In the face of increasing challenges posed by fluctuations in rainfall and variable climate conditions, the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) entered its second decade in 2023, marking over 11 years of groundbreaking work in the field of crop excellence and innovation. The annual YEN Awards Conference, held on Wednesday, January 24th, brought together 150 YEN farmers, sponsors, and supporters in Peterborough to celebrate the highs and lows of the agricultural journey, with a particular focus on addressing the pressing challenges associated with variable rainfall.
The 2023 season underscored the pivotal role of deep soils and extensive root systems as the cornerstone of high-performance cropping in our progressively unpredictable climate. Instances of waterlogging in November and March served as tangible indicators of lands grappling with insufficient drainage. Furthermore, the modelling of soil water dynamics during the warm and dry months of May and June highlighted the critical significance of deep-rooted crops in mitigating the risks of drought. This year modelling became an essential tool for farmers as it enabled them to visually identifying drought stress on crops. YEN farmers were actively encouraged to leverage their 2023 data to estimate the depth at which their crops extracted water from the soil. By annually estimating depths of water capture, farmers can gauge how well they are improving and regenerating their soil, resulting in a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape.
The Yield Enhancement Network, entirely steered, supported, and funded by the agricultural industry, stands as a beacon of collaboration and innovation. The journey through the highs and lows of the last decade showcases the agricultural sector's determination to overcome challenges, embrace innovation, and sustainably enhance crop yields.
Dr Roger Sylvester-Bradley, Director and Founder of the Yield Enhancement Network said
"In 2023, the persistent warmth posed a challenge by shortening crop lifespans, notably impacting the critical grain-filling phase of wheat, which decreased by 10 days since YEN's inception in 2013. Despite this climatic hurdle and substantial monthly fluctuations in rainfall, the agricultural landscape witnessed commendable yields. Notably, the highest-performing farms continue to make strides in productivity.
This year's awards serve as a testament to the consistent excellence demonstrated by specific farms, underscoring the significance of the 'Farm Factor' that has been a focal point of YEN's discussions in recent years.
The inherent variability in the 'Farm Factor' translates into a notable range in wheat yields, spanning between 9 and 14 t/ha. This substantial difference emphasises the networks dedicated focus on closely benchmarking each farm against the top performing enterprises, allowing them to map and scrutinise their unique pathways to achieving progress in crop yield.”
Dr Dhaval Patel, manager of the YEN project portfolio said
“This year we have integrated all the YEN projects to maximise the learnings from this season. This inclusive approach offers a distinct opportunity to delve into the key challenges and findings at the farm-level, providing invaluable lessons from individual crops.”
Dr Patel hopes to continue this trend at future YEN Conferences, fostering a continuous exchange of knowledge and experiences.
Dr Pete Berry, who co-leads ADAS’s Crop Physiology Team said one of the achievements of YEN this year has been the launch of its on-line ‘Dynamic Benchmarking’ capability, which enables farmers to easily compare their crop performance with other crops, facilitating a more efficient and insightful analysis.
Highlighting the significance of the Innovator of the Year Award, Dr Sarah Kendall, Crop Physiologist and Associate Managing Director of ADAS Sustainable Agricultural Systems, emphasised YEN's crucial goal of recognizing and supporting Arable Innovators. According to Sarah
“David Bell is a worthy winner, having demonstrated several years of active commitment to YEN. His proactive adjustments to strategies, aimed at minimising yield limitations, reflect his dedication. Furthermore, his inspirational collaboration with others in on-farm trials, including a noteworthy long-term examination of cultivation systems and varieties, showcases a commitment to driving innovation in the field."
