A mild and wet first three months of the year threaten to result in a perfect storm for barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infections this spring. Winter temperatures were rarely low enough to reduce populations of virus-carrying aphids – which have started to migrate just as crops are at... Read more
Japanese crop protection company Sumitomo Chemical expects to secure approval for a number of new cereal fungicides on UK farms. Sumitomo already markets a portfolio of agrochemical products in the UK. It includes Soleil, a combination bromuconazole and tebuconazole for rust and fusarium control in wheat; Dipel, which combats... Read more
Agrovista Seeds has appointed a new eastern seed sales manager to meet increasing demand from growers looking for technical expertise and advice. James Barlow (right) grew up on an arable farm in Nottinghamshire. After studying for a degree in agriculture at Lincoln University, he spent more than eight years... Read more
Wet soils increase potato pest threat
Arable 03/05/2024
Stubbornly wet soils and a high water table could increase the risk of wireworm damage in potato crops this season. Research over recent years has identified high soil moisture as a precursor for pest activity, with wet areas and flood plains increasing pressure levels, says Syngenta technical manager Andy... Read more
Strong milling wheat and protein premiums make it an easy decision to push crops for grain quality this season – but growers should be aware of low nitrogen levels. Washout winter and spring weather means some crops face a double challenge to achieve protein specifications. Soil nitrogen is depleted... Read more
Winter cereal trial plots will be under scrutiny when more than 1,500 visitors attend the Arable Event on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border next month. Organised by Wynnstay and Graintrial plots of wheat, barley, oats, hybrid rye and triticale. It takes place on 19 June at Woodlands Farm, which is part... Read more
Britain’s supermarket bosses are being urged to help UK farmers bounce back from the disastrously wet winter and spring. In a joint letter to major retailers, leaders of Britain’s four main farm unions say the challenging weather has brought food security into sharp focus. And they call on supermarket... Read more
Farmers and landowners are often concerned about the prospect of tax changes if a Labour government comes to power. A perennial fear is a hike in capital gains tax – or even the introduction of a yet more punitive ‘development tax’. With Keir Starmer’s party tipped to win the... Read more
Get the most out of multi-species leys
Forage 03/04/2024
With the Sustainable Farming Incentive paying £382/ha for planting multi-species leys (MSLs), interest in them is growing rapidly but livestock producers should carefully consider how they fit into forage systems. While there are many benefits, including increased biodiversity and better soil health, MSLs require a different management regime than... Read more
Modern silage films are making the ensiling process quicker and more reliable – and delivering a significant return on investment. “True oxygen barrier films can help reduce wastage and ensure more of the forage energy clamped is available for milk or livestock production,” says Jim Juby of Horizon Seeds.... Read more