Anglia Farmer - September 2025

Anglia Farmer

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Defra

Arable

Huge

Establishment

Concern

Water

Livestock

Treat

Fen Tiger

Where are farming friends now?

Anglia Farmer

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Food security means water security too

This summer’s drought has underscored a simple truth our politicians should heed: farming without water is impossible.

Yet as Britain faces hotter, drier summers and wetter winters, farmers are being asked to square the circle of producing more food while delivering more environmental benefits – often within rigid, short-term agri-environment rules.

Alarm bells

Farm leaders are right to sound the alarm. The NFU has warned that current schemes leave livestock farmers penalised if they graze land designated for environmental delivery, even when drought forces their hand.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network has highlighted the looming policy gap for farmers whose Countryside Stewardship agreements expire this year, with no clear transition into the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

Working farmers

These oversights risk undermining confidence at precisely the time we need farmers to be investing in resilience. Yet the challenges extend far beyond this summer’s parched fields.

As the NFU’s Water Summit made clear, water scarcity and quality issues threaten the sta-

bility of UK food production. Nearly two-thirds of farmers report severe weather events have already hit their businesses in the past decade. That includes drought and depleted acquifers – but also winter flooding and nutrient run-off. They are not tomorrow’s problems – they are biting now.

Flexibility

Defra must take these warnings seriously. The next round of the SFI cannot simply be a green tick-box exercise. It must give farmers genuine flexibility to manage land during extreme weather, while rewarding environmental gains.

And government must treat water as the strategic resource it is. That means urgent investment in on-farm reservoirs, slurry storage, and smarter irrigation – backed by collaborative water groups and better regulation.

Farmers know they have a role to play in reducing pollution and improving efficiency. But resilience cannot be built farm by farm in isolation. It requires a joined-up, long-term plan that places food security alongside environmental ambition. Britain’s ability to feed itself– and farmers' ability to produce that food – depends on it.

Johann Tasker Editor

Defra must learn from drought, say industry leaders

Plea for flexibility from government

Lessons must be learned from the summer drought – including changes to agri-environment schemes, say farm leaders.

The NFU wants Defra to ensure that the next round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive supports farmers’ resilience in the face of a changing climate. It comes as farmers grapple with ongoing lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures.

The dry spring and summer mean drought-reduced winter forage stocks are already being used to feed livestock, prompting requests to the Rural Payments Agency for flexibility to graze land in agri-environment schemes.

Food supply

Due to be reopened next year, the next iteration of the SFI must ensure farmers are resilient to climate pressures while safeguarding food security and rewarding producers who meet environmental targets, says the NFU.

NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “We’ve consistently raised concerns with government this summer about the lack of flexibility to

graze on land in environmental schemes without risking the loss of scheme payments.

“With increasingly extreme dry and wet periods, there must be great er flexibility in agri-environment schemes – to protect animal welfare, ensure farmers are paid fairly for the environmental work they deliver and safeguard our national food security.”

Heat and drought

A challenging harvest has seen huge variations in yields this year

The Nature Friendly Farming Network has made similar calls. With heatwaves and drought hitting farms hard, it says the long-term viability of farm businesses depend on moving to low-input systems that work alongside the environment.

The NFFN wants a one-year rollover agreement for farmerswhose Countryside Stewardship agreements are due to finish on 31 December. As it stands, there is no agri-environment scheme available for them to transfer to afterwards.

This gap has arisen because the SFI is closed to new applicants until next year. This means farmers with stewardship agreements due to expire have

“We’ve raised concerns with government

'No choice’

“The government has failed to provide a joined-up approach to moving farmers into new agreements,”he says.

“An enormous gap now needs bridging. Fortunately, there is still time for ministers to act.”

A rollover would provide badly needed confidence, said Mr Lines. “We need farming that focuses on soil health, biodiversity and reducing costs. This isn’t just about money –it’s about building resilience in both our landscape and our businesses.”

Defra says the SFI gives farmers a choice of actions that reward sustainable food production while protecting and enhancing nature. The relaunched scheme will build on what has made the SFI effective so far, it says.

Industry pays tribute to David Richardson

Tributes are being paid to Norfolk farmer and veteran journalist David Richardson, who died age 87 last month after a short illness.

Initially recruited by farmer and Anglia TV presenter Dick Joice for a series on rural affairs in 1960, Mr Richardson became one of the most influential voices in UK agriculture for over 60 years – all the while remaining a hands-on farmer.

Well-known and much-loved for his incisive interviewing style, he was a regular presenter of Farming Diary and Country People on Anglia TV – as well as presenting the BBC’s Farming Programme and On Your Farm.

Outside of his media work, Mr Richard son co-founded the Linking Environment and Farming charity, chairing LEAF for a dec ade. He also served as chairman of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and was a director of Sentry Farming.

A critical friend of the farming industry, Mr Richardson repeatedly highlighted the importance of food security and was never afraid to ask difficult questions – especial ly of politicians.

Cambridgeshire farmer and former farm minister Jim Paice said: “David and I crossed paths and occasionally swords for many dec ades. His heart was always with our industry which could never have a stronger advocate.”

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Police crush vehicle used in farm burglary

Police seized and crushed a Land Rover Discovery used in a farm burglary – following a successful collaboration between the NFU and Hertfordshire constabulary.

Information from local farmers helped police track down the vehicle after it was driving to a farm near Bishop’s Stortford, where the wouldbe thieves tried to steal an all-terrain vehicle on 27 February.

East Herts Rural Neighbourhood Sergeant David Miller said: “Rural crime has a big impact on our hardworking farmers and the wider community.

“We are determined to do all we can to prevent these crimes from happening and I hope this sends a message that we will not hesitate to seize vehicles that we know or suspect to have been used in crime.”

The vehicle was seized after evidence from Hertfordshire farmers led police to a site in Bedfordshire. The silver Discovery has now been crushed – with the intention of deterring offenders and preventing future criminal activity.

NFU Hertfordshire vice-chairman Ros David said: “NFU members were able to help make this happen by bringing information together, and CCTV evidence, which has led to this vehicle being crushed.

“This is just one example of how the NFU works well with Hertfordshire Police and it sends a clear message to those people who want to commit ru-

ral crime in Hertfordshire that this cannot continue, and the police will track you down.”

Police enquiries

Rural crime is a major issue for Hert fordshire farmers. Offences include machinery theft, dog attacks on live stock, hare coursing and fly-tipping –all of which are costing farmers hun dreds of thousands of pounds.

The cost of rural crime in Hert fordshire rose by 15.5% last year to £1.23m, according to the latest rural crime report from insurers NFU Mu tual. The cost of rural crime across the UK fell by 16.5% last year to an esti mated £44.1m.

“Ms David, who works on her fam ily’s arable and sheep farm at Kneb worth, said: “We are working well with Hertfordshire Constabulary, holding regular meetings and officers are fre quently out on farms speaking to mem bers.

Proactive approach

“That relationship enables us to provide intelligence and information and ensure people are kept up to date. We’re seeing a more proactive approach from police and from farmers themselves to tackling rural crime –and this is making an impact.”

Ms David said she also backed NFU

and landowners report the most re cent incidents.

“Waste crime is having a catastrophic impact on the environment and I know farmers who have been left with bills of tens of thousands of pounds of clear-up costs after rubbish was dumped on their land, which is completely unacceptable.

“I urge everyone to report incidents. We all have a role to play in tackling rural crime.”

Kemi Badenoch hits out on inheritance tax

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had a go harvesting wheat when she visited Essex farmer Sam Dod dard at Hall Farm, Little Walden.

The MP for North West Essex said the Conservatives would reverse government plans to impose inheritance tax on farmers “at the earliest opportunity” – although she acknowledged that the next general election could be almost four years away.

Urging farmers and the food supply chain to get the message across, Ms Badenoch said it was important to keep the issue of inheritance tax in the public eye – and explain the impact it would have on farming families to the wider public.

Ms Badenoch said driving Mr Goddard’s combine har vester was more complicated than she thought it would be. Afterwards, she met local farmers and answered their questions over tea and coffee.

Arable

Huge yield variation in UK wheat harvest

• Big differences between farms

• Some yields down almost 30%

• Farms further north fare better

Final estimates for this year’s wheat harvest remain unknown because of huge yield differences between farms, say analysts.

“The wheat harvest has had arguably the greatest level of variation so far,” says the latest official harvest progress report – published on 22 August by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

“There is significant variation in yield between and within farms, regions and across the UK – which means this survey is unlikely to reflect all individual farm circumstances,” says AHDB senior analyst Helen Plant.

“The combination of lower yields for many growers and falling grain prices throughout the year points to significant financial challenges for arable farms.”

‘Worst years’

Many farms in the survey – including those in East Anglia and the Midlands, have had some of the worst years on recent record. But participants fared better in Scotland, south-east England, the Westcountry and Wales.

Yields have generally been better further north, says the AHDB

Some 30% of the farms in the survey are down on yield by 10% or more against their five-year average. The lowest reported during the survey is a 29% decline against the farms’ fiveyear average wheat yield..

National picture

“With some yield assessments still to be made, final yields are not yet known. This variability makes it particularly challenging to draw national and regional pictures about yields.”

The survey puts average UK wheat yields at 7.3t/ha – 5.4% below the fiveyear average. But that includes the challenging years of 2020 and 2024. A longer view suggests yields are 9.1% below the 10-year average.

Similarly, average oat yields are 10% below the five-year average and 13% below the 10-year average.After some promising early reports, the average spring barley yield is just 1% above both the five-year and tenyear averages, but with significant variation.

Variability in quality for oats and spring barley has also increased as harvest has progressed north. While winter oat quality has generally been good, spring oats have struggled more, with both lower yields and specific weights reported by growers.

The significant variation in yield driven by many factors, says the AHDB. These include the availability of moisture throughout the growing season, changes in cultivations and changes in grassweed pressures. Grain weight relative to grain volume is also an important consideration. Specific weights this year are very good so far, says the AHDB. This is leading to smaller, heavier grain heaps in some cases.

Big falls recorded in yellow rust resistance

Unusual levels of yellow rust in some winter wheat varieties during 2025 have led to a major revision to disease resistance ratings for next season.

Large falls in resistance have been recorded for some popular varieties, says the AHDB. It has published Recommended List (RL) yellow rust disease resistance ratings earlier than usual so growers can devise management strategies.

Farm advice

Following the unexpected appearance of yellow rust in some varieties in RL

trials in early spring, AHDB advised farmers not to rely on the RL 2025/26 yellow rust ratings when setting fungicide programmes.

In May, the Niab-led UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) confirmed that the Yr15 yellow rust resistance gene had been overcome, with some varieties losing as many as five rating points.

AHDB expert Siobhan Hillman said: “This is only the second time we have issued the yellow rust ratings based on a single year; the previous occasion was in 2016, which was also after a significant shift in virulence.”

crop of oilseed rape

• Bumper crop yields 7.53t/ha

• Drilled during mid-September

• Secret is good autumn vigour

Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman has defied the exceptionally dry season to bring in a record-breaking oilseed rape crop.

Known for growing big crops, Mr Lamyman achieved an impressive 7.52t/ha in an 8ha field of September-sown LG Avenger at Worlaby Farm, near Louth – breaking the previous unofficial world record of 7.2t/ha, set in 2019 by Richard Budd.

Of 85ha of rape grown by Mr Lamyman this season, 80% was down to LG Avenger, sown from 10-20 September 2024. “All fields looked phenomenal throughout the season, with very little to choose between the sowing dates,” he said.

“It’s the first year I’ve grown LG Avenger and I absolutely love the variety. It has fantastic autumn vigour, which was one of the main reasons for choosing it,” said Mr Lamyman.

LG Avenger

High-yielding hybrid oilseed rape

Above: Tim Lamyman harvests his record breaking crop of LG Avenger

“We wanted a variety we can sow later to help mitigate flea beetle risk, and one that gets up and away quickly to establish a strong canopy going into the winter.”

Flea beetle

Working with Limagrain and United Oilseeds to develop ways of mitigating cabbage stem flea beetle damage, Mr Lamyman says sowing a vigorous variety later, ideally after the 5-10 September, is the best way to avoid the worst of flea beetle damage.

going down the route of shorter, low biomass oilseed rape simply hasn’t worked, so in my view, the bigger the crop, the higher the yield.”

