Crops and Soils
Business and Policy November 2026 – Arable
Grain markets weaken as Scottish cropping shifts For growers holding grain after a mixed harvest, the past week has brought a disappointing turn in prices. Wheat has fallen sharply and oilseed rape has also eased, even as the latest UK figures point to tighter cereal supplies. The smaller domestic crop still matters, particularly for barley,…
Oilseed Rape – Managing Pests
Scottish oilseed rape faces a wide range of pests from establishment through to flowering and pod development. Successful OSR pest management is increasingly about growing a crop that can tolerate pest pressure, monitoring what’s happening in the field and only intervening when the risk justifies it. Following on from Publication 1 (The Role of Major…
Oilseed Rape Rotations and Establishment
Following on from Publication 1 (The Role of Major Nutrients in Oilseed Rape), this publication looks at the importance of finding the right place in your rotation for Oilseed Rape and foundations to consider for successful establishment. Click Here to Download a PDF/Print Version Click Here to Enlarge Image Heather Stuart, SAC Consulting Related Resources…
Field Beans – Uses and Market Outlook
Field beans are a relatively low input crop, requiring no artificial nitrogen fertiliser and relatively moderate levels of field cultivation. They also offer a good entry for following cereal crops with documented benefits for cereal yields. A key benefit of field beans is that they represent a home-grown source of relatively high protein feed for…
The Value of Pollinators for High Yielding Bean Crops
With the price of barley plummeting, growers are looking for alternative crops to sow in spring. Field beans are becoming an increasingly strong contender. They act as a break crop, provide an excellent source of plant-based protein and fix nitrogen reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers – benefiting your farm’s carbon footprint. But beans have…
The Role of Major Nutrients in Oilseed Rape
Oilseed rape has high nutrient demands to drive leaf growth in autumn and support flowering, pod fill and seed quality in spring. Getting the right nutrients, in the right balance, at the right time is key to strong healthy crops. Test your soil, plan ahead and apply nutrients to match crop needs throughout the growing…
Business and Policy September 2026 – Arable
Overview As the 2026 harvest nears completion it may well be remembered as one of the driest on record. Across southern and central England, prolonged heat and exceptionally dry conditions have severely affected yields, although Scotland and northern areas are generally reporting better results. The national picture is mixed, and perhaps AHDB’s yield reports for the UK as a whole are over-generalistic. However, AHDB currently puts winter barley at an average…
Beavers and Water Resilience: A Natural Ally for Arable Systems?
Heatwaves, drought and water scarcity are no longer occasional challenges for arable farmers: they are becoming defining features of the growing season. The UK has already experienced multiple heatwaves in 2026, with drought conditions affecting large areas and wildfires reported across Scotland and Europe. For growers, the implications are clear: reduced yields, tighter margins, and increasing pressure to…
Business and Policy August 2026 – Arable
For much of the past year grain markets have struggled to find any real direction. Large global harvests, comfortable stocks and generally favourable growing conditions across the world’s major exporting regions have kept buyers relaxed, leaving prices under pressure and many growers questioning what it would take to generate a meaningful recovery. Over the past few weeks, however, the…
CropCast – Field to Fork with Kettle Produce
Field to Fork with Kettle Produce: in this episode Mark is joined by Finlay Ross (Crop Manager) and Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture) from Kettle Produce Ltd. Kettle Produce are a market leader for the provision of fresh and prepared vegetables, with over 5,000 hectares of crops grown in Scotland and around the world. Listen…