News
Income boost from diversification
Arable
Keep monitoring crops for slugs
CropTec show New look for flagship event
Livestock Tech revolution for British beef
Property
Farmland prices ride out Budget
Clodhopper
Ploughing on regardless
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hen times are challenging, it’s important to accept that some things are largely beyond our control.
In farming, there's much we can’t influence directly. Unpredictable weather, volatile market prices and uncertain agricultural policies to name just a few.
But by taking the emotion out of decision-making and controlling what is within our grasp, we can still build more profitable farm businesses –even amid the turbulence
Harnessing technology – including advances in precision farming – is just one way we can make better decisions. And we take a special look at how to do this in this issue of Anglia Farmer (see page 39)
Technology isn't the answer to everything. But precision farming can help us farm more efficiently. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, for example, suggests it can lift yields as much as 20%.
Improving livestock health and welfare can also boost productivity. True, there is little we can do about bluetongue, for example, but proactive herd and flock management can improve growth rates, and ultimately enhance profitability.
Profit-margins can also be increased by selecting livestock breeds and crop varieties that are
more resilient to extreme weather – and tailoring farm management programmes accordingly – whether that means flood or drought.
Similarly, diversification can act as a buffer against financial risk. As the Basic Payment phase-out continues, more farmers are starting new enterprises to boost their incomes (see page 4).
More farmers expect to diversify over the next five years – embarking renewable energy initiatives like solar panels and wind turbines, agritourism, farm cafes and other forms of direct sales to consumers.
Diversification can provide stability, even in difficult times, allowing farmers to expand income sources without relying solely on fluctuating agricultural prices. Defra figures show farms with diversified incomes are less vulnerable to market volatility
While there’s no shortage of challenges in UK agriculture, focusing on the factors we can control does give us a better chance of thriving – not just surviving. For some of us, that might be out of our comfort zone. But building resilience from within will mean a better chance of taking charge of our future.
Johann Tasker, Editor
More growers and livestock producers are diversifying as they strive to secure a more sustainable future for their farm business.
Some 17% of farmers plan to start a diversification in the next five years – up from 15% in 2023. And 40% of producers already running a diversified enterprise plan to further develop their business over the next five years – up 3% on last year.
The finding – contained in an NFU Mutual survey – suggests more farmers are generating an increasing amount of their revenue from enterprises which are alternatives or complementary to food production.
Pressure on traditional farm incomes is a significant factor in many decisions to diversify. Volatile commodity prices and rising input costs have been compounded by the phaseout of the basic payment.
Farm income from diversification enterprises on average now accounts for 13% of farm turnover in 2024, the same figure as in 2023. That said, the proportion has increased substantially on some individual farms.
Renewable energy remains the most popular form of diversification among UK farmers, with 8% operating schemes such as solar power, wind turbines or anaerobic digesters – up from 6% in 2023.
NFU Mutual farm specialist Chris Walsh said: “Farmers are hardworking and innovative by their nature, and this is helping to create diversifications which complement their farming activities and make their businesses stronger.
“From vineyards and wedding venues to solar farms and wind turbines, farmers are making the most of the resources available on their land to make their businesses more sustainable.”
In many cases, farmers are providing career opportunities for other family members – including the next generation – while creating rural jobs and
“There are some fantastic success stories out there, such as English wine producers becoming some of the world’s highest rated, also fantastic wedding venues, and hugely popular glamping sites.”
But Mr Walsh said diversification should not be seen as a quick fix or an easy win. Successful schemes required careful planning, good management and long-term commitment, he said.
NFU Mutual has put together an online Diversification Hub to help
farmers incorporate diversification into their existing farm business. It includes a range of case studies.
For more details, visit www.nfumutual.co.uk/farmingdiversification
says NFU Mutual
Plan diversifications which fit with your farm business
Identify where to add value to your existing enterprises
Make a frank assessment of strengths and weaknesses
Evaluate whether diversification is likely to work for you
Thoroughly research the local market and competition
See professional advice early to avoid problems later
[Source: NFU Mutual]
Successful environmental schemes are vital for farmers to feed the nation and deliver for nature, says a survey.
Some 80% of respondents to the poll said payments through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes were critical to farm viability.
The survey was carried out by the Country Land and Business Association ahead of the
Autumn Budget. Failure to properly fund the schemes risked undermining confidence and stability among farmers and landowners, it said.
CLS president Victoria Vyvyan said sustainable food production and environmental protection would be at risk without the schemes
This included wildlife habitats, flood management and access to nature – as well as landscape recovery projects.
The wet weather mid October gave us reminders of the end 2023 and the beginning of 2024. It certainly made drainage challenging. One particular site was perfect one day and after an absolute downpour, turned into a nightmare. Thankfully our 15:15 drainer is pretty good in the wet, copes rather well and allows us to stay level and maintain a good fall on a drain run.
Gravel karts on the other hand are a little less forgiving and the vast majority of the time are the reason we have to pull off site, unless of course the site is underwater then it ’s a no go even if we were using a hovercraft!!
Sometimes a kart may need a little help to get out but it does not stop us getting the drains in and headwalls running.
A thriving family farm business is carving a niche for itself in Warwickshire. Sara Gregson reports.
Specialist herbal leys are helping to produce a consistent, tasty cuts of hogget and lamb to sell in the farm shopwhile also boosting soil and animal health on one Midlands farm.
Martin Greenfield’s father, Peter took up the tenancy of Norton Barn Farm, near Twycross, Atherstone in 1962, running sheep and arable en-
ther parcels of land and today extends to up to 130ha.
Six years ago, Martin bought the holding from the Crown Estates and he continues to improve his already impressive sheep rearing and finishing system – while son Ben is developing the butchery and retail side of the business
The sheep flock started with Suffolk/ Scotch Half-bred ewes. From the mid-
When Martin sold his successful sheep shearing business in the early 2000s to take on the running of the farm, he swapped to Texel cross ewes and built the flock up to 1,000, buying in ewe lambs for replacements. The flock is now closed.
“Dad was ahead of his time in terms of the way he was grazing his sheep back in the 1960s,” says Martin. “He had 200 ewes on 30 acres of temporary grass, rotating in 10-acre paddocks at seven ewes per acre, and doing a very good job.
“We have followed on, looking for the best ways to produce a good carcase as cheaply as possible on home-grown forage. Growing diverse leys is one element that is really working for us.
“We have a lot of sheep and not much land. We are always looking to graze where we can, including 37ha (90 acres) of GS4 Countryside Stewardship in the village, and on aftermaths on a farm running an anaerobic digester ten miles away.”
The sheep are split into two flocks: 450 ewes lamb from 20 February indoors. The remaining 550 lamb in the same shed, which has been thoroughly cleaned from 1 April. The ewes are fed a high protein cereal feed from GR White Feeds based at Shepshed, once a day with ad-lib hay and minerals. The aim is to sell 1.75 to 1.85 lambs/ewe.
The first lambs go out onto temporary grass and are creep fed for a short time, although the amount offered is reducing. Eight hundred lambs from the second flock are turned out and rotated around a herbal ley and are not creep fed.
“We used to sell the lambs all at once at market,” Martin explains. “But now we are supplying our shop and other local butchers we need to spread the supply across the year. There is less need to give lambs concentrates and the feed quality of the leys is also improving.”
The first lambs are ready for the early market at eight to ten weeks of
age at the start of May, reaching carcase weights of between 22 to 24kg. Up until that point, last year’s hoggets supply the farm shop.
From then, the fittest 20 to 30 lambs are drawn each week, leaving the rest to grow on. The ones for the farm shop are transferred to the butchery at £165 a head.
Martin was one of the first sheep farmers in the country to grow Puna II chicory, starting in 2008. In 2012 he began to grow short-term leys with mixtures of grasses, legumes and chicory, rotating these around the farm with winter wheat. However, wheat has not been grown for the past two years and the leys are staying down for longer.
Always keen to discuss forage options with national experts and advisers, Martin is now working with Monty White from forage seed company DLF, becoming a designated Partner Farm, showcasing specialist lamb finishing leys and trialling a new breed of grazing red clover called Relish.
This has been successfully grown and grazed by sheep in New Zealand and is now in UK National List trials. It is shorter and denser than types
grown for silage, with a low crown and soft stem.
“I am looking to maximise lamb liveweight gain purely off grazed forage and no hard feed,” says Martin.
“In one 14-acre block, where the soil is heavy clay, a new chicory called Choice was drilled, with plantain, red and white clover and a small amount of a tetraploid perennial ryegrass called Nashota, and a tetraploid hybrid ryegrass called Tetragraze, at the beginning of June.
The field was performing very badly after three years of Italian ryegrass and the soil was tight and compacted.
We are passionate about what we do “
“The field is split by electric fencing into three zones and 200 lambs graze each section for eight days and then move on – so each area is rested for 16 days. The regrowth is incredible – it grows 25mm (one inch) a day. And the soil is already opening up.
Tests carried out by our regenerative agronomist Daniel Lievesley, from DJL Agriculture based in Derby, are already showing improved infiltration rates from using calcium
sulphate, which has increased flocculation. Organic matter levels are also rising due to the use of diverse pasture crops, reduced cultivations and use of manure.
“The weaned lambs came in on the 29 July when it was 450mm (18 inches) high and the first 24 finished animals were pulled off two weeks later.
The forage is high protein, high energy and the deeper rooting plants pull up minerals from lower in the soil keeping the lambs fit and healthy. The chicory also acts as a natural anthelmintic. It is consistently giving us the right quantity of meat with a taste our customers love.”
