Cereals and oilseeds growers in England are set to get a bespoke experience at six ‘Risk, resilience and reward’ Agronomy 2016 events taking place during February.

The evidence-based events feature at a greater number of locations this year and include presentations hand-picked by the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds’ regional team.

Risk, resilience, reward

‘Risk, resilience, reward’ is the theme linking the six free-to-attend events.

Dr Susannah Bolton, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Head of Research & Knowledge Transfer, said: “Agronomic resilience is at the heart of our latest research strategy because resilient businesses are better positioned to ride waves of sustained low-price periods and challenging agronomic conditions

“At Agronomy 2016, our applied research experts will focus on some key components of resilience to help growers and agronomists make more informed day-to-day decisions on the farm.”

The focus on agronomic resilience complements key activity conducted across the organisation looking at managing both cost and price risks/resilience by the Market Intelligence and Business Development teams.

New for 2016

AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds has run half-day winter technical agronomy events for many years but 2016 sees two significant changes.

Firstly, the regional team now looks at the entire research programme for the latest agronomic advances and then, crucially, considers regional demand for information before selecting the most relevant topics for that area.

Tim Isaac, AHDB Acting Head of Regional Development, said: “Not only is our team hand-picking topics but it is also working with researchers to make sure the content is tuned in to unique regional pressures.”

Secondly, the number of events has been increased to provide more growers with even better opportunities to discuss developments in agronomy with experts at the cutting edge of applied research.

Mr Isaac said: “We increased the number of events as part of our aim to work more closely with levy payers.

“Our regional team receives many requests for us to put on more local activity. Obviously, there is a limit on how much was can do in any given year but we will do as much as resource allows.

“Crucially, we now also look more closely at where we put events on each year and move locations to provide the fairest coverage across years.”

What’s on the programme?

Each free-to-attend event will be chaired by the appropriate Regional Manager who will facilitate regional discussion and provide an overview of a broad range of AHDB activity helping businesses to become more competitive and resilient.

Agronomy 2016 also features three carefully selected technical agronomy presentations, followed by a discussion led by a local agronomist or grower.

Across the six events, the following technical topics will feature:

•  Making the most of early warning systems (pests)

• Weed resistance: Should you jump before you get pushed?
•  Optimising sulphur management for yield and profitability
• What makes a good variety? Trade-offs for better agronomics
• Keeping soils fit: A guide to field drainage
• Using fungicides effectively in wheat, barley and oilseed rape
• The role of digestate and compost in arable systems

Due to the diversity of topics covered across the events, growers and agronomists are asked to view the most relevant programme on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website.

Dates and locations

Cumbria – 3 February

Kent – 3 February

Cheshire – 10 February

Northamptonshire – 10 February

Lincolnshire – 23 February

Somerset – 23 February

Registration

BASIS and NRoSO points have been applied for. All presentations will be made available shortly after the event.

For further information, or to book a place, visit cereals.ahdb.org.uk/events or email cereals.events@ahdb.org.uk or call 0247 647 8723.