Agriculture L2

Question 1

Name the steps of crop husbandry - 7

Answer 1

1. Manure
2. Cultivations
3. Drilling
4. Fertilising
5. Pesticides
6. Harvesting
7. Storage

Question 2

What factors impact cultivations - 10

Answer 2

1. Rainfall
2. Soil
3. Field size
4. Drainage
5. Residue / organic matter
6. Cover crop
7. Traffic
8. irrigation
9. Pests / weeds / diseases
10. Rotation

Question 3

What are the key aims of the Agriculture Act 2020 - 4

Answer 3

1. Increase competitiveness
2. Productivity
3. Use of technology
4. Produce fairer returns

Question 4

What is the optimum moisture level to harvest wheat

Answer 4

15-17%

Question 5

Which type of soils need harsh cultivations (e.g. plough)

Answer 5

Clay

Question 6

What is a typical crop rotation in your area

Answer 6

WW, WB, OSR, WW, SB, WW, W/S Beans
(2 hard crops with a break crop)

Question 7

What is the average yield for winter wheat

Answer 7

9T/HA

Question 8

When should you use a higher seed rate

Answer 8

On heavier land when the seed bed is poor or for late drillings

Question 9

What is the average yield for WOSR

Answer 9

3T/HA

Question 10

What is the average yield for WB

Answer 10

6T/HA

Question 11

What is the average yield for sugar beet

Answer 11

75T/HA

Question 12

What is the current price of milling Winter Wheat

Answer 12

£210

Question 13

What is the current price of feed Winter Wheat

Answer 13

£180

Question 14

What is the current price of feed Barley

Answer 14

£160

Question 15

What is the current price of OSR

Answer 15

£400

Question 16

What is the current price of beans

Answer 16

£220

Question 17

What is the current price of Sugar Beat

Answer 17

£33/T

Question 18

What are the benefits of a livestock enterprise combined with an arable enterprise - 3

Answer 18

• Graze pastures, cover crops and stewardships
• Provide organic fertiliser and carbon potential
• Provide shallow cultivations from their feet

Question 19

What are the disadvantages to starting up a livestock enterprise - 3

Answer 19

• Big capital investment needed on start up
• High Maintenance costs
• Specialist and expensive labour and expertise needed

Question 20

How do you ensure accurate record keeping of sheep -2

Answer 20

• x2 tags on birth
• Record of births, deaths, medicine, sale and movements

Question 21

What are the basic husbandry requirements for livestock - 4

Answer 21

• Daily monitoring and checks
• Food & water checks
• Medical intervention where required
• Being aware of notifiable diseases in my local area (bluetongue and scab)

Question 22

How would you notice a negative impact on crop yields - 2

Answer 22

• Speak with Farm Manager
• Ask him to look on yield mapping technology

Question 23

Give me a gross margin for Winter Wheat

Answer 23

Yield (multiply yield by price), typical yield 8.6T/HA
This gives the output.
Variable costs include seed, fertiliser, crop protection.
Minus the output from the variable costs = gross margin (£366 / acre)

Question 24

What species and numbers of sheep do you have

Answer 24

We have 1900 Aberfield Welsh sheep

Question 25

How much did the drainage works at Sewstern cost

Answer 25

£95,000

Question 26

Why did you advise to split the cost of the drainage between LL & T

Answer 26

The cost was split 50:50 with the tenants share written down to £1 on a straight line basis over a period of 40 years. It would be a benefit for both parties in the future

Question 27

Talk me through your advice for management of grazing paddocks

Answer 27

Due to the removal of BPS, my client no longer had to show management responsibilities. I carried out a costing exercise on the grazing paddocks and worked out a £/acre figure taking into account maintenance operations. I also amended the rent to take into account the new responsibilities. Once my client had reviewed the figures I drew up new agreements

Question 28

Talk me through your advice for drainage at Manor Farm

Answer 28

The holding suffers from inadequate drainage and was affecting yields so I investigated the cost of replacement. I obtained a quote to replace with plastic drains and presented to my client. As this would be a long term improvement to the land and both LL & T would benefit I recommended splitting the cost

Question 29

How did you know drainage was the issue at Manor Farm

Answer 29

Myself and the Farm Manager analysed yield of other fields which were drilled at the same time with the same crop with the same machinery. This in particular field had the lowest yields and always had standing water.