Paul Fenwick, pathologist with Limagrain, contends that the threat from yellow rust is one of the most significant threats to plant health and production today. He believes that the appearance of the exotic Warrior races represent a step change in the challenge from the disease, stating  that its almost like a ‘new’ disease.

“The huge diversity of races within the current yellow rust population means that new virulences will appear from the ‘soup’ of pathotypes to match resistance factors in current varieties. “

He points out that the Warrior races of today are extremely diverse when compared to the genetic diversity of past European races, and currently the Warrior 4 race predominates and is the most diverse group of all, he points out.

“Warrior has the potential to overcome long established resistance factors and this has already been seen recently with the rapid demise of particular varieties to these new races.”

“Whilst AHDB yellow rust resistance ratings are a guide to the likely level of resistance of a variety through the summer months, Warrior 4 pathotypes are found throughout the growing season and significant disease levels have been found during the winter and spring, which you would not normally expect and it cannot be assumed that the adult plant resistance seen in previous seasons will develop with time.”

The adult resistance of some varieties only becomes apparent at around stem extension or ear emergence but it’s important to recognise that each variety is different; some varieties can become more susceptible with time, he says.

“The fast changing biology of the disease can mean that resistance ratings are quickly out of date and no longer accurately reflect the ability of certain varieties to resist the disease, and this has been seen more than ever in the latest AHDB Recommended List ratings where there have been some big changes in varietal ratings from last season to this one.”

“There is no doubt that the threat from the yellow rust pathogen is one of the major challenges that we face as breeders today, as it is an increasingly complex pathogen, ” says Ed Flatman, Limagrain’s senior wheat breeder.

“It is vital to maintain a diverse range of resistance combinations to avoid mass breakdown of varieties, and this is why our main varieties such as Crusoe, Evolution, Revelation, LG Sundance and LG Motown have managed to withstand the challenges from yellow rust better than many other varieties, as they all have different gene combinations.”

“Resistant varieties now generally rely on combinations of three or more genes aiming to give long term resistance, and these can be combinations of a major gene giving complete resistance plus minor genes offering partial resistance. We are also developing multiple resistant combinations by inter crossing in excess of a dozen well characterised genes.”

“In this way, if the major gene is broken down or overcome, then there is a degree of built in security from the minor genes to avoid a complete breakdown of the resistance.”

“This means that the need to stack resistances is more important than ever. However this gene stacking approach is only possible, with any degree of certainty, through the use of genetic markers,” he explains.

Both breeder and pathologist agree that the recent threats from yellow rust will need to be met with an integrated approach of new and diverse resistance genetics and carefully considered approaches regarding fungicide applications – and that the message for growers this season is that crops will need constant monitoring.

According to Limagrain’s Scottish seed specialist adviser John Heaphy, a crop of brassicas will be especially beneficial in pest control, following the withdrawal of the pesticide used to control leatherjackets and frit fly.

“A brassica mixture, such as the rape, kale and stubble turnip Autumn Keep – or Meat Maker for those wanting a crop for autumn and winter grazing – can be ready for grazing by October and will provide a high protein and high energy balanced diet.”

Limagrain trials have shown that crops of forage rape and stubble turnips can produce more than 3.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare – and up to five tonnes for stubble turnips – with crude proteins around 18% for stubble turnips and 19 to 20% for forage rape and ME values of 11MJ/kg DM. Similar energy values are seen in kale crops, with 16 to 17% crude protein and dry matter yields per hectare of eight to 10 tonnes.

Mr Heaphy stresses the ease and speed of establishment of forage rape and stubble turnips. “This is a real advantage as there’s less chance of pest problems; insects like flea beetle don’t have as much time to cause damage as the crops grow faster than some of the other fodder crops. Forage rape, which will be ready for strip grazing 12 or 13 weeks after sowing, has become more popular in Scotland following the wet summers in 2012 and 2013 when the establishment of other crops was very tricky.”

Likewise, stubble turnips have ‘staying power’. “They can be left in the ground and grazed to suit the farm system,” he adds. “They just keep growing and are relatively winter hardy.”

However, Mr Heaphy draws attention to the important role of using brassicas as a vital part of pest management, now that the pesticide chlorpyrifos – that controlled pests like frit fly and leatherjackets – has been withdrawn.

“These pests can cause serious losses in established grassland and devastate new leys,” he adds. “So growers need to take a more integrated approach to pest management and one good measure is to use a brassica as a break crop, to break the lifecycle of these pests by removing their food source.”

Mr Heaphy suggests that Scottish growers can take a crop of silage off a pasture in June then sow a straight brassica crop or a catch crop mixture for autumn and winter feed, then reseed in spring.

