The BASIS professional register requires members to meet specified criteria one of which is to annually take part and pass an online exam...

This disease shown in the photographs is Rhynchosporium, another described as polycyclic, quite capable of several infection cycles...

When soil is waterlogged, plants literally drown. Water fills all the air spaces between the soil particles and this prevents oxygen from...

Much is said about Oil seed rape crops when they are in flower, possibly because they are so striking to the eye or maybe it’s the...

Something I do not see very often in a cereal crop is Wild garlic (Allium vineale) and wild onion (Allium canadense) these are the...

The linseed plant is especially sensitive to weed competition, which limits its potential yield. Trials work has looked at growing...

Planting of peas began a short while ago. Things must have gone well since this week they began popping their heads up in to the...

Much is talked about barley growing and the problems of grass weeds. It’s true, we have few options for selective herbicide use within...

A book published in 1985 by John Turner highlight’s some of the pest problems suffered by this crop. Other work carried out between 1987...

Snow can be a nuisance for our daily activities, it can however benefit winter wheat crop. Snow has two distinct benefits for winter...

Successfully establishing a CROP of ryegrass is one of the most challenging tasks facing any farmer. If we think of a crop of wheat we...

One virus, very much in the news and another we talk about mainly in the autumn is now also “headlining” March 2021. Barley yellow dwarf...

As the name suggests this beetle loves to eat pollen and so is intimately associated with pollen-rich species of flowers such as Oil Seed...

As we come out of a long wet winter crops don’t always look at their best. The work load increases for everyone and my working day begins...

Over wintered stubbles come in many shapes and sizes. Many of these are now destined for a variety of spring sown crops. I encountered a...

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning an application will kill most plants. It does this by preventing the plants from making...

Chlormequat originally came to the market in the 1970’s; it is an organic compound that is used as a plant growth regulator. It is...

Blends are nothing new, wheat or barley. Oil Seed rape is another matter altogether. To make a blend work you need to decide......

Next week there is an AHDB meeting which I believe details findings from the 2020 season regarding Yellow Rust in winter wheat.

Water runs down hill, it always has done and I believe it always will. But sometimes it can “push up” through the soil profile. Why is that?