Energy Crops Update from KWS – 2019

John Burgess – Maize & Hybrid Rye Product Manager

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Development of Energy Crop Usage

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Gas to Grid CHP

Source: http://www.biogas-info.co.uk/resources/biogas-map (June 2018)

Farm structure

Feedstock / digestate logistics

Average field size

Yield performance

Soil type/ rainfall

Radiation

Blackgrass density

Stable area – 2017/18 ca. 50,000 ha

28,000 ha maize

20,000 ha rye

2,000 ha beet

Beet Pulp

Grass Silage

Manures / Slurry

Development of Energy Crop Usage

80

6 4

10

2011

12,000 ha

70

10

13

7

2019

51,000 ha

55

12

25

8

2022

52,000 ha

Energy Maize

Energy Beet

Other

Energy Hybrid Rye

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Total effect of AD Cropping on Mainstream UK Area: > 1.5% 2018 – approx. 340 on farm AD plants (based on crops)

Future Challenges for UK on farm AD

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Irrigation & Intercropping

Source: KWS

Future Challenges for UK on farm AD (1)

Increased drought pressure;

Light land farms

Irrigation / abstraction restrictions

Search for “drought tolerant” hybrids

Planting depth

Shorter drilling windows

Further criteria on field margin / companion

cropping

Insect pollinating crops on field margins (eg;

sunflowers)

Companion cropping

GHG measurements on farm inputs

- * Source: DLG, 2009

Drilling and Seed Treatment

Pressures

Source: KWS

Future Challenges for UK on farm AD (2)

Increased establishment pressure;

Loss of key seed treatments (Mesurol, Cruiser

Force, Deter etc..)

Planting depth + later planting

Wider rotations to combat slug pressure,

take-all

Loss of available contract acreage >

higher levels of EFA

- * Source: DLG, 2009

Satellite Based Dry Matter (DM) Monitoring > Increase harvest efficiency, optimise revenue

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During 2019 KWS UK will being to rollout a

Satellite Based Dry Matter (DM) Monitoring

system for maize grown in the UK – the system

is know internally as “SAT DM Monitoring”

2 years of field calibration will be required before the

system is available for farmers and end user

customers to have access.

This presentation covers the basic merits of the

system, and rollout requirements for the UK;

User Benefits of SAT DM Monitoring

How does SAT DM Monitoring work ?

Example Field Upload

Sample Protocol for System Calibration

Defined Geographic Coverage for Calibration and

Future Use

KWS UK SAT DM Monitoring Rollout 2019 - 2021 3 Year Cycle

User Benefits of SAT DM Monitoring

9

✔ Define inter field variation more

accurately (SAT DM Monitoring is accurate

to 10m2)

✔ Real time interaction of FAO, sowing

date and field conditions means farmers

can compare observed “in field” maturity with real time data

✔ Adjust for different seasons and growing

conditions (drought, low heat units, dry

down)

✔ Optimise total harvest revenue and

DM% for desired silage quality and end use

(Forage, Biogas) and reduce silage loss

✔ Greater control of harvesting logistics

over large acreages and haulage distances

How does SAT DM Monitoring work ?

How does SAT DM Monitoring work ?

> Calibration Satellite DM % is calibrated against oven DM

samples during the 2 year calibration phase, using different FAO ranges

> BBCH Growth Model & Weather Data A standard BBCH Maize growth curve is calibrated

with local weather data, including heat units, rainfall

and radiation

> Satellite Imagery Used to scan down to an approximate range of 10m2

Example Field Upload

User login https://www.kws.com/gb/en/drymatter/

Field upload (Import / export &

online drawing map of field area)

1. Enter Field Name

2. Area (Ha) Hectares Auto

Calculated

3. Enter Variety (pre defined choice

for calibration set – up)

4. Enter Irrigation (Yes No )

5. Enter Sowing Date

6. Save Field

Example Field Upload

What does the user see?

15.07.2019 12 MA-PAM

Field upload (Import / export & online

drawing map of field area) and color graph

as DM% increases

Planned coverage for SAT

DM Calibration

East (6 counties) Kent, Essex,

Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire

West (10 counties) Cheshire,

Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire,

Gwent, Somerset, Dorset, Devon,

Worcestershire, Wiltshire

Coverage of estimated 80% of the

main UK maize growing areas for

silage and AD / Biogas areas

Calibration range FAO 160 – 240

Future range FAO 150 – 270

Defined Geographic Coverage for Calibration and Future Use

Source: https://mapchart.net/uk.html

Thank you for your attention.