Arable News

Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) is the only UK-wide charity that empowers family farms and rural communities to ensure their future.

Alternaria used to be a minor disease. But for some potato crops in the UK, it’s now a significant threat that can cause substantial yield loss. According to guests of the latest ‘Perfecting Potatoes Together’ podcast, the likelihood of infection has risen sharply in recent weeks as a number of risk factors have come together.

With oilseed rape prices significantly higher than this time last year, there could be more of the crop going into the ground this autumn. But before making a final decision, Hutchinsons’ regional director James Short urges growers to think carefully about how they will get crops to perform well amidst the many establishment challenges.

A judge has dismissed Oatly’s claims of trademark infringement against Glebe Farm, in what has been described as a ‘David and Goliath’ style battle.

Saving your own seed offers valuable extra flexibility and control as well as useful cost savings. But it must be done in a well-planned and managed way if this is not to be at the expense of crop performance.

Experts are urging growers not to overlook the value of cover crops as they plan their rotations for the new season ahead.

Appreciating the advantages of different sized slug pellets and using tools such as the Calibration Wizard when switching between these products will optimise slug control this autumn.

Research led by Queen’s University Belfast has shown that invasive species, such as the grey squirrel, European rabbit and Japanese knotweed, have cost the UK economy over £5 billion over the past 40-50 years, making the cost one of the highest totals in Europe.

An Aberdeen crop trial field which has been providing Britain’s farmers with vital scientific data for 60 years is being dug up and transported a mile along the road.

With both an award-winning winter barley and a high-quality soft Group 4 winter wheat suitable for distilling, Senova’s new additions to the AHDB RL for 2021/22 look rather promising.

Bringing together the latest intelligence from across the industry, to help oilseed rape growers make the most of early August drilling, is an authoritative 20-page guide published this summer.

Wheat production in Britain for 2021-2022 has been forecast to reach 14.92m tonnes, according to an estimate by the AHDB.