Farmers seeking profitable alternatives to traditional break crops flocked to last month’s maize growers’ conference. Almost 190 farmers and maize specialists attended the two-day event on 4-5 February in Leicestershire. Organised by the Maize Growers’ Association, it marked the highest attendance in the conference’s recent history. Some 240,000 hectares... Read more

 Beet yields have improved in trials carried out on biostimulants – with better tolerance against key diseases too. Two plot trials during the 2024/25 growing season were carried out by Michael Rodger of Richard Austin Agriculture. Yields increased by 9% with improved disease tolerance against cercospora leaf spot, rust... Read more

Sugar beet growers have the opportunity to sell some of their 2027/28 crop forward – before annual price negotiations. The chance to trial a new index-linked contract option will enable growers to market sugar beet on a longer-term basis. It has been created by NFU Sugar, British Sugar and... Read more

The LLS-Erased project offers a well-timed opportunity to focus on improving the control of light leaf spot, and the field-based guidance available. “Farmer collaboration and knowledge is essential to build effective disease management tools and IPM testing protocols that are practical and cost-effective,” says Faye Ritchie (right), technical director... Read more

A £2.5m project will see the first precision-bred oilseed rape grown on UK commercial farms – marking a major step towards the largescale growing of the crop. The project is being led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN). It is being funded through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, which... Read more

A forecast 30% rise in the UK oilseed rape area is looking good in the field, with well-established crops thriving as spring approaches. After several difficult seasons, growers returning to the crop report reduced pigeon damage and lower pressure from cabbage stem flea beetle across many key arable regions.... Read more

Two companies behind a new crop nutrition programme say it is delivering strong results for growers across a range of arable enterprises. Cope Nutrition was launched by Lincolnshire-based seed and grain specialist Cope in partnership with crop nutrition specialists BioNature. It aims to help growers achieve higher, more resilient... Read more

Spring-emerging grassweeds and those that survived winter will need special management in the coming weeks despite generally strong autumn weed control, Most residual herbicides have performed well, says Hutchinsons technical manager Dick Neale. In the main, weaker results have been limited to early-drilled crops or where dry conditions restricted... Read more

A new range of fertilisers aims to maintain yields while rebuilding soil health, combining instant-release mineral nutrients with phased organic nutrition. Early trial results suggest improved nutrient retention in wet conditions, alongside greater yield stability, says organic fertiliser producer SoilWorx, which is expanding beyond its Irish heartland to the... Read more

Growers are being advised to focus on proven varieties with strong market flexibility when selecting spring barley seed. Uncertainty over area, premiums and end-market demand continue to shape decision-making this season, says malting barley trader Laura Jones, of Saxon Agriculture. Premium possibilities British farmers consistently produce some of the... Read more