Research Membership

This month's digest includes:
• Welsh SFS evidence, extension offer for CSMT, EU Soil Monitoring Law
• Industry news including: New Commissioner for Tenant Farming, IHT updates, funding opportunities
• Latest science on bio-efficiency of foliar herbicides, 10-year field evidence of weather and cultivation influence on yields, & neonic swaps.
• Key reports including AFN's 'Roadmap for Resilience' and new Sustainable Livestock guidelines.

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.

This publication examines the 2025 harvest season, highlighting the effects of drought and heat on crop yields. It analyses how farm basics like soil type and location influenced gross margins and provides evidence-based strategies to control the controllable, make best use of your soil types and ultimately optimise outcomes.

Getting the timing right for peri- and post-emergence herbicide applications is crucial for effective weed control in winter wheat. With strict dose limits for key products, it's more important than ever to plan your approach carefully. This article provides a brief update on typical post-em top-ups, factors affecting the timing and the most effective application and a reminder of dose limits.

Slugs can be a real challenge in wet autumns, but new research is changing how we understand and manage them. Curious about the latest findings and practical tips for your fields? Unlock the full article and more expert advice by joining the Ceres Research Membership.

As autumn settles in, agronomists and growers face a familiar set of challenges: managing blackgrass and optimising weed control in oilseed rape (OSR) and winter beans. Drawing on the latest research and practical experience, here’s what you need to know for this month's agronomy.

Curious about how changing weather patterns could affect your autumn crop establishment? At our recent Agronomy Club session, we explored the latest research on seasonal trends and what they might mean for regions across the UK. From shifts in sunshine hours to evolving weather patterns, the discussion centred around what to expect this autumn and highlighted why adapting soil management and crop choices is becoming more important than ever.

This Agronomy Club webinar focused on modelling weather conditions, BYDV seasonal updates, weed control and herbicide application timings, Autumn nutrition and slug pressure experimental studies. The session then allowed for discussions between members on relatable topics and concerns.

Linseed (flax) can improve soil health and support pollinators when used in cover crop mixes, but it may pose a risk of hydrogen cyanide poisoning to sheep, especially after frost or when grazed in large amounts. This article explores the science behind this risk, practical management strategies, and best practices for safely including linseed in grazing systems. With careful planning, serious toxicity is uncommon.