RESEARCH & ADVICE IN AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

Your partner in International Collaboration

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Inagro in a nutshell
Inagro is the knowledge partner of agricultural and
horticultural businesses in the areas of innovation and
sustainability.
Within its own optimised professional research infrastructure,
Inagros scientific and technical teams devise farming and
cultivation techniques ready for practical use. Our partners
in these endeavours are universities, university colleges and
businesses.
Inagros advisers take the new know-how to the agricultural
and horticultural businesses and guide them in how to
implement these insights, all of which is supported with
professional communication tools.
Geographically speaking Inagro is located in the very intensive
and innovation-driven agricultural and horticultural heart of
the province of West Flanders in Belgium.
Inagro also represents:
- 55 years of hands-on tradition in agricultural research and
education
- 175 members of staff and a 13.9 million euro operation
budget/annum
- 370 trial designs and 55,000 laboratory analyses per annum
- 110 information and demonstration events per annum
-
expertise in arable farming, open air horticulture,
greenhouse horticulture, edible mushrooms, aquaculture,
cattle farming and intensive livestock farming, organic
farming, agricultural diversification and education
- focus on cultivation techniques and crop protection; soil,
water and energy; innovation and diversification; the social
and natural environment.
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 COLOFON

Editorial team: Greet Ghekiere, Bart Verhaeghen

Lay-out and printshop: Panach, Wervik
Deposit number: D/2014/12.975/3
Publisher: Mia Demeulemeester, Chief Executive Officer Inagro vzw, Ieperseweg 87, 8800 Rumbeke-Beitem

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied in any shape or form without the publishers prior written permission.
Inagro vzw declines all liability for any adverse implications that might arise from the use of the details contained in this publication.

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 I
INDEX

Mission6
Organisation8
Facts & Figures about Inagro 10

II
Operating tools 10
Staff 10
Infrastructure 11
Resources 12
Output & Results 13
Experienced partner in international collaboration 14
Location & Contacts 18

An impression of our research & activities

Thematic objective 1: Boosting research, technological development
and innovation 22
Thematic objective 2: Boosting the competitiveness of SMEs 30
Thematic objective 3: Promoting the switch to a low-carbon economy 38
Thematic objective 4: Climate change, risk prevention and risk control 44
Thematic objective 5: Environmental protection and promoting efficient
use of natural resources 46

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 Mission

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Inagro delivers the appropriate
advice at the right time
in the most appropriate way
farming and
to the

horticultural sector with

a due focus of attention going out
to economy, ecology and society.
I
Inagro is a sustainable organisation
that places a premium on networking
whilst pursuing a reputation of

excellence.

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 RESEARCH & ADVICE IN AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

The technical crop Knowledge centres Laboratory Society &

departments - Soil & fertilisation Environment
- Arable farming - Water Department
- Open Air Horticulture - Crop protection
- Covered Horticulture - Environmental health
- Animal Production - Energy
- Organic Farming - Innovation

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Organisation
Inagro is an external spin-off agency of the province of West Flanders. To accomplish its mission, the
organisation has set up a structure of departments, knowledge centres and a central laboratory.
Technical crop departments
The technical crop departments
adopt a crop-specific approach.
All know-how relating to a crop
or crop segment is pooled and
explored in depth. Our educational
and consultancy services are organised crop-oriented.
We have crop experts who guarantee the scientific and
technical quality and pertinence of our operations.
The Arable farming, Open Air Horticulture, Covered
Horticulture, Animal Production and Organic Farming
departments reflect the main agricultural and
horticultural sectors in West Flanders. Interaction with
the sector is highly developed by way of various advisory
boards, where innovative farmers provide direct feedback
to the departments regarding their research programme
and the way they operate.
Knowledge centres
At the knowledge centres, small teams of
theme experts work together on a cross-
sector and cross-crop basis. They supply
the technical crop departments with fresh
know-how on the specific themes soil
& fertilisation, water, crop protection, environmental
health, energy and innovation.
The collaboration between technical crop departments
and knowledge centres ensures swift translation of new
know-how and insights into cultivation techniques that
can be implemented in practice.
Laboratory
The laboratory is one of Inagros principal
strong suits. Over a hundred different
analysis methods are available for the
analysis of soil, water, manure and crops.
The laboratory is a key partner of the
departments and knowledge centres in concretising
the research programme. In addition, the laboratory is
also a service provider: each year, over 55,000 samples
are analysed as commissioned by farmers and market
gardeners.
The collaboration with the departments and knowledge
centres is a strong suit to deliver tailored solutions in
the areas of sample collection techniques, extraction
methods and analysis types. The labs ISO 17025
accreditation vouches for the quality of the labs activities.
Society & Environment Department
Farmers are required to drive down the
impact of their activities on environment.
On the other hand, the gap between society
and agriculture is probably greater than it
was ever before.
In both areas, experts are seen to experiment with new
concepts and techniques. Agricultural stewardship
on nature, environmental care, eco-system services,
business integration, emissions, cleantech, urban farming,
diversification and education are major areas of operation.
Here too, the transfer of knowledge, both to farmers as well
to the actors in the world around them, take centre stage.
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 Facts & Figures about Inagro
Operating tools

STAFF

A solid educational background in agriculture, either at Master level for the

researchers or at Bachelor or technical level for the technical staff is usually a
secure foundation for a career with Inagro. In fact, quite a few members of staff

32.5fte
have their roots in the agricultural and the horticultural sector.
Inagros staff policy is aimed at ensuring the continuous in-service training of
the organisations human capital.

Support staff

71fte
Researchers & agricultural
extension officers

75.5fte
Technical staff

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Professional infrastructure on operational scale

The practice-driven nature of our research requires the research projects to be implemented on an operational scale.
Which is why Inagro has set up a small-scale yet professional operational infrastructure for various sectors at its site:

GREENHOUSE HORTICULTURE: 4,200 m glass and 1,000 m of plastic greenhouses

- Conventional production in soil and hydroponics

- Focus on lettuce, tomato, cucumber, strawberry & various diversification crops

BELGIAN ENDIVES: infrastructure for forcing 100 m endive roots of conventional cropping per annum and 10 m per
annum for organic farming

- Hydroponics
- Forced cultivation in operational facilities and mini forcing facility

MUSHROOMS: 2 incubation rooms for 30 T compost processing and 800 m2 (12 compartments) cultivation space

- Infrastructure for phase I and phase II composting, focus on compost preparation research
- Focus on Paris mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and alternative varieties

CONVENTIONAL HORTICULTURE: 16 ha horticultural crop acreage at the Rumbeke site

- Focus on brassica, leek, carrot, spinach, courgette, peas and beans alongside a wide number of specialities for the
fresh product market

CONVENTIONAL ARABLE FARMING: 11 ha arable crop acreage at the Koksijde site

- Focus on ware potatoes and seed potatoes, cereals, maize, protein crops, flax and chicory

ORGANIC FARMING: 12 ha acreage at the Rumbeke site

- Fully converted to and operated in accordance with organic farming methods

- Focus on horticultural, arable and fodder crops

AQUACULTURE: 750 m breeding/cultivation capacity

- all RAS=Recirculating Aquaculture System

- Quarantine room: 3 x 12 m (3 tanks /RAS), research room: 4 x 15 m (5 tanks/RAS), grow-out system: 1 x 65m
with 4 tanks
- Hatchery with possibility for research

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 INSECTS: 24 m breeding/cultivation capacity, fully climatized

- Small-scale set-up for breeding adults and larvae

- Focus on black soldier fly and the processing of various types of biomass through the growing of insects

GENERATION OF ENERGY:

- Co-fermentation plant with 30 kW cogeneration engine

- 50 m PV plant (22 KW) with separate monitoring of 12 different panel types
- Production of short rotation coppice and miscanthus recovered to be used in a small-scale wood incinerator on site

The infrastructure is adapted to simultaneously test various objects in various repetitions on a certain scale size to ensure
the test results are statistically underpinned.
The available acreage at our sites is largely insufficient to perform all research. Which is why we also set up trial plots
in-situ. To this end, Inagro runs a network of 80 trial plot holders which offers the added benefit that this enables us to
conduct research on different types of soil.

Laboratory

Analysis of soil, water, manure and crops. Over 100 analysis methods have been developed.

Specialist laboratory equipment in place, including ICP-MS & ICP-AES, segmented flow analysis, automatic titration,
ion chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatograpy, Q-PCR & conventional PCR, Kjeldahl analysis, Capillar
electrophoresis.

ISO 17025 accredited.

RESOURCES

Inagro has an annual operating budget of 13.9 million .

57% of this budget is made available by the provincial executive of the province of West Flanders.
Projects at Flemish and international level constitute a major source of resources for Inagro. European collaboration
projects represent a 6% share of the global budget.

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Output & Results (in 2013)

117
ongoing projects
87 crops being
researched

270
109
trials

seminars, demonstrations,
visits to trial plots

55,210 215
publications in the trade press/
samples analysed specialist journals

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 Experienced partner in international
Inagro boasts a longstanding tradition in international collaboration.

Interreg
To date, Inagro took part in 39 interreg projects within various Interreg A and B programmes with a focus on sustainable
business development in primary production by way of cross-border and interregional co-operation.

Interreg II Interreg III Interreg IV

INTERREG A Flanders/The Netherlands Scheldt Delta Euregion 3 4 6

France - Wallonia - Flanders 1 5 12
2 seas 1

INTERREG B North Sea 2

North West Europe 5

Throughout the various programme periods, Inagros project management system has evolved in keeping with the
programme requirements, which now see our system perfectly aligned in terms of content, financial management and
reporting efforts. This makes Inagro a reliable and efficient partner with highly competent project managers in the areas
of content and financials.

