Know How latest LAYERSA guide on how to improve water quality on poultry unitsIssues with water quality that are left unaddressed can have long-term negative effects on a flock, both in terms of bird welfare and the economic impact of disease and poor… CROP SELECTIONWhy lupins could make the breakthrough as a break cropLupins are finding a home on one Kent family-run farm as a useful spring-sown break crop, with a guaranteed price and a ready market for the protein-rich grain. The leguminous… LAND MARKETSValues set to rise in land market stunted by virusThe farmland market has suffered a serious blow from the effects of coronavirus but will prove resilient and bounce back, say experts. Supply to the market, historically lower than demand,… COVER CROPS6 key findings from the AHDB's latest cover crop researchCover crops are firmly entrenched as a core component of regenerative agriculture, but many growers are finding it difficult to know how to fit them into their rotation or, even… WHEATBiscuit-making wheat varieties vying for top spot autumn 2020Firefly is set to vie for the top spot with Elicit in biscuit-making winter wheat seed sales this autumn, with growers weighing up its good yield and stiff straw against… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESAnalysis: What could reform of milk contract law achieve?Last week, Defra fired the starting pistol on a 12-week consultation with the UK dairy industry on how it may regulate the supply contracts between farmers and processors. Those in… HEALTH AND SAFETYApps help lone workers stay safe on the farmA Norfolk potato adviser who had to crawl for help after shattering his skull in a 9m fall is emphasising the need to stay safe when working alone on the… WHEATWhat will be the top-selling wheat varieties this autumn?Extase is set to overtake Skyfall as the top-selling winter wheat variety this autumn, driven by its good disease resistance, stiff straw and early maturity. Seed trade experts believe the… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESHow farmers are capitalising on Countryside StewardshipOrganic beef and sheep farmer David Oates has stopped growing barley in favour of brassica crops and wholecrop to benefit local wildlife habitats. With a mixture of improved land, heathland… CLOTHING12 reusable farm gloves on test: Which are best?Whether it’s filling up with fuel, connecting a pto shaft or wrangling with hydraulic pipes, a decent set of gloves will make the job far more pleasant. We know there… VARIETY SELECTIONWhy more research is needed for no-till wheat variety picksMore scientific information on how different wheat varieties perform in no-till systems is needed, as growers are having to make selections based on limited data. As the establishment method increases… SHEEPWhy a spring spike in dead lambs occurs despite vaccinationsA spike in pasteurella in dead lambs, aged five to eight weeks, has been seen again this spring despite farmers vaccinating ewes for the disease. Typically found in northern England… PIGSSuffolk pig producers see multiple benefits from pollinatorsCombining outdoor pig rearing with planting pollinator strips has helped Suffolk-based Dingley Dell Pork raise sow performance, help the environment and provide a marketing boost for their direct sales business.… POULTRYAdvice on getting gut health right in young seasonal birdsGut health and growth performance in seasonal birds can be a challenge from the outset, so careful management of the young flock is key to ensure it achieves its potential.… NEWSWaitrose food standards pledge - are others on board?Supermarket chain Waitrose has broken ranks with the other UK retailers by promising it will never sell any products that do not meet the high standards of British farmers but… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: How to avoid boundary disputes when fencingWhether you have a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Chris Anderson, a Carter Jonas associate partner, tackles the rules and conventions… MARKETS AND TRENDSPigmeat exports surge helps Cranswick profits riseSoaring pigmeat export values have helped Yorkshire meat processor Cranswick post profits of more than £100m for the past financial year. The pork and poultry processor’s statutory profit before tax,… FEED AND NUTRITION4 tips to manage the risk of dry silageMany farms have produced high-quality forage (11.5+ of metabolisable energy) this year and should factor in silage quality to save money by cutting supplementary feeding. Independent silage consultant Dave Davies… NEWSWelsh ammonia emissions clampdown: What it means for farmersNew investment on Welsh livestock farms could be significantly curtailed with the Welsh government planning stricter controls on ammonia emissions from as early as January 2021. Currently, only intensive farms… SOILSTips on getting soils and rotations back on trackAfter one of the wettest winters on record, it could be assumed that UK arable soils will be in desperate need of first aid before the next cropping season begins.… LAND MARKETS6 things we know about the 2020 farmland marketRecord-breaking low supply, rising demand, and buyers and sellers who had to break from the norm are all elements that have stood out for the land market so far in… VARIETY SELECTIONWhy disease is driving winter wheat variety choiceA season-long problem with yellow rust is threatening to unseat some popular winter wheat varieties as growers make their choices for harvest 2021. Finding the disease at the juvenile or… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow investing in a forage merger has improved silage qualityInvesting in 9.5m forage merger has helped improve silage quality and production for a family-run dairy unit in Scotland. Brothers Robert and David Veitch run 340 milking cows at Greenside… VARIETY SELECTIONTips on which winter barley varieties to drill this autumnWinter barley variety choice continues to expand, with growers having 24 recommended varieties to pick from, spread across three end-use groups – two-row malting, two-row feed and six-row feed. Starting… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Has Covid-19 put us in breach of contract?Whether you have a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Kate Westbrook, one of Thrings' leading commercial lawyers, sets out when… VARIETY SELECTIONA guide to the top 6 yielding OSR varieties on the UK listThe five new high-yielding additions to the UK oilseed rape Recommended List all come from the same breeder as Aspire, the existing top performer. Newcomers Acacia, Ambassador, Aurelia, Artemis and… PARASITIC DISEASESHow to control gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and cattleGastrointestinal (GI) parasites are major contributors to reduced ruminant productivity, and if left unmanaged or untreated, can have devastating effects on animal welfare and farm productivity. Large populations of these… 101-200HPVideo: John Deere 6120M Command Quad tractor on testLast year’s unveiling of a heavily reworked 6M tractor range may have been lost in the razzmatazz of John Deere’s high-end tractor and combine launches, but these simple(ish) models could… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow scanning can detect early pneumonia in calvesSubclinical pneumonia, where there are no obvious signs of the disease, in young calves is going undetected on farms, a Scottish study has found. Calves are more likely to succumb… VARIETY SELECTION4 wheat varieties with wide drilling windows to considerThe value of wheat varieties with wider drilling windows that allow for later sowing has proved incredibly useful after the wet winter of 2019, offering growers greater flexibility on when… MEDICINESHow one sheep farmer eliminated watery mouth and joint illMatthew Isaac has reduced cases of watery mouth and joint ill at lambing to nothing by using good bacteria to keep infections at bay. Mr Isaac, who runs a… VARIETY SELECTIONWhy stiff-stemmed and early maturing wheat varieties can payThere is increasing focus on selecting wheat varieties to shave a few pounds off fungicide bills, but growers are undervaluing some other traits like stem stiffness and very early maturity.… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAre contract farming agreements fit for the future?Contract Farming Agreements (CFAs) have been the go-to model for arable collaboration for a number of years but, as the farming industry faces a period of significant change, questions are… HEALTH AND WELFARE3 tips to help cut zinc oxide from weaner dietsReducing protein levels and increasing feed intake are helping a growing number of Danish piggeries remove zinc oxide from weaner diets. A study of the practices on Danish farms… SLURRY TANKERSAdvice on setting up the perfect umbilical slurry systemSpreading slurry through an umbilical system can be vastly more efficient than running tankers, but it’s not always a practical proposition for every farm, particularly those with outlying ground a… FEED AND NUTRITIONAdvice on testing and keeping water clean for livestockA “control, check and clean” approach to managing water quality in cattle drinking troughs can encourage higher intakes and remove harmful bacteria. Contaminated water will reduce intakes – with cattle…
