Field bean crops are facing severe disease pressure through the prolonged period of extremely wet weather. Every rain event threatens to spread chocolate spot spores onto new growth, warns Syngenta’s field technical manager, Simon Jackson. 

UK sugar beet growers will have the chance to trial a new forward index-linked contract option, giving them the ability to contract some of their beet tonnage for the 2027/28 season in advance of annual beet price negotiations. 

Four independent agronomists have shared their views on the current conditions and crop status, how the approval of a new herbicide in malting barley will improve grassweed control and what they are doing to prepare for the season ahead.