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Welcome note
Alex Black, Head of News and Business – alex.black@agriconnect.com
It is vital we maintain the pressure to Save Britain’s Family Farms
MOMENTUM is key in the campaign to Save Britain’s Family Farms and British farmers are certainly keeping the pressure on across the country.
This week has seen tractors descend on London and other major cities, as well as market towns, with a remarkable show of support from those in the crowds.
If we are to change the Chancellor’s mind, it is essential we maintain the pressure and, crucially, keep the British public behind us. Without them on our side, we make it too easy for the Government to justify continuing on its destructive path.
We know how difficult it is to get to London for many farmers, after all, the work still needs to be done on-farm, so hopefully some of the regional events have allowed more of you to make your feelings clear.
Next week’s Business Property Relief (BPR) event in London, bringing more of the business community on board, will also help raise that awareness. Agricultural Property Relief changes, as is increasingly clear, are not the whole story.
And, of course, it is not just farmers affected by the changes announced in the Budget, but the whole business community.
industry cannot sit back and wait for this to happen. NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy has also emphasised that the ‘fight is not over’.
While the next big focus will be the Spending Review in March, we cannot afford to go quiet until spring.
And it certainly seems that those organising the events are not content with resting on their laurels but, as the NFU chief set out, there is a fine balance to ensuring the public stay onside.
Threats to restrict food supplies risk having the opposite effect.
While it is easy to feel that the world is against farming, the reality is the industry has the backing of the British public in a way which cannot be seen in most other sectors.
The question of what next is a big one. Many farmers are feeling increasingly frustrated by the lack of political engagement on the issue and with Labour politicians toeing the party line.
Every Defra statement is at great pains to state the Government is supporting farmers.
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It also seems the amount of farmers, and their diversified businesses, who claim BPR, have not been taken into account.
While NFU president Tom Bradshaw has told Farmers Guardian he ‘genuinely believes’ there will be movement on Inheritance Tax (IHT), the
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But from everyone we speak to, from farmers to industry leaders, any positive announcement is caveated by the spectre of IHT hanging over us and the risk it poses to the entire sector.
But from everyone we speak to, from farmers to
Melton cattle champion sells for recordbreaking £16,600.
‘The
Restricting food supply due to Budget is ‘not the answer’
l NFU announces next steps to halt IHT changes
By Rachael Brown
SAFEGUARDING public support must be key if farmers are to win the war on Inheritance Tax (IHT) changes, NFU president Tom Bradshaw has insisted.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian, Mr Bradshaw was clear in his message restricting food supplies in response to the Budget was not an action he nor the NFU condoned, adding ‘the public have done nothing wrong’.
Mr Bradshaw said winning the fight on the family farm tax will only be achieved by maintaining public support and by using Labour’s own MPs to put pressure on the Treasury
The NFU has announced a series of next steps in its campaign to stop changes to IHT, including getting members to organise meetings with their accountant and MPs to unpick the Treasury’s financial arguments and present their own farm figures.
A campaign moment will also be held at LAMMA in January.
Last week, in a vote tabled by the Opposition, no Labour MPs voted against IHT changes, despite Labour MP for Penrith and Solway Markus Campbell-Savours saying he would have voted against the Government plans if it had been a ‘real vote’, as he
was ‘not prepared to break his word’ to farmers.
Mr Bradshaw said: “[Labour MPs] were never ever going to vote against the Government and side with the Opposition in last week’s debate.
“The big obstacle now is their political will to change it,” he said, adding if the Treasury feels enough pressure it will force change.
Focus
Mr Bradshaw said the Spending Review in March had become the campaign’s ‘critical focus’, hinting at a big event ahead of it.
He said members’ opinions on the action were split, with some suggesting one big event in London and others calling for an event in every market town in the country.
“We have gone from sprint mode into a much longer campaign now, into marathon mode.
“As we lead into that Spring Review, that will be the time to remind them, the industry are still really angry.”
Mr Bradshaw said he ‘genuinely believed’ there would be movement on IHT, but farmers could not wait for that to happen.
His comments came as the Defra Secretary Steve Reed visited Ulster Farrmers’ Union where he gave a commitment to facilitate a meeting between the Chancellor and the UK farming unions
When asked if he felt the weight of responsibility, he said there was a
[Labour MPs] were never ever going to vote against the Government and side with the Opposition
TOM BRADSHAW
‘huge amount of pressure’, but you ‘either rise to the challenge or you do not’.
Mr Bradshaw also acknowledged there were other challenges the union must tackle. Following the pause to capital grants, he said he now feared further cuts were likely.
“If I listen to Daniel Zeichner [Farming Minister] we should have absolutely nothing to fear about [...] and the risk is an overspend, rather than underspend. But I have grave cause for concern.”
He added the biggest issue since leaving the EU was the ‘lack of transparency’ from Defra on how the Budget is spent.
“We have got policy built on sand. I do not believe the foundations and the level of interrogation and those impact assessments has been done.”
PROTESTS took place across the UK this week as hundreds of tractors drove through the streets of London, York, Cardiff, Leicestershire and Suffolk, with farmers vowing to fight what has been termed the ‘family farm tax’. More than 650 tractors descended on Westminster on Wednesday (December 11), as a rally and slow-drive across Whitehall marked the ‘death of British farming’.
Farmers from across the Home Counties, as well as Shropshire, Kent, Wiltshire and beyond gathered to hear speeches, before a wreath was laid at the gates of Downing Street to highlight just how damaging the consequences of the Labour Government’s Budget will be on UK farming.
Welsh hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones was one of the speakers addressing crowds in the English capital.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian, he said: “We need change. We are here today to support the children – this is all about our kids’ futures and the future of farming.
“The Government needs to Uturn and that is only the start. We will fight on.”
Organiser and founder of campaign group Save British Farming, Liz Webster, said the Budget amounted to ‘nothing less than theft’.
Well behaved
She said: “British farmers have been very well behaved for a long time –although we are not going to do anything silly. There will be more co-ordinated action to put pressure on the Government.”
In York, speakers including farmers Rebecca Wilson and Richard Bramley
addressed an assembled group ahead of a drive-slow around the city.
Organiser Angus Gowthorpe said: “The Government is simply not listening. We have tried to contact our local MP Keir Mather, but he is not bothered and just towing the party line.”
More than 1,000 also turned out in Melton Mowbray on Monday (December 9).
Organiser Simon Orson said it was important to keep the issue in the public eye.
Mr Orson added on his own farm, initial calculations showed he would have about £800,000 to pay in Inheritance Tax on his father’s death, which meant they would have to sell about 53 hectares, leaving the farm potentially unviable.
Next week, the farmers who organised the November 19 rally in London
host
The Government needs to U-turn and that is only the start. We will fight on
GARETH WYN JONES
will
‘The Business Property Relief’ Summit at the London Palladium, supported by Andrew Lloyd Webber, in a bid to get family businesses together to send a message to Government.
Cows killed as Storm Darragh sweeps through
THE clean-up from Storm Darragh is continuing after some areas in the west of the UK were hit by heavy rains and gusts topping 90mph.
In Cornwall, farmer Eric Murley lost nine cows after they were hit by falling power cables. The livestock had been sheltering under a hedge at Higher Bojewyan near Pendeen as winds of up to 80mph were reported.
Elsewhere, farmers across Wales and the West Country were forced once more to count the cost of the damage, while many others rushed to help members of the public or clear roads blocked by the storm.
Carmarthenshire beef farmer Heffin Jones said he was yet to walk the boundaries of the farm, but had buildings damaged in the gales.
“We had a bit of structural damage – we lost a roof completely from one shed and we had a few gutters damaged too but we cannot complain. There are many worse off,” he said.
Devastation
Meanwhile in Anglesey, hundreds of panels at the 77-hectare Porth Wen solar farm were blown off their mountings, leaving a trail of devastation at the plant which was established just two years ago. A wind turbine on the Welsh island was also damaged after blades were ripped off and the base burst into flames.
The Met Office said the weather would remain unsettled over the coming weeks, although fairly mild for the time of year.
Baselining pilot underway
THE first measurements of an environmental baselining pilot for agriculture start this month, with 170 farms from across England, Scotland and Wales taking part.
The project, which aims to measure the environmental impact of farms across Great Britain, is being led by the AHDB Board, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Specialists Bluesky will be carrying out LiDAR scanning using a plane or drone, which will be used to estimate above-ground carbon stocks and provide run-off water maps.
The 170 farms chosen represent the diversity of British farming, across beef, lamb, dairy, pork, cereals and oilseeds. AHDB is investing £2.5 million in the pilot and QMS is funding the beef, lamb and pork
activity in Scotland, with an investment of £375,000.
Sam Ward from Lincolnshire Pork Co, who is taking part in the pilot, said the company applied because it wanted to put an ‘actual number’ on the amount of carbon the farm stores.
He said: “Being a pig business, we know our emissions are likely to be positive, but we are on the journey to reducing our emissions and this baselining is a key part of that.”
Long-term vision
AHDB’s long-term vision is to create the opportunity for a nationwide standardised data set across its sectors.
Further measurements to build the environmental picture of participating farms will continue in 2025 and will include soil carbon and nutrient testing plus a carbon audit.
There remained a serious concern about high volumes of illegally imported meat from ASF-infected areas, said Katie Jarvis, of the National Pig Association.
Biosecurity concerns at the borders
● Minister urged to do more on ASF threat
CONCERNS regarding trade routes and a lack of border control have been raised in Parliament as fears for UK biosecurity mount.
Ben Goldsborough, Labour MP for South Norfolk, said while more ‘interconnected’ supply chains were vital for the economy, the agriculture and horticulture sectors were being put at risk by biohazards and animal disease emergencies such as avian influenza and African swine fever (ASF).
It came as Defra announced a £200 million pound investment in the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) laboratories in Weybridge, which it said would enable APHA to ‘replace and upgrade the biosecurity facilities’.
While he welcomed the investment, Mr Goldsborough highlighted the growing threat of ASF, describing it as a ‘huge issue for Norfolk’, and urged the Farming Minister to do more to protect domestic pig producers.
Mr Goldsborough told MPs: “The UK pig industry is worth £8 billion annually and faces a potential crisis if ASF breaches our borders.”
His calls were welcomed by the National Pig Association (NPA), which said an outbreak could potentially
‘decimate’ the sector, as well as its allied trades and vital export markets.
Katie Jarvis, NPA senior policy adviser, said there remained serious concerns about the likelihood of an ASF outbreak in the UK, particularly due to the high volumes of illegally imported meat from ASF-infected areas such as Romania.
“We believe that the Border Target Operating Model, in its current form, is not fit for purpose and is highly vulnerable to exploitation from organised crime,” added Ms Jarvis.
According to Home Office figures, the amount of illegal meat seized by Border Force officials doubled to more than 70,000kg in 2023/24.
In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) condemned the illegal importation of livestock into Northern Ireland from Britain. Imports have been suspended since November 2023, following the first outbreak of bluetongue. However, the UFU said the ‘smuggling of animals’ had become a ‘serious threat’.
UFU president William Irvine said the union had been ‘appalled’ by the actions of some within the farming community despite numerous warnings.
In late November, it was reported 65 sheep – which had been illegally imported into NI from Britain – had been destroyed by Daera officials at a local port to limit the risk.
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● 14 more SFI options are announced
By Jane Thynne
A SET of ‘improved and optimised’ farming schemes have been unveiled by Defra including the long-awaited update to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT), as well as 14 further Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options.
The news comes as the department also said it had distributed payments worth £297 million to farmers in Countryside and Environmental Stewardship schemes, describing it as a ‘rural economy cash injection’.
According to Defra, the new and improved CSHT scheme will open in 2025, providing new quarterly payments designed to improve farmers’ cash flow.
It will be available via a rolling application window enabling farmers to apply throughout the year and includes new actions to improve flood resilience and species abundance.
Alongside this are an additional 14 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) endorsed actions which will be available from summer 2025, with a focus
Open Farm Sunday seeks to cultivate public connections
NEXT year’s Open Farm Sunday will have a greater focus on connecting the public with farmers as they seek to feed the nation and protect the environment against a backdrop of change.
Open Farm Sunday organisers Leaf last week launched a new campaign theme at the House of Lords called ‘Cultivating Connections’.
“By cultivating connections across the food supply chain Open Farm Sunday has helped connect millions of people to farming and food production,” said Leaf chief executive David Webster.
“We want to inspire a deeper appreciation of how farmers are working with nature to protect and regenerate our environment while producing the food we all need to live.”
Hosting the launch, Lord Don Curry paid tribute to Leaf and the many thousands of farmers and helpers who have opened their farms to the public since the first Open Farm Sunday in 2006. Since then there have been 6,087 farm events hosting 3.25 million people with 23% of visitors to this year’s Open Farm Sunday never having visited a farm before.
Defra’s updated farming schemes have received a cautious welcome.
Defra unveils revised Higher Tier schemes
on grassland, coastal and heritage sites.
Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed said the announcements reflected the Government’s ‘steadfast commitment to farmers’.
He said: “This Government is working hard to get money into farmers’ bank accounts. As we set out our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economic growth and boosting Britain’s food security.”
Professor of practice at the Univer-
sity of Cumbria Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas Julia Aglionby offered a cautious welcome on CSHT but said those who farm common land had once again been excluded.
“They may have paid out more [...] but given the Basic Payment Scheme [BPS] has been slashed, the total payments are much lower than December 2020 when BPS and Environmental and Countryside Stewardship were all paid out. So overall, the injection of cash is much reduced,” she said.
“Currently there are 93 commons in a question waiting to apply for SFI Extended Moorland actions – this will be more than 100,000 hectares and none can apply because commons maps are not activated on the online rural payments portal.
“To date, Defra’s record on transitioning from BPS to Environmental Land Management [ELM] has fallen short of what uplands and commons farming businesses require to deliver for nature, climate and landscape. Cash flow is king in business and the lack of access to ELM schemes means many farms are being pushed to the very edge of survival.”
Report highlights major threats to food security Daera Suckler scheme delays ‘will disrupt calendar’
CLIMATE change, nature loss and water insecurity pose significant risks to the ability of domestic food production, according to findings published in the latest UK Food Security Report.
The document spans 2021 to 2024 and details threats posed to UK food security as the UK came to terms with the aftermath of Covid-19, its new relationship with the EU following Brexit, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and recent turbulent trading conditions posed by ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
Key findings showed the UK’s overall balance of trade and production is ‘broadly stable’ at an overall domestic versus import ratio of 60:40.
According to the report, domestic production stood at 62% for all food and 75% for indigenous foods (meaning those that can be grown in the UK) in 2023, showing a small increase from 61% and 74% in 2021.
Defra said this is a continuation of the broadly stable trend seen in recent years.
Arable crops for the most part had been the most impacted by extreme weather events. While production
levels fluctuate each year due to changes in both planted area and yields, in 2019 UK cereal production (25.5 million tonnes) was the highest this century, whereas in 2020, production (19.0mt) was the second lowest, largely due to bad weather.
The published first estimate of the 2024 English cereal and oilseed harvest shows a 22% decrease (around 2.8mt) in harvested wheat from 2023.
The UK’s decline in natural capital – soil health, water supply and biodiversity were all said to be having a negative effect on food production.
Sustain sustainable farming coordinator Will White said the report showed food security and a healthy natural world are ‘indivisible’.
“To ensure resilient food security for the next decades, the Government needs to take a systemic approach.
“This means better funding and delivery of the environmental land management schemes, a clear strategy for growth for the horticulture sector, and clear policies to reduce the climate impact of farming and our diets.”
DAERA’s inability to stick to the original timeline for the Suckler Cow Support Scheme is going to seriously disrupt farmers’ yearly calendar. That was the message from the deputy president of Ulster Farmers’ Union Glenn Cuddy after the Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir confirmed the scheme will be delayed until April 1, 2025. It was due to start on January 1, 2024.
He added the union had not been consulted on the delay and was ‘totally against it’, calling for a further delay to January 1, 2026, due to concerns the latest plans would penalise spring calving herds.
A Daera spokesperson said: “The duration of the scheme remains unchanged and therefore no suckler farmers will be disadvantaged by this short delay in the scheme opening. “It will also provide additional time to communicate and prepare farm businesses to avail of the scheme.”
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BPS budget maintained for Wales
● Industry awaits detail on spending
By Rachael Brown
THE Welsh Government announcement that it will maintain the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) ceiling at £238 million for the 2025/26 year has been welcomed.
The Government also announced an additional £5.5m in resources and £14m capital funding for wider rural investment schemes.
According to the draft Budget, there will be an increase in the Climate Change and Rural Affairs
budget of £36.35m revenue alongside £71.95m capital funding.
Farmers’ Union of Wales president Ian Rickman said considering the ‘disproportionate cuts faced by the Welsh Rural Affairs budget over recent years’, the decision by Welsh Government to increase the Climate Change and Rural Affairs budget by 6.6% was one to be welcomed.
