Grow the future

For this week's episode of the Grow the Future Podcast, we're joined by Area Manager James Willis to discuss the key considerations for establishing a successful oilseed rape crop this autumn.
With many parts of the UK continuing to experience dry conditions, James shares his insights on the challenges growers face and the practical steps they can take to maximise establishment. The discussion covers the importance of creating the right conditions at drilling, the role of starter fertilisers, and why applying nitrogen at drilling can be crucial for driving rapid early growth and helping crops establish strongly.
James also highlights the risks associated with clubroot, particularly where brassicas form part of the rotation, and explains what growers should consider to minimise its impact. The episode includes nutrition recommendations from Yara, including YaraMila ACTYVA S for granular fertiliser programmes, Yara Multi 18-27-0 for liquid fertiliser applications, and YaraVita Brassitrel Pro to support crop nutrition through foliar feeding.
Tune in to hear why early drilling is one of the most important factors for successful oilseed rape establishment, helping crops make the most of available moisture, develop strong root systems and set the foundation for a productive season ahead.

For this special episode, we’re joined by Kim Render, Supply Chain Operations Manager for Yara, for an insightful discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s supply chain landscape.
Kim begins by explaining how Yara balances meeting customer demand while maintaining compliance with a wide range of industry regulations. She explores the legal requirements surrounding Yara’s packaging operations and discusses the role of the company’s terminal network, including both coastal import facilities and inland storage locations.
The conversation also covers Yara’s four production plants, recent investments made across the business, and the close collaboration between operations, logistics teams, and Yara’s supply chain network in Lithuania. Kim shares how these connections help ensure products are delivered efficiently to customers across the UK and Ireland.
With more than 20 years of experience at Yara, Kim reflects on the evolving nature of the supply chain industry and highlights some of the key challenges facing the sector today, including changing weather patterns and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. She also discusses what continues to motivate her in her role and why she remains passionate about working within operations.
Finally, Kim offers valuable advice for farmers, explaining why planning ahead and investing in fertiliser early can help provide greater certainty and support long-term farm productivity.

For the next episode of the Grow the Future Podcast, we’re diving into the topic of soil carbon with Mark Tucker, Yara’s Senior Manager for Partnerships and the Value Food Chain.
The conversation begins by exploring a common question facing modern agriculture: as farmers work to reverse historical practices that have depleted soil organic matter and carbon levels, are nitrogen fertilisers being unfairly blamed for declining soil health? Mark addresses this perception head-on, explaining the role of fertilisers within the wider soil management picture and providing a clear overview of what soil health and soil quality really mean.
Throughout the episode, Mark discusses how different farming systems have influenced soil condition over time and shares practical insights into how farmers can rebuild organic matter levels. He also highlights why soil analysis should be the foundation of every farm’s nutrient management strategy and explains the vital role it plays in improving both productivity and sustainability.
The discussion goes on to examine the importance of flexibility in cultivation practices, including the benefits of reducing ploughing and adopting low- or zero-tillage approaches where appropriate. Mark also explains how cover crops can help improve soil health, retain nutrients and contribute valuable nitrogen back into the system.
To conclude, Mark outlines the key principles farmers should consider when managing their soils, offering practical advice on maximising nutrient-use efficiency while maintaining strong soil structure and resilience for the future.

As a manufacturer of both solid and liquid plant nutrition, Yara is dedicated to advancing precision farming. In this podcast episode, Roger Bacon, Yara’s Farm Account Manager for Lincolnshire, dives into the key advantages of liquid fertilisers with Ken Rundle. He discusses their reliability during dry springs, ease of application, reduced labor demands, and improved accuracy.
Roger also shares storage recommendations and explains how Yara supports farmers transitioning to liquid systems. He highlights our comprehensive range of NPKs, Straight Nitrogen, and Nitrogen Sulphur products, alongside precision tools like the N-Sensor for real-time crop monitoring and the new YaraPlus app for creating variable-rate application maps. The episode wraps up with a summary of how liquid fertilizer maximizes overall farm efficiency.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your fields? Head over to the YaraPlus website today to transform your crop nutrition strategy.
UK - https://uk.yaraplus.com/
Ire - https://ie.yaraplus.com/

As grass growth accelerates across the UK and Ireland, livestock farmers face the challenge of maintaining forage quality while maximising productivity from grazing and silage systems.
In this episode of Grow the Future, host Ken Rundle is joined by Yara's Country Grassland Specialist, Philip Cosgrave, to discuss the key grassland management decisions facing farmers at mid-season. They explore how to maintain grass quality during periods of rapid growth, the importance of managing grazing covers, and why timely nutrient applications are critical for both grazing and silage performance.
Philip also highlights the significant nutrient offtakes associated with silage production, the growing importance of potassium, phosphate and sulphur management, and how farmers can use nutrient planning to improve efficiency while remaining compliant with evolving environmental regulations.
Whether you're focused on grazing performance, silage yields, or long-term soil fertility, this episode provides practical advice to help you get the most from your grassland this season.