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CROP MANAGEMENT

Irish farmer ditches fungicides on arable land cut-off

Irish arable farmer Samuel Deane is successfully growing fungicide-free crops on what is considered the very limit of viable arable land in the rain-drenched landscape of County Cork. Sam is…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Topping legume fallow to stamp out blackgrass

For the past eight weeks I’ve been doing a rain dance every day, and it’s finally paid off. We got nearly 30mm of rain over the past week. This was…

ARABLE

Getting the most from on-farm ponds for wildlife

Often one of the most neglected on-farm habitats, ponds can really have an impact on wildlife considering the small area they occupy. Providing they remain unpolluted, ponds are refuges for…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: This is the driest spring in living memory

The drought in Norfolk continues. We’ve had 5mm of rain since my last article. It is certainly the driest spring in my memory and our poor crops reflect this. Harvest…

WEED MANAGEMENT

New advice to maximise brome control in cereals

Cereal growers can simplify brome weed management post-harvest by responding to environmental conditions, regardless of the brome species present, says John Cussans, principle weed science consultant with Adas. Instead of…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: T3 ear sprays in wheat and black bean aphids

Some wheat crops are at the T3 timing and while recent showers have helped save crops from the drought, this has coincided with flowering bringing the increased threat of fusarium.…

ARABLE

Crop conditions slide after dry spring

Crops across the UK are under mounting pressure following one of the driest springs in more than a century, with declining condition ratings raising concerns over yield potential, according to…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

What's in your grain store? Tackling pests before harvest

It is estimated that 90% of grain stores harbour at least one insect species known to infest grain, underlining the critical importance of good store hygiene in the run-up to…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How cultivation can control resistant Italian ryegrass

After Italian ryegrass with resistance to high rates of glyphosate was discovered on a Kent farm earlier this year, it was zero-till systems researchers pinpointed as particularly at risk. They…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Getting itchy feet about returning to work

Arthur is four months old now. May has nearly gone and, I must admit, I am beginning to get itchy feet regarding returning to work. I have taken a form…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Tests confirm yellow rust has overcome major gene in wheat

A major resistance gene used to protect winter wheat from yellow rust disease has been overcome by evolving strains of the pathogen, according to the AHDB and its research partners.…

VARIETY SELECTION

Disease resistance is key for variety choice, reveals survey

Resistance to pests, diseases and virus is the most important factor when choosing which cereal varieties to grow, according to research carried out by Farmers Weekly in conjunction with Syngenta.…

OTHER CROPS

How estate uses niche crops to broaden risk and flexibility

Farming across 15 different soil types, along with three seasons of extreme weather, has made rotation planning an interesting exercise for Ragley Estate farm manager Andrew Keyte. This has not…

Arable news

CROP MANAGEMENT

Autonomous drone spraying poised to become a reality

Pioneering work by a group of drone experts could soon overcome the regulatory hurdles that have hampered drone use. The work involves allowing beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight, the aerial application of key…

POTATOES

New guide released to help tackle costly potato pests

Two potato organisations have jointly published a guide aimed at helping farmers manage a soil pest that results in yield losses estimated to cost the sector as much as £26m/year.…

ARABLE

AHDB opens 2025 planting survey to assess UK crop areas

The AHDB has launched its 2025 Planting Survey, aiming to estimate the area of cereals and oilseed rape intended for harvest in the UK. The survey, which is open until…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Cameras reveal unexpected predators of two major OSR pests

In-field cameras have uncovered unexpected predators of two major oilseed rape pests, which could help aiding control strategies. The camera study was conducted by Rothamsted Research over two years in…

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Irish farmer ditches fungicides on arable land cut-off

Irish arable farmer Samuel Deane is successfully growing fungicide-free crops on what is considered the very limit of viable arable land in the rain-drenched landscape of County Cork. Sam is…

ARABLE

Getting the most from on-farm ponds for wildlife

Often one of the most neglected on-farm habitats, ponds can really have an impact on wildlife considering the small area they occupy. Providing they remain unpolluted, ponds are refuges for…

WEED MANAGEMENT

New advice to maximise brome control in cereals

Cereal growers can simplify brome weed management post-harvest by responding to environmental conditions, regardless of the brome species present, says John Cussans, principle weed science consultant with Adas. Instead of…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

What's in your grain store? Tackling pests before harvest

It is estimated that 90% of grain stores harbour at least one insect species known to infest grain, underlining the critical importance of good store hygiene in the run-up to…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How cultivation can control resistant Italian ryegrass

After Italian ryegrass with resistance to high rates of glyphosate was discovered on a Kent farm earlier this year, it was zero-till systems researchers pinpointed as particularly at risk. They…

VARIETY SELECTION

Disease resistance is key for variety choice, reveals survey

Resistance to pests, diseases and virus is the most important factor when choosing which cereal varieties to grow, according to research carried out by Farmers Weekly in conjunction with Syngenta.…

OTHER CROPS

How estate uses niche crops to broaden risk and flexibility

Farming across 15 different soil types, along with three seasons of extreme weather, has made rotation planning an interesting exercise for Ragley Estate farm manager Andrew Keyte. This has not…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

3 key factors to help hit milling wheat protein specs

Optimising nitrogen use to meet milling wheat protein specifications without overstepping economic thresholds is a key factor to balance this season, particularly as grain prices remain feeble. Winter wheat crops…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Cutting-edge kit on display in Sprays and Sprayers arena

