Enhancing Crop Performance

ADAS are planning the annual Nutrition Challenge to compare the effect of different spring nutrition programmes on winter feed wheat yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) metrics and gross margin. The objective is to maximise outputs (yield and gross margin) while minimising losses to the environment by using novel practises and/or products. The overall aim of the project is to ensure farmers are equipped and encouraged to use fertiliser efficiently, for the benefit of the environment and to maximise their farm’s profit and productivity.

Helping you protect your soil and improve its productivity.  AHDB's GREATSoils inititiative brings together practical information on soil management as well as links to soils research and knowledge exchange. Whether you need an introduction to soil biology or a detailed guide to improving field drainage, AHDB has information and guidance to support you. 

Having celebrated its 12th harvest in 2024 and 12th conference in January, YEN is looking forward through 2025 with a series of reflections on its findings so far.

The Wheat Growth Guide was first published in 1999, following extensive measurement of a range of reference crops in HGCA funded projects. The AHDB Wheat growth guide allows crop progress, structure and final performance to be measured and compared against a series of UK benchmarks. To manage crops effectively, it is important to set targets, assess progress, adjust inputs and monitor success. Our wheat growth guidance outlines the main crop growth stages and components of yield, as well as the opportunities for management.

WRAG confirmed the first case of resistance to the herbicide glyphosate in a UK weed species on 10 January 2025.

Peas, beans and other legumes fix nitrogen from the atmosphere using the process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), whereby atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is combined with hydrogen to form ammonia (NH3​).

Looking to see if the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria can stilmulate nodulation Field trial with three tramlines treated Nodulation counts will be taken in farm practice and treated area Rooting assessments conducted Tissue analysis and cut down assessments

An ADAS report to DEFRA in 1998 highlighting key trends and research priorities for the sunflower industry in the UK Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus) are in high demand due to the culinary, confectionary, bird-seed and industrial uses of their seeds (and thus oils), in addition to the popularity of the flowers in horticulture. At the time of this report in 1998, the UK imported ~350,000 tonnes of seed annually.  Whilst sunflower can be grown in the UK, there are a number of challenges including limited drilling dates to comply with soil temperature requirements, and careful monitoring of a range pests and diseases that sunflower is susceptible to. Further risks such as a late harvest time and the possibility of sunflower itself becoming a weed in following crops meant many farmers were not considering growing sunflowers on their farms. Based on a survey of UK farmers (including both sunflower growers and non-growers), the key factors reported that would encourage more UK farmers to adopt sunflower crops were… To convince farmers of profitability Guaranteed establishment of the crop Earlier harvests Good disease and weed control More information on growing the crops This project provided a comprehensive review of growing sunflower as an arable crop in the UK.  You can find the entire report linked at the bottom of this article (including historical and market information on sunflowers) but some of the key sections are highlighted here. Note all information is accurate for the time of this report (1998).

Are you interested in Crop Monitoring?  Join this club to share ideas and experiences with the tools that are out there, and perhaps develop proposals and projects.

Review by ADAS (Kate Storer) for AHDB in 2016 into the value of biostimulants.

Cereals is the leading technical event for arable farmers and agronomists in the UK.

Nitrogen residue following different crops is an important consideration in the N fertiliser requirement of the subsequent crop and one of the key determinants of N fertiliser recommendations in the UK. 

This guidance provides an easy reference to the major broad-leaved and grass weeds in the UK, including how to identify and manage them based on an understanding of their biology.

Welcome to the new PGRO Pulse Descriptive Lists for 2024.

Peas are a very important crop to growers as they provide a valuable spring sown break crop which supplies product for processing, seed, food and feed uses.

YEN Conference, 21st January 2025

Join us for the third (and final) Cheltenham Monitor Farm meeting of Winter 2023/24. 

The ADAS soils and nutrients team will share and discuss results from our recent cover crop research with Affinity Water, Anglian Water, and Portsmouth Water.

On many arable farms, modern agricultural production has seen the continual removal of residues and intensive tillage of the soil.

