Agronomists' Induction 2022

The Agronomists’ Induction is a formal introduction to AHDB’s products, tools and services for agronomists early in their careers. 

Ultimately, the two-day event aims to help the agronomy industry bring benefit to AHDB levy payers and provides opportunity to kick-start career-long networking between AHDB staff and agronomists. 

If you are intrigued about the independent science behind our work, want to discover how we encourage on-farm trialling and want to make the most of our outputs, this event is for you. 

With a focus on the basics about what AHDB does (such as how our trials are set up and analysed), the event lays a vital foundation. It complements our flagship Agronomists’ Conference in December, which delivers the latest advances in agronomy. 

Although the Agronomists’ Induction focuses on the production of cereals and oilseeds, the wider rotation is also considered. It features contributions from partner organisations, such as BBRO, PGRO, BASIS and the Voluntary Initiative. It also covers related activity at AHDB Strategic Cereal Farms and Monitor Farms. 

Encouraging learning, the event blends seminars with interactive workshops. It also includes a networking dinner in the evening of the first day and lunch on both days. 

For further information about the event and the Agronomists' Conference, visit: ahdb.org.uk/agronomists

Programme

Day one programme*

*Details correct at time of publication

12:00pm Registration, lunch, and exhibitions

1:00pm Welcome from the event chairperson (day one)

• Ana Reynolds, AHDB Head of Engagement (Cereals & Oilseeds)

Seminar session 1 – Major technical outputs

• What’s next for AHDB? – Ana Reynolds, AHDB Head of Engagement (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Recommended Lists (RL) – Paul Gosling, AHDB Crop Production Systems Senior Scientist
• Nutrient Management Guide – Amanda Bennett, AHDB Senior Environment Scientist

2:00pm Workshop session 1**

2:30pm Seminar session 2 – Policy and the market

• Chair: Isobel Eames, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Changes in agricultural policy – Amandeep Kaur Purewal, AHDB Senior Analyst
• Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon (standards and drivers) – Nick Blyth, AHDB Senior Environment Manager

3:20pm Workshop session 2**

3:50pm Seminar session 3 – Working in partnership 1

• Chair: Michelle Nuttall, Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• An introduction to BASIS – Teresa Meadows, BASIS Head of Environment, Audit and Public Affairs
• An introduction to the Voluntary Initiative (VI) – Phil Jarvis, VI Chairperson

4:30pm Workshop session 3**

5:00pm Seminar session 4 – Working in partnership 2

• Chair: Adrian James, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Strategic Cereal Farms – Fiona Geary, AHDB Knowledge Transfer Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) – Speaker TBC
• Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) – AHDB Matthew Brearley Knowledge Transfer Officer (Cereals & Oilseeds)

5:30pm Seminar and workshop close (day one)

7:00pm Networking dinner and after-dinner quiz

**Workshop sessions (day one)

• Planning profitable rotations – Philip Dolbear, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Getting the most out of the RL – Kathryn Hales, AHDB Senior Field Trials Data Analyst, and Sean Burns, AHDB Senior Field Trials Manager
• Efficient use of crop sprayers – Harry Henderson, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)

Day two programme*

9:00am Welcome from the event chairperson (day two)

• Philip Dolbear, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)

Seminar session 5 – Working with soils and biology

• GREATsoils – Amanda Bennett, AHDB Senior Environment Scientist
• Livestock and the rotation – Lizzie Sagoo, ADAS Principal Soil Scientist

9:50am Workshop session 4***

10:20am Seminar session 6 – Pest management

• Chair: Judith Stafford, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Pests and beneficials – Siobhan Hillman, AHDB Crop Protection Scientist
• The role of flowering strips – Aoife O'Driscoll, NIAB Senior Specialist (Crop Protection and IPM)
• Innovative Farmers field labs – Matthew Brearley, AHDB Knowledge Transfer Officer (Cereals & Oilseeds)

11:20am Workshop session 5***

11:50am Seminar session 7 – Working in partnership 3

• Chair: Hannah Bowden, Knowledge Exchange Manager (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• An introduction to BBRO – Georgina Barratt, BBRO Applied Crop Scientist
• An introduction to PGRO – Steve Belcher, PGRO Principal Technical Officer

12:35pm Workshop session 6***

1:05pm Seminar session 8 – Agronomy and the future

• Chair: Ana Reynolds, AHDB Head of Engagement (Cereals & Oilseeds)
• Looking to the future – Stephen Briggs, farmer, interim AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds sector council chair and AHDB board member

***Workshop sessions (day two)

• How to assess and manage soil – Amanda Bennett, AHDB Senior Environment Scientist
• How to ID pests and beneficials – Siobhan Hillman, AHDB Crop Protection Scientist
• Do it yourself disease ratings – Catherine Harries, AHDB Senior Crop Protection Scientist

1:30pm Event closes and exhibitions open

Event news

Spotlight on inputs at AHDB events for agronomists