Winners’ awards from 2023 harvest were as follows:
Cereal YEN
Best Cereal Yield
- GOLD: Mark Stubbs of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by Hutchinsons 16.6 t/ha
- SILVER: Rodney Smith of Northumberland, Sponsored by Agrii 15.4 t/ha
- BRONZE: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Sponsored by Agrii 14.4 t/ha
Best % of Potential Cereal Yield
- GOLD: Mark Stubbs of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by Hutchinsons 97% of 17.1 t/ha
- SILVER: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Sponsored by Agrii 87% of 16.4 t/ha
- BRONZE: Martin Lawrie of Angus, Sponsored by Scottish Agronomy Ltd 85% of 13.2 t/ha
Best Yield in Cereals trials
GOLD: Mark Stocks of Yorkshire, Sponsored by BASF 15.5 t/ha
Best % of Potential Yield in Cereals trials
GOLD: Stuart Butler of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by BASF 96% of 11.2 t/ha
Regional Awards
For the Highest Cereal Yield in:
- Scotland: Martin Lawrie of Angus, Sponsored by Scottish Agronomy Ltd 13.3 t/ha
- Northern: Peter Southwell of East Yorkshire, Sponsored by FMC 12.1 t/ha
- East Midlands: David Hoyles of Lincolnshire Sponsored by YARA 12.4 t/ha
- East Anglia: James Mayes of Essex, Sponsored by Bayer 10.9 t/ha
- The West: James Griffin of Wiltshire, Independent entry 10.4 t/ha
- South East: Richard Budd of Kent, Sponsored by YARA 12.3 t/ha
- Outside UK: Lars Riis of Denmark, Independent entry 13.6 t/ha
For the Highest % of Potential Cereal Yield
- Scotland: David Fuller of Berwickshire, Sponsored by DSV 65% of 16.9 t/ha
- Northern Rodney Smith of Northumberland, Sponsored by Agrii 79% of 19.5 t/ha
- East Midlands: Joe Vickers of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by Hutchinsons 65% of 17.3 t/ha
- East Anglia: James Mayes of Essex, Sponsored by Bayer 81% of 13.5 t/ha
- The West: James Griffin of Wiltshire, Independent entry 51% of 20.6 t/ha
- South East: Richard Budd of Kent, Sponsored by YARA 71% of 17.7 t/ha
- Outside UK: Lars Riis of Denmark, Independent entry 81% of 16.9 t/ha
Best Winter Barley Yield
- GOLD: Neil Ramsey of Berwickshire, Sponsored by Scottish Agronomy Ltd 13.5 t/ha
- SILVER: Will Jones of North Yorkshire, Sponsored by BASF 11.5 t/ha
- BRONZE: Simon Budden of Hampshire, Independent entry 9.0 t/ha
Best % of Potential Winter Barley Yield
- GOLD: Neil Ramsey of Berwickshire, Sponsored by Scottish Agronomy Ltd 81% of 16.7 t/ha
- SILVER: Will Jones of North Yorkshire, Sponsored by BASF 59% of 19.6 t/ha
- BRONZE: Simon Budden of Hampshire, Independent entry 46% of 19.8 t/ha
Oats YEN
Best Oats Yield
- GOLD: John Anderson of Caithness, Independent entry 10.1 t/ha
- SILVER: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 7.9 t/ha
- BRONZE: Kari Alasaari of Finland, Independent entry 7.3 t/ha
Best % of Potential Oats Yield
- GOLD: John Anderson of Caithness, Independent entry 68% of 14.7 t/ha
- SILVER: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 67% of 11.8 t/ha
- BRONZE: Kari Alasaari of Finland, Independent entry 57% of 12.9 t/ha
Spring Barley YEN
Best Spring Barley Yield
- GOLD Mark Stubbs of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by Syngenta 10.6 t/ha
- SILVER: Paul Spinks of Norfolk, Sponsored by Hutchinsons 8.8 t/ha
- BRONZE: David Steel of Scotland, Independent entry 8.6 t/ha
Best % of Potential Spring Barley Yield
- GOLD: Mark Stubbs of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by Syngenta 66% of 16.0 t/ha
- SILVER: Dyson Farming of Lincolnshire, Independent entry 65.8% of 11.7 t/ha
- BRONZE: David Steel of Scotland, Independent entry 64% of 13.4 t/ha
Oilseed YEN
Best Seed Yield (gross output1)
- GOLD: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 6.9 t/ha
- SILVER: Richard Budd of Kent, Sponsored by YARA 6.7 t/ha
- BRONZE: Lars Riis of Denmark, Independent entry 6.5 t/ha
Best % of Potential Seed Yield
- GOLD: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 77% of 9.01 t/ha
- SILVER: Mark Lawson of Wigtownshire, Sponsored by Limagrain 62% of 8.0 t/ha
- BRONZE: Lars Riis of Denmark, Independent entry 61% of 10.7 t/ha
YEN Innovator of the Year
The YEN particularly seeks to celebrate innovators, in 2023 it gave special recognition through the:
YEN Innovator of the year award. The Innovator of the Year for 2023 is:
David Bell of JC Bell Ltd
For his commitment, representation, innovative ideas, and use of data and trials for yield enhancement and crop nutrition.