Find out about the different types of cover crops, their potential benefits, and how to grow and evaluate them.

Peas are a pulse crop that is part of the Leguminosae family.

Root crops present a particular challenge to farmers who are trying to adopt regenerative practices. 

Wireworms are the larval stage of click beetles.

'Agricultural economists Graham Brookes and Stuart Smyth warn that we must learn the lessons from past experience of divergent international regulation of agricultural innovations.'

Understanding the factors that impact nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is key to improving nutrient management planning.

There is no shortage of information available on cover crops. However, successfully integrating cover crops into arable rotations, while understanding and navigating the positive and negative impacts can be difficult.

Based on RL data and parental diversity information, use the variety blend tool to select three-way or four-way mixes for on-farm testing.

Catch crops are grown post-harvest or following silage, these crops hunt nutrients to reduce leaching from the soil while also allowing cover for the soil which prevents erosion.

Choosing practical and impactful integrated pest management (IPM) approaches and tools is essential. However, putting IPM research into practice in a commercial farm situation can be challenging.

Legumes form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria called rhizobia. Rhizobia form nodules on legume roots where atmospheric nitrogen (N) from soil pores is fixed into plant-available N and fed to plants.

Intercropping is known to have environmental and economic benefits, but which varieties work best together in a UK climate?

A practical guide to soil and system improvement

This manual provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds.

This webinar will be comprised of three presentations. Matteo Poggia, Agrocares, Netherlands will describe Practical application of fusing spectroscopic techniques in routine soil analysis: Lab-in-a-Box (LiaB) concept. This will be followed by Prof. Uri Yermiyahu, Volcani Institute, Israel and  Sanjay Namdev Biradar, ICL Fertilisers India who will present the science and operational experiences of the ICLeaf crop leaf scanning technology.

Beef cattle in the arable rotation has many benefits to both beef and arable producers. But what are the costs and margins involved?

The headline may appear defeatist from the off, but the wet 2023-24 autumn and winter period will impact many crops already sown and those intended to be sown in the coming spring, says Dick Neale (Hutchinsons Technical Manager).

Making the most of farm data collected each season can seem a challenge. However, improving our understanding of how to interpret and put data to work can improve farming systems.

PGRO Chief Executive Roger Vickers talks us through one of PGRO's intercropping trial plots.

Join ADAS and AHDB to see the plot demonstrations and discuss pests, weeds and diseases with technical updates and experts on hand.

A well-managed cover crop can conserve and protect the soil, boost productivity, capture nitrogen and phosphorus leftover from a main crop or from fall applied manure, and if harvested in the spring, provide additional forage for dairy cattle and other livestock.

At a time when sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship are vital, improving the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of organic manures is a crucial goal.

Technical Guide

Ever wondered which regenerative arable farming practices are the most effective or which combinations work best together?

Join us as we take a deep dive into the world beneath our feet, from the micro to the macro biology of soils. 

Multi-species grassland leys in crop rotations can improve soil quality and nutrient efficiency, particularly with legume inclusion, which enhances nitrogen availability and reduces the need for mineral fertilisers. 

  Results from a field lab investigating if it's possible to irrigate with saline water. 

This report is a comprehensive literature review of weed control options, on a national and international level, that could benefit UK crop production in horticultural crops, cereals and oilseeds, sugar beet, potatoes, grassland, legumes and maize

Cover crops should be viewed as a long-term investment in improved soil health and farm management. 

Good cover crop destruction will help to pave the way for successful spring cover crop establishment.

The traditional cultivation of maize is accompanied by numerous mechanical cultivations and the application of herbicides.

Nitrogen (N) is not a scarce element on earth but the most abundant forms (N2 gas in the atmosphere and N fixed in the earth’s crust and sediments) are not directly available for plants.

Worth billions of dollars annually and continuing to expand, the global biostimulants market offers potential for growers. AHDB Environment Scientist Joanna McBurnie explores the product types, evidence of their benefits and usage considerations.

 In a recent RASE Farm of the Future webinar, three farmers shared their experiences of putting regenerative farming theory into practice.

