• Study gives hope for oilseed rape • Yield potential despite flea beetle • New spray reduces crop lodging New research suggests oilseed rape can still be profitable – despite the challenge of lodging and cabbage stem flea beetle. Growers can reduce the lodging risk even when flea beetle... Read more

Scientists have mapped the genome sequence of a wild wheat relative –shedding light on its genetic diversity and potential use in breeding programmes. Published in Scientific Data, the research contributes to a growing body of research aimed at safeguarding global wheat production in the face of climate change and... Read more

Expert view Dick Neale gives his advice on how to manage cover crop desiccation in a wet season. Excessively wet soils this year are more likely to be dried by the presence of cover crops than kept wetter. But sun and wind must be allowed to reach the soil... Read more

• Good option to boost farm revenue • Few inputs for gross margin success • Marketing pool offers decent returns Sunflowers could make an attractive spring crop for growers looking to make good use of their rotation to increase revenue this year. Grainseed is offering growers the opportunity to... Read more

• Early use delivers biggest benefits • Integration with regular agronomy • Clear health and resilience benefits Including biosolutions in conventional crop management programmes is helping to boost plant health and resilience. “There’s clear evidence emerging from our trials that using biosolutions early in a fungicide programme is where... Read more

Output and gross margin are priorities for breeder Cereal genetics that maximise productivity are becoming increasingly important for plant breeders keen to help growers boost profitability. Recent years have seen enhanced functionality added to crop options but high yields are also a priority – and the latest KWS varieties... Read more

‘Good for business and environment’ Fertiliser manufacturers say it still pays to apply urea – despite rules which mean it must be specially treated to reduce ammonia emissions. Restrictions which came into force last year mean urea spread after 1 April must be treated with a urease inhibitor. Audited... Read more

Growing miscanthus can improve farm business resilience – and increase profitability in less productive areas of the farm, says a crop specialist. Despite high establishment costs, miscanthus delivers greater profitability than wheat and barley over a 10-year period, suggests Terravesta. Beyond this point, the crop’s low maintenance costs further... Read more

Good spray stewardship is essential Farmers preparing to tidy up stubbles ahead of spring crops are advised to check the situation in the field before filling up the sprayer. Effective weed control from glyphosate depends on suitable application conditions – but growers reported were several cases of poor performance... Read more

Three new fungicide co-formulations have been launched – giving growers more options against cereal diseases. All three Adama products contain the active ingredient prothioconazole. Two incorporate the company’s Asorbital formulation technology to provide rainfastness and faster protection against key cereal and oilseed rape diseases. The first of the three... Read more