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Published by Agriconnect
Industry now has mandate to force farm assurance reform
WHILE some of the issues keeping farmers awake at night are completely outside their control, much needed reform of the beleaguered farm assurance schemes could now be in their gift.
This week’s damning report, which lays bare the failures of the current system, makes it clear that industry-led change is very much needed.
The report authors found that the gap between those who oversee the schemes and their members who actually produce the goods has grown wider in recent years. It will come as little surprise that Red Tractor was singled out as the cause of farmers’ biggest frustration.
In particular, the furore over its attempted rollout of the Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) which provided the ‘catalyst’, enabling reactions to come to the surface. Farmers were left feeling the scheme was couched in favour of retailer demands, with undue burdens being placed on producers with no financial support for the additional requirements that were heaped upon them.
LISTEN TO THE FG PODCAST FOR weekly podcasts bringing you the latest news, engaging debates and real farmer stories from across the UK, scan the QR code or go to farmersguardian. com/podcasts Next generation commits to growing diversified business. See pages 22-24. is running
approach to leadership and culture. It needs to address farmers’ concerns that, rather than assurance being owned by them, it is ‘done to them’.
This is something that can be achieved.
The vast majority of farmers do see the benefit in principle of UK-wide assurance which, as many including Red Tractor sector board member Bryan Griffiths have stated, could be a simplified and restructured MOT-type check to ensure everything is running as it should be and farms are in fact operating to the world-leading British standards they are known for.
As the report highlights, this position is unsustainable and requires a thorough reset of the farm assurance system to deliver good practice in farm assurance while avoiding farm businesses being penalised for the benefit of others in the supply chain.
And even without the GFC blunder, there would inevitably have been another trigger in the near future. The report found the organisation was ‘entrenched and defensive’ and has called for a new
The farming unions and AHDB have a responsibility now to work with the sector boards and effect the change that is so desperately needed. It is in the whole industry’s interest. Working together for a common good is often a simple solution but hard to bring about. Tomorrow’s (January 25) NFU-led Day of Unity to stop the family farm tax is doing just that and again presents an opportunity for the industry to make its collective voice heard. Standing side by side, united for the good of the industry is the only way positive change can be brought about. opportunity
Overhaul needed as farmers say assurance offers little benefit
l Independent review has been published
By Chris Brayford
Selling
‘The goal is
get the farming
says Sarah Wynn
AN independent review has called for a fundamental reset of farm assurance schemes, with farmers feeling the strain from audits, but struggling to identify any benefits to their businesses.
The UK Farm Assurance Review was published on Monday (January 20) and highlighted schemes needed to ‘reset’ to rebuild trust and confidence with farmers.
It also placed onus on the owners of Red Tractor to take a more proactive stance to ensure changes were made.
It provided nine strategic recommendations to the way schemes are
Restrictions eased over bluetongue
BLUETONGUE restrictions are set to be eased as the UK has now entered the seasonally vector low period for the virus, Defra has confirmed.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said due to a decrease in temperature, the midge activity was reduced, meaning there was a very low risk of new infections.
As a result, some restrictions will be eased immediately. These include: removing the requirements for post-movement testing of animals out of the restricted zone; the use of insecticide on transport vehicles; and the need to send animals moving outside of the restricted zone for slaughter to designated abattoirs.
As a precautionary measure, the restricted zone currently in place across affected regions along the east and south coast of England will remain while discussions with industry continue on next steps.
Dr Middlemiss said: “I would urge farmers to remain vigilant and report any livestock they suspect have the disease to APHA.”
implemented in Great Britain, which included reducing and simplifying on-farm audits and establishing farmers as the ‘driving voice’ in standards development, with owners now required to be more proactive to ensure these changes are made in the future.
The report was commissioned by the four UK farming unions and AHDB after a sector-wide fallout over Red Tractor’s failed attempts to develop a Greener Farms Commitment module which required farmers to ‘demonstrate sustainability, but in a single, practical and consistent way’.
Changes
Former Harper Adams University vice-chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn, lead commissioner of the report, said there must be significant changes in how assurance schemes were delivered to win back farmers’ confidence.
One criticism outlined by Dr Llewellyn was the way in which farmers felt that schemes had provided a lack of reward or benefit.
He said: “Over time, that has added complexity and stress for farmers, many of whom now struggle to identify any real benefits to their
business. Worse still, many feel they live in a permanent state of jeopardy with ‘make or break’ audits determining whether their businesses can operate or not.”
He also said farm assurance schemes needed to be trusted and successful in underpinning a profitable future for UK farming.
In a joint statement, NFU president Tom Bradshaw and NFU Cymru president Aled Jones, said the report would be ‘critical’ in enabling assurance schemes to ‘deliver’ for the whole UK food supply chain. NFU Scotland’s director of policy Jonnie Hall said that by setting out the importance of effective farm assurance, the report made it clear that currently there were ‘flaws and weaknesses’ which needed to be addressed.
AHDB said the review marked a ‘significant step forward’ for farm assurance and added that it was optimistic about the opportunities it could present in providing ‘meaningful change’ across the agricultural industry.
Neil Shand, chief executive of the National Beef Association, said the review was ‘thorough and comprehensive’, with the recommendations offering clear directions to allow the sector to move forward.
OBR report says impact of
IHT changes are uncertain
THE Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has claimed the policy costing of changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief (APR and BPR) announced in the Autumn Budget has a ‘high’ uncertainty rating.
The OBR has published a new report looking at the costing of changes to APR and BPR and said the main driver of ‘uncertainty’ was the behavioural response to the measure, given the range of options potentially available.
The report added that there was a ‘moderate uncertainty’ around the data used in the costing for the proposed policy, with an ‘established back series of administrative
data for APR and BPR claims but less information on AIM shares.’
Responding to the report, CLA president Victoria Vyvyan said: “Ministers have repeatedly said that the OBR had certified their claims, but the truth is that the OBR themselves say there is a high degree of uncertainty as to how much money will be raised, if any at all.”
She said farmers and small businesses are ‘pulling investment, cancelling machinery orders and considering whether their businesses are viable for the long-term’.
“This means fewer jobs, less food security, less growth and less money going into the Exchequer to pay for public services.”
EWE TURN
MORE than 200 sheep were herded through the streets of Hawes in North Yorkshire, with the farmer and his dog expertly leading the Swaledales through the narrow lanes in the village.
Lizzie Wilson, National Pig Association chief executive, said the organisation would work with other industry bodies to help deliver reform to make schemes more ‘fair and practical’ for producers.
Scrapped
Lyndon Hull, a dairy farmer from Moira in County Down, claimed assurance schemes should be scrapped completely and added that they were a waste of time which just placed more pressure on farmers.
Sheep farmer Gareth Thomas, from Carmarthen, echoed those sentiments and added that the system should be abolished because it provided farmers with no benefits.
Red Tractor’s board has welcomed the report, but added it would need time to ‘fully digest and discuss’ the meaning of the review findings internally.
Financial concerns on rise in rural areas
THE number of people living in rural areas, who said they were more likely to seek financial advice almost trebled in the last quarter of 2024, according to new research from NFU Mutual.
The insurer surveyed 382 customers in early November about their confidence in saving and investment.
The report found the proportion of people who said they were more likely to seek financial advice jumped to 30% in November 2024, up from 11% in March 2024.
David Nottingham, personal finance expert at NFU Mutual, said: “This study suggests an increase in financial concerns among the rural population over the past six months.”
Mr Nottingham said Inheritance Tax was a particular concern for older participants, with many worried about the impact on their pensions and finances.
Since the fallout from the Autumn Budget, chartered surveying firm and rural specialist, Bruton Knowles said it had experienced an even greater demand for advice.
Pressure
John Amos, head of rural services at Bruton Knowles, said the Budget changes had placed ‘substantial pressure on farmers and landowners’, particularly with regard to tax planning.
He said: “Assets that previously qualified for full relief are now likely to be subject to significant
taxation, with some estates facing substantial additional tax liabilities.
“This has caused a wave of concern across the rural community, as families grapple with the reality of these changes and the long-term implications for their businesses and livelihoods.”
Mr Amos said many farmers were struggling with the emotional toll of these changes.
“The financial pressures are driving significant stress within the rural community,” he said.
“We have had clients tell us they have lost sleep worrying about how they will manage these new tax liabilities. This is not just a financial issue; it is a mental health issue too,” he added.
l Events planned to be held across the UK
By Jane Thynne
HUNDREDS of farmers will take to the cities, towns and seafronts of the UK this weekend as part of NFU’s Day of Unity protest against the Government’s family farm tax.
Events include everything from MP surgeries to supermarket visits, tractor rides and talks, taking place from Shetland to Southend.
In Scotland, more than 100 crofters and farmers from the Highlands will join others from around the country to hold a tractor rally in John o’Groats Car Park, Wick.
Organiser and Thurso-based livestock farmer Stephen Sutherland said: “We hope the events will keep the problem in the limelight and show our unity with all the other farmers.
“This tax has added yet another uncertainty to farming and it is the next generation who will be hit hardest.”
In Wales, farmer and NFU Cymru county adviser for Brecon, Radnor and Monmouthshire Stella Owen said not only would the day seek to keep farmers’ fight in the spotlight, but it also offered the industry the chance to thank the public for their support.
“There will be a drop-in with David Chadwick, Liberal Democrat
NFUS president debates focus on depopulation
CANDIDATES for the NFU Scotland presidency have been highlighting the challenges farmers face with rural depopulation. At a hustings event at Shetland Marts in Lerwick, current vice-president Andrew Connon said he recognised how important farming, agriculture and crofting was and why the challenges of rural depopulation needed to be addressed.
‘Radical’ examination
Alasdair Macnab, who is also an NFUS vice-president, said his experience of leading and lobbying on behalf of Government would stand him in good stead, but added there needed to be a ‘radical’ examination of how rural and farming communities were supported by the Government.
He added he had a lot of experience as a vet in the Civil Service working with islands and rural communities. He said: “[Providing] support and levelling the playing field will be essential in what I am looking to do.”
NO FAMILY FARMS – NO ROADS CLEARED
Farmers to protest on ‘Day of Unity’
MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe. This will give the many tenant farmers in the area a chance to explain how the changes to Inheritance Tax will affect them,” she said.
“In Abergavenny, we have a popup shop where people can find out first-hand what these tax changes mean to family farmers. We are very, very grateful to the public and we want to let them know we appreciate their support.”
In England, NFU president Tom Bradshaw will be in Cambridge city centre – the heart of Food and Farming Minister Daniel Zeich -
ner’s constituency – to chat to members of the public. Meanwhile in Worthing, NFU deputy president David Exwood will be on-hand as tractors drive up and down the West Sussex promenade.
Mr Exwood said: “The Day of Unity will show how these taxes affect every farmer up and down the country and show we still need to see changes to the measures the Government has brought in.”
Rallies will take place across Northern Ireland in Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry/Londonderry, Antrim and Down.
More retailers speak out over family farm tax
TESCO, Asda, Lidl, Co-op and Aldi have called on the Government to pause and consult with the farming industry over proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief, joining Morrisons and Booths in raising concerns about the impact of the changes.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said more and more businesses were seeing what impact losing family farms would have.
He said: “I hope supermarkets continue speaking out, calling for an urgent rethink over the family farm tax.”
Meanwhile, Morrisons has successfully applied for an injunction to stop farmers from ‘unlawfully protesting’ outside its distribution centres.
On January 10, the supermarket chain said about 50 tractors had blocked access to its Willow Green Regional Distribution Centre in Bridgwater, with other demonstrations elsewhere in the country.
‘Illegal’
activity
Protest activity at the Willow Green site had caused Morrisons to suffer losses in the region of ‘at least’ £200,000, and the retailer feared future ‘illegal’ activity could result in them losing out on ‘millions of pounds’.
The injunction will prohibit action including creating or causing blockades, obstructing traffic and/or otherwise impeding, preventing or interfering with the passage of use.
Ulster Farmers Union president William Irvine said: “This is more than just a protest – it is an opportunity for people to come together, show their support, and contribute to this challenge.”
We are very, very grateful to the public and want to let them know we appreciate their support
STELLA OWEN
Migrant workers stage demo at Home Office
MIGRANT workers who came to the UK in 2023 as part of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) were expected to hold a protest today (January 24) in London to demand an end to ‘exploitation’ of overseas workers on farms.
The demonstration was set to take place outside the Home Office and be joined by the Landworkers’ Alliance, which claimed the SWS needed ‘serious reforms’ and left workers vulnerable to ‘unfair dismissals, exploitation and high levels of debt’.
THE value of family farms in the community was highlighted during the recent snowfall, as farmers across the country cleared roads. Scott Campbell is pictured here (right) on snow-ploughing duty with his dad Iain at Kirkton of Kinellar.
‘Steve Reed must stand up to Chancellor over IHT’
● Government figures are ‘wrong’ on taxes
By Rachael Brown
IT is the job of Defra Secretary Steve Reed to bang on the door of the Treasury and demand the Chancellor listen to him. It is not acceptable for him to just accept what the Chancellor has imposed on him.
That was the message from the Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins, who said the Chancellor’s proposed changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) for farms were a ‘clear political choice’ by Government, aimed at
‘breaking a careful tax policy’ which protected family farms.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian at LAMMA last week, Ms Atkins said Government figures, which said only 500 farms will be affected by the policy each year, did not add up.
She added: “The figures they are using are for the birds. There is a piece of kit here at LAMMA worth almost £1 million. If someone purchases that alone, then they are topping up towards that threshold Labour Ministers are relying on.”
Ms Atkins said the Conservative Party would reverse the family farm tax, but in the meantime she is working with the industry to ‘educate’ Min-
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES MUST BE PROFITABLE
PROFITABLE farm businesses are a critical component of creating a sustainable agricultural industry, according to business development manager Alex Hardie, at the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University.
Speaking to FG at LAMMA, he said that while sustainability cannot exist without profitability and vice versa, the two were
often taken in isolation.
He said: “The word sustainability often attracts with it thoughts of green and pleasant land, but profitability is an absolutely critical component of sustainability.
“Often a lot is levelled at farmers to change and develop their practices, but we need everyone in the supply chain to help support that change.”
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Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins speaking to John Smith, JCB’s agriculture managing director, at LAMMA.
isters and Labour MPs, who she said were under a ‘bewildering impression’ that every single farmer owns the land they farm and are some sort of ‘landed gentry’.
“They [Treasury] have ignored the 14,000 or so tenant farmers that rely on Business Property Relief rather than just Agricultural Property Relief,” she added.
The Government has repeatedly said the income raised by IHT will help fund public services and the financial blackhole, but Ms Atkins said this was nonsense. She
accused the Government of making political choices which it must own rather than blaming others for its decisions.
Ms Atkins, who has thrown her weight behind FG’s Save Britain’s Family Farms campaign, fears that with changes to the Basic Payments Scheme and the Capital Grants scheme there could be further cuts along the way.
MORE INFORMATION
For more from LAMMA, see this week’s Machinery section, starting on p58.
KEEP SUPERMARKETS ON FARMERS’ SIDE
DISRUPTING the public and protesting outside supermarket gates is not the right thing to do and the industry should instead focus on trying to get retailers on side with farmers.
That was the message from North Yorkshire mixed farmer Rebecca Wilson, who said while supermarkets did make ‘massive profits’, getting them on the farmers’ side and showing their support was the best thing the sector could do right now, as retailers had the ‘big voice’ and ‘the power’.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian on Agriconnect TV live from LAMMA last week, alongside Cumbrian dairy farmer Charlotte Ashley, Ms Wilson said changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) had become a shadow over the industry and consumers needed a better understanding of why farmers were worried.
“This tax relies on profit to be able to afford it and no business should have to sell their shop floor as it were, to pay a tax. To me that is not a fair tax,” said Ms Wilson.
Ms Ashley added while more of a spotlight should be put on supermarkets and their pricing, she did not condone the recent tractor blockades outside Morrisons.
“Morrisons has done its utmost to stand by farmers,” she said.
Ms Wilson said following the Chancellor’s Budget, farming confidence had dropped, with investment into new machinery out of reach for many farmers.
“It is a scary time, when we want to do better, be more efficient, we want this technology on-farm, but we cannot afford it,” she added.
Better
Ms Ashley said it came down to profitability and margins, adding if farmers were paid proportionately they would be in a better position to afford the IHT.
“It has been an undercurrent for a long time that things are not necessarily on an even keel and has brought about a conversation that needed to be had,” she said.
On her family farm, Ms Ashley and her family had invested heavily to make the transition to dairy but, there was still more investment needed.
She said: “We need slurry storage, regardless of how much it costs, it is necessity, but that is something we need to look at seriously and price it up. Everything is a huge investment, all these things cost so much money.”
Pupils visit LAMMA Careers Zone
FARMERS Guardian’s Jobs in Agriculture Careers Zone welcomed 30 pupils from Birmingham-based schools Bishop Challoner and Hodge Hill Girls School through a bursary sponsored by machinery manufacturer Agco and hosted in partnership with the NFU.
It gave pupils with non-agricultural backgrounds an interactive insight into what a career in agriculture could look like, with talks from City and Guilds, plus a workshop with Agco.
They also visited LAMMA’s Demo Zone, where they saw New Holland’s new machinery in action.
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● Investment needed to tackle disease threats
By Rachael Brown
THE Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Efra) chair Alistair
Carmichael has branded the state of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) headquarters in Weybridge a ‘disgrace’ following a recent visit to the department, and has called on the Government to urgently increase funding to the agency to avoid further risk to UK farmers.
Speaking in Parliament after a case of foot-and-mouth disease had been reported in Germany, Mr Carmichael said he remembered the 2001 UK outbreak and that the extent to which the industry was exposed to disease risk today was something all parties must share responsibility for.
“Hopefully, this is a bullet that we will dodge, but if we do, we know there is also the risk of African swine fever, bluetongue and avian influenza all coming,” he added.
Protection zone
Earlier this week, avian influenza was confirmed at a commercial poultry premises near Wem, North Shropshire. A two-mile protection zone and a six-mile surveillance zone has been declared around the premises, extending into Wales. Defra confirmed all poultry on the premises would be ‘humanely culled’.
It is the latest incident in the current outbreak which has seen 20 cases confirmed in England and one in Scotland.
The Government said it had committed a further £200 million to invest in the APHA facility at Weybridge.
But Mr Carmichael said the funding was ‘far from sufficient’ for the challenges that the industry faced.
THE Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has called for the UK Government to urgently implement a ban on all personal imports of meat products derived from pigs and ruminants.
The trade association said this action was ‘imperative’ to protect the nation’s livestock from imminent threats posed by foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever.
The recent outbreak of footand-mouth disease confirmed in Germany has resulted in a ban on imports of live animals and dairy products from the country into the UK.
But Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director at AIMS, said personal imports of meat products continued to enter the country ‘unchecked’, particularly through airports.
Efra chair calls APHA premises a ‘disgrace’
He feared the ‘hard lessons’ from the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 had been ‘forgotten’.
He added: “Whether it is at our borders or within our country, we cannot afford to be complacent. Early
indications are that authorities in Germany are tackling the outbreak effectively, but this should be the trigger for more investment in biosecurity so that we are ready for whatever might come next. We must do every-
AIMS CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN ON PERSONAL IMPORTS OF MEAT PRODUCTS
He said: “This loophole presents a significant biosecurity risk, as both foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever can survive in fresh and cured meat products for extended periods, remaining highly infectious.
Catastrophic outbreak
“The lack of stringent controls allows passengers to bring in meat products without adequate scrutiny. A single discarded ham sandwich in areas like the New Forest or the Forest of Dean, where wild boar populations are prevalent, could trigger a catastrophic outbreak.”
Dr Aldiss added many farming representatives and professional sources had indicated that the UK would be ‘woefully under-prepared’ for an outbreak of this nature.
The lack of stringent controls allows passengers to bring in meat products without adequate scrutiny
DR JASON ALDISS
He said ‘the time for half measures has passed’ and the Government must act ‘without delay’.
thing that we can to ensure that such an outbreak does not happen again.”
Defra Secretary Steve Reed said: “We inherited laboratories at Weybridge in poor condition, reducing our ability to respond to animal disease outbreaks. We are bolstering our national biosecurity and safeguarding the county from these diseases with a £200m investment into our scientific capabilities.”
£20m Crown Estate boost for tenant farmers
THE Crown Estate has pledged £20 million for its Rural Environment Fund as part of new measures announced to support the delivery of ambitious biodiversity targets. The estate said the money, increased this year from £10m, would support tenant farmers in transitioning to a future farming model which created better outcomes for food production, nature recovery and supporting the development of diversified income streams for farmers.
Alistair Carmichael (inset) said APHA’s facilities needed major investment to tackle disease threats effectively.
Air Soil Water
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What keeps farmers awake?
IT is a question that has been keeping us awake too.
As an agency dedicated to agricultural research, we at Grounded Research see first-hand the complexities and interconnected challenges facing farmers today.
These issues are vast, spanning everything from political uncertainty to environmental pressures, economic uncertainty to social pressures – the effects vary widely across individuals and regions.
To better understand these challenges, we have launched an independent study asking farmers what the challenges they feel are the hardest.
By leveraging the rich demographic data we hold – age, location, farm enterprise type, tenure
Social media reactions
FARMERS had their say on social media after imports from Germany were banned following confirmation of a foot-and-mouth case:
■ “Now I hope the price UK farmers get paid goes up with the demand.”
COLIN STEVENS
and more – we are beginning to build a meaningful picture of the stressors impacting British agriculture.
But we need your help to broaden this understanding. Farmers are grappling with challenges across political, social, environmental and economic landscapes.
Research often focuses on specific sectors or issues in isolation, leaving us without a cohesive picture of how these pressures intersect and affect different groups of farmers.
■ “Even more reason to protect and support our own British farmers and have less reliance on the produce from other countries.”
SHARON HARDING
■ “Thank goodness. Now step up the searching at UK borders with
This four-month study, run independently by Grounded Research, aims to change that.
Conducted during one of the most turbulent times in living memory for UK agriculture, it seeks to compile the insights we all need to better understand and support this vital industry.
To complete the online survey, please visit: https://agrc. im/uhYYo
Clare Otridge, Grounded Research.
illegal meat imports in suitcases, etc.”
PIP PERRY
■ “We can grow our own right here, for goodness sake. Why on earth are we importing?”
COLIN AND PAULINE SMITH
Legal challenge
BEING born during the second world war, I remember how our nation valued food.
Every small portion of land was used to produce food for the people in cities and towns. Family farms provided safe homes for many towns and cities’ children, away from bombs.
