Trials day prepares region’s growers for harvest

• Farmers flock to farm open day

• 24 wheat varieties out in the field

• Good atmosphere despite season

Farmers from across the region converged on James Forrest’s farm near Stowmarket last month for the Mowness Hall Trials Day – a key event hosted by Fram Farmers in partnership with BASF and Walnes Seeds.

The day served as a pre-harvest opportunity for farmers to connect, learn and discuss industry challenges. More than 350 farmers attended the event, which featured over 60 exhibitors and Fram Farmers suppliers.

Host farmer James Forrest underscored the event’s importance, noting its role in combating rural isolation in farming by providing a chance to “get off the farm and meet friends and catch up with people” in the run-up to the busy harvest period.

Crop trials

A central feature was the extensive crop trials, showcasing 24 winter wheat varieties from the AHDB recommended list and three candidate varieties. Fram Farmers seed specialist Chessie Aitchison stressed the importance of local trials providing real infield results.

Key varieties drawing interest included established performers such as Group 1 Crusoe and Gleam, which continue to retain strong loyalty among growers. KWS Dawsum and Beowulf also featured, alongside soft wheat Bamford.

New Introductions included KWS Vibe (new Group 1, looks promising), Cheer (added last year), KWS Scope (new Group 4 feed wheat), and KWS Arnie (new Group 2, described as a technological step forward).

While yellow rust has been a concern elsewhere, varieties in the East have shown better-than-expected resistance. For autumn drilling, KWS Vibe is proving popular among Group 1 growers ahead of the summer.

Suppliers showcased some crucial services for the upcoming harvest. Chris Cashman of Kramp highlighted the company’s role as a one-stop shop for dealers, offering 280,000 parts from 4,000 brands on next-day delivery to keep farmers operating throughout the coming months.

Abigail MacCartney from LiveLab was busy calibrating moisture meters. Of about 250 meters tested on the day, only one was condemned for being inaccurate, with Ms MacCartney emphasising the need to treating these precision instruments with care.

Electric pick-up

“If they’ve been rattling around in the Land Rover footwell for 6 months, then they’re perhaps not in the best shape. But if they sit in the grain store and that’s where they stay, then that’s much better.”

Simon Cooper, of Tyson Cooper, showcased the Maxus T90 EV, a new fully electric 4×4 pickup. Classified as an electric van, it is fully VAT reclaimable, eligible for a £5,000 government grant, and has a 3% Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rate. This vehicle has a 260-mile range and can tow 3.5 tonnes.

The new Ford Ranger Hybrid plug-in hybrid offering was also on display – attracting interest from those who want the benefits of an electric vehicle without abandoning the convenience of a combustion engine.

Managing harvest labour remains a key concern. Paul Harris, of Real Success, addressed the challenge of finding casual workers, suggesting farmers use social media to get the message out that they are looking for staff.

Harvest workers

As harvest nears, Mr Forrest expressed cautious optimism for yields, hoping for an average year after recent challenging seasons. “I’d like to say bountiful but I think sadly that’s not going to be the case this year,” he said.

“I think considering how little rain we have had this spring, I find it quite remarkable how the crops have hung on. I’d like to hope that we might hit average – I’ll be very pleased and thankful if we do.”

Mr Forrest also highlighted the social nature of the day.

“It’s the opportunity to get off the farm and meet friends and catch up with people because this can be a bit of a lonely job at times especially if you work on your own.”

Gordon Cummings reiterated Fram Farmers’ role as an advisory buying group, providing unbiased information rather than selling products. This advisory role, and an opportunity for farmers to meet over 60 key suppliers, was a core function of the day.

“We don’t sell anything,” said Mr Cummings. “We provide our members with the information they need. Then they make their business decision. It’s up to them what they buy and where they buy it from, but we give them options.”