Irrigation and weather start-up Sencrop has been acquired by Groupe ISAGRI – one of Europe’s leading companies in digital solutions for field management. The acquisition aims to ensure the continuity of innovation and provide farmers with higher service levels, moving Sencrop from a fledgling company to being part of... Read more
EXPERT VIEW Farming must address the twin challenges of food and water security, says Melvyn Kay. “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” wrote English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Penned in 1798, it’s a sentiment that echoes down the ages as... Read more
Funds to protect farm communities Defra plans to review the way it funds flood defences – saying it wants to ensure that farms, rural businesses and local communities are properly protected. It comes after the government unveiled an extra £50m for internal drainage boards (IDBs) – the public bodies... Read more
More than 70 farmers attended the inaugural client conference held by independent agronomy firm Indigro last month. Believed to be the largest one-day event of its kind by a UK-based independent agronomy company, the conference took place on 4 February at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire. The day was themed around... Read more
• Sodden soils after another wet winter • Test properly to assess nutrient status • Take time before drilling spring crops Growers in doubt about the nutritional status of soils this spring should get out in the field and conduct a thorough test, says an agronomist. ProCam agronomist Justin... Read more
• Payments for organic matter test • Increase in nutrient management • More profitable farming practices More farmers are taking advantage of Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive to better understand soil health. Defra’s soil testing incentive CSAM1 is part of the wider SFI scheme and offers £6 per hectare and... Read more
• Flexible terms based on cash flow • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Remain profitable and sustainable Farmers working to improve soil health can take advantage of a new loan agreement with preferential interest rates. Launched by Oxbury Bank, the Transition Facility aims to help farmers continue farming profitably... Read more
EXPERT VIEW Getting the best from nitrogen will be especially important this season, says Natalie Wood. A wet autumn and a range of drilling dates mean nitrogen applications need careful consideration this spring. The first nitrogen application is particularly important in cereals because it affects yield potential. In wheat,... Read more
Farmers preparing to tidy up stubbles ahead of spring crops are advised to check the situation in the field before filling up the sprayer. Effective weed control from glyphosate depends on suitable application conditions – but growers reported were several cases of poor performance last spring due to prolonged... Read more
A Lincolnshire farmer who grew a record-breaking crop of spring oats won gold at the 2025 Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) awards. Mark Popplewell credited his win to precise nutrition and an unusually wet spring. The crop of Merlin yielded 11.46 t/ha – more than double the national average –... Read more