Structure of the project

 Introduction and project rationale

The project is organised into 4 work packages, each with defined deliverables and milestones.  An overview of each work package is included below.

The survey will introduce innovation whilst protecting the value of the long-term data set and is guided by the following overarching principles:
 

• Everyone will have simple, efficient and prompt access to the data.
• Methods will be implemented for open data access, whilst protecting the identity of surveyed farms.
• Priorities will be guided by stakeholders.
• Analysis, interpretation and communication will focus on the needs of each group of stakeholders.
• Methodology will remain consistent with previous surveys, to ensure comparability between sites and seasons and maintain the integrity of the long-term data set.
•  Innovative methods and new technology will be introduced to provide more valuable survey outputs and increase efficiency.
• Each innovation will be calibrated against previous methods to ensure the continued integrity of the long-term data set.

 Work Package 1:  Stakeholder engagement

Objective:

Enable stakeholders’ input to guide survey priorities, methodologies and innovations. Ensure data, analysis and findings are communicated effectively to stakeholders, to maximise impact and public good.
 

Methodology:

ADAS has relationships with all the major agricultural stakeholder groups.  A Steering Committee has been assembled and is  responsible for strategic direction and prioritising activities of the survey.  The Steering Committee also hold the ADAS Project Management team to account for delivery.  The Diverse Stakeholder Engagement Group bring further expertise and knowledge to the team and inform the Steering Committee on an annual basis.
 
Survey findings are communicated via key reporting routes:
 

1. Reporting back to participating farmers.  Each participant receives a copy of their individual results with national and regional benchmark values for comparison.
2. Reporting to Defra.  An annual report is submitted to Defra which covers progress in each project year. 
3. Reporting to stakeholders.  A series of mini-reports will be uploaded to the website and will present findings from pest and disease observations as they occur throughout the season.
4. Making data publicly available has been achieved through the Interactive Platform.
5. Links to papers and technical articles arising from the survey data will published on the website.
6. ADAS endevor to promote the project and report key findings at various scientific conferences, industry events, via social media and through engagement with the popular agricultural press.

In order to maximise the usefulness of the survey and the impact of the data, ADAS collaborate with and align the survey with synergistic projects and initiatives.  We are GDPR compliant and never share data in a way that identifies individual sites or participants.    
 

Deliverables:

• Formation of a Project Steering Committee.
• Formation a Diverse Stakeholder Engagement Group.
• Communications and knowledge exchange plan implemented.

 Work Package 2:  Crop pest & disease assessment

Objective:

Survey pests and diseases of wheat and oilseed rape and ensure consistency with previous surveys.
 

Methodology:

Approximately 300 fields of wheat and 85 fields of oilseed rape are surveyed each year.  Sites are selected at random from Defra June agricultural census returns and are stratified across England and Wales by region and farm size.
 
A diagrammatic timeline of sampling activity is shown below.  Timing of assessments is triggered by crop growth stage rather than calendar date so the representation is approximate.  The timing of assessments and the methodology used to assess the crops is consistent with previous surveys, to maintain the integrity of the long-term data set.
 
Oilseed rape diseases are assessed at three key timings; late autumn mid leaf production, spring stem extension and pod ripening.  Wheat diseases are assessed on one occasion at GS73 - 75 (early - medium milk).  Thirty representative whole plants (oilseed rape) or tillers (wheat) are collected from each field and taken to the laboratory where a sub-set of 25 plants or tillers are assessed for disease severity and remaining healthy green leaf area.  All pests and disease present on the plant are recorded and all plant parts are examined - leaves, stems, pods/ears.  Individual leaf layers are assessed separately for wheat.
 
In-field pest and natural enemy assessments are carried out by assessing up to 100 random plants per field.  The natural enemies of aphids are generalised into groups for ease of recording.  Cabbage stem flea beetle larvae are assessed in oilsee rape in late autumn and spring.  
 
The project team engage regularly with stakeholders and remain responsive to rapid changes in pest and disease pressure within season, so as not to miss the opportunity to assess the less frequently occurring pests and diseases. 
 
Agronomic information such as variety, sowing date and rotational history is collected from each field along with comprehensive pesticide input details.

Deliverables:

• Data set of wheat and oilseed rape pest and disease observations.
• Corresponding data set of crop input details and other agronomic factors such as variety.
• Individual field reports sent to each participating farmer.

 Work Package 3:  Data accessibility

Objective:

Develop a web-based platform for the survey that provides stakeholders with open access to the data, analyses and interpretation.
 

Methodology:

Methods have been implemented to reconcile open data access with the need to protect the personal data and identity of farmer participants in the survey.  Data have been made publicly accessible to all stakeholders through the use of a web platform underpinned by a microservices architecture. This approach ensures that key functions (e.g. database updating, visualisation of data, risk mapping) can be provided by individual microservices that make updating and maintaining the web platform more efficient. 
 
The database has been designed to ensure consistency with the historical data from previous surveys, while being extensible and flexible enough to cope with any future proposed amendments to the survey methodology.  Visualisation of the data has been designed to enable user selections relating to crops, pests & diseases, regions and timescales.
 

Deliverables:

• All data made freely and easily accessible.
• A web platform that provides dynamic visualisation of pest & disease risks and threats.

 Work Package 4:  Survey innovations

Objective:

Test the feasibility, usefulness and efficiency gains from key innovations. Develop and implement the most valuable innovations.
 

Methodology:

We have reviewed the survey methodology to ensure the most appropriate methods are being used in the project.  Innovations in the survey do not compromise the integrity, and comparability between seasons, of the historic long-term data set.  We have managed the introduction of new methods carefully, ensuring that each introduction of an innovation is calibrated against the current methods.  Innovations offered for consideration included extending the scope of organisms surveyed, assessment of beneficials and natural enemies, use of molecular diagnosis to identify cryptic pathogens, image analysis, citizen science, creation of an image library for training purposes, provision of pest and pathogen samples to monitor emerging strains, efficient CSFB larval assessment.  Innovations which supported the accuracy of assessments and increased the value of the project were considered favourably.  The project team reviewed the innovations and proposed priority innovations to the Steering Committee which agreed phasing of development and implementation.
 

Deliverables:

• Optimised survey methodology (inc. review of sample size and stratification).
• Analysis of the historical data set, targeted at policy guidance needs.
• Report on the feasibility and usefulness of innovations.
• Priority innovations implemented.