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ROTATIONS

No-till, rotation and resilience drive Kenya’s farming shift

Think of Kenyan agriculture and it's likely tea, coffee and cut flowers spring to mind, perhaps with various vegetable crops, such as green beans, which are now often imported into…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Wheat dwarf virus widespread in UK, finds survey

A survey led by independent agronomists suggests that wheat dwarf virus may be more widespread in the UK than previously thought. Transmitted by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus, the virus has…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: We should call subsidies 'government contracts'

We’ve had news that a form of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be coming out this year, with the potential introduction of capping. If it does come in, I…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Why spring linseed could be a strong option in 2026 rotations

With demand for UK-grown linseed continuing to remain high against a backdrop of depressed markets and uncertainty surrounding many other spring crops, spring linseed could be the solution for many…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Glyphosate – pros and cons of another GB licence renewal

After more than 40 years of continuous use in agriculture, the future of glyphosate is again in the spotlight following a succession of expirations, extensions and renewals since 2002. Last…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Advice on gaining a clear picture of soil nitrogen levels

With some uncertainty about how much residual nitrogen is in soils, growers are being urged to consider getting fields tested ahead of early fertiliser applications.  Hutchinsons fertiliser and crop nutrition specialist Rob Jewers says there are two…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Tariff chaos bound to affect commodity prices

The world has seen another senior moment from Trump, first threatening tariffs on a few EU countries and Britain over Greenland before changing his mind and dropping the idea. We’ve…

COVER CROPS

The role of cover crops in nitrogen management for potatoes

A review into how cover crops affect nitrogen uptake in following potato crops has confirmed one thing – it is complicated. Despite these complexities, the review also concluded that cover…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Growers exploit weather extremes to hit record OSR yields

Oilseed rape growers' ability to exploit weather extremes has been cited as a key factor in record-breaking yields last season. Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman reclaimed the oilseed rape yield world…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Big business change sees breeding flock go

We are taking a very hard look at all parts of our business, with an open mind to making change. Change became reality here last Monday when we sold our…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Wheat project examines effect of variety on weed suppression

An AHDB project has set out to investigate if different winter wheat varieties can affect levels of weed suppression. Effective weed control remains a significant challenge in wheat production, particularly…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Potato growers reminded to follow 6 steps for nematicide use

Potato growers are being urged to follow the Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) best practice guidelines ahead of spring planting to optimise inputs, protect crop health and support profitability. With input costs…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: UK organic area fails to hit demand

Another year started for Alice and I with two days at the excellent Oxford Real Farming Conference. With 2,000 delegates and 418 speakers from all continents, there really was something…

Arable news

ARABLE

Sugar beet campaign set for earliest finish since 2016

The 2025-26 sugar beet lifting campaign is drawing to a close, with frost insurance triggered, yields sharply divided and growers facing mounting trade pressure from imported sugar. The campaign, which…

ARABLE

BASF and Adama commit to joint fungicide venture

BASF Agricultural Solutions has partnered with crop protection company Adama to co-develop new fungicide products for cereal growers. Adama, which has developed fungicide active ingredient Gilboa, will work alongside BASF…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Farmers advised to respond to crops fairness review

With just over a fortnight left before the deadline, arable farmers are being urged to respond to Defra’s consultation on fairness in the UK combinable crops supply chain, amid concerns…

OTHER CROPS

First English olive harvest marks new milestone

A Lincolnshire business has completed what is believed to be the world’s most northerly commercial olive harvest, with The English Olive Co, based near Spalding, pressing its first olives this…

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Wheat dwarf virus widespread in UK, finds survey

A survey led by independent agronomists suggests that wheat dwarf virus may be more widespread in the UK than previously thought. Transmitted by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus, the virus has…

ROTATIONS

No-till, rotation and resilience drive Kenya’s farming shift

Think of Kenyan agriculture and it's likely tea, coffee and cut flowers spring to mind, perhaps with various vegetable crops, such as green beans, which are now often imported into…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Why spring linseed could be a strong option in 2026 rotations

With demand for UK-grown linseed continuing to remain high against a backdrop of depressed markets and uncertainty surrounding many other spring crops, spring linseed could be the solution for many…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Glyphosate – pros and cons of another GB licence renewal

After more than 40 years of continuous use in agriculture, the future of glyphosate is again in the spotlight following a succession of expirations, extensions and renewals since 2002. Last…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Advice on gaining a clear picture of soil nitrogen levels

With some uncertainty about how much residual nitrogen is in soils, growers are being urged to consider getting fields tested ahead of early fertiliser applications.  Hutchinsons fertiliser and crop nutrition specialist Rob Jewers says there are two…

COVER CROPS

The role of cover crops in nitrogen management for potatoes

A review into how cover crops affect nitrogen uptake in following potato crops has confirmed one thing – it is complicated. Despite these complexities, the review also concluded that cover…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Wheat project examines effect of variety on weed suppression

An AHDB project has set out to investigate if different winter wheat varieties can affect levels of weed suppression. Effective weed control remains a significant challenge in wheat production, particularly…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Potato growers reminded to follow 6 steps for nematicide use

