This Week in Farming: Iran, big Deere and Capital Grants woe
© MAG/Oliver Mark Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the most important content from Farmers Weekly in the past seven days.
First, here are your markets (opens as PDF). Can one be cheered that the average red diesel price has only advanced by 6p/litre in a week? Probably not.
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Iran latest
After contributing to the collapse of the domestic bioethanol industry by deciding last year to let in tariff-free US product, the government has now decided to fork out £100m for the Ensus plant on Teesside to reopen for three months.
The move follows fears that carbon dioxide – a by-product of the process with a wide range of critical industrial uses – may run low, in part due to supply chain disruptions arising from the Iran conflict.
Livestock farmers may be pleased to have a local source of dried distillers grains come back online, but there’s no guarantee the plant will be fed on home-grown cereals.
And speaking of grower woes, we take a close look at whether they should cut fertiliser applications this season in light of the price hikes.
Water wars
We can all agree that clean rivers are a public good, but are farmers really to blame for water pollution?
Deputy editor Abi Kay digs into the data to unpick why it’s more complicated than regulators and campaigners may have you believe.
And on a practical note, we explore how harvesting rainwater can help build farm resilience.
With summer droughts becoming a regular feature of the UK climate, catching what falls on your shed roofs isn’t just “green”, it’s a smart business insurance policy.
Advice bottleneck and private funding
English farmers preparing to submit an application to the next round of Defra’s Capital Grants scheme have a problem.
Land agents say the advisory system underpinning applications is already under pressure, with Catchment Sensitive Farming advisers in some regions indicating they cannot currently process new advice requests.
It’s not the only game in town of course. Here are three ways private funding for arable environmental schemes are actually working on the ground.
Heavy metal and site security
John Deere fans, take note: our first impressions of the 8RX 540 suggest it’s breaking new ground – and not just because it weighs 17t. It’s a heavy weapon designed to take on Case IH’s Quadtrac range.
Machinery editor Oli Mark puts the JD demo machine through its paces, with proper customers expected to take delivery of purchased machines from next February.
Whatever the value of your kit, you’ll want to look after it. This week, we’ve also rounded up eight essential security items to help protect your tools and machinery.
Who’s up and who’s down?
On the up this week are out-of-season lamb sellers, with the deadweight average breaking the £8/kg threshold, driven by incredibly strong seasonal demand and a tight supply of well-fleshed hoggets.
Feeling glum this week are some of the tenants on one of Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall holdings, the Bradninch estate in Mid Devon, after being told some of the farms are to be put up for sale.
Listen to the FW Podcast
Don’t forget to come back on Monday for the Farmers Weekly Podcast, with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
This week, the team will speak to Labour MPs, discuss surging lamb prices and hear about the farm running an indoor ski slope.
You’ll find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.