“It is now vital the Welsh Government provides clarity on how this departmental funding will be distributed to support family farms and our rural communities,” he said.
He welcomed the decision to maintain the BPS payment ceiling saying it was ‘crucial in providing a
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford has outlined the Welsh Government’s spending plans for 2025/26.
level of security for farmers in Wales’.
While additional funding has been provided for wider rural investment and the environment, Mr Rickman said urgent questions remained regarding how this compared with the rural investment Wales historically received from European support programmes.
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said the maintained funding for BPS came as welcome news and the industry was now waiting for the Deputy First Minister to confirm how he would spend the money available to him.
He said: “These measures are crucial for the delivery of productivity and environmental improvements on farm.”
Mr Jones emphasised the Welsh
Government still needed to get its draft Budget through the Senedd. He said: “The next few weeks will therefore be critical ahead of the final Budget being published at the end of February and voted on at the beginning of March.”
Mr Jones stressed the need for Welsh farming to have longer-term, multi-annual funding agreements that can give stability and certainty to farming families and enable food, nature and climate ambitions to be met.
Plaid Cymru rural affairs spokesperson Llyr Gruffydd said, on the whole, the Budget was underwhelming and fell well short of what was needed to allow farmers to deliver on the demands being placed upon them by the Labour Government.
Welsh Conservatives’ new leader
WELSH Conservatives have elected their new leader, after Andrew R.T. Davies stood down last week, following a narrow victory in a confidence vote.
Clwyd West MS Darren Millar was elected unopposed as the new leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd, receiving public endorsements from all 15 of his colleagues in the Welsh Parliament.
Welsh Conservative Party chair Bernard Gentry said: “Working
together as one united party under Darren, Mims and myself, I am confident that we can achieve further success at the Senedd elections in 2026.”
Darren Millar said: “Andrew R.T. Davies will be a difficult act to follow, but I am determined to build on his legacy as we take the fight to our political opponents in the run-up to the Senedd elections in 2026.
“After 25 years of Labour failure, Wales is crying out for hope and change.”
Funding delay for uplands puts climate targets at risk
● Hill farmers only receiving 8% of SFI
By Rachael Brown
HILL farmers’ livelihoods are at risk because of delays to new Government support schemes, with upland areas in England receiving ‘less than their promised share’ of new farming support among growing concerns about climate and nature targets and the prospect of another budget underspend.
New analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), showed hill farmers were ‘only receiving 8% or £39 million’ of the Government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), despite occupying ‘around 15% of England’s area’.
This was according to data provided by the Rural Payments Agency, following a request under Environmental Information Regulations for payments made under the SFI and Higher Level Stewardship schemes in 2023 and 2024.
After being ‘beset by problems’ since its launch, the expansion of the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Scheme is now not expected to be available until next summer.
Analysis by the ECIU found incomes from upland farms were typically among the ‘lowest’ of all sectors,
with data for 2023/24 showing an average income of £23,500.
ECIU land, food and farming analyst Tom Lancaster said further delays to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme would put hill farmers’ finances ‘in jeopardy’.
He said: “For the Treasury, these schemes provide the best value for money, and a quick start is essential to avoid the looming prospect of an underspend against this Government’s commitment to farmers.”
Neil Heseltine, an upland farmer and member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, from Malham, North Yorkshire, said: “We are ready, willing and able, but the support to do so just has not been there yet.”
ECIU found delays to the Higher Tier schemes were ‘compounded by fears’ that when it did launch not enough farmers would be able to get into it.
Analysis estimated about 45-50% of the overall farming budget would need to be allocated to the Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery schemes to meet targets and spend the budget effectively.
At present, analysis shows only 12% of the total farming budget goes into these schemes, which raises concerns about another ‘big underspend’ against a £1.8 billion Budget commitment on green farming schemes by next year.
Upland farms typically had the lowest income of all sectors, with an average of £23,500 for 2023/24, according to analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
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Tax changes leave confusion
MINISTERS’ claims that Inheritance Tax will help farmers by cutting valuations is not true.
Companies are exempt, they will keep land values far higher than their food-producing worth and cause food shortages.
By buying land to plant trees or to get alleged carbon offsets, for solar farms, to get feed-in tariffs and building or speculation of getting permission in some areas.
It will not stop individuals and developers inflating the value of the house, buildings and a field or two everywhere so high they will take much of the allowances and all or more in southern and western England and part of the East, as well as all in the London commuter/retiree area.
It will not stop individuals paying senselessly high prices for a single field or several, believing the saying ‘land is the best investment because no more
Social media reactions
READERS had their say on social media after a Conservative attempt to overthrow the family farm tax was thwarted by Labour MPs:
■ “The general public has now had time to look at the facts of the policy and farmers are losing
is being made’. None of them understanding that no farming will ever be able to pay these prices when they want to cash their investment.
All of these high values will be used by officials to tax farmers’ estates.
Much of them are due to taxation being taken off income in the early 1980s. If Labour genuinely wants to protect farms and food production, it should put taxation back onto income.
This would allow, cut or end buying second homes and holiday lets, so making housing more affordable for the young, and cut down on the madness of taking land out of food production for building more houses.
the argument. Tories are jumping on the wagon purely for political gain. Farmers should be more angry with the Tories than anyone else for forcing the outrageous Brexit deals on them.”
ARTHUR DENT
■ “Those with thin majorities in
Labour should understand that grass is said to collect and store carbon, while feeding food-producing animals. They should ban solar farms and tree planting, except on the high hill tops.
None of them will grow big enough to have any effect on the climate for 30 years plus – food is needed every day.
C.V. Cateaux, Pembrokeshire
Methane misery
I STRONGLY condemn the use of so-called methane-reducing
rural seats can kiss the gravy train goodbye.”
ANN JONES
■ “The rural people will remember.”
STEPHEN GOWENLOCK
■ “They daren’t do anything else or they’ll be joining the unemployed.”
JOHN RUTTER
additives, like Bovaer, in cow feed, as recently trialled by Arla Foods. This ‘re-engineering’ of cows prioritises corporate public relations over the welfare of farmers, animals and consumers.
Farmers and crofters in our communities have long upheld sustainable, natural practices which balance animal health, food quality and environmental stewardship. These additives undermine traditional methods, forcing artificial interventions which create unnecessary controversy and public distrust in the dairy industry.
I stand firmly with our farming communities in opposing these industrial experiments and call for meaningful solutions which respect farmers, animals and consumers alike.
To those advocating boycotts: I urge support for farmers producing dairy sustainably and locally, who are being unfairly caught in this corporate-driven controversy.
Councillor Alastair Redman, Kintyre and the Islands.
Emissions
ANOTHER week and yet more nonsense about carbon emissions. Henry Dimbleby stressed the importance of reducing the amount of meat produced in the UK to meet biodiversity and carbon targets and
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meat should be up for discussion just like fossil fuels.
Is Mr Dimbleby unaware CO2 from ruminants is a flow or recycling gas, unlike CO2 from fossil fuels, which is an accumulating or build-up gas?
Then there is Sophie Gregory attending COP29 in Azerbaijan and the UN naming farmers as contributing 30% of global emissions.
Was Sophie just a little gullible for accepting this figure on face value? The UN is, after all, the world’s grandest quango.
It is a fact that farmers’ crops, cattle and grassland recycle carbon.
When considering carbon calculations, I rang the NFU, AHDB and grassland societies and asked the question ‘how much CO 2 does an acre of grassland absorb and recycle and how much oxygen is produced as a by-product?’.
The answer was: ‘I don’t know, it’s complicated’.
Prof John Gilliland, of AHDB, proclaims the numbers are key to reaching net zero. Well then Prof Gilliland, please answer the above question in the absence of this vital information.
I dare to suggest an average-sized cow or an acre of grass is carbon neutral. Am I being ignorant, naive and obtuse? Or is it the agricultural elite?
Jess Bostock, Staffordshire.
Jane Thynne News & Business Reporter – jane.thynne@agriconnect.com
Storm shows fragility of UK food security
THE integrity of the Labour Government’s much trumpeted phrase, ‘food security is national security’ has been brought into sharp focus this week with the publication of the UK Food Security Report.
The document, which covers the past three years, clearly highlights just how fragile domestic production is as it details recent political, economic and climactic crises which have all had a serious impact on our food and farming sectors.
And as if to prove a point, extreme weather events – such as last week’s Storm Darragh, the fourth in as many weeks which wreaked havoc across UK farms – are flagged as a key driver leading to decreased production.
Trade routes are also highlighted in the study – also timely as concerns were raised in Parliament last week about biosecurity. Post-Brexit border controls (or lack of) threaten increased animal health emergencies such as avian influenza and African swine fever. And with the arrival of illegal meat –some from infected countries – on the rise, it is no
Young Farmer Focus
wonder pig sector leaders warn domestic pig production would be ‘decimated’ and delicate trade deals quashed if the disease hit these shores.
Labour will, I fully expect, lay the blame fully at the feet of the past Government, after all the UK Food Security Report uses data ending June 2024.
But surely, with all these facts in front of them, along with continuing protests, the time has come to end the blame game and get to work.
Strength: I will always remember her strength while going through something so horrible. She would always smile despite everything she went through. Lucy was funny, kind and a wonderful person to be around. She loved farming too and would always help out whenever we needed a helping hand.
Tom Kirk with a tractor from the ‘Lights for Lucy festive tractor run’.
Penrith, Cumbria Tom Kirk, 21, is an agricultural mechanic at Carr’s Billington Tractor Emporium in Penrith. Tom Kirk
Edited by Alex Black – 07880
For more business content, go to farmersguardian.com/farm-business-news-hub
By Alex Black
‘Multiple meats’ on the Christmas menu Business
SHOPPERS are preparing to splash out more on Christmas this year with expectations plates will be ‘piled high’ this festive season.
Emma Wantling, retail and consumer insight manager at AHDB, said: “In recent years, purse strings were tightened and some shoppers had to choose between perceived ‘non-essential’ options like stuffing and pigs in blankets, instead of getting both.
“However, as we head into the 2024 festive season, the number of consumers who are concerned about the cost of living crisis has fallen and we predict Christmas plates will be piled high,” she said.
In an AHDB study conducted by Two Ears One Mouth, 58% of consumers said that pigs in blankets were an essential part of the big day – just as important to consumers as stuffing, Brussels sprouts and Yorkshire puddings.
About 38% of consumers think that
Turkey is predicted to be the most popular choice at Christmas dinner tables.
a cheese board is keyto festive celebrations, with brie, Cheddar and blue Stilton being the most preferred varieties to feature.
Popular options
While turkey is predicted to be the most popular meat option, followed by gammon and beef, over a quarter of consumers were planning to enjoy multiple meat options.
About 23% were planning to buy two meat options for the Christmas
meal while 10% were planning to have three meat options, with turkey and gammon or turkey and beef being the most common combinations. While traditional foods remain popular, cooking methods are changing, with a quarter of people using an air fryer, most likely to cook the meat, followed by roast potatoes. It comes as it was revealed the price of a Christmas dinner had increased well above inflation, at 6.5%, according to Kantar.
SCOTLAND’S smallest herds with fewer than 30 cows, which make up almost half of all beef holdings and 10.3% of total breeding dams, could see potential funding reductions of £241,240, the loss of one and a half livestock marts and a large abattoir.
This is the stark warning given by beef industry groups the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), the National Beef Association and the Scottish Beef Association in an analysis of the proposed amendment to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) which seeks to add a 410-day calving interval.
The author of the SSBSS briefing report, Neil Wilson, executive director of IAAS, said the groups were seeking a ‘pause’ to reconvene.
Outcome
“This will allow us to understand the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment carried out for this policy update. If we do this at pace, we can still achieve a policy outcome during 2025 from this vital beef sector support scheme.”
He said the introduction of calving interval conditionality would lead to consolidation and closures of marts and meat processors, as well as private kill facilities.
● Re-listing could be worth £80 million
By Alex Black
THE pig sector has received an export boost as the Government announced the end of China’s Covid-19 era restrictions on UK unprocessed pork exports. Industry estimates have shown the re-listing of two sites could boost revenues by about £80 million, with major UK producers able to restart exports immediately.
China bought about £180m worth of pigmeat in 2023, making it the UK’s biggest non-EU customer. The UK has shipped £117m worth of product in the first three quarters of 2024.
The announcement follows talks during the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to China, as well as work from Defra, the Department for Business and Trade, AHDB and the UK Export Certification Partnership.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said it was a ‘massive win’ for British pork producers.
He said: “It is a further example of this Government delivering on its ‘Plan for Change’, boosting growth and benefiting businesses across the country.
Boost for pork exports
Our pork is world-famous for its quality, and now we can give Chinese customers what they are hungry for.”
AHDB highlighted the work done to bring the ‘right parties’ together in the two nations to support discussions, with the levy body playing host to a delegation from the China Meat Association for a week.
Angela Christison, AHDB pork sector director, said it was ‘fantastic news’.
“Around 50% of the world’s pork is consumed in China. It is impossible to
overstate the importance of this market with its growing demand. The potential for our high-quality pork is immense and we look forward to continuing working with Government and industry to maximise the opportunities,” she said.
Further success
“Going into 2025, this will be a welcome boost for the UK pork sector, and we look forward to achieving further success.”
“The mission to keep the re-listing of suspended sites on the agenda was realised through consistent and persistent efforts.
“The re-listing of these sites demonstrates the resilience of the UK pork industry and the strength of relationships between AHDB and others.
“It is a compelling example of how critical market access work often unfolds behind the scenes.”
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With farmers facing a range of pressures, from climate change to geopolitics, consulting firm Andersons takes a look at the prospects for 2025. Jonathan Wheeler reports.
Resilience key for the future
● Outlook o ers areas for farmers to improve
DEVELOPING resilience will be a key aim for all farmers in the coming year, said farm business consultancy Andersons in its Outlook 2025 document.
It will be needed to cope with a range of pressures, some of which are already making their presence felt.
One key issue was the challenging weather the industry faced in 2024.
The report’s authors said: “There is a strong sense that climate change is causing greater extremes for our industry to deal with.”
The theme is also picked up in the essay that concludes the publication, written by Tim Benton, of Chatham House.
He highlighted three pressures –geopolitics, climate change and the need to improve human diets – as key drivers for change in the future.
For the moment, the outlook offers a number of areas that farmers might address to improve their business’ resilience.
It said: “The first is physical infrastructure – for example, buildings that are resistant to high winds – improved field drainage, sun shelter for livestock, systems to cope with high rainfall; the list is potentially long.
“Then there are farming systems.
Robust rotations that spread risk, the maintenance of soil health, perhaps new crops or a shift to cope with a lack of summer grass.
“Finally, there is the need to be financially robust.”
It added not all farming risks can be mitigated – and it may not be cost-effective to do so.
“So businesses should have [or seek to develop] the capability to absorb the financial impact of a weatheraffected season.”
Reflecting on the past year, farm profits, as measured by Defra’s Total Income From Farming, were expected to fall from 2023’s figure, which the outlook said was surprisingly high.
Historically high
Despite some bills falling, it added the industry still faced historically high costs, especially fixed costs.
These tend to rise with a ratchet effect – being quick to rise and slow to fall – and will continue to rise as inflation stays at about 2%, as it is expected to for the next two years.
It expects farm profits to fall 9% for 2024, although this still leaves it at the top end of the range for the years between 2008’s financial crisis and the UK leaving the EU at the end of 2020.
For 2025, it expects little change to profitability in real terms.
Looking 10-20 years ahead, we are likely to see a more fragmented, volatile and contested world than a globalised and co-operative world
TIM BENTON
Looking to the future, Mr Benton said the only planning assumption that was bound to be wrong was ‘business as usual’ – that farming and its markets would continue pretty much as they are.
“The world of 2024, compared to 15-20 years ago, is one of increased geopolitical tension, particularly the West versus Russia and US versus China.
“The application of, and respect for, international law is weaker, as is investment in international co-operation – whether the United Nations or the World Trade Organisation.
“Looking 10-20 years ahead, we are likely to see a more fragmented, volatile and contested world than a globalised and co-operative world.
“Trade and market prices, as well as demand and supply, are inevitably going to change, perhaps radically.”
He said the extreme weather of 2023/24 was just a foretaste of the future.
“Turbocharged weather is likely to disrupt supply chains, whether directly from agricultural production being impacted, or from transport disruptions.”
Diet
And the third big impact, which he said had not been discussed enough yet, was diet.
“Dietary ill health is both preventable and a significant determinant of health and social care costs, but growth in NHS and social budgets is likely to be increasingly constrained.”
That may translate into Government pressure to incentivise prohealth dietary change, which would effectively be regarded as preventative healthcare.
