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SOILS

Why mixed farming could help future-proof arable farms

Sky-high input prices, combined with unpredictable weather and depressed markets make arable farming particularly precarious. Yet the answers to sustainable cropping do not need to be overly complex. Perhaps it…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: No-till has been a steep learning curve

At the risk of speaking too soon, I have to say the farm looks well. Cropping this year consists mainly of winter wheat in an attempt to recover some profitability.…

POTATOES

How potato store solar saved farm 40% on energy costs

Following one of the toughest years growing potatoes, Cambridgeshire farmers Nigel and Andrew Garner knew they needed to cut input costs to keep the business pushing forward. That’s why in…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Drilling beans deeper and yellow rust in wheat

The good autumn conditions mean growers have progressed well with their autumn fieldwork. This week, the topics covered by our agronomists include winter bean drilling and the chocolate spot risk…

OILSEED RAPE

Rapeseed oil producer reveals how he grows a successful crop

Sitting at the foot of the Cotswold Hills near Broadway, Worcestershire, Cotswold Gold depends on its farming business to produce a reliable supply of rapeseed to keep its cold-pressing operation…

PULSES

How peas and beans can affect soil health and following crops

New research shows that the remains of pea and bean crops left in fields after harvest can affect soil health and how well the next crop grows. Researchers from The…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: My patience seems to have paid-off

I would like to think I have been fairly patient this year. We started drilling the hybrid rye and barley on 22 September and finished a couple of days later.…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: My patience seems to have paid-off

I would like to think I have been fairly patient this year. We started drilling the hybrid rye and barley on 22 September and finished a couple of days later.…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How four precision-bred traits could help UK growers

Creating a more permissive regulatory framework for precision-bred crops in England is starting to pay dividends as the first crops begin small- and large-scale field trials. While there remains legislation…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: I might grow catch crop on purpose next time

Autumn is that time of year when we spend more time talking to hauliers and merchants than is probably healthy. Thankfully, everything has now been collected or delivered, although not…

ARABLE

Tips on making every kg of fertiliser count next spring

Nitrogen fertiliser is the biggest input cost on most arable farms, so with continued pressure on margins and price volatility, could variable rate applications help more growers get the most…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Herbicide top ups and phoma lesions in OSR

This week sees a quieter spell of weather offering an opportunity to complete autumn jobs such as top-up herbicides in cereals, drilling wheat after beet and planting beans. In oilseed…

SUGAR BEET

Cambs grower quits sugar beet as no longer worth the gamble

Cambridgeshire farmer David Wheatley has decided to stop growing sugar beet, as contract prices mean it is no longer viable. “On paper, the pricing looks OK and farmers can budget…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: The best spring ever as the election looms

The farm is looking a picture at present. We have had regular rainfall, mild temperatures and not too much drying nor’west wind yet. I have never seen this farm grow…

Arable news

SUGAR BEET

Sugar beet price sent to arbitration after talks stall

NFU Sugar and British Sugar have failed to agree a price for the 2027-28 sugar beet crop, with the dispute now heading to independent arbitration. The arbitration hearing will take…

ARABLE

Join us at Arable Insights Live: Potatoes

Following the success of the inaugural Arable Insights Live event earlier this year, Farmers Weekly is bringing the event back with a new focus on potatoes. With potato growers facing…

SUGAR BEET

Drought threatens sugar beet harvest prospects

The financial resilience of sugar beet production is being further tested by drought, with the national harvest forecast to be as much as 25% below an average year. With the…

HARVEST

Rapeseed co-op forecasts UK yields to exceed 4t/ha

United Oilseeds is forecasting average UK oilseed rape yields to exceed 4t/ha for the first time this harvest, potentially setting a new record for the crop and reinforcing the growing…

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SOILS

Why mixed farming could help future-proof arable farms

Sky-high input prices, combined with unpredictable weather and depressed markets make arable farming particularly precarious. Yet the answers to sustainable cropping do not need to be overly complex. Perhaps it…

POTATOES

How potato store solar saved farm 40% on energy costs

Following one of the toughest years growing potatoes, Cambridgeshire farmers Nigel and Andrew Garner knew they needed to cut input costs to keep the business pushing forward. That’s why in…

OILSEED RAPE

Rapeseed oil producer reveals how he grows a successful crop

Sitting at the foot of the Cotswold Hills near Broadway, Worcestershire, Cotswold Gold depends on its farming business to produce a reliable supply of rapeseed to keep its cold-pressing operation…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How four precision-bred traits could help UK growers

Creating a more permissive regulatory framework for precision-bred crops in England is starting to pay dividends as the first crops begin small- and large-scale field trials. While there remains legislation…

ARABLE

Tips on making every kg of fertiliser count next spring

Nitrogen fertiliser is the biggest input cost on most arable farms, so with continued pressure on margins and price volatility, could variable rate applications help more growers get the most…

ARABLE

Grower reaction to underwhelming sugar beet price offer

Sugar beet usually offers the highest gross margin for Suffolk farmer Will Hitchcock, but with yields down 20-30% this harvest, that is set to change. Despite British Sugar’s reduced contract…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

Five tips on storing this year's heat-hit potatoes

This summer’s exceptionally hot and dry conditions could have some significant implications for stored potato crops, so growers are urged to remain vigilant and manage any issues promptly. Hutchinsons head…

SOILS

Why increasing soil microbes is key to regen cropping

Microbes are an integral part of soil life and they are essential to allow soil to perform all of its functions, including nutrient cycling, says an expert. Healthy soils should…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Why are seed-borne diseases such as bunt making a comeback?

