The Crop It Like It's Hot Podcast

It has been a difficult few years for oilseed rape growers, with many finally throwing in the towel for 2021. Particularly for those on heavy land, they now face the conundrum of finding a replacement break crop to fit into their rotation.In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot – Growing a resilient rotation, Arable Farming journalist, Alice Dyer explores what other options are out there, what is driving crop rotation decision making on-farm and what emerging markets could growers tap into.Guests:Skye van Heyzen - Innovation crops product manager, AgriiHannah Darby - Cambridgeshire arable farmerBen Anwyl - Junior agricultural researcher and consultant at the Andersons Centre.Andrew Wells - Independent agronomist, Arable Alliance

Some would argue that growers have been using integrated pest management (IPM) in crop production for centuries, but with less chemical solutions readily available, increasing issues with resistance and mounting political and consumer pressure, there has never been a greater need for farmers to reduce their reliance on chemistry.In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot, IPM – using biology in the fight against crop pests – Alice looks at how swapping some of that chemistry for biology could help to reduce pests numbers. This includes plant-based solutions with findings from the ASSIST project which looks at encouraging beneficial insects into crops, and crop mixtures – the practice of growing two crops side-by-side to deter pests and aid establishment. Alice also hears how developments in biological control products used by our colleagues in the horticulture sector are likely to have a place in arable production moving forward, as well as the risks associated with relying on Mother Nature and dropping insecticides completely.Speakers:Dr Ben Woodcock, entomologist at the Centre for Ecology and HydrologyDr Paul Neve, head of IPM at AHDBKatie Bliss, agriecologist for Agricology and Organic Research CentreDr Roma Gwynn, specialist in bioprotection technologies in crop production

Livestock were once commonplace on many farms, but over the years as businesses have specialised into one sector, many arable enterprises have lost the power of the golden hoof.Many growers are now reconsidering animals as a useful tool to widen rotations, improve soil health and spread the cost of cover crops. In this episode of Crop it Like it’s Hot – introducing livestock into your arable rotation, Alice hears about the many options available to growers from short-term leys to utilising cover crops.Offering a farmer’s perspective, Callum Weir, farm manager at the National Trust’s organic Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire discusses how herbal leys have improved soil health and weed burden, while spreading cost and boosting lamb finishing rates, and new entrant Suffolk sheep farmer, Robert Spink explains how he is teaming up with local arable farmers in the area.Taking a closer look at cover crops and soil health, Conor Campbell, agronomist at Hutchinsons offers advise on getting the best from grazed cover crops and lessons he has learned along the way, while beef and sheep consultant Liz Genever, explains how to team up with other farmers in your area.

With Government setting a legal target for the whole of the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050, the task ahead may seem daunting. In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot - Getting to grips with carbon capture and trading in arable systems, Alice finds out how arable enterprises can prosper from the situation through carbon trading and the production of value-added commodities and what small but practical steps arable farmers can take now to start the move towards a carbon neutral future.Soil-based farming consultant, Neil Fuller and director of farms at Newcastle University farms, James Standen outline where they see opportunities for carbon neutral crops and why the conversation needs to the start now. And offering more practical tips on how to cut carbon on your own farm, ADAS’ Dr Daniel Kindred and Yara’s Dr Mark Tucker talk all things fertilisers, cultivations and why going for gold when it comes to yields could have a much more positive effect on a crop’s carbon footprint than scrimping on inputs.

In the latest episode ofCrop It Like It’s Hot – Replacing chemistry with biology and the role of biostimulants, Alice Dyer explores how certain products could have an important place in the future of crop production and protection.With recent law changes to biostimulant regulations,Murray Smedley ofthe EuropeanBiostimulantIndustry Council explains how this is helping to remove the potential for manufacturers making false claims.Offering an insight into products in practice, agro-ecological farmer, Tim Parton, whose system focusses on regenerative agriculture techniques discusses how since introducing biostimulants to his system eight years ago, he has brokenyield plateaus, abolished chemical fungicides and disease bills now average £40/hectare.For the more conventional arable farmer, bioagronomist, Jamie Stotzka of Frontier explains why such products could still have an important place in crop establishment and disease control, alongside chemistry.Supporting these claims, Newcastle University’s Prof Robert Edwards discusses the results of three years’ worth of independent farmer-led trials data, which shows howbiological products could be the first thing growers reach for to combat cereal disease control in the future.

Offering both a UK and global outlook, James Webster, senior analyst at AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds tells us what being at import parity is likely to mean for UK wheat prices going forward and CRM Agri's Peter Collier outlines potential export markets for barley, and countries we could be looking to export to post-Brexit.Rupert Somerscales, senior analyst at ODA gives his top tips on how to market your grainthis season and tactics growers should be taking to ensure the best price.With growers set to be potentially holding on to grain for longer post-harvest, Ken Black of Bayer’s pest control team highlights the importance of getting your grain stores harvest ready to ensure every grain is protected.