But he did not predict a smooth transition on any of these three fronts, saying there was potential for it to be dominated by events such as wars, pandemics, flooding or fires.
Tim Benton said the extreme weather of 2023/24 was just a foretaste of the future.
● French political chaos could get complicated
By Alex Black
EUROPEAN Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has moved to reassure farmers safeguards are in place after reaching an agreement on the EU-Mercosur deal.
Ms von der Leyen said it was a ‘win-win’. She said: “We are focused on fairness and mutual benefit. We have listened to the concerns of our farmers and we acted on them. This agreement includes robust safeguards to protect your livelihoods.”
The deal will still need to be ratified by the EU Council of Member States and the European Parliament, and French opposition could be a deal breaker, with the farming sector strongly opposed across Europe.
In France, the National Federation of Agricultural Workers’ Unions (FNSEA) said the responsibility of rejecting Mercosur was now down to President Emmanuel Macron, as the Government collapsed.
Opposition parties in the French parliament backed a vote of no confi-
IRISH FARMERS PROTEST DEAL
IRISH farmers handed a letter of protest to the EU Commission office in Dublin on December 4, claiming the Commission was trying to take advantage of political uncertainty to drive the deal through.
Irish Farmers Association president Francie Gorman, who is also the vice-president of European farmer body COPA, said the Commission ‘may have sold out European farmers, but there is a distance to travel yet’.
EU reaches agreement on Mercosur deal
dence against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who used special powers to force through a social security budget on Monday (December 2).
It means the country’s political system is in turmoil, with headaches created also for the European Union, and political uncertainty also prevalent in the other major powerhouse –Germany.
Sole responsibility
On X, FNSEA said: “Since Emmanuel Macron is now the sole legitimate representative of the state, we consider that it is his sole responsibility to prevent the signing of Mercosur.
“From the first hour of his appointment, we expect the new Prime Minister to guarantee the respect of the promises made to the agricultural world.
“We call on all farmers to ask their
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MP how, without a budget, he intends to honour the promises made.”
It added with ‘no state to answer our questions’ there was ‘no state that con-
trols our farms’, saying no controller would be able to cross the threshold of farms as long as promises were ‘not honoured’.
Diversification
Staycation ‘boost’ for Welsh farmers
● Planning change mooted for campsites
By Chris Brayford
CHANGES to planning regulations could enable Welsh farm businesses to ‘benefit’ from on-farm diversification projects as soon as next summer.
In September, Wales’ Planning Secretary Rebecca Evans confirmed the Welsh Government was ‘progressing work’ to bring Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in line with England and allow temporary campsites to run for 60 days instead of 28 days in time for the summer season.
Temporary campsites can be run for 28 days per year under PDRs without
the landowner or tenant needing to apply for further planning permission.
Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, which provides more than 14,000 listings for campsite and glamping businesses, said the move, which had been extended during Covid-19 to help rural communities during the pandemic before it was reverted back to 28 days in 2022, could have a ‘hugely positive impact’ on Wales’ rural economy.
Delighted
He added: “We are delighted to learn that the Welsh Government is now taking the issue seriously and is working towards a workable solution.”
Emma and Edwin Jones, who run a campsite alongside their beef and sheep business at Nant Madyn Farm in
Proposed planning changes could help farmers diversify.
Llanegryn, said extending PDR could make their business a success in the future after ‘struggling’ with current legislation.
Ms Jones said: “The 28 days does hamper us. Incomes are tight. We are told to diversify which means trying to find ways to start something off from a low cost base. That is hard enough as it is, so it is frustrating that we are being restricted in what we can do.”
The problem has arisen because the couple hires portable toilets for camping guests on their hill farm in the Snowdonia National Park.
They are considered a ‘moveable structure’ and, as such, when the campsite is open, even if no-one turns up, the time is still deducted from the 28-day allowance.
Emma said: “If they moved it to 56 or 60 days as they have in England, it would give the option to do a week in Easter, May Bank Holiday, open for a few more days in the summer holidays and possibly at October half term.
“We are at a crossroads. But if they can sort this out in time for next year, that might be our saving grace.”
Farm Profile
Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768 796 492 – angela.calvert@agriconnect.com
Alex and Carlyn Paton have worked hard to expand and diversify their Ayrshire farm business, which includes an on-site factory making meat products from their cattle finishing enterprise. Wendy Short reports.
Meat processing business adds value to Ayrshire farm
Alex Paton is fourth generation at Cairnhill Farm, Girvan, and his family always had an ambition to establish a brand and a route to market for their beef cattle.
He and his wife, Carlyn, launched their business, ‘We Hae Meat’, in 2007 and it currently employs 65 staff, producing 24 million slices of square beef sausages and other meat products each year, mainly for supermarkets.
But the couple still remain highly focused on the beef enterprise, which buys in continental-bred beef cattle from auction marts at 12-14 months of age.
Some 700 head are finished at 450kg deadweight, having reached 24-28 months old, with cattle also bought in on occasion to meet the year-round demand.
The cattle are mainly of Limousin,
Charolais, Aberdeen-Angus and British Blue breeding.
Alex says: “The cattle go to a local abattoir and the carcases are returned
to our butchery. After the processing meat has been removed, the high-end cuts such as sirloin and fillet steaks are marketed to local hotels and restau-
rants under our ‘Cairnhill Farms’ brand.
“In 2023, we started buying in pork meat to extend the product range.”
A fresh look at the farm’s grassland management led to them introducing Italian ryegrass leys post-harvest 2024 to replace some of the long-term grazing seed mixes.
“The factory expansion took up a lot of time and I admit that I took my eye off the ball with the grassland for a few years, but that is being addressed,” says Alex.
“After two years, the leys will go into winter cereals, although some may last for a third season. They will probably be cut for silage at the end of their first year, as I am concerned about the risk of soil structure damage if they are grazed too early.
“I have worked out the costings and the investment involved in establish-
Carlyn and Alex Paton launched their business
‘We Hae Meat’ at Cairnhill Farm in 2007.
Alex Paton, right, and son Jake, with cattle from their beef enterprise.
Farm Profile Ayrshire
ment costs and a more expensive seed mix should be repaid with higher grass dry matter production, as well as an improvement in following cereal yields.”
The winter cattle diet comprises home-grown barley, chopped straw and molasses treacle, plus a mineral blend formulated to the farm’s specification.
During the grazing period, they are supplemented with barley and molasses fed in troughs in quantities of 0.5-5kg/head/day.
Alex adds: “The younger cattle also receive silage at housing to prepare their rumens for a season at grass.
“Turnout is usually in March onto traditional fields, although a paddock grazing system is being considered.
Gain
“The daily liveweight gain is satisfactory, at an overall 1.5kg/head/day and a figure of more than 2kg/head/day in the final four weeks of the finishing period.”
Sheep have always been brought in from other farms for winter grazing, but the business has now bought 300 continental store lambs.
The aim is to have more control over managing the new short-term leys. The sheep have an important role in soil fertilisation and are also grazed on stubble turnips.
Historically, the farm has sold wheat to a local whisky distillery,
It quickly became clear that we had outgrown the butcher’s shop, so it was replaced with the initial factory, which was built on the farm in 2008/9
ALEX PATON
which started using processing by-products to generate energy for the distilling process in 2019.
This led to a change of cropping in the farm’s arable rotation on the free-draining, sandy loam soils. The region receives an annual rainfall average of 125cm.
Alex says: “The sustainable energy policy at the distillery required a co-product, and rye was identified as a suitable crop for the system.
“Ours was one of a dozen farms asked to supply rye, and the crop has
turned out to be easier to grow on our land, compared with wheat. In addition, a percentage of the rye harvest goes to an animal feed mill.”
Alex is one of four members of a potato growing group that produces exclusively on contract for the Albert Bartlett brand.
“We will not plant a single potato
without having a market for the end product,” he stresses.
“In total, the members grow an annual 202-223 hectares (500-550 acres), which is divided on a percentage basis; I have been allocated 28%.
“We share machinery and use a central grading facility.”
The first opportunity to develop a
Sheep on the farm play an important role in soil fertilisation.
Some 700 head of continentalbred cattle are finished at 450kg deadweight, aged 24-28 months. Inset: the ration includes homegrown barley, chopped straw and molasses treacle plus minerals.
Ayrshire Farm Profile
meat business arose when the couple took over a local butcher’s shop which had come on to the market.
Carlyn had a career in banking, but left her job to focus on the meat product business.
Alex says: “Our meat and meat products range did well from day one and it was not long before an ASDA store opened nearby.
“The manager was passionate about local produce, and it began stocking our sausages, burgers, haggis and other added-value items.
“Within a short time, additional ASDA stores submitted orders and the arrangement was eventually extended across Scotland, with Tesco also coming on board.
“It quickly became clear that we had outgrown the butcher’s shop, so it was replaced with the initial factory, which was built on the farm in 2008/9.
Farm facts
n The farm covers 380 hectares (940 acres) in total. It includes 242ha (600 acres) of arable cropping, 89ha (220 acres) of grass and 50ha (120 acres) of woodland
n The couple have three children, Jake, Harry and Daniella, with Jake running his own business selling duck and hen eggs
n The meat products business name is taken from a phrase in a Robert Burns poem
n The combined heat and power energy system burns pre-dried wood in a biomass boiler at 1,000degC
n The fuel for the first four years of the renewable energy project was supplied entirely by wood from their own farm
“The original building covered 8,000 square feet and it has since tripled in size. We were lucky enough to receive some support from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation grant scheme, although developing the factory also meant taking on a large bank loan, which we are still paying off.”
The factory is 100% self-sufficient in heat and also generates 90-92% of its electricity through sustainable energy production.
Renewables
It has cut a 2021 projected annual energy cost estimate of £850,000 for operating the factory to about £45,000, with the renewables equipment running costs factored into the calculation.
The system is run on wood, bought on licence from the nearby Galloway Forest Park.
The investment in renewables was prompted in 2016, when the decision was taken to expand the factory.
in ‘Scotland’s Most Sustainable Food and Drink Business’ competition, among others.
The water in the disused mines is geothermal and therefore it is a potentially valuable heat source
ALEX PATON
“The potential increase in the energy bill when the factory expansion was being planned was a major cause for concern,” says Alex.
“The Galloway Forest is the largest in Britain and its proximity to the farm has been a major bonus. We also have solar panels on the factory roof.”
The ‘We Hae Meat’ brand has been widely recognised for its sustainability achievements, winning an award
Most recently, it won the ‘Energy Transition Scotland’ category at the VIBES Scottish Environment Business awards.
Alex spends a lot of time thinking about new business ventures and the family’s latest project will be the first of its kind in the UK.
It was sparked by the fairly recent purchase of some land previously used for coal mining.
“The water in the disused mines is geothermal and therefore it is a potentially valuable heat source.
“We are collaborating with experts to look into a system which would extract the water, harvest the heat energy and return the water to the nearby ground, where it would reach the original temperature by the time it re-entered the mines.
“The heat might provide energy for the public buildings, as well as a large greenhouse to grow out-of-season fruit and vegetables.
“Our established supermarket connections would help us to pinpoint demand. There is still more work to be done before it comes to fruition, but it is an exciting prospect,” he says.
Alex and Carlyn’s son Jake has his own business selling duck and hen eggs.
Home-grown barley is used along with molasses as supplementary cattle feed during the grazing period.
The business’ processing building has tripled in size.
Edited by Alice Dyer – 07966 445 458 – alice.dyer@agriconnect.com
For more arable content, go to farmersguardian.com/arable-news-hub
The
Processors and Growers Research Organisation has added 14 new peas and beans to its 2025 Descriptive List for pulses. Alice Dyer reports.
Strong yield performance from new peas and beans
● Room for yellow pea growing area to expand
AFTER some strong yield performances in this year’s field trials, new varieties sit at the top of the spring bean list as well as at the summit of the marrowfat, green and yellow categories of the combining pea list.
Launched at CropTec, the 2025 Descriptive List features debuts for nine peas, one winter bean and four spring beans.
Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) senior technical officer Dr Chris Judge says there are two main themes emerging from this year’s work.
“The performance of the new pea and bean varieties is the first thing to note,” he says.
“They have performed excellently. The second is that lots of new yellow peas are being tested for the UK.
“Yellows are very popular in continental Europe but have always been a relatively smaller crop area in the UK. But with increasing interest in homegrown protein, there is room for the yellow pea growing area to expand.”
Dr Chris Judge says: “Notilus and Eagle are [the] highest yielding on the list, now at 110%. Ketu, which has a yield of 107%, is a low vicine/convicine (LVC) variety,
More information
■ The PGRO Descriptive List is available to read online at: pgro. org/pulse-descriptive-list
■ Dr Chris Judge presents a full video of this year’s Descriptive List on the PGRO YouTube channel
The 2025 Descriptive List was launched at CropTec by PGRO’s senior technical officer, Dr Chris Judge (inset)
PICTURE: GETTY
It has been an interesting season for beet and potatoes, dominated by the weather as usual.
This time last year, the Waveney Valley where I live was flooded already and stayed that way for most of the winter, but recently the river has been running at near summer levels – until the rain which arrived on the back of Storm Bert.
The consequences of last year’s wet winter meant that soils were very fragile at the start of the season and patience was a virtue.
‘Well-sown is half-grown’ is the old saying, and it is as relevant today as it was in my grandfather’s time.
One of the complications we have to manage is cover crops in the rotation. We are learning more each year, but I think in some instances they have compromised growers’ cultivation practices, with soil being moved in the wrong conditions.
Consequently, some beet crops had very compromised soil conditions, with compaction and anaerobic soils causing lots of issues. Most crops eventually recovered, but yields were down.
The advice from the British Beet Research Organisation is to destroy cover crops at least five to six weeks in front of drilling to reduce the green bridge, however this still might not allow soils to dry sufficiently to be managed effectively in spring. This is something else to be very wary of this season, with many fields destined for spring cropping currently having very large cover crops growing in them.
Potatoes have also been affected by the wet spring conditions, and fields were switched around in some situations. Some good rainfall after potato planting meant that most crops recovered well, with many crops needing very little irrigation throughout the season,
With new blight genotypes and another wet spring to contend with, Hutchinsons agronomist Darryl Shailes gives his seasonal overview of potatoes and beet crops.
Talking roots: Destroy cover crops early to avoid spring problems
DARRYLShailesisrootcrop technicalmanagerforHutchinsons, withanationwideremit.Hehas beenworkinginpotatoagronomy formorethan20years. About
apart from the very lightest of soils. However, the downside of not needing to irrigate because it is raining, is that blight raises its head – the Fight Against Blight (FAB) reported 223 confirmed outbreaks across the UK.
During the bulk of the season, the FAB campaign did not detect any of the resistant strains that have been causing problems on the continent – and we thought we had another year’s grace before we saw them.
EU46 blight
However, this was not the case, as two samples of EU46 – one from Wales and one from Scotland –showed up very late in the season and were shown to carry the gene that causes resistance to oxathiapiprolin but not CAAs.
So, for 2025, we will have to up the anti-resistance part of any blight control strategies and follow Fungicide Resistance Action Committee guidelines. Mancozeb being in its last season will add complications going forward.
The EU court has just overturned the EU Commission’s ruling on mancozeb and its decision to withdraw the active, saying it was based
on poor science, so while it is too early to say what effect this will have on mancozeb’s approval going forward, it is interesting nonetheless. Potato lifting got off to a flying start in good conditions, with some strong prices being seen early in the season.
Wireworm
However, as the season progressed, very dry weather and increasing dry matter caused some issues with bruising. Then, some heavy rain put lifting back. But so far, I have heard of very few issues in store, and crops generally yielded well with good quality apart from some wireworm. Wireworm is one of the big issues facing the potato market and was one of the topics discussed in depth at Hutchinsons’ potato demo at Worths Farms back in July.
We had about 70 visitors ranging from growers, breeders and packers, along with agronomists, looking at the trials covering potato cyst nematode, weed control, nutrition, soil management and cover crops. We are in the process of organising a follow-up meeting for 2025 and I hope to see some of you there.
In some instances, cover crops have compromised growers’ crop establishment, says Darryl Shailes.
Darryl Shailes
For more from LandAlive, see page 72.
Regenerative farming is hailed as the answer to many of farming’s problems, but when it comes to arable fields, there is an elephant in the room. Jane Brown reports.
The great glyphosate debate –does it fit into regen farming?
● Inaugural LandAlive assesses answers
WHICH is worse – disrupting soil structure and releasing carbon through tillage, or spraying off green cover with a herbicide? It is a problem many farmers are facing, whether in organic production or embracing regenerative practices – so what is the answer?
Visitors to the inaugural LandAlive event in Somerset packed the room to find out. And Ian Wilkinson, managing director at Cotswold Seeds and director at FarmEd in the Cotswolds, set the scene perfectly.
He said: “Long-term overuse of anything is a problem. Weed resistance may become a problem and ploughing is demonised, so what can we do?”
