MINUTES of the HDC FIELD VEGETABLE PANEL MAIN MEETING
On Thursday 13 March 2014 at, AHDB, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ.
Attendance
Chris Ashby
Phillip Lilley
Rosie Atwood
David McClellan
Stephen Francis
Ellis Luckhurst
Cheryl Brewster
Anne Stone
Roger Bloom
Chris Taylor
Grace Choto
Steve Tones
Robin Buck
David Gray
Cathryn Lambourne
Bolette Pale Neve
Liz Johnson
Item
Apologies for absence - Rob Gibbs, Sam Rix, John Sedgwick, Matt Rawson, Neil
Cairns
Martin Evans
Action
Concepts and Proposals
Proposal – Carrots: The epidemiology of Carrot yellow leaf virus (CYLV) - the
development of a decision support system for the management of carrot viruses in the
UK
CB - gave an overview of the project. This proposal was looked at in the previous
meeting, but it was felt it needed refining. Now re-worked.
CT – Is the project long enough (20 mths) to answer all questions? Should cover 2
planting seasons, would 3 be better? Project could potentially be extended to a 3 rd
season if results are not achieved.
CB & AS, RA are meeting the BCGA next week, could raise and see if this is possible,
and so may increase to full 2 years to get data over 2 seasons where carrots are
reaching maturity and then leave time to write report, i.e. 2 years instead of 1 year 8
months. Or consider extending to 3 years.
EL – carrot projects never consider varieties – all done in Nairobi – sometimes
changing cultivars solves the problems.
CT – they have tried other varieties, but Nairobi always comes out best in pack house.
PL – Nairobi doesn’t always perform well in small trials.
Decision: supported. CB to feed points to meeting next week, extend or review at end AS/
CB
of current proposal and then extend if necessary. Done
Paper 1.1b
Proposal – Lettuce: Evaluating aphid control strategies
LJ – gave an overview of the project which is looking at effectiveness of neonicotinoids
– root aphid and top aphid. Looking at 2 main products at 2 rates, also Movento and
experimental products. Warwick has raised some cultures last year and will do so
again this year, ADAS will raise Nasanovia. Pot trials then field work. Crucial work for
the industry.
EL – Dummy pill approval on Gaucho lost in Brassicas.
LJ - Helpful to investigate the efficacy of dummy pills in lettuce as can help to avoid
phytotox. May need to check for approval status on the Gaucho and Cruiser dummy
pill – LJ to speak to VP. Done
EL – alternative is worse using Biscaya.
EL - If approval may be lost, then continue with the project without.
Decision – supported.
LJ
CL
Paper 1.1c
Proposal – Brassicas: comparison of treatments to control cabbage root fly
EL – Likely to lose chlorpyrifos so important to look at compared efficacy – needed to
ensure Tracer as effective.
CA – we had a lot of cabbage root fly problems in Cornwall but it looks like it does
work.
CB – this piece of work is a follow-on and haven’t been able to include in Sceptre. It’s
not overly expensive.
EL - Can we include Cruiser dummy pill in treatment list – check with Rosemary. Andy
Richardson may advise this is not needed and if this is the case no problem and don’t
include.
Decision – supported with comments fed to Rosemary Collier. Done
AS/C
B
Paper 1.1d
Proposal – HDC Pest Bulletin
RA – Over the last 3 yrs Syngenta have hosted the pest bulletin, RC has fed into this
and interpreted Morph model. This contract ends in April 2014. This is to extend the
contract for a further 2 years.
PL – the bulletin is very useful.
Action – Veg team try to increase no. of pests covered and make longer contracts in
future. Discussion on going with Rosemary Collier.
RA - managing a piece of work to translate as many Morph models into Excel to go on
the HDC website – will re-launch as new models, get 12ish done first.
RA +
Veg
team
Bulletin will still be interactive with the weather data.
DG – What will happen when RC leaves – is there succession planning? CB
discussed the fellowship programme. We are trying to train people coming through,
but no guarantees that they will stay.
Price may go up if additional pests & models added in. Syngenta may chip in.
Eventually Syngenta may take on the whole thing – caution needed (DG) in case IP
and control lost, or roll out eventually across AHDB so may not be funded by FV panel.
