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CROP MANAGEMENT

Wilts OSR grower reveals lessons from sheep grazing trials

If the timing is right, grazing oilseed rape with sheep in the autumn can improve crop evenness and deliver yield benefits, according to one Wiltshire farmer. At East Farm near…

ARABLE

How mail-order business adds value to farm's hay and straw

A Kent farmer is successfully adding value to hay and straw by selling it boxed direct to pet owners across the UK. Shelvin Farm, run by Rupert Phillips, sells about…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Battling to cut linseed without glyphosate

I suppose after such a dry spell we were bound to get a wet one, which has done the overwinter cover and summer catch crops the world of good. They…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Farmers reveal results of biological inputs trial

Two arable farmers were tasked with replacing 25% of their synthetic crop inputs with biological alternatives as part of a sustainable cropping project. We catch up with them to find…

ARABLE

Farmers Weekly Awards 2025: Arable Farmer of the Year

Richard Anthony of Tythegston Farm, Bridgend, Wales is the winner of Farmers Weekly Awards 2025 Arable Farmer of the Year. Rainfall exceeding 57 inches a year and fields running right…

AWARDS

Farmers Weekly Awards 2025: Mixed Farmer of the Year

Ashley Jones of Smeaton Farm, Cornwall, is the winner of the Farmers Weekly Awards 2025 Mixed Farmer of the Year. Ashley Jones runs a truly mixed beef, sheep and arable…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Navigating autumn crop establishment

With harvest over, the long days diminishing and the night’s drawing in, we can afford to put to one side the lingering thoughts of the “what could have been” harvest…

ARABLE

Lavender diversification finds success as tourist attraction

Cadwell Farm began growing lavender 25 years ago, when the Hunter family wanted to bring what was a historically grown crop back to the area. Tim Hunter, managing director of…

OILSEED RAPE

OSR peak phoma spray predicted as mid-October

The AHDB phoma leaf spot forecast suggests many oilseed rape crops could reach the spray threshold for the disease in the next few weeks. The online forecast uses rainfall and…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Dry weather prompts early cereal drilling

Many farmers are continuing to make the most of the dry spell, getting cereal crops into the ground in good time. Our CropWatch agronomists look at drilling and early establishment…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Just about beating the cropping budget

I was at my local machinery dealer waiting for combine parts to be picked while desperately trying not to succumb to the lure of shiny spanners. It was harvest-time, and…

SOILS

Leics arable farm begins first-of-kind drainage trial

The role of effective drainage in helping farmers to meet both environmental and productivity targets is the focus of an industry-wide research project which kicks off this autumn. Believed to…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How to make the most of phosphate fertilisers this autumn

As margins squeeze tighter, many growers are looking at inputs and considering where to make cuts, and phosphate may be one area of focus. Tim Kerr, head of nutrition at…

Arable news

VARIETY SELECTION

Trial to explore potential of milling wheat variety blends

An initiative funded by the AHDB is testing whether growing a blend of milling wheat varieties can deliver better yields and crop quality. The four-year project, costing just over £260,000,…

HARVEST

Early maize harvest signals tough year for UK farmers

UK maize harvests began three weeks early in parts of the South amid severe drought and record heat, with farmers now facing reduced yields, rising costs, and increased crop disease…

ARABLE

Smallest barley area in 11 years as wheat rises, says Defra

Harvest 2025 saw the smallest barley area in England for 11 years and the first increase in wheat since 2022, according to Defra’s latest statistics. There was also a sharp…

SUGAR BEET

Sugar beet campaign start dates announced for 2025-26

British Sugar has announced the start dates for the 2025-26 sugar beet harvest campaign for each of its four factories, starting on 15 September. See also: How Birds Eye hopes to…

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Wilts OSR grower reveals lessons from sheep grazing trials

If the timing is right, grazing oilseed rape with sheep in the autumn can improve crop evenness and deliver yield benefits, according to one Wiltshire farmer. At East Farm near…

ARABLE

How mail-order business adds value to farm's hay and straw

A Kent farmer is successfully adding value to hay and straw by selling it boxed direct to pet owners across the UK. Shelvin Farm, run by Rupert Phillips, sells about…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Farmers reveal results of biological inputs trial

Two arable farmers were tasked with replacing 25% of their synthetic crop inputs with biological alternatives as part of a sustainable cropping project. We catch up with them to find…

ARABLE

Lavender diversification finds success as tourist attraction

Cadwell Farm began growing lavender 25 years ago, when the Hunter family wanted to bring what was a historically grown crop back to the area. Tim Hunter, managing director of…

SOILS

Leics arable farm begins first-of-kind drainage trial

The role of effective drainage in helping farmers to meet both environmental and productivity targets is the focus of an industry-wide research project which kicks off this autumn. Believed to…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How to make the most of phosphate fertilisers this autumn

As margins squeeze tighter, many growers are looking at inputs and considering where to make cuts, and phosphate may be one area of focus. Tim Kerr, head of nutrition at…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Benefits of adding manganese to seed-beds after dry summer

Farmers are advised to apply manganese in the seed-bed this autumn, as the dry summer may have left soils depleted of the micronutrient. Origin Soil Nutrition agronomist Toby Ward warns…