“This is predominantly a herb and legume mix with only 27% grasses,” Monty explains. “Lambs will eat more of the broadleaved plants which will break down in the rumen in two and half hours, as opposed to grass taking six hours. This means the lambs are back grazing much more quickly.”
Martin will keep lamb numbers at the right level to maintain the quality of the grazing through until October – when the remaining lambs will go onto a catch crop of Marco stubble turnips and Berseem annual clover, growing on a local arable farmers land.
In spring, ewes and lambs will give it a light graze down to 50mm (2 inches) to keep the chicory vegetative, before next year’s weaned lambs come back in July.
“There is no doubt that this crop needs managing carefully, but the rewards are definitely worth it,” says Martin. “We feed it with our own muck from the sheep sheds, the clover, the fresh manure from the lambs and a dressing of Calcifert at establishment. Chicory is a hungry plant, but the legumes support its growth.”
Martin started selling one or two lambs at farmers markets at Hinckley and still enjoys going to Market Bosworth once a month to meet customers and gather feedback.
In 2009, he installed a cutting room on the farm which now has two large three metre fridges, a dry age cabinet and a retail counter. Ben started cutting meat at 14 years of age, standing on a beer crate. Now 26, he is in charge of this side of the business.
“Covid was a game-changer for us, with people queueing down the drive and we sold three weeks-worth of meat
opening just one day a week we are now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday and have started selling meats from other local farmers.
“The abattoir is half an hour away and we get the carcases back the morning after they go. We hang the lamb for ten days and then break it down. It is a high-quality product which we sell at a good, honest butcher’s price.
“Dad never thought bringing peo-
Daniel Lievesley, Ben Greenfield, David Lievesley, Martin Greenfield and Monty White in the field of specialist herbal
in a great spot here serving the com muter villages between Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham.
“We are passionate about what we do and want to keep on progressing – perhaps opening a café on the farm and expanding the sheep enterprise by working with other farmers, possibly arable farmers with cover crops to help them repair their soils. The possibilities are endless.”
• Protect cereal seedlings from attack
• Crops are more vulnerable for longer
• Consider baiting locations carefully
Wet autumn weather means growers should keep monitoring crops for slugs and reapply pellets where necessary, say experts.
The durability of molluscicide pellets is increasingly important to protect cereal seedlings from slug attack. Growers should remain vigilant until seedlings start to tiller (GS21), when they become less vulnerable to economic damage.
Slug pressure was extremely high throughout much of the past year. A lack of sustained dry weather during the summer – and deluge after deluge during a rainy autumn – have helped to maintain populations.
Careful monitoring and targeted slug pellet treatments have already proved essential for oilseed rape crop survival, says ProCam agronomist Paul Gruber. Slugs remain a significant threat to later cereal crops too, he adds.
“Later drilled crops will be slower to establish. If the pressure remains high, then crops could potentially be vulnerable for longer.
“The drive towards less cultivation is also favouring slugs and where discs
drills will be working in suboptimal conditions, establishment could be tricky.”
Farmers who haven’t already done so should monitor fields earmarked for winter cereals using traps. Pellets should be applied where a threshold of four slugs per trap is exceeded.
Continued monitoring and reapplication of pellets will be required until seedlings start to tiller (GS21), says Mr Gruber. “I’d also recommend aiming for a minimum of 40 baiting points/m2,” he adds.
Formulation will be key. “If conditions remain catchy, larger wet-processed durum wheat-based pellets will prove their worth. They are more durable in the rain and aren’t ingested as quickly, so potentially kill more slugs.
Formulation and baiting points are important considerations given the prevailing conditions, says Certis Belchim technical manager James Cheesman.
A premium product like Sluxx HP fits the bill because of its durable pasta-based pellet, says Mr Cheesman. “The formulation also contains
Monitor and reapply pellets if necesary until seedlings start to tiller
a unique chelating agent that remains effective for longer in challenging conditions.
“The chelating agent is the vehicle that gets ferric phosphate into the gut of the slug and trials have shown that the EDTA type used in other pellets leaches away much faster than EDDS when exposed to rain. That extended efficacy could be critical this year.”
James said that a 5kg dose of Sluxx HP delivers 42 baiting points/ m2, with the higher 7kg/ha delivering 59/m2.
Correct application is an important factor in achieving those numbers across the treated area and betterquality, larger pellets will spread more evenly than cheaper formulations.
“Also, make sure applicators are set up correctly and calibrated for the product you are using, and consider environmental conditions when spreading pellets. Windy days can result in a poor spread pattern.”
From single machines through to complete turnkey installations, Haith has unrivalled experience and expertise in designing and installing vegetable handling solutions.
• Late-sown wheat for early harvest
• Strong tillering and spring vigour
• High yield and good grain quality
Growers looking for a strongperforming late-sown winter wheat that can be harvested early have a new available option.
Hard Group 4 variety LG Rebellion builds on many of the agronomic strengths that made KWS Extase such a popular choice on farms – bringing with it higher yield potential and even earlier maturity.
“It’s shown very consistent high yield potential across testing seasons and regions, with additional desirable agronomic characteristics,” says Ron Granger, arable technical manager for plant breeder Limagrain Field Seeds UK.
Early maturity is a particularly valuable characteristic of LG Rebellion, offering growers across the country a way to spread harvest workloads or provide an early entry for following crops, such as oilseed rape.
It has strong tillering ability and spring vigour – and performs well even when sown into November, says Mr Granger. This makes it a good choice for growers looking to sow wheat after later harvested potatoes, sugar beet or maize.
drilling
LG Beowulf remains the highest yielding variety in late drilling situations on the present AHDB Recommended List. But Mr Granger says there is also a good opportunity for extended drilling dates with LG Rebellion.
“It’s so quick out of the blocks regarding its vigour in the spring. It produces strong tillers and responds very well to PGR programmes.” Another key strength of LG Rebellion is its consistently high untreated yield.
Provisional harvest results for 2024 show that LG Rebellion delivered the second highest mean untreated yield over the four years to this harvest (2020-2024), at 117% of control.
This is partly due to a good disease resistance profile, especially for brown rust and Septoria. The variety also of-
Hard Group 4 feed wheat with consistent high yield potential
Consistent yield performance over multiple seasons and across regions
Very high untreated yield
Good disease resistance profile, including Pch1 eyespot resistance
Strong tillering with spring vigour
Very early maturity
Suitable for drilling from early October onwards
Excellent grain qualityukp export potential
A true replacement for growers of KWS Extase and its agronomic type
Has shown good black-grass competition in external trials
fers Pch1 eyespot resistance, which will be particularly important for growers looking to grow it in a second wheat situation.
LG Rebellion also has performed well in second wheat situations, he notes. It’s a KWS Extase derivative with 4% higher yield, offering yields comparable with the best hard feed wheats commercially available.
Grain quality is excellent, offering a high Hagberg and specific weight, although he reminds growers that it is a hard Group 4 feed wheat with ukp export potential, rather than a Group 2 quality wheat like its parent.
“But choosing a variety should never be just about yield,” he adds.
“While yield is important, it’s also important to consider all of the other attributes that a variety offers growers on farm, whether that’s variety positioning, early maturity, disease resistance, or grain quality.”
Cambridgeshire farmer Michael Brown grew 20 ha of LG Rebellion for the first time last season, utilising its early maturity to help spread harvest workloads on his 600 ha farm.
The variety was one of the last to be drilled before the weather broke in the middle of October last year. Despite that, it was easily the first to reach harvest, which this summer was on 30 July.
“The LG Rebellion established well last autumn, but it was in the spring that it grew away really quickly,” says Mr Brown.
“Throughout the spring, the variety was easily the most forward of all the wheats I grew.”
Mr Brown’s crop went on to produce his joint highest winter wheat yield last season, averaging 10.5 t/ha, with a specific weight of 78 kg/hl. He is now growing 30ha for seed and 30ha commercially.
“We grow a lot of crops for seed, so generally like to maintain a robust fungicide programme, but it’s good to have the varietal resistance as an insurance policy in the event that the weather prevents us getting on with sprays at the optimum time."
The past few years have seen some challenging conditions for Sugar Beet, but Gadwall excelled; delivering superb yields in the APHA Sugar Beet Variety List for UK and Northern Ireland and in field testing on Club SV farms. Excellent establishment with SV priming and pelleting in 2024, highlight why it has been fast-tracked for UK growers.
Gadwall is available for 2025 sowing with a wide range of seed treatments against pests and diseases; helping you to get all your ducks in a row.
• 21% drop in wheat production
• Yields tumble for other cereals
• Call for climate change action
This year’s cereal harvest was England’s second worst since records began – with some growers suffering devastating yields, government figures have confirmed.
The English wheat harvest is estimated to be 10m tonnes or 21% down on 2023, according to Defra figures. Winter barley was 26% down on last year, and the oilseed rape harvest was down 32% – down 38% on the fiveyear average.
In total, the harvest for wheat, winter and spring barley, oats and oilseed rape was down by 15% on 2023 and 18% on the five year average, with increases in spring barley and oat production failing to offset a major decline in the other crops.
It follows a season which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons –starting with a wet autumn, disrupting drilling ultimately reducing yield. Records have tumbled again in the recent weeks, already sparking fears of a repeat in 2025.
The Defra data broadly reflects earlier estimates by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) that the shortfall in production compared to 2023 could see farmers lose a whopping £600m in revenue on the five crops alone.
