Agriculture Flashcards by Sophie Ward

What is a gross margin

Outputs - variable costs

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Gross margin for winter feed wheat

Outputs-
Grain = 8.6 t/Ha @ £180/t = £1630
Straw in swath = £170
Total = £1800

Variable Costs -
Seed = £100
Fertiliser = £530
Sprays = £280
Total = £910

GM = £1800 - £910 = £890

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Common arable crop rotation

W.Wheat - £££
S.Barley - Harvest start of August for OSR Drilling Mid-late August
OSR - Break Crop
W.Wheat
Beans - N Fixing - increased value in wheat. Fairly easy establishment

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Crop rotation for dairy

Maize
Wheat or maize
3 years perennial rye grass

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Approximate silaging harvest dates

1st week May
2nd week June
3rd week July
1st Week September

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State some of the current industrial pressures in agriculture

Pressure to reduce carbon
Rising costs of agrochemicals
Replacement schemes for BPS

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How would you advise your infrastructure clients in relation to current industrial pressures on agriculture

Many farmers are moving towards min or zero til systems to reduce carbon release in disturbed soil
Maintenance works on land may cause compaction and damage to soil structure, therefore meaning more cultivations are required and carbon goals are not met
Requests for track matting, specific access routes and drier times of years for works are reasonable/expected

Increased costs for agrochemicals and fertilisers mean increased costs per acre = more compensation may be requested

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Discuss the discussions you had with your client regarding access for pre-entry site visits

The access route required was through a grass field, with main works being in a wheat field. I explained that silage would be taken from the grass field throughout the spring and summer, and would be grazed by livestock following Final Cut in august/September.

Wheat crop harvested August - beneficial to wait until this time to do works

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What types of remedial works could be required following works on third party land

Minor works such as GPT, scraping top soil = harrowing and reseeding

Major works, deep excavations where subsoil has been removed = cultivations including subsoil, power harrow. Maybe even topsoil imported in some cases.

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What scheme was in place for the OHL works in Tibberton

GS2 - permenant grassland with very low inputs
£151 per Ha

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What were the implications of the scheme at Tibberton

Aims to have grasses at variety of heights
No mowing permitted 15th March - 30th June

Max 12t/Ha FYM
pH 5.4 BY LIMING
NO RE-SEEDING

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What are the three schemes available under ELMS

Sustainable Farming Inventive
Countryside Stewardship (replacing local nature recovery)
Landscape Recovery

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What is the SFI

Sustainable farming incentive
Pays farmers to adopt and maintain sustainable farming practices
Protects and enhance natural environment
Support farming productivity (animal welfare and optimising use of inputs)

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What are some of the actions at offer under SFI

Testing of soils - £5.80/Ha plus £95 per agreement
Companion crops on arable and horticultural land - £55/Ha (integrated pest management)
Pollen and nectar flower mix - £614

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How long is an SFI agreement for?

3 years

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What is countryside stewardship

CS focussed on more locally targeted actions related to specific habitats and features

Government expanding options available including 2 new lowland grassland options

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What is CS Plus

A further incentive for farmers to join up within a local area to deliver increased results

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What is landscape recovery

For bespoke, longer term, larger scale projects to enhance the natural environment

Includes large scale tree planting or restoring wilder landscapes

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What implications did you discuss with your client in relation to extending a grazing licence over winter

There would be a number of impacts;
1. Increased poaching as the ground is wetter
2. May lead to increased maintenance costs in spring
3. May hinder my client’s access onto land- i.e. if gateways are muddy

Sheep may cause less damage than cows

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What is the cost of subsoiling per Ha

£77

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What is the cost of power harrowing per Ha

£73

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What is the cost of spring tyneing per Ha

£46

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What is the cost of rolling per Ha

£30

What is the cost of mowing per Ha

£36

Typical establishment process for your area?

Subsoil Disk Drill Roll SDDR

Tupping and Lambing Dates? What is the gestation period

Tups in = Bonfire night Lambs out = April Fools day 5 months gestation

What is a typical sow gestation cycle

116 days gestation 28 days lactation 6 days between weaning and heat 150 days

What is the typical dairy cow calving index

365 days First calf on 2nd Birthday Serve heifers at 580kg-600kg

What are the Typical Beef Production Ages?

