Archive Article: 2000/09/29
IN BRIEF
• HYBRID oilseed rape varieties will fill a quarter of the area sown with certified seed this season, according to CPB Twyford, Pronto accounting for 60% and Gemini 32%. That is an increase of about 2% on 1999/2000 against the background of a probable rise in farm-saved seed use, says the firm.
WHAT has an NPK analysis of 11-4-3, contains 7% calcium, and is entirely organic? Answer: Guano.
Namibian guano to be precise, and it could be on your farm for about £300/t, says Worcs-based grower Richard Tate, of Winterfold Farm, Chaddesley Corbett.
At that it is a non-starter for conventional cereal growers, he concedes. But horticultural or organic growers could find the foreign birdmuck very valuable, he says.
But there is one snag: The smell. "I have to keep the samples in my garage they smell so strong."
• THE Soil Management Initiative is publishing a booklet highlighting the advantages of conservation tillage. The full case for using such techniques is given, citing the results of research. Available from Dr Vic Jordan, SMI on 07970-407185.
• INTERNET marketing for farmers is the subject of a conference to be held at Ely on Nov 2 by East Anglia Food Link, in conjunction with Fenweb and Organics on Line. Practical advice on how to "farm the internet" will be given by farmers who have succeeded in developing local and national markets for organic and quality food products.
Cost is £55 including lunch or £15 for those in the East Anglia 5b area. Contact EAFL on 01953-889200 or e-mail eafl@gn.apc.org
• WEED identification just got a whole lot easier with the introduction of a free on-line internet guide by Aventis Crop Science (www.weedspotter.co.uk). From Sept 23, Weed Spotter will offer information on 43 broad-leaved weeds, including images to aid recognition, plus details of germination, flowering and seed return. Grassweeds will be added next spring.
• PLANS are afoot to build a £1m specialist oil extraction facility at Driffield, East Yorks. Dutch oilseeds processor AL Boiler is investigating the viability of a plant near the town, reports the Driffield Times. The proposed plant would process a wide range of oilseeds from throughout Europe, including borage, evening primrose, novel rape and sunflower lines, flax, camelina and calendula for pharmaceutical and nutritional uses.
• BEET processing gets under way on Sept 21 when a new factory in Ipswich opens, closely followed by Bury, Cantley and Wissington on Sept 25, Bardney, Newark and York on Sept 27, Allscott on Oct 2 and Kidderminster on Oct 5. Root samples taken since early August suggest yield is below last year, but in line with the five-year average, says British Sugar.
• EYESPOT is coming under renewed scrutiny in a new HGCA-funded research project to develop an accurate way of determining which crops can be treated cost-effectively. Workers at the SAC, CSL, Scottish Agronomy Research and Velcourt will seek to devise a new risk-model to aid decision making.