Serving the Farming Industry across the Midlands for 35 Years
Keep safe on the road this harvest
Farmers and seasonal workers are being reminded to take care this harvest when grain carting and moving machinery on the road. Collisions between farm vehicles and other motorists are 61% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, according to the latest figures from NFU... Read more
Trial to see if biostimulant can boost grain protein
Crop nutrient specialists UPL report good interest in wheat growers keen to trial an alternative method for increasing grain protein. The company has given away 20ha of its biostimulant Ary-Amin to 50 farmers this spring – a popular try-before-you-buy offer with growers keen to take advantage of milling wheat... Read more
‘Boot camp’ offers on-farm pest control training
Farmers and grain store managers are being invited to attend a training event to improve their pest control strategies. Co-hosted by pest control supplier Killgerm and BASF, the one-day event in North Yorkshire costs £60+VAT.  It will include live demonstrations, presentations, group discussions and practical sessions from industry experts.... Read more
Strategies for de-risking your farm business
Agri-environment schemes The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can be valuable in terms of implementing a more active risk management strategy.  The SFI allows growers to take out the worst-performing areas, or lowest margin crops within a rotation, and replace them with a fixed return with almost zero risk. The... Read more
How to shield your business from lower harvest profits
The likelihood of lower profits this harvest will emphasise the need to shield arable businesses against high levels of risk and volatility. A typical arable farm will generate just £80/ha in net margin – equivalent to profit before rent and finance – for combinable crops from harvest 2024, according... Read more
Breakthrough offers hope against sugar beet virus
A scientific breakthrough could provide UK farmers with environmentally friendly protection against a key sugar beet disease. Researchers at the Norwich-based John Innes Centre have developed a non-chemical molecular approach to protect crops against virus yellows – a disease which can reduce sugar beet yields by as much as... Read more
‘Seek advice when ordering tolerant sugar beet varieties’
Growers are being advised to discuss their requirements with plant breeders before ordering sugar beet seed tolerant to challenges faced by the crop. Six new sugar beet varieties have been added to the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list for drilling in 2025. They include varieties tolerant to Beet... Read more
Drainage experts help rejuvenate waterlogged fields
Farmers are invited to attend a special Land Drainage Hub hosted by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors at Cereals. Experts will be on hand at 10.30am and 1.30pm on both days of the two-day event to help pinpoint the best way forward for growers looking to upgrade drainage... Read more
Innovation and efficiencies to be in the spotlight at Cereals 2024
The latest farming innovations, demonstrations and technical developments will take pride of place at this month’s Cereals event. To be held on 11-12 June at Bygrave Woods in Hertfordshire, the two-day show will include new products and scientific techniques being developed to improve crop health, farm efficiencies and profitability.... Read more
Liquid fertiliser: why more growers plan to switch
Growers switching to liquid fertiliser are being advised to start planning now for the autumn cropping season. A wet eight months mean more arable farmers are moving away from solid fertiliser, says Phil Burrell, head of crop nutrition for Yara. Now is a good time to start planning for... Read more