Carrot growers root for farming future
Arable 28/08/2025
An elite group of six growers have dug into their own pockets to raise the profile of British carrots by launching a national celebration day. British Carrot Day 2025 will take place on Friday, 3 October. Six farm businesses have joined forces to fund the special day – including... Read more
A sugar beet seed calculator aims to help growers optimise crop yields and profitability by comparing seed treatments. It’s the latest move in an increasingly competitive UK sugar beet market following a decision allowing growers to purchase seed direct from plant breeders rather than having to purchase through British... Read more
Challenging market conditions mean growers face lower sugar beet prices following last month’s contract agreement. NFU Sugar and British Sugar have agreed a headline one-year fixed price contract of £30/t for up to 65% of the contract for 2026/27 sugar beet crop. This compares to a price of £33/t... Read more
Farms bringing land back into production after the Sustainable Farming Incentive could see an unintended increase in blackgrass. Cover crops could be a good option to manage any increase in blackgrass populations that occur within SFI options when land returns to cropping, says Alice Cannon, technical manager for the... Read more
Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman has defied the exceptionally dry season to bring in a record-breaking oilseed rape crop. Known for growing big crops, Mr Lamyman achieved an impressive 7.52t/ha in an 8ha field of September-sown LG Avenger at Worlaby Farm, near Louth – breaking the previous unofficial world record... Read more
Final estimates for this year’s wheat harvest remain unknown because of huge yield differences between farms, say analysts. “The wheat harvest has had arguably the greatest level of variation so far,” says the latest official harvest progress report – published on 22 August by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development... Read more
Kemi Badenoch hits out on inheritance tax
News 27/08/2025
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had a go harvesting wheat when she visited Essex farmer Sam Doddard at Hall Farm, Little Walden. The MP for North West Essex said the Conservatives would reverse government plans to impose inheritance tax on farmers “at the earliest opportunity” – although she acknowledged that... Read more
Police crush vehicle used in farm burglary
News 27/08/2025
Police seized and crushed a Land Rover Discovery used in a farm burglary – following a successful collaboration between the NFU and Hertfordshire constabulary. Information from local farmers helped police track down the vehicle after it was driving to a farm near Bishop’s Stortford, where the would-be thieves tried... Read more
Industry pays tribute to David Richardson
News 27/08/2025
Tributes are being paid to Norfolk farmer and veteran journalist David Richardson, who died age 87 last month after a short illness. Initially recruited by farmer and Anglia TV presenter Dick Joice for a series on rural affairs in 1960, Mr Richardson became one of the most influential voices... Read more
Plea for flexibility from government Lessons must be learned from the summer drought – including changes to agri-environment schemes, say farm leaders. The NFU wants Defra to ensure that the next round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive supports farmers’ resilience in the face of a changing climate. It comes... Read more
Subscribe
Harvest traffic sparks rural road warning
News Jun 2, 2026
Show season highlights best of food and farming
News May 5, 2026
Ministers reject transition call
News May 5, 2026
Iran conflict hits UK farm costs hard
News May 5, 2026
