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LAMBING

20 tips for lambing from award-winning sheep farmers

Each year, the UK sheep industry lambs 15m breeding ewes in a huge variety of systems and locations. From sea level to hill top, they lamb in every month of…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: Wales

Recent Welsh farm income data that showed big falls in every sector is reflected in the performance of the farmland market. Some regions saw a significant increase in land coming…

WILDLIFE

Big Farmland Bird Count 2025 gets under way

The Big Farmland Bird Count has been kickstarted today (7 February), aiming to capture bird species and numbers on farms across the country. The annual event, launched at Adam Henson’s…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Hoping for sense on health and ear tag policy

I’ve spent a fair chunk of time away from the farm this month talking with, and interjecting between, policymakers and lobbyists. Creating good policy should be hard. Forming schemes that…

WILL'S WORLD

Will's World: Inspiring conference and a great craic in Cork

The present Mrs Evans and I attended the Positive Farmers Conference in Cork a few weeks ago, for the second year in a row. It was a fantastic few days…

OPINION

Editor's View: Winners and losers inevitable in land battle

What should go where on our precious and finite land area, and how should we decide? That is the essence of the Land Use Framework consultation, published last week by…

POTATOES

How to stop rhizoctonia denting potato yields this spring

Researchers agree that work needs to be done to understand the impact of changing growing systems on this key soil-borne pathogen of potato crops. Until then, the advice on managing…

NEWS

Lack of precision breeding in Wales could harm industry

The lack of precision breeding legislation in Wales means the country could be left behind other nations in the race to increase food production and reduce farming’s environmental impacts. That…

COMPLIANCE

Farming industry backs major Red Tractor shake-up

Industry leaders attending this week's Dairy-Tech event at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire all agreed that changes are needed at Red Tractor following the release of last month's damning review of…

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Opinion

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OPINION

Editor's View: Winners and losers inevitable in land battle

What should go where on our precious and finite land area, and how should we decide? That is the essence of the Land Use Framework consultation, published last week by…

OPINION

Opinion: Why I'm disenchanted with the National Trust

I am middle-aged and middle-class so, naturally, I am a member of the National Trust. However, while I used to be confident that the Trust was a good thing and…

OPINION

Opinion: A postcard (and some inspiration) from South Africa

I am writing this as a postcard from South Africa. The winter sun must be influencing my mood because this column will primarily be an optimistic one.  I am here…

OPINION

Editor's View: We must persuade Reed of merits of compromise

Collateral damage… a phrase Defra secretary Steve Reed didn’t utter, but left hanging in the air, when he spoke at the Farmers Club in London this week. Taking question after…

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Arable

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POTATOES

How to stop rhizoctonia denting potato yields this spring

Researchers agree that work needs to be done to understand the impact of changing growing systems on this key soil-borne pathogen of potato crops. Until then, the advice on managing…

NEWS

Lack of precision breeding in Wales could harm industry

The lack of precision breeding legislation in Wales means the country could be left behind other nations in the race to increase food production and reduce farming’s environmental impacts. That…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Strong rise in dairy gives needed grain lift

We have had both extremes of weather for the past three months. We were desperately dry from mid-November, with 25-32C days and howling dry winds, making spraying difficult. We had…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Expert tips on managing very variable crops this spring

There is huge variation in winter cereals, ranging from lush winter barleys with 6-7 tillers to poor-rooted wheats that have just emerged after being mauled in mid-December. While the UK…

WHEAT

Defra gives thumbs up to GM wheat trial

A one-year trial on genetically modified crops by the University of Oxford has been given the green light by Defra. Trial plots are due to be planted this spring, with…

SUGAR BEET

How soil testing can tackle sugar beet cyst nematode

Beet cyst nematode is an increasing threat to British sugar beet crops and growers are urged to ramp up soil testing efforts to identify problems and steer management around crop…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Land preparation basics before high-tech kit

Wet, wet, wet. Certainly nothing too exciting going on out in the field at this stage of 2025, but crops are coping fairly well with the conditions. Water is filtering…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Arable Insights Farmers' strategies to optimise nitrogen use

From organic manures to use of technology and various monitoring approaches, all the growers on the Farmers Weekly Arable Insights Farmer panel have an eye on optimising nutrient use, and…

Livestock

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LAMBING

20 tips for lambing from award-winning sheep farmers

Each year, the UK sheep industry lambs 15m breeding ewes in a huge variety of systems and locations. From sea level to hill top, they lamb in every month of…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Hoping for sense on health and ear tag policy

I’ve spent a fair chunk of time away from the farm this month talking with, and interjecting between, policymakers and lobbyists. Creating good policy should be hard. Forming schemes that…

DAIRY

Harper Adams Uni’s Future Farm wins 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup

Attention to detail, high performance and an excellent team approach has earned a university farm a top dairy accolade. Harper Adams University’s Future Farm was presented with the NMR RABDF…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Sheep and cattle new entrant shares 4 key lessons

