News

Written by John Swire

In 2010 UK consumers spent £300m on Cannabidiol (CBD) products, which are promoted widely as a legal means to relieve pain, lower inflammation and decrease anxiety without psychoactive effects. However, all CBD oil sold in the UK is imported, as although UK farmers can grow industrial hemp for its fibres, the most lucrative parts of the plant – the leaves and flowers – must be destroyed. The potential of hemp, a variety of Cannabis sativa L. is to be discussed at the Agri-TechE event ‘Farmer to Pharma’, on 12th May.

The fibres of hemp have long been used for ropes and materials, and now this versatile crop is being exploited for construction materials, animal...

Written by William Kellett

Five individuals have been arrested following an investigation by the Environment Agency into large-scale waste crime activity.

The enforcement action took place at five separate addresses located in Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Investigators from the Environment Agency were supported by police officers from Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Police forces made the arrests and enabled evidence gathering as part of the investigation into illegal burying of waste at six sites across these areas..

The investigation will now continue with the evidence seized and is expected to continue for several months.

Taking waste crime...

Written by Charlotte Cunningham

The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has issued new advice to help growers understand the importance of measuring pest populations before any decisions are made on insecticides. Charlotte Cunningham reports. Ahead of the trapping season, the PGRO has produced a new masterclass video to help growers understand how to trap and assess pest populations. The key advice is that using a range of preventative tools will be crucial for farmers looking to reduce cases of pea and bean weevil, pea moth, and silver Y moth this spring, while finding more sustainable ways of farming in line with new agricultural policy, according to the PGRO’s research and...

Growers and agronomists now face the dilemma of an early application to remove competition from emerged wild oats, or holding off to allow more weeds to germinate.

Syngenta grassweeds technical manager, Georgina Wood, urges Axial Pro treatment as soon as conditions allow, once weeds are actively growing.

“That offers the chance to control wild oats more cost effectively at lower rates, whilst there is still the flexibility to tailor application rates up to 0.82 l/ha for larger or over wintered weeds and difficult situations.

“The variability of crops and situations this season means decisions for appropriate Axial Pro rates and application techniques will need to be made on a field-by-field basis,” she advised.



Miss Wood urges...

Dedicated to delivering up to date products and the best back up in the business, Vantage England & Wales have added a new installation & Service engineer to their team.

Harry Hamer is the most recent addition and will be based in the North West of the companies trading area, England, and Wales. Joining the company from a CNH dealership, Harry is looking to apply his knowledge of modern machinery architecture and develop it further with Trimble solutions.

“I have had an interest in agriculture and equipment from a young age which has seen me pursue a career in mechanical and electrical engineering. Joining the Vantage team will allow me to build on this with the added benefit of being exposed to all makes, models and types of machinery’.

Harry’s family have been involved with...

Written by William Kellett

NFU Cymru is to launch a legal challenge against the Welsh government’s new rules to control agricultural pollution, having previously raised concerns about the lawfulness of the decision.

The union said that the new Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) designation, which came into force across Wales on April 1, poses a “significant threat to the economic viability of Welsh farming, the overall impact of which cannot be underestimated”.

According to NFU Cymru, these regulations “effectively make the whole of Wales an environmental ‘at risk’...

Conversations we're having

Written by The Team

We are invited to join a number of panel discussions, Q&A sessions and webinars, hosted by external organisations.

This post contains links to some recent events. Posts of this kind are tagged 'conversations we're having'.

Farming Today...

Written by John Swire

Harper Adams University has been named a leading institution for both research partnerships and work with business in new figures from Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework.

The University was placed in the STEM cluster – which includes specialised institutions which cover science, technology, engineering and mathematics – for the new KEF rankings, released yesterday (March 31).

The measurements look at universities across a range of metrics both within their cluster and across the UK – and demonstrate the extensive achievements of Harper Adams in building relationships with both research partners and industry.

Deputy vice-chancellor of Harper Adams...

Written by Agriland Team

JCB has announced its intentions to appeal a French court’s ruling on patent breaches against Manitou.

On February 26, 2021, the Paris Court of Justice (Tribunal Judiciaire) found that Manitou was guilty of infringement of certain JCB patent claims, JCB says.

It awarded JCB damages of €150,000 plus €50,000 in attorney fees.

In a statement, the UK machinery giant claimed:

The case concerned two specific European Patents [the 065 patent and 965 patent] held by JCB, which are also the subject of ongoing infringement proceedings against Manitou in the UK and Italy.

Click to expand...

Commenting on this, JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said:

“As I have said previously, JCB...