“This is ideal for Scottish growers as they will usually get a good silage crop by the end of June, then they would cultivate and leave the land fallow for two weeks prior to sowing a forage rape, stubble turnip, kale, or better still, a mixture. This land can be ploughed the following March and sown with a grass seed mixture in April. This strategy can reduce the threat from grassland pests and maximise forage production.”

BRASSICA BASICS

Kale
High yielding and economical crop to grow
Flexible utilisation period – can be fed through autumn and winter to suit
Growing costs £496 per hectare*

Performance (Limagrain trials):
Dry matter: 8-10 tonnes/ha
Crude protein:16%-17%
ME: 10-11 MJ/kg DM

Forage rape and hybrids
Fast growing, leafy catch crop
Forage rape and rape kale hybrids grow in poorer soils and on exposed sites
Growing costs £408 per hectare*

Performance (Limagrain trials):
Dry matter: 3.5-4 tonnes/ha
Crude protein:19%-20%
ME: 10-11 MJ/kg DM

Stubble turnips
Fast growing
Protected from frost damage and some varieties have excellent disease resistance
Growing costs £305/ha*

Performance (Limagrain trials):
Dry matter: 3.5-5 tonnes/ha
Crude protein:17%-18%
ME: 11 MJ/kg DM

* Based on data from Kingshay Farming Trust

After taking up golf 18 years ago, Jim became a member of Henley Golf Club and soon made the most of retirement by playing regular rounds on the course which is set within the grounds of a 200 acre estate of landscaped parkland. Three years ago Jim started taking more of an active role at the club by helping out around the course, cutting back hedges, trees, seeding, planting and other general maintenance tasks, before he was then joined by other club members wishing to volunteer.

“This year our volunteer numbers have swelled to 14,” says Jim. “We call ourselves the ‘Ground Improvement Team Seniors, or GITS for short and generally help out after playing. Some days I can call upon six or more.”

Showing great dedication for their club, the volunteer group decided that the course would benefit from an injection of colour. Having seen the nearby Gaudet Luce Golf Club with a stunning array of flowers, Jim sought the advice of the course manager who then passed on the details of Limagrain.

“Keen to get started in February 2015 we met with Matt Gresty of Limagrain who gave us further ideas, brochures with various seed mixture products and costs. We then identified areas around the golf course for potential flower cultivation. After working out potential costs we were given the go ahead by management and ordered a variety of seed on Matt’s recommendations – Festival, Honey Bee, Aurora and Bio Diversity two year mix.”

With the products in place, Jim and the team started the project by rotavating before seeding in May 2015. A couple of months later and Jim was soon reporting excellent results.

“Worried about what was weed and what was flower I invited Matt to see our early results in June and to identify weed from flower. Though time consuming, we managed to weed each area and by mid-July our efforts were rewarded with displays around the course. Displays continued for three months and comments from members were very positive so we decided to continue the project in 2016. The most popular seed mix was the tall Festival which appeared more prominently than the shorter mixes though Honey Bee provided some of the best displays.”

True to his word, Jim and the team did indeed commence with the project in 2016 by doubling the size of the area and adding a further six plots. Although faced with unfavourable spring weather conditions the team’s efforts were soon rewarded.

“In late July and early August we began to see evidence of blossoms and from August onwards we have now seen magnificent colour. Widening the areas has given depth and adding additional poppy seed to each plot has provided extra colour. The Festival mix was again a real winner.”

The Festival mixture from Limagrain UK’s Colour Splash range contains a variety of beautiful mixtures including Cosmos Sulphureus, Cosmos Bipinnatus Sensation, Sunbow Zinnia, Cornflower and Tithonia Torch. Resulting in a mesmerising wave of colourful flowers, this mixture stands at between 1m to 1.5m, or more, and can easily be seen from a distance.

This popular mixture is just one of eight exquisite mixtures in the Colour Splash range – each meeting the numerous expectations of those who delight in appreciating a significant dash of colour. The Colour Splash mixtures are not only great for aesthetic purposes but they also have a significant impact on the surrounding wildlife in the sense that they provide a refuge that offers a rich and varied source of food.
Jim is looking to continue the project into 2017 and has already selected new mixtures from the Colour Splash range. The effort and determination from Jim and the team are really quite remarkable and it is this dedication to his local club which has earned him a nomination for the 2016 Warwickshire Golf Awards in the category of ‘Unsung Hero’.

“Such a project is time consuming, needs effort and perseverance but the ultimate results make such efforts absolutely worthwhile,” says Jim. “Costs are relatively small considering the benefits and I would certainly recommend Limagrain as an option – particularly the advice and on-site support Matt Gresty has given me.

