Animal Welfare Award for SAC Researcher and Colleague
SAC animal welfare researcher Dr Malcolm Mitchell and his long time research partner Peter Kettlewell are the joint recipients of an award recognising the significant impact their work on live animal transport has made to the understanding and promotion of good animal welfare. The RSPCA/BSAS Award for Innovation Developments in Animal Welfare was presented at […]
The make mine Milk campaign celebrates its first birthday
The make mine Milk campaign is celebrating its first anniversary this month, one year on from its launch in April 2010 when Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsey and pop princess Pixie Lott were announced as the first famous faces of the campaign. Using a mix of advertising, PR, events and social media activity, the campaign has […]
High potential for Sclerotinia threat this season
Many fields that grew rape in 2007 or 2008 have been cropped with oilseed rape this year and very high levels of disease then will mean the potential innoculum source could be very high now, warns ProCam UK Agronomy Manager, Nick Myers. We know that you only need very few sclerotia in the soil to […]
New recommendations for weed control in potatoes
Weed control has been more challenging over the last two seasons and in response Scottish Agronomy have been trying new techniques with growers and conducting trials to find the way forward. Scottish Agronomys Eric Anderson cites annual meadow-grass, black-bindweed, cleavers, fumitory, knotgrass and volunteer oilseed rape as weeds that now demand a more considered approach. […]
UK on the verge of bluetongue-free status
The NFU has hailed a European Parliament vote that has paved the way for the UK to potentially obtain bluetongue-free status with the ability to continue vaccinating. The EU Parliament has backed European Commission proposals yesterday, Thursday, to allow Member States to vaccinate against bluetongue even if they are outside the restricted zones. This means […]
ADAS/BASF Sclerotinia monitoring indicates the start of sclerotia germination and disease risk
The ADAS/BASF web-based monitoring service on www.totaloilseedcare.co.uk is reporting the start of sclerotia germination, with 12% germination detected in Devon. This, together with apothecia being found near to the site in Herefordshire, indicate that the pressure is on to start protecting the oilseed rape crop from damaging Sclerotinia infection. Jon Williams, Agronomy Manager for BASF, […]
Excessive nitrogen harms the economy and environment first Europe-wide assessment published
Nitrogen is needed to feed a growing world population but pollutes air, soil and water A major new study finds that nitrogen pollution is costing each person in Europe around 130 – 650 (150 740 Euros) a year. The first European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA) will be launched at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland on Monday […]
Post-emergence control for weed competition in peas
Continued dry weather conditions will compromise the efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides in peas this season, where the emerging crop is especially susceptible to weed competition for moisture and available nutrients. Syngenta Specialist Crops Manager, Bruce McKenzie, highlights that the herbicide, Skirmish, has the added flexibility of pre and post-emergence application in peas, right through to […]
Becky Ward, PGRO senior technical officer, advises:
Pea and bean weevil There is now significant pea and bean weevil damage to spring beans and some winter bean crops. Where damage is becoming obvious, an insecticide should be applied as soon as possible and repeated after 2 weeks. This will help to disrupt the egg laying period and reduce the potential for larval […]
