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Welcome back to Inside the Pod, the PGRO podcast. With a new episode format for this season, Inside the Pod returns with longer episodes covering more topics that hopefully interest and help you, the pulse grower. In this first episode of a new episode, host Ben Pike speaks to Matthew Green from AB Mauri about pulse milling and their experience in developing pulse-based products for the bakery sector. He is then joined by PGRO's Erin Matlock and George Goodwin, Managing Director at Senova, to talk about the Pulse Performance Network, a new benchmarking tool for pulse growers, providing a new structure and a sharpened focus on delivering practical, farm0-ready insights for today's growers. Finally, we end the episode reflecting on the recent announcement that PGRO CEO Roger Vickers will be retiring in the coming months - we wish him all the best in his next chapter. We hope you enjoy this episode, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a future episode!

Welcome to Inside the Pod, the PGRO podcast. In this episode of the podcast, host Ben Pike attends the PGRO's annual Pulse Crop Open Day in Lincolnshire, where he takes a look at the various trials that were on show. Ben speaks to Dr Becky Howard about PGRO's work with the ANSWERs project, as well as the NCS Project which is coming into its final year. He also catches up with Alek Ligeza to talk about PGRO's work with herbicides, plus he speaks to Will Evans about his work with lentils and chickpeas. To find out more about PGRO's trial work and what was on show at this year's open day, head to pgro.org for more information.

In this episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike speaks to Dr Chris Judge from the PGRO's Vining Pea Open Day in Nocton, Lincolnshire, where PGRO's vining pea trials were on show for growers to see, which was held on Monday 15th June. To find out more about PGRO's vining pea trial work, head to pgro.org

In this episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike speaks to PGRO Research Agronomist Erin Matlock about the PGRO's Pulse Performance Network, which was launched at Cereals on 11 June. PGRO will establish the Pulse Performance Network (PPN) this autumn, marking a significant new chapter for crop benchmarking and analysis for pea and bean growers. Following 10 successful years of the pulse yield enhancement networks (YENs) under ADAS, the PGRO will create a new structure and a sharpened focus on delivering practical, farm-ready insights for today's growers. Benchmarking has a strong reputation for bringing together growers, agronomists, researchers, and industry partners to push the boundaries of crop productivity, environmental performance, and grain quality. Under PGRO's leadership, the network aims to introduce new tools and approaches designed to make participation easier and more valuable. The goal is not just to measure performance, but to ensure every dataset collected translates into something meaningful, whether that's improving yield efficiency, enhancing crop quality, or reducing environmental impact. The PPN aims to turn data into decisions. By simplifying participation, strengthening collaboration, and focusing on actionable insight, the PPN aims to ensure every participant walks away with knowledge that can be applied directly to their farming system. This evolution will support both growers and the industrial supply chain as the sector works towards greater productivity, consistency, and resilience in UK pulse crops. To support a more streamlined approach, the PGRO has developed a dedicated PPN app that will allow participants to record crop management information directly in the field throughout the season. The PPN will officially open for applications in September. To find out more, head to the PGRO website at pgro.org

Welcome to Inside the Pod, the PGRO podcast. In this episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike is joined by Franek Smith, Associate Director and Senior Trader at Wherry & Sons Ltd, to discuss the latest market prospects from both a grower’s perspective and from a trader’s perspective. Franek talks about the latest developments in the pulse market and how the market is looking for pulse growers across the UK in these turbulent times, with conflict in the Middle East among a number of international and domestic aspects that are influencing a complicated market.

