Grower post filled on HGCA’s R&KT Committee
Dr David Brightman, who farms 243 hectares of combinable crops in Warwickshire, is the latest grower member to join HGCA’s Research and Knowledge Transfer committee. After completing a PhD in Dietary Nitrogen Requirements of Cattle, David began his career as a lecturer at Brooksby College in Crop Production. He has received many agricultural awards including […]
Global redistribution of phosphorus use could improve food security
If the use and reuse of the finite resource phosphorus as a nutrient for plants were to be handled with greater care worldwide it would become possible to produce sufficient food for the global population in and after 2050. In addition to being home to a considerable proportion of the global population, China is also […]
Grassland farmers must wake up to changing pesticide rules
While many farmers who use professional pesticides on grassland are aware of the need to protect water, a significant number remain unaware of the imminent changes in legislation to use and apply such products, according to The Voluntary Initiative (VI). A survey undertaken by the VI and the Pesticides Forum during summer/autumn 2014 showed that […]
Exosect partners with industry and researchers to control beetle pests in pulse crops
Exosect, a leading provider of enabling technologies today announced that it is a member of a new collaborative research programme which aims to combat beetle and weevil pests that damage pulse crops. The project is partially funded by Innovate UK and the BBSRC with additional support from industry partners PGRO, Rothamsted Research, Oecos and BASF […]
Wheat and oilseeds area for harvest 2015 down in favour of barley and pulses
AHDB/HGCA’s Early Bird Survey of GB farmers’ planting intentions for 2015 suggests a reduction in the area of wheat, oats and oilseeds for harvest 2015, compared with 2014. Key findings of the Early Bird Survey: • Wheat down 5% to 1.8Mha • Oats down 13% to 118,000ha • Winter barley up 12% to 476,000ha • […]
Light leaf spot disease risk high, says forecast
The HGCA-supported light leaf spot (LLS) service forecasts a very high disease infection risk in all regions of the UK for the 2014–15 season. The current high-risk level is due to a combination of disease build-up over recent years and favourable weather for pathogen growth over the summer. Where LLS is found in crops over […]
Report launch highlights potential of no-till systems
A report launched at Harper Adams University on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Farmers has highlighted the need for effective pest control and selective crop rotations when striving for a successful no-till farming system. Visiting Professor in Agricultural Engineering, Professor Dick Godwin, launched his 30-page report entitled the ‘Potential of no-till systems for arable farming’ […]
Openfield statement re: Camgrain contract loss
Openfield is Britain’s largest farmer owned arable crop marketing business owned by 2,700 UK farmer members, transacting circa 4.5m tonnes of arable crops annually aimed at returning value to farmer members through building unique supply chains with end consumers. Given this clear strategic aim, we are disappointed not to be reappointed to market grain on […]
Move to ban pesticides ‘a threat to UK food security’
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute have cast doubt on the wisdom and the benefit of the European Union’s aim to restrict the use of a range of pesticides. They have voiced this view in response to a report commissioned by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Crop Protection Association (CPA) and the Agricultural Industries […]
