| Arable
Lupins as homegrown protein crops: farmers review first year of trials and plan second year of research
Group of Innovative Farmers to launch further research into homegrown protein crops, following an educational first year of trials.
A group of twelve farmers in the South West are investigating the potential for commercial production of combinable organic protein crops, lupins and soya. The Mole Valley Farmers group have completed a first year of trials, growing one white variety and one blue variety of lupin, and their results are set to shape a further year of research.
Lupins have a reputation for being problematic to grow in the UK: but with rising demand for organic proteins for animal feed making sourcing increasingly difficult, and with new seed varieties entering the market which may increase the possibility of success in growing locally, the group were keen to see whether they could make it work on their land.
The results were mixed. The white variety largely failed, but the blue showed promise despite the challenges of an unpredictably dry April that reduced establishment. Each of the participants used one or both lupin varieties alongside a range of weed control measures, with mechanical weed control proving most successful. Some chose to intercrop with vetch, but this tended to result in excessive competition from the vetch.
12 | Farming Monthly | February 2018
Nigel Mapstone is coordinating the trials. He said:“ This first year has been a really helpful learning experience and we enter the second year with a more refined trial design, including adding a second blue lupin variety, and we’ re confident we can deliver some really positive results. We’ ve gathered some good insights that have encouraged us to implement the next trial on larger plot sizes, with denser planting and no intercropping, which should improve both establishment and harvest success this time around.”
Discussing their second trial the group are considering using two blue varieties, Regent and Iris. These have different growth habits, and the group are keen to see whether this results in significant differences in yield, quality and weed competition.
Paul Redmore is one of the farmers taking part. He said:“ You can’ t go on one year alone really as there are many variables in a field trial situation. Every year you learn a bit more, and over time you start to accumulate a mosaic of knowledge. It’ s particularly nice that we’ re working as a group, it’ s very easy to stay in your own little silo but getting different people together to understand the common problems and find solutions that work is a really
Use averages to be the best
When it comes to both variety choice and grain marketing, long-term averages can give the best clue to successful strategies, as Saltburn Monitor Farm found out.
J ohn Aynsley has hosted the Saltburn Monitor Farm since June 2017 and the group recently met
John to discuss how to make the most out of grain marketing and varieties, led by AHDB experts Helen Plant and Jenna Watts.
John said:“ Everybody is interested in trying to get the best out of what we do.”
Although in recent years volatility has been the norm, in reality UK feed wheat prices in the last 12 months have remained fairly flat. UK prices are above world market levels and ex-farm prices in the North East of England relatively high compared with a year ago.
Helen Plant, AHDB Senior Market Analyst, said:“ Global markets will move, but we don’ t know when. We need to prepare for change and be ready. The signs are that the market could have a strong reaction if there was a significant weather issue.”
The most important thing, Helen said, is to get a handle on farm business costs using benchmarking such as with AHDB’ s Farmbench. Farmers should use long-term averages, both of market price and cost of production, to see how their business is fairing.
Bearing in mind the uncertainty around Brexit, preparing becomes even more vital.
Helen said:“ The best form of attack is defence. Lowering your costs means you’ re the last to lose profit in a falling market or as direct payments are reduced or eliminated after 2022.”
Like many farmers in the region, the looming exit from Europe is on John ' s mind, with uncertainty top of the concerns.
John said:“ In the short term we probably won’ t be making any marketing changes as we don’ t know yet what will happen. We’ re still dealing with the same people, at the end of the day. However, we may need to look at futures and call options in more detail, although they often work out more expensive for us, especially when there’ s not been a lot of volatility.”
Knowing your own farm business inside-out is key for marketing, just as it is for variety choice.
John said:“ The main thing I took away from the varieties part of the meeting was that the AHDB Recommended Lists are a very comprehensive guide, but you have to do your own homework to see how your own farm behaves. You also have to take into account how you want to farm.”
Jenna Watts manages the Recommended Lists work for AHDB. She advises farmers to look at five-year averages and to consider the specific farm conditions.
“ Results from individual trial sites should not be used to make
worthwhile exercise.” The group is working with Hannah Jones from the University of Reading. Speaking about the challenges faced in the first year, she commented:“ Across the South, we had a significantly drier spring in 2017 compared to rainfall over the last decade, which contributed to high plant mortality and greater levels of seed predation than expected. Once the remaining plants started to grow with the on-set
Lupins have a reputation for being problematic to grow in the UK
of rain, the season was well-advanced and the time for the crop to reach maturity was limited. Because the spring weather pattern was significantly different to what can be expected in this first year it is important to repeat and refine these trials, with lessons learned this year meaning greater chance of success going forward.”
The group plan to commence their next trial in spring this year, keep up to date with their progress at www. innovativefarmers. org
Aynsley conclusions on variety performance,” she said.“ Instead, if you’ re looking at new varieties then take into consideration the yield, disease resistance and performance in your specific situation, such as your soil type and weather.”
Summing up, Judith Stafford, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Knowledge Exchange Manager, said:“ The important thing is to know your costs and know your farm. Get involved with benchmarking and also have your say on the Recommended Lists with our online survey.”
The next meeting will be on 27 February, looking at precision farming.
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