This Week in Farming: Dairy cuts, Italian sprayers and love

Hello and welcome to This Week in Farming, your catch-up on all the biggest news, views and features from Farmers Weekly.

Here’s five of farming’s hottest topics from this week and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the next episode of the FW podcast.

Dairy price cuts

First the trickle, then the flood. The past seven days have seen a deluge of milk price cuts across the industry as processors move to stifle production ahead of the spring flush.

Here’s a round-up of all the latest market movements, including those from industry trendsetters Arla and Muller.

Profitability was, of course, the main topic of conversation at the Dairy-Tech event this week, with analysts warning that this year was likely to see prices fall faster than the cost of inputs.

In my editorial this week, I note that while there was an air of inevitability about the fact that prices were destined to fall at some point, processors must learn from other sectors about the dangers of cutting too fast, too soon.

Fresh slew of green targets

Not content with putting out a 100-page update on the Environmental Land Management scheme, Defra followed it up this week with a broader Environmental Improvement Plan that sets out priorities for the next five years right across its remit.

Yet although it is not farming in focus, it is totally reliant on our industry to meet its objectives, as deputy editor Abi Kay notes in this week’s lead magazine story.

But is the money enough to deliver these ambitious changes? Not according to the Wildlife Trust, which estimates an additional £1.2bn/year will be necessary.

This week also marks prime minister Rishi Sunak’s 100th day in office, a significant milestone for the Conservatives in this tumultuous era.

Here’s a reminder of what’s happened during his tenure so far, including the latest on the food security summit he pledged to chair during his leadership campaign.

Fertiliser rule delay

Curbs in the usage of untreated urea fertilisers have been delayed by another year, following a request by an industry consortium including Niab, the Association of Independent Crop Consultants, and the NFU.

Rules to force Red Tractor-accredited farms to only be allowed to spread untreated urea between January and March, and urease inhibitor-treated products thereafter, will not be imposed until the 2025 season, arable reporter Emma Gillbard has learned.

As plans are firmed up for fertiliser application rates this season, farmers will be watching falling grain prices tightly and planning to adjust rates accordingly.

Here’s a reminder of what to include in those calculations.

Italian job

Speaking of (liquid) fert and other crop application jobs, there’s a new manufacturer in town in the form of the apple-green liveried Italian firm Grim.

First introduced to a UK audience last summer in the sprayer arena at the Cereals event, Warwickshire farmer Rob Hadley has been one of the first farmers in the UK to take ownership of one.

We caught up with him to see how the machine, with a 3,000 litre capacity and a 24m boom, was faring.

And if you’re wondering where exactly the world’s leading sprayer brands are manufactured, then check out this article (complete with map) right here.

Love in the countryside

Did our grandparents have it easier finding a soulmate, or do today’s country-dwellers have the advantage?

Despite many an app at our fingertips, statistics show rural loneliness is on the rise.

Matilda Bovingdon and Lizzie McLaughlin spoke to three couples who’ve still managed to find a special someone.

If you’re in Scotland and fancy a big rural gathering then check out the ongoing Farmstrong tour that’s currently taking place with New Zealand farmer Marc Gaiscoigne sharing his stories of the highs and lows of farming in the southern hemisphere.

Listen to the FW Podcast

Don’t forget the latest edition of the Farmers Weekly podcast with Johann Tasker and Hugh Broom.

This week, they’ll be bringing you the best of what was said at the inaugural Farmers Weekly Question Time which included farm minister Mark Spencer, and much, much more. 

Listen here or bring us with you in the cab by downloading it from your usual podcast platform.