Nutrition

At Worlaby Farms, that nutrition programme centres around a range of products from Bionature UK, designed to support plant health and soil biology at different stages of the season. This begins at the 2-4 leaf stage, with an application of Leodita & Delta. Delta is a stabilised NH2 Nitrogen foliar application. Leodita is an organic soil improver that supports strong root development. Mr Lamyman says it is faster-acting than the standard DAP and autumn nitrogen approach.

I absolutely love the variety

LG’s flea beetle resilience characteristic

Exceptional autumn and spring vigour

Resistant to turnip yellows virus, pod shatter and RLM7 phoma

Rated 7 for light leaf spot and sclerotinia tolerance

“Even though flea beetle pressure wasn’t particularly high last autumn, I can see that in a bad year, the vigour of LG Avenger will help get through those issues. If you’re later drilling and you’ve got that vigour, you’ve got a much better chance of getting a crop established than if you’ve drilled it earlier in the season.”

Mr Lamyman usually prepares all his oilseed rape ground using the farm’s Väderstad TopDown and Carrier cultivators, before sowing with a 6m Väderstad Rapid drill.

“Because we are drilling later and have a lot of stones in our soil, we prefer a higher seed rate of 4 kg/ha; equivalent to around 65 seeds/m2, to make sure we establish a good, thick crop.”

Supporting the vigour of LG Avenger with a comprehensive nutrition programme is essential to building a big biomass crop and high yield potential, says Mr Lamyman.

“It’s a big, bold plant, which you’re making grow even faster, so it’s all beneficial. We’ve seen in the past that

“Trials on the farm this year showed that within four days of applying Leodita, there was 40-60% more crop biomass compared with oilseed rape that received DAP. That biomass difference didn’t stop all the way through the autumn.

“This is followed with foliar feeds in the autumn and spring, including a calcium-based product at flowering, to improve seed set.

Management

“Growing a fast, vigorous variety like LG Avenger, with this kind of nutrition programme is the shield you need to get a late-drilled crop established very quickly in the autumn and probably gives as much biomass as something drilled three weeks earlier.”

Managing the large biomass crop has not been an issue, he adds. “It’s a really well-structured variety, which also has the benefit of excellent pod shatter resistance.”

Mr Lamyman is sowing LG Avenger again across his entire 90ha of oilseed rape next season; a decision he had already made before crops were harvested, given how well they looked.

How best to control blackgrass when land returns to cropping

Consider taking the long view

Farms bringing land back into production after the Sustainable Farming Incentive could see an unintended increase in blackgrass.

Cover crops could be a good option to manage any increase in blackgrass populations that occur within SFI options when land returns to cropping, says Alice Cannon, technical manager for the Hutchinsons Foundation.

Growers putting land into an SFI option might even be better off longer-term from accepting the slightly lower payment and increased investment associated with stacking multi-species cover crop options, says Ms Cannon.

Selecting the right cover crop mix is key, says Alice Cannon

Top: Farms with a history of blackgrass are particularly at risk

Control strategy

These options – such as SAM2/ CSAM2, SOH2 and SOH3 – allow for blackgrass control, she explains. Options such as winter bird food might appear more lucrative because they are paid at a lower rate – but they don’t allow for blackgrass control.

“The first step would be to sow a winter cover,” says Ms Cannon. “That would be sprayed off in March, followed by a spring-sown cover crop, which would remain in the ground from March until June.

The next stage would be the summer-sown cover, lasting from June until August. The total support payment would be £455/ha per year, which is often better than spring bean gross margins.”

Clean seedbed

“This regime offers a break in rotation, plus three opportunities to bring blackgrass under control –and the potential to provide a clean and fertile seedbed which would boost first wheat yields,” she says.

Selecting the right mix is key to maximising cover crop benefits, says Ms Cannon. Multi-species mixes provide more advantages than simple two-way blends, such as mustard and oats, she adds.

“Use at least six different plant species taken from three or four

families. We have made some bespoke cover mixes that achieve the aims within Hutchinsons Maxi Cover range.”

Water storage

Farms with a history of blackgrass are particularly at risk of a resurgence. The diversity of growth habit and root structure helps build a more resilient soil structure, and improves aeration and water management, she adds.

“The soil will have greater ability to store water lower down in the profile in times of prolonged drought. It will also ensure moisture is not lost closer to the surface through run-off in high rainfall situations.”

If growing legume fallows in black-grass situations, Miss Cannon advises growing a mix containing grasses and legumes to increase competition against blackgrass.

“They can be mown as required within the first 12 months once blackgrass begins to head, however continuous mowing can lead to black-grass growth habit switching to a short profile and becoming more difficult to tackle, she says.

“In year two, fallows can be mown between March and midJune, leaving eight weeks uncut in the summer.”

‘Options available for profitable sugar beet’

Challenging market conditions

mean growers face lower sugar beet prices following last month’s contract agreement.

NFU Sugar and British Sugar have agreed a headline one-year fixed price contract of £30/t for up to 65% of the contract for 2026/27 sugar beet crop. This compares to a price of £33/t for up to 70% of the crop for the current 2025/26 season.

Other contract options for the 2026/27 season include a one-year contract with a guaranteed base price of £25/t, plus a market-linked bonus for up to 100% of the contract. Growers can sign to an index-linked contract for up to 50% of the contract.

Contract holiday

Growers who decide it is unfeasible to grow beet during the 2026/27 season will be able to take a one-year contract holiday. This is being offered for up to 750,000 tonnes of the crop on first come, first served basis.

Transport allowances will be paid for growers carting beet up to 60 miles to their allocated factory. Farmers will also be able to claim an interest-free cash advance option, a late delivery payment and complimentary frost insurance.

British Sugar managing director Keith Packer said: “As the sugar industry continues to face challenging market conditions, I am pleased that we’ve agreed a deal for all, reflecting the current situation.

at what is a volatile time for farm businesses,”said Mr Packer.

“We’re offering valuable options which include an interest-free cash advance, a market-linked bonus for a share of the upside when the market is favourable, and an index-linked contract for those with a greater appetite for risk and reward.”

NFU Sugar board chair Kit Papworth said the agreement reflected the state of the market. Some growers would still be able to grow beet profitably – although others would find it tough, he suggested.

“This deal offers growers choices to suit individual business circumstanc-

time for farm businesses

es and balances challenging sugar market conditions and the increasing costs and risks of growing sugar beet here in the UK.”

“This year’s contract is the product of many months of hard work with NFU Sugar, giving growers much-needed security and certainty

‘Robust spray programme pays dividends’

Sugar beet growers should pay special attention to keep on top of foliar problems in crops this season. Farmers should ensure actives are rotated to avoid resistance, particularly with products aimed at cercospora control and to keep the intervals tight, says the British Beet Research Organisation.

Fungicide activity will start to deplete after twothree weeks, say BBRO. agronomists . A three-spray

programme maximise yield accumulation into autumn, while helping protect the crowns of the beet in the event of winter frosts.

“It may be tempting to forego subsequent applications of fungicide in late August and September to limit spray costs. However, for crops being lifted from late November onwards it is usually economically rewarding to apply a three-spray programme.”

Seed calculator helps shed light on sugar beet

Optimise crop yields and returns

Asugar beet seed calculator aims to help growers optimise crop yields and profitability by comparing seed treatments.

It's the latest move in an increasingly competitive UK sugar beet market following a decision allowing growers to purchase seed direct from plant breeders rather than having to purchase through British Sugar.

Launched by Germains Seed Technology, the online tool lets farmers compare the yield and financial returns from its Xbeet Enrich 300 and Xbeet Enrich 400 seed treatments over other formulations.

Germains is owned by AB Agri, which is itself part of the Associated British Foods family – the same company that owns British Sugar. The company offers a variety of seed treatments – as do plant breeders now supplying growers direct.

Seed options

“With more seed options now available in the UK, making the best choice in terms of value is more complicated,” says Germains scientist Jordan Long. “While yield is key, seed rate and sugar beet prices also matter.”

The calculator helps growers and agronomists estimate potential yields and returns using their own data and results from Germains trials conducted under UK conditions by ORETO-ac credited organisations.

Mr Long says: "Our sugar beet seed calculator is designed to empow er farmers to make data driven deci sions about their crop management and seed choices, ultimately leading to increased profitability and sustain ability."

Xbeet Enrich 400 is the latest treat ment from Germains. Alongside a primer, nutrients and biostimulants, it contains microbes to enhance germi nation, emergence and early growth –especially in challenging conditions.

Informed decision

Suffolk sugar beet grower Will Hitch cock is among those who have used the

calculator. “Just being able to see in black and white, the advantage of Xbeet enrich 300 and 400 is exactly what a grower needs to make an in formed decision.

“In this current climate you need those marginal gains to ensure your competitive advantage. There is cur rently a huge amount of uncertainty about the price of beet but, as a grow er, there is a lot we can do to de-risk the crop.”

Based at Ringshall, Hitchcock Farms is a family-run business that drills over 800ha of sugar beet and lift ing 1200ha of the crop each year. The home farm itself grows 200ha of beet on a one-in-four-year rotation.

and are now looking good. On the kind er land, there was good plant stand from the word go.

“Apart from haulage, we’ve the machinery dedicated to beet production and that helps us effectively manage such a large acreage with timeliness,” says Mr Hitchcock. “It’s everything, especially in a tricky season like this one.”

“We’ve gone against the grain with some of the kit. One of the drills, the Kuhn Kosma, is the only one in the country specialising in sugar beet, and we’ve built our own chaser to get crops off the fields in poor conditions.”

Consistency

The advantage of the Kosma lies in its weight, says Mr Hitchcock. “Being heavier it can maintain coulter pres

Growers need to make informed decisions “

Most of Mr Hitchcock’s seed was treated with Xbeet Enrich 300 but he dropped back to the Enrich 200 option on lighter land lacking potential. Overall, though, he is optimistic about the future for beet.

“I’m fairly confident about this year’s crop,” he says. “We’re irrigating where we can - including some of the heavier land at the home farm –thanks to a legacy of irrigation equipment from grass leys for dairy cows in the 70s and 80s.”

New technology

“With virus yellows and increasing adverse weather, the yield growth we’ve seen in recent years could well slow. But that just makes it even more important to explore the potential of new technologies and techniques.

“We’re currently experimenting with cover crops on heavier land with an eye on SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes. Picking up those extra bits of funding where we can just softens the blows as and when they come.

“I was amazed by the yield benefit of the Enrich 400. It’s an example of the innovations that could help us continue to drive yield growth, at least for the time being.

“In the long term, I’d relish yield mapping. Currently the dirt tare factor means nobody has developed the software – but it would add a level of precision to our decision-making.”

• Manufacturers of steel framed building, grain stores, livestock buildings general purpose

• All building designed in house to EN1090-2, and erected with our own employed staff

• Grain drying and handling systems supplied and installed

• All ground and civils works under taken to provide a turnkey project

All groundworks undertaken

Carrot growers root for farming future

An elite group of six growers have dug into their own pockets to raise the profile of British carrots by launching a national celebration day.

British Carrot Day 2025 will take place on Friday, 3 October. Six farm businesses have joined forces to fund the special day –including Will Hunter, of Huntapac, which grows more than 1100ha of carrots annually across the country.

The farmers dipped their toe into organising a day dedicated to carrots last year. They say they are determined that this autumn’s efforts will become an annual event to encourage people to buy, eat and cook more carrots.

Field to fork

“It’s not just recipes and nutritional information, explains Mr Hunter, who is a member of the British Carrot Growers Association. “We want to share their field to fork journey – the story of the farmers who grow them.

“As a grower, there are so many things that can go wrong. This is mostly because –unlike potatoes – carrots are stored in the ground rather than sitting around at a controlled climate in a shed for months on end.”

Freshly harvested carrots are washed and packed before reaching supermarket shelves within a couple of days. Seldom grown more

frequently than a seven-year rotation, many farmers won’t attempt another crop on the same land for a decade.

