Reader in agri-environmental systems, Julie Ingram is coordinating two workshops in February as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Innovation Club (SARIC). The workshops, which are aimed at consultants, advisers and interested farmers who want to improve grassland management and planning, will take place in Okehampton and Sutton Bonington, near Lougborough.
The workshops will demonstrate a grassland tool developed from models by Rothamsted Research and Cranfield University. It will be a hands-on session to give potential users a chance to test out the tools and provide feedback to the developers. Using local weather data, participants can examine the effect of different cutting regimes on green leaf and total dry matter yield, as well other parameters of interest to them. The tool is based on cut grass systems, but some of grass responses and the principles of grass management also translate to lowland grazed systems.
The two workshops will take place on the following dates:
- Friday 14th February – 10:30-12:30. Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB.
- Friday 28th February – 10:30-12:30. University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, LE12 5RD.
For booking either of the workshops, please contact Julie Ingram via email: jingram@glos.ac.uk
For technical queries, please contact Paul Burgess via email: p.burgess@cranfield.ac.uk
More information on the Okehampton workshop on February 14th [ddownload id=”28836″]
More information on the Sutton Bonington workshop on February 28th [ddownload id=”28838″]
As an incentive for attending, the SARIC team will be allowing those who attend the workshop to take the prototype tool away with them. The tool simulates yield of green leaf or total dry matter production in response to the climate (temperature, rainfall, solar radiation), carbon dioxide concentration, harvesting management (number and date of cuts, amount of leaf left after cutting), and nitrogen application. The tool allows farmers to see how changing the above will change the predicted amount and distribution of grass.
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Innovation Club (SARIC) is a joint BBSRC and NERC initiative to support innovative projects that will provide solutions to key challenges affecting the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the UK crop and livestock sectors. SARIC has 12 company members (who represent the farming industry) who contribute to funding research and take part in directing the Club’s activities.
