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Know How / Pest management

Find out about the main pest threats and how to control them in wheat, barley, oilseed rape, sugar beet and potato crops. Get advice on dealing with pests including flea beetle, TuYV, potato cyst nematode, slugs and rats, how and when to apply insecticides and what a permanent neonicotinoid ban would mean.

Advice and tips

PEST MANAGEMENT

Wetter weather could see slug rise in newly drilled wheat

With more unsettled weather forecast across the UK following recent rain, slug activity is expected to rise, posing a threat to newly planted wheat crops. The hot and dry summer…

PEST MANAGEMENT

High insect activity increases BYDV risk in mild autumn

A combination of earlier drilling and mild conditions has seen a heightened risk of insect activity, prompting concerns of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in cereal crops. Continued mild weather…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Tips to get ahead of the autumn slug threat

After a hot, dry summer, slugs might not be the first threat to crop establishment that comes to mind, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Even…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Cereals 2025: Top 10 strategies to tackle flea beetle

A list of the top 10 strategies to tackle the critical cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pest in oilseed rape crops has been released to help reverse the fortunes of…

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Case studies

CROP MANAGEMENT

Wilts OSR grower reveals lessons from sheep grazing trials

If the timing is right, grazing oilseed rape with sheep in the autumn can improve crop evenness and deliver yield benefits, according to one Wiltshire farmer. At East Farm near…

OILSEED RAPE

Drilling regime and companion crop achieve high OSR yields

Farm manager David Northway’s oilseed rape harvest hit a top yield of 5t/ha in the summer, his highest for nearly 50 years. This was achieved on the farm between Fordingbridge…

PULSES

Why pollinators are key to Scottish grower’s 6t/ha bean yield

Pollinating insects can increase bean yields by up to 50%. Emma Gillbard visits a farmer who is using beetle banks and grass margins to boost yield and cut chemical use.…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Three practical IPM strategies to help growers cut costs

Independent agronomist Ben Burrows of Crop Management Partners has been working closely with Hampshire farm manager David Miller to implement a number of IPM strategies and cut input costs at…

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Community

ARABLE

Farmer Focus: Surprising slug problem after oats

With all but 25ha (62 acres) of winter beans left to drill, autumn drilling is all but complete. After lessons learnt from last year and rushing to get cereals drilled,…

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Insights

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why high spring biomass is a key weapon against flea beetle

Oilseed rape growers choosing the right variety and opting to drill the crop slightly later this year could face far fewer problems as the crop develops, and benefit from higher…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why leafhoppers are an emerging threat to potatoes

Covering a small patch of potatoes with insect mesh has highlighted the potential damage leafhopper species might be doing to the UK crop. Grown under the mesh, the processing variety…

PEST MANAGEMENT

What first OSR to mitigate flea beetle means for growers

A hybrid oilseed rape that has been bred with resilience against cabbage stem flea beetle could make the difference between crop success and failure when deployed as part of an…

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News

CROP MANAGEMENT

New microbial technology aims to reduce pesticide use

Farmers may soon be able to reprogramme their crops to withstand pests, diseases and climate stress using a microbial treatment designed to reduce pesticide use. Azotic Technologies has secured £500,000…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Pea bruchid pest discovered for first time in UK crop

Pulse growers and traders are being urged to report any signs of insect holes in stored peas after the discovery of the first UK case of pea bruchid in a…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Carbon nanodot technology hopes to improve biopesticide use

Carbon nanodot technology, originally developed for the healthcare industry, could make biopesticides more stable and effective, believes a UK tech start-up. Carbon nanodots are ultra-small, biodegradable particles that enable precise,…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Beet growers to gain from emergency approval for beet moth

Beet growers seeing high levels of beet moth are set to benefit from the emergency authorisation of an insecticide used in maize and carrot crops. Sugar beet growers were counting…

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Test and reviews

MACHINERY

A guide to effective bird scaring kits for farmers

New technology for farmers with the age-old problem of scaring birds off crops are constantly hitting the market. From lasers, to acoustic systems, to inflatable scarecrows, to kites, we look…

MACHINERY

Eight of the best slug pelleters on test

We test eight of the best slug pelleters with the help of testing specialist SCS. The test KRM Stocks Techneat Spaldings Logic Bullock Verdict We tested the pelleters with the…

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Video

LIVESTOCK

Video: How to take an integrated approach to rodent control

The best way to deal with rat infestations is not to have them in the first place. Waiting until you see rats running around the farm is too late. Every…

WHEAT

Video: Wolverine wheat looks good in BYDV battle

The first wheat variety with resistance to an important aphid-spread disease is showing a yield of more than 10t/ha in Kent, with some seed available for growers this autumn. The…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Video: Clever electronic bird scarer gets worldwide interest

Farmers are flocking to buy a bird scarer which uses fire alarms and flashing lights to keep pigeons off oilseed rape crops. More than 300 orders have been placed in…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Video: How to properly set up a crop sprayer

Crop spraying is one of the most important and highly skilled jobs undertaken on any arable farm, but it is facing increased public scrutiny. This is why it is vital…

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