Podcasts about oilseed rape

In the fifth podcast episode of 2025, Ken Rundle speaks to Agronomy Operations Manager Natalie Wood about Yara's free mobile application Atfarm. In this discussion Natalie goes into detail about Atfarm, some of the features such as the biomass maps, variable rate maps and using the N-Tester with the application, the latest developments relating to Atfarm including the collaboration with John Deere, Growth estimation feature and how Atfarm can increase nitrogen use efficiency. 

In this episode, we discuss the possible outcomes after government finally agrees to talks with farm leaders on inheritance tax.Have things gone too far? Were farming protestors right to force Keir Starmer to cut short a prime ministerial visit to Milton Keynes?And should farming be higher or lower on the government's pecking order?We speak to Aberdeenshire farmer Andrew Connan – NFU Scotland's newly president – and ask him about his priorities.And Louise meets the aerospace engineer who finds out that farming is harder than rocket science.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.Follow Johann (X): @johanntaskerFollow Louise (X): @louisearableFollow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarmFor Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweeklyTo contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Winter oilseed rape has grown strongly over the past month but these conditions are also good for foliar disease development.   Dr Stephen Kildea joins the Tillage Edge this week to talk about disease levels in oilseed rape and if control is necessary. He encourages all growers to walk their fields to look for Phoma and Light Leaf Spot (LLS) and recommends if LLS is not visible, to take some leaf samples, put in a bag, leave in a warm environment and assess after a couple of days.  If no disease is present then there is probably no need to apply a fungicide.   For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Four cases of bluetongue have now been confirmed in sheep on farms in Norfolk and Suffolk. The virus, which is spread by biting midges blown into the UK from northern Europe, is currently widespread in the Netherlands with further cases in Germany and Belgium. As well as sheep, it affects cattle, goats, deer and camelids but not humans, nor does it pose any risk to the food chain. Harvest is in full swing for many farmers and we've been seeing how it's going all week. In Cornwall on the Tregothnan Estate they're harvesting tea with a solar-powered robotic tea picker.Oilseed rape can be high risk: pests like cabbage stem flea beetle can wipe out a crop, and some pesticides which growers once relied on are now banned. We hear from a farmer in the Cotswolds who, in spite of the challenges, has created a booming business selling cold pressed rapeseed oil as a British alternative to imported oils. We announce our Farming Today finalists in the 2024 BBC Food & Farming Awards.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Beef production across the UK is down, but the demand is steady or rising. Should farmers be worried about imports taking over their market?And what about alternative forms of protein, such as artificial meat? Research into this and other possibilities has been given a boost by the establishment of a new research group, costing £38 million.And riding along in a combine harvester as it takes in this year's crop of oilseed rape.Presented by Anna HillProduced by Alun Beach

The ideal time to plant oilseed rape is in the next couple of weeks and so Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, join the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the variety choice and best practice for good establishment. Oilseed rape comes with a lot of in-built genetic technology which Shay says will help to achieve high yields but he cautions that growers should carefully choose the correct variety for their area with disease resistance and pod shatter resistance being very important.       For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Farmers this year are growing less oilseed rape than they have for the last 30 years. That is partly due to the expense of growing it, the dreadful wet weather preventing crops getting established, and the fact that it succumbs to the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. A group in Scotland however are growing it organically - so how do they do it?Thatched buildings are a common sight in many rural areas, but a shortage of seasonal labour, materials and outdated machinery are some of the modern-day challenges facing a thatcher today, according to a report by Historic England which warns that the traditional industry could be at risk. And campaigners fighting for the clean-up of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste in a Kent woodland are threatening legal action against the Environment Agency. Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Alun Beach

This year the UK is growing less oilseed rape than it has for 30 years, it has become too expensive and risky for many farmers to use it as a crop.Clearing up a green, smelly carpet of seaweed known as sea lettuce from the beaches of Jersey.And we import more than 80% of the wood we use in this country, and there are calls for far more of that to be home grown.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach

In the fifteenth episode of 2024 presenter Ken Rundle has a talk with Crop Nutrition Agronomist Natalie Wood regarding Oilseed Rape for the next season. The conversation looks into getting a head start regarding growing the crop, how to improve the establishment of the crop with a NKPS product, recent trial data from Yara including Organo Mineral Fertilisers and by implementing YaraVita Brassitrel Pro gives the key nutrients for the crop.  

In this episode, a young farmer tells how he is lucky to be alive after being trapped under a stack of falling bales.Christopher Rolfe was airlifted to hospital following the accident thanks to Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.Chris told his story at the start of Farm Safety Week – the annual campaign by the Farm Safety Foundation and the Yellow Wellies charity.The busy harvest period often sees a spike in the number of farm accidents – including collisions on the road between tractors and other vehicles.As harvest continues, police are conducting roadside are checks on tractors and trailers to make sure they are safe.We learn how the Tilly Your Trailer campaign can ensure your grain and silage trailers are properly maintained and stay on the right side of the law.We also take a look at the prospects for oilseed rape following ongoing concern for the future of the crop in the UK.We've our regular market round-up and all the latest commodity prices.And we find out why King Charles has bestowed the royal title on the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat breed – and what it means for farming.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker with Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick.Additional reporting by Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise Impey.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. 

In the fourth podcast episode of 2024, Ken Rundle has a discussion with YaraVita Product Manager Chris Harrold regarding the current challenges in the season due to the weather, recommendations on current crops including leaf tissue testing and the importance of implementing foliar nutrients including YaraVita Gramitrel and YaraVita Brassitrel Pro. 

Despite the cold weather, oilseed rape is actively growing.  Management decisions are needed on most crops in the coming days and weeks and on this week's Tillage Edge podcast, John Spink, the Head of Crops, Environment and Land Use (CELUP) in Teagasc, discusses the tools and management which should be used by all farmers growing oilseed rape to ensure high yield later in the year. John says the Green Area Index (GAI) is a critical measurement for all crops to determine the level and timing for nitrogen.  “It is easy for growers to put too much nitrogen onto crops which will reduce yield by producing excessive flowers and also increase lodging,” he told Michael Hennessy. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Peter Lindsay, an Agricultural Consultant at SAC Consulting and Professor Ian Bingham, a Plant & crop physiologist at SRUC, to discuss spring fertiliser applications for the season ahead. Cropcast is your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field. Producer George Gauley, Editor Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Linked FAS ResourcesTN685 - Sulphur Recommendations for Crops TN732-Nitrogen Recommendations for Cereals, Oilseed Rape & Potatoes TN715 – TN718 Phosphate & Potash recommendations for crops

This week, Defra secretary Steve Barclay delivers his first major speech as he gets to grips with his new job.We examine his plans for agriculture and the countryside – and take a look at Labour's promises too when it comes to farming.What's hot and what's not when it comes to seeds? We run the rule on the recommended list for cereals and oilseeds varieties.We find out why the Welsh Assembly government is refusing to cull badgers to help combat bovine TB in cattle.We've our regular round up of the latest market prices – and an update on last week's auction of Massey Ferguson memorabilia.And we find out what English Farmers can learn from their counterparts in Wales.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with additional reporting by Abi Kay, Louise Impey and Rhian Price.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

In this episode, a farmer jailed for causing damage to a protected river has defended his actions, insisting they helped prevent flooding.In an exclusive interview, John Price of Herefordshire says he has no regrets, despite serving a prison sentence after dredging the River Lugg.Just what can we expect from new Defra secretary Steve Barclay? We discover his likely priorities – and take a look at his in-tray.We've the latest commodity prices and our regular market roundup – and look at the prospects for oilseed rape this season.Welsh farmers voice dismay at bovine TB policy – and lack of engagement from the Welsh Assembly government.And we meet the farmer who survived a heart attack – after reading some handy health tips in Farmers Weekly.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with additional reporting by Abi Kay, Phil Case and Charlie Reeve.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

