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WEED MANAGEMENT

First case of glyphosate resistance confirmed on UK farm

Growers using glyphosate to clean stubbles ahead of direct drilling spring crops are urged to remain vigilant this spring, following confirmation of the first case of glyphosate resistance on a…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Scrap price subsoiler is first machinery buy

Firstly, happy new year to everyone, although there’s nothing much to make you very happy in our industry currently. In my 30 years of farm management I don’t think I’ve…

ARABLE

World’s first carbon insetting programme established

The world’s first global carbon insetting programme, designed specifically to monetise environmental efforts within the agri-business supply chain, has been launched. International regenerative agriculture certifier Regenagri established the platform with…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Crop plans for autumn 2025 almost done

Happy new year all. I hope everyone had a fantastic festive period and that 2025 brings prosperity, enjoyment and some stonking yields. Dad and I have almost completed crop planning…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why one Essex arable farm faces difficult decisions in 2025

Essex farmer Tom Streeter admits that he and his brother Will have some difficult decisions to make about the future of the family farming business, having looked at the details…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

What the latest in-field pest and disease tech can offer

The development of “smart” spore-trapping systems that combine on-site analysis and real-time reporting to track the spread of diseases mean that the same-day detection of more than one pathogen will…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Surely 2025 can’t be any worse than last year

Finally, 2024 has crept towards its end. It’s not often that I wish time away, in fact I make a concerted effort not to as I never seem to have…

Arable news

ARABLE

Farm sustainability award focuses on resilience

Entries are now open for a farm sustainability award that rewards farmers for their essential role in food production while recognising their commitment to environmental stewardship. The 2025 Rawcliffe Bridge…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeeze

Scotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised…

ARABLE

Scottish farmers fear being left behind on gene-edited crops

The Scottish agriculture industry is calling for the adoption of precision breeding technology, highlighting its potential to strengthen food security and address climate challenges. Key organisations, such as the Agricultural…

ARABLE

Researchers granted £2.2m to trial gene-edited wheat

Researchers in the UK have been awarded £2.2m to trial a precision-bred wheat variety which could lead to the development of more sustainable farming systems. The funding awarded to researchers…

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SOILS

How composting is helping organic transition on Norfolk farm

Making and using compost to improve soil health has become a central part of the route Ken Hill Farm & Estate, near Snettisham in west Norfolk, is taking to transition…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why one Essex arable farm faces difficult decisions in 2025

Essex farmer Tom Streeter admits that he and his brother Will have some difficult decisions to make about the future of the family farming business, having looked at the details…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

What the latest in-field pest and disease tech can offer

The development of “smart” spore-trapping systems that combine on-site analysis and real-time reporting to track the spread of diseases mean that the same-day detection of more than one pathogen will…

VARIETY SELECTION

Seed expert outlines 2025 spring crop variety options

As thoughts turn to spring cropping, there are a host of new varieties available for drilling this spring offering better yields and disease resistance. However, for some markets, the old…

SOILS

Soils improve for Northants grower after a switch to regen

Peter Mee has cut his growing costs while holding his arable yields steady after four years of regenerative farming having improved the structure of his soils close to the flood-prone…

OTHER CROPS

Why East Yorks grower added flax to the rotation

Jonathan Hodgson isn’t averse to growing niche crops at Great Newsome Farm in East Yorkshire, and for the past three years his cropping mix has included a fibre crop that…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How low-input spring cereals SFI action may fit this spring

Low-input harvested spring cereal crops supported by the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) action AHW10 could be a good option for growers in 2025, given the payment rate of £354/ha. Use…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

AHDB fungicide data reveal how new products performed

The AHDB’s fungicide performance trials confirm that the new SHDI fungicide from Syngenta is a valuable addition for septoria control. Approved in April 2024, Miravis Plus also offers a step…

ARABLE

How trees helped Notts farmer broaden arable business

Diversifications such as agroforestry could prove to be a lifesaver for some arable businesses facing a sharp reduction in Basic Payment Scheme income. Here, a Nottinghamshire farmer outlines his decade…

OTHER CROPS

Do soya bean crops have a future in the UK?

