News

Written by Charlotte Cunningham

Growers are being urged to stay alert for early-season yellow rust outbreaks appearing unexpectedly, especially in backward crops, according to the latest advice from Syngenta. Charlotte Cunningham reports. According to Syngenta’s senior field technical manager, Iain Hamilton, early rust reports are already coming in, after the mild winter did little to check infection. Historic survey work has also shown a trend to more yellow rust in later-drilled crops, rather than less, so this season’s late-planted wheat with small leaves could be especially vulnerable, he adds. “Although the winter was wet, it was mild and yellow rust needs temperatures cold enough to kill...

Written by John Swire

The British Pig & Poultry Fair 2020 (May 12-13) and Grassland and Muck 2020 (May 20-21) have been cancelled, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said mass gatherings should not take place.

Mr Johnson said that while the risk of Coronavirus disease transmission at mass gatherings remained low, the Government was ‘moving emphatically away from’ mass gatherings requiring emergency workers.

The trustees of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) met earlier in the day and agreed that both events should be cancelled, which was scheduled for May 12 and 13, would be cancelled if the Government advised that gatherings should not take place.

Following Mr Johnson’s...

Written by John Swire


With the Single Application Form (SAF) window now open (Sunday 15 March), NFU Scotland is encouraging crofters and farmers to prioritise filling out their forms online before the 15 May deadline.

The current uncertainty in the country around the impact of coronavirus and future trade arrangements, combined with the pressures of spring work, lambing and calving, means that many farmers and crofters will have many other things on their mind at this busy time of year.

The Union is urging applicants to crack on and start filling out their SAF as soon as possible and reminding...

Environment Secretary meets supermarket CEOs

Written by Defra Press Office



Environment Secretary George Eustice met with representatives from the UK’s food industry this afternoon to discuss the ongoing response to coronavirus.

The UK has a highly resilient food chain, and the Environment Secretary has been speaking regularly to retailers and industry bodies to ensure businesses can maintain food supply.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

Today I had another constructive conversation with supermarket Chief...

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Written by Charlotte Cunningham

Growers planning on drilling spring crops and maize could benefit from using the coming weeks to ascertain soil nitrogen levels to maximise production and minimise the damaging effects of the wet winter, according to CF Fertilisers. Charlotte Cunningham reports.According to CF Fertilisers’ Ross Leadbeater, for growers that have managed to get any FYM, slurry or organic manure on over the recent weeks, it’s important not to assume that what you put on in terms of nutrients is still there. “Equally, if you haven’t put any on yet it’s essential you know what N is left in the soil before you do, as this could affect application rates in the next few weeks and nutrient...

Written by Jamie Day

Experienced dairy industry executive Neil Kennedy will succeed Nicholas Saphir as executive chairman of OMSCO from early May. Mr Saphir has been appointed as chairman of the AHDB levy board, after 18 years in executive roles at OMSCo. Mr Kennedy has over three decades dairy sector experience. He was chief executive of Milk Link from […]

The post Neil Kennedy to lead OMSCo appeared first on AgriTrade News.

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Farm machinery and equipment is advancing at an incredible rate – and visitors to the Cereals Event will be able to see the latest technology in action, with many UK debuts.

Among those making their first entrance onto the UK stage will be Lemken’s new trailed sprayer, the Orion. “Field sprayers with tank volumes between 4,000 and 6,000 litres are very much in demand among farmers and contractors,” says general manager Paul Creasy. “What they want most are ease of operation, excellent flushing performance and a boom control that consistently maintains the optimal distance to the crop.”

The Orion comes with an aluminium boom with working widths from 24m to 39m and numerous...

Hi all, we wanted to draw your attention to a Parliamentary debate next week on farm animal welfare. We're offering you the chance to contribute your insights and experiences to the MP.

A petition to Parliament signed by 107,187 people calls for cages to be banned for all farm animals. On Monday 16 March, Kerry McCarthy MP will be leading a debate on this petition, and would like to hear your views as farmers:

• What impact would such a ban have on your business?
• Are existing laws and guidance on the welfare of farm animals appropriate for modern farming methods?
• Are existing laws and guidance sufficiently robust and easy to follow? Are they sufficiently enforced...

Written by Alistair Driver

Relief was the main emotion among the farming community in the initial response to the Budget, after Rishi Sunak announced he would not be scrapping the red diesel duty relief for agriculture.

While the red diesel exemption will be scrapped for some sectors in two year’s time, it will remain for agriculture, Mr Sunak announced, citing lobbying from the NFU as key to his decision.

The budget saw a big increase in Government spending for infrastructure, including for rural roads, plus a £30 million package to help businesses survive the economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak, including:

• Statutory sick pay for ‘all those who are advised to...

