Farm business confidence rises – despite Brexit uncertainty
Business confidence among farmers has increased since the start of the year – despite uncertainty over Brexit, suggest the latest figures from Lloyds Bank.
Conference helps ensure farm businesses are ‘fit for the future’
A solid line up of speakers has been unveiled by the East of England Agricultural Society for its fourth annual farming conference this autumn.
Manage harvest carefully to make most of maize
Variable maize crops ranging from stunted, dried-up plants to perfectly healthy looking fields are giving growers a real harvesting conundrum this year – requiring extra attention from farmers.
Make the most of September rape establishment
Growers are being advised to take advantage of what could be a particularly good early September establishment window for oilseed rape.
Water Bank helps farmers during agricultural drought
A new service designed to help match farmers and growers who urgently need water with neighbouring farm businesses who have a surplus has been launched by the NFU.
Jimmy Doherty shares secrets of farm diversification
NFU Mutual has signed up celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty to help growers and livestock producers plan diversification activities to support their businesses after Brexit.
Trees on farms ‘essential’ to improve productivity
More trees should be planted on farms in major agroforestry trials as the UK leaves the European Union, says a joint report by the Woodland Trust and Soil Association.
Seedbeds key to get crops off to best start
Good seedbed preparation is a priority following the long, hot summer, says Richard Overthrow.
World-first Hands-Free Hectare project completes second harvest
A UK team of researchers has successfully grown and harvested a second crop without human intervention using an autonomous combine harvester – unloading grain on the move for the first time using robots.
Effective irrigation vital for high-value crops
Securing adequate supplies of water has become increasingly important for David Hoyles, who manages three fenland farms.
Farming in three dimensions
Cambridgeshire farmer Stephen Briggs is harvesting two crops from one field. Judith Tooth joined an agroforestry workshop on his farm to find out more.
Smaller potato crop due to lower plantings and extreme weather
Potato plantings are down 3% on last year due to extreme weather – the third-lowest planted area on record, says the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Help crops take advantage of rain, growers urged
Growers of vulnerable crops such as sugar beet and oilseed rape should give them a helping hand to make use of available soil moisture now the region has had some much-needed rain, an eastern counties crop advisor is urging.
LEAF farm opens gates to show and share
Judith Tooth visits a new LEAF demonstration farm in Essex where sustainability takes centre stage.
Be different, be efficient
Judith Tooth visits a mixed family farm combining traditional methods with progressive thinking.
Farmland values rise – but market getting tougher
The farmland market in England is getting tougher – despite rising average values over the first half of 2018, according to land and property specialists Strutt & Parker.
Exceptionally warm weather tests wheat performance
The importance of selecting wheat varieties with proven resilience to extreme conditions has been highlighted by the dry summer, says plant breeder KWS.
Real life learning on the farm
Helping children learn about farming is a rewarding part of one farm manager’s job. Judith Tooth meets Matthew Hawthorne.
Mixed operation increases cover crops to 200ha
Cover crops will play an increasingly important role in improving soil composition and fertility at the 3000ha South Pickenham Estate, near Swaffham, Norfolk.
Sprayer-mounted spreader ensures accurate slug control
An accurate and even spread pattern at 36m is helping to achieve effective slug control and improve work rates on a Cambridgeshire fenland farm.
Two-thirds of farmers fall victim to rural crime – report
More than two-thirds of farmers fell victim to rural crime last year – prompting calls for renewed efforts to combat criminals in the countryside.
First major review of weed management
A joint call for a review of weed management in UK cropping systems has been launched by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and the British Beet Research Organisation.
Waking up to wildlife
Bird counts on his Cambridgeshire farm informed and inspired Martin Lines in equal measure. Judith Tooth went to meet him.
How ‘big picture data’ can boost arable farm sustainability
Arable profitability can be boosted by using ‘big picture data to spot agronomic trends, provide an early warning of potential crop problems and identify beneficial management practices, says agronomy firm ProCam.
‘Uncomplicated’ Group 4 wheat has strong market potential
New Group 4 winter wheat Elation is ticking all the key boxes as a first and second wheat for Cambridgeshire grower Michael Brown, of T Brown and Son (Covington) Limited.
