A recent poll of arable farmers conducted by the National Farm Research Unit (NFRU) has found that the majority of arable farmers are using the Internet (57%). Of those that are using the Internet, 87% now have broadband, compared with just 55% four years ago and 70% three years ago.

Close to half of all arable farmers say that they have gone on-line to get information about farm inputs (47%), with 40% of them reporting that they have bought some farm inputs on-line. The trend is for more farmers to seek information on-line with 42% doing so four years ago and 44% three years ago. Similarly the use of the Internet for purchasing farm inputs is increasing, with just 17% buying farm inputs on-line four years ago and 26% three years ago.

In the West Midlands, 55% of arable farmers reported that they used the Internet, with 88% of them enjoying broadband connections. Three years ago 76% of arable farmers in the region had Broadband access.

Over 46% of farmers in the West Midlands said that they got information on inputs on-line and 43% had already bought some inputs on-line, reflecting the national picture. The survey indicates an increasing trend in the use of the Internet for information and purchasing, as three years ago 45% of farmers in the region got information on-line and 22% had used it for purchasing purposes.

..and widespread uptake on new varieties

Many arable farmers have planted a new variety for the first time in the current season, particularly winter wheat and winter oilseed rape. Across the UK around one quarter of winter wheat growers grew a new variety for the first time, with varieties such as Viscount, Oakley, Duxford and Humber being the most popular new varieties. In the West Midlands a similar proportion of farmers were growing new wheats (24%) compared to the national situation.

Just over one in five oilseed rape growers have grown new varieties, with the hybrids Flash and Excalibur and the conventionals DK Cabernet, Vision, Castille and Catana being singled out. In the West Midlands 19% of farmers had planted new rape varieties this current season.

Barley growers were less likely to try out a new variety, although 15% of barley growers nationally and in the West Midlands said that they were doing so this season, with newly planted varieties being Saffron, Retriever and Cassata winter barley and NFC-Tipple, Quench and Waggon spring barley.

High uptake of professional advice on Crop Protection

A survey by the National Farm Research Unit reveals that overall 95% of arable farmers across the UK said that they took professional advice on crop protection, compared with 89% in 2004. In the West Midlands 97% farmers took such advice.

Distributors/suppliers of crop protection products were key in providing advice on their use, with 72% of farmers taking advice from this group. A further 20% of arable farmers took independent advice from private individuals (11% of farms) or from consultancies (9% of farms). Very few farms utilised their own members of staff for this specialist agronomic activity.

The practice of employing independent advice for crop protection was at higher level in the West Midlands than nationally, with 14% of farms using a private agronomist and a further 9% using a consultancy. The majority of farms (70%) were taking advice from their distributors.