FRU Mar 17 - page 3

ThE FrUITGrOWEr • MArCh 2017 www.thefruitgrower.co.uk
3 MArCh 2017 •
OPINION
THE FRUITGROWER IS PUBLISHED BY
Most of the themes that growers face now and in years to come are addressed in
this issue - climate change, sustainable farming, loss of actives and future-proofing
by investment in research, are all on themenu. With signs that spring is on theway,
the report from the BIFGA Technical Day includes Professor Chris Atkinson’s review
of climate change positives. Whilst a decline inwinter chill can evidently upset the
balance, it could also bringwith it some opportunities. For instance, we are already
detecting fewer frost days. “I know that when I first started at East Mallingwewere
working on cherries and probably one in every three or four years we couldn’t do
any experiments because all of the cherry blossomwas killed. That doesn’t happen
much these days,” said Prof. Atkinson.
The continuing loss of actives available for controlling pests and diseases is a
headache for growers, but agronomists areworking hard to keep on top of the
changes andmake sure that there are still answers and good programmes to follow.
Excellent advice on scab control from the Hutchinson’s team is reported from their
technical day and, reassuringly, some new chemistry has arrived just in time. The
use of a broad-spectrum insecticide is no longer an easy option for either dessert or
cider apple growers. At the Agrovista Cider Growers Technical Seminar the large
audience heard that one positive aspect of this situation is the recognition of the
role of beneficial insects. Themuchmisunderstood earwig came in for praise as it
offers themost effective control of woolly aphid. It is in growers’ interests to provide
natural winter habitats for earwigs. These are inexpensive and can be as simple as
rolls of corrugated cardboard or plastic rabbit guards around tree trunks.
All the above feeds into thework of LEAFwhich celebrated its 25th anniversary in
2016. Caroline Drummond outlines her organisation’smain strategic ambition for the
next five years to be the ‘go to’ organisation for the delivery of more sustainable
food and farming. Fruit growers who take part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday are to be
congratulated as they help us all to communicate to the public the good practice
and efforts that growers and their staff put into producing the finest product in an
environmentally responsibleway.
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CO N T E N T S
News Page 4
Mechanisation Page 6
Hail insurance Page 7
HughCulley Page 9
Newberry varieties Page10
Leaf nutrition Page11
BIFGA Technical
Day Page 13
Scabcontrol Page18
Soft Fruit
Conference Page21
Cider Seminar Page23
LEAF Page 25
Spectral imaging Page27
Research Briefing Page28
Comment Page 30
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