Some rarely seen seed-borne diseases, such as bunt, are making a comeback, with significant yield consequences in affected fields, says an expert.  “You usually never hear of bunt being an…

ARABLE

Why sap-feeding planthoppers are a threat to UK arable farms

Crop diseases spread by sap-feeding insects known as planthoppers are a growing threat to UK arable systems. These pests can spread bacterial plant diseases and are already affecting crops across…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Why climate change adds to septoria threat in wheat

The latest UK climate report from the Met Office points to warmer, wetter weather, which experts say are the ideal conditions for the number-one disease of wheat. Patrick Stephenson, Niab…

SOILS

Earthquake technology helps farmers map soil compaction

A 3D soil-mapping technology, traditionally used to study earthquakes, could help farmers track soil compaction and enhance crop performance. The Earth Rover Program uses seismology, sensors and tiny vibrations to…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How foliar N pioneers are cutting inputs without yield loss

Using foliar nitrogen rather than granular or liquid soil-applied nitrogen fertiliser for later-season applications is becoming more popular on some farms, thanks to a combination of aiming to improve nitrogen…

POTATOES

How grower plans to store 5,000t of potato in tough season

Soaring spot potato prices are providing some comfort for growers after two years of difficult trading, but the legacy of this summer’s weather challenges means storing crops will require careful…

PULSES

How bicropping helps with weed control in pulses

Growing two crops in the same field at the same time has proved to be a valuable tool for managing weeds in pulses for one organic arable farmer. Matt England,…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Spray or stay in SFI? Aphids force tough choice

Widespread reports of aphids, gout fly and leafhoppers are being spotted in emerging cereal crops, putting immediate pressure on growers to consider insecticide use. Even those who opted for the…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: No-till has been a steep learning curve

At the risk of speaking too soon, I have to say the farm looks well. Cropping this year consists mainly of winter wheat in an attempt to recover some profitability.…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: I won a battle with wireworm for once

We finished harvesting our potato crop in record time this year. Yields and quality were not wonderful, but we did have one very successful result. An 8ha field in which…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: My patience seems to have paid-off

I would like to think I have been fairly patient this year. We started drilling the hybrid rye and barley on 22 September and finished a couple of days later.…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: I might grow catch crop on purpose next time

Autumn is that time of year when we spend more time talking to hauliers and merchants than is probably healthy. Thankfully, everything has now been collected or delivered, although not…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

USDA report gives mixed signals for grain markets

A mixed outlook from the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) supply and demand report has provided support to grain and oilseed markets, despite a more comfortable global wheat supply…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

OSR prices pressured by global supply and fund selling

Oilseed rape futures have been broadly steady, with geopolitical uncertainty and concerns over European crop establishment providing support, while ample global supplies and fund selling have limited gains. The May…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Wheat prices fall as global supply weighs on markets

UK wheat prices have come under pressure from improving global supply prospects and hopes of progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, although renewed Black Sea disruption has limited the downside. London…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Potato growers urged to stand firm as European yields fall

Potato growers are being urged to resist pressure to accept lower prices as reduced European yields support the market, despite subdued demand across several UK sectors. The Ulster Farmers’ Union…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Barley harvest falls to 14-year low as wheat edges higher

England’s barley harvest fell to its lowest level in more than a decade in 2026, tightening domestic supplies, while wheat production edged higher thanks to slightly better yields. Provisional figures…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU and British Sugar settle on lower price for 2027-28 crop

Sugar beet growers face the prospect of lower returns on next year’s crop following the completion of negotiations between NFU Sugar and British Sugar. The two sides had been at…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

El Nino points to potential upside in global grain market

Global grain markets remain at considerable risk to the effects of the El Nino weather event, according to analysts at the International Grains Council (IGC), who have identified a 90%…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Wheat rally loses momentum as global supply outlook improves

A more comfortable global wheat supply outlook, combined with prospects of better access to Black Sea grain, has led to an easing of UK wheat values from recent highs. The…

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

Ultimate Guide to buying a direct tine drill 2027

Larger hoppers, wider working widths and additional coulter choices are key updates in this year’s guide to direct tine drills. Prices move both ways, with some substantial increases alongside reductions…

CEREAL DRILLS

Ultimate Guide to buying a direct disc drill 2027

A French revival and some familiar machines in new, wider configurations are just some of the additions to this year’s Farmers Weekly direct disc drills guide. Retail list prices vary,…

TRACTORS

Claas steps up tractor range overhaul with new Arion 4

This week, Claas launched a new range of 120-150hp tractors at the EIMA show in Italy. Tagged Arion 4s, with a dot and a number to denote their rated power,…

TRACTORS

BKT adds 'unique' size combination to VFlecto tyre range

Another two tall traction tyres designed to create the largest footprint while fitting within the confines of a tractor’s mudguards have been added to BKT’s Agrimax VFlecto tyre range. This…

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