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Damage to crops brought by Storm Francis has added further misery to a difficult growing season but analysts have warned imports may place a cap on domestic price rises.

The autumn and winter of 2019 is not one many will forget in a hurry, with farms throughout the UK struggling to get crops in the ground and conditions compromising establishment.

With the wheat area for the 2019/20 season falling by an estimated 17 per cent as a result of difficult planting conditions, considerable amounts of overyeared seed remain on farm.

Íæż½ã½ã in the Severn Trent region have until September 15 to sign up for the Farm to Tap scheme, which pays out up to £5/hectare for protecting water quality

Assessment of a high number of black-grass seed samples shed this summer and collected from winter cereals has shown that dormancy is high at 24 per cent germination.

As well as growers, there is a whole team of people supporting harvest, from machinery technicians to grain traders to laboratory personnel as well as the Fire Service and insurance handlers when things go wrong.

Oilseed rape area is set for further decline after catastrophic yields have left many growers pulling the plug on the crop.

A new emergency authorisation of a desiccant for linseed seed crops has been secured.

Three female young farmers have created a social media campaign as part of Farm24 to raise awareness of the role of female farmers and offer a glimpse into their varied daily lives.

The last season has really highlighted where soil health can be improved, particularly when coping with both too much and too little water. Soil expert Dick Neale offered his top tips on soil management ahead of the drill.