Growers returning to oilseed rape are being urged to focus on crop management as renewed confidence drive a resurgence in plantings. The rape area increased by 49% for harvest 2026, according to estimates from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. But the 358,000 hectares grown this season remains a... Read more
Potato industry leaders say the sector will struggle to reverse falling domestic production unless the government makes water a strategic priority for farming. Unreliable access to water is now the biggest barrier to expanding domestic production, delegates were told at the Potato Industry Growth Summit in London. Growers are... Read more
Cultivating oilseed rape stubble after harvest benefits the following crop and helps to reduce pest pressure – including Cabbage Stem Flea Beetles (CSFB). The cross-industry OSR Reboot initiative pinpoints 10 techniques that can help. Updated for this autumn, they are a key example of Integrated Pest Management in action... Read more
New research by Rothamsted Research could help growers manage herbicide resistance while protecting existing Avadex chemistry. It follows changes made by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) – moving Avadex (tri-allate) into the same Group 15 mode of action category as flufenacet, prosulfocarb and ethofumesate. The decision raises questions... Read more
Early wheat yields are varying sharply after three summer heatwaves accelerated crop development and reduced output by as much as one third. While grain quality has generally held up, with protein levels encouraging and specific weights around 80kg/hl, growers are reporting striking differences between crops, regions and soil types.... Read more
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