Good harvest yields reported for maize
Livestock 03/11/2023
Early indications suggest a bumper harvest for maize production this year with high yields of good quality material that should clamp and feed well. Fears that the relatively cold, wet spring and challenging drilling conditions could result in later maturing crops for many growers have been largely abated, says... Read more
Police have pledged a tougher crackdown on hare coursing gangs after mounting pressure from farmers facing repeated attacks and intimidation. A package of measures announced by the force includes faster emergency responses, specialist officer training, drone deployment and plans to seize all dogs used in hare coursing incidents. It... Read more
Farm contracting charges for individual operations have risen by up to 15 per cent following cost increases caused by the Iran war. Results from the latest survey by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) show that prices have generally risen a few per cent higher than 2025 –... Read more
Watch the sheep, not the calendar
Livestock 04/06/2026
Weaning should not be driven by the calendar – but by what the flock is telling us through lamb performance, ewe body condition and grazing availability, writes Nerys Wright. Many flocks may wean at a similar point each year, but the right timing can shift depending on the season,... Read more
A Northamptonshire beef and arable farmer has halved his feed costs by switching to home-grown cereals. Harry Brown, who farms 1,700 acres at Potcote Farm, near Towcester, said rising production costs and weak grain markets pushed him to rethink his feeding strategy. Instead of selling more oats and barley... Read more
Growers are being urged to consider under-sowing maize with grass – and reap the benefits of better soil health. Retention of important nutrients, reduced topsoil loss and improved harvestability are just some of the benefits – but timing and species selection are crucial, says David Linton, commercial manager for... Read more
British Sugar and its grower base are facing mounting pressure after Associated British Foods warned there is “no evidence yet of a recovery” in the European sugar market next year. The group said its sugar division fell to a £27m adjusted operating loss in the first half of 2026... Read more
Sugar beet growers are being urged to prepare for a prolonged aphid control campaign as virus yellows pressure builds across eastern England. Many crops are likely to require a three-spray aphicide programme this season after warm spring conditions encouraged early pest activity, says the latest bulletin from the British... Read more
An estate farm has invested in a fully automated grain drying and handling system to replace its ageing post-harvest infrastructure. Farm manager Mark Heritage says his 1960s grain set-up could no longer cope with the scale and speed of modern harvest operations after bringing farmland back in-hand in 2022.... Read more
Organic and low-input farmers have a new option for tackling insect pressure in grain stores ahead of harvest following the launch of a plant-based insecticide. Approved for use in organic systems, Organ-X Pro is designed to control pests including flies, midges, ants, cockroaches and stored product insects such as... Read more
Timely pre-harvest preparation is paying off for large-scale grain store operators who enforce strict hygiene and treatment protocols. Colin and Sarah Godwin own and run Keysley Store – a full-service grain and commodity storage and drying facility. Harvest preparation starts as soon as the previous crop leaves the store,... Read more