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Arable top stories

POTATOES

How a potato supplier aims to improve supply efficiency

The UK’s largest potato supplier is investigating a farm-scale net-zero project which aims to increase efficiency and long-term sustainability across the entire potato supply chain. Whether it concerns variety choice,…

DRILLING

Autumn deluge floods crops and delays drills

Farmers have faced yet another difficult autumn drilling season as continuous rainstorms play havoc with those attempting to get crops in the ground. Some growers who managed to get fields…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Never have I felt so unvalued by British Sugar

We’re not a lot further on with drilling than a month ago, but we have at least got some done for others on drier land. A third of our winter…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Wheat crop failures and missed herbicides

The huge cost of week after week of rain is becoming apparent, with wheat crops rotting and being written off. Many of those crops that have survived have not received…

SUGAR BEET

British Sugar digs heels in on controversial contract offer

British Sugar says it has no plans to withdraw its offer to beet growers of £38/t for the 2024/25 supply contract, risking further fallout with the NFU. The NFU has…

PULSES

Pulse growers invited to new variety list launch

The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has changed the format of its Descriptive List launch for peas and beans to encourage pulse growers to attend. In a change to…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Welcoming 140 primary pupils to the farm

We welcomed pupils from three urban schools so they could get close to nature and farming during our debut agricultural open day, organised with leading charity Countryside Learning. The farm…

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FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize grower relief at emergency seed treatment ruling

British maize growers can breathe a sigh of relief that three European seed treatments have been given the green light for UK use next year. UK regulators have granted emergency…

ARABLE

CropLife argues case for plant protection products

A new report calls for a rethink of “overly restrictive” regulation of plant protection products (PPPs) inherited from the EU amid a warning that higher crop yields critical to UK…

SUGAR BEET

NFU Sugar to challenge Defra stance on beet pricing row

NFU bosses are holding discussions with Defra ministers urging them to use their powers to intervene in the ongoing sugar beet pricing row. The NFU and British Sugar remain at…

OTHER CROPS

House of Lords condemns 'neglect' of horticulture sector

UK food security is being placed in jeopardy by the government’s lack of interest in the fruit and vegetable sectors, with producers struggling to make a return and the industry…

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Regenerative farming

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POTATOES

How a potato supplier aims to improve supply efficiency

The UK’s largest potato supplier is investigating a farm-scale net-zero project which aims to increase efficiency and long-term sustainability across the entire potato supply chain. Whether it concerns variety choice,…

ARABLE

How to restore 'forgotten' farm ponds for wildlife

As many as two-thirds of farmland ponds in England and Wales have been lost though drainage and in-filling, while those that remain are often shaded and tree-covered and do very…

ARABLE

What Strategic Farm East project will do at Morley Farms

If you were going to pick the perfect commercial farm to host a significant programme of trials and research, Morley Farms in Norfolk would surely be close to the top…

ARABLE

Grower reveals yield and margin data of intercropping trial

A mix of peas and mustard generated the highest gross margin in the first year of an extensive intercropping trial carried out by Oxfordshire farmer Ben Adams, where different crop…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Natural bioherbicides show promise in tackling weeds

Could mint extracts be the secret ingredient to tackling resistant weeds, such as blackgrass and Italian ryegrass? Could they even be a glyphosate replacement? That’s what a US-based start-up company,…

SOILS

How one Leicestershire farm is tackling high magnesium soils

Soils with high levels of magnesium are often described as being tight and sticky which, combined with phosphate lock-up, can be difficult to manage. This was the challenge facing Dan…

BARLEY

Malting barley growers to take up fossil-free green fert

About 20 growers in the north of England and Scotland will be growing spring malting barley and wheat for the distilling market using Yara’s fossil-free green fertilisers next spring, under…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

Transition farm switch to strip-till boosts margins and soil

At a Farmers Weekly Transition project farm walk in Suffolk, Claydon Drill demonstrated how low-disturbance systems can boost soil health and improve margins. Claydon’s 360ha Gaines Hall arable farm and…

ARABLE

Why Scots regen grower is first Carbon Farmer of the Year

Incremental changes made over more than 20 years to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase soil carbon sequestration have resulted in Doug Christie from Scotland being crowned the first…

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…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Why hygiene is key to avoid soft rot spread in potato stores

Scottish potato growers are urged to remain vigilant against soft rots this storage period, with appropriate ventilation and meticulous hygiene key to avoid spread in seed and ware crops. A…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Why wheat blends outperform individual varieties

A blend of four winter wheat varieties can help increase yields and allow growers to cut back on fungicides costs as it helps to slow down disease cycling through the…

WHEAT

Top tips for late-drilling wheat growers

Late-drilling winter wheat growers on heavy soils need to focus on crop nutrition as rapidly cooling soils give slow availability of nutrients, and so feeding crops is key to preventing…

POTATOES

How to control wireworm in potatoes effectively

The threat of wireworm damage is a growing concern for UK potato producers as a perfect storm of risk factors create optimum conditions for the soil-dwelling pest to thrive. Growers…

SOILS

Why cultivation equipment is making a comeback on farm

For the past eight years a direct drill was the only piece of equipment Wiltshire mixed arable and beef farmer George Hosier has used to establish his arable crops. So…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Vertical growing systems - next big farm diversification?