Welcome to Inside the Pod, the PGRO podcast. In this special 50th episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike is joined by Rob Suckling, Commercial Technical Manager at De Sangosse, and Rob Pearson, CEO of AutoSpray Systems to discuss the future of bean production and the applications of sprays with the use of drone technology. Rob Suckling explains how Pod-Stik, De Sangosse’s trademark Pod Sealant product, protects the yield of podding crops, including pulses, by sealing the pod shut for longer to prevent the premature release of seed the combine gets in the field. Rob then goes on to talk about why De Sangosse decided to start utilising drones in the application of Pod-Stik to pulse crops, explaining that applying Pod-Stik from a drone rather than a traditional sprayer gives a much tighter droplet spectrum and reduces mechanical damage with no machine driving through the tramlines. Rob Pearson then goes on to explain that while drones won’t fully replace large self-propelled sprayers that farmers use, they instead provide them with another tool in the spray shed that can be used when access is difficult or when damage to the crop needs to be avoided. To find out more about Pod-Stik head to https://www.desangosse.co.uk/products/pod-sealers/ To find out more about AutoSpray Systems go to https://autospraysystems.com

In this episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike speaks to Donal O'Sullivan from the University of Reading about the Raising the Pulse project, a three year project focused on faba beans designed to transform the food system for health and environment and aiming to increase UK pulse consumption for health and sustainability. You can read more about the Raising the Pulse project at https://research.reading.ac.uk/raising-the-pulse/

In this episode of Inside the Pod, Ben Pike takes a look at the latest Pulse Market Update for March 2026. Market values have been remarkably static since the autumn of 2025 with little to report and a clear explanation is not so easy to find. The DEFRA declared cropped area for pulses in 2025 was below 200,000ha - the lowest since crop 2019 and a drop of over 73,000ha over two years - most of which appears to have been at the expense of field beans. It is highly likely that this reflects the negative impact of the uptake of SFI options, although recent inconsistent crop experiences may not have helped. Read the full report now at https://www.pgro.org/pulse-market-update-mach-2026/

In this episode of Inside the Pod, Emily Scaife is joined by Alistair Bell and Jessica Saunders from Frontier to discuss the Frontier Faba Bean Project, which is creating a secure market for human-consumption beans through an exclusive contract, helping growers to manage risk, add further value to the supply chain, and build more sustainable rotations.

Pea bruchid beetle was detected for the first time in peas harvested in the UK in 2025. The AIC, BSPB, NFU and PGRO are working together to identify mitigations and minimise the risk of spread from the two sites in Landbeach, Cambridgeshire and Stubton, Lincolnshire. Having been confirmed post-harvest on both sites, the crops were removed and fumigated. However, due to the risk of mature beetles overwintering in the local area we have identified the need to establish a voluntary restriction zone within which we ask that growers abstain from planting pea crops in 2026. In the intermediary, establishment of catch crops and ongoing monitoring will be undertaken at the sites for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. The two confirmed findings have raised concern within the sector, presenting challenges not only to crop integrity and yield, but also to the continued confidence of our domestic and international trading partners. If unmanaged, these issues could have detrimental consequences for market access, supply chain stability, and the reputation of the UK pulse industry. To access the full PGRO guidance, please visit Pea Bruchid (Bruchus pisorum) | PGRO

In this episode of Inside the Pod, we’re joined by Charlotte Apsey, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge whose research gets right to the heart of one of the biggest questions facing pulse growers. How can we improve field bean yields while working with nature rather than against it. Charlotte’s work focuses on pollination in field beans and, specifically, the role wildflower margins can play in attracting pollinators into crops. Speaking to episode host, Ben Pike, she explains why beans are more reliant on insect activity than many growers might assume, what happens when pollinators are encouraged to spend more time in and around bean crops, and how relatively simple habitat features could make a measurable difference to performance. A major part of Charlotte’s research involves on farm trials during the bean flowering period. These trials involve counting pollinators visiting flowers and linking that activity back to yield data. The aim is practical, grower relevant insight that supports productive and sustainable farming systems. Charlotte is now looking for farmers who can help host trials in the 2026 season. She is keen to hear from anyone growing field beans, either spring or winter drilled, particularly where there is an existing wildflower margin alongside the crop or where a margin could be established. Access to the field during flowering would be needed for a short period, along with basic yield information at harvest. Where possible, comparison with a similar bean field without a wildflower margin would add even more value to the work. Disruption to the crop is kept to an absolute minimum. Trial areas are clearly marked and removed afterwards, and all findings are shared with the host farm. If you are growing field beans and would like to be involved, or simply want to find out more, you can contact Charlotte directly by emailing [email protected]. Farmers can also register interest via PGRO at www.pgro.org, who are supporting the project and helping to connect growers with the research. This episode is a must listen for anyone interested in beans, pollinators and the real world impact of agri environment features on crop performance.

