Cereals News

Spring 2020 saw the largest area of spring cereals for many years. Although not as large an increase as in spring barley, oats saw a significant increase this year with the English crop seeing a 26% growth in plantings, according to the AHDB, with most of those appearing in spring.

After the sodden conditions last autumn, some arable farmers may consider drilling wheat earlier to guarantee a decent area next harvest. But threats such as grass weeds and virus carrying aphids are both more of an issue in early drilled crops. Bayer’s Darren Adkins gives his thoughts on how farmers can balance the need for wheat area with pest and weed threats.

KWS Parkin fell just short of making it onto the 2020/2021 RL and so could be overlooked by some growers, but this small and mighty variety offers something very much in demand, many industry specialists believe.

The importance of winter wheat variety disease resilience was evident at Bayer’s virtual Long Sutton demo, with physiological yield-benefits from fungicides also likely.

An increase in demand for rye grain in pig feed, either as pellets, or as wet or dry meal in home ‘mill and mix’ rations has led to a recent surge in interest in growing hybrid rye according to James Maw, Managing Director of Glencore Agriculture UK Ltd.

Cereal growers are being offered an opportunity to learn about their fields’ aphid populations by getting involved in an ADAS-led research project.

Breeders Limagrain UK have run a short and fun online quiz to find out what British farmers really know about their wheat markets and varieties.

New to the Recommended List in 2019, KWS Firefly is the UK’s highest yielding Group 3 milling wheat at 102% of controls.

Livestock farmers who normally grow winter wheat as a feed crop for their cattle – but have different cereals in the ground this year – are being urged to consider post-harvest alkalisation to boost nutrient value.

Cereals LIVE – the online version of the arable event – has been a resounding success, attracting over 10,000 visitors from all over the world.

The NFU is asking the government and supply chains for greater transparency around the standards associated with imported grain as the UK seeks new trade deals around the world.

Base your T3 timing on target growers are being advised.