“Flowers can enhance even the most picturesque of golf courses and our efforts have been the source of many appreciative comments from club members and visitors. Even when people are concentrating on their golf they still have time to enjoy the aesthetics of the course.”

For further information, please contact us on 01472 371471. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

Farmers are advised to look closely at all aspects of quality when selecting maize varieties this year.

Tim Richmond, Maize Manager with Limagrain UK maintains that while maturity class must still be the primary selection criterion, it is then vital to focus on varieties delivering the highest quality forage to ensure maize supplies the maximum benefit in terms of reducing feed costs and improving margins. He says new varieties are capable of delivering higher quality feeds.

“A recent survey showed that by still select varieties based on experience, sticking with what they have grown before, a significant proportion of farmers are missing out on the huge advances that have been made in plant breeding, particularly in terms of the quality of the feed produced.

“In the last 24 years, the milk production potential of maize varieties has increased from 30,900 litres/ha to 44,800 litres.  That is an increase of 45% and demonstrates why farmers need to commit to new varieties rather than sticking with varieties that might have been successful in the past.  We have seen advances in yield, feed quality and agronomy, which combined mean new varieties can give a better return on investment.

“A new variety on the BSPS/NIAB Descriptive List can supply sufficient energy to produce around 600 litres more per hectare compared to the average variety. This equates to a concentrate feed saving of around £65/ha.”

For a farm growing 30ha of maize, he says this would cut the purchased feed bill by £1950 with no increase in growing costs compared to an average variety.  With feed costs on the rise, the financial benefit of selecting varieties shown to support higher milk production will only increase he emphasises.

While maize is still seen foremost as a starch producing crop, he says it is important to look at the total energy the crop can provide as this drives not only energy yield but also how well cows will perform on the forage.

“You need to look at the whole plant as you don’t just harvest and feed the cob. Up to 50% of the total energy available is in the leaf, stover and other vegetative material so it makes sense to maximise the contribution they can make to the feed in the clamp. Furthermore, as cows are fibre-digesters, improving the utilisation of the fibrous parts of the plant can bring benefits in terms of rumen health and diet formulation. This is where the Limagrain breeding programme has been focussed for over NN years, the only breeding programme to do so. 

“The cob is 92-100% digestible so there is little opportunity to influence energy yield. However, the rest of the plant is 40-70% digestible, meaning if cell wall digestibility (CWD) can be improved so the energy available will increase. The only way to significantly increase energy production per hectare now is by improving CWD, and improving CWD does more than just increase energy content and yield.”

He says research by Professor Mike Wilkinson from the MGA shows that each 1% increase in fibre digestibility will raise total dry matter intakes by 0.12kg/day. This compares well with American research which showed each 1% rise in CWD increased total dry matter intake by 0.17kg/day, resulting in a yield increase of 0.25 litres per cow per day.”

“So not only does improving CWD increase the usable energy in the plant, it also encourages higher forage intakes giving a two pronged benefit when looking to control purchased feed costs.”

He stresses the importance of looking for a balanced variety. By selecting varieties with a good balance of starch and CWD, he says farmers will optimise forage quality and production from forage and reduce purchased feed requirements.

“Farmers should look closely at starch content, CWD and energy yield when refining their variety choice, as there is a significant difference in milk yield per hectare between average and top varieties ranked on energy yield. CWD in particular is going to become increasingly influential in variety selection.”

Choice of cover crops for the 2017/18 season is now on the radar for gamekeepers and those looking for good crops to provide shelter and feed for birds. “It’s good to reflect on the past season and see where there’s some scope for fine-tuning ahead of sowing from April onwards,” says Martin Titley from Limagrain, UK; suppliers of the specialist HiBird gamecover and conservation seed mixtures.

Good establishment, a plentiful feed source and cover from September until the end of January are the prerequisites of a good game cover crop. “But there’s a bit more to it when it comes to selecting just the right crop – and the most suitable variety,” he adds.

“There’s plenty of choice. Consider the site and how exposed it is, the soil type and threat of pests and disease. At the same time, the design and layout of the shoot will influence the structure of the cover crop.”

He also stresses the importance of looking at varieties within a crop, as this is often where significant rewards can be gained with a gamecover. “Take the most popular game cover crop, maize – you can have a blend which contains early, intermediate and late varieties so you can look for a good cover right through the season. Or if vermin are a problem, a late maturing variety will reduce their feed source.”

Likewise, he encourages growers to look at the height of the crop. “Some maize varieties reach 200 to 220cm but there are varieties that grow to 150cm to 170cm tall and this might be better for driving birds through in some cases.”

