Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 40 years
Police training day to tackle farm theft
Police officers took part in a farm and construction equipment training day hosted by the rural insurer NFU Mutual last month. Held at NFU Mutual’s head office in Tiddington, Warwickshire, the event was hosted by the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT). It was partially funded by NFU... Read more
Plea to keep safe on farm this harvest
Farmers are being urged to help keep staff and children safe this harvest – making it a turning point for improving agriculture’s appalling accident record. The call comes ahead of this year’s Farm Safety Week (22-26 July), which will highlight ways of staying safe on UK farms. Organised by... Read more
Stalwart oilseeds trader to retire
Commodity trading manager Owen Cligg is to retire after 15 years at farmer-owned cooperative United Oilseeds During his time with the company, Mr Cligg has overseen the trading of some 7.5m tonnes of combinable crops – including peas, beans, linseed, oats and rye – as well as oilseed rape.... Read more
Off-patent herbicide now for linseed
A new herbicide has been approved for post-emergence broadleaf weed control in linseed. Laya which contains 200g/kg metsulfuron-methyl is a sulfonyl urea herbicide by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific. It is a reverse engineered formulation of Ally SX. Life Scientific specialises in bringing off-patent crop protection products to market with... Read more
Why resistance is ‘only way’ to combat verticillium
A new disease rating on the latest recommended list for oilseed rape aims to help growers choose varieties resistant to verticillium. This year  is the first time verticillium resistance ratings have been included in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board list. Top conventional oilseed rape variety Pinnacle is rated... Read more
How digital water trap helps growers tackle flea beetle
An innovative digital support tool means growers can now remotely monitor the migration of key oilseed rape pests. Launched at Cereals 2024, MagicTrap from Bayer is a fully automated, nex- generation digital yellow water trap. It provides farmers and agronomists with continuously updated information on pest pressure. The trap... Read more
Rape still viable – but keep costs under control
Benchmarking performance and keeping an eye on input costs will be key for profitable oilseed rape production during the coming season. Big swings in rape prices, increasing input costs and variable yields mean net margins for oilseed rape have fluctuated considerably over the last five years, says the Agriculture... Read more
How heritage wheat genes could create new varieties
Genes from a historic collection of wheat seed could help farmers use less fertiliser – saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, say scientists. It follows a decade-long study of the A.E. Watkins Landrace Collection of local wheat varieties dating back to the 1920s and stored within the Germplasm... Read more
Trials give fresh hope for sustainable wheat yields
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
Deal means more choice for sugar beet growers
Sugar beet growers will have more flexibility in the seed varieties they choose following a ground-breaking deal with British Sugar. Reforms announced by NFU Sugar and British Sugar mean growers no longer have to purchase seed via the official UK Seed Account. It means growers will have access to... Read more