Trials site in danger
Trials site in danger
THE legacy of foot-and-mouth is posing a direct threat to the future of the Arable Research Centres northern trials site at Thornton Farm, Berwick.
"The site is only in its third season and we have a lot of interesting trial results coming up," says Dave Robinson, ARC manager for the region. "But some producers in the area have retired and others have lost heart. People have got out of the habit of meeting up and as a result, membership has dropped by 20%. That leaves us with only 38 farmers in the group."
Key messages from the centres work to help growers this season include advice to trim cereal fungicide rates by as much as 50%, says Mr Robinson. The recent dry spell has reduced disease pressure and half or one third rate fungicide applications could be appropriate.
Mr Robinson also predicts that the regions producers can place more reliance on chlormequat growth regulator this season. "Its cheaper than alternatives for later in the year and also becomes more effective as temperatures begin to rise," he says. "Added to that, it is less harsh on the crop generally." *