Inagro is not just a partner. As part of the Interreg A programme in particular, Inagro has successfully handled the project
co-ordination on repeated occasions. The projects have included:

Programme Project

Interreg IIa The introduction of a quality monitoring system in both laboratories for
Nord-Pas the Calais/Flanders the analysis of milk

Interreg IIIa Flanders-The Netherlands Business of the future, water management

Interreg IIIa Flanders-The Netherlands BOBOL (Boeren bouwen aan het Landschap - Farms building the landscape)

Interreg IIIa France-Wallonia-Flanders Sustainable dairy farming

Interreg IIIa France-Wallonia-Flanders Mesam (Measures against Erosion and Sensitisation of Farmers for the Protec-
tion of the Environment) (www.west-vlaanderen.be/ondernemen/mesam)

Interreg IIIa France-Wallonia-Flanders Development and support of agricultural education networks

Interreg IVa Flanders-The Netherlands KRW Integrated Water Resource Management

Interreg IVa Flanders-The Netherlands AquaVLAN (www.aquavlan.eu)

Interreg IVa France-Wallonia-Flanders Sediment (www.west-vlaanderen.be/ondernemen/mesam)

Interreg IVa France-Wallonia-Flanders Prosensols (www.prosensols.eu)

Interreg IVa France-Wallonia-Flanders Working more efficiently to enjoy a better life on the dairy farm

Interreg IVa France-Wallonia-Flanders Eduferm

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collaboration
FP7 Horizon 2020
As a practice centre, which takes scientifically substantiated practical research and the transfer of knowledge as its core
business, Inagro has been involved in various European research projects under the framework programmes.

Project

5th Framework programme Nicolet

6th Framework programme PRIME Pesticide Reduction in Mushroom cultivation in Europe

7th Framework programme MushTV (www.mushtv.eu)

Veg-i-trade (www.veg-i-trade.org)
Inapro (www.inapro project.eu)

The new Horizon 2020 framework programme clearly sets out new focus areas. In order to arrive at research-based
innovation that is actually implemented in practice, a significant focus must be made on intensive collaboration with the
farms in order to implement the research results. Inagro has the key position to do so.

From this practice-driven profile, Inagro experts are involved in the Horizon 2020 focus groups Fertiliser efficiency -
focus on horticulture in open field and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on Brassica spp. to help design the state-of-
the-art and establish the new research priorities at European level.

As such, Inagro is keen to recommend itself as a valuable partner in consortiums, both as part of multi-actor projects and
for thematic networks. In doing so, Inagros priorities go out to primary production in the context of:

Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the
Bioeconomy

- Sustainable food production systems: terrestrial livestock production, crop production and aquaculture
- Agriculture in an innovative, sustainable and inclusive bio-economy

Secure, clean and efficient energy

- Energy Efficiency
- Competitive low-carbon energy
- SMEs and fast track to innovation for energy

Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

- Waste: A Resource to Recycle, Reuse and Recover Raw Materials

- Water Innovation: Boosting its value for Europe
- Growing a Low Carbon, Resource Efficient Economy with a Sustainable Supply of Raw Materials

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 ERANET
Occasionally Inagro also gets involved in projects as part of specific ERA-NETworks. At the
present time, the projects listed below are ongoing:

Project

CORE-ORGANIC COBRA (www.cobra-div.eu)

SNOWMAN RAI SOILCOMP

IEE
Within the IEE programme, Inagro serves as a partner in the GR3 project
In future, the IEE programme is to be entirely integrated into the Horizon2020 programme.

Project

IEE GR3 (www.grassgreenresource.eu)

LIFE
Where the focus goes out to the way farming interacts with the natural environment in which it
is embedded, Inagro sees a lot of potential for projects under the Life programme, in particular
as part of the sub-themes environment and climate action. Inagros experience within this
programme remains limited for now but the organisation is eager to get involved on a wider scale.

Project

LIFE TOPPS (Train Operators to Promote Best Practices and Sustainability)

(www.topps-life.org)

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 Location & Contacts
Inagro vzw
Ieperseweg 87
B8800 Rumbeke-Beitem
+32 51 27 32 00
info@inagro.be
www.inagro.be
www.linkedin.com/company/Inagro

Dr. Ir. Mia Demeulemeester Ir. Greet Ghekiere ing. Johan Mahieu
Chief Executive Officer Assistant director and project advisor Project manager

mia.demeulemeester@inagro.be greet.ghekiere@inagro.be johan.mahieu@inagro.be

+32 51 27 32 12 +32 51 27 32 13 +32 51 27 32 10

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 II
An impression of our
research & activities
We have selected a number of articles from our 2011, 2012 and 2013 annual reports.

Clustered according to the thematic objectives of the Interreg V programme, this will give you an
impression of what we do. Needless to add this is anything from a comprehensive report.

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 1
THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 1: Boosting research, technological development and innovation
Research and technological development are cultivation techniques ready for practical use;
Inagros core business. In laying down its research - to validate and optimise new developments
priorities, Inagro pursues 3 strategies: abroad or in other sectors for the benefit of the
- to research concrete sometimes pressing culti- specific cultivating conditions of the region.
vation issues in order to devise targeted solutions; Universities, university colleges and farms are
- to translate new fundamental know-how through our knowledge partners in this respect.
research and development into innovative

2
THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 2: Boosting the competitiveness of SMEs
By directly translating new know-how to the practice of agricultural and horticultural businesses, Inagro
is seeking to strengthen farmers in their enterpreneurship. Supporting farming,as an important economic
sector of the province of West Flanders, in order to successfully deal with new emerging challenges is an
important goal.
Both the entrepreneurs technical expertise and management abilities are key.

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THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 3: Promoting the switch to a low-carbon economy
Inagro guides agricultural and horticultural businesses to a more rational use of energy and the use of
renewable energy at the farm.
On the other hand, there are also opportunities for farming and market gardening as suppliers of
commodities to the bio-based economy. Inagro researches the changes for the primary sector within a
balanced agricultural system. Inagro is experimenting to translate the chances identified into concrete
cultivation systems.

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THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 4: Climate change, risk prevention and risk control
When it comes to climate change, Inagro considers water to be a spearhead topic in the world of farming
and market gardening. For one thing, Inagro focuses on ensuring the security of supply of water that has
the right quality in sufficient amounts at the right time. For another thing, Inagro is experimenting with
the concept to commit farmland as a water buffer under changing climate conditions, including for other
stakeholders.

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THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 5: Environmental protection and promoting efficient use of natural resources
Farming and market gardening businesses operate in the natural environment. Quite a few of Inagros
projects are aimed at devising and implementing new techniques and methods to keep the impact of
agricultural and horticultural activities on the environment down to the bare minimum, whilst maintaining
productivity and profitability.

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Mixed cropping for more home-grown protein production in organic farming 2011 p.22
Development of the Aquaculture Practice Centre 2012 p.24
Nematodes as biological agents to control cabbage fly: from the lab to application in the field 2012 p.26
Black soldier fly 2013 p.27
Band fertilisation in potatoes offers a lot of benefits 2013 p.28
Flower bud research in strawberries 2013 p.29

A critical look at on business strategy and entrepreneurship 2013 p.30

ISO: taking certification to the farming community 2012 p.31
Labour: reducing factor among growing dairy farms 2011 p.32
Farm shops score high marks for hospitality, but could improve their communications 2011 p.34
Track guidance for greenhouse market gardening: from dream to construction project 2013 p.35
Along with Agreon, West Flanders goes all out for cleantech in farming 2012 p.36

Conduct your own energy audit using the online tool at enerpedia.be 2011 p.38
Climate screens and temperature integration deliver energy savings for greenhouse lettuce 2011 p.39
Search for alternative biomass for energy 2013 p.40
Alternative harvesters for short rotation coppice tried and tested 2012 p.42
Flax and hemp: a local crop for a local green industry? 2012 p.43

Water market does not fail to hit the mark 2011 p.44
Inagro examines potential of level-controlled drainage 2013 p.45

Cover crops, a rooted measure 2011 p.46

Bee-friendly farming. Essential, not a side issue 2013 p.47
Flower fields in the vicinity of courgette and strawberry plots 2013 p.48
Erosion prevention and better water quality go hand in hand 2013 p.49
CVBB approach results in encouraging results on the ground 2013 p.50
Turning field margins and verges to profit 2012 p.52