With so many men and women fighting for our survival, many young children brought up on farms did much necessary farm work.
A 10hp Robey traction engine owned by Crampton of Sawston in Hammonds Close, Pampisford near Cambridge. The engine driver is Charles Pumfrey, with his eldest son Fred on top of the drum. Note the railway company sacks and the sack lifter being used in the foreground. Picture sent in by Michael Pumfrey, Charles’ great, great grandson.
If you have a classic picture you would like to share, please email it to marcello.garbagnoli@agriconnect.com
pricing,
and
to
policy, we are the
I am not a member of any political party, but I believe that Sir Keir Starmer and his cabinet members’ duplicity, as revealed by their Budget (Inheritance Tax on family farms) and Tom McTernan, Tony Blair’s adviser, who claimed now is the time to get rid of farmers, is part of the Labour Party’s long-term agenda.
My family has farmed for hundreds of years, caring for our livestock and land. Why should an urban political Government, which knows nothing of the long hours and hard work keeping food on tables, real sustainable, local, nutritious food, interfere?
The time must have come to mount a legal challenge to the Labour Party’s ability to govern the UK. The party promised to protect farmers and not to impose IHT on farms, but this promise was broken when Labour entered Downing Street.
If they are so blatantly dishonest, how can they be trusted with our economy, NHS, national security,
■ IF you would like to send us a letter for consideration, email fgeditorial@agriconnect.com Contact us
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overseas deals, etc? Their claim that they inherited a huge financial deficit is either disingenuous or further proof of their inability to govern – by failing to hold the then Government to account.
How could they not have known the UK economic position? What about freedom of information at senior Government level?
The danger to family farms and the rural way of life is so serious that Starmer must be called to account and this act overturned.
Having served my Queen and country (as my family have for hundreds of years) the future of our young farmers and our beautiful land must be defended.
With many people starving in many parts of the world and the UK importing more than 40% of our food, it would be interesting to know if any of the large number of Labour MPs produce any food for our tables?
Politicians make much noise and hot air, but it is the hard-working farmers who feed these hostile Labour political fanatics and our nation.
Thank you for your strong support for our family farms. The Government in Italy has banned solar panels on good farmland. All farmland, hill or lowland, must be protected for food production.
William Eric Lucy, Lowestoft.
Toby Whatley Head of Machinery and Farm Technology – toby.whatley@agriconnect.com
With challenges come opportunities for growth Leader
FOLLOWING LAMMA I will happily eat my words about the overall negativity in the market sentiment. There continues to be significant challenges in the sector with purchase confidence, however every manufacturer I spoke to was positive about the discussions and the mood from people they chatted to. Farmers have always been resilient, and with challenges come opportunities, with many focusing on how they will push businesses forward.
The UK situation for the combine market is depressed as wheat continues to hold a low reflective price to its cost of production. However, beet yields are good and potatoes have retained a good value alongside sustained high prices for beef, lamb and milk. One major tractor manufacturer commented that customers are open to spend, but the days of purchasing a new machine every three years and chopping it in are long gone. Machinery investments must be costed for the long eight to 10 years in some cases, with supporting warranties to match. Worldwide, the machinery demand downturn
Young Farmer Focus
‘I
could not imagine a life without farming’
Background: I grew up in rural Co Down, but had no farming family and very few farming friends.
Nearly seven years ago, I started working on a dairy farm near where I live. Incredibly, I still help now. Back then, I could not tell a scraper from a fork when I started.
Will I still be working with cows when I am 60? I hope so, because I could not imagine a life without farming.
Next generation: As a Nuffield Farming Next Generation scholar, I often think about the future of farming and those coming through the ranks.
Some are full of zest, keen to put their own stamp on the farm and see improvement.
A few are non-committal, seeking careers elsewhere and uninterested in the constant barrage that farming
faces. It worries me that the latter group could be growing, leading to mounting challenges for family farming as we know it.
And who can blame them? We are in a time of upheaval for agriculture. Farms need to grow resilience. They need a strong next generation to spearhead this resilience. Are we ready? Do we even know what we should be ready for?
On my Nuffield Farming Next Generation scholarship, I visited over 40 inspiring farmers, most of whom were Nuffield scholars. In my job, I have involvement with incredible farms across Northern Ireland and Wales.
Learnings: Here are my main learnings from both experiences that will hopefully provide some advice to the next generation of farmers, or perhaps someone
continues, with Agco and CNH both presenting net sales declines of about 25%. Big factors are at play, and we have yet to see what the now inaugurated Trump 2.0 presidency will bring.
The repetitive rhetoric on tariffs – particularly steel and aluminium – could fall in favour of some European manufacturers. The US is a net consumer of steel, so many machines produced could immediately become more expensive and would make the production of machinery in European, Turkish and Indian factories more appealing.
looking for the next generation to farm their land.
■ Find your lighthouses: Find the people that inspire you to guide the way for you and your business. Make the time to visit other farms –go on as many farm tours as you can and perhaps join a discussion group.
No farmer is an island and we must all support each other now more than ever.
■ Vision: Many corporate businesses will have a vision, mission and value statements – so why not farming? Know who you want to be and what your business needs to be. Set goals, plan where possible and make yourself accountable. Applications are currently open for the next cohort of Nuffield Farming Next Generation scholars and more information can be found at nuffieldscholar.org/scholarships/ nuffield-farming-next-genscholarships
MORE INFORMATION
If you would like to be featured, email chris.brayford@agriconnect.com
Bronagh Dempster
Co Down, Northern Ireland Bronagh Dempster, 24, is a Nuffield Farming Next Generation scholar from the Ards Peninsula in Co Down.
Bronagh Dempster
● AHDB backs ‘sciencebased’ approach
By Chris Brayford
MORE than 40 organisations and public figures have signed a letter which has called on the Government to stop supporting balanced diets which include red meat and dairy.
Naturalist Chris Packham was joined by the likes of environmental activists Greenpeace and PETA in penning a letter to Defra Secretary Steve Reed, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband on January 15, which urged them to cut ties with AHDB’s ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign.
The farmer-led levy-paying board said the initiative has aimed to build trust in the nation’s agricultural sector by highlighting the environmentally friendlier practices of British farmers alongside the benefits of including meat and dairy in a balanced diet.
However, Mr Packham, who was also joined by ITV’s Good Morning Britain resident GP Dr Amir Khan, claimed high quantities of red and processed meat has increased the risk of coronary heart disease, some forms of cancer and Type 2 diabetes and contributed to at least 38,500 deaths.
Instead, he argued that the Gov-
AHDB’s ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign promotes red meat and dairy as part of a healthy and balanced diet, but has routinely come up against opposition from campaign groups.
We would be happy to share the robust evidence supporting the campaign
Activists target red meat and dairy diets
ernment must shift the dial and support plant-based alternatives which promote vegetables, fruits, legumes and wholegrains.
Reality
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, external affairs director at the Countryside Alliance, said it was ‘wrong’ for people to have their choices taken away by ‘vegan activists’, and added that Mr Packham needed to ‘get over’ the reality that people enjoy eating meat.
AHDB has since invited Mr Packham to learn about the benefits of red meat and dairy as part of a balanced diet.
A spokesperson added: “Our ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign strict-
ly adheres to the Government’s Eatwell Guidelines, highlighting the role of British red meat and dairy as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
“At AHDB, we take a sciencebased approach to provide accurate, transparent information on the nutritional and environmental benefits of red meat and dairy.
“Our offer to discuss this further with you remains open. We would be happy to share the robust evidence supporting the campaign.”
Defra said everyone should have access to a varied, healthy diet and be allowed to make their own choices about what they eat.
Food and farming can drive economy, say councillors
FUTURE opportunities for food production, clean energy and other key sectors could be severely hampered by agri-food’s omission from the Government’s latest Modern Industrial Strategy (MIS), councillors have warned.
In a letter to the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, Norfolk County Council in collaboration with the Norfolk and Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council, Suffolk County Council and Greater Lincolnshire LEP, has highlighted the urgent need for agri-food to be given greater significance in the strategy.
The letter stated: “Through the omission of agri-food, the Government risks missing out on the benefits that this sector can bring to the economy, and hampering the opportunities for growth-driving sectors, such as clean energy.”
The MIS prioritises productivity
gains, growth potential, contribution to net zero, regional growth and economic security and resilience, as well as promoting industries with evidence of UK strengths and capabilities. Agrifood, however, is not among them.
High-potential sector
Councillor Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for economic growth at Norfolk County Council, said the MIS had overlooked certain highpotential sectors where investment will improve value creation, such as the application of precision agritech within the agri-food sector. Mr Eagle added: “Agri-food plays an enabling role across multiple key sectors in the MIS, including life sciences, digital and tech, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. It will reduce demand-side pressures across the economy, creating a ripple effect in productivity gains in the long run.”
Open Farm Sunday host farmer training
LEAF is running several courses to help host farmers feel confident to open their gates to the public for Open Farm Sunday (OFS) events on June 8.
There will be two free in-person workshops in March, nine Zoom webinars running from late January to May, alongside a handbook with everything hosts might need to know, offering guidance and ideas to both novice and seasoned host farmers.
The five-hour workshops will be held in Yorkshire and Berkshire, providing direct, hands-on learning and shared experiences from past participants. The webinars will address a broad range of topics for running successful events, including
logistics, publicity, visitor engagement and safety protocols.
OFS manager Annabel Shackleton said: “We are here to help make farmers’ OFS journey as straightforward as possible and support even more farms to get involved.
“Making farming relatable and relevant to people depends on having access to farms to see for themselves what is involved. Open Farm Sunday can really help bring that to life and cultivate positive connections.”
MORE INFORMATION
For details on how to become a host or to book your place on a workshop or webinar, visit farmsunday.org
Open Farm Sunday provides a powerful platform to connect, engage and enlighten the public about the work farmers do.
In-person host farmer workshops
Yorkshire
■ Stockbridge Technology Centre, Selby, YO8 3TZ
■ March 20, 10.30am–3.30pm
■ Book your tickets to attend here: trybooking.com/uk/EFAV
Berkshire
■ Yattendon Estate, Thatcham, RG18 0UT
■ March 26, 10.30am–3.30pm
■ Book your tickets to attend here: trybooking.com/uk/EFNR
Government still ‘off track’
meeting environmental goals
● Farmers must be supported to reach aims
By Rachael Brown
THE Government’s progress towards improving the environment has slowed and is still ‘largely off track’ in achieving 20 of its legal environmental commitments, according to the latest annual assessment by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The report provided analysis of the Government’s progress towards legally binding environmental targets, including those in the statutory
Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), such as obligations to halt declines in water, air quality and nature.
The OEP report warned that unless things changed materially, key targets – such as the aim of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea for biodiversity by 2030 – would not be met.
OEP chair Dame Glenys Stacey said: “This Government must act urgently and decisively to catch up if it is to meet its legal obligations – catch up not just by developing plans, but then by fully and effectively implementing them. It has several legally binding commitments only a few years away. The window of opportunity is closing fast.”
THE OFFICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION’S REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
■ Get nature-friendly farming right, with greater Government engagement with farmers and landowners key to improving the environment at scale
■ Maximise the contribution of protected sites for nature by enhancing and enforcing their legal protection and correcting underinvestment
■ Deliver on overdue marine protected area bylaws and implement a new UK marine strategy
■ Progress local nature recovery strategies, a land use framework and catchment and marine spatial plans
■ Update resources and waste
strategy, and accelerate a new UK policy and regulatory framework for chemicals
■ Provide strong incentives, oversight and regulation to attract private investment
■ Regulate more effectively by providing sufficient resources, building capacity and improving engagement
■ Link the environmental principles policy statement to statutory targets and delivery plans, as well as the revised Environmental Improvement Plan being more transparent and better communicated
Dame Glenys welcomed the Government’s recent decision to carry out a rapid review of the EIP but said it must ‘go beyond existing policies and actions, with realistic and determined delivery plans’.
Nature-friendly farming
Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said the OEP’s assessment was a timely reminder that nature-friendly farming schemes were absolutely vital to meet the country’s environmental and climate targets.
Mr Lines said: “They are also key financial lifelines for farmers best
placed to do the heavy environmental lifting required. Currently, Landscape Recovery is the neglected child within the suite of schemes available and it is positive to hear the independent environmental watchdog make clear that this has to change.”
A Defra spokesperson said that after years of failure, nature across Britain was suffering and the report was ‘absolutely right’ to point out the ‘window to fix it’ was ‘closing’. It said it was taking urgent action to put nature on the road to recovery and would respond to the OEP in due course.
Edited by Alex Black – 07880 490 486 – alex.black@agriconnect.com
For more business content, go to farmersguardian.com/farm-business-news-hub
● Industry keeping close eye on company’s growth
By Jane Thynne
CONCERNS have been raised for the independent pig sector following food industry giant Cranswick’s acquisition of family-owned genetics company JSR.
Delivering its third quarter trading statement, the Hull-based company announced it had acquired JSR Genetics from the Rymer family, who also own JSR Farms, including the pig genetics and pig farming operations.
JSR Genetics is the exclusive distributor for Netherlands-based Topigs Norsvin’s genetics in the UK, and as one of the leading pig genetics companies it also has more than 3,000 commercial sows, producing more than 2,000 pigs per week for slaughter.
Adam Couch, chief executive of Cranswick, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of JSR Genetics, a leading pig genetics supplier and commercial pig producer based in East Yorkshire. This acquisition increases the scale of our indoor pig production, further securing supply for our customers’ pork requirements.
“The addition of an integrated pig genetics supply chain will allow us to drive ongoing improvements in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness, for the long-term benefit of our customers and the UK consumer.”
However, the move by Cranswick, a company which employs 14,500 people in the UK and has a revenue of more than £2.6 billion, has sparked concern among independent producers who have warned Cranswick might have too big of a presence in the sector, with some labelling it as a ‘monopoly’.
Pig industry analyst Dom Charman
Cranswick is continuing to grow with the acquisition of JSR, one of the biggest names in the UK pig sector.
Cranswick acquisition of genetics firm sparks ‘monopoly’ concerns
said: “Any reduction in the independently owned pig herd and subsequently in independent and family-owned pig farms is something to keep a weather eye on, not only for those producers who remain but for the marketplace and retailers as well.”
Supply chain risk
Mr Charman added any sector contraction exposed the supply chain to greater risk, especially in the face of disease threats such as
African swine fever and foot-andmouth which has been ‘looming so large on our borders’.
“In a practical sense, we have seen disease come into larger businesses and spread throughout them, resulting in gaps in production and so on, particularly when we look at the example of avian influenza spreading between some ‘connected’ farms in previous years,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how much of the sector moves away from JSR Genetics, as being both a
TESCO PARTNERS WITH CRANSWICK FOR RULES ROLL OUT
FOOD producer Cranswick has teamed up with retailer Tesco as part of the supermarket’s relaunch of its Tesco Sustainable Pig Group.
The move follows the publication of Tesco’s Greenprint for UK Farming report, which outlined recommendations for the industry and is, according to the retailer, part of its ongoing support for British farmers.
The new group has been developed in partnership with Tesco’s long-term supplier Cranswick and will cover all
production methods used in the UK and include farms of varying sizes. Tesco estimated the group could be worth at least £670 million over the initial three years of the scheme.
‘Vital
role’
Ashwin Prasad, chief commercial officer at Tesco, said: “Our dedicated British farmers have faced some challenging times recently, and we have been doing everything we can to support them.
“Our sustainable farming groups play a vital role, providing forums for collaboration and innovation, as well as encouraging improvements in product quality, animal welfare and environmental measures.”
According to the supermarket, members of the group will receive a combination of cost of production and market price incentives, giving producers greater stability in pricing and helping to support longer term investment.
customer of and supplier to the same business [which is in both cases much larger than your own] seems fraught with complexity that few pig farmers would be willing to embrace.”
Also owned by JSR Farms, an integrated arable business with more than 3,000 hectares in Driffield, East Yorkshire, will remain with the Rymer family.
Committed
A statement from JSR moved to reassure its customers and said the acquisition would ‘provide tremendous career opportunities for the transferring employees’.
The statement said: “The business will remain the leading pig genetics business in the country.
“Customers can rest assured that JSR Genetics will remain committed to delivering the same high level of genetic improvement and service which has historically been achieved.”
£2.6bn
Cranswick has a revenue of more than £2.6 billion.
PICTURE: MARCELLO GARBAGNOLI
New chief executive for HCC
● Levy body has faced turbulent few months
By Alex Black
HYBU Cig Cymru (HCC) has announced Jose Peralta as its new chief executive.
Mr Peralta has more than 25 years of experience in the red meat sector as a managing director.
His most recent role was as chief operating officer of Puffin Produce, based in Pembrokeshire, where he led the development of the Pembrokeshire Creamery milk bottling plant.
Former chief executive Gwyn Howells stepped down in June 2024 after a period of extended leave.
The levy body has faced a turbulent few months, with employees making allegations of bullying against a member of staff.
HCC chair Catherine Smith said Mr Peralta’s ‘exceptional leadership skills and extensive experience’ made him the ideal candidate to lead HCC.
She said: “This is an exciting time to join the organisation, as we continue to grow and strengthen our renowned brands, PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.
“As we finalise our current five-year business plan and begin shaping our strategic vision for 2026 and beyond, we are focused on creating a roadmap
I will be engaging with levy payers and wider partners to identify areas of mutual collaboration and partnership
JOSE PERALTA
that will support the sustainable growth of the industry as a vital part of the Welsh agri-food economy.”
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said he was pleased Mr Peralta was taking up this ‘important role’.
“With such a strong track record in
the red meat industry, his experience will be invaluable to take the organisation forward, delivering the utmost for its levy payers and the wider agrifood industry,” he said.
Mr Peralta said he was looking forward to starting work with the team to ensure the organisation stood with its partners as a ‘strong voice for the Welsh red meat industry’.
‘Mutual collaboration’
He added: “Over the coming weeks and months, I will be engaging with levy payers and wider partners to identify areas of mutual collaboration and partnership in order to maximise returns for our levy payers and the wider industry.”
Tony Goodger, spokesperson for the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, welcomed the appointment.
“We look forward to working with him and his team, as well as being part of the delivery for Welsh levy payers and our Welsh abattoir members,” he said.
● High input costs and low output blamed
By Alex Black
A DROP in incomes on Welsh farms highlights the ‘real challenges facing farmers’ and why farmer confidence is lacking, according to NFU Cymru.
According to figures released by the Welsh Government for the period April 2023-March 2024, average farm incomes across all farm types dropped by 34%.
Dairy farmers saw their income drop by 59% year-on-year as a result of a drop in milk prices compared with the previous year and input costs remaining elevated.
Cattle and sheep farms in less favoured areas saw average income fall by 9% to £22,200, lowland cattle and sheep farms were the only category which saw a rise in income, with a 23% increase to £23,000.
Profitability on livestock farms was impacted by a reduction in farm output and input costs remaining high compared to historic figures.
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said falling incomes meant farmers were struggling to find the confidence to make difficult business decisions, compounded by the changes to Inheritance Tax in the Autumn Budget.
“These figures show that the money is not there to foot an Inheritance Tax bill that could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds for some farmers,” he added.
He highlighted the costs of com-
Welsh farm incomes drop by 34% to show business pressures
plying with water-quality regulations, continued market volatility coupled with rising costs, pressures of bovine TB and uncertainty around the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which were weighing on confidence.
“NFU Cymru recently undertook a survey of our members to gain an understanding of the impact of the water-quality regulations on the industry,” said Mr Jones.
Cost of investments
“The survey showed that a majority of farmers had or needed to invest to meet the requirements of the new regulations, with an estimated mean cost of investments at approximately £100,000, with 12% stating the cost was over £200,000. These farm income figures show farmers simply cannot afford the costs, based on the profitability of Welsh farming at the moment, even with grant support.”
Farmers’ Union of Wales deputy president Dai Miles added it demonstrated the ‘economic reality’ of trying
Dairy farmers saw their income drop by 59% year on year, owing to a drop in milk prices and increased input costs.
to maintain profitability against a backdrop of increasing costs and red tape.
He highlighted that the proportion of farm businesses in Wales generating a negative income continued to increase to over 20%.
“At the very least, this demonstrates the need for the future Sus-
Co-op to pay suppliers for reducing carbon emissions
SUPERMARKET Co-op has announced it will provide almost £1 million in funding to support farmers in reducing carbon emissions on-farm.
The company said the investment could see farmers directly ‘rewarded’ for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions, promoting nature and driving innovation on their farms.
It said monies would be provided across beef, lamb and dairy sectors as part of new sustainability projects. Funding would be allocated across two key projects, with participating farmers able to access sustainability payments above the price they are already paid for their products.
The first project will see Co-op partnering with the Soil Association Exchange to support the 140 farmers in its dairy farming group to reduce their carbon footprint and begin to
baseline key nature indicators, such as biodiversity and soil health.
Sustainability payments will be awarded to the farms as part of the project, while farmers will be able to choose an action plan that works for them, with support from Soil Association Exchange advisers, which could include cutting fertiliser use, increasing fuel efficiency and investing in solar energy.
Schemes
The second project, Co-op’s Beef Sustainability Scheme, will reward farmers for adopting on-farm sustainable practices and will be open to members of its farming group. After a successful two-year pilot, the scheme will be extended to 15% of the retailer’s beef supply chain this year and include lamb farmers.
More than 100,000 tonnes of car-
bon is expected to be saved under the programme over a five-year period as the percentage of beef and lamb supply covered by the scheme is increased.
Farmers will be reducing their impact through a range of actions, from breeding more efficient animals through to improving forage quality.
Tom Bramall, dairy farmer and Coop dairy group chair, said: “In these uncertain times, we need to work together across the supply chain.
“Farmers like me want to play our part when it comes to sustainability, but we need support. It is fantastic to see farmers receiving reward and recognition for the positive role they play in addressing the issues around climate change.
“I appreciate the significant investment this is and we look forward to working in partnership with them over the coming years,” he said.
tainable Farming Scheme to offer an equal level of economic stability, currently provided through the Basic Payment Scheme, the maintenance of which for 2025 has been welcomed by the industry,” said Mr Miles.
Group converts mill fleet to HVO
AGRICULTURE group Carr’s Billington has boosted its sustainability goals by converting its entire mill fleet of more than 56 vehicles to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.
The firm, which has a network of depots across the UK, said the transition would help reduce on-farm emissions and provide an excellent opportunity for growth.
Sebastien Potts, strategic projects director at Carr’s Billington, said HVO fuel, produced from renewable biomass, could reduce carbon emissions by up to 82% compared with traditional diesel.
