UK: Benefits of beans highlighted as growing areas drop

Published 2024년 10월 28일

Tridge summary

The area for bean cultivation in the UK has seen a significant decrease of 37%, according to Defra’s agricultural land use statistics, with the actual drop possibly being less due to the small sample size of pulses. This decline is attributed to last year’s wet conditions and the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which has displaced some break crops in rotations. The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has raised concerns that the SFI could negatively impact pulse production by potentially leaving pulses in the ground for a long time or including them in rotations more frequently, leading to increased risk of soil-borne diseases and limiting the ability to plant beans for several years after the SFI agreement ends. Despite these challenges, the PGRO emphasizes the benefits of pulses, such as their positive environmental impact, contribution to soil fertility, and potential to reduce carbon emissions.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Several factors are behind the reported fall in the area of beans grown, according to the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO). Defra’s agricultural land use statistics show that the cropping area for field beans is down from 208,154ha to 131,718ha. A drop of 37%. Last year’s wet conditions impacted drilling for many, with spring work also being challenging, leading to some abandoning the crop altogether. Options within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have also displaced some break crops within rotations. “After a difficult year and harvest, it’s no surprise that many farmers have turned to the SFI – farmers need to do what’s best for their business and we agree that they should be paid for providing positive environmental outcomes,” says PGRO CEO Roger Vickers. “The fall in area is unlikely to be as significant as is being reported – because pulses are such a small sample size, Defra acknowledges that accuracy is extremely difficult. “However, we remain ...

Source: UKFarmbusiness