The Source

Soil obtained from across nine UK locations was used to cultivate six key arable crops (wheat, barley, oats, fava beans, oilseed rape, and sugar beet). Researchers found that although the local soil environment selected which kinds of bacteria were present, the crop species determined the beneficial microbial functions of those bacteria. The findings have significant implications for the design of microbial inoculants and microbiome-assisted breeding strategies for sustainable agriculture.

A total of £225 million will be invested through Capital Grants this year to help farmers and land managers carry out environmental improvements across England. 

“We found that subtle differences in a variety of characteristics of farm systems were associated with differences in farmers’ perceptions of the difficulty of changing practices, and with subsequent adoption.”

Whilst somewhat overshadowed by continued speculation over the future of the Prime Minister, the King’s Speech on the 13th May set out a wide range of legislation that the Government proposes to introduce. Almost 40 Bills were listed ranging from nuclear power to the regulation of taxis.

The UK’s latest climate risk assessment, A Well-Adapted UK, has landed with a now-familiar and sobering reminder for those in agriculture and horticulture: the impacts are already here, the risks are escalating, and adaptation is no longer optional.

Following Mental Health Awareness Week, it feels especially important to continue the conversation around mental health within the agriculture industry.

The studies help neighbouring farmers explore and rank practical options for improving water supply resilience and securing reliable access to water for the future.

Removing the plough altogether can be very risky in a wet season, particularly on heavier soils – it relies on a history of gentle soil husbandry over five or more years, as well as a ‘good’ season…

The UK Farm Assurance Review calls on NFU and AHDB to lead work to clarify and reset the purpose and scope of farm assurance. This document responds to that recommendation

Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil—they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant partners with phosphate and other essential mineral

Chinese researchers improved pollination and fruit set in orchard crops by distributing bee-collected pollen with drones, combining biological and robotic approaches to address pollinator decline.

Biologicals could help agriculture become less dependent on chemical inputs. But their effectiveness differs from one plant variety to another: some respond well, while others barely respond. Research by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) suggests that genetic traits may determine how plants respond, helping breeders develop varieties that benefit more from biologicals.