New rules brought in this year under GAEC 6 will exclude tillage farmers who do not have grassland from grazing cover crops, according to Shay Phelan, a tillage specialist in Teagasc.   On this week's Tillage Edge podcast, Shay outlines the DAFM rules which must be complied with to graze cover crops and what the DAFM inspectors will be looking for on farm. Oilseed rape planting season is upon us at the moment and Shay talks about the various characteristics which farmers should look for in varieties such as light leaf spot resistance, pod shatter resistance, lodging resistance etc.   Also, a date for your diary is the Crops Forum on Friday September 8th in the Kilashee Hotel, Naas and for more details go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/crops-forum-2023.php  For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/                               Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In this episode, farmers face a hike in levy rates under plans announced by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.It follows what has been described as a 'near death experience' by the levy board and an admission that it hasn't been delivering for growers.We join the crowds as the Cereals event welcomes visitors to a new venue – the Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire.Defra farm minister farm minister Mark Spencer tells us he plans to put the 'meat on the bones' of the government's Sustainable Farming Incentive.Payment rates and conditions are due to be unveiled for the 2023 scheme, which rewards farmers for looking after the environment while farming sustainably.It's been a challenging year for cereal growers – we look at prospects for this year's harvest and what to consider when planning next season's cropping.And we go to a gig with The Wurzels, who are celebrating more than 50 years in show business and helping to raise money for charity.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and FW arable correspondent Louise Impey, with additional reporting by Hugh Broom.To contact Johann and Hugh, please email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.Recorded live on location at the 2023 Cereals event held on 13 June 2023 at the Thoresby Estate, Nottinghamshire. 

In this week's Podcast:  One of our early major nectar flows comes in the form of the Oilseed Rape crops sown widely by farmers across the UK. It brings with it a ready source of nectar and pollen for our bees, but also some challenges in terms of timing and extraction, here's my take on a love/hate relationship some beekeepers have with this early-season plant.  Hi, I'm Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 252 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.Oilseed Rape Paper can be found HEREContact Me at The Norfolk Honey CompanyJoin Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access HereStewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click HereTwitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our FeedInstagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great PhotographsSign Up for my email updates by visiting my website hContact Me at The Norfolk Honey CompanyJoin Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access HereStewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click HereTwitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our FeedInstagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great PhotographsSign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

This week's show features chats on fieldwork and organic manures and as always we look at the paper and have grain market and weather reports.

Despite the very wet weather over the past two months, winter oilseed rape has grown strongly but these conditions are also good for foliar disease development.   Dr. Stephen Kildea joins the Tillage Edge podcast this week to talk about disease levels in oilseed rape and if control is necessary. Dr. Kildea encourages all growers to walk their fields to look for Phoma and Light Leaf Spot (LLS) and recommends if LLS  is not visible to take some leaf samples put in a bag, leave in a warm environment and assess after a couple of days.   If no disease is present then there is probably no need to apply a fungicide.    Stephen also goes through the disease threshold levels before control is necessary. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In this episode, why politicians are being urged to put their money where their mouth is when promising to back British farming.One year after Boris Johnson outraged pig producers by dismissing the crisis engulfing the sector, how are farmers faring now?With some arable farmers ripping up oilseed rape, we look at the prospects for the crop over the coming season.We find out how young farmers get on the farming ladder in West Africa.And we meet the seed merchant donating grain for a local mill to turn into flour for a local food bank.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom. Additional reporting by Charlotte Cunningham, Andrew Meredith, Philip Clarke, Phil Case and Ed Henderson.

The dry soils are making oilseed rape weed control difficult and choosing the correct options will maximise control but also minimise crop effects.   On this week's Tillage Edge podcast, Ciarán Collins, a tillage specialist in Teagasc, discusses the benefits and drawbacks from a number of different approaches. Ciarán explains that residual herbicides don't work well in dry soils and growers should be cautious when using these herbicides when heavy rain is forecast.   Ciarán also pointed out that oilseed rape gives an excellent opportunity to control grass weeds using herbicides with a different mode of action than are normally used on the farm. Podcast SurveyIn order to understand the aspects of the Tillage Edge podcast which are most appealing and beneficial to you, it would be great if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey:https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4 For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Oilseed rape will give comparable margins in 2023 to winter wheat and is a crop worth consideration on most farms and on this week's Tillage Edge podcast,  Shay Phelan and Dermot Forristal from Teagasc discuss the varieties, establishment methods and early crop management of oilseed rape. According to Shay, choosing a variety with high light leaf spot and pod shatter resistance is a good starting point but there are other traits which can be looked at including Phoma resistance or a Clearfield variety which is matched to a specific herbicide allowing to control other brassicia species in the field.  Dermot Forristal said oilseed rape is resilient and will give similar yields when planted with different establishment systems, providing plants are evenly spaced through the field.   Podcast SurveyIn order to understand the aspects of the Tillage Edge podcast which are most appealing and beneficial to you, it would be great if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey:https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4 For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

As drought is declared across eastern, central and southern England, we assess the impact on the livestock and arable sectors.We look at the prospects for grazing, winter forage and animal health – and examine the best time to drill oilseed rape.And we speak to the onion grower who is giving away his crop after hot, dry weather meant it failed to meet storage specifications.On the markets, we've the latest ringside from Skipton Mart and we look at the market for low protein wheat and where to sell it.How bad will the New Zealand trade deal be for UK farmers. We speak to the experts who have been working it out.And we meet the farmers helping fire fighters put out field fires.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with FW business editor Suzie Horne and FW arable correspondent Louise Impey.

In this week's Podcast: Expansion necessarily requires more of everything, more hives, more bees, and more queens. This week I began the process of introducing new queens into the split colonies and also continued with the honey extraction.Hi, I'm Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 213 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.Sponsorship: I'm delighted to say that our podcast is now sponsored in part by Simon The Beekeeper - 'Making beekeeping an affordable hobby for everyone, Simon the Beekeeper provides the best value beekeeping equipment possible, along with a super-fast delivery service. The bees won't wait, so their customers don't have to either.Visit the website at www.simonthebeekeeper.co.ukJoin Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access HereStewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click HereTwitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our FeedInstagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great PhotographsSign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field.  Producer George Gauley, Editor Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. In this episode Tiffany Mactaggart is joined by SAC crop consultant Peter Lindsay to discuss upcoming disease management strategies for spring barley, how winter oilseed rape is progressing along with tips on desiccation.  Tiffany will also be joined by SAC potato consultant Kyran Maloney to discuss potato blight spray programs for the season ahead.  Tiffany will also be joined by beef & sheep consultant Kirstin Williams to discuss forage crop planning for the winter ahead. For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot

Rising costs and a volatile world market means farmers need to make significant decisions about how they plan ahead when planting crops. With India suffering from a blazing heatwave, its' government has now decided to temporarily halt exports of wheat as its supplies come under pressure, which has caused wheat prices worldwide to jump. And the war in Ukraine is also affecting prices. As a major producer of sunflower oils, disruption to supplies means the price of oil seed rape has seen a big increase. And this week we're talking about staff shortages in the vet industry, and the mental health challenges vets are facing. Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs

In this episode, farmers in England are to receive advance support payments – as the government tries to each a cashflow crisis caused by soaring input costs.We speak to Defra farm minister Victoria Prentis – who explains why farmers will receive half their basic payment for 2022 six months early.We visit the water company which is paying farmers to look after our rivers – by reducing fertiliser applications and planting trees.Insect protein in animal diets – we discover how UK legislation is holding back what many people believe is the future for livestock feed.On the markets, will oilseed rape prices ever stop risingAnd we meet a first-time farmer from Huddersfield who is making a success of pasture-based poultry – rearing chickens on grass.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey Farmer Hugh Broom, with deputy livestock editor Charlotte Cunningham.

