At this time of the year two of the premier orchard competition's are held and the winning grower/orchards are determined by expert judges.
While the judging takes place in late July, the Winning orchards/growers are not announced until early August.
On Wednesday this week, the NFU 2024 Orchard Competition, organised by NFU Flimwell Office group secretaries: Shaun Joubert and Patrick Bowring and sponsored by: AVALON Fresh LTD, BASF & WARNERS SOLICITORS. held their Farm Walk and presentation of Trophies at the Overall Winning Grower's Adrian Scripps Ltd at Moat Farm, Capel.
This competition features NFU member growers in the West Kent Weald (West Kent) while the East Kent orchard competition celebrates with the EKFS (East Kent Fruit Society) farm walk at the grower who won the EKFS Orchard of the Year (18/8/2024)
NFU Orchard competition
Before the prizegiving, Amanda Corp NFU Shaun Joubert and Patrick Bowring set the scene for the evening and Chris Morris AVALON FRESH presented an overview of the apple industry and the challenges our growers face.
As always a very large group of attendees gathered at Moat Farm for this annual event. Moat Farm (like all Adrian Scripps farms) is an example of good management, forward thinking processes, " a joy to behold"
Welcomed by ASL MD James Simpson who gave an overview of the Adrian Scripps Ltd. business.
Adrian Scripps began farming farming in 1960 on a traditional Weald of Kent hop and fruit farm. Over the years ASL have farmed sheep., beef, potatoes, and combined crops.
"Always working with mother nature, we try to develop growing systems that remain at the forefront of productivity and quality, while still maintaining and enhancing the wildlife around us. this means our farming policy continually evolves."
"ASL now farms around 600 hectares, 'down from nearly 800 ha' - within this we grow approximately 300 ha of apples, 6 ha of grapes and 50 ha of blackcurrants. The balance being in grass, woodland or let".
Moat Farm was purchased by Adrian in 1965 and in the early 1980's became the head office and main packing site. It now has storage for around 30,000 bins with additional storage on other sites.
Supported by ASL senior management from the other ASL farms across Kent, James led us on a tour of Jazz, Braeburn, Bramley, Gala, and Pink Lady orchards, stopping to give an overview of the variety trials orchard currently with with 20 plus varieties from around the world".
Russell Graydon - Senior Farms Manager, responsible for all farms and farming operations across the whole business.
Philip Thomas - Parsonage Farm Manager, formerly Tonbridge Farms Assistant Farm Manager until January 2024 when he moved to Parsonage Farm, Cobham.
Charles Hutton-Squire - Tonbridge Farms Manager, not present on the evening. Works under Russell Graydon.
Altanay Saliev - Assistant Farm manager, Wenderton Farm.
Harvey Thatcher - Management Trainee on the Tonbridge Farms.
Alex Scarlat - Management Trainee at Parsonage Farm.
As we toured the orchards, James explained: "All dessert apples are planted on 'post and wire' system with the most intensive orchards at 3,800 trees per hectare" (for those who find acres easier to comprehend equates to 1,583 per acre) and when started growing with my Dad 65 years ago, most of our orchards were planted on a square plant system at 135 trees per acre or 324 per ha.
Below: left and right Jazz planted on post & wire and under hail netting. Also white reflective sheet which encourages better light reflection, enhancing fruit bud quality and fruit colour. As ASL use a 'three row sprayer' two alleys have the sheet while the alley where the tractor and sprayer travels is left clear!
Hail nets in two versions, a drape net system that can be retrospectively fitted, or an overhead system that allows three row sprayers to travel underneath. The net is all encompassing, with net covering the headland and tapered down to a secure wire on the ground. James said there are (possibly pros & cons) a slight temperature 'lift' can increase disease risk, while the net keeps out Codling moth which is always a risk as apples approach maturity
Below: left. Braeburn and right. Gala covered by 'drape net system'
Below: left. Overhead hail system (currently furled) and right. hail net in situ, over Pink Lady
Below: left and right Pink Lady under the 'overhead hail net system'
Harvesting 'with the exception of one farm' is almost exclusively with platforms.
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NFU Orchard Competition - Prizegiving
Before the prizegiving Amanda Corp County Adviser National Farmers Union set he scene for the evening and Shaun Joubert and Patrick Bowring managed the presentations. Chris Morris from Sponsors AVALON FRESH presented an overview of the challenges the UK apple industry faces but rejoiced in the support for the Orchard Competition from the entrants.
Below: left. James Simpson receives the BASF Championship Trophy on behalf of Adrian Scripps Ltd for Overall Winner and right. Fannon Agriculture recieve the EO Moss Trophy as Runner Up in the overall competition
Below: L-R. Adrian Scripps win the Bayer UK Trophy for third in the overall competition and Colin Langridge/Mallions farm takes the AGRI Trophy for Most Meritorious Entry, while JL Baxter (Elphicks Farm) wins the Mike Freed Trophy for highest marks in competition over five years
Below: L-R. JL Baxter win the BASF Trophy (Cyanamid) for greatest increase in overall marks. Centre Fannon Agriculture receive the Dow AgroSiences Trophy for highest marks in the Class 1 category, and Fannon Agriculture also win the Norman Collett Trophy Class1 for highest marks Pest & Disease section
Below: L-R. the FAST Trophy for highest marks/management was won jointly by Great Cheveney Farm & Colin Langridge Mallions Farm. Centre- The Willis Coroon South East Ltd Class 1 trophy for second highest mark Class 1 was won by Colin Langridge Mallions Farm and the NP Seymour Trophy for highest marks Class 2 went to Adrian Scripps Moat Farm
Below: L-R. The Norman Collet Trophy Class 2 for highest marks pest & disease was won jointly by GH Chambers Northiam Farm Farm and Adrian Scripps Moat Farm while the Group Secretary Award for highest marks Management was won by Adrian Scripps Ltd and The Willis Coroon South Ltd Class 2 Award for second highest marks Class 2 was won by Adrian Scripps Hononton Farm
Below: L-R. The ADAS Trophy for 'Best average in the Young Orchards Section went to Adrian Scripps Hononton Farm and the JA Prall Trophy for highest marks in Single Young Orchard was again won by Adrian Scripps Ltd 'Willow Bed Orchard' while the Lambert & Foster Trophy for 'grower in charge of the winning farm in the Young Orchards Section went to Adrian Scripps Hononton Farm
Below: 'Just one more Award, The ORGIN Trophy for Highest marks - Management single young orchards was won by Adrian Scripps Ltd Hononton Farm Orchard
English Apple Man readers unfamiliar with the many categories and presenters of Trophies, maybe confused. Let me explain; "Orchard competitions go back a long way, when there were many more growers. When the competitions started apple growing was a more relaxed and profitable venture, and both growers and presenters of Trophies were keen to be involved.
Today the UK (commercial) apple growers barely reach 100 where in the 1960's there were circa 1500.
The evening proved to be a most enjoyable experience, the 'bonhomie' between the attendees typifies the collective nature of our growers and those involved in the support roles so important to a unified industry.
Congratulations to NFU for organising this annual event and to Adrian Scripps Ltd for Winning The BASF Championship Trophy and hosting us all for supper and refreshments after the presentations.
Thanks to the Sponsors for their support and for all entrants for their participation!
Oh, and thanks to my friend Richard Brewer who brought an Electric Buggy enabling the EAM to join the farm walk without suffering the embarrassment of struggling with my bad back.
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man