The Crop It Like It's Hot Podcast

Let’s talk crop nutritionWith improvements in fertiliser efficiency an ambition for both economic and environmental reasons, the latest episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot covers crop nutrition from all bases. Frontier’s Edward Downing offers practical tips to consider for boosting nitrogen use efficiency, while Leicestershire farmer, Michael Parker talks us through how he is tweaking his approach to crop nutrition to reduce the need for pesticides and get better returns.Yara’s Mark Tucker gives an update on the latest innovations coming forward in the fertiliser sector, while AIC’s Jane Salter explains how regulations are likely to look as we move forward into a carbon zero future following the advent of the Clean Air Strategy, the consultation on urea and the new Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Defra’s public consultationongene editing means the UK may be on the brink of having access to plant breeding technology that could revolutionise farming. However, if regulationsforgene editing are relaxed, there will be many hurdles for the industry to overcome. Foremost is whether consumers are willing to eat gene-edited food, but there are also concerns over the impact on biodiversity and whether farmers will have even less access to genetic diversity. The technology undoubtedly presents opportunities too, including crops with better weather resilience, higher yields or improved resistance to diseases. In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot, Alice Dyer gets all of your questions answered on what gene editing could really mean for the arable sector.

Agriculture is a notoriously difficult industry to get started in, particularly if you aren’t from a farming background, but there are many ways you can ‘be your own boss’ in the arable sector.In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot – pathing a career path in arable farming - we hear the inspiring stories of four self-made young people who have forged their own careers in the world of arable regardless of their background. From taking on farm tenancies while working full time, setting up a contracting business from scratch, becoming a highly qualified agronomist or having a complete career change after serving in the army, this episode covers it all.Speakers:Harriet Ross: Arable tenant farmer and farming consultant with Strutt & ParkerJonny Kerr: Velcourt farm managerJames Edmundson: Agricultural contracting business ownerMorven Anderson: Hutchinsons Foundation arable agronomist

Changes to the subsidy system, Brexit uncertainty and price volatility are just a few of the current and future challenges arable farmers face. In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot - Building business resilience during uncertain times – Arable Farming journalist, Alice Dyer hears from three experts about how to take a step back and assess the performance of your business. She finds out the key drivers of a high performing arable farm; and where savings can likely be made, from making changes to farm machinery, utilising Government grants, and cutting crop inputs to fine tune cost of production.Speakers:·Philip Wynn, business consultant·Harry Henderson, knowledge exchange manager, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds·Ben Harrington, soil fertility and plant nutritionalist and agronomist, Edaphos Agronomy

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