Growers keen to embrace smart tech More arable farmers are turning to digital technology to help run their businesses – and generate better returns. Almost two-thirds of larger growers believe data-driven decision-making is important to their farms, according to study findings unveiled at the Hutchinsons Connected Farming Technology Conference... Read more

A Lincolnshire farm saw Merlin spring oats yield an incredible 11t/ha last summer – over twice the national average. The unprecedented achievement was achieved by the Happy Days Farming Company, which farms more than 2000ha (5000 acres) of arable crops across Lincolnshire and neighbouring Nottinghamshire. Farm manager Mark Popplewell... Read more

Laureate still popular with growers Farmers looking to grow spring malting barley successfully in 2025 should manage risk by considering varieties that have performed consistently over multiple years. This should include difficult growing seasons – such as 2024, says Syngenta seeds technical expert Robert Jackson. Growers should also be... Read more

A wet autumn meant spring barley was a get-out-of-jail card for some growers last season. But many crops still delivered above average yields. Their performance owes much to the age-old issue of tiller retention, says Limagrain arable technical manager Ron Granger. Pictured below, Mr Granger outlines six ways to... Read more

• Full malting status for winter barley • Strong yields and disease resistance • ‘Serious interest’ for barley growers High-yielding winter barley Buccaneer has achieved full malting status for brewing. The two-row variety from Elsoms Seeds was approved at the Malting Barley Committee’s autumn meeting on 4 November.  With... Read more

Two wheats from breeder RAGT make the 2025/26 Recommended List after strong performances on farms and in trials. Breadmaking wheat RGT Goldfinch is the first Group 2 breadmaking wheat resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus and orange wheat blossom midge. It is joined by RGT Hexton – a barn-filling... Read more

Two Syngenta malting barley varieties have been fully approved by the Malting Barley Committee for harvest 2025. Spring barley variety SY Tennyson has secured full approval for brewing, having previously been provisionally approved. It was already fully approved for distilling – underlining its potential as a dual-purpose variety. Described... Read more

Valuable traits benefit growers Two new Limagrain pulses added to the 2024/25 PGRO Descriptive List demonstrate a continuing commitment to the UK sector, says the breeder. Yielding 110% of control, LG Eagle is the joint highest performing spring bean variety on the list. It is joined by early maturing... Read more

• Choice across major crop types • Strong pipeline of new varieties • Balance of key traits and yields An expansive new variety line-up demonstrates the strength and depth in Elsoms Seeds breeding programme, says the company. Seven new Elsoms varieties on the Recommended List for 2025/26 include three... Read more

KWS varieties top AHDB wheat and barley lists Eight new wheat varieties and four new barleys from KWS have won a place on the Recommended List for 2025/26. Covering all groups and sectors, many of the varieties set new standards for yield, quality and consistency of production, says KWS... Read more