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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

Spray or stay in SFI? Aphids force tough choice

Widespread reports of aphids, gout fly and leafhoppers are being spotted in emerging cereal crops, putting immediate pressure on growers to consider insecticide use. Even those who opted for the…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

BYDV: Lessons from 2026 on how to reduce risk

Last season proved to be a perfect storm where earlier drilling, higher aphid numbers, milder conditions and increased virus levels all combined in one of the worst seasons for barley…

PEST MANAGEMENT

OSR growers warned against slug complacency after dry spell

Oilseed rape growers are being urged not to let the prolonged dry summer create a false sense of security over slug risk. And those yet to drill are advised to…

SUGAR BEET

Beet growers advised to focus on pests as rain arrives

Sugar beet growers are being advised to remain vigilant for pests and diseases after the first rainfall for several months, in a year when light land yields are expected to…

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Case studies

PEST MANAGEMENT

Beet army worm nearly wipes out drought-stricken crop

An influx of a novel caterpillar pest known as the beet army worm nearly wiped out Herefordshire farmer Ally Hunter Blair’s drought struck sugar beet. “It completely decimated the crop…

OILSEED RAPE

Why Devon farmer is growing oilseed rape again

Oilseed rape crops across parts of the UK started flowering a month ahead of usual, following favourable autumn weather and mild winter conditions. For Devon farmer Joe Mawle and his…

SUGAR BEET

Suffolk beet grower counts huge cost of beet moth

Beet moth was responsible for a sugar beet yield reduction of 25%, a drop in sugar content and a forced switch to earlier lifting at Troston Farms in Suffolk, where…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Wilts OSR grower reveals lessons from sheep grazing trials

If the timing is right, grazing oilseed rape with sheep in the autumn can improve crop evenness and deliver yield benefits, according to one Wiltshire farmer. At East Farm near…

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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

ARABLE

Why sap-feeding planthoppers are a threat to UK arable farms

Crop diseases spread by sap-feeding insects known as planthoppers are a growing threat to UK arable systems. These pests can spread bacterial plant diseases and are already affecting crops across…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Endophytic grass shows promise against sugar beet aphids

Using endophytic grasses to manage virus yellows infections in sugar beet is showing promising results from an Adopt project involving Morley Farms and the British Beet Research Organisation. Endophytic grasses…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How research project is set to help slash slug pellet use

A precision slug risk model developed through a £2.6m research project has successfully passed its first on-farm test, despite being deployed during one of the lowest slug pressure seasons in…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why OSR growers shouldn't discount slugs ahead of drilling

Oilseed rape growers should not be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to managing slug risk in the coming months, warns one agronomist. Dry conditions through…

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News

PEST MANAGEMENT

Growers to benefit from new cereal virus risk tool

Cereals growers have a new tool aimed at helping them achieve better control of aphids carrying barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in winter wheat and winter barley. As well as…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Next-gen OSR pest monitoring tool aids drilling decisions

A major agchem company has launched the next generation of its digital pest monitoring tool for oilseed rape pests, which aims to help growers with their rapeseed drilling decisions. Building…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Agronomists stress need for correct pest ID in maize crops

Following numerous reports of caterpillar activity in maize crops across the country over recent weeks, agronomists are advising growers to remain vigilant and make sure they identify species correctly. In…

PEST MANAGEMENT

New biostimulant offers OSR defence against flea beetle

A new biostimulant offers oilseed rape growers another tool for managing cabbage stem flea beetle in emerging crop this autumn.  Reports of cabbage stem flea beetle infestations in harvested crops…

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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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