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

Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System 070910 Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System The role of field trials

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Number of farms in Denmark 070910 Number of farms in Denmark Farms, no. Full time Part time Landbrugsraadet, sept. 05

The size of farms in Denmark has grown 070910 The size of farms in Denmark has grown

Increasing the demand for usable technology 070910 Increasing the demand for usable technology

Increasing yield trend has stopped in Denmark (and other countries?) Quotas on N-application 15 below optimum No regulations 16

Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System 070910 Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System The role of field trials

The Danish Model Theory Practice 070910 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

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service 070910 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

Danish Agricultural Advisory Service 070910 Danish Agricultural Advisory Service

General Management and Centre Management Company Secretariat & Science 070910 Day-to-Day Management and organisation General Management and Centre Management Danish Agricultutural Advisory Service, National Centre Company Secretariat & Science Communications Human Resources Finance Centre IT Staff functions Head departments and departments with direct advisory service Business Fields Green Plantprotection Development Team R A/S Danish Pig Production Poultry AgroTech A/S Danish Cattle Federation Fur Animals NAV Crop Production Horses NORFOR Organic Farming International Danish Young Farmers & Danish 4H KFC Planning & Environment DLBR Advice RYK Law & Accounting Horticulture DLBR Certification Web & IT Koldkærgaard Conference centre

Farmers’ demand for advisory services 070910 Farmers’ demand for advisory services Farmers of today are: Farm managers Raw material producers Nature managers Livestock keepers Employers

Relations between DAAS and farmers 070910 Relations between DAAS and farmers Farmers are: Owners Users Customers Key words: Best and cheapest advisory services Impartialness Non-profit

Tasks of the National Centre Dissemination of Knowledge 070910 Tasks of the National Centre Dissemination 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

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

Tasks of the National Centre Trials and studies 070910 Tasks of the National Centre Trials and studies National Field Trials FarmTest Project farms

Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System 070910 Agenda Danish Agriculture Danish Agricultural Advisory System The role of field trials

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

Research and field trials

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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

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

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

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

Who is having the benefit of spraying? 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

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

070910 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.

070910 Thank you very much for your attention! Have an interesting and enjoyable conference!