Autumn fields are ideal for hare-coursing – and each year sees a surge in incidents as the landscape opens up after harvest. It’s a tough time – especially for farms which are repeatedly targeted by coursers. While eliminating the problem can be difficult, practical steps can be taken to... Read more
Farm input costs have doubled in the six months since the Iran conflict – piling further pressure on producers already struggling with a challenging season. Annual ag-inflation has climbed to 8.6%, according to the latest estimates from Andersons farm business consultants. This is its highest since the post-Ukraine peak... Read more
Soil health is emerging as a factor in farmland values, rents and tenancy negotiations as regenerative farming and environmental markets change the economics of land management. Agricultural valuers increasingly need to assess soil as both a productive asset and a source of environmental value, says regenerative farming adviser Harry... Read more
Be ready for worm challenge after rain
Livestock 28/08/2026
Since my last article on the drought, many farms across the Midlands and East Anglia have seen very little, if any, meaningful rain, writes Nerys Wright. Grass covers are tight, feed stocks are under pressure and some sheep are being asked to do a lot on very little. Rather... Read more
Sheep producers are being urged to step up forage testing ahead of tupping after research linked hidden cobalt deficiencies in ewes with poorer lamb vigour. The complex and variable nature of cobalt levels in grassland soils makes its status hard to track, says Alison Bond, of nutrient specialists Rumenco.... Read more
A Derbyshire farmer is reshaping a traditional hill system to bring livestock, landscape and business together at the foot of Mam Tor. Third-generation farmer at Hardenclough Farm, James Metcalfe, not only has to contend with high altitude land which rises to 2,000ft above sea level, but also farming in... Read more
Beef and dairy farmers should resist grazing drought-hit grassland as soon as rain returns to preserve parched swards. Instead, farmers should consider keeping cows in condition by feeding conserved winter forage. Allowing recovering plants to reach the three-leaf stage before livestock return could protect weakened swards and extend autumn... Read more
Summer wildfires across the UK and Europe have sparked interest in mechanical vegetation clearance to reduce combustible material before fires start. High-profile wildfires on Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast; Stourbridge in the West Midlands; and South Wales – as well as Spain and France – mean more land... Read more
Knight Frank has expanded its rural estate offering through a formal partnership with environmental consultancy Maydencroft as landowners face growing demand for ecology, forestry and natural capital advice. The agreement integrates Maydencroft’s specialist services into Knight Frank’s rural estate proposition. It covers forestry, arboriculture, ecology, nature recovery, landscape management... Read more
Forestry leaders tackle timber security
Forage 28/08/2026
Britain’s reliance on imported timber will come under scrutiny at a new series of industry debates being launched at APF 2026 next month. Talking Forestry will bring together forestry leaders, researchers and practitioners to examine timber security, climate change, skills and public attitudes. The free programme runs throughout the... Read more