Oilseed rape is continuing to increase in popularity, with more growers expected to return to the crop this coming season. Decent returns, good yields and acceptable levels of cabbage stem flea beetle management have seen the a revival in fortunes, helping growers manage risk, reduce input costs and spread... Read more
Arable growers can improve resilience and manage risk more effectively by making greater use of crop and variety choice, says plant breeder KWS. Advances in plant breeding are giving farmers access to stronger genetics and a broader range of cropping options at a time when tight margins and volatile... Read more
Growers prepare to leave crops undrilled
Arable 02/07/2026
Tight margins and high input costs are set to see some growers leaving winter crops undrilled this autumn. Fertiliser prices remain stubbornly high – making growing some crops unprofitable. It comes amid NFU calls for the government to implement a Fertiliser Resilience Plan to help protect domestic food production... Read more
An estate farm has invested in a fully automated grain drying and handling system to replace its ageing post-harvest infrastructure. Farm manager Mark Heritage says his 1960s grain set-up could no longer cope with the scale and speed of modern harvest operations after bringing farmland back in-hand in 2022.... Read more
Organic and low-input farmers have a new option for tackling insect pressure in grain stores ahead of harvest following the launch of a plant-based insecticide. Approved for use in organic systems, Organ-X Pro is designed to control pests including flies, midges, ants, cockroaches and stored product insects such as... Read more
Timely pre-harvest preparation is paying off for large-scale grain store operators who enforce strict hygiene and treatment protocols. Colin and Sarah Godwin own and run Keysley Store – a full-service grain and commodity storage and drying facility. Harvest preparation starts as soon as the previous crop leaves the store,... Read more
Farmers and environmental campaigners have clashed over the future of pre-harvest glyphosate – and whether it should be used on crops for human consumption Commonly used as pre-harvest desiccant on cereals and oilseed rape crops, glyphosate has been found to be safe by multiple regulatory reports. But some scientific... Read more
New test helps assess onion disease risk
Arable 04/06/2026
A new DNA-based soil test designed to detect fusarium basal rot before planting has been launched commercially for UK onion growers. Developed by the University of Warwick’s Crop Centre in partnership with ADAS, the test identifies the soil-borne pathogen which causes the fusarium – offering a potential tool to... Read more
Hybrid rye ‘stacks up for season ahead’
Arable 03/06/2026
Switching to hybrid rye as an alternative to wheat this autumn could improve cropping security, says a plant breeder. Decent margins and market demand from anaerobic digestion plants has sparked renewed interest in hybrid rye for the coming season, says KWS seed specialist and product manager Rory Hannam. Once... Read more
Top soft wheat tightens grip on UK market
Arable 03/06/2026
Bamford has become Britain’s best-selling winter wheat – less than three years after joining the AHDB Recommended List. The achievement marks the first time since Robigus in 2005 that a Group 3 soft wheat has taken the top spot. Bamford accounted for more than 14 per cent of commercial... Read more