When Mr Wilkinson bought FarmEd it had one field that had been in continuous cereals since the 1950s, ploughed twice a year and sprayed with glyphosate.
“It was a nice control plot to use in trials.”
Joined forces
Prof Andy Neal, soil scientist at Rothamsted Research, and Tim Parton, who farms 300 hectares in Staffordshire, joined forces with Mr Wilkinson to try and identify the best option.
“Glyphosate requires a lot of oxygen to break it down,” said Prof Neal.
“So if you are using it, how can you maintain the soil in a way that will break it down readily?”
Long-term overuse of anything is a problem. Weed resistance may become a problem and ploughing is demonised
IAN WILKINSON
The trial measured glyphosate presence in soil that was cultivated a week after application and compared it to non-tilled soil. It found that, in the short term, cultivation provided a lot of pore space, allowing plenty of oxygen to break down glyphosate.
But after seven weeks the soil had slumped, with fewer pores and less connectivity between them. In the no-till soil, the pore space was consistent and well-connected, but glyphosate took longer to break down.
At Mr Wilkinson’s farm, four-year herbal leys had similar soil structure to permanent pasture – but after ploughing to drill wheat, the structure suffered, with a big drop in soil organic matter and microbial biomass.
“The transition from one part of the rotation to another is critical,” said Prof Neal.
“Ploughing released three times more nitrous oxide than no-till, and there was no evidence that glyphosate use reduced the microbial biomass.”
Mr Wilkinson now has an eightyear rotation comprising a four-year herbal ley, which he was ploughing to then sow wheat, rye, clover and a bird mix.
He said: “But if you have built the soil organic matter with a cover crop the last thing you want to do is lose it. So how do you terminate the cover crop?”
a Vibro Flex with a shallow goose-foot rip, which worked really well, with no weed regrowth and a healthier resulting soil.
“But you have to do more passes than with the plough – it is just another tool in the toolbox.”
Mr Parton has been using conservation farming techniques at Brewood Park Farm for the past 16 years, growing milling wheat, spring barley, beans, lupins and oilseed rape with a variety of cover crops.
And he is getting something right – with no fungicides, plant growth regulators or insecticides alongside low herbicide use and 50kg/ha of nitrogen, he is producing 12 tonnes/ ha wheat crops.
Comparison
In one trial, he disced the cover crop three times before sowing lupins and compared it to applying glyphosate and direct drilling. In a dry year, the latter won, as the soil remained moist and the crop established far better than the cultivated crop, which was smothered by weeds. And it used less fuel – at five litres/ha versus 37 litres/ha with tillage.
However, he has also found that rolling cover crops during a frost (below 4degC) offered 95% control, with a front-mounted crimper roller ahead of the drill also proving effective.
“It is all about what suits your farm,” he said.
Mr Parton is also a fan of biostimulants to boost crop health and the efficacy of glyphosate when it is applied. He includes fulvic acid, which increases the sites for glyphosate to bind to the plant, citric acid to reduce the mixture to the optimum 3.7pH, and molasses to stimulate the crop and soil biology.
“This means I can reduce glyphosate use by 30% to 2-2.5 litres/ha. The last century was the chemical century – this one has to be the biological one.”
He trialled
Cover crop destruction without glyphosate remains a challenge.
Tim Parton
Sample soils correctly for crop success
● Advice is to test fields every four to five years
SOIL sampling is an essential tool in understanding the nutrient availability of soils, but unless the results are interpreted correctly, it could be a wasted exercise.
Soil sampling is not only required for farm assurance compliance purposes and to meet the statutory requirements of an increasing number of Sustainable Farming Incentives, but it is also time well invested in ensuring crops can perform to their full potential.
This is according to Simon Francis, technical and services manager for
agronomy firm, ProCam. However, he says unless soils are sampled and tested in a timely and accurate manner, with the results interpreted by an experienced agronomist, it is unlikely the investment in soil sampling will generate a viable return.
Opportunity
He adds: “Sampling prior to sowing any crop is key, as it provides an essential opportunity for growers to assess the nutrient status of soils and to make plans to redress any identified imbalances or deficiencies.”
Mr Francis recommends each field should be tested at least every four to five years.
He says: “Generally, there is no
need to sample any more frequently, unless there is a specific reason such as a change of cropping or land use.
“In extreme cases, for example where continuous high rainfall or an extended period of waterlogging has caused nutrient stores to be depleted due to leaching, increasing the frequency of testing could prove useful.
“Another example could be where a lack of organic matter prevents nutrients from being retained, thus causing leaching losses to be exacerbated.”
In addition, waterlogging also compromises root development, affecting a crop’s ability to access nutrients, so understanding what is available to the crop during the early stages of
development is vital to maximise potential, he adds.
“Irrespective of the soil type, the very least growers should be doing is to test each field to build a basic picture of the farm’s P, K and Mg indices, as well as pH and organic matter.
“Testing organic matter content can provide a good indicator of general soil health, from which it is possible to begin to understand the soil’s capacity to retain both moisture and nutrients.
“Beyond this, the next step is to build a more comprehensive understanding of the macro- and micronutrients available to plants, so that a tailored nutrient programme can be drawn up proactively rather than reactively during the season,” he says.
WIN a Polaris Ranger Diesel
Correct soil sampling is vital, says Simon Francis.
Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768
For more sales content, go to farmersguardian.com/shows-sales
Melton cattle champion sells for record-breaking £16,600
● Trio of Beltex take sheep championship
RECORDS were smashed at the 72nd Melton and Belvoir Agricultural Society Christmas fatstock show and sale at Melton Mowbray.
The cattle champion tapped out by the judge, Joe Woolley, Uttoxeter, was a 720kg British Blue cross heifer from Charlotte and Georgia Davies, Gaddesby. It went on to sell for £16,600 (2305.6p/kg) making it the dearest Christmas fatstock beast ever sold in England. The buyer was Philip Menday, of The Bell Hotel, Winslow, and it is to be used at the hotel’s Beef Nights in December and January.
Reserve champion went to the Lyon family, Bourne, with their home-bred 650kg Limousin cross heifer which went on to sell for £4,000 to the judge.
The champion beast led by a young handler went to Lucy Thompson, Stainby, with her Limousin cross heifer which sold for £2,700. The champion cull cow, a home-bred pedigree
Cattle champion, a British Blue cross heifer, from Charlotte and Georgia Davies, Gadersby, which sold for £16,600 to Philip Menday, Winslow.
British Blue, reached the top price of 280p/kg (£2,291.90) for Mary Brown and Daisy Haigh, Newark.
British Blue
Will Burden, Northamptonshire, sold his 780kg British Blue heifer at £2,298, and G.W. Amos, Market Harborough, sold a 770kg Limousin steer at 380p/kg (£2,922.15). Making 410p/
kg (£2,805) was the winning native, a Lincoln Red cross steer from Lowesby Farms, Lowesby. Chris Wright, Boston, judged the prime sheep and Kenton Foster, Hawes, judged the ewe lamb show. Both champion and reserve lambs were from J.F. Burbidge and Sons, Stamford, with the champions, a trio of 53kg Beltex selling for £300/head
Prime lambs to 615p/kg high at Hawes
THE annual Christmas show and sale of prime lambs at Hawes saw a bumper entry of 2,465 forward selling to a strong trade.
The judge, Matthew Prince, Highfield Farm Shop, Chesterfield, awarded the championship rosette to the first prize pen of Beltex lambs, weighing 52kg from B.C. Gregg, Ellingstring, which he went on to buy for £320/head (615p/kg).
The reserve champion rosette went to the first prize pair of Texel-sired lambs from D. Hodgson, Askrigg, weighing 49kg, which sold for £250/ head, also to the judge.
The champion pen of horned lambs were the winning pen of 39kg Scottish Blackface lambs from P. Turnbull, Whitby, which sold for £126/head.
Market average
The overall market average was 293p/ kg, with well fleshed lambs in demand. Heavy weight lambs were slightly easier, but standard weights and handy/light weights continued to be just as dear. Good-quality continental lambs sold between 330p/kg and
to Pak Mecca Meats, Birmingham. Reserve champions were 40kg lambs from the same home which made £190/head, also to Pak Mecca Meats. R. Barker, Grantham, took the ewe lamb championship with his Dutch Spotted and Nick Page, Goodwood Estate, won the North of England Mule Sheep Association single and pairs classes.
Six vendors donated lambs for the charity lamb classes, which was won by the Burbidges, raising £1,032 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which combined with other charity auctions meant the event raised more than £6,000 for good causes.
The pig championship went to Kim Arden, Peterborough, with a brace of 75kg cutters which sold for £200 to G.R. Ingham, Nuneaton. Reserve champion pigs were a pair of baconers, 100kg gilts, from Brandon Francis, Norwich, which made £230/head selling to the judge, Kris Moore, Nelsons butchers. The champion sow from M. and L. Fane, Saxilby, made £200. Auctioneers: Melton Mowbray Market.
Westwood flock leads Worcester
The judge, Matthew Prince (second from the left), Chesterfield, awarded the championship to the first prize pen of Beltex lambs, from B.C. Gregg, Ellingstring.
370p/kg. Heavy weight continental lambs sold from £155-£180.
The 990 Mule lambs averaged £135.30 (292p/kg) topping at £147.50 for Libby Winspear, Hawes. Handy weight well-finished Mules between 44kg to 47kg sold at 300p/kg or more. Swaledale lambs sold
to £145 for 49kg lambs from J.A. Alderson, Barras.
LEADING the in-lamb Blue Texel female sale at 1,100gns at Worcester was a shearling ewe from N. Legge’s Westwood flock, Leominster. By Sunnybank Galahad and out of a home-bred female by a Blue Stone ram, it sold having been served to the winner of the ram lamb class at this year’s Royal Three Counties Show. The buyer was T. Davies and Co, Llanwrtyd Wells, who also paid 900gns for the pre-sale show champion, Dulas Heather by a Rathbone ram from Messrs Jones and Co, Gelli, Powys. Aged ewes sold to 780gns for 2022born Tordown Girl Power from Steven Ley and Hannah Payne, Liskeard, which went to J.G. Bosustow, Helston. Ewe lambs saw a top of 650gns for Statesman Jem by Saltire Blue Gentle Giant from Ben and Tom Stayt, Chipping Norton, which was the pick of Trevor Prew, Burford.
Three-crop ewe, from Jonathan Long and family, Bishops Frome, which sold for 6,500gns to James Langmead, Alton.
Gimmer, from Jonathan Long and family, Bishops Frome, which sold for 6,000gns to Stephen Colbald, Suffolk.
Chaileybrook flock smashes Southdown breed records
● Three-crop ewe takes top call of 6,500gns
THE Southdown breed record was beaten twice and the previous breed female record topped three times at the Platinum Celebration sale from Jonathan Long and family’s Chaileybrook flock, Bishops Frome, at Worcester. Taking the top call of 6,500gns and setting a new female and breed record at the sale, which was staged to cele-
Carlisle Black and White sale peaks at 9,000gns
THE Black and White sale at Carlisle topped at 9,000gns and averaged £4,210 overall. The sale leader was Auchensala LH Kedar Temper Tantrum Red consigned by Ali Cook, Auchensala Genetics, and Jonny and Jess Lochhead, Kedar herd, both from Dumfries. This daughter of Blondin Alpha was a direct daughter of the All-American winner, Milksource Tantrum Red EX94 and sold to the partnership of Messrs Laird, West Linton, and Messrs Brewster, Glasgow.
Making 7,000gns for Absolute Genetics and Auchensala Genetics was Auchensala Ambrose Manhattan by Progenisis Ambrose. Its dam was the winning autumn Red and White two-year-old at the Royal Winter Fair. It sold to Rory Scott and Adam Smith, Ayrshire.
Milking
Holstein milking heifers topped at 7,000gns for two-year-old Denmire Ferraro Reba by OCD Ferraro from the Dennison family, Ulverston, which sold to John Lyle, Fife. Several Holstein lots sold for 6,000gns including the calf, Overside Eye Candy Vada from the Neilson family, Strathaven, which went to Mitchell Young, Lanarkshire. The Firstlook Holstein herd
owned by James and Steph Doherty, Shrewsbury, sold a flush session from Firstlook Jackpot Sara for 6,000gns to the Awde family, Penrith. Sara was the winning Winter Milking Yearling at both UK Dairy Expo and UK Dairy Day this year.
Choice
Tim and Lauren Fitzmaurice, of the Leagh Holstein herd in the Republic of Ireland, sold a choice of four heifer calves for 6,000gns to Enda Doran, Roscommon. The calves, by Dropbox out of Siemers LBA Hannina EX94, are sisters to the record-breaking 90,000gns Riverdane KD Hannah.
Jersey heifers topped at 8,000gns for Royal Flush Genie In a Bottle by Victorious, consigned by Adam Smith, Cornwall, which was knocked down to Mrs Herbert, Penrith.
brate the family’s 70 years of breeding Southdowns, was a three-crop ewe which was the dam of a ewe lamb which was breed champion at this year’s Royal Three Counties Show. By Chaileybrook 19/00560 out of a home-bred dam by Chaileybrook Tadpole, it sold carrying twins to Calley Castle Firestarter to Amy Page, buying on behalf of James Langmead’s Basing flock, Alton.
Next, at 6,000gns, was a gimmer by Chaileybrook The Stag out of a dam by the French sire, Dartagnan, which had been champion at the national show at Bath and West. It sold, again carrying twins to Calley Castle Firestarter, to Stephen Colbald, Suffolk.
Making 2,700gns and also breaking the previous female record was another by The Stag and in-lamb with a single to Dartagnan, which went to Maria Cork, Ashbourne. A three-crop ewe by the imported sire Percheron out of a Sarkozy-sired dam made 1,200gns to Tom Chester, Staffordshire.
Rosehill dispersal of pedigree Ayrshires realises 4,000gns top
THE dispersal of the Rosehill herd of 230 pedigree Ayrshires on behalf of W.R.C. and J.E. Christophers, Truro, topped at 4,000gns for Rosehill Hawaiian Pamela VG87, a Pam Ayrs Hawaiian daughter which sold to Jake Sayer, Cumbria, and Ben Broadley, Derbyshire.
Rosehill Pickle Phlache, a fresh third calver by Rosehill Mr Pickle, made 2,600gns to Messrs Astley, Powys, who also paid 2,300gns for the fresh second calver, Rosehill Very Mega Jiggy VG86 by Rosehill Megastar. The Christophers’ granddaughter, Meg, sold her own Megarose Hawaiian Sapphire VG8, an August-calved heifer by Pam Ayrs Hawaiian for 2,300gns to James Warren and family, Penzance. Dry cows topped at 3,500gns for Rosehill Pink Indianna VG88, a Rosehill Pink Floyd daughter which was champion at Royal Cornwall Show this year and is due in January to Astorwell. It sold to Rob Higgins, Shropshire.
Making 3,200gns was Rosehill Panache Whiskey VG88, a second calver by Haresfoot Panache which was heifer champion at Royal Cornwall in 2023 and reserve breed champion this year. The buyers were Nicola Bottom and family, Truro.
Heifers
In-calf heifers topped at 3,800gns for Rosehill Fantasy Magenta by Hunnington Fantasy, which sold due in April to Ravenhill Revolver to Julian Walters, Okehampton. Heifer calves sold to 2,500gns for the show calf, Trerose Daring Babycham by Troutbeck Daring, which went to Sophia Warren, Penzance.
AVERAGES
115 in-milk cows and heifers, £1,584; 32 in-calf and served heifers, £1,029; 17 bulling heifers, £592; 27 yearling heifers, £528; 36 heifer calves, £536.
Auctioneers: Kivells.
Blue Texels top 4,000gns at Carlisle
l Shearling gimmer is pre-sale champion
TOPPING the sale of Blue Texels at Carlisle at 4,000gns was Knockmult Holly, a shearling gimmer by Drumard Ed out of Derg Fantasy, which was a full sister to this year’s Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Balmoral champion. Consigned by S. Allen and A. Shortt, Strabane, it sold in lamb to Derg Jackpot, to Messrs Wright, Hartington.
The same vendors sold Derg Heavenly, a Matt’s Firetrap daughter in lamb to Beili Blue Hulk, for
2,200gns to Messrs Jones, Pencader. Messrs Philip, Inverness, paid 1,600gns for Derg Hula, also by Matt’s Firetrap and in lamb to Derg Jackpot, from the same home.
The pre-sale show championship went to Longhouse Hyacinth, an in-lamb shearling gimmer by Beili Blues Euphoric from Rosemary Hamilton and Iain Lammie, Cumnock. It sold for 1,600gns to Messrs Graham, Annan.