A special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – looking at the prospects for oilseed rape growers this spring.Farmers are returning to oilseed rape – having abandoned the crop due to pressure from cabbage stem flea beetle following the ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments.Some UK growers are learning to live with the pest, say experts – and high rape prices are helping to offset rising input costs, making the crop attractive again.We look at the planted area, as well as the prospects for yields and prices.Interviews and reporting by Hugh Broom and Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise Impey.Presented by Johann Tasker and produced in association with plant protection company Corteva.

In this episode, as a mechanical failure threatens to disrupt global glyphosate supplies – we examine the impact for UK farmers. What's the natural capital value of your farmland – we run the rule over a new tool which developers say could help farmers benefit from biodiversity net gain.On the markets, we have the latest commodity prices and look at the prospects for oilseed rape – a crop which has seen recent record prices.We wade through the wreckage of winter storms Eunice and Dudley as they roar across the UK – and debate the rights and wrongs of the BBC Panorama programme focusing on the dairy idustry. And we meet blind pig producer Mike Duxbury  who  shows us around his Inclusive Farm project to help people with disabilities carve a successful career in agriculture.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with additional reporting from Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise Impey and news reporter Ed Henderson.

In this episode, farm leader Minette Batters gives her views from the COP26 climate change conference on red meat and methane.Are livestock really to blame for greenhouse gas emissions – or do fossil fuels have a bigger part to play? And what should we do about it?West Yorkshire doctor and former farm worker Jerry Alderson explains why it's good to talk about farm accidents – and how we can help each other stay safe.On the markets, buoyant demand sees a big increase in the oilseed rape area drilled for harvest 2022 – and a sudden uplift for beef and sheep.A new veterinary school at Harper Adams University and Keele University aims to encourage more farm vets – and overcome a shortage in the sector.And we take a ride with the Welly Wheelers – a group of Somerset farmers who take their cycling very seriously indeed.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with FW livestock editor Rhian Price, FW senior livestock reporter Michael Priestley and FW business reporter Charlie Reeve.

Oilseed rape crops have powered ahead this year and most crops are in great shape for the winter. Plantings of oilseed rape are up by 30% and forward prices are up by nearly 50%. But, disease control is important in all crops to ensure full yields are realised and Dr. Stephen Kildea, from Teagasc, joined Michael Hennessy on this week's Tillage Edge podcast to discuss disease and growth regulation control in rape. Stephen said both Phoma and Light Leaf Spot were a problem and need to be controlled in most crops. Walking crops and assessing disease levels is important and in addition to assess if a growth regulator is necessary. Stephen stressed the need to control disease but also to have a large green canopy next spring to minimise nitrogen inputs. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Could Britain really face a shortage of turkeys this Christmas? We speak to a seasonal poultry producer who says the sector faces a huge challenge.Would you like a minister for the countryside in every government department? Pipe dream or farming future? We find out.On the markets, we have the latest prospects and prices for oilseed rape – and all the other major arable and livestock commodities.After a ground-breaking government announcement, we ask: could gene-edited crops improve your bottom line? Or will they be a Franken-Food disaster?And we meet the contestants fighting it out to be Britain's Fittest Farmer.This episode of the Farmers Weekly podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey Farmer Hugh Broom.

Many growers are switching between harvesting and planting this month to get their winter oilseed rape planted and on this week's Tillage Edge, Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, joins Michael Hennessy to give an insight into the advantages of getting the crop planted in August rather than September. Ciaran points to the increased growth, giving the plant more resilience against pests early in the season, bird attacks later in the season and how the crop will take up more nitrogen allowing for saving in the spring, as all beneficial factors. Growers should select varieties carefully, he advises, as resistance to light leaf spot is very important in the Irish climate. The DAFM recommended list is a good place to start looking for information. There are other sources of information especially from the UK however, growers should look at these sources carefully as they don't fully translate to growing conditions in Ireland. Ciaran also points out the advantages and disadvantages of the different weed control options available to farmers. Pre-emerge has advantages in controlling chickweed and speedwell whereas post-emergence applications are necessary for grass weed control and for some broad leaf weeds like fumitory. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In this episode, Ken Rundle talks to Natalie Wood, Yara's arable agronomist to ask what growers can do to improve the establishment of oilseed rape crops, and what role nutrition plays in crop establishment.

Oilseed rape has had more than its fair share of problems over recent years  - with many growers abandoning the crop  due to cabbage stem flea beetle.But some farmers believe it is worth sticking with rape – and record-breaking prices mean it could make a wider return to  arable rotations.In this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast, we visit north-east Norfolk grower Kit Papworth who talks about his strategy for the crop.We also talk to NIAB specialist Colin Peters, who explains a cross-industry partnership working with growers to combat cabbage stem flea beetle.And we speak to James Hood, of United Oilseeds, who looks at the market prospects for the crop which has risen in value to record levels this spring.This special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is presented by Farmers Weekly arable writer Louise Impey and sponsored by Corteva.

In this episode, farmers turning out cattle this spring are being warned to this twice before  putting cattle and calves in fields with public footpaths.We look at ways livestock producers can carry on farming – while ensuring people are safe when using public rights of way.Trade deals with other countries must be matched with protection for UK farmers from substandard food imports, says a watchdog.But does the recommendation go far enough? And does the government's independent Trade and Agriculture Commission strike the right balance?In the markets, oilseed rape is the latest commodity to see a price surge.Two business management experts examine the implications of this week's  give-and-take Budget for your farm business.And we look at the opportunities for young farmers to start sheep shearing – and how it can take you right around the world.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom.

A shake-up in the farm machinery dealer network has seen major restructuring for big name brands and franchises.We look at what it means for farmers – and for other machinery manufacturers.Pressure is mounting on the government to help ease the pain of reduced farm support as the basic payment scheme is phased out.Could it do more to help farming families?On the markets, we look at the prospects for oilseed rape – and the impact that a rise in Sterling could have on your farm business.Defra approves an NFU proposal for the Environmental Land Management scheme to include ways of encouraging farmers to reach Net Zero.As livestock producers take action to mitigate climate change, we ask whether concern over methane emissions is justified – or just a load of hot air?And we talk to the independent film-makers who are asking farmers to go Dutch as they plan a myth-busting movie about glyphosate.For more details about the Glyphosate Chronicles film featured in this episode, visit sugarrushfilm.nl/glyphosate.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly deputy business editor Andrew Meredith.

Organic oilseed rape is often said to be impossible to grow. Aberdeenshire feed manufacturer Norvite are at the centre of trials hoping to prove that claim wrong - and to offer Scottish-grown organic cold-pressed rapeseed oil as a premium product for restaurants and wholesale. They also hope to offer organic animal feed - a counterpart to their soya-free, local, yet conventional dairy ration NeoLac. Dave Howard finds out more, for the first of a new series of onFARM.

