Agronomy

A career in agronomy and business consultancy offers the perfect mix for Oli Pilbeam, as Tim Relf discovers

As hybrid OSR varieties still popular among growers, seed breeder Elsoms seeds advises growers to consider new conventional varieties that can offer high yields while displaying similar levels of vigour

Problems are mounting for growers as fieldwork is hit by further delays, the rising threat of disease and decreased yields

The first of the 2024 series where agronomist Simon Nelson advises farmers on a wide range of arable and forage crops across Cumbria, north Lancashire and into south west Scotland.

After a challenging autumn and start to the winter, we caught up with six agronomists from different UK regions to discuss how crops are looking and what the next steps might be for growers

Phil Warham has been an agronomist with Agrovista for six years. He gained a degree in Land and Farm Management at Harper Adams and managed farms for several years afterwards. He now advises on combinable crops, cereals, maize and vining peas in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and into Leicestershire. Key interests include direct drilling and soil health, as well as making farms profitable. In his spare time he is a keen runner, cyclist and horseman.

Producers growing cereals for animal feed have been advised to harvest their crops at the earliest opportunity, rather than wait for the moisture to come close to 14 per cent.

With many farmers experiencing a rebound in grass-weed numbers this year, stubble management will be key to reducing viable seed levels.

As fertiliser prices hit record highs last year, many farmers were forced to rethink their crop nutrition programmes.