Doncaster farmer’s international mission to root out weed solutions

A DONCASTER farmer is set to travel the world in search of answers to a troubling arable issue after being awarded a prestigious scholarship courtesy of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
(L-R): Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with Nuffield scholar, Richard Hinchliffe, at Richards farm near Doncaster as he begins his studies.(L-R): Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with Nuffield scholar, Richard Hinchliffe, at Richards farm near Doncaster as he begins his studies.
(L-R): Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with Nuffield scholar, Richard Hinchliffe, at Richards farm near Doncaster as he begins his studies.

Richard Hinchliffe has been chosen from a strong field of candidates for the Nuffield Farming Scholarship which will see him visit North and South America, Australia and Germany in the coming months to develop an understanding of how farmers in different climates and use a variety of techniques, are overcoming herbicide resistant weeds.

Mr Hinchliffe, who is a partner in his family’s 1,400-acre Dikes Marsh Farm in Thorne, said: “Through my studies, I hope to learn from other people’s lessons, so that we don’t make the same mistakes here in the UK.”

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Of particular interest to Richard is the problem of black-grass, which will be included in his study. A native annual grass weed, it is a big problem for cereal crop growers.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “This is a hugely topical subject as it’s one of the most important issues facing today’s arable farmers. Richard has the drive and the commitment to develop the research towards eradication and sustainable management. The potential benefits to the industry cannot be under estimated.”