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 119 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet, coming up this week, amazingly quite a number of my colonies are low on food in their brood boxes and I help out with a home-made beehive that’s gone rogue!Do take a look at the extra content available on my patreon page, that’s www.patreon.com/norfolkhoneyI’m grateful to Honey Paw hives for sponsoring in part our podcasts for this season. Honey Paw hives are, as I’m sure you’re aware, Poly Langstroth hives and we’re setting up an apiary full of their hives this season courtesy of Honey Paw. Check out their range of hives and other equipment on their website, I’ll leave a link to their website in the show notes as usual.Honey Paw Hives - Designed by Beekeepers, For Beekeepers.Hi everybody and welcome back to another podcast, it’s been a very fast week, it feels that just a very short time ago I was considering what to do when I was setting out hive stands a the oilseed rape pollination and looking forward to an exciting season of beekeeping and here we are just days away from the end of my Summer flow. I think the routine of beekeeping also makes it feel like the weeks race past, the cycle of inspections, videos, podcast and repeat makes the days kind of melt into one continuous regime.I’m noticing a lot of my colonies this summer are not storing any nectar and thus honey in the brood boxes, plenty of honey stored int eh supers but the brood boxes that were full of Oilseed Rape honey just a month ago are completely empty. Now this isn’t happening with all colonies but more than I normally see like this at this stage in the season. The good news is, they won’t be clogged up with solid Oilseed Rape honey for the Winter the bad news is, if I remove all of the honey supers there is a real probability that colonies will starve before September before I would normally feed them. You can do a couple of things here but first you need to get into your hives and inspect them, know what you’re looking for and check them thoroughly. Like I said, not all colonies will be in this state and your bees might be perfectly ok, but it’s got to be worth having a check and not just assume they have plenty of food as you whip off the honey............. If you want to leave a full super of honey on your bees then do that, if you want to remove the honey and feed, then do that. Just make sure that whatever you do, you’re taking good care of your bees and helping them as they prepare themselves for the long nights ahead. Remember they will soon be producing Winter bees that will survive many more weeks than the slimmed-down Summer bees and they will need resources to do that. We will all need to start checking colonies to make sure they are queen right, healthy, and have enough stored food to see them through to next year. I for one will be feeding syrup, it’s still warm enough to be feeding a light syrup, I’ll be using the Apimix from Modern Beekeeping over the next month, I do have some stock here in Norwich if you’re local but if not check out the link in the podcast notes. I’m sure Paul at Modern Beekeeping will have plenty of stock but it’s worth getting in early before there’s a mad rush. I will have some stock of syrup if you’re local and want to collect from me to save on the very high carriage charges for syrup these days.And on that note, it’s time for my mad rush out of the door to check on my bees. Please do take a look at the extra content available on my patreon page, that’s www.patreon.com/norfolkhoney I’m Stewart SpinksAnd that was Beekeeping Short and Sweet

The cost of new machinery continues to scale new heights with John Deere slapping a hefty price tag on its latest X9 1100 combine.Many growers will struggle to find the best part of £1m to spend on the flagship combine, which is capable of harvesting 100 tonnes of wheat an hour.Is farm machinery too expensive – and how can we make it more affordable? Farm business consultant Gary Markham explains.It's been a terrible harvest for oilseed rape – more growers are abandoning the crop – but should we be sticking with it?We speak to Essex grower Will Streeter and Harper Adams entomologist Tom Pope, who is looking at alternative ways of combatting cabbage stem flea beetle.Trade was buoyant at the Thame Summer Sheep Sale – a welcome sign of confidence in breeding ewes and a successful lambing season.Auctioneer Simon Draper gives his verdict on the sale, as do sheep seller Rob Harrison and buyer Becky O'Neill.We've a special focus on prospects for wheat and barley sales - with Kent-based Cefetra grain trader Tim Porter.And Prince Charles lends his support to a new mental health charity started by first-generation Herefordshire tenant farmer Sam Stables.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and senior machinery reporter Edd Mowbray, with deputy livestock editor Hayley Parrott.

Ciaran Collins joins Shay Phelan on this week's Tillage Edge podcast to discuss winter oilseed rape as an option for tillage farmers. Ciaran discusses the performance of the crop this harvest, the benefits of having break crops in the rotation and the early crop management including variety choice, drilling and weed control. Finally, Ciaran looks at the profitability of winter oilseed rape compared to cereal crops. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Our research has identified various key components for an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy to combat cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and uses a traffic-light code to indicate the current reliability for control. In this podcast, AHDB pest specialist Charlotte Rowley, ADAS entomologist Sacha White and Richard Ling from Diss Monitor Farm discuss the results and unlock the secrets for effectively controlling this major oilseed rape pest. Further details of our research can be found via the following links: CSFB home page (https://ahdb.org.uk/csfb) CSFB research page (https://ahdb.org.uk/integrated-pest-management-of-cabbage-stem-flea-beetle-in-oilseed-rape) CSFB news release (https://ahdb.org.uk/news/combine-the-most-reliable-techniques-to-tackle-csfb)

In this week's Podcast we talk to the growers who want a ballot to decide the future of their AHDB Levy.The OSR harvest gets underway across the country just as one of the key processing sites suffers a major fire.We look at the results of this year's annual crop plantings survey from AHDB and how farm tourism gets a boost from VAT cuts.Auction marts across the UK work flat out to keep the show on the road, innovating and adapting in preparation for the big autumn breeding sales.And we find out how you can cut your fuel bills by a quarter… the answer is hydrogen.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly executive editor Phil Clarke and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly business editor Suzie Horne.

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 113 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet, Honey Extraction has begun, the sun continues to shine, we start moving bees back to Summer sites this weekend and my queen rearing plans kick in next week.I’m grateful to Honey Paw hives for sponsoring in part our podcasts for this season. Honey Paw hives are, as I’m sure you’re aware, Poly Langstroth hives and we’re setting up an apiary full of their hives this season courtesy of Honey Paw. Check out their range of hives and other equipment on their website, I’ll leave a link to their website in the show notes as usual.Honey Paw Hives - Designed by Beekeepers, For Beekeepers.Welcome back to the podcast, it’s been an exciting week of beekeeping with a few “Heart in Mouth” moments with the new queens I was introducing last week. Work continues at the new unit to get everything organised and I’ve got a few very busy nights ahead of me moving bees off the Oilseed Rape and back to their Summer apiaries.So last week you’ll recall I was introducing those new queens in cages into the newly created nucs, well on Saturday I went back to the 14x12 apiary to have a sneaky peek into the nuc boxes before shooting a video this week. I’m glad to say everything worked really well. I had intended to check on just a couple of nucs to see if the queens had been released but then got carried away and checked them all. I think we had about 14 or 15 caged queens at this apiary, I can’t quite remember, anyway, they had all been released and were all alive and well. I saw each and every one of them which is a bit of a rarity but it worked out nicely. Of the 14 or however many it is, I saw eggs in all but three nucs. I’m hoping the last three queens will start laying in due course and that when I go back to inspect them again I’ll have a 100% introduction success rate. The queen cages actually worked really well, I have to say, I was a little nervous at seeing the workers head out of the escape tab and then watched the queen as she also tried to force herself through the narrow gap. But, the design worked great and the bees in the nucs chewed through the fondant and released the queens in textbook fashion. I still have to go over to the Alpaca farm to check on the nucs I created there, those are the ones that give me the greatest concern, they’re the ones I made up from frames straight out of a queenright colony and then put the caged queen straight in. I do still think I’ve made a blunder there but who knows, maybe it will all be just fine.We’ve had no rain at all in the last week and some very sunny, warm days. While I was at the Alpaca farm the farm owner stopped for a chat and said that a couple of her alpaca’s had been stung because bees were congregating around the water troughs where the alpacas get their drinking water from and it occurred to me to mention today that water is an essential part of colony life in a beehive and it would be prudent to make sure your bees have access to a decent supply of water to use. It appears right now they are using it to cool hives such are the daytime temperatures. If you evaporate water you get a corresponding drop in temperature on the surface where the water was and that can have the effect of keeping daytime brood box temperatures down and avoids the brood nest from overheating..............Well, that’s it for this week, Thanks for hanging around until the end of the podcast and keep the comments coming. I’m Stewart SpinksAnd that was Beekeeping Short and Sweet

