Agricultural inputs – Balancing yields, profits and the environment

Arable farming on the heavy clay soils of Mid Suffolk is potentially profitable but there are many potential problems both within farmers control and often out of their control. The uniform green and sometimes yellow blocks of colour that constitute today’s fields are a relatively modern trend; in the recent past invasive plants would have been seen, the effect of fungus, mildew, weather and insect damage would have been be seen. All these had a very negative effect on crop yields. Farmers manage these effects with “inputs” including actions like ploughing and various chemicals. Perhaps the most controversial and misunderstood are the chemical inputs, however if chemical inputs are not used crops yields very soon drop by more than 70% and the quality is similarly effected, practically this is not acceptable.

Drilling spring oats early morning at Halls farm

Chemical inputs are a very significant cost both financially and environmentally. As a rough guide a hectare of wheat on heavy soil costs £570 per year in inputs, oilseed rape costs more than £600 per hectare. Over use of inputs is very expensive and does not increase yields, only reduces profits.  Obviously not all environmental damage is caused by inputs but their effect is very significant and is partly responsible for the drop in population of many birds and insects by, in some cases more than 90% in 30 years. Clearly chemical inputs should be used responsibly.

Agricultural sprays are expensive and potentially hazardous to people and the environment, they need to be targeted very carefully. Most farmers use a qualified agronomist to advise them on what and when to spray. The Honeywood family use an independent agronomist to manage their spray program, they only spray when necessary. Halls and Little Haugh farms also have to meet Jordan’s Conservation Grade standards which prevent the use of some of the more potentially hazardous inputs.

Many farmers however use agronomists employed by Agricultural supply companies. This can potentially lead to over use of inputs, for example; the “preventative” use of fungicides to avoid mildew in wet weather, before any mildew is evident. There is an obvious conflict of interest for agronomists employed by Agricultural supply companies.

Inputs can also be misused, examples include; Excessive use of nitrogen fertiliser on field and road verges causing long rank growth crowding out wild flowers and making driving difficult. Often field margins are sprayed with herbicide. Farms receive government payments in part for managing field margins for wildlife.

Field margin and ditch sprayed with herbicide,

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