ECIU analyst Tom Lancaster said: “This year’s harvest was a shocker –
This year’s harvest was a shocker
and climate change is to blame. While shoppers have been partly insulated by imports picking up some of the slack, Britain’s farmers have borne the brunt.”
‘Biggest threat’ Climate change is the biggest threat to UK food security. And these impacts are only going to get worse until we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, in order to stop the warming that is driving these extremes.
Mr Lancaster said the government had an opportunity to invest in more sustainable farming that would make food security more resilient to climate change. The alternative was to allow the effects to worsen.
An analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that storm rainfall was made 20% heavier by climate change, and the volume of rainfall between October 2023 and March 2024 was made four times more likely.
UK wheat production for 2024 is provisionally estimated at 11.1 million tonnes – a decrease of 2.9Mt compared to 2023 harvest. This is 21% below the five-year average but above the 9.7Mt crop seen in 2020.
While the wheat crop is larger than 2020’, oilseed rape output is provisionally the lowest since 1983. Despite increases in barley and oat production from 2023, both remain below their five-year averages.
As a result, the UK will be much more reliant on imports than usual this season, says the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which calculated the UK estimates. Final UK production estimates for the 2024 cereal harvest are due to be published by Defra on 12 December.
For many farmers in England, drilling this autumn season has got off to an even worse start. A soggy September saw record-breaking rain across much of southern, central and eastern England – and continued into October.
Lincolnshire arable farmer Colin Chappell said: "We are now on a knife edge. We had almost two inches of rain within 36 hours here and we're not the worst off. Some farms in southern England have lost their crops for the second year in a row.”
Many farmers would be relying on spring crops once again, said Mr Chappell. "We're getting into a situation where autumn planting is becoming unviable due to flooding and spring planting is risky because of drought. It is causing a lot of nervousness and uncertainty.
“Farmers are going to need support to see them through this and ensure they are resilient in the future. This is the time to redouble our efforts and invest in policies that boost farming's resilience, both environmentally and financially.”
Deficiencies of three key nutrients are being found in cereal crops across the Midlands, suggest the latest seasonal tissue tests.
Winter sown cereals face a huge challenge over the winter months, with crops still in their infancy and at their most vulnerable. Yet at the same time, a lack of magnesium, boron and zinc is on the rise.
FMC crop nutrition expert Chris Bond says that having a firm understanding of the level of readily available nutrients can allow growers to address issues head on – and eliminate the threat of deficiencies.
“By carrying out tissue testing, we can build an accurate picture of crop health and robustness at that time. Samples from farms across Midlands have allowed us to identify which nutrient deficiencies are commonly being seen in the region.”
FMC has been carrying out wide scale testing since 2018. More than 5,600 samples have been collected from wheat, barley and oats crops –about 500 of which were from farms in the East and West Midlands.
The most significant issue flagged among the 2024 tissue testing results in the Midlands was a widescale boron deficiency, says Mr Bond. Boron is responsible for lots of key plant functions such as flower formation and pollen and seed production.
Regional results showed 73% of samples were deficient in boron. And
Chris Bond: tissue testing can help build an accurate picture of crop health
Crop nutrition can be complex because there are a number of reasons why nutritional deficiencies occur. This is why understanding why each deficiency occurs makes it easier to rectify.
Mr Bond advises growers to apply foliar nutrition at crucial timings in the growth season – such as ahead of winter dormancy – to reduce the risk of deficiencies impacting crop development.
“For example, applying a product such as Root 66, which contains magnesium and manganese, or Cereal Plus which contains a broad spectrum of key nutrients for cereals, at the key spray timings will pay dividends for crop development.”
But Mr Bond also encourages growers to keep on top of nutritional analysis, by carrying out tissue testing and soil sampling, as there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach to crop nutrition.
tant, boron promotes cell division and cell wall formation as well as translocation of sugars and carbohydrates. From a grower’s point of view, a boron deficiency is first seen in the leaves of the plant.
“They may appear distorted, and the texture will change,” says Mr Bond, explaining that explains that the uplift in boron deficiencies will have likely been caused by the excessive rainfall experienced during the growing season.
Boron is a highly soluble element so easily leaches away from the soil resulting in the deficiency. This is particularly prevalent in light and sandy soils.
“Certain crops have higher boron requirements. So, if a cereal followed a boron-demanding crop in a rotation like brassicas, legumes, or root vegetables, it could deplete the available boron too.”
This year’s results also highlighted a rise in zinc and magnesium deficiencies. Magnesium levels have fluctuated over the past six years, varying year-on-year, whereas zinc has steadily decreased.
“It will be no surprise to growers that magnesium is a key macronutrient. Responsible for catalysing over 300 reactions within the plant, it’s the central atom of chlorophyll and synthesises carbohydrates and proteins.
“It’s fundamental to crop success.
“Magnesium deficiencies can be recognised by poor establishment and a fall in active green leaf throughout the growing period.”
Mr Bond adds that addressing zinc levels early on can also be beneficial to getting crops off to a healthy start. Zinc deficiency has increased by 5% since 2023 – and by a staggering 20% since 2020.
“Heavy rainfall and waterlogging can cause zinc lockup; cool, wet soils with low microbial activity and slower root growth make it harder for the crop to access zinc. Winter drilled cereals are particularly vulnerable.
“Zinc plays a vital role in strengthening cell membranes, which helps improve the plant’s tolerance to winter’s cold conditions. It may not be front of mind for growers, but crops will benefit from zinc top-ups throughout the season.”
Adequate zinc levels in cereals can enhance the plant’s ability to utilise nitrogen efficiently, leading to better growth and establishment, particularly in nitrogen-demanding crops like wheat and barley.
“Over time, continuous cropping without sufficient replenishment of micronutrients will naturally deplete the soils.”
Mr Bond says: “In the drive for higher yields, macronutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are often prioritised, while micronutrient applications, such as zinc, may be overlooked.
Beet Cyst Nematode continues to spread, threatening yields. Hoopoe has been tested thoroughly in the presence and absence of BCN consistently giving excellent performance. It allows growers to mitigate risk of this damaging pest and lack of genetic diversity currently available. Following on from Jura and Jackdaw, Hoopoe’s excellent performance against BCN is why it has been fast tracked for UK Beet growers. Hoopoe is available for 2025 sowing with a wide range of seed treatments against pest and diseases to help you stand out from the crowd (and ruffle some feathers on the way).
Growers drilling second wheats into the end of 2024 should consider the variety carefully and manage it well to get the best from the crop.
Good early crop management is vital alongside varietal selection to avoid potential disease problems and yield losses at harvest, explains Jim Knight of Frontier Agriculture.
While later drilling can help with blackgrass management and reduce some of the threat of take-all, the more challenging conditions puts particular demands on germination and establishment, he says
"Sowing later when soils are colder and the take-all fungus is less active can reduce the risk of the disease spreading, but the warmer and wetter winters we now seem to be experiencing mean other factors also need to be considered.
"Unchecked, the take-all pathogen can easily infect second and consecutive wheats and produce real problems the following spring, particularly if conditions are wet, with significant yield losses possible."
But there is a lot of growers can do to re-
early application of nitrogen can help mitigate against this.
"Biomass is often lower in second wheats due to the later drilling, so selecting a variety that puts down roots quickly with good root-mass development and has strong tillering potential is beneficial, he says.
"Eyespot resistance is a particularly useful trait, as is good resistance to brown rust,
"We've found the Group 4 hard wheat Champion, from DSV, has proven to be a particularly effective late driller as well as having many of the properties that make for a
Sarah Hawthorne of DSV also highlights the variety Oxford alongside Champion, with both varieties the result of the company's western-based breeding programme which factors in high disease pressure from the start, resulting in exceptional resilience
"Second wheats need that 'get up and go' both in the winter and the spring, combined with really strong disease resistance and this is often a good indication of their overall stamina and resistance," she explains.
“Champion currently holds the Guinness world record for the highest wheat yield at 17.96t/ha, which underlines its outstanding combination of robust disease resistance and
"It's one of the few varieties to genuinely have overcome the ‘yield/resistance’ tradeoff and is one of the highest yielding wheats on the 2024/25 RL when grown as a second
"It’s a versatile performer on heavy and
light soils and great later driller too, with its powerful growth habit giving it one the highest scores for this on the RL together with a latest safe sowing date of mid-February.
"There's only 1% difference between its early and late drilling yields - 106% of controls in the RL compared to 107% - plus it has scores of 7.9 for Septoria resistance, 8 for yellow rust."
Oxford shares many of Champion's attributes, making it a strong second wheat contender too, says Ms Hawthorne.
"Latest recommended sowing date is end of January and you've got minimal yield loss when drilled after Nov 1st compared with earlier, plus you've got similar septoria and yellow rust resistance.
"Like Champion, Oxford also has good eyespot resistance which is important in a second wheat. In terms of fungicidal control of take-all, Latitude (silthiofam) seed treatment remains the most effective method."
ADAS plant pathologist Chloe Francis says replicated field trials have proven the effectiveness of Latitude in reducing take-all infection.
"It’s at its most damaging on light, sandy soils and can cause yield losses of up to 50% in winter wheat. The mild, wet winter of 2023 and spring of 2024 promoted the spread of take-all with even some first wheats showing signs of infection.
"Picking the right variety can certainly reduce the impact of take-all on the crop with recent trials conducted by ADAS showing yield responses to Latitude seed treatment, across four varieties, ranging from 0.9t/ha to 1.9t/ha."
