An agronomy roadshow hosted in Lauder by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is set to explore approaches to productive and sustainable arable systems.

The event will take place on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 9:00a.m until 3:45p.m at Carfraemill, Oxton, Lauder, Scottish Borders.

The meeting will cover evidence-based approaches to productive and sustainable arable systems, with the morning sessions covering the latest updates from the Recommended list and varieties performance.

There will be updates on the latest agronomy and IPM and the afternoon sessions will include business and market intelligence and a review of AHDB’s Strategic Farm project.

The day will finish with a workshop on the benefits of different agroecological approaches.

Schedule

At 9:50a.m, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds sector council member David Bell will provide welcomes and introductions before the event kicks off at 10:00a.m.

From 10:00a.m until 12:30p.m, the focus will be on cropping and agronomy:

  • 10:00a.m – New breeding policies for cereals and oilseeds, Jenna Watts (AHDB);
  • 10:30a.m – Crop selection and variety performance, Steve Hoad (SRUC);
  • 11:00a.m – Optimising fungicide inputs, Fiona Burnett (SRUC);
  • 11:30a.m – Adding innovation and evidence to integrated practices, Neil Havis/Henry Creissen (SRUC);
  • 12:00p.m – What have we learned from the Strategic Farms? Henny Lowth (AHDB).

There will then be a break for lunch and a networking session from 12:30p.m until 1:30p.m.

From 1:30p.m until 2:30p.m the event will focus on business and policy.

1:30p.m until 2:00p.m will feature Julian Bell of SAC providing a market update and discussing selling strategies.

Eleanor Kay of Scottish Land and Estates will provide a Scottish agricultural policy update from 2:00p.m until 2:30p.m.

The biodiversity workshop will take place from 2:30pm until 3:45p.m:

  • 2:30p.m–3:30p.m – Practices to enhance biodiversity: What are the benefits of different agroecological approaches and what are you trying to improve? Lorna Cole (SAC);
  • 3:30p.m – Final questions and chair’s closing message;
  • 3:45p.m – Close.

AHDB said there will be opportunities to ask questions after each session and there will be “excellent chances” to network and speak to the presenters.  

AGRONOMY AHDB ARABLE CEREALS OILSEEDS