Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 40 years
Trial tests low-input sugar beet at Elveden
A commercial-scale low-input sugar beet trial is under the spotlight amid mounting pressure to cut costs and improve environmental performance. Hosted at the Elveden Estate in Suffolk, an open day on 18 June will bring together growers, agronomists and supply chain businesses to assess how different cultivation and nitrogen... Read more
Stacked-trait varieties shape beet future
Plant breeders are urging sugar beet growers to rethink their seed strategies as weed pressure, disease risk and difficult drilling conditions reshape crop prospects. The focus comes as growers face mounting challenges from weed beet, beet cyst nematode, virus yellows and cercospora, prompting greater interest in varieties with multiple... Read more
Weaker market poses challenge for growers
British Sugar and its grower base are facing mounting pressure after Associated British Foods warned there is “no evidence yet of a recovery” in the European sugar market next year. The group said its sugar division fell to a £27m adjusted operating loss in the first half of 2026... Read more
Growers warned over rising virus yellows risk
Sugar beet growers are being urged to prepare for a prolonged aphid control campaign as virus yellows pressure builds across eastern England. Many crops are likely to require a three-spray aphicide programme this season after warm spring conditions encouraged early pest activity, says the latest bulletin from the British... Read more
High-performance telehandlers showcased at Cereals
Telehandlers and a range of post-harvest equipment will be showcased at Cereals this month – taking place on 10-11 June at Diddly Squat Farm, Oxfordshire. Merlo will exhibit a targeted line-up of high-performance agricultural machinery – including the TF45.11 TCS?170 CVTronic HF, a flagship model engineered for high-throughput grain... Read more
Farm cuts bottlenecks with auto drying system
An estate farm has invested in a fully automated grain drying and handling system to replace its ageing post-harvest infrastructure. Farm manager Mark Heritage says his 1960s grain set-up could no longer cope with the scale and speed of modern harvest operations after bringing farmland back in-hand in 2022.... Read more
New partnership launched to boost cereal margins
A new partnership aims to improve farm profitability by combining lower-cost input purchasing with grain storage and marketing services. The collaboration brings together AF Group’s buying power on farm inputs with Camgrain’s grain handling, drying and marketing operation across eastern and central England. The two farmer-owned co-operatives believe the... Read more
Arlington secures top-tier milling wheat status
DSV’s Arlington wheat variety has secured full Group 1 milling status, giving growers a new high-yielding option for the UK breadmaking market. The decision confirms its place among the UK’s premium breadmaking wheats ahead of autumn drilling. The variety combines milling quality with competitive yields at a time when... Read more
Plant-based insecticide targets grain store pests
Organic and low-input farmers have a new option for tackling insect pressure in grain stores ahead of harvest following the launch of a plant-based insecticide. Approved for use in organic systems, Organ-X Pro is designed to control pests including flies, midges, ants, cockroaches and stored product insects such as... Read more
Pre-harvest preparation pays dividends for grain storage
Timely pre-harvest preparation is paying off for large-scale grain store operators who enforce strict hygiene and treatment protocols. Colin and Sarah Godwin own and run Keysley Store – a full-service grain and commodity storage and drying facility. Harvest preparation starts as soon as the previous crop leaves the store,... Read more