1 DRONE ZONE
The first new area is the Drone Zone, where farmers can discover how to operate a drone, work the video camera, programme a flight and use the data to create variablerate applications.
By pre-registering or collecting a voucher on the day, visitors will not only be able to have a go, but will also receive a follow-up presentation on how to use the information the drone collected on their flight.
Keith Geary of G2Way explains: “After the trial flights we will take visitors through the information and data they have gathered and explain how this can support business decisions about weed control, reducing input costs and drainage decisions, for example.”
To register interest email keith@g2way.com specifying the day (15 or 16 June), morning or afternoon, saying whether you are an agronomist or farmer; how many hectares you are responsible for and whether you already use precision techniques on your own farm.
2 THE SOIL PIT
The second novel feature at this year’s event is the Soil Pit – a trench farmers can step down into to see first-hand how cover crops can improve soil structure.
Sponsored by Niab Tag and Rothamsted Research, the Soil Pit is 4m wide, 1.2m deep and 8m long – gives visitors a great chance to examine below-ground benefits of four cover crops selected for their strong root growth.
Winter and spring rye, winter wheat and spring barley have been sown on the other side of the Soil Pit for comparison, and a sub-soiler will be used to provide a backdrop for the latest advice.
THE FOUR COVER CROPS ARE
⁕ Tillage radish: A brassica that can grow rapidly in the autumn, producing deep roots to help rectify structural issues and “mop up” nitrogen to reduce input costs.
⁕ Radish and spring oat mix: Deep-rooting brassica (radish) and vigorous cereal (oats) combine to provide good ground cover and soil improvements.
⁕ Spring oats, radish, vetch and phacelia mix: Wide-ranging mix with vetch – a vigorous legume that picks up nitrogen at different times of the year.
⁕ Crimson clover, black medick and vetch mix: Three nitrogenfixing legumes which complement each other well.
3 SYNGENTA SPRAYS & SPRAYERS
The Sprays & Sprayers area profiles the most up-to-date innovations. This year’s key launches include John Deere’s early preview of its new R4050i self-propelled sprayer. The model will be available in limited numbers from early 2017.
Vicon will be demonstrating its new iXdrive self-propelled sprayer, first seen earlier this year. The company’s first trailed sprayer, which is set for production later this year, will also be on display.
TIM SCRIVENER
4 VARIETY PLOTS
A popular part of the event for growers is the AHDB and Niab Tag variety plots, offering the chance to see new varieties and candidates for the first time. It is a chance to learn more, helping with variety decisions for the upcoming autumn drilling season.
A key theme with current low prices and high disease pressure this year will be maximising the value of disease resistance.
The seed trade now expects varieties with enhanced disease resistance such as Siskin, Illustrious and Costello to attract attention.
TIM SCRIVENER
5 CONFERENCES
With Cereals being held just a week before the key EU referendum, the key panel debate organised by the Oxford Farming Conference will look at arguments for both the leave and remain sides.
Other topics being covered in half-hour technical seminar include tackling blackgrass and no-till farming.
CEREALS 2016
⁕ Tickets are available to buy online for the two-day event on 15 and 16 June, near Duxford Cambridgeshire.
Go to www.cerealsevent.co.uk
online
Watch our video with Association of Independent Crops Consultants agronomist Matthew Paterson highlighting some key crop plots to visit at Cereals. Go to www.fwi.co.uk/cereals-plots cereals-plots