W5 - L2 - Cereal Production Systems and Profitability of Cereal Production

evolved from ‘basic’ husbandry for the production of cereals - low and variable yield levels – no / low levels of artificial fertiliser – high labour requirements – no / minimal crop protection

• rotation • plough • trials showing benefits of fertilisers • Jethro Tull and the seed drill • tractor • combine harvester • seed health / certification • replicated trials • herbicides / sprayers • nitrogen programmes • improved varieties • insecticides • 1st generation fungicides • growth regulators • intensive production systems

• profits must be generated through grain production • management decisions are made based on the maximum likelihood of success • new cost-effective technologies are adapted to increase profit • yield increase has been considered the most effective way to improve farm income

• high input • reduced input • organic

Intensive : high input and high output

Less-intensive with Integrated Crop Management (ICM)

Integrated Crop Management

– low / minimal input : – no chemicals (fertilisers /sprays)

Land

• in this context the ‘conventional’ is usually understood to be a high input : high output system – intensive winter cereal (w.wheat) system • Integrated is an umbrella word for a range of lower-input less-intensive production systems using IPM principles – have considerably reduced chemical inputs with alternative practices instead – using rotations / sowing dates / non-ploughing / cultivar selection / pest and disease thresholds etc – LIFE project / Boxworth project / • knowledge replacing inputs • more management required with less inputs

• motivated by requirement for increased production • complimentary use of inputs / technologies • recognised high yield potential • understanding of crop physiology • dramatic yield advancements / broke yield barriers • increased profitability in medium term as price:cost balance was okay

Yield Quality –> net return 1. rotation 2. climatic factors 3. soil factors 4. nutrient supply 5. husbandry 6. variety 7. disease, pest, weed control 8. growth regulation 9. Harvest Technique 10. Post-Harvesting handling

demanding climate and evolving pathogens

• Seed dressing : fungicide (insecticide) • Slug pellets (optional) • Fertiliser – P and K – Nitrogen (200 kg/ha plus ) • Herbicide – autumn and spring , pre-harvest • Growth Regulator – 1-2 applications • Fungicides • Aphicide – 3-4 applications with 5-6 products

Environment * Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring’ book in the 1960’s - DDT legacy * Nature of farming * Pesticide loading over time * Nitrate in water * Issues of Scale * GMO’s etc

Overproduction * On/Off since mid-1980’s * price : cost squeeze * systems use a lot of expensive external inputs * primarily yield driven * depend on yield increase over time

• replace agrochemicals with higher operation costs • problems with integrated rotations • ‘break’ crops having low profitability • problems with reduced chemical rates • developing a disease control strategy -consideration of uncertainty and risk is an integral part of the decision-making process

• To encompass good farming practice alongside new techniques • Highlight aspects of environmental management • Improve food safety • To improve public perception of farming • Be economically viable

– Water quality – Soil erosion – Wildlife and conservation

– Reduce inputs – Protect environment

Growing different crops in a planned sequence across a farm area over a period of time (3-6/8 years) • cereal crops : combinable • non-cereal crops (break crops)- combinable

• Adoption of crop rotation • Regular soil analysis – Adjust nitrogen according to previous cropping • Better understanding of the soil : influence of soil type and OM on soil fertility and risk of leaching • Better knowledge of nutrient requirements of crops • Proper utilisation of organic manures

Reduce reliance on chemicals – Rotation – Choose disease resistant varieties – Increase crop diversity – Knowledge of disease / pest lifecycles – Forecasting systems (expert systems) – Correct evaluation of problem – good agronomy / crop walking

autumn spring