Danish agriculture and the role of field trials

1. Danish agriculture and the role of field trials IAMFE Skejby, Denmark 1th July 2008 Carl Aage Pedersen Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, National Centre, Aarhus

2. Agenda • Danish Agriculture • Danish Agricultural Advisory System • The role of field trials

8. Number of farms in Denmark Farms, no. Full time Part time Landbrugsraadet, sept. 05

9. The size of farms in Denmark has grown

10. Increasing the demand for usable technology

11. Increasing yield trend has stoppedin Denmark (and other countries?) Quotas on N-application 15 below optimum No regulations

12. Agenda • Danish Agriculture • Danish Agricultural Advisory System • The role of field trials

13. The Danish Model Theory Practice Research and other sources of knowledge 1,200 persons Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, National Centre 1 unit, 550 people 16 Agricultral colleges 38 Local advisory centres 2,900 people 50,000 farmers Average farm size 57 ha Number of employees within the agricultural sector: 186,900

14. Danish Agricultural Advisory Service • 38 local agricultural advisory centres and 1 national centre • Turnover: DKK 1.8 billion • 3½ thousand employees • Denmark’s largest consultancy

15. Danish Agricultural Advisory Service

16. Staff functions Head departments and departments with direct advisory service Business Fields Day-to-Day Management and organisation General Management and Centre Management Danish Agricultutural Advisory Service, National Centre Company Secretariat & Science Communications Finance Human Resources Centre IT Development Green Plantprotection Team R A/S Poultry Danish Pig Production AgroTech A/S Fur Animals Danish Cattle Federation Horses Crop Production NAV International Organic Farming NORFOR Danish Young Farmers & Danish 4H Planning & Environment KFC DLBR Advice RYK Law & Accounting Horticulture DLBR Certification Web & IT KoldkærgaardConference centre

17. Farmers’ demand for advisory services Farmers of today are: Farm managers Raw material producers Nature managers Livestock keepers Employers

18. Relations between DAAS and farmers Farmers are: OwnersUsersCustomers • Key words: • Best and cheapest advisory servicesImpartialnessNon-profit

19. Tasks of the National CentreDissemination of Knowledge LandbrugsInfo 105,000 documents 27,000 page references per day 55,000 visitors per week 50 interactive programs plant protection calculation of animal units and area requirement weather forecast and weather radar via sms 2.3 mill. people visit LandbrugsInfo and Landmand.dk every year

20. Development work Mutually binding advisory services INTEGRATED FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PDA Pig (PDA program) EasyCow (PDA program) Quality managementand documentation Breeding development, cattle

21. Tasks of the National CentreTrials and studies National Field Trials FarmTest Project farms

22. Agenda • Danish Agriculture • Danish Agricultural Advisory System • The role of field trials

23. Why on-farm field trials? • Pesticides, varieties, and strategies are tested in ”real life” • They generate results that are directly distributed to the farmers and immediately implemented by the farmers • They provide ”the missing link” between research and the farmers

24. Research and field trials

27. Support from farmers • The driving force is the farmers’ need for results and new knowledge • The farmers and/or the top management must be willing to invest in on-farm trials

28. Results and reporting • Single trial results are published currently in LandbrugsInfo (updated within minutes after data reception). • Results from variety trials are presented in SortInfo • Series results are published when all single trial results have been validated • The annual report is published in December

30. Chemical company: 11 field trials: Opera (fungizide) Winter wheat: 1 l/ha Why field trials? • Impartial field trials are the only way to obtain knowledge on varieties, pesticides and dosages

31. A theoretical example Who is having the benefit of spraying? DKK per ha Producer (Chemical company) Tax Retailer Net for the farmer Treatment Index

32. A theoretical example Who is having the benefit of spraying? DKK per ha Political goal Producer Tax Retailer Company advise? Net for the farmer 1,55 Treatment Index

33. Spring barley towards new goals 80 60 Costs Yield, hkg per ha 40 Net yield 20 0 Troon Power Power. Optimized input

34. Conclusions • Results from local field trials are essential for the farmers to optimize the production • Output (yield) • Input (seed, fertilizer, pesticides, machinery) • Crop rotation and cultivation • Design, carrying out and reporting should be impartial.

35. Thank you very much for your attention!Have an interesting and enjoyable conference!