Arable News

Openfield Group Limited has reported its results to 30th June 2023.

The grain market is now turning its attention to production prospects for 2024/25, while lower fertiliser prices create a buying opportunity for growers requiring product for spring applications.

Whether you’ve been watching your winter sown crops suffer in the recent wet weather or you’re hanging out for spring planting, there’s one thing for sure – the healthier your soil, the better your crops will be able to withstand what the climate throws at them.

Pete Olds and his father, Len, grow 300 acres of combinable crops and run an arable contracting business at Cornhill Farm in Cornwall. With their grain processing plant struggling to cope with handling up to 4,000t of wheat and barley each year, the Olds worked with McArthur BDC to install an upgraded plant in time for harvest 2023.

With arable growers in the UK rushing to make up for lost drilling time, it’s easy to forget that 31st January marks the last official day of the winter drilling window. As such, any crops drilled beyond this date will be defined by the CRD (the Health and Safety Executive’s Chemical Regulations Division) as spring-sown and must comply with the relevant crop protection regulations.

Understanding how tillage and cropping decisions affect grassweed pressure is vital for building durable control. Low and zero tillage systems are already affecting the weed problems farmers face, and herbicides of all kinds need to be carefully integrated into the programme to avoid resistance.

Changing from a traditional plough and combination drill-based crop establishment system to strip seeding has proved transformational for W. Rooke & Sons’ Heslington farming business.

A major on-farm trial and research project that seeks to significantly reduce the dependence of UK grassland farming on mineral nitrogen fertilisers has been granted a £3.3 million boost from Defra.

Plenty of positives for growers from the UK’s highest yielding forage crop, says Agrovista agronomist Lyndon Harris.

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), is reminding farmers of the need to provide photo ID while purchasing ammonium nitrate (AN) fertiliser, ahead of the busy spring application campaign.

While many farmers are ready to start spring cultivations, sowing and planting, their lands may still be flooded or saturated from heavy and prolonged winter rain, making the soil too wet to work. A Bush Tyres expert has shared a number of tips on how to handle farming work in current conditions.

Sugar beet farmers have been conditionally granted an emergency authorisation to use Cruiser SB to protect their beets against virus yellows.