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Know How / Other crops

There are many minor and niche break crops, such as oats and linseed, which can bring many benefits to a crop rotation. This page aims to help you grow a more profitable break crop.

This is your starting point for identifying which crops to grow, how to grow them and address challenges such as weed and disease control.

Key areas of focus:

  • Choosing the right crop and finding contracts
  • Getting establishment right
  • Meeting market specifications
  • Crop agronomy, such as disease and weed control

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Case studies

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OTHER CROPS

East Sussex farm preserves Britain’s hop-growing heritage

Hops have been grown on Tibbs Farm by LE Wheeler & Sons since 1956, but the farm’s heritage in crop growing stretches back to 1690. Today, brothers Phil and Simon…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

How a farmer grows cereals without plough or herbicides

Organic farmer Peter Cheek is successfully growing a range of cereal crops in a min-till system without the use of the plough or herbicides. Instead, a series of strategic cultivations…

ARABLE

Why vegetables are making a return to Kent arable farm

After more than 20 years, vegetable production is making a comeback at Quex Park in Kent – this time with a focus on sustainability, local markets and community engagement. Following…

ARABLE

How mail-order business adds value to farm's hay and straw

A Kent farmer is successfully adding value to hay and straw by selling it boxed direct to pet owners across the UK. Shelvin Farm, run by Rupert Phillips, sells about…

ARABLE

Lavender diversification finds success as tourist attraction

Cadwell Farm began growing lavender 25 years ago, when the Hunter family wanted to bring what was a historically grown crop back to the area. Tim Hunter, managing director of…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

Long-term direct driller reveals yield impact of ploughing

A wheat crop established under the plough yielded 1.7t/ha more than the long-term direct drilled part of the field, more than paying for the extra costs associated with ploughing. But…

Practical advice

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Integrating sheep into arable rotations - how to get started

The return of the “golden hoof” to arable rotations has gained momentum as more farmers embrace livestock integration as one of the key principles in a “regenerative” system. Potential benefits…

OTHER CROPS

How to maximise SFI herbal leys in arable rotations

About 175,000ha of SAM3 herbal leys are due to be grown in Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 (SFI23) schemes, according to the figures released by Defra for agreements reached by the…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Tips for spring barley growers as lodging risk rises

Spring barley and oat growers are being advised to use plant growth regulator this spring to avoid yield losses in what could be a higher risk year. Growth regulators can…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How to tackle hefty spring arable workloads after wet winter

Spring workloads are mounting on most arable farms, so sorting fieldwork priorities to ensure optimum return on investment where crops are variable and harvest profitability remains uncertain is a tricky…

OTHER CROPS

Round-up of the niche crop options for UK growers

Introducing alternative break crops to an arable rotation can help growers improve soil health, spread market risk and further financial gain. As pesticide actives are lost and resistance fears build,…

OTHER CROPS

Hybrid rye: The benefits of growing it and how to do it well

Hybrid rye offers several benefits to arable rotations, not least because of the ability of its extensive root system to extract soil nutrients, potentially cutting nitrogen fertiliser requirements by 40%…

Insights

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PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

Trial shows best break crops and cultivation for wheat profit

Discussion around which cultivation approach is best has been a central theme of many a pub debate or magazine article in recent years. But 20 years of the long-term Sustainability…

ARABLE

Can arable farms operate without fossil fuels?

While completing his Nuffield Scholarship, Stuart Oates founded the Fossil Free Farm project, born of his belief that removing fossil fuels from farming is essential for future sustainability. Based at…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Why we could see increased demand for British oats

The provisional UK oat area for the 2025-26 growing season is estimated to be the largest in five years, with a 13% uplift on last year. Oats have become an…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

An in-depth look at stem- and soil-borne diseases in cereals

While foliar diseases often dominate discussions, stem base and root pathogens in cereals require increasing attention as farming systems evolve. Here, we examine the changing dynamics of these diseases. Managing…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

4 key steps to reduce the risk of ergot in grain

Researchers have identified four key areas where farmers can reduce ergot disease pressure, limit crop infection and keep clean grain clean. Adas experts have carried out an AHDB-funded review which…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Three premium-earning crops for farmers next season

As the season draws to a close, farmers are looking at options for next season and three break crops offer some money-earning opportunities. Premium Crops is offering attractive premiums for…

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…

OTHER CROPS

Do soya bean crops have a future in the UK?

Could soya beans eventually become a break crop of choice for UK growers? Currently, that’s difficult to believe with no more than 200ha grown in the UK last season –…

ROTATIONS

AHDB analysis: The merits of SFI break crop alternatives

Finding a reliable break crop in the arable rotation is an ongoing challenge. Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions, such as herbal leys or legume fallows could be an alternative, especially…

VARIETY SELECTION

Spring barley list sees four additions and net blotch scores

The new AHDB spring barley 2025-26 Recommended List has four new varieties and, for the first time this year, includes disease resistance ratings for net blotch. The four additions are under…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

How farmers can benefit from growing hemp market

Fast growing with break crop suitability, hemp can produce high-value fibres in a low-input system, with low nitrogen requirement, and minimal chemicals. But one of industrial hemp’s major downfalls is…

Video

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ARABLE

Video: How to sample your soil for analysis

The quieter winter months are a prime time to get a snapshot of the state of soils and consider any adjustments to maximise fertility and crop potential. Unlike most other…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Video: 7 pre-season checks every sprayer should have

Spring is just around the corner and farmers up and down the land are drawing up battle plans about how best to tackle the impending mountain of work. With many…

ARABLE

Video: How to calibrate your slug pellet spreader

Slug pellets and the potential harm they can cause to watercourses is under intensifying scrutiny. Making sure pellet spreaders are properly set up will be vital to avoid breaching the…

ARABLE

Video: Heavy duty drone can cope with changeable UK weather

Farmers are forever being told that in the not-so-distant future drones will become a common crop monitoring tool, but what good is this technology if it cannot withstand the unique…