• High weed burden from last year
• Good control vital for good yields
• Integrated approach gets results
Farmers should pay close attention to grassweed control this autumn – to combat high levels of weed seeds remaining after last season.
Extremely wet conditions severely challenged cereal weed control last year as saturated fields led to delayed or compromised application timings – allowing grass weeds and wild oats to establish strong footholds.
Good control this time around is vital for growers to get on top of what remains a very high legacy weed burden, says Ruth Stanley, UK manager for off-patent manufacturer Life Scientific.
“The upcoming weeks after drilling offer a critical window for farmers to apply herbicides and target remaining grass weeds and wild oats before winter sets in,” she says.
Uncontrolled weeds will have a knock-on effect later in the season autumn – and ultimately at harvest. The challenge has intensified as pressure to drill early competes with the reality of late-flushing blackgrass.
“The key is to prevent the crop and weeds competing at the same time – so it is important to make sure every product works as well as possible – don’t rely on just one herbicide stack or sprayer pass and make use of all application timings and actives.”
When it comes to post-emergence options, Mrs Stanley recommends applying a single application of 0.4 kg/ha Niantic with adjuvant 1.0 l/ha Probe to small,
A NIAB survey sponsored by Life Scientific looked at wild oat resistance in Avena fatua (spring wild oat), which tends to germinate in spring, and Avena sterilis ludoviciana (winter wild oat) which tends to germinate more in autumn.
While winter wild oat showed higher levels of resistance than spring wild oat in the NIAB work, most populations still showed good susceptibility to herbicides containing mesosulfuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium such as Niantic.
“If you have wild oats on your farm, hopefully seed has been collected and tested, as knowing the species present can help target the best approach to control the weed in your fields,” says Mrs Stanley.
actively-growing weeds – ideally between one and three leaves.
This should be done when the majority of the weed population has emerged, she adds.
Niantic contains 30 g/kg mesosulfuron-methyl + 6 g/kg iodosulfuronmethyl-sodium. It is a reverse-engineered herbicide formulation based on the reference
Approved for use in winter wheat in the autumn, Niantic provides good control of susceptible blackgrass, ryegrass, wild oats, meadow grasses, common chickweed and mayweeds in winter wheat.
“The active ingredients of Niantic are ALS-inhibitors which affect cell division so the product is most effective when weeds are small and actively growing,” explains Mrs Stanley.
til early spring when the wheat has two leaves (GS12) up until flag leaf ligule just visible (GS39).”
Populations of blackgrass and Italian ryegrass with varying levels of resistance to ALS herbicides are widespread in the UK.
“Niantic must therefore always be used as part of an integrated approach to weed control involving rotation, cultivations, stale seedbeds and delayed drilling.”
Resistance
“This means It can be applied from autumn un-
Niantic should also be used with an authorised adjuvant and sequenced with alternative modes of action such as the preor early post-emergence herbicide, Firestarter which contains flufenacet and diflufenican.
Left: Growers should keep on top of the weed burden, says Ruth Stanley A freshly emerged crop of winter wheat
Below: A freshly emerged crop of winter wheat
• Confusion over sugar beet supplies
• Growers can purchase seed direct
• British Sugar will release more soon
Sugar beet breeders say they have plenty of seed available for the coming season – despite British Sugar describing some varieties as “currently sold out”.
Confusion over seed availability follows changes to the UK sugar beet seed model – the route through which British Sugar sells seed to growers. Under the reforms, growers can now purchase seed direct from breeders, not just from British Sugar.
The move gives farmers more choice and flexibility in the varieties they grow and treatments they can access, rather than having to buy exclusively from the UK Seed Account, which is operated by British Sugar and overseen by NFU Sugar.
British Sugar has also changed the way it sells seed, releasing stocks throughout the year rather than in one go. It says this means growers can buy when the time is right for them.
We still have some stock’
Growers can now buy seed direct from breeders, not just via British Sugar
That said, some growers have reported that seed from British Sugar is extremely limited. This includes regular seed as well as reports that British Sugar has sold out of beet cyst nematode (BCN) tolerant varieties.
But sugar beet breeder SESVanderHave – the company behind BCN variety Hoopoe, as well as Wren, Gadwall and Osprey – has stocks of 2024 harvested seed reserved for UK growers. It says it is exclusively supplying this seed direct and via the Anglia Farmers buying group.
“With excellent yields being reported for our new high yielding BCN variety Hoopoe in the presence and absence of BCN, we still have some stock,” says SESVanderHave’s Ian Munnery (pictured top right).
“Varieties are now added to the APHA Variety List earlier, so we produced more seed in anticipation of this – ensuring UK growers and British Sugar reap the rewards sooner.”
“Jackdaw (BCN), which British Sugar purchased for growers last year, is also delivering exceptional yields – a testament to the excellent seed quality.”
Anyone wavering on signing a contract to grow sugar beet because they cannot access BCN or other seed should contact the team at SESVanderHave or Anglia Farmers to secure their stocks, says Mr Munnery.
In a joint statement, British Sugar and NFU Sugar said that although some varieties were displayed as “currently sold out”, further seed would be released for sale within in the next few months.
“We will receive updates from breeders in the coming weeks as their final production volumes are confirmed. Provided the production numbers we receive remain above the volume sold so far, we will release additional stocks.
“By January we will have clarity on final production volumes and processing out-turn. We will therefore offer all remaining supplies of each variety up to these exact production numbers.
“As such, unless the yield or quality of the seed harvest falls far short of initial estimates from breeders, we expect to have further volumes to sell, including those displaying as ‘currently sold out’. We will give notice ahead of additional seed releases.”
Compared to selling seed in one single release, British Sugar and NFU Sugar say this reduces the risk of substitutions and allows the industry to benefit from obtaining as much of the most popular varieties as possible.
As well as buying via the UK Seed Account, growers can also purchase KWS Smart seed from one of the breeder’s preferred distributors. SESVanderHave and Hilleshog varieties are available directly from SESVanderHave or from an agent.
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Growers looking to order sugar beet for drilling in 2025 have six new varieties to consider on the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list.
New varieties are Chyma, Josephina and Smart Uma – all from KWS UK; Magpie from SesVanderHave; and ST Tweed and ST Trent from Strube UK. Three varieties were withdrawn which means the 2025 list comprises 22 varieties.
An increasing number of varieties on the recommended list have builtin traits designed to combat challeng-
es faced by the crop. They include tolerance to Beet Cyst Nematode, AYPR rhizomania and yellowing virus.
But growers are being advised to discuss any specific requirements before placing an order because data is limited on the tolerance of the new varieties to foliar diseases such as rust, powdery mildew and cercospera.
Chyma KWS, for example, has cercospora tolerance but is unsuitable for early sowing. In recommended list trials, it produced 101.0% adjusted tonnes at 16.9% sugar content – but the trials did not determine the degree of its cercospora tolerance.
Smart Uma KWS is ALS tolerant –
likely to produce higher yields when used with partner ALS herbicides than with conventional products. Treated with non-ALS herbicides, in trials it yielded 95.3% adjusted tonnes with 17.1% sugar content.
Mike May, who oversees the annual recommended list, said: “Growers should discuss options with the BBRO and breeders who will have more information on their performance and use in the presence of the specific problem.”
In terms of the other new varieties, Josephina KWS from KWS UK produced 99.5% adjusted tonnes at 17.3% sugar content. This was the highest on the list. It had the lowest number of bolters in the early sown bolter trials.
ST Tweed from Strube UK produced 98.2% adjusted tonnes at 17.0% sugar content. It had lower establishment than the other varieties.
Magpie from SesVanderHave UK produced 97.7% adjusted tonnes at 17.1% sugar content. ST Trent from Strube UK was only slightly behind, producing the same adjusted tonnes at 17.2% sugar.
The highest yielding variety remains BTS1915 – delivering 102.2% adjusted tonnes at 16.9% sugar. Breeder Betaseed said it had shown consistent high yield potential over all the seasons it had been tested in UK official trials.
“More importantly, it has now proved its high yield potential and robustness both in very testing seasons of virus and drought, but also in the difficult winter of 2022/23, where frost damage was a real concern.”
With data on some traits somewhat limited, the BBRO also said it should be noted that many differences between individual varieties were small and not statistically significant and should be treated with caution.
New genetics, advanced seed and herbicide technologies are making sugar beet an increasingly beneficial addition to arable rotations.
"It's a superb break crop," says KWS UK AgroService sugar beet manager Martin Brown.
"Pest, disease and weed problems that may have built up in cereal-based rotations can be effectively dealt with plus sugar beet can improve soil and help in the management of key nutrients.
“As a spring crop, cover crops grown through the previous winter can add vital or-ganic matter to soil while BBRO research has shown such an approach reduces compaction and has higher earthworm populations.”
Planning rotations
Planning of sugar beet in the rotation often revolves around what is to be grown af-terwards with this dictating when the ideal time for lifting is, he explains.
"Decisions around lifting date are largely practical. As well as the type of crop to fol-low sugar beet, soil type and its ability to allow harvest machinery to travel later in the season are also key.
"While lifting can be influenced by sowing date and in a perfect world drilling from the second week of March is ideal, in reality the more variable spring conditions now experienced mean people drill when conditions allow.
"This puts an increased emphasis on choosing the right variety and any enhanced technologies that can help a grower achieve a specific target harvest date.
