Crop conference aims to give farmers advice on the potential of biofuels

Charles Abel 21 November 2006

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Biofuel production is long overdue in the UK, but is finally coming to fruition, giving growers the chance to get involved in an exciting new market, with huge demand for core commodity crops.

But how do growers get involved and what must they do to ensure they are efficient producers, able to maximise profit opportunities?

This practical, forward-looking conference will give you the answers. Organised by agronomy business Hutchinsons, in association with leading technical specialist magazine Crops, the event takes place on Thursday 18 January at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. for more information visit Hutchinsons’ and follow the link to Biofuels Conference.

PROGRAMME
10.00 Arrival, registration and refreshments 10.30 Welcome – David Hutchinson, managing director, Hutchinsons 10.35 The government view – Andrew Perrins, head of industrial crops division, DEFRA 11.05 Biofuels and the forecourt – Du Pont 11.30 Coffee 11.50 Breeding better varieties for biofuel – Peter Berry, ADAS High Mowthorpe 12.15 Agronomy for biofuel crops – Dick Neale, Hutchinsons technical manager 12.30 Q & A – Chairman, Mike Calvert 1.00 Lunch plus trade stand viewing 2.00 Biofuels: Emissions and engines – Ron Perera, New Holland 2.20 Small-scale on-farm production of biodiesel – Andrew Martin, Romney Marsh Farmers 2.40 Farming’s growing role in producing food and fuel – Paul Temple,NFU vice-president 3.00 Q & A – Chairman, Mike Calvert 3.25 Summary and close – Andrew McShane, Hutchinsons 3.30 Refreshments plus trade stand viewing
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WHAT THE GROWER THINKS
	“As a producer of commodity crops, making biodiesel on my own farm out of my own oilseed rape allows me to add value to my crop and benefit from reductions in fuel costs at the same time. Biofuels, generally, will help the financial viability of the commodities I grow and contribute to the greater sustainability of our planet.” – Andrew Martin, Romney Marsh Farms, Chapel Farm, Eastbridge Road, Burmarsh, Romney Marsh, Kent
	“I am looking at biofuels produced from crop feedstocks in a really positive way. Already we are growing rape for biodiesel on our set-aside land for United Oilseeds. I have also modified the variety mix of wheats planted this autumn to include Alchemy, as it is one of the most suitable bioethanol feedstocks. Farming can be a positive influence for both fuel production and our environment. I want to contribute to both.” – Martin Pratt, Tye Farms, Nedging Tye, Needham Market, Suffolk
	“A critical issue will be what feedstocks are used to produce non-fossil fuel. If they are sourced locally – as in European rapeseed oil, not Third World palm oil – then economies of scale and evolving technology for their production will be of key importance. It will also require a genuine commitment from the government to actually deliver on physical reductions in carbon emissions.” – Gareth Williams, Caplor Farm, Fownhope, Herefordshire