Growers facing increasing pressure from verticillium stripe should consider resistant rape varieties in the absence of chemical control. The disease can survive in the soil for up to 10 years and, in severe cases, reduce yields by as much as 34%. Industry specialists say variety choice, combined with good... Read more

Growers returning to oilseed rape are being urged to focus on crop management as renewed confidence drive a resurgence in plantings. The rape area increased by 49% for harvest 2026, according to estimates from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. But the 358,000 hectares grown this season remains a... Read more

Adding a plant health elicitor to sugar beet fungicide programmes could improve disease control and increase yields. Trial results suggest that combining the biostimulant Innocul8 with conventional fungicides can consistently reduce foliar disease levels – while helping crops retain healthy canopies for longer. Agrii technical manager for non-combinable crops... Read more

Potato industry leaders say the sector will struggle to reverse falling domestic production unless the government makes water a strategic priority for farming. Unreliable access to water is now the biggest barrier to expanding domestic production, delegates were told at the Potato Industry Growth Summit in London. Growers are... Read more

A new winter wheat variety is attracting interest from growers looking for reliable performance across a range of soils, drilling dates and seasons. Bred by RAGT Seeds, RGT Hexton is in its first year of widespread commercial availability. But it has already shown strong disease resistance and consistent performance... Read more

New research by Rothamsted Research could help growers manage herbicide resistance while protecting existing Avadex chemistry. It follows changes made by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) – moving Avadex (tri-allate) into the same Group 15 mode of action category as flufenacet, prosulfocarb and ethofumesate. The decision raises questions... Read more

Cultivating oilseed rape stubble after harvest benefits the following crop and helps to reduce pest pressure – including Cabbage Stem Flea Beetles (CSFB).  The cross-industry OSR Reboot initiative pinpoints 10 techniques that can help. Updated for this autumn, they are a key example of Integrated Pest Management in action... Read more

Early wheat yields are varying sharply after three summer heatwaves accelerated crop development and reduced output by as much as one third. While grain quality has generally held up, with protein levels encouraging and specific weights around 80kg/hl, growers are reporting striking differences between crops, regions and soil types.... Read more