The 2018 Agronomists Conference takes place this December and has expanded its reaches to include information on field vegetables, peas and beans.
The “radical” new approach is aimed at providing a network that will allow agronomists and researchers to work even closer together.
This years conference takes place in a new location in Kettering and is designed to make people think a little differently about agronomy.
Stimulating debate
According to Tim Isaac, Agriculture Horticulture Development Board, Head of Arable Knowledge Exchange, the conference has be designed to allow quality discussion to take place.
Smaller group sessions have been introduced at this years conference in order to stimulate debate on the key challenges facing the sector today.
Each day features six expert-led workshops that run in parallel.
The workshop topics include:
- Field vegetable agronomy;
- Pea and bean agronomy;
- Potato storage and quality;
- Cereal varieties;
- Soil health;
- Weed control in arable rotations (day one only);
- Grain storage and quality (day two only).
Both days feature two sessions, linked by a common theme, that concludes with a panel discussion. Focus on the first day will be placed on crop protection and nutrition in potatoes.
Sessions on the second day will focus on crop protection and nutrition in cereals and oilseeds.
The crop protection sessions cover the latest developments in product efficacy and availability. Crucially, the conference will allow debate on management strategies for use in the absence of neonicotinoid seed treatments.
A networking dinner, which takes place at a nearby venue on the first day, also provides an additional way for people to interact.
Chairman of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Sean Sparling, will also be speaking at the evening event.
The price for a one-day ticket is £49, with a two-day ticket priced at £89 and includes lunch, refreshments and the networking dinner.
