51AVÊÓÆµ

Half the land, 80% of the yield: does relay cropping really stack up? The Farmers Guardian arable podcast

Our latest arable podcast looks at Ben Adam's latest trial testing relay cropping

Ashleigh Ellwood
Head of Arable
clock • 1 min read
Half the land, 80% of the yield: does relay cropping really stack up? The Farmers Guardian arable podcast

What if you could grow a second crop on half the area and still produce 80% of the yield of a conventional crop? That is the intriguing result from arable farmer Ben Adams' first year of his relay cropping trial, where winter barley grown on just 50% of the area produced 80% of his average yield.Ìý

READ MORE:ÌýBiological control offers new hope in the fight against aphids

51AVÊÓÆµtrials

Join Ash Ellwood to find out the practicalities of relay cropping, what Ben has learnt from the trial and whether the results suggest relay cropping could have a place in a commercial arable rotation.

We also catch up with Thomas Slattery, engagement lead for the Adopt Support Hub discussing what is available through the funding and how growers can access it.

Speakers

  • Ben Adams - Oxfordshire arable farmer
  • Thomas Slattery - engagement lead for the Adopt Support Hub

More on Arable

'The one crop I don't have to worry about': Farmers turn to hybrid rye as drought resets rotations

'The one crop I don't have to worry about': Farmers turn to hybrid rye as drought resets rotations

Three dry seasons in four years have pushed growers to rethink cereal rotations, with hybrid rye variety SU Karlsson delivering steady yields on light land

Farmers Guardian
clock 17 September 2026 • 6 min read
Black Sea tensions dictate grain markets, with wheat futures falling £2.25/t on the week

Black Sea tensions dictate grain markets, with wheat futures falling £2.25/t on the week

Get all the latest analysis on the latest trends in the grain markets from Farmers Guardian

Farmers Guardian
clock 17 September 2026 • 4 min read
OPINION: The cereal drilling date dilemma is back

OPINION: The cereal drilling date dilemma is back

The age-old drilling date debate is back, and Ash Ellwood ponders how growers can manage risk this autumn

Ashleigh Ellwood
clock 17 September 2026 • 2 min read