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

The chemical toolbox is only part of the story for successful ryegrass management, says Rob Adamson (pictured above).  “Success is judged on the number of grass ears and subsequent seed return in the summer,” he adds. Preventing any ryegrass weeds that successfully establish from tillering too heavily is essential... Read more

A stacked and sequenced spray programme applied accurately in favourable conditions can help combat resistant ryegrass, says an agronomist. Rob Adamson of Procam says a careful balance of cultural controls, herbicide choice and adequate soil moisture will help growers get on top of the troublesome weed – despite increasing... Read more