A small grassland farm is turning profits from sheep, sucklers and dairy heifer rearing for a dairy breeding consultant cum part-time farmer. Tom Sellers runs a 25ha (62-acre) Powys County…

DAIRY

Dairy inbreeding target outdated, farmers advised

Dairy farmers should not compromise their herd’s genetic gain simply to avoid inbreeding, said the AHDB’s head of animal genetics, Marco Winters. Instead, monitoring the rate of inbreeding from one…

LIVESTOCK

Defra to review livestock feed controls in England and Wales

The reintroduction of processed animal protein (PAP) into some livestock feed is on the cards, with Defra now considering changes to regulations that have been in place since the height…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: TB breakdown will see us busy rearing calves

We had a whole-herd TB test on 20 January and thought nothing of it until we read the results three days later. We had 19 inconclusive reactors, destroying any chance…

DAIRY

Big cows are a drain on dairy feed bills and the environment

UK dairy farmers are milking their best-ever Holstein cows, having improved all health and production traits through breeding selection. However, there is an “unfavourable trend in maintenance” which has become…

Machinery

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UMBILICAL

KME develops all-in-one slurry pump and compressor

Slurry contractors keen to shave a few minutes off their umbilical set-up time might be tempted by the combined pump and compressor assembly developed by County Kerry-based KME Agri. The…

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

Contractor Comment: Hedge work maintains winter cashflow

Big square baling might be the cornerstone of Derek and Linda Keeble’s business, but a carefully selected tranche of other services is key for maintaining cashflow throughout the year. Each…

CULTIVATORS

Claydon offers NutriSeeder applicator for 7.5m Straw Harrow

Quick, cheap and timely cover crop establishment are the attractions of the NutriSeeder applicator developed specifically for Claydon’s 7.5m Straw Harrow. Two versions are available – one with a single…

SLURRY TANKERS

Kumm-Technik KTS artic slurry tanker offers 32cu m capacity

A new high-volume articulated tanker has landed in the UK, allowing large quantities of slurry or digestate to be transported to the field. The KTS 32 Light from German maker…

Community

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FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Hoping for sense on health and ear tag policy

I’ve spent a fair chunk of time away from the farm this month talking with, and interjecting between, policymakers and lobbyists. Creating good policy should be hard. Forming schemes that…

WILL'S WORLD

Will's World: Inspiring conference and a great craic in Cork

The present Mrs Evans and I attended the Positive Farmers Conference in Cork a few weeks ago, for the second year in a row. It was a fantastic few days…

FARMER FOCUS

Farmer Focus: Strong rise in dairy gives needed grain lift

We have had both extremes of weather for the past three months. We were desperately dry from mid-November, with 25-32C days and howling dry winds, making spraying difficult. We had…

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

Contractor Comment: Hedge work maintains winter cashflow

Big square baling might be the cornerstone of Derek and Linda Keeble’s business, but a carefully selected tranche of other services is key for maintaining cashflow throughout the year. Each…

Business

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LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: Wales

Recent Welsh farm income data that showed big falls in every sector is reflected in the performance of the farmland market. Some regions saw a significant increase in land coming…

COMPLIANCE

Farming industry backs major Red Tractor shake-up

Industry leaders attending this week's Dairy-Tech event at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire all agreed that changes are needed at Red Tractor following the release of last month's damning review of…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can I put a turbine on green belt land?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Philippe Rottner, senior energy specialist with Carter Jonas, advises on the potential…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

How agricultural mentoring can benefit farm businesses

Amid the many challenges facing the farming industry, mentoring initiative Cultivate Success is empowering individuals with a six-month programme that aims to build resilience, foster leadership, and strengthen community spirit.…

NEWS

Dairy sector and supply chain urge Treasury for IHT changes

Major milk processors, including Arla, Muller, Organic Herd, and First Milk and industry bodies such as Dairy UK and the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) have all joined…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Dairy cows sell for record highs as milk prices hold firm

Dairy cows have been making a tremendous trade at sales so far this year as milk markets look to be holding into February and March. Holstein Friesian-cross cows under 36…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How life insurance can protect against IHT liability

Many farmers are investigating life insurance in the light of the cut in inheritance tax (IHT) relief which is due to take effect from April 2026. Advisers stress that every…

GRANTS

RPA’s rigid process criticised after farmer denied funding

Cambridgeshire farmer and Nuffield scholar James Peck is facing a significant financial hit after the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) withdrew his funding under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).…

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Careers

STAFF MANAGEMENT

How agricultural mentoring can benefit farm businesses

Amid the many challenges facing the farming industry, mentoring initiative Cultivate Success is empowering individuals with a six-month programme that aims to build resilience, foster leadership, and strengthen community spirit.…

COMMUNITY

Analysis: How hiring apprentices helps solve labour problem

For 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 DEVELOPMENT

Stem students get a taste of careers in agriculture

Farmers 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 DEVELOPMENT

Ag careers are star of the show at New Scientist Live 2024

Farmers 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…