Industry Intelligence

Our Agronomy Club this month focused on harvest 2025 results, autumn establishment methods, grassweed/brome control updates, herbicide mechanisms and effectiveness, market updates and a call on ADOPT funding. The session then allowed for discussions between members on relatable topics and concerns.

A desk-based study explores the potential of sowing beans or linseed alongside Winter Wheat to boost soil health and reduce input reliance. While policy incentives and ecological benefits are promising, practical adoption faces hurdles — from herbicide compatibility to machinery requirements. With field trials cancelled due to wet weather previously, the findings draw on agronomy team insights, label reviews, and integrated farm management principles. Could this be a viable route to healthier soils and more resilient cropping systems?

Key points: Evidence of Healthy Soils: Organic farming can improve soil health factors, especially soil biology. But do you need to go organic to reap these benefits? This report underscores practices that all farmers – organic or not – can consider in improving their soil, the key asset on any farm. Profitability Gap Narrows: While […]

Introducing Fields of the Future, a new podcast for farmers who want to get the most out of their farm businesses and unlock their agricultural potential.  Each episode brings together voices from across the industry – farmers, agronomists, researchers, and innovators – to share independent, science-led insights that matter in the field. Whether you’re looking for...

This month's digest includes:
•The Big Chalk Project, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, draft legislation impacts from APR and BPR, Defra's Farming and Countryside user panel
•Industry news covering closure of Vivergo, web tool to predict slurry emissions, cancelled border checks on EU imports, ongoing ADOPT funding
•Latest science on cultivation methods over catch crop species, and good and bad weeds with precision agriculture
•Key reports on Ceres Group response to a Call for Evidence on private investment into nature recovery, England farming income values 2024, pig sector support and net zero tech outlook
•Upcoming Ceres Research events - including August's Agronomy Club recording and September sign up details, the AgriStrategy Conference (which includes 50% off for members).

Each month, we update you on fuel prices which relate to our industry in order to help you benchmark and forecast your costs. This information is part of our endeavour to ensure we support you, our members, in the effective day-to-day running of your rural businesses.

With low rainfall and minimal disease pressure this year, varieties with drought resilience and multi-gene rust resistance are standing out. The insights from Agronomy Club continues to track these developments closely—members get full access to expert commentary and strategic recommendations.

As growers prepare for drilling, we share key strategies to optimise establishment this season from cultivations, drilling timings and varieties. Ceres Research Members get full access to our strategic insights and recommendations, led by the latest scientific data.

With flufenacet facing withdrawal in the EU and rising herbicide costs, growers are urged to explore alternatives while rethinking weed control strategies for autumn 2025. We offer some alternative herbicide options to flufenacet with a cost comparison in this article.