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 Intercropping of cereals and grain legumes
for higher home grown protein production in organic farming
One avenue to make animal feed flows more sustainable and to reduce
soy protein imports is the reintroduction of home-grown protein
crops. In organic (dairy) cattle farming, peas and field beans provide
extra proteins in the basic feed rations. In respect of weed control
and yield stability, intercropping of cereals with these grain legumes
offers good agronomic potential for forage production.
Over the past two years, Inagro set Intercropping of cereals and
up trials in which different cereals- grain legumes: why (not)?
legumes mixtures were compared Intercropping for forage production
under organic farming conditions. (peas-cereals, field beans-cereals,
These trials were set up as part of ) sees the benefits of two crops
the European VETABIO project in mutually combined. The grain
collaboration with partners from the legumes improve soil fertility
north of France and Wallonia. through nitrogen fixation and
improves forage quality through
22
2011
their high crude protein content. The
winter cereals physically support
the peas or bean plants and act to
suppress the weeds at the emerging
stage. Mixed crop yields usually
tend to exceed the yields of the
individual components separately.
The disadvantages of cereal-
legume intercrops are the potential
differences in crop maturity which
may cause problems to determine
the optimal harvest time. There is
also a difference in competitiveness.
This may see the portion of a crop
in the mixture vary from one year to
the next. The general rule says that
 the cultivation requirements of the
peas/field beans in particular need
to be reckoned with as these make
the highest demands.
Intercropping triticale
and winter field bean
Unlike spring field beans, winter
field beans develop to become hefty
shrubs. Which is why the seeding
rating should not exceed 30 seeds/
m. The winter field beans enjoyed
a good development, and in spite of
the frost and snow came through the
winter unscathed. In early May, this
combination had produced a dense
crop with good soil coverage.
Offering a total yield of 5.8 tonnes,
the triticale-field bean combination
is clearly more productive than the
cereal monocrop. In spite of the
halved sowing density for triticale,
the cereal yield of the intercrop was
good (3.3 tonnes/ha) compared to the
triticale monocrop. The field bean-
triticale combination also delivered
the highest protein yield (2.5 tonnes/
ha of field bean), all of which confirm
the results of the 2009-2010 crop
season.
Yield (T/ha)
24%
4 33%
0
Grandval Gra. 75% Azerti Az.50%
100% + James + James
Grain yield and average VEM (energy value) and DVE (gut digestive protein) yield per ha
for various mixed crops (cereal-protein crop) compared against a pure cereal crop.
Intercropping triticale
and high-protein pea
High-protein peas have a defined
growth. Which means that they stop
growing as flowering gets underway.
They are sown at 80 seeds/m to
be sufficiently competitive with the
cereal crop. Throughout the trials,
the yield of the cereal pea intercrop
was slightly more dense than the
respective triticale or winter wheat
monocrop. Each year, the total yield of
the cereal pea intercrop exceeded
the cereal monocrop. Contrary to
the 2009-2010 season, no wildlife
damage was found in spring 2011.
However, the warm and dry conditions
in spring did cause a more reduced
pod set and accelerated ripening. As
a result, the total protein yield of the
high protein pea was lower than that
of the fodder peas. The combination of
winter cereals with high-protein peas
appears to be a difficult one.
Intercropping triticale
and fodder pea
Fodder peas are comparable to
climbing peas. The plants continue
to grow during flowering too. To
minimise the lodging risk the seeding
33%
36%
Grandval Gra.100% Kortego100%
100% + Picard + Assas
rate was reduced to 30 seeds/ m.
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
The emergence of both triticale
and fodder peas in the autumn of
2010 was good. The total yield of
1
the triticale fodder pea mixture
which stands at around 6 tonnes,
exceeded that of the sole crop by up
to one and half tonnes. This result
was comparable to the yield of the
triticale-field bean intercropping.
The fodder pea-cereal combination
is a reliable combination provided
the seeding ratio is properly
respected. Unlike high-protein peas,
fodder peas produce an abundant
crop. A high seeding rate of fodder
peas increases the risk of lodging.
Conclusion
In each of the cereal - grain legume
combinations the intercrops were
more dense resulting in a better
soil coverage than in the monocrop
reference. The intercropping trials
reveal that the combination of fodder
peas or field beans with a winter
cereal crop offers added value
compared to a cereal monocrop. The
right seed proportion is one of the
key factors for success.
43%
Grandval Gra. 75%
100% + Diva
Grain legumes
Triticale
VEMDVE
23

Development of the
Aquaculture Practice Centre
In late 2011, Inagros Aquaculture Practice Centre was inaugurated. The Aquaculture Practice Centre is
intended to perfect the cultivation technique of freshwater fish farming in recirculation systems and guide
farmers who are starting their own aquaculture farm. The research efforts currently focus on pike-perch.
Why pike-perch? In addition to being
a delicious fish with nice, white and
firm fillets, this is also a fish that
enjoys stable sales in Europe, whilst
fetching high prices on the market. In
West Flanders, same as elsewhere
in Flanders, there are opportunities
for the production of niche products
intended for the fresh product
market. Which explains why research
efforts are also focused on this niche.
Practice-driven research
into fodder composition and
water consumption
Having a specific pike-perch feed
pellet manufactured is not feasible
today because the sector is simply
too small. The various pike-perch
producers in Europe all use a
different fodder that has a different
composition, a different price and
a different origin. None of these
fodders has been specifically
engineered for pike-perch, being
intended for fish such as turbot,
sturgeon or trout instead.
24
The first major research query for
the Aquaculture Practice Centre is
to establish the right choice of fodder
to ensure optimum production. The
first practical study got under way in
late 2011, early 2012 and involved the
comparison of the commercial feed
used today in pike-perch farming. The
results were presented at a congress
for freshwater fish farmers in Poland.
The second study focuses on water
consumption. In West Flanders, most
farmers who take an interest are
forced to pack it in because of the lack
of quality water. Which means water
consumption needs to be driven
down. This issue is being tackled by
way of a two-pronged approach:
- By actively removing nitrates in
recirculation systems instead of
replacing the water.
- By splitting up the water flow leaving
the fish farm into a viscous and a
liquid fraction: the viscous fraction
is fermented in the biogas plant, the
liquid fraction is rich in nutrients
2012
and can be used in horticulture,
algaeculture or other crops.
First baby fish
Big news during the spring of 2012:
the first baby fish were born! The
news came slightly unexpected but
was no matter of coincidence either.
With European support, Inagro had
built a recirculation system to stock
pike-perch parent fish to get them
to reproduce. The fish in the system
served to test the operation of the
trial set-up. Even though the animals
were still young and insufficiently
nutritionally prepared, one female
had spawned and the eggs were
fertilised. The result was around one
hundred thousand larvae, measuring
just a few millimetres in size. This
experience was able to be used in 2013
to build a hatchery (a space to grow
larvae into fry). In late 2012, selected
pike-perch were set out in separate
ponds, each on a special diet this time
round. These animals spawned in the
spring of 2013 and gave Inagro 10.000
small juvenile fish of 10 g.
 The pike-perch on the
Flemish Fish Auction
Market
In October 2012 the first batch of
adult fish weighed around one and
a half kilos each, which is a nice
market weight. In joint consultation
with the Flemish Fish Auction
Market, we looked into the best way
to get the fish sold. To fishmongers,
aquaculture has the major benefit
that it is able to supply a constant
source of high quality fish, every
week, all year round. The amount
of fish from the Practice centre is
sufficient to supply the fish auction
market with fish throughout the
entire winter. From October to mid-
February, each week around one
hundred and fifty kilos of fish was sold
at Zeebrugge fish auction market.
To the Practice centre, selling fish is
not a goal in itself, but this sales gave
us some idea of the outlet prospects
in Flanders. What is the demand like?
How do prices evolve over time? Who
are the buyers that are interested?
Apparently there are no major bulk
buyers in these parts. The fish are
usually bought in small quantities
by some businesses, who did pay a
decent price: around 9 euros per
kilo on average. In The Netherlands,
where the larger buyers source their
pike-perch from, prices this year
were particularly low due to imports
of large amounts of wild pike-perch
from Poland.
Advice and guidance
There is a clearly rising interest
in fish farming. There is a rising
awareness that, if we want healthy
and affordable fish in the future
in Europe, we will need to farm
that fish ourselves. However, few
are chosen to start up their own
fish farm. In 2012, Inagro advised
fifteen interested and potential
future breeders. One of them, a
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
business called FISH 2BE, is set to
launch a fry farm in 2013. As part
of this guidance, Inagro is now the
1
scientific partner in an IWT* subsidy
application (*Flemish Government
Agency for Innovation through
Science and Technology).
European Percid Fish Culture, jointly
set up by Inagro along with a German
and Czech research partner, ran its
first workshop at the joint congress
of the European Aquaculture Society
and the World Aquaculture Society
in Prague. A perfect opportunity
to assemble pike-perch and perch
breeders from across the globe and
raise the profile of Flanders and
Inagros know-how in particular.
25
 2012

Nematodes as biological agents to control cabbage root fly:

from laboratory to application in the field

Insect parasitic nematodes are commercially available as biological control agents against various
pest insects. In greenhouse crops good control results are achieved against certain pests. In outdoor
cultures however, nematodes mostly tend to be inadequate for pest control. With the aim to optimise the
application of these insect parasitic nematodes, Inagro joined a project in 2009. After four years of research
in collaboration with ILVO (Flemish Agricultural and Fisheries Research Institute) and UGent (Ghent
University) Inagro discerns opportunities in the deployment of nematodes against cabbage root fly maggots.

Nematodes as biological applications of nematodes to control

control agents?
The nematode species Steinernema
feltiae and S. carpocapsae are used
as biological control agents against
for instance the vine weevil and
various leaf-eating caterpillars in
greenhouse crops. When used in
outdoor cultures however, they often
fail to effectively control pest insects.
Both the application technique
and the field conditions play their
part. During spraying a lot of the
nematodes are found to die. After
this mainly environmental factors
are critical for the survival of the
nematodes on the plant or in the soil.
Soil application against
cabbage fly yields hopeful
results
Since 2010, Inagro accommodated
trials with nematodes as biocontrol
agents in brassica crops and leek.
Field assessments were made in
collaboration with the project partners
ILVO and UGent. During the first year,
pot experiments were conducted with
cauliflower plants involving different
cabbage root maggots. Certain
applications with Steinernema feltiae
clearly reduced the damage caused by
cabbage root fly.
In 2011 and 2012, a series of
field experiments were set up in
cauliflower, broccoli and radish. In
these trials, different application
techniques and doses of nematodes
were tested. The results show that
a pre-plant treatment of the trays
with cauliflower transplants can
significantly reduce crop damage
caused by the cabbage root fly. In
one of the 2012 trials, 70% of the
untreated plants were lost as a result
of cabbage fly. The best application
with nematodes managed to limit
this loss to 30%. Overall, the control
level was however insufficient
and much lower compared with
the spinosad treatment, used as a
reference in all field trials. Further
research will be needed to reveal
whether insect parasitic nematodes
offer a practical alternative to
control cabbage root fly.