Messrs Graham also secured the top price ewe lamb at 500gns. This was Solway View Jessica by Caryl’s Blues Hulk from Kevin Watret, Annan, who also had the reserve
Gisburn dairies sell to £3,500
IN Gisburn’s first of two Christmas dairy sales, a pedigree Newbirks heifer topped the 118 catalogued entries at £3,500.
This was the 35kg Endco Viewpoint heifer from Wharfedale breeders A. Lawson and Son’s Jazz family. Out of the same dam and leading the pedigree cow section at £3,020 was the Lawsons’ 39kg second calver, Newbirks Jalapeno Jazz 1972, which was reserve champion.
At £2,950, from S.J. Sugden, Keighley, was the three-weekscalved Bailmoor Ferraro B. Magpie out of a Butz-Butler Atwood Brady dam. The show champion was the 36kg heifer Parkgill Applejax Minnie from J. and A. Parkinson and Sons, Preston, which made £2,880. Non-pedigree heifers sold to £2,620 for a 26kg entry from J. and B. Rowland, Preston. Topping the non-pedigree cows at £2,520 was W.T. Eastham and Son, Goosnargh, with a 40kg third calver. Taking the championship in the cast cow show was a 774kg British Blue cow from D.A. Wilcock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, which sold at
champion, Solway View Hakky. This shearling gimmer by Sunnybank Exchange Rate sold in lamb to Solway View Jagerbomb, for 1,200gns to Messrs Jones, Llandeilo.
The sale included the dispersal of the adult portion of the Hodge flock for J. Hodge, Cumnock, which topped at 3,500gns for the prolific show winner Hodges Gold Dust by Pistyll Empire out of Grahams Essexgirl. It sold to Messrs Lee, Kidwelly, who also paid 2,000gns for the Pistyll Dynamo-sired Ranachan Flora.
Gold Dust’s full sister, Hodges Goddess, served by Cairnrock Jagerbomb, sold for 2,500gns to Messrs
330p/kg (£2,554) to judge John Lancaster, Leyburn, with the 111 cast entries averaging 184p/kg.
Heading the Christmas show calf trade at £700 was the champion, a seven-and-a-half-week-old British Blue bull from R.G. and M. Falshaw, Bury.
Another British Blue bull, from W.J. and I. France, Chipping, took the reserve championship and sold for £605. J.C. Lees, Walmersley, sold a five-week-old Charolais bull at £570, while the second and third prizes in this other continental class were won by Messrs Falshaw, later selling at £590 and £535 respectively.
British Blue heifers sold to £460 for the third prize winner from Messrs Falshaw.
Knockmult Holly, a shearling gimmer from S. Allen and A. Shortt, Strabane, which sold for 4,000gns to Messrs Wright, Hartington.
Morrison, Girvan, and – at the same money – its dam, Grahams Essexgirl by Joe’s Alvin, was snapped up by Messrs Graham, Stirling. A maternal sister to Gold Dust and Goddess, Hodges Havana, made 1,800gns to Messrs Francis, Dyfed.
Peacehay gimmer leads Worcester Texels at 1,600gns
THE Chave family’s Peacehay flock, Wellington, produced the day’s top price of 1,600gns at the Gloucester and Border Counties Club’s in-lamb sale at Worcester. Sale topper was an Usk Vale Fandabidozi daughter out of a dam by Peacehay Untouchable and in lamb to Strathbogie Epic. It sold to Maria Cork, Ashbourne. Next, at 1,200gns, was a ewe lamb from James Theyer’s Clanfield flock, Oxfordshire. The daughter of the 160,000gns Rhaeadr First Choice was out of a Hexel-bred dam by Plasucha All Star and was champion in the
pre-sale show. Making 1,050gns was another Peacehay gimmer by Clarks Wizard out of a dam by Tullagh Dizzee Rascal, which sold in lamb to Usk Vale Fandabidozi to M. Toon, Daventry. At 1,000gns was another Clanfield ewe lamb by Auldhouseburn Grey Goose and out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Expression, which went to Trevor Prew, Burford, Oxfordshire.
AVERAGES
24 in-lamb gimmers, £678; 4 ewe lambs, £840.
Auctioneers: McCartneys.
Norwich Christmas show and sale
AT Norwich’s Christmas show and sale, the store cattle champion was an eight-month-old Limousin cross steer from Cook and Colman, Smallburgh, which sold for £1,650.
Also making £1,650 was the reserve champion, an eight-month-old Limousin cross heifer consigned by I. Hodge, Pulham Market.
Prime cattle topped at 215p/kg (£1,784.50) for M.G. Searle, Kenninghall, and store bulls sold to £2,000 for B. Jones, Diss. The seven cows and calves on offer sold to £1,600 for S. Steggles, Norfolk. Store cattle topped
at £1,740 for steers from Intwood Farm, Honingham, and heifers at £1,670 for C.J. Hancy, Banham.
The champion calf was a British Blue cross bull from F.S. Dann and Son, North Tuddenham, which topped the section at £502. Heifer calves sold to £355 for R. Patterson, Shipdham. The champion lambs from Alburgh Lamb, Harleston, weighed 46kg/head and for 522p/kg (£240/head), with the reserve 43.5kg lambs from J. and A. Bradshaw-Hird, Dereham, making 437p/kg (£190/head).
Auctioneers: Norwich Livestock Market.
● Reserve female champion tops prices
THE December 2023-born Islavale Peace from W.S. Stronach, Keith, sold for 15,000gns to lead the trade at the Next Generation sale of Simmental females and weaned calves at Carlisle.
The heifer, by Rockytop Luca 20 out of Islavale Foxy EX 91, had taken the reserve female championship before selling to the judge, Richard McCulloch, Armadale.
At 9,500gns was the first prize winner, Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso from Reece and Andrew Simmers, Keith. The April 2022-born heifer is the first daughter to be sold by the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo and is out of Backmuir Orlane’s Kenzie. It
Islavale herd leads Simmental trade
sold, in-calf to Backmuir Nemo, again to Mr McCulloch.
Weaned calf
Messrs Stronach also took the weaned calf championship and claimed the section’s top price of 8,500gns with Islavale Raven, an April 2024-born calf by Islavale McCoist out of Islavale Japan, which sold to Gavin Brown, Penicuik.
15,000gns
The overall champion female was Atlow Plume from David Donnelly, Ashbourne. By Dermotstown King Kong and out of Atlow Dora’s JoJo, the heifer was junior female champion at the 2024 Simmental English National Show at the Royal Lancashire Show. It sold for 6,000gns to Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Preston.
Also selling at 6,000gns was Braegarrie Paloma from D.L. and S. Currie,
Girvan, Ayrshire. The June 2023born heifer by Overhill House Link 20 out of Braegarrie Melissa, was knocked down to M. Webster, Skipton.
AVERAGES
1 cow with calf at foot, £4,725; 2 served heifers, £6,667.50; 13 maiden heifers, £5,023.84; 3 heifer calves, £5,075; 36 commercial heifers, £1,822.62.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Limousin heifer takes Darlington supreme
CLAIMING the prime cattle championship at Darlington’s Christmas primestock show was Alan Barnett, Shap, with a 640kg black Limousin cross heifer which went on to sell for 690p/ kg (£4,416) to the judge, Ian Brown, of Browns Quality Butchers, Ulverston. The reserve champion ticket went to Georgina Laws, Leyburn, with her 690kg haltered red Limousin steer which made 530p/kg (£3,657) to Kitsons Butchers, Northallerton. Both champion and reserve were bred by John Smith-Jackson, Haydon Bridge.
The best home-bred prize went to W.M. Fleming, Kelso, with a 586kg Limousin heifer which sold for 500p/ kg (£2,930) to H. Taylor and Sons Butchers, Darlington.
Bull
The champion bull was a home-bred 779kg Limousin consigned by Neil White, Marrick, which went on to sell for 380p/kg (£2,960) to J.A. Jewitt, Spennymoor.
Taking their third prime lamb championship in four years were
the Askwith family, Crook, with a trio of 48kg Beltex-sired lambs which sold for 666p/kg (£320/head) to Messrs Jewitt.
The Askwiths also claimed the reserve championship with a pen of 45kg lambs which were second to the champions and made 577p/kg (£260/head) to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton.
Charity auctions at the mart on Christmas sales raised over £4,600. Auctioneers: Darlington Farmers Auction Mart.
Caithness overall cattle champion sells for £5,000 high
AT the Caithness Christmas show and sale, a 648kg Limousin cross heifer from the Begg family, Vauldale, stood overall champion in the prime cattle section. It went on to sell for the top price of £5,000 to MacKay’s Hotel, Wick.
The reserve champion was a 664kg Charolais cross heifer from W.M. Barnetson and Sons, Watten, which sold for £2,300 to Kepak, McIntosh Donald.
In the Young Farmers section, the
champion was a 641kg Limousin cross heifer from Tilly Munro, Ardgay, which sold for £2,900 to the judge, Blair Duffton, Huntly.
Best native was awarded to Messrs Barnetson with a home-bred 702kg Aberdeen-Angus bullock which realised £2,372.76 (338p/kg).
The champion lambs were a pair of 49.5kg continental lambs from Messrs Swanson, Castletown, which sold
for £650/head to MacKay’s Hotel, Wick.
The reserve champion was a pair of 62.5kg Texels from D.N. Campbell and Sons, Westfield. They sold for £320/head to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant, which also paid £400/ head for the Young Farmers champions, two 48kg continental lambs from Bethany Swanson, Thurso. Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.
J36 sees Beltex lambs claim championship
AT the Christmas primestock show and sale at J36 the champion lambs were a pen of three Beltex from J. Smith, Brookhouse, which sold for 500p/kg (£230/head) to the judge, George Hamlet, Hamlets Butchers, Garstang.
The second prize winning lowland lambs, 53kg Texels from L.E. and A. Ridding, Selside, made £200/head and a single Texel lamb from A.G. Butler, Hambleton, sold for £179. M. Bereford, Kirkbyin-Furness, sold Beltex lambs to £176/head.
Prime pigs
In the show and sale of prime pigs the top price was £225/head for the reserve champions, the second prize winners from the over 90kg class from J. Stott, Kingsland. The champions from C. Woodhouse, Nateby, sold for £190/head.
Auctioneers: North West Auctions.
Reserve female champion, Islavale Peace, from W.S. Stronach, Keith, which sold for
to the judge, Richard McCulloch, Armadale.
Weaned calf champion, Islavale Raven, from W.S. Stronach, Keith, which sold for 8,500gns to Gavin Brown, Penicuik.
To be in with your chance of winning up to £200, test out your judging skills by entering our annual beef stockjudging competition.
Test your stockjudging skills and win up to £200
This year’s beef stockjudging competition is now open for entries. Our annual competition is once again sponsored by Show Time, supplier of specialist livestock products for cattle, sheep, horses and other animals, covering the UK and Europe.
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Take part by pitting your judging skills against those of our professional judge to be in with the chance of winning one of three cash prizes.
The first correct entry to be drawn at random will receive our top prize
of £200, while two runners-up will each win £50. To be in with a chance of winning, you need to rank the four animals pictured (one being the animal you rate most highly), in the same order as our judge.
Complete the entry form opposite and return it to: Showtime Stockjudging Competition, Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ, by January 31, 2025.
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Also within the Commercial Section 15 Fresh NZ Friesians from Messrs Kennerley
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Store Cattle Sales
300 STORE CATTLE
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Sale of 3000 Store Lambs & Breeding Sheep
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BENTHAM AUCTION MART
015242 61444 - Sale Days 61246
Stephen 07713 075 661 Greg 07713 075 664 Will 07590 876 849 www.benthamauction.co.uk
CHRISTMAS IN THE MART
Friday 13th / Saturday 14th December Inc. Friday Evening
Farmers Carol Concert & Charity Tractor Run.
Friday & Saturday
Christmas Fair with superb selection of tradestands etc.
Tuesday 17th December
10.30am Feeding & Cast Cows & OTM Cattle
Christmas Show & Sale of FARMERS STIRKS, YOUNG STORES & FEEDING BULLS
Inc Quality Consignments from Frankland Farms, M Taylor & Son, Taylor Bros, D & DW Prickett, JH & SM Mason, R & VJ Brown & E & M Townley
Wednesday 18th December
10.30am Fortnightly Sale of Dairy Cattle 11am 100-150 Rearing Calves
2.30pm 2500 Cast Ewes & 3000-4000 Prime Lambs TWO AUCTION MART SHARES (Top Ring at 7.30pm)
Saturday 21st December at 10.30am DRESSED POULTRY Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Capons
Saturday 28th December at 9.30am CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS ONLY
YFC Singles Competition
Prizes for Best Single Prime Lamb (Lowland & Hill Breeds) & Best Presented Prime Lambs & Vendor shown by a Young Farmer (Under 27yo). Judging at 10.30am
Tuesday 7th January
Feeding & Cast Cows & OTM Cattle
New Year Sale of Suckler Breeding Cattle & Store Cattle
Wednesday 8th January
Fortnightly Sale of Dairy Cattle
Weekly Sale of Calves, Cast Ewes & Prime Lambs
Tuesday 14th January
Fortnightly Sale of Store Hoggs
Richard Turner & Son
Thursday 19th December 10am Special Additional Sale of REARING CALVES 10:30am 5000 STORE LAMBS
Saturday 21st December 10:30am DRESSED POULTRY
Tuesday 24th December NO SALE
Friday 27th December - CHANGE OF DAY 1pm PRIME LAMBS & CAST SHEEP
Tuesday 31st December NO SALE
Thursday 2nd January 10:30am 5000 STORE HOGGS Catalogue Entries Close Monday 23rd December
Saturday 4th January PEDIGREE SHEEP DAY
Show & Sale of Pedigree Texel Females
On behalf of North West Texel Breeders Club Show & Sale of Pedigree Beltex Females On behalf of Beltex Sheep Society Society Sales of Pedigree Females also for Dutch Spotted & Badger Face Texels
Saturday 25th January ‘DIAMOND DELIGHTS’ Rough Fell Females on behalf of the RFSBA Swaledale & Bluefaced Leicester Females Also this day Multi-Breed Sale of Individual In-Lamb Breeding & Commercial In-Lamb
Lambs
400 Cast Ewes & Rams Tuesday 31st December (Earlier Start Time 9:30am) 1500 Prime Lambs
400 Cast Ewes & Rams Saturday 18th January 2025 Show & Sale of Individual Registered Ewes & Gimmer Lambs on behalf of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Assoc and on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Assoc, also Sale of other Individual Pedigree Females Entries close 30th December.
Ian Atkinson 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711 469280.
FGBuyandSell.com
Mark@nortonandbrooksbank.com
TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER (11:00AM)
Featuring the entire July – December calving portion of the renowned WILTOR herd, the property of D W & C E Jones. Probably the most exciting sale of ‘24 and contains 100 head of which 60 top class milkers sell in full production together with select youngstock from the very best of Wiltor. Many milkers sell giving 40 – 60kg! Whether looking for top class, young tank fillers or the next show winner or a world renowned pedigree to add to your herd, this sale contains a multitude of all of them! Very rare opportunity to purchase cattle of this calibre. Make plans to join us for this special sale and open house – promises to be a great day out! Live on Marteye! Transport available to all parts of the UK! Catalogue and sale pictures on Facebook.
BROKERS & VALUERS
Dispersal sale of the CARRY HOUSE FLOCK OF BLUEFACED LEICESTER
CHRISTMAS STARS sale of 80 INLAMB TEXEL SHEARLING GIMMERS
Monday 16th December – 6.00pm
PEDIGREE DAIRY DAY
50 DAIRY CATTLE SELLING THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER
Follow Us On Facebook To View Sale Lots Prior To Sale
49 COWS/HEIFERS IN MILK - 1 HEIFER CALVES SELL No.1 source for quality milkers in the UK QUALITY MILKERS
Quality milkers producing oceans of milk sell, all bred from herds with excellent health status. PREFIXES INCLUDE: Bankview, Berryholme, Chapelhouse, Ceeingred, Ernespie, Espland, Errolston, Feizor, Kepculloch, Lomond, Northill, Potsown, Storbeck, Woodclose, Wormanby, Newcroft
BREEDERS CHOICE: Several elite pedigrees are included in this catalogue and include heifers from the; Mahala, Klaske, Ricki, Linda, Flo, Destina, Ivory, Arlene, Delia, Farrah, Licorice, Kandie, Gloriette, Lila Z, Mattia, Roxy, Una, Marq I, Scarlet, Prudence.