“Every year it’s a real challenge to find good, fertile soil that hasn’t been used for growing carrots for at least seven years,” says Mr Hunter. “That’s why my family grow carrots in land from Suffolk to Scotland.”

Always in season

The wide range of carrot-growing locations means the crop is in season throughout the year. “Because of all the planning that goes into these crop rotations, we manage to harvest pretty much all year round.”

But Mr Hunter says carrot growers face a number of challenges – ranging from ongoing uncertainty over government policy to increasingly unpredictable extreme weather – as well as the price they receive for the crop.

“Right from being a young boy I can remember farmers complaining about the weather,” But the severity of the weather extremes over the last 15 or 20 years is something we can’t afford, as food producers, to turn a blind eye to.

“I also worry that current farming policy is taking a lot of land out of production and old-fashioned practices – like dredging ditches to mitigate against flood risks – are

getting forgotten.”

Mr Hunter said he was also finding it harder to rent land. Farms were finding they could get more money from switching their land over to grass or woodland than they could earn in rent from carrot growers, he said.

“This needs looking at if this country is serious about a sustainable supply of British-grown food and reducing imports and the environmental damage they do.”

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Scheme to secure potato industry future

Anew initiative to secure the future of the UK potato sector is giving participants a better understanding of the industry.

Launched by GB Potatoes in association with the British Potato Trade Association (BPTA), the special programme will support the skills and knowledge development of future growers, leaders and industry experts.

Supporting individuals from seed production to the end user, the goal is to give new entrants a comprehensive overview of UK potato production, while building valuable networks and collaborations.

The Potato Industry Development Programme will take place throughout 2026. It will be delivered in three phases: research and development; growing, processing and production; and policy and communications.

Supply chain

Participants will be given the opportunity to visit leading brands within the supply chain – including McCains, Branston and Pipers Crisps as part of the first session – hosted in February 2026.

The second phase next summer

will include visits to the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), mini tuber facility with Cygnet, grower Robert Doig, machinery manufacturer Scanstone and the James Hutton Institute.

This will be followed by a final session in London in November 2026. It will show how and why lobby bodies engage with government – and the role that the next generation can play in supporting and influencing decision making.

Industry training

GB Potatoes chairman Alex Godfrey said the aim was to provide industry-wide training for new entrants, growers and others in the early stages of their careers within the UK potato sector.

Training is vital for new entrants to the sector, says Alex Godfrey.

“With a current lack of training for new entrants within the potato industry, GB Potatoes has recognised the need to develop an initiative that supports the growth of our future leaders, building connections, knowledge and optimism within our industry.”

The next generation has a key role “

Mr Godfrey said it was important to encourage a better understanding of how the sector could be more resilient and efficient when growing, processing and packaging potatoes –developing strong messages that resonated with the consumer.

The cost for the programme is £1000 for GB Potatoes members and £1500 for non-members. The closing date for applications is 12 September. Those interested in applying should visit www.gb-potatoes.co.uk.

POTATO CHITTING LIGHTS

Crop Establishment

More cases of potential glyphosate resistance

• High risk on three more farms

• Consider alternative measures

• More screening due next spring

Ahigh risk of glyphosate re sistance has been found on three more farms – prompt ing warnings for growers to monitor weeds that survive spray applications.

Italian ryegrass samples from the three latest farms were potted up and sprayed with glyphosate by ADAS. A high risk of resistance was identi fied. Population offspring are now be ing tested to confirm the resistance status.

It comes after the UK’s first three cases of glyphosate resistance were identified earlier this year. All three cases – in Kent, Gloucestershire and North Yorkshire – were in Italian ryegrass populations.

The Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) said these popula tions demonstrated significantly re duced control from appropriate doses of glyphosate. A fourth population in Essex also showed decreased glyphosate sensitivity.

“ No readily available alternative

After widespread publicity, 10 more samples of Italian ryegrass from eight further farms were identified for rapid screening – typically from situ-

sider what else they could be doing to reduce reliance on glyphosate when faced with a resistance risk situation.

WRAG said all farmers and agronomists should remain vigilant. Growers should familiarise themselves with guidelines for minimising the risk of resistance spreading – including blowing down combines and other equipment.

ing to monitor the situation and eval uate any potential resistance.

Italian ryegrass populations will be screened next spring – assessing plants which survived glyphosate applications prior to drilling a spring crop – a high-risk situation.

For more on glyphosate, see page 33.

New fungicide approved in time for autumn

Growers have a new weapon against cereal weeds this autumn following the approval of new herbicide Fundatis.

Fundatis is approved for pre- and peri-emergence usage in winter wheat and pre-emergence in winter barley. It contains two active ingredients – Isoflex active and Beflubutamid, both new to the market in Great Britain.

“Helping growers to be successful is imperative to the future of farming,” said Sebastià Pons, of manufacturers FMC corporation. “We are proud to contribute to this in 2025 with the launch of Fundatis herbicide.” Described as a significant new tool, Fun-

datis controls key annual grass weeds including meadowgrass, blackgrass and Italian ryegrass. It also boasts one of the largest broadleaf weed spectrums including groundsel and speedwell."

FMC technical leader Gareth Jones said: “We believe that Fundatis herbicide, will be a valuable new addition for cereal growers when used as part of an integrated weed management strategy.

“Over reliance on a few well-established products, changes to on-farm land management practices and a complex regulatory landscape all mean that weed control challenges are evolving.

“We are excited to bring a product to market containing a new mode of action for cereals, giving growers the opportunity to diversify their approach and another option when planning their weed control strategies.”

Fundatis has been tested over many seasons in a range of field conditions across Europe and Great Britain. In trials, it has successfully controlled some of the most challenging weed species in winter cereals.

FMC says the combination of Isoflex active and Beflubutamid can help farmers deliver a sustainable and profitable future

For more on Fundatis, see page 34.

Why later drilling can be better for oilseed rape

• Good establishment key for good yields

• Later drilling can still ‘beat the beetle’

• Adaptation important for best growers

Savvy growers are re-thinking old habits when establishing oilseed rape – adapting to the twin challenges of climate change and the need to mitigate pest pressure.

Like most crops, good establishment is the cornerstone of successful rape. But recent insights suggest that drilling earlier to reduce the risk of cabbage stem flea beetle isn’t always the best strategy for success.

This year’s early harvest has seen some farmers sowing well before the end of July. But record-breaking rape grower Tim Lamyman says he never sows before 10 September. His chosen variety has strong autumn vigour, and the results speak for themselves.

At Dawson Farms in Lincolnshire, farm manager Rob Dawson has also shifted to later sowing, citing better establishment and lower flea beetle pressure. “We’re trying to keep OSR in the rotation,” he says, “but we’ve had to adapt.”

Backed by data, this shift is gaining momentum. Research from NPZ UK supports later drilling –not only to avoid late-August flea beetle migration, but also to manage rape’s growth

“As growers, we’ve had to adapt

under warming autumn conditions.

Earlier-sown crops can get too far ahead, risking premature stem extension and higher pest damage. Instead, the research recommends waiting until at least late August or early September to align drilling with soil moisture and cooler temperatures.

Smarter establishment is central to the OSR Reboot initiative, which brings together agronomists, breeders, AHDB and the wider industry to deliver 10 key flea beetle management strategies.

Right: Flea beetle remains a challenge –but growers are adapting

These 10 tips provide a practical, evidence-based blueprint for establishing rape, managing risk and optimising performance – whether you’ve already drilled or are still weighing up conditions.

Confirmed strategies

forecast, is the single most important step to get the crop away strongly.

Once moisture is there, preserving it becomes the next challenge. Lower-disturbance establishment methods such as direct drilling or shallow discing can retain soil moisture and support natural predator populations, another line of defence against flea beetle.

Leaving cereal stubbles intact can also make it harder for beetles to locate emerging rape plants, and there’s increasing interest in how spider populations – and their webs – may help intercept pests.

Moisture is king when it comes to establishment. Dry seedbeds not only slow emergence but leave crops more vulnerable to adult flea beetle. Waiting for moisture – either present or

Below: Good establishment is key for a successful rape crop >>

Seed-to-soil contact is another critical factor. As AHDB Monitor Farmer Julian Gold put it at this year’s Oil-

Crop Establishment

seed Rape Conference: “Roll, roll, and if you can, roll again.”

Roll with it

Rolling not only helps secure contact but also creates a more hostile surface for egg laying. A second pass, ideally at 90 degrees to the drill, improves surface consolidation and moisture retention, but avoid capping, especially in fine seedbeds.

Nutrition can’t be overlooked. Applying nutrients based on crop need and soil testing helps reduce plant stress and supports early growth. Starter fertilisers worked into the seedbed can make a difference, particularly phosphate and potash on low-index soils.

Autumn nitrogen, while useful in certain cases, is less likely to benefit crops drilled after early September, so check RB209 and consult your FACTS adviser if unsure.

Other strategies to consider which can aid establishment and defend against flea beetle include sowing companion crops, applying muck and ensuring adequate distance between last years and this years crop.

All of these form part of industry wideestablishment strategies.

Variety choice and seed quality

Later drilling benefits from varieties with strong autumn vigour. These reach the four-true-leaf stage more rapidly, helping them tolerate adult flea beetle feeding and recover faster from early damage.

Conversely, if drilling before 25 August, choose a slower-developing variety to avoid overly rapid growth. Seed quality matters, too. Poor seed, whether old, untested, or from a heap can result in uneven or delayed emergence, handing the advantage to pests.

Farm-saved seed should be screened for larger seed size (1.8–2.2mm), as larger seeds generally give stronger seedlings. But don’t go overboard: over-sized seed can struggle in dry conditions. A known thousand seed weight (TSW) helps match sowing rate to soil and moisture conditions.

Final thoughts

While the flea beetle gets the headlines, slugs can quietly undo establishment gains if left unchecked. Monitor slug populations regularly and apply control as needed.

This is especially critical where straw has been chopped and left on

the surface, as dense mats can retain moisture for slugs but prevent rainfall from reaching the seed.

While many growers have already taken advantage of an unusually early harvest and drilled oilseed rape in July or early August, such a move carries risks especially where seedbeds are dry or marginal.

Refund schems

Some establishment schemes may offer refunds on seed in the event of crop failure, but these typically require that good agronomic practice is followed.

Drilling into suboptimal seedbeds, particularly without moisture, may not meet this standard, which growers should be mindful of if relying on such schemes.

The best-laid plans often depend on weather. But where moisture is present and good agronomic practice is followed, supporters say there is growing evidence and consensus that drilling later can indeed be better.

Winter oilseed rape averaged 3.98t/ha this harvest – the highest since 2011

for TopDown and Opus

Experience precision farming like never before with the introduction of E-Services for TopDown and Opus.

Now these machines can seamlessly utilise prescription maps for automatic, in field machine adjustments.

Alternatively, with a touch of a button the driver can dynamically adjust the working depth or intensity of the discs, tines, levellers or packer while in operation. Optimising the Future of

Oilseed rape still stacks up

Despite the challenges, oilseed rape has delivered for many growers this year – with signs that the crop is coming back into favour.

Winter oilseed rape averaged 3.98t/ha this harvest, says the AHDB – the highest since 2011. Prices have also remained stable, standing at more than £400/t for much of the past year.

Oilseed rape offers one of the highest gross margins on many farms. For growers who get establishment right, the crop more than holds its own, says farmer-owned cooperative United Oilseeds.

But growers need every tool at their disposal to combat cabbage stem flea beetle. That means matching variety to sowing date, protecting moisture, ensuring good nutrition, and being realistic about when to drill.

The industry-backed document outlining 10 top flea beetle management strategies is proving to be a valuable resource for many growers. The full list of 10 tips is available via the AHDB or United Oilseeds websites.

Catchy harvest is chance for detailed soil analysis

• Test soil before autumn drilling

• Analyse data and inspect fields

• Take delivery of fertiliser sooner

Savvy growers are taking advantage of stop-start harvest to undertake detailed soil tests ahead of autumn drilling.

The dry spring and hot summer saw many farmers start harvest several weeks earlier than usual. Combines rolled into forward wheat crops in mid-July before rain stopped play towards the end of the month.

