Commodity watch by senior policy officer, Patricia Erwin
AHDB
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is reminding arable farmers that the future of faming is in your hands, and growers should register as levy payers before 31 March 2022 enabling you to have your say and help shape Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) direction.
AHDB have been strong advocates of farmer to farmer learning and understand the importance of levy payers shaping its future. AHDB have been very supportive of Northern Ireland (NI) promoting the arable sector and actively engaging with local farmers in attendance at the Downpatrick Monitor farm.
The latest on RB209: With fertiliser prices skyrocketing, UFU senior policy officer Patricia Erwin met Martin Grantley-Smith, AHDB, recently and discussed the tools available for growers to help them make decisions. The AHDB fertiliser adjustment calculator is available and growers are encouraged to use the new tool to establish the economic optimum amount of nitrogen to apply to crops. The calculator can be found at: www.ahdb.org.uk/nitrogen-calculator. Growers should also be mindful of the price differential for grain Great Britain and NI when using the tools available on the market. CAFRE arable team are also available for growers to contact for assistance.
AHDB have identified eight characteristics associated with top-performing farms, these are relevant and worthy of consideration when making decisions in the current economic environment:
- Minimise overheads
- Set goals and budgets
- Gather information (including comparisons with other farms)
- Understand the market
- Focus on the details
- Adopt a mindset for change and innovation
- Specialise
- Improve people/resources management
Many of these characteristics have been discussed at recent NI monitor farm meetings, including the importance of benchmarking.
AHDB are mindful of the difficult growing and market challenges and have information events organised. Details of these can be found on the ADHB website.
UFU horticulture and potato committees gear up for Balmoral Show 2022
UFU vegetable and potato committees are gearing up in partnership with the Royal Ulster Agriculture Society, Parful Produce by VegNI, Hort Forum NI and Mighty Spud to promote the importance of local seasonal produce at Balmoral show 11 – 14 May 2022.
CAFRE horticulture technologists and advisors will be exhibiting and joining the producers in the Healthy Horticulture marquee connecting education and industry.
Brexit and NI Protocol
The UFU leadership team continue to raise ongoing issues regarding both potato and cereal seed access and availability, plant protection product divergence concerns going forward.
The UFU also met recently with ASDA and advised of the financial pressure growers were under calling on retail to act responsibly in these unprecedented times.
The impact of fertiliser and fuel availability and price increases on production costs for arable and horticulture growers is under review.
