From precision to decision farming

“Achieved yields for wheat at farm gate average 8t/ha in the UK. These are well below the national and recommended list trials and way below the UK record of 14.5 t/ha.

“Clearly achieved yields are below yield potentials,” says Malcolm Hawkesford, Deputy Head of Plant Biology and Crop Science at Rothamsted and co-lead in 20:20, a programme which aims to increase wheat yield to 20 tonnes of wheat per hectare within 20 years.

He continues: “Multiple factors contribute to this and if it was possible to have greater information about the growing environment, this could all help to inform a more effective management strategy and potentially boost yields.

A discussion of the micro-environmental factors impacting performance and the techniques that are emerging to help farmers identify them, is the theme of the next Agri-TechE Pollinator “Precision Agriculture to Decision Agriculture” – to be held on 11th March at Rothamsted.

Speakers include:

• Welcome and Introduction – Clive Blacker, Director, Precision Decisions and Agri-TechE Precision Agriculture Specialist, UKTI
• Two eyes in the zone – Stuart Alexander, Decision Support Services Commercial Manager, Agrii
• UAV, satellite and field data: Working together for agriculture – Alex Dinsdale, Sales Manager, URSULA Agriculture
• New technologies for measuring crop performance – Dr Malcolm Hawkesford, Head of Plant Biology and Crop Science Department, Rothamsted Research

The Pollinator will bring together farmers and researchers with technologists to improve understanding of the potential and limitations of current technology and the opportunities for new types of tools for monitoring and decision-making support.

This event is kindly sponsored by Anglia Farmers. 

You can read more about the discussions held at the Pollinator in the full report, which is available free to members on our Publications page.