In our exciting re-launch episode, we chat with Hutchinson's head of environmental services, Georgina Whalley, who gives us an update on the recently scrapped Sustainable Farming Incentive funding and an insight into the latest spending budget. We then head to NIAB's soil hole, where chief executive, Prof Mario Caccamo, discusses the importance of independent variety selection.

With changing legislation and environmental pressures, plant breeding programs are crucial for future developments. Dr Alex Doering, managing director of DSV UK, talks us through the OSR breeding programs and what exciting new traits are on offer.

Finally, we catch up with RAGT's Andrew Creasy and Senova's Hugh Harley, who walk us through a new farm-saved seed royalty collection service and a new Group 4 wheat variety.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship offers financial support for sustainable farming practices and involves a two-year commitment. Three arable-focused scholars, Jamie, Sam, and Tom, were interviewed in a podcast, where they discussed their projects and the application process. The scholarship provides a travel bursary for research, access to a valuable network, and a community of scholars. Scholars are expected to produce a report and share their insights with relevant audiences. The scholars' projects focus on exploring production efficiency, land use, and the challenges of venture-funded ag tech startups in the UK.

This episode sees Farmers Guardian arable specialist Ash Ellwood discuss how one farmer has introduced sheep into their arable rotation, what role data can play on farm and finds out the latest on the urea legislation changes, all recorded from The CropTec Show in Stoneleigh.

Speakers - Jo Franklin (Arable & sheep farmer), Tom Macbride (Yagro) , Robert and Will Ingham (Glasson Fertilisers)

Being a farmer comes with the privilege of being a custodian of the land, and a love of the countryside and wildlife is why many farmers do what they do. In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot, the Arable Farming team speak to three conservationists about how arable farms can become a haven for wildlife. From hedgerow management tips to habitat creation, and encouraging more beneficial insects, there is plenty that growers can do to improve the environmental credentials of their farms.

Many growers might feel like they have taken three steps back in weed control this year, with grass-weeds seemingly doing particularly well. But what can be done this autumn to get back on top of them? In this episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot, the Arable Farming team get the latest from weed control connoisseur, John Cussans.

With all the tools in the box needed to keep on top of emerging weeds, and glyphosate authorisation in the limelight in Europe, we also get an update on what the UK situation is looking like.

John Cussans – NIAB weed biology and management specialist

Mark Buckingham – Corporate engagement lead, Bayer Crop Science

Growers keep being told ‘widen your rotation’, but how do you manage risk with reward when it comes to growing new crops? How long should you give a crop in the rotation before throwing in the towel? And where do you start in deciding what to grow? From alternative pulse markets, to Wildfarmed wheat, to the weird and wonderful, in this latest episode of Crop It Like It’s Hot, we take a look at what other growers are giving a go, and how to measure success when it comes to integrating a new crop into your arable rotation.

Speakers:

Ed Hutley, partner - Ceres Rural

Nick Padwick – Farm manager, Wild Ken Hill

Michael Shuldham, LS Plant Breeding and Pulses UK President

Risk management in agriculture is largely associated with personal safety, however in other industries, the management of risk extends to financial and planning and resource management. In this episode of Crop It Like It's Hot, machinery editor, Toby Whatley sits down to with three farmers with different business models, crops and land assets to hear how they approach risks to their business differently, and how their approach to expenditure, financial planning and crop sales varies.

Speakers

Rob Beaumont - Arable farmer, agronomist and Arable Farming columnist

Adam Lewis - Arable farmer

Alice Dyer - Babyleaf salad grower

As the agricultural industry navigates the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme, in this episode of Crop it Like it's Hot the Arable Farming team takes a look at future funding options available to arable farmers.

From Environmental Land Management to productivity grants, there are plenty of options out there, but do they fit the bill and are they worth taking up?

In this episode, head of farming at Strutt & Parker Jonathan Armitage discusses where he sees key investment opportunities for Defra going forward, what funding we can expect coming later down the line, and why the uptake of ELMs is struggling.

We also speak with associate partner and charted rural surveyor at Barbers Rural, Harriet Jones about the Countryside Stewardship Scheme as it enters its final application window. Ms Jones considers the options that are most suited to arable farmers and how to make the most out of the capital grants.

Will Huck, farm adviser for North West Auctions, speaks about funding innovation in agriculture. Defra’s investment provides funding for both the introduction of robots on farm and the development of future robotics, but how can farmers access it? We also look at resource management with grant funding options for water management and irrigation.

Speakers

Head of farming at Strutt & Parker, Jonathan Armitage

Associate partner and rural chartered surveyor at Barbers Rural, Harriet Jones

Farm advisor at NWA professional and property, Will Huck