Through Innovative Farmers, a group of organic and conventional farmers have teamed up with the Organic Research Centre and AHDB to investigate how to grow living mulches.

Discover how, why, and when field drainage is important, as well as best practice for installation, maintenance and repairs.

Join us (AHDB) for a meeting at McGregor Farms, Coldstream Mains, in June.

Monday 10th June - AM session only Monday 1st July - AM and PM session

Silvoarable systems are farming systems that integrate trees with arable cropping. 

Comprehensive nutritional programme based on tissue analysis. Four tramlines to receive a small amount of Amide N to in an attempt to prolong flowering, boost pod development and seed size.

In 2024, Linseed YEN Lite made its debut with Andrew Burton from Derbyshire scooping the gold award with a yield of 3.1 t/ha for winter linseed, and Chris Byass of Yorkshire achieving the best percentage of potential yield with 46% of potential yield. These linseed entries were grown with the winter varieties Attila and Alpaga respectively, and were supported by Premium Crops.

The use of cover crop and green manures is one of the best practices promoted by Best4Soil. The different aspects of this natural method for maintaining and improving the soil health are presented in this video.

These factsheets produced as part of the Best 4 Soil EU thematic network provide practical information on the use of compost on farm.

Integration of livestock and crops as a viable alternative to specialized systems that can improve resource efficiency and ecosystem services. A case study from Lemnos, Greece.

Low emission fertilisers - what are they, how do they work and why are farmers using unique, low carbon alternatives.

Includes a study of feasibility of harvesting and sorting + 52 technical sheets from farmers' experiences.

In this trial we will be gathering data on the impact of a winter bean crop on the following wheat crop (in terms of soil nitrogen supply, nitrogen available to/taken up by the plant, and any associated impact on crop yield).

The following brief text summarises research and innovation activities undertaken by the James Hutton Institute (JHI) during Year 2 (2024-25) of the Nitrogen Climate Smart (NCS) project.  The summary also highlights briefly research which is to be undertaken in 2025-26 too.

Pea growers have a new, free resource at their fingertips, thanks to a collaboration between ADAS, BASF, and the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO).

Venue: Kingsgate Conference Centre in Peterborough, PE1 4YT Date: Tuesday, 27th January Time: 9am - 4pm

The UK’s flagship arable event driving knowledge and innovation

Ben Hague (Crop Physiologist) Ben.Hague@adas.co.uk Charlotte White (Crop Physiologist) Charlotte.White@adas.co.uk Christina Baxter (Crop Physiologist) Christina.Baxter@adas.co.uk Roger Sylvester-Bradley (Crop Physiologist) Roger.Sylvester-Bradley@adas.co.uk

This project converts the information we have on PGR applications in the YEN into analysable data, and then explores associations between PGR use and crop yield, height, ears per m2 and other physiological traits related to yield.

This SRUC guide provides practical advice on growing Organic Oilseed Rape in Scotland. The principles of this guide apply to organic Oilseed Rape growth in the whole of the UK and other locations.

Ben Hague (Crop Physiologist) Ben.hague@adas.co.uk Thomas Wilkinson (Crop Physiologist) Thomas.wilkinson@adas.co.uk Pete Berry (Crop Physiologist) Pete.berry@adas.co.uk   Key Points: • New analysis of YEN data shows that pulse pre-crops increase wheat yields by 0.9 t/ha compared to wheat pre-crops, termed the “break crop effect”. • Break crop effects can be due to a range mechanisms, broadly split into nitrogen and non-nitrogen related benefits. The magnitude of the break crop effect of pulses is similar in size to that of oilseed rape. • Pulse residues contain on average 20 kg N/ha more than residues from cereal crops when cereal straw is baled. • N recommendations should consider the yield of the previous break crop as this affects the quantity of N residues left for the following crop • Each additional tonne of yield of a bean crop is estimated to increase the N residues by 10 kg N/ha.

The potential yield of UK oilseed rape crops is 6.5t/ha but until 2011 average farm yields had remained static since the mid 1980s at around 3.0 t/ha. 