“During a trial period, and following data collected by Carr’s Billington, we have seen a reduction in carbon emissions – and our fuel efficiency increase,” he added.
“By converting our entire mill fleet to HVO fuel, we are not only reducing our carbon emissions but also supporting the wider adoption of renewable energy sources.
“This is a crucial step in our journey towards a more sustainable future,” he added.
Licensing fees for firearms see huge hike
● Rise of 133% on average from February
By Alex Black
THE Government’s decision to significantly increase firearms licensing fees poses a threat to rural livelihoods, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has warned.
Effective from February 2025, the increases to firearms licensing fees include a 111% rise for firearms certificate renewals and a 157% rise for shotgun certificate renewals, with no explanation provided for how these figures were calcu-
lated. On average, fees will rise by 133%.
BASC also warned such steep hikes risked pricing working people out of shooting sports, while undermining vital pest control and conservation work carried out in the countryside.
Ian Bell, BASC chief executive, said: “For many who work in rural areas owning a firearm is not a luxury but an important tool of the job.”
Adding to the financial burden on applicants was the cost of mandatory medical verification introduced since the last fee increase, which could range from £50 to £300, further inflating the cost at a time when household budgets were already feeling the strain.
ORGANISER
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation warned the steep price hikes would undermine vital pest control and conservation work.
FIREARMS LICENSING FEES
Mr Bell added: “This fee hike fails to address the glaring inefficiencies in the firearms licensing system. “It will price many people out of lawful shooting activities, alienating rural communities and threatening
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR
essential conservation and pest control work.”
He said BASC had been ‘inundated with messages’ from people asking why they should pay an above-inflation increase for a ‘failing service’.
PICTURE: GETTY
Global Ag View
President Trump’s inauguration has already swayed global markets, but how could his second term in the Oval Office affect UK farmers? Cedric Porter reports.
● Hope threats are part of a deal-making process
DESPITE overwhelmingly backing him, there is trepidation among American farmers as Donald Trump becomes the 47th President of the United States.
Nearly 80% of the most farmingdependent counties in America voted for Mr Trump in the November 2024 election, which compared with a national vote of just above 50%.
In the run-up to the election, vow-
Farming fears as Trump takes office
ing to improve returns for those in agriculture, he said: “When I was President, the great farmers of America were making a lot of money.
“Now they are not. They are doing horribly. Inflation and high interest rates are killing them.
“You vote for me and I am saving you.”
When I was President, the great farmers of America were making a lot of money. Now they are not
DONALD TRUMP
But as he takes office there are concerns how Trump policies on trade, labour and health could impact agriculture.
Tariffs
Soon after he was sworn in as President he threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, which hit the value of the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso.
Almost 60% of Canada’s agricultural exports, worth £23 billion in 2023, go to the US, according to
Canada’s agricultural department. Meanwhile, Canada imported £18bn of US food.
Mexico is both the largest food market for the US and its largest food supplier, especially for fruit and vegetables.
The imposition of tariffs could lead to retaliatory duties by Canada and Mexico.
However, there is still hope that Mr Trump’s threats are part of the deal-making process that he is famous for.
Kam Quarles, head of the US National Potato Council, said: “When we get into trade disputes, typically agricultural commodities are on the retaliatory list.
“We have seen this movie before and we know not to freak out before anything actually happens.
“In his first administration,
Trump threatened tariffs on Canada and Mexico and that brought them to the table to discuss a new trade agreement that has largely benefited farmers.”
EU
Mr Trump also had the EU in his sights, saying that if it did not buy more oil, then it could face higher tariffs on its goods – the US is the EU’s largest food market.
He said: “They do not take our cars, they do not take our farm products. And yet, we take their cars and we take their farm products, we take a lot from them. So we will figure that out with either tariffs or they have to buy our oil.”
The UK did not get a mention from Mr Trump and the Government has said it is looking forward to working with the new President
Donald Trump speaks in Washington on the day of his inauguration as the 47th US President.
US farmers are awaiting the new President’s policies to see how they will affect local and global trade.
to enhance the country’s special relationship with America.
Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel called for negotiations for a UK-US trade deal. But that would face opposition from British farmers concerned about more access for American meat and poultry products in particular.
The US is the UK’s third largest food and drink export market after Ireland and France and was worth £1.1bn in the first half of 2024, according to the Food and Drink Federation.
Imports from the US in the same period were worth £655 million, so any tariffs and retaliatory tariffs would hit the UK harder than the US.
IMMIGRANTS, PHARMA AND FARMING
ON his first day, Donald Trump declared a national immigration emergency at the southern border of the United States.
He has said that he wishes to deport more than 10 million illegal immigrants. Almost threequarters of US farmworkers are immigrants, according to advocacy group FWD.
It has called for the legalising of undocumented farmworkers, which could amount to 1.25m people.
Mr Trump’s new secretary of agriculture is Brooke Rollins.
She is a Texan lawyer with a degree in agricultural development, whose appointment has gained little comment or criticism, unlike his pick for health secretary, former presidential rival Robert F. Kennedy Junior.
He has taken a stance against vaccines and large farming companies. As he took office, he
vowed to ban high fructose corn (maize) syrup and seed oil.
Iowa State University estimates that 10% of the US corn crop is used to make the syrup which is an ingredient for many food products and has come under fire for helping to fuel an obesity crisis in the US.
Opposition
Mr Kennedy favours the use of animal-based fats rather than vegetable oils, but banning the latter would face opposition from a coalition of growers, vegetarians, health professionals, food processors and religious groups.
Corn demand could also suffer from Mr Trump’s promise to ‘drill baby drill’ for more oil, rolling back the use for biofuel. However, on the day after his inauguration, corn prices reached their highest price since November 2023.
Published February 24
LOW CARBON AGRICULTURE SHOW PREVIEW
Farm Profile
Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768 796 492 – angela.calvert@agriconnect.com
For more features, go to farmersguardian.com/farm-life
Making the most of their location by installing vending machines selling milkshakes, ice cream and coffee, has enabled one dairy farming family to generate additional income streams. Angela Calvert finds out more.
Selling direct to the public opens up new opportunities
Brother and sister Rosie Metcalf and Freddie Hewitt are the third generation of their family to farm at Park Farm, Preston, milking 250 Holsteins.
Historically, one major disadvantage of the farm has been that the house and buildings are on one side of a busy road with the grazing land at the other side.
But the family has turned this into a positive by setting up a vending machine enterprise across from the farm, which is ideally placed to take advantage of passing trade.
Rosie and Freddie, who have two older sisters, Liannie and Mary, and a younger sister, Abbie (who is currently working in New Zealand) are the driving force behind the business.
Five years ago, it underwent a restructure when their father, Jimmy, retired due to ill health, and his brother, David Hewitt, who he farmed in partnership with, decided he too wanted to step back. The decision was taken to buy him out and a new partnership was formed which included Rosie, Freddie and Abbie. Their mother, Julie, is still very much involved.
With the next generation firmly committed to the future of the farm, they knew they needed to look at ways to expand.
Alternatives
Freddie says: “At 250 cows we are at maximum capacity for the existing facilities, and with no more land available, it was not just a case of increasing cow numbers – we needed to look at other alternatives.”
After much research and considering various options, such as selling
■ Sells pasteurised milk and milkshakes, ice cream, coffee, brownies and merchandise
raw milk or putting in camping pods, they settled on the idea of selling milkshakes via vending machines.
Rosie says: “We are close to Garstang and beside a very busy road, so there are a lot of people nearby and there is nothing else similar in the area.”
They bought a new 200-litre milkshake vending machine and a second-hand bottle machine from eBay and built the first ‘Mookshake Shack’ themselves, situated on a
■ Card payment only
■ Instagram handle: @parkfarm_mookshakeshack
small area of hard standing directly opposite the farm. They also installed a pasteurising unit in a new shipping container.
Freddie says: “The milk is pasteurised but not homogenised which means it looks like raw milk, is creamy and tastes really good, which makes a big difference to the milkshakes.
“It was a bit daunting at first and we had to order three pallets of 650 bottles, which seemed an awful lot to start with and along with everything else was a big expense.”
banana – as well as whole milk, but the range was soon extended to six, and the three extra flavours are now changed each week.
Glass bottles
Customers can either buy a 500ml or a one-litre glass bottle with a lid and fill it with a milkshake of their choice. They can then take this bottle home and refill it next time, or they can have a free small or large plastic cup to fill.
■ Open 24 hours a day
■ Facebook username: Park Farm Mookshake Shack Park Farm Mookshake Shack
But there was no need to worry. The Park Farm Mookshake Shack opened for business in April 2022 and they were amazed at how quickly it took off, in spite of only promoting the venture on social media.
Initially, just three flavours were on offer – strawberry, chocolate and
The artwork on the glass bottles is changed frequently to coincide with seasons and events such as Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Remembrance Sunday, and they have now become a collector’s item in their own right.
Rosie says: “We use social media to update people, and when we introduce new flavours or a new bottle design
PICTURES: JOHN EVESON
Back row, left to right: Liannie Gibson, Julie, Jimmy and Mary Hewitt. Front row, left to right: Freddie Hewitt and Rosie Metcalf.
Lancashire Farm Profile
We use the strapline ‘grass to glass’ for our marketing and this really does resonate with customers
ROSIE METCALF
we get an influx of customers. Some people just collect the bottles, and we have people from all parts of the country who ask us to send them each new design.”
As the business grew, an ice cream vending machine, which dispenses soft serve ice cream into tubs, was added along with a ‘Coffee Shack’, which houses an upmarket coffee machine. Both of these additions – of course –use home-produced milk.
There is also a vending machine selling branded merchandise, including hoodies, hats and bottle bags, which is proving very popular.
The business has a milkshake vending machine trailer which can be taken to events such as shows and festivals, but it is also in use on-farm to help alleviate queues.
As the business has grown, facilities
have been improved, with the three separate shacks now set further back into the field on an enclosed concrete area with seating and tables, plus a larger car park.
Sales
The machines are open 24 hours a day and sell 1,500 litres on average each week, which is 5% of the farm’s milk.
Freddie says: “Surprisingly, our busiest time is from 8pm-midnight. There is a real mix of customers and they are not just local. We get people coming from a long way away just to
buy milkshakes – it has become something of a destination.”
Being based on-farm is undoubtedly one of the attractions, and visitors enjoy seeing the cows grazing or crossing the road when they come in for milking, plus the calves in hutches which are close by.
Milk is sold to Lancashire Farm for its free-range yoghurt products. A stipulation of the contract is that the cows are grazed for a minimum of 150 days a year, and a premium is paid for this.
Rosie says: “We use the strapline
The artwork on the glass bottles is changed frequently to coincide with seasons and events.
The Park Farm Mookshake trailer is used on-farm and for events such as festivals. Inset: A soft serve ice cream vending machine has also been added to the business.
Farm Profile Lancashire
‘grass to glass’ for our marketing and this really does resonate with customers.”
While the diversification enterprise is proving to be very successful and takes a lot of time and effort from everyone, cows remain at the heart of the business and the aim is to keep improving the quality of the herd.
Rosie says: “We breed all our own replacements and use sexed semen across the herd, and we do all our own artificial insemination [AI]. An Angus sweeper bull is used for the heifers, with beef calves sold to a neighbour at six weeks old.
“We are now getting to the stage where we have some surplus fresh heifers to sell, which either go to Brock Auction or are sold privately.
“We have also started genomic testing. There was no point when we were keeping all the heifers, but now it enables us to choose which to sell and which to keep, with the aim of building up an elite herd. It is not cheap, so there is no point in having the information if you do not use it.”
The business employs two full-time members of staff and three relief milkers, as well as Liannie and their cousin, Hanah Butterworth, who work part-time on the vending machines. Julie does the accounts and helps with milking and anything else which needs doing.
Teamwork
Rosie says: “We have got a really good young team and we all get on well. Jack Shanley, who had no previous farming experience, is doing an apprenticeship and goes to Kendal College one day a week.
“He is really keen and doing very well. He has just done an AI course and a foot-trimming course, and has even bought some of his own sheep.
“Ryan Peck had some previous farming experience and is also doing well – he is good with machinery.”
Most of the field work and silaging is done in-house.
Freddie says: “We keep investing in more machinery. It seems to work well and both Jack and Ryan enjoy it, and
Farm facts
■ 154 hectares (380 acres), with about 101ha (250 acres) owned and the remainder rented
■ Mainly grass with 14ha (35 acres) of maize and additional maize bought in
■ 250 Holstein cows milked twice a day
■ Producing 9,800 litres/annum at 4.6% butterfat and 3.4% protein
■ Milk sold to Lancashire Farm on free-range contract
■ Vaccinate for leptospirosis, BVD, IBR, and bovine TB four-year testing
■ All-year-round calving
it is good to keep them involved and interested to help them progress.”
The last few years have been a big investment by the family to secure the future of the business, not only in money, but also in time and effort. But plans are already underway to continue moving forwards.
A new vending machine is soon to be added, which will dispense pots of ice cream which have been made onfarm in a new facility.
Rosie says: “This is different to the soft serve ice cream we currently sell in that we will be able to make batches of ice cream in different flavours, which we will put into various sized tubs, which can then be sold through the new vending machine.”
On-farm, while the herd has made significant progress, Freddie believes there is more to come.
He says: “We are happy with where the cows are now. Health and fertility are good and they are producing 9,800 litres without being pushed.
“Although the facilities we have at the moment are adequate, I know that the cows could do more. So, the dream is to change the system by putting up a new shed to house four robots, and this is something we are seriously looking into at the moment.
“This would enable us to produce more milk without increasing cow numbers. We would not have been able to consider this if we had not set up the vending machine business.”
Rosie also believes there is scope to do more.
She says: “So far, everything we have earned from the vending machines has been reinvested, but hopefully we are where we need to be with them for a while. We have plenty of ideas for things we will do to enhance the visitor experience in the future.
“There is only so much we will ever be able to earn producing milk, but there are lots of opportunities to develop the business by selling directly to the public.”
Heifer calves are reared as replacements.
The family milks 250 Holstein cows.
The Park Farm Mookshake Shack houses the vending machines and first opened for business in April 2022.
Arable
Edited by Jane Thynne – 07882 219 917 – jane.thynne@agriconnect.com
Arable land values increase
ARABLE and grassland continued to demonstrate its resilience in 2024, with both posting gains.
Cropping land rose 1.4% in value to an average of £9,722/acre, while pasture pushed up 1.8% to £7,889/ acre, according to the latest figures from national property consultancy Carter Jonas.
Values have risen each quarter for nearly four years, which the consultancy says marks a sign of the market’s resilience.
Andrew Chandler, head of rural agency, says: “Although the rate of annual growth in arable and pasture has moderated from its recent highs, the data reflects the sustained investor confidence in farmland assets we see throughout the country.”
Looking forward to 2025, Mr Chandler believes there are many reasons to be optimistic about the year ahead with markets opening up.
He says: “Private natural capital markets – notably the biodiversity net gain market – continue to develop, and some regions are seeing increased interest from ‘green’ investors.”
The data reflects the sustained investor confidence in farmland assets
ANDREW
CHANDLER
Show shines light on low carbon ag
WITH Regenuary inspiring people to rethink their food choices this January, it is the ideal time to focus on the upcoming Low Carbon Agriculture Show 2025.
Taking place from March 5 to March 6 at the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, the show is the UK’s only event dedicated to sustainable farming and carbon reduction practices.
Highlights this year include sessions on how to transition from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy regulations to a UK system, low emission vehicles and technological innovation.
MORE INFORMATION
To find out how to claim your free ticket, visit lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk
● Operations more than two-thirds complete
BRITISH Sugar has issued a promising update on production after recording its best December slicing volume for more than five years.
The company says operations are more than two-thirds complete with over five million tonnes of beet now sliced, 1mt of which was carried out over the Christmas period, marking its best December slicing since 2018/19.
British Sugar says it now estimates it will finish this year’s campaign at its East Anglian sites by the end of February and at Newark in mid-March.
Although growers have been hit by recent bad weather, the company says it does not expect this to have had ‘a significant impact’.
Dan Green, British Sugar agriculture director, says: “We are continuing to monitor the situation, and we would encourage you to inspect crops too, particularly those still to be harvested.”
Mr Green adds that there is still
Over the Christmas period, one million tonnes of sugar beet was sliced, marking British Sugar’s best December slicing since 2018/19.
British Sugar celebrates record slicing
no decision from Defra on the emergency authorisation application for Cruiser SB.
Disease threat
NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly says the union and its members remain ‘extremely concerned’ about the ongoing threat posed by disease, including virus yellows, and that supporting growers in their continued fight against disease was ‘an absolute priority’.
Mr Sly, who is preparing to step down from his NFU role in March, wrote in his latest blog: “This started with the application for emergency
authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB seed treatment in 2025 submitted earlier last year and will continue with efforts to expedite authorisation of sustainable sprays and innovative long-term, sustainable controls showing promise in British Beet Research Organisation trials.
“Furthermore, we will continue to advocate more broadly for a proportionate, science-based approach to plant protection regulation, ensuring that growers retain access to a plant protection toolbox which is fit for purpose.”
Defra was contacted for comment.
UK backs Ukraine grain scheme
THE UK is set to launch a Grain Verification Scheme to track grain stolen from occupied areas of Ukraine, the Government has announced.
The move comes as part of a landmark 100-year partnership between the two countries and will see the UK develop a database to support Ukraine’s efforts to trace and stop grain theft from war-torn regions.
According to Defra, the scheme will strengthen the food security of Ukraine and also ensure the country
remains a major supplier of agricultural produce worldwide.
Meeting at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture hosted in Berlin, Germany, Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner said:
“The UK’s support for Ukraine is ironclad. The Grain Verification Scheme will support Ukraine’s essential food supply and help guarantee their security in the face of Russian aggression.
“Using the latest science, we can track grain to its source, identifying
stolen grain to help Ukraine take back what is theirs.”
The Grain Verification Scheme was developed after Ukraine requested support from G7 countries in tracing grain stolen from territories under Russian control and sold on the international market.
The 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine broadens and deepens the relationship of the two countries across defence and non-military areas, including agriculture.
May 24 LIFFE wheat futures closed on Tuesday (January 21) at £190.65/tonne, down £2.25/t on the week.
LIFFE WHEAT FUTURES
UK MARKETS BACK IN GEAR AFTER HOLIDAY PERIOD
THE narrow trading range that LIFFE wheat has been operating within for the last few weeks continues, with May standing currently at £190/tonne, slightly below week-ago levels. This is despite a noticeable decline in sterling’s value against the euro.
The May contract is trading at a discount of £9 below MATIF. Outside influences continue to play a role in our markets and these
have now started to awaken after the holiday slumber.
At home, Defra gave us a huge data dump last week, with both cereal usage and trade data for November released.
On the trade front, UK data for November showed another impressive wheat import number, at 295,000t, nearly double last year’s November equivalent, bringing cumulative JulyNovember to 1.4 million tonnes. This means we only need 186,000t per month to meet Defra’s 2024/25 season forecast. Germany was once again the lead supplier.
For maize, November imports sat at more than 300,000t, the highest November number since 2020. So, between the two crops, we continue to be importing grains at a very fast pace so far.
There was not much to report on the cereal usage side of Defra’s data, although notably, feed usage in the cattle sector remains strong.
GLOBAL WHEAT FUTURES RALLY
THE newly-elected US President Trump seemed to positively impact wheat prices, despite fears that tariffs would harm US export potential.
CBOT wheat futures gathered pace on Tuesday, gaining almost 4% by the close and posting its biggest single daily gain since May 20, 2024. The price rally was perhaps less Trumpdriven, though lack of immediate tariffs for China was a positive sign for US agricultural markets. Speculative fund short covering was driven by fears of exposed US winter wheat crops suffering from winter kill.
dryness harming yields in Argentina. US exporters are benefiting, with weekly corn inspections at 1.541mt above the highest trade estimates and the highest ever for the week since records began over 40 years ago. The cumulative at 19.25mt is 31% ahead of last year. US wheat inspections were at just 262,000t, although cumulative is still 24% ahead of last year.
CBOT rose to their highest since early December 2023, with concerns of rain delaying plantings in Brazil and
THE threat that Donald Trump’s return to the White House might spell volatility for ag markets, including oilseed ones, has certainly not proved an idle one.
Soyabean futures rose by 4% in Chicago over the two sessions which preceded and followed his inauguration as US president, on ideas that he might not after all slap levies on US imports from China, and trigger trade tensions between the two countries.
With China the top soyabean importer, the US, the second-ranked exporter, stands to lose out heavily in trade in the oilseed if the two
OILSEEDS MIXED OUTLOOK AMID UNCERTAINTY OVER TRUMP’S POTENTIAL TARIFFS
Adding to the market positivity there are concerns for Russian winter wheat crops which remain vulnerable if temperatures drop significantly. However, Russian and Ukraine old crop wheat continues to be offered cheaply in export markets and nearterm EU exporters are still struggling to gain traction with the backdrop of cheap Black Sea wheat.
EU weekly wheat exports were up just 255,000t on the week to 11.743mt, 6.7mt behind last year. The UK remains the third highest taker of EU wheat, with 915,000t to January 19, behind Morocco’s 1.214mt and Nigeria’s 1.857mt.
countries enter a trade war. As it is, Mr Trump – who on Friday held what he termed a ‘very good’ call with Chinese President Xi Jinping – says now only that he ‘could’ impose duties, depending on a deal over TikTok.
The early-week gains took above 12% the recovery in soyabean futures from a pre-Christmas low, with Argentine dryness and USDA crop report revisions also driving the rebound.
As for rapeseed prices, Mr Trump’s
return has been less supportive, in that he has restated a threat of 25% tariffs on US imports from Canada. This would stand to divert Canadian exports of canola and processing products elsewhere, weighing on values of rapeseed equivalents.
Nonetheless, with EU rapeseed imports still lagging the expected pace, and exports from the default origin of Ukraine seasonally soft, Paris futures have found buying on weakness.
With the rapeseed market vulnerable to geopolitical factors as well as European supply tightness, volatility looks likely to remain a feature for a while yet.
Rupert Somerscales, Agri-Analytics UK
Simon Ingle, Frontier
Mike Verdin, CRM Agri
LIFFE wheat, May 5, 2025
LIFFE wheat, Nov 11, 2025
Dr Will Smith, of Gowan, shares his advice for maximising the grass-weed reset opportunity presented by growing spring barley. Farmers Guardian reports.
