To kick off 2025 and look forward to the upcoming growing season, we spoke with Vaughan Stansfield - UPL’s Country Manager for UK and Ireland - to get his take on the last 12 months.
He shares some of the challenges (and successes) farmers have faced, along with a look forward to what 2025 may bring.
Watch his answers here, or read on for the full insights.
[embed]https://youtu.be/HDL_w2TIVLk?si=MdlDKEGC9hnA3laH[/embed]
“Well, I guess farmers in absolute terms are risk managers. They’re whole business managers, and balancing those two things is on the plate of a farmer every day that they do their fantastic job.
“2024 was certainly a year of unpredictability and rapid change.
“We saw unpredictability in terms of weather, not just normal unpredictability but in extremes, and that takes a lot of adaptation in terms of positive plan A, and then plan B and sometimes plan C.
“We’ve also seen unpredictability and rapid change in the global macro economics which bear down on us as a country, and as an industry. That includes:
“All those things have had to be negotiated in real time this last year, and that’s probably something that won’t change going forward.
“It’s a recognition of how hard things have been, but also how versatile and resilient farmers are in terms of managing risk and their whole farm businesses.”
“There are many examples but I’m going to focus on one for potato growers.
“Now potato growers have had two very difficult seasons, but last year, the stars aligned and broadly speaking, crops went into the ground in good conditions and were harvested in good conditions, and the reports are that the crop went into store well and is coming out of store in great condition.
“It’s great news for potato growers.
“We’re very much focused on potato crops, and this last year was a challenge for us as an industry, and at UPL because it was our last year being able to sell products containing mancozeb, so we had to actively manage the sell-out and use-up of the product.
“Our team delivered, making sure growers had the mancozeb they needed for this season.
“That will have been a very important part of farmers’ arsenals in controlling blight, and this year was a significant year for blight pressure here in the UK and beyond.
“In addition, the products we have in our portfolio - like PROXANIL - have added to the armoury of managing disease overall and the spectre of resistance build-up.
“That’s been a success, a real partnership - and an area we’re continuing to focus on moving forward.”
“Without hesitation, it’s been working with the team here at UPL, particularly those I work closely with here in the UK and Ireland, but also our wider European and global teams.
“We’ve all been through a tough couple of years, and in such times, you have to draw down on your expertise, your energy and your resilience, and the UK and Ireland team have certainly done that.
“They have an unwavering focus on what we’re here to do. To support the industry with our products, and provide our channel partners and growers with all the tools they need for success."
“Well, it’s a catch-all, but it would have to be ‘the unexpected.’
“Of course farmers, and all of us who work in agriculture, are used to the unexpected in what’s a very unpredictable industry - whether that’s the weather, energy costs or other economic factors.
“So having an open mind, not being complacent, and anticipating the unexpected is going to be key. Certainly have a plan A, a plan B and probably even a plan C!
“That ethos and mentality - which is already prevalent in our industry - will help us continue to be resilient as a sector. It’ll certainly help us to overcome what comes our way.”
“Well, a prediction, actually maybe a wish or a hope, is that we actually have a relatively fair and stable (not perfect) pattern of weather that allows farmers to plant the crops they desire and plan for in a timely manner, and then obviously provides the inputs and nurture and care into those crops through the season and into harvest.
“Hopefully the weather will be kind enough to allow a decent and timely harvest too.
“It’s a big ask, and whether it will come true or not is in the lap of gods, but it does feel like we’re overdue a little bit more of an even run at it, with more stability.
“Either way, we’ll adapt and make the best of it, whatever 2025 throws at us.”
Do you agree with Vaughn’s answers? What were your biggest successes last year, and what’s your big prediction for 2025?
As pressures increase, resistance grows and traditional solutions are withdrawn, growers up and down the country are faced with challenge after challenge to their crop...
If you’re looking for an effective way to control seed-borne disease in your spring barley this season, there’s one fungicide that should be top of...
Despite their significant distinctions, there is a lot of misunderstanding about the difference between biostimulants and biopesticides. We spoke with UPL’s technical specialist -...
