Research Membership

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.

Flufenacet has long been the backbone of autumn grassweed control, but its future in Great Britain is looking increasingly uncertain. This Farming Update ‘plus’ explores what a possible withdrawal could mean for weed management, why there is no simple like-for-like replacement, and what a rethink of autumn 2026 planning might look like for growers.

This Skills Webinar from Premium Crops covered the value and purpose of Certified Seed, explaining how certification supports seed quality, varietal purity, food security, plant breeding investment, and farmer assurance, while comparing its benefits and costs against farm-saved seed and discussing future drivers such as genetics, hybridisation and end-user demand.

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.

In this short webinar, we walk through the Ceres Research Membership platform including; reports and insights tools, publications, videos and webinars, the Agronomy Club, member WhatsApp group and the wider Ceres Research community – showing how members use these resources to share knowledge, improve decisions and stay connected across the sector.