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 106 of my podcast Beekeeping Short and sweet. During my inspections over the past week, I’ve noticed a few colonies starting to prepare for swarming. Stay tuned for my latest update and some suggestions for swarm season preparations.Sign Up to my latest podcasts HEREI’m grateful to Honey Paw hives for sponsoring in part our podcasts for this season. Honey Paw hives are as I’m sure you’re aware, Poly Langstroth hives and we’re setting up an apiary full of their hives this season courtesy of Honey Paw. Check out their range of hives and other equipment on their website.Honey Paw Hives - Designed by Beekeepers, For Beekeepers.Welcome back to the podcast, and as lockdown continues we find ourselves in a quite weird world right now, traffic has reduced to minimal numbers, it’s like driving around on an early Sunday morning every day of the week. Something else I’ve noticed as I walk to my allotment each day is more people are inclined to say hello, even though they are keeping their distance, people I’ve seen over the years and never had any interaction with now make eye contact and smile or say hello or good morning. It’s kind of strange. Maybe it’s that feeling of vulnerability that makes people suddenly feel like making contact with others. Personally, I’m as grumpy as ever when I walk up to the allotment and see the slugs have been at the cabbages but that’s a completely different problem.It’s been a fantastic week for inspecting our colonies, the weather for the last week was fantastic, Easter weekend was sunny, dry and mostly warm, however the forecast if for a return to more Spring like conditions of warm sunshine coupled with cool breezes and cold nights. My inspection of the colonies on the Oilseed Rape is probably the most interesting as there are around 33 colonies there and it was full inspections including adding queen excluders and supers to several. It takes quite a while to go through 30 plus colonies having a detailed look and making sure all is ok. It’s a great time of year to be thorough, not as many bees in the hive just yet so room enough to be able to look closely at frames of brood to make sure all is well and healthy.Something I did notice and worth mentioning here is what is termed the “through gut” of the larvae, it’s really obvious when you look closely at larvae. In healthy larvae it can normally be seen as a coloured line running along the back of the larvae and is a good sign the larvae are feeding and growing well. The colour is produced mainly by the colour of the pollen so it may well vary quite a bit and, at the moment, for all of my colonies on the oilseed rape the colour of this line is a fairly bright yellow. Larvae stuffed full of Oilseed rape pollen...........................I’m Stewart Spinks and that was Beekeeping Short and Sweet.

Farmers and grainstore managers face a critical shortage of dust masks ahead of harvest because demand has soared due to coronavirus.People are buying up the masks to limit the spread of the virus – making them hard to come by for farmers who need them when working in grain stores.Dairy farmers are to receive up to £10,000 each in government help to get them through the coronavirus pandemic. We talk to an MP who says the crisis highlights the importance of food security and resilience.We take a special look at oilseed rape – a break crop at breaking point? And we examine whether money-back seed offers are good enough for farmers to stick with the crop.We have our latest market news – and get the low-down on auction marts as breeding sales return to the ring.A Welsh vet explains how he takes care to avoid spreading coronavirus when TB testing cattle. And we find out why a team of sheep shearers had an unexpected visit from the local police.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly eastern England correspondent Louise Impey and Farmers Weekly livestock reporter Michael Priestley.

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 99 of my podcast Beekeeping Short and sweet.Someone recently predict that Spring had arrived, well, with snow showers today and cooler weather ahead Winter still feels to have a grip. That shouldn’t stop us looking ahead and getting our bees in tip-top condition for the new season.Catch up with the very latest podcast as they are released hereHoney Paw Hives can be found online hereHoney Paw in the UK HereThis podcast is sponsored in part by Honey Paw Hives, This season I’m delighted to have Honey Paw hives on board as one of our biggest supporters. Do pop over to their website to take a look at the fantastic range of Langstroth beehives and here in the UK check out Modern Beekeeping who are the sole UK distributors of Honey paw Hives. As usual, I’ll leave links to their websites in the podcast notes.We’ve had a few chilly days of late, I’ve even taken to wearing my crocheted, beanie hat that I was given as a Christmas present a few years ago. Looks little daft but keeps my head warm, especially at the workshop where we don’t really have heating apart from the hot air that Pete and I spout when we’re talking, which is most of the time, but it’s still not enough to keep us warm.We’ve been trying to keep warm by painting the Honey Paw equipment, it sometimes seems a never-ending task especially as we don’t have the luxury of spray painting so it’s all rollers and paintbrushes, that said, we got a couple of coats on most things and Pete’s been checking everything out this week and covering up the bits we all missed. Hopefully this weekend we’ll have completed that particular task and we can move on to some of the more exciting jobs. I’m going to filming my take on the floors and roofs of the Honey Paw hives next, some interesting kit with some very clever features so do keep a lookout for that. Then it will be frames and wax foundation, and mountains of them. Not just for the Langstroth Poly Hives but for all the boxes we’ve been cleaning and preparing ready for the start of the new season. And that brings me on to today’s topic of getting ready for the new season.I was recently asked to give a talk in late March at the Norwich and District beekeeping association, my local beekeeping group that I’m a member of.The topic I’ve been asked to talk about is Getting hives ready for the new season. Well, the problem is by the time I give the talk, the third Wednesday of the month, it’s likely to be too late, I know that last season, we were very busy with our colonies moving to Oilseed Rape, putting nucs into full-sized hives and more generally beginning the checks for swarms.The perfect time to give a talk about preparing hives for Spring is probably August!Now that might come as a surprise to some beginner beekeepers but the more experienced beekeepers Will know exactly what I’m talking about. For me, the honey production season comes to a sudden halt at the end of July, you could almost see the nectar tap being turned off, it’s that sudden. So what is the beekeeper supposed to do between the end of July and the start of the new season around six months later, well, not a great deal if he or she is organised but there are some crucial steps that gets the hive in perfect condition and ready for a fast start the following Spring.I hope you have a fantastic week, the new season will soon be upon us so let’s do all we can to have a fast start.Please do remember to check out my Patreon page where you can access lots more content, that’s www.patreon.com/norfolk honey.I’m Stewart Spinks and that was Beekeeping Short and Sweet.

