| On Topic
Farming is not so different across the channel
A group of 15 farmers in the AHDB Monitor Farm programme crossed the channel to visit French farmers – and discovered the grass isn’ t greener on the other side.
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HDB Monitor Farms bring together groups of farmers who want to improve their businesses by sharing performance information and best practice around a nationwide network of more than 30 host farms. Monitor Farms are part of AHDB’ s wider Farm Excellence Platform, which works with the industry to improve performance through knowledge exchange and benchmarking.
The farmers from the west of England and Wales toured cereal growers and co-operatives in the northern French wheat belt to find out about their challenges and share experiences.
Martin Williams, one of the hosts of the Hereford Monitor Farm, said:“ If you feel the issues are easier or the profits greater on the other side of the channel then think again. Apart from language, the conversations held could have been in any farming group in Britain.
“ The costs of production on a 10t / ha wheat crop are identical, the cost of chemicals too are near identical, which was surprising when we are told the pound / euro situation is the cause of our prices.
“ This was a fascinating cultural exchange of knowledge. A superb visit.”
AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager
Richard Meredith led the Monitor Farm group visit to Normandy and Picardy.
He said:“ After the poor harvests of recent years the farming community seemed to be looking for answers and quickly. We wanted to find out what the similarities with our own farming were.”
The group heard how French cereal production is undergoing huge change. In particular, farmers are facing reduction in chemical availability, more greening and environmental work coupled with recent low yields and low quality harvests.
Black-grass is a huge problem in France and new legislation means that chemical use in
08 | Farming Monthly | December 2017 www. farmingmonthly. co. uk