In addition to the NFU’s own jam-packed agenda on its stand, there will be demonstrations, crop plots and seminars from more than 350 exhibitors highlighting the latest products, advice, and information.
The NFU at Cereals
The NFU will have a strong presence at the Cereals, with officeholders and expert staff, along with NFU Mutual advisers, located on stand 226 and primed to cover a range of top arable issues.
Our national crops and sugar boards will be in attendance, giving members who drop in the opportunity to question and familiarise themselves with the farmers who represent their sector.
We will be putting on a spread too, with tea, coffee, cake and lunch available across the two days.
Crop to Kitchen
New for 2022, Crop to Kitchen will showcase arable farmers who are selling direct to consumers, a curated version of the winter wheat and barley recommended list, and demonstrations of equipment that qualifies for the Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme.
This area will give visitors ideas about how to replace lost BPS income through using redundant farm buildings and crop diversifications.
“Farmers will be able to talk to other farmers with experience of selling directly to consumers,” explains Alli McEnture, Cereals event director.
“Products featured include quinoa, mushrooms, rhubarb, oilseed rape oil, wine, juices, heritage wheat, flour, and beer.”
Farm Productivity Grant Scheme-eligible kit, such as machinery for robotic weeding and harvesting, will be displayed in the demonstration area.
New Holland
The tractor manufacturer is back for 2022, showcasing exciting new technology such as the T6.180, the first methane powered tractor. Visitors can also look forward to seeing the new T7HD tractor which features PLM Intelligence, and a new range of utility tractors.
“We have missed seeing our customers face to face during the pandemic years,” says Mark Crosby, New Holland’s marketing manager.
“This year blue and yellow are back and we’re excited to meet everyone in person again.”
NIAB Soil Hole
Elsewhere, the NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) Soil Hole will provide a unique insight into crop growth below ground, focusing on different soil monitoring approaches and looking at what happens in the soil beneath spring crops.
“Sometimes spring crops get away slowly because they take time to build roots,” says Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB’s Head of Farming Systems
“The Soil Hole offers an opportunity to see the number of roots in different crops. In some crops they will be quite near the surface and for others, deeper.”
Above: The NIAB Soil Hole at Cereals 2021
The pit will be lined by a diversity of crops including spring linseed, lupins, clover, beans, and spring barley. NIAB has also compacted some tramlines and will cut wheat plots a few weeks before Cereals to produce a stubble field, which will allow them to demonstrate the recommended sampling point for general rotational soil health sampling.
The soil monitoring focus will include a demonstration of an automated soil sampling robot from the Small Robot Company, working with a consortium led by PES Technologies including NIAB, alongside a working soil sequencing display.
“We will be highlighting how to use collected data to inform decisions. It is not just a question of gathering data – we need to make good choices based on it,” adds Dr Stockdale
During the event soil parameters such as physical structure, water management, and biological activity will be measured in the soil hole.
Crop Angel
Using drones for agricultural reasons is now permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority, subject to a £9 licence. Therefore, farmers will be interested to speak to first-time exhibitors Crop Angel, who will be displaying their new small 10 litre drone.
“As well as drone sprayers there will also be one with a pellet applicator, suitable for sowing a cover crop in a standing crop of wheat, for example,” explains Chris Eglington, the company’s director.
He explains that while spraying chemicals remains illegal, it looks like that might change.
“Looking ahead, if spraying is allowed, drones could play a key role in allowing chemicals to be applied at the right time, even though the ground may be too wet to travel.”
Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers Arena
Farmers will be spoilt for choice at the sprays and sprayers arena, where a huge number of companies will exhibit in 2022.
There will be the opportunity to catch up on recent developments and innovations.
“Farmers have a second- to-none opportunity to see the latest spraying kit from all the major manufacturers in action and compare it to decide what would work best on their farms,” says
Ms McEntyre.
Exhibitors with new kit include Househam Sprayers, John Deere, Chandler Fendt, and Chafer.
“The Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers Arena is a key highlight for many Cereals attendees and we are excited to showcase the latest in application technology and innovation for 2022,” says Scott Cockburn, business manager and application lead at Syngenta
“The arena will also host the awards ceremony for the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year competition where we will crown the winner from our six finalists. We look forward to seeing everyone and sharing knowledge on practical application tips and techniques.”
NAAC Drainage Hub
The NAAC Drainage Hub will feature a variety of seminars, speakers, and exhibitors across this important sector.
Farmers Jake Freestone of Overbury Estates and Richard Price of Tetworth Hall Estate will both speak about how land drainage improved their farms, while soil consultant Philip Wright will discuss how soil drainage underpins soil structure, carbon, and the pathway to a more regenerative approach.
Other speakers include AHDB’s Harry Henderson covering the economics of land drainage, and land drainage contractor and Nuffield Scholar Rob Burtonshaw on where to start with drainage.
Exhibitors in the hub include Miles Drainage and trencher manufacturer Mastenbroek. The latter will showcase land forming and levelling, a relatively new concept that involves scraping ridges and moving soil into divots or lower areas of a field.
“Land forming, which is commonplace in the United States and Europe but is yet to take off in the UK, creates more productive land, leading to better yields for farmers,” says Christopher Pett, Commercial Director of Mastenbroek.
There will also be a focus on safety, demonstrated by Fisher German associate Murray Peat, who manages the company’s Linewatch, an organisation which raises awareness of oil and gas pipelines around the UK and encourages people to work around them safely.
“Breaches to pipelines can damage the environment and cause death or injury to those working nearby,” he explains.