New yellow rust race detected
The ‘Kranich’ yellow rust race has been detected in the UK for the first time and winter wheat growers are being advised to inspect varieties closely as part of a UK-wide monitoring effort. The UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) identified the new ‘Kranich’ race from an isolate collected in 2014 and tested in the […]
Updated tools to manage risk in the GB potato market
Up-to-date and relevant market intelligence is vital for farming businesses. “We’re at that pivotal point again in the potato farming calendar. Each week from now, more of 2015 crop will be utilised ex-store, and more of the 2016 crop will be planted in the ground,” says Mr Marshall. Potato production is highly specialist, it’s a […]
Weetabix re-commits to source wheat from local farmers
Weetabix, the nation’s favourite breakfast cereal, has today reaffirmed its commitment to source the wheat it purchases each year from farmers located within 50 miles of its factory in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire. The announcement coincided with a visit from the Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss to a local farm that supplies Weetabix. The establishment of Weetabix’s […]
Tibthorpe farmer awarded Kirby Cup by Yorkshire Grassland Society
A Tibthorpe farmer has won the prestigious Kirby Memorial Cup for his grassland management. Jonathan Shepherd, who farms at Field House Farm, was awarded The Yorkshire Grassland Society Kirby Memorial Cup at a recent meeting of the society that promotes the profitable and sustainable use of grass and forage. Mr Shepherd grows 150 acres of […]
ECPA stresses science should underpin, not undermine, innovation
Speaking at a major event in Brussels today on Innovative Agriculture Jean-Charles Bocquet, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), called for a stronger role for science in EU decision making. Opening the event, organised by Politico and sponsored by the ECPA, Bocquet said “We have to stop this trend [for political decisions] […]
Wheat genome sequencing gets major boost
The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) announced today the production of a whole genome assembly of bread wheat, the most widely grown cereal in the world, significantly accelerating global research into crop improvement. The project consisted of producing a whole genome assembly of the bread wheat variety Chinese Spring based on Illumina short sequence […]
Warburtons commits to five-year plan with growers
Warburtons and its grain supply partner Openfield have agreed to extend their relationship for a further five years thereby giving its farmers the confidence to invest in their businesses. Openfield head of supply chain Sarah Bell welcomed the deal which will take the contract through to harvest 2021, reflecting Warburtons long-term commitment to the industry. […]
66,000t of barley heads for Saudi Arabia in UK’s largest export
Believed to be the largest shipment of barley loaded out of the UK, the Panamax-class vessel m/v Great Dragon 9 sailed for Saudi Arabia on the 2nd December with an expected passage time of 21 days via the Suez Canal. Using over 250 farmer and merchant suppliers, intake by road peaked at 8500t per […]
GM crop future debated at NFU conference
Promoting the public benefits of GM technology must be prioritised if British farmers are to gain access to it. That was the message to delegates at an NFU conference examining the ‘when, what and how’ of GM crops on British farms. Delegates at the conference in Peterborough heard how GM crops are now grown on […]
