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PULSES

Is there still a place for pulse crops on UK arable farms?

As the decarbonisation of farming gathers pace and greater scrutiny is given to sustainable supply chains, it’s never been easier to make a compelling case for growing peas and beans.…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Ifs, buts and maybes often end in tears

I sit writing in the aftermath of storm Eowyn, which battered us last night with 90mph winds. I can’t remember one as bad, so I hope everyone kept safe. Yesterday…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: We were all so much happier 14 years ago

This month marks the end of nearly 14 years of writing for Farmers Weekly as this is my final Farmer Focus column. I started back in 2011, soon after leaving…

SOILS

Why managing winter rainfall on arable land matters

For Kent farm manager and AHDB Kent Monitor Farm host Tom Reynolds, managing water has become much more challenging in recent years. The amount of winter rainfall is higher than…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Production push brings more carbon confusion

“Who knows about the Science Based Targets Initiative?” was the question asked at a recent farmer meeting on the element of the moment: carbon. I’m all over it, of course,…

CROP MANAGEMENT

YEN Awards: Round-up of this year's highest-yielding farms

This year’s Yield Enhancement Network Awards focused on enhancing crop nutrition, and saw new pulse categories added to the competition. See also: How growers can build resilience on arable farms…

CROP MANAGEMENT

YEN Awards: Round-up of this year's highest-yielding farms

This year’s Yield Enhancement Network Awards focused on enhancing crop nutrition, and saw new pulse categories added to the competition. See also: How growers can build resilience on arable farms…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Wet harvest prompts potato seed disease warning

Seed suppliers are being urged to protect their high-quality product from storage diseases at first grading following the wet 2024 harvest and reports of symptoms developing in some stores. Tuber…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Advice on managing glyphosate resistance this spring

A rapid testing service will be available this spring to help farmers and agronomists quickly investigate suspected cases of glyphosate resistance and act to contain any new populations. Early intervention…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: A pleasant respite from squelching in mud

Nowadays, any prolonged period of frost feels like a bit of a novelty. The recent cold snap we’ve had has been most welcome, although some of the braver daffodils that…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Cereal growers gain new azole fungicide mix this spring

Wheat and barley growers have an extra option for their fungicide programmes this spring, with the approval of a two-azole mix. RevyPro contains the newest azole (mefentrifluconazole) partnered with prothioconazole,…

ARABLE

Wheat growers urged to remain vigilant for yellow and brown rust

No major breakdowns in varietal resistance to yellow or brown rust occurred last year, but the dynamic nature of pathogen populations means that growers and agronomists must remain vigilant and…

ARABLE

Defra denies request for neonics use on sugar beet

An emergency application for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet in England has been denied by the UK government, in another crushing blow to farmers from the…

Arable news

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Delays to CS Mid Tier payment deepen cashflow crisis

Cash-strapped farmers in England who are still awaiting their Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier payments are being urged by Rural Payment Agency officials to contact the Farming Community Network charity for…

ARABLE

Farm sustainability award focuses on resilience

Entries are now open for a farm sustainability award that rewards farmers for their essential role in food production while recognising their commitment to environmental stewardship. The 2025 Rawcliffe Bridge…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeeze

Scotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised…

ARABLE

Scottish farmers fear being left behind on gene-edited crops

The Scottish agriculture industry is calling for the adoption of precision breeding technology, highlighting its potential to strengthen food security and address climate challenges. Key organisations, such as the Agricultural…

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ARABLE

How to get arable land ditches working for wildlife

There are 500,000km of ditches in the British countryside, reaching almost every corner of the land. Found in most parts of the lowlands and surprisingly far up in the hills,…

PULSES

Is there still a place for pulse crops on UK arable farms?

As the decarbonisation of farming gathers pace and greater scrutiny is given to sustainable supply chains, it’s never been easier to make a compelling case for growing peas and beans.…

SOILS

Why managing winter rainfall on arable land matters

For Kent farm manager and AHDB Kent Monitor Farm host Tom Reynolds, managing water has become much more challenging in recent years. The amount of winter rainfall is higher than…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Advice on managing glyphosate resistance this spring

A rapid testing service will be available this spring to help farmers and agronomists quickly investigate suspected cases of glyphosate resistance and act to contain any new populations. Early intervention…

ARABLE

Wheat growers urged to remain vigilant for yellow and brown rust

No major breakdowns in varietal resistance to yellow or brown rust occurred last year, but the dynamic nature of pathogen populations means that growers and agronomists must remain vigilant and…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

Why a long-term no-tiller is ploughing again on heavy soils

For more than 20 years, a bare brown field has not been seen on Motts Farm on the Dengie peninsula in Essex, with crops established using zero tillage. But that…

ARABLE

How growers can build resilience on arable farms

Growers must be prepared to adjust their farming operations and management to make businesses more resilient in the event of adverse weather and volatile market conditions. That’s the message for…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Why ergot contamination of grain is higher than expected

Grower guidelines for managing ergot are to be updated by the AHDB, following a steep rise in the incidence of the pathogen over the past three years and confirmation that…

ARABLE

How Fera is tackling the wireworm and flea beetle problems

Wireworm in potatoes and cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape are two of the arable industry’s biggest pest challenges. They can result in catastrophic yields for farmers and disrupt…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Where is the crop industry with nematode biocontrols?