Written by Lydia Turner

Announced yesterday, Tim Rycroft, who is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) will take up his position in the levy board on 31 August this year, replacing Jane King.During the intervening period the interim AHDB CEO will be Ken Boyns, AHDB Chief Finance and Operations Officer.

Mr Rycroft joined FDF in 2015 where he was responsible for strategy and corporate affairs, as well as overseeing the federation’s policy on diet and health and on competitiveness.

Prior to that, he held senior domestic and international corporate affairs positions with InterContinental Hotels Group plc (as Director of Communications, Europe), Diageo plc...

I had a little bit of time with the FENDT 1162 crawler tractor this week

Basic Payment Scheme Launch



In this blog we’ll provide an overview of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) launch and the changes that are happening in 2021.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is currently the biggest of the rural payments that provide support to the farming industry. Farmers apply once a year – between March and May – and payments begin in December.

This year, you can apply for BPS 2021 from Thursday 18 March through to midnight on Monday 17 May...

Smaller global crop in 2021/22?
Global barley production was forecast to fall in 2021/22 by the International Grains Council (IGC) in January. The IGC made this projection as part of its five year outlook to 2025/26 so few details are available. In January, the IGC projected the 2021 crop at 151.3Mt, 1.7Mt below a static demand – more on this below.



Both Stratégie Grains and RMI suggest a similar global situation in 2021/22 to the IGC. The IGC usually makes its first detailed assessment of the new season in late-April.

In the major barley exporting countries...

Future Farming Podcast: Nic Renison

Written by The Team



https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/wp...tional-grazing-and-regenerative-farming-1.mp3

In this month’s Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Nic Renison.

Nic farms with her husband Paul on the edge of the North Pennines in Cumbria, where they produce cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are part of a growing movement...

Written by Agriland Team

John Deere has announced that its Machine Sync system is now available for forage harvesters and tractors to take control during crop unloading operations.

The John Deere Machine Sync enables machines to exchange data on the move and allows combine operators to guide a tractor and trailer alongside the harvester.

John Deere said that the technology is especially useful during night-time operations and long working days.

How does it work?

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based synchronisation allows combines to automatically control the speed and travel direction of tractors and trailers relative to the combine.

According to...

We are delighted to announce that we are this year's Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards 2021 chosen Charity of the Year. Any donations made during the night of the awards will be given directly to the Addington Fund to help us continue helping the farming community.

The awards night will be streamed on the Hereford Times Facebook page on Thursday 17th June at 7pm, so make sure you pop that date in your diary and join us for a fantastic evening of celebrating agriculture.

About Addington Fund:

Addington Fund has 5 remits, we provide:

• Disaster Relief if your farm is severely impacted by inclement weather and certain disease outbreaks.
• Retirement Homes for retiring farmers.
• Affordable Houses to keep...

Written by Iain Hoey

The Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) has welcomed the launch of Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot scheme, and has said that the inclusion of organic farming marks a very positive move by the UK government in their outlook and intent for future agricultural policy.

“As a sector, we’ve been striving to highlight the multiple proven benefits and public goods that organic systems simultaneously deliver against the sustainable standards that Defra is seeking to implement,” commented OF&G CEO Roger Kerr.

“During this period of flux, there’s been a series of announcements from Whitehall that have given us a sense of unease and frustration. With this latest...

The Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot

Written by Defra Press Office



Farming trade media have covered the publication of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot overview. This includes an interview with Farming Minister Victoria Prentis on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and online articles in...

We have added a number of new products for lab analysis. Need an analysis right now? Easily access the most popular analyses on Farm Marketplace.

Special offer - 5% off for the next 3 weeks

Simply purchase the service you require and you will receive an email on where to send the Soil /Silage / Forage /Hay for analysis.

The lab then do the analysis and email you the results. Its as easy as that.

All Analysis options can be seen here - https://www.marketplace.farm/grain-storage/analysis-and-measuring/

Soil testing can be found here - https://www.marketplace.farm/grain-storage/analysis-and-measuring/soil-life-check/

Deep insight into the life in your soil. The Most Detailed Look at the Life in your Soil...

Telegraph coverage on rewilding

Written by Defra Press Office



Today the Telegraph has reported Defra are working to set up a ‘rewilding taskforce’ to gauge appetite for returning lynx and wolves to England. However, this article is factually incorrect, and there are no plans for a rewilding taskforce.

Defra remains committed to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species, where there are clear environmental and socio-economic benefits as part of the 25 Year Environment Plan, and Natural England continues to support a number of projects to...