This year’s NIAB Tree Fruit Day saw a range of scientists sharing alternative products and management strategies for tree fruit pests and diseases, as loss of chemistry becomes an increasing challenge. Deputy editor Sarah Kidby reports.

An Essex-based, organic salad and vegetable grower says that a tractor-mounted, operator controlled rotary weeder is providing an effective and accurate inter-plant weeding solution – allowing two people to do the work of five, and in half the time. David Williams reports.

Creating ciders with 100% fruit juice rather than imported concentrates is a point of principle for Dowding’s Apple Juice & Cider, based in Somerset. Deputy editor Sarah Kidby spoke to farm owner Oliver Dowding, on the challenges facing smaller producers, the importance of working with other local businesses, and how the organic farm uses innovative approaches to tackle pest and disease problems.

NIAB has just published its 2024 annual review, following the success of the first publication last year. 

The Food Drink Devon Awards launched a new prestigious competition to celebrate the very best wine from around the county. 

Vagabond Wines Limited (Vagabond) just announced that the chain has secured its future as it has been acquired by Majestic Wine.

Plumpton College has announced a suite of sustainability-focused degree programmes alongside its validating partner, the University of Greenwich.

VineWorks viticulturalist, Sam Middleton, offers his advice on how and when to tie down canes in order to boost the health and yield of your vines.

The Wine Society has launched a new climate and nature programme that encourages growers to adopt regenerative farming practices by awarding grants to individual projects. 

Margins are getting tighter and growers are facing a cocktail of difficulties, not least the challenges posed by the supply chain and working with retailers. Sarah Kidby spoke to Yorkshire grower Annabel Makin-Jones about the rewards of launching her own luxury food brand – Annabel’s Deliciously British – four years ago.

New varieties of organic hops resilient to climate change are being developed around the UK. The news follows concerns over the future of homegrown beer ingredients. 

The cost of producing a kilo of British apples continues to rise for UK growers. The new data reveals that UK farmers have seen a further 5.5% increase in costs of production in the last year.