Although frustrating, catchy weather has meant an opportunity to carry out valuable soil tests and assess soil condition before drilling begins, says Toby Ward, nutrition agronomist at Origin Soil Nutrition.

“Typically, growers would be straight into cultivations and then drilling,” he says. “But the extra time can be spent taking soil samples for analysis and assessing field conditions.”

Extreme weather

Many crops were left parched by a shortage of rain during much of the year – in stark to last season – with growers keen to explore how soils can better withstand increasingly extreme weather.

One way to do this is analysing the various data sources compiled through the season, says Mr Ward, who also recommends visually inspecting fields before coming to any conclusions.

Combine yield data, leaf samples and grain nutrient analysis can all be

cross referenced with a broad-spectrum soil nutrient breakdown, he adds. All these databanks can influence nutrition plans next season.

“The following crop’s nutrient requirements and planned inputs should pivot on a detailed and current soil analysis, from this, all the other data sets can be cross refenced.

“Everything comes back to the soil, and growers won’t be making the most of their inputs if this data isn’t available.”

Micros and macros

Clockwise from above

Micronutrients play an important role in crop performance and small changes can make a big difference. By their nature, micronutrients are typically required in small quantities – but they are no less important than macronutrients.

One nutrient that is proven to boost yield and quality is molybdenum. Trial work undertaken by Origin Soil Nutrition shows increases in yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by applying molybdenum as a coating to granular nitrogen.

The Micro-Match molybdenum-coated granules were applied to the seedbed, and as a top-dressing during the season. There were compared to a seedbed NPKS and nitrogen/sulphur top dressing.

Key findings from the spring barley trial highlighted an in-

Stubble fields are a chance to test for soil nutrient deficiencies

The catchy harvest means more time for soil testing, says Toby Ward.

Avoid application delays by taking delivery of fertiliser sooner

Everything comes back to the soil “

creased yield of 3.5% over the standard application and a rise in NUE of 8.9%. A return on investment of 6:1 showed that any additional outlay for the molybdenum-coated fertiliser was returned in increased yield.

“By applying molybdenum as a coating rather than individual granules, the number of landing sites are increased, providing greater availability to the crop and the soil bacteria,” says Mr Ward.

Plan ahead

Electrostatic powder applied in the blending plant helps to ensure micronutrients are evenly distributed. Molybdenum kick starts the nitrification process, making it easier for roots to take up nitrogen from the soil.

“This year’s dry spring highlighted that having fertiliser on the farm ahead of when it was required proved hugely beneficial. Ordering ahead of time and having space to store bags undercover will ease logistics when the nutrients are needed.”

Using granular nutrition means growers can stock up with the season’s requirements and choose innovative methods, such as Micro-Match, to apply micronutrients alongside macro nutrients in the same bag.

“The timing of fertiliser applications is essential for new crops, so using a trusted supplier to ensure bags are on farm, and ready to be spread, should allay concerns over product supply.”

Addressing hidden hungers with secondary and micronutrients prior to emergence is critical to healthy crop establishment. Applying MICRO-MATCH® fertilisers provides even distribution for early uptake and extended availability.

• Contains dual-action forms of nutrients

• Incorporated on to Origin products1 using a micronised charged powder that attaches to the granule

• Even coating across 100% of the fertiliser granules provide equal nutrient distribution in the soil, avoiding cluster hotspots

• Typically provides 50 times more interception points than granular micro-nutrients, giving early plant root uptake

• Micro-nutrient range contains 10 different nutrients: Boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc

• Multiple nutrients can be added to the same fertiliser1 t: 03333 239 230 e: enquiries@originsoilnutrition.co.uk www.originsoilnutrition.co.uk

ED&F Man

ED&F Man

Agronomy

Agronomy

A natural approach crop nutrition

A natural approach to crop nutrition

Helps increase the effectiveness of conventional fertiliser regimes

Stimulate both soil and crop performance with high carbohydrate content

Scorch mitigation

Protect soil organic matter and maximise its potential

A range of products to suit requirements available in IBC’s from 1T to bulk deliveries

‘Liquid carbon’ helps to rebuild soil health

Easy-to-apply plant-based product

ALincolnshire growing is using “liquid carbon” to improve soil health and improve crop nutrient uptake.

Joe Vickers manages 1500ha across four units within a 32-mile radius near Spilsby on the Wash in Lincolnshire. Farming a wide range of soils from Grade 1 silt to heavy fen land and sand, he grows combinable crops, sugar beet and potatoes.

“I had become increasingly interested in soil health and the benefits it could bring,” says Mr Vickers.

“As part of a wider plan to improve soils, I decided we needed to take steps to improve soil biology while building and maintaining soil carbon levels, which we knew would be a longterm activity.

“As part of a holistic approach I was encouraged to include liquid carbon supplementation in our programme, and they have fitted seamlessly into our operations.”

Feeding the soil

ED&F Man Agronomy offers various products containing liquid carbon, primarily derived from molasses and other plant-based sources. These products are designed to enhance soil health and improve crop yields, says the company.

“Reduced soil carbon and lower levels of organic matter compromise crop yields,” says Mr Vickers. Rebuilding soil organic matter can promote more efficient nutrient uptake for more profitable and sustainable production, he

gy, increasing the activity of fungi and protozoa as well as bacteria. Additionally, increasing the supply of carbon will help to improve the soil’s physical and chemical properties.

“Plants produce carbohydrates via photosynthesis, and any surplus is used for root exudates to feed the soil microbiota,” explains Alistair Hugill, from ED&F Man.

“When performing well a plant will provide 40% of the products from photosynthesis into the soil via root exudates, containing carbon and sugars.

Sugar and carbon

“If we feed the plant with a source of sugar and carbon, it can meet its demand for carbohydrates for growth more efficiently and allowing the production of root exudates to increase, supporting a healthier soil microbial population.”

Liquid carbon products from ED&F Man are formulated for soil and foliar application. Filtered to 200 microns, they are suitable for use in the majority of spraying systems typically at around 2-5 litres/ha depending on the crop.

All products are high in carbon and sugars from sustainable sources complemented with a range of other ingredients. The high carbohydrate content stimulates microbial populations in the organic layer and drives microbial activity

Healthier soil means healthier crops and higher yields, says Joe Vickers

of nutrients from bacterial activity. The organic acids applied help further boost the supply of nutrients, resulting in stronger plants.

“We are now seeing significant benefits from the focus on soil health,” says Mr Vickers. “We have seen increased worm counts and soil workability has definitely improved, speeding up crop establishment by reducing tillage.

Mr Vickers has been using soil and foliar applied supplements for five years. Applied with liquid fertiliser at 3-5 litres/ha, the soil application means he is feeding the microbiome around the seed.

Stronger roots

We need to improve soil biology

“We are seeing improved root development which has helped plants develop strongly. Crops are better able to withstand the effects of frost and recover more quickly after any periods of drought.

Efficiency of nitrogen use has also improved, says Mr Vickers.

Improving the soil microbiome is an effective way to stimulate soil biolo-

This provides a feed and carbon source to increase soil bacteria which in turn encourages stronger rooting and better crop establishment. The increased carbon supply also helps maintain and build carbon levels in the soil.

“Crop yields and quality have been consistent, and we are now reducing nitrogen usage. We are producing milling wheat at 13-14% protein from 210kgN/ha whereas previously we had been using in excess of 250kg/ha.

“Liquid carbon is providing a feed source for the food web in the soil. If it’s right for the soil, it’s right for the plant and for returns.” adds.

Foliar applications during the season help increase the supply of exudates to the roots to maintain the flow

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Focus on glyphosate efficacy for pre-drilling weed control

• Follow guidelines on spray rates

• Use good chemical formulation

• Timings and application matter

Attention to detail when applying glyphosate before drilling will help ensure successful cereal establishment this autumn.

“Appropriate timing, dose and application quality have a significant impact on weed problems in the crop,” says Bayer agronomist Roger Bradbury.

A Bayer demonstration at NIAB’s blackgrass management site in Lincolnshire shows the importance of the pre-drilling programme. Blackgrass numbers rapidly escalated over two seasons with poor glyphosate use.

In the demonstration, poor application practice saw 1.5 litres/ha of a 360g/litre glyphosate product applied one fortnight before drilling. Good practice to would have been 3.0 litres/ha of a 360g/litre product within a week of drilling.

Management

The demonstration also examined the interaction between good and poor weed management strategy in relation to drilling date, crop rotation and selective herbicide use, says Mr Bradbury.

Careful application needed for more stubborn grassweeds

“Best practice reduces any risks

need higher rates still.

“Assess the situation carefully to avoid underdosing,” says Mr Bradbury. “Don’t try to compensate for a lower rate by adding mix partners of adjuvants.”

nouncement of resistance earlier this year. Mr Bradbury encourages farmers and agronomists to take note of guidelines when using glyphosate pre-drilling.

“Poor management choices can quickly cause a huge increase in weed populations. Effective use of Roundup pre-drilling had a huge impact on overall weed numbers irrespective of the weed management strategy.

Roger Bradbury: Avoid underdosing

Application and formulation both play a part in getting glyphosate where it needs to be – the growing shoots and roots of the plant. Boom height should be 0.5m above the target and forward speed should be no more than 12km/ hour for even application.

“Use a maximum of two applications in total, with cultivation or another form of weed control in between to eliminate survivors. Don’t make repeat applications to the same weeds and investigate any instances of poor control.”

Green bridge

“Clearly the aim is for good practice across the board, but the results of the demo show that applying Roundup properly at the correct rate and timing pays dividends.

“Best practice use on farm also helps minimise the risk of selecting for reduced sensitivity and potential resistance development on your farm.”

Maximum efficacy

When targeting small grass weeds before drilling, 540g/ha of active ingredient –equivalent to 1.5 litres/ha of a 360g/litre product – is suitable for black grass seedlings only.

Using Roundup branded glyphosate helps ensure more reliable efficacy, says Mr Bradbury. That’s because Roundup uses glyphosate in the potassium salt (K-salt) form which is a smaller molecule than the IPA-salt of many other products.

“This means there is more capacity to include surfactants in the formulation to improve performance. It also improves speed of activity, rainfastness and reduces cultivation intervals.”

Growers should also remember that aphid vectors of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) survive in cereal volunteers. Spraying off any volunteers is an important first line of defence against BYDV.

But Italian ryegrass and brome need 720g/ha as a minimum starting point. Larger tillering weeds will

Unlike weed control, however, a longer gap between spray off and drilling prevents a green bridge where aphids can survive until the crop is drilled. In Bayer trials a ten-day gap was better than a two-day gap for preventing BYDV yield losses.

Glyphosate efficacy and stewardship is more important than ever following the an-

“For weed control, the optimum is a week or less so it’s a balancing act and a lot depends on whether weeds or BYDV are a bigger threat in a particular field. There are more resistant varieties now which can help manage the risk.”

‘Pick your battles’ in war on blackgrass

On-farm trials of a new herbicide show great promise, suggest field trials

Aformer farm manager who spent nearly three decades waging war against blackgrass says growers should pick their battles.

Richard Ward, who managed 200ha Barton Farms in Moreton-in-Marsh, says his approach was less about total eradication and trying to win strate gic victories – on a daily basis.

Mr Ward says he asked himself every morning: what can I do to com bat blackgrass today? “You’ll never win the war – but you can win lots of battles with the right strategy. It’s not just about what you grow, but how you grow it.”

+ pendimethalin) plus diflufenican. But he says the new herbicide Fundatis from FMC shows great promise too.

The first line of defence was a carefully planned three-year rotation, explains Mr Ward. The cropping plan included a first wheat, a hybrid winter barley variety, and an AB6 stewardship crop.

Tactical weapon

“A hybrid winter barley isn’t just a crop choice; it’s a tactical weapon against blackgrass. Hybrid winter barleys have a remarkable suppressant effect. They’ll seriously out-yield wheat and form a critical part of the blackgrass management strategy.”

How crops are sown can have a significant impact on weed levels, adds Mr Ward, who experimented with multiple cultivation techniques. These included traditional ploughing, min imum tillage and eventually zero till age. Each method was evaluated for its effectiveness against blackgrass.

