Assessment and analysis at AHDB Strategic Farms – Strategic Cereal Farm East

Background

AHDB Farm Excellence is a channel that connects farmers and their businesses with the wider AHDB Research and Knowledge Exchange (R&KE) programmes. Across AHDB sectors, we work with many agricultural businesses and inspirational farmers who open their doors to others to learn, share and create new ideas to drive innovation and increase productivity.

Strategic Cereal Farms demonstrate new ways of working in a commercial setting. The programme supports applied research through a series of trials and demonstrations in addition to knowledge exchange events to share the results with the wider industry. Approaches are subject to full cost-benefit analysis and are designed to help farmers assess the possibility of changing approaches on their own farms. You can find out more about AHDB Strategic Cereal Farms by visiting: ahdb.org.uk/strategic-cereal-farms

Strategic Cereal Farm East is hosted by David Jones at The Morley Agricultural Foundation, Wymondham. This is the most recent Strategic Cereal Farm, which will start on 1 September 2023 and will end on 31 August 2029.

Currently there are three other Strategic Cereal Farms:

Strategic Cereal Farm Scotland, hosted by David Aglen at Balbirnie Home Farms, Fife started on 1 September 2020 and will run until 31 August 2026. You can find our more information by visiting: ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/strategic_cereal_farm_scotland

Strategic Cereal Farm South, hosted by David Miller at Wheatsheaf Farming Company, Basingstoke, started on 1 September 2021 and will end on 31 August 2027. You can find out more information by visiting: https://ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/strategic-cereal-farm-south

Strategic Cereal Farm North, hosted by David Blacker at Church Farm, York started on 1 September 2022 and will end on 31 August 2028. You can find out more information by visiting: ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/strategic_cereal_farm_north  

Aim

The aim of Strategic Cereal Farm East is to investigate and demonstrate the transition from farming systems that rely on a continuous cycle of agrochemical inputs, to a flexible approach that combines cultural and conventional management to create solutions that last.

To achieve this aim, AHDB is commissioning trials at Strategic Cereal Farm East for harvest 2024, with the potential to renew the contract for subsequent harvests (subject to review of milestones and deliverables).

Ultimately, the trial assessments will provide information to cereal and oilseed farmers and agronomists on opportunities to improve the efficiency of farming.

Research Partnership Approach

Applicants can respond to individual work packages in this call. Joint proposals from two or more contractors are acceptable and encouraged where there is added value. AHDB may, if it is deemed desirable, request applicants to form a consortium to work together. There should be one organisation designated as the lead organisation for the Research Partnership which is responsible for project management and delivery. The group size should be manageable. Prospective partnerships can comprise both research institutes and industrial partners, be multi-disciplinary, and draw on a range of research experience for several crops. Therefore, the group does not necessarily need to have a history of working together. Further, priority will be given to the applicants with in-kind and or cash funding from the industry.

Project Duration and Budget

AHDB has set aside a maximum total budget of £50,000 over 12 months. The earliest date of commencement for work funded in this call will be 31^st October 2023. Proposals for this call should provide detailed costs for the period 31^st October 2023 – 31^st October 2024. There is the potential to renew the contract for subsequent harvests (subject to review of milestones and deliverables).

Completion and submission of the application form

All applicants should complete an application form for projects over £50,000 using the AHDB Research and KE Application Form - Full Proposal Large, referring to the guidance notes to aid completion.

Proposals should include details relating to harvest 2024 trials, including:

• Detailed schedule and timing of assessments
• Detailed schedule of payments against milestone project deliverables
• Cost of measurements and analysis of the parameters listed in the work package
• Written and verbal presentations of content for Open Day (June 2024)
• The successful contractor will also be required to provide AHDB will final reports for all trials/work packages using a template provided by AHDB, to include methodology, analysis and interpretation of the final results
• Details of laboratories to be used for sample analysis
• Applicant details, including the project lead, nominated trial manager and organisation details. Please include any details of collaborators where appropriate
• Statement of availability and description of machinery where appropriate
• Details of previous experience and work in this field, to include scientific and technical expertise of the staff involved in the project
• Availability of speakers at AHDB Knowledge Exchange events during the project

Applications are made on the basis of the AHDB research funding agreement and any organisation receiving funding shall comply with the terms and conditions specified in the Contract. AHDB will not be held responsible for any expenses or losses incurred by applicants in the preparation of an application(s).

