I was looking at alternative crops at cereals this year (have tried crambe..dont ask..) Two reasons really, wheat at £55/tonne???? what???? 2nd wheats make even less sense, and as we potentially stand to loose beet area in the future, another, more PROFITABLE (remember that??) break crop needs to be found. Had quite a chat with bloke on lupin stand, he was a farmers son, (like me) with similar ideas, and had experience growing lupins his self. Anyone tried em? Good? Bad? Hassle? Comments welcome, thanks. Regards, Andy.

tried 2 years ago. sandy ground and not an arable farmer. predrilling treated with additive so were up in 4 days grew well to start then the pre-emerg spray ran out of steam and they were swamped. because we don't have a combine gave up on them but with arable skill could be good. low inputs and good protein source for livestock. soya price this harvest is low though.

I've been involved with some lupin trials before, and we lost the whole lot to crows! Grew really well to start with, and didn't have much of a problem with weeds (although we did start with a stale seedbed).

I've grown them this year but not harvested them yet. They are yellows and I'll probably get 1t/acre. Its my first year with them and I don't think I'll grow them again despite their benefits in the rotation. I might get a profit of about £20/acre if I'm lucky not including protein payment

Have 10 acres Bora in front of the house. Very slow to get going and a branching variety which flowered for ever. However now ripening, roundup the end of the week hoping for 1.5t/acre they have received 1cwt 7.36.14 0.75l Butisan pre emerg, 0.5l MBC and 4kg Sulphur. They are on some of the best land on the farm which also received 20t/ acre cow muck. We will use them for on farm protein up here (northern Scotland) the animal feed mills are less than enthusiastic for them as they see farmers missing out the middle man and have done quite a good job telling the blinkered they cannot grow up here. This is our 2nd year growing them agfter the first try our Robigus yielded 5.19t/acre @ 18% over a weigh bridge, which for us is a record by a long shot

I have grown Dieta White Lupins for two years now and I would recommend them. They are easy and cheap to grow seem to be consistant,they don't need any spray unless they are a seed crop. They don't lodge and are easy to combine as they don't shed,drum slow and concave wide.We direct drill then pre-em with simazine,stomp and roundup in the same tank.Then shut the gate until the combine arrives.Wheat behind them is then good too.