"So, if you want to drill your following wheat crop in October with KWS Dawsum, for example, you are best going for a sugar beet variety that you can drill early with perhaps a lower disease resistance.
"Initio EarlyPower seed treatment will also help plants emerge, establish and grow more uniformly in these circumstances leading to less agronomic intervention through the growing cycle.
"Good early drillers include our
new variety Josephina KWS which has the high-est sugar content on the BBRO list with the lowest number of bolters in early sown trials.
"Harryetta KWS is another low bolting variety being the highest yielding BCN toler-ant variety and the second highest yielding variety for 2024."
If the objective is to maximise yield and leave the crop as long as possible before lifting, then a different set of criteria comes into play, Martin Brown explains.
"It could be that you're planning on using a later drilling wheat like KWS Extase or you're on a parcel of land that you don't want to get on to until the following Febru-ary, for example.
most destructive leaf diseases in sugar beet and can reduce crop yields by 50%. With CR+, the Cercospora leaf spots appear later and the disease progression is slowed down considerably.
"Another new variety Smart Uma KWS is also a sound choice with its Conviso tech-nology not only helping with weed control in the sugar beet crop, but also with workloads across the rotation.
"Developed by KWS and Bayer, the Conviso Smart system reduces herbicide ap-plications through the development of specific varieties resistant to the Conviso One herbicide, such as Smart Uma KWS.
"In such cases a variety with good disease resistance should be chosen and if you're leaving the crop in the ground over winter, one with good canopy protection is essential."
New Chyma KWS makes a good later drilling choice with its CR+ Cercospora tol-erance and the highest untreated yield of any variety on the 2025 Sugar Beet RL plus no obvious weakness in its disease profile, he says.
"Cercospora Leaf Spot is one of the
“ It's a superb break crop
"With only one application needed for highly effective control of a broad spectrum of weeds in sugar beet, the system simplifies herbicide choice whilst also freeing up time for spray operators across all crops and helps them apply chemistry at the time it is most effective.
"Daphna KWS is also a great option for a long growing season with proven perfor-mance across many years featuring BCN tolerance and good leaf scores, too."
Sugar beet growers will soon complete seed orders for 2025.
Strube offers a strong portfolio with Morgan, Stewart and Button (BCN) – in their third year of commercial use –all delivering stable and consistently high yields for growers.
ST Trent and ST Tweed are new for 2025, offering competitive performance with low bolting. ST Tweed offers comparable yield to Morgan with low disease expression for rust, powdery mildew and cercospora; so we expect this variety to be highly reliable and stable in its ‘real world’ performance.
Friedrich Strube started classic breeding and seed production in 1877. Today, sugar beet breeding at Strube is led by Dr Michael Stange.
He says “We influence seed properties through breeding and innovative analytical methods such as our unique four-dimensional phenotyping, microcomputed tomography and near-infrared spectral measurement (NIRS) so that we can reliably assess seed quality.”
During seed multiplication, we research the influence of cultivation practice on seed properties to stabilise and increase the yield and quality of our raw seed material.
“We can confidently offer our customers the best varieties with excellent seed quality,” says Dr Strange.
Strube UK managing director Richard Cogman says: “We strive to combine high sugar content and yield potential with increasingly strong disease and stress tolerances to meet the demands of growers and sugar companies alike.
“We are confident that our varieties will be stable and perform reliably in the field despite the dynamic and varied pressure from climate, pests and diseases.
“We actively engage with industry partners to align breeding programmes with the needs of UK growers. This means multigene Cercospora, Virus Yellows tolerance, as well as Beet Cyst Nematode (BCN) and Strong Rhizomania (AYPR) tolerance remain our core priorities.”
With the changes in seed supply
flexibility created by British Sugar and the NFU for 2025, Strube is pleased to offer its own prime and pellet to complement the Germains Enrich range. ‘3D+’ was launched in 2010 with over three million units sold, and is being continuously improved. Our process enables smaller seed batches to be calibrated and optimally primed before pelleting, for optimal field performance.
For growers of fodder and energy beet markets, Strube’s Degas and Gahan varieties are proven leaders for high fresh and dry matter yield – in direct response to excellent field establishment and canopy health characteristics.
For more information contact Richard Cogman, Strube UK Ltd. T: 07983 314424 or email r.cogman@ strube.net
Good progress is being made in the quest to grow potatoes sustainably – benefiting farm businesses and the environment, say researchers.
The Transformative Reduced Input Potatoes (TRIP) project brings togeth er researchers from Dyson Farming and Bangor University with a host of other partners – including commer cial companies.
Funded by Defra via Innovate UK, the three-year initiative is investigat ing disease resistant potato varieties, foliar nutrient treatments, reduced tillage systems and new methods to monitor greenhouse gas emissions from fields.
Results from the project can be expected to offer farmers a range of methods to reduce crop inputs – as well as the impact of growing the crop, says Christine Jones, of Dyson Farming Research.
foliar fertilisers provided yields equal to – or greater than – the yield from the standard conventional approach.
“Many farmers are seeking ways of producing their crops more sustainably. But the particular requirements for growing a potato crop can make it a challenge to incorporate potatoes into a sustainable rotation.”
First-year results from crop nutrient specialist Emerald Research suggest reduced rate seedbed fertilisers or manures could provide commercially viable yields when supplemented by foliar nutrition and biostimulants.
Trials suggest the use of either farm-yard manure or half-rate (50%) seedbed fertilisers in combination with
This indicates that it might be possible to produce a viable commercial crop with fewer inputs. Trials over the coming year will investigate this further – possibly applying foliar nitrogen at an earlier stage.
Sustainable
Overall, the goal is to develop an approach that offers growers a low input, sustainable programme that results in lower costs, higher yields and ultimately higher margins while being better for the environment.
As well as the James Hutton Insti-
The three-year project is funded by Defra via Innovate UK
tute, the project consortium includes a small number of commercial potato growers across England – from Lincolnshire to Cornwall – among them farms owned and managed by Dyson Farming.
In addition, ad hoc TRIP trials are being conducted by Emerald Research and other commercial partners on potato crops of interest directly with existing customers to extend the range of the project.
Vegetable handling equipment manufacturer Haith Group has appointed a supply cjain manager as it seeks to deliver greater value to customers.
Alan Hewitt's appointment is a direct response to the changing business landscape and global market challenges, said Haith. He will have responsibility for procurement, stock levels and Haith's parts and after-sales departments.
With after-sales support vital customers, Mr Hewitt’s appointment will see Haith introduce new systems to ensure its production process remains smooth as the company targets new markets and ambitious growth targets.
An experienced engineer who started his
career in 1999, Mr Hewitt has been involved in all aspects of supply chain management during his working life – including logistics, sales, purchasing and warehousing.
"My role at Haith feels like a cumulation of everything I have learnt during my 25 years in the industry," he says.
"Every skill I have gets put to use in my new role. I am currently mid-way through a modernisation of the parts department pro cedures. In the next few months, we will ful ly overhaul several systems to further en hance the department's efficiency."
Mr Hewitt will report to Haith managing director Duane Hill. He said: “By strength ening our supply chain leadership, we are not only preparing for future growth but also ensuring that we can deliver even greater value to our customers.”
Beef farming could be transformed by using artificial intelligence to make livestock production more profitable, say researchers.
Feed efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and animal welfare could all be improved by harnessing the benefits of AI, according to scientists behind the £1.2m UKRI-funded BeefTwin project.
The project brings together experts in biosciences, environmental sciences, business management, computing, and livestock production. The goal is to leverage data-driven technologies to boost the UK beef industry.
The BeefTwin initative is being led by Professor Xiao Ma, director of the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT) at Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University.
UK beef producers face a raft of challenges. These include low profitability due to factors like inconsistent beef quality, lack of precision farming practice and an imbalance of pow-
Prof Ma said: “Due to yield-driven beef grading, the industry's low margins, and value being extracted later in the food supply chain, for example by supermarkets and abattoirs, UK farms often rely on subsidies to survive.”
Beef farming also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it is hard to collect real-time data from grazing livestock on animal health, feed conversion, and their environmental impact.
‘Smart farming’
Prof Ma said “smart farming nations” such as South America and Southeast Asia had already seen profitability increase after upskilling rural communities and the agricultural workforce. The UK could follow suit, he suggested.
“The UK needs to catch up and if we do it right then we can protect our small farm model and keep local people in their farms by improving the value chain and making farming selfsustainable.”
BeefTwin will develop an AI-powered DigitalTwin for each cow in the herd. This will create a virtual rep-
The project is being led by Xiao Ma of Nottingham Trent University
“
The UK needs to catch up – and do it right
including real-time data, simulation, machine learning and real time tracking of emissions.
Farmers will be closely involved in the project. Scientists will measure production beef rates and develop a more efficient production system by adapting farm practice accordingly, says Prof Ma.
Researchers want to make beef production more profitable for
Areas for study include analysing cattle slurry and manure waste to understand feed conversion rates and productivity in terms of meat and methane emissions, which will be monitored and tracked.
Grazing patterns will be scrutinised to assess their impact on farm productivity and efficiency. Data will also be collected on cattle weight, behaviour, growth patterns, farming practice variations and methane emission tracking.
Meanwhile, a management sciences team will monitor and reconfigure farm practice to create a more efficient and optimised production system that benefits the entire farming value chain – including farmers.
Prof Ma says this will lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, improved feed conversion efficiency, better beef farming productivity; and enhanced animal welfare and reduced calf mortality rates.
