Genetically diverse varieties can help spread risk when growing milling wheat in a challenging season, say experts. For many cereal growers, 2024 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons: persistent wet weather, a poor spring, lack of sunshine, huge disease pressure and a huge battle against brown and... Read more

Crop science organisation NIAB has appointed Mark Fletcher as its head of agronomy services – a new role within the company. Dr Fletcher will lead NIAB’s team of 20 agronomists and consultants who deliver technical and consultancy services across the country. He previously led Agovista’s northern agronomy team for... Read more

The search is on for forward-thinking farmers to take part in trials exploring soil health, the potential of pulses and sustainable slug control. The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) is inviting farmers to host and run trials on their individual farms. Participants will receive full back-up and support from... Read more

Tickets are now available for a new potato industry event – due to be held on 4-5 September at Nocton, near Lincoln. Called Potato Days UK, the two day event in the one of the country’s major potato growing regions will be hosted by Dyson Farming and organised by... Read more

High-yielding soft wheat Bamford is generating some serious attention as one of the newest varieties on the recommended list. The Group 3 variety from Elsoms has proved to one of the most fascinating additions to this year’s winter wheat line-up, with its very high treated and untreated yield figures.... Read more

Hard feed wheats are set to feature heavily again in autumn cropping plans – as growers look to bounce back from a rain-hit season. Winter wheat remains the highest gross margin crop on most arable farms, with yield still seen as king for maximising returns. And hard varieties already... Read more

High disease pressure could restrict yield potential in late sown pulse crops racing through growth stages to recover from the wet spring. Many which were slow to establish are now playing catch-up. But increasingly high disease risks threaten to restrict green leaf area development and harvest yield, says Syngenta... Read more

Better wheat yields could achieved by using biostimulants to reduce reliance on fertiliser and agrochemicals, suggests a trial. Carried out by plant breeder KWS and biostimulants specialist Orion Future Technologies, researchers who treated wheat with silicon found that the crop was better at taking up essential nutrients. These included... Read more

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

An emergency approval has been granted for paraffin oil product Olie-H in seed potato crops – helping growers tackle non-persistent aphid-vectored viruses. Non-persistently transmitted potyviruses – sometimes called mosaic viruses – are the most problematic viral diseases affecting British potato production. Currently, the dominant species is potato virus Y... Read more