Arable Farming

Good bolting characteristics for flexible drilling, beet cyst nematode (BCN) tolerance and a jump in yield are among the traits found in the seven new varieties added to the 2021 sugar beet Recommended List (RL).

AHDB has published guidance to ensure that combinable crop collections from farms and their delivery to a UK port, store or final use destination are maintained through the current coronavirus situation

Growers have launched a large-scale recruitment campaign to encourage British people to provide seasonal labour to harvest crops, due to a severe lack of local workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) has made its coronavirus guidance public in an effort to keep the industry safe and all contractors working in the current crisis.

Agricultural distribution and supply companies are working to minimise disruption to the logistics of getting products to farms, which could come about due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The NFU has published a Q&A for employers on coronavirus on its website from its specialist advice team.

The Government has announced it will relax the crop diversification requirements known as the three crop rule for farmers for 2020.

Called AutoTrac Vision the new system uses a high resolution front-mounted camera to automatically guide tractors and sprayers down established crop rows.

Gaining key worker status for drivers supplying and distributing flour mills will be important to meeting increased demand for flour driven by ‘panic buying’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

Distributors and agronomists are asking growers to liaise with them over delivery of farm inputs and agronomy services to minimise the risk of infection while continuing to meet crop needs