Completed application forms should be submitted to research@ahdb.org.uk no later than 17:00 on 9^th October 2023.

Project management

This project will be managed by a project committee comprising representatives of the successful applicant, AHDB staff, host farmer and other suitably qualified individuals (determined by AHDB). The successful applicant must appoint a trial manager for the day-to-day management of the project and must provide evidence in their application that these individuals have suitable experience.

The successful applicant must draw up a protocol for the trials which should be shared with the project committee before work begins.

Monthly trial diaries and update meetings: The successful contractor will be required to attend monthly project update meetings. These meetings will be held online using Microsoft Teams and will last for approximately 1 hour. During these meetings, each work package lead will be required to update the project team on progress to date, including data collection, images and any results. Monthly trial diaries should be submitted to the project team the day before the project meeting. These trials diaries should include a written update, photographs (original files), any data collected.

Records and data handling: All paper and electronic records must be kept as per contractor’s procedures. All data should be recorded appropriately and supplied to AHDB at the end of the project along with a final project report.

Procedures in the event of delays: If prolonged adverse conditions result in delays of over 7 days, notify the AHDB Knowledge Transfer Manager promptly.

Risk assessment: The contractor must supply a risk assessment for the trial to cover all elements of the work and that is compliant with industry regulations.

Assessment of Proposals

All submitted proposals will be reviewed by AHDB. If required, external peer reviewers may be sought. The selection will be an open and fair competition according to AHDB’s procurement policy, which complies with EU state aid rules.

Knowledge Exchange (KE)

The successful contractor will be required to make a significant contribution to KE. Platform presentations at AHDB events may be required and the successful contractor must be able to provide suitably qualified people to speak at these events and show evidence of their experience of speaking to grower audiences. Attendance at events not directly linked to the Strategic Cereal Farm will be paid at a day rate plus expenses (see below) and the costs should not be included in the contractor’s proposal.

The successful contractor will be required to provide AHDB with written content as well as present at the on-farm Open Day (June 2024) and online Results Day (November 2024). A template for written handouts and final reports for trials/work packages will be provided by AHDB.

The successful contractor may also be expected to contribute towards the preparation of publications, updates and blog posts related to the project as required on an ad-hoc basis. This will include providing commentary on project results, and sense checking.

Presentations of material at events not requested by and/or directly supported by AHDB will not be funded by AHDB but must be cleared with AHDB in advance.

Current AHDB day rates and expenses for presenters at AHDB events: speaker day rate of £475 + VAT. Receipts (originals or copies) must be provided for all expenses claimed. Expenses authorised whilst engaged on business on behalf of AHDB.

• Travel
  • (Business mileage 45p/mile)
• Subsistence
  • Evening meal – up to £28.00 per person, inclusive of VAT
  • Other meals – up to £10.00 per person, inclusive of VAT
• Accommodation
  • maximum of £160 for London and any other capital city inclusive of VAT
  • maximum of £110 per night elsewhere inclusive of VAT
• Other reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred

Questions and Answers

If you have specific questions relating to this call, please email research@ahdb.org.uk. All Questions & Answers will be published. As part of the open tender process, AHDB cannot discuss specific programme details prior to proposal submission.

Proposed timings for application and project delivery

Work Package Guidance

Strategic Cereal Farm East

Farm host: David Jones, The Morley Agricultural Foundation

Location: Morley Business Centre, Deopham Road, Morley St. Botolph, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 9DF

Aim

The overall aim of Strategic Cereal Farm East is to investigate and demonstrate the transition from farming systems that rely on a continuous cycle of agrochemical inputs, to a flexible approach that combines cultural and conventional management to create solutions that last.

The initial work packages will:

• Improve understanding of non-chemical ryegrass control approaches to significantly reduce the population across the farm (Work package 1: Cultural weed control strategies)
• Develop combinations of cultural management approaches for aphid and BYDV control, including the optimum use of decision support tools to manage risk (Work package 2: Integrated pest management)
• Increase understanding of nutrient use efficiency across the farm, including exploring (sometimes conflicting) advice and improving management decisions (Work package 3: Nutrient use efficiency)

Key final outputs from the work packages include short, case study style technical summarises which present results in a practical, easily digestible format, intended to set a high standard for the communication of applied on-farm research. Specific time should be included to prepare these outputs.

