Know How latest BUSINESS MANAGEMENTTips to improve farm office efficiencyAn office littered with random piles of paper and general clutter is not uncommon in farming, but it is an environment that doesn’t inspire productivity and can mean costly mistakes… PLOUGHSFirst impressions: Kuhn Multi-Master L six-furrow ploughFor risk-averse, geologically challenged or weather-beaten farms, few implements match the reliability and consistency of a plough. Sales of these time-honoured implements have now flatlined following a near decade-long drop… CROP MANAGEMENTPesticide rules: NI arable farmers losing out under BrexitPoliticians from all sides are being urged to fix the mess surrounding plant protection products (PPPs) and seed trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to prevent irreparable harm to… DAIRYAdvice on installing a new dairy parlourA parlour is a significant investment and should not be given the green light before carefully considering the business’s future, options and design. David Ball, lead environment specialist at the… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: East MidlandsAgents report a clear growth in the supply of farmland coming to the market in the East Midlands in 2024, a combination of public and private sales that resulted in… DAIRYWhy low-mastitis herd helps keeps tabs on medicines cabinetThe downside of a dairy herd with less than 5% mastitis is having to maintain a stock of in-date antibiotics. This is the case for the Hodginkson family, who run… NEWSHow farmers can engage the public with agricultureFrom social media to farm walks, creative initiatives are bridging the gap between agriculture and the public. The fallout from October’s controversial Budget has amplified the pressures on British farmers,… STAFF MANAGEMENTAdvice on common farm employment issuesFrom correctly issuing employment contracts to having the right paperwork in order, getting staffing right from the very start will not only rule out problems further down the line but… COMMUNITYFarmer on mission to raise awareness of neurodiversity in agStaffordshire dairy farmer Liz Haines is on a mission to raise awareness about neurodiversity in the agricultural community, and hopes her speaking slot at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) will… MACHINERYRound-up: Non-blower straw bedding machine specs and pricesDuring winter months, when straw supplies and prices will be at a premium following wet spells over the harvest season, anything that helps minimise consumption while maintaining a comfortable, absorbent… DISEASE MANAGEMENTImproved BYDV tool to give cereal growers better controlWinter cereal growers are set to see a more accurate warning system next season for a key aphid-spread disease. The AHDB’s new Acrobat tool will give a more precise forecast… PIGS4 steps to tackle porcine respiratory disease complexAs winter sets in, so the risk of respiratory disease goes up. I have seen an increase in cases on several pig farms recently, especially following cold, dank days and… CULTIVATORSHow strip-cultivating power tillers can offer cost savingsDoes it really make sense to cultivate where only weeds are going to grow? Or create a soil structure vulnerable to a period of heavy rain just as the field… ARABLEExpert sets out six steps to better spring barley yieldsSpring barley was a get-out-of-jail card for some growers last season after wet weather prevented autumn drilling, yet many crops went on to deliver above-average yields. Why they performed so… FEED AND NUTRITIONHow growing lucerne could build resilience for Welsh farmIntegrating drought-tolerant lucerne into its sheep rotation has helped a Welsh livestock farm reduce the risk of feed shortfalls. Nitrogen fixing as well as deep rooted, lucerne has leaves with… LIVESTOCKAdvice for livestock farmers considering a switch to organicFarmers considering converting to organic production should take a whole-farm view when weighing up their options. Talking to other farmers with first-hand experience is also time well spent, says the… STAFF MANAGEMENTProactive approach required by new harassment lawsFarm employers now have a legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace since new legislation came into force on 26 October 2024. The Worker Protection… LIVESTOCKHow a shift in grazing grew more beef for less moneySoils with greater water-holding capacity, more diverse pastures and big savings on winter housing are among the standout results of a four-year grazing project at FAI Farms near Oxford. The… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: Yorkshire and HumberPrivate sales dominated in the Yorkshire and Humber region in 2024, with some agents reporting that more than two-thirds of transactions took place off the open market, many to cash… ROTATIONSAHDB analysis: The merits of SFI break crop alternativesFinding a reliable break crop in the arable rotation is an ongoing challenge. Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions, such as herbal leys or legume fallows could be an alternative, especially… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTStaff loss catalyst for Highland organic conversionGoing organic is a natural step for one Highland farm as it takes steps to reduce risk and restructures. The maternal stock of beef and sheep farmers David and Barbara… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESDairy sector contraction – what is the true cost?The 5.8% decline in GB dairy farm numbers to 7,130 producers in the 12 months to April 2024 is at its highest level in the five years since the AHDB… BUSINESSBudget highlights need for inheritance document housekeepingRegardless of the final outcome of the Budget, there are housekeeping steps that should be taken by farming businesses to ensure things are in place so that when succession, gifting… VARIETY SELECTIONVariety list shake-up with 24 new winter wheats and barleysTen new winter wheat varieties and 14 new winter barley varieties have been added to the AHDB’s Recommended List for cereals and oilseeds 2025/26. Many more new wheat and barley… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Valuing minority shareholding in companyWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Sarah Dodds, a partner and head of agriculture at MHA, advises on… DAIRYHow new lagoon will drive silage quality and milk from forageA major slurry lagoon project is a Lanarkshire family farm’s next step in their organic journey. Andrew Stewart, of Draffan Marshill, Kirkmuirhill, says the simplicity of organic farming, and the… VARIETY SELECTIONSpring barley list sees four additions and net blotch scoresThe new AHDB spring barley 2025-26 Recommended List has four new varieties and, for the first time this year, includes disease resistance ratings for net blotch. The four additions are under… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTBenefits of dedicated calf rearer for split block-calverFeeding calves is not a low-ranking job at Lower Park Farm. Instead, an employee dedicated to calf rearing is considered the key to consistency in feeding, weighing and following protocols… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Should I sell farm cottages or improve them?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Henry Platts-Martin, associate partner at Carter Jonas Rural, advises on what to… LAND MARKETSForestry market in flux with further price fallsThe area of commercial forestry sales and average prices have both fallen further over the past 12 months, according to the UK Forestry Market Report 2024 from Tilhill Forestry and… VARIETY SELECTIONRound-up of 14 new peas and beans on 2025 PGRO listPulse growers will have more choice next year, with 14 new pea and bean varieties making their debut on the updated variety lists, offering higher yields and better disease resistance.… BREEDING AND FERTILITYSurrogate rams: An alternative to artificial insemination?Surrogate rams could provide an alternative to artificial insemination, helping producers reach their sheep breeding goals, such as higher feed efficiency rates and lower environmental impact, more quickly. This could… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Neither my father nor brother has a willWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Ben Coulson, a partner in Thrings’ succession and tax team, advises on… DAIRYHow stocking rate is hitting the sweet spot for a dairy farmThe “sweet spot” for a Staffordshire dairy farm is a stocking rate of 2.2 cows a hectare, allowing a spring block-calving herd to become self-sufficient in forage, while maintaining milk… OILSEED RAPEData reveals cost of oilseed rape failuresHaving an effective plan B is vital when growing oilseed rape, as making the wrong decision when redrilling a failed crop can cost farmers up to £674/ha in lost margins,… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: North-west EnglandSustained demand for small pockets of bare land has driven the farmland market in the north-west of England throughout 2024, with land in locations that have a concentration of larger…