15 months = service to bull 24 months = first calf 3 months dry = back to bull

What are the ID tag requirements for sheep?

under 12 months = 1 eartag if going to slaughter over 12 months = 2 ID tags, one electronic

How do you tell a sheep's age

looking at teeth. Lambs = 8 milk teeth All other ages, 2 teeth per year 1 = 2 teeth 2= 4 teeth 8 teeth = full mouth

What is Take All

A soil bourne disease which affects the roots and stems of grass and cereal crops

What is the impact of Takeall

Reduces yields by 50% Means continuous wheat can't be grown

What is flea beetle

A beetle which east stems and shoots of plants (particularly OSR) which stuns or even kills the plant

What are the new rules surrounding flea beatle treatment

Neonicotinoids have now been banned in the UK due to concerns surrounding their impact on bees. Insecticides are now being used instead. But this is risky as some this relies on the beetles being out when the spray is applied

What is blackgrass? How can it be treated? Where is it most common?

A weed which can impact yields of cereal crops as it competes for nutrients. It can be treated with a post emergence spray in November. Blackgrass is most common on heavier soils

What are the new rules surrounding slug pelleting

Metaldehyde is now banned (early 2022) Ferric phosphate is now used but is less common

How is soil graded in the UK

Grading system 1-5 1= most fertile Common in the east = carrots vegetables etc

What are the three types of soil & discription

Silt = can wash out Sand = lighter and more free draining Clay = heavier, can retain moisture

What treatment operations would you expect on a cereal crop?

Pre emergent Post emergent Blackgrass WINTER Fingicides Insecticides Herbicides Fertiliser (x3) Glyphocate for rape

How many spray applications would you expect?

3/4 sprays 3 fertiliser

Discuss seed bed creation (Importance & variables)

Good seed bed is important for seed to soil contact Ensure weatherproof by rolling if dry. If wet weather incoming., don't roll as rain will break up clods and if rolled a crust can be created.

What seed rates per Ha would you expect for the following crops; WW SB OSR Beans

WW = 160-250 SB = 180-200 OSR = 3 Beans = 250

What seed costs would you expect generally

3x cost of sale price of grain Royalties applied on own seed from crop & approx. £50/tonne

What are the types of fertilizer

N P K Nitrogen (Nitrate) Phosphorus (Phosphate) Potassium (Potash)

What is CTF and what are the benefits?

Controlled traffic farming - Used to reduce compaction and maintain soil structure reducing cultivation required.

What growth stages are the sprays expected at?

T1 - GS31 T2 - GS39 T3 - GS62

Gross Margin of Winter Wheat

8.6t/Ha @ £180/t Straw in swath @ £170/ha Seed = £100 Fert = £530 Sprays = £280 £1700-910 = £790

Gross margin for Spring Barley

5.75t/Ha @ £160/t Straw in Swath @ £200/Ha Seed = £100 Fert = £270 Sprays = £130 £1,100 - £500 = £600

Gross Margin for OSR

3.5t/Ha @ £340/t Seed = £75 Fert = £410 Sprays = £250 £1,200 - £735 = £465

Gross Margin for Beans

4.3t/Ha @ £220/t Seed = £150 Fert = £120 Sprays = £150 £950 - £420 = £530

Outline the claim submitted at Budworth Mere

Crop Loss 100% loss WW in year 1 50% loss of WW in year 2 = £1165 Disturbance Subsoiling = £77 Powerharrowing = £73 Rolling = £30 =£180 Agent's Fees 3 hours at £150/hour Total Claim = £1795

What are the components of a GM for animals?

Outputs - Milk - Wool - Calves/Lambs Variable Costs - - Vet & Med - Concentrates - Bedding - AI - Miscellaneous = Shearing, carcass disposal, Marketing

How long do CS agreements last?

5 years

How long do SFI agreements last?

3 years