Tramline trials used to test winter wheat nitrogen accuracy
An innovative set of trials has helped farmers test the accuracy of nitrogen (N) management in their winter wheat crops. Wheat yields differed both between farms and within farms but the cause of most of the variation was deemed unlikely to be a result of N tactics. The conclusions add weight to other research findings that […]
Improved plants for greater food security in the future
Beyond classical genetic engineering, a number of new biotechnological processes is now available to improve plants. The goals are higher proportions of (micro) nutrients, longer shelf lives to reduce waste, resistance to drought and higher yields in crops and biotech trees. Since planting the first genetically modified plants (maize, soybean and cotton) in 1996 in […]
Rewiring plant defence genes to reduce crop waste
Plants can be genetically rewired to resist the devastating effects of disease – significantly reducing crop waste worldwide – according to new research into synthetic biology by the University of Warwick. Led by Professor Declan Bates from the Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB) and Professor Katherine Denby from the University of York, who is […]
Agricultural research receives multi-million pound boost
UK universities and agricultural research centres which improve the resilience, sustainability and quality of major crops will benefit from a funding package worth around £5.3 million over five years, Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced today. The funding will go to four leading agricultural research centres to help develop new technologies and environmentally friendly production for […]
Student’s silage project aims to advise farmers on best practice
A student’s study at Harper Adams University has found that grass silage of a shorter chop-length increases dairy cows’ dry matter intake and milk yields but that a longer chop-length increases the milk quality. The study also found that maize silage, when included in the diets of high yielding Holstein Friesians dairy cows, increases intake […]
Farmer-led innovation provides policy inspiration at Agricology field day
More than 80 farmers, policy-makers, researchers, and representatives from the NFU and Wildlife Trust attended Agricology’s on-farm field event at Daylesford Farm in Oxfordshire last week focusing on the potential of reintegrating livestock, leys and arable to diversify the rotation. Bringing together participants of the annual Oxford Farming Conferences, this over-subscribed event enabled participants to […]
Farmers invited to take part in diverse cropping project to increase yields
The Organic Research Centre, a leading independent research charity, is inviting UK farmers to participate in a new EU-funded project called DIVERSify which is investigating how to maximise the performance of crop mixtures (or plant teams) to improve yields while reducing the reliance on inputs. Dr Bruce Pearce from the Organic Research Centre said, “It […]
Resistant diamondback moths now capable of surviving winter
A ‘super pest’ moth resistant to a class of common plant protection is now also capable of surviving through the UK’s cold winter conditions, according to new research. Diamondback moth (DBM) caterpillars feed on crops including cabbage, broccoli, swedes and Brussels sprouts, causing cosmetic damage, which could result in the loss of up to 100 […]
New insight into mechanism making Black Sigatoka fungus less sensitive to crop protection
An international team of scientists led by Wageningen University & Research has discovered a new genetic mechanism that makes the notorious Black Sigatoka fungus less sensitive to the main chemical crop protection products used against the disease. The discovery shines light on this increasingly reduced sensitivity and underlines the importance of developing banana varieties resistant […]
