AFTER a particularly wet and challenging harvest for many farmers, several topics reflecting the problems it caused will be presented at the forthcoming annual round of Agronomy workshops.

Co-organised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), these free annual workshops give cereals and oilseeds growers the chance to hear from specialist speakers who will offer guidance on key issues such as varieties, markets, soil health, cover crops, pollinators and diseases.

Taking place at four venues across Scotland – in the Borders, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands – the workshops will feature regionally relevant topics and panel discussions with farmers, agronomists and scientists from SRUC and the James Hutton Institute.

Among the speakers will be Professor Fiona Burnett, head of SRUC’s Soil Research Group, who will cover likely disease pressures for the year ahead and will also provide an overview of current fungicide performance data.

Dr Steve Hoad, SRUC’s team leader in agronomy, will showcase the top varieties to look out for in 2018, while Julian Bell, from SAC Consulting, will provide a cereals market overview and outline the importance of product specifications.

Gavin Dick, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds' knowledge exchange manager in Scotland, told The SF: “Soils are the foundation of everything we are doing on farm and the industry very much recognises the need to increase soil health in terms of structure and nutrients. However, it can be a challenge, especially after a wet, stop-start harvest like the one we have just experienced where farmers will have had to use machinery in wet conditions just to get the crop in.

“Discussions at the Agronomy Workshops this year will focus on practical measures which can work on farm to reduce the stress on the soil.”

Workshop co-organiser, Dr Andy Evans, applied practice team leader of crop and soil systems at SRUC, added: “The topics for this year reflect the concerns expressed to our consultants and specialists by farmers over the last few months. The pressure on pesticide use is ongoing and the right combination of variety, fungicide programme and providing healthy soil for the crop remains a key component of an effective Integrated Pest Management programme.”

The workshops will be held at:

Tuesday, January 9, 2018:

The Lodge at Carfraemill, Lauder, Scottish Borders

Thursday, January 11, 2018:

Perth Racecourse, Scone Palace Park, Perth

Tuesday, January 16, 2018:

Thainstone House, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

Thursday, January 18, 2018:

Drumossie Hotel, Old Perth Road, Inverness