The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2015 - Issue 40 | Page 29

Phil Meadley ‘we have just over 600 acres and grow arable combinable crops of wheat, barley, oilseed rape, vining peas and beans’ as we can get. Our soil is a medium sandy clay loam that I realise is a bit of a mouthful, but the wheats usually perform well enough to go as biscuit quality to Bradshaws.” “The barley varies between 70-100 acres a year and with its extra performance yieldwise we are achieving around four tonnes per acre with our feed variety, Glacier. Barley is our entry for oilseed rape and we also grow between 70-100 acres. The bulk of our rape is Quartz and Anastasia, but as my nephew works for Pioneer and we have some PX113 that we have been trialling this year. We also grow 50 acres of vining peas and the rest is down to pulses; this year we’re currently growing winter beans for seed,” he explained. THE CHALLENGES “Our rotation is winter barley, oilseed rape, first and then second wheat, pulse, and then two wheats. The pulse grown is either feed or seed bean. We store everything here and have invested in buildings that allow us to aerate the grain. One of our biggest challenges at the moment out in the fields are blackgrass and mycotoxins. Blackgrass is the major one as it is so prolific. Its resistance to current agrochemicals, including Atlantis, that has been the best herbicide of the bunch, is a problem for UK farmers. Unfortunately, as it is not as big a problem in the rest of Europe the agrochemical companies are not focussing on it. Consequently we’re all looking at how altering our rotations and cultivation systems can help.” Mycotoxins, blackgrass and precision farming are all topics discussed through the Meadleys’ monitor farm status with other monitor farms and industry experts. “The monitor farm status offers us the opportunity to be involved in a forum that disseminates information, shares and then talks about ‘One of the biggest challenges at the moment out in the fields are blackgrass and mycotoxins.’ areas where we all have similar problems and challenges,” Phil said. “We are not regarded as a large arable farm here in East Yorkshire and the economies of scale that may make precision farming methods appear very attractive to larger farms are not as appealing for us. We need to find out what part of precision farming will work best for us and where we should put our limited resources if and when we pursue it. JACKSON ROBSON LICENCE C H A RT E R E D A C C O U N TA N T S Wishing P Meadley every success in the next 100 years from all at JK Senior & Sons Crop consultants to the farmer advising on seed, fertiliser and sprays Our aim is the same as the grower, which is to provide peace of mind that we will only advise on the products that are required, at exceptionally competitive rates, as we do not sell or take commission on the products we recommend. Tel: [phone]/533208 | Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] | www.jksenior.co.uk The Old Post Office, Main Street, Seaton, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU11 5RA Proud to be associated with Phil Meadley of Grange Farm • We are Chartered Accountants specialising in Agriculture, with decades of experience between us • Preparation of all forms of accounts and financial reports • Payroll, VAT & Book-keeping • Succession planning, including capital taxes & estates T: 01377 252 195 E: [email protected] 2 - 4 Wellington Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, YO15 2BN • Advice on renewable energy, family tenancies & development land 33 - 35 Exchange Street, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 6LL • FREE first Consultation www.jacksonrobson.co.uk www.farmers-mart.co.uk Jun/Jul 2015 29