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Harper Adams University College is the UK’s leading provider of specialist higher education and research for the food chain, rural and land-based industries. Undergraduate, postgraduate and PHD subjects cover every aspect of food production, from agricultural engineering to food marketing, land management and animal health and welfare. For more information visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk

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UAVs fly high over Shropshire's Harper Adams University

A flight demonstration of several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has taken place at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University illustrating how the aircraft are being used in agriculture. The use of unmanned systems in farming has increased in recent years and UAVs are clearly a part of the future of agriculture, according to industry experts. The demonstration at the university near Newport on Tuesday was carried out by KOREC, which specialises in supplying innovative surveying, mapping, machine control and geospatial positioning technology to a variety of industries. UAVs, which can

Hundreds turn out for Open Farm Sunday and Farmers’ Market at Shropshire's Harper Adams University

MORE than 1,000 members of the public flocked to Shropshire’s Harper Adams University for its first Open Farm Sunday event. The event, which was run alongside the university’s Summer Farmers’ Market, was held on Sunday as part of the national initiative organised by Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF). Around 400 visitors took part in the tractor-trailer rides around the university’s farm, stopping off to take part in various farm-related talks and activities looking at crops, the dairy unit and insects. The university’s farm was one of hundreds across the country that welcomed

Pesticides ban to impact UK agriculture

RESTRICTING the use of pesticides containing neonicotinoid amid fears they are a cause of declining bee populations will have serious implications for UK farmers, say experts at Shropshire’s Harper Adams University. News that farmers have been banned by the European Union (EU) from using three neonicotinoid insecticides – imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin - for two years has been welcomed by environmentalists. But some argue there is insufficient scientific evidence to show the chemicals are to blame and claim the decline in bee numbers is due to a number of factors.

Combatting counterfeit pesticides

Recognising the threat that counterfeit pesticides pose to UK agriculture, researchers at Harper Adams University hope to reduce the risk by producing best practice recommendations for law and regulatory enforcement agencies. Counterfeit pesticides are a global problem, being particularly common in Asia and some parts of Europe, but evidence would suggest that so far they have had less of an impact on UK agriculture. Researchers at the university in Shropshire hope to identify why this is the case and what the risk factors are which might lead to having a much greater problem with

New pest management scholarships

HARPER Adams University is offering three new crop science scholarships thanks to funding from the Horticultural Development Company (HDC). Students studying postgraduate Integrated Pest Management at the university in Shropshire are eligible to apply for the bursaries, which are worth £5,000 each. HDC will provide funding to support the scholarships for the next three years. They are aimed at those with a specific promise and enthusiasm for the horticultural sector. Those that receive scholarships also need to engage with a project that is of significance to the industry.

Flooding could cost growers, says expert at Harper Adams University

MELTING snow and heavy rain could spell disaster for farmers if agricultural land is left flooded for long periods of time, according to an expert from Harper Adams University. With large parts of the country currently under water due to downpours and melting snow, Dr Edward Dickin, a lecturer in the Shropshire university’s Crop and Environment Sciences Department, said it was a nervous time for farmers. “The good news is that UK wheat varieties are fairly tolerant of waterlogging in the winter once a crop is established, but that is of little comfort for the many farmers who have

New role for ecology expert

HARPER Adams University College is pleased to announce that Dr Andy Wilcox will now be heading the Crop and Environment Sciences Department. Dr Wilcox has been a Lecturer at Harper Adams since 1992, specialising in agricultural ecology with a particular interest in the conservation of farmland biodiversity. He has spent time supervising taught postgraduate provision at the University College, as well as maintaining his research interests and progressing to Principal Lecturer. His new role will involve him overseeing all courses belonging to the Crop and Environment Sciences

Protecting crops from drought damage

British research could help American drought problemsBRITISH scientists are investigating ways to protect crops from drought damage by using special compounds that reduce water loss. All plants lose water from their leaves and if this is more than what is available in the soil, growth is reduced. Antitranspirants decrease this water loss by acting as ‘waterproofing’. This technique is commonly used on Christmas trees, to reduce water loss and needle drop, but is not so commonly used in crop protection. The work is being conducted at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire,

Student crop protection research

Students investigate biofumigationFOUR Harper Adams students are investigating the role of alternative crop protection methods for their final year research projects. Three students are researching biofumigation – a term used to describe the use of brassica residues, such as mustard, to improve soil fertility and reduce pests, weeds and diseases. 21-year-old Bill Watts from Ludlow is looking at different brassica varieties for their glucosinolate content. The Agriculture with Crop Management student said: “Glucosinolates can generate a range of toxic compounds which could control

Crops project receives funding

Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network sponsors Harper Adams researchResearchers at Harper Adams University College have been awarded funding to complete a project that looks at the plant disease club root. The research, ‘conducting preliminary investigations on the effect of growing and incorporating biofumigant plants in soil infested with Plasmodiophora brassicae (club root)’, is sponsored by the Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network. They have awarded Harper Adams £5,000 through the SPARK Award initiative, a series of fixed value grants paid to encourage collaboration between the

Student's food waste research

A Harper Adams student has identifyed areas of waste in the fresh produce supply chain.Harper Adams agri-food student, Sebastian James, spent the summer identifying areas of waste in the fresh produce supply chain as part of a 10-week research placement. 19-year-old Seb from Windsor worked for five weeks at the University College in Shropshire and five weeks at Reading University. His research looks at the produce that can’t be marketed from the field or greenhouse and during packaging and processing, specifically potatoes, lettuce, strawberries, cut herbs and spinach. Seb, who is

Harper Adams features on Countryfile

Spotlight on food securityCrop protection research conducted at Harper Adams University College featured on last night’s episode of Countryfile on BBC1. The production team visited Harper Adams last month to film research staff for a feature on food security, which was broadcast yesterday, Sunday August 7. Peter Kettlewell, Professor of Crop Physiology, outlined his work on water-proofing wheat crops to presenter John Craven. Professor Kettlewell and his team at the University College, including PHD student Minuka Weerasinghe, are hoping to protect wheat crops from drought damage

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