Arable News

Dairy farmers have an opportunity this year to clamp decent tonnages of quality maize silage, which could be a useful buffer with uncertain milk prices. But it will be crucial to avoid the top three most common harvest pitfalls.

Outbreaks of late blight are springing up in potato crops across the country following an unusually wet July and early August. Fortunately, EU_43_A1 has yet to be found in the samples analysed, but growers must remain vigilant.

There’s much to be said about the balancing act of harvesting in such unpredictable weather. When the skies are clear you can guarantee the first thing on farmers’ minds is getting their combines and trailers rolling again, before the next spell of rain hits. Yet, within this intricate choreography of agricultural expertise, lies a reality that can determine the success or failure of the entire process, a robust post-harvest strategy.

Murray winter oilseed rape was newly added to the AHDB Recommended List (RL) last autumn and went straight to the top of the East/West Region Only table. LS Plant Breeding are receiving positive reports from merchants and growers alike.

Emerging OSR varieties with improved genetics that keep plant stems healthy are offering growers increased resistance to yield-robbing diseases such as phoma, light leaf spot and verticillium, according to LSPB managing director Chris Guest.

Laurence J Betts Ltd (LJ Betts), grower of premium salads since 1930, has been acquired by the Regan family who are the owners of Hugh Lowe Farms Ltd, a neighbouring berry growing business in Kent, and of Blaise Plants Ltd, a plant propagator.

Maize crops stand to make big gains in cob quality and dry matter yield with Quantis for stress relief through the crucial pollen development stage at flowering, along with any subsequent heat events.

Two new hybrid winter feed barley varieties from Syngenta have become available for planting this autumn, offering enhanced defence against two of the major yield-robbing diseases alongside increased vigour and yields.

Results from the latest Planting and Variety Survey indicate that more barley and oilseed rape (OSR) are being sown in the UK at the expense of wheat, the area of which is estimated to decrease by 3% for harvest 2023.

Farmers, growers and buying co-operatives must brace for changes in the law which will require them to provide photo ID when purchasing ammonium nitrate (AN) fertilisers from October, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has warned.

A two-year feasibility study led by crop research organisation NIAB is set to explore the potential for domestic chickpea production, which could further reduce fertiliser reliance in the UK arable sector.

Farmers need to maximise efficacy and minimise resistance risks when using glyphosate to eliminate weeds ahead of drilling according to Matt Siggs of Bayer. Roundup (glyphosate) is a vital control tool on many farms, so a proactive approach is best to ensure long-term efficacy.