Monitor farms prove their worth

摘要

The two arable monitor farmers sponsored by HGCA, in partnership with the Scottish government, will discuss their experiences at Cereals.Changes to fungicide programmes and seed rates have been made on Alistair Hodge's farm in the past 12 months, since he became one of HGCA's two arable monitor farms. Some changes would have taken place anyway, he admits, but others arc being done on a test basis, to see whether they bring financial or environmental benefits. Mr Hodge, who fattens cattle and has 154ha of combinablc crops at Whitsome East Newton, Duns, in the Borders, remains open-minded about the use of latest technology. "I'm fairly sceptical about some of the developments we're trying, but I'm happy to be proved wrong."