“By fostering collaboration and innovation, BeefTwin aims to create a more environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially responsible future for beef farming.”
For more details about the BeefTwin project, please visit cbit@ntu.ac.uk
The importance of ewe condition before lambing has been known about for generations, writes Nerys Wright. But recent research has shown that poor ewe body condition score (BCS) has a longer-term impact on flock performance than first thought.
A relatively quick and simple way of assessing ewe condition is through body condition scoring (BCS), placing a hand over their back to determine the amount of fat cover, using a scale of 1-5, 1 being lean and 5 being obese.
scanning achieved better scanning results. This contradicts the previous recommendation to allow ewes to lose half a condition score. However, maintaining condition and allowing the ewe to utilise it during lactation instead, resulted in heavier lambs at both 8-weeks post lambing and at weaning.
See panel for current BCS targets throughout the year for lowland ewes.
• The impact of ewe condition at weaning has an impact on scanning results in the next production year. Not only does it impact how many lambs a ewe has, but it also affects how heavy those lamb(s) are at weaning, 12 months later.
Yes, I happen to be the author of this research – but don’t hold that against me. It was an AHDB funded project. For more information, visit their website – or, if you like a good read, search for my 400-page long thesis. Here are some key findings:
• Ewes that maintained condition from tupping to
Ewe condition is cyclical, which means their prior condition and the journey to regain lost condition impacts future performance. This was evident in shearling ewes and affected their performance as firsttime mothers.
• Once ewes are in-lamb, it is much harder to influence BCS without impacting lamb growth.
• Most farmers who responded to my survey reported that they thought BCS was important but that having time to assess condition and the ability to manage those separate groups of ewes were the barriers to utilising it as a management tool.
Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant.
For more details, call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.
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Increased productivity and reduced inputs
• Focus on innovation and knowledge
• Profit at heart of successful farming
• New sessions reflect range of topics
Future-proofed farms will be a hot topic at this month’s CropTec Show which has been revamped to reflect with industry trends.
Regular visitors will notice some significant changes at this year’s twoday event, which takes place on 27-28 November at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
CropTec has been showcasing technical knowledge, products, services and solutions to progressive growers and agronomists for more than a decade – and this year will see some further updates.
New identity
As the show enters its twelfth year, it has unveiled a new brand identity and introduced some big changes to
its conference programme, aligning with evolving agricultural practices and industry trends.
As part of the refresh, this year the show will introduce three keynote theatres focusing on Innovation, Knowledge and Profit, to provide visitors with practical advice to futureproof their farms.
The sessions will explore a range of topics. These will include crop varieties, eco-friendly fertilisers, pesticide regulations and the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in arable farming, says event director Verity Hyland.
“By bringing together companies, visitors and industry experts, CropTec shines a light on the arable industry’s key topics, concerns and opportunities. We can’t wait for our audience to experience the refreshed show.”
The Innovation theatre will include presentations by award-winning arable farmers and growers who will share the secrets of their success – including ways they have increased their productivity and yields.
In the Knowledge theatre, visitors will hear from speakers and industry experts who will share their insights into different farming practices from
More than 3000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event.
“Arable farming faces huge opportunities
around the world – and discuss how they can benefit UK agriculture.
With the farming industry facing both huge challenges and opportunities for growth, organisers Ms Hyland says CropTec will continue to evolve and focus on the topics that matter most to the agricultural sector.
BASIS, which promotes the safe and responsible use of pesticides, has once again partnered with CropTec to bring their CPD knowledge trail to the event for members of BASIS and the National Register of Sprayer Operators.
More than 150 exhibitors and 3000 visitors are expected to attend the event. The target audience includes agricultural professionals, industry experts, researchers and students –as well as farmers.
When: 27-28 November
Where: National Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. For full details, visit www.croptecshow.com.
Afarming and contracting business has converted its new Fendt 728 tractor to run on tyres specially designed to work with central tyre inflation systems (CTIS).
The latest generation of Michelin EvoBib agricultural tyres are the first
on the market specifically designed to be used with CTIS – optimising performance both in the field and on the road.
The EvoBib offers a footprint variation of 47% between road and field, double that of a VF tyre such as the Michelin AxioBib 2 that would have usually been used with a CTIS.
The tread design has also been adapted to improve longevity and offer excellent traction until the end of the tyre’s life. In addition, the tyre casing is Pressure Field Operation rated – enabling an increased load capacity for field use.
Wharram and Kay co-owner Roger Kay says: “For seed drilling operations, I believe it is simply the best tyre out there because of the way it can spread the tractor’s weight across the ground and how kind it is on the soil.”
Wharram and Kay had the original equipment fitments on its new Fendt replaced with Michelin Evo-
The tyres enable an increased load capacity for field use
Bibs by Tanvic Farm Tyres. The tractor is predominantly used for drilling in the field and trailer work on the road.
“The Fendt has a VarioGrip CTIS onboard which inflates and deflates the tyres accordingly,” adds Mr Kay.
“They really alleviate any soil compaction which meant that the crop emergence was very uniformed, there was no delay in emergence behind the tractor wheelings, for instance, which we had experienced before.”
Established in 1976, Wharram and Kay offers a range of farming and contracting services, managing more than 650 hectares within a nine-mile radius of its base at Providence House, in Crockey Hill.
Profitable farming in a digital age is the topic for a new conference which will bring together farmers and technology expects.
The Connected Farming Conference is being organised by Hutchinsons and AgriTech-E. The one-day event will take place from 10am to 3pm on 3 December at the KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough.
“This is a unique event aimed specifically at today's farmers looking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry,” says Hutchinsons Chairman, Andrew McShane.
With data-driven digital technology playing a crucial role in modern farming, the conference aims to show farmers how digital tools can be used to support profitable and sustainable food production.
Attendees will hear from fellow farmers who have integrated digital
technologies into their operations and learn from their real-life experiences. They will also receive expert advice on digital solutions applicable to both small and large farms.
Other topics will examine how dig-
David Purdy – Machinery and soil health expert, John Deere
Matthew Smith – Head of Foods Data Science, Marks & Spencer
David Webster – Chief executive, LEAF
Julian Gairdner – Farm Data Governance Expert
George Marangos-Gilks – Satellite Technology Expert, Messium
Attendance is free but registration is essential. BASIS and NRoSO CPD points are available for attendees. To secure your place, visit Hutchinsons Connected Farming Conference.
• More than 200 trade stands booked
• Latest machines on demonstration
• Driving experiences and health hub
Apacked schedule has been con firmed for the 10th annual Midlands Machinery Show, which takes place this month.
Thousands of farmers and contrac tors are expected to attend the twoday event –due to be held on 20-21 No vember at the Newark Showground. More than 200 exhibitors have booked stand space.
The show will include machines, demonstrations and advice – along side workshops, training, driving ex periences and a health hub to support farm businesses, their staff and fami lies, says organiser Elizabeth Halsall.
“We’ve pulled together a very special programme of events and exhibitors to mark our tenth anniversary. Exhibitors from across the region and beyond coming to showcase their products and share their knowledge,
“It’s not just about machinery. We have a variety of free training, seminars and drop-ins for visitors to take advantage of. It’s a packed two days of learning, training, and discussions, in addition to the latest machines.”
The NFU’s Environment Conference, focusing on water, is being held at this year’s show. Expert guest speakers including Paul Carrott, from Dyson Farming; NFU Water specialist Mark Betson, and Professor Jerry Knox from Cranfield University.
They will present the latest thinking in terms of capture, storage, abstraction and flood prevention. Many exhibitors will be on hand to add to the wider discussion on the environment, including Terrington Machinery.
Director David Coleman says: “Managing the farmed environment is now a big aspect on how businesses are thinking – and the Midlands Ma-
chinery Show is a great opportunity to find new machinery solutions to move away from chemicals.”
The demo ring has a full line-up with exhibitors showcasing their latest machinery and technology in action. Technology is a key, with many exhibitors showing off their latest developments, including local John Deere dealer Farol.
Newark-based technology consultant Tom Hinchley says: “The technology on offer doesn’t just improve operation efficiency in field, but also reduces downtime and output and improves your entire operation as a whole.”
Training will be a huge aspect of this year’s show. A wealth of knowledge is available to all attendees, from the Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Awards to practical HGV driver training.
First responders will be providing demonstrations on how to react in a range of emergency situations. The Transport Hub will return, with industry experts on hand to provide useful tips and advice on towing regulations, road safety and load security.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the two-day event
“It’s not just about machinery
“With a strong following of farming business customers, we have always found the show to be a worthwhile exhibition, focused exclusively on machinery and business,” says Gavin Pell, managing director at Chandlers Farm Equipment.
BASIS and NRoSO points are on offer, with two points for attendees. Tickets and parking are free, but please pre-register by visiting www. midlandsmachineryshow.com.
This event is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.
The Show public opening times are:
Date: Wed 8 & Thu 9 Nov
Time: 8am to 4pm
Where: Newark Showground
Postcode: NG24 2NY
• Time to look ahead after Budget
• Farmers have clarity on fi nances
• Industry purchases for long term
Farmers and contractors looking for some much-needed clarity before purchasing much-needed kit can look forward to a perfectly timed Midlands Machinery Show.
That’s the feedback Chandlers Farm Equipment has received from customers ahead of this month’s twoday extravaganza at the Newark Showground on 20-21 November –three weeks after the government set out its Autumn Budget.
