Arable News

Do what is right for your farm situation when considering the options available under the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). This was the clear message to over 150 growers who attended a recent open day hosted by the Hutchinsons environmental services team.

Blackstone’s exceptionally wide sowing window from mid-September to March looks to be a major benefit to Scottish growers, with Kirkcaldy-based farmer Willie Murray seeing high average yields of 12.5t/ha after sowing the crop for the first time in September last year.

Garford Farm Machinery has substantially increased its territory across the East of England with its new distributor agreement.

As this year’s sugar beet campaign gets into full swing, and growers are planning crop rotations for next year, British Sugar has announced its current offer for the 2024/25 year, plus a ‘market-linked bonus’.

Plans for a consultation with industry over the possible introduction of a Digital Passport for Combinable Crops have been confirmed for October 2023 by the project’s Leadership Group.

Progress paves the way for a more streamlined and evidence-based approach to regulating food and feed products developed using new precision breeding techniques, NIAB says.

Developed specifically for the UK, Xbeet enrich 300 has been shown to deliver consistent yield increases in trials and on farm.

NFU Scotland welcomed the news, but warned the UK government must double its efforts to unlock the damaging post-Brexit loss of trade with the rest of the EU.

With its strong and consistent performance despite high disease pressure, Group 4 winter wheat variety LG Typhoon impressed farm manager Philip Vickers, who is striving to reduce inputs on a large arable farm in the Northeast of England.

BASF recently revealed interim results of a five-year project designed to improve soil health and increase carbon storage, keeping land in production while ensuring there’s a home for wildlife and biodiversity.

Following a successful lobbying campaign for the government to withdraw or delay the impending ban on seed treatments, Limagrain UK is optimistic that treated maize seed will still be available to growers for the upcoming season.

Northants farmer Emma Bletsoe was reassured in her decision to drill Mayflower last year, a Group 2 winter wheat from Elsoms Seeds, following the crop’s positive performance bucking recent trends of sliding Hagbergs and low specific weights for milling wheats.