All from last 7 days NEWSUK farmers braced for first autumn stormA wet and windy week ahead is set to bring heavy rain across much of the country with farmers bracing themselves for the first autumn storm. See also: Exclusive survey… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESOSR prices fall on crude oil price dropOilseed rape prices fell by about £7/t in the week to Friday (30 October), pushed down by falling oil prices which, in turn, pressured European rapeseed futures markets. Regional spot… FARM POLICYFinal push to persuade MPs to back British food standardsGrassroots farmers are being invited to join some of the sector’s leading lights to lobby their MPs, to persuade them to back British food and farming standards when the Agriculture… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESBarbers latest to push up milk price amid dairy market calmMilk processor Barbers has announced its second farmgate price increase in three months following the recovery of cheese prices. The firm will add 1p/litre to its December price to bring… POULTRYPoultry farms on high alert as avian flu hits the NetherlandsPoultrykeepers are being urged to increase their vigilance and biosecurity following confirmation of a case of high-pathogenic avian influenza in the Netherlands. According to news reports, some 35,7000 broiler breeders… VARIETY SELECTIONDiablo spring barley gains full brewing approvalSpring barley variety Diablo has been given full approval for brewing use by the Malting Barley Committee. The variety already had full approval for malt distilling, resulting in being the… NEWSFW Podcast Episode 31: Where now for Red Tractor farm scheme?Red Tractor chairman Lucy Neville Rolfe is out after she voted against measures to protect British farmers from substandard food imports. What next for the farm assurance scheme? Growers and… NEWSFW Opinion: Food standards chief right to quit Red TractorTrust is fundamental when it comes to the food we eat. In fact, it’s the whole basis of the Red Tractor assurance scheme – which guarantees that food is produced… MOWERSKeltec's new steerable front mower targets headland bendsA new steering assembly on Keltec’s 3m front mowers could help eliminate straggly strips of uncut grass around headland bends. The mower hooks conventionally to a three-point linkage, with the… LAND MARKETSAutumn farmland market still brimming with opportunitiesWith properties still coming to the land and farms market this late in the year and buyers still eager to snap up a rural opportunity, it’s clear the selling season… TAKING STOCKMore ewes go for feeding in attempt to mitigate Brexit risksAn abundance of grass and sky-high store lamb values have prompted feeders to buy more light cull ewes this autumn as a more “Brexit-proof” investment for next year. Amid fierce… NEWSNational dairy campaign sparks rise in salesThe first national dairy TV campaign for 20 years helped increase liquid milk sales by more than 11m litres. The £1m "Milk Your Moments" initiative prompted an additional 212,000 consumers… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Injured shoulder leaves me stranded in houseIt has been an eventful couple of weeks on the ranch. Autumn is now fully upon us. The grass is completely brown and will be dormant until next May, and… OILSEED RAPEYorkshire farm shares strategy for growing 4t/ha OSROilseed rape has kept its place in the diverse rotation at Albanwise Farming in Yorkshire, where the focus is achieving consistent, optimum results. With about 350ha of the crop, the… POULTRYFarmers Weekly Awards: Poultry Farmer finalists 2020Although each farm business operates distinctly differently in this year’s Farmers Weekly Poultry Farmer of the Year category, the finalists were united by a passion for keeping free-range hens. We… FLINDT ON FRIDAYFlindt on Friday: Barley campaign ends in tears and beersThe last bag of last year's winter barley seed ran out perfectly on the sixth and last turn of the headland, ending an unusually busy three-day October spell of drilling.… CRIMETractor scam highlights threat of online ‘Covid crime’An Orkney farmer trying to buy a tractor through an online site has been scammed, sparking new fears about a rise in fraud targeting the agricultural community. The attempted purchase… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTNFU survey highlights limitations of relying on UK workersThe NFU has urged the government to provide immediate clarity on how fruit, veg and flower businesses will be able to recruit seasonal workers next year. The call comes after… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAbattoir complaints: How to make your voice heardMost livestock farmers who sell direct to slaughter have a tale or two about a time when their kill sheet threw up a few surprises, leading to penalties they weren’t… ENVIRONMENTFlood-hit farmer one year on - patching up damage not enoughPoor water management could see a repeat of last autumn’s floods, so what steps can be taken to mitigate the effects of extreme weather on the countryside and farmers' livelihoods?… HEALTH AND WELFAREWeighing and herbal ley helps farm solve poor lamb growthWeighing lambs more frequently and trialling a herbal ley has helped a farm identify a shortfall in iodine. Richard and Laila Carruthers of Rawfoot Farm, Shap, Cumbria, were disappointed by… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Rain for 18 days – sadly, a familiar feelingA few days on the stunning Scottish island of Islay was the perfect pre-drilling break, even though I lost more golf balls on the very tricky links course than I… CROP MANAGEMENTHow and why a farmer trained to do his own agronomyBenchmarking against other farmers is a great way to identify cost savings and it was the starting point for Cornish farmer Ashley Jones's journey to train as an agronomist. Having… BOVINE TBCovid relaxations for overdue TB tests to end in N IrelandTemporary measures to stop herds that are overdue a bovine TB test from being restricted because of Covid-19 disruptions will end in Northern Ireland at the start of December. From… MACHINERYAgco rings the changes in autumn dealer reshuffleOur previous dealer update focused on the streamlining of John Deere’s distribution network, but other mainstream tractor makers have been getting in on the act, too. We check out dealers… More articles
