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Members of the NextGen Fruit Group travelled to Scotland on 20 and 21 August 2026 for two days of farm visits, technical discussions and networking, marking the group’s first organised visit to Scotland since it was formed almost 60 years ago. Originally established as the Under 40s Fruit Growers in 1967, the organisation became the … Continue reading →

UK hop growers had the opportunity to see the Fruit Tec Herkules hop defoliator working in commercial hop gardens in Kent and Herefordshire during two demonstrations organised by specialist machinery dealership NP Seymour on 14 and 15 July 2026. While the machine has already been widely used by growers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year when orchard and vineyard managers turn their thoughts to the importance and benefits of opening up and controlling the canopy as early as possible.  It’s widely well-known that good ventilation in the fruiting zone reduces the risk of diseases, improves spray targeting and efficacy, and also increases fruit exposure to … Continue reading →

Thanks to a three-year integrated weed management trial, IWMPRAISE, carried out at NIAB EMR’s Kent-based research vineyard several years ago, it is well proven that mechanical weeding methods can be just as effective as herbicides while also positively impacting the health of the vine and yield. One of the mechanical weeding tools used in the … Continue reading →

Rising costs are an ongoing challenge for growers, and it is rarely just one area that is affected. Fuel, labour and other essential inputs, like plant protection products and fertilisers, all have a habit of increasing at the same time. Often at points in the season when there is little flexibility to absorb the impact. … Continue reading →

From 17th to 19th March 2026, a group of growers joined NP Seymour on a trip to Germany to visit the Fendt, ERO and Braun factories. Designed to give something back to customers, the trip also offered a closer look at the manufacturing and assembly of the Fendt tractors they use every day, as well … Continue reading →

The UK’s annual national pruning competition, aka ‘The Battle of the Secateurs’, was held on 6 March 2026, kindly hosted by Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey.  Competitors, judges, spectators, and sponsors gathered for the event which was once again organised by James Dodson from VineWorks and Luke Wolfe of Agro-Pro and proudly supported by headline … Continue reading →

Pruning is one of the most labour-intensive parts of vineyard management, especially in the UK, where achieving the right crop load and vine balance is critical. And while battery-powered secateurs, like the Felco Powerblade and cordless Felco 834s, quickly come to mind, more mechanical options often get overlooked. For vineyard managers looking to streamline pruning, specialist … Continue reading →

We were pleased to launch the new Felco 834 cordless handset at this year’s National Fruit Show on Wednesday 5 November and again at the Vineyard and Winery Show on Wednesday 19 November, both held at the Kent Showground. These events gave growers and vineyard teams the chance to handle the new unit and see … Continue reading →

We are incredibly proud to share that Nick Seymour was awarded the Jon Jones Trophy for a notable contribution to the UK fruit industry at this year’s National Fruit Show President’s Breakfast on Wednesday 5th November 2025. Nick’s journey began in the late 1960s, training and working as an Agricultural Engineer at Drake and Fletcher’s … Continue reading →

We recently hosted a private demonstration of the ERO Grapeliner 7000 series self-propelled mechanical grape harvester at a vineyard in Kent. Attendees had the chance to see this advanced machine in action, including being able to sit in the cab with contractor and operator Sam Barnes to see how the cab’s central location, glass floor, … Continue reading →