Farmer Focus: A new year and a new direction

The new year is upon us, and with it comes a fresh set of challenges – but also a renewed sense of optimism.

Last year certainly wasn’t a vintage year for farming. However, it wasn’t a write off either. The kind weather in the back end was enough to just about save its blushes.

For the first time in quite a few years, there’s not really any areas of the farm I’m unhappy with.

Apart from a tiny amount of frit fly damage in a small area of wheat, not helped by the unseasonably mild weather, our cropping is looking spot on.

See also: New barley set to be key dual-purpose variety across UK

About the author

Billy Lewis

Billy Lewis farms 140ha in North Herefordshire in partnership with his parents. They keep Hereford cattle, sheep and grow combinable crops. He also contract farms an additional 110ha. Cropping includes wheat, oats and spring beans.

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The grass reseeds have taken perfectly, and all of the Sustainable Farming Incentive options look as they should.

This means we’ve started 2026 with something good to work with. And work it shall do.

The economic climate we now face as a farming business is unforgiving. Everything needs to perform.

If sluggish commodity prices continue this year, yield will be key.

It would be lovely if we have a somewhat normal spring and early summer so the crops that are sitting pretty now are able to reach their full potential.

Our lack of fodder reserves for the livestock after the drought, has concentrated the mind this winter.

Going forwards, we’ve decided the interval between reseeding needs to be shorter.

The difference between a tired old grass ley and a fresh one is stark, and as I mentioned earlier, everything must pull its weight.

Over the past few months, we’ve spent a lot of time evaluating the parts of our system that are delivering, and those that aren’t. It has really helped give us a sense of direction for the future.

Now is not the time to bury your head in the sand.

There are going to be seismic changes to farming in the second half of this decade, and we want to be in a position to make the most of the opportunities that this will inevitably bring.

Spring calving is due to kick off in a few weeks, taking us straight into lambing and then into next year’s field work. The “quiet” winter period never lasts for long.