In year 1, it is envisaged that work package 1 will form approximately 50% of the budget allocation and work packages 2 and 3 at 25% each of the budget allocation. The work package design and assessment descriptions are intentionally broad to allow the inclusion of methodological ideas from applicants, this collaborative approach is encouraged.

Site description

The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF) owns and operates a 700 ha arable farm near Wymondham, Norfolk. The soil is predominately medium with a rotation that includes wheat, barley, oats, sugar beet, maize and 8% of the total farm area in non-harvest crops (e.g. SFI). A range of fields will be used for the Strategic Cereal Farm East, which fall within an approximate 2 mile radius of the farm office address. Further details are included in the work package descriptions.

The TMAF combine harvester is fitted with yield mapping technology and a protein meter, and the farm hosts a weather station. As part of wider activities, TMAF collects a diverse range of farm data (https://tmaf.co.uk/) that may be available to support Strategic Cereal Farm East, as appropriate. Details regarding this will be discussed during the project inception meeting.

Field locations

Hackets – ///skewing.bedrooms.brightens

Tuffy – ///portable.irony.jumped

Holmes – ///speaker.motel.ethic

Blofield – ///marathon.processes.fell

Raynes – ///mush.rules.crackles

Perones – ///spurring.scarred.hooks

Dyke Beck Farm (///elated.opened.herring) (individual fields TBC based on 2024 autumn drilling)

Work package outline descriptions

Work package 1: Cultural weed control strategies

Research question:

What are effective and realistic cultural and conventional control combinations to reduce ryegrass burden in arable rotations?

Background:

The aim of work package 1 (WP1) is to investigate combinations of cultural and conventional ryegrass control options. WP1 will explore how to retain effective ryegrass control in a future where herbicide efficacy may be reduced and/or scenarios where access to broad spectrum herbicides may be restricted.

Year 1 will establish a replicated tramline experiment (WP1a) alongside field scale sister-experiments (WP1b/c). WP1d will investigate anecdotal evidence of weed seed transfer between fields during cultivations to empirically characterise the extent of weed seed transfer and determine whether a consideration of machinery hygiene may be significant when planning cultivations.

Design:

WP1a)

Field(s): Hackets

• Hackets currently has a high and (relatively) even ryegrass distribution, which has been persistent across multiple seasons
• Hackets has been in sugar beet for harvest 2023, the field will be ploughed post-harvest and left fallow overwinter with spring barley drilled spring 2024

Treatments:

• Herbicide only (to represent conventional ryegrass management)
• Hybrid treatment(s) –
  • Conventional herbicide followed by spring/summer mechanical weeding A (mechanical weeder TBC)
  • Conventional herbicide followed by spring/summer mechanical weeding B (mechanical weeder TBC)

NB: Treatments will be triple replicated. There is potential to modify and/or expand this treatment list, this will be discussed during the inception meeting.

WP1b)

Field(s): Tuffy/Holmes/Blofields

• These fields currently have moderate and patchy ryegrass and blackgrass distribution that has persisted across multiple seasons
• WP1b will take the treatments and learnings from WP1a and apply the solutions at field-scale, using a seasonal ‘managed’ approach to demonstrate application of cultural control options in a commercial setting
• The measurements should be the same as WP1a but at a lower spatial and/or temporal resolution
• All fields will be in winter cereals for the 2023/2024 season

WP1c)

Field(s): Raynes and Perones

• These fields currently have moderate and patchy ryegrass and blackgrass distribution that has persisted across multiple seasons
• WP1c investigates alternative solutions to in-crop weed control:
  • Raynes – currently in AB15
  • Perones – cereal crop harvest 2024, going into an SFI 2022 three year low-input grass ley option for 2023/2024 (low input, 1 cut, left long overwinter for wild birds)
• The measurements should be the same as WP1a but at a lower spatial and/or temporal resolution

Assessments:

