Arable

Although the heavy showers have not been conducive to getting harvest in the shed, some growers have already taken the opportunity to plant oilseed rape into ground that was cleared early

Darryl Shailes is root crop technical manager for Hutchinsons, with a nationwide remit. He has been working in potato agronomy for more than 20 years.

Promoting diverse colonies of soil biology to improve plant health is something most regenerative farming systems are based around. And while biology cannot offer consistent control of pests or disease like an agrochemical might, its use is an important piece of the integrated crop management puzzle.

With many growers still waiting for dry weather, concerns about the resulting quality of the crops are increasing

Alex and Joanna Wilcox live and farm with their three sons at Hill Farm near Downham Market on the Norfolk County Council Stow Estate. Covering 240 hectares of Fen silty clay loam, they grow winter milling wheat, winter feed barley, spring malting barley, spring beans and sugar beet.

Collaboration was a key theme of this year’s National Organic Conference. Alice Dyer went along.

Potato growers may be able to add value to their crops in an unexpected way, depending on the results of a new research project.

Rob farms on the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border with his parents and young family, growing combinable and forage crops with a mix of owned, tenanted and contracted land. An agronomist for Edaphos, Rob also hosts AHDB Monitor Farm events.

Developing chickpeas as a novel source of homegrown protein is the focus of a new research project, which will explore the potential for domestic chickpea production and boost the UK’s first chickpea breeding programme.

With funding opportunities and agronomic pressures altering crop rotations, two farmers and an agronomist address the benefits alternative break crops provide while debunking common challenges with market access and establishment