Ratchly... Daytime at Whitehaven Psychiatric Hospital… Jennifer is on washing duty. (Distant scream) (Rubbing skin) Desmond: Aziba, aziba, ba… Ba! Jennifer: Stay still while I soap down your mickey… Desmond: …I don’t like it… Matron Jennifer:  Make sure, (rubs harder) to get the finger deep under your foreskin. (finger pops) Desmond: Spaceship! In the skies! That’s mine! That’s m- Matron Jennifer: Desmond, just stop now. Desmond: That’s- Matron Jennifer: Stop bullshitting!  Desmond: Spaceship in the skies… Nurse Mary: Last week you wouldn’t stop going on about soup. (Distant crashing) Desmond: Agh! They’re back! Big Miley: Urrurrr…         Matron Jennifer: Mary, take Nicky inside. I’ll take Desmond. They’re getting agitated. We don’t want a repeat of what happened with big Miley. Desmond: Soupalon! Spaceships! Uhrrrr. Nurse Mary: Soup AND spaceships? You’re full of surprises this morning Desmond. Whoevers in those spaceships Desmond, they should be in here with us at Whitehaven… Heh… Matron Jennifer: Hmmm, there’s a bit of a wind getting up. Push, ladies, push! (Wheelchairs roll, doors lock) (Opening credits) Narrator: Our heroes Arlee, Jagger, Tucker and Busher escape the Soupalon and their Savage Garden and have re-entered Earth. Busher:  Ahh, ahh me fingers. Bent! Ahgh! Ginger? Ginger! Ginger: (coughs) Tucker: Everyone alright? You ok Busha? We’ve got to get out of this place. The Soupalon are coming. Jagger: (Coughing) Wheezeeee… Sorry lads, I had the controls but then the power went. Ginger: Reoor…Arlee: No more voices… no more voices! Lads, I have no more voices! Tucker: Your voice is enough on its own Arlee. Where the fack is the starchild? Jagger, Jagger do you have the egg? Jagger: The egg? Me? I was driving the shuttle. Busher: You had him last. This always happens! Only stupid Baldy Kendall’s interspecies egg-born child that could help us defeat these Soupalon aliens that I didn’t think even existed. Gone! Forever! Jagger: ‘Ere, your fingers don’t look right Ned. Busher: Stop looking at mae! Arlee: Look for the bullet-belt Busher, it was wrapped round the egg. Tucker: Since flying down from the Savage Garden, I think I’ve lost my intelligence! Jagger: I think I’ve lost me slow-down-time power. Am I normal again? Busher: Peah! NO! Looka! Standing in the field! It’s… Baldy: Welcome home lads… Busher: Baldy?! All: Aghhghghghghh! Arlee: Baldy Kendall! Jagger: He’s the size of a 10 year old, Arlee: Only two scenes ago you hatched out of an egg. But where did he get the white overalls? Busher: Peah! Looks like a white Lionel Ritchie! Ginger: Meeeorr! Baldy: I am my father’s son. I will save yis. Tucker: Listen, I might be thick again, but we need to get out of the open. Where are we anyway? Jagger: Back on Earth I think Tucks. Arlee: Sure we’re just outside Ratchly. See the church? Baldy: Then youse shall follow me. Busher: Pyeah! You don’t know where you are sure. Baldy: I am the way. Busher: I don’t care if your father was my next door neighbour and he was kidnapped by aliens out the window with my Ginger, and I had to find these eejits here to go rescue you. Arlee: Terra firma looka Busher hah? We survived didn’t we? Tucker:  Just about… Listen, can we move? Smokin’ wreckage and all… Son of Baldy: I will show yis… Jagger: Tom… you sound just like your father… Son of Baldy: I am not Tom. Tom was my father’s father. I am the starchild, son of Baldy who was son of Tom Kendall, who was son of Bop, who sent to Earth by the Soupalon to monitor you. Arlee: Here, there’s a shed in the corner of the field. Busher: I’m not going in there. I need a doctor sure. Ginger: Meeeoooow! Tucker: Just get out of the open. We can decide what to then yeah? Right? Busher: Gonna die! Gonna die in a stupid Coffin Shed, in a field of… of fuckin’, fuckin’?- Son of Baldy: Rape… Busher: Don’t you touch mae! Jagger:  Had enough up on the Savage Garden eh Busher? heeheeee! Son of Baldy: It is a field of Oilseed Rape. Grown for oil. Harmful to humans. Tucker: Ah, so YOU have my superior intellect now. Arlee: Harmful? I always put it in the pan for a fry up before Soccer Saturday. Jagger: It’s always good to learn som- Busher:  Ah stop talkin’! (Coffin shed door opens, footsteps inside) Jagger:  It’s a bit bleak Tom. Ginger:Meeeoowww. Busher: It’s alright, Ginger sez it’s safe. Arlee: Ah look, a little radio, and… and a stove. Jagger: That armchair looks like the one I have in the parent’s house. Arlee: The house your father won’t let you in to? Jagger: Ah, he’s old, he’s not what he used to be, it’s not his fault. (Sits) This is comfortable though! Tucker: Right, we’re going to need provisions. I tell you what Arlee, you and Jagger stay here with… with… eh- Son of Baldy: I am the starchild. Tucker: That’s a fackin’ ridiculous name! Listen, I’m just going to call you Baldy. Coz you look like ‘im, sound like ‘im and act like ‘im. Busher: I need a doctor Tucks, look at me hand! It’s bent back like a bad paw. Arlee: Bent! Busher: What you say, Stretch? Arlee: I pretend I didn’t hear that… (radio switches on Bruce Dickinson). Radio works anyway. Tucker: Ok, we have to sneak into town. I volunteer. I’ll bring Busher with me. Get him a doctor. It’s better we share the risk yeah? Jagger: Right, coz you two have shared so much already… heeheeee. Arlee: (Snigger)  Baldy: I am the starchild. Busher: Yeah, peah, so you’ve said! Right, come on Tucks. Youse lads don’t go anywhere. Ginger, you stay here. It’s too dangerous for a cat outside. You guard these eejits. Tucker: We’ll be back soon as. Can’t be sure how much Soupalon are around but one thing IS for sure, they’ll be looking for us, and for ‘im. Don’t let Baldy outside. See yis later. (Coffin Shed opens closes) Tucker: You alright Busher? Stop moanin’! Busher: Hate everythin’… Baldy: I am the son of Baldy. Jagger: Shut up Tom will ya? Arlee: (Snigger) Ginger: Meeeooow? Narrator: Son of Baldy is here, sent to guide our heroes. Biding time in a field near Ratchly in an old substation named locally as ‘The Coffin Shed’. Back up on the Savage Garden, high commander Dickus Soupus is seized for killing his Overlord and letting the humans escape. Amplevoicepod make ear-film comedy drama adventures where we submerge your ears in a sea of sound, putting you at the heart of the story along with our heroes. Bursting out feature-length stories with over 40 titles and 50+ characters, all created from collaborative ideas and sculpted over months to arrive at the final mix. Following on from Amplevoicepod's United Mutations III. Now, the universe is at war. Look in the mirror, it starts with the moles on your face... Are they in the same spot as yesterday? Ratchly, daytime at Whitehaven Psychiatric Hospital, Jennifer is on washing duty. Our heroes Arlee, Jagger, Tucker and Busher escape the Soupalon & their Savage Garden and have re-entered Earth. The 'Son of Baldy' is near, sent to guide our heroes who bide their time in a field near Ratchly in an old substation named locally as ‘The Coffin Shed’. Back up on the Savage Garden, Soupalon high commander Dickus Soupus is seized for slaying his overlord and letting the humans escape. But The Boghead may yet need his services to implement the Soupalon plan: NEOZINE - To neotenise and infertilise human civilisation through food via crop protection. Back down on Earth, in Ratchly Chemical Factory, foreman Bert Kavanagh is concerned about his imminent alien co-operation. And who then are these ‘Meemong’ that so threaten Soupalon? It's a Panspermia that goes to the nexus of human existence. And it's a fight to the death, as the moles on Busher's face start moving, spelling the name of their saviour: 'Imogen Telch'. Who is she? Panspermia I & II & III are a 4.5-hour sci-fi podcast series by Amplevoicepod divvied up into 12 storming sections for your delectation. If you like podcast stories with atmosphere, panic and stupidity, served in high resolution audio, where you can immerse yourself into another world (and who wouldn't these days hmm?) you may just get this. A prime feast of a podcast. Not quite Jamie and his Magic Torch but just as awesome.

