Growers will be keen to ensure crops are strong and can withstand winter weather given the difficulties of the previous growing season. Early crop development is essential and a key nutrient for this is phosphate, which growers can apply before or immediately after drilling as part of a balanced... Read more
A new oilseed rape variety from RAGT’s revamped breeding programme has more than matched expectations in trials by CMG Agronomy in Norfolk. RGT Blackmoon looked impressive all season in the 3ha strip trial, says CMG director Craig Green. “It was visually greener throughout and put on more biomass than... Read more
Crops growing well as harvest approaches
Arable 06/09/2024
Sugar beet crops look good going into autumn, despite earlier fears of virus yellows, writes Tim Giles, technical manager for SesVanderHave. But it remains important to be vigilant and monitor crops for new vector borne diseases and old adversaries, with more patches of beet cyst nematode observed this year.... Read more
Growers can use sugar beet seed treated with two stacked ingredients for 2025 sowing to protect against soil pests and diseases increasingly causing problems at emergence. Traditionally, Tachigaren (Hymeazol) has been used to protect against damping off. But the increased presence of maize in rotations plus a wet spring... Read more
Yara adapts approach to crop nutrition
Arable 06/09/2024
Chris Harrold (right) has been promoted to head of crop nutrition at Yara as part of a wider agronomy review within the company’s UK operation. Yara said it was adapting its agronomy advice to improve crop productivity – and do so sustainably – as more growers moved towards a... Read more
‘Time to take biosolutions seriously’
Arable 06/09/2024
Integrating biosolutions into conventional agronomy programmes can have a major effect on crop performance, suggest the latest trials. Enzymes, microorganisms, bacterial cultures and other biological tools can offer the same control as moderate fungicide approaches. But integrating them into reduced programmes can be as effective as full strength conventional... Read more
Border delays pose threat to crop trials
Arable 02/09/2024
Delays caused by changes to seed import rules threaten to undermine the latest oilseed rape variety trials. Brexit rules mean seed entering the UK since the end of April can now be regarded as high-risk – resulting in delays and inspections at a border control points before it can... Read more
Tributes have been paid to Leicestershire farmer and former NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe, who has died following a cancer diagnosis. Mr Sercombe farmed a commercial flock of 1,000 sheep and arable enterprises with his wife Helen and family at Sandlands Farm – a county council smallholding at... Read more
Environmental farmers seek more members
News 02/09/2024
A group of Lincolnshire farmers has secured the funding needed to improve the environment by trading natural capital. The Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group (EFG) is a farmer-led cooperative working to increase biodiversity, improve water quality, achieve net carbon farming by 2040 and generate new trading opportunities. Financial returns... Read more
Farm leaders have ramped up calls on the government to increase its budget for farming – arguing that doing so is vital to maintain UK food security. NFU president Tom Bradshaw made the call on 13 August – the day of the year that the UK would run out... Read more