Arable Farmer Focus

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Is Inaccurate information used against farmers?

It’s March, and spring is in the air. Boy, is it overdue. We’ve had a dry-ish week with blowing wind, so all of a sudden there is an urge to…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Trumping, chatting and farmer protests

At 8am on 1 March one of my local farming friends immediately announced on our WhatsApp group that it was the wettest February he had measured on the farm since…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Politicians need to wake up to the food crisis

I watch the farmer protests sweeping Europe with interest and sympathy and have reason to reflect on our experiences. As a faming business, we have very good irrigation infrastructure, reasonable…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Silver linings of the monsoon season

It's still a bit soggy. I hope by the time you read this that some fieldwork has recommenced, but "spot the dry field" is a bit challenging in North Yorkshire…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Sad passing of staff member amid busy weeks

Sadly, Jason who had worked on the farms for over 35 years passed away after his short battle with cancer. Jason started as relief cow man when there used to…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Soil investment now paying dividends

As farmers, we always find ourselves at the mercy of external forces that we cannot control. We will all be aware that this winter was no exception. During October, a…

ARABLE

Farmer Focus: Wet winter costs us in soil damage

Unfortunately, February did not bring with it the dry weather we were all hoping for, and therefore there has been no weather window to spread the muck and slurry. No…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Starting some field work in the soggy spring

The dykes are full this February, after another very wet winter. No spring barley or beans have been drilled here, much to my frustration. We have managed to terminate cover…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Continuous rain and the nutrient value of food

As I write, the river is bursting its banks and we have a storm warning. It’s certainly the winter that keeps on giving. I hope the taps do not get…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: A positive trip to this year’s YEN Awards

The farm had a successful trip to the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) awards conference held in Peterborough at the end of January – a true testament to our staff, who…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: The farm is heading for a financial disaster

With the wheat price on its knees and the farm constantly battered by rain, it's looking like a financial disaster. We do not have a single field of wheat that’s…

ARABLE

Farmer Focus: Findings from a 10-day farm tour in Senegal

The lack of farming activity at Shimpling Park Farm due to unhelpful weather has continued since my January contribution. For the second month I will have to resort to extra…

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