He also suggests looking at sorghums. “The dwarf types like Shorty are good options grown with maize to provide flushing points, whereas intermediate (height) types like DP2 can provide a windbreak for a maize crop and provide additional warmth.

East-Anglian based Simon Hobbs from Agrii agrees. “Conditions in 2016/17 have been kind to cover crops,” he says. “There’s been plenty of feed from the maize throughout the season and sorghum crops were looking good right until the end of January.”

Looking to the next season, he advises gamekeepers and farmers to think carefully about the position of the crop and the choice of crops. Some offer better shelter, some are denser so provide extra warmth at ground level and some are superior in terms of food provision. You often need a mixture.

“A plentiful food supply though is a priority for most growers,” he says. “You need to encourage the birds in, and make sure they are well fed – and this is where maize scores well.

“And if it’s grown adjacent to a shorter, denser cover crop with a good canopy like sorghum or millet, the birds have shelter and a warm environment too. Sorghum will hold its leaf right through the season.

“It’s a case of looking at the whole picture and growing the right combination of crops for the birds and then for the drive.”

Cover crops of maize and sorghum have been very successful on shoots this season. In Eastern Counties, where conditions haven’t been too severe, there was still a lot of feed on maize cobs at the end of January. “I’ve seen quite a few cases where it’s been possible to mow down strips of maize across the season that has then created a launch pad for the birds but it has also brought the cobs down to ground level for the birds to feed off,” he adds.

Soil type, difficult sites and establishment problems will also influence the choice of crop. If vermin such as rats are a problem, an intermediate height sorghum or late maize maybe a solution, and the intermediate sorghum is ideal if deer are liable to damage a maize crop.

Weed and pest control should be considered too. “Maize is a popular gamecover crop, but I would always recommend an insecticide and fungicide treated seed to protect it from the main pests and diseases. And use a blend of different maturing varieties or a few mixtures so there’s a range in height and maturities. HiBird Maize Blend, Compact and Late tick all the boxes here and have been really successful this year.”

Looking ahead, maize, sorghum, kale hybrids, millets and sunflowers will remain popular. Mr Titley also suggests looking at the tailor-made conservation mixtures too that include crops like quinoa, kale, linseed, radish and mustard. 
These have been developed primarily for shoots, with plentiful feed supplies and cover as a priority but with added benefits to suit certain areas and sites and to counter pest and disease threats. And, as a bonus, many of these are options are eligible for the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme.”

More details on growing cover crops and the choice of crops are available from Simon Hobbs, Agrii, 07770 643365  or simon.hobbs@agrii.co.uk or from the HiBird catalogue 2017 that can be downloaded from the website.

Graham Parnell, Limagrain Seed Sales Specialist in the South West, says that while maturity class must still be the primary selection criterion, it is then vital to focus on varieties delivering the highest quality forage to ensure maize supplies the maximum benefit in terms of reducing feed costs.

“Whether you are on a marginal or good growing area, the first decision is to look only at varieties suited to your farm.  We recommend farmers look to grow early maturing varieties with good early vigour.  This means they will get away quickly and will be ready to harvest earlier, reducing the risk of a delayed harvest and improving the chances of harvesting in good conditions.”

From a shortlist of agronomically suitable varieties, the emphasis then has to be on selecting the varieties that will produce the best yields of high quality forage to drive milk production.

“The top varieties on the Descriptive List can supply sufficient energy to produce around 600 litres more per hectare compared to the average variety. This equates to a concentrate saving of around £65/ha, for little or no extra growing costs.”

Mr Parnell advises considering the feed value of the whole plant, not just starch content.  He says 50% of the energy is in the vegetative parts of the plant and 50% in the cob.  To maximise milk production he stresses the importance of selecting varieties with high cell wall digestibility (CWD) which means more of the total energy is available.

“Farmers should consider starch content, CWD and energy yield when refining their initial variety shortlist.

 “To simplify a farmer’s choice, our Limagrain Animal Nutrition (LGAN) varieties are evaluated for all the key parameters affecting nutritional value, namely starch content and yield, ME content, and yield, CWD, dry matter yield, dry matter percent at harvest and early vigour.

“LGAN accredited varieties such as Glory and Ambition have been grown successfully across the south west for several years and are proven to deliver a high quality feed, while new varieties like Reason, Wizard and Pinnacle are going to give them a run for their money this year.  Choosing LGAN is your assurance of a variety with strong agronomy and exceptional milk yield potential.  What more do you need?”

