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BARLEY

How low-input spring malting barley wins for Dorset farm

Dorset spring malting barley growers David and Ben Chick are continuing to grow the crop, despite collapsing malting premiums, as it performs consistently with low inputs and has won them…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why spring beans benefit from earlier drilling

Lower growing costs, the opportunity to exploit the break crop effect, and better variety choice are all good reasons to grow spring beans this year. However, timely drilling is advised…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Major flood erodes soil and flattens fences

With blue sky, sunshine and hard, frosty ground providing a pleasant view through the office window, it’s hard to believe we have endured more than two months of absolute weather…

ARABLE

How arable farms are adapting as public funding disappears

Falling government support for arable farms is creating significant financial strain and uncertainty, with direct payments being phased out and environmental funding abruptly paused. People farming, earning from social media,…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: SFI 2026 set to be a shadow of its former self

The taps have been turned on since Christmas, with no field work done for some time and water falling from the sky daily. What type of growing season will we…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Yield cap and disease control in spotlight at agronomy event

The recent Agronomy Exchange conference (11 February) offered insights into how UK arable farming can be fit for future challenges.  Farmers Weekly rounds up some event highlights. Agronomy focus shift…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Questions which may leave me without a job

I am aware that my last article reported back on a recent conference I attended in Oxford. And as it hasn’t stopped raining in Shimpling since then, I have no…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Yield cap and disease control in spotlight at agronomy event

The recent Agronomy Exchange conference (11 February) offered insights into how UK arable farming can be fit for future challenges.  Farmers Weekly rounds up some event highlights. Agronomy focus shift…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Questions which may leave me without a job

I am aware that my last article reported back on a recent conference I attended in Oxford. And as it hasn’t stopped raining in Shimpling since then, I have no…

CROP SELECTION

Maize for anaerobic digestion - how do the numbers stack up?

Growing maize to supply a local anaerobic digestion plant may look attractive for farmers in the right location, however haulage costs and yield variability can “make or break” profitability That’s…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Short tenancy timescales not fit for purpose

The Norfolk weather has been its usual fickle self this month – temperatures hovering around 6C with enough rain to keep the soil tacky, and us off the land. The…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Early reports of severe chocolate spot in winter beans

Winter bean growers are being urged to check their crops for signs of chocolate spot, as there are increasing early reports of severe infections of the fungal disease in some…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Don't reduce foliar fertiliser inputs, wheat growers advised

Arable growers should resist the temptation to reduce crop nutrients this spring, with trials suggesting that the application of foliar nutrition can enhance winter wheat yields by more than 0.9t/ha.…

PULSES

Home-grown pulse incentive required to replace soya imports

The environmental gains of replacing imported soya in livestock diets with UK-grown beans could be substantial, but without financial encouragement for increased pulse production, targets may not be met. About…

Arable news

SUGAR BEET

Sugar beet growers remain optimistic despite disease risks

The future of British sugar beet looks positive, with domestic demand for sugar expected to stay firm and technologies such as gene editing offering longer-term opportunities. However, in the short…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Don't reduce foliar fertiliser inputs, wheat growers advised

Arable growers should resist the temptation to reduce crop nutrients this spring, with trials suggesting that the application of foliar nutrition can enhance winter wheat yields by more than 0.9t/ha.…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Research on historic wheats disease resistance gets grant

Historic wheat collections could hold the secret to tackling the newly identified strain of yellow rust pathogen which overcame the Yr15 resistance gene in winter wheat last year. The breakdown…

ARABLE

Free national soil map to be opened to farmers in 2026

Farmers and land managers in England and Wales will gain free access to the UK’s most comprehensive soil data under a landmark agreement between Cranfield University and Defra. The partnership…

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How to make SFI a success on your arable farm

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BARLEY

How low-input spring malting barley wins for Dorset farm

Dorset spring malting barley growers David and Ben Chick are continuing to grow the crop, despite collapsing malting premiums, as it performs consistently with low inputs and has won them…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why spring beans benefit from earlier drilling

Lower growing costs, the opportunity to exploit the break crop effect, and better variety choice are all good reasons to grow spring beans this year. However, timely drilling is advised…

ARABLE

How arable farms are adapting as public funding disappears

Falling government support for arable farms is creating significant financial strain and uncertainty, with direct payments being phased out and environmental funding abruptly paused. People farming, earning from social media,…

DRILLING

Welsh grower changes drill for better seed placement

A change in drill and the launch of a new “mixed ration in a bale” service to local dairy, beef and sheep farmers are among the changes being implemented this…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Yield cap and disease control in spotlight at agronomy event

The recent Agronomy Exchange conference (11 February) offered insights into how UK arable farming can be fit for future challenges.  Farmers Weekly rounds up some event highlights. Agronomy focus shift…

CROP SELECTION

Maize for anaerobic digestion - how do the numbers stack up?

