The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has urged growers entering agreements for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to fully understand the potential impact these decisions will have on future pulse crop rotations.
The organisation has raised concerns that the well-intentioned scheme could negatively impact production as legumes are included in some SFI options – meaning that the crops could be left in the ground for a number of years, increasing the likelihood of soil-borne diseases.
A detailed paper written by Dr Becky Howard highlights some of the unintended consequences, and PGRO is advising all growers to read the report before committing to an SFI option.
PGRO CEO Roger Vickers said: “We are not against the Sustainable Farming Incentive; in fact, we agree that farmers should be paid for providing positive environmental outcomes.
“But PGRO and others involved in the pulse sector have serious concerns over the impact some options will have on cropping in the long term.”
Several options encourage the use of long-term or frequent short-term legume cropping, including the NUM3, IPM3, and Countryside Stewardship AB15 options. Other options, including Actions for Wildlife AHL 1 and AHL 2, detract from more minority cropping.
PGRO states that a normal rotation would not encourage pulse crops closer than one in five, yet SFI could see continuous legumes in some cases. This could cause green bridging, with disease and pest levels building in the soil.
“Factoring in that CRD now considers beans to be a major crop and therefore excluded from the EAMU system for agricultural chemical use, and the already minimal portfolio of crop protection products available for pulses in general, this adds to the increasing jeopardy for their future production. Many of the greatest threats are soil-borne disease for which there are no seed treatments available,” Roger added.
“These unintended consequences are not certain as insufficient research has been conducted, but are a logical potential outcome based upon life cycle and alternative host considerations.”
PGRO has now asked that growers complete a survey, outlining their intentions this year with regards to growing pulses under SFI.