Wheat area rises but still below average
Arable 27/01/2025
• Mixed prospects for UK cereals area • Wheat area recovery remains way off • Growers shun flagship green scheme More wheat has been drilled this autumn – but the projected area for 2025 still lags behind the five-year average, suggest the latest figures. A 5.4% increase takes the... Read more
New genetics offer greater flexibility New genetics, advanced seed and herbicide technologies are making sugar beet an increasingly beneficial addition to arable rotations. “It’s a superb break crop,” says KWS UK AgroService sugar beet manager Martin Brown. “Pest, disease and weed problems that may have built up in cereal-based... Read more
Good progress is being made in the quest to grow potatoes sustainably – benefiting farm businesses and the environment, say researchers. The Transformative Reduced Input Potatoes (TRIP) project brings together researchers from Dyson Farming and Bangor University with a host of other partners – including commercial companies. Funded by... Read more
• Confusion over sugar beet supplies • Growers can purchase seed direct • British Sugar will release more soon Sugar beet breeders say they have plenty of seed available for the coming season – despite British Sugar describing some varieties as “currently sold out”. Confusion over seed availability follows... Read more
Six new varieties added to 2025 list Growers looking to order sugar beet for drilling in 2025 have six new varieties to consider on the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list. New varieties are Chyma, Josephina and Smart Uma – all from KWS UK; Magpie from SesVanderHave; and ST... Read more
• Challenging season delays harvest • Still a top performing forage crop • Range of factors need consideration Growers are being advised to consider earlier maturing maize varieties after a wet season delayed harvest. Maize remains the top performing forage crop for many growers – with potential for market... Read more
‘Pivotal moment’ for UK oilseed rape
Arable 10/11/2024
The first meeting of a cross-industry initiative to secure a sustainable future for oilseed rape has attracted dozens of participants. The OSR Reboot campaign – launched by farmer-owned cooperative United Oilseeds earlier this year – brought together 57 professionals from 41 different companies and organisations from all facets of... Read more
An easy-to-use online tool allows farmers to assess the phosphorus biological availability in their soils by entering their post code. Developed by Unium Bioscience, the free Phosphate Power tool helps growers optimise phosphorus use efficiency. Based on peer-reviewed data, it informs farmers whether soils are biologically optimised to provide... Read more
Demand grows for green feedstock Farmers are being encouraged to grow alternative energy crops and help meet demand from anaerobic digestors. The International Energy Authority (IEA) expects the global biogas sector is expected to grow by 8-22% annually over the coming years – a figure described as startling by... Read more
• Late-sown wheat for early harvest • Strong tillering and spring vigour • High yield and good grain quality Growers looking for a strong-performing late-sown winter wheat that can be harvested early have a new available option. Hard Group 4 variety LG Rebellion builds on many of the agronomic... Read more
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