Arable

East Anglia is expected to have ‘well below-average’ water availability this season, raising concerns of restrictions for growers who irrigate crops.

Much more needs to be done if the new soil SFI is to be of any worth, as there has been no new data available on the state of UK soils since 2007.

There are many drivers of abiotic stress, which makes crops vulnerable to disease. Some, such as flooding or drought, cannot be controlled, but others can.

Milder weather in January and February has put beet crops at a greater risk of contracting virus yellows disease this season.

An agriculture student who has wanted to be a farmer all his life has been awarded this year’s prestigious John Innes Foundation Bursary which supports young people starting their farm management and crop production careers.

NFU conference spraying

With spring around the corner, growers are being warned to act early to stop yellow rust from taking hold.

An EU-funded project is scouting for 20 UK farmers to participate in trials researching cereal-legume intercropping, focusing on yield, quality, reducing inputs and knowledge transfer. 

Maximising herbicide efficiency will be key for growers wanting to effectively control weeds whilst reducing their inputs this spring.

Enhancing soil health and structure not only benefits crop growth, but it also has the potential to improve water quality.