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Know How / Crop management

Managing your crops through the growing season means careful nutrition and fertiliser use for maximum crop yields and keeping a watchful eye on pest, weeds and disease control.

Read expert advice, case studies, and tips on how to achieve the best yields and growth through best-practice crop management techniques, on all crops including wheat, barley, oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beet and more niche crops.

Case studies

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OILSEED RAPE

Yorkshire farm shares strategy for growing 4t/ha OSR

Oilseed rape has kept its place in the diverse rotation at Albanwise Farming in Yorkshire, where the focus is achieving consistent, optimum results. With about 350ha of the crop, the…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How and why a farmer trained to do his own agronomy

Benchmarking against other farmers is a great way to identify cost savings and it was the starting point for Cornish farmer Ashley Jones's journey to train as an agronomist. Having…

SOILS

How in-depth testing helps Yorks farmer crop variable soils

Farming 18 blocks of land spread over the local area can be a challenge, especially when trying to improve the health of soils that vary widely, from sand to heavy…

ROTATIONS

How one Northants farmer is using cost maps to cut crop risk

Mapping which parts of a field will lose money for a given crop is proving to be a valuable risk management tool for one Northants farmer, leading to better cropping…

OILSEED RAPE

How two OSR growers escaped the flea beetle threat

The two growers in Hampshire and Wiltshire are both using a companion crop of buckwheat to protect their oilseed rape from cabbage stem flea beetle damage and are looking to…

LAND PREPARATION

Monitor Farms: Soil and brome success, carbon next priority

Cleveland farmer John Aynsley has seen soil health improve by successfully adopting direct drilling as part of his three-year stint as an AHDB Monitor Farm in the North East. He…

Practical advice

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PEST MANAGEMENT

Why wildflowers could cut aphid-spread viruses in potatoes

Wildflowers grown in strips through potato crops could control disease-carrying aphids and may help growers faced with a dwindling number of insecticides. Areas of wildflowers grown in the headlands and…

PULSES

Key tips for growing winter beans after a poor season

Variable yields and dismal quality results saw winter beans become one of the worst-performing crops on many farms this year – a victim of very late drilling in less-than-ideal conditions…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to control problem weed speedwell on chalky soils

Herbicide-resistant speedwell is becoming an increasing problem on the chalky downlands of southern England and has prompted the revival of an old contact-acting weedkiller. The widespread use of sulfonylurea (SU)…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How to assess wheat yield potential in-season

Assessing wheat yield potential during the season has always been an educated guess at best, based on previous experience, how the crop is looking and past, present and likely future…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Why early intervention is key to beat Italian ryegrass threat

Italian ryegrass is becoming an increasing problem in UK rotations, particularly in autumn-sown crops because of rapid weed spread and cases of herbicide resistance. The grassweed is more competitive than…

COMPLIANCE

Rule reminder: Key pesticide stewardship guidelines

Pesticide stewardship campaigns are now at the heart of industry efforts to prevent further losses of under-threat active ingredients. Here, we give a reminder of the stewardship guidelines or information…

Insights

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POTATOES

Four new potato products offer hope to growers

A range of new potato products will soon be available to growers, equipping them with an improved chemical armoury to control blight, weeds and soil-borne pests. More than 10 actives…

TECHNOLOGY

Round-up of 9 arable apps that can benefit farmers

Whether it’s selecting which varieties to drill, using data to determine input timings or ensuring machinery and equipment is safe to use, there is a constant supply of new apps…

OILSEED RAPE

Survey reveals that OSR still has a future in arable rotations

Oilseed rape is down but not out, according to a Farmers Weekly survey of farmers looking at rotations and the break crop’s future. Although 22% of farmers who have previously…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why more growers are turning to independent agronomists

Almost half of the UK’s arable land is now looked after by an independent agronomist, with that area expected to increase as Brexit takes shape and new agricultural policy is…

ARABLE

Suffolk farm tests 5 technologies for post-Brexit future

The first in a regional network of Helix demonstration farms, Suffolk host farmer Tom Jewers is working alongside agronomy company Hutchinsons to test the value and benefits of new technologies…

VARIETY SELECTION

Can wheat blends raise yields and cut disease control costs?

Growing different blends of wheat varieties can increase yields while reducing disease pressure, enabling farmers to cut the number of fungicide applications, suggests new Danish research. The landmark research, carried out by…

MACHINERY

Farmer-designed mower cuts and collects weeds before harvest

A new weed mower that cuts off seed heads and carts them out of the crop could accelerate interest in mechanical intervention for weed control in organic and conventionally grown…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How farmers can benefit from new way of paying agronomists

Farmers will soon be able to share the production risk of their arable crops with their agronomist using the country’s first payment-by-results agronomy service. Up to now, agronomic advice in…

OILSEED RAPE

OSR seed dressing offers hope for flea beetle control

The only oilseed rape insecticide seed dressing with activity against the industry’s most damaging pest, cabbage stem flea beetle, can improve crop autumn establishment and increase yields by nearly 10%.…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Intercropping farm trials reveal weed and yield results

Growing two crops together, known as intercropping, can increase yields by suppressing weeds and reducing crop susceptibility to pest and disease attacks. On-farm research, run by the Innovative Farmers Network…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Analysis: How the loss of chlorothalonil will affect farmers

The multisite fungicide chlorothalonil – the mainstay of many disease control programmes in a range of crops – has finally gone, following an EU ban on sales last year and…

ARABLE

Free app to help growers with cropping for ELM scheme

Farmers are to get the first glimpse this summer of a new online tool which will help them decide cropping plans for a new “public money for public good” agricultural…

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Online resource

AHDB Encyclopaedia of pests and natural enemies in field crops

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AHDB Blackgrass: Integrated weed management

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AHDB The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) Principles of nutrient management and fertiliser use

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AHDB The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209): Arable crops

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