Latest stories NEWSFarming coalition brings legal challenge against energy firmMore than 300 Welsh farmers and landowners have initiated High Court proceedings against Green GEN Cymru, accusing the energy firm of unlawfully forcing access onto their land during survey work… MARKETS AND TRENDSUnited Oilseeds maintains a profit despite smaller cropGrower-owned co-operative United Oilseeds reported a pre-tax profit of £1.2m in the financial year ending June 2025. This was down from levels a year earlier of £1.8m. However, this had… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAppeal win strengthens diversification rights for farmersA Sussex rural business owner has won a key planning appeal that could make it easier for others to convert redundant agricultural buildings for flexible commercial use under Class R… COLLEGESNottingham students urge rethink on agriculture degree pauseCurrent and former agriculture students at the University of Nottingham have voiced concern following the university’s proposal to suspend its undergraduate agriculture degrees from next year. The proposed cuts, announced… ENVIRONMENTScottish government to reject livestock cuts in climate planScotland’s livestock sector has been handed a timely boost after the Scottish government confirmed it will reject proposals to cut cattle and sheep numbers in its new draft Climate Change… NEWSHybu Cig Cymru avoids shake-up following inquiryThe Welsh government has rejected a recommendation from the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs (Etra) committee to shake up troubled Welsh red meat levy body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC).… MACHINERYImproved performance and accuracy for lightweight sprayerEngine remapping might not be a modification commonly associated with self-propelled sprayers, but one Oxfordshire operator says it has delivered numerous benefits for his nimble Househam Spirit. Increasing output and… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTWhy sward density is critical for overseeding successOverseeding swards with a multispecies mix after grazing is significantly more effective than doing so on higher covers. This is according to a Welsh study that shows this method almost… WEED MANAGEMENTHow two farmers integrate strategic glyphosate in rotationsUse of glyphosate – the most widely applied herbicide in the UK – has surged over the past three decades. In recent years that increase has been driven by the… More articles OpinionSee all OPINIONOpinion: Fact, not fashion, must guide the future of farmingIn farming today, it sometimes feels as though whatever the problem, whether it’s soil health, yields, carbon or profitability, the answer always lies in regenerative agriculture. You could lose the… OPINIONOpinion: Farming on edge of the city has more ups than downsI love living where I do. Our little corner of Buckinghamshire is exceptionally pretty, which is why, I understand, my great-grandfather chose this spot to lay down roots in the… OPINIONEditor's View: Greater focus on food production is sorely neededThis week has seen the publication of some pretty scary numbers. According to the inaugural McCain Farmdex report, 51% of farmers have considered leaving the industry at some point in… OPINIONOpinion: We need to re-people the rural sector“Get on our land!” isn’t something that farmers are known for bellowing, but I’ve been shouting it a lot recently. This is because our farm in Surrey became an official… Subscribe to Farmers Weekly Save money and never miss an issue. Subscribe ArableSee all WEED MANAGEMENTHow two farmers integrate strategic glyphosate in rotationsUse of glyphosate – the most widely applied herbicide in the UK – has surged over the past three decades. In recent years that increase has been driven by the… MARKET OPPORTUNITIESSustainable soya alternative gathers pace with pea researchA pioneering UK research project has developed new pea varieties with enhanced nutrition, reduced allergens, and no traditional pea flavour – a major step towards creating a home-grown alternative to… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Pumpkin picking and classic politician styleOctober meant pumpkin picking season for us. It was a slightly different arrangement this year, as we were only open on the weekends. I can safely say that was the… COVER CROPSWhy N cut could be bad for cover crop growth and soil healthIs the drive to cut applied nitrogen fertiliser inadvertently resulting in poorer cover and catch crop growth to the detriment of soil health? Evidence from cover crop trials on farms… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Our soils are becoming self-structuringOctober has certainly made up for September's damp, dull start to autumn. Soils dried out nicely and crops have been drilled in great conditions – a contrast to last year's… WEED MANAGEMENTWheat growers urged to consider third weed spray in dry autumnCereals growers are being advised to take advantage of the good field conditions and consider a third residual herbicide spray in fields with a known grassweed problem. Hutchinsons technical manager… WEED MANAGEMENTHow oxygen and cultivation impact glyphosate breakdownThe breakdown of glyphosate in soils is fundamentally influenced by three key factors: oxygen availability, soil biology and the presence of cultivations. Glyphosate is an effective tool for controlling weeds… FARMER FOCUSFarmer focus: An autumn to lift the spiritsApologies should be handed out sparingly, which is why I’m not about to row back on what I said in my previous piece about the prevailing pessimism in the farming… LivestockSee all GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTWhy sward density is critical for overseeding successOverseeding swards with a multispecies mix after grazing is significantly more effective than doing so on higher covers. This is according to a Welsh study that shows this method