Awards and Developments

 Award Winning Business

As a multi-award winning business within the competitive agricultural world, continually questioning what we are doing, and how we are doing it, is part of everyday life. “Without change, you cannot expect things to get better”
We have been involved in a large number of cropping based experiments over recent years, including playing host to numerous industry led trials. Most notable amongst these are with the national Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) and within the BASF Real Results Circle (RRC) of 50 farms.
  • Our Recent Awards .......
    • British Farming Awards 2018 – Arable Innovator of the Year winner
    • AgriScot Scottish Arable Farmer of the Year 2018 - Finalist
    • Scottish Rural Awards (Agriculture) 2019 – Finalist

 Yield Enhancement Network 

The Company has been included in this scientist led network since its inception in 2014. Firstly with wheat and subsequently with oilseed rape (and then spring barley from 2018), the concept is about pushing the boundaries of achievable yield and taking part in the knowledge exchange that follows – the YEN principle. The scientists have produced a model of theoretically possible yield for each crop type, and using our collectively acquired experience, in field testing is done throughout the growing season to drive a programmed approach to improving our output. As an industry suffering from yield plateaus in all crops, this is a very important program. The “potential” yield for our wheat crops here is an eye-watering 18+ tns/ha – we normally achieve only around 60-70% of this! Oilseed rape figures are 11+ tns/ha and 45-50% respectively! There is much work to be done….

SRDP Agri-Environment and Climate Change scheme (AECS) 

We successfully gained a Scottish Government contract to improve water quality in the first round of the competitive AEC Scheme in 2016. Part of this scheme included the planting of grass margins alongside all our many water courses, which also benefit the wildlife. We also rotate cover crops around the farm (made up of deep rooting flowering plants) to help improve our soils and provide a food source for pollenating insects such as bees. Both of these actions have provided significant benefit to ground nesting birds such as grey partridge, lapwing, curlew and oyster catcher on the farm.
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    As part of our holistic approach to Integrated Pest Management and the protection of our farmed environment, we include Fertiliser Advisers Certificated Training Scheme (FACTS) and National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO) qualified personnel within the team. We also use BASIS & Biodiversity and Environmental Trained Agronomy (BETA) accredited agronomists

BASF Real Results Circle 

For the last three years we, along with the crop protection product specialist BASF, have been trialling a robust approach to growing crops here at Sweethope. Here we have been looking at product choice and rate to improve application efficiency as well as looking at cost implications of this action. Moving forward within the RRC, measurements including the carbon footprint of each decision will be included. You can find out more about the Real Results Circle (RRC) below 
BASF RRC
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