Processors and Growers Research Organisation

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Information and Advisory Services

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All members and Associates are invited to make use of our Information and Advisory Services.

Enquiries can be made by telephone, by email, by post or by personal visit, and may be in relation to any aspect, such as the identification of an individual pest or the provision of detailed plans for a unit's entire production.

Samples and specimens may be submitted for laboratory examination, and field or factory visits are made whenever necessary.

Initial Contact
This is often by telephone or email.  The topic where advice is needed should be outlined and the message will be dealt with by the appropriate staff member.

Matters relating to varieties, crop husbandry and harvesting will usually be dealt with by Stephen Belcher with Jim Scrimshaw dealing with weed control enquiries and general husbandry.

Problems with pests, diseases and disorders, seed and soil testing, seed treatment and crop rotations are usually dealt with by Anthony Biddle.

Many matters are quickly resolved by a discussion of cropping requirements or crop symptoms. Here, the routine contact that PGRO staff have with all aspects of pea and bean production is an invaluable aid to the rapid appreciation of specific problems or crop requirements.  PGRO advice is practical, focused and mindful of both agronomic and economic factors.

Diagnostic Tests
Plant, seed or soil samples may be submitted to the plant clinic for diagnosis. Plants showing a range of symptom severity should be selected, preferably with roots intact, and sent in a polythene bag by first class mail together with a note containing details of the extent of the problem, variety, sowing date, pesticide usage and any other information which may help diagnose the problem.  Communication details should also be clearly stated.

A diagnosis and treatment recommendations can often be made and, if appropriate, supporting literature will be sent.

Field Visits
Some crop problems need to be studied in the field so that an appraisal can be made of soil conditions or the pattern of pest, disease or disorder development. Such visits are usually undertaken when other forms of plant or soil examination have been inconclusive.

Field visits also have the merit of inputs from the grower, fieldsman or adviser. Their intimate knowledge of local conditions and the evolution of the problem are often invaluable aids to the correct identification of crop pests, diseases and disorders.

This service is offered to levy payers without additional charge, irrespective of crop location. Associate Members are usually asked to cover travelling expenses and a consultancy fee may be required. On this basis, crop problems are routinely investigated in all the UK arable areas and at the request of Associate Members, visits have been made to Europe and Africa.

Laboratory Testing
Plant, seed or soil material submitted for diagnosis may require more detailed laboratory tests. Such tests often take several days to complete, but results are made available as soon as possible following diagnosis.

The laboratory facilities at PGRO enable the culturing of fungal or bacterial pathogens and several of the more common viruses can be identified by serological techniques.  Where a nutritional problem is suspected, a rapid analytical service is available.

Seed testing is carried out by qualified analysts following International Seed Testing Association procedures.

A prediction test for soil which may contain damaging populations of soil-borne root-infecting fungi which cause pea foot-rot is also available.

Routine seed and soil testing services are competitively priced and available to all members.

For more information on the pests and diseases for which seed can be tested click on Services then select seed testing from the list.

Publications
A wide range of publications is produced. All members receive copies of the Organisation's journal "Pea and Bean Progress" that provides topical information, articles, research reports and news of PGRO activities.  Also, there are Advisory Leaflets and Information Sheets on a great variety of relevant topics, most of which are available to view or download from this site.

The Organisation publishes the  "Field Bean Handbook".

From 2003, the Organisation has published the PGRO Pulse Agronomy Guide which gives advice on agronomy and varieties of peas, field beans and lupins.  This is available to view or download from this site or as a hard copy, A5 size booklet.