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 67 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. After our first extraction session of the season, it’s time to consider what the month ahead will bring and also a brief update on how we’re doing so far.Check out my Patreon page here www.patreon.com/norfolkhoneySo we’re just out of the honey room and I’ve enjoyed a decent early season crop of Oilseed Rape honey, even with the numerous splits and swarms we still managed to extract plenty of honey. I say extract, those of you that have been watching the latest videos on my Patreon page will have seen just how much we had to cut out of the frames. Oilseed rape is a terrific early season honey but it does granulate very quickly in the comb. I’m not too disappointed though as I want to have a crack at making my own foundation this year, so need to stockpile plenty of fresh wax for the Autumn and Winter months. The honey room looks like a tazmanian devil has been let loose with a bucket of honey, I’m not sure how I manage to get it everywhere but it just seems to have a mind of its own, so that’s another cleaning job to add to the list. We’ve moved around 30 hives from the Oilseed rape site, I managed to pick the one morning that the skies decided to open up and it rained almost continuously for the entire time we were trying to move the bees. On the plus side, the bees were fairly calm and for the most part stayed in their hives, the flip side of the coin meant despite wearing waterproof walking boots the rain went down my trouser legs and puddled inside my boots making my feet squelch with each step, luckily I can report I didn’t suffer any permanent damage such as trench foot. We were moving the bees to a site of late planted field beans, the top field has a very nice grass track for us to drive along and a fairly flat, hard standing area for the pallets to sit on acting as stands for the hives. We weren’t so lucky with the lower site, the field has been left fallow for the year and the farmer had been over it and drilled some grasses or something into the field, I had to call him to make sure it was ok to drive across, which he confirmed, I obviously didn’t want to upset him on my first day, but the result was my truck tyres collected an additional four or five inches of muddy circumference as we drove across the field and my boots gradually got heavier and heavier with each step until it felt like I was about four inches taller. All that said, the very good news is the field beans have literally just started to flower and we’ve had some much-needed rain which I’m sure will help the plants produce lots of nectar and the weather for the next couple of weeks looks set fair so I’m certain the bees will be all over it. I watched the bees on their orientation flights yesterday, it was lovely to sit and just chill out for 20 minutes watching the bees as they fly out and locate themselves to their hives. I’m certain today and into the weekend they’ll be foraging in earnest with overnight temperatures staying in the double-digit area, sunrise is around 4:30 am so they’ll have some very long days coming up, I must make sure those extra supers are ready, another job for the “to do” list.Talking of the jobs list, this month is an unusual one as historically, we used to describe it as the June Gap, where forage became more difficult to find and sometimes colonies needed feeding. Oh, one point about taking off the Spring crop, make sure you leave something for the bees, I noticed a couple of my colonies were literally all brood in the brood box with no stores at all, if I had taken all of the stored honey in the supers they would probably be starving right now. That is, if I hadn’t taken them to the field beans of course, but if the weather happened to have turned cold and wet preventing the bees from flying they would most certainly have starved, just be sure to take a close

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 66 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. It’s been a busy week as we clear some of the supers ready for extraction and begin the process of moving hives to field beans.Join me each week for my latest podcast www.patreon.com/norfolkhoneyThis has to be one of the more exciting weeks of the year, as if beekeeping isn’t exciting enough, of course. We’ve been through the long, cold Winter……. well, it wasn’t that long or cold really and that seems a distant memory now. And I always get excited about the start of the new season, but then we get really busy and this year seems to have been quite swarmy, to say the least. I’ve managed to use that to my advantage and have seen a significant increase in colony numbers by making quite a number of splits and collecting several swarms that I missed from my own colonies. I’ve had an above average number of phone calls relating to collecting swarms, the majority of them being bumblebee nests. It always surprises me that more people struggle with the simple identification of our bumblebees. That said I guess people aren’t quite so connected with the natural world perhaps as they once were, I was very lucky growing up as my grandparents lived in the countryside, we visited regularly and I didn’t have the distraction of technology in quite the way that young people have these days.Anyway, back to the excitement of this week. Firstly, my thanks to Steph and Pete, without whose help I’d really struggle. It’s always nice to have someone to lend a hand but also someone to chat to about beekeeping, it can get quite isolating if you are on your own beekeeping. I think it’s just that we get so busy we don’t normally have much time to stop and strike up conversations. I have to acknowledge here that technology really helps bridge that void sometimes, so I’m not averse to using the mobile phone when I’m out in the apiaries, as long as I can get a signal that is.So, I have my willing helpers on hand to assist with the lifting and being on Oilseed Rape we certainly need a helping hand. Some of the boxes were very heavy indeed.What I thought I would do today is explain the process that I use to go from a hive full of bees to honey in buckets. I think my methods for handling the various parts of the job can be adopted and adapted by most new or growing beekeepers, and I’m changing and adapting my various methods myself as our business grows and develops.I was chatting to Pete yesterday and describing one of my funniest extraction day memories that I had when my brother came over to help me. This was many, many years ago now and shows how we have taken some fairly large steps to get where we are now. We had removed the supers from the few hives we had, I think there must have been maybe 10 supers of honey to extract so you can see we were a very small enterprise back then. I had an old, galvanised extractor and settling tank, not something you could use these days, everything has to be stainless steel or food-grade plastic but back then we were both a lot poorer and a lot more naive about the ways of extracting honey.Anyway, I was living in a semi-detached house with a very nice but small sun lounge on the back of the property, south facing and lovely to sit in and have a glass of beer in the late evenings. This, however, was turned into our honey room and piled high with equipment and honey boxes. We had picked a lovely day for extracting but of course, we had to keep the doors and windows shut to prevent any bees from sniffing out the honey and invading our workspace. Well, by the time we had really got started the sun was up, the room was hot and getting hotter by the minute and we were stripped to shorts and t-shirts. I think that’s probably as much detail as I should go into regarding personal items of clothing but being keen to maintain a good

Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 62 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Oilseed Rape and Bees by Allan CalderBBKA Guidance Sheet on Buying a Nucleus ColonyWith May just around the corner, it’s a timely moment to talk about jobs for the coming month and also a little update on what my bees have been up to.The end of April and into the beginning of May sees a lot of colonies building up strongly which inevitably raises concerns about swarming again. We’ve had some remarkably fine weather, some very warm days and a lot of colonies are well in advance of where they would normally be at this time of the year. On social media, I’ve seen reports of swarm cells in colonies and several beekeepers already being called out to collect swarms from colonies that have jumped at the chance to reproduce during this lovely spell of weather. And that reminds me to mention a word of caution to any beginner beekeepers out there who has one of those, month by month beekeeping guide books, remember they are just a guide, beekeeping is all about managing your bees in the prevailing conditions that you have. This time last year I was coming to terms with a long cold blast of icy weather from Europe and working out how to get cleaned up and start the beekeeping season proper. This year everything is a good three weeks ahead but I’ll come on to my beekeeping in a bit. I think most beekeepers here in the UK have enjoyed a very productive start to the season and most have supers added to their colonies as the brood nests expand and colonies grow larger day by day. That said, I’m looking at the forecast for the coming week and we’ve got rain and cooler conditions to come so things will slow down a little no doubt.If you’re just starting out in beekeeping May is a great time to get started and is the month I recommend to beginners they should look to being their beekeeping journey. The risk of severe cold weather is usually long gone and nucleus colonies that have over-Wintered as bursting to get out of their nuc boxes and be transferred into a full sized hive. Of course, this year you could have started a few weeks earlier and had a very fast start. The key is to order your first nucleus colony well in advance in the Autumn of the year before you get going or you’re likely to have to wait until late May or even June to get a nice sized nucleus colony.If you’re unsure of what you should be getting there are guidelines set outbid the British Beekeepers Association in the form of a useful pdf. I’ll post a link to it should you want to take a look.Generally speaking, a nucleus colony should be around 5 or 6 frames in total and consist of at least three good frames of brood. It will have a good laying queen that has been marked and from either last season or this season so it’s important to know if the queen is marked and what colour mark she has.Most suppliers of nucs will use the internationally recognised queen marking colour scheme which can be remembered as the acronym Will You Raise Good Bees, standing for White, Yellow, Red, Green and Blue. Each colour covers two years so for instance, last year was 2018 and the colour used was Red. This year 2019 is Green, 2020 will be Blue, 2021, White and 2022 Yellow. Then we start all over again.Of course, if you don’t want the queen to be marked you can request this from the beekeeper selling you the nuc but for beginner beekeepers, it does make the whole experience less stressful and more fun when you get to spot the queen in those first initial inspections.If ever I’m selling nucleus colonies I always like to give out nearly new frames. It isn’t necessary but most regular suppliers of nucs will be rotating their frames anyway so the frames will be nearly new, maybe one or two

