Arable News

Flea beetle pressures have grown markedly at Dunkirk Farm, Birtley, overlooking Gateshead’s Angel of the North, in recent seasons. Yet David Hankey continues to grow crops of OSR that rival winter wheat in their margin-earning. And he does so without using any insecticides.

After what can only be described as unprecedented weather conditions over the past few months, our agronomists take stock of the situation and look to spring for salvation! Dominic Kilburn writes.

Recent changes to wheat rust disease resistance ratings might be associated with new pathotypes that have unique patterns of infection.

Severe flooding across the country in recent weeks formed a key part of discussions at the NFU Conference this week, with particular concerns raised about the three-crop rule.

At a packed Scottish Agronomy technical conference, Scotland was hailed as a beacon of opportunity for arable farmers.

With thousands of farmers across the country battling floods after Storm Dennis and unable to get onto their land to plant crops, farming organisations from across the UK have asked for an urgent relaxation of the three crop rule.

For a growing number of farmers, spring oilseed rape seed (SOSR) is being bought, being seen as a viable option because it provides a break crop option and it isn’t susceptible to Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle (CSFB). 

Hutchinsons has unveiled a new range of tailor-made cover crop mixes that includes options which could help improve the structure and health of land left fallow this spring.

At a recent meeting of the NAAC Post Harvest Treatment Group, contractors and self-applicators endorsed the AHDB/Industry position that the last date for application of CIPC will be 31st July 2020, meaning that NO applications will be made to the 2020 crop.

For growers considering their spring cropping in the context of a difficult autumn followed by a wet spring, combining peas top the table of gross margins and are a top choice for the right grower on the right land.

Significant populations of grassweeds, including ryegrass and brome, threaten winter wheat yields this year after farmers struggled to implement robust herbicide programmes in the autumn.

Tickets are now on sale for Cereals 2020, with early bird prices of just £15 and group discounts available.