almost… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Careful handling reduces weaning stressOne of the greatest challenges we face on an outdoor breeding unit is the efficient execution of weaning day. Not least because the task often starts in darkness with head… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTMild November offers grazing relief to livestock farmersCows are still grazing across much of England this November, as unseasonably mild weather keeps temperatures in the mid-teens and pastures green well into autumn. The continued warmth has offered… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Rising Bactoscan prompts parlour checksFirst, I have to admit to being “influenced” by something I saw on social media, and impulse buying it. Amazingly, it actually worked! We were due to change liners in… HEALTH AND WELFAREHow targeted mastitis treatment drove down vet and med costsA concerted effort to tackle high incidences of clinical mastitis and repeat cases in high-yielding cows is helping a 200-cow Lancashire dairy farm save on vet fees and reduce milk… FEED AND NUTRITIONBovaer maker defends product after Danish farmer fearsThe manufacturer of the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer has moved to calm fears over its safety after Danish farmers raised concerns linking the product to cattle illness and deaths. DSM-Firmenich,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Buy feed or cull only choices in drought yearNow, at the end of October, the grass looks the best it has all year. Unfortunately, it is unlikely we are going to see a suitable weather window to harvest… POULTRYPrepare now for 'most dangerous bird flu strain ever'Poultry producers are being warned to prepare for one of the worst avian influenza seasons on record, with eight more cases confirmed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the… MachinerySee all TRACTORSAgritechnica 2025: 160hp Tadus gets swappable batteriesGerman outfit Tadus hopes to become the Tesla of the tractor world, having all but completed the development of its first battery-electric model. This has been undergoing rigorous testing since… TRACTORSAgritechnica 2025: Revamped Claas Axion 9 gets high-spec cabClaas has overhauled its 330 to 450hp prime movers with the hope of reeling in a fresh cohort of customers. Updates to the Axion 9 (formerly 900s) include a refined… CEREAL DRILLSUltimate Guide to buying a direct disc drill 2026Buyers shopping for disc coulter-type direct drills next year will find there’s more choice than ever, with manufacturers adding a ruck of extra width and row options. And, for the… CEREAL DRILLSUltimate Guide to buying a direct tine drill 2026There is a ruck of new models in this year's guide to tine-based direct drills, with eight manufacturers introducing new or heavily revamped machines. See also: Ultimate Guide to buying… CommunitySee all COLLEGESNottingham students urge rethink on agriculture degree pauseCurrent and former agriculture students at the University of Nottingham have voiced concern following the university’s proposal to suspend its undergraduate agriculture degrees from next year. The proposed cuts, announced… COMMUNITYBritish farming celebrated at Lady Mayor’s ShowAgriculture took centre stage last weekend in London's historic Lady Mayor’s Show, with a JCB Fastrac 8330 and a JCB Loadall telescopic handler adding a splash of colour to the… YOUNG FARMERSAlasdair Boden: It's sad to see the dairy sector shrinkLooking out across the valley, I can see half a dozen farmhouses. Fifty years ago they were all dairy farms, but now there’s just one. Three are holiday homes, another a fell farm and us, tinkering along.… FARMLIFE FRAMEDPhoto of the Week: Bale art shines a light on Nuffield 2025This week’s Photo of the Week shows the fantastic bale art of Dr Jenna Ross, promoting this year’s Nuffield Farming Conference, which takes place in Aberdeen. The photo also features… BusinessSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSUnited Oilseeds maintains a profit despite smaller cropGrower-owned co-operative United Oilseeds reported a pre-tax profit of £1.2m in the financial year ending June 2025. This was down from levels a year earlier of £1.8m. However, this had… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAppeal win strengthens diversification rights for farmersA Sussex rural business owner has won a key planning appeal that could make it easier for others to convert redundant agricultural buildings for flexible commercial use under Class R… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Will known issues derail sale of our farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Andrew Chandler, head of rural agency with Carter Jonas, advises on how… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESArable farmers hit hardest by rising input costsRising input costs have hit arable farmers hard over the past 12 months at a time when yields and output values have been under pressure, according to the latest AF… Careers NEWSRural careers week starts across UKA national campaign launch on Tuesday 21 October will showcase the wide range of professional careers available in the countryside, as Route to Rural Week begins across the UK. Led… LIVESTOCKHow to manage your farm boss to influence decision-makingIf you can learn to manage your boss at work, you acquire influencing skills, stakeholder strategy and how to set in motion low-risk change that benefits the business – and… NEWSFW and agri-food sector set to inspire young mindsSlugs, bugs and mutant yeast are all on the menu at this year’s New Scientist Live (18-20 October), where thousands of members of the public are expected over the three-day… BUSINESSAddington Fund offers £3,000 grants to new farm entrantsFunding of up to £3,000 is available for new entrants to farming aged between 18 and 40, as part of an initiative launched by the Addington Fund. Eligible applicants must…