Could soya beans eventually become a break crop of choice for UK growers? Currently, that’s difficult to believe with no more than 200ha grown in the UK last season –…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Spring cropping 2025: The crops farmers should consider

With spring approaching, farmers face crucial decisions about their cropping strategies and the added impact of the Autumn Budget means it is even more vital to pick money earning opportunities.…

CROP MANAGEMENT

3 adoption steps for AI to transform arable farming

Technologies using artificial intelligence (AI) are primed to progressively change the way we farm, ultimately leading to a fundamental shift in the way farmers grow crops. That’s the prediction of…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How pesticide labels will be made fit for the future

Increasing uptake of digital technology on farms means plant protection product (PPP) approval criteria and product labels could soon better reflect how they are used in the real world and…

POTATOES

Estate grows low input potato crop with no yield loss

Holkham Estate in north Norfolk successfully grew a 10ha field of salad potatoes with zero synthetic fungicide, fertiliser or insecticide applications, without any loss in marketable yield. Harry Barnett, potato…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Why blueberries are working well for Northants arable farm

The search for a diversification project that could make use of an existing irrigation abstraction licence, along with a desire to support the next generation, led to the Mee family…

OTHER CROPS

Cider start-up helps future-proof traditional orchards

First-generation cider-maker Polly Hilton is working with Devon farmers to breathe life back into traditional orchards and transform what would otherwise be wasted apples into quality cider. Polly aims to…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Scrap price subsoiler is first machinery buy

Firstly, happy new year to everyone, although there’s nothing much to make you very happy in our industry currently. In my 30 years of farm management I don’t think I’ve…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Crop plans for autumn 2025 almost done

Happy new year all. I hope everyone had a fantastic festive period and that 2025 brings prosperity, enjoyment and some stonking yields. Dad and I have almost completed crop planning…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Surely 2025 can’t be any worse than last year

Finally, 2024 has crept towards its end. It’s not often that I wish time away, in fact I make a concerted effort not to as I never seem to have…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: New year harvest for June-drilled grain maize

Here in Cambridgeshire we have been very lucky with the weather in comparison to others. It has been wet, but with nothing like the amount of rain experienced across the…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Weather woes provide short-term support for UK wheat

UK wheat prices firmed into the new year with short-term support in global markets as a result of weather concerns across some of the key producing regions such as Russia…

BUSINESS

Outlook 2025: Sugar beet prices depressed but break even

When the 2024-25 campaign contract offer was finally announced in December 2023, many growers felt the headline price of £40/t did not reflect the futures market, which suggested a value…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Outlook 2025: Pressure on for higher potato contract prices

Potato prices began to rise following the poor 2022 harvest, says Andersons director Nick Blake. This was compounded by the wet conditions that hampered the 2023 campaign, producing just 4.8m…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Outlook 2025: Complex picture for combinable cropping

Combinable crop production might appear relatively straightforward when compared with more intensive farm enterprises, but the level of complexity depends on the grower's perspective and the demands placed on them.…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Mixed outlook for UK wheat in 2025 driven by global markets

UK wheat markets in 2025 will remain at the discretion of major global influences, with supplies out of the Black Sea and US geopolitics likely to dictate any immediate price…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Mixed fortunes for potato growers as higher costs hit sector

The UK potato sector bounced back slightly in 2024, following challenging weather conditions during the previous year. However, production costs have soared in recent years with higher energy, labour, machinery…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat markets likely to return above £200/t in early 2025

A bullish outlook for wheat in the first half of 2025 could drive up grain markets, with some industry forecasts predicting UK prices may hit £210/t next spring. Tighter global…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeeze

Scotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised…

Commodities

Futures markets and commodity risk management online course

Learn all you need to know about the futures markets and how you can benefit from them:

  • Risk management strategies for a more predictable financial performance
  • Educated conversations when collaborating with your advisors
  • Negotiate better prices with your grain merchants

Find out more

 
 
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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TELEHANDLERS

Case IH adds 5.9m/2.6t Farmlift 626 to its telehandler range

Despite some on-paper similarities, such as the 74hp engine output, single-speed hydrostatic drive, and 80-litre/min gear pump output, the Case IH Farmlift 626 is an all-new replacement for the 526…

CEREAL DRILLS

Yorkshire farmer assembles a pair of tine drills for £10k

Recent autumn drilling campaigns have been a real slog for crop producers, with periods of extreme weather limiting work windows and leading to poor establishment. And that's all the more…

CEREAL DRILLS

New Horsch Avatar 12.25 LC gets 9,400-litre triple tank

A bigger capacity version of the 12m Horsch Avatar 12.25 direct drill can carry up to 9,400 litres of seed or a combination of seeds and fertiliser in its triple…

PLOUGHS

Why shallow, high-speed Ecomat plough works for mixed farm

A skimmerless speed plough is now the cultivator of choice for Worthing-based Sompting Estate’s Titch Hill Farm, which has been on a quest to improve the efficiency, consistency and environmental…

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