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POULTRY

How the new poultry standards proposals will affect farmers

Earlier this year, two consultations on farm assurance standards for the UK poultry sector came to a close. Red Tractor and Defra propose changes that will help keep standards up…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Find out average farm rents where you live 2021

The average rent for full agricultural tenancy (FAT) agreements rose by 4% in the same year that the average rent for farm business tenancy (FBT) agreements fell by 4%, according…

LIVESTOCK

Dorset vet helps get his dairy herds moving more easily

Julian Allen is helping to reduce lameness in Dorset dairy herds by encouraging mobility scoring just as milk buyers are stepping up their interest in cow welfare. As a senior…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Garlic-based nematicide shows promise for Yorks root grower

The control of free-living and root-knot nematodes is a problem for many vegetable growers, particularly as the mainstay nematicide Vydate (oxamyl) was withdrawn from use last December. Despite its loss,…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Why urea-based products should be avoided to preserve grain

Urea-based products used to preserve rolled grain lose at least 40% of nitrogen content before they are consumed by the animal, new research has shown. Urea acts as a preservative,…

FORAGERS

Buying a trailed forage harvester - the options

A new wave of precision chop forage harvesters could reinvigorate the market for trailed models, even now that most established manufacturers have abandoned production of their designs. For many producers,…

LIVESTOCK

Why Scots farmers need solution to lambs lost to sea eagles

Every spring farmers and crofters in parts of Scotland face the unsustainable situation of white-tailed eagles preying on healthy newborn lambs to feed their young. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has demanded…

WHATS IN YOUR LIVESTOCK SHED

WIYLS: New beef build helps lift finisher growth to 2kg/day

A beef fattening building designed to aid natural ventilation is accelerating the finishing period at a Carmarthenshire livestock farm. Beef production at Rest Farm near Llanboidy is focused on maximising…

PARTNERSHIPS

Farm collaboration: Examples and tips for success

As the strain on businesses grows, advisers are experiencing a greater interest in farmers working together. They stress that this does not have to be an all-or-nothing commitment, also that…

HOUSING AND HANDLING

The main elements of good grower and finisher pig housing

Housing is a key component for optimum grower and finisher pig performance. As well as meeting the basic requirements for space and wellbeing, good pig housing should provide adequate light…

DAIRY

Dairy's chemical-free disinfectant delivers multiple benefits

A dairy farm in Norfolk has replaced chemical disinfectants with a system using only water and low-voltage electricity. This has helped reduce the farm’s carbon footprint, improved cow health, delivered…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in England

Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) account for about 55% of land in England, making it more likely than not that a farming enterprise is within a designated NVZ. So with NVZs…

MAIZE DRILLS

Contractor modifies Vaderstad Tempo to sow maize and grass

Maize and grass are now common bedfellows, but getting them growing together usually involves making a mid-season drilling pass that risks clattering maize plants and disturbing soil. Not so for…

PLANNING PERMISSION

10 points to consider before converting farm buildings

More and more farmers are exploring opportunities to convert ageing or redundant buildings in a bid to raise revenue as BPS support falls. There are opportunities aplenty, but beware the…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why timing is key to maximise wheat tillers with phosphite

Growers are being advised not to leave it too late when applying phosphite-based biostimulants to maximise the number of tillers in wheat crops. Trials over several years show that phosphites…

HOUSING AND HANDLING

Slatted sheep shed builds resilience into upland farm

Investing in a slatted sheep house has enabled a Scottish upland sheep and beef farm to see the full effect of a breed change, while controlling labour and input costs. …

POULTRY

What Lion Training Passport scheme means for poultry staff

Until recently, it has been possible for farms to diversify into free-range egg production as long as the required land area was available. This opportunity has seen a rapid growth…

ARABLE

Why agronomists need new skills and services

The fresh approach that new agricultural policy demands of the farming industry will see agronomists become system-focused rather than product-focused, says Farmers Weekly Arable Adviser of the Year Mark Dewes.…