Date: 13/09/18 Location: Home Farm, Swaffham Show notes: Our Technical Specialists, David Roberts (Herbicides) and Andy Bailey (Fungicides) have made their way to Home Farm in Swaffham, Norfolk to visit Richard Cobbald who is the Estate Manager there. After one of the hottest summers for years, in this episode we will be focussing on how the 2018 harvest has been and plans for the Autumn season ahead. Richard shares some insights into Home Farm and how things are looking post-harvest. Conversations soon turn to the hot topic of flea beetles. (0.40) Richard discusses his cover crop approach which you may have read recently in Farmers Weekly. If not, it can be found here. David Roberts, Adama’s herbicide expert shares his views on cover cropping and what benefits it brings. (4.40)  David and Andy share their harvest 2018 thoughts, the positives and negatives! (8.12) Tom Home in Shropshire and Andrew Ward in Lincolnshire provide a grower’s insight into the harvest in their regions and the integrated approach they are using on their farms. (10.00) Back at Home Farm, Richard discusses how his Oilseed Rape and Winter Wheat harvest has been with regards to yields achieved. (17.48) David urges listeners to think differently at this time of the year in terms of black-grass, ryegrass and broad weed-leaves control and explains how to use the different components within farmers reach to get the best cropping result. (21.10) In a pre-recorded interview, Tom Martin, the man behind Face-time a Farmer fills us in on how he is educating kids about our industry – brilliant initiative! (23.11) Richard and guys have moved onto a wheat field which is being drilled as their conversations develop. First pre-emergent herbicides are discussed. (34.09) Andy gives his advice for the inevitable slug pressure to come when the rain returns. Richard shares his slug control approach and how he uses Metaldehyde and Ferric Phosphate. (38.58) Andrew Ward gives us an update on Foraige Aid, how the initiative started and how it has developed over the years. (41.37) David, Andy and Richard give their final tips as we head toward the autumn. Integrated control is a common theme! (48.02)

Daniel Rooney, AHDB market analyst, gives a quick update on the findings of the AHDB Early Bird Survey. For more information visit cereals.ahdb.org.uk/markets Soundtrack files in this episode were created by Serylis, Rutgermuller, Barrelcarb and Valentinsosnitsky via Freesound. Photo credit: Emily Graham

UK barley shows low nitrogen levels but wheat quality remains a concern, crop damage has hit UK winter oilseed rape, Bill & Melinda Gates inject $14.5m into sorghum research, and Australia research investment to benefit crop productivity and profits.

UK barley shows low nitrogen levels but wheat quality remains a concern, crop damage has hit UK winter oilseed rape, Bill & Melinda Gates inject $14.5m into sorghum research, and Australia research investment to benefit crop productivity and profits.

Back after a too-long absence!  I had hoped to be able to produce a recording every month, but somehow life got in the way.  Here's the first podcast for this year a talk recorded at Trill Farm, Dorset (south of England, a little left of centre, for those not familiar with our layout!) at the invitation of chef Daphne Lambert, whose restaurant at Penrhos on the Welsh border was the first in the UK to be awarded organic certification by the Soil Association. More about Daphne here - http://mamaheaven.org/blog/2011/07/daphne-lambert-nutritionist-chef/#.T7T2b3iURpg More about Trill Farm here - http://trillfarm.co.uk/ From Graham in Scotland: The attached photos - taken from my bedroom window - of the Oilseed Rape field opposite my house in Scotland- explains at a glance the challenge my bees are faced with in trying to survive on this farm.  It is a beautiful landscape - but an ecologically dying landscape which is poisonous to bees, butterflies and bumblebees.  If I took a photo in any of the other three directions it would not be any different; oilseed rape (canola) is one of the major crops here in the Border country.You might find these images useful for slideshows etc,  I have high resolution versions available for printed media.The images are also on FLICKR and you can link them to web-pages directly with the following links:http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7216103764_7db308fb9c_z.jpghttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7216104626_6d507735ef_z.jpghttp://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7216102870_9d903b3de1_z.jpgNOTESAlmost all of the Oilseed Rape grown in Britain and Europe is treated with neonicotinoid pesticides at the time the seed is planted. Over the last decade the main neonicotinoid used on OSR has been Imidacloprid; we suspect that it is now being superceded by Clothianidin- which is more toxic to insects and far more persistent in soil and water.The insecticide Imidacloprid  is 'systemic' - it is coated onto the seeds before planting. When the seed sprouts, it absorbs the poison and distributes it to every part of the growing plant: sap, stem, leaves, flowers and fruit.  The insecticide then poisons any insect which bites the plant to suck its sap.  Unfortunately, the poison also emerges in the nectar and pollen, which is harvested and eaten by bees, bumblebees, butterflies - and many other species of insect.  The poison - Imidacloprid - is 7,000 times more toxic to bees than DDT was - and a dose of just 3 to 5 parts per BILLION in the nectar and pollen causes bees to become disoriented, unable to forage or fly.  Many beekeepers are convinced this is why 4 million colonies have died in America since 2006.  Over a milion bee colonies died in France from 1994 - 1998.  Millions more have died in Argentina, Germany, Italy, Australia.  These neurotoxins are used on over 3 million acres of arable crops in the UK: wheat, barley, OSR, potatoes, tomatoes, fruits etc - this means that both WE and the bees are eating neurotoxic insecticides in every bite of food we consume.  Neonicotinoids applied as seed dressings kill most invertebrate life UNDER the ground as well as ABOVE. these poisons eradicate earthworms, beetles and insect larvae from the soil - which means there is no food for birds which probe the soil: lapwings, curlews, starlings etc.  The result is that this beautiful scene is effectively an ecological desert; the fields are empty - no insects means no birds. Even the humble sparrow - which has declined by up to 80% in most areas of the UK. MUST have insect food to feed its young.  Wall to wall neonics means no insects; no insects means no young sparrows, starlings, peewits, yellowhammers, partridges, corn buntings etc. etc.In the USA, more than 240 million acres of crops are treated with Clothianidin at planting - effectively wiping all insect life from that vast area permanently. The poisons are also highly PERSISTENT - Clothianidin has a 'half life' in some soils of up to 19 years; which means that after 57 years - 1/8 of the original insecticide would still persist in the soil.  Of course, if it is used year after year in the same field, the pesticide burden is gigantic.