Arable businesses are under increasing pressure to boost spraying efficiency, cut input costs, and meet tightening environmental regulations. One way to do this is to adopt precision spray technology, and…

VARIETY SELECTION

Norfolk grower's verdict on new high-protein milling wheat

Norfolk grower Mark Means hopes the new milling winter wheat variety Vibe could become a firm fixture on his farm due to its high protein content and efficient nitrogen use.…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Crops in need of rain as wheat flag leaf emerges

The continued dry spell is taking its toll on crops. Winter wheat flag leaves are emerging as crops develop rapidly through their growth stages. All crops need now is a…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

On-farm grain processing adds value and market

Taylors Farm in Lancashire has transformed itself from a traditional beef and arable farm into a regional hub for grain processing services. Over the past five years, the Webster family…

CEREALS

Cereals 2025 host Andrew Ward reflects on farming changes

Andrew Ward is a familiar face to many, having been involved in several farming initiatives over the years. One of the organisers of the post-Budget farming rally in Westminster, Andrew…

PEST MANAGEMENT

10 latest tips on managing flea beetle threat in OSR

An industry led campaign launched to reverse the decline in the UK’s oilseed rape area has put together a set of cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) management tips to help…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

What are OSR prospects for the 2025-26 growing season?

Rapeseed production fell to a 41-year low in the UK in 2024 and another challenging growing season led to a further 17% fall in area for 2025, according to AHDB…

VARIETY SELECTION

New OSR varieties offer regional differences

Eight new winter oilseed rape varieties come into the mix this year, after five hybrids and one conventional variety joined the AHDB Recommended List 2025-26, along with two clubroot-resistant types.…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Topping legume fallow to stamp out blackgrass

For the past eight weeks I’ve been doing a rain dance every day, and it’s finally paid off. We got nearly 30mm of rain over the past week. This was…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: This is the driest spring in living memory

The drought in Norfolk continues. We’ve had 5mm of rain since my last article. It is certainly the driest spring in my memory and our poor crops reflect this. Harvest…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Preparing kit and buildings for harvest

Well, haytime has passed and it will soon be harvest again, so our focus currently is mostly on preparing buildings, machinery and people for the task ahead. There’s a phrase…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Getting itchy feet about returning to work

Arthur is four months old now. May has nearly gone and, I must admit, I am beginning to get itchy feet regarding returning to work. I have taken a form…

Markets

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BUSINESS

Farmers to get fairer deals for combinable crops

Arable farmers could soon benefit from new legislation that aims to tackle unfair practices in the combinable crops supply chain. Defra said the review – which launched on Thursday 5…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Malting barley premium erodes with prices under pressure

Margins for malting barley have dwindled in recent years and are now roughly £15/t above feed barley prices. This marks a sharp decline from previous seasons, where premiums exceeded £60/t…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Dry weather across Europe adds support to UK oilseeds markets

Paris rapeseed futures approached €500/t (£419/t) for the November contract on 27 May, the highest level in nearly three months. In the UK, oilseed rape prices stood at £452/t for…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK biofuels sector in jeopardy as US trade deal stings

Domestic wheat growers could be set to lose a vital market if Associated British Foods decides to shut down Vivergo Fuels, its bioethanol plant near Hull, East Yorkshire. The company…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Grain market outlook dampened by economic uncertainty

Wheat prices have been in freefall throughout spring and global markets continue to look bearish in the short term. UK feed wheat futures have fallen £20/t this spring, to just…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK bioethanol firms ‘under threat’ from US trade deal

The UK biofuels industry has warned that domestic bioethanol production could be at risk if tariffs are removed on imports as part of the US-UK trade deal. Vivergo and Ensus,…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Cefetra grain pool outperforms market at over £200/t in 2024

Glasgow-based grain merchant Cefetra says its marketing pool outperformed the wider UK market by £15/t during 2024. Cefetra says its grain-buying team was able to achieve “market beating” results by…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Milling wheat at £182/t as drought concerns heighten

UK wheat prices remain at the mercy of the global market, having struggled to get much traction at all so far in 2025, but they appear to be turning a…

Spot and forward prices (£/t ex-farm)
Each set of prices comes from a single merchant, co-op or broker, and are the latest prices being paid to farmers. Ranges of prices, within one category relate to the distance of the farm from the buyer. Oilseed rape prices are latest spot and forward prices, not contract prices. Ex farm prices vary with the distance from Hull, Liverpool and Erith, crushing factories.

Arable machinery

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TRACTORS

Lower cost Farmall C ManualDrive rejoins Case IH line-up

After a brief period off-sale, Farmall C tractors running the simple 12x12 ManualDrive gearbox are back in the Case IH fold with driveline and digital tech upgrades. Easily recognisable thanks…

CULTIVATORS

Horsch goes wider with Finer XL spring tine cultivator

Horsch has extended its Finer range of spring tine cultivators with two trailed versions that complement the existing 5-7m tractor-mounted models. Thanks to the selection of points and finishing tools…

CULTIVATORS

Amazone offers pared-back 6m Catros Special disc harrow

A slimmed version of Amazone’s 6m Catros+ trailed compact disc harrow that can weigh less than 3.5t provides a lighter cultivation tool at lower cost than more comprehensively-equipped versions. The…

COMBINES

Pro Harvest VF-spec combine tyres added to BKT range

Big tyres sporting advanced features for combines and other large harvesters are the latest addition to the BKT Agrimax range. The Pro Harvest design will be available in three sizes…

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