Growers are invited to learn about improving soil health at a series of agronomy workshops next month.
The free events, organised by AHDB and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), will offer growers advice on varieties, markets, fungicide performance and soil health.
AHDB senior knowledge exchange manager Claire Hodge said a key focus of the events would be improving soil health using a whole rotation approach, as well as the concept of maximising yield potential.
She said farmers would explain how they have boosted their yields through taking part in ADAS’ Yield Improvement Network (YEN) Awards.
“Scottish growers taking part in YEN have been doing incredibly well because the focus is not simply on growing the highest volume,” said Ms Hodge.
“Instead, ADAS assesses each participating farm in terms of climate, soil type and growing season and the result is a potential yield figure that could be reached in the best possible conditions.”
Other speakers include Professor Fiona Burnett – the head of SRUC’s crop and soil systems research group – who will discuss likely disease pressures and provide an overview of current fungicide performance data.
SRUC’s team leader in agronomy, Dr Steve Hoad, will announce the top varieties to look out for in 2019, while Julian Bell from SAC Consulting will provide a cereals market overview and outline the importance of product specifications.
The events, which are joint-funded by the Scottish Government’s Farm Advisory Service and AHDB, take place at four venues across Scotland.
An Aberdeenshire event is planned for Tuesday January 15, 2019, at Thainstone House Hotel, near Inverurie, and an event for growers in the north will take place on Thursday January 17 at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel, Old Perth Road, Inverness.
To book a place at any of the events, visit the website www.cereals.ahdb.org.uk/agronomy2019.