Arable News

New trials explore options for managing CSFB in oilseed rape

New trial work suggests there may be scope to improve the performance of existing insecticides against cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), offering another potential tool for growers as interest in oilseed rape continues to recover

How to turn OSR back into the grass weed 'cleaning crop' in the rotation once again

With oilseed rape acreage set to rise, growers have an opportunity to restore its role as a grass-weed cleaning crop by combining competitive establishment with robust herbicide strategies

'Most challenging season ever encountered' by onion sector

The British Onion Producers’ Association (BOPA) has warned supplies will be tighter, sizes smaller and quality reduced in this year’s crop

A further £190m set to be wiped from harvest income after AHDB downgrades forecast

Total output from cereals and oilseeds now forecast at £3.64 billion - around a third less than the decade average

Wheat breaks £200/t as UK harvest woes and Black Sea tensions continue to lift prices

Get all the latest analysis on the latest trends in the grain markets from Farmers Guardian

Heineken backs regen farmers with barley switch

Brewer says farmers will be directly paid a premium on regenerative barley yields to drive future farming resilience

Breeder sets out winter wheat options for 2026-27 season and beyond

Choosing the right wheat variety means looking beyond headline yields and quality groups, with disease resistance, drilling flexibility and end-market suitability increasingly shaping profitable cropping decisions

Agronomists are advising growers to remain vigilant for maize pests

Following numerous reports of caterpillar activity in maize crops across the country in recent weeks, agronomists are advising growers to remain vigilant and ensure they correctly identify species

Breeders back resilient genetics as OSR confidence returns

As confidence returns to oilseed rape, DSV highlights its resilient new varieties and pipeline genetics designed to tackle CSFB, disease pressure and changing growing conditions

Study highlights why tri-allate has stood the test of time against black-grass

A new study has provided fresh insight into why triallate has remained an effective weapon against black-grass for more than six decades, despite widespread resistance developing to many other herbicides

Top tips to manage the blight risk this season

Disease control without mancozeb and the impact of the weather on late blight development were key topics of conversation as the Bayer Crop Doctors visited potato crops in Norfolk

Understanding the mechanisms of varietal yellow rust resistance

The breakdown of the Yr15 resistance gene has highlighted the complexity of yellow rust resistance, with breeders and farmers stressing the importance of understanding different resistance mechanisms beyond headline ratings

How to choose the right wheat varieties after the 2026 harvest, according to experts

With combines continuing to roll across much of the UK, another exceptionally early harvest is rapidly giving way to the next challenge - planning this autumn's drilling campaign

How one Cheshire farmer is using mixed farming to get on top of grass-weeds

For Cheshire farmer Mike Jones, tackling grass-weeds has not come from one silver bullet solution. Instead, it has been the result of building a more flexible mixed farming system where livestock, forage crops, cultivation strategy and innovative new chemistry all work together

Growing fresh opportunities with novel crops

From watercress to bulrushes, farmers are finding innovative ways to diversify rotations, unlock new markets and make better use of challenging landscapes

Top tips to make arable regen figures add up this season

Making any agricultural system pay is the top priority for farmers, and it is especially challenging now. Were there any answers at Groundswell?

Producer launches 2026 blueberry season with biggest crop yet

As blueberry consumption surges across the UK, Hall Hunter Partnership is expanding production and investing in new technology to meet demand, with a record 3,000-tonne harvest expected in 2026

Good progress with black-grass control yet challenges still remain

Black-grass pressure is reducing at Hutchinson's Cambourne Demonstration Site to the extent that a return to full winter cropping is being considered, but there is no room for complacency

Updated Amazone Pantera gains redesigned cab and controls

Pottinger launches new combi drill range

Can electric weeding replace herbicides? Garford and Rootwave show field potential

Now offered as a dedicated inter-row weeding machine for conventional and organic systems, Garford's joint development with UK start-up RootWave shows significant potential

Knight Farm Machinery appoints Chandlers for farmers in the Midlands and Welsh Borders

British manufacturer Knight Farm Machinery has expanded its dealer network with the appointment of Chandlers Farm Equipment, one of the UK’s largest machinery dealers.

OPINION: Translating the value of tech into income is a tougher sell

New machinery technology promises gains in efficiency and performance, but turning those benefits into measurable financial returns remains a key challenge for farmers and contractors, says Toby Whatley

Trial results show beet establishment benefits with strip-tillage

Could strip till be the next step forward for sugar beet? Jane Carley looks at a recent trial

'Most challenging season ever encountered' by onion sector

The British Onion Producers’ Association (BOPA) has warned supplies will be tighter, sizes smaller and quality reduced in this year’s crop

How an increased fibre focus could lift UK-grown raspberry sales

British raspberry growers believe the fruit's naturally high fibre content could drive stronger supermarket sales, while continued investment in breeding, protected cropping and labour aims to secure the sector's future

Bureaucracy holds back fruit industry's potential

The top fruit industry which could grow by 50% over the next ten years is being held back by a lack of government joined up thinking

Producer launches 2026 blueberry season with biggest crop yet

As blueberry consumption surges across the UK, Hall Hunter Partnership is expanding production and investing in new technology to meet demand, with a record 3,000-tonne harvest expected in 2026

Scottish cider business expands production near Dundee

Lost Orchard Cider’s co-founder Angus Morrison believes Scotland has been overlooked as a cider-producing nation for too long

How a family farm is helping put British strawberries back on UK shelves

As Co-op becomes the first UK retailer to stock only UK strawberries, we find out about the Nottinghamshire farm producing 2,500 tonnes a season

When an ambulance is two hours away, what do you do? | The Farmers Guardian Podcast

Northamptonshire farmer Ben Aveling joins the Farmers Guardian podcast to explain how a serious accident during tupping changed his family’s approach to emergencies

Bluetongue surge, what farmers need to know | The Farmers Guardian Podcast

Latest updates on the ongoing bluetongue situation, as well as questions around vaccine availability and testing capacity at Pirbright

Paul and Claire Slater: The business of breeding 500 commercial tups | For Flock's Sake Ep.5

Paul and Claire Slater join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake

Is yield still king? Rethinking variety choice ahead of autumn drilling - The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast

Our latest arable podcast delves into variety selection, new traits and lessons learned from the 2026 harvest

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: The Royal Welsh Show – farmers bring back the feel-good factor

This week the FG team looks back on the Royal Welsh, including some of the key show results and how a new government has brought a boost for farmer confidence

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: Burnham becomes Prime Minister: What does it mean for farming?

The FG news and business team discuss the potential impact of a Burnham premiership