These events are funded through the Farm Advisory Service and will cover crop health, business efficiency and biodiversity themes. Topics include crop protection, nitrogen and fertiliser management, weed control and crop variety choices – all key components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The trials themselves are funded by a range of grant providers including Scottish Government, AHDB, EU and industry. In addition there will discussions on alternative crops and game cover management. The events are aimed at all those who are interested in cereals and their management and offer key advice for autumn planting decisions.   

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Venue: SRUC trials site at Cauldshiel Farm, Humbie Haddington, EH41 4JR in East Lothian will be on show on Thursday 28^th June, kindly hosted by Keith and Scott Maxwell.

Scottish agriculture is in a period of uncertainty with Brexit and it is important farmers secure local markets by providing the necessary quality of grain to our home based cereal markets. Distillers purchases approx 850,000 tonnes of grain per year. While the majority of this is wheat, this can be substituted by imported maize which has a higher and more uniform spirit yield. Meeting the distillers requirements is vital to safeguard Scottish soft wheat production going forward. To help with the fight against grass weeds English growers have increased their area of spring barley and this grain is now competing with Scottish malting barley crops, raising the prospect that a percentage of grain procurement may migrate further south.

This event will highlight the potential for increased production and use of Scottish grain in Scotch whisky based on market research produced under the Scottish Government underpinning programme. Winter wheat, winter barley and spring barley varieties will be demonstrated, giving clues as to promising new varieties for each market, and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in disease resistance and other agronomic features for a huge number of cultivars. A range of fungicide programmes will be demonstrated to show where the expenditure is best targeted and how products compare. A selection of green cover plots will be on show and should attract interest for their value to wildlife of varying sorts and compliance with the EFA. BASIS and NRoSO points will be available.

A barbecue and refreshments will be provided at the start. For more information contact the Edinburgh SAC Consulting office on 0131 603 7520 or the St Boswells SAC Consulting office on 01835 823 322.