With barely crops forecasted to grow rapidly over the next few weeks, the timing of T2 (GS39-45) spray applications will be critical for both PGR and disease management to effectively mitigate against the risks of big canopies, crop production specialists Hutchinsons have warned.

To support knowledge transfer and benchmarking achieved through the yield enhancement network (YEN) initiative run by ADAS and PGRO, LS Plant Breeding Ltd (LSPB) has extended its sponsorship of the Bean YEN for a fifth year and added sponsorship of the Pea YEN in 2023.

By cleaning grass seed on-farm using JK Machinery’s JCM VibroMAX vibrating sieve cleaner, Andrew Stovin from N M Stovin Farms has significantly increased crop value and bottom line while meeting the cleaning standards of his grass seed merchants.

Farmers will continue to have access to the multi-site potato blight fungicide Mancozeb this spring, which can help delay further shifts in fungicide resistance, according to crop protection manufacturer UPL.

Potato growers are facing a different proposition when it comes to weed control this spring compared to 2022 following delayed planting of much of the UK’s maincrop, according to Corteva Agriscience. 

Established bean crops have been hit with an increased chocolate spot risk this season due to cool and wet conditions throughout March, with downy mildew also threatening new leaf growth and later emerging spring beans, Syngenta technical manager Simon Jackson warned.

New modelling work indicates that the inclusion of the multi-site fungicide, folpet, can more than double the effective life of fungicide treatment programmes containing ‘at risk’ single site modes of action.

Montrose daffodil and potato farmer Willie Officer is seeing the results five years on from hosting Farming For A Better Climate (FFBC)’s pilot project. Taking a more environmental approach to some on-farm practices he has seen crop management improve and costs reduce.

A new irradiation sensor will enable all arable and vegetable producers to manage their irrigation, fieldwork and disease protection more precisely, helping to curb costs and boost productivity. The low-cost system operates with exceptional accuracy, large reach and is user-friendly.

With this spring seeing high variation in OSR growth across the country, crop production specialists Hutchinsons are advising farmers to manage the crop carefully in the season ahead and in some cases consider whether it is worth further investment.

To broaden the range of tools available to growers, crop protection company Adama has added two plant growth regulator (PGR) active ingredients – rinexapac-ethyl and chlormequat – to its expanding range of agrochemicals.

Following a mild winter that may have caused the disease to set foot in winter wheat, growers are being urged to stay alert for yellow rust alongside Septoria tritici at the upcoming leaf three (T1) spray timing.