Wet autumn weather means more growers are likely to include spring barley in their cropping plans this season. A good range of varieties means there are lots to choose from – offering attractive yields, lower growing costs than those typically associated with winter-sown crops, and premium potential where malting... Read more

A big increase in spring cropping is on the cards with wet weather and sodden fields leaving many growers unable to get drilled up last autumn. Growers who haven’t already done so are being advised to make spring cropping decisions and secure seed sooner rather than later – or... Read more

Urgent steps are needed to safeguard the future of the UK’s horticulture sector, says a hard-hitting House of Lords report. The £5 billion industry – focusing on fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants – is at a crossroads, says the study. It is under-prioritised and unappreciated by policymakers – threatening... Read more

Growers wanting to optimise returns should focus on efficiency rather than yield, say data experts. “The arable industry adage ‘yield is king’ still resonates –  although perhaps less so going forwards as the landscape and priorities shift with changing policies,” says Yagro chief executive and co-founder Gareth Davies. “We... Read more

Average arable input costs continue to ease – but fertiliser prices are showing an upturn, fuelled by market uncertainty and conflict between Israel and Hamas. Overall costs fell by 4.7% in the year to 30 September, according to the latest Aginflation Index from the AF Group. But this is... Read more

Late blight populations changed little during 2023 – but the threat from resistant strains in Europe looms large and will require robust anti-resistance fungicide strategies next year, say experts. Potato growers and agronomists were told in June that the Fight Against Blight (FAB) service – which monitors late blight... Read more

The government says it will intervene unless British Sugar and beet growers resolve their increasingly bitter price dispute – but only as a last resort. It follows deadlocked price talks for the 2024 beet crop which saw the processing giant bypass formal negotiations with NFU Sugar representatives and issue... Read more

More growers are adopting biological products in a bid to reduce costs while embracing more sustainable agricultural practices. But experts says application timing and correctly identifying plant needs is crucial as the technology moves from first-generation products to those offering specific and measurable crop benefits. Supporting plants with nutritional... Read more

Small changes in soil health can have big impact on arable productivity – with nutrition a key driver, say researchers. Even a small deviation away from a target pH of around 6.5 can have a significant impact on soil biology, nitrogen utilisation, uptake of key nutrients and the emission... Read more

Exceptionally wet weather this autumn means time is running out for growers still unable to drill winter-sown cereals. Winter wheat can be drilled until January. But leaving it too late  can result in reduced germination and plant populations. This is due to lack of warmth and suboptimal moisture levels... Read more