The European Union cut its estimate for wheat stocks at the end of 2015-16, highlighting improved expectations for feed use of the grain – largely at the expense of corn, for which inventories will not fall nearly as far as previously expectations.

Monsanto has reached a settlement with farmers over the discovery of genetically modified wheat on a farm in Oregon, US.

The unexpected presence of the biotech company’s unlicensed GM wheat plants was detected on a farm in the western US state in May 2013.

Intrepid Farmers Weekly reporter Adam Clarke took to the skies in the Crop Doctor helicopter last week. He joined the expert team monitoring wheat disease levels in UK trial sites around England.

See photos from the tour, organised by Bayer CropScience, taken both from the sky and on the ground.

A simple blueprint for establishing oilseed rape is impossible. The crucial thing to remember is that the most important day in the crop’s life is the day of drilling, so be prepared to make decisions based on the conditions.