WP1a/b/c

• Short-format, high-level rapid evidence assessment on non-chemical cultural control of ryegrass
• Benchmarking of existing spatial variation
• Assessment of the existing weed bank, split by soil profile depth
• Weed distribution, density and phenology throughout the 2023/2024 growing season
• Viable weed seed return post-mechanical control and post-harvest
• Characterisation of crop performance (WP1a/b harvested and WP1c non-harvested)

WP1d)

Field(s): Hackets + one additional neighbouring control field with low ryegrass population (TBD)

Design

• WP1d is a pilot study to compare the amount of weed seed that is retained on primary (plough) and secondary (single pass multiple) cultivation equipment
• It is suggested that soil retained (and therefore potentially transferrable) on cultivation equipment from one field with high ryegrass population and soil with low ryegrass population is collected
• The population of viable weed seed contained within the soil may then be determined. We welcome suggestions on the assessment protocol

Assessments

Post-cultivation of each treatment, soil is removed and subject to either:

• Remove retained soil into shallow trays, germinate in controlled conditions and score against a visual scale

OR

• Remove retained soil, sieve and count weed seeds (species separated), germinate in controlled conditions to determine viable population

Work package 2: Integrated pest management

Research question:

What are the agronomically effective, practical and economically viable cultural management approaches for aphid and BYDV management in winter wheat, including optimising the use of decision support tools?

Background:

Measurement, monitoring and choice of management approaches are the key elements to reduce the business risk of BYDV. There are a variety of cultural management approaches and decision support tools available to UK farmers, with differences in level of detail and practicality. WP2 will investigate the combinations of cultural management approaches to manage BYDV risk and determine practical strategies to measure and monitor aphid pressure.

Year 1 will monitor aphid pressure and habitat across the farm, focused on a comparison between two adjacent fields with one planted into a BYDV resistance variety and one planted into a conventional variety. This work package builds on the findings of AHDB PhD research project Improving integrated pest management (IPM) of aphid BYDV vectors (PhD) | AHDB determining varietal differences in attraction and secondary spread of aphid populations.

Design:

Field(s): Two adjacent fields TBD at Dyke Beck Farm (///elated.opened.herring)

• One field will be planted with a BYDV resistant variety and will be compared to a neighbouring field planted with a conventional variety (all crop inputs will be kept constant across the adjacent fields)
• Each field will have an autumn insecticide and non-autumn insecticide split
• Fields at Dyke Beck Farm are considered a risk for BYDV based on past experience

Assessments:

• Short-format, high-level rapid evidence assessment of decision support tools (to include field measurement and desk-based models)
• In-crop aphid monitoring (e.g. sticky traps, water traps, plant monitoring)
• Characterise BYDV spread (e.g. measurement of patch sizes and yield loss, determination of generational spread)
• Characterise the crop performance and economics of resistant variety compared to conventional
• Characterise impact on natural enemies (e.g. pitfall trapping, surveys)

Work package 3: Nutrient use efficiency

Research question:

How can we improve nutrient use efficiency across the farm, maintaining crop performance and providing a clear framework for decision making?

Background:

TMAF hosts and funds the TMAF SAMS project (https://tmaf.co.uk/sams-map/) started in 2018. SAMS is a network of 150 m² monitoring sites set up across the farm, to represent a mixture of high, low and variable yielding areas. Detailed soil and agronomic monitoring are conducted annually at the 28 SAMS sites (Table 1). TMAF SAMS, working in partnership with NIAB, James Hutton Institute, BBRO and ADAS YEN, provides an extensive dataset to draw upon.

The SAMS datasets provide a basis to measure and demonstrate how to make management decisions on nutrient use efficiency. WP3 will follow the c. 8 SAMS sites that are in winter wheat rotationally. Year 1 will calculate nutrient use efficiency at the 8 SAMS sites, to provide a basis for experimentation in the following years. Applicants are encouraged to look through the full measurement list (Table 1) currently collected as part of SAMS and propose any additional measurements that may be funded by AHDB to fully characterise the nutrient use efficiency of N, P and K not currently considered.

The farm is experimenting with controlled release nitrogen fertiliser. A split field pilot study will be carried out at one of the winter wheats SAMS fields to compare the new ‘granular + foliar’ approach and the farm standard ‘granular only’ approach. Activities should be included to collect core soil and agronomic information for these additional areas which are not included in TMAF SAMS.