The use of modelling tools, remote sensing equipment, big data, crowd-sourcing and precision farming techniques, will feature on the NIAB TAG stand alongside favourites such as the winter wheat and winter oilseed rape variety demonstration plots at this year’s Cereals event in June.
The innovation theme continues with a look at the latest plant disease research with new diagnostic techniques in oilseed rape and field beans and the application of field pathogenomics in the detection of new races of yellow rust.
NIAB Technical Director Bill Clark says “We often hear that the need for innovation in arable agriculture has never been greater, driven by the challenges of global food security, climate change and resource conservation. Yes, this is a vitally important time for crop innovation and there are some truly exciting scientific breakthroughs alongside new agronomic tools and technology being developed. But UK growers need to see these innovations in action, understand how they can and will be put into practice on farm and the economic and agronomic benefits in their use, all of which we will be showing on our stand at Cereals.”
This includes a focus on the application of remote sensing techniques in crop research and on-farm. Against a backdrop of physically and visually different varieties NIAB will show how it is developing these technologies for use in research plot measurements, seed inspection and certification and in the field including monitoring crop growth and mapping problems such as black-grass or disease.
One favourite exhibit has moved this year. The success of the soil hole has meant it has been promoted to its own area 100 m along from the main stand. NIAB TAG’s Ron Stobart and NIAB CUF’s Dr Mark Stalham, working with Rothamsted Research soil scientists, will be demonstrating in a larger walk-through pit for visitors.
Ron Stobart says: “Our 8 m long, 4 m wide and 1.2m deep walk-through soil pit is a unique opportunity for visitors to check out the Cereals Event site soil profile at eye level and study the rooting of a range of cover crop and cereal crops.
“We are going to show how a well-structured soil can help water infiltration and aid moisture retention, demonstrate how to increase soil aeration for root growth and biological function and help growers improve the workability of their soil.” A subsoiler will also be pulled through the soil providing a backdrop to advice on cultivations and rotations.
Both stands will feature cover crop mixes, including plots of tillage radish, a mix of crimson clover, black medick and vetch as well as buckwheat and phacelia, alongside guidance to improve the effectiveness of cover cropping strategies and which rotations will benefit the most from cover crops.
