetable crop agronomy, combined with the demands from retailers and consumers calling for ever greater quality within tough production protocols and cost constraints, it’s crucial that growers get the chance to see first hand just what is available and how they can put the innovation into practice on their own farms."

He believes that getting timely in-season information across to growers will be a key focus for the demonstration site. "The vegetable industry needs to integrate innovation from among the new varieties, along with sustainable agronomy and fertiliser programmes that can help growers adapt to changing legislative obligations."

Crops on show for 2010 include:

• Brussels sprouts

• Leeks

• Cauliflower

• Bulb onions

• Cabbage

• Broccoli

• Iceberg lettuce

• Romaine lettuce

Mr McKenzie added that reports from the hands-on experiences of the PGRO researchers on the site will prove a valuable adjunct to the company’s Brassica Alert system which identifies and forecasts brassica pest and disease threats. "Identifying potential problems and issues on the demonstration site and reporting these through regular web site updates will further extend the value of Brassica Alert. It will give growers an early insight into what is happening with different crops under different management regimes, and the chance to adapt their own agronomy decisions accordingly."

Syngenta agronomy options on demonstration for now and into the future will involve fungicide programmes including Amistar, Amistar Top, Folio Gold, Fubol Gold, Switch and new Olympus, along with Defy herbicide programmes and pest control options including Hallmark Zeon, Dovetail, Agrimec, Plenum and seed treatment combinations. Subject to approval a new Syngenta herbicide and insecticide will also be included in the crop programmes.

Syngenta Seeds brassica specialist, Mike Molyneux, highlights the demonstration will provide crucial guidance on the optimum agronomy inputs to get the best results in yield and quality for the company’s new varieties. "Trials in the past tended to show new varieties with traditional agronomy packages. We wanted to demonstrate how the crops’ exciting innovative potential can be achieved with crop production systems that will be commercial practice in the future.

"The demonstration site will give us an opportunity to show new varieties to growers for the first time and highlight how they can seek to get the best possible results. Within the demonstration there will be varieties developed for genetic resistance and tolerance to commercial problems and diseases."

Included in the demonstration plots will be new Syngenta varieties of broccoli and lettuce, along with bulb onion varieties Wellington, Vision and Napoleon; leeks will include Delmas, Dixon and Levis. Among the many renowned brassica Syngenta brassica varieties will be Brussels sprouts Abacus, Maximus and Titus, plus cauliflowers Raleigh, Clapton and Darwin. The different crops will all include an untreated with pesticide plot against the full agronomy programme.

Growers can register on-line at www.syngenta-crop.co.uk or email: cropmarketing.uk@syngenta.com

Further Open Day opportunities on the Syngenta Vegetable Demonstration Site will be available in the autumn.