CHRISTMAS SALE ARRANGEMENTS
Monday 23rd December
Sale of PRIME & CAST SHEEP NO SALE of Cast Cows
Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th December
Monday 1st January
NO SALESMART and OFFICES CLOSED
Monday 30th December
Sale of PRIME & CAST SHEEP NO SALE of Cast Cows
Tuesday 31st December
– Wednesday 1st January
NO SALESMART and OFFICES CLOSED
On behalf of Messrs RD Archer & Son, Carry House, Wark
Inc XMAS SHOW FOR BEST BULL, BEST STEER, BEST HEIFER Show 9.30am Sale 10.00am Craven Ring
Agricultural Themed 293 BORDER FINE ARTS & BESWICK PIECES & New Sale of AGRICULTURAL THEMED VINTAGE TOYS & COLLECTABLES Viewing from 9.00am Sale 10.00am Main Ring
PEDIGREE SHEEP
Annual Winter Show & Sale of 23 PEDIGREE TEXEL FEMALES
Sale 10.30am Lingfield Ring followed by 13 PEDIGREE BELTEX FEMALES 18 PEDIGREE BLUE TEXEL FEMALES & WINTER SHOW STARS Sale approx. 11.30am
Annual Winter Collective Sale of 150 Beltex/Texel Females
CRAVEN FEATHER AUCTIONS Christmas Show & Sale of POULTRY, WATERFOWL, HATCHING EGGS & EQUIPMENT Judging 10.30am Sale 11.00am Monday 16th December
GISBURN AUCTION MARTS Auctioneers, Valuers, Agents
Saturday 14th December
9:30am Weekly CAST SHEEP INC CHRISTMAS CAST EWE SHOW Pens of 5: (1) Cont (2) Horned/ Hill (3) Mule/Masham
11.30am PRIME LAMBS
INC CHARITY PRIME LAMB & YOUNG FARMERS PRIME LAMB SHOW Judging 11am
10am 12 BREEDING & FEEDING CATTLE, 31 YOUNG BULLS
243+ HEAD
Followed by 200 STORE STEERS & HEIFERS
Thursday 19th December
SALE STATRTS AT 5pm Tel.01757703347
MART OFFICE: 01757 703347
10:30am PRIME CATTLE the CAST CATTLE 10:30am REARING CALVES
NO SALES OVER FESTIVE FORTNIGHT
RICHARD HAIGH: 07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk
OPENING SALES OF 2025
SATURDAY 4TH JANUARY
SALE OF STORE CATTLE,SHEEP & PIGS
WEDNESDAY 8TH JANUARY
SALE OF PRIME CATTLE,SHEEP & PIGS
MERRY CHRISTMAS &
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2024 AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR
Contact Office for Details
MART OFFICE: 01757 703347
RICHARD HAIGH 07768 594535
www.selbymart.co.uk
11:00am SEMEX & WE JAMESON FEEDS CHRISTMAS SHOW & sale of DAIRY CATTLE with Christmas sponsorship from Guy Machinery Ltd, Show 10.30am (1)NCH (2)PNCC (3)PNCH (4)ICH Entries to Eleanor by Fri 13th
9:30am Weekly CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
New Year Opening Sales of: Sat 4 Jan - STORE LAMBS Sat 11 Jan - BREEDING & STORE CATTLE
JobsinAgriculture
The University of Edinburgh is an exciting, vibrant, research led academic community offering opportunities to work with leading international academics whose visions are shaping tomorrow’s world.
Research & Farm Animal Technician
The Opportunity:
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is looking for an experienced farm animal technician based at the University of Edinburgh dairy herd at Langhill Farm. You will organise and assist student teaching classes at RDSVS farms, including Langhill Dairy Unit and Easter Bush sheep flock, as well as facilitate research work on RDSVS farms.
This post is full-time (35 hours per week).
Your skills and attributes for success:
• You will have extensive knowledge and experience of practical dairy farming and animal husbandry.
• You should have good IT skills, including the use of farm software.
• You will have good understanding and experience of large animal research and the Home Office Legislation under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986.
• You should have experience of teaching veterinary or agricultural students.
• You must possess excellent communication skills as you will be expected to coordinate with researchers, veterinary teaching staff and students.
Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens new browser tab)
As a valued member of our team you can expect:
• A competitive salary of £33,882 to £39,105 (UE06)
• See staff benefits page for full Comprehensive Staff Benefits details (opens in a new tab)
The closing date for applications is 18th December 2024
This is an inspiring, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
We will support and nurture your talent, reward success and integrate academic, professional and personal career goals, as well as give your career the benefit of a great and distinguished reputation. You will benefit from a reward package that includes a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts and much more. Committed to Equality and Diversity.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. www.ed.ac.uk/jobs
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated operator to join our team based near York. We farm 2000 Ha of arable land and 400 Ha of carrots using modern techniques and equipment.
Our team cover all farm tasks including cultivations, drilling, fertiliser spreading, spraying, combining, irrigation and a range of specialist operations on the carrot crop. This wide variety of jobs plus year-round carrot harvesting ensures an interesting and fulfilling role.
You will be our ideal candidate if you:
• Have experience of operating farm machinery and GPS technology
• Have a passion for agriculture and a desire to learn
• Are a positive and dedicated team player
We will offer the successful candidate a full time contract with 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays), best in class rate of pay and ongoing training and development.
Apply in strictest confidence – send your cv and covering letter to vlhobson@gmail.com
LKL’s CURRENT VACANCIES
We currently have a wide range of positions available nationwide to include:-
• Herdsperson, Derbyshire, 320 cows
• Herdsperson, Cheshire, 250 cows
• Assistant Herdsperson, South Wales, 400 cows
Relief Herdspersons Nationwide
LKL provides the perfect solution for finding the very best herd carers and managers. Visit our website for a full list of our current vacancies.
Web: www.lklservices.co.uk Tel: 01722 323546
FGBuyandSell.com
CHRISTMAS ALONE?
Will you be surrounded by family this Christmas but without that special someone at your side? It doesn’t have to be this way and this time next year it could be so different. Let ‘Friends1st’ - the introduction agency for Christians - introduce you to someone special as we have for many other farmers! We’ve fixed other farmers up and we can do the same for you. For information view www.friends1st. co.uk or Call our friendly team on 0121 405 0941 today.
Everglades Nurseries Ltd
J.P WHITTER (WATER WELL ENGINEERS) LTD
• BOREHOLE DRILLING FOR DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
•
• WATER SYSTEMS INSTALLED
• BOREHOLE PUMPING INSTALLATIONS
• 24HR BREAKDOWN SERVICE
• FREE QUOTATIONS AND SITE VISITS THE POTTERIES GARAGE SMALLBROOK LANE, LEIGH, WIGAN, LANCS, WN7 5PZ. TEL: 01942 871900. FAX: 01942 896843. Out of office: 01942 893660
Orders for Insertion of advertisements in Farmers Guardian are accepted subject to the following conditions:
1. Advertisement copy shall be legal, decent, honest and truthful, and shall comply with the British Code of Advertising Practise and all other codes under the general supervision of the Advertising Standards Authority: and shall comply with the requirements of current legislation.
2. While every endeavour will be made to meet the wishes of advertisers, the publisher does not guarantee insertion of any particular advertisement.
3. In the event of any error, misprint or omission in the printing of an advertisement or part of an advertisement the publisher will either reinsert the advertisement or relevant part of the advertisement as the case may be, or make a reasonable adjustment to the cost. No reinsertion, or adjustment will be made where the error, misprint or omission does not materially detract from the advertisement. In no circumstances shall the total liability of the publisher for any error, misprint or omission exceed
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QUICKTHORN
(01332) 517600 mail@woodgrow.com
ROBINSON MITCHELL LTD
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12. The placing of an order for the insertion of an advertisement, is an acceptance of these conditions and any other conditions stated on any type of order form by an agency or advertisers are not applicable if they conflict with any of the above.
907487
DELAVAL BLUE Diamond 32/32 fast exit, 2010 MM25s
NEW & REFURBISHED BULK MILK TANKS FOR SALE
New Roka Silos and Tanks available from 500 Ltrs to 50,000 Ltrs!
2
20,000 Ltr Roka Silo
16,000 Ltr Delaval
16,000 Ltr Mueller
14,000 Ltr Fabdec
12,000 Ltr Roka DX
10,000 Ltr Fabdec
12,000 Ltr Fullwood Packo Instant Cooling
9,000 Ltr Japy / GEA
8,000 Ltr Roka Silo
7,500 Ltr Surge
7,100 Ltr Delaval 6,750
PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL BULLS
Easy Calving, Good temperament. Johnes & BVD accredited, lepto vaccinated. Ready for work, Herd never had TB. Also pedigree bulling heifers available Tel: 01948 770408 Mob: 07714 089001 Malpas, Cheshire
Since the Budget announcements of October 30, 2024, I would find it hard to believe that the matter of ‘succession’ has not been raised around almost every farmhouse kitchen table across the nation.
If it has not, then it absolutely should be. Succession planning was always a thorny topic for many farming families, however, due to the Budget, there will need to be a cultural shift within the industry, with many of our clients starting to discuss ‘next steps’.
Prior to the Budget, the Inheritance Tax regime had done nothing to dissuade many active farmers from retaining ownership of their business and land, safe in the knowledge that on their death, their estate should receive 100% Inheritance Tax reliefs.
Although this may have been advantageous for taxation purposes, it often did not give rise to any meaningful discussion on succession, frequently leaving the next generation in ‘limbo’.
The Budget proposals have now flipped this general principal upside down and although the finer detail is yet to be announced, we are seeing farming families considering succession and estate planning earlier.
review, assessing partnership and business structures and discussing potential lifetime gifts.
It is important to note that any decision requires careful consideration and professional advice as every business and family situation is different, however the important matter here is the fact that ‘succession’ and ‘next steps’ are actually being discussed and openly reviewed, rather than cast to the side.
Succession planning for tenant farmers also requires the same level of consideration and although such Budget implications are not as obvious, we could start to see market changes in the land rental sector, subject to landlords potentially selling land, or rents increasing dependant on land availability.
Whilst succession planning was not on the Budget’s agenda, this does appear to be at least one positive side effect. The matter of succession has been at the top of every rural business advisor’s suggested advice for years, including solicitors, accountants and land agents.
Such lack of discussion and communication within a family farm can often lead to greater levels of uncertainty within the family and business, greater incidents of family tensions and potential reduced investment.
We are only a month after the Budget, but we are seeing an increasing number of clients seeking advice and assessing their own situation and discussing the relevant ‘next steps’, including the conduction of farm valuations for business
As a separate note, the recent changes to the Succession Rules under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, removing the minimum age for a succession application on retirement is another conversation tenants under such agreements should be discussing.
As a final point, it is important to note that tax is only one element of business decisions and although the Budget has given rise to some major concerns within the agricultural community, I would advise all in the industry to use this as an opportunity to discuss the future. As many clients state afterwards; ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’.
Simon Wells is partner and RICS registered valuer at Armitstead Barnett. Call 01200 411 155, or email simon.wells@ abarnett.co.uk
Simon Wells
Estates & Farmland Market Update
What impact the inheritance tax changes might have on the farmland market is something that is generating lots of debate. Land values are currently at historically high levels, with the average value of arable land in England at £11,000/acre and the average value of pasture land at £9,300/acre.
The announcement about changes to the IHT regime has caused a level of uncertainty, but to date we are not seeing signs of deals agreed before the Budget stalling and continue to receive offers for land that is currently on the market.
One of the reasons stated for the IHT changes is to deter non-farmers from buying farmland. Our data points to non-farmers – who are a mix of private and institutional investors and lifestyle buyers – accounting for 56% of sales in 2023, but as approximately 1% of land transacts in any given year this is not reflective of overall land ownership. In addition, in our experience the motivations for non-farmers buying land are very varied.
In conclusion there are some incredibly popular areas of the country where the land market has been very strong and is likely to continue to be so. There are other parts of England dominated by farmer buyers, who tend to be more cautious because they are almost entirely dependent on the income that can be derived from the land so there may be some downward pressure on values, but this is likely to be localised and scarcity of opportunities to acquire land will underpin the market.
Whether you are buying or selling, our expert team is here to help you make informed decisions in this evolving market. Please do get in touch.
Sam Holt MRICS Head of Estates & Farm Agency Department
07702 317301
sam.holt@struttandparker.com
Bodmin, Cornwall
Guide Price £3,895,000
A versatile arable & pasture farm with farmhouse and cottages.
About 235 acres.
Cockermouth, Cumbria
Guide Price
£1,500,000
Traditional Lake District farm with a cottage & consent to convert farm buildings. About 211 acres.
Ingatestone, Essex
Guide
A first-class arable farm with a range of buildings suitable for alternate uses (STPP).
About 186 acres.
Saltburn-by-Sea, North Yorkshire
Guide Price
£3,250,000
A compact residential dairy, livestock and arable farm in a stunning location.
About 186 acres.
Okehampton, Devon
Guide Price £1,500,000
Livestock farm with farmhouse, farm buildings, productive woodland & river frontage.
Complete grassland farm with a cottage & farm buildings suitable for development (STPP).
About 227 acres.
Cockerham, Lancashire
Guide Price £5,850,000
Commercial mixed farm & a substantial range of buildings, Grade 2 arable land & salt marsh.
650 acres.
FGBuyandSell.com
We can
Are you looking to retire, cut down your workload or want a change of lifestyle?
We have an established and well-regarded dairy farming client looking for a second dairy farm to rent or enter into a joint venture. Our client is looking for a long-term agreement and is willing to invest.
The option for you to remain in the farmhouse can be discussed if required.
Ideal location is Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Hereford/Worcester but all opportunities considered. For a confidential discussion please call Helen on 07980 917171
www.arcadianestates.co.uk
DO YOU HAVE LAND?
Sites of 1- 1000 acres required for residential development.
If you think that your land has potential for development, or you have been approached by a developer, then you will need expert advice that is not available at traditional sources.
Michael Rutherford is a specialist agent acting and negotiating for landowners. Contact me for a confidential and expert consultation at no cost. All areas of the UK covered.
Also tractors wanted for breaking Tel: 07710 153603 W.Yorks masseyfergusontractorbreakers.co.uk
CLAAS John Deere, and other makes, combine harvester 2nd hand and new spares. www.jmtcombinehire.co.uk. Tel: JMT Engineering 01926 614345 (T)
SHEEP SNACKERS
Ground drive sheep feeders, all types of atv trailers single and tandem axle, Delivery anywhere Rob Astley trailers ltd Tel 01938 810393 (T)
PTO & Diesel Generator Specialist. Quality new & used. Est 25 yrs. JSPUK LTD. Tel: 01432 353050 (T)
DECEMBER NEW TRACTOR SPECIAL OFFERS
Deutz 5095G GS c/w 3820P loader, 5 year 0% finance
The Multifarmer equipped with a 3-point rear linkage and PTO gives extra capacity at seasonal pinch points. This versatile telehandler can perform all the tasks of a telehandler and tractor in one, the true swiss army knift of machinery! For more details contact your local Merlo dealer.
Machinery
Edited by Toby Whatley –
07583 054 831 – toby.whatley@agriconnect.com For more machinery content, go to farmersguardian.com/machinery-news-hub
For a company which does not really ‘do’ slurry application equipment, Vogelsang has updated some of its existing lines and released some new applicators for 2025, which could make users think the company takes it somewhat seriously. Ken Topham reports.
In the UK, Vogelsang is synonymous with cattle slurry and biogas liquid spreading equipment, but a look around the factory tells a slightly different story.
In mid-October, Vogelsang held a new product launch event at its factory in Essen, Germany, hosted by the company’s international field sales head for agricultural technology, Hubert Schmidt, would provided an insight to the company’s product portfolio across Europe.
Mr Schmidt said: “We make pumps, and equipment to make materials pumpable.”
BLACKBIRD RANGE
THE major introduction at the event was the Blackbird MAX, with the 21- to 30-metre model demonstrated.
It uses telescopic arms, as well as folding elements, to work at different widths.
The arms carry the slurry via a plastic pipe inside the first section, which uses a seal to facilitate the slide, and the end galvanised boom section assembled as part of the pressurised pipework.
The Pro runs ECM distributors to keep the profile narrow and the transport width below three metres, and the sections are operated by air operated Comfort Flow Control valves.
The section shut-off is currently used to manage the working width, not to offer section control.
Operating on an IsoBus system, the Blackbird MAX is designed to
Vogelsang expands slurry range for 2025
And with its lobe pumps and components fitted to a claimed half of the biogas plants in Germany, Vogelsang’s spreading equipment range is definitely a more recent addition to the line-
up, with one-third of the business in agriculture.
Refreshed line-up
The firm showed off a refreshed line-up and some new models and a
new macerator to boot, all with the aim of making attachments lighter and narrower for transport, while offering machines which appeal to both small- and medium-sized as well as larger operations.
The Blackbird Max can spread from 21 metres to 30m with telescopic arms and folding sections.
work with any universal terminal and can be mounted on any appropriate tank. The demonstrated machine was mounted on a 33cu.m tanker.
This was a pre-series unit that had been out on test with a local contractor. With a claimed 4,000 hectares (9,884 acres) covered,
the factory reported a few running improvements needing to be made, but generally a successful season.
