Author Posts: Farmers Guide

Rural road users are being urged to take extra care during the summer months, as latest claims data from NFU Mutual reveals a heightened risk of collisions involving agricultural vehicles between the start of May and the end of September.

At the recent Farm to Fork Summit at No10 Downing Street, attended by Clarkson’s Farm stars Kaleb Cooper and ‘Cheerful’ Charlie Ireland, the Prime Minister set out ambitions to cut down red tape and make it easier for UK farmers to diversify their incomes, such as by converting farm buildings into shops or restaurants.

Under the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme launched today (18th May), farmers and landowners can apply for a share of £15 million to create new wildlife habitats, restore protected sites and work towards reaching net zero alongside sustainable food production.

Developed specifically for large-scale farms and contractors, the new Precea 9000-TCC and 12000-TCC come in working widths of 9 and 12 m respectively and provide high-precision seed placement, ensuring optimum field emergence even at increased working speeds of up to 15 km/h.

Following a recent report calling Defra’s IT systems ‘outdated’ and ‘difficult to use’, the National Pig Association (NPA) has urged the government body to address the shortfalls identified in its systems to ensure quick and effective response to disease outbreaks.

Yesterday’s Food Summit hosted by Rishi Sunak was hailed a success by industry groups, who now urge the government to follow up on commitments made with prompt actions to restore national food security and build resilience in the domestic supply chain.

Biologicals offer a cost-effective solution to plant health and fertiliser challenges by increasing nitrogen use efficiency in crops, helping farmers reduce input costs and combat environmental challenges, according to UK biotechnology company Unium Bioscience.

At the first ever UK Farm to Fork Summit hosted by Rishi Sunak at Downing Street today (16th May), the Prime Minister announced extensive measures to strengthen food security and supply chain resilience, with investment in new technologies, further support for horticulture, and protecting farmers’ interests in trade deals being among the highlights.

Cereal growers are being advised to use the latest fungicide chemistry to navigate disease challenges ahead of flag leaf spray applications this season.

On 13th-14th June, Cereals will host nearly 400 exhibitors and sponsors, as well as offering a packed seminar programme, live demos and the ever-popular crop plots from its new 60ha location at Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire.

Latest throughput figures released this week by the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) show that more farmers across England and Wales are favouring the live sales ring to secure the true value of their livestock, with margins under greater pressure from increased production costs.

Producers in the red meat and dairy sectors could benefit from long-term opportunities following the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade modelling analysis published by the AHDB today (15th May) has revealed.