Arable

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).

The fast food giant has announced its decision to close its 1,350 UK stores from March 23 to negate the spread of the virus. 

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 Government has committed extra research and development spending, while farmers are being urged to explore the tax benefits of bringing more innovation to their businesses.

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.

Industry representatives have welcomed Government’s inclusion of ‘food producers’ on its critical workers list to help negate the impacts of COVID-19 on labour.

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.

Excess moisture in the US Midwest may delay sowings in some of the early-sown states, although the main sowing period is still a few weeks away, which may allow fields to dry.