An award-winning grower says reconsidering his crop nutrition choices has helped improve his farm business – and soil health. Herefordshire farmer John Joseph, of Trecorras Farm, near Ross-on-Wye, says better nutrient management on his 100ha holding was key to being crowned Farm Carbon Toolkit Soil Farmer of the Year... Read more

Growing miscanthus could help lock more carbon into the soil, improving yields while helping to tackle climate change, say scientists. Well-suited to poorer land, miscanthus is typically grown as an energy crop. The woody stems are also used for green manufacturing and chemicals production, as a construction material and... Read more

A race against time is developing as agronomists and seed breeders adapt to increasingly frequent extreme weather. Wetter winters and warmer summers are forcing a rethink in UK agronomy. Crop performance is shifting. So too are pest and disease risks. The challenge now is adapting management and variety choice... Read more

Tighter controls on sewage sludge spreading will improve water quality and reduce river pollution, says the government. Some 41% of England’s rivers, lakes and streams are currently affected by agricultural pollution, says the government. If approved, the new rules will increase oversight on sewage sludge spreading on farmland. Options... Read more

Declining soil health is emerging as a business risk for UK farms, with experts urging growers to monitor fields. In many instances, organic matter and carbon levels – despite a renewed interest in healthy soils. Input costs are increasing as growers try to compensate for rising compaction, with crops... Read more

A wet winter which saw double the usual rainfall in January has helped to replenish aquifers and reduce fears of a repeat drought this summer. Drought-hit areas suffering following lack of rain began to recover following a wet November which received 149% of long-term average rainfall. This helped kick-start... Read more

Waterlogged fields will need special attention to salvage yields this season following one of the wettest starts to the year, say experts. The wettest January for almost 120 years means root stress could lead to failed crops. High rainfall during the last two months following a huge dump of... Read more

• Plan aims to aid soil recovery • UK and Ukraine in partnership • Project boosted by Defra fund Soil scientists from the Royal Agricultural University are examining the impact of Russian bombardments on Ukraine farmland. Researchers in both countries are working together to help soil health recover from... Read more

More than 10,000 visitors attended last month’s Groundswell 2025 event, held on 1-3 July at Lannock Farm, near Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The sell-out regenerative agriculture festival included over 400 speakers from around the world – among them Prince William and the American “godfather of regenerative agriculture” Gabe Brown.    Visitors... Read more

Soil and wildlife central to success A Cambridgeshire farmer has scooped a prestigious award for integrating arable production and nature to create a profitable business. David Felce received the 2025 Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability at a special ceremony last month. The award was organised by BASF, in partnership... Read more