LAND MARKETS

Find out average farmland prices where you live

Find out what the average price is for arable land and pasture in English and Welsh counties on our land map. It shows a full breakdown of average values on…

TRAILERS

Buyer's guide: 4x4-towed livestock trailers – 7 options

Stock trailers have a hard life, and after a few years of clattering down ropey tracks and being kicked around by their occupants, they tend to look, and sound, rather…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Why trailer load safety is crucial for farmers

Debris on the road and heavy machinery moving around on trailers due to insecure loading or careless driving are among the concerns of rural road police during a busy time…

LAND MARKETS

Sussex farm weighs pros and cons of biodiversity pilot scheme

The concept of biodiversity net gain (BNG) will become increasingly familiar over the next few years as developers look for land on which to offset their environmental obligations.  Doing a…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Cornish growers trial septoria test to target fungicide use

For two neighbouring Cornish farmers, septoria control forms the fundamental basis of wheat production in the high-risk region, which has prompted them to trial a new disease detection test to…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

What is pelvic scoring and how valuable is it for calving?

A heifer breeding soundness examination (HBSE) should be a key part of pre-breeding preparation, alongside bull examinations. This should incorporate objective information that has been accurately calculated or measured, including…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2021

Among the changes to the Ultimate Guide to tractors for 2021, the addition of Massey Ferguson’s new 8S is arguably the most significant as it sets a new style and…

SHEEP

How a Cornish farmer is making a profit from cade lambs

Cade lambs are often seen as a challenge. However, Cornish farmer Adrian Coombe has come to view them as an opportunity, and his surplus stock is now an integral, profitable…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How farms can reduce insecticides with natural pest control

A diverse landscape with lots of habitat is the best way to encourage the beneficial insects that are needed to provide natural pest control and replace the use of insecticides…

FERTILISER SPREADERS

Twin fert spreader combo reduces passes and eases logistics

One of the first Amazone front and rear spreader combinations in the UK is allowing its Dorset-based owners to spread two products at variable rates in a single pass and…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

What are the pros and cons of min-till maize?

There are two types of min-till systems: deeper min-till and shallow min-till. Deeper min-till involves cultivating to a depth of 22.5-25cm using a machine like a subsoiler with a leg…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Norfolk farmer goes digital to get spray timing spot on

Norfolk grower David Hurn walks his winter wheat crops with his agronomist in March and spots yellow rust, and then uses his digital farming tool to tell him when best…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

April 2021 bull proofs: The latest movers and shakers

Four new bulls, including a UK-bred bull, enter the young genomic sire ranking published today (6 April) by AHDB Dairy. Clinging on to the top spot for a third genetic…

TELEHANDLERS

Ultimate guide to buying a telehandler 2021

The appearance of an electrically powered, full-size telescopic handler for the first time is one of the highlights of the 2021 Ultimate Guide to telehandlers. JCB’s 6m, 2.5t-lift Loadall 525-60E…

TECHNOLOGY

Greeneye builds twin-line spray pack to target applications

There is no shaking the feeling of impending doom surrounding the future availability of many herbicide active ingredients, but that needn’t mean booming weed populations, dwindling yields and slumping profits.…

ARABLE

How on-farm interventions keep soil and water in place

A whole-farm approach to water management has seen a Norfolk estate introduce measures that have returned 45m litres of water to the environment. Working with the Norfolk Rivers Trust as…

DIVERSIFICATION

12 steps to improve marketing of a staycation venture

Whether it is glamping, camping, holiday lets, B&Bs or pop-up campsites, a diversification into the leisure sector needs visitors. Here, Savills tourism and leisure director Simon Foster, FarmStay chairwoman Kay…

DAIRY

Advice for supplementary feeding dairy calves at grass

Supplementary feeding can be key to achieving efficient growth rates when grazing heifer calves. It can also provide protection against coccidiosis if decoquinate, prescribed by a vet, is added to…