Arable News

Potato growers must stand firm on fair market prices, warns UFU

Despite market uncertainty, Northern Ireland's potato growers are being urged not to accept prices that fail to reflect the costs and risks associated with production

23 October 2026 • 2 min read

New survey shows farmers are keen to explore gene-edited crop opportunities

Defra-backed study finds some 78% of respondents said they would consider growing them on their farm in the next five years

23 October 2026 • 2 min read

Experts advise growers to weigh up barley yellow dwarf virus risk against SFI payments

Widespread reports of high pest numbers being spotted in emerging cereal crops are putting pressure on growers to consider insecticide use, even if they have selected the no insecticide option in Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes

23 October 2026 • 2 min read

Barley yellow dwarf virus warning as mild weather could extend aphid risk

Milder autumns and early drilling could extend aphid activity, increasing the risk of barley yellow dwarf virus. Ash Ellwood looks at spray timing and the role of resistant varieties in protecting yield

22 October 2026 • 4 min read

Signs of progress on Russia-Ukraine de-escalation are weighing on wheat prices

Get all the latest analysis on the latest trends in the grain markets from Farmers Guardian

22 October 2026 • 4 min read

How to establish winter wheat in dry conditions this autumn

With dry soils creating challenges for crop establishment, growers must balance moisture conservation, seed placement and establishment costs. We explore how one Worcestershire farmer is adapting his drilling approach this autumn

22 October 2026 • 5 min read

Finding the nitrogen sweet spot for wheat-legume intercrops

University of Reading trials suggest 50:50 wheat-legume intercrops could deliver higher protein and yields at 37.5% of the nitrogen rate used for a standard wheat crop

22 October 2026 • 4 min read

Regional agronomists urge that drilling decisions will set autumn agenda

Four agronomists assess autumn drilling progress, weighing BYDV, grass-weed and flea beetle risks against crop establishment, variety choice, herbicide timing and soil condition across their regions.

15 October 2026 • 5 min read

Agronomy tips for better black-grass control this autumn

After more than 10 years of grass-weed trials at Hutchinson's site in Cambourne, Dick Neale provides top tips for growers tackling weed challenges this autumn

06 October 2026 • 5 min read

Barley yellow dwarf virus puts variety choice under the microscope for wheat and barley

With BYDV pressure cutting wheat yields last season, drilling date, green-bridge control and variety choice could all influence virus risk this autumn

17 September 2026 • 2 min read

Why early drilling succeeded for grass-weed control and what we can learn for autumn 2026

Early drilling defied conventional grass-weed wisdom in autumn 2025, but favourable conditions helped deliver surprisingly good control. What lessons can growers take into another potential early-drilling season?

09 September 2026 • 5 min read

Is rotational thinking key to managing take-all risk?

As more growers integrate Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions into arable rotations, there is increasingly a need to consider unintended agronomic consequences

26 August 2026 • 6 min read

Farm Diversification: From a potato store to padel courts

A £12,000 loss on a potato contract prompted Yorkshire farmer Callum Stark to rethink his business, turning an underperforming asset into a growing leisure enterprise

24 October 2026 • 6 min read

Nuffield Farming Scholar: How could farmed seaweed support UK arable production?

As a 2025 Nuffield Farming Scholar, Mollie Gupta has travelled around the world to investigate what is needed to move British seaweed farming from an emerging industry to commercial scale

22 October 2026 • 6 min read

The novel crop bringing biodiversity to energy production

With energy maize facing growing scrutiny over its impact on soil, water and biodiversity, Alice Dyer takes a closer look at a potentially greener alternative

05 October 2026 • 5 min read

Suffolk farmers trial low-disturbance drilling to cut cultivations and control weeds

Organic and conventional farmers in Suffolk have joined forces to test three different crop establishment systems, with a focus on weed control, soil health and soil moisture conservation

