Author Posts: Farmers Guide

With few frosts to speak of this winter, and evidence of aphid populations building over the past few years, in all likelihood there will be high levels of infestation this spring and with that an increased risk of virus yellows spreading into sugar beet crops. Dominic Kilburn writes.

Challenging conditions last autumn are now presenting growers with difficult decisions for spring. Many might be considering what to do with, and how much to spend, on winter crops although nursing them through to harvest will be the aim of most.

With the area of UK-grown spring oilseed rape potentially as high as 60,000ha this year compared with around 10,000ha usually, what are the key management areas new growers should focus on?

A survey on the impact of cabbage stem flea beetle on oilseed rape crops in 2019-20, insecticide resistance and beneficial insects were some of the key items discussed at the AICC annual technical conference recently.

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.

Strutt and Parker (Farms) Ltd was incorporated in 1918 and has a strong reputation as being one of the leading farm businesses in the UK, farming c.20,000 acres.

Thank you to everyone who entered the annual Farmers Guide Christmas Quiz and Spot the Difference competitions in our January issue. Here are the answers & a few pics of our winners.

Speculation that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to scrap the red diesel subsidy in next week’s Budget has prompted serious concerns among farmers.

Defra has unveiled new plans to trial a cattle vaccine for bovine TB, improve testing and increase badger vaccination, with a view to phasing out intensive culling once other measures are in place.

Ireland’s Farm Machinery Ltd, a family run machinery dealership with 3 depots in Lincolnshire, Carrington, Sutterton and Market Rasen, held an open evening to celebrate the launch of their new purpose-built premises on their 8-acre site at Carrington near Boston.

Oxfordshire based digital content specialist, The Ad Plain, recently celebrated after taking home the award for Best Rural Digital, Communications or Media Business at the national Rural Business Awards final.