Pea and bean growers encouraged to join new benchmarking and analysis initiative, succeeding decade-long pulse YENs
The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has launched the Pulse Performance Network (PPN), a crop benchmarking and analysis initiative for pea and bean growers.
Launched ahea of autumn drilling, the network enables growers to compare their yield performance against its own yield potential via benchmarking and analysis carried out independently via PGRO.
A new PPN app allows growers to record information directly in the field, capturing details such as drilling dates, seed rates and applications as they happen, rather than relying on end-of-season data entry.
This will produce an annual report that includes a summary of overall performance, achievements and opportunities, providing comparisons with a five-year average.
The PPN succeeds the decade-long pulse Yield Enhancement Networks (YEN) previously run under the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS). Now under the PGRO’s governance, the initiative focuses on easing participating and providing practical insights for growers.
Erin Matlock, research agronomist at PGRO, said: “We want growers to consider taking part in the PPN as part of their planning process for next year’s cropping.
“We have made it easier for growers to benchmark their crops, understand what is driving performance and turn that information into decisions they can use on the farm,” she added.
The network also creates opportunities for industry sponsors to work with groups of growers around shared interests.
Sponsors have also been invited to fund growers and build a focus group to evaluate a product, new technology or agronomic practice. In these groups, growers will be able to test the same concept under real farm conditions, generating field-scale data to provide insight.
“It isn’t just about proving that something works,” Matlock continued. “Finding out where a product or approach performs well – and where it doesn’t – can be just as valuable as this can help identify opportunities to refine products, improve recommendations or determine where further work is needed.
Registrations for the PPN are now open here.
