Farm energy
AD secures farming future for young entrepreneur
S
taffordshire young farmer Rob Greenow has success- fully established his own anaerobic digestion business – allowing him to secure his future in farming before the age of 30. Combining an interest in re-
newable energy with his farming experience, Rob established AD management business, BioG UK just a couple of years after leav- ing university. The success of the business has seen him become a partner for AD finance company Privilege Finance. “While studying at Reading University I completed my dis- sertation on ammonia volatisa- tion and the spreading application types of digestate from AD Plants,” says Mr Greenow. “At the time AD was only just becoming popular in the agricultural industry but I could see the potential.
“After graduation, I joined an AD company and was involved in the planning and running of var- ious sites. But, in 2012 I decid- ed to go it alone and set up BioG UK, hoping that one day I would be able to establish my own AD plant.”
Initially, Rob hoped to support farmers through the feasibility and planning stages of building their own AD plant. But his busi- ness soon changed direction. “After two years, I shifted the focus of the business to concentrate on helping existing AD plant owners trouble- shoot and manage their plants.” In 2016, Mr Greenow complet- ed the purchase of his own 66ha arable farm. At about the same time, he managed to secure two years of planning for the develop- ment of his own AD plant at Batch- acre Hall Farm, Staffordshire.
Mr Greenhow, seen here with partner Katie French, has bought his own farm
‘Focus on grains per ear for better hybrid rye yields’
Operators of anaerobic diges- tion systems could improve per- formance levels by moving to hy- brid rye varieties carrying more grains per ear.
John Burgess in a crop of hybrid rye
KWS maize and hybrid rye product manager John Burgess suggests that growers should focus on grains per ear – rather than plant height – to increase wholecrop yields. “There is a balance to be had between plant height and grains per ear when seeking to maxim- ise wholecrop yields, but with the ear contributing roughly 50% of the final yield variety choice and diligent use of plant growth reg-
ulators are essential.” There is a belief, he says, that plant height is the key to achieving high yields, but that this overlooks the valuable contribution that comes from managing the cano- py to increase ear development. “Breeding advances have focussed on improving yields through bigger ears while mak- ing canopy management easi- er through better stability and standing power,” says Mr Burgess. New varieties for anaero- bic digestion, such as KWS Pro- power and, for 2018 KWS Eterno and KWS Edmondo, deliver high- er yields than the benchmark va-
riety KWS Progas, but are slight- ly shorter and more manageable, he adds.
Hybrid rye is a high value sub- strate for all year round use in the biogas plant. It helps to balance the high productivity of energy beet or maize substrates, provid- ing an alternative nutrient source for the bacteria in the digester and stabilising gas output.
Hybrid rye is relatively straightforward to grow and suits a wide range of soils across the UK, providing high DM yields and some major agronomic benefits, alongside an ability to spread the workload on farm.
OCTOBER 2017 • MIDLAND FARMER 33
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