Strategic Farm Week: Managing lower inputs

Can a managed approach to lower inputs create a cost effective, productive arable enterprise?

Disease management in cereals is a challenge. Loss of chemistry and fungicide resistance means that we need new ways to manage cereal diseases. Our projects help support farmers and agronomists to manage cereal diseases. AHDB's fungicide performance research provides information on the effectiveness of new products. The Recommended List can help with selecting the best varieties for your farm.

Utilising our Strategic Farm network, Strategic Farm West, East and Scotland all decided to look at different adaptations to test whether a managed approach to lowering inputs can be used.

• East - To test whether a managed approach to lowering inputs can be used at different application timings without compromising yield but improving the cost of production
• West - To test whether a managed approach to lowering fungicide inputs can be used on varieties with different disease ratings, without compromising yield, but improving the cost of production
• Scotland – To test whether a managed approach to lowering inputs can be used to cut fungicide applications and focus on a strong healthy plant, adjusting nutrition in response to tissue testing as well as baselining the relationship between plant health and brix readings

This webinar will cover the results and findings from the three Strategic Farms and hear a first-hand account of the grower’s experience, what they learnt and what they will take forward into the coming season as well as an opportunity to ask you questions and share your experiences.