Written by Charlotte Cunningham

More than 15,000 people have signed the NFU’s petition, urging the Government to commit in law that food that would be illegal for British farmers to produce here will not be imported as part of future trade deals. Charlotte Cunningham reports. The public have galvanised behind Britain’s farmers by signing the NFU’s petition, which was launched at its annual conference. The petition will continue to run over the coming weeks, as the UK kicks off trade negotiations with the EU and United States. NFU President Minette Batters said: “This is yet another clear signal that the public do not want to see food on their plates that has been produced far below the high...

Written by Alistair Driver

Nicholas Saphir, who has played a major role in building the organic dairy co-operative OMSCo, has been appointed as the new chair of AHDB.

Mr Saphir will begin a three-year term on April 1, succeeding Sir Peter Kendall who completes his second term in office at the end of March.

The appointment was made by Defra Secretary George Eustice and approved by Ministers in the Scottish Government and Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Saphir has a wide background in agriculture and horticulture, having built a public company farming, processing and trading fruit and vegetables in the UK, Europe, Southern Africa and South America.

His has spent the...

WEBINAR: Guardians of the Grasslands Combat Conflict & Climate Change

128: Lambing in the North

Written by AHDB

In this episode Samantha Charlton, AHDB Beef & Lamb regional manager, speaks to Challenge Sheep farmer, James Drummond, who farms at Lemmington Hill Head in Northumberland about his lambing system and how he collects his data.

For more information:

Lambing ewe lambs
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/lambing-ewe-lambs

Challenge Sheep project
http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/returns/project-farms/challenge-sheep/

Continue reading more on the ADHB Website...

Written by Jamie Day

Norwich-based AF Group – the largest farmer-controlled agricultural buying group in the UK, has appointed David Horton-Fawkes as its new chief executive from later this year. He will succeed Jon Duffy, who announced his intention to step down from the role this summer after three years last November. Mr Horton-Fawkes is currently the chief executive […]

The post New CEO for the AF Group appeared first on AgriTrade News.

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Careers in agriculture are incredibly varied, from farm workers to engineers, scientists to agronomists, meaning the industry has broad appeal to those with or without a farming background.

Cereals 2020 is celebrating this variety with a Young Farmers’ session on different agricultural professions, offering an insight into the options available, alongside a live careers board.

With International Women’s Day approaching, we profile some of the female speakers lined up to present in the careers seminar.

Research scientist



Having a direct impact on farming which is mutually beneficial for the farmer, food security and the environment is what drives Kelly...

127: Gaining more milk from forage

Written by AHDB

In this episode Knowledge Exchange Manager Emily talks to dairy farmer Keith Davis about how he adapted his grazing and silage practices and the impact this had on his yield from forage. With feed prices on the rise, increasing the yield from home-grown forage becomes ever more important.

For the latest research and advice on grass, forage and soil management to help improve grassland productivity on livestock farms, visit our Grass webpage.

Get the latest grass growth measurements straight from farms to your inbox by signing up to our...

Written by Charlotte Cunningham

Alltech has launched a competition to recognise individuals who are proactively showcasing the benefits of UK agriculture to the general public. Charlotte Cunningham reports. With a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, taking place in Kentucky this May, people working within the agricultural sector are being encouraged to submit their entries online before April 5, 2020. At a time when the farming sector is facing increasing scrutiny from the media, Alltech UK wants to ‘Connect, Elevate and Inspire’ the industry to better educate consumers on where their food comes from and the merits of agriculture from an environmental...

Written by FM Web Editor



Liquid fuels trade association, UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) is urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to reconsider the rumoured increase to fuel duty on red diesel in the forthcoming budget, as it will have a major impact on the construction and farming industries.

Red Diesel is used by the construction, farming and marine industries and accounts for 15% of all diesel sales in the UK. Any increase in fuel duty will have a major impact on UKIFDA Members and their customers and could see the cost of red diesel significantly...

Written by cpm

Download PDF Preparing land for potato planting will be tricky in many areas given the wet winter. CPM gets some timely advice and considers how soil resilience can be improved. Deep cultivations to 30cm or more are de-structuring soils. By Paul Spackman With the spring planting period approaching, many growers, especially those in areas worst affected by heavy winter rainfall, may well be wondering how land can be prepared in time. This year more than ever, patience will be vital when it comes to spring cultivations, says Lincolnshire-based Hutchinsons agronomist, Will Sharpe. “Working any soil when it is too wet is likely to create problems, notably compaction, that will restrict...

Written by Alistair Driver

Global pork supplies will decline further this year as coronavirus delays the process of restocking the Chinese pig herd, following the devastation caused by African swine fever, Rabobank has predicted.

In its latest global ASF update, the bank forecasts that global pork supply will fall by up to 10% in 2020 after a record fall in stock levels last year, according to a new report from Rabobank.

Pork production in China declined by more 20% in 2019 due to the impact of ASF. Coronavirus, which is currently disrupting pork shipments into China with parts of the country forced to shut-down, is now causing further volatility on top of ASF, which Rabobank says...