“We’ve had a few people say they were going to hold off on big purchases until after we heard from the Chancellor,” says Rob Immink, director of sales FV at Chandlers Farm Equipment. “They wanted that clarity.”
Having identified a need for a particular machine, most farmers and contractors would have probably ended up making a purchase anyway, says Mr Immink. But they wanted to make a final decision when there weren’t as many unknowns.
Although painful for some, the Budget wasn’t so bad for others. Either way, few businesses thrive on uncertainty and everyone now knows where they stand. This means they have an expectation of what the future looks like.
“That will install a bit more confidence in the sector,” says Mr Immink. Challenges in the agricultural sec-
tor and the wider cost of living crisis have meant that many farmers have already altered their priorities when it comes to purchasing farm equipment.
“People are looking for fuel efficiency. That’s why we sell so many Fendts, because if there is one thing Fendts are, it’s fuel efficient.
“People aren’t necessarily looking for a cheaper investment – the vast majority of customers are looking for better quality machinery that they can keep for five to six years, rather than three.”
Chandlers is one of the UK’s biggest AGCO dealers. Representing a host of agricultural big brands including Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra, it also carries a full range of complementary machinery from other leading manufacturers.
“We like the Midlands Machinery Show because it’s in a great location for us – it covers 50% of our 16 depots so we will see clients from seven or eight of those. It’s local to our head
‘People are looking for fuel efficiency,
says Rob Immink
office and the time of year is perfect as it’s quieter for most farmers.
Confidence is returning to the sector “
“It can be raining or cold in November – but nowadays it can be like that in July too. You can’t guarantee the weather any day or month now – but we can guarantee there will always be a warm cup of tea or coffee waiting for customers on our stand.”
Visitors to the Chandlers stand at the Midlands Machinery Show can expect to find a variety of kit on show. And as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary, Mr Immink says Chandlers is looking forward to a birthday of its own next year.
Visitors will see
“Chandlers will mark 90 years of serving the farming community in 2025 – and we’re looking forward to celebrating with all our customers as
Top speakers have been confirmed for the NFU’s environment conference, which takes place on the first day of the Midlands Machinery Show.
The theme of the conference is Water Under Pressure – including the latest thinking on flood prevention and abstraction. NFU deputy president David Exwood will give an update on the government’s strategy on water for farming.
Other speakers will include Paul Carrott
Dyson Farming, irrigation expert Jerry Knox from Cranfield University, Severn Trent Water principal catchment scientist Georgina Key and NFU water specialist Mark Betson.
NFU Midlands regional director Rob Newbery said: “Our annual environment conference is a key date in the regional calendar and an opportunity for us and members to delve into a topic in greater detail.
There was no more pressing issue than
water in Midlands farming and wider agriculture, said Mr Newbery. With the global population set to exceed 10 billion people by 2050, there would be increasing demand for water resources.
“British farmers’ ability to maintain and increase efficient, high quality food production is being threatened by growing competition for water, climate change, severe weather events and ageing and inadequate infrastructure.
The new-look D-Max has helped take Isuzu to another level. We drive two popular models.
When it comes to pickups, the Isuzu D-Max has long been a favourite among farmers. We had the opportunity to test drive the basic Utility model – and compare it with the more premium DL40 Double Cab Auto.
First impressions
Let’s start with first impressions. The Utility version of the D-Max is exactly what you’d expect from a workhorse. It’s practical, no-nonsense, and built to get the job done.
From the outside, it doesn’t have the flashy looks you might associate with modern pickups, but that’s not the point of this version. It’s clear Isuzu has designed it with functionality in mind – for people who spend more time in muddy fields than on city streets.
On the other hand, the DL40 Double Cab stands out with its sharper lines and more aggressive, modern styling. It’s a truck that wouldn’t look out of place in a farmyard or parked outside a restaurant in town.
It’s got the mix of ruggedness and style that appeals if you want a vehicle to do the heavy lifting butw also turn heads on the road. The chrome accents, LED headlights, and a more refined overall appearance make it feel like a step up in quality.
When it comes to driving, both models share the same 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine, which is more than capable of handling farm work. The engine produces 164 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque, enough to tow a fully loaded livestock trailer or haul large quantities of feed without breaking a sweat.
Both trucks have a solid, dependable feel when driving over rough terrain or on long stretches of country roads, and the four-wheel drive sys-
tem provides excellent grip even in wet or icy conditions.
Both models we drove were fitted with the auto gearbox – although a sixspeed manual is available. The auto is a real treat – with smooth shifts making it a breeze to drive whether creeping through the farm gates or cruising down the motorway.
While it may not be the most powerful engine in its class, it is certainly more than adequate for most needs. It shines in terms of fuel economy too – we achieved almost 34mpg – more than respectable for a vehicle with such capability.
The Utility version is – as expected –basic. The interior is filled with tough plastics, hard-wearing fabrics, and all the essentials like air conditioning and electric windows. The seats are comfortable enough for a long day’s work, but clearly built with durability in mind rather than luxury.
It’s a functional space where you
“Both models are solid and dependable
can chuck in muddy boots, a thermos, and the odd spanner without worrying about damaging anything. The radio is basic but does the job, and while it has Bluetooth connectivity, you won’t find any fancy tech features.
In contrast, the DL40 feels more like a modern SUV inside than a pickup truck. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control all deserve appreciation.
The dashboard is more refined, with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – ideal when you need to check the weather forecast or make hands-free calls while driving between fields.
The extra comfort is noticeable on longer drives too – and even though it’s still a hardworking pickup underneath, the DL40 offers a more relaxing experience overall.
Both trucks are built with practicality in mind, but again, they cater to
>>
slightly different needs. The Utility model is as straightforward as it gets. It has a 1,161kg payload capacity –more than enough for most workloads, whether it’s carrying tools, fencing, or feed. It’s tough and easy to clean out when it inevitably gets covered in mud and straw.
The DL40 offers the same practicality in terms of payload and towing capacity – up to 3.5 tonnes – but it also comes with some added features that make day-to-day life a bit easier for the driver.
A rear-view camera and parking sensors come in handy when reversing with a trailer or parking in tight farm spaces. The cabin is also quieter and more refined, making it a better option if you spend as much time on the road as off it.
The Isuzu D-Max excels in affordability, durability, and off-road capability, making it ideal for tough, practical work.
Yes, the Ford Ranger offers better driving dynamics and comfort, while the Toyota Hilux matches the D-Max in ruggedness but at a higher price.
The VW Amarok has more power and luxury but is less suited for heavy-duty tasks.
At the end of the day, both the Isuzu D-Max Utility and the DL40 Double Cab Auto are excellent farm pickups. And if you’re after a no-frills workhorse that prioritises durability and cost-effectiveness, the Utility model is hard to beat.
But if you want a truck that can handle the tough jobs while offering extra comfort and tech, the DL40 Double Cab Auto is worth the extra investment. It provides a great balance between practicality and luxury, which feels like a well-earned reward after a long day on the farm.
Engine: 1898cc Diesel Net Power: 164PS
•
•
Visitors to the Midland Machinery Show can experience the off-road capability of the Isuzu D-Max – thanks to the Duckworth Motor Group.
Offering the opportunity to test the D-Max in the Woldmarsh 4x4 driving experience, Duckworth Isuzu will be allowing guests to experience the full potential of the pick-up on the off-roading course.
With the support of pro drivers, participants will be able to experience the D-Max’s abundant off-road features such as shift-on-the-fly 4WD, differential lock, high approach and departure angles, and hill decent control.
0%APR, THAT IS 50% DEPOSIT | 50% DUE IN 1 YEAR^ * THE ISUZU D-MAX
All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1 – 27.6 (10.2 – 11.2). Mid 31.4 –
Extra-High 29.0 – 30.8 (9.2 – 9.7). Combined 30.7 – 33.6 (8.4 – 9.2). CO2 emissions 215 – 241g/km. Visit isuzu.co.uk for more information.
^Terms of Offer: 50% deposit followed by the remaining 50% paid in one payment after 12 months. Credit available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 and over. This credit offer is only available through Isuzu Finance provided by International Motors Finance Limited, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. We typically receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to International Motors Finance Ltd. This may be a flat fee or percentage of the amount you borrow. Vehicle shown is an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, OTR price of £43,716. Model shown features optional special paint finish at £720. OTR price includes VAT, delivery, number plates, 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee. Prices correct at time of going to print. Offer available on the DL40, V-Cross and V-Cross Steel Special Edition only registered between 01.10.2024 - 31.12.2024. Stock subject to availability. Isuzu reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Retail customers only, not available in conjunction with any other offers. Excludes Personal Contract Hire and Business Contract Hire. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time.
VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK TO FIND OUT MORE Isuzu (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of International Motors Limited.
Farmland markets virtually flatlined in the third quarter of 2024 – reflecting high average values which remain steady, suggest the latest figures.
And with some distinct emerging trends, some areas of the country are commanding exceptional prices, according to the Knight Frank Farmland Index, which tracks the values of bare agricultural land in England and Wales.
“Across the board, land sales are still tracking higher than other property values such as central London residential and the wider housing market,” says Will Matthews, the land agent’s head of farms and estates.
“There’s no doubt the timing this year of a general election just before summer holidays and now a Budget followed by Christmas has made for a quiet market.”
‘Hugely polarised’
Mr Matthews says it is difficult to talk about the market as a whole because farmland prices are becoming hugely polarised – depending on their location, desirability and revenue potential.
“Every acre has its own microclimate,” he says.
