Know How / Wheat / Crop management

Every season throws up its challenges when it comes to managing wheat crops for optimum performance, from seasonal factors influencing diseases, such as septoria, and pest pressures to weed control and the ever-present challenge of blackgrass. Stay up-to-date with the latest thinking on wheat crop agronomy and how new technologies are being applied to solve complex issues.

Case studies

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Extra wheat yield prompts fungicide shift on Notts farm

Richard Cross trialled a new SDHI fungicide on his winter wheat last year and gained an extra 0.4t/ha in yield over his farm standard, prompting him to make this latest…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How treated urea is helping farms to improve NUE

New rules mean farmers can only use standard urea up to 31 March, but Velcourt is going a step further by only using urea fertiliser treated with an urease inhibitor.…

ESTABLISHMENT

Video: 3 growers reveal impact of rain and spring plans

Relentless wet weather has not only reduced the UK winter cereal area, but hampered yield potential. With costs high and market prices low, we find out how crops are fairing…

WHEAT

Herbal leys and bicrops help hit organic wheat premium

Devon farmer George Greed is successfully using herbal leys, inter-crops and population wheats to hit organic milling premiums, as part of his nature friendly farming operation which has increased arable…

ARABLE

How nature focus helps profits rise on east Kent farm

A switch to nature-friendly farming is boosting profitability on one east Kent farm, with inputs slashed, soils improved and price premiums gained as grain yields are held at high levels.…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How a regen farm is reducing inputs to meet SFI targets

The drive to reduce the use of artificial inputs is under way at Raby Farms in County Durham, with the business recognising the economic and environmental benefits of being less…

Practical advice

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Why leaf layer emergence is key to accurate fungicide use

Growers will require “laser focus” to accurately monitor leaf layer emergence and hit critical fungicide timings in what has been an extremely variable cropping season so far. What’s more, cereal…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How to tackle hefty spring arable workloads after wet winter

Spring workloads are mounting on most arable farms, so sorting fieldwork priorities to ensure optimum return on investment where crops are variable and harvest profitability remains uncertain is a tricky…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

5 steps for managing 2024’s winter wheat disease challenges

Wide variations in drilling dates, the after effects of the wet winter on crop growth, and the early appearance of disease are set to make winter wheat disease control challenging…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How foliar nutrition can kick-start crops and cut chemical costs

Foliar fertilisers could be a valuable addition to crop production programmes this season as a means of replenishing leached nutrients and overcoming stunted root systems left over from winter waterlogging.…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Advice on backwards and poorly established crops this spring

An early dose of nitrogen to nurse backwards cereal crops into action will be key to optimising yield after crops battled intense rainfall this winter. Soils could be carrying 40-60kg/ha…

ARABLE

How arable farmers can turn things around this spring

It may feel like doom and gloom at present, as any rare dry days are predictably followed by another spell of rain – a cycle that has limited field work…

Insights

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Best options for septoria disease control in wheat

The most effective fungicide for controlling septoria in wheat has been found to be Univoq, which is slightly ahead of SDHI-azole combinations, according to independent trials carried out by crop consultant Niab.…

ARABLE

Cover crop study shows yield benefits of destruction methods

Research funded by water companies has revealed significant differences between cover crop destruction methods for nitrogen availability in the following crop and weed control. A further project has highlighted the…

CROP MANAGEMENT

What changes are being made to the Wildfarmed standards

A change to the Wildfarmed standards now allows crops destined for the company to be grown on a rotational basis. Previously, growers had to dedicate blocks of land to the…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Advice on managing blackgrass with wetter, milder winters

Climate change is affecting weed control, and while the 2022-23 season was deemed a challenging year, some growers still managed to get good control. Agrovista technical manager Mark Hemmant points…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Can data from improving NUE unlock financial gains?

Integrating various technologies, including remote sensing, soil measurement and canopy sensors to provide real-time seasonal information, is the key to a new project aiming to improve nitrogen use efficiency on…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Why urea fertiliser use is changing this spring

Farmers are being reminded that a new, non-regulatory approach to urea fertiliser use will be implemented this season, as part of the government’s efforts to tackle air pollution and improve…

WEED MANAGEMENT

4 reasons Italian ryegrass is a growing threat to growers

While blackgrass remains by far the most common grassweed issue on arable farms across the country, Italian ryegrass is increasingly seen as the most challenging to control. A survey in…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why increasing diversity in arable fields is key to IPM

Introducing greater diversity in arable fields is an important part of integrated strategies for disease and pest control, buying crucial time for slower acting biological solutions. Canadian soil specialist Joel…

ARABLE

Why caution is needed with late-applied herbicides

Growers planning to apply a pre- or post-emergence herbicide to late-sown crops need to be aware of the potential risks to crop safety and efficacy where conditions are suboptimal, warns…

CROP MANAGEMENT

4 key lessons from the first AHDB Cereals Strategic Farm

After six years, Brian and Patrick Barker’s Lodge Farm, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, will be finishing its run as the AHDB’s first Strategic Cereal Farm. It was also an AHDB…

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Financial rewards of regen farming highlighted at Groundswell

The many ways in which regenerative arable farming practices are starting to be rewarded financially were a feature of this year’s Groundswell event. With supply chains responding to consumer expectations…

WHEAT

New soft wheat looks good for biscuits and distilling

New biscuitmaking winter wheat variety Bamford has good support from two seed merchants from the Scottish Borders and Kent for its yield, strong disease resistance ratings and potential good marketability.…

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