Establishing an on-farm vertical farming system could open the door for farmers to develop an additional revenue stream to sit alongside traditional agricultural practices. Vertical farming involves growing plants such…

Farmer Focus

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Never have I felt so unvalued by British Sugar

We’re not a lot further on with drilling than a month ago, but we have at least got some done for others on drier land. A third of our winter…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Welcoming 140 primary pupils to the farm

We welcomed pupils from three urban schools so they could get close to nature and farming during our debut agricultural open day, organised with leading charity Countryside Learning. The farm…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: De-risking strategy looks sensible after rain

In autumn 2019 we didn’t drill a viable acre of winter crop due to the wet weather. With that in mind I try not to get caught out, so we…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Dampened seed-beds but not spirits

October’s wet weather came a little too early for us, leaving one field left to drill with winter wheat. More concerning though, was that the fields we recently drilled did…

Crop Watch

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CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Wheat crop failures and missed herbicides

The huge cost of week after week of rain is becoming apparent, with wheat crops rotting and being written off. Many of those crops that have survived have not received…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Wet autumn sees rotting seed and missed sprays

The wet weather continues and, as one of our agronomists suggests, it is turning into one of the most trying autumns for some years.  Many of the planned autumn operations…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Babet's rain holds up last of autumn drilling

Wet weather is disrupting the end of the autumn drilling season, with some growers struggling to get the last of their heavy blackgrass-infested land sown. Slugs remain a big problem,…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Virus alert in cereals and phoma in OSR

This autumn has turned into an uninspiring start to the cropping season. The warm, wet weather means it's easy to find phoma lesions in the OSR crops that survived the…

Markets

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Shrinking UK rapeseed area increases reliance on imports

A smaller planted area and flea beetle damaged crops have left the UK with a viable oilseed rape (OSR) area of between 305,000ha and 320,000ha for 2024, according to grower…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat surplus keeps prices in check at £180/t ex-farm

A large UK surplus and competitive export markets are putting pressure on feed wheat prices. Some industry figures have suggested that the UK has a 1m-tonne wheat surplus this year…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Major potato grower AKP Group acquires Wolds Produce

Lincolnshire-based potato grower Arundel Kerr Produce (AKP Group) has purchased potato trading business Wolds Produce. AKP Group is one of the UK’s largest potato growers, supplying businesses in the retail,…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK feed wheat stalls as exports struggle to gain traction

The UK continues to be priced out the export market for wheat and has struggled to make substantial gains for several months now. UK feed wheat futures opened at £185.5/t…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Large global supplies limit UK oilseed price rises

Oilseeds markets remain well supplied globally as Canada completes its harvest and crops in Australia make improvements. The UK is reliant on imported products with a tighter domestic supply this…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Wheat begins to recover after falling below £180/t

UK wheat markets have started to pick up this week after reaching a new contract low on 12 October. Market sentiment remains fairly neutral in the short term, but analysts…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Lacklustre wheat trade limits sales on farm

Steady demand in domestic markets and limited export potential for UK wheat have capped any price gains in the short term. UK wheat prices have remained sluggish in the past…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Huge uplift in profits at Cefetra during 2022

A higher turnover helped grain and feed trader Cefetra make a pre-tax profit of £16.2m in 2022, up from £3m the previous year. This fivefold increase was driven by a…

Commodities

Futures markets and commodity risk management online course

Learn all you need to know about the futures markets and how you can benefit from them:

  • Risk management strategies for a more predictable financial performance
  • Educated conversations when collaborating with your advisors
  • Negotiate better prices with your grain merchants

Find out more

 
 
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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TELEHANDLERS

173hp JCB 542-100 Agri Pro joins Loadall range

Straw contractors have access to some handy extra reach and lift capacity with the launch of JCB’s 542-100 telehandler. The new model can lift 4.2t and is capable of pushing…

TELEHANDLERS

Merlo goes electric with full-size Turbofarmer telehandler

Buoyed by the success of its compact E-worker, Merlo has introduced a full-size electric agricultural telehandler that has a 7m boom and can lift 4.3t. The TFe 43.7 promises similar…

CEREAL DRILLS

Vaderstad redesigns Seed Hawk no-till drills for Europe

Vaderstad is bringing its Seed Hawk no-till tine drill back to Europe, with a frame that folds to road legal proportions of just under 3m wide and 4m tall. The…

101-200HP

Stoll develops telescopic boom for tractor loaders

Stoll reckons it has overcome the one shortcoming of tractor-mounted loaders – a lack of reach. Its novel X-Tra Lift concept comes with telescopic arms attached to swivelling joints that…

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