This Week in Farming: SFI shortfall and a letter to Burnham
© Tim Scrivener Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Farming, your regular round-up of the best content from Farmers Weekly over the past seven days.
First, here’s your markets (opens as PDF). Feed wheat has dropped a bit as the USDA issues a more bearish supply outlook, though good demand from feed manufacturers and ongoing trouble in the Black Sea region have prevented steeper falls.
And what else has been happening?
Support for farming
The big story of the week involves the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in England, which opens for general applications on Tuesday (22 September).
Thousands of farmers are expected to miss out on the £230m available, as demand outstrips supply.
For those that do get in, choosing the right options will be critical to farm productivity, and we highlight five ways to achieve this.
As well as SFI, the family farm tax has been in the news again this week, with former political big dogs David Cameron and David Blunkett fronting a campaign to win further concessions.
We also offer a fascinating insight into how Labour’s inheritance tax change was bulldozed through government with Defra totally sidelined in this candid interview with former farming minster Daniel Zeichner.
Deputy editor Abi Kay pulls no punches in her Leader column in calling for a more honest and grown-up approach from ministers and civil servants across Westminster.
Machinery reviews
The Farmers Weekly Machinery desk has been putting a range of new kit through its paces to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Peter Hill was certainly impressed by the addition of the Nutrimeter system to analyse grain nutrient content “on the go” to Claas’s 2026 Lexions. Knowing the protein contents of individual trailers of milling wheat, for example, could help farmers optimise returns.
James Andrews has a detailed look at the new 2027 range of John Deere 6Rs, paying close attention to a “trick” new powershift transmission, a reworked cab, slicker suspension and a “raft of technological tweaks”.
On the subject of John Deere, we were amused to notice the impending sale of some 500 John Deere tractors by Cheffins of Cambridge which will go under the hammer next month – except in this case they are all toy tractors owned by collector Peter Green.
Meanwhile, Oliver Mark casts a critical eye over the Fendt 1100 MTs crawler tractor, which gets more power, improved fuel economy and a smarter cab.
Likely to appeal to those with “big farms on light land”, deliveries are slated for early next year, with a list price of more than £500,000.
The business of farming
The pressure most farming businesses are under right now is no secret, so it is no surprise to see that the number of farm dispersal sales is up significantly this autumn. Business editor Suzie Horne takes a detailed look at the regional picture.
Pressure on the wheat market it seems has returned, while arable farmers who grow sugar beet are in limbo as negotiations for next season’s price head to arbitration.
For dairy farmers, the price of replacement heifers is on the way up, while the cost of hay and straw is also holding firm.
Meanwhile, farmers looking to insure their businesses against the challenges of climate change may find that the insurance products they need are not really fit for purpose.
There are some reasons for optimism, however, with Avara this week announcing a £100m investment in its UK poultry operations over the next three years, while Mole Valley Farmers has a new deal with the Port of Ayr to get more feed into Scotland.
Farmer opinion
As ever, farmers themselves have had a lot to say, not least regular columnist Will Evans who has written an open letter to prime minister Andy Burnham, demanding more than lip service as part of the supposed rural reset.
Young farmer Alasdair Boden who farms in the Lake District considers the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in farming – concluding that “AI will never replace a farmer’s gut feeling”.
And Grant Anderson, head of livestock sales for auctioneer Harrison & Hetherington, sets out why he believes live auctions are the only way to ensure fair livestock pricing.
Meanwhile, Farmer Focus writer Duncan Morrison from Aberdeenshire says this year’s extreme weather has prompted him to have a rethink about his farming system, while Richard Harris from Devon has been busy analysing both muck and grain.
Livestock farming
As ever, Farmers Weekly has lots of advice for livestock farmers, too. Here is a selection from this week’s offering:
TB sequencing points to greater risk from cattle movement
How a breed switch improved beef profit and productivity
Advice on maintaining ewe condition to reduce mastitis risk
How eggs cracked a profitability challenge for upland farm
Listen to the FW Podcast
Don’t forget to listen to the latest Farmers Weekly Podcast, brought to you by Johann Tasker, Hugh Broom and Louise Impey.
This week, the team discuss rent reviews, rural crime, low pig profitability and new farming film Derek vs Derek.
You’ll find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.