Spray Inspection and equipment

On Tuesday 29th June i visited a spray testing station inspecting sprayers which needs to be done every 3 years. The EU legislation is making it manatory for sprays to be inspected in all member states by 2016. Belgium is a leader and one of the first to implement the scheme. Also visited AAMS which develops and assembles the equipment for testing sprays.

Ghent City, Belgium

Belgium is a nice small country mixed with small farms, large cities, roads and known for its beer, chocolate, fries and cows(beef). Brussels, Bruge, Antwerp and the medieval city of Ghent are the big places. People are dyamnic with languages and most speak English, French and Dutch. Bike riding is done by all and the layout of the cities make it sensible although cobble paths and tram tracks could make it interesting in the wet.

ILVO Research, Belgium

Monday was spent learning about research at ILVO Merelbeke near Ghent in Belgium. They have a Spray Tech Lab as part of Ag Engineering Division and research and test methods for drift reduction and characterisation of spray quality.

In Belgium 27.6.10

I traveled from London to Lille (France) on the Euro Star and traveled to Izegam in Belgium with David Nuyttens. We went bike riding around the town and farms and enjoyed a nice Belgium beer at a local pub on the way home. The countryside, people and farms and produce make this small country a special place. The beer is made locally and has 5-8% alcohol.

Good bye London

My last night in London was at The Farmers Club and brunch with my sister Vanessa.

Last Night in London and UK

Saturday 26th June is my last night in the UK before heading to Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. MY stay in the UK and Ireland has been a fantastic experience. The Nuffield network has helped with accomodation for the 2 and half weeks over here. I am grateful for the food, travel, bed, beer and good company from Kev, Julian, James, Jo, and sister Vanessa.

I have visited spray operators, farms, researchers, nozzle manufactures, Cereals show, spoken with adjuvant formulation chemists, and chemical manufactures and boom spray manufacturers. I have also learnt about the national spray testing scheme and spray operator training.

Onto Europe to do the same and learn about the differences in regulation, testing, culture and people.

PX Farms, Cambridge

PX Farms is a diverse farming operation using precision agriclture, reducing soil compaction, building soil fertility and health and working with the environment to farm sustainability. Inspirational and passionate about agriculture. Well done James.

Silsoe Nozzle Testing

Chiderley Estate, Cambridge, UK

This evening i went to a celebration of the 150 year anniversary of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution which was held at a Family Estate, Childerley Hall near Cambridge. The buildings date back to 1600 and the gardens and buildings were incredible. Thanks to James's Mum for all the introductions.

Knights Sprays and CTF farm in the UK

Today I visited Knights Farm Machinery and saw there factory as well as discussing the National Spray testing Scheme with Duncan. Also visited a farmer doing CTF farming and using direct drill machine.

Family, Farm, Flying

My weekend was spent with James Peck and Fiona as well as there family Louise and Ed plus cousins. James and i looked at the farm from the ground AND ABOVE.

Friday 18th June Farm/Research

UK Research and farms

Friday 18th June i visited robocrop research using vision system guidance as well as 2 farms spraying there T3 application of fungicide on there wheat. The last visit was close to London and the traffic at 5pm was mind blowing. It is truly farming amoungst the population. These farms had sprays of 30m and cropping 2000acres + using local self propelled sprays. Good to get back to a home cooked meal and a glass of wine after a trip that took twice as long as it should.

ProCam Field Day

Thursday 17th June Rob and were invited to Pro Cam agronomy field day. Jo works for Pro Cam and the field day was looking at varieties in oilseed rape, barley and winter and spring wheats and also how to manage weeds as blackgrass is becoming resistant.

KWS also had a breeding site next door where there are nearly 30000 lines in the trial.

Back in England Nozzle factory

I flew from Dublin to Stansted today and visited a nozzle factory. Staying in Buntingford, Hertz with Jo and Luke.

Spray test with Chemical Kev

Kev

On Tuesday 15th June i traveled from Kilkenny after staying with my Irish Cousin James to Kevin's farm. We had fun visiting chemical merchants and playing with water sensitive paper on Kev's Twin Air spray. We visited a farm at 9pm and were home by 11.30pm. What a big day!!!! Kev loves work and his air spray??

Kilkenny Castle 14.6.2010

Factory Tour Kennan and Red Mills

Monday 14th June the June Global Focus Group was in Ireland the the Irish turned on the machinery and factory of Connolly's Red Mills which produces feed for the livestock sector including horses, birds, pigs, sheep. We visited Keenan factory making mixing wagons and a machinery shop.

Irish Cousins 13.6.2010

Great food and drink at the Blackwater Lodge Hotel. Got to see irish cousins in there home town. Sinnotts of Martin, Leonie,Leo, Jay, Decklan, Jossie, Shiobban and boyfriend and two of Leonie's sisters went for a meal.

12.6.10 Blackwater co. Wexford

Traveled to Blackwater, Co. Wexford to see the Cash family who visited us in 2006. a great part of Ireland on the east coast with green fields and making silage and 6 weeks from harvesting winter crops.

Controlling spray drift

Look how close the house is to the crop. No land is wasted and making it more essential to control spray drift. Kev uses Hardi Air Assit and nothing stops him except rain.

Friday 11th June Tillage

Kev loves tillage. The soil is inverted by ploughing and then it is rolled and compacted. It is great soil which is well drained and full of colour.

Research Centre Carlow Co. Carlow

Friday afternoon Rob and i heard Dr. Clive James talk on Biotechnology and how it fits into future food and environmental stability.

We toured the research farm and saw trials of grasses, as well as systems trials and varieties. Two works are new and they are TILLAGE and ECO TILLAGE. the later means non inversions of soil. They love tillage in Ireland especially Kev.

11th June Ireland, Kells and Carlow

Ireland - full of History and great people.

On Friday 11th June i visited the town of Kells Co. Kilkenny to see history, livestock, spring barley and oilseed rape as well as bulb production.

Cereals 9th and 10th June

Cereals is the main Arable Field Day/show in the UK. Live demonstrations of tillage and spray equipment as well as planted crops around sites. It is a very professional and huge event with great hopitality.

It is a purpose built event in a differnet location each year and features all the main machinery and research organisations thourghout UK, Europe.

Tuesday 8th June Lords Cricket

The tour of Lords Cricket ground showed us the dressing rooms, the long walk down through the members, the stands, the media centre (iglo) and we learnt about the ashes and cricket history. The original ashes were burnt at "Rupertswood" Sunbury were i went to school. Sir Ruper Clark owned the property then and hosted the tourist.

Monday 7th June 2010

Made it to London to start my Study tour. My sisiter, Vanessa hosted me around town and we saw. Hyde park, Buckingham palace, Treflar Square, Big Ben, London Eye, Oxford Street and rode on the tube and train. Lots of fun Ness