Six row BYDV tolerant winter barley, Rafaela was introduced to the market last year from breeders Limagrain UK. A year on and the variety has proven the value of its BYDV tolerance trait, alongside offering valuable agronomic characteristics such as excellent performance in black-grass situations.

Farmers are warned to look out for the annual emergence of head lies (Hydrotaea irritans) from around mid-July, as these are a major source of annoyance for pastured cattle.

“Markets are integral to farm businesses because they set the price for livestock, helping farmers to achieve fair prices,” says Clive Roads, auctioneer at McCartneys.

Taking time to control thistles in established grassland now will prevent them spreading seed this summer and causing bigger infestations to deal with next spring, according to Dr Nicola Perry of Corteva Agrisciences.

Farmers who grow oilseed rape in northern England can now access a profitable new market thanks to a new store for HOLL (High Oleic, Low Linolenic) oilseed at Ray Craggs Ltd, in Sedgefield.

According to the results of the annual AHDB Planting and Variety Survey, the oilseed rape area has been replaced by an increased cereal area, notably wheat and oats.

A multi million pound investment to construct a plant capable of de-hulling UK grown beans was officially opened by Frontier Agriculture in early July.

The Royal Cornwall show in mid May experienced extremes of weather across the three days, but that didn’t put off its loyal Cornish following.

Hertfordshire breeders David and Lesley Sapsed were visibly delighted when their two-year-old bull Heathbrow Important was tapped out as interbreed beef champion at this year’s Suffolk Show.

Grassland farmers may need to tackle dock infestations in silage fields in the next few weeks, as the early spring led to first cuts being taken before these tough perennial weeds could be treated.

Specifically adapted to dispense feed over a feed barrier or into a trough, the new V conveyor has been simplified to reduce the number of moving parts to help extend belt longevity, therefore reducing ownership costs.