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Know How / Establishment

Successful crop establishment is crucial to achieving high yields and controlling costs and ensuring the profitability of your business. See the latest thinking this season on cereals, oilseed rape, potato and sugar beet establishment, drilling and seed-bed preparation.

Case studies

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Caithness farmer grows over 10t/ha spring oat crop

Growing crops on the far north coast of mainland Scotland can be a challenge, with heavy rain and gusty winds often limiting establishment. But this didn’t stop Caithness farmer John…

ESTABLISHMENT

Farmer aims to cut wheat inputs with home-brewed inoculant

Microbial inoculants will be part of the autumn drilling campaign on a Cambridgeshire farm this autumn, as Tom Pearson takes the next steps in reducing reliance on artificial inputs. See…

DRILLING

Suffolk farm shifts cultivations to improve soil health

A Suffolk grower’s approach to soil management and cultivation has evolved significantly in recent years, driven largely by cost-saving measures and a commitment to improving soil health and soil sustainability.…

LAND PREPARATION

Grower uses drone to sow catch crop into standing wheat

An East Yorkshire regen farmer is trialling the establishment of a multispecies catch crop into a standing crop of wheat, using the largest UK spraying and spreading drone. Jonathon Hodgson…

BLACKGRASS

Trial leads to shift in blackgrass strategy on Oxon farm

Rotational ploughing and maximising autumn flushes are part of the new strategy at Tusmore estate near Bicester, as its farm manager looks to get blackgrass back under control. The grassweed…

DRILLING

Strip-till cultivator brings big maize establishment savings

The use of a strip-till cultivator has halved the number of maize establishment passes and more than doubled work rate at a Hampshire arable farm – all while maintaining yields.…

Practical advice

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PEST MANAGEMENT

OSR growers warned against slug complacency after dry spell

Oilseed rape growers are being urged not to let the prolonged dry summer create a false sense of security over slug risk. And those yet to drill are advised to…

DRILLING

Machinery expert's tips on drilling cereals into cover crops

Cover crops have a valuable role in improving soil health, however, dense residues, reduced soil movement and increased pressure from pests like slugs can make autumn cereal establishment more challenging.…

LIVESTOCK

Advice on growing successful maize crops after a wet winter

Challenging wet weather, waterlogged soils and flooded sites mean growers must be flexible and develop a farm-specific strategy to get maize seed in the ground this year. Conditions are not…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why spring beans benefit from earlier drilling

Lower growing costs, the opportunity to exploit the break crop effect, and better variety choice are all good reasons to grow spring beans this year. However, timely drilling is advised…

COVER CROPS

How to tackle large cover crops before spring drilling

Some of the biggest overwinter cover crops seen in the past 15-20 years will need careful management ahead of spring drilling to maximise yields of the following crop. Oxfordshire-based Agrii…

PULSES

Why spring bean seed test can avoid disease risks

Growers using home-saved spring beans are advised to test seed ahead of planting, to avoid poor germination and crop health issues. The cost of testing is modest compared with the…

Insights

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ESTABLISHMENT

Later-drilled oilseed rape requires tailored agronomy

Oilseed rape growers opting for a later drill date following the dry summer may need to adjust agronomy to compensate for the shortened growing period ahead of winter. “If drilling…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Later-drilled winter OSR will need tailored agronomy

Winter oilseed rape growers delaying planting until late August and into September need to adjust their agronomy to compensate for the shortened growing window before winter, says an expert. OSR…

ARABLE

Growers urged to wait for moisture before drilling OSR

Oilseed rape growers in the bone dry areas of southern and eastern England are being urged to hold their nerve and wait for moisture to arrive, rather than be guided…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why OSR growers shouldn't discount slugs ahead of drilling

Oilseed rape growers should not be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to managing slug risk in the coming months, warns one agronomist. Dry conditions through…

DRILLING

Pros and cons of wider row spacing for cropping resilience

Wider-row spacing could offer arable farmers the opportunity to establish a more resilient cropping system. Farmers Weekly hears the latest advice from machinery specialist Horsch and rounds-up the pros and…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Yield cap and disease control in spotlight at agronomy event

The recent Agronomy Exchange conference (11 February) offered insights into how UK arable farming can be fit for future challenges.  Farmers Weekly rounds up some event highlights. Agronomy focus shift…

COVER CROPS

Trial shows how to establish a cover crop before harvest

Establishing multispecies cover crops into a standing crop of wheat has shown promise in a replicated large-scale trial in Northamptonshire. While it’s well-known that earlier establishment of cover crops is…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Benefits of adding manganese to seed-beds after dry summer

Farmers are advised to apply manganese in the seed-bed this autumn, as the dry summer may have left soils depleted of the micronutrient. Origin Soil Nutrition agronomist Toby Ward warns…

ESTABLISHMENT

How late is too late to drill oilseed rape this autumn?

While many oilseed rape growers have already drilled their crops, some have been holding back, having noted that later drilling into September has its advantages. Growers may well be wondering…

ESTABLISHMENT

Why good straw management is key to crop establishment

For regenerative farmers, straw provides a valuable source of organic matter for improving soil health, but it can also bring crop establishment problems if not managed correctly. Straw holds important…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

How farmers can benefit from growing hemp market

Fast growing with break crop suitability, hemp can produce high-value fibres in a low-input system, with low nitrogen requirement, and minimal chemicals. But one of industrial hemp’s major downfalls is…