Articles published in the last 30 days All from last 30 days AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONDefra data reveals sharp cuts in delinked paymentsThe Rural Payments Agency’s 2023-24 accounts have provided crucial details on the projected decline of delinked payments, which replaced Basic Payment Scheme payments starting in 2024. According to the Rural… OPINIONEditor's View: Time for young farmers to give it some wellySince Defra’s decision to pull up the drawbridge on the Sustainable Farming Incentive last week, thoughts among some of you have been turning to what this may mean for the… SOILSNorfolk grower aims to cut soil compaction in root cropsMark Means’ aim this spring is to ensure that soils in his sugar beet and potato fields don’t exceed 1 megapascal (MPa) on the penetrometer during establishment. While he has… DAIRYWhy efficiency is the route to dairy farm sustainabilityEvery time dairy farmers think about sustainability, they should be thinking instead about efficiency. This was the conclusion of a roundtable of farmers, independent experts and industry representatives who gathered… LAND MARKETSLand and farms launched from Devon to Scottish BordersThis week’s launch of a 310-acre grassland farm in mid-Devon sits alongside a further 95 neighbouring acres, which are also on the market with a further house. Pewson Barton, in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cull ewes top prime lambs by £20 a headFollowing February’s piece, I am pleased to announce the safe arrival of our newborn son. All are settling in well. However, the sleep deprivation that a newborn brings, combined with… WILL'S WORLDWill's World: Entitled space invaders get farmer-style blastingAt the risk of making certain close family members fall about the place laughing, I’m going to confidently state that I’m a very patient man. I know this because, not… LIVESTOCK DISEASESSheep farmers encouraged to monitor nematodirus riskSheep farmers are encouraged to monitor their flock’s risk of nematodirus following recent warm weather, which can influence when this parasite's larvae hatch. Nematodirosis affects lambs and can cause a… MACHINERYLabour-saving Avant loaders - a game-changer for farmersIn modern farming, efficiency is everything. Long days, unpredictable weather, and increasing costs mean that farmers need machinery that works as hard as they do. That’s where Avant loaders come… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESRed diesel falls below 70p/litre as crude oil markets dipFalling fuel markets will come as welcome news to many agricultural businesses and contractors ahead of a busy spring period on farm. Market commentators have also indicated that further reductions… BUSINESSNFU urges banks to assist farmers in cashflow crisisThe NFU has held meetings with representatives from banks to discuss ways they can support farmers facing a growing cashflow crisis. The agriculture sector is under severe financial strain, following… SHEEPHow a new entrant built 1,000-ewe flock 125 miles from homeA Monmouthshire anthropologist-cum-sheep-breeder has built and rebuilt a flock of 1,000 ewes and is still looking for the security of a tenancy. James Edwards, now 39, has spent most his… SUGAR BEETTips on reducing herbicide resistance risk in sugar beetSugar beet growers are advised to take a proactive weed management approach to help manage the growing threat from acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor herbicide resistant weeds when growing herbicide-tolerant varieties.… PLANNING PERMISSIONPlanning bill set to change environmental markets for farmersAiming to deliver a boost in housing construction and infrastructure projects such as roads and railway lines more swiftly, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced last week proposes an entirely… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Looking for extra income to support the farmThe past five weeks have flown by, and I can’t quite believe we are into the middle of March and Arthur is seven weeks old. It seems that, at the… CULTIVATORSHydraulic break-back for Amazone Ultra stubble cultivatorA new version of Amazone’s Cenius tractor-mounted stubble cultivator sports a hydraulic break-back mechanism for the heavy-duty tines to protect the frame and other components from sub-surface impacts. The compression… LAND MARKETSLandowners alarmed by Scotland's Land Reform Bill progressConsiderable improvements are needed to make Scotland’s Land Reform Bill more workable, according to a report from Holyrood’s net zero, energy and transport committee. The biggest issues are around how… BRITAIN'S FITTEST FARMERNew 'Walk in the Park' to support wellbeing in agricultureFarmers Weekly has teamed up with two charities to support mental health in agriculture with a one-day event to be held at the Yorkshire Showground in May. Walk in the… BOVINE TBRecord 27% rise in TB cattle slaughterings in WalesA dramatic 27% increase in the number of cattle culled in Wales due to bovine TB in 2024 underlines the urgent need for a new approach to managing the disease,… FARM POLICYFarm lobby group calls for pause on SFS rolloutFarm lobby group Digon yw Digon has called for a pause in the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in Wales until a full impact assessment on food security… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESLacklustre wheat markets leave margins tight for UK growersUK feed wheat fell below £170/t ex-farm in mid-March, leaving little incentive for growers to sell and margins reasonably tight on farm. May 2025 feed wheat futures opened at £175/t… FARM POLICYFood Supply Chain Fairness Bill announcedAlistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, introduced his new Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday (19 March), aiming to secure a better deal… BUSINESSAsda assures ‘no pressure’ on farmers despite price cutsAsda has pledged that its aggressive price-cutting strategy in stores will not put pressure on its farmer-suppliers. The supermarket chain, which has launched a price war in a bid to… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESAuction markets see uptick in buyers as heifers near £4/kgExceptional demand for beef has led to an increase in the number of buyers at Scottish livestock markets, as processors look to secure greater numbers of prime cattle. Heifers have… MEDICINESFarmers urged to use bluetongue vaccination toolFarmers are being urged to consider vaccinating their livestock against bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3), and to help with decision-making, a new vaccination finance calculator has been deployed. As part of… More articles