The dwindling availability of insecticide seed treatment and nematicides has paved the way for pest control using entomopathogenic nematodes. Following successful trial work in key high-value crops, farmer uptake looks…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

High-tech system measures crop nitrogen from space

An innovative system that uses cutting-edge satellite imaging to precisely measure crop nitrogen could be a game changer for fertiliser planning on farms after promising results in 2024 trials. The…

SOILS

How composting is helping organic transition on Norfolk farm

Making and using compost to improve soil health has become a central part of the route Ken Hill Farm & Estate is taking to transition to an organic farm. Farm…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why one Essex arable farm faces difficult decisions in 2025

Essex farmer Tom Streeter admits that he and his brother Will have some difficult decisions to make about the future of the family farming business, having looked at the details…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

What the latest in-field pest and disease tech can offer

The development of “smart” spore-trapping systems that combine on-site analysis and real-time reporting to track the spread of diseases mean that the same-day detection of more than one pathogen will…

VARIETY SELECTION

Seed expert outlines 2025 spring crop variety options

As thoughts turn to spring cropping, there are a host of new varieties available for drilling this spring offering better yields and disease resistance. However, for some markets, the old…

SOILS

Soils improve for Northants grower after a switch to regen

Peter Mee has cut his growing costs while holding his arable yields steady after four years of regenerative farming having improved the structure of his soils close to the flood-prone…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Ifs, buts and maybes often end in tears

I sit writing in the aftermath of storm Eowyn, which battered us last night with 90mph winds. I can’t remember one as bad, so I hope everyone kept safe. Yesterday…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: We were all so much happier 14 years ago

This month marks the end of nearly 14 years of writing for Farmers Weekly as this is my final Farmer Focus column. I started back in 2011, soon after leaving…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Production push brings more carbon confusion

“Who knows about the Science Based Targets Initiative?” was the question asked at a recent farmer meeting on the element of the moment: carbon. I’m all over it, of course,…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: A pleasant respite from squelching in mud

Nowadays, any prolonged period of frost feels like a bit of a novelty. The recent cold snap we’ve had has been most welcome, although some of the braver daffodils that…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Industry agrees next steps for digital grain passports

A cereals' sector leadership group has reached an agreement on a revised concept for digital grain passports in England and Wales. The group – which includes representatives from the AHDB,…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Farmers reluctant to sell as wheat prices fall to £176/t

UK wheat prices have faltered in the past week due to bearish global grain factors, limited exports and adverse exchange rates tempering the market. Spot prices collected by Farmers Weekly…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat imports hit highest volumes for 30 years

UK wheat imports have been at the highest volumes since records began almost 30 years ago, so far for the 2024-25 crop year. Wheat imports totalled 1.45m tonnes during the…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Growing UK market for grain maize as trade tops £200/t

Lucrative contracts from several UK merchants have encouraged a number of arable farmers to grow grain maize in the UK, with returns reportedly surpassing several traditional crops. The UK is…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Ex-farm barley subdued at £156/t despite fewer plantings

UK barley markets have struggled to get much traction in recent months, with large stocks weighing on the market. Feed barley ranged from £155/t ex-farm in the east of England…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Weather woes provide short-term support for UK wheat

UK wheat prices firmed into the new year with short-term support in global markets as a result of weather concerns across some of the key producing regions such as Russia…

BUSINESS

Outlook 2025: Sugar beet prices depressed but break even

When the 2024-25 campaign contract offer was finally announced in December 2023, many growers felt the headline price of £40/t did not reflect the futures market, which suggested a value…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Outlook 2025: Pressure on for higher potato contract prices

Potato prices began to rise following the poor 2022 harvest, says Andersons director Nick Blake. This was compounded by the wet conditions that hampered the 2023 campaign, producing just 4.8m…

Commodities

Futures markets and commodity risk management online course

Learn all you need to know about the futures markets and how you can benefit from them:

  • Risk management strategies for a more predictable financial performance
  • Educated conversations when collaborating with your advisors
  • Negotiate better prices with your grain merchants

Find out more

 
 
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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TELEHANDLERS

Lamma 2025: More power for Weidemann’s compact T6025 handler

Competition is ramping up in the compact telehandler market, with Weidemann the latest to unveil a machine that will slot through a 2m-square alley. The new 6m/2.5t T6025 supersedes the…

TELEHANDLERS

Lamma 2025: Quicke unveils stripped back N-series loader

Stock farmers fancying the lift capacity of Quicke's premium Q-series loaders but without the expensive frills can now buy exactly that. The new N-series is a stripped-back, utility-spec model that…

TELEHANDLERS

Lamma 2025: MX develops GDT conveyor bucket for grass silage

French maker MX has launched a feeding bucket specifically designed to handle long-chop clamped grass. While its existing auger-based setup works effectively for maize-based rations, getting a smooth discharge with…

CULTIVATORS

Lamma 2025: NRH returns with new low-disturbance subsoiler

Yorkshire outfit NRH Engineering, maker of presses, packers, Cambridge rolls and piggyback drill cultivators, returned to Lamma with a new low-disturbance subsoiler. The Tremor is a slimmed-down alternative to the…

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