News
- Hopes rest on fast rule changes for desperate abattoirs February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly A beleaguered abattoir sector, seeking regulatory reform to ease costs and burdensome paperwork, is optimistic following government crisis talks last week. Independent abattoir owners facing a maelstrom of bureaucracy, exorbitant electricity bills and labour shortages called on Defra minister Mark Spencer to tailor regulations for smaller abattoirs. One frustrated abattoir owner and farmer […]Abi Kay
- Sustainability is more than no-till and cover crops February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Sustainable crop production, regenerative farming, agroecology. It doesn’t matter what you call it, there is no doubt that there has never been more interest (or a greater imperative) to farm in a way which sustains and improves the environment. Rob Scott, of mid-Norfolk-based T H Scott & Son, says his ‘lightbulb moment’ came […]Emily Dakin
- Holehouse herd scoops 2022 NMR RABDF Gold Cup award February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly A high-tech approach to cow welfare and investment in renewable energy have earned an Ayrshire farming family a top dairy accolade. The Logans were presented with the NMR RABDF 2022 Gold Cup – sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and National Milk Records (NMR) – at Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park, […]Charlotte Cunningham
- Dairy producers set to make losses as milk prices drop February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Dairy producers are set to make losses over the coming year as milk prices fall faster than costs, according to Kite Consulting. As farmgate prices continued to drop back, “surviving the next six months” was the main talking point at Dairy-Tech’s keynote session “State of the Dairying Nation” on 1 February. Edward Lott, […]Charlie Reeve
- Why farmers need to do their sums before altering 2023 N rates February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Modest reductions in nitrogen fertiliser applications of 20-30kg/ha are being advised on most feed wheat crops for the 2023 growing season, with growers being urged to do their sums before making final decisions on fertiliser rates. Experts agree that there will be very little effect on cereal yields from cutting back slightly, pointing […]Richard Allison
- What has Rishi Sunak done for farming in his first 100 days? February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Today marks Rishi Sunak’s 100th day in office as Prime Minister. But what has he done for farming in that time? Upon becoming PM on 25 October 2022, Mr Sunak set about appointing his cabinet, making Therese Coffey – his predecessor’s Liz Truss’s top ally – Defra secretary. Farmer Mark Spencer, made farming minister […]Abi Kay
- How a spring-calving herd is driving genetic gain February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Using genomics alongside three breeding indexes to select bulls has put a Welsh spring-calving herd in the top rankings for fertility and protein production. Rhys Davies, who milks 100 Holstein Friesians in Flintshire under the Ffrwd prefix, originally milked Holsteins, but started cross-breeding his heifers in 2001. However, a study trip to Ireland […]Judith Tooth
- Kubota available with Topcon autosteer and driverless conversion February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Kubota tractor operators wanting an autosteer system can now purchase and have kits installed through the manufacturer’s UK dealers following a Europe-wide commercial agreement with Topcon. Kits will be supplied in Britain by Topcon distributor LH Agro and across the Irish sea by Topcon Ireland, providing service, technical support and a 24-month warranty. […]oli mark
- Opinion: Is Jeremy Clarkson really the farming ambassador we need? February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly Anna Jones is a freelance journalist and founder of Just Farmers, a group putting practical farmers in touch with the wider media. Here she shares her thoughts on Jeremy Clarkson as an ambassador for farming I don’t spend much time thinking about Jeremy Clarkson. So when Farmers Weekly asked me for my views […]Phillip Clarke
- How to make the most of carbon units with tree planting February 2, 2023Farmers Weekly New woodland carbon schemes are constantly popping up and if you’re considering selling carbon units sequestered from planting trees, it can be difficult to know how to get started and what to consider. Integrating trees into farming systems has the potential to deliver multiple benefits for production, resilience and the environmental sustainability of […]Jon Redmayne