What sells for £20,000/acre in some parts of the country could be worth much less in another. This is down to some emerging trends, including the growth of English wineries and a more organised market of environmental purchasers.
“When it comes to who is buying, we are starting to see more genuine activity from environmentally motivated purchasers,” says Knight Frank associate Alice Keith.
Ms Keith is an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ambassador –connecting landowners, farmers, institutions, funds, developers and businesses, assisting with the purchase and sale of land.
“Previously, there had been a lot of
talk and interest, but relatively few successful bids,” she says. Now that has changed, making it important for vendors to identify the latent “green” value of their land.
“Buyers with a conservation agenda, whether investment-led, charitable or driven by personal altruism, seem to be better funded and organised when it comes to bidding on suitable properties.”
Some 87% of respondents are farming in a more nature friendly way – but only 41% see biodiversity as a priority, according to a recent survey by Knight Frank for its annual state-ofthe-nation Rural Report.
High prices are being paid for land suitable for viticulture Environmental potential is becoming more important, says Alice Keith (below)
created – and sold – for example, from a change of use for pig or dairy units, planting trees or developing a watercress farm.
England’s dramatically growing viticulture is also influencing land prices. High value sales have been achieved as the changing climate and suitable soil make more locations suitable for growing vines.
“All landowners should be capturing the value of the biodiversity and natural capital on their land to ensure that they are sufficiently rewarded when it comes to selling,” says Ms Keith.
“With Biodiversity Net Gain compulsory for new house building, and Labour plan-ning 1.5 million new homes, alongside a high ESG responsibility for corporates, natural capital will only drive up values.”
Kent, Sussex and Surrey remain attractive places to establish vineyards for produc-ing sparkling wines. They are being joined by Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire for producing still
The sector has grown 75% in the last five years to 10,000 acres under vine and 950 vineyards, split between both large commercial foreign wine houses, including Tattinger, and small-scale UK entrepreneurs or as a side project.
Phosphate credits – needed by developers for building new homes –are another new area. They can be
Large blocks of land unencumbered with houses are selling for strong prices, often to non-UK buyers.
“I have had interest at almost £30,000/acre for a parcel of sever-al hundred acres in the south of England,” says Mr Matthews.
Large estates are coming on to the market because it doesn’t make sense to split them between siblings, says Knight Frank.
Succession is affecting one in four respondents to the land agent’s Rural Sentiment Survey. Meanwhile, a new type of buyer is coming to the sector –attracted by inno-vation, technology and a greater emphasis on farming with nature.
Other factors that could impact land sales going forward will be the quest for more onshore renew-
able energy and infrastructure projects – including large-scale data banks, depending on location.
“It’s an interesting time ahead for farmland sales,” says Knight Frank's Will Matthews. “We’re a small country and the pressure on land means values will remain high.”
It’s becoming harder to put a price on each acre, he says. “Competition is what drives the market, and we’ll be helping clients realise the green, business and social assets of their land to maximise its value.”
The countryside has undergone a sudden change this autumn. No, nothing to do with government grants or lost payments. But relating to cultivation techniques.
It isn’t widespread but it is noticeable. Certain pockets of arable land – in this neck of the woods at least – have seen a return to the plough. And from what friends elsewhere have told me, it is happening where they farm too.
The days have gone when land is ploughed as soon as the combine leaves the field – before fields are left to weather and then pressed, power- or Dutch-harrowed depending upon soil type.
plough gives a clean start too
After this came the combination drill and rolls. And with minimum tillage or no-till now the fashionable options the start date for drilling winter cereal crops tends to be during October rather than early September. These plough-less tillage systems mean less soil disturbance and lower machinery costs. In theory, at least, because less metal is being worn away as it is dragged through the ground.
One of the biggest challenges of these mintill or no-till systems is the establishment of a one- or two-pass seedbed. It’s not a popular view among all farmers, but sometimes soil benefits from a bit of air.
When it is wet – as we are seeing again at the moment – the land has little chance to dry out. Hence even some hardened regenerative farmers are pulling the plough out of the nettles and turning over the land this autumn.
Some claim min-till systems encourage vigorous grass weeds and more slugs – mainly because of surface trash. And it is true that a good ploughman – or ploughwoman – with
a well-set plough will bury weed seeds to a depth that they will not emerge.
It has also been said that ploughing has become too expensive – not only in diesel and replacement parts, but in the amount of time it takes to get over the land. Yet more people this autumn are seeing it as a necessity.
Cast your mind back to the stubble burning days of the 1980s when a clean start was the norm – thanks to a box of matches. The 1993 burning ban saw the end of many a Bettinson drill doing its work directly into the stubble.
But the plough gives a clean start too. At least it did until blackgrass became resistant and more people began to consider their cultivation costs. In any case, does a min-till system and glyphosate really cost less than ploughing?
In many cases, farmers will argue that turning over the soil is most effective when the plough is set correctly and buries everything in its wake. Anything less can often cause more problems than it solves.
That is particularly the case with farm machinery becoming heavier and more expensive. And it is true that surely there must be a place for a lighter plough-based system with a smaller footprint.
I have seen 400hp and 20 tonne machines pulling sub soilers with three legs. Rewind a few decades and our old Ford pulled three legs at a fraction of today’s weight and cost. Have yields dramatically increased since the 1980 to cover the difference?
Yes,10t/ha yields were achieved then just as they are today. And I firmly believe there is still a place for all cultivation systems –even though today most people seem to be obsessed with speed and costs, which doesn’t always work.
Mammoth Millet
Mammoth Milletthe Spring crop in demand.
Many growers have a lot more Spring acreage than planned due to the loss of winter crops, or not being able to get them in over the recent wet months. Spring seed is in short supply, and very expensive as a result.
Mammoth Millet –the Spring crop in demand.
Mammoth Millet can be sown after failed rape or cereal crops, is excellent at suppressing blackgrass, and has a very competitive gross margin.
Mammoth Millet is a very productive, crop normally sown in early May and harvested 135 days later in mid-September.
Gross margins over £900 per Ha.
Mammoth Millet - the perfect solution for failed crops of rape.
OSR Growers know the frustration and difficulty of realising late in the spring, that a crop of OSR isn’t going to be viable. This creates the dilemma of what to do - especially if the ground has been sprayed with autumn herbicides.
Mammoth Millet is not sown until early May, and can be direct drilled or sown after failed rape with minimal cultivations. Furthermore, the Millet now arguably offers as good or better a gross margin than OSR anyway - thus putting things back on track.
Mammoth Millet - the perfect way to control Black-Grass without using chemistry.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow and we are seeking new growers for 2025.
Many growers have a lot more Spring acreage than planned due to the loss of winter crops, or being able to get them in over the recent wet months. Spring seed is in short supply, and very expensive as a result.
Many growers have a lot more Spring acreage than planned due to the loss of winter crops, or not being able to get them in over the recent wet months. Spring seed is in short supply, and very expensive as a result.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow and we are seeking new growers for 2025.
Mammoth Millet the Spring crop
Many growers have a lot more than planned due to the loss not being able to get them in months. Spring seed is in short
Due to the war in Ukraine, Millet values have increased rapidly in recent months and we are seeing higher prices at £340-370/tonne.
Because Mammoth Millet is late sown and very competitive, it out-competes Black-Grass very effectively. Many growers on heavy land will grow Mammoth Millet specifically to suppress BlackGrass without using precious chemistry which needs to be used sparingly to avoid resistance.
Mammoth Millet can be sown after failed rape or cereal crops, is excellent at suppressing blackgrass, and has a very competitive gross
This has transformed the gross margins and for harvest 2025, we are now projecting a gross margin of over £900/Ha.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow, sow in early May and harvested 135 days later in mid-September.
Mammoth Millet can be sown after failed rape cereal crops, is excellent at suppressing blackgrass, and has a very competitive gross margin.
Mammoth Millet is a very productive, crop
Mammoth Millet can be sown or cereal crops, is excellent blackgrass, and has a very
Mammoth Millet is a very productive, crop normally sown in early May and harvested 135 days later in mid-September.
Because Mammoth Millet is late sown and very competitive, it out-competes Black-Grass very effectively. Many growers on heavy land will grow Mammoth Millet specifically to suppress Black-Grass without using precious chemistry which needs to be used sparingly to avoid resistance.
Gross margins over £900 per Ha.
Gross margins over £900 per Ha.
Gross margins over Mammoth
New growers required for 2025.
Gross margins over £900 per Ha. Gross
Mammoth Millet is a very productive, crop normally sown in early May and harvested 135 days later in mid-September.
Mammoth Millet is a very productive crop normally sown in early May and harvested 135 days later in mid-September.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow and we are seeking new growers for 2025.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow and we are seeking new growers for 2025.
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to grow and we are seeking new growers for 2025.
Mammoth Millet is a very crop normally sown in early harvested 135 days later
Mammoth is a cheap, simple grow and we are seeking new
Gross margins over £900 per Ha.
Hampshire SO30 2HH T: 02380 696922 email: enquiries@soya-uk.com www.soya-uk.com
Mammoth is a cheap, simple and easy crop to
Mammoth Longways House, Burnetts Lane, West End, T: 02380 696922 email: enquiries@soya-uk.com
House, Burnetts Lane, West End, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2HH T: 02380 696922 email: enquiries@soya-uk.com
Joskin Advantage MODULO2 11000 ME Slurry Tanker. with Sprung Drawbar and Vaccum Pump. 800/65R32 Tyres
£3,950 +VAT