Part of the arm is used to carry slurry, and the trailing shoe sections are mounted centrally so each boom is not stressed from one end.
An updated folding ram with integrated lock is part of the simplification and weight saving programme the range has undergone.
The Blackbird Single is a lightweight solution for smallto medium-sized farms.
BLACKBIRD SINGLE
THE 12-metre Single is aimed at users who want a lightweight, simple solution. With a single ECQ distributor mounted in the centre of the booms, it adds a claimed one tonne additional weight to the host tank.
The new features on the
BLACKBIRD PRO
DESIGNED to be mounted on a tanker rear hitch, the new version is a claimed lighter 200kg on the
Light are also present on the Single, with the locking folding arms and
3D collision protection. It will offer a solution to farmers who do not
run large equipment, but still require an applicator.
previous model and can be specified with either the new ECM or the ECQ distributors.
A working width of 12-15 metres is offered. Using the cast iron leading edge on the trailing shoe, the Pro is
designed as a contractor-level machine and includes a headland off function, where one switch lifts the arms up and switches the flow of slurry off.
Blackbird Pro offers the ability to spread at either 12 metres or 15m with folding end sections that can be isolated at the distributors.
New pipework at the folding joints claims to prevent the joints from collapsing and maintains consistent flow.
In the narrower Pro models without the folding end section, a 3D collision protection system has been implemented.
This employs a shear bolt, which allows the end section of the arm to swing out of the way if colliding with a post or tree.
Turbofarmer 30.7
The TurboFarmer 30.7 is the ultimate compact telescopic handler at 2m x 2m. Despite its compact dimensions the new TF 30.7 packs a punch when it comes to performance. This machine and more will be on our stand at the LAMMA show at the NEC in Birmingham, stand 630 in Hall 6 on the 15th and 16th of January.
Machinery Muck & Slurry
BLACKBIRD LIGHT
USING a fixed chassis mounting system that saves much more weight over the flexibly mounted version, Vogelsang claims the Light is 20% lighter than the Pro.
It is offered in 12-metre or 15m options and, to keep dimensions down, it also comes with the new ECM distributors.
It uses the 3D collision protection system on the outer sections too.
Vogelsang also released its new folding rams with an integrated latch system which is fitted to the Light model. A thread at the eye-end of the piston has
Blackbird Light is a fixed chassis mount option, providing a higher capacity with reduced weight.
an adjustable collar which latches into a receiver on the cylinder that incorporates a hydraulic lock.
The Light will be available with the plastic shoe instead of the cast version, saving more weight, and
is designed for farmers and users who work in sensitive land areas, where weight is critical.
BOOM LIGHTING
VOGELSANG also showcased some new lights for its booms at the event.
They are fitted along the undersides and are fixed above the spring, so the operator can see what is happening.
Instead of wires and fittings,
EXACUT ECM
VOGELSANG has developed a smaller-scale distributor/ macerator, meaning some of the new trailing shoe applicators can be kept under the transport width.
It uses a completely new rotor design, which claims to not need air induction to reduce pulsing in the slurry lines.
The blades and central hub allow a virtually unimpeded flow of material, which Vogelsang says means there is
no need for air induction and the unit is much smaller yet with only a slight reduction in capacity compared to the ECQ.
Although small, the 14mm holes
are claimed to be fully functional in a range of conditions, with Vogelsang testing the unit in Ireland as well as other locations with variable and challenging slurry conditions.
The Unispread folds vertically and can be fitted without additional brackets and latches directly on the tank itself.
UNISPREAD
DEVELOPED as a solution for smaller operations, the Unispread folds vertically to the rear and can be fitted without additional brackets and latches directly on the tank itself.
The widest available model is currently 10.5 metres, but a 12m version is in the pipeline.
Using a single centrallymounted distributor, the pipework is uninterrupted along the length of the arms. This is claimed to reduce the chance of blockages on a machine that will likely be used with a variety of slurry viscosities.
The new distributor negates air induction, which reduces size.
QUICK & RELIABLE REPAIRS
Slurry pumping system improves
To improve the efficiency of slurry spreading, Cheshire contractor Steve Jones and his team created a trailed 360hp pumping station to meet the needs of the business. Geoff Ashcroft reports.
In the 12 years which have passed since Steve Jones extended his hoof-trimming business into contracting, the operation has evolved from general work to focusing on forage and slurry, leaving behind much of its arable work.
Alongside 4,046 hectares of grass, wholecrop and maize silage, the firm, Hooftrimming, applies about 150,000cu.m of slurry each season, to grass, maize and cereal crops.
And the key to unlocking productivity has, he says, been focused on getting the pumping right.
Steve says: “Clock hours are expensive when you use a big tractor to sit on a slurry pump for days on end. So we looked for a more cost-effective and productive solution to pump slurry.”
That solution emerged from Hooftrimming’s workshop two years ago
and comprises a 360hp FPT power unit driving a Cornell pump which can deliver a maximum flow rate of 450cu.m per hour. This trailer-mounted slurry pumping rig feeds a dribble bar through six-inch and then 5in pipe runs respectively.
Steve says: “We charge by the cu.m, not the hour, so the emphasis is on boosting our output and efficiency.
“In the two years since we built our own pumping trailer, the rig has shifted about 300,000cu.m and highlighted areas where our logistical weaknesses now are.”
The twin-axle pumping station sits on 500/60 R22.5 tyres and its galvanised chassis features four integral hydraulic stabiliser legs which can be deployed both horizontally and vertically to widen its footprint and accommodate uneven terrain.
At the front of the trailer is a detachable hose reeler, accessed by straddling the drawbar once the trailer is unhitched. And to improve safety, every trailer, tanker or trailed appliance is on a ball and spoon coupling.
Behind the reeler is a load platform with access from both sides, enabling drive-on drive-off simplicity for an ATV the team uses to assist with in-field deployment.
Diesel tank
Above the trailer’s axles are an 800-litre diesel tank and a 400-litre hydraulic tank, and straddling both tanks is an industrial-spec Ingersoll Rand compressor. This provides enough compressed air to push the cleaning pigs through the longest of hose runs.
Alongside the compressor sits the 360hp engine which drives the pump through a dedicated clutch a dedicated clutch. It also powers a host of hydraulic system ancillaries, including an integral pressure washer for on-site cleaning.
At the back of the rig is a hydraulic boom with slewing capability. Boom extensions can be added to enable the unit to reach over the side of ninemetre slurry towers to suck slurry out.
This means towers can be emptied without the need for access to a reception pit, or through a clogged or occasionally seized gate valve.
At the end of the hydraulic boom is a pre-charge pump, driven hydraulically, which is used to supply the Cornell pump with a positive feed, adding to the longevity of pump seals.
In addition to lockers for spare
The 12-metre dribble bar boom is carried by a JD6215R on oversized tyres, complete with central tyre inflation.
parts, PPE and other equipment, a lighting tower with integral security camera has been installed on the chassis, providing remote visibility for the dribble bar operator and ample lighting to illuminate the work area around the pumping station.
Steve says: “With the help of a great electrician and SIL controls, we have been able to develop a full remote control process for the entire pumping rig. “And I can operate all functions from a control terminal in the spreading tractor.”
Functions
Remote control functionality includes the engine start/stop, compressor start/stop, throttle adjustment and the selection of mixing or pumping functions.
There are gauges on the control terminal which provide vital information for pump pressures, pump flow, compressor operation and engine speed.
Steve says: “I also have an iPad in
Steve Jones
improves workflow
the cab which gives me a live-stream from the security camera looking over the pumping station. It also lets me check on the nurse tank, lagoon or tower, depending on where we are pumping from.”
When it comes to slurry application accuracy, Steve has invested in Solsteer with Tanlake flow metering which is operated via IsoBus through a John Deere extended terminal. Ag-drive enables data collection
In-cab terminals include application rate monitoring and remote control of the unmanned pumping station.
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ATV load space simplifies in-field deployment.
Machinery Muck & Slurry
and job monitoring too; there are few discrepancies when it comes to full traceability and invoicing.
He says field locations, output and completed work and hours are easily accessed along with machine location.
Steve says: “I am very pleased with our pumping station and the way our slurry work has evolved.
“We will probably build a smaller mid-pump, similar in design to this one, to boost output on runs of up to 3,000m. It would also help to push slurry up gradients on shorter runs.”
Steve says the team has been averaging about 230-270cu.m/hour from a system capable of delivering a maximum flow rate of 450cu.m/hour.
Output
He says: “There is a lot more output still in the system, so if we can get the job done quicker, we will generate the capacity to absorb more work.”
Currently, the 12m grassland dribble bar sits on a JD 6215R equipped with a PTG central tyre inflation system supplied by TractAir.
Steve says: “Flotation tyres help, but getting pressures down is kinder on the surface and it boosts traction when pulling and turning with a long hose run.
“We want to get to a point where
The 360hp mobile pumping station boasts a maximum flow rate of 450cu.m per hour.
when we pack up and leave, you should not really be able to tell that we have been on site.”
In the field, front axle pressures are down at 1.0 bar, with the rears operating at 0.8 bar. On-road, those numbers are increased to 1.7 and 2.0, respectively.
Dribble bar boom options are likely to change, as the firm contemplates its next move in the search for more efficiency.
NEW TANKER RANGE NEW TANKER RANGE NEW TANKER RANGE
IN STOCK NOW!!!
In addition to the tractor-mounted kit, which has been extensively modified at its fold points to accommodate a centrally carried hose reel, it is likely the firm’s four-wheel Vredo self-propelled tanker will soon be replaced by a six-wheel, 32cu.m Vredo tanker to boost output and flexibility.
Steve says: “Given the intense rainfall we are getting and some on-farm storage facilities being filled sooner than planned, we have had quite a surge in pumping work.
“We would like to be on the radar of much larger farms and also those with anaerobic digestion plants too.
“We have some great output potential across the slurry team, and if we can operate at 36m, a wider boom will then suit 32m, 30m, 27m and 24m, and this should open up opportunities to run on most arable tramline systems.”
Nurse tank
When operating with a nurse tank, the firm can draw upon six tankers, three of which include Conor Engineering’s black-liveried rigs.
These include 4,000- and 4,500-
If we can get the job done quicker, we will generate the capacity to absorb more work
STEVE JONES
gallon twin-axle models, with the larger of the two carrying a 12m hydraulic folding Vogelsang boom.
A third tanker boasts 5,000 gallons and runs on three axles.
Steve says: “We opted for lots of specification to help make life easy.
“All use 16,000-litre capacity pumps, with the tri-axle using positively steered first and third axles, sand augers to maintain a liquid suspension and extra ports to simplify loading and unloading.”
suction pipes are preferred for their lighter weight compared to 8in, and using dual fill points boosts output.
Six-inch
Livestock
Edited by Katie Jones –
Keeping seed invoices and photographic evidence of field operations is advised when establishing herbal leys under Government schemes. Katie Fallon reports.
Top tips for managing herbal leys
● Improvements to both animal and soil health
AT a recent AHDB event at Penrith and District Farmers Mart, speakers discussed best practice in terms of managing and establishing herbal leys.
Grassland consultant and founder of AgScope, James Bretherton, told attendees that herbal leys were nothing new to the UK’s agricultural industry, having been used by our predecessors as a way of growing a crop of grass with little input.
However, more recently, agricultural policy and environmental
Without rotational or paddock grazing you will find it hard to reap the benefits of a herbal ley
JAMES HADWIN
schemes have accelerated interest in herbal leys once again.
And while many may be incentivised to incorporate herbal leys into their farming systems by financial payments, Mr Bretherton advised farmers to understand the requirements of a herbal ley before making the commitment.
While herbal leys can help reduce the use of nitrogen fertiliser and improve both animal and soil health, Mr Bretherton said they required careful management to successfully realise their benefits.
He said: “Herbal leys need a good soil pH of six or above and a potassium and phosphorus level of two or above to establish and grow. Take a soil sample to understand this.”
Once plants are established, Mr Bretherton also advised using a rotational or paddock grazing system, rather than set stocking.
Farmer and farm business consultant James Hadwin, who runs a flock of 300 dairy ewes and 200 commercial ewes near Kirkby Lonsdale, said: “Definitely use a rotational grazing system.
“Without rotational or paddock grazing you will find it hard to reap the benefits of a herbal ley.”
Mr Hadwin also advised farmers to
introduce their livestock to herbal leys gradually.
He said: “We introduced the sheep gradually for a couple of hours per day to get the rumen used to it. We kept introducing gradually over a 10-day period and then left them on it.
“One of the big considerations is if you turn all the sheep on to it you might see reduced growth rates as the sheep are not used to it. So, make sure you have a large enough area of herbal leys to transition them on to.”
Experiment
Mr Bretherton advised farmers to experiment with smaller areas of herbal leys before transitioning the whole farm.
He said: “Pick some fields and see how you get on with it, but know why you are growing it. Are you doing it for other reasons than just a payment?”
Will Cleasby of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) advised farmers on some of the ‘do’s and don’ts’ when managing herbal leys as part of agricultural schemes.
He explained funding was available for herbal leys under three Government schemes; The Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier, Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2023 and the expanded SFI offer. When looking at
Herbal leys need a soil pH of six or above and potassium and phosphorus of two or above to establish.
establishing herbal leys under a current SFI agreement, Mr Cleasby said farmers must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mix of grasses and legumes, however, how many of each is not stated.
Whereas, under the expanded offer, it is specified that one grass species, two legume species and two herb or wildflower species must be included within the mix.
For all schemes, Mr Cleasby said herbal leys must be established within the first 12 months of the agreement. He said: “You have got to establish within 12 months, but how you do it is up to you, as long as you meet the requirements and achieve the objectives.
“The 12 months starts when the agreement starts. SFI 23 applications are turned around quite fast – within 28 days.
“At the moment, the expanded offer is slower, but the aim is to get them turned around quicker.”
In all cases, Mr Cleasby advised keeping records of establishment, including invoices from contractors and seed suppliers, and taking pictures and evidence of field operations.
“I would endeavor to make it work and get the evidence to ensure you are putting yourself in the best position,” he added.
An FAI Farms project sponsored by McDonald’s UK and Ireland has seen positive results within the business’ commercial suckler herd following the switch to adaptive multi-paddock grazing. Katie Fallon reports.
AMP grazing cuts input costs and improves productivity
Over the past four years, FAI Farms in Oxfordshire has been involved in a McDonald’s-supported project looking at how an adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing system can work within a commercial beef enterprise in the UK.
After initially taking on the farm and converting it to an organic system in 2001, FAI Farms transitioned the farm from a traditional set stocking approach to a rotational grazing system in 2018.
Karl Williams, operations director at FAI Farms says the farm responded well to the transition to rotational grazing, with an increase of up to 50% in grass growth, prompting them to take things even further with AMP grazing.
In 2020, the farm’s suckler herd of 170 Saler cross Aberdeen-Angus cross Stabiliser cattle were transitioned to an AMP grazing system, with the cattle run as one group for the majority of the four-year project, comprising 90 cows plus followers.
The cattle grazed each cell for approximately 24 to 48 hours, with the aim of leaving approximately 25% of the grass sward behind in spring, 50% in summer and 75% in winter.
Cells were given a rest period in between grazing of approximately 60 to 80 days or longer.
Calves were weaned between nine and ten months of age, using nose flaps for one week, followed by fence line weaning for another week, before being split into management groups.
Results
With the project now complete, results have shown positive outcomes in terms of reduced input costs and farm resilience.
In terms of animal performance, science and technical lead at FAI Farms, Dr Amanda Deakin, says the results show a reduction in the average age at slaughter and an increase in daily liveweight gains (DLWG).
She says the average age at slaughter reduced from 25-26
months to 22-24 months, with DLWG increasing to over 0.8kg per day compared to between 0.74kg and 0.78kg per day achieved in the previous rotational grazing system.
And with the herd Pasture for Life certified in 2021, Dr Deakin says the reduction in slaughter age and increased DLWGs were achieved while removing concentrate
feed from the system and out-wintering cattle with only supplementary hay provided.
The project also showed reduced input costs as a result of improved out-wintering ability.
Dr Deakin says compared to AHDB’s estimates of variable winter housing costs at approximately £2.40 per cow per day on average, the results at FAI Farms showed out-wintering costs of £1.03 per day when part of an AMP grazing strategy.
This equals £185 per cow for a 150day winter, compared to AHDB’s estimates of £432 per cow for a 150-day winter.
She says: “By out-wintering the suckler herd we are potentially saving £1.37 per cow per day or £205.50 per cow over a 150-day winter. For a herd of 50 cows this would equate to a winter housing saving of £10,275.”
Positive results in terms of animal health were also seen, with antibiotic use reduced throughout the project from 2.76mg per
The cattle are run as one group comprising
Karl Williams
population correction unit (PCU) in 2019 to 0.95mg/PCU in 2023.
