• Blackgrass now emerging later • Implications for cultural control • Spray sequences are important The later and more protracted emergence of blackgrass is prompting a shift in control strategies. Continued use of successful management strategies for blackgrass control developed by agronomy company Hutchinsons is starting to lead to... Read more

Carbon emissions from wheat production can be halved, suggest trials by growers supplying grain to Weetabix. The Lower Carbon Wheat Project was conducted on behalf of the Weetabix Grower’s Group, a collective of over 120 local farmers who grow 75,000 tonnes of wheat annually within 50 miles of the... Read more

Huge differences reported in yields Early yields this harvest are better than expected on some farms – but other crops coming off the field are disappointing. After a rollercoaster growing season marked by prolonged drought followed by sudden downpours, combine harvesters rolled into barley crops in late June –... Read more

Milder autumns and winters are giving potato volunteers a helping hand. Two experts offer the latest advice for keeping on top of them. From black dot to late blight and potato cyst nematode, potato volunteers add significant pest and disease pressure to fields. And with unharvested tubers able to... Read more

Six finalists have been shortlisted for the Soil Farmer of the Year competition, recognising their work to improve soil health.   Coordinated by the Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture, entries for 2025 came from a range of farms – in terms of tenure and soil type, enterprise... Read more

A high quality bread-making wheat and the highest yielding oilseed rape on the 2025 candidate list were previewed by DSV UK at Cereals 2025. DSV Arlington is a high specification milling wheat currently on the 2025 candidate list for potential RL listing this year. Meanwhile, high-yielding DSV Dompteur is... Read more

A new high-yielding hybrid winter feed barley variety is being launched to UK growers for autumn drilling. Described as robust, resilient and reliable, SY Quantock, marks the next generation in yield from Syngenta’s established Hyvido hybrid barley breeding programme, explains Mark Shaw, the company’s hybrid barley portfolio manager. As... Read more

Drilling options evaluated Delayed drilling to give the best options for blackgrass control or simply because of challenging autumn conditions could be having a bigger effect on crop establishment and subsequent plant health than many growers realise. Fieldscale trials are exploring the benefits of a ploughing reset in direct... Read more

Growers are being urged to highlight the role farmers play as food producers – by harnessing the power of social media and inviting MPs onto farms this harvest. Huge challenges have been imposed by the Labour government which came to power one year ago this month, says the NFU... Read more

• Think about sulphur – not only nitrogen • Nutrient efficiency at heart of decisions • Consider decoupling for more flexibility Growers and agronomists are advised to think more broadly when devising their fertiliaer plans for next season. A wider view when it comes to organic and inorganic fertilise... Read more