03 October 2026 • 6 min read

Top tips for autumn sugar beet management

With the 2026 sugar beet campaign fast approaching, BBRO's BeetField events provided an opportunity to catch up with advice on making the most of autumn growth and yield accumulation potential in the run-up to harvest

01 October 2026 • 5 min read

'The one crop I don't have to worry about': Farmers turn to hybrid rye as drought resets rotations

Three dry seasons in four years have pushed growers to rethink cereal rotations, with hybrid rye variety SU Karlsson delivering steady yields on light land

17 September 2026 • 6 min read

Kuhn launches new Apex direct and min-till disc drill

Kuhn has introduced the Apex trailed disc drill, designed to provide direct drilling and min-till capability using the same machine.

08 October 2026 • 2 min read

Fendt 832 faces the farm test with a Northamptonshire arable farmer and contractor

Developments to Fendt’s 800 Series workhorse have added the latest tech and practical touches, so we went to find out how it performed when put to the test

02 October 2026 • 6 min read

Machinery manufacturing continues to be thwarted by global economic and climatic challenges

Improved sales and rising revenues have offered a welcome lift for AGCO, CNH and John Deere during 2026, but manufacturers say high input costs, climate uncertainty and weak farmer confidence continue to threaten machinery investment and the wider agricultural market

27 August 2026 • 6 min read

Updated Amazone Pantera gains redesigned cab and controls

25 June 2026 • 1 min read

Pottinger launches new combi drill range

20 May 2026 • 1 min read

Can electric weeding replace herbicides? Garford and Rootwave show field potential

Now offered as a dedicated inter-row weeding machine for conventional and organic systems, Garford's joint development with UK start-up RootWave shows significant potential

08 May 2026 • 6 min read

UK brassicas under pressure as heatwaves force growers to rethink production

Heatwaves and increasingly erratic rainfall are testing brassica growers across the UK, forcing growers to rethink irrigation, soil management and, potentially, which crops they plant

04 October 2026 • 3 min read

Lancashire salad grower lands £250m Asda deal

Retailer says 10-year partnership underlines its commitment to supporting British agriculture

30 September 2026 • 2 min read

Retailers urged to back British strawberries as volumes expected to rise

Supermarkets have been called on not to switch to smaller or imported crops and leave British growers without a market

02 September 2026 • 2 min read

Extended heatwaves and drought conditions put UK salad growers to the test

With reports of the extended heatwave and drought severely affecting arable crops, one horticultural crop could have benefited from this testing season

30 August 2026 • 3 min read

'Most challenging season ever encountered' by onion sector

The British Onion Producers’ Association (BOPA) has warned supplies will be tighter, sizes smaller and quality reduced in this year’s crop

18 August 2026 • 2 min read

How an increased fibre focus could lift UK-grown raspberry sales

British raspberry growers believe the fruit's naturally high fibre content could drive stronger supermarket sales, while continued investment in breeding, protected cropping and labour aims to secure the sector's future

06 August 2026 • 3 min read

Party lines: What are the political parties promising farmers? | The Farmers Guardian Podcast

In this week's episode chief reporter, Rachael Brown, head of news and business, Jane Thynne and news reporter Mia Willemsen look at how each political party aims to win farmers' votes with their agriculture policies at the next general election

13 October 2026 • 1 min read

Boomer and Millie Birch: What does it take to breed great cattle? | For Flock's Sake Ep. 7

07 October 2026 • 1 min read

How losing £12,000 on a potato contract sparked a venture into padel | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast

02 October 2026 • 1 min read

'No farmer is an island' – Nuffield scholar shares mental health research findings – The Farmers Guardian Podcast

29 September 2026 • 1 min read

Sustainable farming fiasco: Farmers miss out on SFI26 funding - The Farmers Guardian Podcast

25 September 2026 • 1 min read

UK Dairy Day: Milk prices and the Sustainable Dairy Pathway – The Farmers Guardian Podcast

22 September 2026 • 1 min read