26
Black soldier fly 2013
content, short life cycle, no pest

THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
insect, no spreader of disease, no
biting, stinging or sucking mouth
The rising demand for alternative sources of protein is a hot topic. parts and not picky when it comes to
New sources of proteins can be created or existing sources can be

upgraded. Could the latter be done with insects? What can be done
and do the alternatives need to be vegetable in origin? insects are
also rich in protein. Moreover, most insect species are not choosy as
far as food is concerned. For this reason, Inagro started growing the
black soldier fly on an experimental basis.
Prices of imported soya bean mill trial in 2013. As part of a new project
are on the rise across the globe. with ILVO, 2014 will see Inagro plant
Because of the rising demand for half a hectare of soy, with the aim
meat, soy consumption is seen to of assessing the action of various
increase. which means demand herbicides.
for potential alternatives for soy is Alongside these vegetable
on the rise too. Obviously there are alternatives, Inagro is also
a number of crops that have a high conducting research into insects
protein content, which could prove as a source of protein. Some insect
a rewarding alternative: peas, field species, and their larvae especially,
beans, lupines or lucerne. Thanks are particularly rich in protein.
to a great deal of research and plant There is no reason why we could not
breeding, these crops already offer a consider using this protein source in
considerable scope of possibilities. cattle feed. Most insect species are
Sowing soy may become feasible at also fairly easy to breed and they eat
some point in the future in Flanders almost anything.
too. To determine the feasibility It goes without saying that not every
of growing soy in these parts, we insect is qualified. There are quite
already performed an exploratory a few requirements
: high protein
1
food sources.
The black soldier fly (Hermetia
illucens) meets all of the above. The
fly has a life cycle of approximately
one month, of which it spends just
around ten days as a fly and the
remainder as a larva.
During the second half of 2013, we
launched a small project with the aim
of testing and optimising the farming
of black soldier fly. To this end, we
refurbished one of our mushroom
cells as the perfect setting as it
enabled us to control all climate
parameters, even though lighting
appeared to be les straightforward.
We are currently breeding larvae on
the dry fraction of pig manure. In due
course, we are also looking to test
other nutritive substrata such as
digestate or agro-sidestreams. The
larvae are analysed for protein and
fat content at regular intervals.
Alongside the technical challenge,
a legislative bill needs to be put
forward to enable us to apply the
proteins derived from insects on a
wider scale. The way things stand
animal proteins are permitted only
in aquaculture and in petfood. Inagro
will definitely do its bit in setting its
shoulders to the wheel to have the
current legislation amended. Before
we get to that stage however, further
research is required.

27
 Band fertilisation in potatoes offers a lot of benefits 2013

Growers continue to search for ways to drive down the nitrate residues in the soil in autumn. Which is not an
easy thing to do, especially after potato crops. All the more so as potatoes are not very efficient in absorbing
the fertilisers they have been given. This is due to the less developed root system of potato plants and the
lack of luxury consumption. To tackle this problem, potato growers are increasingly showing an interest
in band fertilisation. This technique makes for an enhanced positioning of the fertilisers close to the roots.
During various trials over the past few years, it became clear that band fertilisation certainly enables
reduced nitrate residues.

Positive implications of
nitrogen fertilisation in rows
Two years of band fertilisation trials
allow us to arrive at a number of
cautious conclusions. Applying the
full recommended nitrogen dose for
potatoes in the row or broadcast makes
little difference as far as total yield,
gross grading, underwater weight and
residual soil nitrate go. Combining
band fertilisation with fractioning
did mainly produce positive results.
Applying 80% of the recommended
nitrogen dose in the row and the rest
of the nitrogen a few weeks later on
average produced a slightly higher
yield, but especially in greatly reduced
nitrate residue. The trials conducted
over the last two years did show that a
20% nitrogen saving by applying in the
row results in less nitrate residues,
but also to a drop in yield and finer
grading.
In practice?
Growers who use band fertilisation
on their potatoes do so for a variety
of different reasons. An often cited
reason is the perfect nitrogen
distribution this technique brings.
There are no striped bands, no
overlaps and there is no fertiliser in
the unplanted corners. The fertiliser
is applied only where it is needed.
A second important reason is they
save a pass, as fertilisation is done
simultaneously with planting or row
hilling. For one thing, this means they
save time, and on the other hand there
is less risk of the soil being compacted.
Another important benefit is the drastic
reduction of ammonia volatilisation.
The longer it takes for the fertilisers
to get worked in, the greater the
volatilisation and consequently the
loss of nitrogen. Applying liquid
fertiliser (before row hilling) for
instance goes a lot quicker than the
actual row hilling (especially in heavy
clay soil). This means that the degree
of volatilisation on these fields should
not be underrated. Saving on fertiliser
and reduced nitrogen residues are also
reasons to switch to band fertilisation.

28
Flower bud research in strawberries
Quality planting stock determines
subsequent yield
The primary aim of a strawberry
grower is to obtain the highest
possible production of the best
quality. To accomplish this, the
quality of the planting stock is very
important, especially for so-called
June bearers (e.g. Elsanta). In this
type of varieties, all future flower
clusters are already present in the
planting material when planting, so
the production potential is already
defined. It is the growers job to use
this potential as best as possible
by putting in place appropriate
cultivation measures. This not
only requires him to focus on the
production as such, but also on the
spreading of production output. This
enables him to ensure his customers
get a constant supply and the work
pressure for his staff remains
constant.
To exploit the production
potential, the primary
requirement is for the grower to find
out what the production potential
actually is
: how many flower
clusters are potentially present in
the planting stock and when can
they be expected to emerge
? All
of which requires solid flower bud
research. However, given the fact
that the strawberry plant is a very
compact grower, things are not quite
as simple.
From know-how to service
delivery
In order to be able to offer flower
bud research as a service to West-
Flemish strawberry growers, the
province of West Flanders has set
aside resources for this purpose.
A few Inagro staff were able to
take a specialist training course at
Ancona university in Italy, where the
agricultural department has been
conducting flower bud research over
the last few years.
With the aid of a dissection
microscope, the small strawberry
plant is completely dissected. For
each bud, the researchers record
2013
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
1
whether it holds a
flower cluster and
how many leaves
are still left in the
bud. For every
flower cluster, they
establish the stage at which the
primary flower of the cluster finds
itself, how many flowers are in place
and to what extent the flower cluster
has already stretched. The plant
is grabbed by the roots and the top
and stretched out in its lengthwise
direction as it were. For each batch
of planting stock, five plants are
analysed in the way outlined above.
The grower gets to discuss the
results of the flower bud research
with his advisor and compile a
planning schedule based thereon.
Over the years ahead, this technique
is also set to be implemented in
Inagros strawberry research. In
the cultivation of planting material,
the effect of certain factors such as
fertilisation or weather conditions
will become visible more quickly.
Moreover, this enables us to better
understand the effect of these
external factors on the research
result.
29
 business strategy
A critical take on
and entrepreneurship
Just putting in a lot of hard graft no longer cuts it. A statement all of us known to be true. And yet all too
often we are made to find that farmers and market gardeners are insufficiently consistent about the path
they wish to take their business on. Is this good entrepreneurship? The business accounts are a powerful
tool that is underused or not used properly. Farmers and market gardeners do not sit down to interpret their
accounts. This is one of the most striking findings to come out of an Inagro project on entrepreneurship.
Business strategy,
including for farms and
horticultural businesses
Inagro guides farmers and market
gardeners with their long term
business planning. This guidance is
focused on the operational planning
and the buildings and infrastructure,
but often also touches on strategic
and financial aspects. In doing so we
are frequently made to find that, in
spite of planned major investments,
farmers have spent too little time
considering the business strategy
and the legal business form. Wrongly
so, in our opinion.
Business owners, including in
the agricultural and horticultural
industry, need to properly consider
30
2013
their business and devise a purposive of the proposals and suggestions
strategy, thereby establishing the put forward by these people or
strengths and weaknesses of their institutions. This places business
business and match those with their owners no matter how technically
skills and competences. skilled they may be in a weak
position and may entail a genuine
A solid understanding of business risk.
key business economics is
a must Lean back and think
Running proper and comprehensive Our advice for business owners in
business accounts provides a the agricultural and horticultural
treasure of information. But sector: be sure to take some LBT
following up on the accounts time to yourself. Lean Back and Think
involves a lot more than just going and put your business management
through the technical results. Taking under the magnifying glass. Invest in
the time to track a limited number of your entrepreneurship and sign up
business figures will enable you to to take further training to master the
compare differences in expenditures entrepreneurial skills you need.
against previous years. This is also
the perfect time to question the
cost of a number of services and
amenities (electricity, Internet). It
forces business owners to keep an
eye on the big picture, enabling them
to take remedial action when things
threaten to get out of hand.
Choosing the right legal structure is
quite a tangled web. Because of the
complexity of the subject matter and
the lack of understanding of their
business accounts, many business
owners are afraid to raise targeted
questions with their accountants,
banks or advisors, or they are unable
to arrive at an accurate analysis
ISO: taking certification to the farming community
2012 was the first time ever when a group of Belgian agricultural and horticultural farms got the ISO 14001
certificate. This was the cherry on the cake further to the intensive track the Flemish and Walloon farms had
travelled together.
The ISO certificate does not just
drop into your lap. Business
owners from various sectors
spent two years devising an
environmental management system
that is specifically geared to their
businesses. The point of departure
is for the farmer himself to decide
which actions he develops after
all, no one know his business the
way he does whilst Inagro provides
guidance.
Learning from one another
The business owners who took part
in the project took on the challenge
of critically reviewing their business
management. You can only improve
things by throwing the way things are
currently being done into question
and adapt them where necessary.
The reasons for wanting to obtain this
ISO certificate were highly diverse.
One business owner was keen to
have his business ship shape and
Bristol fashion down to the smallest
detail for his successor, another
farmer wanted to see his efforts of
many years standing rewarded with
a certificate of renown, and others
still felt it was a challenge to make
their business management more
efficient in a way that is methodical.
The entire approach is permeated by
the collective aspect. Ultimately, we
can all learn from fellow farmers.
The certificate is a nice calling card
to the outside world: We take care
of the environment as part of our
business management and we can
prove it.
Detailed road map
The step-by-step plan starts out with
a preliminary analysis that highlights
the good practices already in place
and identifies any bottlenecks that
may exist. Based on the report of this
2012
analysis, the business owner puts
together an action plan. In doing so,
he is obviously mindful of the time
available to him and the possibilities
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
the business can provide. To devise
the actions, participants are not on
their own. Training courses are laid
2
on as a great source of information.
Often these training courses are held
on site at the businesses themselves,
so that the theory is linked to the
practice to best favourable effect.
The training courses also take
a closer look at environmental
regulations, enabling all farmer to
test their business management
against applicable laws.
To make the methodology certifiable,
the farmers visit each other during
so-called internal audits, which
are interim evaluations of the
environmental care systems in place
in each business. If it appears the
business is ready for the certificate,
an outside certification body calls
round to conduct an external audit.
The certified farmers organise
themselves under the banner of
Beloftevol Boeren (Promising
Farming). In doing so, they are seen
to drive down the expense of the
external audits and reap the full
benefit of the group effect in terms
of communication.
The ISO certificate is not a goal in
itself. The track followed is a cycle
that is repeated and redressed time
and again.
31
 Labour is a restricting factor among growing dairy farms 2011

