With the highest ever number of delegates that included 30 new, young entrants at the recent Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) annual conference, interest and enthusiasm for the sector was visibly high.

"It's very exciting time for independent agronomy reflected in the highest number of attendees ever to our annual technical conference," says Sarah Cowlrick, CEO of the AICC. "Critically a large proportion of those attending were young agronomists who have recently joined the AICC - key to the long term future of independent agronomy."

Mike Warner, AICC Chairman, underlined the importance of the conference to AICC members as a platform for highly technical debate and exchange surrounding topical agronomic issues "that will make a difference on farm this season."

"Our in-house trials session, based on the extensive national trials that the AICC carries out, provided an opportunity for AICC members to evaluate the benefits and performance of SDHI chemistry, in a very high disease year, and take these findings forward into their individual agronomy businesses."

Key technical messages to support and grow profitable arable businesses this coming year came from a range of industry experts.

Wheat

Key speakers Bill Clark of NIAB TAG, Tom McCabe of University College, Dublin and Jonathan Blake of ADAS presented an analysis of fungicide performance in 2012; all three were united in their belief that SDHI’s played a critical role in the difficult conditions last summer and that yield responses to fungicides had been in the region of 2-3 t/ha or a 60 % average increase in yield.

With the possible launch of a new SDHI from Du Pont this spring, growers would have an additional tool in their armoury. However a warning from all three experts underlined the need for the addition of Chlorothalonil or Folpet in any SDHI-based programme as an essential anti –resistance strategy.

Mr McCabe urged the industry to use SDHI's in a protectant role, and avoid curative use where possible to maintain longevity of the chemistry. He suggested that we would be looking at "a future of more complex fungicide programmes including multiple applications to maintain efficacy."

After one of the worst years for Fusarium, Professor Simon Edwards of Harper Adams, warned of the high risk that has been carried forward to the 2013 crop due to the higher inoculum present within seed stock, crop debris and soil "so it is very important to ensure a seed germination of above 85% and have the seed checked for Fusarium seedling blight pathogens, and avoid cold wet seed beds with late drilled wheats."

Professor Edwards advised that head blight this season would still however be largely dependent on weather around flowering and that the T3 spray remained the key timing to control Fusarium.

Barley

Based on the recent fungicide performance funded by the HGCA and SRUC, NIAB TAG and ADAS, Dr Fiona Burnett recommended that barley fungicide sprays should be used where possible in a protectant capacity, and target an early timing, when disease is most likely to develop. "We still see the best fit for an SDHI spray at the T1 timing around growth stage 30-31 in winter barley, and we continue to have good activity on net blotch and Rhynchosporium from prothioconazole, strobilurins and the SDHI’s."

Dr Burnett warned against underestimating the risk of Ramularia in spring barley: "stress to the crop affects how much the disease will develop. Leaf wetness at stem extension increases the threat to the crop and reduces current varietal ratings. Fortunately, the SDHIs have good activity against Ramularia but should be used in mixtures."

Base barley variety choice on what is supported by the market, not what you want to grow was the advice from Dr Simon Oxley, of the HGCA. "Whilst Tipple is still the preferred malting barley by the market, for brewing the newer variety Concerto is likely to increase in popularity both for brewing and distilling. The HGCA Recommended List has also published Ramularia disease ratings for spring barley this year."

Increasing resistance to neonicotinoids in Myzus persicae in southern Europe was a concern voiced by Dr Mark Stevens, of the BBRO. Dr Stevens suggested that this resistance could easily find its way into the UK, as a consequence of these aphids being blown across the Channel, affecting not just sugar beet but also potatoes and other broad-leaf crops. Dr Stevens encouraged agronomists and farmers across the UK to monitor their crops and feedback any signs of infestation.

The importance of soil management and the need for improved drainage after the horrendous wet conditions of the summer was highlighted by Professor Dick Godwin of Harper Adams and he encouraged growers to "consider minimum tillage and Controlled Traffic Farming Farming (CTF) and/or Lower Ground Pressure (LGP) systems wherever possible in order to achieve the desired soil conditions with the minimum amount of energy, time and investment."

Professor Roger Sylvester-Bradley of ADAS launched the Yield Enhancement Network – a scheme designed to find innovations to raise record yields – after 15 years of stagnation.  "The aim of the network is to energise a new culture of yield enhancing innovation in the arable industry – it’s not enough to wait for the next new variety to come along – to raise yields we need to engage people who ‘think outside the box’ across all sectors of the industry and test their ideas."