Decision – Supported
RA
Paper 1.1e
Proposal – Pea Downy Mildew diversity in the UK
SF – DM a big problem in vining peas, farm gate value of £50M/yr, can lose 10-15% to
DM. Big project £220K project but HDC is only putting in £196K with additional funding
from elsewhere. Pea breeders themselves do not do much of this work as peas are
only a small part of their portfolio, concentrate more on plant habit. Voluntary
contribution via vining pea growers to PGRO.
HDC don’t often work with JIC – as very high science, but good to work on this with
them and CB has pulled the costs from them down a bit after discussions with Becky
Ward.
DG – JIC have a good reputation.
GC – breeding work is quite long term – is there a risk that 4 years isn’t long enough.
SF – decision made to pass the results after 4 yrs back to breeders whatever, to hope
that they will work with it.
RB – at what growth stage does DM affect the crop?
SF – at any times, can get more than 1 event, costly to treat – additional £40/ha.
DG – balance of costs look ok.
CB
RB – asked CB to clarify reporting structure.
DG – asked CB to clarify LG1 (point 7) Linkage Group 1
Decision: Supported
CB
Paper 1.1f
Proposal – “EyeSpot” – leaf specific herbicide applicator for weed control in field
vegetables
CB - this had come directly to her rather than through the GAs, although the contractor
had given a presentation at the Leek meeting (12/3/14). She took it to panel who
requested more info on how it differed from Nick Tilletts Garford system (FV307a).
PL – discussed proposal and differences between this and Garford system. Leek
growers concerned that there seemed 2 systems, the automated and trailer mounted.
They felt that the automated system could block the work moving forward quickly, they
favoured the tractor mounted.
The contractor has also applied for funding from CRD.
CB – felt that FV should not be funding this directly but it should go under the crop
protection portfolio due to its wide scope.
DG – why do they need HDC funding? Also an above crop spray – won’t this cause
crop damage, will it work in carrots due to fine planting. Wants us to check with Nick
Tillett whether they felt the algorithms will work in this system.
CL - we can’t go to alternative contractors to discuss proposals this would be a breach
of confidentiality.
RB – no reporting structure again.
DM – agrees that algorithms may have been simple originally, but these look more
complex. This is going to be a proto-type product and will continue to develop.
CB – wanted group for general feeling. The group were generally supportive, CB will
take away and discuss further internally. Proposal presented to HDC Board by Dave
McLellan, supported and now contracted.
CB
Paper 1.2a
Proposal – Asparagus: Maximising yield by optimising establishment and agronomy
CB – introduced the proposal which had been looked at last meeting and taken back
for additional work e.g. referencing etc.
RBl – More work has been done with the project. AGA want to find out what optimum
rates of P & N are to improve crop establishment.
Lead scientist now changed to Lizzie Sagoo as Richard Weightman leaving. Site
identified as Tim Casey’s and soil samples had already been analysed to understand
the nutritional status prior to project started – this one is low P.
RBl - homed that some of this information will feed back into RB 209 to help update.
Project 3 years with potential carry over into 4th year,
DG – can crop remain later and be sampled at a future date (3). RB – yes, will be
good resource for data.
SF – what about VAT? – CB don’t worry, quoted costs are exclusive of VAT. AHDB
don’t pay VAT as part of researchers’ costs.
CB
Decision : Supported
Paper 1.3a
Proposal – Leeks: Improving Quality and Extending the Season in late crops in the UK
(extension to FV 387a)
PL – work focusing more on GA to increase shank length in short varieties, but MH still
included in case approval may occur. Should get 2 seasons of work.
DG would like a split after year 1 to look and see if there are effects on flowering
shoots, may push to bolt.
EL – liked project, interested in possibly doing work with MH in late savoys, but CB
concerned that Fazor won’t be approved.
CL – talk to VP.
CL
Decision : supported
Paper 1.3b
Proposal – Baby Leaf Spinach: Investigating the impact of pre-harvest treatments on
shelf-life and quality.
LJ – BLGA have wanted to do this work for a long time. This proposal will look at
products to improve the leaf robustness. Samples will be harvested and processed as
per commercial practice on sites.
DG – Seaweed will have a variable formulation – so may not get clear results. Water
content is important, growing with high fertiliser will produce soft crop. Maybe do sites
with extreme environments low fertility and high fertility. Cut down sites and increase
complexity.
CT – Won’t an increased in number of sites provide more data on variable soils?
DG – not going to learn much as most will be on sandy silt.
CB – is G Clarkson’s PhD in this area?
CL will organise a meeting with DG, GC & RW to rework the project.
