Arable News

Arable farmers are being advised to revise their blight strategies now to target Alternaria, as a cold and wet spring followed by weeks of hot and dry weather have made potato crops significantly more susceptible to infection.

AHDB has extended the deadline for levy payers to complete this year’s Planting and Variety Survey to Friday 21st July, in order to gain the best possible estimate of planted area for the upcoming harvest.

Adding clover and herbs to the mix when reseeding not only reduces the need for bought-in fertiliser, but also provides grassland swards with a boost in dry matter yield, trials by ProCam’s Field Options division have shown.

A new Innovative Farmers field lab is looking into the commercial viability of growing flax for linen production in Scotland while demonstrating the environmental benefits of growing the crop as part of regenerative rotations.

Crop protection manufacturer UPL has reminded potato growers of the importance of maleic hydrazide in sprout control and has issued best practice guidance to maximise its effect this season.

Healthy soils, cleaner water and a sustainable future are the key messages that Affinity Water will be demonstrating at this year’s Groundswell event with the launch of their companion cropping trial results.

Agrovista, leading supplier of agronomy advice, seed and crop protection products, has pledged to donate 10% of the profits from seed sales of its exceptional new winter wheat variety Mindful to support two farming charities and help raise awareness of their helplines.

Having come across JK Machinery’s JCM VibroMAX 10133 vibrating sieve cleaner at Groundswell last year, event founder John Cherry has decided to invest in the machine to fulfill needs for greater crop separation and cleaning efficiency as he moves to increase intercropping at Lannock Manor Farm.

The principles of redesigning agricultural systems to regenerate soils, biodiversity and the bottom line are the same no matter where you are in the world.  It is how we interpret and apply them which changes, and this is what Groundswell is all about – exploring the nuances of regenerative approaches across the diverse landscapes of the UK.

Over 250 farmers took part in this year’s LEAF Open Farm Sunday, welcoming more than 170,000 people for trailer tours, farm walks, tastings and Q&As.

A University of Warwick research project is looking to see haricot beans, otherwise known as the classic baked bean, grown on a commercial scale in the UK to reduce food miles, improve soil structure, and extend farm rotations with a short-season, nitrogen-fixing crop desired by British growers.

While financial and environmental pressures mount, so does our dependency on our soil. For those stepping away from conventional approaches, it can be a hard journey. Mark Shaw, UK manager at Gaïago, explains how microbes and natural substances can ease the transition, maintaining yields and building structure.