Data from ADAS has revealed that around 90% of UK wheat crops are still nutritionally limited, despite evidence that wheat yields of 15 t/a are achievable across the UK. These findings highlight the significant opportunity growers have to improve nutrient management and crop performance, particularly as climate variability continues to influence nutrient uptake and grain filling.
‘The reality is, most yield loss is invisible without grain analysis,’ said Alli Arden, NRM’s Agronomy Manager. ‘The data highlights a new risk: climate stress is shortening the grain-filling period and disrupting nutrient uptake. The key question for growers is no longer how much fertiliser they should be applying. It’s: what’s actually holding crops back and preventing them from reaching their yield potential? NRM’s GrainCheck service helps farmers answer this question.’
Grain analysis identifies which nutrient is limiting yield, confirming how effectively a crop converts nutrients into yield under stress. Testing not only reveals how crops performed during challenging weather conditions, but also how farming systems can adapt nutrient strategies and build resilience to better handle future extremes.
‘As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, understanding nutrient use efficiency is becoming an essential part of nutrient management planning,’ continued Arden. ‘Grain analysis not only helps explain why yields may have fallen short of expectations, but also helps growers make more targeted fertiliser plans for the following season.’
Turning grain analysis into practical nutrient management
NRM’s innovative grain analysis service, GrainCheck, helps growers measure nutrient offtake and evaluate the effectiveness of their crop nutrition strategy.
Suitable for winter and spring cereals, GrainCheck:
- Gives growers a good indication on how well they are managing nutrients for future adjustments
- Identifies hidden nutrient limitations that may have restricted crop yield or quality
- Allows farmers to use NRM’s nutrient offtake calculator alongside soil analysis results to adjust next season’s nutrient management plans accordingly, if offtake levels are smaller or larger than expected
- Comes with specialist insights by our team of expert agronomists
- Helps to finetune the following crops’ nitrogen requirement and next season’s fertiliser inputs, if used alongside soil and plant tissue testing
Every GrainCheck order includes a FREE sampling kit, containing everything needed to collect and submit grain samples after harvest.
With harvest in full swing, now is the ideal time to order a free sample kit so you’re ready to assess this season’s crop and use the results to improve nutrient management decisions for next year. Contact your agronomist or advisor or contact NRM directly for your kit now.
Watch our insightful GrainCheck videos here to learn more about NRM’s innovative grain analysis service and how to interpret your reports.
Originally launched with 47 analytes, Marchwood has since expanded its service to 52 PFAS analytes to help companies comply with upcoming legislation, safeguard public health, and protect the environment.
‘Marchwood is now operating a targeted PFAS screen with 52 PFAS analytes, including PFOS and PFOA in clean waters, dirty waters, and solids,’ said David Elo, Senior Business Development Manager at Marchwood. ‘The methodology is based on the most recent version of the US EPA method for full compliance and incorporates the PFAS listed on the new Drinking Water Inspectorate guidance. As the UK’s leading dioxins and furans analysis laboratory, we are always looking for ways to innovate and satisfy customer requests. So, we have recently extended this list to 52 PFAS analytes, further allowing us to meet all customer requirements effectively.’
The limits of detection for PFAS are between 1 and 5mg/l for clean water samples. To meet such a low detection limit, and to eliminate background noise and cross-contamination, Marchwood has dedicated its LC/MS QQQ instrumentation to solely carrying out PFAS analysis. The team has modified the LC to meet this method detection limit and equipped it with PFC-free parts to eliminate any environmental contamination.
‘Regional environment protection agencies will soon be bringing out legislation around PFAS for utilities. So, we made sure to implement these new tests with plenty of time,’ continued David. ‘We have also applied for UKAS accreditation for some of the matrices to give our customers further confidence in the accuracy and reliability of our results. By analysing effluents, sewage, soils, fertiliser, and waste, we are not only using our extensive expertise in this area to limit exposure to PFAS, safeguarding public health and protecting the environment, but we are also ensuring our customers remain fully compliant.’
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings that help to resist heat and repel oil, stains, grease, and water. More commonly known as “forever chemicals”, they can persist in the environment for a very long time, moving through soils and bypassing wastewater filtration systems without breaking down. PFAS are hazardous to public health, leading to adverse effects including altered immune and thyroid function, liver and kidney disease, reproductive and developmental issues, and cancer.
Click here to learn more about our PFAS analysis services.
For more information on our chemical analysis services, contact us.
This news article has been updated to reflect changes made in 2026.