Author Posts: Farmers Guide

Aimed at farmers, growers, landowners and the wider agricultural sector, the Autumn Farming Conference is organised by Larking Gowen, a major regional independent accountancy partnership and one of the UK’s top 40 accountancy firms, in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales.

Quasquicentennial! It’s not a word you use every day but on Saturday 24th June Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd celebrated this significant milestone in its history. In celebration, the company shares an insight into its rich history…

For its latest community blog, A-Plan Rural Insurance is shining a spotlight on podcasters Becca & Lizzie who have have recently interviewed the minister of farming, food and fisheries, Mark Spencer, for their podcast. Mark Spencer has publicly shown his support for mental health in agriculture.

The screen adaptation of Bea Roberts’ multi-award-winning stage play And Then Come the Nightjars is set to land in cinemas soon, bringing viewers a heart-warming tale of friendship and survival set against the backdrop of the infamous foot-and-mouth outbreak. Farmers Guide chatted with film director Paul Robinson for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look.

A free downloadable flyer has been released by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) to help inform farmers and growers of new photo ID requirements for ammonium nitrate fertilisers coming into force this autumn.

The answer is yes! The oilseed rape drilling window is far wider than often thought. Although most crops are drilled in the first two weeks of August, it is possible to drill into September and still get a good crop established, says leading plant breeders Limagrain UK.

With the gap between farmgate milk and retail prices promising no let-up and high input costs putting significant strain on the sector, British dairy farmers are facing a tough six months ahead, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has warned.

At a time of much uncertainty in UK agriculture, companies like Yara are taking a long and confident view of the future. With construction of a $150 million production facility about to start in the UK plus the development of new green fertilisers and digital tools, Jari Pentinmäki, managing director of Yara UK, thinks there’s cause for optimism.

Dr Carrie Rimes, a former grassland ecologist turned artisan cheese-maker, recently hosted minister Lesley Griffiths on her new award-winning sheep milk dairy in Bethesda, Gwynedd, which was realised through government funding and support from the local council.

The first UK ovine embryos have been shipped to the United States following the lifting of a long-term ban in 2021 on sheep and lamb imports from countries previously affected by BSE.

Nature-friendly farming solutions could offer a way forward for farmers dealing with the impact of climate change and the need to keep their farms profitable, according to a recent webinar organised by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN).

There’s much to be said about the balancing act of harvesting in such unpredictable weather. When the skies are clear you can guarantee the first thing on farmers’ minds is getting their combines and trailers rolling again, before the next spell of rain hits. Yet, within this intricate choreography of agricultural expertise, lies a reality that can determine the success or failure of the entire process, a robust post-harvest strategy.