This Week in Farming: Awards, drills, drains and dairy
© Ed Telling Photography Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days.
First, here are your markets (opens as PDF), with finished cattle in the live ring edging up on the week while most other markets look flat.
Now, on with the show.
And the award goes to…
…British agriculture, after another fantastic night celebrating the achievements of our industry at the Farmers Weekly Awards bash in central London.
Special congratulations, though, to our overall Farmer of the Year, Ashley Jones, who took home our top award after coming through the Mixed Farmer category.
Efra committee chairman Alistair Carmichael scooped the Farming Champion Award, and trailblazing Welsh sheep farmer Margaret Dalton received our Lifetime Achievement Award.
We have also announced all of the other category winners.
Sustainable Farming Incentive latest
It now looks almost inevitable that a new Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme won’t launch for English farmers until spring next year, deputy editor Abi Kay reported this week, dealing a blow to farmers who had pinned their hopes on it to support cashflow.
Defra secretary Emma Reynolds joined her cabinet colleagues at the Labour Party Conference this week, but gave little away as to her plans for the future, and refused to be drawn on inheritance tax at all.
In my editorial this week I discuss the difficulties of forward planning in this environment, despite its necessity.
Dairy warning
A shudder went through many dairy farmers this week amid a slew of price cuts from major and minor milk buyers – with smaller dairies imposing some of the steepest drops.
The move comes as the sector continues to diverge – with a reported uptick in dispersals coming alongside other businesses continuing to invest and grow.
We look at dairy buildings suitable to cope with weather extremes in this latest piece from our recent buildings supplement, and deputy livestock editor Shirley Macmillan takes stock of the growing importance of dairy beef.
Rounding things off with some cheer is Farmer Focus writer Tom Hildreth, who notes his improving forage situation. Maize harvest is imminent, and pea straw, pot ale syrup and rolled barley are being deployed to stretch the silage out a little longer.
Drilling and draining
Reports are that farmers have not been backwards at bringing forwards their drilling dates this year amid a decent spell of weather for establishment.
The first of this season’s Crop Watch notes from our regional agronomists provides a thorough round-up of the threats to be on the alert for in your area.
Still, there’s plenty more to be done as Angus grower and Farmer Focus writer Neil MacLeod documents in his latest submission, especially as he has a winter-only drilling policy.
And in Leicestershire, Louise Impey reports on a first-of-its-kind drainage trial at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) Allerton Project.
The productivity gains from drainage are well known, but this study also aims to find out what the wider benefits to soil health and the environment are, too.
Who’s up and who’s down?
On the up this week is Red Tractor chief executive Jim Moseley, who has more personal time to look forward to after revealing plans to retire from his post in six months’ time.
Farmers will be closely watching for news about the appointment of his successor.
Feeling down this week will be Welsh farmers that have applied to join the Ffermio Bro scheme.
It’s the latest environmental scheme to be massively oversubscribed, meaning many applicants are likely to be disappointed, although expressions of interest have opened for next year.
Listen to the podcast
Don’t forget to tune in to the Farmers Weekly podcast, with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
This week, the team report from the Awards ceremony in London’s Mayfair as well as bringing you all the latest farming news.
You’ll find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.