Discovery of a gene that controls black-grass resistance offers prospect of better weed control
Chemicals that inhibit this gene can be used to make weed killers effective against resistant weeds. Black-grass and rye-grass are both widespread and serious weed problems in cereal and oilseed rape rotations. Control using weed killers is becoming increasingly problematic, with an estimated 1.2 million ha of UK land now infested with black-grass. Both black-grass […]
Fertilizing crops to address malnutrition
One of the five goals of the Zero Hunger Challenge is also the eradication of stunting. In addition, the growing concerns about macro and micro nutrient deficiencies in food have been addressed by the updated Lancet report on maternal and child nutrition, published at the beginning of June. It highlights the imperative need for better […]
What has happened to this year’s winter oilseed rape crop?
The Kleffmann Group, partnered in the UK by Independent Business Resource Limited (IBR-Ltd), conducts on-going comprehensive surveys of UK farmers, collecting quantitative and qualitative information related to crops and inputs. The most recent survey asked farmers what area of winter oilseed rape they planted this year and how many hectares of this originally drilled oilseed […]
Get soils fit to work
While much of their focus will be on correcting physical damage done in the past two years, he says they also need to get a really accurate assessment of the soil’s chemical and productive capacity before making plans – something many of the soil tests currently available fail to do. The company highlighted the issue […]
Paterson right on GM, says CLA
GM crops: The Association said the potential benefits of GM are huge with the UK being the natural home for GM research. However, scare tactics and misinformation has meant that the issue has lost scientific objectivity and become political. CLA President Harry Cotterell said: “GM crops aren’t the only solution to food shortages but technological innovation […]
European non-GM farming outperforms GM
A new study published this week, which compares US and European farms which grow largely genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops respectively, finds better or equal yield and resilience in European farms (1). Secretary of State for the Environment Owen Paterson is expected to make a major speech on Thursday, criticising EU regulation of GM […]
Industry-wide commitment has made the best of harvest 2012
Speaking at the conclusion to Cereals 2013, Mr Sheppard praised the way farmers, merchants and cooperatives, as well as processors had worked together. “A very large tonnage of wheat from harvest 2012 came in at quality well below expectations,” said Mr Sheppard. “Export opportunities were extremely limited and it has been testament to the close […]
2013 harvest snapshot highlights need to protect British production
The poll reveals the overall harvested area on the farms in the poll is on course to be almost 30 per cent lower than in 2012, following on from HGCA figures showing winter wheat planting area was 25 per cent down. It comes following a year of unprecedented extreme weather which has battered crops, underlining […]
Mycotoxins – know your risk
Conditions so far this season will not have had a big impact on risk scores because the two biggest factors are rainfall during flowering and rainfall at harvest. However, the late season may affect T3 applications as Dr Simon Oxley, Senior Research and Knowledge Transfer Manager at HGCA, explains: “Many wheat crops are behind, which […]
