LEAVE IT TO US, SAY AG ENGINEERS

Politicians should trust farmers and their suppliers to help feed the world and protect the environment at the same time.

That was the key message from the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) Conference, held at Rothamsted Research Station, Bedfordshire, recently.

Keynote speaker Jelte Wiersma (pictured above), from CEMA, the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association, said: “We advocate for ‘Freedom to Farm’. It’s up to farmers to decide how they want to farm”.

He said best results come when farmers and engineers work together, with farmers deciding what to grow and engineers devising the best machines to help them do it.

The conference heard that farmers current key need is for systems that enable them to get real time data so they improve how they manage crops and animals.

That will improve productivity and environmental performance, which should secure greater profitability.

Kieran Walsh, from Cotswold-based consultancy Grounded Advice, agreed, adding that the technology must pay its way, while being lightweight; cost-effective; easy-to-maintain and applicable to all sizes of farm.

Oxfordshire farmer James Price identified some more basic needs, including a big enough toolbox on tractors and better security for GPS systems.
He’d also like direct injection of spray concentrate for his sprayer and a camera guidance system to facilitate spot spraying.

Robustness is key for livestock farms, added Claire Morgan-Davies, from the Scottish Rural College (SRUC), Crainlarich research farm in the West Highlands.

Tracking collars need to be light enough to be fitted to lambs, and robust enough to withstand ewes’ talent for destroying anything.