Water cycle was also a large area of data collection due to the farm’s position on the Thames flood plain, resulting in a large proportion of the farm being removed from winter grazing each year.
Mr Williams says: “We are on loamy, clay soil here and were consistently told that we would never out-winter cattle on this farm because of the soil conditions and the weather. But we have done that really successfully.”
Dr Deakin adds: “We started to question where all of this water was going and if, by using the tool of AMP grazing, we could improve our soil structure and extend the growing season.”
She says infiltration rates were measured across the farm at the start and end of the project, with measurements taken at 90 sample points across 18 fields on the farm.
“We found the average field infiltra-
tion rate improved in all but one field, and the infiltration rates across all sample points went from 28 minutes in 2020, to 11 minutes 2023.”
“This means that water is infiltrating into the soil almost three times faster than it was in 2020 and, in some fields, the infiltration rate was over 100 times faster after the shift to AMP grazing.”
Water
Dr Deakin explains that by following an AMP grazing system, the farm’s soils were able to absorb more water, not only making the farm more resilient in terms of water shortage and extending the growing season, but also reducing the flood risk downstream.
In the last year of the project, a modelled estimate of carbon sequestration in the soil was also generated, with data for 2022 showing the farm was not only carbon neutral, but more carbon was sequestered than it emitted.
Dr Deakin says: “These results are really encouraging, suggesting not
only is it possible to produce carbonneutral beef, but it is also possible to take even more carbon out of the atmosphere, which could potentially offset other enterprises.”
A high level of bird species diversity was also identified, particularly in fields where cattle were out-wintered. Using acoustic monitoring devices, a total of 53 bird species were recorded on the FAI farm in June 2023, compared to 39 species on a neighbouring farm practising set stocking, and 34 species on another farm applying conservation grazing.
Overall, Mr Williams says the project proved successful, however, the change in mindset required with an AMP grazing strategy was one of the biggest challenges the team experienced throughout the project.
Learning
He says: “Everything that we have been taught in agriculture is certainly the opposite of regenerative agriculture. It is a steep learning curve.”
“The next step is to see how much livestock pressure we can put on the system without negatively impacting all of the other things we have seen.
“More broadly, in collaboration with McDonald’s UK and Ireland, we are extending the learnings from this project into the McDonald’s supply chain and working with 11 beef farmers across England and Wales to help them transition to AMP grazing and measure the impacts on their farms.”
The cattle graze each cell for between 24 and 48 hours before being moved on.
New sheep housing and a switch to a maize-based TMR have been transformational at Wiltshire College and University Centre’s Lackham campus. Farmers Guardian reports.
Maize-based TMR brings big benefits to sheep enterprise
Feeding a maize based total mixed ration (TMR) as part of a major investment by Wiltshire College and University Centre’s Lackham campus in its sheep enterprise has delivered significant benefits in a short space of time, says farm and estate manager Philip Steans.
Healthier, more productive ewes, together with additional, healthier, faster-growing lambs are just some of the results seen since the project began last year, he explains.
“Introducing a TMR for our sheep was something which had been considered for some time, because when fed baled silage the ewes were prone to listeria or prolapses due to the long chop length,” Mr Steans says.
“Even though we were supplementing with cake, they struggled to maintain body condition in the week before lambing and those carrying triplets in particular had little milk available after giving birth.
“Changing to a TMR-based feeding system, combined with the benefits of new housing, has more than halved our lambing losses to just under 10%. With fat lambs fetching £175 that is a significant financial benefit.
“Because everything is now under one roof rather being spread across six
separate units as before, the new building allows us to work much more efficiently. During lambing, we operate three eight-hour shifts, each with two or three students and one member of staff.”
Set in 404 hectares (998 acres) at Lacock, Wiltshire College and University Centre’s Lackham campus is run commercially, but first and foremost is a resource for its 200 agricultural students.
A recent £9 million development has brought new facilities, including a state-of-the-art AgriTech teaching building and robotic milking parlour for the dairy cows, the first to be installed at a college in this country.
Most recently, the college has invested in a 1,000sq.m sheep building at the Home Farm, at a cost of £150,000 including feeders, flooring and electronics, says Mr Steans.
“A key factor in the decision to progress the project were the two lambing weekends which are hosted there in March each year, attracting 10,000 visitors who come to see lambs being born, cows being milked, and other animals kept on the farm,” he says.
“With everything on one site that can now be done much more easily, more safely and more efficiently.”
Completed in autumn 2023, the
Changing to a TMR-based feeding system, combined with the benefits of new housing, has more than halved our lambing losses
PHILIP STEANS
new facility features a central feed passage which allows a TMR to be fed, as is used for the dairy cows and beef cattle. Connected to a straw barn which houses newborn lambs, it is the winter home for 900 pure-bred and pedigree Lleyn ewes.
“The flock provides excellent hands-on, practical experience for a wide range of courses as well as agriculture, enabling students to experience lambing, foot trimming, injecting vaccines, fitting rubber rings and shearing,” says Mr Steans.
“Having high health status livestock is paramount, so all sheep are vaccinated to protect from enzootic abortions and toxoplasmosis. The flock is maedi visna-accredited and vaccinated for clostridial diseases and orf.”
He says the ewes are bred for prolificacy and meat quality to supply processors, local butchers and supermarkets with young lamb year-round.
He says: “Known for having great maternal instincts, being quiet, prolific, milky and very efficient converters of grass into milk and meat, Lleyn ewes are smaller and easier for students to handle than the 600 March-lambing Mules which preced-
The ewes are fed a complete TMR diet which includes grass and maize clamp silage.
ed them. Ideal for producing early lambs, they are housed in winter and fed forage and concentrates.”
Shearing them soon after being housed in late December allows Mr Steans and the students to closely monitor their condition and feed concentrate should they start to lose weight. The high stocking rate helps the ewes to stay warm during the colder months, before 100 lamb in January and the remainder in March.
The January flock is housed until March, with lambs being kept indoors for finishing up to June when the single March lambs are ready for marketing.
Finishing
March lambing ewes and lambs are turned out after lambing onto grass for finishing from 12 weeks of age, and any remaining lambs are weaned at 14 weeks and stay on the farm for a further 16 weeks until finished.
Wiltshire College and University Centre’s Lackham campus sells 10 finished lambs per week to local shops, the remainder to Dawn Meats, with some recently going to a major highend supermarket for £9.50/kg.
Sold at 36-40kg liveweight, aiming for 18-20kg on the hook, all are graded at the abattoir, with the majority achieving R and Us 2 and 3L, says Mr Steans.
“As we got into lambing midway through February, the ewes were doing well and split into three groups: singles, twins and triplets,” he says.
“At housing, the ewes were fed a
Philip Steans
complete TMR diet which included grass and maize clamp silage avoiding any mouldy silage which could contaminate the mix.
“They also received a small amount of high-protein blend about three weeks before lambing and we fed those carrying twins and triplets up to 0.5kg concentrates, saving around £8 per ewe on concentrates for the season.
“The TMR performed well right from the start. We have found that the ewes are much calmer than before, show no tendency to fight and have fewer prolapses. When it came to lambing, their body condition was the best that I have ever seen and we had no lambing or twin lamb issues.
“Previously we struggled to finish by the end of May, but this year has been very different. The ewes at lambing had more milk available so the lambs got off to a great start, were heavier and continued growing. It was a win-win situation.”
Maize is the cornerstone of the new TMR feeding system and harvesting it must fit in with the educational curriculum, says Mr Steans.
“As part of their studies, students harvest the crop using our self-propelled Claas 850 and the task must be completed by the end of September, so we grow early maturing varieties,” he explains. “The target dry matter for maize is 28% to 32%, with a chop length of 8mm to avoid ewes having to chew bulky material.”
The target dry matter for maize is 28% to 32%, with a chop length of 8mm
PHILIP STEANS
Last year on the Cotswold brash and loam soils, they grew 55ha (135 acres) of maize, all ES Constance, together with 60ha (148 acres) of grass which was cut three times.
“This season, the maize area has been increased to 65ha (160 acres).
As soon as it was possible to travel on the land, students spread farmyard manure and ploughed it in,” Mr Steans says.
“From a sustainability and carbon lock-up point of view, we are keen to move away from ploughing and some land was min-tilled as a trial.
“But where sheep had grazed stubble turnips over winter and subsequently manure had been applied, the soil was compacted and more difficult to drill, so the search for an ideal system goes on.
“Conditions were relatively good when maize was drilled from April 23
ieties, more of this energy is made available, providing a slow release of carbohydrate to the rumen and reducing the risk of acidosis from the high starch content.
“ES Faith, an ultra-early Maturity 9 variety which is very high yielding, produces a large early cob and exhibits early leaf dry down as sugars are converted into starch within the plant, enabling growers to harvest early while field conditions are good.
“With excellent early vigour and a strong root system, it exhibits good cob formation, while early harvesting means that it is suited to all areas of the country.”
The decision to grow ES Faith this season came about because the 2023 maize harvest was a week later than optimum in terms of fitting in with the curriculum, says Mr Steans.
Experience
“Students start the academic year in September and harvesting maize then provides them with a totally different experience to grass silage production.
“In the past, we have made a lot of bale silage for our beef cattle and fed it through a feeder wagon, but clamp silage is cheaper and quicker to make, with less plastic waste.
to 25 and, by the second week of May, the crop was emerging strongly.”
As in the past 20 years, this season’s maize varieties are from Grainseed with some ES Constance and a larger area of ES Faith.
“ES Constance is a high-yielding maturity Group 8 variety suited to early grain production for crimped maize,” says Grainseed’s Neil Groom.
“It offers lots of mature grain which translates into excellent levels of ME and starch that produces high-quality silage to increase meat, milk or gas yields. The variety’s high cell wall digestibility is increasingly important as the proportion of maize in the diet exceeds 40%, because more than 50% of the total energy in maize is in the vegetative parts of the plant.
“In high cell wall digestibility var-
“We have three clamps, one 1,000 tonnes, the other two 750t each. The intention is to complete each clamp in a day and next season to increase our overall capacity from 2,500t to 3,500t as we move away from baled silage.
“Black plastic sheeting is used for the sides of the clamp and the top is covered with a barrier film to prevent oxygen from degrading the silage. A Silostop SecureCover over the silage sheets provides further protection.”
Last season’s average maize yield was 35t/ha (14t/acre), which Mr Steans is more than happy with as yields of earlier varieties can be lower than those harvested later.
“The key benefit of extra early and ultra early varieties is that the crop comes off when soil conditions are good and a following crop of Westerwolds or Italian ryegrass can be established.”
The college’s sheep building houses 900 pure-bred and pedigree Lleyn ewes.
MORE FROM THE EVENT
For more from LandAlive, see page 24.
Regenerative farming could provide the answer to healthy, sustainable and profitable food production balanced with thriving biodiversity. So how can producers put it into practice? Lydia Wombwell and Jane Brown report.
Driving the transition to regen farming
Food consumption needs to drive the transition to regenerative farming, and the transition needs to happen fast, said Philip Lymbery, chief executive of Compassion in World Farming, speaking at a new event, LandAlive, held at the Bath and West Showground.
He said the intensification of agriculture was bad for the environment, animals and people, but reverting to more extensive, grassfed systems could be an answer for all three.
The event also heard from a number of farmers about their experiences with regen farming.
Nikki Yoxhall, a beef farmer from north-east Scotland and technical director at Pasture for Life, said she saw regen farming as a way to de-risk the business.
She explained: “If you do not spend much money and you sell stuff, you make a profit.”
Ms Yoxall told the audience that
she had no machinery or sheds and rotationally grazed to manage her pastures year-round, with permanent pastures delivering a massive range of ecosystem services as well as being a livestock farmer’s most productive asset.
She said: “Permanent pastures cover 40% of UK agricultural land and store 34% of global terrestrial carbon.
“They are often written off as being unproductive, but I would challenge that.”
Managed
And she said that even tired, overgrazed pastures could be managed back to life within six months, without reseeding.
She said that while some consultants advised a 21-day rest period, she preferred a 60-day rotation to retain the diversity in the sward –although it depended on the season.
“If the top of the grass is flat it is not ready to graze; if it is pointy then it has recovered,” she said.
DO THE NUMBERS STACK UP?
FOR farmers who are unsure about the finances of transitioning to regenerative farming, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can offer an attractive package, said Marianne McHugh, an agricultural contracts manager at the Business Information Point in Devon.
She explained the current SFI offers 102 flexible, noncompetitive actions, from which producers can select multiple options, with durations ranging from three to five years.
She said: “Unlike previous, more intrusive schemes, the SFI adopts a more advisory approach. The initiative is designed to be a long-term fixture.”
She added that SFI options can
be integrated into various aspects of regen farming, aligning with the belief of reducing chemical, physical and mechanical disturbances to soil.
For instance, maintaining hedges can bring in payments of £5 to £27 per 100 metres, while establishing pollen and flower mixes can earn up to £739/hectare.
“The SFI means you can do regen farming while also being paid extra money for it,” she said.
Government support aside, there is a lot of evidence to prove that regen practices will reduce input costs and/or increase productivity, said Niels Corfield, regen farming consultant.
He said: “These are not incremental changes; they are step changes.”
Nikki Yoxhall, speaking at the LandAlive event, said regen was a way to de-risk her business.
Permanent pastures cover 40% of UK agricultural land and store 34% of global terrestrial carbon
NIKKI YOXHALL
Grazing sheep and cattle together also improves pasture diversity, said Andy Wear from Fernhill Farm in the Mendip Hills, Somerset.
He said before the transition to regen, his stock would always choose what looked to be the ‘worst’ field or hedgerows rather than perennial ryegrass.
“We want a balanced diet and so do they,” he said.
On diverse pastures he said he had also found the animals to be healthier, with less scouring than on perennial ryegrass.
Tim Martin, co-founder of Farm Wilder, has created a food supply chain focused on producing high-quality meat from regenerative farms that are actively improving biodiversity.
“Cows can be part of the solution; when used on farms they create biodiversity on fields,” said Mr Martin.
With the help of wildlife organi-
sations such as the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and the RSPB, Mr Martin has seen the beneficial impact of regen systems on many of his farm suppliers, including the return of cuckoos.
“Cuckoos need trees; they will not thrive on farms that have ripped out all the hedgerows,” he said.
Meanwhile, Martin Lines, an arable farmer from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, said he was managing to improve biodiversity on his farm, despite not owning livestock.
“A lot of farmers have cover crop boundaries; in small fields these can be beneficial, but in large fields this is not enough.
“We have been trialling 6-metrewide strips every 100m in our fields, made up of 4m of wildflowers and 1m of grass each side,” said Mr Martin.
“We also allow a local shepherd to graze sheep on our cover crops, which can add 20-40kg/hectare of nitrogen into the soil. We need to stack different uses on our farms and open up new opportunities.”
Philip Lymbery
Working Dogs
For winning results Shepherdess and sheepdog triallist Emma Gray, Isle of Bute, discusses the furore around Inheritance Tax and what it could mean for the farmed landscape, plus why educating children about farming is key to its survival, in her latest Farmers Guardian blog. Visit farmers-guardian. com/opinion-blogs
English results
NORTH WESTMORLAND, Hutton in the Forest, Penrith (Judge, V. Graham) Nursery (47 ran) 1, R.
Harrison, Nidge, 81 of 90; 2, D. Scrimgeour, Nancy, 73; 3, A. Temple, Tawelfan Tink, 65; 4, N. Westgarth, Meg, 63; 5, J. Burrow, Maddie, 61; 6, G. Miller, Reef, 60. Novice, 1, N. Westgarth, Jim, 70 of 90; 2, G. Miller, Gin, 69; 3, P. Ellis, Tip, 65; 4, G. Fearon (Borrowdale) Cap, 64. New handler, 1, Z. Edwards, Queen; 2, S. Ryall, Maggie. NORTHERN, Kirkby Fleetham, Northallerton (P. Exelby) Nursery (36 ran) 1, Robert Hutchinson, Rob, 78 of 90; 2, Robert Hutchinson, Jet, 74; 3, A. Hunter, Tilly, 70; 4, Robert Hutchinson, Maggie, 69; 5, I. Murdoch, Dunelle Mouse, 64 OLF; 6, A. Temple,
Tawelfan Tink, 64. Novice, 1, E. Hill, Pentre Roxy, 80 of 100; 2, E. Hill, Jess, 77. New handler, 1, J. Allison, Pixie, 60 of 90. ROMNEY MARSH, Lynsted (E. Lauder) Cradle (14 ran) 1, P. Misselbrook, Ice, 64; 2, K. Reed, Nan, 63; 3, S. Walker, Taw, 55. Nursery, 1, P. Griffiths, Duchy, 92; 2, M. Banham, Beacons Ben, 91; 3, K. Reed, Prince, 67. Novice, 1, G. Gower, Ayesha, 71; 2, G. Gower, