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ARABLE

Suffolk farm faces tough decisions on environmental measures

Farmers are facing tough decisions on the future of environmental measures, as the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme will end by December this year and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Second wheats need improvement

Like most, harvest has been pretty straightforward, dry to very wet conditions meant the wheat was coming off between 14-15% so no need for drying – just some cooling through…

PULSES

How Birds Eye hopes to grow peas for another 60 years

Frozen food company Birds Eye, whose vining pea operations are based in Yorkshire, is going to great lengths to secure the long-term future of local pea growing by developing and…

HARVEST

Harvest 2025: A final push to the finish line

As harvest draws to a close in the South, farmers further north are reporting strong yields and good quality across a mix of winter and spring crops. See also: AHDB…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Sunshine, stress and storage

Harvest started at Southesk on 24 July, a week earlier than usual and, at time of writing we are 70% cut. Unsurprisingly, and having reported this in previous articles, 43…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to avoid weed burdens after land comes out of SFI

Land coming out of some Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options must be managed carefully to avoid unintended weed burdens in following cash crops. For options such as winter bird cover,…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to avoid weed burdens after land comes out of SFI

Land coming out of some Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options must be managed carefully to avoid unintended weed burdens in following cash crops. For options such as winter bird cover,…

HARVEST

Harvest 2025: Wheat 92% complete, spring barley 68%

The wheat harvest is now 92% complete with the average yield estimated at 7.3t/ha - 5.4% below the five-year average, says the AHDB. Despite variability, wheat quality – particularly for…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: When farming moves from field to office

As I mentioned in my last article, July was filled with audits. This got me thinking about just how much administration is now involved in running modern farms. The daily…

WEED MANAGEMENT

More suspected cases of glyphosate resistance in UK

The Weed Resistance Action Group has flagged a fresh wave of concern for UK farmers, announcing that several more Italian ryegrass populations may be developing resistance to glyphosate. Glyphosate is…

HARVEST

AHDB corrects UK wheat yield data blunder

A revised AHDB Harvest Progress Report shows UK wheat yields are down 3.5% on the five-year average, correcting an earlier, more optimistic 1% drop. The revised report, for the week…

ARABLE

FW Awards: Meet the 2025 Arable Farmer of the Year finalists

Three finalists – from England, Scotland and Wales – are focused on improving soils and making land more productive. Finalists Richard Anthony, Tythegston Farm, Bridgend  Andrew Booth, Savock Farms, Aberdeenshire…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: The science behind the soil

As farmers we are eternal optimists. We have to be, we see failure of crops and death of animals, but we are always believing that next time will be better.…

Arable news

ARABLE

Smallest barley area in 11 years as wheat rises, says Defra

Harvest 2025 saw the smallest barley area in England for 11 years and the first increase in wheat since 2022, according to Defra’s latest statistics. There was also a sharp…

SUGAR BEET

Sugar beet campaign start dates announced for 2025-26

British Sugar has announced the start dates for the 2025-26 sugar beet harvest campaign for each of its four factories, starting on 15 September. See also: How Birds Eye hopes to…

WEED MANAGEMENT

More suspected cases of glyphosate resistance in UK

The Weed Resistance Action Group has flagged a fresh wave of concern for UK farmers, announcing that several more Italian ryegrass populations may be developing resistance to glyphosate. Glyphosate is…

ARABLE

Farm assurance research to aid cereals and oilseeds sector

The AHDB has commissioned new research to support future discussions of farm assurance in the cereals and oilseeds sector. The research project will also help shape a set of standards…

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ARABLE

Suffolk farm faces tough decisions on environmental measures

Farmers are facing tough decisions on the future of environmental measures, as the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme will end by December this year and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is…

PULSES

How Birds Eye hopes to grow peas for another 60 years

Frozen food company Birds Eye, whose vining pea operations are based in Yorkshire, is going to great lengths to secure the long-term future of local pea growing by developing and…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to avoid weed burdens after land comes out of SFI

Land coming out of some Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options must be managed carefully to avoid unintended weed burdens in following cash crops. For options such as winter bird cover,…

ARABLE

FW Awards: Meet the 2025 Arable Farmer of the Year finalists

Three finalists – from England, Scotland and Wales – are focused on improving soils and making land more productive. Finalists Richard Anthony, Tythegston Farm, Bridgend  Andrew Booth, Savock Farms, Aberdeenshire…

ARABLE

How an award-winning arable farm combines business and nature

Bedingham Hall Farm near Bungay is maximising its environmental conservation, while remaining committed to profitable food production. It has done this by making full use of the natural features available…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Why we could see increased demand for British oats

The provisional UK oat area for the 2025-26 growing season is estimated to be the largest in five years, with a 13% uplift on last year. Oats have become an…

HARVEST

Farmer impressed with first linseed crop despite dry spring

A north Kent farmer is impressed with the outcome of his first linseed crop, despite the dry spring. Tom Gore is farm manager for DG and JW Gore, which has…

PULSES

Drone applies pod sealant to beans in pioneering UK trial

In the first-ever UK trial, pod sealant has been successfully applied to a winter bean crop using a drone ahead of harvest. Pod sealants are typically applied to crops prior…

ARABLE

Dramatic falls in yellow rust ratings for popular wheats

Several popular winter wheat varieties have seen their yellow rust scores fall by up to five points, in updated disease ratings published by the AHDB. Of the 38 varieties on…

OTHER CROPS

Grower ventures into olive oil production despite risks ahead

A 10ha olive grove – thought to be the most northerly of its type in the world – is in its second year growing on a Lincolnshire farm. David Hoyles…

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…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to maximise the benefits of stale seed-beds

Effective weed control between harvest and drilling is crucial to control yield-sapping grassweeds such as blackgrass, ryegrass and bromes. Stale seed-beds are one of the main techniques used ahead of…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Why seaweed is key to biological crop market growth

The global market for biological crop protection products is expanding at a rate four-and-a-half times faster than conventional chemistry.  Valued at $8bn (£5.9bn) in 2020, this figure is expected to…

HARVEST

Soil improvements pay off for Hampshire spring barley grower

Spring barley yields have exceeded expectations for Hampshire farmer Adrian Dixon this harvest, despite concerns surrounding the extremely dry season, which he puts down to 15 years of sustained soil…

OILSEED RAPE

3 establishment tips for growers sowing OSR early this year

The early start to harvest and the arrival of rain mean has prompted farmers to establish oilseed rape crops earlier than usual. By the end of July, agronomy firm Agrii…

HARVEST

Harvest 2025: The 5 top-yielding winter wheat varieties map

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from the AHDB’s 2025 wheat Recommended List (RL) harvest results. Use the map below to find…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Second wheats need improvement

Like most, harvest has been pretty straightforward, dry to very wet conditions meant the wheat was coming off between 14-15% so no need for drying – just some cooling through…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Sunshine, stress and storage

Harvest started at Southesk on 24 July, a week earlier than usual and, at time of writing we are 70% cut. Unsurprisingly, and having reported this in previous articles, 43…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: When farming moves from field to office

As I mentioned in my last article, July was filled with audits. This got me thinking about just how much administration is now involved in running modern farms. The daily…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: The science behind the soil

As farmers we are eternal optimists. We have to be, we see failure of crops and death of animals, but we are always believing that next time will be better.…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish growers stung by high screenings in malting barley

Scottish growers have voiced their dismay as large volumes of barley fall short of the strict standards imposed by maltsters, leaving much of the crop destined for animal feed. Harvest…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Grain merchants stockpile record levels of imported wheat

More than 300,000t of imported wheat stocks were held by UK merchants, ports and co-operatives in June, the highest level for this time of year since records began almost 20…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Grain merchants show mixed fortunes in company accounts

Financial accounts for the major UK grain merchants indicate that margins have tightened in recent years, with profits generally trending slightly down. Frontier Agriculture continued to dominate in terms of…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Fears Ensus may follow Vivergo into shutdown

One of Britain’s biggest producers of bioethanol and carbon dioxide, Ensus, is in urgent talks with the government in a last-ditch effort to avoid collapse, just as rival Vivergo prepares…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Farmers to be hit by closure of Vivergo ethanol plant

Associated British Foods’ (ABF) decision to close its bioethanol plant in Hull is “a huge blow” that will adversely impact the whole supply chain, according to the NFU. The confirmation…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Malting barley premium weakens with subdued demand

With winter barley harvest complete and spring barley well under way, markets appear relatively well supplied as the season nears completion. Figures collected by the Andersons Centre indicate winter barley…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat falls to £163/t pressured by large global supplies

Ample supplies of grain have been weighing heavily on global markets as harvest progresses across the northern hemisphere. Limited export demand has also played a part in suppressing trade, with…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Vivergo plant takes last load of wheat after US tariff blow

Vivergo Fuels, the UK’s largest bioethanol plant, has taken delivery of its last scheduled load of wheat, raising concerns for the site’s future. The latest development comes in the wake…

Spot and forward prices (£/t ex-farm)
Each set of prices comes from a single merchant, co-op or broker, and are the latest prices being paid to farmers. Ranges of prices, within one category relate to the distance of the farm from the buyer. Oilseed rape prices are latest spot and forward prices, not contract prices. Ex farm prices vary with the distance from Hull, Liverpool and Erith, crushing factories.

Arable machinery

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301-400HP

Fendt unveils long-awaited Gen5 800-series Vario tractors

Fendt has injected new life into its 800-series tractors, most notably with a switch of engine supplier that should put an end to the mechanical maladies that have plagued S4…

CULTIVATORS

Horsch expands Fortis tine-and-disc cultivator range

The established Horsch Fortis cultivator design, with its combination of rigid tines and mixing discs, has been extended. The current AS model now includes sizes from 5.6m to 8.9m for…

CULTIVATORS

Kuhn range gains compaction-busting 3m and 4m DT subsoilers

A brace of new subsoilers has joined Kuhn’s cultivator line-up, available in 3m and 4m widths and with different specs to bust compaction in a range of conditions. The models…

COMBINES

First impressions: Case IH's new single-rotor AF10 combine

While rival brands offer an assortment of separation systems, Case IH only has eyes for socking great single rotors – which is exactly what can be found running the length…

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