Latest stories BUSINESSWhat to check before a permitted development projectWhile permitted development rights (PDRs) in England have benefited many farming businesses, there are important elements to check before going ahead. Among the most common mistakes or misunderstandings is that… POULTRY7 tips for making a profit from farm-scale Christmas turkeysAbout 18% of the Christmas turkeys sold to UK consumers are produced on a small scale by farmers independent of the big players. It can generate a good income, often… CEREAL DRILLSNovag shows 9m, 18t tracked T-ForcePlus 950 drillSome careful manoeuvring was required to get the latest T-ForcePlus drill on Novag’s show stand. With wings that fold out to 9m, a tracked undercarriage, a monster 7,700-litre hopper and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flooding creates extreme planting conditionsWhat a year 2023 has turned out to be. Wet spring, wet summer, and an extremely wet autumn. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen flooding as deep and as quick… COMBINES1,100hp Nexat gantry system to harvest 200t/hourNew Holland’s CR11 might have hogged the Agritechnica headlines but neither it nor the John Deere X9 can hold a candle to the Nexat combine in terms of harvesting output.… MOWERSSIP beefs up Disc HD mower-conditioners with 11m modelHigher output is the order of the day for SIP’s Disc HD butterfly mower conditioners, which have a maximum working width of up to 11.08m. Together with a new aerodynamic… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef trade holds strong with support at auction martsTighter supplies of prime cattle and some early festive demand reported among industry from butchers and abattoirs have been supporting both liveweight and deadweight prices. Finished cattle prices in the… NEWSWelsh plans for increased TB testing provoke backlashWelsh rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths is facing a backlash from farmers after announcing additional testing requirements to tackle bovine TB. In a statement to the Senedd on Tuesday (14… NEWSScottish Parliament calls for farmer views on QMS levy risesThe Scottish government’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is seeking views on the proposed levy increase by Quality Meat Scotland. Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has not requested an increase in… More articles OpinionSee all NEWSOpinion: Autumn mornings quiet after road racers curbedThe clocks may have changed, but my body clock takes some time to catch up. For a few lovely days, there’s a drowsy bonus hour before the alarm goes off,… NEWSOpinion: How teenagers can get their kicks from agricultureIt is often said that young people, and society at large, feel disconnected from where their food comes from, place little value on food producers, and perceive the agri-food industry… NEWSOpinion: Farmers should resist Red Tractor's latest moveI wasn't surprised Red Tractor's recent plan for a Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) went down like a lead balloon with farmers. The proposal was that, from April 2024, it would… NEWSEditor's view: Culture change needed to secure food supplyOf all the supply chains to be found in British agriculture, it is the ones in the egg and poultry sectors that are so often held up as examples of…  Subscribe to Farmers Weekly Save money and never miss an issue. Subscribe ArableSee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flooding creates extreme planting conditionsWhat a year 2023 has turned out to be. Wet spring, wet summer, and an extremely wet autumn. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen flooding as deep and as quick… POTATOESHow a potato supplier aims to improve supply efficiencyThe UK’s largest potato supplier is investigating a farm-scale net-zero project which aims to increase efficiency and long-term sustainability across the entire potato supply chain. Whether it concerns variety choice,… DRILLINGAutumn deluge floods crops and delays drillsFarmers have faced yet another difficult autumn drilling season as continuous rainstorms play havoc with those attempting to get crops in the ground. Some growers who managed to get fields… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Never have I felt so unvalued by British SugarWe’re not a lot further on with drilling than a month ago, but we have at least got some done for others on drier land. A third of our winter… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize grower relief at emergency seed treatment rulingBritish maize growers can breathe a sigh of relief that three European seed treatments have been given the green light for UK use next year. UK regulators have granted emergency… CROP WATCHCrop Watch: Wheat crop failures and missed herbicidesThe huge cost of week after week of rain is becoming apparent, with wheat crops rotting and being written off. Many of those crops that have survived have not received… SUGAR BEETBritish Sugar digs heels in on controversial contract offerBritish Sugar says it has no plans to withdraw its offer to beet growers of £38/t for the 2024/25 supply contract, risking further fallout with the NFU. The NFU has… PULSESPulse growers invited to new variety list launchThe Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) has changed the format of its Descriptive List launch for peas and beans to encourage pulse growers to attend. In a change to… LivestockSee all POULTRY7 tips for making a profit from farm-scale Christmas turkeysAbout 18% of the Christmas turkeys sold to UK consumers are produced on a small scale by farmers independent of the big players. It can generate a good income, often… LIVESTOCKHow a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitalityConverting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: A journey to Ukraine for Pickups for PeaceThis month, I’ve handed over to my wife, Debbie, to share details of a mission to Ukraine she hopes to help with. She intends to be a driver for the… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize grower relief at emergency seed treatment rulingBritish maize growers can breathe a sigh of relief that three European seed treatments have been given the green light for UK use next year. UK regulators have granted