Flemish dairy farms are becoming increasingly bigger whereby labour is seen to become the restricting
factor. A survey was conducted that estimated the working times involved in a string of recurrent duties.
Next, a self-developed measuring system was used to record working times on various dairy farms around
West Flanders who were subsequently given a tailored action plan setting out suggestions to rationalise the
operation of the dairy farming branch of their business.

The survey was performed as part

of the European project entitled
Working more efficiently to enjoy
a better life at the dairy farm,
conducted by Inagros Dairy Farming
Business Consultancy department
along with our partner Contrle
Laitier du Nord, which is based
in northern France. In the border
region, average business size is
on the increase, which brings a
greater workload and associated
pressures to bear on the dairy
farmers concerned. They usually
end up addressing this by putting in
more hours themselves. But faced
with long working days, optimum
technical results sometimes fail to
materialise, leaving dairy farmers
with little to no time for their family,
let alone any kind of social life.

feeding the animals ranked second. A number of duties have seasonal

Survey
The first phase of the research
project involved a survey, conducted
at 16 West-Flemish dairy farms
54 cows and a production output of
9,100 l/cow on average - that sought
to chart the amount of time spent of
the various duties involved.
After the data were processed,
it appeared that milking
cows, including preparations and
subsequent cleaning work,
around half of their time: an average
247 minutes per day or around 2x 2
hours. Taking up 20% of their time
or an average 102 minutes per day,
Cleaning the grids and boxes/laying
out straw took another 14% of their
time whilst dairy farmers spent
a further 5 to 7% of their time on
delivering calves, grooming/fertility
and administration. The first two
duties (milking and feeding) stood
out clearest, with the dairy farmers
able to provide a fairly accurate
the estimate of the amount of time the
various duties required, ... For the
took other posts, it proved more difficult
to specify an exact duration, even
though these other duties took up just
over 30% of the amount of time spent
on the various duties on dairy farms.
peaks (including calving, cleaning
boxes/laying out straw and grooming/
fertility). In addition, a number of duties
overlap. For instance, whilst cleaning
the boxes, farmers also observe and
check the animals in terms of health
and fertility. Administrative duties
proved very difficult to map out at
every business that took part in the
survey. Whilst comprising a huge
range of sub-duties, a lot of admin
is handled in between other duties.
Nonetheless, properly running
ones business administration is
indispensable to ensure the continuity
of the dairy farm.

32

Milking: 247 (= 48%)
As a general conclusion of the
survey, it is safe to say that the
amount of time that goes into certain
recurrent dairy cattle duties cannot
be brought into focus with any great
degree of accuracy. To step up the
level of accuracy, and by way of
follow-up to the project, four dairy
farms agreed to record the working
times spent on the separate duties
on their smartphones.
Reduced labour effort
through automation
The research charted a range of
labour-saving measures. These
Cleaning grids and boxes: 72 (= 14%)
included various types of milking
parlours, the simplification of rations,
contracting out young cattle rearing,
putting in a register valve, etc.
The amount of time that is spent on
milking depends on a wide number
of factors. A lot of businesses with a
herringbone lay-out could certainly
make further time savings and
save themselves aggravation in the
process by putting up a crowd gate.
Automating the gates also saves
time, especially when operating in
a larger herringbone lay-out which
otherwise requires the farmer to
cover a lot of ground. Clean and dry
livestock accommodation saves time
when cleaning the udders. This also
contributes to ensuring reduced
sickness in cows, which in turn
means less trouble in the milking
parlour with problematic cows.
Cleaning grids using a self-propelled
manure scraper can save on labour
in a big way, both in terms of time and
in workload. The purchase price of a
machine of this type is limited when
expressed in euros per hour saved.
Dairy farmers can also save on
feeding time by relocating all fodder
Automatic calf drink dispenser
Administration: 28 (= 5%)
Cattle treatment and
observation: 33 (= 6%)
Calves: 36 (= 7%)
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
Feeding: 102 (= 20%)
silos and stores close to the dairy
cattle stables. Obviously this is not
2
something that is easy to achieve
at every farm, but it does save in
working hours. This is something
well worth considering when
embarking on new build or fodder
silo expansion projects.
It is clear that the organisation of
labour on a dairy farm depends on
many factors. The survey results
show that simple adaptations can
already translate into considerable
savings in terms of labour, both in
working time and in workload. There
is certainly scope for Flemish dairy
farmers to make time savings to
spend with their family, friends and
relatives. To do so, there is no need to
go out and buy expensive machinery
to achieve this.
Inagro has included these results in
its dairy farm consultancy services.
100 dairy farmers have already
signed up to this paying service. In
return they get expert professional
assistance in the areas of rationing,
young cattle rearing, grassland
exploitation, technical metrics,
and now also labour.
33
 Farm shops score high marks for hospitality, 2011

but could improve their communications

In the spring of 2011, three mystery shoppers visited 48 farm shops in West Flanders, Wallonia and Nord-
Pas de Calais (France) to find out what consumers make of shopping at a farm. The results are excellent
in terms of hospitality and service. Communications could be improved upon however. At a well-attended
evening seminar in November 2011, the results of this study commissioned by Inagro were announced.

Everybody is firmly convinced of the selves were found to be spotless.
fact that farm products have a lot In the past, studies on farm shops
of strong suits. However, the trick invariably sang the praises of the
is to play to these strengths when friendly reception consumers
selling these farm products and to awaited. Something which this study
cater for the wishes of consumers. only served to confirm, time and
To enable us to advise farm shops, again. Customers have faith in sales
Inagro commissioned a field study assistants who are able to talk about
performed by three mystery shoppers their products with a sense of passion.
who went around to visit 25 West- The mystery shoppers described the
Flemish, 11 Walloon and 12 French product range on offer as broader
farm shops. than expected. The additional offering
The farm shops visited were of local products too met with their
assessed according to five criteria: favour.
accessibility, siting of the shop on the The mystery shoppers also pointed out
farm, atmosphere and cleanliness of a number of focus areas. The quality
the shop, product range, hospitality of publicity panels and the number of
and communication. signboards along the (often country)
The main results are summarised roads could be improved upon. In
below. addition, the researchers found that
In terms of accessibility, long opening the long opening hours are often
hours, proper physical access to the quite irregular, making it difficult for
farm shop and the signposting of customers to remember when they
the shop on the farm are are open for business. The farming
positives. Often, activities inside and outside of the
the farm shop farm shop were also kept out of sight to
is found to be a large degree. Nonetheless, involving
well integrated customers in the production process
into the farm is often a major trump card. This is
complex. something farm producers can cater
Far my ards for in a variety of ways (for instance:
generally see-through windows, signposted
look clean walkways at the farm, allowing
and are kept customers to pitch in, information
tidy. Without displays, etc.). The farm shops could
exception, also do better at displaying the farm
the farm production and products to even
shops them- better effect, for instance by posting
large photos around the shop. Finally,
the recommendation is for farm shops
to organise more product tastings
and activities (for instance: tasting
sessions, cookery demonstrations,
seasonal recipes, colouring
competitions for children, saving
schemes, etc.) to attract customers to
the shop on a more regular basis.
A general conclusion, which also
serves as a recommendation, is for
farm shops to communicate more
and better. More so than other retail
outlets, farm shops are able to tell the
tale from plough to plate.
Along with the results of this study,
a stills book was created including
focus areas and tips for farm shops to
draw inspiration from in developing a
professional point of sale. The results
were announced on 29 November at
the Professionalise your farm shop!
evening seminar. The stills book and
the presentations are available to be
consulted at www.inagro.be.

