Farm-saved seed the ‘safety-valve’ for farmers
Farm-saved seed will be an invaluable service for many existing and new growers come this autumn. There is huge pressure on the national certified seed-crop after the most challenging autumn and spring conditions in recent history. The seed area is significantly down and yields expectations are much lower than normal year. This is compounded by […]
Good yield and sound agronomics make Fitzroy a solid performer
Across 2,500 acres of owned and contract-farmed land, A & R Fraser seeks to achieve a balance of crops that ensure a balanced workload and a respectable return for its clients. Delivering this involves all members of the family from brothers George and Jonny and parents Andrew and Rosalind. The rotation is based around combinable […]
Prioritise conditions over cultivations when making variety choices, new Agrii trials suggest
Latest Agrii trials suggest while clear differences can be seen between varieties in various production scenarios, there is little to separate them when it comes to their performance in direct drilling or conventional cultivation systems. Varieties and how they perform across a range of production scenarios is a key element of Agrii’s integrated crop management […]
Agrii strengthens fruit team with five new recruits
Crop advisers Agrii has added five new specialist fruit advisers over the past year in response to customer demand for more bespoke agronomy and environmental advice. Commenting on the appointments, Agrii head of fruit Kevin Workman explained that the expansion of the fruit team was due to increased demand for agronomy services, but also reflected […]
Survey finds reduced sensitivity of apple scab isolates
Surveying of apple orchards across England by Agrii advisers and researchers has revealed a shift in sensitivity to some of the fungicides commonly used to control apple scab (Ventureia inaequalis). The findings do not suggest widespread resistance, but rather the need for effective product stewardship if crops are to be adequately protected in future seasons, […]
Trial finds Secover and Flipper deliver good spider mite control
Secover, a silicone-based foliar spray that is not deemed a plant protection product, delivered sufficient control of two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) for it to be considered as a complement to Kanemite (acequinocyl) in the early stages of the season. Using her BASIS project as an opportunity to trial five acaricides with physical modes of […]
TPP trials highlight need for IPM in beating PCN
Improving control of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) and wireworm is a focus for The Potato Partnership. Results from two years of trials highlight the fallacy of relying on nematicides as a sole means of protection. Applying the granular nematicide Nemathorin (fosthiazate) at half rate and in sequence with Velum Prime (fluopyram) delivered yields comparable to […]
Get RHIZA weather stations and soil moisture probes via FETF118 grants
The FETF118 funding opportunity makes now an ideal time to invest in this innovative technology. What is the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)? The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is a £14 million fund established by the UK government to support investments in equipment, technology, and infrastructure that improves farm productivity and protects […]
Fuelling growth with liquid fertiliser Tramlines podcast
In this episode, host Tony Smith speaks with Nick Bumford, farm director at Guiting Manor Farms ltd and Rob Willey, national fertiliser commercial manager at Agrii. This podcast explores and understands the benefit of liquid fertilisers for improving crop performance and the performance of the farm business. Also, can liquid fertilisers help us balance the […]
Managing inputs and maximising nutrition
Managing fertiliser variable costs can lead growers to make rash decisions to cut back or opt for a PK holiday purely to manage input costs. Adopting practices to target nutrients specific to the soil and crop needs is a more sustainable alternative. Soil testing via RHIZA or standard sampling is the foundation of any nutrient […]