emergency… LIVESTOCK DISEASESFarmers on high alert after bluetongue confirmed in KentLivestock farmers across the UK are being urged to stay vigilant after bluetongue virus (BTV) was detected in a dairy cow in Kent – the first confirmed case of the… OTHER LIVESTOCKWhy an Irish beef producer diversified into snailsSnails may not be a regular choice in British and Irish diets, but in mainland Europe they remain popular as an everyday staple and delicacy. Yet, in Ireland, snail farming… DAIRYHow early life calf nutrition affects long-term metabolismResearchers are discovering more about early life programming and how critical this is for adulthood, according to Trouw Nutrition’s Dr Leonel Leal. This starts with colostrum, but also includes feeding… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Breeding ewes achieve 10p/kg premium over fatThe rams went in with the ewes at the end of October, and as I write this I can see the shocking orange raddle (chosen by my father) on several… MachinerySee all CEREAL DRILLSNovag shows 9m, 18t tracked T-ForcePlus 950 drillSome careful manoeuvring was required to get the latest T-ForcePlus drill on Novag’s show stand. With wings that fold out to 9m, a tracked undercarriage, a monster 7,700-litre hopper and… COMBINES1,100hp Nexat gantry system to harvest 200t/hourNew Holland’s CR11 might have hogged the Agritechnica headlines but neither it nor the John Deere X9 can hold a candle to the Nexat combine in terms of harvesting output.… MOWERSSIP beefs up Disc HD mower-conditioners with 11m modelHigher output is the order of the day for SIP’s Disc HD butterfly mower conditioners, which have a maximum working width of up to 11.08m. Together with a new aerodynamic… TELEHANDLERS173hp JCB 542-100 Agri Pro joins Loadall rangeStraw contractors have access to some handy extra reach and lift capacity with the launch of JCB’s 542-100 telehandler. The new model can lift 4.2t and is capable of pushing… CommunitySee all FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Flooding creates extreme planting conditionsWhat a year 2023 has turned out to be. Wet spring, wet summer, and an extremely wet autumn. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen flooding as deep and as quick… DRILLINGAutumn deluge floods crops and delays drillsFarmers have faced yet another difficult autumn drilling season as continuous rainstorms play havoc with those attempting to get crops in the ground. Some growers who managed to get fields… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: A journey to Ukraine for Pickups for PeaceThis month, I’ve handed over to my wife, Debbie, to share details of a mission to Ukraine she hopes to help with. She intends to be a driver for the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Never have I felt so unvalued by British SugarWe’re not a lot further on with drilling than a month ago, but we have at least got some done for others on drier land. A third of our winter… BusinessSee all BUSINESSWhat to check before a permitted development projectWhile permitted development rights (PDRs) in England have benefited many farming businesses, there are important elements to check before going ahead. Among the most common mistakes or misunderstandings is that… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESBeef trade holds strong with support at auction martsTighter supplies of prime cattle and some early festive demand reported among industry from butchers and abattoirs have been supporting both liveweight and deadweight prices. Finished cattle prices in the… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESRed diesel drops below 80p/litre with weak demand on farmWet autumn conditions limiting demand and plenty of supply have capped red diesel prices in recent months, according to traders. Oil markets have dropped back from September highs with Brent… LIVESTOCKHow a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitalityConverting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESShrinking UK rapeseed area increases reliance on importsA smaller planted area and flea beetle damaged crops have left the UK with a viable oilseed rape (OSR) area of between 305,000ha and 320,000ha for 2024, according to grower… LAND MARKETSAberdeenshire woodlands on market in five lotsThe recent launch in Aberdeenshire of just over 401 acres in five lots adds to the choice for woodland and forestry buyers. With an overall guide price of offers of… BUSINESSCefetra launch new sustainability payments for farmersGrain trader and supplier Cefetra has launched a new initiative designed to financially reward farm businesses for sustainable farming practices. Cefetra is working in partnership with agronomy firm Soil Capital… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESABP’s takeover of Scotbeef sites cleared by CMAThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the acquisition by ABP of Scotbeef’s Bridge of Allan abattoir in Stirlingshire and its Queenslie meat packing plant in Glasgow. The decision… Futures prices Updated end of day Copyright © 2019. All market data is provided by Barchart Solutions. Futures: at least 10 minute delayed. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see disclaimer. Careers CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTAgriculture careers inspire the next generationFarmers Weekly was at the New Scientist Live event in London (7-9 October) showcasing cutting-edge farming methods to the public and delving into the fundamentals of food production. The “Future… COMMUNITYDefra urged to make progress on new entrants schemeFarming groups are urging Defra to make progress on its New Entrants Support Scheme, which is yet to be launched almost a year since it piloted. The scheme is being… CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTAgriculture careers on show at New Scientist LiveFarmers Weekly will be at the New Scientist Live event in London next month to bust common myths about farming and bring agriculture to life for everyone interested in science… COMMUNITYIs an agricultural degree worth doing?Over the past three years, figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency have shown a gradual climb in the number of students enrolling to study land-based and agricultural degrees. In…