34

Track guidance for greenhouse market gardening:
from dream to construction project
Im looking to build a new greenhouse, but can I do so everywhere I please? my greenhouse business is
close to a number of residential homes. They are not quite as keen on my expansion plans. How do I go about
consulting with the local residents? Can I optimise the energy cost of my business?
A permit for a large The project focuses on energy
greenhouse, not always amenity connections, landscape
quite as straightforward integration of greenhouse businesses
We are made to find that obtaining the and proper communication.
right permits for a large greenhouse is Legal certainty for greenhouse
no walk in the park. As a grower finding businesses continues to remain a very
the best solution that factors in your fraught topic. It is never going to be
technical crop choices, the expectations possible to tell ahead of time where
of local residents and complex energy greenhouse construction projects will
issues is anything but straightforward get the go-ahead without running into
without expert help. Just when you any number of problems. However,
thought you had fully completed your we are confident that the preliminary
permit application, your plans to build process to arrive at a solid permit
a new greenhouse turn out to be wholly application can be vastly improved.
non-compliant with town and country With this project, Inagro is looking to
planning regulations or your local guide greenhouse business owners to
residents are not exactly favourably arrive at a feasible, properly motivated
disposed to your plans. permit application. Together with
the grower, during the preliminary
Greenhouse horticulture process we check the various limiting
project conditions and seek out solutions
Due to the many questions about legal for prospective bottlenecks. Our
certainty for greenhouse businesses guidance is not a passport on the path
and at the request of the trade to a permit however. It is still the (local)
associations, in 2013 the province of authorities that decide, but a properly
West Flanders launched the strategic substantiated permit application is
greenhouse horticulture project. certain to help growers on their way.
2013
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
2
From dream to construction
project
Growers whose dream is to expand
their business or who are scouting for
a new location for their greenhouses
are advised to contact Inagro in timely
fashion and ahead of time. We will sit
down with you to review your plans to
see if they are feasible at the specific
location you have in mind. During the
preliminary process, we will confer
with the authorities that deliver
the relevant permit(s) and seek out
solutions for limiting conditions that
apply for scenic considerations. If
relevant, we will stage an information
meeting with the local residents,
to make sure they get the right idea
of the application and the reasons
behind the construction project.
We look into the energy requirements
and, together with experts, we
establish how these needs are best
addressed. Together we bring the
experts around the table to secure
a win-win situation for the growers
dream project.
35
 Along with Agreon
, 2012

West Flanders goes all out for cleantech in farming

Clean technology
For the forward-thinking
development of the agricultural
and horticultural sector in our
region, it is imperative that the
industry increasingly adopts clean
technology or cleantech for short.
The new AgroCleantech cluster
Agreon is set to stimulate and
boost the collaboration between
SMEs, agricultural and horticultural
businesses and research institutions
to give innovative clean technology
every opportunity.

A win-win situation for all

stakeholders
The ambition of the AgroCleantech
cluster of West Flanders is to initiate
and forge a close collaboration
between SMEs, farmers and
research and educational
institutions. As potential buyers
of the products or technologies,
farmers can be a valuable test guise of an infrastructure for start- For further details: www.agreon.be
audience for the companies that up SMEs, although it is obviously set
develop these technologies. The to operate across West Flanders as
collaboration with research and a whole.
educational institutions supplies
At the AgroCleantech event held on
academic know-how. Courtesy of
19 March 2013, the name and logo
the cluster, SMEs find it easy to
of the AgroCleantech cluster were
check if their technology or product
revealed in the presence of the
is relevant to the practice, plus they
mayor of Poperinge and the deputy
are supported in the validation and
of agriculture of the provincial
promotion of their products.
executive.
In collaboration with the province of
West Flanders, POM West Flanders, In going for Agreon, it was been
Resoc Westhoek and Poperinge decided to go for a name that has an
local council, Inagro is working to international ring to it, in reference
develop this Agrocleantech cluster. to agro (agriculture). The Cleantech
The cluster will have a physical for Agriculture baseline speaks for
anchoring point in Poperinge in the itself.

36
 THEMATIC

37
OBJECTIVE
2
 Conduct your own energy audit
using the online tool at enerpedia.be
Recent years have seen a sharp rise in
energy prices. Back in 2005, the price
for electricity still stood at 13 to 15
c/kWh (incl. VAT) whereas this had
already rised to 21 c/kWh (incl.
VAT) in 2011. How prices will evolve
in the future is difficult to predict,
but it is to be expected that they will
continue to rise - although slower
than in the last years. As the cost of
energy represents an increasingly
bigger portion of the overheads in
the farming and market gardening
industry, there is mounting rising
interest to save energy or to generate
energy oneself.
Discover the opportunities
to save on energy
To pinpoint which energy consumers
you are best advised to tackle first
in your business, it is important
to find out your companys energy
profile and to compare this against
a number of metrics. This will tell
you which energy consumers score
well on average and which of those
do less well. This gives you the latter
category as the main focus areas.
Use of electricity on a pig farm per annum (total: 36,723 kWh/year)
38
2011
As part of the IWT Enerpedia
project, Inagro devised a method THE ONLINE ENERGY AUDIT is a
to perform energy audits. In recent tool that enables users to get an
years, the Enerpedia team scanned a idea of the energy profile of any
series of dairy cattle, pig and potato given farm in a way that is fairly
farms which helped the business straightforward.
owners to get under way with the
The business owner himself fills
implementation of energy-saving
in a number of technical details
techniques. As the calculation
regarding his company. With
method could still be used upon
these details, the tool then works
project completion, it has been
out the energy consumption of
made available for all albeit in a
the various areas of operation.
simplified version in the guise of an
In addition, the tool also provides
online tool at www.enerpedia.be/nl/
an indication of the impact on
rekenbladen. This enables business
the overall energy consumption
owners to conduct their own energy
by implementing energy-cutting
audit of their business.
measures.
The tool was developed for pig and
dairy farms, businesses where
potatoes are stored or mixed
businesses. For now, the online
energy audit only focuses on
electricity consumption, not on fuel
oil consumption.
For practical queries on how to fill in
or interpret the results of the online
energy audit, please contact Tine
Degroote at tine.degroote@inagro.be.
Ventilation: 19,227 kWh (= 52,4%)
Circulation pumps: 600 kWh (= 1,6%)
Pumps, motors and other electricity using
equipment: 5,179 kWh (= 14,1%)
Lighting: 3,437 kWh (= 9,4%)
Piglet lamps: 8,280 kWh (= 22,5%)
Climate screens and temperature integration
deliver energy savings for greenhouse lettuce 2011

Even though greenhouse lettuce is not exactly known as a energy guzzling crop, on average the heating cost
involved in the cultivation all year round represents close to one third of the total production cost. Driving
down the heating cost therefore implies a marked rise in profitability. In collaboration with the research
centres of Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Kruishoutem, Inagro spent several years working around this issue.

Application of climate yielded significant energy savings: Temperature integration

screens 34
% across the entire cultivation A promising strategy for energy
In the cultivation of fruiting period. The screen used was PH savings, which is almost free, is
vegetables, the use of a climate super, which was closed between 5 temperature integration. Put
screen has become a well- pm and 8 am, provided the outside simply, on a sunny day the plant
established practice. In the temperature was less than 10C. develops an advantage which allows
cultivation of leaf vegetables, this is it to cope with a lower temperature
The cultivation involving the screen
not the case at all. than normal the next day (or possibly
produced a comparable result as
even days), without any loss of
A first trial in the winter of 2008- the cultivation without the screen.
growth or quality. Put another way: if
2009 showed that butterhead lettuce However, using a screen in 2009
you would normally maintain a night

THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
grown in greenhouses involving produced more downey mildew
temperature of 6C when cultivating
the use of a climate sceen also (Bremia), owing to the raised air
lettuce, you can easily drop that night
humidity (+ 5%) during the night.
temperature to 2 or 3C after a sunny

3
During subsequent trials, in the
day during winter.
winters of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011,
a screen gap was put in place: in This strategy has been tested over the
situations involving high air humidity, last couple of winters at Inagros trial
the screen opened up slightly, up to greenhouses. The use of temperature
a maximum 2
%, which prevented integration on each occasion yielded
Bremia infestation. Such a small lettuces with a higher lettuce weight
screen gap has little impact on the and of a better quality.
energy savings for that matter
:
The measurement of the energy
during the trials, these remained
consumption in 2010-2011 revealed
similar to the energy savings in a
a 12% energy saving. A similar
greenhouse with a screen without
application at the Kruishoutem
a gap, i.e. around 30% mark in all
research centre resulted in a 14.9%
cases.
energy saving.
For growers who run a moderate
Modern climate computers are able
heating regime, the payback periode
to automate the implementation of
of a climate screen is approximately
temperature integration. Anyone
7 years. Those who heat more will
who has trouble getting this set up
see the screen pay for itself quicker.
and configured, can call on Inagro at
any time.

39
 Search for alternative biomass for energy 2013

Biomass as an energy source creates high expectations to enable us to meet the EU objectives for the
generation of renewable energy. Fermentation or biogas production is an important technology that could
deliver on that prospect. Unlike other sustainable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, biomass
can be stored without being required to be converted into energy straight away. Today, the biogas industry is
struggling financially due to the high investments and operational expenditures, high costs for the processing
of the fermented biomass (the so-called digestate), the roll-back of subsidies and costly biomass resources.

Together with its project partners, Inagro has been focusing on resolving several of these bottlenecks in
recent years. Two promising examples in this respect are the use of clippings and cuttings from natural
areas and verges, and the collection of straw and cubs during the harvesting of grain maize

Harvest residues of grain
maize to bring extra income
in times to come?
If only the corns of grain maize is
being harvested, in Flanders this
leaves over 400,000 tonnes in dry
matter on the land. Trials in 2012
have shown that between 8 and 10
tonnes of dry matter in stover (=
straw + cobs) can be harvested per
hectare, of which 5 to 8 tonnes in
stalks and 1.5 to 3 tonnes in cobs
and bract. Varieties that produce
high grain yields also produce high
harvest residue yields. Which means
that, as the main harvest residue in
Flanders, grain maize straw offers a
lot of potential.
These harvest residues are now a
source of carbon for the soil, but
they can also be considered as a
new product and harvest them at the
same time (partially if need be). For
cobs and straw alike, a marketing
chain is under development. To
harness these flows there are a
number of obstacles to contend with
first though.
Collecting harvest residues is
no easy task
The first challenge is of a technical
harvesting nature. Conditions in the
autumn do not always allows to set
foot on the land with heavy artillery.
To cut down the cost, the crop needs
to be harvest as swiftly as possible
and, if possible, in one pass. Inagro
is examining what can be done from
a technical harvesting perspective.
The harvest demo presented in
November 2013 was part of these
endeavours.