“Our experience has taught us that zero-till should be seen as a tool, not a religion,” explains Mr Ward. “When blackgrass begins to gain ground, we’re not afraid to return to plough ing.”

This flexibility came into its own in 2023/24 when blackgrass became particularly problematic. “We happi ly returned to the plough after a peri od of min-till, which we followed with zero-till. The plough is our ultimate weapon in weed control.”

“While we’ve kept returning to this Crystal/DFF mix, we’re still always looking for something to give us even better control.” It is designed as an additional solution for tackling key weeds – such as blackgrass, ryegrass and broadleaf weeds.

A co-formulation of Isoflex and Beflubutamid, Fundatis is available for pre- and peri-emergence activity in wheat and pre-emergence use in barley – with efficacy proven in both UK and European trials.

FMC plant health expert Geoffrey Bastard says: “With only around 11 actives approved for use in cereals, the introduction of new chemistry is a major step forward and will be really important for resistance management and tackling diverse weeds.”

When used as part of a programme alongside other approved chemistry,

The plough is our ultimate tool, says Richard Ward

able, says Mr Bastard. This control extends to a range of broadleaf and additional grassweed species, he adds.

On-farm trials

Mr Ward says he was eager to take part in on-farm trials for Fundatis at Barton Farms to help the industry better understand the full potential of the new active. The herbicide showed encouraging results, he adds.

Zero-till is a tool, not a religion

95% blackgrass control is achievable, says Geoffery Bastard

The trials primarily concentrated on winter barley. They tested multiple formulations and timings. These included Crystal + DFF at full rate –with and without Fundatis – as well as Liberator (diflufenican + flufenacet) Isoflex active.

Sharing his observations from the trials, Mr Ward says: “While not a standalone solution, the trials demonstrated a definite benefit in blackgrass control where Fundatis was used.”

A more comprehensive programmes yielded better results, with clear differences between treated and untreated areas. Fundatis is a valuable tool in the agricultural toolkit, not a silver bullet, says Mr Ward.

He adds: “Chemical interventions must be part of a holistic, integrated weed management strategy that considers rotation, cultivation techniques, and environmental conditions.

“Every farm is different and what works here might not work everywhere, but my key principles – which could be applied anywhere – are simple: be proactive, act quickly, and understand that managing blackgrass is a continuous battle.”

Triton is now accepted as the go-to direct and conventional drill for extending the drilling window in catchy conditions whilst increasing yields through deep soil release. The Triton uses the patented self cleaning side presses to close the seeded slot in all conditions. As one heavy soil farmer said ‘If the field will hold the tractor the Triton will drill’ The Triton gives the grower the ability to grow the most profitable crop sequence which is vital in the current climate.

Continuous Winter Wheat with occasional early drilled spring wheat for grass weed control is the most profitable simple low cost cropping solution.

Please call us to discuss why we are so sure of this ‘rotation’ and why the Triton is essential to getting the spring wheat tillering by mid March to ensure a yield more akin to winter Wheat and less vulnerable to spring seed bed drought.

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Good establishment ‘can help mitigate fungus risk’

Ayield-sapping fungus is becoming more common – making it important to select oilseed rape varieties carefully.

Verticillium stem stripe can cause yield reductions of 30% or even more. With no fungicide treatments available, other ways must be found to control the soil borne fungus, says Michael Shuldham of NPZ UK.

“The key to managing risk is crop hygiene, optimised establishment conditions and wider rotations,” he says. In addition, the AHDB recommended list shows significant differences in the level of resistance between varieties.

Disease dynamics

end of June and early July.

As ripening progresses, stripes extend along the full length of the plant from soil level into the upper branches. Usually whole plants are affected, but symptoms are occasionally limited to a few branches.

“It is becoming more prevalent

Scraping infected stem surfaces can reveal grey discolouration of the vascular tissue beneath the stripe. This becomes more obvious as outer fleshy tissues of the stem dehydrate during ripening.

“Verticillium stem stripe is less well known than phoma or light leaf spot as a threat to oilseed rape yields. But it is increasingly prevalent, so it is worth detailing the dynamics of the disease's progress through the season.”

The disease-infection cycle starts with microsclerotia. Root infection usually takes place during the seedling stage at a relatively wide temperature range, explains Mr Shuldham.

The fungus colonises the vascular tissue and upper plant during stem extension. Leaf yellowing may occur from April onwards. Then yellow vertical stripes, followed by brown stripes, occur on stems towards the

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During this final phase, the stem begins to shred with masses of minute microsclerotia visible in the tissue. Affected roots are grey in colour. Severely affected plants ripen prematurely with canopy collapse and seed shedding possible.

Symptoms are also visible after harvest on stubbles and crop debris, says Mr Shuldham. Disease levels in NPZ trials are increasing year on year, he adds.

“This year we were seeing symptoms before the Cereals event in June, which was a first. Susceptible varieties were ripening up to two weeks early, reducing thousand grain weight and yield.”

Varieties of C2 Seed for Autumn 2025

WINTER WHEAT

Brand New – KWS Vibe – Group 1

Brand New – RGT Goldfinch – Group 2

KWS Extase – Group 2

KWS Palladium – Group 2

Elsoms Mayflower – Group 2

LG Beowulf – Group 4

DSV Champion – Group 4

KWS Dawsum – Group 4

WINTER BEANS

Senova - Vespa

Crop

Weed suppression is key focus for study

Researchers are investigating ways winter wheat can supress weeds in low-input and organic farming systems.

Findings could provide cereal and oilseed growers with sustainable strategies to naturally suppress weeds, reducing reliance on herbicides and aiding the transition to more environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board project follows a review of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL), which highlighted the importance of variety competitiveness against grass weeds.

Varietal traits

It is well known that competitive crop varieties suppress weeds. The new research aims to pinpoint exactly which varietal traits deliver this benefit – informing both farmer decision-making and long-term plant breeding strategies.

The project will involve a UK-wide network of on-farm trials to identify

put conditions. Starting this summer, it will run until December 2027.

The AHDB says the project will enhance the information gained through RL crop physiology assessments. It is being delivered in collaboration with RSK Adas, Cope Seeds, the Organic Research Centre and UK Grain Lab.

AHDB knowledge transfer manager Henny Lowth says the project will ultimately inform better variety se-

selection, say researchers

natural weed suppression.

“Managing weeds without chemicals is a key challenge for growers in low-input and organic systems,” says Ms Lowth. “We’re excited to be working with our partners and the farming community to deliver meaningful, field-tested results.”

Farmers interested in hosting an on-farm variety trial should email henny.lowth@ahdb.org.uk

Seed trade specialist bolsters strategic offering

Agronomy firm ProCam has bolstered its offering to farmers by appointing David Ramdhian as the company’s head of seed development.

With more than 30 years in the seed trade, Mr Ramdhian joins ProCam to develop the company’s seed strategy, ensuring customer access to a wide range of crops and performance seeds.

In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the growth of ProCam’s seed offer and to provide complementary support and advice to the company’s core crop protection and agronomy services.

In a world where crop protection products are under increasing regulatory pressure, ProCam will enhance its services to help farmers meet the twin challenges of climate change and the push for more sustainable food production.

“Seed variety selection and rotational choices will become increasingly important to successful and profitable crop pro-

duction, and I’m keen to ensure we are able to provide the very best cropping advice,” says Mr Ramdhian.

Alongside its agronomy services, ProCam sources and supplies UK growers with arable and forage seeds that include cereals and oilseed rape, maize, root crops, vegetables, grass and clover mixtures and energy crops.

Portfolio

Mr Ramdhian says: “I’ll be working closely with ProCam’s crop production specialists and drawing on my many years of experience and contacts within the seed sector from a sales and supply perspective to enhance ProCam’s seed portfolio."

He adds: “It’s an exciting and challenging time to be involved in agriculture and food production, and I look forward to making a positive impact to the success of ProCam and its farmer customers.”

ProCam UK managing director Alex

The changing landscape of winter cereals

Farmer-owned inputs buying co-operative AF procures

7,000 tonnes of winter cereal seed each year. Seed Procurement Manager Hannah Carthy shares the shifts she’s seeing in autumn orders.

Milling wheat’s premium appeal

“There’s a plethora of new wheat varieties on AHDB’s Recommended List. KWS Vibe, a Group 1 milling wheat, is proving popular with Members keen to add value.

“The 2025 premium may be down to £28 per tonne (from up to £55 per tonne last year), but on £160 per tonne base it’s still attractive. I expect more Group 1’s in the ground this year, and so far they’re making up 25% of AF Member orders compared with 15% this time last year.

“Other Group 1’s selling well are SY Cheer and KWS Zyatt (still the highest yielding Group 1). Some Members are concerned about yellow rust susceptibility, but it’s relatively inexpensive to control - although there’s no room for complacency.

“Group 4 winter wheat KWS Scope is selling well. A high yielder achieving 108% of controls, it’s expected to take a strong market share this year.”

Winter barley losing favour

“Confidence in winter malting barley continues to wane. It’s still important in rotations, but new barley variety uptake isn’t matching wheat. Worth roughly £145 per tonne, some Members say they can’t justify it simply to spread combine workload. More are turning to spring barley, with preorders for Laureate already in.

“We recently heard from key seed houses that there are promising barley varieties in the pipeline, including conventionals with BYDV tolerance and good hectolitre weights. I’m keen to see how they perform.”

Success starts with smart choices

“If you’re thinking of drilling early this year, choosing varieties with appropriate traits is key.

“Pick the right one depending on when (early, mid or late) and where (north, east or west & altitude) you’re drilling, then match the agronomy.

“Whatever your cropping plans, remember: right variety, right time, right chemistry.”

Hannah Carthy, AF Seed Procurement Manager seed@af.farm 01603 881828

AF is the go-to Member-owned farm input buying co-operative in the UK. We’ve been working with farmers for over 30 years. We’re not for profit and here purely to help your business. As a Member, you can call any of our procurement teams for insights and to order.

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Water

Water concerns limit UK food production

• Food production hampered

• Summit calls for investment

• Industry working together

Huge challenges around water quality and availability are limiting farmers’ ability to feed the nation, the government has been told.

Defra secretary Steve Reed was among more than 60 attendees at a Water Summit which say the NFU bring together industry experts, water companies, environmental groups and supply chain representatives.

Challenges discussed at the summit included water pollution, climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns – as well as evolving regulatory financial pressures and lack of critical investment in water infrastructure.

NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos hosted the event on her West Yorkshire farm earlier this summer. She said: “Water is our most precious resource. It’s absolutely vital to producing the food our country needs.”

Increasing pressure

Farmers were facing increasing pressures on water supplies – including resources, flooding and quality issues.

“Water is our most precious resource

“It all undermines the stability and resilience of our farming businesses and ultimately impacts our food security.”

Acknowledging that farming itself was contributing to some challenges, Ms Hallos said nutrients used by farmers to produce food were impacting the water quality in rivers. The cycle of drought and floods leading to poor harvests was also a problem.

“The knock-on effect is clearly highlighted in a survey of NFU members which reveals nearly two-thirds have experienced a severe weather event in the past 10 years that has affected their farming business in some way.

“Now’s the time to start having open and honest conversations and treating water as a national strategic priority. For our part, that means rolling our sleeves up, taking the initiative and tackling these challenges head on.”

Working together

The NFU has made a series of pledges on behalf of its members when it comes to water. These include water quality tests and the adoption of new technology to help ensure water is used as efficiently as possible.

NFU ‘bucket list’ of pledges on water

The NFU has pledged to support a pilot scheme for farmers to undertake their own water quality testing.

The pilot scheme will take place in a defined catchment with a scientific partner to trial water testing methodologies. The NFU says it will also highlight promising data and technology-led approaches to help farmers use water more efficiently.

Best practice

An NFU water hub will raise awareness among farmers of relevant rules and best-practice advice on water. It will also signpost growers to funding initiatives and ways to prepare for an Environment Agency inspection.

“We will work with members across all our regions to support the formation of water abstractor groups and communicate the risks and opportunities in the future demand for water while protecting the environment,” says the NFU.

Knowledge exchange

Pledging to work with industry experts and regulators to roll out nutrient management advice, the NFU says knowledge exchange will support water quality outcomes, nutrient use efficiency and productivity.

