Latest stories NEWSThis Week in Farming: Protests, prices and inventions compWelcome back to This Week in Farming, your one stop shop for the best FW content from the last seven days. There are just 11 days to Christmas, and if… STAFF MANAGEMENTPensions reminder for employers of seasonal workersThe Pensions Regulator has warned farmers and growers they may face fines if found not to comply with their legal pension duties. Agricultural employers with seasonal and temporary workers are… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Good health comes from good foodNovember came to the rescue, at least as far as the weather is concerned, and in contrast to last year, we’re drilled up. Bar a bit of spraying, we’re ready… 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… NEWSFW Podcast Ep 233: Tractor protest brings London to standstillHundreds of tractors descend on central London as farmers ramp up protests against the government's autumn Budget. As 600 tractors park outside Downing Street, we speak to farmers and protest… ENVIRONMENTGovernment plan gives push to onshore wind farmsThe government unveiled its new Clean Power 2030 Action Plan on Friday (13 December) including ambitious targets for both wind and solar projects during the next five years, with land… BROILERSAppeals judge throws out case against modern broiler rearingThe Court of Appeal in London has dismissed a case brought by animal activists that, had it been successful, could have forced the poultry sector to cease using “fast-growing” broilers… TAXSuffolk County Council opposes ‘Family Farm Tax’Suffolk County Council has become the latest to formally oppose the Labour government’s plans to impose 20% inheritance tax (IHT) on farm assets of above £1m. The motion was proposed… 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… More articles OpinionSee all OPINIONEditor's View: We've won argument on IHT but not the fightThe question of how to bring Labour to the negotiating table in order to extract sensible reforms to inheritance tax should not be a difficult one. Were they to act… OPINIONOpinion: Government should learn from Trump to value farmersHave you ever wondered why farmers are hated so much? Are people conditioned into thinking, from times gone by, that we are all Lords and Ladies of the Manor? Do… OPINIONOpinion: Budget was just the start of Labour's 'class war'After the Budget’s inheritance tax bombshell, it was inevitable that us consultants – land agents, lawyers, tax advisers – would go into full pro-mode and fill social media with articles… OPINIONEditor's View: Why Bovaer bashers should stop and thinkWhat are we to learn from the online uproar following Arla’s announcement about a trial of the methane-reducing supplement Bovaer? I would say it shows that solidarity in farming is… Subscribe to Farmers Weekly Save money and never miss an issue. Subscribe ArableSee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Good health comes from good foodNovember came to the rescue, at least as far as the weather is concerned, and in contrast to last year, we’re drilled up. Bar a bit of spraying, we’re ready… 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… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESScottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeezeScotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Death duties are abandoned in New ZealandMy father, along with others of his generation, speak of the impacts of Death Duties on farming families in this country, so we watch with sadness at the political changes… ARABLEMore than 20% farmers using variable rate spraying techFarmers across the UK are extensively using digital technology to help them run their businesses now and in the way they plan to run their businesses in the future. This… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cereal crop economics are getting precariousChecking in on the future markets and seeing the downward trending red arrow week after week is becoming increasingly disheartening. I sold a good chunk of 2024 wheat about a… 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… LivestockSee all 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Farmland tax quarrel should focus on profitsI wasn’t going to mention it, but after a long chat with Farmers Weekly, it seemed to boil down to whether I want to risk upsetting people. So, I am… 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… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tax changes will push families to plan soonerOver the past few weeks, I have been involved in several events organised to voice the great concerns within the agricultural industry over the changes in inheritance tax laws. This… LIVESTOCK DISEASESBluetongue zone extended plus further cases outside the zoneFurther confirmed cases of bluetongue found in early December have led to the expansion of the bluetongue restriction zone (RZ), to include additional parts of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire. More… 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… LIVESTOCK DISEASESWeybridge research institute gets £200m cash injectionThe UK’s ability to deal with a major disease outbreak is being strengthened with a new £200m “science hub” at the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (Apha) Weybridge laboratories. Weybridge… 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… MachinerySee all 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… CEREAL DRILLSOne-pass Katara combination drill added to Bednar line-upThe already comprehensive seed drill portfolio developed by Czech manufacturer Bednar is being further expanded with a new one-pass drilling combination. Based on the company’s Kator KN rotary power harrow… 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… MACHINERYLamma 2025: Biggest, quirkiest and newest kit to look out forWith the Lamma show now firmly established indoors at NEC Birmingham, punters can look forward to seeing the latest, best-selling and most topical machinery on display. See also: On test: Fendt’s… CommunitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Good health comes from good foodNovember came to the rescue, at least as far as the weather is concerned, and in contrast to last year, we’re drilled up. Bar a bit of spraying, we’re ready… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Farmland tax quarrel should focus on profitsI wasn’t going to mention it, but after a long chat with Farmers Weekly, it seemed to boil down to whether I want to risk upsetting people. So, I am… WILL'S WORLDWill's World: Why you're never too old to use your loafWithout going all Nigella on you, there’s something sensual about making bread. At least, that’s the way I’ve always thought it would be anyway, because I’m thoroughly ashamed to say… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Death duties are abandoned in New ZealandMy father, along with others of his generation, speak of the impacts of Death Duties on farming families in this country, so we watch with sadness at the political changes… BusinessSee all STAFF MANAGEMENTPensions reminder for employers of seasonal workersThe Pensions Regulator has warned farmers and growers they may face fines if found not to comply with their legal pension duties. Agricultural employers with seasonal and temporary workers are… 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… TAXSuffolk County Council opposes ‘Family Farm Tax’Suffolk County Council has become the latest to formally oppose the Labour government’s plans to impose 20% inheritance tax (IHT) on farm assets of above £1m. The motion was proposed… 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… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESScottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeezeScotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFestive trade on fire at Christmas fatstock showsFinished cattle achieved exceptional prices at Christmas fatstock shows and sales across the country in December, lifting the trade to new record highs. Regular buyers were joined by butchers and… 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… TAXCAAV set to step up its estimates of numbers to be hit by IHTFresh analysis by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) shows that even more farmers will be affected by the government’s planned changes to inheritance tax (IHT) than originally claimed… Futures prices Updated end of day Copyright © 2019. All market data is provided by Barchart Solutions. Futures: at least 10 minute delayed. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see disclaimer. Careers COMMUNITYAnalysis: How hiring apprentices helps solve labour problemFor years, a large portion of the workforce in dairy, poultry and horticulture has come from abroad. However, since Brexit and with immigration policies tightening, this labour supply is no… CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTStem students get a taste of careers in agricultureFarmers Weekly showcased agricultural careers to some 26,000 people from non-farming backgrounds at New Scientist Live last week, with the help of its partners. Among the visitors to the event… CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTAg careers are star of the show at New Scientist Live 2024Farmers Weekly’s Future of Food & Agriculture exhibit will return to New Scientist Live next month, showcasing ag technology to a non-farming audience for the sixth year running. Together… HEALTH AND SAFETYLantra makes farm safety online course free of chargeLantra has announced that its farm safety e-learning course will be available freely from 26 July as part of Farm Safety Week. The Agriculture Health and Safety: How to Meet…
