Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 40 years
Yara adapts approach towards arable crops
Chris Harrold has been promoted to head of crop nutrition at Yara as part of a wider agronomy review within the company’s UK operation. Yara said it was adapting its agronomy advice to improve crop productivity – and do so sustainably – as more growers moved towards a more... Read more
Evolution not revolution for autumn cereals
Hutchinsons national seeds manager David Bouch highlights his wheat and barley recommendations for drilling this autumn.                 Several new wheat and barley varieties are vying for our attention this autumn. But with many sectors, the choices on offer for growers have not... Read more
Crops growing well as harvest approaches
Sugar beet crops look good going into autumn, despite earlier fears of virus yellows, writes Tim Giles, technical manager for SesVanderHave. But it remains important to be vigilant and monitor crops for new vector borne diseases and old adversaries, with more patches of beet cyst nematode observed this year.... Read more
‘Flexible and fair’ offer for sugar beet
Sugar beet growers will receive a lower price for next season’s crop – but will share in any market upside. Price talks between NFU Sugar and British Sugar concluded with what both sides described as a flexible deal for 2025/26. The deal allows growers to split their tonnage between... Read more
Bluetongue warning after virus confirmed on Norfolk farm
A bluetongue outbreak on a Norfolk farm has reignited concern about the virus – and the need to keep vigilant for the disease. Veterinary experts and industry leaders had warned it was only a matter of time before bluetongue was confirmed in the UK this year – likely to be... Read more
Quarantine plans must be fit for purpose
I can sound like a stuck record when talking about the importance of quarantining new animals on the farm, writes Nerys Wright. Quarantine is not exciting – frequently seen as yet another job involving what appear to be fit, healthy animals. But many disease outbreaks are traced back to... Read more
Border delays pose threat to crop trials
Delays caused by changes to seed import rules threaten to undermine the latest oilseed rape variety trials. Brexit rules mean seed entering the UK since the end of April can now be regarded as high-risk – resulting in delays and inspections at a border control points before it can... Read more
Versatility increasingly important when selecting wheat varieties
High performance wheat varieties combining high productivity and versatility are becoming increasingly important, say analysts. With more land going into the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), savvy growers are making the most of the rest by choosing marketable wheat varieties capable of generating a good revenue efficiently. “Where farmers allocate... Read more
‘Time to take biosolutions seriously’
Integrating biosolutions into conventional agronomy programmes can have a major effect on crop performance, suggest the latest trials. Enzymes, microorganisms, bacterial cultures and other biological tools can offer the same control as moderate fungicide approaches. But integrating them into reduced programmes can be as effective as full strength conventional... Read more
NFU piles on pressure for bigger farm budget
Farm leaders have ramped up calls on the government to increase its budget for farming – arguing that doing so is vital to maintain UK food security. NFU president Tom Bradshaw made the call on 13 August – the day each year that the UK would run out of... Read more