Black-grass

Research has highlighted the immediate priority for growers is to target grass-weeds already in the crop now, rather than waiting for more to emerge later in the spring.

An early opportunity to drill spring crops in February has been presented to farmers due to a mild and dry winter with ‘unprecedented’ ground conditions reported across England.

To date I’ve not found any larval damage – there is still plenty of time for it to show its head, but I believe we are keeping on top of it.

The fava bean could make a comeback in farmer’s fields and shopping baskets, as Tesco and its suppliers trial the use of the crop across a host of different product ranges and ingredients.

Farmers who want to adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming methods could face lower short-term margins, but the long-term benefits could outweigh the losses, according to the results of a trial in Scotland.

As attention turns to spring weed control, grass-weeds are the priority. Farmers Guardian reports

With the spring season around the corner, Ash Burbidge caught up with a leading agronomist regarding potential issues growers might face.

Cleaning up spring stubbles with glyphosate ahead of drilling may seem a straightforward job, but sprayer setup still has a huge effect on efficacy and stewardship.

At this point in the season, many growers’ thoughts turn to planning their spring herbicide programmes and how best to achieve effective control over spring weeds. Farmers Guardian gets the latest advice.

A leading plant breeder is encouraging growers to take up the opportunity of contributing to the future development of the Recommended Lists, including how they are designed.