Lincolnshire-based seed supplier Cope has launched three high-yielding varieties – offering growers a wider choice and more flexibility. The launch of spring wheat variety Everlong, winter barley Aretha and spring pea Marler coincided with a new company website and rebranding of the business, which was formerly known as Cope... Read more
An emergency approval has been granted for paraffin oil product Olie-H in seed potato crops – helping growers tackle non-persistent aphid-vectored viruses. Non-persistently transmitted potyviruses – sometimes called mosaic viruses – are the most problematic viral diseases affecting British potato production. Currently, the dominant species is potato virus Y... Read more
New host farm makes debut for Cereals 2024
Arable 02/05/2024
Thousands of visitors will attend next month’s Cereals event – with organisers reporting good sales of early bird tickets. Hosted by Alex Farr and his cousin Edward Wainwright-Lee, the two-day show on 11-12 June is being held across 45ha of outdoor event space at Bygrave Woods, Newnham Farm, in... Read more
Japanese crop protection company Sumitomo Chemical expects to secure approval for a number of new cereal fungicides on UK farms. Sumitomo already markets a portfolio of agrochemical products in the UK. It includes Soleil, a combination bromuconazole and tebuconazole for rust and fusarium control in wheat; Dipel, which combats... Read more
Pinnacle aims high this summer
Arable 02/05/2024
Oilseed rape variety Pi Pinnacle is expected to perform well this harvest – despite the wet winter and challenging spring. Pinnacle sits top of the AHDB Recommended list of conventional rape varieties with the highest gross output and treated yield across all AHDB regions over three years of official... Read more
Growers are being urged to reconsider conventional oilseed rape varieties ahead of their cropping strategies for the 2024/5 season. New conventional rape varieties include several high-performing varieties based on targeted special traits, agronomic merit scores and shorter breeding cycles, say breeders and seed suppliers. Mark Nightingale, of Lincolnshire-based Elsoms,... Read more
Wet soils increase potato pest threat
Arable 02/05/2024
Stubbornly wet soils and a high water table could increase the risk of wireworm damage in potato crops this season. Research over recent years has identified high soil moisture as a precursor for pest activity, with wet areas and flood plains increasing pressure levels, says Syngenta technical manager Andy... Read more
A perfect storm of late-drilled fields, susceptible varieties and the mild winter means yellow rust is now lurking in many winter wheat crops. With its potential to reduce yields by as much as 50%, it is important to tackle yellow rust early – before it has the chance to... Read more
Agrovista Seeds has appointed an eastern region seed sales manager to meet increasing demand from growers looking for technical expertise and advice. James Barlow grew up on an arable farm in Nottinghamshire. After studying for a degree in agriculture at Lincoln University, he spent more than eight years with... Read more


