Spring barley has grown in popularity outside the traditional malting barley heartlands because it gives farmers valuable opportunities to control grassweeds in the rotation.
However, simply growing the crop does not guarantee a reduced grass-weed burden, especially in fields with large populations after a tough couple of years for control in winter crops.
Dr Will Smith, technical lead at crop consultants Gowan, says: “Typically, 15-20% of black-grass emerges in the spring.
“Couple that with wild oats, bromes and even annual meadowgrass and there can be a considerable burden.”
Key advantage
The key advantage spring barley offers over winter wheat or barley in managing grass-weeds is the additional time to employ all the cultural control measures, Dr Smith adds.
1
Spring Weed Control Arable Steps for optimal grass-weed control
PRIORITISE ESTABLISHMENT AND PLANT POPULATIONS FOR COMPETITION
STABLISHING spring barley
well not only gives the crop the best possible chance of above-average yields, but also helps it compete against grass-weeds, says Dr Smith.
2 crop
With the drilling window for spring barley stretching from January to May, he says there may be flexibility with the drilling date, depending on the weather.
3
Even though earlier drillings are likely to face more black-grass, Dr Smith says picking the best conditions for establishment is preferable for grass-weed control regardless of the calendar date.
Better position
“If you can drill in good conditions in February and get herbicides on,
you will be in a better position than in April with a rough, dry seedbed,” he says.
Farmers should consider increasing seed rates on fields with a known grass-weed problem to improve crop competition and allow for any potential losses from herbicide applications, Dr Smith adds.
MAKE THE MOST OF STALE SEEDBEDS
DR Smith says: “An important part of spring cropping is ensuring all the weeds carried over from the previous autumn are taken out before drilling. Typically, this is using glyphosate or tillage.”
With £129/hectare of Sustainable Farming Incentive funding available for the CSAM2: Multi-species winter cover crop option, Dr Smith advises growers who signed up for this action to check whether their plans to destroy the cover crop before sowing spring barley comply with the terms on the Defra website. He says: “Whether applying glyphosate, or cultivating or crimping the cover crop to destroy it, the critical factor is ensuring it is fully killed-off before drilling. Typically, this is four to six weeks before the intended drilling date.
“Destroying the cover crop early also opens up the canopy, allowing a flush of weeds, so farmers can see what are already present and act accordingly.”
MOST farmers know which fields have grass-weed issues, especially black-grass and wild oats, says Dr Smith.
In this situation, he advises tackling them head-on.
“As soon as weeds are in the crop, they take light nutrients and water. What you want to do is stop them from establishing,” he says.
“You are better off trying to control them pre-emergence. Then there is still the option of post-emergence herbicides to take out any grassweeds that survive.”
Relying on post-emergence chemistry alone only gives one opportunity to control grass-weeds, he adds.
High-stakes option
This high-stakes option can leave big yield robbers such as wild oats in the field or return a large amount of
to be used on spring barley, meaning farmers can expect the high levels of control they are used to from Avadex.
“Both products also have approval for use on malting barley, which will be a priority for growers in Scotland and East Anglia.”
Choosing between Avadex Factor and Avadex Excel largely depends on what equipment is available to a farmer, says Dr Smith.
seed for following crops if black-grass is not controlled. When selecting pre-emergence herbicides for spring barley, Dr Smith advises farmers to check the label rates,
as many popular options are only able to be used at half the winter wheat rate. He says: “A positive for products such as Avadex Excel and Avadex Factor [triallate] is that the label allows the full rate
“Avadex is highly active against wild oats in particular. In this case, we see very little difference in performance between Avadex Factor and Avadex Excel, despite Avadex Factor delivering less tri-allate per hectare,” he says.
Applying Avadex pre-emergence to spring barley gives farmers confidence that they have improved the control of all the key spring-emerging grassweeds, with bonus activity on problem broad-leaved weeds such as speedwell and cleavers, Dr Smith adds.
PICTURE: TIM SCRIVENER
Growing spring barley can help control grass-weeds in the rotation.
Announced at the end of last year, the new Broadway Ultra herbicide from Corteva Agriscience is set to debut on farms this spring. Farmers Guardian takes a closer look.
Broader weed spectrum unlocked in new co-form
Anew herbicide with the ability to control a broad spectrum of grass and broad-leaved weeds was announced by Corteva Agriscience at the end of 2024
Broadway Ultra contains pyroxsulam and mesosulfuron, which the manufacturer says is an upgrade from Broadway Star as it brings annual meadow-grass control onto the label.
Annual meadow-grass is the most common grass-weed in the UK, primarily germinating from April to November with a six-week lifecycle. Seed remains viable in the soil for five years and it is hardy, tolerating waterlogging and heat stress.
Hugh Guinan, cereal herbicides field technical manager at Corteva, says: “Meadow-grass thrives in fertile soils and is encouraged by min-till practices. While less competitive than other grass-weeds, it does steal nitrogen from the soil. Perhaps the greatest issue annual meadow-grass poses is increasing the moisture content of the straw at harvest which slows progress and affects quality.”
A higher presence of annual meadow-grass would be expected where residual chemistry has not been used or did not perform well.
Using the new herbicide
APPLICATIONS can be made to winter wheat and triticale from January to the middle of May.
Growers should use it a rate of 100g/hectare in combination with an adjuvant, Corteva says.
Mr Guinan adds: “Populations are often high in winter cereal crops because many lifecycles can occur within the cropping cycle. The seedbank can also act as a reservoir, impacting more susceptible crops in the rotation where control may be more difficult.
“It remains to be seen what spring 2025 will look like, but the two wet autumns farmers experienced in 2022 and 2023 certainly optimised conditions for weeds to thrive.”
Broadway Ultra applied at 100g/ hectare, delivers 14g of active each of pyroxsulam and mesosulfuron in a wettable granule, arriving on-farm in a 500g pack.
“Growers will know that pyroxsulam provides excellent grass-weed control and captures a really wide spectrum of broad-leaved weeds too,” says Mr Guinan.
Cleavers, speedwell, mayweed
and charlock can be taken out as well as some umbellifers and brassica weeds too.
“There is a synergistic effect with the mesosulfuron which brings in chickweed, sow thistle and shepherd’s purse, alongside meadow-grasses. There is also anecdotal evidence of reasonable control of rat’s tail fescue.”
Control
In Corteva’s own trials, annual meadow- grass control with Broadway Ultra proved to be greater than that achieved with products containing mesosulfuron and iodosulfuron.
Mr Guinan says: “It is quite a wide window but we always advise growers to treat weeds early when they are small and actively growing.”
He adds that the product could deliver the greatest benefit following wet or warm autumns when residual programmes have been compromised, leading to an increased presence of key grass and broad-leaved weeds to tidy up in spring.
“The product is ideally suited to traditional rotations where meadowgrasses and broad-leaved weeds are the driver,” Mr Guinan says.
“It also has a fit on lighter or organic soils and can be used effectively on late
The two wet autumns in 2022 and 2023 certainly optimised conditions for weeds to thrive
HUGH GUINAN
drilled crops following sugar beet or potatoes where residuals may not have been applied.”
The tank mix compatibility list is long, allowing sprayer operators a broad range of ALS joint applications, including combinations with Corteva ALS herbicides as well as those from other manufacturers. A five metre reducible buffer zone should be used, and a spray tank washout should be carried out after application, before application to a sensitive crop.
Corteva’s new product should help control annual meadow-grass.
Finding the right fields to spray will be key with early February’s short application windows.
Following disruptions caused by wet weather to wheat drilling and residual herbicide applications last autumn, there is a lot of variation in crop condition and weed levels, according to Bayer CropScience business manager Darren Adkins. This has resulted, says Mr Adkins, in many wheat crops requiring a grass-weed follow-up treatment this spring.
For Atlantis-type chemistry, aim to apply on a bright, sunny day which promotes uptake and efficacy. Make sure there is sufficient drying time (two to three hours) before dew formation, otherwise the active ingredients can be washed off the leaf.
“For this application, you have to go for quality over quantity. In early February, there is probably only a suitable application window for one or two tanks during the day. Identify which fields would most benefit and target them first,” adds Mr Adkins.
Resistance
“Resistance status of the target weeds is an important consideration. If you have weeds with confirmed target site or RRR metabolic resistance, you need to look at alternatives to post-em chemistry. In other situations, you can achieve good control with post-em chemistry especially if applications are made to smaller weeds and the conditions are right.”
As growers will know, favourable weather conditions cannot be underestimated. Last spring, there were precious few suitable spray days, but in early February 2023 a week of settled weather saw farmers and agronomists get good results with Atlantis Star (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + thiencarbazone), which is approved at the full application rate from February 1.
Mr Adkins says: “More often than not we get a period of high pressure
Achieving a good result with post-em chemistry depends on suitable application conditions. Be ready to make full use of spray windows to control weeds in wheat. Farmers Guardian finds out more.
Make the most of post-em weather windows this spring
with clear skies during February. Be ready to apply as soon as the weather turns in our favour. Lower temperatures are not as much of a concern as previously thought but avoid applications in prolonged frosty conditions.”
Application technique is paramount because the herbicide needs to land, settle and dry on the small target weed. Use a fine to medium spray at a forward speed of no more than 12km/hour with correct boom
height for the target. Angling nozzles can also help improve coverage, particularly when weeds are small.
Control
John Cussans, weed science principal consultant at ADAS, says it is important to understand where ALS herbicides such as Atlantis Star can still offer useful control.
According to Mr Cussans, each field requires its own management plan because resistance develops
field-by-field. He also points out that resistance testing usually involves collecting seed after a failure of control which can give an amplified estimate of resistance levels.
He says: “Sometimes resistance is black and white and four times the field dose is ineffective. But more often it is a shades of grey thing. If you apply at the right time, in good conditions, you can still get utility. We see this with flufenacet resistance in Italian ryegrass where it is still a valuable part of the programme in partnership with other actives.
“Likewise with ALS, you may not get the knock-out control later in the spring like in the past, but you can still get activity on smaller plants applied on a bright, sunny day.
“It is very rare you are using herbicides to control just one weed species – brome, meadow-grass and wild oats are all controlled by ALS too, so this needs to be part of your thinking when planning any herbicide applications in spring,” Mr Cussans adds.
Darren Adkins
John Cussans
PICTURE:
Sales
Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768
Longtown Ladies to 4,200gns
l Knap flock tops geld hoggs at 1,600gns
THE Longtown Ladies sale of pedigree Texel and other breeding females averaged £1,012 overall.
The sale topped at 4,200gns for the champion Texel for Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock, Crieff, with a shearling by Dundas Evolution, in-lamb to a home-bred ram by Rhaeadr First Choice. The buyers were P. and L. Calcraft, Devon.
At 3,500gns, the third prize shearling by Garngour First Class, in-lamb to Midlock Gran Torino from Messrs Teward, New View, Staindrop, sold to Legars, Kelso.
Thomas Muirhead, Orchilmore, Perthshire, sold a Haddo Fearless-sired shearling at 2,000gns to T. Adamson, Glenalmond.
Messrs McGregor, Allanfauld, sold a Mossknowe Focus daughter, for 2,000gns to T. Common and Son, Hexham.
The Knap flock also topped the geld hoggs at 1,600gns, with a Knap Gruffalo daughter, which went
Bonvilston flock dominates Hereford sale
THE pre-sale show of Bluefaced Leicesters at Hereford was judged by Gareth Roberts, Anglesey, who chose as champion a shearling ewe from Tudor Harries, Bonvilston, Cardiff.
By P1 North Burndale out of a home-bred ewe and carrying twins to S4 Kirkstead, it went on to sell for the top price of 2,000gns to the judge.
Next, at 1,400gns, from the same home and again by P1 North Burndale, was another shearling, in-lamb with twins to S4 Kirkstead, which was the pick of D. Kear, Swansea.
The Bonvilston flock continued to dominate the sale with the next four high prices of 900gns, 850gns, 800gns and 800gns, selling respectively to Mr Roberts, B.C. Cox, Abergavenny, D. Evans, Abergele, and Messrs Davies, Llandeilo.
to A. and D. Proctor, Swarland, Northumberland. Its full sister made 1,300gns to A. Greenhill, Dundee.
Winner
The winning hogg was a Coniston Equinox daughter from D. and S. McPherson’s Hexel flock, Berwick-upon-Tweed, which made 1,400gns to Messrs Mounsey, Aspatria.
Suffolk ewes and shearlings averaged £840, with a three-times top price of 1,000gns from Ali Jackson’s Cummertrees-based Tiptop flock with Suffolk hoggs. Auctioneers: C. and D. Marts
Champion Texel, from Robert Cockburn, Crieff, which sold for 4,200gns to P. and L. Calcraft, Devon.
Records smashed at Ballymena
A NEW centre record of 6,500gns for a Bluefaced Leicester female was set at Ballymena Livestock Market for a home-bred gimmer by Temain 4342/R031, from Martin Kelly, Freehall.
It sold, in-lamb, to 3790/T007 Knockstacken, to the Slievegallion Blues flock of Declan and Brendan McElhennon, Magherafelt.
The overall champion was winning ewe hogg Ballytober 4469/ T019, by Cottage 3331/S002, from Jimmy and Jason Mills, Ballytober, which sold for 3,800gns to Messrs Nisbet, Banbridge, for the Rockford flock.
Reserve overall
The reserve overall champion also came from the ewe hogg class –the second prize hogg from Declan McKillop, Giant’s Causeway. By Shitlington 2857/S012, it sold to D. Clinton, Rockview, Co Monaghan, for 2,000gns.
The first prize shearling gimmer from Dominic McCrystal, Drummuck, was a home-bred gimmer by Temain 4342/R024, in-lamb to Cottage 3331/S002, which went to Tom Staunton, Mask View, Co Mayo, for 1,600gns.
A home-bred ewe by Yore House Maverick, carrying twins to Carry
Bluefaced Leicester shearling, from Martin Kelly, Freehall, which sold in-lamb for a new centre record of 6,500gns to Declan and Brendan McElhennon, Magherafelt.
House Ronaldo, from Ian Montgomery, Mistyburn, was the first prize-winning older ewe, and sold for 1,600gns.
AVERAGES
A38 females, £1,330.46 (86% clearance). Auctioneers: J.A. McClelland and Sons.
Pedigree heifers reach £2,800 at Gisburn
AN Aireburn heifer from G.B. Moorhouse, Skipton, sold for the top price of £2,800 at Gisburn’s mid-January dairy sale.
The Renegade daughter from the Dalesbrad herd’s Columbia family, was out an 11,000kg Lamar dam. But it was Rager Red-sired heifers making the next run of leading prices.
The Whytil herd of J. and M. Singleton and Sons, Goosnargh, produced the day’s second top price of £2,750, with a Rager Red from its
Elizabeth family. Close behind at £2,700 was another Rager Red from Arthington-based A. Lawson and Son’s Newbirks Caye family.
The non-pedigree heifer trade reached £2,400 for R.R. Parkinson and Sons, Preston.
Second calver
Pedigree cows peaked at £2,550 for the Lawsons’ Newbirks Adorable Remembrance, a second calver out of an EX93, 100-tonne dam.
J.R. and M.I. Berry, Waddington,
topped the non-pedigree cow section at £2,620.
The 19 in-calf heifers sold to £2,100 for R.A. Kirkham, Garstang, who had four at £2,000 and above, all in-calf to the Angus for February.
THE sale of pedigree female sheep at Hawes topped at £11,000 for the third prize-winning Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg from Messrs Lord’s Hewgill flock, North Stainton. By £3,000 Sealhouses and a full sister to the Carlisle champion from earlier this month, the sold to Mike Anderson, Aberdeen, for his Hardhough flock. Another full sister sold for £3,000.
The pre-sale show champion was the winning gimmer hogg by £14,000 H1 Sheughdale from Richard Hutchinson’s Kirkby Redgate flock, Kirkby Stephen, which sold for £7,000 to Millie Richardon, Ghyll House, Dufton.
Gimmer shearlings sold to £4,500 for the first prize winner from J. Wight and Son, Crawford. By R26 Midlock and in-lamb to £14,000 T3 Steel, it also sold to Mr Anderson.
The reserve champion was a gimmer hogg by R1 Harkerside from Martin Allen’s Greenhow flock, Appleby, which made £2,800 to Stephen Sutcliffe, Horton in Ribblesdale.
Ewes sold to £2,400 for a N18 Dawky daughter carrying a single to T2 Howgate from C. and R. Metcalf’s Silver Hill flock, Cowan Bridge, which sold to Messrs Coates, Leck Fell.
Swaledales sold to £2,600 for the
Bluefaced Leicesters to £11,000 at Hawes
first prize ewe from the Hallam family, High Birkwith, which was knocked down to J. Tully, Barnard Castle.
Reserve champion was the winning gimmer shearling from the same home which made £2,500, also to Messrs Tully.
Gimmer hogg
The winning gimmer hogg consigned by J. and S.J. Bland, Thwaite Bridge, sold for £1,000 to J. Thompson and S. Tully, Corn Close.
A.D. and T. Harrison, Holmbrook, topped the sale of in-lamb Herdwicks at £1,200, selling to R. Marwood and Son, Hill Top, with other Herdwick ewes from the same home to £650, £450 twice and £400.
Badger Face Texels from M.W. and H.E. Pedley, Little Musgrave twice sold to £500 for gimmer hoggs.
Dutch Spotted gimmer hoggs from J. Stead, Richmond, twice sold to £300.
Auctioneers: Hawes Auction Mart.
First Carlisle sale of 2025 sees two 3,500gns heifers
THE first Border and Lakeland sale of 2025 at Carlisle topped at 3,500gns twice, with milking heifers averaging £2,641.
The champion and top price milker was Evening Barolo Tippy from Evening Hill Farm, Thursby. This July 2022-born heifer by Claynook Barolo was out of the 2019 AgriScot Supercow, Whinchat Snowy Tippy 2 VG89 SP LP50 and was knocked down to Baltier Farming Company, Wigtownshire. Three other heifers from the Evening herd sold to average £3,132.
Joint top-price at 3,500gns was Annandale Keyline, an August 2023born bull from Matthew Armour, Moffat. By Annandale Finally, it sold online to Messrs Hainey, Stranraer.
Daughter
Reserve champion was Wormanby Royal Lustre from Wormanby Farms, Burgh by Sands. The March 2023-born Wormanby Royal daughter sold for 3,000gns to Messrs Manning, Shropshire.
The ongoing dispersal of the
Langhill and Acrehead herds on behalf of SRUC topped at 2,450gns for Langhill Dorinez which had calved in August and was due again to Hargrove P.
A NEW store cattle record was set at Leek when a pair of 23-monthold Charolais steers from Sally Ollerenshaw and family, Bradwell, sold for £2,350/head, with another 22- month-old pair from the same vendor making £2,300/head.
A 30-month-old Limousin steer, from R. and M. Phillips and Sons, Buxton, sold for £2,040, with 21-month-old Aberdeen-Angus steers from A. and L. Worthington, topping at £2,010.
Young bulls sold to £2,040 for a 22-month-old Charolais from Messrs Evans, Gawsworth, with another at 19 months old from the same home at £1,800. A pair of seven-month-old Charolais bulls sold at £1,200/head. Charolais
Younger cattle were in demand with seven 11-month-old Charolais steers from Mick Reeves and family, Ipstones, making £1,470, with a British Blue steer from Keith Min-
shull and family, Bosley, at £1,340. Heifers sold to £2,090 for a 30month-old Limousin from R. and M. Phillips and Sons, Buxton. Martin Lancaster, Congleton, sold 17-month-old Charolais heifers to £1,690, with 25-month-old Aberdeen Angus heifers from H. Lomas and Sons, Gawsworth, to £1,660.
Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg, from Messrs Lord, North Stainton, which sold for £11,000 to Mike Anderson, Aberdeen.
First prize Swaledale ewe, from the Hallam family, High Birkwith, which sold for £2,600 to J. Tully, Barnard Castle.
Flying trade at Market Drayton
AT MARKET Drayton’s dairy sale Shutt and Mansell, Flashbrook, sold both section leaders, a second calver at £3,220 and a heifer at £3,000. They also sold a second calver and a heifer both at £2,980 to average £3,045.
T. Jones, Betws-y-Coed, and T.G. Phillips and Son, Llanymynech, both sold heifers at £2,820.
G.H. and A.H. James, Chepstow, averaged £2,679 for their consignment of seven cows and heifers selling a second calver at £2,800 and heifers to £2,800 and £2,720.
A Dairy Shorthorn heifer from M. Tidmarsh, Stoke-on-Trent, sold at £2,800. Heifer calves sold to £400 and a 23-month-old Limousin stock bull made £3,250.
AVERAGES
27 fresh heifers, £2,528; 15 fresh cows, £2,106.
Auctioneers: Gwilym Richards with Market Drayton Market.
PICTURES: WAYNE HUTCHINSON
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(incorporating draft sale from the Longfield Herd)
56 Pedigree Cows In Calf or with Calves
10 Pedigree In Calf Heifers
16 Pedigree Bulling Heifers
30 Pedigree Maiden Heifers (2024)
3 Pedigree Stock Bulls
20 Pedigree Bull Calves (2024) Embryos & Semen
Together with Tractors, Telehandlers, Pick Up, Machinery & Cattle
(Separate Catalogue) SATURDAY 8th FEBRUARY
Machinery at 10.00am, Cattle at 11.30am
STANFORD PARK FARM, PARK LANE, STANFORD IN THE VALE, FARINGDON, OXON, SN7 8PF
Catalogues for both sections Tel: 01905 769770
Farm Manager Simon Bradley Farmer Tel: 07739 035667
Monday 27th January
9.30am Prime Bulls, Clean Cattle and Cast Cows. Special Section for TB area 1 cattle.
11am - Sale of 350 Feeding Bulls and Store Cattle of all classes
Monday 27th January
2pm - Sale of 300 Store Hoggs of all classes
Wednesday 29th January
8am - Sale of Cast Ewes and Rams followed at 10.30am with Prime Hoggs (Ballot 10.30am)
Friday 31st January
10am - Sale of 250 Rearing Calves and Weaned Stirks
Friday 31st January
12noon - Sale of 44 Dairy Cattle of all Breeds
Comprising of: 3 Pedigree Dairy Shorthorn Breeding Bulls & 41 In-milk & In-calf Cows & Heifers, including 10 Pedigree Dairy Shorthorns This sale includes the first monthly dispersal consignments from Messrs D W Cannon & Son, Low Abbey of freshly calved cows & heifers.
Friday 7th February
Onsite Collective Sale of Tractors, Machinery, Plant, Livestock Equipment and Small Tools. Please advise entries.