“If a fresh yield above 100 tonnes per hectare combined with a dry matter content above 20% appeal, then the new fodder beet varieties Brick and Tarine will tick the boxes,” says Limagrain’s forage crop specialist Martin Titley.

UK trial results recently published show that the relative dry matter yield of Brick was 17% above the control variety Magnum, and Tarine was 8% higher. These values, based on three years of data, topped the table of the 14 fodder beet varieties trialled.

Brick was also the highest variety ranked on dry matter content at 23.3%, and Tarine was just behind at  20.8%. And with a dry matter yield of 22.2 tonnes per hectare, Brick can produce 3.72 tonnes per hectare more than the average for the trial whilst Tarine, with a dry matter yield of 20.1 tonnes per hectare outstrips the trial average by 1.6 tonnes per hectare.

Brick is a white, smooth skinned variety that stores well and is rhizomania tolerant. It is a deep-rooted variety and best lifted with a sugar beet harvester. Brick is also ideal for anaerobic digestion.

Tarine is shallower rooted and it has good leaf size; both features that help with harvesting and make it possible to use leaf lifting machinery. It produces clean pink roots and is also rhizomania tolerant.

“Both Brick and Tarine provide high dry matter and high energy feed – typically between 12.5 and 13.5MJ/kg of dry matter – for dairy and beef cattle,” adds Mr Titley.

Sown in April, they are harvested from October onwards and can be fed in a total mixed ration or ad lib with maize silage.

“For the same growing costs, farmers can benefit from the higher yields produced by these new varieties and boost supplies of this high quality cost-effective feed source. It’s a good idea to review your forage cropping based on the latest trial information and look carefully at the new varieties that could pay dividends.”

Limagrain’s latest fodder beet trial results are available from its web site  www.lgseeds.co.uk/fodderbeet

New malting varieties now have equal or better yield potential than standard feed varieties, thanks to breeders influence on germplasm, says Ron Granger, arable technical manager for Limagrain UK. “In fact over the last ten years we have been seeing an increase on yield of 1% per year, which is substantial.”

However recognising how we grow spring barley to achieve both high yields, and meet contractual specifications of the chosen end market is crucial to success, he adds.

“Through Limagrain’s investment in trials, both internally and externally, we evaluate the agronomic requirements of the spring barley crop and the subtle differences between varieties, ensuring both high yield and end use specifications are met.”

Seed rate

Limagrain does not advise definitive seed rates for spring barley and can only suggest suitable seeding rates, based on the breeder’s knowledge of the variety gained through both plot and field trials.

“We have carried out trials for three consecutive years looking at both drilling date and sowing rates across Scotland and the rest of the UK to determine optimum seed rate figures.”

“This work has found that a starting point of 350 seeds/m2 appears to be the optimum for most varieties in ideal growing conditions. This figure can then be either decreased or increased depending on the situation as outlined previously and this would concur with standard seed rates of around 325 – 375 being used by growers on farm today.”

“Drilling date would certainly appear to have an influence on final potential yield, but it’s important to stress that very early drilling should only be pursued if weather and soil conditions, including temperature, allow for good germination and plant establishment are ideal.”

“Patience is a virtue especially regarding the sowing of any spring crop – waiting until conditions are favourable is essential.”

Tiller Counts

The  target final tiller number in the AHDB Barley Growth Guide is 775/m2 (3 shoots /plant), looking at both trials and farm plant populations this appears to be underachieved in many situations, suggesting that full yield potential is not being reached,” says Mr Granger.

Establishing and more importantly securing a final tiller count of around 775/m2 will ensure full yield potential, is his advice. 

“We have been recording tiller counts for several years in Scotland; the data very strongly indicates that newer varieties such as Octavia, Sienna and Ovation are producing higher tiller counts, with the benefit of increased yield.”

He also points out that varieties with higher tiller counts show benefits in situations of stress, i.e. drought, showing that they will compensate where plant numbers are low. Whereas low tillering varieties are limited in their capacity to compensate. 

“Our trials have shown that final tiller counts can be pushed over 1000/m2 in very fertile soil conditions, but results would suggest no additional yield performance over the 750/m2 final tiller target. Additionally it can lead to negative agronomic traits being induced, such as lower specific weights, higher screenings, additional lodging pressure and increased disease pressure.”

Nitrogen interaction

Limagrain has a theory that if spring barley yields have increased by more than 10%, perhaps the conventional approach to the fertiliser regime should be investigated, to see if additional yield performance can be obtained with higher rates of nitrogen.

“This is not straight forward as the final grain nitrogen percentage cannot be compromised, especially if growing for the malt distilling market which requires a low grain nitrogen content, says Mr Granger.

