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Know How / Wheat / Crop management

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

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Case studies

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SOILS

How costs are falling for one regen farmer

The two big expenses on an arable farm – fuel and fertiliser – have been reduced significantly since Cambridgeshire grower David White decided to stop cultivating and move to a…

VARIETY SELECTION

Kent growers assess two new Group 2 winter wheats

Two new Group 2 milling winter wheat varieties are being grown on one Kent farm, with both Mayflower and Palladium looking good ahead of harvest, and Mayflower so far a…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Why a wheat grower is cutting inputs down to the bare bones

Most farmers would like to reduce inputs, especially considering current prices, but Lincolnshire grower John Charity has gone much further than most would ever consider this season. He points to…

SOILS

How organic matter increase helped farm hit net-zero target

Soil organic matter levels have seen a 1.1% increase at the Lockerley Estate in Hampshire, thanks to a diverse arable rotation, integrating sheep, cover crops, clover leys and organic manures.…

WHEAT

Wheat variety Dawsum hits specific weight in poor light

David Hoyles is impressed with the new winter wheat feed variety Dawsum and has increased his area by 50% this season. That's because it produced a good specific weight on…

WHEAT

Wheat grower plans fewer sprays to delay disease resistance

Mike Wilton is planning fewer fungicide sprays on his winter wheat this season, although by using the latest chemistry he is aiming for good clean crops and to avoid disease…

Practical advice

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VARIETY SELECTION

Insecticide-free wheat varieties set for drilling autumn 2023

Insecticide-free winter wheat varieties are set to be available for growers to drill in autumn 2023, as one plant breeder has developed the first wheat varieties with resistance to the…

BLACKGRASS

Optimism for blackgrass control grows with new herbicide

Blackgrass control is set to become easier to achieve this autumn in winter wheat with the launch of the first new mode of action herbicide for decades, which outperforms the…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Cereals 2022: Options to manage wheat disease in dry springs

Wheat growers need to consider alternative disease control methods to cope with drought-stressed crops in the spring - such as inter-cropping, variety blends and grazing in the early part of…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Benefits of septoria tests in optimising T2 fungicide rates

A big farming group is trialling rapid disease detection tests to optimise its fungicide rates to control septoria, which, if successful, could be rolled out across all of its 16,000ha…

WHEAT

Warm wet weather signals tricky time for wheat

Disease control in winter wheat is set to be particularly tricky this season as the dry and cold early spring weather, which has held back the spread of disease, moves…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Tips on tackling five weed issues in no-till systems

Radical effects on weed populations and their management are seen in low-disturbance and no-till systems, reflecting that they involve far more than just changing the drill.  Niab weed expert John…

Insights

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NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Should farms sell or chop straw with fertiliser prices high?

The value of straw, whether for power stations or traditional forage and bedding markets remains, buoyant, and many growers will be looking to take advantage of that. However, with high…

ARABLE

Regen farming income blip as market volatility increases

High yields and rocketing commodity prices have created a financial "blip" for regenerative farming systems, with margins falling behind those of conventional farms in such an unusual year. Speaking at…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Largest UK weed survey reveals Italian ryegrass challenge

Results from the UK’s largest survey on Italian ryegrass has shown a complex and variable picture of herbicide resistance in the weed, emphasising the need for growers to test and…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How farmer trial will test Canadian combine weed seed mill

A group of UK farmers is taking part in a ground-breaking research project to test the effectiveness of harvest weed seed control units developed by a Canadian company. This non-chemical…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Analysis: What makes top arable farms more profitable?

AHDB data analysis has revealed the secrets behind the top 25% most profitable arable farms – and while yield is the most important factor, having a good handle on costs…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Why grain analysis now could save on fertiliser next season

Farmers are being advised to get their grain analysed this harvest to help refine next season’s fertiliser decisions, with data showing the average uncertainty equates to £2,000 for an average…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Round-up of firms offering strategic arable advice services

At a time of unprecedented change in the farming industry, there has never been a greater need for impartial advice and direction. Given current uncertainty, strategic agronomy services are increasingly…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How variety blends can protect wheat against septoria

Researchers in France have shown that variety blends have the potential to slow the erosion of septoria resistance genes in wheat. There has been an increasing interest in growing variety…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Key lessons from £12m arable farming and wildlife project

A better understanding of the contribution made by nature-based solutions to improving the resilience of productive arable land and its ability to deliver higher yields has come from the recently…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Can silicon crop sprays benefit growers this season?

Despite silicon being the world’s second most abundant element, making up 25% of the earth's crust, crops can still benefit from its application, which has a vital role in plant…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Regenerative Agriculture: How to start reducing crop inputs

Cutting inputs and costs is a common goal for growers making the first steps into regenerative farming. As it is a systems approach, the first stage is to build healthier,…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Can microbials replace chemicals for crop protection?

Microbial-based products in agriculture have over-promised and under-delivered. However, the first high-performing microbials may only be two to three years away and by the end of the decade there will…

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Online resource

AHDB Encyclopaedia of pests and natural enemies in field crops

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AHDB Blackgrass: Integrated weed management

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AHDB The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) Principles of nutrient management and fertiliser use

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AHDB The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209): Arable crops

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