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Know How / Pest management

Find out about the main pest threats and how to control them in wheat, barley, oilseed rape, sugar beet and potato crops. Get advice on dealing with pests including flea beetle, TuYV, potato cyst nematode, slugs and rats, how and when to apply insecticides and what a permanent neonicotinoid ban would mean.

Advice and tips

PEST MANAGEMENT

How to spot stem weevil in oilseed rape and manage it

Oilseed rape growers are urged to watch out for signs of rape winter stem weevil, following reports of the pest appearing in crops in eastern counties. Despite having potential to…

PEST MANAGEMENT

6 steps for granular potato nematicide best practice

Potato growers are being reminded to follow the best-practice protocol for granular nematicides this spring to ensure products are used safely and are protected for the future. Mark Taylor, chairman…

POTATOES

How to control wireworm in potatoes effectively

The threat of wireworm damage is a growing concern for UK potato producers as a perfect storm of risk factors create optimum conditions for the soil-dwelling pest to thrive. Growers…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How to introduce SFI 2023's no insecticide option

After another delay, applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2023 are due to finally open in mid-September, with the new no use of insecticide action being one of the…

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Case studies

OILSEED RAPE

Drilling regime and companion crop achieve high OSR yields

Farm manager David Northway’s oilseed rape harvest hit a top yield of 5t/ha in the summer, his highest for nearly 50 years. This was achieved on the farm between Fordingbridge…

PULSES

Why pollinators are key to Scottish grower’s 6t/ha bean yield

Pollinating insects can increase bean yields by up to 50%. Emma Gillbard visits a farmer who is using beetle banks and grass margins to boost yield and cut chemical use.…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Three practical IPM strategies to help growers cut costs

Independent agronomist Ben Burrows of Crop Management Partners has been working closely with Hampshire farm manager David Miller to implement a number of IPM strategies and cut input costs at…

ARABLE

Grower moves to direct-drilled OSR and companion crops

Dorset grower Andrew Fry is growing oilseed rape for the first time and is hoping for a good yield from his new break crop. There is also £100/ha of government…

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Community

ARABLE

Farmer Focus: Surprising slug problem after oats

With all but 25ha (62 acres) of winter beans left to drill, autumn drilling is all but complete. After lessons learnt from last year and rushing to get cereals drilled,…

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Insights

CROP MANAGEMENT

Pesticide rules: NI arable farmers losing out under Brexit

Politicians from all sides are being urged to fix the mess surrounding plant protection products (PPPs) and seed trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to prevent irreparable harm to…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Improved BYDV tool to give cereal growers better control

Winter cereal growers are set to see a more accurate warning system next season for a key aphid-spread disease. The AHDB’s new Acrobat tool will give a more precise forecast…

POTATOES

Potato cyst nematode: Measures being considered in Scotland

Measures to protect Scotland’s seed potato sector from the spread of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are likely to have implications for ware growers across Great Britain. Roughly 80% of the…

PEST MANAGEMENT

4 AHDB projects to bolster integrated pest management

AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds is to invest in four new research initiatives to help reduce the industry’s reliance on conventional chemistry. Feedback from farmers about research priorities shows that integrated…

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News

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

50 years of arable disease data goes online

Growers, agronomists and the wider public now have free access to more than 50 years of arable pest and disease data from across England and Wales. Following a three-year project…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Silicon could mitigate flea beetle attacks in OSR

Applying a silicon product to oilseed rape (OSR) crops could help mitigate attacks from cabbage stem flea beetle, say two agronomists. Cabbage stem flea beetle is the number one pest…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Farm sector dismisses neonics link to butterfly demise

The farming industry has rejected claims that growers are chiefly responsible for a major decline in UK butterfly numbers this year, insisting record-breaking wet weather is more to blame. Wildlife…

PEST MANAGEMENT

AHDB to track cabbage stem flea beetle migration this autumn

Oilseed rape (OSR) growers will be able to track the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) migration this autumn, thanks to an AHDB project which is monitoring the pest at several…

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Test and reviews

MACHINERY

A guide to effective bird scaring kits for farmers

New technology for farmers with the age-old problem of scaring birds off crops are constantly hitting the market. From lasers, to acoustic systems, to inflatable scarecrows, to kites, we look…

MACHINERY

Eight of the best slug pelleters on test

We test eight of the best slug pelleters with the help of testing specialist SCS. The test KRM Stocks Techneat Spaldings Logic Bullock Verdict We tested the pelleters with the…

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Video

LIVESTOCK

Video: How to take an integrated approach to rodent control

The best way to deal with rat infestations is not to have them in the first place. Waiting until you see rats running around the farm is too late. Every…

WHEAT

Video: Wolverine wheat looks good in BYDV battle

The first wheat variety with resistance to an important aphid-spread disease is showing a yield of more than 10t/ha in Kent, with some seed available for growers this autumn. The…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Video: Clever electronic bird scarer gets worldwide interest

Farmers are flocking to buy a bird scarer which uses fire alarms and flashing lights to keep pigeons off oilseed rape crops. More than 300 orders have been placed in…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Video: How to properly set up a crop sprayer

Crop spraying is one of the most important and highly skilled jobs undertaken on any arable farm, but it is facing increased public scrutiny. This is why it is vital…

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