Cereals

The farming industry carries many risks. Some are obvious, such as dealing with heavy or sharp apparatus, working at height or even angry livestock, and others less so, such as handling grain.

Two new hybrid winter feed barley varieties from Syngenta have become available for planting this autumn, offering enhanced defence against two of the major yield-robbing diseases alongside increased vigour and yields.

Results from the latest Planting and Variety Survey indicate that more barley and oilseed rape (OSR) are being sown in the UK at the expense of wheat, the area of which is estimated to decrease by 3% for harvest 2023.

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.

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.

NIAB has awarded its 2023 Cereals Cup to the winter wheat variety KWS Extase from KWS and the Variety Cup to the winter wheat Crusoe from Limagrain.

With rising temperatures and a high water table providing optimal growing conditions for both cash crops and undesirable weeds, growers are advised to consider a split dose post-emergence herbicide approach to reduce competition for nutrients and protect final yield.

Cereals will host nearly 400 exhibitors and sponsors, ranging from companies that have attended the event for years to those exhibiting for the first time or returning after a few years’ break.

Trials last year underlined the economic benefit of managing take-all with a seed treatment in risky situations and should be considered when ordering winter wheat seed for 2023 drilling.

Integrated into arable rotations, hybrid rye offers significant agronomic benefits combined with market opportunities in the animal feed and distilling sectors, with experts predicting the UK rye area to double in size over the next few years.

Biologicals offer a cost-effective solution to plant health and fertiliser challenges by increasing nitrogen use efficiency in crops, helping farmers reduce input costs and combat environmental challenges, according to UK biotechnology company Unium Bioscience.

Cereal growers are being advised to use the latest fungicide chemistry to navigate disease challenges ahead of flag leaf spray applications this season.