Articles published in the last 30 days All from last 30 days BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow NZ genetics added hybrid vigour to wool-shedding flockAs direct subsidies are phased out and significant changes made to agricultural support, sheep farmers are thinking outside the box by adjusting their systems to become more resilient. For John… BRITAIN'S FITTEST FARMERBritain’s Fittest Farmer: Mind and muscle put to the testThe finalists for Britain’s Fittest Farmer are preparing for the last leg of the competition and, as every year, that means they will be judged on more than physical ability. … 4X4SReinstating rear seats in commercial-spec 4x4s - the rulesWhen HMRC reclassified double-cab pickups as cars for some taxes, it made it more expensive to run a work vehicle that could also carry passengers in the back. Those needing… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow to manage commercial construction contracts on farmsConstruction on farms is covered by a raft of legislation, not only on health and safety and work quality standards, but in the case of substantial contracts, payment obligations of… VARIETY SELECTIONGrower reveals top wheat and OSR contenders for autumn 2026Bedfordshire-based farms director Andrew Robinson of Heathcote Farms is a dedicated milling wheat grower so finds himself in a good position on variety choice, given the recent Group1 additions. He… HARVESTHarvest 2026: Light land crops struggle and some OSR winsThe summer heatwaves have seen the earliest start to harvest for many farmers across the UK, who are reporting variable results. While on lighter land yields and quality have struggled,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Night-time shenanigans to get second cut inIt was great to see Lewis Hamilton recently winning his first race for Ferrari. Unfortunately, I had to listen to it on the radio as I was cutting our second… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESThree-quarters of SFI26 Window 1 funding allocatedThree-quarters of the funding available through the first application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) has now been allocated, prompting Defra to urge eligible farmers to apply soon before… FINANCEAgri-business administrations surge in first half of 2026More agricultural businesses are entering administration as a challenging economic climate adds to the financial pressures facing the sector. According to an assessment by law firm Shakespeare Martineau, a total… BUSINESSUK-Switzerland trade deal to boost food exports for farmersBritish farmers are set to gain improved access to the Swiss market, worth an average of £195m a year between 2019 and 2022, after a new trade deal cut tariffs… FARM POLICYLabour MPs and CLA send 'rural' message to Andy BurnhamWith Labour leader elect Andy Burnham set to become prime minister next Monday (20 July), backbench MPs have teamed up with the Country, Land and Business Association (CLA) to deliver… LIVESTOCK8 tips to optimise brooding of free-range turkey poultsThe arrival of free-range turkey poults and goslings on rearing farms marks a critical stage in the production cycle for the Christmas market. This is when the foundations for the… 4X4SLand Rover Discovery Commercial is slick but complicatedFew manufacturers have embraced the commercial SUV concept as consistently as Land Rover. And the Discovery is one of its best-known examples, with thousands of models making the transition to… COMMUNITYSearch begins for new Welsh farm safety ambassadorsFarmers across Wales are being urged to become farm safety ambassadors to help reduce life-changing accidents and encourage safer working practices across the industry. The Wales Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP)… OPINIONOpinion: Heading to NZ? Remember - shy bairns get nowtThere is a particular time of year in New Zealand when new lives begin. Just as calves fall to the ground at the end of July, so do those arriving… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: We need both the magic and the science eventsWe are playing the harvest waiting game in Shimpling. Given the searing forecast, by the time you read this submission we should be immersed into our winter crops. Other news… WEATHERFarmers help out as wildfires spreadFarmers, gamekeepers and emergency services are battling wildfires across northern England and Wales as prolonged dry weather and suspected arson fuel a series of blazes. Three grassland fires in North… NEWSFW Podcast Ep 312: Heatwave harvest grain-washing alertA third summer heatwave is creating difficult harvesting conditions, with shrivelled grain, variable cereal yields and combines being forced to operate early in the morning or late at night. We… NEWSPackham’s Clarkson’s Farm remarks spark backlashA row has erupted between broadcaster Chris Packham and Jeremy Clarkson after comments Mr Packham made on Celebrity Gogglebox about the illustrated opening sequence of Clarkson’s Farm. Watching the Amazon… BUSINESSPressure mounts for 'method of production' food labellingMeat industry groups are resisting attempts by animal welfare campaigners to enforce mandatory labelling showing how farmed animals are reared, saying such an approach is too simplistic. Global animal welfare… NEWSUK food self-sufficiency falls as import costs riseUK food self-sufficiency by value fell from 65% to 60% in 2025, according to Defra’s latest Agriculture in the UK report, as rising import values increased the cost of the… ENVIRONMENTNew Beef and Lamb Environmental Roadmap aims for net zeroBeef and sheep producers are being offered a seven-point plan to help drive down their on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the UK-wide aim to achieve net zero by… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow an annual ram MOT can help optimise flock performanceSuccessive heatwaves this summer could have a lasting effect on tup fertility well into September. While a tup can recover its semen quality six weeks after experiencing high temperatures, the… TENANCIES AND RENTSGreener and long-term FBTs: How new tenancies are workingOrganisations like the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) have long called for lengthier tenancies to become the industry standard. Progress has been slow, but the influence of one person is helping… YOUNG FARMERSPeter Gittins: Why 'getting out there' matters for farmersI recently travelled more than 6,000 miles, as the crow flies, from rural Yorkshire, leading a research project in rural South Africa. The project looks at how farmers develop entrepreneurial… More articles
