A major crop disease may become harder to control because fungal pathogens are less susceptible to widely used fungicides. Genetic changes in fungal pathogen populations are reducing the effectiveness of azole fungicides – used by farmers for decades when tackling phoma stem canker, say scientists at Rothamsted Research. Research... Read more
• Traits help growers fight back • Good overall disease package • Think differently for success A new hybrid oilseed rape variety with resilience to cabbage stem flea beetle promises a big step forward in helping growers successfully grow the crop. LG Avenger is the culmination of almost a... Read more
• Lower pressure from flea beetle • Better outlook towards harvest • Varieties are key consideration Cabbage stem flea beetle pressure is at its lowest level for six years, suggests the latest survey of oilseed rape growers. Well over half of rape growers report little or no autumn challenge... Read more
Confidence renewed for oilseed rape
Oilseed Rape 09/07/2025
• Lower pressure from flea beetle • Still a valuable arable break crop • Goal to increase area of UK rape The 2025 oilseed rape season is approaching with renewed confidence after encouraging results from a cabbage stem flea beetle initiative. The project, which assessed flea beetle stem larvae... Read more
Expert tips on managing potato volunteers
Arable 09/07/2025
Milder autumns and winters are giving potato volunteers a helping hand. Two experts offer the latest advice for keeping on top of them. From black dot to late blight and potato cyst nematode, potato volunteers add significant pest and disease pressure to fields. And with unharvested tubers able to... Read more
Six finalists have been shortlisted for the Soil Farmer of the Year competition, recognising their work to improve soil health. Coordinated by the Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture, entries for 2025 came from a range of farms – in terms of tenure and soil type, enterprise... Read more
A high quality bread-making wheat and the highest yielding oilseed rape on the 2025 candidate list were previewed by DSV UK at Cereals 2025. DSV Arlington is a high specification milling wheat currently on the 2025 candidate list for potential RL listing this year. Meanwhile, high-yielding DSV Dompteur is... Read more
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