This Week in Farming: Iran, Muller and software review
© Nick Fone Welcome back to This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the best content from Farmers Weekly in the past seven days.
First, here are the latest market figures (opens as PDF). Diesel prices have plateaued at their appallingly high level and lamb prices are still on a tear.
And our monthly arable input price table shows most chemical prices slipping slightly compared with year-earlier levels.
Now, on with the show.
About the author
Iran latest
Building on the above data, the news team have done some digging this week about the financial impact diesel prices will have on the farming sector – should they be here to stay– and unsurprisingly, it’s not pretty.
My editorial this week looks at how diesel is just one of a slew of ways that UK farmers are currently being shafted by the White House, starting well before this latest conflict upended global commodity markets.
And a special story for lovers of tall tales – I also penned an April Fools this week that claimed prime minister Keir Starmer would soon be restricting access to red diesel only to party loyalists – it certainly caused a stir on our social media channels.
Fresh Fendts and static balers
Of course, the rising price of fuel doesn’t mean there won’t still be demand for big rigs from some, and this week the machinery team puts the Fendt 832 through its paces – part of the revamped 800-series line-up.
And in our latest Contractor Comment, we visit Bridgend-based RL Anthony, which has built a business around forage production.
This includes use of the static Orkel baler, an alternative solution for serving farmers who want to buy maize and grass silage in 1t bales instead of a full bulk load.
Data-driven arable decisions
And alongside plenty of hardware, there’s an increasing software side to arable farming to help with everything from stock management to proving compliance.
We sat down with an agronomist this week to review a slew of arable farm management software options, comparing prices and features to help you decide which platform may represent best value for money.
Readers of the first RB209 guide in 1973 would not have known what to make of any of them, but the venerable guide to plant nutrient management is back with a new edition, which will come in very handy with fertiliser prices where they are.
Dairy turbulence
The dairy sector has been rocked by the news that Muller is putting dozens of farmers linked to its powder plant, bought from Yew Tree Dairy in 2004, on 12 months’ notice.
On a practical level, we have advice pieces for grass-based and more intensive systems this week.
We look at how the spring calving index (SCI) is pivoting more heavily towards grazing-based systems, rewarding those who can turn grass into milk with minimal inputs.
And with a bit more focused on the latter category, we visit one farm where the addition of wholecrop barley silage in the dry cow ration has helped drive down metabolic disorders and offer a solution to other challenges.
Who’s up and who’s down?
On the down side this week, it’s a double whammy for diversified businesses with falling agricultural incomes.
As well as a decline in short-term profitability, some are running the risk of losing their business property relief from inheritance tax unless they restructure their business.
But very much on the up are this jolly group of farmers who have made spectacular use of their free will, having decided to drive the length of the UK for charity on vintage tractors, including a Massey Ferguson 165. Bravo and best wishes to them.
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 have more on the looming inheritance tax deadline, discuss a bike hike in electricity bills and debate the spate of livestock worrying that often arrives during the Easter holidays.
You’ll find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.