Crops

An international group of scientists, led by Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre, has opened its door to healthier wheat varieties, after pinpointing genes responsible for the dietary fibre content of flour.

Amid short supplies and high prices for spring bean seed, following a season when many winter crops have not been sown or have failed to establish, some growers are asking how late winter beans can be sown.

Potato production in the north east and north west of England has fallen by an estimated 36,100 tonnes on the previous season, to 205,200t.

Scientists have teamed up with farmers and industry to explore the possibility of growing organic oilseed rape in Scotland for the first time.

Campaign group Wild Justice has branded Defra’s latest General Licences ‘unlawful’ and threatened to take the Government to court if it attempts to extend them at the end of February.

Essex farmer and advocate of no-till farming Simon Cowell hopes that the new decade will bring Government support for growers to pursue sustainable farming practices more widely.

The UK is set to lose at least one oilseed rape crusher if the planting area drops this autumn, according to NFU combinable crops board chair Tom Bradshaw.

New wheat fungicide Inatreq Active (fenpicoxamid), developed by Corteva will not be launched in time for this season but the company remains confident it will be in the market in 2021.

With approximately two-thirds of the sugar beet harvest complete, some sugar factories are set to stay open for longer due to wet soil conditions delaying harvesting in some areas.

As spring approaches, Limagrain discusses what maize growers should be considering to ensure their crops have the best chance of success.