How tyre choice can protect soils this autumn
Increasingly variable weather conditions are highlighting the importance of managing tyres correctly to minimise soil damage and compaction.
Show could be biggest yet, say UK Dairy Day organisers
Final preparations are under way for next month’s UK Dairy Day event – and organisers hope the dedicated annual one-day dairy industry showcase will attract even more visitors than last year.
Royal Sandringham Estate wins sought-after conservation award
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust praised the commitment of the Sandringham Estate to boosting grey partridge numbers after the Queen’s retiring agent Sir Marcus O’Lone and head keeper David Clark won a prestigious conservation award.
Best practice launched to support on-farm antibiotics
An ambitious training programme has been launched to encourage the responsible use of antibiotics in farmed livestock.
Tributes paid to sugar beet contractor Peter Butler
Tributes have been paid to Suffolk farmer and agricultural contractor Peter Butler, 69, formerly of Green Farm, Yoxford, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on 13 June.
Beet yield competition winners sow for success
A Norfolk sugar beet grower scooped top place in a competition to find growers who have achieved the highest percentage of their crop’s maximum potential yield.
Groundswell event explores benefits of no-till agriculture
More than 1200 farmers and visitors attended this summer’s Groundswell event – exploring no-till farming methods and conservation agriculture.
Six ‘easy’ benchmarks to get ready for Brexit
Arable farmers looking to get their business into best shape ahead of Brexit are being encouraged to look at six ‘easy to calculate’ management benchmarks as a useful starting point.
Eastern growers complete challenging rape harvest
After the cold and wet winter and spring, searing summer temperatures have made for a challenging oilseed rape harvest – with heat, drought and difficult crop conditions revealing the ability of different varieties to cope with ‘abiotic’ stress.
Dry summer continues to dictate crop management
Exceptionally dry weather in the run-up to harvest has implications for autumn establishment, says Richard Overthrow.
Seven steps to get the most from soil health
George Hepburn gives his seven practical steps for making a difference to your soil health.
Four factors to ensure high quality silage
The aim when making silage is to capture as much of the nutrients as possible from the fresh crop and preserve them with minimal losses, says Grace Thomas.
Carrot shortage expected to increase imports
Low carrot yields due to challenging weather conditions this season are set to mean the highest level of imports for decades, according to the British Carrot Growers Association.
Crops
Effective irrigation vital for high-value crops
Securing adequate supplies of water has become increasingly important for David...
Sprayer-mounted spreader ensures accurate slug control
An accurate and even spread pattern at 36m is helping to achieve effective slug...
Seedbeds key to get crops off to best start
Good seedbed preparation is a priority following the long, hot summer, says Richard...
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Machinery
New Scorpion telescopic handler range makes LAMMA debut
Visitors to LAMMA were able to see the latest introductions and developments from...
Samson Agro exhibits latest slurry tanker
Danish spreader experts Samson Agro exhibited its new Slurry tanker – the PG II...
Grimme unveils 4-row self propelled harvester at Agritechnica
A new 530hp four-row self-propelled potato harvester – complete with a 15t unloading...
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News & Business
Farming in three dimensions
Cambridgeshire farmer Stephen Briggs is harvesting two crops from one field. Judith Tooth joined an agroforestry workshop on his farm to find out more. [Read more of this review] Read More →
Trees on farms ‘essential’ to improve productivity
More trees should be planted on farms in major agroforestry trials as the UK leaves the European Union, says a joint report by the Woodland Trust and Soil Association. [Read more of this review] Read More →
A very British summer…
Three months without substantial rain highlights the importance of water to farmers, says Melvyn Kay. [Read more of this review] Read More →
Water Bank helps farmers during agricultural drought
A new service designed to help match farmers and growers who urgently need water with neighbouring farm businesses who have a surplus has been launched by the NFU. [Read more of this review] Read More →
Conference helps ensure farm businesses are ‘fit for the future’
A solid line up of speakers has been unveiled by the East of England Agricultural Society for its fourth annual farming conference this autumn. [Read more of this review] Read More →
Read more posts from News & Business