Higher grain nitrogen levels required by the brewing and grain distilling contracts should offer opportunities for driving for additional yield potential with higher rates of nitrogen, while still achieving the specific grain nitrogen percentage.

Limagrain has been conducting trials work looking at variety interaction with differing nitrogen rates in some detail over the last couple of seasons. The following data is from a trial done in conjunction with Scottish Agronomy looking at two nitrogen inputs over a range of Limagrain varieties.

“Two nitrogen inputs were tested, 120 kg/ha in total applied in the seed bed, supported by an additional 30 kg applied at tillering, making a total input of 150 kg/ha.”

“The result was an additional 0.4 – 0.5 t/ha yield across the varieties. This is significant certainly in a commercial situation, but this has to be compared with the actual grain nitrogen percentage figures. “

Chart 3 Variety / Nitrogen interaction – Yield

Chart 3 shows the additional yield performance associated with the extra 30 kg/ha applied over the standard seed bed application of 120 kg/ha.

Chart 4 Variety / Nitrogen interaction – Grain nitrogen %

“Interestingly the grain nitrogen percentage did not increase significantly, remaining well within the contract specification of below 1.65% grain nitrogen for malt distilling contracts. One could argue that the additional yield had a dilution effect on the final grain nitrogen percentage as anticipated. “

“We should also take into account that grain data from both internal and external trials during 2016 confirm that it was a season of lower grain nitrogen accumulation levels, highlighting the importance of continuing trials over several seasons.”

I’Anson Brothers Ltd is one of the leading independent animal feedstuffs manufacturers that use pulses in its rations. The company has a history of working closely with pulse breeders and growers to ensure that new pea and bean varieties are suitable for processing to meet the requirements of its customers, but also offer appropriate on-farm agronomics which make them easier and more cost-effective to grow.

Now trading in 26 countries, and seeing increasing demand for animal feed from the continent, I’Anson chairman Chris I’Anson, points out the importance of consistency of supply of quality pulses into the plant, as rations are not changed frequently.

Buyer for I’Anson, Howard Jackson, points out that it is possible for growers to achieve these quality premiums with close attention to detail when growing the crop. “This starts with choosing the right variety, then focussing on the required inputs and managing the harvest timing to avoid bleaching – the main culprit for loss of quality.”

“For example, flaked micronized peas are a key ingredient for many of these mixes, and colour is the key quality that we are looking for. We are aiming to produce a big flake that’s as green as possible which adds to the visual appearance that ultimately attracts consumers.”

Managing harvest timing is critical as the key cause of bleaching is exposure to rain and sun. “Often leaving the crop until 15% moisture means that damage may have already occurred so one way of preventing this is to harvest at 18-20-% moisture, when the peas are still green.”

“Get out into the field and look at the crop, if you think it’s nearly ready, then get it in. Don’t be tempted to leave it for a day or two to try and save on drying costs. Cutting earlier also means stiffer straw and the canopy stands better, making it easier to combine, reducing the risk of shedding.”

“Choose a variety that is earlier maturing as it is possible to help avoid clashes at harvest, particularly these days when many wheat crops are being drilled later to help with black-grass control.”

A popular variety to date that has been on the market for some time, is the small blue pea Zero 4, despite many newer higher yielding varieties on the Recommended List, because it is earlier to harvest, and has good standing power.

I’Anson Brothers Ltd work closely with breeders and run their own trials which growers are invited to. “This means that we can see first-hand and discuss how pipeline and newly recommended varieties are performing in local conditions, and if they are fit for purpose,” says Mark Sampson of Acclom House  in Well, between Masham and Bedale, who runs the trials on behalf of I’Anson.

There are some interesting varieties coming through the system, that offer significant benefits to growers and the processors, explains George Hunter, pulses product manager with Limagrain UK. “As breeders, we are committed to pulses and are unique in our significant investment in the breeding of varieties of peas and beans to suit different farm situations and markets.”

“Recommended in 2016, the large blue Kingfisher is early to ripen and has shown excellent standing power. “

“LG Stallion recommended in the 2017 PGRO RL will be another one to watch as this is at the top of its game in terms of consistent yield (102%) and agronomic characteristics.”

The amount of temporary grass, under five years old, has fallen by 18% in the past two years which indicates that less grassland is being reseeded and the average age of our leys is getting older.

Despite producers targeting increased production from homegrown forage, the prolonged downturn in milk prices and pressure on cashflows has possibly deterred any investment in grassland. But, warns Limagrain UK’s grass seeds manager Ian Misselbrook, a move away from the regular reseeding of leys can carry a hefty price tag longer term.