Decision: supported with recommendation that above amendments are discussed.
CL
Paper 1.3c
Proposal – Brassicas: an evaluation of autumn/winter cauliflower cultivars, spring
cabbage
EL – Now in the 19th year of trials. SW growers very supportive – 60 growers at open
day. BGA also supportive.
CB – the trials are regional, but are well supported by growers and seed companies
and good KT output.
Decision: supported.
RA
James Holmes, Research Manager HGCA,
Update on RB 209 discussion between AHDB and Defra
RB209 is a valuable reference document used extensively in all areas of AHDB.
However, last revision was 2010 and is now out of date. Since then £8.5M has been
spent on research for crop nutrition.
HGCA submitted proposal to Defra for a strategic partnership between Defra AHDB
and AIC. This was rejected. Defra felt it went beyond their obligations and didn’t have
the resources. But they did not close the door; they liked many aspects of the
proposal.
James outlined the details of the proposal.
3 options for the future
1. do nothing and stay with 8th edition, but research continue,
2. provide secretariat and take ownership and produce 9th edition,
3. Produce an AHDB equivalent to RB 209 which runs in parallel.
Need to assess risks/benefits of each option and relative costs/benefits for each
sector. Decision by end of May. If going to proceed will need to write a revised
proposal, deadline Nov 2014.
SF – Caution with next proposal – do EA and RPA need to be included in
talks/decisions?
JH – possibly, will take point on.
DG - are Defra happy for AHDB to take on RB209?
JH – He thinks so.
LJ – Will be excellent to have a centralised point for information on hort crops.
RBu – looking at research in UK – will be looking globally?
JH – Yes, definitely, already doing this on micronutrients. Up to committees to
determine scope for research.
CB – if AHDB don’t take this on, will Defra move it forward?
JH – unlikely.
Group voted and all felt that option 2 was best and one they supported – avoid the
duplication.
JH will come to update the group again at either the Nov 14 meeting or Feb 15.
Action: RA to circulate a copy of the presentation to the whole group. Done
RA
Steve Tones, Business Development Manager HDC
AgriTech and non-HDC funding options.
Gave talk on HDC structure, Impress, Agri-Tech and Horizon 2020.
CT – major priority was business progress rather than anything else. The old idea that
upping food production – that’s not how they look at this anymore. Is that going to
change?
ST – it will be about industry productivity. You have to produce more with less.
CB – dilemma for us internally is that we’ve restructured to work better at strategic
problems, but meanwhile we have external funding sources that offer opportunities but
they are ahead of us.
NERC has committed 100m to soils work.
Field Vegetable Team update on strategic projects and KT plan – RA, GC, CL and CB
CB - updated on soil research call and how that’s moving forward – internal
consultation to develop further.
CL – mentioned Oomycete calls and how we will deliver this.
RA – updated on Sceptre outputs, result of trial, conference, factsheet and workshops
in autumn on bio-pesticides. Also doing updates for the growers associations. Video
clips from researchers, which will be on the website.
Crop walkers guide app requested by the Legume panel for pest and disease
identification. Will now be rolled across other crop sector.
GC – Perchlorate levels in leafy salad crops – group want a review. Relevant to other
fruiting veg. A company to do the review has been identified, but FSA are also
conducting their own review.
Also the Protected Edibles Panel (PE) have been discussing ‘Growsave’ looks
principally at energy saving, but PE want water and waste to be covered also – so
there may be an event organised.
RA – asked for feedback from group on precision engineering events. None attended,
but had heard good things. Any further needed? Look at soil?
Matters arising from minutes of the meeting of 14th March 2013 and not covered by
the Agenda
- Approval and signing off of the minutes
[Please note that these Panel minutes will subsequently be made available on the HDC website]
Minutes checked, HDC staff had filled in their completed actions.
SF proposed.
PL seconded.
Any other business:
SF – N applications to pea in trials FV 428 – not allowed - so have been told that they
might have to do water testing. If they do have to do this they may need extra money
to pay for the tests.
All - Group approved and additional costs. CB to await costings from SF.
RA – mentioned communication from RBu re KT delivery. Can we have this as an
agenda item at the next meeting to discuss and develop ideas?
Agreed to talk about KT
CB – suggested that we also talk about water gap analysis at the next meeting.
CB
Meeting Closed – 3:00pm
Next Meetings – 20th November 2014 and 26TH February 2015
Cathryn Lambourne and Rosie Atwood 14-03-14