The wet weather was no deterrent for attendees of the recent ADAS High Mowthorpe Farming Association Field Day! Fourteen attendees, including farmers and farm advisors local to the North Yorkshire ADAS site on top of the Yorkshire Wolds, joined the ADAS team for an afternoon of crop walking and discussing local trial results.
During the event, the ADAS Nutrition Challenge trial took center stage. Kate Storer introduced the aims and activities of the NUTRI-CHECK NET project, providing a comprehensive overview of the NUTRI-CHECK NET Platform. This platform aims to enhance nutrient management practices, offering a 3-step approach that was a key topic of discussion among the participants.
The entrants to the Nutrition Challenge trial are competing to obtain the highest gross margin over fertilizer costs, a significant challenge given the recent fertilizer price volatility. Before the season started, participants received crucial data, including previous crop grain analysis results, soil analysis results, and soil nitrogen supply data, which they used to ‘Plan’ their nutrient management strategies.
Throughout the growing season, regular leaf nutrient analysis and NDVI assessments enabled participants to ‘Check & Adjust’ their nutrient management plans. At harvest, the crop will be sampled to assess total nitrogen uptake, along with a full YEN nutrition grain analysis to evaluate the crops’ nutrient absorption efficacy.
The event emphasized the iterative nature of the NUTRI-CHECK NET approach, with plans to revisit the results in the autumn. This post-harvest review will allow participants to refine their strategies for future seasons based on their findings.
The ADAS High Mowthorpe Field Day highlighted the collaborative spirit and dedication of the farming community in North Yorkshire, demonstrating their commitment to improving nutrient management practices despite challenging conditions.
