Arable Farming

Farmers and growers flocked to the East of England Showground for this year’s Croptec Show to hear and see the latest news and developments in the arable sector.

The energy crisis has led to unprecedentedly high fertiliser prices, with potential for them to rise further before spring 2022.

As bagged fertiliser prices soar, the value of organic manures has more than doubled. ADAS principal soil scientist Dr Lizzie Sagoo gave her top tips on the making the most of your muck in a recent AHDB webinar.

With disease pressure fairly low across the East of England during the 2020/21 season, managed lower input trials at the Strategic Farm East in Suffolk saw reduced fungicide programmes offering the best margins.

Oilseed rape growers can improve propyzamide stewardship and reduce the risk of active ingredient run-off at per field accuracy this winter following updates to the Corteva Arable App.

Integrated pest management (IPM) was at the centre of the discussion at the British Crop Production Council (BCPC) Congress in Harrogate.

The mild autumn has presented its pros and cons. In the main it has enabled autumn drilling to proceed at pace with most winter cereals now sown in good conditions.

The average specific weight of UK flour millers’ Group 1 varieties remains at 75.4kg/hl, the lowest since 2012 (70.7kg/hl).

November / December 2021 Arable Farming Issue

Making the switch from brassicas to a winter grazing crop of rape, ryegrass and berseem clover has given one Welsh farmer an income boost while reducing soil erosion.