A Northamptonshire beef and arable farmer has halved his feed costs by switching to home-grown cereals. Harry Brown, who farms 1,700 acres at Potcote Farm, near Towcester, said rising production costs and weak grain markets pushed him to rethink his feeding strategy. Instead of selling more oats and barley... Read more

Growers are being urged to consider under-sowing maize with grass – and reap the benefits of better soil health. Retention of important nutrients, reduced topsoil loss and improved harvestability are just some of the benefits – but timing and species selection are crucial, says David Linton, commercial manager for... Read more

A farmer-led project is testing a smartphone tool which makes it easier to measure the dry matter yield of herbal leys – helping to boost pasture performance. The multiple benefits herbal leys bring to productivity, soil health, biodiversity and improved resilience are well recognised, but there are few ways... Read more

This month I want to highlight a useful prediction tool that has been made available on the SCOPS website: the blowfly forecast, writes Nerys Wright. After discussing the Nematodirus forecast last month, it feels timely to turn our attention to flystrike, particularly as parasites continue to change in response... Read more

A fresh study has highlighted the widespread orf problem on UK sheep farms, with new research highlighting gaps in disease control, treatment and veterinary input. Almost 89% of farmers surveyed by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) identified orf lesions in their flocks. The findings suggest significant scope to improve... Read more

A bumper line-up of speakers has been confirmed for this month’s Pig and Poultry Fair, which takes place on 13-14 May at the NEC, Birmingham. Key issues addressed by speakers from across the supply chain will help to give producers the confidence to invest their businesses  – with a... Read more

Livestock throughput across England and Wales edged up in 2025, with total numbers increasing to 10.76 million total livestock head sold. Notably, total market turnover rose significantly to just over £3bn, up £554m year-on-year, and this has never previously exceeded £2.5bn, according to the latest figures from the Livestock... Read more

A new specialist machinery event focused on manure handling and nutrient management reflects a wider shift in UK farming towards tighter regulation and more efficient input use. Muck Management UK 2026 will bring together manufacturers, contractors and farmers at a time of increased scrutiny on slurry storage and application.... Read more

Variable weather patterns and waning maternal immunity could leave lambs exposed to clostridial diseases this spring. Experts are urging farmers to review vaccination protocols to protect youngstock – especially as immunity passed on through antibodies in their mother’s colostrum starts to fade after just a few weeks. “Once this... Read more

Ventilation and monitoring systems to combat heat stress in livestock are eligible for grants from the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund. High performing dairy cows in the UK can begin to experience heat stress at just 18°C, particularly in humid conditions, says animal welfare expert Chloe Rodriguez, from housing... Read more