Tributes paid to Staffordshire farmer
News 31/07/2024
The farming community has paid tribute to a Staffordshire farmer respected for his in-depth knowledge and for championing the industry over many decades. Growers and livestock producers across the country have remembered Robert Lockhart, of Drayton Bassett, who died aged 71 on 22 June after being diagnosed with cancer.... Read more
The government faces calls to put its money where its mouth is after Defra minister Daniel Zeichner pledged a “new deal” for Britain’s farmers. Mr Zeichner made the pledge during an NFU reception in parliament last month. More than 130 MPs and Peers attended the reception – held one... Read more
Farmers are being urged to help keep staff and children safe this harvest – making it a turning point for improving agriculture’s appalling accident record. The call comes ahead of this year’s Farm Safety Week (22-26 July), which will highlight ways of staying safe on UK farms. Organised by... Read more
Off-patent herbicide now for linseed
Oilseed Rape 03/07/2024
A new herbicide has been approved for post-emergence broadleaf weed control in linseed. Laya which contains 200g/kg metsulfuron-methyl is a sulfonyl urea herbicide by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific. It is a reverse engineered formulation of Ally SX. Life Scientific specialises in bringing off-patent crop protection products to market with... Read more
A new disease rating on the latest recommended list for oilseed rape aims to help growers choose varieties resistant to verticillium. This year is the first time verticillium resistance ratings have been included in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board list. Top conventional oilseed rape variety Pinnacle is rated... Read more
Plant breeder DSV showcased its latest PhomaBlocker and Powerful Pods oilseed rape varieties at last month’s Cereals event. “Our PhomaBlocker technology has taken on added significance following recent Rothamsted Research findings the disease is becoming resistant to azole fungicides across Europe,” explains DSV UK’s Sarah Hawthorne. “With three different... Read more
An innovative digital support tool means growers can now remotely monitor the migration of key oilseed rape pests. Launched at Cereals 2024, MagicTrap from Bayer is a fully automated, nex- generation digital yellow water trap. It provides farmers and agronomists with continuously updated information on pest pressure. The trap autonomously... Read more
Benchmarking performance and keeping an eye on input costs will be key for profitable oilseed rape production during the coming season. Big swings in rape prices, increasing input costs and variable yields mean net margins for oilseed rape have fluctuated considerably over the last five years, says the Agriculture... Read more
Tickets are now available for a new potato industry event – due to be held on 4-5 September at Nocton, near Lincoln. Called Potato Days UK, the two day event in the one of the country’s major potato growing regions will be hosted by Dyson Farming and organised by... Read more
High-yielding soft wheat Bamford is generating some serious attention as one of the newest varieties on the recommended list. The Group 3 variety from Elsoms has proved to one of the most fascinating additions to this year’s winter wheat line-up, with its very high treated and untreated yield figures.... Read more