“Reseeding a grass ley, taking account of cultivations, seed, fertiliser, labour and machinery, costs around £250 an acre – or £620 a hectare,” says Mr Misselbrook. “On the face of it, this might be difficult to justify. That is until you look at the loss in productivity of the ley year-on-year.”

The grass sward is at its most productive in year 1 and a typical reseed of a five year old ley will increase productivity by 35% to 50% depending on the condition of the ley being replaced.

AHDB Dairy data shows that a two-year-old ley yielding 13.5t/ha at 12ME will drop to 11.2t/ha and 11.5ME by year five. In year 11 yields will be almost half that of year two with energy levels down at 10.8ME.

One year old ley

“And if we look at some NIAB data, we can see the year-on-year drop in yield and quality of a medium term ley,” he adds. “There is a hidden cost on many farms of making up this shortfall in energy – a cost that many producers don’t realise they could be saving if their grassland was more productive.”

Table 1 shows that the dry matter yield and energy value of a five-year medium term ley is estimated to be 47,820 MJ/ha less than it was in year one. By year seven and eight these leys will have a shortfall in energy of around 9000Mj/ha compared with a new ley.

“If we look to replace this energy value with feed wheat in year five, based on current prices of £140 per tonne, the cost would be £568. By year eight the cost would be almost double, at £1134.

Eight year old ley

“These costs show that the cost of a reseed is covered between years three and four for this medium term ley.”

Table 1 Typical feeding value and yield of a medium term cutting ley (NIAB data) and cost to replace the lost energy with feed wheat of 13.7ME, 86% DM and £140/t

 
Research carried out at Teagasc in Ireland (Shalloo et al 2011) showed that grass utilisation increases proportionately to the amount of the farm reseeded each year. And increasing the level of reseeding had a positive effect on profitability.

Mr Misselbrook advises farmers to assess their silage land after two or three years and grazing at five years old.

“Look at the proportion of sown species. A new medium term ley sown with a quality mixture will have a ryegrass content generally above 90%. If this has fallen to below 60% then a reseed will be beneficial.

“The other 40% could well be the less productive meadow grasses and weeds, such as docks and chickweed,” he adds noting that from experience grass leys will typically have a ryegrass content of 40% at eight years old and 10% by 10 years old. “By this stage their feed value is negligible.

“So, carry out a cost-benefit analysis and see how much better off you could be by investing in your pasture. And bear in mind that there is mileage from selecting a more productive grass seed mixture for the reseed; the cost of the reseed is the same, so you may as well cash in on the latest mixtures.”

He mentions data from trials at NIAB Dartington that show that Limagrain’s recently introduced LGAN mixtures (grass and clovers that have been selected for their agronomic strengths as well as their feed qualities, particularly high DNDF to boost feed efficiency, high sugars and energy and a balanced protein) out-performed the control of a reputable ryegrass mixture, by 0.9t/ha dry matter and 13,529MJ/ha of energy. “This is enough energy to produce 2,553litres of milk,” adds Mr Misselbrook.

Reseeding with a higher energy forage adds to the cost justification too. “Producers replacing a concentre of 12.5ME with a forage of 10ME will be likely to see a fall in milk yield, as opposed to those a high quality grass that provides a high quality forage of 12ME.”

Kingshay figures show that, on average, a third of milk comes from forage with the top 25% nudging this up to nearly 50%. “There is great potential for farmers to feed more forage and increase feed efficiency. But it is dependent on a reliable supply of highly productive grass. Reseeding is a vital – and cost-effective – part of this.”

“As we know, recommendation onto the AHDB Recommended List is only the first step for a new malting barley variety; it then has to go through Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) testing which can take several years, after which the brewers and distillers will then make the decision to accept the variety onto its lists,” says Les Daubney, arable marketing director, for breeders of LG Opera, Limagrain UK.

“However we believe that LG Opera will buck this trend, and is a very exciting option for growers who are looking for a high yielding malting barley variety, wishing to exploit the exciting malt distilling premiums currently available.”

“We have got strong support from the IBD to test grain from the 2017 harvest, with several end-users committed to trials.”
LG Opera is the latest variety from the Limagrain barley breeding programme which introduced the non-GN concept to the marketplace with the launch of Concerto, back in 2009. Eight years later, Concerto is still regarded as the ‘benchmark variety’ for the malting and distilling industry producing high yields of malting quality grain, suitable for the majority of outlets in the UK.

Whilst high yield potential is key to the success of any new variety, the emphasis of our breeding programme reflects the increasing importance of grain quality and we are beginning to analyse factors that bring ‘consistency’ – that is to produce varieties in the field that will perform across seasons and positions, says senior barley breeder for Limagrain, Mark Glew.