BARLEY

Strong case for winter barley despite price pressure

Many growers are sticking with winter barley this coming season, with seed sales progressing well despite the continuing pressure on crop prices, reports one seed merchant. “Seed volumes are only…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How herbal leys can benefit the whole system

From herbal leys to hemp crops, the Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping is a four-year £5.9m multi partner project, led by Niab, which is exploring the carbon capture potential…

POTATOES

Fungicide and nectar mix results revealed at potato event

UK premier field-based potato event Potatoes in Practice once again showcased cutting-edge research, trade exhibits, and demonstrations for growers to make informed decisions about their crop. Agrochemical giant BASF was…

SOILS

Why soil assessment should come before cultivations

Arable farmers face significant cultivation choices this autumn about how much - or indeed whether - to cultivate soils. The dry conditions of 2025 mean that over-working soils could lead…

IRRIGATION

Why reservoirs are key to sustainable water abstraction

The proposed 30% overall reduction in water that can be abstracted for irrigation in East Suffolk could result in losses of up to £2,300m across the supply chain over the…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

Sheds or silos? What to consider when upgrading grain storage

Farmers looking to upgrade their grain handling facilities have two main options: invest in a new shed or opt for silos. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Silos offer…

SOILS

Herts grower shares experience with Johnson-Su bioreactor

A source of protozoa and nematodes, the extract from a US-invented composter is part of one Hertfordshire grower’s five-year plan to improve soil biology and cut costs. Richard Blair, with…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Tips on cutting through the marketing hype for biostimulants

After a season when crops gave up in the summer drought, farmers may be tempted to try a biostimulant to help crops cope better next time. Some products can deliver…

ARABLE

Advice on managing grassweeds after low pressure season

Successful weed control was a highlight of last year’s growing season, with some of the lowest blackgrass pressures recorded in the UK over the past decade. However, experts are warning…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Battling to cut linseed without glyphosate

I suppose after such a dry spell we were bound to get a wet one, which has done the overwinter cover and summer catch crops the world of good. They…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Navigating autumn crop establishment

With harvest over, the long days diminishing and the night’s drawing in, we can afford to put to one side the lingering thoughts of the “what could have been” harvest…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Just about beating the cropping budget

I was at my local machinery dealer waiting for combine parts to be picked while desperately trying not to succumb to the lure of shiny spanners. It was harvest-time, and…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Weather raises wheat drilling date questions

The continuing wet weather is already raising questions about wheat planting dates. It is, however, helping everything we’ve planted so far to grow, including, most importantly, the oilseed rape. If…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Heavy US stocks put pressure on subdued wheat market

Wheat markets continue to bumble along with ex-farm values stuck in the low £160s and farmers desperately looking for any sell opportunities. Global supplies remain abundant, with the latest stock…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Growers squeezed as EU sugar markets come under pressure

Lower global sugar prices could lead to smaller margins for sugar beet growers on index-linked contracts. EU white sugar futures stood at $460/t (£340/t) on 23 September for the December…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Feed and forage supplies set to tighten into 2026

Livestock farmers are being urged to plan ahead for feed requirements well into spring 2026, with UK supplies already tight. A combination of geopolitical events, a challenging UK harvest, and…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseeds markets rebound back above £400/t

Improved harvest yields and steady prices for oilseed rape are leaving a modest margin for UK growers this year. Delivered oilseed rape prices stood at £414/t on 16 September, following…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Global grain surplus to limit export prospects for UK wheat

A glut of grain globally is weighing on markets and could continue to restrict UK wheat exports and prices in the coming months, according to industry outlooks. The International Grain…

POTATOES

Potato growers squeezed with ex-farm prices under pressure

Free-buy potato prices have slipped sharply in recent months, with plentiful supplies across mainland Europe depressing the market. The UK planted area is estimated to have remained broadly in line…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseed rape falls to £400/t but margins remain for growers

UK oilseed rape prices came under pressure during July and August before settling at roughly £400/t in early September. The domestic trade continues to track wider global oilseed markets, with…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish growers stung by high screenings in malting barley

Scottish growers have voiced their dismay as large volumes of barley fall short of the strict standards imposed by maltsters, leaving much of the crop destined for animal feed. Harvest…

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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CEREAL DRILLS

Herts firm invests in monster 15t, 18m Horsch Avatar drill

There are farms that would be chuffed to drill 20ha in a day, but since the arrival of an 18m Horsch Avatar, Hertfordshire outfit AT Bone can see off such…

TRACTORS

Landquip affiliate transforms JCB Fastrac into load carrier

A new business set up to carry out forward control conversions of the JCB Fastrac hopes to attract customers in forestry, utility, fire-fighting and airport runway maintenance sectors, in addition…

HOES

More compact frame for 12m Einbock Chopstar-Prime hoe

Mechanical weed control specialist Einbock has taken another look at the design of its biggest inter-row cultivator and come up with a revised version. The 12m model in the Austrian…

TRACTORS

JCB unleashes new 284-335hp 6000-series Fastrac tractors

Since its 3000-series Fastrac bowed out of production in 2018, JCB has had a sizeable void in the middle of its tractor range. But after five years of designing, engineering…

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