Arable News

Trials last year underlined the economic benefit of managing take-all with a seed treatment in risky situations and should be considered when ordering winter wheat seed for 2023 drilling.

Integrated into arable rotations, hybrid rye offers significant agronomic benefits combined with market opportunities in the animal feed and distilling sectors, with experts predicting the UK rye area to double in size over the next few years.

Following reports of peach-potato aphids caught in traps across the sugar beet growing area, farmers are being advised to monitor aphid numbers closely and treat non-Cruiser protected crops with a foliar insecticide as soon as thresholds are met.

Biologicals offer a cost-effective solution to plant health and fertiliser challenges by increasing nitrogen use efficiency in crops, helping farmers reduce input costs and combat environmental challenges, according to UK biotechnology company Unium Bioscience.

Cereal growers are being advised to use the latest fungicide chemistry to navigate disease challenges ahead of flag leaf spray applications this season.

On 13th-14th June, Cereals will host nearly 400 exhibitors and sponsors, as well as offering a packed seminar programme, live demos and the ever-popular crop plots from its new 60ha location at Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire.

Despite 37 years industry experience, Agrii agronomist David Vine readily admits that growing oilseed rape successfully year-in, year-out can still be a huge gamble for many growers. Farmers are frequently faced with significant challenges posed by slugs, pigeons, cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and, given this year’s weather, the often-difficult task of finding adequate soil moisture.

Farmers who have become used to drilling sugar beet in March have had to readjust this spring. The wettest March for 40 years delayed sugar beet drilling well into April on all but the lightest land. Growers must adapt their herbicide programmes accordingly, urges crop protection manufacturer UPL.

A new trial pioneering the net zero production of potato crops through sustainable fertilisers, reduced cultivations, varieties and improved soil health has entered its second phase this year, with UK potato supplier Branston leading the way towards achieving net zero production in the years ahead.

Simon Jackson, Syngenta’s technical manager, provides advice to support vegetable growers with decisions on programmes to deal with pest control and the difficult challenges to come through the growing season.

McArthur Agriculture has worked with Aberdeen Grain to design and install an upgraded system of the farmer-owned grain co-operative’s malting barley cleaning capability to meet customer expectations. The upgrade project is well under way and will be commissioned in time for harvest 2023.

UK farmers will soon benefit from a novel biological seed treatment that naturally improves the crop’s nutrient use efficiency, increases yield and promotes plant and soil health, Syngenta and Unium Bioscience have announced yesterday (9th May).