PGRO has unveiled its 2026 Descriptive List for pulses, which contains 11 new pea and bean varieties. Joining Ben Pike in today's special episode of Inside the Pod is Dr Chris Judge, who goes through the new varieties from this year's list, which contains seven new combining peas, two winter beans, and two spring beans. Chris also talks to us about how the Descriptive List trials performed this season, after contending with drought conditions across much of the country and a small number of trial sites failing. The Descriptive List gives growers the opportunity to compare different varieties and evaluate which will suit their situation. You can read the 2026 Descriptive List in full at pgro.org, or you can watch the full launch and presentation presented by Chris on the PGRO YouTube channel.

In this Supply Chain Focus edition of Inside the Pod, host Matt Webster speaks to George Goodwin, the managing director of Senova, a private and independent seed marketing and crop development company with an innovative approach. In this episode Matt and George discuss what companies such as Senova are looking to achieve from their breeding programs, and what's coming down the innovation pipeline, as well as looking at what products and pulse varieties Senova have to offer to growers in the industry, and Senova's working relationship with the PGRO.

In this episode of Inside the Pod, host Ben Pike sits down with pulses trader James Ormerod from Bunge UK to unpack the current dynamics shaping the UK pulse market. James offers a trader’s view of supply and demand, exploring how policy, global competition, and shifting domestic priorities are influencing bean and pea prices. UK bean production has halved in recent years, falling from around 800,000 tonnes to nearer 400,000 tonnes. James attributes much of this decline to SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) payments, which have encouraged growers to take land out of production for guaranteed returns. Although Defra’s latest figures suggest a slight recovery in area, the long-term trend remains downward — a concern for both traders and processors. James also discusses how competing protein sources such as soya and rapeseed meal are setting a tough benchmark for beans in feed markets, while export demand has weakened. Still, there are bright spots: the UK’s fish feed sector and poultry market continue to provide strong outlets, and the nation’s reputation for producing high-quality feed beans remains solid. Despite short-term uncertainty, James remains hopeful that renewed policy focus on homegrown protein and sustainable cropping could help pulses reclaim their place in British agriculture — vital for food security, soil health, and reducing reliance on imported soya. For more information read the latest PGRO Pulse Market Update for September/October 2025 (pgro.org). Pea Bruchid is still a hot topic at the moment, and PGRO is still urging growers to remain vigilant and report any signs of infestation. For more information about Pea Bruchid you can listen to this episode of Inside the Pod featuring Dr Becky Howard at https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pTmSTMK7oldn4cg6ISL7e?si=B2VjTE0XQEq5IgvTxEJWsg

In this episode of Inside the Pod from the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO), host Ben Pike is joined by Dr. Becky Howard from PGRO and Joe Martin from Corteva Agriscience to discuss responsible use of propyzamide, the active ingredient in Kerb® and Kerb® Flo, a key herbicide for grassweed control in winter beans. Becky and Joe explain why propyzamide remains a crucial tool for managing resistant blackgrass and other grass and broadleaf weeds, thanks to its unique mode of action and effectiveness in cooler, moist soils. However, they also stress that increasing environmental scrutiny, particularly around water contamination risks, means good stewardship is essential to keep this vital active available. The conversation covers best practice for application timing (typically late October to December), field selection, and measures to reduce runoff, such as avoiding waterlogged soils, minimizing compaction, and maintaining buffer zones near watercourses. Joe highlights Corteva’s stewardship initiatives, including collaboration with water companies and grower support through the Kerb Weather Data app and online CPD training resources. Listeners are encouraged to visit corteva.co.uk/propyzamide for stewardship advice and weather guidance to ensure safe and effective use of propyzamide this drilling season.