Rachel Hallos:

Water is ‘absolutely vital’ to producing enough food

But Ms Hallos said everyone in the food supply chain had to work tougher. “We cannot do it alone. We need everyone to start thinking about what we can

“We will work with planners and regulators on resilient and sustainable options for accessing water, particularly during times and in places of scarcity, to deliver food security,” it says.

“We will also continue our work as a founding member of the Rural Flood Resilience Partnership.”

each individually and collectively do and what will make a real difference.”

Three breakout sessions were held during the event, looking at issues of investment, innovation and circular economy. An overriding message from attendees was the need for urgent investment in water infrastructure. This included support for infrastructure improvements, such as slurry stores and reservoirs. Defra secretary Steve Reed suggested the Sustainable Farming Incentive could help farmers reduce water pollution when it relaunches.

farmers abstraction resume

• Restrictions eased for growers

• Challenge to UK food security

• Long-term solution is needed

More than 150 farmers have been able to resume water abstraction after the NFU raised their case with the Environment Agency.

Restrictions were lifted for the growers affected by an abstraction cessation order in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The NFU said it was working to find a solution for a further 90 farmers who have not had restrictions lifted.

The NFU is also continuing its calls for the agency to work with the farming community to deliver long-term solutions to ensure farmers and growers have guaranteed access to water during dry periods for the sake of national food security.

Extreme weather

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “This was a huge and very immediate concern for many of our members, who are already having great challenges due to the extreme dry weather we have been experiencing.

“We are pleased to have been able to work collaboratively with the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Board to find a quick solution for some members. We will work with those members who have not had restrictions lifted.

It was vital to continue to work with the government and Environ-

ment Agency to find long-term solutions to increasing extreme weather incidents, said Ms Hallos. “This problem will not just go away,” she added.

Limited licences

The move comes after the NFU called for an urgent meeting with the Environment Agency in-mid July. Farmers in the Cam and Ely Ouse catchments were in prolonged dry status, with many already voluntarily reducing abstraction.

Growers said they had been anticipating further restrictions but were surprised to be told they would no longer have access to vital water for their crops when notices of cessation of abstraction licences were issued.

The Internal Drainage Board confirmed it would be able to add more water into the system, with new restrictions will be put in place allowing irrigation at night on a temporary twoweek basis pending a review.

Ms Hallos said: “I completely understand the importance of public access to water and the environmental protection that is needed, and we need to work together to find longterm solutions for everybody’s needs.”

“The scale of the problems we are seeing due to the dry weather on farms on the ground is horrendous. It is costing farm businesses enormous sums of money and some businesses will nev-

This problem will not just go away “

could be in this situation again. There is huge pressure on water in this country. It's about the bigger picture, storing the water when it rains for future use. We need to ensure that agriculture's voice is heard.”

Water availability

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Prolonged dry weather continues to affect East Anglia. Low river levels and dry conditions means we have had to apply temporary abstraction restrictions in the South Level of the Fens.

These pre-agreed abstraction licence conditions are there to protect the environment and the rights of other abstractors. We are working with the NFU, Internal Drainage Boards, and local farmers to manage water availability.

“In future we can expect to see prolonged dry weather more frequently, so we encourage abstractors to make their business as resilient as possible and ask water users to use water wisely.”

Email alerts now available

Abstraction licence holders with ‘hands-off’ conditions can now receive email alerts from the Environment Agency. Alerts are sent when restrictions are likely to come into force, when a restriction has been put in place and when abstraction can resume. Email alerts are sent quicker than postal notifications.

The agency says this means abstractors are better able to prepare for any disruption – and can quickly start taking water again once river flows or groundwater water levels have recovered.

Abstraction licence holders can start receiving water abstraction e-alerts by giving their email address to their local Environment Agency contact. For those in the East Anglia area, it’s easterniep@environment-agency.gov.uk.

‘Farmers need say on water sector reforms’

• Fair share needed for farming

• New regulator for entire sector

• Regional water authority plan

Plans to reform the UK water sector have big implications for farmers and must take account of agriculture, say farm leaders.

The warning follows 88 recommendations by the Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe – including a new integrated regulator for water and nine new regional water authorities to deliver on local priorities.

Key recommendations include a national water strategy setting out a renewed, long-term vision for the water environment – balancing the needs of businesses, private consumers and the environment.

The government has already accepted one key recommendation – the abolition of regulator Ofwat and the establishment of a new regulator combining the water-related functions of Ofwat, Natural England and the Environment Agency.

NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said the union would continue to exam-

ine in detail all the recommendations within the Cunliffe report and the potential impact on its 45,000 farmer and grower members.

Represented

On the recommendation for new, regional water authorities, Ms Hallos said: “It’s vital that, if the government adopts this approach, agriculture is represented on these groups in order to deliver on that goal.”

The NFU says the report clearly highlights the huge pressure on water in the UK – including water resources, flooding and water quality.

The union says this requires a comprehensive water management strategy.

“Ultimately, we need a joined-up approach,” said Ms Hallows.

This would encourage investment in the country's water infrastructure, allow farmers to collaborate better with government, local authorities and water companies – and prioritise UK food security as national security.

High demand and climate change are putting pressure on water supplies

“

We need a joined-up approach

The Country Land and Business Association said agricultural water needs would become explicitly considered alongside other users if the National Water Strategy recommendation is implemented.

Abstraction

“Currently, legislation prevents water for agriculture having higher priority during droughts, and decisions about who gets abstraction are not as fair and transparent as they could be,” said the CLA.

Lincolnshire farmer Robert Caudwell, who chairs the Association of Drainage Authorities, said the report’s recommendations created an opportunity to plan for water resources in a holistic way.

Internal Drainage Boards, which manage water levels for the agriculture and the environment needs, could play an important role – supporting water companies, farmers and other water users, said Mr Caudwell.

Huge shortfall in England’s water supply

England’s public water supply could fall short by 5 billion litres a day by 2055 without urgent action, says the Environment Agency.

Climate change, population growth and environmental pressures mean a further one billion litres a day will be needed to generate energy, grow food and power emerging technologies,.

The predicted shortfall is equivalent to a third of England’s current daily water use. The forecast is accompanied actions the agency says is required by water companies, regulators, businesses and the public to best manage water usage.

Some 60% of the deficit is to be addressed by water companies managing demand and dramatically reducing leaks. The remaining 40% will come from boosting supply, including new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.

Infrastructure

The government says it has secured £104bn in private sector spending in water company infrastructure over the next five years, including £8bn committed to boost water supply and manage demand.

Environment Agency chairman Alan Lovell said: “The nation’s water resources are under huge and steadily increasing pressure. This deficit threatens not only the water from your tap but also economic growth and food production.

“Taking water unsustainably from the environment will have a disastrous impact on our rivers and wildlife., said Mr Lovell.

“We need to tackle these challenges head-on and strengthen work on co-ordinated action to preserve this precious resource and our current way of life."

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Water service boosts cow health and productivity

Anew vet-led service aims to help dairy farmers to increase animal health and productivity by improving their water quality.

FarmWater, which ensures clean, hygienic water regardless of water source, has proven itself within the poultry sector, and is now officially rolling out onto dairy farms, many of which have private water supplies of unknown quality.

“Water hygiene is an untapped area – few people realise what properly clean water is,” says vet Phil Elkins, of the FarmWater team. “There’s a real opportunity to improve animal welfare, health and productivity on a large scale.”

The fully managed, non-toxic water treatment kills all common microbes, significantly reducing the risk of disease transfer, including yield-sapping challenges such as mastitis and cryptosporidiosis.

Farm trial

In one 12-month farm trial at Taunton, Somerset, it slashed mastitis by 37%, somatic cell counts by 28%, and bactoscans by 81%. It also removes biofilms, making water more palatable for cows and reducing labour for farm staff.

At the Taunton farm, the payback period for the investment was less than 30 months, with a £6,000-£7,000/ year increase in profit afterwards. This was based on mastitis reduction alone – not including the saving in mains water costs.

FarmWater takes and analyses wa-

Clean water can improve animal welfare, health and productivity

Heat stress threatens autumn calf health

Autumn-born calves could face reduced performance and increased disease risk this year due to the heat stress experienced by pregnant cows this summer.

High temperatures during gestation can lead to weaker calves, reduced colostrum quality, and long-term productivity losses, says Sarah Gallimore, animal health specialist at Nettex. Water should be freely available, she adds.

Water intake

plains Mr Elkins. “It’s not just the cleanliness of water coming to the farm, but the water within the pipes and troughs.”

Many dairy farms use private water supplies like a borehole or spring, but also spread slurry and manure onto the land, meaning pathogens can quickly re-enter the water table. Even those using mains water can get problems.

Cows – and calves - that have lim ited water intake will also have sub standard milk production or growth. “I can see this technology as a signif icant contributor to health and wel fare on a large number of dairy farms.”

“Dehydration is a serious risk after calving. Water intake tends to reduce before and during calving, which can be exacerbated by hot conditions. During calving, a cow can lose nearly 60 litres of fluids from the uterus in the form of blood and uterine fluids.

“This loss is more than just water as, crucially, electrolytes are lost as well. Although cows often drink soon after calving, this won’t replace the lost electrolytes required to restore fluid balance and cell functioning.”

Heat stress disrupts a cow’s production cycle. Calves born to heatstressed cows can experience lighter birthweights and reduced growth rates both pre- and post-weaning, explains Ms Gallimore.

Blood test

“It’s important to optimise colostrum intake and monitor passive transfer in the first week of life — ideally with a blood test to check how well antibodies from the colostrum have been successfully absorbed into the calf’s bloodstream.

"Calves slow to feed or struggling in the early days can benefit from an

Treat tricky maize harvest with care

• Challenge follows hot summer

• Crops ready one month early

• Take action to conserve energy

Maize growers are advised to check fields frequently for an optimum harvest with many crops expected to be ready four weeks early.

Hot summer weather and a warm and dry growing season mean dry matter content has been rising by up to 6-8% per week compared to a more typical 2% weekly increase, says Neil Groom of forage specialists Grainseed.

"It's going to be easy to get caught out this year and with grass silage stocks generally low in both yield and quality, we need to be conserving as much maize energy as possible in the next few weeks.

"Many people drilled their crops early because of the warm spring and good seedbed conditions with some going in at the end of March. Summer heat units have been high, so many crops have gone through the growth stages very quickly.

"With things moving so quickly, it's important to walk the fields at least twice a week and aim for that 32-35% dry matter sweetspot for harvest."

Variable quality

Some crops have been hit hard by the recent lack of rain and are in early senescence. Others are highly variable across fields with both areas of green

leaves and plants under severe drought stress, says Mr Groom.

"Some crops are very compromised and it's advisable to cut the driest crops with a shorter chop length than usual to help with clamp consolidation.

"Where you have still green patches mixed in with drier areas, you're going to have to strike a balance with regard to optimum harvest date. If you can, cut the dry areas first and put the heavier, greener crop on top at the clamp to again aid consolidation."

Reducing waste

Clamp management is vital, says Mr Groom. Keep as much oxygen out of

Growers face an exceptionally dry and early autumn maize harvest

the clamp as possible, he says. “Make sure the clamp is as clean as possible then line the walls with side sheeting to make sure oxygen cannot enter.”

Filling the clamp up properly with layering up of material, good consolidation and lots of rolling are key, adds Mr Groom. A high oxygen barrier Silostop film can reduce wastage and ensure more of the energy clamped is available for milk production.

“Reducing chop length to 12mm from a more usual 18mm will help considerably in promoting good fermentation as material will pack better. Keep plenty of weight on top rolling and keep pushing thin layers of forage up all the time.

Care with cover crop will minimise forage gaps

Careful consideration should be given to late summer and autumn drilled catch crop options that have potential to fill forage gaps this year.

Drilling date, future grazing or cutting requirements and evidence of variety performance in UK conditions should all be taken into account, says independent forage seed specialist Francis Dunne.

“Given the very real threat of forage shortages this winter, farmers can ease the pressure by making the right drilling choices in the coming months,” he says.

