The next generation of sugar beet tolerant to Virus Yellows disease could be commercially available in 2026 – helping to end reliance on neonicotinoid seed treatments. Breeding companies across Europe and the UK are making good progress in the development of beet varieties tolerant to all three yellowing viruses,... Read more

Large amounts of land are being taken out of food production and put into the government’s flagship agri-environment scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, say agronomists. Contractors and farmers could struggle to survive where large areas of arable land are being put into the scheme, which is being seen by... Read more

A Cambridgeshire grower has soil mapped his farm to help future-proof the business against economic and environmental challenges. Farm director Jack Smith, of AG Wright and Son (Farms) Ltd, grows 250ha of potatoes across 1,850ha of varying soil types – from black fen peat around Haddenham, near Ely; to... Read more

A high-yielding early maize variety could help growers overcome the risk of late drilling and delayed harvests caused by wet spring and autumn weather. Bred by MAS Seeds and marketed by Elsoms Seeds, Mojito could tick all the boxes for farmers wanting to avoid a repeat of the weather-related... Read more

A big increase in spring cropping this season is expected to give growers a welcome opportunity to boost grass weed control. More spring wheat, barley and oats are forecast to be drilled this year after the wet autumn and winter storms left fields unworkable and flooded. Many growers still... Read more

RAGT Seeds UK has appointed Camille Florin as commercial development agronomist to support the company’s forage, cover crop and amenity seed portfolios. Ms Florin will be responsible for delivering key variety-specific information to merchant customers to help their growers make better decisions when purchasing seeds. Well known as a... Read more

Nutritional benefits from over-winter cover crops are heavily influenced by destruction method, suggests new research. The advantages of over-winter covers are well-accepted – and include soil health, structure, fertility, weed suppression and reductions in nutrient losses. Other benefits include biodiversity – and some financial return if grazed by livestock.... Read more