Research Membership

This month's digest includes:
• On The Farm Day roadshow success!
• Ceres Group responds to the Land Use Framework consultation
• Key information regarding; policy and regulation, industry news, science and innovation and the latest reports published
• Ceres Research Events - including a reflection on our first Agronomy Club & a save the date for our Winter Conference!

With a dry start to spring, this publication explores how shifting historical weather patterns are shaping crop performance, what we might expect in the future and what lessons we can draw from drier regions around the world to implement into our own farming systems here in the UK. The publication also introduces a new opportunity for Ceres Research Members to share their own experiences—promoting discussion and helping shape future strategies for resilient farming.

Watch this insightful training session where we delve into the fundamental concepts of data analysis and statistics. This is part of our quarterly training series of webinars, aimed to enable our members to make data-driven decisions, optimise farming practices, and ultimately enhance their productivity and sustainability.

In this month's Digest:
- Crucial deadlines for revenue claims under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme & Environmental Stewardship, the Government's consultation on the Land Use Framework, and Defra's national action plan for pesticides
- Approval of a new insecticide for controlling aphids and the approval of the Lower Thames Crossing
- Strategies to increase grassland resilience to drought and new ideas for better environmental management
- AHDB Climate Change Adaptation report and the Innovation & Research Caucus report on UK Agri-tech

This interactive dashboard offers a clear, data-driven overview of key labour and machinery efficiency metrics across UK arable farms. Members can benchmark their operations against anonymised industry data, facilitating the assessment of operational efficiency and allowing for informed decisions to enhance farm profitability and resilience.

Welcome to Ceres Research!
This month's digest brings you the latest updates on policy and regulation, industry news, science and innovation, and the most recent reports published. We are excited to announce our upcoming event and the launch of our new membership service, designed to keep you informed and connected with the latest advancements in our field.

Explore the growing challenge of ergot in cereal crops, its effects on grain quality, and why it's gaining attention in the UK. This report touches on how ergot spreads, its implications for food safety, and the evolving strategies being considered for better control in future harvests.

This report addresses the critical issue of glyphosate resistance in UK arable cropping systems, following the discovery of the first field population of glyphosate-resistant annual Italian ryegrass. It provides an in-depth analysis of glyphosate usage trends, risk factors for resistance, and practical recommendations for integrated control strategies.

With changing weather patterns and limited chemical control options, take-all disease is becoming an increasing challenge for cereal growers. This report explores the current understanding of take-all, its impact on crop health and yield, and the integrated strategies being used to manage it. It also highlights promising developments in biological control and resistance breeding that could shape future solutions.