40
What about the carbon supply?
Removing harvest residues has
an impact on the humus supply to
the soil. It may be expedient to only
harvest a portion or to go for other
carbon supply methods (e.g. green
manures). At any rate, it is highly
plausible that harvesting grain
maize straw will require a field
specific approach.
Verge cuttings: no longer
waste in the future?
When natural grasslands or verges
are being mowed, the clippings and
cuttings need to be processed. This
is often done in a composting plant.
Before grass is composted however,
we can first generate energy from
the grass, which obviously produces
a handsome plus value.
Often, grassland managers and
fermentation facility operators
are unaware of the potential for
this kind of processing or they
fear unforeseen expenditures.
Not entirely without good reason,
as fermenting the grass in a way
that is profitable requires a lot of
adaptations and solid arrangements
being made. Experience at Inagro
and examples from The Netherlands
however prove that it can be done.
A long chain
A lot of process steps are involved
before the grass can go into the
digester. In all cases the operator
needs to keep an eye on quality.
Digesters cannot work their magic
on a contaminated or decayed batch
of clippings.
Things start out with the mowing
process: it is important to keep the
amount of sand in the clippings down
to the bare minimum. Mowing high and
avoiding mole hills is therefore key.
The next thing is to make sure
the grass is removed quickly and
SUPPLY
ensilaged close to the digester. If the
clippings and cuttings are amassed
unchecked for a few days, they lose
the biggest part of their energy
value and fermentation becomes
unprofitable.
To avoid problems in the digester, the
grass needs to be reduced in size.
In doing so, the important thing is to
process only clean grass. Natural
grass is usually pure enough, but
verge grass is often seen to contain
Ecological mowing
too much plastic or metal waste.
Pitfalls
In Flanders, grounds managers
INCOMPLETE VALUE CHAIN
usually tend to outsource the
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
mowing. Which leaves them without
any direct control over the mowing
technique. In which case there is Logistics
3
a risk that manager and mower
disagree on who is responsible for
the quality of the grass. To eliminate
this kind of uncertainties, it is
crucial that all parties agree on solid
understandings to enable them to
work together in confidence.
Purification
To limit the cost of transport, mowing
as closely as possible to where the
digester is located, is always a good
idea. A digester can consider to work
with several grass managers to
make sure he is supplied with large
and constant quantities of grass.
Storage
Inagro is taking the lead in further
examining and developing the
marketing chains of these new raw
VALORISATION
materials in 2014 in a way that is
economically as well as ecologically
responsible.
Biogass digestion
41

Alternative harvesters
for short rotation coppice tried and tested
The cultivation of short rotation
coppice (SRC) for local energy
production is gaining importance
in Flanders. It is one of the most
efficient biomass crops to generate
green energy. As the available
surface area for this kind of crops
is limited in Flanders, in virtually all
cases the plantings of such SRC tend
to be on a small scale. The fact that
the harvest is often made to occur
under very wet conditions in winter
also requires adapted harvesters.
Which is why Inagro set out in search
42
of alternatives to harvest SRC.
In Denmark, SRC is harvested in a
single pass with harvesters on soft
tracks to limit damage to the soil. 2012
winter, these harvesters were tested
and demonstrated along with a few
other agricultural machines amid
great interest. Each machine came
with its own benefits and drawbacks.
Generally speaking, it is safe to say
that harvesting machinery that cuts
and chips the wood right there and
then is more efficient. Harvesters
that are equipped with a circular saw
2012
produce a better cut surface, which
is conducive to regrowth, especially
in poplars. Finally, it appeared that
harvesters on soft tracks can do the
job of harvesting without damaging
the soil under very wet conditions.
Hopefully these alternative
harvesters can be put to good use
in Flanders in the foreseeable
future. Currently the availability of
harvesters in Flanders is confined
to New Hollands self propelled cut-
and-chip harvester, which is difficult
to use in wet winters.
Flax and hemp:
a local crop for a local green industry?
The use of natural fibres as a raw material for all manner of applications is clearly gaining in popularity.
Quite a few products have already been launched on the market, including insulating material and
composite materials for the upholstery of cars, tennis rackets, et cetera. The growth of this market also
holds opportunities for farmers. This will see the demand for extra production evolve in synch with the
rising demand for natural fibres
Fibre crops such as hemp and flax
do well in our region. With its unique
location and a tradition steeped in
history, Flanders holds all the right
strong suits to grow high quality
flax. Beside there is a lot of interest
on the part of the farming industry
in hemp as a crop. The absence of
a hemp harvester and the sales of
the harvested product which remain
uncertain are the main reasons
that prevents farmers from getting
started on hemp. By tackling these
bottlenecks, Inagro is endeavouring
to support the launch of this new
crop.
In 2012 a few Walloon contract
workers invested in a hemp
harvester. The harvester was used in
Wallonia, but also for harvesting 14
hectares of hemp in West Flanders.
This acreage was sown by eight
farmers, in collaboration with Inagro
and a West-Flemish flax processor
who is buying the hemp straw. We
were made to find out for ourselves
the hard way that the harvest
logistics sadly continue to remain
a sore point. Which is why Inagro is
continuing to seek out a solution to
address this flaw. The way things
stand, all too often farmers do
2012
not have much of an idea of what
happens to their harvest product. A
marketing chain is sustainable only
if its economically rewarding for
each link in that chain.
To farmers, the cultivation of hemp
will need to compete against the
commonly cultivated arable farming
crops. But farmers also need to have
an idea of what happens to their
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
harvest product further down the
line. This is the only way for them
to be able to meet their buyers
3
requirements. To this end, 2012 again
saw Inagro focus on a collaboration
between the hemp growers and the
local flax processor.
In 2014, Inagro remains committed
to strengthen the hemp/flax valvue
chain. For example last two harvests
were really successful thanks to an
adapted harvester. Nevertheless
there are still some missing links to
have a sustainable chain. Therefore
Inagro started a new European
project, Grow2Build, around the
use of flax and hemp as a new basic
material for construction.
43
 Water market does not fail to hit the mark 2011

On 31 May 2011, Inagros Water Knowledge Centre organised the water market at Avowest in Poperinge.
Some 140 farmers and interested parties came down to attend the event.

During the morning, we visited two
inspiring examples
: the coconut
and lava filtering at the farm of the
Louwagie-Decrock family and the
combined decontamination process
designed by the horticultural
department of Poperinges Secondary
Vocational Education Institute that
combines peroxide and UV.
During the lunch break, there was
time to confer with a dozen or so
companies that distribute water
treatment technology equipment. This
enabled those interested to make the
first contacts for a water treatment
solution tailored to their business.
Many of the alternative water
sources do not fully comply with
the requirements. To give farmers
a reference yardstick as to which
technologies can be used to tackle
the bottleneck parameters against
which cost, we seized on the
opportunity to comprehensively
clarify the water tool again. This
online instrument enables farmers
to find customised solutions for
their critical water parameters by
themselves.
To round things off, all visitors
were given a water test kit to take
home. These test strips allow the
participants to check a number
of critical water parameters for
themselves. If one or several
parameters are found to exceed
the norm, the users will find the
potential risks and the appropriate
water treatment technology at www.
watertool.be!

44
 2013

Inagro examines potential of

level-controlled drainage
The conventional approach is to drain fields that struggle with excess
of water. During a dry and sunny summer like the one we saw in 2013
this approach may cause drought stress in the crop. At the instruction
of the province of West Flanders, Inagro is investigating whether
level-controlled drainage could address this.

Using level-controlled drainage, Flanders, in the spring of 2013 four

the outlet of the drainages is plots were developed with level-
controlled. The collected water is controlled drainage in the north
not always maintained at the same of the province of West Flanders.

level. The level of the outlet, and
consequently the water level in the
field, changes in consideration of the
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
To find out the effect of the level
control on the water table level, the
ground water level is measured in

growth season.
A few days ahead of the start of
spring duties, the level is brought
down which makes sure the soil
can be worked. After the field duties
(manuring, sowing or planting), the
level is raised again. This enables
farmers to keep moisture in the field
for longer and to secure enhanced
subsequent fine-meshed water
supply. The crop determines the
height of the level control
In order to establish whether this
principle also offers opportunities in
4
each block. This should also allow
farmers to intervene in extremely
wet conditions, as the whole idea is
obviously to obtain a healthy crop.
In addition, the amount of nitrogen
in the soil and in the drainage water
is measured and the crop stand and
crop yield are monitored.
In West Flanders, for its research
Inagro works with four motivated
farmers who are keeping their
fingers crossed for level-controlled
drainage to work in the Flemish
context too.

45
 Cover crops, a rooted measure 2011

The carbon content of the Flemish agricultural land has a large impact on soil fertility and soil structure.
To maintain the carbon content at the level required, sufficient organic material is to be supplied each year.
Cover crops, sown after the main crop was harvested, are the perfect way to do so.

Including a cover crop in the crop
rotation is a good way of applying
stable organic matter to the soil. The
impact of the occasional cover crop
remains fairly limited. Two tonnes of
white mustard dry matter contains
about the same amount of humus
as one tonne of straw for instance.
Still, involving cover crops in the
crop rotation on a regular basis
does help to keep up the humus
level in the soil. Experience shows
that it is necessary to destroy the
cover crop in timely fashion, at least
six to eight weeks prior to sowing
the spring crop. This avoids you
from putting the following crop at a
disadvantage through lignification,
seed formation, nitrogen shortage
or desiccation. The fact that cover
crops absorb nitrogen from the soil,
thereby acting to reduce the leaching
of soil nitrogen during winter is
something we have about for some
time. When exceeding the nitrate
residue norms by a certain amount,
the farmer may be required by the
authorities to sow a green manure
on each plot found to be in breach as
a compulsory measure, alongside
other sanctions.
In 2011 too, Inagro organised a
few visits to the demo fields with
cover crops. Situated in Poperinge
and Zwalm, we sowed these demo
fields in early August. In all, we
sowed eleven different cover crops,
supplemented with a few varieties
specifically for the purpose of organic
fumigation and a few potential
varieties that would be appealing to
bees (Serradella, Brassica Rape and
borage).

