The arable desk

16 dispatches on file Arable farming written from a Suffolk farm that took on combinable crops two years ago, alongside the salad and veg ground that's been there for twenty-one. Drilling decisions, fertiliser strategy, soil health, variety choice and the agronomy calls that change the gross margin.

9 May 202619 min standing

UK Farm Prices and Agricultural Markets: A Working Farmer’s Guide to Reading the Trade in 2026

This guide explains where UK farm prices come from in 2026, who actually publishes them, how to read the daily and weekly numbers across cereals, beef,…

8 May 202618 min standing

UK Crop Protection 2026: A Working Grower’s IPM Guide

UK crop protection in 2026: HSE rules, residue specs, withdrawn actives, IPM in practice. From a working salad and veg grower in Suffolk.

7 May 202616 min standing

UK Precision Agriculture 2026: A Working Farmer’s Guide for Salad/Veg and Small Arable

What earns its keep on a sub-500-acre holding: precision kit for salad/veg and small arable, with SFI 2026, Capital Grants and FETF mapped against it.

7 May 202624 min standing

UK Salad and Vegetable Production: A Working Grower’s Guide to 2026

It covers the economics, agronomy, labour, cold chain and supermarket dynamics that decide whether a salad and vegetable holding clears its costs in 2026,.

6 Apr 20268 min standing

Spring Barley Guide 2026: Seed Rates, Drilling Dates and Growing Tips UK

Complete guide to spring barley drilling 2026 — when to drill, best seed rates, top varieties and field management for UK farmers.

20 Mar 202611 min standing

Grass and Pasture Management UK 2026: Complete Guide

Grass Species In the UK, there are several species of grass that are commonly used for farming and pastoral purposes.