Biofuels trials project shows the way for locally grown crops
The agronomy and crop protection specialist Agrovista UK Limited is pleased to announce the latest in a series of farmer workshops near Darlington in support of the Regional Strategy for Transport Biofuels and Northeast Biofuels.
The Grower Network project was established in 2008 in order to examine the best agronomic techniques and varieties in order to produce high yielding wheat and oilseed rape (OSR) crops for the emerging North East bioethanol and biodiesel market. Each year, a series of breakfast meetings and open days allow local farmers to follow the development of the trials crops, this year centred on winter wheat, and visibly see which treatments and techniques produce the best results.
The wheat site is based on 10 hectare field at Eryholme near Darlington with additional OSR sites at Cockle Park, Northumberland and Askham Bryan near York. At the wheat site, the trials work will examine the interactions between different nitrogen rates and timings, with various fungicide and adjuvant combinations overlaying the 240 plots encompassing 13 varieties of wheat and triticale including the demonstration block. All the plots will be taken through to yield to see which varieties give the best financial return for local farmers and the highest quality feedstock for bioethanol production.
At the oilseed rape sites, work conducted in 2008/09 on cultivations, varieties and fungicide and trace element inputs is continued in the 2009/10 season.
"As the biofuel industry on Teesside is gathering pace, the Eryholme trials are instrumental in showing farmers the most effective ways of satisfying demand for this emerging market," said Chris Glover, Agrovista’s Business Projects Manager.
The next breakfast briefing meeting will take place at The Croft, Croft on Tees, near Darlington on Wednesday 24th March 2010 commencing at 9.00am. A number of speakers will be present to discuss the project and advances in crop nutrition and crop protection, including Agrovista’s local agronomy team and ADAS expert Pete Berry, who will talk about minimising the carbon footprint of crop production.
"Following the success of last year’s OSR open day, we are planning a similar event for this June. We have some very interesting work to demonstrate on the wheat for bioethanol side of the project, and it will be well worth a visit to see this – especially as it is on the doorstep of local growers," added Mr Glover.
Breakfast and refreshments will be provided and the March meeting will conclude with a visit to the trial site at Eryholme.
NRoSO and BASIS CPD Points have been awarded for this meeting.
