General licences reissued for wild bird control
14th February 2020
Six general licences for the control of wild birds have been reissued temporarily, ahead of the new licences coming into force in August, Defra has revealed.
Remain vigilant in these uncertain times
14th February 2020
Climate variability has already played a key part this season – from mid-September to the end of the year exceptional rainfall brought the misery of floods and a virtual complete halt to winter wheat drilling for many.
JCB cuts production levels amid coronavirus outbreak
14th February 2020
British manufacturer JCB is set to cut working hours for thousands of its staff due to predicted supply issues caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
The biggest issue in farming – mental health
14th February 2020
It’s no secret that the farming life can be hard work. What is often kept quiet, however, is the strain on farmers’ mental health as a result. Rachel Hicks reports.
Villiers replaced by George Eustice in cabinet reshuffle
14th February 2020
George Eustice been promoted to environment secretary after Theresa Villiers was sacked in Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle yesterday (13 February).
Rural fly-tipping figures on the rise
14th February 2020
The continued rise of large fly-tipping incidents across England, affects two thirds of farmers, with the clean-up cost per incident averaging at £1,000 per landowner.
Plan for early spring weed control
14th February 2020
In a normal season, spring weed control is a case of mopping up odd weeds that have come through a hefty autumn stack of residual herbicides. But 2019 wasn’t a normal year, with the autumn cereals that did get planted often receiving less residual herbicides than usual, and what was applied has been under deluge from the winter rain, making it vital that growers have an effective weed control plan for early spring.
Quad bike complacency is a killer, warns rural risk expert
13th February 2020
A rural insurance specialist is warning farmers not to underestimate the dangers of quad bike use, as Health and Safety Executive figures reveal 26 all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths since 2010.
John Deere announces dealer expansion plans
11th February 2020
John Deere dealers Ben Burgess and Farol are set to expand their businesses into the East Midlands during 2020.
Biosecurity warning after Scottish avian flu case
11th February 2020
A case of low pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a Scottish free-range laying flock at the end of last week, prompting NFU Scotland to issue a reminder on biosecurity.
Top oilseed rape varieties on deferred payment offer from Hutchinsons
10th February 2020
Crop production specialists Hutchinsons are offering growers the opportunity to defer payment on seed purchased before 31 March 2020 for leading oilseed rape varieties LG Aurelia and Acacia.
Sugar beet to return to Scotland after 50 years
10th February 2020
Almost fifty years on from the closure of the Scottish Sugar Beet factory in Cupar, a Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group aims to look into the feasibility and steps required to re-establish the crop and its processing in eastern Scotland.