 22 January 2026  Crieff Hydro Hotel SAOS Conference returns to Crieff Hydro on January 22nd 2026.

Speaker: Christina Baxter, ADAS. This is a summary of the YEN Conference 2026 session: Impact of high yields on profitability and sustainability. The resource discusses the debate between land sparing and land sharing, highlighting the importance of nuanced, place-based approaches to optimal land use. It presents the Three Compartment Model, noting that different species benefit from varying habitat intensities. Current strategies, such as the 30:50:50 Mission, aim to boost UK agricultural productivity while significantly reducing environmental impact. Government support and planning tools are available to help farmers adopt sustainable practices and make informed decisions about land allocation for high yield farming, natural habitats, and low intensity agriculture. Key Messages: High yields have lower C footprints per tonne of output High yields make economic sense for farm businesses Moving beyond land sharing vs land sparing. An integrated place-based approach. Yield is king... in the right contexts

Speaker: Pete Berry, ADAS. This is a summary of the YEN Conference 2026 session: Impacts of warm, dry and wet conditions on crop performance The session began with a poll asking which factors most frequently reduce crop yields, with drought and lack of sunshine emerging as the top concerns. Definitions were provided to distinguish between climate (long-term weather patterns) and weather (day-to-day atmospheric conditions). The text outlines recent changes to the UK climate, noting increased warming, wetter winters, sunnier springs, and projections for hotter, drier summers. The challenges faced by farmers include both long-term climate trends, such as warming and altered rainfall patterns, and short-term weather difficulties like extended dry or wet spells, making it hard to predict conditions at the start of the season. Strategies for managing crops in warmer and drier conditions focus on earlier flowering, deeper rooting, adequate water supply, and sufficient nutrient application, particularly phosphorus. Dry conditions emphasise the importance of root depth and early drilling, while wet conditions bring risks such as waterlogging, nutrient leaching, disease, and lodging. Management recommendations include choosing resilient crop varieties, adjusting sowing times, using urea to reduce nitrate leaching, and maintaining robust fungicide and growth regulator programmes. Key Messages: We need a crop husbandry strategy that deals with the long-term climate trends for warmer conditions and the greater likelihood of very high temperatures, whilst also being resilient to seasonal challenges of long dry or wet periods. We do not know the weather conditions of the growing season before it happens, so we need to grow crops that are resilient to both dry and wet conditions A few key factors to get right include: maximising rooting depth, ensure sufficient N and P for canopy longevity and achieving well drained fields

This guide from the TRUTH Project covers rooting, how to assess rooting systems, and practical guidance on optimising root growth.

This webinar presents practical, technical insights from Year 1 of the Scotland Bean Variety Trial, with a focus on crop performance under Scottish conditions. Aimed at farmers and agronomists, the session will explore establishment, variety responses, seasonal challenges, and yield outcomes, linking trial data to on-farm decision making.

Using beans to rebuild rotational performance after stewardship.

Speakers:  Todd Jex, Agrii Dmitry Feoktistov, NFU Pete Berry, ADAS This is a summary of the YEN Conference 2026 Session: Best Practices for Climate Resilience (Panel Discussion) Key Messages: Business resilience must exist to enable climate resilience - "Resilience starts with the bottom line" Establishment is key Good soil condition will enable long-term resilience

Speaker: Thomas Wilkinson, ADAS This is a summary of the YEN Conference 2026 Session: YEN lessons: Oilseeds.   Key Messages: The ideal Oilseed Rape (OSR) crop ideotype - Larger, but not just thicker canopies (more efficient and effective light capture) and higher harvest index. Higher number of seeds /m2 and better seed filling. High yielding crops tend to be sown and develop 5-10 days later. Useful associations with high yielding OSR crops:  Higher manuring frequency Deep non-inversion establishment most common strategy (move soil when needed) Use of autumn nitrogen Combine Canopy Management Principles with IPM strategies

The UK’s flagship arable event driving knowledge and innovation