Research Membership

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.

Will oilseed rape establish this autumn? With many growers still waiting for meaningful rainfall after a prolonged dry summer, drilling decisions are becoming increasingly difficult. In this article, we explore why soil moisture matters more than drilling date, how much rain may be needed to trigger successful establishment, and what realistic growth targets look like if drilling is delayed. We also cover variety choice, seedbed preparation, fertiliser placement in dry conditions, and the practical considerations that could influence establishment success this autumn.

The potential loss of flufenacet continues to dominate conversations around autumn weed control. While UK approvals currently remain in place, the industry's direction of travel is clear: growers need to start understanding what life after flufenacet could look like. We discuss not only alternative products, but also a fundamental question: are current herbicide strategies always delivering the best balance between grassweed control and crop performance?

This month's Agronomy Club covered cultivation strategies, blackgrass strategy, OSR in dry conditions, new seed treatment options, pre-emergence considerations and SFI updates.

This month’s digest covers the drought, ADOPT trial opportunities, Farmer Collaboration Fund, Multiple Water Funds & the first 2026 AHDB harvest report. It also includes updates on SFI, CSHT, & Capital Grants, latest innovations including the Ceres Innovation Group, a new project on Wheat Dwarf Virus, Variable Rate, precision-engineered crops, and potential new biological insecticide for CSFB and the new Pea & Bean Crop Development Benchmarks.

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.

Catch crops can be one of the most effective tools for reducing nitrate losses, protecting water quality and maintaining living roots in the soil. However, research and farm observations suggest that maximising nitrogen capture is not always the same as maximising nitrogen availability for the following crop. In a dry season, where microbial activity and residue breakdown may be slower than normal, balancing nitrogen capture with nitrogen release becomes even more important. Our latest article explores the evidence behind different catch crop species, why bigger isn't always better, and the practical management decisions that can influence performance in the rotation.

As temperatures soar and rainfall remains limited, which poses the greater threat to wheat yield: drought or heat stress? This article explores the science behind both, alongside the implications for late-season disease pressure and crop resilience.

This month's Agronomy Club covered early harvest insights, weather impacts on crop performance, straw management and potential nutrient lock-up, catch crop research, policy reminders and a health and safety update.