THE hi-tech offering at the recent CropTec event seems to have hit a nerve with producers, with more than 4000 passing through the gates.

Progressive arable farmers and agronomists seemed keen to see how technology could help them through difficult times at the event, which was held at the end of November at the East of England Showground, in Peterborough.

More than 170 companies, many at the forefront of arable innovation, filled the exhibition halls at the show, providing an opportunity for key decision makers from farms across the country to discuss the latest crop science, technology, products, and services.

Also popular was a range of seminars and knowledge 'hubs' which gave practical advice on topics such as black-grass control, oilseed rape quality and weed management, biostimulants, and data and analytics. There was also a popular sprayer demo area.

Former journalist, Stephen Howe, CropTec's development director, said the event’s focus on providing technical and business information to help growers and advisers control costs of production had attracted a high-quality audience.

“That focus on costs, with the added element of benchmarking, is even more important today if our arable producers are to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic global market,” said Mr Howe.

“With the UK due to leave the European Union in 16 months, short-term uncertainty about Brexit is in danger of throttling one of the UK’s most successful industries, and the main contributor and catalyst is politics, over which farmers have little control.

“This emphasises the need for farmers to focus on things that they can control. CropTec provided plenty of opportunity for visitors to discuss many options to help safeguard their businesses, such as the future of farm support; business expansion or contraction; the role of environmental schemes; machinery investment; or the future of our crop protection armoury.”