News article

Letter to The Times newspaper

Two key changes to the 2012 NIAB Descriptive List for forage maize make it indispensable reading for farmers wanting to choose the best maize varieties for their situation.

The List, launched by BSPB and NIAB at the Dairy Event today, now includes data on cell wall digestibility - an increasingly important factor for farmers feeding high levels of maize silage in the diet.

NIAB CEO Dr Tina Barsby was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today yesterday (Monday 29^th August) as part of the programme’s feature on the ‘story of seed’ this week. Tina gives a brief overview on why we need plant breeding and seed certification.

The full programme can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b013r3ls with Tina’s interview at 4.32-8.29.  This will be available for the next 6 days.

NIAB TAG is holding a one-day courses in Autumn 2011 on grassland weed identification and management for farmers, crop inspectors, seed producers and agronomists on:

• 16^th November 2011

The course programme includes the theory and practice of grass identification, managing grass crops including variety choice and cultural and chemical weed control and understanding the legislation covering grassland management and seed standards.

NRoSO = 2 CPD points
BASIS = 12 CPD points

The UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) confirms the presence of new races of yellow rust and brown rust in winter wheat.

Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) samples collected from three farm crops of Warrior winter wheat earlier this summer have re-infected the variety in the first round of testing by the UKCPVS at NIAB TAG. 

NIAB has been awarded EU approval for its plant variety DUS testing of a range of agricultural species, as part of a European-wide assessment by the European Union Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).

For an agricultural variety to be added to a National List and be freely marketed in the UK and EU, it must be tested to show it is distinct, uniform and stable (DUS) and have satisfactory value for cultivation and use (VCU).  For a grant of Plant Breeders’ Rights to be awarded to a variety, it must meet the DUS standards for the species.

NIAB TAG is investigating the possibility of at least one new race of brown rust (Puccinia triticina) on UK winter wheat following this year’s severe disease epidemic.

The United Kingdom Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS), managed by NIAB TAG and funded by HGCA and Fera, received an unprecedented number of brown rust samples this year. Although it is still very early to assess the epidemic’s impact, most winter wheat varieties were affected by the disease at some level.

Cambridge News’ Business Magazine July edition has a feature on NIAB and an interview with our CEO Dr Tina Barsby – view the interactive online magazine or click here to download a PDF of the article

The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) welcomes the central conclusion of the House of Lords Agriculture Committee report into Innovation in EU Agriculture that agricultural science and technology must be at the heart of the EU’s response to food security, climate change and resource conservation.

NIAB TAG pathologists have identified Fusarium culmorum as the fungus responsible for causing the striking pinkish red sporulation being found on the lower nodes of some winter wheat crops in the East of England.

The later than usual development of Fusarium this year is the result of the dry spring and early summer. NIAB TAG is now assessing the incidence of the disease on different wheat varieties.