Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Apple trees, wheat and stacking paymentsThe landscape is changing in Herefordshire. Commercial cider apple orchards which were once a mainstay of the countryside are on their way out. This is due to a change in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: It's time manufacturers stepped up on safetyLet’s start with some positives – we got our hay made in good order and we haven’t yet had to start an irrigator. On the flip side, travelling in potato… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Harvest set to be condensed into a few weeksWe haven’t started harvest yet. It has been a much slower start here in Norfolk than in the past few years. We will be starting with oilseed rape on this… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hope gamble pays off with fertiliser top-upOver the past few weeks, I have attended crop trials around the country looking at various herbicide and fungicide programmes, as well as cultural control methods. I use this time… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Canadians come to town to learn about UK wheatA few weeks ago I had a visit from independent consultants Adas, who were accompanied by three Canadian crop consultants. The purpose of the visit was to look at winter… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: The cashflow pitfall of grant fundingWe finally seem to have had some sunshine, and the maize, which was looking a bit unhappy, is now motoring with the help of some magnesium sulphate and foliar nitrogen.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Poor season sets blackgrass control backThe oilseed rape has been desiccated, all 5ha of it. I say OSR, it's actually about 25% brome as well. I know I’m repeating myself, but the farm really does… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Lots to learn from busman's holidayAt the time of writing, I am on holiday with my family in Cornwall. A busman's holiday, you could call it, as we have had a fantastic range of farm… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: First muck for straw deal to boost soil healthBy the time you read this we could have a new government, with the added uncertainty and challenges that brings, although it's questionable whether a change is a good or… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: First blackgrass prompts drastic actionAs we get into the back end of the growing season, it feels like a good time to reflect on how we can learn from this season’s challenges. Some messages… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cutting weeds to reduce seed returnWeeding has continued at Shimpling Park Farm. With crops too big for the inter-row hoe we have switched to our Combcut which has been dealing with our fleshier weeds like… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Are we heading to a potato blight Armageddon?It finally looks like the warmer weather we’ve been looking for is on its way. Five weeks of cold, sharp winds have not been conducive to growth. Grain crops have… More articles