SALE OF MACHINERY
FROM L. CREAMER AT CARMARTHEN SHOWGROUND ON 8TH FEBRUARY 2025 AT 11AM
New Holland TS115 Tractor (OE51 GZL) 10,660 Hours; JCB 4165 Handler 6,500 Hours (CU13 AOE/2022) with 12ft
New Holland L318 Skid Steer (2023) done 3,305 Hours; 2 x New Holland T7.210 2023 plate Tractors; Ford 6610 Tractor; 12 Row Maze Header; Amazone 6 metre Corn Drill; Subsoiler; JCB 13 ton Digger; Hitachi Mini Digger; 4 Ton Dumper; Case TX130 Handler; Ifor Williams Plant Trailer. (VAT status on above clarified on day)
FURTHER ENTRIES WELCOME
Viewing Friday 7th February 2025 - 2-5pm For Further details Contact Dafydd Walters on 07896 605019
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, ENTIRES ETC
PLEASE CONTACT
WHITLAND MART OFFICE 01994 240665 DAFYDD WALTERS 07896 605019 | DYFAN DAVIES 07812 127818 www.jjmorris.com or find us on facebook
The Monthly Show & Sale of Tuesday 28th January 2025 - 11:15 am Start
50+ Fresh Calved Dairy Cattle This will be followed by:
The entire milking portion of the Autumn Calving Co Holstein Herd comprising 157 Head being 50x1st Calv 39x2nd Calving Cows, 23x3rd Calving Cows and 41x4th
The production, health and fertility of this herd i 9978kg, 4.6%BF 3.5%ptn 50cc calving index 380. The has calved since August 2024 and is currently produ of 36.5kg per day. Online bidding available via Mar
DREAM! Lewis mmercial Calving Heifers, Lactation+. is incredible avg. Whole herd producing an avg. tEye.
FGBuyandSell.com
GISBURN AUCTION MARTS
10:30am
11:00am
9:30am WEEKLY CAST SHEEP & PRIME HOGGS
10:30am 2nd SALE OF IN LAMB SHEEP, GOATS, STORE HOGGS entries to office by Tues 28th 12noon
Tuesday 4th February – 10am
OPENING NEW YEARS’ MACHINERY SALE
Entries now welcome for pre advertising. Loadall available both days ALL entries to the yard Monday 3rd between 8am-2pm STRICTLY
Thursday 6th February
10:30am PRIME CATTLE & CAST CATTLE
10:30am REARING CALVES
11:00am MASSEY FEEDS & LELY LONGTOWN SHOW & SALE OF DAIRY - entries to Eleanor
Next sale of STIRKS – Thursday 13th Feb
HAWES, NORTH YORKSHIRE, DL8 3NP 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk
Tuesday 28th January 10am
2000 Prime Lambs
400 Cast Ewes & Rams
20 Calves 10:30am
2 Auction Mart Shares at 11am
Tuesday 11th February
Show & Sale of Pens of 5 Swaledale Prime Hoggs Show at 9am, Sale at 10am
Tuesday 18th February
Young Handlers Show & Sale of
Kindly
LEYBURN MART
BORDERWAY MART, CARLISLE
Tel: 01228 406200
BEEF BREEDING CATTLE
Wednesday 29th January – 10.30am
3 bulls and 50 cows with calves
Sale includes 12 Lim x, 6 BB x 4 AA s & 2 Hrfd hfrs incalf to Lim due Mar-May from The Flatt
Also various pedigree cows & calves and bulls including AA, Char & BB & Hrfd
Show and sale of 49 PEDIGREE BRITISH BLUE CATTLE
Wednesday 29th January
Show 10.00am Sale 11.30am 40 bulls and 9 maiden heifers
Special spring sale of STRONG STORE CATTLE
Wednesday 5th February
Entries close Thursday 30th January
Feb-BULL-ary show and sale of WEANED & YOUNG BULLS
Wednesday 5th February
BORDERWAY MONTHLY DAIRY DAY
Thursday 6th February
Entries close Wednesday 29th January
SALE OF POULTRY & WATERFOWL
Saturday 8th February – 10.00am
Sale of 841 lots of poultry, waterfowl and 19 caged birds. Also 113 lots of hatching eggs and 77 lots of poultry equipment Catalogues can be viewed online
Show and sale of PEDIGREE GALLOWAY & WHITEBRED SHORTHORN CATTLE
Friday 7th March
Entries close Friday 31st January
ONLINE SALE
H W NETHERTON BULL SALE
Bidding via MartEye opens 3pm Thursday 6th February
finishing from 3pm Saturday 8th February
Comprising 30 summer born Aberdeen Angus bulls
KIRKBY STEPHEN
MART
Tel: 01768 371385
STORE CATTLE
Cast/feeding cows & OTM cattle
Also Special spring sale of BEEF BREEDING CATTLE
Monday 3rd February
Entries close 10am Monday 27th January
Prize show and sale of CROWNED SINGLE INLAMB SWALEDALE EWES
Thursday 13th February
On behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association also Swaledale & Mule gimmer hoggs and flock books and other breeds of inlamb ewes and hoggs
Entries close 10am Thursday 30th January
LOCKERBIE
MART
Tel: 01576 202332
Show and sale of 131 131 NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT
INLAMB FEMALES
Saturday 8th February
Show 10.00m Sale 11.00am
LAZONBY MART
Tel: 01768 898313
850 IN-LAMB SWALEDALE SHEEP Saturday 8th February – 10.30am
Stock Dispersal of the KURBURN inlamb Swaledale flock.
On behalf of Messer C Purdham. Including 670 ewes from shearlings to aged scanned 170% to including 150 inlamb to Pedigree Swaledale ram also 140 Swaledale hoggs Enzo, Brovoxin system, Scab dipped.
MIDDLETON MART
Tel: 01833 640281
Special prize show and sale of STORE & BREEDING CATTLE
Tuesday 11th February
(Young handlers summering competition sale)
Entries close 10am Monday 3rd February
Visit www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk
ON SITE & ONLINE
Tel: 01228 406200
SALE OF MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS & HEAVY PLANT items
To include dispersal from Far Town
Sale bidding starts 10.00am Wednesday 5th February until 10.00am Thursday 6th February
Entries close Wednesday 29th January or contact David Holliday 07710 189804, or Iain Dick 07713 599791
Dispersal sale of TRACTORS & MACHINERY & IMPLEMENTS
Saturday 1st March – 10.00am
At Abbey Park, Bleatarn, Appleby in Westmorland on behalf of Messrs DJ & S Atkinson
Dispersal sale of TRACTORS & MACHINERY
Saturday 1st March – 1.00pm
At Prospect Grange Farm, Corbridge on behalf of Messrs SK Richardson
MONTHLY ONLINE MACHINERY SALE
Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th March
To include dispersal sale from Mr D Bewley, Broadlea
LANCASHIRE’S LEADING MACHINERY SALE
Sale of MACHINERY & IMPLEMENTS
Saturday 29th March – 10.00am At Woodacre Lodge Farm, Hazelhead Lane, Scorton, Preston PR3 1BN
For cataloguing and promotion purposes please enter online via Harrisonandhetherington.co.uk/machinery
Entries close Monday 24th March and all items to be delivered by Monday 24th March
For more information contact:
David Holliday 07710 189804
Lynne Grieve 07803 242344
Kerry Foster 07961 069822
Anders Brown 07540 757439
Main Office (Tracey/Lee 01228 406200)
FGBuyandSell.com
BENTHAM AUCTION MART
015242
Tuesday 28th January
10.15am Sheep Equipment to include Walk Through Troughs & Bale Feeders
10.30am 1st Winter Sale Of 735 IN LAMB BREEDING SHEEP
Inc. 540 Mule Ewes/ Shlgs, 10 Texel, 15 Masham, 80 Cheviot inc. Flock Reductions
11.30am approx. 3468 STORE HOGGS
Wednesday 29th January
11am 100-150 Rearing Calves
2.30pm 2500 Cast Ewes & 3000-4000 Prime Hoggs
Saturday 1st February at 11am ANNUAL MULTI BREED SALE OF 128 INDIVIDUAL BREEDING SHEEP
RICHARD HAIGH 07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk MACHINERY SALES NORTH WEST AUCTIONS LIVESTOCK
www.nwauctions.co.uk info@nwauctions.co.uk
Every Friday: 10:15am 150 CAST / OTM CATTLE 10:15am 100 REARING CALVES & WEANLINGS 11:15am 300 STORE CATTLE
Friday 31st January MONTHLY SALE OF STIRKS
Every Tuesday: 1pm PRIME HOGGS & CAST SHEEP –
Saturday 25th January ‘DIAMOND DELIGHTS’ 33 Rough Fell Females on behalf of the RFSBA 3 Cheviot, 14 Herdwick & 113 Bluefaced Leicester’s Also this day 77 Multi-Breed Sale of Individual In-Lamb Breeding & Commercial In-Lamb Sheep
Monday 27th January 12noon
Milking Herd Reduction of 60 Pedigree HF Cow & Heifers (due to change in farming policy) on behalf of MH&SJ Morris, Wraysholme Tower
Tuesday 28th January 10.30am ALL TYPES OF PIGS
Thursday 30th January 10:30am IN LAMB SHEEP & 3000 STORE HOGGS Inc 40 3-4 Crop Mules, due late March to Texel, 200%
To include the 5th annual production sale of 25 Sim Luing bulling heifers on behalf of Low Moor Howe Farm Ltd. (High Health Status)
FINAL REMINDER - Saturday 25th January 10:30am On Farm Machinery Dispersal Sale On behalf of S & J France, Kays Farm, Over Wyresdale, LA2 9DW.
February Online Sale of Machinery
Delivery: Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th (9am-4pm) Sale Live: Friday 31st - Tuesday 4th February Collection: Wednesday 5th & Friday 7th February
Saturday 8th February 11am
Classes for Derbyshire Gritstone, Lonk, North Country Cheviot, Whitefaced Woodland & Plus Commercial In-Lamb Ewes incorporating various breeds Entries close Tuesday 28th January
Saturday 15th February 10am
Catalogued Sale of Pure Bred Poultry & WaterfowlEntries close Wednesday 5th February
SALE OF CALVES Sale 10.30am Entries & Enquiries to Kyle PRIME, CAST & FEEDING CATTLE Sale 11.30am (TB exempt section available) SALE OF PRIME HOGGS - Sale 12.30pm followed by CAST EWES, RAMS & GOATS
1350 STORE HOGGS & 40 BREEDING SHEEP Sale 10.30am Lingfield Ring
ONLINE TIMED AUCTION OF 40 WORKING SHEEPDOGS
Comprising 17 Fully Broken, 11 Part Broken & 12 Unbroken Dogs Details available at www.ccm.auctionmarts.com
Wednesday 5th February
Sale of YOUNG BULLS, BEEF FEEDING COWS, STORE & BREEDING CATTLE (Entries close Wednesday 29th January)
Fortnightly Show & Sale of DAIRY CATTLE Inc Special Sale of 30 In Calf Heifers from regular consignors P & J Bolland, Airton & A & J Clay, Kilnsey Monday 17th February
Fortnightly Show & Sale of DAIRY CATTLE Entries & Enquiries to Sarah 07710 795585
SKIPTON MACHINERY SALE MACHINERY LINES, VEHICLES, TRACTORS & PLANT EQUIPMENT, RECLAMATION & SALVAGE, STONE, TIMBER & BUILDERS SECTION Inc Special Section of LAMBING TIME EQUIPMENT
Delivery is Strictly Thursday 6th February Entries for advertising by Monday 3rd February
STIRKS, WEANED & SUCKLED CALVES, BREEDING & CULL GOATS & SHEEP Inc Special Section for In Kid Goats (Entries close Monday 3rd
Who We Are
Regenified was established in 2022 by trailblazers in regenerative agriculture. Our founders, Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams, are recognised leaders in this vital movement, dedicated to transforming mainstream farming practices. You may have seen their journey featured in films such as Kiss the Ground, Common Ground, Carbon Cowboys, and Roots So Deep. At Regenified, our mission is to safeguard the integrity of regenerative agriculture, ensuring it is much more than a fleeting trend. We honour and reward farmers committed to adopting ecosystem-restoring practices, as well as brands setting the standard for transparency and regenerative sourcing. Our aim is to transition global supply chains to regenerative agriculture by offering the most trusted standards and verification services. Our standards are approved by some of the largest grocery chains worldwide, and we actively verify large tracts of farmland producing a diverse range of crops, proteins, and produce.
We have two opportunities to join our passionate and ambitious team:
Lead Verifier / Agronomist
Our Lead Verifier will serve as a mentor and educator to Field Verifiers, imparting knowledge about regenerative principles, practices and protocols. Key responsibilities include:
• Providing ongoing training, guidance and feedback to enhance the expertise and capabilities of verification teams.
• Conducting comprehensive on-site farm assessments, collecting soil, water and plant samples, and evaluating farming practices.
• Preparing detailed reports outlining compliance and areas for improvement.
• Providing guidance to farmers on adopting and maintaining regenerative practices.
• Managing data with accuracy and integrity using digital tools.
About You:
You’ll hold a degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Environmental Science, or a related field plus a minimum of 3 years experience in agricultural fieldwork, with a focus on sustainable or re-generative practices. You will have experience managing teams and providing training. You will have excellent observational, analytical, and reporting skills and a willingness to travel extensively.
What We Offer
Field Verifier / Agronomist
Field Verifiers play a vital role in ensuring farms meet Regenified’s rigorous standards for regenerative agriculture. Key responsibilities include:
• Conducting comprehensive on-site farm assessments, collecting soil, water and plant samples, and evaluating farming practices.
• Preparing detailed reports outlining compliance and areas for improvement.
• Providing guidance to farmers on adopting and maintaining regenerative practices.
• Managing data with accuracy and integrity using digital tools.
About You:
You’ll hold a degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Environmental Science, or a related field plus a minimum of 3 years experience in agricultural fieldwork, with a focus on sustainable or regenerative practices. You will have excellent observational, analytical, and reporting skills and a willingness to travel extensively.
• Competitive salary and benefits package. • The opportunity to work with a passionate team driving positive change in agriculture.
• Continuous professional development and training opportunities. • A chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of farming and the environment. At Regenified, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We actively promote equality, ensuring everyone feels valued and supported. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require any disability related adaptations during the recruitment process, please let us know - we’re here to help.
MARKET MANAGER
Lawrie and Symington, one of Scotland’s leading auctioneering companies are looking to recruit a market manager following the retirement of their current incumbent. This senior role, reporting directly to the board will lead the operations and the procurement side of the business, developing and managing those teams and strengthening our relationships with customers.
As a key member of the executive board, applicants will set out a clear vision on maximizing opportunities and income streams, identifying market gaps and optimizing efficiencies to further enhance growth through our core and supporting businesses. L&S have considerable investment plans for the future and this role will be integral in shaping those to completion.
The leading candidate should have significant experience in the agricultural sector, preferably market related, working at a high level across stakeholders with a driven approach demonstrated through success and results in previous roles. Lawrie and Symington offer a competitive salary with benefits in return.
All applicants should submit their CVs with a covering letter by 14th February 2025 to: jamie@lawrieandsymington.com
We currently have a wide range of positions available nationwide to include:-
• Assistant Herdsperson, Norfolk, 300 cows
• Stockperson/Tractor Driver, Devon
• Herdsperson/2IC, North Leicestershire, 300 cows
Relief Herdspersons Nationwide
LKL provides the perfect solution for finding the very best herd carers and managers. Visit our website for a full list of our current vacancies.
CARING LADY 65
From Derbyshire. Likes animals, cooking, countryside and walks. Would like to meet Farmer or country gent Enquire to: PO BOX 1049
Farmers Guardian Unit 4 Caxton Road Fulwood Preston PR2 9NZ
FIND YR SOULMATE!
Fed up of cooking for yourself yet again? Wouldn’t it be lovely to have someone to come home to. You too could find that special person to share life with through ‘Friends1st’ –the introduction agency for Christians. Call 0121 405 0941 to find out how our National, Award Winning offline service works and how you could meet someone just right for you and your way of life. For more information view www.friends1st. co.uk/christian-farmers-dating
WATER WELL DRILLING
• Borehole Drilling
• Treatment & Filtration
• Water testing 01625 878411 www.blairdrilling.co.uk
HUNT GRAHAM
GEORGE
of Sowerby Parks Farm, Thirsk, North Yorkshire passed away peacefully on 7th January, aged 66 years. A beloved partner of Kathy and a much loved dad of Sam. Funeral service will take place at Maple Park Crematorium, Thirsk, YO7 4SA on Monday 10th February at 2.30pm. Family flowers only please, donations if desired will be collected for Macmillian.
NEW & REFURBISHED BULK MILK TANKS FOR SALE
New Roka Silos and Tanks available from 500 Ltrs to 50,000 Ltrs!
20,000 Ltr
2 x Refurbished 1T Ice Builder suitable for 10/12,000 Ltrs every other day Refurbished 1.2T Ice Builder suitable for 14/15,000 Ltrs every other day
CUSTOM
BUILT HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS, TAILORED TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS
Smaller bulk tanks available, emergency open & enclosed, loan tanks available to rent, main dealer for new Ro-ka milk cooling systems. For further details please call S.W Refrigeration specialising in “On Farm cooling Equipment” 01392 210344 or Paul on 07974 140949
Rabbit Guards 0.28p Canes 0.12p Trees, Hedging, Various Sizes Available. A standard delivery charge may be added. Quotes given for Countryside Stewardship Scheme. BN11 or BN7
Mix Native Packs from £2.91 or £5.31 per metre Including rabbit guards/canes All Prices Exclude VAT. Prices are subject to change. 269 Southport Road, Ulnes Walton Leyland Lancs PR26 8LQ
BEESTON GATE FARM, BEESTON, NR. TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE CW6 9NN www.livestocksupplies.co.uk
BEESTON GATE FARM, BEESTON, NR. TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE CW6 9NN www.livestocksupplies.co.uk
R.F FIELDING
Hay & Straw for Sale in all types of Bales. Good quality. Reasonable prices.
TEL: (01625) 531629 OR (01625) 522249
LIQUID FEEDS to encourage forage intake. Molasses and molasses blends plus additional minerals if required. J E Morten: 01663 734621 High Peak, Derbyshire (T)
Bulk Loads Mixed Fruit
Available in Midlands and Yorkshire area.
T: 07974 835708 or 01226 781598
Yorkshire (T)
5FT SQUARE Bale
Haylage Meadow grass
Heavy Bales - 350kg Best quality haylage. 350 to sell Tel: 07785 361396 Lancs (T)
Please note:
Our advert booking deadline is 5pm Tuesday for the standard issue.
To advertise, please contact our sales team: T: 01772 799500 or E: fgclassified@agriconnect.com Advertising Deadline
Any alterations or cancellations can also be processed before 5pm Tuesday of that week.
Bulk Loads Mixed Fruit
Available in Midlands and Yorkshire area.
T: 07974 835708 or 01226 781598
Yorkshire (T)
CLEAN FODDER BEET
Available delivery Midlands and Welsh Borders.
Tel: A Whitfield 07885 261391
Tomlinson
Bros
Top Quality Hay & Straw. All types of big bales delivered.
01829 782378 or 07710 933681
Buy your farms fibre cement roofing sheets direct from BRIARWOOD!
We have been trusted by farmers over Great Britain for generations because of our high-quality fibre cement sheets.
All sheets and fittings are available in 7 di erent colours and can be delivered direct to your farm within 5 working days (with o oad included).
FGBuyandSell.com
Property Landscape Considerations when selling land for garden use
Advice to consider for garden land sales
We are frequently contacted by landowning clients who have been approached by adjacent property owners enquiring about the possibility of buying some land to extend their gardens. When a neighbour offers to buy farmland there are a few matters to consider:
■ Configuration: It is important to consider the configuration of the area to prevent irregular boundaries being created which could make the remaining land area difficult to manage. Land drainage and utility installations also need to be considered.
■ Price: Ultimately this is agreed by negotiation, which we tend to approach on the basis of the increase in value to the residential property with the additional land. For example, purchasing an extra strip of land can free up space on an existing plot for an extension.
Often a property owner will quote an agricultural value of £10,000/ acre and suggest that the price should be pro rata, which simply does not work. Because the value of the land when combined with the house would be greater than the land in isolation.
■ Lawful use/restrictions: It must be remembered that the land is agricultural and that it is not sold as a garden. To change the use from agricultural to garden would require a full planning application for Change of Use, therefore it is important to stipulate this in any sale terms as terminology on the use which it has been sold for could cause issues later.
In respect of acceptable uses for agriculture which the land could be utilised for without change of use this could include the keeping of farm animals (for example, chickens) and the planting of an orchard.
There are other restrictions that you can apply as a landowner, for instance if you are looking to sell some land that is near a road frontage it may be necessary to protect against a resident planting trees or
which could impede sight lines for a future access. Another restriction may be that the land sold, cannot be further sub-divided.
■ Boundary responsibilities: It will be important for an agricultural boundary to be created either by the specification of fencing or a hedgerow. The maximum height of which can also be stipulated if necessary.
On boundaries it is vital that these are accurately plotted. We often insist within sale conditions that the purchaser is to pay for a GPS boundary surveyor to accurately peg out the new boundary.
■ Fees: For a sale to proceed a solicitor will need to be instructed, and their costs need to be considered as part of the process. Often it can be negotiated that the purchaser contributes or pays for the entirety of the seller’s legal fees, as well as paying for their own. Where an agent is employed by the landowner then their fees also need to be considered and a contribution could be agreed.
Summary
Where you are approached by a resident looking to buy land there are a few considerations relevant to the current use while also having an eye on the future. The importance being that the deal is commercially viable and that you are not later compromised especially be any potential tax implications. Taking good advice is important, even on what can be considered as a relatively simple transaction, as failure to do so could be costly at a future date.
Jack Sharpe is the director at Fazakerley Sharpe. Call 07787 576 258, or email jack@ fazakerleysharpe.co.uk
Willow Farm, Lincolnshire, LN10 6XN
4-bedroom farmhouse, buildings in all about 94 acres. As a whole or in 4 lots. Contact PGM&Co 01673 843011 www.perkinsgeorgemawer.co.uk
SHEEP GRAZING
Please note: Our advert booking deadline is 5pm Tuesday for the standard issue.
Any alterations or cancellations can also be processed before 5pm Tuesday of that week.
Caution.
