UK pea and bean growers are being invited to become ‘pulse pioneers’ and be paid to carry out on-farm trials which contribute to a ground-breaking research programme.
The Nitrogen Climate Smart (NCS) Project aims to facilitate the increase of pulse cropping from 5% to 20% in arable rotations, and displace up to half the imported soya meal used in livestock feed rations.
At least 40 farmers will be recruited and the first contracts to conduct the work have been signed this week.
Tom Allen-Stevens, founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), is leading the farm trials work. “We are looking for farmers who are growing, or plan to grow, beans or peas this season and who are growing them in the rotation for the next four years,” he said.
“We will offer support and payment for them to monitor the crop. In particular we want to compare an area grown to pulses with one that isn’t over a period of four years. This rotational platform approach will enable us to monitor the benefits of pulse crops through the rotation.”
One of the first farmers to commit to becoming a pulse pioneer is Will Oliver of Osbaston House farm, Leicestershire.
Will is an award-winning mixed arable and poultry farmer with a 200,000-bird broiler coupled with 850ha of arable land which is put to winter wheat, maize, winter beans and permanent pasture countryside stewardship. Sheep also graze some parts of the farm.
The NCS Project has a set of seismic objectives which, if achieved, would transform UK arable rotations while making an enormous contribution towards UK agriculture’s carbon-cutting targets.
Reducing emissions by 1.5Mt CO₂e per annum (or 54% of the maximum potential for UK agriculture) is the primary goal which could be achieved by replacing half the imported soya used in livestock feeding rations with home-grown pulses. The project aims to prove this can be achieved by working closely with over 200 farmers.
Led by PGRO, the £5.9m Innovate UK-funded project launched in June 2023 hinges on the consortium of 18 partners and the network of farmers who will carry out trials.
To become involved or for further details on the project go to www.ncsproject.co.uk