“LG Opera reflects the outcome of this approach, offering a step up in yield and agronomics but with quality attributes similar to those offered by Concerto – and these have been tested across regions and seasons.”

The variety yields 104% over controls on the RL, which is close to those of Laureate and Planet for the UK. It is slightly higher yielding, 105% in the north, which is as high as Laureate and Planet.

“Hot water extract is one of the most important measurements in judging malting quality, and LG Opera has the highest hot water extract at 316.2 on the RL. This is just above that offered by Concerto, so we have every reason to believe that LG Opera will meet the quality requirements of the industry for brewing and malt distilling,” he says.

“Grain nitrogen content is also important in barley’s suitability for distilling as the lower the grain nitrogen content, the better the spirit yield will be. The distiller is looking to maximise his production and he will do this with lower grain nitrogen barleys as opposed to higher ones.”

“LG Opera has a nitrogen content of 1.35% which is the lowest on the list – this is much lower than Laureate for example that has a nitrogen content of 1.41%.”

Wet harvests can often result in spring malting varieties skinning. This is when the outer layer of the barley grain, or husk, is lost causing big variations in water uptake for maltsters and hence big problems in processing.

However testing done on 2015 harvest samples from two untreated recommended list and national list trials with high skinning, has shown that LG Opera appears to be one of, if not, the best variety for resistance to skinning.

LG Opera on farm

“We know that farmers like to grow big, bold samples, and like wheat varieties, a good specific weight barley variety would appear to be more robust especially in time of stress or erratic weather patterns,” says Ron Granger, arable technical manager for Limagrain UK.

Specific weights for spring barley are lower in newer varieties compared to older varieties. This has come about as breeders drive to produce higher yielding varieties but at the cost of grain quality – not dissimilar to the scenario seen with winter wheats a couple of years ago, he says.

“However this is not seen with LG Opera which holds onto a good level of specific weight similar to that of Laureate.”

Looking at LG Opera’s on-farm characteristics, it’s a really farmer friendly variety, continues Mr Granger.  “It is early maturing similar to RGT Planet and earlier than Laureate, with a good resistance to lodging and brackling, and also offers an all-round good disease resistance package.” 

From a distance it may look like a Van Gough masterpiece on the horizon but for those that are in the know, they will be well aware that it is in fact the Limagrain Colour Splash trial site.

Over the past few years, Limagrain UK’s range of Colour Splash flower mixtures have been used in a broad range of landscape and amenity areas throughout the UK. The much loved brand was first established over ten years ago where the development of the mixtures were created in the beautiful county of Loir-et-Cher, in the centre of France.

To ensure that these stunning flower mixtures continue to live up to their high expectations, the company, each year, establishes a trial site in which every seed mixture in the range is sown.

“The trials in which we evaluate the Colour Splash mixtures have been running for a number of years,” says Richard Camplin, Product Development Manager for Limagrain UK. They provide information on establishment, flowering period and mixture dynamics in the differing climatic conditions each year brings.

“Customers often visit the site to view the mixtures. It is a great way to fully appreciate them instead of just looking at pictures in the brochure.”

Those who have seen the brochure will know that the Colour Splash range has a floral arrangement for every requirement – whether it be a golf course, a local authority green space or any other establishment that has an area which needs brightening up. With eight mixtures in the Colour Splash range there are collaborations such as the Festival mixture which can easily be seen from a distance; the New Wave mixture which is perfect for locations needing an abundance of flowers; the Celebration mixture which has a wonderful pastoral effect; and even a Poppy Mixture which offers a fabulous show of vivid red flowers, providing a fitting and poignant display to our fallen heroes.

The Colour Splash range of mixtures are extremely easy to sow and the resulting vigorous plants are more than capable of competing with weeds. Their vigour is equally matched by robustness; resisting long periods of drought. They are also fast flowering and cost effective.

“The range is quite extensive and it’s a low cost option for those wanting an abundance of colour in fairly quick time,” says Richard. “Another advantage is that these mixtures require minimal input – the ground is made free of weeds, worked to a fine seedbed and the seed planted. In warm conditions, with adequate moisture they grow rapidly to give an abundance of colour throughout the year. “At the height of the season the site looks very colourful. It always catches the attention of passers-by who will stop to ask about it. Apart from the floral spectacle the plots are always alive with insects, particularly bees because the flowers provide a great nectar source for them. So not only do the Colour Splash mixtures look fantastic but they also have environmental benefits.”

For further information, please contact us on 01472 371471 or visit www.lgseeds.co.uk/amenity. You can also follow us on Twitter: @MM_Seed