46
Bee-friendly farming. Essential, not a side issue 2013

Essential, not a side issue! is more than just a slogan to Inagro. Bees are not doing terribly well this day
and age. Nonetheless, bees are very useful, not to mention irreplaceable in the pollination of many farm
crops, in particular in vegetable and fruit farming.
One of the problems is that flowers with nectar are vanishing from the farming landscape. Bees and bumble
bees need pollen and nectar and thrive with abundant and varied blossoming throughout the year. A second
issue is bee-friendly use of pesticides. Inagro firmly believes that farmers can do a lot to turn their farms
into bee-friendly environments. Thankfully, we are not alone in this. There are an increasing number of
farmers who are prepared to bring their best efforts to bear.

Passing on know-how
In terms of shaping farmers
opinions, a lot of work has already
been done. Farmers and market
gardeners play a crucial role in the
preservation of bees. For instance,
they can sow herbs that supply
nectar and pollen, and gear the use
of crop protection agents to bees. A
lot of bees can be spared by spraying
in the evening for instance, when
insects are not active. Inagro packed
together a lot of tips in a booklet
entitled Farmer and bee, a special
collaboration. No boring literature,
but a relaxing comic strip. Perhaps
an idea for the smallest room in the
house? The comic strip is available
from Inagro for free.

Varied diet
Same as people, bees need a varied
diet. In a 3 km radius around their
home, they need to be able to find
various plants that hold pollen and
nectar. The spread and diversity of
these plants is inadequate at most Meaningful greenification way to allow ones own farm to make

farms. This is where Inagro can help.
All the more so as we have been
conducting research for many years
THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
The bee-friendly stewardship a meaningful contribution to the
agreement of the VLM (Flemish greenification outlined as part of the
Land Agency) are set to get under new European agricultural policy.

into the perfect mix of nutrient-rich
flowers that are specific to the local
region. By the same token, this also
sees bee-promoting actions also
advance a lot of other native insects.
way soon. This will enable farmers
for the first time to get a subsidy for
sowing bee-rich field edges with
flower mixes. Perhaps the sowing
of flowering herbs is also a smart
5
Strength in numbers
Farmers and bees need each other.
Just to be on the safe side, a lot of
bee-keepers choose not to have

47
 their precious bees in farming
areas. However, we now know that
honey bees can also find enough
food in agricultural areas as long
as a couple of rules of thumb are
observed.

Inagro organised several meetings

between farmers and bee-keepers.
Successfully so, as the two are
increasingly reaching out to each
other. In the near future, Inagro
is looking to take things one step
further by helping to build better
collaboration between the Royal
Flemish Bee Keepers Association
(KonVIB ) and the REO Veiling (fruit
and vegetable auction). It is clear that
the life of those busy bees not only
continues to fascinate bee-keepers,
but has also infected farmers.

2013

Flower fields in the vicinity

of courgette and strawberry plots

Our understanding of sowing and
maintaining bee-friendly field borders
and margins came in handy last year.
Small plots over at the farms of ten
courgette and strawberry growers
were sown with nectar-rich herbs.
The aim of this first phase is to teach
growers how to build and maintain this
kind of flowered field edges. The fact of
the matter is that without the required
practical experience, a flowered buffer years ahead we will also be tracking
strip soon turns into an undesired strip the development of useful insects.
of weed, which makes good guidance a The main challenge is to convince even
must. more farmers to join in, with the help of
the first group of enthusiasts.
As from next year we will be tracking
the visit of bees as well as the
development of the vegetation of the
perennial flower strip. Alongside the
impact on fruiting or the number of
tapered fruits in courgette, over the

48
Erosion prevention 2013

and better water quality go hand in hand

You would be surprised how many litres of water flow out from a plot that is sensitive to erosion. On its path, the
water also scoops up soil particles and crop protection agents. In West Flanders, the run-off of soil particles
can run up to more than two lorries per hectare per annum. And if that is not enough, the risk of run-off of crop
protection agents too is at its highest in plots that are sensitive to erosion. No less than thirty percent of the
contamination of surface water by crop protection agents is caused by the run-off of these agents!

Inagro tackles erosion
along the Vleterbeek
There are a lot of measures that can be
deployed to counteract erosion, each
with its own benefits and drawbacks,
its obligations and subsidies. For each
of these measure, we have compiled
a technical fact sheet that provides
a summary of all practical details.
During the course of 2012-2013 several
of these measures were implemented
and evaluated. In Poperinge, the banks
along the Vleterbeek (Vleter brook)
are typified by very long and sloping
plots. The fact that these plots are
used for ridge cultivation and crops
in rows, in a way that runs in parallel
with the slope, acts to promote water
erosion. This sees a large quantity
of soil ending up in the Vleterbeek.
Which explains why this area was
marked out as a pilot zone. On the
strength of the experiences gleaned,
a demo was held on 25 June 2013.
Through testimonials from farmers,
as well as by seeing the effect on
the ground, it became clear that the
application of various measures to
counteract erosion acts to benefit
soil productivity and contributes to a
better quality of the water.
Future prospect
In 2014 too, erosion prevention continues
to remain a hot topic. Stricter limiting
conditions draw attention to small basin
tillage in ridge cultivation. Which is why
Inagro is staging a demonstration to
inform farmers and contracters of the
existing basin tillage machines and how
they work and to give anyone interested
the chance to see the machines in
operation alongside each other.
In the meantime, Inagros erosion co-
ordinator as set up a collaboration
with 17 local councils in the province
to guide the execution of the
municipal erosion plan.

THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE

5
49
 CVBB approach lands encouraging results on the ground 2013

2013 was the first full operating year for the Education and Guidance Co-ordination Centre for Sustainable
Manuring (CVBB vzw). During that year, we have not only been able to affect a reduction in the number of bad
MAP measuring points in West Flanders, we have also guided over 350 farmers and market gardeners to
align their manuring strategies even more accurately for a better water quality, without loss of crop yield or
crop quality. Also this year, the long-awaited first results of the reference plots were also published.

Assessment of water quality

groups 2013
How has the quality of water in West
Flanders evolved over the last twelve
months
? Which factors impact on
the nitrate concentration at the MAP
(Manure Action Plan) measuring
points
? Frequent measurements,
on-site visits and the collaboration
of the farmers and market gardeners
are helping CVBB staff to chart the
causes of the exceedances seen at the
red MAP measuring points of surface
water quality.

We went into the new winter with ten

fewer red measuring points than the
winter of the year before. This leaves
43% of the MAP measuring points still
of a bad quality. Nonetheless, this
makes for a mildly positive trend in
West Flanders.

Courtesy of these get-togethers of

the water quality groups, a platform
is created for the CVBB staff and
the farmers and market gardeners
to share their experiences and
observations on the quality of the
water, and on manuring in general.
In the winter of 2012-2013, some sixty
meetings were held. Along with the
communication actions of last year (a
report on PlattelandsTV (TV station
for farmers), attending agricultural
trade shows, etc.) this has resulted
in a database holding the details of
1,300 contacts. This number is likely
to have risen even further since the

50
last edition of the winter meetings.
Individual guidance 2013
In 2013, 352 West-Flemish farms
were given guidance by Inagro-CVBB.
Around one third of these guidance
efforts dealt with arable farming
crops. We dispensed the same
amount of advice on vegetables,
covering both intensive as well as
less sophisticated vegetable crops.
In addition, a great deal of attention
was made to go out to the business
management of livestock farms
(manure sales, derogation, effluent
applications, etc.).
The main driving force for the
farmers and market gardeners to
sign up to the individual guidance
pack was that it enables them to
implement a more refined manuring
strategy. We also dispensed a lot of
advice and guidance on topics such
as green manures, various types
of organic manuring, general soil
fertility, the number of mandatory
sample collections ...
Reference plots 2012
In the spring of 2012, 135 reference
farms were selected in Flanders
(with an average of 4 plots each). The
selection was made to occur based on
the criterions of a) properly managed
businesses with b) different soil
types and c) different crops, d) chiefly
in sectors that have the highest
number of nitrate residues. Of the
135 farms, 33 are located in West
Flanders that are closely monitored
by Inagro. The aim is to establish the
effect of the background (soil type,
ambient factors, crop (rotation),
manuring, etc.) and the climate on
the changing nitrate (nitrate residue)
levels in the soil.

Sector # Residu samples Min. Med. Av. Max.

Strawberry 133 29 114 137 324

Arable farming 642 9 61 79 341

Grassland 206 5 26 38 191

Vegetables 354 6 142 161 865

Floriculture 162 8 87 122 851

Period # red MAP- Total # MAP- % Exceedances % Exceedances

measuring points measuring points in West-Flanders in Flanders

2010-2011 102 224 45,5 28

THEMATIC
OBJECTIVE
2011-2012 107 225 47,6 27,5

2012-2013 97 225 43,1 26,6

5
51
 2012

Turning field margins and verges to profit

Most farmers do not have dominated by rhizome weeds such nature association SVAL vzw.
suitable mowers, which means as stinging nettles, field bindweed This association makes its mower
the field margins of crop fields or field horsetail which, in addition, available to farmers at a reasonable
and grasslands are left untended are causing a lot of problems on the price. The fact that this shared
in the majority of cases. By not nearby crop fields. use of a flail mower is a affordable
mowing the field margins, or by alternative is proved by the great
mowing them without removing In October 2013, in the presence interest in this mower. Presently, a
the clippings and cuttings, the field of various farmers, Inagro total of around 40 km of field margins
border enriches, which stimulate demonstrated the adapted are mowed in East Flanders through
unwanted perannual herbs to settle. three-point flail mower owned the combined efforts of several
This kind of field margins are usually by East-Flemish agricultural farmers.

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