An interesting discussion comparing two different farming systems formed a centrepiece at the CAFRE/UAS/UFU conference last week. Two growers, Allan Chambers from Co Down and Richard Kane from Co Derry, explained their individual farm systems.

Allan operates a farm partnership through a share-farming arrangement with a nephew who has a separate poultry business and this complements the cropping business. The grain is used to feed the poultry and the litter goes back out to feed the land. And the arrangement brings youth into the business.

Allan described his land as a medium stony loam with many steep slopes on 28in to 32in of rain. The east Down business involves 110ha, which is all owned. He has a three-year rotation centred around winter wheat, winter barley and a spring break crop. The winter barley is generally followed by stubble turnips to be grazed by others and the spring break might be oilseed rape, potatoes or maize.

Richard farms in Derry and he described 2016 as a horrible year due to the incessant rainfall. All crops were eventually harvested at the expense of soil damage, but losses and costs were huge.

Richard farms about 300ha, half of which is rented, so total area can fluctuate. He has no fixed rotation and wheat has been an important crop for him. He has less wheat this year and is likely to have less into the future due to the risk level now associated with it. He plans to have more crops in future and more oilseed rape. He already grows rape which is crushed on the farm for their Broighter Gold brand.

Soil fertility

Soil fertility is important for both growers. Allan soil-samples every field every year and has been doing this since 1988. Soil pH is generally above 6.5 and soil P levels are high. He has not applied any bagged P for years, but poultry litter is applied on a rotational basis. Soil K levels have been consistently low, but they are now showing signs of recovery.

Some of Richard’s land needs lime, while more does not. Some of his land is up on 7.7 pH and he uses sulphate of ammonia to try to lower the pH. He also uses quite a bit of trace element.

Richard applied compost and sludge in the past, but he said it is difficult to get the window to get these applied. He is now using cover crops as a means of getting organic matter into the ground.

He is considering moving towards GPS soil-sampling and variable rate application, but he has difficulty envisaging how the investment will pay.

In early March, Allan would normally apply 50kg N/ha, 115kg K2O5/ha (95kg K/ha) and 60kg SO3/ha (24kg S/ha).

This is followed by two further applications of CAN to supply 232kg N/ha. Allan said that he expects his fertiliser bill to be down over 25% in 2017.

Richard’s approach is broadly similar, but he uses three splits of urea applied as a bag/ac, two bags and one bag to finish, giving a total of about 230kg N/ha. P and K tends to be applied in April.

Cultivation systems

Allan has remained with the traditional plough / one-pass system, while Richard has been min-tilling for many years, using a Sumo Versadrill fitted with 12in-deep working legs.

Richard believes that this deep action is important for him due to the high rainfall and the damage caused by machinery. He has been min-tilling since 1999, driven by the need to cut costs.

2015 wheat crop

Both growers compared the management and output from their 2015 winter wheat crop. Allan’s 30.91ha was sown on 24 October, but planting could extend into November.

He wants a simple system and varieties that have robust disease and lodging resistance.

Richard’s winter wheat was sown in early October, but he would drill from early September given the opportunity.

His variety choice is driven by yield potential, coupled with ear blight resistance. Seed rate is broadly similar for both growers at 160kg/ha, but Richard might get up to 180kg/ha in difficult conditions.

Disease prevention is broadly similar using a three-spray fungicide programme. Allan uses Othello (a weaker version of Alister) for autumn weed control.

Richard also uses Othello, but this is often followed by a specific grassweed product like Broadway Star. He also uses a stale seedbed.

Harvest

With the smaller area and better climate, Allan relies on a contractor for harvesting, with grain sold direct at harvest. His 2015 wheat crop averaged 13.62t/ha at 18% moisture, nearly half the wheat straw was chopped and the crop turned in a gross output of £1,638/ha.

With a more awkward climate and more acres, Richard has his own combine which can handle up to 60ac/day.

He also dries and stores his grain and his gross output in 2015 was £1,778/ha from a yield of 12.5t/ha at 14.5% moisture and straw only chopped on the headlands.

Comment

Perhaps the main summary from the discussion is that a system is the only way of doing the job. Similar performance can be produced from different systems and no system can be regarded as absolute. Flexibility of management is key to good husbandry. Richard had to plough in 2016 because of traffic damage during harvest. Ploughing is very versatile, but much of our tillage land needs a rest from the plough. And weed problems ploughed down should not be ploughed back up again in the following year. Farming systems should be just that – systems. Farmers should have the flexibility to alter any system to best cope with the range of adversities. All problems need to be addressed in terms of overall farm practice rather than just another spray and another cost.