Arable
Monitor farm examines prospects for spring crops
M
arket knowledge and attention to detail are helping two eastern
region growers optimise returns from spring crops. Tom Mead and David Hurst host the Duxford Monitor Farm group on the Cambridgesh- ire-Hertfordshire border. Mr Mead farms 383ha in partner- ship with his father; and David Hurst is the arable farm manager at Law Farming, which has more than 1,800ha. Both businesses grown sug-
ar beet, spring barley and spring oats. But Mr Hurst also grows late-sown winter oats, spring mustard and peas – while sup- pling many of his crops on con- tract to Jordans Ryvita. Prospects for spring crops were examined at a recent mon-
itor farm meeting. The subject is likely to be among the topics dis- cussed at a summer meeting and farm walk due to be held at the Duxford Monitor Farm on 7 June. “The real value of having
defi nite markets for your spring crops,” says AHDB knowledge ex- change manager Teresa Mead- ows.
“There was almost £300/ha in- crease in gross margins for grow- ing spring barley and spring oats on a specifi c contract for a specif- ic buyer.”
But market access can pose a
challenge. Spring feed beans offer the best return on variable costs for the non-premium crops, along with opportunities to fi x nitrogen for following wheat crops, but they also have the lowest gross margin continued on p16
Tom Mead (left) and David Hurst are hosting a summer farm walk on 7 June
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