• Good mix of yield and oil content • In-built traits include resistance • Early drilling and winter hardiness Newly recommended oilseed rape varieties from Limagrain once again prove the value of genetic traits, says the breeder. Limagrain’s Field Seeds breeding programme is delivering varieties with high yields and... Read more

• Pest reported in eastern region crops • Monitor rape carefully, growers told • Mild weather can prolong problems Oilseed rape growers are being urged to watch out for signs of rape winter stem weevil – after several reports of the pest appearing in eastern region crops. Despite having... Read more

Huge rewards are possible for growers who embrace the full potential of nutrient planning – rather than adopting a simple compliance mindset. A basic plan may meet legal requirements, but higher profits, greater productivity and long-term sustainability can be achieved by a more in-depth approach, says Allison  Arden of... Read more

Autumn applications ‘bring dividends’ Farmers are being encouraged to consider alternative products – including biostimulants – to boost crops and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Autumn-applied biostimulants could be a solution alongside other factors, such as vigorous varieties and changes to establishment systems, says Tom Wheelhouse, technical specialist at UPL.... Read more

• Adapt management plan into winter • Patience will be key – don’t rush in • Consider nutrition strategy carefully A flexible approach to managing later-drilled winter wheat crops is needed after delayed drilling caused by the wet start to autumn, says an agronomist. Winter wheat drilling has varied... Read more

• 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

• 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

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