Be careful anytime you are asked for personal information. If someone asks, don’t provide the information requested without confirming that they are legitimate. Farmers Guardian only ever ask for your banking information if you are purchasing a product from us and will always call from 01772 799 500 or 01772 799 400.
shrubs
Jack Sharpe
IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING
Primo 6 Litre (MP6) & Primo 11 Litre (MP11)
MORCO OPEN-FLUED GAS WATER HEATER
Hazard: RISK OF FIRE
Please stop using the water heater immediately and isolate the gas supply to the appliance
You do not need to be a Gas Safe Engineer to isolate the gas using the isolation valve located under the appliance as per the picture to the left.
We have discovered that there is a risk of a gas leak in the above open-flued gas water heaters, which could result in a fire. These products were sold into the market between 2018 and 2023 and all serial numbers sold between these dates are included in this notification. They are typically installed in static/caravan holiday homes, boats or mobile catering vehicles.
If you have one of these gas water heaters installed (including those that have had the safety upgrade), please contact us immediately so we can discuss the next steps. Please do not attempt to check or test the appliance yourself
Please contact Morco Products Ltd on telephone number 01482 325456 or by email at: gaswaterheaters@morcoproducts.co.uk
No other Morco products are affected by this issue. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause however safety is our priority.
WHITE
2025 TOYOTA HILUX INVINCIBLE 2.4, 4DR, 4WD, AUTO, BLACK
2025 TOYOTA HILUX INVINCIBLE X 2.8, AUTO, 4WD, WHITE
2025 TOYOTA HILUX INVINCIBLE X HYBRID, AUTO, BLUE
2025 TOYOTA HILUX INVINCIBLE X, AUTO, TITAN BRONZE
2021 TOYOTA HILUX EXTRA CAB, 4WD, GREY, 18,000MLS, ALLOY LINER, FACELIFT MODEL, OUTSTANDING
HERBST 10 ton dropside trailer with ramps, 2017, sprung drawbar,
HERBST 10 ton dropside trailer, 2018, sprung drawbar, 445/45 x 19.5 tyres.
HERBST 19 ton 24ft Low loader, timber deck, 2017, Air & hydraulic brakes.
Machinery
Edited by Toby Whatley –
054
Amy Wilkinson takes a look at some of the highlights from the livestock equipment which was on display at this year’s LAMMA Show.
LAMMA 2025: Livestock equipment highlights
AFTER two years in development, LM Bateman had its Iconic cattle crush on show for the first time at LAMMA.
The manual squeeze crush has a focus on safety for both operators and livestock.
It features a head yoke with friction locking mechanism to provide infinite locking, which can be engaged from the front or rear of the crush with the dual yoke operating levers, both of which can be disengaged for safety.
An array of access doors can be seen, including a bovine TB
LAMMA’s Gold Award winner for Livestock Innovation of the Year was Te Pari’s Revolution Injection Gun. The gun works through a batterypowered electric motor which drives the piston forward and back with a tap of the trigger.
Each cycle, the piston completely empties the barrel with a fast delivery speed of 2ml in 0.3 seconds.
Operators can adjust the delivery and refill speeds to
and integral vet access kiosk with split doors. Doors close behind the animal in the crush to enable safe access for PD testing or similar.
It also features a brisket rail to prevent cattle going down, which can easily be removed from floor battens, and 25mm thick rubber flooring.
The Iconic internal width ranges from 850mm-250mm to handle all sizes of cattle and aims for a reduced stress handling experience with nylon polymer bearing inserts at all pivot points to reduce noise.
THE smaXtec system claims to offer effective herd health monitoring through the use of its boluses, which measure a variety of internal processes such as inner body temperature, water intake and frequency, reticulum contractions and pH.
All this information is automatically recorded by the base station which adds external factors, such as temperature and humidity, through its climate sensor. Once administered, the boluses require no further maintenance.
The smaXtec Cloud TruD programme then analyses the data using artificial intelligence and proven algorithms.
The results are then accessed through the computer-based herd management system which can form task lists and send the user notifications of possible early signs of health issues of individual cows.
SmaXtec also offers access to a support team to provide advice on potential health issues.
This year at LAMMA, smaXtec won gold in the Dairy Innovation of the Year award category for updating areas of its existing system through the use of AISintelligence.
suit the situation. A single power unit can be fitted with either a 6.0ml or 2.0ml barrel. An optional built-in EID reader will record the animal ID and treatments to a phone app.
The gun itself is lightweight, at 650g, and offers both tube feed and bottle mounted, auto or manual dose adjustment and has a lockable needle shroud to prevent accidental injection.
This particular injector has also received interest from the pig and poultry markets due to its minimum dosing of 0.2ml.
LM BATEMAN ICONIC CATTLE CRUSH
SMAXTEC SYSTEM
TE PARI REVOLUTION INJECTION GUN
GRAHAM EDWARDS POWER DECK+ TRAILER
NEW for 2025, Graham Edwards Trailers introduces the Power Deck+ to its demountable livestock trailer range.
This new addition introduces fully electric decks – a first for the company – and works via an electric winch located at the front of the trailer.
The winch is powered through the trailer’s 13-pin plug, but also features
NOFENCE
COMMERCIALLY available in the UK since 2021, Nofence is a fully mobile virtual fencing solution for cattle, sheep and goats and consists of an app and collar that fits around the animal’s neck.
Through the app, users can draw out their grazing boundaries via GPS and the collars communicate their location to the app through mobile networks. The collar’s battery level is maintained by a solar panel. When the animal’s collar crosses the Nofence boundary, the collar will start playing an audio warning. The audio warning is a scale of tones, which start at a low pitch and rise gradually as the animal moves through the boundary zone. If the whole scale has been played,
IAE ATV FIELDLINK
AIMED towards the sheep sector, IAE’s ATV FieldLink is new for 2025, claiming to improve on-farm efficiency when using ATV or UTVs by eradicating the need for continuous opening and closing of gates, while keeping livestock in their desired fields.
The ATV FieldLink’s arched design raises the unit to 300mm from ground level, deterring stock from crossing, and the meshed side panels and rails to a height of
small solar panels on the roof to allow trickle charging. The introduction of electric decks aims to reduce the manual load for operators.
The Power Deck+ is available in 11 different models ranging from 12- to 16-feet.
The trailer also boasts a shallow loading deck ramp for easy loading and unloading, LED lights and alloy mud guards.
a mild, but effective electric pulse is given.
The animal then learns to recognise the audio warning and turns around to avoid the electric pulse, however Nofence does recommend a period of training for stock in an enclosed field at first.
LAMMA Machinery
HANSKAMP FEEDSTATION MOBILE
THE Hanskamp FeedStation Mobile enables individual and automated concentrate feeding to cattle during grazing.
It provides space for two or four animals at a time and has the ability to dispense two different types of feed from its 2,230-litre silo.
The installed feeding computer system, Spider, manages the automatic feeding which the farmer has access to via smartphone, tablet or computer. Stock are identified via RFID eartags or neck transponders.
As the name suggests, the station is fully mobile on a fixed rolling axle
which can be towed via tractor or 4x4 to different grazing areas.
The station is electrically independent thanks to its integrated solar panels and batteries which are tested for two years prior to installation. However, it can also be plugged into the mains to allow for it to be used indoors. This means the station can be used all year round, both indoors and outdoors.
In future, the firm is considering adding a weigh scale feature which is already available on its fixed feed stations.
1,250mm prevent livestock from entering from the side.
The construction is designed to hold a 1,830mm meshed gate if required during prolonged times of limited use, and has pre-fabricated holes up the side to aid with electric fencing in a strip grazing scenario.
The ATV FieldLink can carry a gross maximum load of up to 1.5 tonnes and is fully galvanised to increase the longevity of the product.
• No chopping, lowers dust levels, saves straw
• Spreads any bale in under one minute
• Self-loading, requires only one tractor / loader
• Improves efficiency, profitability and environment
Machinery LAMMA
LAMMA had record attendance of more than 40,000 visitors during the two-day event. James Huyton, Jane Carley and Toby Whatley report.
LAMMA 2025 full report
GRASSLAND AND HANDLING
OPICO’S ANNIVERSARY HARROW
OPICO celebrated a 30-year partnership with Austrian manufacturer Hatzenbichler by showing a limited-edition, black and gold six-metre grass harrow and seeder. Introduced by Opico to the UK market in 1994, Hatzenbichler Comb Harrows were originally sold into the organic and arable markets as mechanical weeding machines.
The grass harrow itself, which features heavier 7mm and 8mm
tines, was launched in January 1995 after feedback to the Opico sales team led to thicker tines being developed for grassland work. More than 10,000 harrows have been sold by Opico.
Later this spring Opico will be offering a chance to win the use of the 30th Anniversary Harrow and Seeder for a year, and following this, it will be auctioned off for charity.
KUHN VB 3260
POSITIONED to be the most popular in the UK market, the VB3260 from Kuhn Farm Machinery produces bale diameters ranging from 0.81.85 metres.
An improved crop tine design aims to keep the crop flatter as it enters the machine, claiming to improve crop intake by 10%.
As with its predecessor, the machine still uses the brand’s integral rotor, but the distance from the pick-up reel to the chamber has been reduced.
Mechanical rotor disengagement claims to stop rotor intake while the chamber is still binding, allowing a trapped blockage to clear into an empty chamber.
The machine can be specified with a non-cutting rotor or Opticut system, which can be specified with 14 or 23 knives.
Material chop-length is 70mm for the 14-knife bank and 45mm for the 23-knife unit. Half-sets of knives can also be engaged, or alternatively zero knife engagement if chopping is not required.
The manufacturer also claims a 10% density increase compared to its predecessor specified with the progressive density plus system.
Active stretch technology gives a net pre-stretch range of 10-12%. Four terminal formats are offered; the VT30 non-IsoBus, and VT160, CC1200 and CC1800 IsoBus derivatives.
MANITOU MLT EVOLUTION
MANITOU showed a preview of its latest Ag Evolution updates, with the MLT 738 and MLT 742 offering another 100kg of lift capacity and an additional spec package level –‘Platinum’.
A new boom design features an additional crease plus a cast iron joint and wider headstock with heavier pivot pins, all for more durability.
The stronger and lighter boom also offers 500kg more lift capacity to full height by increasing stability, while its
design reduces exposed pipework. It is also possible to isolate the compensation ram, which prevents oil being sent to the ram when not using theboom,reducingwearon thehydraulic oil system. In addition, the updates to the boom have allowed autogreasing to extend up to the pivot pins.
Other improvements include a new ventilation system with the ability to direct air to the driver or screen, full climate control, improved armrest design and ‘smart counting’ of bucket loads.
WEEKS 6DTV LIVESTOCK TRAILER
ON show for the first time in the UK was the Weeks 6DTV tractor-drawn livestock trailer, which is attracting plenty of attention from farmers looking to regularly move groups of cattle between parcels of land, according to the company.
The Weeks brand is part of the Richard Western trailer manufacturing businesses and the trailer is built at its Lithuanian factory.
The firm says it has become an
increasingly important product in the company’s export range. With a drop floor, barn doors and open platform to encourage easy loading, the rubbercovered wooden floor also deadens noise for calmer travelling.
Options include internal lights and roof canopy, and the trailer is fitted as standard with super single 400 tyres.
There are four models in the range to accommodate different group sizes.
SAMASZ KDD 901
SAMASZ showed a new front mower, due to be partnered in the field this summer with the company’s latest KDD 901 IsoBus butterfly mower.
The XDF is available in three-metre and 3.5m models as a steel finger or rubber roller mower conditioner, with a new gearbox conditioner drive replacing the former belt drive and
hydraulic suspension that can be controlled from the cab to adapt pressure to ground conditions.
Other updates include front lights as standard and hydraulic side guards. Attention has also been paid to maintenance, with major grease points grouped at the front of the machine for easy access.
KRONE VENDRO C1340
SET to replace the existing KWT1300, Krone showcased the new Vendro C1340 on its stand, focused towards contractors and large scale dairies wanting to take some areas of grass management in-house.
Sitting at the top of the brand’s tedder range, the 12-rotor unit has a 13.4-metre working width. Each of the 12 OptiTurn rotors are 1.5m in diameter, with six tine arms on each.
The Vendro pictured also has a two-point mounting headstock with a spring in replacement of the top link.
The spreading angle can be adjusted from 13-19 degrees via a manual winding handle as standard, or hydraulic adjustment can be optionally specified. Transport width and length are 2.99m and 6.05m, respectively. The standard transport tyres are 11.5/80R15.3, or optional specification of 15.0/55R17 can also be requested.
Users looking for greater digital integration from their machines can also fit Krone’s Smart Connect Solar system to provide data for billing and traceability.
TRIOLIET TRIOTRAC M
TRIOLIET is offering its Triotrac M self-propelled diet feeder for the first time in the UK, with 14-17cu.m models available.
The design features self-loading via rotary cutting/loader system which works at low rpm and milling head with 4.50-metre loading height.
Designed to feed herds of around 250 animals, it uses a 175hp JCB engine and transmission and has a top speed of 35kph.
The design is similar to the larger Trioliet machines, with tilting cab for better visibility of the milling head and Triotronic weighing system. It is compact enough for smaller buildings at 8.03m long.
Rations are processed via a longlife mixing auger with 22mm flighting and 25mm wings, and there is a choice of discharge by a cross belt conveyor to the rear or two side discharge doors in the mixing tub.
More from LAMMA over the page
Machinery LAMMA
CULTIVATION AND DRILLING
MASCHIO GASPARDO DIRETTA 300SC/19
DIRECT drilling on a lower horsepower requirement - new to the UK market - Maschio’s Diretta offers a mechanical solution to seed establishment, compared with the brand’s Gigante, pneumatic drill.
It has a 110-150hp requirement and comes in a three-metre working width. Row spacings are adjustable between 170-190mm. The hopper has a 1,260/830kg split for multiple
seed or fertiliser with a manual metering unit. The 475mm coulter disc can be specified from three options: shallow notched, deep notched and a plain disc.
The manually sprung loaded system offers pressure to the coulter. A steel closing wheel brings soil consolidation and the following harrow can be manually engaged and disengaged if needed.
GRANGE FRONT-MOUNTED DISC BAR
AVAILABLE in three-metre ridged and 4m, 5m and 6m folding variants, the FMDB is the latest addition to the Grange portfolio, and newly launched at LAMMA.
The 6m variant showcased is fitted with 450mm-diameter eight wave discs, offering a claimed 60mm surface deflection at a working depth of 40mm. Row spacings are centred
GREGOIRE BESSON ROVER 60
FOLLOWING a return to the UK market, Gregoire Besson showcased its Rover 60 plough in a 4+1 format.
Optionally specified with hydraulic auto reset and standard points, as pictured, the plough can also be optionally specified with a bar point, making it well suited to working on stony ground, claims the manufacturer.
Angled offset legs are designed to position the specified H8 mouldboard in a manner that reduces drag. And the manufacturer highlights that carbide metal has been used on all wearing surfaces.
Headstock suspension also claims to cushion some of the forces when performing headland manoeuvres. The Z formation on the latter furrow and depth wheel positioning claim to allow the operator to plough closer to hedge lines than competing manufacturers.
In transport, the plough can be carried fully mounted or semimounted on the depth wheel with help from the top link attachment system. LED road lighting completes the machine shown with a maximum 215hp headstock.
at 180mm and both a 450mm flat disc or 460mm turbo disc can also be optionally specified.
Underneath the mounted toolbox, the manufacturer has also added a
bolster plate for a retrofittable tombstone and weight pack if required. Road lighting and reflector boards have also been added for extra visibility.
SUMO TOOLBAR
SUMO invited visitors to its stand to name the latest addition to its range. The manufacturer says the new toolbar is a long-awaited addition, with customers showing demand long before design and manufacture.
Both three-, four- and six-metre variants are set to be available for the autumn tillage season, with the latter two offered in folding formats. Legs have been drawn from the manufacturer’s low disturbance subsoiler range.
The most significant difference is the option of pivoting legs, which with interchangeable spacers can allow zero, three and six degrees of
pivoting angle. Fully hydraulic autoreset legs are at 500mm row spacings. A 450mm standard disc provides a leading cut before each leg. Depth wheels operated on a turnbuckle system allow the operator to select working depth.
Detachable rear links allow the toolbar to be operated as a front- or rear-mounted machine. The Sumo toolbar can also be specified with a seed or fertiliser coulter, with three selectable working depth settings, compatible for use with a front tank or seeder unit. The machine has been designed with third-service hydraulic fitment and pto drive box.
LAMMA Machinery
FENTEC PHOENIX
FENTEC showcased the latest addition to its product line-up, with the Phoenix stubble rake.
The six-metre mounted variant pictured has four banks of 40 tineshydraulic angle adjustment alters the working pitch of the tine. The rearwheeled packer also offers hydraulic depth control to the machine.
Optimal working depth sits
between 30-50mm, with the manufacturer claiming the addition of the rear roller offers better soilto-seed contact for chitting weeds.
With working speeds of 16kmh, the manufacturer opted for the fitment of tungsten carbide-coated tines from Bourgault tillage tools. In addition, a 12m trailed unit is set to be launched this coming autumn.
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SPRAYERS AND SPREADERS
BATEMAN SPRAYER UPDATES
R.J. Bateman continues to offer operator-focused additions for its established self-propelled sprayer range.
A 16in AgLeader monitor has been added to the control options, offering improved viewing of operations using a split screen.
Developments to the Capstan Pinpoint PWM system fitted as an option to Bateman sprayers will include iPad-based individual
nozzle control. This, says the company, will facilitate individual nozzle variable rate spraying currently being tested in the USA ahead of integration for UK machines later this year.
A simpler, but equally popular, option are new LED work lights which incorporate a pair of amber flashing lights for road use – an improvement on separate beacons which are easily damaged.
KUBOTA XTA 3320 SPRAYER
KUBOTA introduced the XTA 3320 air blast sprayer, part of a 1,000- to 6,000-litre range designed for orchards and other specialist applications such as poultry house cleaning.
A product of the company’s purchase of Spanish sprayer maker Pulverizadores Fede, the 2,000-litre capacity sprayer shown uses a twin fan to produce eight- to 14-bar spray pressure feeding to 26 Teejet nozzles, with brass outlets arranged in pairs with deflector plates to direct the product up into the crop canopy.
An additional low level nozzle to each side directs the application downwards for poultry housing
disinfection; a lance can also be fitted for target spraying.
A two-speed gearbox controls the rate of application which can also be directed to the left or right of the machine.
Filling is via induction hatches for liquid and chemicals and a suction filter is fitted between the pump and the clean water or main spray tank feed.
The company promises further sprayer developments, including a version with optic sensors to recognise orchard crops and switch on the spray, plus a fully autonomous machine.
KVERNELAND SYNC
THE Kverneland Group introduced the Sync telematics gateway for its IsoBus-equipped implements, designed to improve data exchange between the implement and farm office by connecting them via the Cloud.
Sync offers remote diagnostics, including screen mirroring for implements equipped with Kverneland’s Tellus monitor.
The dealer can then log in and examine any alert such as sensor failures on drills and balers, often
eliminating the need for a diagnostic visit.
Via their Isomatch FarmCentre account, operators can view machine activities such as bale drop position and there is also a geofencing function, operational even when the implement is not attached to a tractor. When fitted to a spreader, it can receive spreading charts directly from the Kverneland app, using any IsoBus terminal in the tractor and can send the spreader settings directly to the machine.
SOIL ESSENTIALS
TECH specialist Soil Essentials has joined forces with Team Sprayers to develop the SKAi spot sprayer, which is being used by contractors to selectively control docks in grassland.
Said to offer 85% savings on chemicals, selective application also avoids destroying clover in the sward.
Soil Essentials has developed an algorithm to identify docks and is now working on machine learning
for thistles and other grassland weeds. The sprayer is available with 12-metre, 15m and 24m booms using a modular boom-mounted camera system with 3m spacings. Other versions can identify volunteer potatoes in onion crops, and Soil Essentials also offers a retrofit service for any boom. Remote access to the system allows the company to offer a diagnostic service and automatic software updates.
Amy Wilkinson hunted down some of the best kit available for under £20,000.
Top LAMMA kit under £20k
BROCKS WHEEL AND TYRE AC HYDRAULICS WHEEL HANDLING TROLLEY
BROCKS Wheel and Tyre is a UK manufacturer of wheels and tyres for agricultural machinery, specialising in row crop wheels.
Featuring this year was its hydraulic wheel trolley, built to aid safety and reduce fatigue when changing machinery tyres. The trolley includes a
handle to facilitate easy turning of the wheel on the trolley, two robust handles to aid in manoeuvring around a workshop, and a switch allowing expansion or retraction of the jaws. The wheel can also be secured with a ratchet strap for maximum safety.
n What it costs: £2,495
BOSS ORV, WORKCROSS
BOSS Off-Road Vehicles announced its appointment as the distributor for AODES off-road vehicles in the UK and Ireland in November.
AODES, established 30 years ago and head-quartered in Shandong, China, sells in more than 100 countries, and its first showing in the UK was at
LAMMA 2025 on the Boss ORV stand. Its Workcross was described as an affordable six-seater UTV with a V-twin, four-stroke engine offering both two- and four-wheel drive with a minimum ground clearance of 305mm and a cargo bed capacity of 454kg.
n What it costs: £19,999
THORBURN GROUP CATTLE FEED SAVER TRAILER
THE Cattle Feed Saver Trailer is designed and manufactured in the Scottish Borders and features an angled bar design. This helps to prevent waste, as it allows livestock to reach the centre of the trailer and encourages them to drop feed back into the trailer rather than on the floor when pulling away.
The company says customers have reported saving one in every seven-10 bales fed out through this design. The trailer features fully galvanised feed barriers, a timber slatted floor, stock boarding and a heavy-duty drawbar, all used to prevent rusting and ensure the trailer’s longevity.
n What it costs: £5,250
MASCHIO GIRAFFA XXL 230 SE
THE Giraffa XXL claims to be the highest performing side-mounted mulcher available in Maschio’s range, with the ability to shred woody brush measuring 80-100mm in diameter, with the range offered for mowing along headlands, ditches and hedgerows.
The mulcher is available in working widths from 2.1-2.6 metres and requires upfront power of 120-200hp.
The Italian brand is best known for its implements like power harrows and flair mowers since it was first imported 35 years ago; however, the company now aims to broaden its product range after establishing a UK subsidiary located in Lincolnshire in November 2023.
n What it costs: £12,500
1ST CONTAINERS 20FT/40FT CONTAINER
1ST Containers is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of shipping containers. For decades, 20-foot containers have been a staple on UK farms for extra storage due to their ease of mobility, adaptability and relative security.
