High-yield hybrid barley launched
Arable 08/07/2025
A new high-yielding hybrid winter feed barley variety is being launched to UK growers for autumn drilling. Described as robust, resilient and reliable, SY Quantock, marks the next generation in yield from Syngenta’s established Hyvido hybrid barley breeding programme, explains Mark Shaw, the company’s hybrid barley portfolio manager. As... Read more
New trials focus on blackgrass control
Arable 08/07/2025
Drilling options evaluated Delayed drilling to give the best options for blackgrass control or simply because of challenging autumn conditions could be having a bigger effect on crop establishment and subsequent plant health than many growers realise. Fieldscale trials are exploring the benefits of a ploughing reset in direct... Read more
‘Get farming message across this harvest’
Arable 08/07/2025
Growers are being urged to highlight the role farmers play as food producers – by harnessing the power of social media and inviting MPs onto farms this harvest. Huge challenges have been imposed by the Labour government which came to power one year ago this month, says the NFU... Read more
• Potential for agricultural growth • Year after Labour election victory • Hot issues of IHT and SFI remain The government has received rare praise from farm leaders after including agriculture in its industrial growth strategy. The strategy forms a central pillar of the Labour government’s mission to grow... Read more
Harvesting benefits of positive attitude
Opinion 03/07/2025
Few industries are so dependent on the weather as farming. Not even tourism is so much at the mercy of the elements. If harvest is the end of the farming calendar, then this summer marks the culmination of yet another challenging season – although the weather has been different... Read more
Deal or no deal?
Opinion 10/06/2025
Like it or not, Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade agreements are bad news for British farmers, says Clodhopper What is it about us older farmers? Do we just not understand stuff? Has our thought process slowed down so much we are losing touch with reality? Having briefly read the... Read more
Soil health and economic pressures will be discussed at a dedicated Regenerative Agriculture conference at this month’s Cereals event. Hosted by BASE UK and sponsored by sponsored by Tees Law, the conference will run across both days of the event – held on 11-12 June at Heath Farm, near... Read more
• Latest launch of FETF grants • Six-week application window • Goal to boost farming profits A multi-million-pound fund opens for applications this month to boost farm profitability, productivity and food security. The £46.7 million Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) offers three types of grant – each worth... Read more
Like it or loathe it, electronic identification in the sheep sector has made monitoring lamb growth rates easier than ever, writes Nerys Wright. Although official aggregated data is unavailable – and much of the research is diet-specific – knowing the daily liveweight gain (DLWG) of your lambs is invaluable... Read more
Sheep farmers are being advised to apply insect growth regulator to flocks amid an increased risk of blowfly strike. The free Blowfly Watch service, run in partnership with NADIS, uses a combination of factors – including soil temperature and humidity – raised its blowfly strike risk warning last month.... Read more