Strong prices and lower growing costs mean spring oilseed rape is capable of delivering a healthy margin this year. A shortage of UK-grown rape and the need for growers to find profitable options to cereals in the rotation are creating a growing interest in the crop, says Sarah Hawthorne,... Read more

A nationwide initiative to assess cabbage stem flea beetle larvae levels in oilseed rape aims to encourage more farmers to grow the crop. The project is a collaborative effort jointly funded by Hutchinsons, Agrii, and United Oilseeds. Niab scientists have been analysing oilseed rape stem samples for flea beetle... Read more

How to achieve good yield potential Ways to maximise the yield and quality of barley crops are the subject of a technical growing guide unveiled for the 2025 season. The Barley Agronomy Guide explores the factors and husbandry required to fulfil the potential of spring and winter crops.It has... Read more

EXPERT VIEW Getting the best from nitrogen will be especially important this season, says Natalie Wood. A wet autumn and a range of drilling dates mean nitrogen applications need careful consideration this spring. The first nitrogen application is particularly important in cereals because it affects yield potential. In wheat,... Read more

• Keep careful eye on all crops • Good strategy pays dividends • Return on investment is key Variable weather last autumn is having a significant impact on the over-winter survival of oilseed rape crops. There will be no one-size-fits-all approach going into spring, say experts. Instead, crops should... Read more

• Biologicals help to protect beet crops • Plants made ‘less attractive’ to aphids • Foliar spray to boost quality and yield Sugar beet growers are being reminded of alternatives to help manage aphids and the threat of virus yellows this spring. It follows Defra’s refusal to grant an... Read more

A Lincolnshire farmer  who grew a record-breaking crop of spring oats won gold at the 2025 Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) awards. Mark Popplewell credited his win to precise nutrition and an unusually wet spring. The crop of Merlin yielded 11.46 t/ha – more than double the national average –... Read more

• Early action can pay dividends • Disease control is key challenge • Choice and timings important Growers are being advised to tackle rust problems early in winter wheat crops – or risk paying the penalty later. Mike Thornton, head of crop production at ProCam UK, says recent mild... Read more

• Industry agrees on way forward • Goal is a more efficient system • Next steps include funding talks Digital passports are another step closer for cereal crops after the NFU said its concerns had been addressed. Due to replicate the existing paper system, the digital passport will enable... Read more

Applications of silicon biostimulants can increase potato yields by almost 20% – and help the plant’s defence against  blight, claims a manufacturer. Orion Future Technologies says the yield of a Melody potato crop increased by 18% by adding two biostimulants – Sirius and Pluton – at a concentration of... Read more