With the rise of more diversification, containers are
seeing a new lease of life as farm shops, relief staff living quarters or rentable storage units. To aid this, the company also operates a container conversion division that specialises in creating bespoke containers.
n What it costs: From £2,050 for a 20ft and £3,750 for a 40ft
Livestock
Edited by Katie Jones – 07786 856
Speakers at this year’s Semex International Dairy Conference, in Glasgow, looked at ways to address the practical challenges farmers are facing. Katie Jones reports.
Dairy farming can make a difference
● Policies for climate change can be a boon
CLIMATE change was at the top of the agenda for some speakers at this year’s Semex International Dairy Conference earlier this month.
At the Glasgow event, Helen Dent, of Kite, spoke about the ‘challenge of climate change’ and said dairy farming was well-placed to make a difference as the industry has the ability to provide nutritious food, which is good for public health, and at the same time had the ability to maintain natural resources and reduce emissions.
She said: “The industry has some serious targets to achieve when it comes to net zero, we have made good progress but there is still a lot of work to do to meet these targets, and there are now other pressures in terms of land use and reducing methane emissions.
“We should care about climate change, because we are the first people to feel the impact – farms feel the full brunt of it and we are already seeing the impact it is having on our farms.”
However, she added it was also important that farming ‘controlled’ the narrative on carbon and carbon footprinting, as it was important to understand that no one size fits all due to the diversity of the industry.
“There is no solution that fits every farm, we must have tailored solutions. However, there are some universal strategies that can improve our carbon footprint to a lesser or greater extent across the industry.”
These, she added, included feed efficiency, land use optimisation, and genetics.
Headlands
As an example of land use optimisation, Mrs Dent explained how a farm she had worked with had introduced herbal leys into arable crop headlands as part of an environmental scheme.
She said: “In the UK, our headlands are reducing our wheat yields by 10% per hectare. These headlands still have the same inputs, but they are bringing down profitability and increasing our carbon footprint.
“This farm wanted to ensure the headlands did not just move further into the field, but they wanted to be able to continue turning on them. So they planted them with a herbal ley mixture, to ensure the headlands are more resilient to compaction and soil damage.
“This simple change has improved overall profitability of the crop and yield, reduced the carbon footprint, and has also increased the field’s diversity and soil carbon, and reduced water run-off.
“That is what land use optimisation
is all about, making sure every acre of land is providing something, whether that is increased crop yield, alternative forage or profit from an environmental scheme.”
Mrs Dent added dairy farmers were faced with a number of challenges when it came to meeting net zero targets, and these were mainly around investment, availability of labour and environmental complexity.
She said: “The amount of investment required is astronomical. And while improving our carbon footprint is good for business profitability, it still requires capital expenditure from the outset.
“And if we do not have an incentivised and reliable workforce, we cannot continue to make progress towards our targets, not least because
our farmers will not have confidence to invest in the future.”
Mrs Dent said that robotics and artificial intelligence would be a ‘big help’ in achieving environmental targets, but there were still huge challenges which again came down to investment and also connectivity in rural communities.
And she said there was a great deal of environmental complexity.
“For example, what is good for methane might not be good for ammonia, and what is good for phosphate management might not be good for nitrous oxide emissions.”
She added there was a danger that policies meant these issues were looked at in isolation.
In order for the industry to meet net zero targets, Mrs Dent said it was important farmers understood the carbon footprint on their own farm, and that they were then supported to make changes by industry.
“But importantly, there also needs to be financial support and policy has to look at the long term,” she added.
“We cannot continue to farm for the next generation, businesses need to be profitable in the here and now. Policymakers cannot continue to take advantage of the industry’s long-term vision.
“There is a lot of background noise when it comes to carbon, but what we need to do is to understand own situation and focus on controlling the controllables,” Mrs Dent said.
The dairy industry needs to control the narrative on carbon as no one solution suits all farms.
Helen Dent
PICTURE: JOHN EVESON
THE number of heifers leaving the herd before completing their third lactation is a challenge for the industry, but also should be viewed as an opportunity to improve, said Sarah Tomlinson, lead veterinary science expert at AHDB.
Ms Tomlinson told the Glasgow conference that, according to last year’s Dairy Costing Focus Report from Kingshay, 50.2% of heifers were leaving the herd before the end of the third lactation, and she added lameness and mastitis were still two of the biggest causes of this. Bovine TB and Johne’s disease accounted for 10% of herd leavers.
She said: “Bovine TB and Johne’s disease are diseases that we know about; we know what causes them, we know we cannot treat for them, but we do need to manage them.”
She added there was progress being made in the fight against Johne’s, but she said that while infected cows were being culled, there were problems with managing ‘high-risk animals’.
“By failing to identify and manage these high risk animals, we are not turning the tap off, all we are doing is emptying the bucket,” she said.
She explained that the specificity of the Johne’s test was good at 99%, meaning that few results are false positives, but the sensitivity (the probability of correctly identifying infected animals) was low at about 20-30%.
“This means we are missing
70-80% of our infected animals,” said Ms Tomlinson.
“So when we do identify an infected animal, we need to also be thinking about its mother, its daughter and its heifer cohort and manage these groups differently so that we are turning the tap off.”
And Ms Tomlinson said farmers needed to start thinking about bTB in the same way as Johne’s.
“We cull Johne’s infected animals all the time, because we know if we do not, they will progress to being diseased animals. Yet with TB we have a big problem with understanding the test and we fight [against the test] a lot.”
Skin test
She explained that the skin test for bTB had an even greater specificity than the one for Johne’s, at 99.8%, but many still question the test when a reactor goes to slaughter and no lesions are visible.
“I would argue that this is probably because the lesions are very small, the size of a pea or pinhead, and you are not going to feel or see them. We have to trust the skin test. It shows the animal is infected and we need to get these out of the herd.”
And while the sensitivity of the skin test is higher than that of the Johne’s test at 80%, Ms Tomlinson said it still meant that potentially infected animals were missed.
“So if you are from a TB free area, and you are buying cattle in, it is important to ask when the last breakdown was, not just when the last clear test was. The last clear test might have been a clear test following a five-year breakdown and we know the test might have missed infected animals.”
She added that it was important to remember that even if a herd goes bTB-free following two clear tests, the herd is not ‘infection-free’.
“We need to be thinking, just like we do for Johne’s, how do we identify those high-risk animals and keep working on getting rid of TB from our herds,” Ms Tomlinson said.
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Sarah Tomlinson speaking at the Semex International Dairy Conference.
SARAH TOMLINSON
Last year, herbal leys were planted by the Williams family to see whether the crop would be suitable for efficient lamb finishing. Farmers Guardian finds out more.
Using herbal leys for commercial success
Tenant farmers Eilir, Bryn and Dewi Williams run the 65-hectare (160-acre) Tyn Llwyn in Llanddona, just across the Menai Strait on the island of Anglesey
Producing their own prime lambs at home, the family team runs 600 ewes, around 400 of which are Mules and cross-breds, while the remaining are Welsh Mountain, the numbers of which have decreased in recent years.
The Welsh Mountain is one of the oldest breeds in the world and is as important today on many farms for producing lambs as it was in the Middle Ages. The Welsh Mountain is the foundation of the sheep industry in Wales, being economical and hardy, making a good grazer and excellent mother.
Eilir says: “We have always run Welsh ewes here. We wanted to produce a bigger lamb so started using Mule and cross-bred ewes, but there will always be a place for the Welsh. They are low input and easily maintained, so can make sense financially.”
Welsh draft ewes are purchased and put to Charollais tups to create a cross-bred ewe which are lambed inside, while Texel Mules are purchased from Eilir’s brothers who farm on the other side of the water in North Wales.
The Williams family aims to finish 700 lambs and 30 cattle annually, and they are looking to increase the number of cattle finished each year to increase the business’ output.
Most of the farm is permanent pasture, with one cut of grass silage made
Herbal leys were planted in June, with lambs grazing the crop from mid-September.
annually, which is baled and wrapped and used for the cattle, and sheep for winter forage. In addition, 90 bales of hay are made which are fed to cattle in winter.
The farm also grows 4.4ha (11 acres) of barley for feeding to stock and for the straw. Last summer, herbal leys were planted for lambs to graze and finish on.
On June 14, 2024, Eilir planted 7.6ha (19 acres) with an environmental grass seed mix from ForFarmers which was suitable for the Welsh
Government’s Growing for the Environment scheme, which included perennial ryegrass, legumes and herbs. Seed was broadcast onto the ground and established well.
Benefit
Eilir says: “We want to see if there is any benefit from really pushing the use of herbal leys in our system.”
Lambs went on to the ley in midSeptember at 30-35kg and after four weeks, the first were drawn to be killed at 40-44kg, averaging 18.9kg
CATTLE
THE farm is home to a herd of 25 suckler cows, but these are now being phased out in favour of buying-in store cattle after Christmas.
Moving forward, the pair aims for cattle to be out-wintered on kale, supplemented with hay, in a bid to reduce labour and straw requirements.
A crop with a high crude protein content, kale provides high yields of forage and is ideal
deadweight. Lambs are weighed every two weeks using an electronic weigh system.
Eilir adds: “The ley has held up quite well and we were still grazing 200 lambs on it after the first draw. We now have the appropriate forage on-farm to finish lambs quickly. We might graze it for another month and then pull the lambs off as I do not want to graze it too hard as this will slow down the regrowth. If I look after it, I will be able to utilise it for another few seasons.”
Funding for the herbal leys at Tyn Llwyn, as well as many other Welsh farms, is secured through the Growing for the Environment scheme. This Government grant
for grazing in autumn and through to winter and early spring. When it comes to finishing, cattle are brought inside with nearly ad lib access to concentrates, consuming a tonne of blend each over a twomonth period. A protein product is also purchased to mix into their own milled corn.
Under this system, heifers killout at 200-300kg, while steers produce a 300-400kg carcase.
From left: Bryn and Eilir Williams.
The Williams family aims to finish 700 lambs a year.
Livestock
scheme is available to all eligible farmers in Wales.
The scheme supports the growing and utilisation of crops, which can result in improvements in the environmental performance of a farm business, including reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change and building greater resilience into farm businesses.
Eilir says: “To claim the grant, we have had to take pictures and soil samples and show evidence of the lime bill. We will then get half of the value of the seeds back.”
Biodiversity
As well as providing productive grazing from the perennial ryegrass content, herbal leys also provide a habitat and food source for pollinators, supporting biodiversity. They aid soil structure as the variety of species used leads to an increase in organic matter.
The deep rooting nature of the herbs involved helps break through the soil structure, providing livestock with access to vital nutrients and minerals which also act as a natural anthelmintic, reducing reliance on wormers.
Eilir says: “The nitrogen fixing ability of the legumes should also reduce the need for some artificial fertilisers, as well as increasing the protein
content to enhance daily liveweight gain. We are hoping the inclusion of red clover will also serve lambs well.”
At Tyn Llwyn, the Welsh flock scans at 160% while cross-breds and Mules scan at 170%, which Eilir comments is a manageable number of lambs per ewe. Lambing begins with the Mules
and cross-breds followed by the Welsh flock in March and April.
All of the cross-bred lambs are castrated, but Welsh tup lambs are kept entire. Lambing outside, keeping males uncastrated reduces workload at a busy time in spring.
They aim to sell singles and some doubles from the Welsh ewes at eight
Farm facts
■ The land farmed rises to 104 metres (340 feet) at its highest point with areas of rock and marsh
■ With an oceanic climate, the upland farm is sandwiched between the sea and the mountain, meaning the weather can be both wet and breezy
■ Eilir Williams works as a fieldsman for Dunbia, selecting stock and coordinating haulage in the area
■ Dewi Williams works as a shearing contractor in the summer months, with a run of roughly 30,000 sheep shorn between his four-man team. Going into the colder months, he also operates as a scanning contractor, scanning 7,000 ewes annually
to nine weeks averaging 15kg dead, finished off grass.
Cross-bred lambs are reared for the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference lamb scheme, of which the farm is a gold supplier. Eilir is also in the Taste the Difference steering group, attending meetings to represent North Wales.
In the two weeks prior to lambing, ewes bearing doubles receive a compound nut which is high in digestible fibre with balanced starch inclusion, for improved milk fat and milk production.
Eilir says: “Colostrum quality is important to ensure lambs are strong, resilient to disease and thriving. We try to ensure lambs get sufficient amounts in those early hours of life.
“At lambing, we get terrible trouble here with foxes coming and pinching young lambs. It is not helped by the fact there are increasingly less sheep in this area.”
Seed was broadcast on the ground and established well.
Cornish dairy farmer Julian Ellis has expanded and diversified over the past decade to help safeguard his farm’s future. Sarah Alderton visited him to find out more.
Expansion and diversification to safeguard future
Over the past decade, Julian Ellis has expanded and invested in Boscarne Farm, St Buryan, Cornwall, growing cow numbers from 150 to 240 Guernseys, increasing acreage by 25% to 200 hectares (494 acres) and adding a diversification to the enterprise
Although his investments have brought stability, increasing cow numbers led to the need for addi-
tional infrastructure and significant borrowing, which Mr Ellis says has felt like being ‘caught on a roundabout’.
“We had to invest in a cubicle house in 2010, which then led to more cows to justify the cost, and finally a new 24:24 DeLaval herringbone parlour in 2013,” he says.
The overall cost of this new infrastructure was just shy of £250,000.
Acquisition
The acquisition of a neighbouring farm several years later further bolstered the family’s confidence in their expansion strategy.
“We had taken on a rented farm next door and then bought that. We are lucky the opportunities came along and we do not regret any of it, but we are very committed to the bank,” says Mr Ellis.
The core principles of Boscarne Farm have remained consistent despite the expansion, maintaining its operations as a mixed farm. This includes managing an additional 360 followers and 240 store cattle.
Farm facts
■ 240 Guernsey cows, up from 150
■ Land increased from 150 hectares (370 acres) to 200ha (494 acres)
■ £250,000 investment in new parlour, collecting yard, and cubicle housing
■ Switched from all-year-round calving to spring and summer block calving, with both calving down in a 10-week block
■ Introduced mixed leys including cocksfoot and also operating rotational grazing
■ Reduced fertiliser use and lime by improved grazing management
■ Now supplying Rodda’s Creamery, moving from Arla
■ Diversified into processing own milk
The farm dedicates 20ha (50 acres) to growing spring cabbage, 36ha (88 acres) to spring barley and also grows fodder beet and kale.
In order to help repay borrowings, Mr Ellis, who runs the farm
Boscarne Farm has increased its cattle from 150 to 240 Guernseys.
Julian Ellis, of Boscarne Farm, has stuck to his core principles while expanding.
alongside his father Bernard, two full-time and four part-time staff, switched from once-a-day milking to twice-a-day milking.
However, to help maintain the work-life balance that once-a-day milking brought, they adjusted their milking schedule to 4.30am and 2pm, enabling staff to leave the farm earlier in the day.
Mr Ellis has also diversified the business by processing his own milk – adding another income stream to the farm.
Initial plans were to bottle the milk themselves, but when the farm moved from Arla to Rodda’s Creamery – due
Lunar cycles inspired Julian Ellis’ ‘Mooon Milk’ brand, which has now grown to include yoghurt products.
to Rodda’s offering 4ppl more at the time – the family used the capital payout from Arla to buy three vending machines.
The first vending machine, now six years old, is located in the local village, with another located in a rugby club car park and another at the end of a farm drive.
Mr Ellis says he could not make a living off the vending machines alone, but it is an important part of the business.
“The vending machine milk and the little bit of contracting we do are the only two parts of the business we are in control of.
“Diversification is useful and important to our business, but it should never be at the cost of the core business,” he adds.
Natural yoghurt
In March this year, he also expanded into producing natural yoghurt supplied wholesale to local eateries and to a few local shops.
He is also looking at supplying flavoured yoghurts and there are talks taking place regarding cheese production. The rest of his milk is supplied to Rodda’s.
All of the produce is branded ‘Mooon Milk’, based on Mr Ellis’ prin-
Diversification is useful and important to our farm – but it should never be at the cost of the core business
JULIAN ELLIS
ciples of farming by the cycles of the moon, which he adopted following his Nuffield Scholarship into the subject area in 2010.
He now uses a lunar calendar as a guide to help determine optimal times for silaging, drilling crops and applying manure, although he emphasises that it does not replace general good agricultural practice.
To help improve the farm’s sustainability, Mr Ellis has adopted cropping practices which align with organic principles.
He has introduced rotational grazing across the 162ha (400-acre) grazing platform, established clovers and moved away from modern ryegrass in favour of mixed leys that include cocksfoot.
As a result, he has been able to reduce nitrogen use from 50-60 tonnes a year on grassland down to 18t.
Investing
Mr Ellis has even experimented with applying no artificial fertiliser on some land and found that the grass still grew well. Now he invests the money saved by reducing fertiliser use in securing 80ha (198 acres) of standing grass a year, buying extra fodder instead of fertiliser to ensure forage stocks are well maintained.
“When you look at the production of grassland through the 12-month period, you may not see the same yield in first and second cut silage, but overall production on grass without fertiliser is similar to that with it applied,” he says.
“If you can get crops off to the best start, it is half the battle. We have found since reducing fertiliser use, we do not need to apply as much lime, as I think the fertiliser was making the soil acidic,” he adds.
● Management protocols when using concentrates
LAMB finishing at the turn of the year is, admittedly, always a challenge – finding a balance between feeding concentrate to achieve a respectable finish while avoiding losses and ensuring there is profit to be made.
Dr Debby Brown, Dugdale Nutrition veterinary technical manager, says: “We are all aware how easy it is to end up with some deaths due to lambs gorging on feed. There are certain situations in which the risk of this will be higher; for example, during transition to different environment, housing, change of field and/or grazing crop, as well as the sudden change in feed type with the introduction of concentrate itself.”
Overeating
She says that overeating concentrate can quickly lead to a radical shift in the rumen environment, resulting in acidosis, sickness, bloat, damage to the gastrointestinal tract and, frequently, to death.
When introducing concentrate, she advises a number of management protocols to minimise the acidosis risk.
For grazing lambs, she recommends introducing concentrate over a seven- to 14-day period, from a feeder that can be restricted, or
New president for Royal Smithfield
JOHN Coultrip has been appointed as Royal Smithfield Club president for 2025.
Mr Coultrip, who farms at Wingfield Farm, Faversham, Kent, runs a herd of 40 pedigree AberdeenAngus cows and 400 Romney and Suffolk ewes.
A Nuffield scholar, Mr Coultrip is also an active member of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, and has judged cattle and sheep at shows including the Royal, the Royal Welsh and the Royal Highland.
Achieving balance when finishing lambs
feed in restricted amounts before gradually increasing ad lib.
She adds: “When moving to housing from grazing and hopper, introduce hay, haylage or fairly dry silage for the first 24 hours, then ad lib to ensure lambs fill themselves up before the hopper is re-introduced.
“When housing from just grazing, introducing concentrate for the first time is less likely to encourage gorging, but it is still possible. Offer
forage for the first 24 hours to fill up, before offering concentrate.”
Water
She says clean, fresh, readily available water should be accessible at all times in all systems.
“To further minimise the risk of acidosis, incorporating alkasystems technology into feed improves how efficiently the nutrients are used. The alkalinity of the compound feed combats any acidity in the rumen
Funding window to re-open for on-farm trials in Wales
FARMING Connect-funded trials range from growing lucerne in Brecon to establishing sunflowers as a companion crop with maize. And now, farmers are being invited to apply for the next round of funding from the initiative that brought these projects to life.
The new application window for the Try Out Fund opens onJanuary 27, 2025 and will run until February 17. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help to fund on-farm trials that experiment with new ideas.
Lead
Project lead Menna Williams, of Farming Connect, says the aim is for farmers to compare different
treatments or management systems, adding that the project is not intended to fund new equipment.
She says: “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.’’
The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.
MORE INFORMATION
More details can be found on businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/ or contact fctryout@mentera.cymru
A number of protocols should be followed when moving to concentrates. and supports improved feed efficiency,” she says.
“In turn, growth rates are increased and finishing times reduced, together with losses from feeding issues. The alka-based concentrate incorporates 10-15% of a concentrated version of Home n’ Dry treated cereal, which increases the pH of the overall concentrate.”
THIS year’s Borderway UK Dairy Expo will showcase a new generation of the UK’s top judging talent, with a panel of eight young farmers taking on the judging roles.
Andrea Debenham, of Suffolk, will judge the British Friesian classes; Northern Ireland’s John McLean will judge the Dairy Shorthorns; Andrew Kennedy will travel from Co Antrim to judge the Jerseys; former Dairy Expo champion handler Will Horsley, of Cumbria, will judge the showmanship classes; Cheshire’s Tom Lomas will take on the Holsteins; Northern Ireland’s Peter Drummond will judge the Ayrshires; the Red and Whites will come under James Doherty, of Shrewsbury; and Daniel Weaver, of Astonpool Holsteins, will make the decisions in the Brown Swiss classes.
■ Borderway UK Dairy Expo takes place in Carlisle on March 14-15.
Dr Debby Brown
Trials diary
NORTHERN IRELAND
January 25. BALLYNAHINCH, open, 104 Downpatrick Road, BT24 8SL, 8am start, field entry, contact, F. McCullough, tel: 07711 091 266. LIMAVADY, open, Ballymaclary Farm, Seacoast Road, BT49 0LG, 8.30am start, pre-entry, contact, S. O’Kane, 07745 069 439. BROUGHSHANE, open, Rathkeel Road, Broughshane,9.30m start, field entry, contact, I. Stevenson, 07736 491 666.
ENGLAND
January 24. MID SHIRES, beginners, nursery and novice, Solihull, 9am start, field entry, contact, G. Burbidge, tel: 07950 738 732. January 26. NORTHALLERTON, open, Kirkby Fleetham, South Low Field Farm, DL7 0SY, 9.30am start, field entry, £5 per person membership due on the first nursery date, contact, A. Grant, 07710
825 836. ROMNEY MARSH, nursery and novice, Whitehall, Ludgate Lane, Lynsted, Kent, ME9 0RF, 10am start, field entry, £5 per entry, contact, L. Lauder, email: romneymarsh123@gmail.com. YORK, beginners, nursery and novice, Meadow Bank Farm, Scorby, York, North Yorkshire, YO41 1NP, what3words: belonging.kite.spreading, 10am start, field entry, £2 per entry, contact, D. Bristow, tel: 07944 883 718.
