NEW research taking place at Duchy College funded by the Home Grown Cereals Authority is set to inform the future of crops in the South West.

Cornwall is at the forefront of a national agricultural research trial, currently being piloted in just two locations in the UK.

Duchy College has been selected to host and run an HGCA cropping systems pilot, which has been set up in response to HGCA levy payers asking for more regional information for farmers and growers.

Currently the annual cropping systems pilot covers the UK as a whole. Results of the variety, agronomy and pathology trials, which, if successful, will be rolled out at selected sites nationwide in the future, will give farmers new information on the best chance of growing a viable crop to meet local industry requirements.

The one year pilot in the South West, run in partnership between Duchy College, the HGCA, Ginsters, West Country Grain and the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC), will include winter wheat and barley trials, as well as hybrid winter barley and commercial winter wheat trials looking into cereals that are particularly suited to end-users in the region.

The trial crops, sown at Duchy College, will be monitored through the growing seasons for specific characteristics and disease susceptibility. This will be particularly important and relevant in this part of the country due to the high annual rainfall and mild climate and should provide early information for the rest of the country.

HGCA senior research and knowledge transfer manager, Dr Simon Oxley, said: 'The aim is to provide a more detailed comparison of the performance of existing popular local varieties with up and coming varieties.

'We will then be able to follow this right through the chain and receive feedback from local end-users on quality.'

Bread-making varieties will also be tested at the college for milling suitability; a potential use by end users in the region such as Ginsters.

Dr Oxley added: 'The aim is to gather real-time local information on crop development, disease pressures and variety performance which complement the recommended lists and other monitoring activities.'

Duchy College farm director, James Coumbe said: 'We are really pleased to have been selected as the new cropping systems pilot site for wheat and barley in the South West.

'We hope that this will have great benefits for all in the region, and would like this to be built on in the future.

'The trials will be a great resource for all those studying at Duchy College and direct involvement by the students at the College will be achieved during the disease monitoring and testing of milling and bread-making characteristics.

'Students will also have access to the crop trials during the year for monitoring progress.'

A number of open days will be run throughout the year giving local farmers and those involved in the industry an opportunity to assess progress and results.

The project will provide a regional training opportunity for students and agronomists, and enable growers to be more involved in proposing trials to address local priorities.

Head of Duchy College, Andrew Counsell said: 'This is a fantastic opportunity for Duchy College.

'Not only will this trial be aiding crop development for farmers and growers throughout the South West, it will enable students to understand more about crop management, disease monitoring and variety performance in order for them to gain an insight into this side of crop management.

'We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of new technology and research in industry and hope that the trial brings a successful result for all the stakeholders involved.'