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'Grain remains the basis, but we do more than that'
"Winter wheat is and remains the most important basis for our experimental farm. But we do more than just grain; other crops are getting more and more space." This is what Arjan Hofstee, manager of SPNA Ebelsheerd in Nieuw Beerta, says. According to him, the experimental farm is fully moving along with the changing construction plans and cultivation insights in the Oldambt. Nevertheless, for the time being, trials and research in wheat will continue to be the main focus. The control of blackthorn is 'topic number one'.
"No, we can't complain. The wheat is doing great and also has a nice colour. We've had some bad years." Arjan Hofstee says this (end of January) during a short drive along the fields of the experimental farm. More than half of the (standard) crop plan has been filled with winter wheat, this year around 50 hectares. In addition, around 8 hectares of winter barley has been sown. "Grain certainly remains an important basis for our company, but our crop plan is becoming increasingly broader - just like at the other companies here in Oldambt", the manager outlines the developments. He points out the strong increase in the area of seed onions in the area.
"That is why we are doing more and more research into this crop. Growers want to see test results for their own region and soil type. We can fulfil that role very well." This year, variety and fertilisation tests are also being carried out in fibre flax. "A number of growers in the area have taken up this crop. We offer support to them with our tests and in this way we hope to be a driving force and pioneer for new initiatives."
'Darkness remains topic number one'
Although the experimental farm is, as mentioned, 'more than just grain', around 60% of all research work is still focused on grain cultivation. For years, 'topic number one' has been the control of blackspot. Hofstee is particularly concerned about the ever-increasing resistance to spring herbicides. "We can still get most crops into the winter reasonably clean, but in the spring it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep blackspot under control. Particularly in clay-on-peat plots with a lot of humus - where spring products work less well - the situation is barely manageable. But in other places in the Oldambt there are also enough plots where profitable wheat cultivation is no longer possible because of blackspot", Hofstee knows.
Fortunately, the experimental farm itself is still reasonably 'clean'. "On about 7 hectares we have been suffering from darkness for years, but the rest of the area is fortunately quite clean. That is also essential for being able to carry out grain trials. Darkness control is therefore also the highest priority on our farm."
But we do more than just grain; other crops are increasingly being given more space."
'All measures necessary'
To keep darkness under control, Hofstee believes that 'all possible measures are necessary' and that these are therefore continuously tested and researched on the experimental farm. In addition to the standard means research, in which the effectiveness of different spraying strategies with herbicides are compared, attention is also paid to expanding the construction plan, mechanical weed control and other cultivation measures - such as sowing transversely to the south, which reduces the incidence of light between the crop rows and gives darkness less chance to germinate.
Hofstee acknowledges that the individual measures often make no more than a modest contribution to darkness control. "But then I say: every percent less darkness is one. And it is also a matter of perseverance. Anyone who is going to harrow against darkness must do so intensively and for years in a row. Then there is certainly profit to be made, as we know from growers who do this. The same applies to the removal of remaining darkness plants in the spring. Anyone who consistently picks these away keeps their plots cleaner. It may not be the most fun work to do, but it is definitely worth it."
The 'fastest' win in the fight against blackcurrant is to expand the cropping plan with more spring crops. According to Hofstee, many grain growers are already working on this - for example with more onions, beets or potatoes in the cropping plan. In these crops, blackcurrant can be tackled reasonably well with (other) active substances. However, this does not solve all blackcurrant problems. "Ultimately, it is about an integral, complete approach. So: and-and-and. New herbicides against blackcurrant are not coming for the time being, so we should not focus on that. If we want to safeguard wheat cultivation in the long term, we must use all possible weapons against blackcurrant."
Grain disease barometer
When discussing the control of fungal diseases, Hofstee refers to the grain disease barometer. The experimental farm (re)started this free service for grain growers last autumn. "For the barometer, we determine the degree of infestation of all important grain fungi in untreated winter wheat on a weekly basis. Growers in our region thus obtain a clear status of the disease pressure and can adjust their disease control accordingly," he explains.
The well-known entry-level tests, in which manufacturers of pesticides can submit their products for a joint disease control test, also remain of great importance for Oldambt, according to Hofstee. In recent years, biological agents and biostimulants have increasingly been included, but according to the manager, their effects unfortunately remain unclear, not significant or simply below par. "Of course, we are constantly looking for ways to make crops more vital and resilient, making them less susceptible to disease. And preferably with as little chemistry as possible. But at the moment, chemical fungicides are still indispensable for a certain disease control and a good crop yield. Certainly in this area, where grain cultivation is still leading, we must therefore do everything we can to retain the current agents."
Finally, the entry-level tests also ensure the necessary bond between growers, advisors and manufacturers, Hofstee would like to add. "Ultimately, we will have to keep grain cultivation in this area future-proof together. As an experimental farm, we are happy to contribute to that."
