Grow the future

In this episode, Yara's Grassland Agronomist Philip Cosgrave discusses late-season grazing and reflects on the grass-growing season so far. The conversation explores how weather conditions have varied across regions, with some areas of Scotland and the west of Ireland experiencing favourable grass-growing conditions, while others faced more challenging periods.

Philip explains how most swards have recovered from earlier dry conditions, examines current grass growth rates, and highlights alternative feed options to help livestock farms through the winter. 

He also shares practical advice on stimulating autumn grass growth through the timely application of slurry and organic manures, before outlining key recommendations for winter preparation, grassland management, and forage budgeting to help farmers make the most of available feed resources.

For today’s Grow the Future podcast, we’re joined by Natalie Wood, Product Manager for YaraVita and Biologicals to discuss the growing role of foliar nutrition in modern crop production.

The episode begins with an overview of the season, covering drilling progress, weather conditions across the country, and harvest results to date. Natalie explains when foliar nutrition should be introduced into crop programmes and why it is becoming increasingly important in helping crops overcome environmental and nutritional challenges. She shares practical examples from the field, including the greening effect observed when farmers apply YaraVita CropBoost to maize.

The discussion also explores nutrient management strategies for oilseed rape and cereals, taking into account changing weather patterns and the potential influence of El Niño conditions. Natalie provides tailored recommendations for wheat, barley, and oats, alongside an update on the YaraAmplix biostimulant range and its role in supporting crop performance.

The episode concludes with Natalie’s key product recommendations for the season, including YaraVita Brassitrel Pro for oilseed rape and YaraVita CropBoost and Gramitrel for cereals.

For this special episode of Grow the Future, we explore Yara’s Climate Choice Fertilisers with Mark Tucker, Senior Manager for Partnerships and Food Value Chain, and Dale Turner, Head of Marketing, Agronomy and Value Chain.

The discussion covers the development of Climate Choice Fertilisers, including Yara’s new Sluiskil plant in the Netherlands and its carbon capture and storage technology. Mark and Dale explain how these fertilisers deliver the same trusted performance farmers expect, while offering a low carbon footprint.

The episode the availability of Climate Choice fertilisers across key Yara product families such as YaraBela and YaraVera, and the opportunities these fertilisers present for farmers across all sectors. From arable and grassland farming to distribution networks and broader food value chains, the conversation explores why scalability is key to supporting agriculture's sustainability ambitions.

To learn more about Yara Climate Choice Fertilisers, visit our websites today.

UK - Paving the way to a decarbonised food future | Yara Climate Choice Fertilisers | Yara UK

Ireland -  Paving the way to a decarbonised food future | Yara Climate Choice Fertilisers | Yara Ireland

This week on the Grow the Future podcast, we explore YaraPlus, Yara’s innovative digital platform with Commercial Solutions Manager Darren Glegg. Darren shares an overview of the app’s development so far, including feedback from farmers who are already using it and seeing the benefits.

The conversation highlights how YaraPlus is designed not only for arable farmers but also for grassland businesses, offering practical tools to support better decision-making and improve efficiency. Darren discusses features that are available right now, including the Photo Analysis tool, and explains how farmers can use the platform to maximise productivity.

We also take a closer look at some of YaraPlus’ advanced services, such as the Fertilisation Plan for arable farmers and the Nitrogen Uptake Map for grassland fields. Finally, Darren explains how straightforward it is to get started, whether using the mobile app or the desktop platform, making it easier than ever for farmers to access valuable insights and support.

For more information on YaraPlus visit our websites today: 

Yara UK - YaraPlus | Your partner for precise crop nutrition

Yara Ireland - YaraPlus | Your partner for precise crop nutrition

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.

In this episode, we are joined by James Willis, Area Manager based in Norfolk, to discuss strategic nutrition planning for upcoming crop rotations. The conversation opens with an analysis of current geopolitical challenges and their macroeconomic impact on agriculture, before transitioning into a technical discussion on the critical relationship between sulphur and nitrogen in driving photosynthesis and maximizing nutrient use efficiency. 

James emphasizes the financial necessity of mastering agronomic fundamentals, highlighting how sub-optimal soil pH can incur significant costs—and how regular soil sampling and leaf testing can mitigate these risks. Additionally, the episode explores recent grower feedback regarding a shift toward less intensive crop rotations, examines the broader market implications of wheat production challenges in the US and Australia, and evaluates the operational advantages of transitioning to liquid fertilisers. 

The episode concludes with key, actionable advice from James to help growers navigate the complexities of the upcoming season.