“Short term ryegrasses, including Italian or

Westerwolds, are a viable option up to the middle of September, but if the drilling window is any later, with the catch crop perhaps following maize for example, then it will be better to grow a forage cereal.”

Drilled as late as mid-October, Mr Dunne says forage cereals such as rye or triticale have the vigour and low temperature active growth to build maximum root mass to support big, early spring yields.

Forage cereals become the best option for later drilling, with the New Zealand-bred forage triticale T101 Wintermax offering the most yield potential and at a reasonable cost, says Mr Dunne.

How to reduce risk of mycotoxin in maize silage

Toxins becoming more prevalent

Special steps should be taken reduce the risk of mycotoxins in this year’s maize crops, say silage and nutrition experts.

Toxic substances produced by certain types of fungi, mycotoxins are becoming more prevalent in maize silage across the UK due to more crops being grown in marginal areas and unpredictable weather patterns.

Failure to manage mycotoxins in maize silage could cost farmers lost milk production this autumn and winter, says Lientjie Colahan, forage technical support for Lallemand animal nutrition.

“Mycotoxins are an invisible threat – they have no smell, colour, or taste. They’re produced by moulds in response to stress, such as drought, excessive rain, or extreme temperatures. Unfortunately, tests available to detect them are quite limited.”

Although mycotoxins come from moulds, the presence of mould doesn’t always mean mycotoxins are present. Farmers should monitor crops closely, aim for clean silage and use a cropand condition-specific inoculant, says Ms Colahan.

Growers should regularly walk

Any moulds on the plants are likely to become stressed and produce mycotox ins when you harvest them and bring them into the clamp.

“Watch cobs closely in particular,” explains Mrs Colahan. “Any smut will not only reduce the crop quality but also be a sign that other moulds – which could produce mycotoxins –are present as well.”

The best way to reduce mycotoxin risk at harvest is to produce as clean a crop as possible. Although mycotoxins can occur in all silages, they’re most commonly found in maize.

“This is partly down to the risk of rain at harvest, which not only creates a stress point for moulds on the plant, but also increases the risk of soil contamination in the clamp,” explains Mrs Colahan.

Silage clamps

Soil contains millions of mould spores – increasing the risk of mycotoxin development. Forage cutting heights should be adjusted to reduce the risk of soil contamination in the clamp, which should be rapidly filled, with proper compaction.

“When sealing the clamp, non-po-

Failure to manage mycotoxins could hit milk production

Left Lientjie Colahan: working with farmers to help them make the most of maize silage

cut. If the bottom two or three leaves are drying off and turning brown, then the crop is close to being ready for harvest, provided it’s not a staygreen variety.

“The milk line on the kernel also provides an indication of harvest readiness and as the sugars in the plant convert to starch, this line moves; generally, if it’s a third of the way down the kernel, the crop is ready to harvest.”

Innoculant

Finally, Mrs Colahan recommends the use of a crop- and condition-specific inoculant to manage the risk of mycotoxins in maize silage. In turn, this will help ensure the best quality maize silage is available to cattle.

Inoculants containing antifungal bacteria, such as Lentilactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785 and Lentilactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788, reduce the occurrence of moulds and, in turn, mycotoxins.

“This was proven in a trial at Lallemand’s Forage Centre of Excellence which found treating maize silage with an inoculant containing these two bacteria reduced yeasts and moulds by 99.9%,” adds Mrs Colahan.

Stay vigilant on salmonella control, egg producers told

Egg producers should remain vigilant in managing salmonella risk – and not let success lead to complacency, say industry experts.

The UK egg sector has a world-leading record on salmonella control – but producers at Elanco’s recent annual lay conference were told that the risk remains very real indeed.

“We’ve come a long way as an industry – our low levels of Salmonella make us the envy of Europe, and that’s something we should take great pride in,” said Gary Ford, of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA).

“But food safety concerns haven’t gone away, and one bad headline is all it takes to shake public confidence.

Robust controls

Retailers were rightly focused on food safety and continuing to demand British Lion eggs, said Mr Ford. “They trust the robust Salmo-

nella control measures behind this certification – and it’s up to us to maintain those high standards.”

The conference also highlighted findings from Animal and Plant Health Agency visits. Issues such as ineffective vermin control, inappropriate disinfectant use, and poor drainage on ranges were identified as recurring weaknesses on-farm.

“Rodents remain public enemy number one when it comes to spreading Salmonella, and a joined-up approach to prevention is vital,” said Mr Ford

“From pullet rearers to producers and packers, everyone has a role to play in disease control and should use a full toolkit of measures that includes vaccination alongside rigorous biosecurity protocols.”

Joshua Davison, veterinary technical consultant at Elanco, echoed the importance of sustained vigilance and a holistic prevention strategy. “The UK’s low Salmonella prevalence isn’t accidental.”

The UK has a world-leading record on salmonella control

“It’s the result of long-term commitment from the industry and vaccination is a key part of that success, alongside investment in biosecurity and monitoring. Our focus is on delivering reliable, high-quality vaccines.”

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We’ve got it in the bag!

First impressions: Mad as a box of frogs?

It was lovely to meet so many farming folk out and about over the summer, writes Nerys Wright. Thank you for mentioning that you enjoy reading these articles, it’s always nice to hear.

I co-host a podcast called The Sheep Geeks with my friend Liz Genever. We’re both sheep consultants and one of our favourite segments is asking each guest to recall how we know each other. It’s usually a good laugh and can be very revealing.

This month someone said their first impression of me was “mad as a box of frogs”. Thankfully, we’re still working together 15 years later. But it got me thinking — how important is a first impression, especially in an industry where relationships are everything?

Research shows that people form a

first impression within just seven seconds — sometimes even faster. In that brief moment, our brains assess facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and appearance.

Once formed, impressions are surprisingly hard to shift. It can take up to eight positive interactions to change a negative first impression.

That’s a lot of effort to undo a bad handshake or a grumpy hello! Our brains tend to seek out evidence that confirms our initial judgment — so if we think someone’s friendly, we’ll notice their smiles more than their silences. And vice versa.

Why it matters

Whether you’re selling stock, welcoming a new team member, or chatting at a show, how we come across in those first few moments can shape relationships for years. A warm smile, a firm handshake (or a nod from the quad bike), and a

bit of eye contact can go a long way.

But it’s also worth remembering that in agriculture, we often work alone, face unpredictable weather, and deal with the pressures of intermittent cashflow. So, when someone seems a bit off, it might not be about you — it could just be the kind of day they’re having.

So next time you meet someone new — or bump into someone you haven’t seen in a while — remember: you might just be shaping a 15-year working relationship… or at least giving them a good story for a podcast.

The Sheep Geeks podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant. For more details, call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.

Trees on the Farm

How to turn trees into farm business assets

• Carbon credits and biodiversity

• Case studies from arable farms

• Markets are developing rapidly

Big crowds are expected this month at the UK’s only national event dedicated to integrating trees into farming systems.

The Agroforestry Show reflects growing interest in trees as part of mainstream farm business planning. Organised by the Woodland Trust and the Soil Association, it takes place on 10-11 September at Woodoaks Farm, Hertfordshire.

Policy shift

Government support is moving in agroforestry’s favour. The Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme includes options for tree integration, while biodiversity net gain and carbon markets are developing rapidly.

For farmers, this raises practical questions. Policy alignment means land managers can be rewarded not only for environmental outcomes but also for risk reduction and long-term resilience.

The show will combine policy updates with case studies from working farms. Experts will explain where agroforestry fits within existing enterprises, how funding stacks up against opportunity costs, and what management changes are required.

Finance and Markets

Agroforestry is increasingly discussed in terms of financial returns, not just environmental value. New markets for carbon credits and biodiversity net gain units create income streams alongside timber, fruit or nut crops.

Investors and lenders are beginning to recognise agroforestry as a tool for managing risk and improving natural capital assets.

The event will focus on the mechanics of finance: contract structures, verification requirements and how to integrate external funding into farm budgets. For businesses explor-

“

New markets can create income streams

ing diversification this offers practical guidance.

On-farm returns

Alongside policy and finance, the event will highlight commercial data from early adopters. Livestock-focused sessions led by veterinary consultant Claire Whittle will examine how trees influence productivity and animal health.

For arable growers, discussions will centre on soil protection, shelterbelts, and long-term returns from timber. For mixed farms, attention will be on balancing short-term food production with longer-term income from trees.

Knowledge Exchange

More trees are being successfully integrated within

The two-day programme includes workshops, farm walks, and sessions where farmers share experience directly with peers. Chris Cooper of Natural Asset Partners will demonstrate habitat banking and biodiversity net gain in practice.

Agroforestry Show 2025

Dates: 10–11 September 2025

Location: Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross, Hertfordshire

Organisers: Woodland Trust & Soil Association

Lead Partners: Sainsbury’s, Lloyds Banking Group

Tickets: From £75 + VAT, available on a sliding scale to support accessibility

Booking: woodlandtrust.org.uk

The event is structured to encourage networking between farmers, advisers, supply-chain buyers and financiers, recognising that agroforestry adoption depends on joined-up decision making.

Strategic Relevance

For farm businesses, the case for agroforestry is shifting. What was once seen primarily as an environmental initiative is now entering the language of cost control, market opportunity, and risk management.

The Agroforestry Show 2025 provides a forum to test the economics, understand policy incentives, and explore how growers and livestock producers can adopt trees as a productive part of UK farm business models.

Farmers reach landmark tree-planting milestone

• 5m trees planted on farms

• Funding help still available

• Good for farm and climate

Farmers and landowners have been key contributors to a groundbreaking initiative that has planted five million trees across Britain’s countryside, helping to combat climate change and transform the landscape.

In January 2020 the Woodland Trust and Lloyds Banking Group embarked on a transformational 10-year partnership to plant 10 million native trees by 2030.

This year marks a significant milestone in this journey, with five million trees now planted – a target achieved with the support of around 3,700 farmers and landowners by the end of 2024.

Turbulence

Lloyds Banking Group agricultural sustainability director Ben Makowiecki says the milestone reflects farming’s commitment to a sustainable future. Agriculture is in a period of turbulence which will bring a great deal of change, he says.

“However, the need to decarbonise the sector to help mitigate the impact of climate change is not likely to alter, particularly with the NFU’s 2040 carbon neutral target for the industry still in progress.”

Two initiatives are helping to make tree planting accessible and cost-effective. Under the partnership, Lloyds

“

Now we are looking ahead

Millions of trees have been planted under the MoreWoods scheme [photo: Philip Formy]

Banking Group and the Woodland Trust have provided the trees, funding and expert advice to farmers and landowners nationwide.

More and more

The MoreHedges scheme is available to landowners that commit to planting at least 100m of hedging to accompany existing woodland. For those that can make this commitment, the scheme covers up to 75% of the cost.

The MoreWoods scheme is open to anyone looking to plant at least 500 trees on at least half a hectare. The role of farmers in shaping a greener, more resilient landscape cannot be overstated, adds Mr Makowiecki.

“Reaching the halfway mark is a great achievement, but now we’re

looking ahead. We want to encourage even more farmers and landowners to consider how integrating trees and hedgerows can form part of their transition to a lower carbon future.”

‘Beyond’ climate

“Planting trees and hedgerows delivers benefits beyond climate mitigation, from helping to reduce soil erosion and supporting flood management, to providing habitats for pollinators and other beneficial species, as well as enhancing livestock grazing.

“By participating in these schemes, farmers are not only contributing to national environmental goals, but also enhancing the long-term productivity and sustainability of their own businesses.”

For farmers looking to future-proof their land while making a meaningful environmental impact, now is the time to act, says the Woodland Trust.

For details, eligibility criteria, support and funding applications, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk

Agroforestry is opportunity to diversity income streams

More farmers are using agroforestry to diversify their income streams, enhance environmental sustainability and adapt to land management challenges.

Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits, says William Leabeater, head of communication at the Soil Association Exchange.

“With increasing financial support for woodland creation and management, many farmers are considering tree planting as a viable land use change.

“This trend is particularly noticeable in upland regions, where woodland creation enhances biodiversity, mitigates flooding, and

offers long-term revenue opportunities.”

