Pinpoint expert advice with Knowledge Trails at Cereals

Keeping pace with changes in agriculture can be hard, so this year’s Cereals Event is making it easier for visitors to seek out the information they need, with the introduction of six Knowledge Trails.With themes ranging from Brexit-proofing businesses to precision and efficiency, there is something for everyone, enabling all visitors to get the most from their day.

“With nearly 500 exhibitors at the event, visitors often find it hard to see everything they want and to pinpoint exhibitors with particular expertise,” says Jon Day, event organiser. “To help, we’re introducing Knowledge Trails, where visitors will be able to download maps prior to the show to help them pick out which individual exhibitors to visit, based on a chosen theme.”

The six Knowledge Trails are: Weeds, disease and nutrition; Precision and efficiency; Brexit-proofing your business; Adding value and managing costs; Getting the most from oilseed rape; and Managing blackgrass.

With chemical resistance on the rise, choosing efficient weed and disease control methods is more important than ever. Featuring on the weeds, disease and nutrition trail will be exhibitors including Yara, Bayer and Certis.

Dow AgroSciences is just one of several exhibitors launching new crop protection products as part of the trail. Its new cereal herbicide – Zypar –offers robust control of broad-leaved weeds and works well in cold and variable conditions.

“Efficiency is king in modern day agriculture,” says Dow’s product manager Alex Nichols. “Many farms don’t have the time or the money to take several passes to control broad-leaved weeds – they want something that will do everything at once.”

As well as boosting crop production through chemical control, precision farming can also be a good way to maximise output and efficiencies. However, with so much new technology and advice on the market it can be hard to know where to begin.

Exhibitors registered on the precision and efficiency trail include Hutchinsons and TeeJet as well as Syngenta, which is focusing on pre-emergence autumn techniques. “We will be looking to show how following three simple steps for practical changes in nozzle choice, spraying speed and boom height can have a hugely significant impact in reducing the risk of spray drift and ensuring accurate application of pre-emergence treatments,” says application specialist, James Thomas.

In light of Theresa May’s recent call for an election, and with 2020 drawing closer, the ‘Brexit-proof your business’ Knowledge Trail will help to prepare farm businesses for the uncertainty ahead. Among those offering real practical advice to farmers will be AHDB, which is running a ‘Are you ready for 2020?’ discussion fronted by lead analyst Jack Watts.

“EU market access, import competition in the domestic market and post-Brexit farm support policy are all key themes for the UK arable industry,” explains Mr Watts. “Given all the uncertainty, businesses may be tempted to take a ‘wait and see’ approach. But there are proactive steps businesses can take to put them on the front foot and in a stronger position to cope with – and even capitalise on – change.”

More information can be found by visiting http://www.cerealsevent.co.uk/the-knowledge-trails.

Tickets are now on sale via the website www.cerealsevent.co.uk/tickets and visitors can use the promocode CEREALS17TOS to save over 15% on tickets.