PCN damage to potatoes Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are a major threat to the UK potato industry, often invisible and hidden away from plain view. These microscopic pests live in the soil and attack potato plants, leading to lower crop yields and reduced tuber quality. The danger of PCN lies in their ability to remain […]
Potato cyst nematodes (PCN): The hidden enemy of potato crops Read More »
The development of soil-release agents and protected forms of phosphate means growers can meet crop needs without having to apply large quantities of TSP, SSP or rock phosphate. Disincentivised by higher prices for phosphate (P) fertiliser Britain’s growers have gradually reduced application rates to the extent that many soils now contain worryingly low levels of
Long-term fall in phosphate use raises concerns Read More »
Written by Mike Harrington, Managing Director of AIVA Fertiliser Following on from the beginning of November, and it is reassuring to see that nature’s autumn cycle is beginning. The time where digestion, recycling and humification occurs in active soil systems. We do not require an expensive test to see this. Our eyes tell us that
The importance of the winter decomposer cycle Read More »
By Indigro Ltd Regenerative agriculture is proving to be a game changer in enhancing soil carbon sequestration and farm sustainability. Over four years, Indigro Ltd conducted a comprehensive survey of their clients, gathering invaluable data on how different practices influence soil organic carbon (SOC). The study, led by agronomist Charlotte Cook, provides a compelling case
Enhancing Carbon Sequestration Through Regenerative Agriculture Read More »
The SFI offers financial payments to those who adopt variable rate applications, but demonstrating compliance is more than a tick-box exercise, explains Rhiza product manager Ben Foster The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has much to offer growers from payments for environmental actions, to incentives that improve sustainability, productivity and, importantly, business resilience. With 102 actions
Living up to the SFI and its actions Read More »
New ‘boots-on-the-ground’ precision farming service A new service makes the benefits of precision farming accessible without growers having to master all its complexities, says ProCam’s UK Technical and Services Manager, Simon Francis. Using satellite mapping of soil and crop variability across fields, the new FieldSense service derives tailored variable rate input applications to improve economic
Agronomist in Focus – Simon Francis Read More »
Drone technology is unlocking the potential of traditional crop trials and helping to bridge the gap between detailed laboratory studies and field trials. Drones were used to assess an oilseed rape trial this spring at a site in Yorkshire, gathering data that hasn’t been possible before. The trial is a collaboration between Envirofield, Agrii and
New technology connecting the lab to the field Read More »
By Nick Badger, Frontier Agriculture Modern sprayers are managed by advanced computer systems, equipped with precision tools and GPS technology to optimise applications and operated by highly skilled, qualified specialists. It’s a practice that has certainly seen advancements over the years. However, the filling of sprayer tanks has remained a labour-intensive and time-consuming task. The
Safety and stewardship with closed transfer systems Read More »
Which digital technologies hold the most commercial value for UK farms and how can they best be developed, integrated and managed to deliver that value in practice? Agrii digital agronomy development manager Lucy Cottingham explores a novel farm network set up to answer these and other future-focussed questions. The pace of digital development is truly
Digital Technology Farm Network explores data-driven ‘fields of the future’ Read More »
Written by Rob Nightingale from Frontier “Yield is king!” This was a tag line in farming throughout my career as a farm manager and agronomist. Interestingly, now as a technical sustainability specialist, it’s a phrase finding resurgence again. At times in our history it has probably been more pertinent than others, for example during the
Getting emissions down in a measured way Read More »