Alternative land uses have been encouraged by the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). But the sudden closure of the scheme to new applicants earlier this year means farmers are exploring alternative land uses to bolster incomes.

“When considering land use changes, it’s essential to prioritise what adds the most value and resilience to your business,” says Mr Leabeater.

“Focus on decisions that strengthen and diversify your operation and then explore how available subsidies or financial support can complement these choices — rather than letting subsidies dictate your direction.”

Markets for biodiversity net gain (BNG)

and carbon credits have developed rapidly in recent years, enabling farmers to be paid for specific habitat management.

“We have people identifying land for BNG, and it is an emerging market,” says Edward Hutley, partner at Ceres Rural. “But these are long-term arrangements of 30 years, so do carry risk.”

Angus Collet, director at the BNG partnership, adds: “We’ve been really pleased with the uplift in activity around biodiversity net gain, and the amount of registered habitat banks that are already on the Defra register.

“It shows that landowners see BNG as an opportunity to diversify and are willing to enter into a longer-term scheme than they are used to.”

Professional services

£150m in capital grants allocated in one month

• Scheme opens – and closes again

• More funding available next year

• Farmers ‘keen to restore nature’

Defra’s capital grants scheme will remain closed until next year after the latest round allocated £150 million to farmers in less than a month.

the RPA plans to deal with applications that couldn’t be processed due to outdated records. We look forward to continuing to work with Defra to shape the 2026 capital grants offer.”

Improvements

secretary Steve funding in 2026

capital grants scheme and finally confirming when businesses right now and direct payments rapidly

“It also shows the enthusiasm and appetite for needed certainty for those farmers who have been

Capital grants fund environmental improvements such as planting hedgerows, managing boundaries, improving water and air quality, restoring habitats, and introducing natural flood management measures.

Defra says these improvements deliver long-term benefits, reducing pollution and making the environment more resilient. It says the grants support farmers who enhance biodiversity, protect natural resources and improve the landscape.

The government says changes made to the scheme have made access to the grants fairer, so more farm businesses can get funding and Defra can more effectively manage taxpayers’ money.

It says the improved offer is another step in the government’s New Deal for Farmers to support growth and return farm businesses to profitability.

‘Big variation’ in farmland prices

• Well-funded buyers more picky

• Infrastructure has a bigger role

• Strong demand in some areas

More than 12,000 acres of farmland have been publicly marketed in the East of England since the start of the year, suggests the latest research.

Average farmland prices have dropped across all land types, according to the most recent half year report from Savills. But significant variation remains depending on location and the quality of buildings and infrastructure.

National picture

In all, 12,263 acres of farmland has been publicly marketed in the East of England since the start of the year – accounting for 17% of all farmland marketed in England to the end of June.

This compares with 14,500 acres marketed over the first six months of 2024 – a decrease of 16%. The drop is broadly in line with the national picture, with 15% less land coming to market across Great Britain compared to the same period last year.

Prime arable land is currently trading at an average of £9,368 an acre in the East of England – a fall of 5.5% from £9,914 an acre at the end of last year. This is a bigger drop than the price nationally which has fallen by 1.2% to £10,100 per acre.

Competition

Grade 3 arable land is is trading at an average of £9,061 per acre in the East of England. Although this is a fall of 2.5% from £9,289 an acre at the end of last year, it is still above the national average of £8,779 an acre, down 0.9%

The 503-acre Rowney Farm at Whepstead in Suffolk has a £5.9m guide price.

tion and prices achieved continues to significantly vary depending on location, the quality of land in question and its buildings.

Buyers are increasingly discerning

The presence of high-quality infrastructure was playing a bigger role in determining the strength of buyer interest, said Mr Carr. “There are some very well-funded buyers for ‘the right thing’, but they have become increasingly discerning.”

Recent sales

Some recent sales had achieved as much as £13,500 per acre. But other parcels of land had sold for less than £9,000 per acre. Although there was a wide spread, Savills was frequently achieving more than the statistical averages.

“In some areas demand remains strong,” said Mr Carr.

Nationally, arable land is accounting for a much higher proportion of the farmland market. Some 49% of the area acreage offered for sale nationally during the first half of 2025 is arable compared to a 10-year average of 37%.

erage for the intervening nine years is 27,800 acres.

Low margins

“Beef and lamb prices are presently high, while cereal prices have fallen by 14% over the past 18 months, and margins for combinable crops are currently low,” said Mr Carr.

Coupled with the sharp reductions in agricultural support payments for 2025 and 2026, this could be prompting arable farmers to evaluate their options, potentially leading to some sales, he suggested.

“Looking ahead, the dry weather has led to an early harvest, and although yields have been affected, early reports suggest they are often exceeding expectations, so sentiment may improve,” said Mr Carr.

"There are also numerous policy changes underway that affect farmers, including the inheritance tax reform legislation, which is expected soon, so that could also influence the amount of farmland launching to market in the coming months.”

Farmland values ease ‘but remain resilient’

EXPERT VIEW

The farmland market is adjusting after a period of sustained growth, Sam Holt.

Average farmland prices have slipped back from recent record highs as the market slowed during the first half the year.

Uncertainty stemming from changes to inheritance tax rules, the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), and a squeeze on arable incomes has led to downward pressure on prices in some areas.

Average arable values eased by 8% to £10,500/acre in the first half of 2025, with pasture prices seeing a more modest adjustment of 3% to £8,900/acre.

Supply and demand

While some farmland continues to sell at high prices, it can be harder to find buyers

for other land and when it sells, it is achieving slightly lower sale prices. That said, almost 60% of arable land is still selling for over £10,000/acre.

There is a perception that more land is coming to market. But Strutt & Parker’s Farmland Database shows that 46,200 acres were publicly marketed in the first half of 2025 – less than the same period in 2024 and below the five-year average.

In total, 126 farms and estates were launched publicly, compared with 162 in

Continued on p64

Chief executive sees wider role for buying group

Delivering long-term value for members

Araft of challenges means farm businesses need more support than ever, says one of Britain’s biggest agricultural buying groups.

Market volatility, government pol icy and climate change mean tighter margins are piling the pressure on growers and livestock producers, says Helen Whittle, chief executive of the farmer-owned AF Group.

"My role is to ensure we deliver long-term value for our members by staying agile, innovative, and connect ed to their needs,” she explains.

“That involves investing in the right technology, staying closely aligned with our members’ needs, and developing partnerships and models that support their long-term success.”

Group vision

A commercial leader with experience across a range of global industries, Ms Whittle says her vision for the AF Group is as a go-to partner for farm ers – not just for savings on inputs –but as a strategic ally.

“Margins are tight in this industry

“We are member-owned and mem ber-driven. Our strength lies in collab oration, shared values, and the collec tive power of our community. Our role is vital in ensuring our members are getting a fair deal.

“Margins are tight in this industry, and farmers need more support than

Continued from p62

the first half of 2024. Notably, the number of larger farms (over 500 acres) coming to the market has continued to rise, with 22 marketed so far this year.

There’s a perception that supply is rising, but this is in part because we’re seeing higher stock levels than in recent years. Some farms launched in 2024 remain available, and a proportion have been withdrawn when they didn’t generate sufficient interest.

But there are signs of renewed levels of activity in the market in recent weeks, with more transactions taking place than earlier

in the year. Strutt & Parker recently agreed the sale of a privately marketed farm within two weeks of it becoming available .Another in the southwest of England went under offer in less than a month.

Income streams

Amenity farms in desirable areas, large commercial holdings with diverse income streams, and the very best Grade 1 land all remain highly sought after.

Looking ahead, the market feels resilient despite the headwinds facing the agricultural sector and the wider economy. We see the

market adjusting after a period of sustained growth – but one that still offers good potential for both sellers and buyers.

Vendors who take a strategic approach to pricing and presentation are achieving good results, although in less popular areas, or if a property has certain drawbacks, they should be prepared for a longer sales process.

For buyers looking at farmland as a resilient long-term investment, there are some excellent opportunities on offer.

Sam Holt is head of estates and farm agency for Strutt & Parker.

FARM WASTE PLASTICS RECYCLING

How farmers can use data and AI to drive efficiency

Tim Frost from the Savills Food and Farming team discusses how technology can help farmers improve performance

You might have heard the phrase “data is the new oil”. The implication is that those of us who can tap into wells of data will become rich, like those who have struck oil in the past.

Traditionally, most of us have used pen and paper, calculators and spreadsheet formulas to transform a collection of numbers into some kind of output that informs our decisions and allows us to improve performance.

Yield mapping is one agricultural example – ascertain which parts of a field yield less, understand why and take action accordingly. In theory, this will lead to greater returns or lower costs.

In many areas, artificial intelligence (AI) can perform these tasks just as effectively – if not more so – than a human. Be it interpreting spreadsheets, imagery or instrument readings.

It is already making inroads and adding value to the agricultural sector by enhancing the precision application of pesticides and improving the monitoring of livestock health and wellbeing – to name just a few.

Another example is FruitCast, which uses a camera to take thousands of pictures of soft fruit as it grows. From this, AI can determine the size, weight and number of fruit and deliver a more accurate yield forecast.

Defra’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides an opportunity for farmers and land managers to start taking advantage of advancing technologies in order to drive efficiencies.

Of course, AI will never replace humans completely. There will aways be a need for creativity and to check AI hasn’t made a mistake. But to dismiss AI could prove costly.

Instead, farmers should look to actively engage with the technology. It could be as simple as having AI analyse the farm’s financial records to pick up on trends and anomalies. It could be as complicated as having it work with cameras on a boom sprayer to target pesticide applications.

The essential requirement is to start experimenting with the possibilities and thus add value to data that is already available.

For more information, please contact:

Tim Frost Savills Cambridge 07966 255977 tim.frost@savills.com savills.co.uk

FINAL SAY Fen Tiger

Where are they now?

Farming families are seldom straightforward, says Fen Tiger

In many ways, farming is no different to other industries. You go to college or university, forge close friendships and then start out as a new entrant – seldom seeing most of your college friends ever again.

Or so I thought. At a recent event, I happened to bump into one of my best friends from all those years ago. Busy lives and families meant we had drifted apart over the decades and we almost struggled to recognise each other.

Different choices

It got me thinking: how many of my old college friends went into agriculture and how many of them are still farming? I decided to do a little bit of research to find out – and here are the results:

William is still farming although no longer with the family farm. In fact, he has little contact with his family after a family dis-

He wishes it was different “

agreement – a familiar scenario in agriculture. He took on a council farm tenancy and eventually purchased his own farm.

Scot was a mechanical engineer at college. He left his family farm to follow a career with a tractor dealership. Not a fan of following instructions, he soon set up on his own and to this day he still maintains machinery when called upon to do so,

Archie didn’t come from a farming background. But he still passed his college exams, albeit through a haze of alcohol and whatever he could roll up and smoke in a cigarette paper. Today, he has his own private battles and drifts in and out of farm work.

New ideas

Trevor returned home and implemented some new ideas. After some big investments, he thought he had safeguarded the family farm – but his younger brother took the wrong path marriage-wise and a bitter battle is being fought to keep it intact.

Being the only daughter, Alice left the farm to enhance her career in London. Having returned to look after her poorly mother, her elder two brothers influenced dad and wrestled the farm out of her control in her absence.

At the age of 57, Edward tells me he has returned to the farm and his father now allows him to load the bale trailer. He says he

hopes to finally meet the farm accountant and look at the books soon.

Rod had a brief spell at a neighbouring farm after college. He then returned home and now looks after the harvest stores. He manages the day-to-day running of the farm which is controlled by his father. He wants to retire but cannot.

Separate lives

Finally, James is also on his family farm. But he does not speak to his father other than through a farm employee. Rather than working together, he farms separate farming companies on the same holding.

That is all I know. It leaves a further 25 other students who graduated from college with various qualifications. Most of them appear to have drifted away from the wonderful world of agriculture.

It was William I met again recently. His farming situation is not uncommon. A family argument over an extended period of time – as experienced by a vast number of people within the industry. He wishes it was different but can’t see how it can be.

William still maintains the arguments were inevitable and the outcome was probably for the best. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors but it seems that within the farming community nothing ever seems to run smoothly.

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