SCOTLAND
January 25. SHETLAND, nursery, Skeld Public Hall, Skeld, ZE2 9NY, 9am start, pre-entry, £10 per entry, contact, D. Mainland, 07748 582 031. WEST BURRAFIRTH, nursery and novice, Skeld Public Hall, Skeld, ZE2 9NY, 12pm start, pre-entry, £10 per entry, novice runs will available after the conclusion of the nursery runs, contact, D. Mainland, 07748 582 031.
Working Dogs
English Results
NORTH WESTMORLAND, Tailbert Farm, Shap (Judge, P. Walton) Nursery (43 ran) 1, S. Metcalfe, Paddy, 79 of 90; 2, D. Scrimgeour, Nancy, 77; 3, T. Rome, Chip, 72; 4, D. Gallagher, Mic, 70; 5, G, Miller, Reef, 69; 6, T. Birkett, Jim, 67. Novice, 1, A. Temple, Hilltop Rita, 79 of 90; 2, N. Westgarth, Jim, 69; 3, D. Purdham, Matt, 66; 4, R. Harrison, Meg, 64. New Handler, 1, R. Willan, Rebel; 2, Z. Edwards, Queen. NORTH WESTMORLAND, Greystoke, Penrith (V. Graham) Nursery (44 ran) 1, B. Helliwell, Brock, 74 of 90; 2, N. Westgarth, Meg, 70 OLF; 3, T. Rome, Chip, 70; 4, R. Harrison, Nidge, 65 OLF; 5, O. Dean, Sky, 65; 6, J. Harrison, Tweed, 59. Novice, 1, A. Temple, Hilltop Rita, 70 of 90; 2, N. Westgarth, Jim, 65; 3, R. Cartmel, Chance, 62; 4, J. Relph, Ben, 58. New Handler, 1, R. Meadley, Jazz; 2, R. Willan, Rebel. NORTH LANCS, Lee End Farm, Quernmore (S. Lopizzo) Nursery (37 ran) 1, R. Hutchinson, Taylor, 74 of 90; 2, Steven Longton, Len, 72; 3, R. Harrison, Nidge, 65; 4, T. Birkett, Jim, 65; 5, C. Mellin, Mac, 64; 6, T. Longton, Gyp, 59. Novice, 1, A. Temple, Hilltop Rita, 80 of 100 OLF; 2, E. Hill, Jess, 80; 3, P. Ellis, Tip, 79. New Handler, 1, S. Ryall, Maggie, 59.
RYEDALE, Sandhoe Farm, Goole (R. Spooner) New Handler (24 ran) 1, L. Bray, Scalpsie Maid; 2, M. Robinson, Joe; 3, N. Bradley, Gwen. Nursery, 1, J. Howard, Misbourne Rosie, 78; 2, S. Aconley, Hilston Rob, 62 OLF; 3, S. Walton, Brackenholme Dolly, 62; 4, T. Bennett, Denwyn Anni, 56; 5, R. Thackery, Ellie,
55T; 6, G. Blyth, Cloddiau Bet 54T. Novice, 1, J. Atkinson, Sandy. MID SHIRES, Lower Shuckburgh, Daventry, Nursery, 1, R. Curtis, Ned, 88; 2, J. Watson, Jake, 87 OLF; 3, M. O’Neill, Tec, 87; 4, S. Mynard, Bonnie, 83; 5, R. Cure, Sue, 81; 6, J. Martin, Boss, 76. Novice, 1, J. McBride, Boss, 85; 2, A. Blackore, Peg, 81; 3, R. Cure, Dot 78; 4, A. Cooper, Olia, 72. Open, 1, A. Cooper, Queen. WEST COUNTRY, Ley Farm, Totness, Devon, New Handler, 1, A. Blazer, Lira, 58; 2, T. Eden, Storm, 41T. PENNINE, West Hall Farm, Ilkley (M. Shields) Nursery (26 ran) 1, C. Kempson, Elstan Glen, 74 out of 100; 2, J. Scrivin, Pinhaw Dewi, 70; 3, A. Kyme, Ben, 68T; 4, L. Bancroft, Mac, 67; 5, V. Ibbotson, Sugarhill Moss, 66T; 6, C. Mellin, Mac, 64T. FYLDE, Hollins Head Farm, Quernmore (C. Cropper) Nursery (28 ran) 1, J. Ashworth, Burndale Lassie, 91; 2, R. Hutchinson, Taylor, 88; 3, J. Huddleston, Summer, 88; 4, J. Ashworth, Zac, 87; 5, J. Harrison, Tweed, 84; 6, S. Longton, Len, 83.
Northern Irish results
DONEGAL SOUTH REGION, Kinletter, Ballybofey, 1, N. Collaghan, Chubby, 70; 2, R. McNamee, Glen, 66; 3, N. Collaghan, Gus, 63. DONEGAL NORTH REGION, Fanad (B. Nelis) Nursery, 1, S. Long, Bet, 75; 2, P. Mclaughlin, Sky, 62; 3, B. Mathley, Dave, 59OLF; 4, L. McFadden, Scott, 59; 5, S. Long, Mac, 58; 6, C. Doherty, Bill, 55; 7, M. Heraty, Finn, 54; 8, C. Gallagher, Cara, 46; 9, M. Heraty, Jess, 39. WESTERN, Ballymaclary Farm, Limavady (D. McNeill) Nursery, 1, S. Conn, Bandit, 83; 2, S. O’Kane, Mo, 83; 3, L. Conn, Gary, 83; 4, L. Conn, Bud, 81; 5, C. Keily, Jim, 79; 6, J. O’Kane, Jeff, 72; 7, D. Watt, Mirk, 68; 8, A. Ward, Jet, 65; 9, E. Camin, Tilly, 64; 10, S. O’Kane, Moss, 61.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to sponsor the Working Dogs pages in Farmers Guardian for 2024. Wishing all triallists the very best of luck.”
Christopher Ware Managing director at Gilbertson & Page, manufacturer of
Dr. John’s foods for dogs.
Arthur Temple and Hilltop Rita who placed novice champion at both the North Westmorland trials and North Lancashire trial.
Burndale Lassie, owned by Janine Ashworth, which won the Fylde nursery trial with 91 points.
Market Prices Primestock
SCOTLAND
ENGLAND
Source: LAA/MartEye
YOUNG BULLS
Market Prices Store Cattle
SCOTLAND
ENGLAND
Figures show livestock numbers first, then average price per head.
Source: LAA/MartEye
6/1435.0 -/- 4/291.3 2/247.5 -/-
2/1010.0 1/655.0 9/81.1 42/317.9
3/886.7 5/1034.0 4/1652.5 -/- -/-
2/395.0 3/356.7 2/250.0 3/296.7
1/730.0
WALES
MARKET COMMENT
MARTS in England and Wales welcomed more than 66,000 livestock to auction rings this week, with farmers experiencing a mixed bag in price differences across the board.
For prime cattle, values remained above 311p/kg, despite decreases in steers and young bulls.
Heifers were up by 0.6p/kg to 335.7p/kg, the highest value in the cattle rings, and dairy-sired cows had increased by 10.4p/kg to 181.5p/kg.
Sheep prices dropped by 7.7p/kg to 331.8p/kg.
Both porkers and cutters had reduced in value, with the exception of baconers which had risen by 3.3p/ kg to 165.8p/kg.
As Farmers Guardian went to press on Wednesday (January 22), UK LIFFE wheat prices for May 25 were trading at £192/tonne, up by £1/t on the week.
New entrant farmer Sarah Clulow found a passion for farming later in life. Here, she tells Emily Ashworth how she has slowly worked towards setting up her own business, Bernard’s Farm.
Careers Focus Getting started in farming
BACKGROUND
I PREVIOUSLY worked in children’s social care until 2017. After I had my fourth child, I found a local farmer who agreed to train me up in tractor driving and milking cows
GETTING STARTED
MY husband Carl and I began by renting small parcels of land and running wethers for meat boxes, which are still sold locally. We now run a flock of pedigree native breed Ryelands, which are either sold as breeding stock in autumn after attending local shows in
in exchange for weekend working and holiday cover.
I loved every second and stayed with him until he retired from dairy farming.
summer or lamb boxes the following spring to a local and loyal customer base via our social media and website.
In 2019, we rented out our mortgaged property (and later sold it) and took on a tenancy for a farmhouse and some
outbuildings, which I used to rear bull calves.
The Clulows moved into their tenant farm in October 2024.
We then took on more rented land, and I began to build up a small herd of native Hereford sucklers, while also working off-farm milking cows for dairy farmers.
In 2020, we started to tender for Farm Business Tenancies with council farms and the first time we applied we came second, which was really positive.
OBSTACLES
WE nearly had to sell the herd as we struggled to find a shed to rent, but at the last minute we found one.
By 2023, we had about nine landlords renting us 30.4 hectares in total, plus a rented cattle shed.
We did come second [twice] for a starter dairy farm with county councils, but did not quite make the mark with them. So, I
We kept tendering for farm tenancies, because until we could secure our own base we had a top-heavy business model due to renting whatever ground we could and we kept needing to invest in stock and kit.
With the cows – and especially being a landless, mobile beef farmer – we had to plan and invest in kit such as cattle hurdles and calving gates to keep safe.
used my cattle experience to rear calves and run an efficient and well-planned spring block calving beef herd.
As we were not eligible for any grants or subsidies, it was a logistical challenge.
Plus, me and my husband had to keep working off-farm in order to keep a roof over our head and food on the table.
Sarah and Carl Clulow.
Careers Focus
FUTURE
CARL works in IT at the moment until we can afford for him to be full-time on the farm – he would love to be, but we are realistic and know that a small farm plus a large family will always require off-farm income.
We also have plans to mortgage a small farm and buy our own one day so we can provide opportunities for our children.
But I have always had the intention to combine my background working in children’s social care with the farm.
I would like to offer educational and therapeutic access to children and adults, as I can vouch for the benefit that nature, wildlife and the countryside has on mental well-being.
I started by taking lambs and chicks into local schools and care homes, giving talks about the farm, family life and sustainable food production. They were really well received, especially by children in urban cities; they absolutely loved it and had really considered and interesting questions to ask me.
dense, sustainable meat and eggs. I am also a Farmer Time farmer and have had Duke of Edinburgh students too. One of the teachers said it was really positive having a female farmer go into school to talk, as it challenges pre-conceived gender stereotypes and encourages other females to consider agriculture as a career, which I think is true.
But we can now expand our livestock, and I can combine this with my background with the educational and therapeutic access. Maybe one day we can afford to pay Carl to run the farm and do it together.
Next generation
THE FARM
NOW, we have finally got our tenant farm. We started to tender for our current farm with the Peak District National Park in June 2024 and moved in in October 2024.
We now have 22.7 hectares of species-rich grassland and ancient hay meadows here in the Staffordshire moorlands, and 18.2 hectares of rented ground, which is also hay meadow and species-rich grassland, to run our sheep and Hereford cattle.
The dairy farmer who trained me up is gifting us six heifers, all from the original cows we milked before he retired, so they will be here to stay and a very treasured foundation stock for our farm.
What is even more exciting is that we have an outbuilding that we are trying to secure a grant for to get flooring, a wall and
Why not sign our joint petition to get farming onto the curriculum? Visit farmersguardian. com/education
handwashing installed ready to open the farm to visitors next summer.
We have always farmed upland land and run native sheep and beef. With no farm and no infrastructure, we needed hardy breeds that would lamb outside and do well on upland grazing.
Low-input
We lamb outdoors in April, which is not an easy task at all, and I am glad that next spring we will have a lambing shed. We have always farmed with a low-input, traditional approach, and find it suits the stock very well.
I take welfare and ethics very seriously and take all my animals to the abattoir myself. I have got customers who tell me they like meat but cannot think about the process, but they know I have attention to detail and trust me.
I am passionate about naturefriendly farming, and I love to talk about how we produce nutrient-
COMMUNITY
WE have been welcomed and helped by a lot of local farmers – sharing their wisdom and experience, digging us out of snow drifts, lending their kit –
FARM LIFE
WE love farm life. Our five children took to it like ducks to water and you would not know looking at them that they were not born and bred on a farm.
Our eldest son is very interested in sheep and working with sheepdogs, and he is talking about going to agricultural college, and our eldest daughter loves horses and is very competent at caring for our loan pony.
We had our fifth child in
Until we got the keys to the farm, I thought they would ring us and say they had made a mistake and that we were second choice again. It still does not feel real. We cannot wait to fetch our
We would like to give our children opportunities too. Our eldest would like to start his own flock of Herdwicks, and our middle daughter seems to have a way with our young sheepdog Red, so I think she will have a pup of her own to train up soon. Our youngest son is very interested in tractors and cows, and he chose the bedroom next to the cattle shed so he could get up in the morning to help with feeding.
who we would not be here without. We have been very lucky and blessed to have made the friendships we have in the farming community.
lockdown; she is now four and absolutely adores being at home on the farm. I was milking cows when I was pregnant and I went back when she was five months old as we needed the income –to be honest, going out to work at 5.30am fitted well as I left everyone in bed and was back for breakfast time.
I enjoyed milking cows so much that I invested in training in artificial insemination, foottrimming and dairy management.
cattle and sheep home – that is the next job, we have been sorting all the paperwork out first and settling the children. I have to pinch myself that this is real – we did it.
In Your Field
Every week
we follow the ups and downs of farmers around the UK
AMY WILKINSON
Lancashire
Amy works on her family’s tenanted farm at Halsall, Lancashire. Working mainly with her dad, Amy farms 285 hectares (704 acres) of arable crops and 550 beef cross cattle which are all reared through to finishing. You can follow her on Instagram @amygingewilkinson
Ihave previously described myself here as farming’s Bridget Jones, chronicling my life through this funny little column of mine. But recently I have never related to said fictional character more, after a memorable Friday night at the pub.
On said night my best friend announced she was engaged, beaming at her now fiance.
After many congratulations, talk soon turned to my other friends’ upcoming wedding and how the planning was going – with banter back and forth between said couple.
Drink
And then another friend piped up, saying that they also had some news, turning to his wife – she then announced they had another baby on the way. And it was at this point I really was asking myself why I decided to do dry January, as I could really do with a drink.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am so happy for all my friends, but the difference between our situations is vast.
For example, if I was to bring a fella home to meet my parents at this point, they would both simultaneously and instantaneously die of shock.
With this being the most likely reaction and the current state that farming
‘If I brought someone home to meet my parents, they’d instantly die of shock’
finds itself in, I could maybe persuade myself that my lack of love life is down to tax reasons.
Anyway, after announcing that I’d better get back to my dog I left the pub, got in my van and – in a very dramatic, Bridget way – announced to myself that I was going to die alone.
Now this particular weekend my parents had gone down to Cheltenham to see my sister and also celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary, lucky
them. So, when I went to feed on Saturday morning it was just me and my little brother and, in the typical fashion of when dad leaves, everything decided to go wrong.
I had a heifer wedge itself in a feed barrier, muck push a gate open and the mixer fall in a hole – but this was just the warm-up act for the grand finale that I found in our largest pen of bullocks. Said boys had managed to push over three 15ft-long, attached
concrete panels that made up their feed trough. I had no idea how to even begin sorting this mess out by myself and, bearing in my mind that I already felt like a massive loser, this really felt like the twisting of the knife.
I shouted these sentiments at the bullocks followed by ‘I’m glad I took your b******s off’ and it was at this point I realised that maybe my lack of love life isn’t really all down to tax reasons.
NEXT WEEK
Monmouthshire Emma Robinson
South Yorkshire Roger Nicholson
‘Farmers must be at the table for big discussions’
KATE ROWELL
Scottish Borders
Kate is a fifth-generation farmer running the 750-hectare (1,853-acre) Hundleshope Farm on the Haystoun Estate, Peebles, where the family have been tenants for 150 years. She runs the hill unit with her husband Ed and their four children. She is also a vet and chair of Quality Meat Scotland.
Iam slowly getting back to normal after the Christmas period and hope everyone reading this had a lovely time and managed to get some chance to slow down a bit (although it’s never a ‘holiday’ on a farm).
Like returning from a summer holiday, though, it’s always good to get back to normal life and January has started with conferences, meet-
ings and workshops. There’s a lot of change happening in our sector and I think it’s really important that farmers are always represented around any table discussing land use, net zero, food and, of course, agriculture.
It’s depressing how often these conversations seem to be happening without us.
The cold snap at the start of the year was a welcome change from wading around in mud and the stock all seemed to appreciate it as well.
The temperature with us never quite got low enough to freeze pipes and water troughs so didn’t cause masses of extra work, and the kids (all in their 20s) even dug out long-unused sledges.
We scanned the park ewes this week with good results, around 180% overall with few triplets, which is exactly what we’re aiming for. I find multiples to be a complete pain in the neck and they cause a huge proportion of the extra work at lambing time, so I’m quite happy. No quads this year, which
Crossword 1281
is excellent – last year we had two and ended up with one live lamb out of the eight scanned, and it had to be bottle-fed for the first week or so.
It would have been much more sensible for them both to have two and we’d have likely ended up with four good lambs, no extra hassle.
I’m on my usual new year health kick and trying to lose weight before our local farmers dinner dance, which this year falls on Burns Night, so I can fit into my dress.
I’ll be taking inspiration from the nutritious midweek dinners featured in our ‘When You Know You Know’ campaign, shining the spotlight on the role of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork in a healthy diet.
The farmers dinner dance is always a fantastic night attended by young and old from all over Peeblesshire and beyond.
Mum and Dad will be going for, I think, the 66th year in a row and claiming the status of longest attendees. Even the years my brother and I were born weren’t missed, probably by good planning of due dates to avoid the most important social occasion.
They’re often first on the dance floor and among the last to leave. I hope I’m still up for a party in my mid-80s, although I’ll never be able to quickstep the way they can. I’m looking forward to some delicious haggis, neeps and tatties and a wee dram (or two) to wash it down.
Send in your correct entries to be in with a chance of winning £20 worth of Love2shop vouchers every month. Send to: Crossword No. 1281, Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9NZ.
ACROSS
1 Worm-like creepy-crawly tracked vehicle (11)
7 Wow! Bit of nutty lump; woody core of maize (7)
8 Specimens copious on board ship (7)
10 Part of partnership advertising small personal computer (4)
11 Conceals animal skins (5)
12 Member, some individual I’m backing (4)
15 Condescends, accepting singular plans in outline (7)
16 Even if tense, conceived in the mind (7)
17 Envisage a John Lennon 1971 hit (7)
20 Trip around is taken principally by this person (7)
22 Catastrophe of backward state of sullenness (4)
23 Record of points made in matchtwenty? (5)
24 Hard mass in hair or wool - it isn’t we’re told (4)
27 Stupidly ignores tracts of country (7)
28 Highly regarded ram died sadly (7)
29 Enraptured sport journalist on terrain regularly (11)
DOWN
1 Productions in instalments on the radio, we devour them (7)
2 Beat a blood-sucking mite (4)
3 These are scrumptious in pies and buns (7)
4 Look closely at wasp, say, gobbling middle of apple (7)
5 Gentle person, the French doctor (4)
6 Extremely rich cake, popular and good (7)
7 Nanny sorted out dim children (11)
9 Dustiest tub cunningly used in place of another (11)
13 Ace win for second time (5)
14 Extra dividend for book on America (5)
18 Surrounded by anxiety about medical officer (7)
19 Former head of college employs justifications (7)
‘The ultimate goal is to get the farming sector to net zero’
As we look towards a future of climate-friendly farming, change is needed. In the 1930s, my great-grandfather ploughed his fields with Shire horses. The average team could plough an acre a day; a single tractor can now plough more than 30+ acres a day.
In my great-grandfather’s time, using machines to do jobs that had previously been done manually and with working animals was a big departure from the norm. But it resulted in significant positive change and enabled farmers across the country to meet the growing demand for food.
Innovate
We must now take this same view and embrace innovative and novel technology.
This century’s transformation is to a system that is both climate and nature friendly. We need to take actions that create significant shifts, and the risk must be shared throughout the food supply chain. However, a climate-friendly farm does not look the same for every business.
First, we need to improve productivity and efficiency while reducing waste, enabling us to produce the same amount of meat and milk with far fewer animals.
Reducing disease, managing
lameness, improving fertility and reducing replacements could lower livestock emissions by about 10%.
Methane is the major greenhouse gas produced by agriculture, mainly through enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock. Technologies such as diet manipulation and methane inhibitors for housed cattle are already reducing emissions, while delivery systems to provide inhibitors to grazing livestock and low methane genetics will aid further methane reductions.
Agricultural emissions could be reduced by 10% to 20% depending on the adoption and development of methane-reducing technologies.
Manures are the next major emissions source on farms – management across all stages, from deposition through storage to application is critical.
Actions in housing and storage to reduce ammonia (for example, separation of urine and dung) will reduce indirect nitrous oxide emissions. Covering manures in storage and capturing methane (either passively or via anaerobic digestion) to displace fuel use will further reduce emissions.
Appropriate nutrient management planning at application is critical for maintaining the benefits made earlier in the process. And coupled with technologies such as
nitrification inhibitors and acidification this will minimise losses in-field.
In the crop sector, the main source of emissions is manufactured nitrogen fertilisers. These have a dual impact due to embedded emissions from manufacture and nitrous oxide emissions from applications.
Selection of fertilisers with low embedded emissions is key, alongside looking for options with low application emissions.
Examples of low embedded emissions fertiliser options include some of the biogenic fertilisers and those made from green ammonia (which utilises renewable energy sources to create ammonia). However, cost and availability are major barriers to their widespread uptake.
Fossil fuel reliance can be reduced by using biodiesel, biomethane and electrification. Development of driverless systems can also reduce vehicle size to minimise energy requirements and lessen soil compaction.
Carbon removal
Increasing carbon removals will be an option for some farms, whether through tree and hedgerow planting, soil carbon restoration, biomass production or novel approaches such as incorporating biochar or rock dust into soils.
The ultimate goal is to get the farming sector to net zero. For some
farms, the focus will be on reducing emissions to as low as possible, while increasing food output. For others, it will be about maximising carbon removals while also producing food. Balancing the approaches for specific farms will need financial support and general advice, alongside joined-up thinking across the sector and supply chains to reach industry targets.
New technology is modernising farming, like it did in the 1930s, says Sarah Wynn.
5th - 6th March 2025 NAEC Stoneleigh
Low Carbon Agriculture 2025
Join us at the UK’s only exhibition dedicated to tackling agricultural climate goals and showcasing energy solutions to provide a sustainable farming future.
This vibrant business event brings together forward-thinking farmers, landowners, and industry operators to explore how the agricultural sector can contribute to the UK’s Net Zero goals.
