Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Will I regret waiting to cultivate soils?The sooner we can get the next crop in the ground and put the 2018 crop behind us, the better. A career low was reached this year with our oilseed… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Ergot proves to be the Achilles' heel of ryeThere has been a sharp contrast between the sands and chalks this harvest. At the Royston farm the crops on the chalks have still produced respectable results, while crops up… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Close call with crop fire and dual carriagewaySurely we will look back on harvest 2018 as one of the most relaxed ever. We have been able to start up the combine as early as 8am and cut… ARABLEFarmer Focus: Malting barley quality is spot onIt is impossible to write this without mentioning the weather. Over the last few weeks I have sat watching the crop potential evaporate in front my eyes. Then we received… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: 10,000 lambs to fatten this winterWinter here at Valetta brings a big change in our focus from arable to livestock. We currently have 14 mobs of sheep strip-grazing kale and oat crops behind triple-wire electric… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: No right answer on desiccation this yearAfter being on holiday last year when the oilseed rape harvest started, I was determined not to be away again, so with a return date of 14 July I felt… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: OSR harvest was a dragged-out affairMy first OSR harvest is progressing well, although trying to combine oilseed rape when it wasn’t too dry meant a week of late nights or early mornings, rather than just… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Media more obsessed with weather than farmers?Unusually, I find I can start this month’s piece in the same way as the last. It has been an absolutely amazing spell of weather; blazing heat and not a… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Irrigating kit being delivered by the lorry loadIt is a very rare occurrence for Northern Ireland to announce a hosepipe ban and – I believe – be the first area of the UK to do so After… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Wheat crop blighted by a crop circleThis year will not be one that is quickly forgotten. The abnormal summer heatwave has switched crops off early, undoubtedly compromising yields, but compensated by favourable and rapid harvesting conditions.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Over-regulated to the point of undersupply?I’m guessing as you read this, the true cost of “flaming June” and the continuing heatwave can already be seen in the grain shed. On the whole, our crops have… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: How to survive a drought in South AfricaWhile watching the British Grand Prix, I was astounded as to how brown the grass around the Silverstone track was. I realised if this is what the well-manicured lawns around… More articles
