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Harvest must reads

Latest harvest news

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SUGAR BEET

Growers face delivering own beet due to HGV driver shortage

Sugar beet growers may have to rely on their own tractors and trailers to transport their crop to the factory this campaign because of a national shortage of HGV drivers.…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Pockets of cereals and beans still to cut

Combines are mostly cleaned down for the winter as drills come out in force, but a few cereals and beans remain to be gathered in. East Lothian In Scotland, James…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Ergot in the east and variable bean quality

As most farmers wrap up the tail-end of harvest, a few areas are still trying to catch up after a very protracted season, which has seen many crops needing a…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: End in sight for frustrating, unusual season

Harvest is wrapping up for most of the country, with just a few final hectares to go. While reports on yields have been reasonable, quality, on the other hand, has…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Into the final quarter across the country

After weeks of struggling in damp conditions, combines have been out in force, but although yields have been middling, milling wheat quality has suffered. Somerset and Cornwall In south-west England,…

HARVEST

Yukon spring beans yield well in Somerset

Somerset grower Mark Doble was pleased with his spring bean harvest, as yields from the variety Yukon hit nearly 6t/ha. The variety is the earliest  to mature on the Processors…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Cereal yields hold up, but quality is slipping

Cereal growers are pushing on with harvest where and when they can, and yields sit close to five-year averages – but quality is slipping as standing crops are exposed to…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Yields look good in North England and Scotland

Yields have been really pleasing in Scotland and the North of England, but the persistent cloud and drizzle further south means farmers risk losing out if they don’t get into…

Practical advice

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CRIME

Warning after spate of harvest GPS thefts in West Country

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has issued advice on protecting high-tech farm equipment after a spate of thefts in the West Country this harvest. Thieves are increasingly targeting…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How to prepare for ergot limits in cereals for harvest 2021

Growers need to prepare for new regulations covering maximum limits on ergot in cereals, to avoid loads being rejected by millers and merchants from harvest 2021 onwards.  The current 0.05%…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Get ready for harvest: How to carry out a safety induction

Farmers who take on staff to help them over the harvest period should make sure all workers are given a clear health and safety briefing before they start work. It…

POTATOES

5 tips on effective use of maleic hydrazide in potatoes

Good application is essential in getting the most from maleic hydrazide, which AHDB trials have shown to be a useful, cost-effective tool for controlling early dormancy break in potatoes. This…

POTATOES

Video: Top tips for successful potato flailing

Mechanically flailing potato haulms to remove the majority of the biomass not only slows down tuber bulking, it can also speed up the desiccation process by as much as 25%.…

POTATOES

What potato growers need to consider before diquat ban

This is the last season that potato growers can use the broad-spectrum herbicide diquat to desiccate their potato crops, therefore, growers are being urged to look at alternatives this summer.…

Case studies

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HARVEST

Video: Fungicide-free wheat hits 10t/ha

Nick Dymond’s unique cropping approach of not using fungicides or insecticides and a focus on crop nutrition has seen yields of his Extase winter wheat peak at 10t/ha. With specific weights…

HARVEST

Grower kick-starts wheat harvest to earn £30/t premium

Merseyside grower Olly Harrison was not only one of the first growers to start winter barley harvest, but is now also leading the charge to cut winter wheat, which is…

HARVEST

Harvest 2021: Disease-tolerant OSR performance assessed

A sclerotinia-tolerant oilseed rape variety outyielded others on an Essex farm and was also grown at a lower cost, so its area will be expanded next season. Alex Jessop-Gaymer grew…

HARVEST

Better-than-expected winter barley harvest for Notts grower

Father-and-son team Philip and Chris Hardy’s north Nottinghamshire winter barley harvest is going better than originally expected, with the variety Hawking yielding an exceptional 9.4t/ha. Harvest started on 17 July…

BARLEY

How a Dorset spring barley grower hit highest-ever yield

Jim Farquharson grew his highest-ever yield of spring barley in one of the most difficult years for spring crops, aided by a focus on crop nutrition and canopy management. His…

OILSEED RAPE

OSR Masters: Growers make a good start to new season

Drilling dates have varied by five weeks and costs are being kept low as our Oilseed Rape Masters get this season’s crops up and away. Adam Driver, Driver Farms, Brockley,…

Latest Harvest videos

Latest Harvest images

Harvest photos

Harvest is one of the most hectic and exciting times of year on the farm. Capture your harvest 2021 on camera and share photos and videos with us.

We want to see cool combine shots, mad weather photos and drone videos.

All uploaded photos will be considered for our Harvest 2021 photo competition – the winning image will be featured on the front cover of the magazine later in the season.

Find out more

Insights

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HARVEST

Harvest 2021: The 5 top-yielding spring barley varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2021’s AHDB wheat Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the five…

VARIETY SELECTION

Harvest 2021: The 5 top-yielding winter wheat varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2021’s AHDB wheat Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the five…

VARIETY SELECTION

Harvest 2021: The 5 top-yielding OSR varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2021’s AHDB oilseed rape Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the…

VARIETY SELECTION

Harvest 2021: The 5 top-yielding winter barley varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2021’s AHDB winter barley Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Can grain nutrient analysis improve fertiliser use?

Grain nutrient analysis offers growers an effective way to improve input efficiency by diagnosing potential nutrient deficiencies, so management plans can be tweaked accordingly. Acting a bit like a post-mortem, grain…

HARVEST

Analysis: Cost of extreme weather on 2020 crop performance

The weather extremes in the hugely difficult 2019-20 cropping season provided a unique test of crop performance, with some new winter wheat varieties showing promise. From some of the wettest…

VARIETY SELECTION

Harvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding spring barley varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2020’s AHDB wheat Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the five…

HARVEST

Harvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding wheat varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2020’s AHDB wheat Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the five…

HARVEST

Harvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding OSR varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2020’s AHDB oilseed rape Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the…

HARVEST

Harvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding winter barley varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2020’s AHDB winter barley Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Apps help lone workers stay safe on the farm

A Norfolk potato adviser who had to crawl for help after shattering his skull in a 9m fall is emphasising the need to stay safe when working alone on the…