Agriculture Flashcards
What is a gross margin
Outputs - variable costs
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
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
Crop rotation for dairy
Maize
Wheat or maize
3 years perennial rye grass
Approximate silaging harvest dates
1st week May
2nd week June
3rd week July
1st Week September
State some of the current industrial pressures in agriculture
Pressure to reduce carbon
Rising costs of agrochemicals
Replacement schemes for BPS
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
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
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.
What scheme was in place for the OHL works in Tibberton
GS2 - permenant grassland with very low inputs
£151 per Ha
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
What are the three schemes available under ELMS
Sustainable Farming Inventive
Countryside Stewardship (replacing local nature recovery)
Landscape Recovery
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)
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
How long is an SFI agreement for?
3 years
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
What is CS Plus
A further incentive for farmers to join up within a local area to deliver increased results
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
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
What is the cost of subsoiling per Ha
£77
What is the cost of power harrowing per Ha
£73
What is the cost of spring tyneing per Ha
£46
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