Growing maize to supply a local anaerobic digestion plant may look attractive for farmers in the right location, however haulage costs and yield variability can “make or break” profitability That’s…

PULSES

Home-grown pulse incentive required to replace soya imports

The environmental gains of replacing imported soya in livestock diets with UK-grown beans could be substantial, but without financial encouragement for increased pulse production, targets may not be met. About…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How climate change is reshaping agronomy

Evidence from long-term trial data and climate modelling shows that warmer summers, wetter winters and more extreme weather events are affecting yield reliability, disease pressure and pest risk. The key…

PEST MANAGEMENT

10-point plan to beat flea beetle in oilseed rape

Oilseed rape growers are being urged to follow a 10-point plan to limit damage from cabbage stem flea beetles, with the most important factor being choosing a drilling date. AHDB's…

OILSEED RAPE

Oilseed rape looks set to bounce back as crop area rises

Optimism is growing in the oilseed rape industry with this season’s crop area rising, buoyed by last summer’s high yields, firm rapeseed prices and reduced risk from one key damaging…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Advice on sugar beet weed control for summer 2026

Good crop ground cover will be key to managing herbicide costs in sugar beet this year, after dry conditions affected weed control programmes in 2025. Sugar beet growers should have…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Cornish farmer puts variable-rate nitrogen tech to the test

Expenditure on nitrogen will be a key focus for arable farmers this season, with many looking to make marginal savings on application rates to make inputs go further. For those…

POTATOES

Why Africa is first to benefit from potato seed technology

Kenya, at least to Western eyes, might seem an unlikely place to debut what could be industry-changing breeding technology that could eventually appear in European potato fields. But with a…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Advice on fungicide applications for profitable wheat

Extra focus on fungicide investment will be required this season, as budgets for a £170/t feed wheat price look certain. Despite suppressed grain markets, fungicides remain a significant investment in…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Beet moth threat: What farmers can do to mitigate risk

Beet moth has jumped up the risk agenda for sugar beet growers, as the 2025 sugar beet season marked a shift from isolated cases to economically damaging infestations in parts…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Potato expert cultivates soil-led resilience in systems

When John Sarup was named Farmers Weekly's 2025 Arable Adviser of the Year, the award recognised more than 40 years at the sharp end of specialist potato agronomy. Four months…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Major flood erodes soil and flattens fences

With blue sky, sunshine and hard, frosty ground providing a pleasant view through the office window, it’s hard to believe we have endured more than two months of absolute weather…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: SFI 2026 set to be a shadow of its former self

The taps have been turned on since Christmas, with no field work done for some time and water falling from the sky daily. What type of growing season will we…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Questions which may leave me without a job

I am aware that my last article reported back on a recent conference I attended in Oxford. And as it hasn’t stopped raining in Shimpling since then, I have no…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Short tenancy timescales not fit for purpose

The Norfolk weather has been its usual fickle self this month – temperatures hovering around 6C with enough rain to keep the soil tacky, and us off the land. The…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU session exposes deep flaws in crops supply chain

Farmers and growers demanded sweeping reforms to grain contracts, haulage rules and intake testing during an NFU Combinable Crops breakout session that exposed what delegates described as “deep mistrust” in…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Global grain markets briefly spike in response to US tariffs

Wheat markets rallied this week in response to heightened global tensions following the announcement of increased tariffs being imposed by the US. UK feed wheat futures for the May 2026…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Feed barley discount to wheat narrows to just £10/t

The premium for feed wheat over feed barley has eroded in recent months, with improved global demand helping feed barley hold above £150/t. Spot prices collected by Farmers Weekly on…

OILSEED RAPE

Oilseed rape looks set to bounce back as crop area rises

Optimism is growing in the oilseed rape industry with this season’s crop area rising, buoyed by last summer’s high yields, firm rapeseed prices and reduced risk from one key damaging…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseeds prices rally to near £450/t

Oilseeds markets have rallied over the past month, both globally and in the domestic markets, underpinned by a stronger soybean complex and favourable currency movements. UK oilseed rape has lifted…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU seeks sampling improvements in future grain contracts

The NFU has called for a major overhaul of combinable crop contracts, claiming the scales have been “tipped against growers for far too long”. It has submitted its official response…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK cereals demand hit by bioethanol losses and maltster cuts

Demand for UK cereals has plummeted as a result of the closure of the UK’s major bioethanol plants and decreased usage by brewers, maltsters and distillers. The UK cereals supply…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Larger UK wheat crop may drive exports and weigh on prices

The expectation of a larger domestic wheat crop this year could leave the UK having to compete more on global export markets, according to grain industry specialists. A panel discussion…

Spot and forward prices (£/t ex-farm)
Each set of prices comes from a single merchant, co-op or broker, and are the latest prices being paid to farmers. Ranges of prices, within one category relate to the distance of the farm from the buyer. Oilseed rape prices are latest spot and forward prices, not contract prices. Ex farm prices vary with the distance from Hull, Liverpool and Erith, crushing factories.

Arable machinery

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TRACTORS

Punchy new John Deere 8RX 540 maxes out at 634hp

John Deere reckons it has produced the world’s most powerful rigid-frame tractor. The wheeled 8R 540 and four-track 8RX equivalent are rated to a maximum output of 594hp, rising to…

WORKSHOP SKILLS

Inventions Comp 2026: Seed bag lifter speeds drill filling

Hamish Watson has been highly commended. There’s no need to tie up a telehandler during drilling season at Hamish Watson’s farm in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, as his tractor has all it…

WORKSHOP SKILLS

Inventions Comp 2026: Contractor builds tine toolbar drill

Trivett and Sons’ tine toolbar drill has been highly commended. After battling several challenging autumn campaigns, Lawrence Trivett, brother Alistair and dad Andrew decided to rethink their drilling fleet. That…

TRACTORS

AgXeed develops more powerful tracked driverless tractor

A more powerful version of the tracked AgBot self-guided driverless tractor has been developed by Dutch specialist AgXeed to cater for growers who like the concept but want more muscle…

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