Careful crop management required Prospects remain good for sugar beet – despite an 18% price reduction. But careful crop management is needed, say advisers. Three pricing options were available to beet growers for the 2025/26 crop – a fixed price of £33/t for up to 70% of contract; a... Read more
New varieties extend choice for growers
Root Crop 03/04/2025
Six new varieties have been added to the 2026 sugar beet list – with more traits to choose from when growing the crop. The 2026 list includes more varieties with in-built tolerance to pests and disease. That said, the number of available varieties has increased by just one to... Read more
Biosolution benefits backed by research
Arable 03/04/2025
• Early use delivers biggest benefits • Integration with regular agronomy • Clear health and resilience benefits Including biosolutions in conventional crop management programmes is helping to boost plant health and resilience. “There’s clear evidence emerging from our trials that using biosolutions early in a fungicide programme is where... Read more
Yield is king again for latest wheats
Arable 03/04/2025
Output and gross margin are priorities for breeder Cereal genetics that maximise productivity are becoming increasingly important for plant breeders keen to help growers boost profitability. Recent years have seen enhanced functionality added to crop options but high yields are also a priority – and the latest KWS varieties... Read more
Expert view Dick Neale gives his advice on how to manage cover crop desiccation in a wet season. Excessively wet soils this year are more likely to be dried by the presence of cover crops than kept wetter. But sun and wind must be allowed to reach the soil... Read more
Scientists have mapped the genome sequence of a wild wheat relative –shedding light on its genetic diversity and potential use in breeding programmes. Published in Scientific Data, the research contributes to a growing body of research aimed at safeguarding global wheat production in the face of climate change and... Read more
‘Good for business and environment’ Fertiliser manufacturers say it still pays to apply urea – despite rules which mean it must be specially treated to reduce ammonia emissions. Restrictions which came into force last year mean urea spread after 1 April must be treated with a urease inhibitor. Audited... Read more
Former science minister George Freeman MP has accused the government of putting food security at risk by prioritising Net Zero over farming. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Freeman (pictured right) said swathes of farmland risked being lost under subsidised solar panels generating expensive electricity as the government... Read more
Anger at closure of green scheme Farm leaders have urged the government to renew its commitment to food production and the environment following a series of cuts and tax rises. The warning follows last month’s closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applications with immediate effect – and... Read more
Farming will survive despite politicians
Opinion 03/04/2025
It’s hard to think of another government in recent memory dishing out so much pain to farmers who feed the nation. Last month’s shock decision by Defra to close the flagship Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applications with immediate effect was as brutal as it was unfair. It was... Read more