Focus on dry matter for silage success
Livestock 03/06/2024
A focus on dry matter when ensiling grass this season could encourage good fermentation following the wet spring. Much first cut grass is high in fibre and lignin and low in sugars, with increased thatch and wet ground conditions increasing the likelihood of contamination. All these factors will mean... Read more
Sheep farmers are being warned to act now and take measures against blow fly – with red alerts being sent to farmers in East Anglia. Elanco ruminant technical consultant Matthew Colston says farmers should be vigilant and consider a cost-effective preventative treatment to protect flock health and productivity before... Read more
Poor mineral levels in grass following one of the wettest winters on record could result in livestock deficiencies and production losses, say experts. Testing fresh grass will indicate how well minerals are being taken up by the crop, suggests Lisa Hambly, head of grassland and forage agronomy at Mole... Read more
Crop nutrient specialists UPL report good interest in wheat growers keen to trial an alternative method for increasing grain protein. The company has given away 20ha of its biostimulant Ary-Amin to 50 farmers this spring – a popular try-before-you-buy offer with growers keen to take advantage of milling wheat... Read more
Farmers and seasonal workers are being reminded to take care this harvest when grain carting and moving machinery on the road. Collisions between farm vehicles and other motorists are 61% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, according to the latest figures from NFU... Read more
Farmers and grain store managers are being invited to attend a training event to improve their pest control strategies. Co-hosted by pest control supplier Killgerm and BASF, the one-day event in North Yorkshire costs £60+VAT. It will include live demonstrations, presentations, group discussions and practical sessions from industry experts.... Read more
Farmers are being encouraged to take an integrated approach to grain store pest management – using a mix of methods to combat rodents. Unless controlled, stored grain could be ruined by rodents seeking harbourage on farms. Rats can thrive in a grain store and multiply quickly, with one breeding... Read more
Agri-environment schemes The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can be valuable in terms of implementing a more active risk management strategy. The SFI allows growers to take out the worst-performing areas, or lowest margin crops within a rotation, and replace them with a fixed return with almost zero risk. The... Read more
The likelihood of lower profits this harvest will emphasise the need to shield arable businesses against high levels of risk and volatility. A typical arable farm will generate just £80/ha in net margin – equivalent to profit before rent and finance – for combinable crops from harvest 2024, according... Read more
A scientific breakthrough could provide UK farmers with environmentally friendly protection against a key sugar beet disease. Researchers at the Norwich-based John Innes Centre have developed a non-chemical molecular approach to protect crops against virus yellows – a disease which can reduce sugar beet yields by as much as... Read more
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