Know How latest CROP MANAGEMENTWhy more growers are turning to independent agronomistsAlmost half of the UK’s arable land is now looked after by an independent agronomist, with that area expected to increase as Brexit takes shape and new agricultural policy is… ENVIRONMENTHow do three main farm carbon calculators compare?Want to know how much your farm is contributing to industry net-zero targets and how to improve? Or are you looking to access carbon trading markets or other financial incentives… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: UK tractor-building revolution failureAgricultural and General Engineers (AGE) was formed in 1919 to help Britain’s tractor and machinery industry compete against the big American manufacturers, but it ended up putting some of its… LAND MARKETSSo you want to… Buy a farm?Buying a farm is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can bring a host of questions and conundrums. With so much at stake, getting the right farm, at the right price, at… PIGSAdvice on setting up a new pig unitPrice swings are synonymous with the UK pig sector, but with the five-year outlook indicating promising times for the industry, pig production could be a viable option for some farming… TRACTORSDeutz-Fahr unveils new 287hp 8280 TTV tractorDeutz-Fahr has filled the 280hp hole at the top of its tractor line-up with a sole 8-series model that packs a brand-new CVT transmission and an enviable power-to-weight ratio. The… ENVIRONMENTWhy carbon reduction goal makes good business senseWhile reducing greenhouse gases might not seem like a business priority, farmers are waking up to the cost savings as well as the environmental benefits of reducing their carbon footprint. … WEED MANAGEMENTWhy early intervention is key to beat Italian ryegrass threatItalian ryegrass is becoming an increasing problem in UK rotations, particularly in autumn-sown crops because of rapid weed spread and cases of herbicide resistance. The grassweed is more competitive than… FINANCEWhat business interruption test case means for policyholdersInsurance policyholders who have been refused a coronavirus-related business interruption (BI) claim should have their policy wording checked to see how it is affected by the outcome of a recent… COMPLIANCERule reminder: Key pesticide stewardship guidelinesPesticide stewardship campaigns are now at the heart of industry efforts to prevent further losses of under-threat active ingredients. Here, we give a reminder of the stewardship guidelines or information… FINANCEHow to avoid key dates cash crunch with good planningCashflow pinch points are likely to arise for many farming businesses in the next few months. Aside from lower yields on the arable front and rising costs of production for… SOILSHow grower uses a carbon calculator to track no-till successCarbon accounting is one of the measures Overbury Farms is using to gauge the success of the major agronomic changes it has made over the past decade. The move to… ROOT CROP EQUIPMENTTwo mechanical weed pullers to save on hand rogueingHand rogueing is the established but tedious means of cleaning sugar beet crops of tall weeds that have survived inter-row cultivation or a herbicide programme. So it will come as… SHEEPHow sheep dairy new entrant has doubled size of flockA new entrant to dairy sheep farming has doubled his flock size less than a year after buying his first ewes, amid strengthening demand for milk. Huw Jones secured a… DAIRY3 simple adjustments to improve cow health and yieldWhen George Allen took on the family’s Abbey Farm, in Whitchurch, last year, he was eager to put new ideas in place. But as a young farmer without much capital,… HARVEST AND CROP STORAGETips to minimise potato storage spoilage lossesPotato growers have entered some uncharted waters, as they cope with without using the desiccant diquat. In addition, spuds are now being loaded into store, with no prospect of treatment… AWARDSFW Awards: Arable Adviser of the Year finalists 2020A tight field of entries means just two agronomists are battling it out for the biggest prize in arable advice. At different stages of their careers, they both go the… SOILSHow farmers can take part in the Big Soil Community projectA co-ordinated effort to sample and analyse the biodiversity of farm soils is now in its second year, with further sampling scheduled to re-start this autumn. Known as the Big… CEREAL DRILLSSulky goes high-tech with small combination drillA major revamp of Sulky's compact combination drill line-up last year culminated in the unveiling of the Progress – a small, high-tech offering that has caught the eye of UK… LAND MARKETSGlobal farmland market: Scale at fair price tempts UK buyersUK farmers have long been interested in international land opportunities where they can access new markets and expand their enterprises at a lower price. Spreading the business to a far-flung… SHEEPReplacement options for flocks: breeding or buyingTo maintain a healthy and productive flock, whether expanding or not, inevitably means you will need replacements each year. For some farmers, buying in will be the preferred option while… DIVERSIFICATIONSo you want to… Sell bottled water?The drinks market can offer a wealth of opportunities for a farmer able to use their holding’s natural resources. Though a sizeable investment at first, a bottled water enterprise can… ROTATIONSWhy whole-field stewardship has a place in arable rotationsA re-think of arable rotations is seeing greater integration of whole-field stewardship options, as growers look for ways to deliver both environmental and economic returns ahead of the arrival of… CEREAL DRILLSRetrofit openers offer drill customisation on a budgetAn increasing number of farmers are swapping their manufacturer-supplied drill openers for retrofit replacements in a bid to reduce soil disturbance and improve seed establishment. Switching to aftermarket openers isn’t… ROTATIONSHow to successfully grow a crop of winter linseedFarmers growing winter linseed as an alternative break crop to oilseed rape are advised to focus on their autumn management, as treating it like OSR can increase the lodging risk… NEWSChange is coming quicker than you think, says AHDB bossBetter communication, a new five-year strategy and a regular ballot of levy payers as to how their money is collected and spent are promised as part of a reform of… BREEDING AND FERTILITYHow a three-way-cross beef cow is performing on Scottish farmIntroducing the Beef Shorthorn to a continental-cross (Limousin and Simmental cross) cow to create a three-way cross is helping improve the milkiness of the heifers on one Scottish beef farm.… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow grassland farmer hits heifer growth through silage aloneHigh-quality big bale silage is helping a Pembrokeshire grassland farmer maximise returns from his heifer rearing contract by achieving winter growth rates on forage only. Keith Williams reseeds all fields… CEREAL DRILLSBespoke Stripcat drill expands companion cropping optionsIn their quest to improve soil health and better adapt to changeable conditions, Lincolnshire growers Matthew and Richard Fisher have invested in an elaborate custom-built strip-till drill. The impressive rig… PULSESAutumn-sown spring beans could fill winter seed shortage Spring beans can be successfully drilled in the autumn without any major dip in yield, which may help overcome a shortage of winter bean seed this coming season. The Processors and… BROILERSWhat to consider before installing a poultry incineratorIncinerator suppliers are handling an increasing number of enquiries from poultry units that want to cut fallen stock disposal costs and reduce biosecurity risks from farm-to-farm collections. Any livestock farm… VARIETY SELECTIONHarvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding spring barley varieties mapThroughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2020’s AHDB wheat Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find the five… LAND MARKETSRevealed: The UK’s most expensive farm salesThe appetite for farmland continues despite uncertainties around coronavirus, Brexit and the phasing out of BPS, with the asset historically performing well during challenging economic times. Many sales have taken… AWARDSFarmers Weekly Awards: Sheep Farmer finalists 2020An estate-type structure, a family farm and a farm share agreement make for a diverse final three in this year's Sheep Farmer of the Year award. However, all three businesses… TELEHANDLERSVideo: Fendt's debut Cargo T955 telehandler on testNot since the launch of JCB’s mid-engined, four-wheel steering Loadalls over 30 years ago has a telehandler defied convention quite like Fendt’s debut Cargo T955. Its hulking frame, high boom… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTTribunal offers insight on future of phone mast rental marketRents for mobile phone masts sites are likely to become increasingly diverse, with values becoming more site-specific as agreements are renewed, according to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).…