Potato growers are being urged to follow the Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) best practice guidelines ahead of spring planting to optimise inputs, protect crop health and support profitability. With input costs…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

4 new nitrogen management technologies and how they work

Several firms across Europe are developing and launching new technologies for measuring the nitrogen requirements of arable crops. Improving nitrogen use efficiency has both environmental and economic advantages for farmers;…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

Why Cambs grower invested in bicropping separator

The installation of a specialist crop separator at the family farm's bicropping enterprise is enabling farmer Hannah Darby to sell peas, beans and oats into premium markets. The bicropping system…

PEST MANAGEMENT

OSR growers advised to tackle CSFB with early nutrition

Oilseed rape growers are being advised to apply a nitrogen-sulphur combination, once conditions allow, to boost spring growth and strengthen defences against pests like cabbage stem flea beetle. Will Oliver,…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Farmer tackles arable slump with push for more hectares

Norfolk farmer Robert Scott is seeking to take on more land for his contract farming business to maximise machinery and make resources go further. Over the past three years, the…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Yellow rust resistance blamed on dominant market varieties

The large area of wheat varieties carrying the Yr15 resistance gene created the selection pressure that resulted in last year’s major varietal breakdown to yellow rust. Sampling carried out by…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How beneficial rhizobacteria can reduce insect pests

Inoculating crops with beneficial rhizobacteria has been shown to reduce insect pest damage by priming natural plant defence pathways. Certain bacterial strains can activate internal defence mechanisms of plants, altering…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Foliar urea fails to deliver in AHDB trials

A foliar-applied urea nitrogen application failed to provide either a wheat yield response or grain protein increase across two different years in trials at AHDB Strategic Farm East at Morley…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Low-carbon fertiliser: What products are in the pipeline?

There is a bewildering array of low-carbon fertilisers in the pipeline, ranging from blue and green ammonia-based inorganic products to new organic products utilising waste products. All have their pros…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: We should call subsidies 'government contracts'

We’ve had news that a form of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be coming out this year, with the potential introduction of capping. If it does come in, I…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Tariff chaos bound to affect commodity prices

The world has seen another senior moment from Trump, first threatening tariffs on a few EU countries and Britain over Greenland before changing his mind and dropping the idea. We’ve…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Big business change sees breeding flock go

We are taking a very hard look at all parts of our business, with an open mind to making change. Change became reality here last Monday when we sold our…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: UK organic area fails to hit demand

Another year started for Alice and I with two days at the excellent Oxford Real Farming Conference. With 2,000 delegates and 418 speakers from all continents, there really was something…

Markets

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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…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Farmers advised to respond to crops fairness review

With just over a fortnight left before the deadline, arable farmers are being urged to respond to Defra’s consultation on fairness in the UK combinable crops supply chain, amid concerns…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

'Challenging' year sees profits fall at Frontier Agriculture

Profit before tax at grain merchant Frontier Agriculture dropped to £9.4m for the financial year ending 26 June 2025, down from £40m the previous year. Revenue dipped from £1.76bn to…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Global wheat surplus keeps prices in check into new year

A large global wheat surplus continues to dominate market sentiment despite other geopolitical drivers, keeping wheat prices at persistently low levels. May 2026 UK feed wheat futures started the new…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Outlook 2026: Sugar beet faces lower prices, increased costs

It was written last year that despite the 17.5% price reduction to a headline £33/t, the 2025-26 sugar beet campaign would produce returns for growers that compared favourably to alternative…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Outlook 2026: Potato price pressure mounts

The optimism of the sector experienced over the past two years has been dampened by the finish to the marketing of the 2024 harvest, due to oversupply as old crop…

BUSINESS

Outlook 2026: Small returns for best combinable crop growers

The past two seasons have been incredibly challenging for all combinable crop growers – physically for all and financially for most. Fundamentally, yield, or rather lack of it, has been…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Wheat margin achievable in 2026 after tough year for growers

UK cereals growers have endured a challenging 12 months, with low farmgate prices, weather constraints and a smaller domestic crop. While pressure remains on wheat prices due to a well-supplied…

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

Lamma 2026: Kubota brings big SVL 75-3 skid-steer to the UK

National plans to increase solar capacity was a major motivator behind Kubota’s decision to bring its SVL 75-3 skid-steer handler to the UK. Its 1.7m width allows contractors to slink…

TELEHANDLERS

Lamma 2026: Compact JCB 526-60 gets swankier cab

JCB has lavished its compact Loadall telehandlers with some attention, fitting higher-spec cabs, improved brakes and twin-line trailer braking. The 526-60 is the smaller of the two models, benefiting from…

ROLLS

Lamma 2026: NRH adds Stocks seeder to RollX GSD

By fitting a Stocks seeder to its RollX roller, Yorkshire-based NRH Engineering has created a multi-purpose rejuvenation tool. Buyers can spec either 610mm diameter Cambridge rings or a smooth ballasted…

TELEHANDLERS

Lamma 2026: Stronger boom for Stoll TracLift loader

Farmers torn between Stoll’s budget Solid front loader and top-spec ProfiLine FZ need agonise no more, following the introduction of three mid-range TracLift models. Smallest of the trio is the…

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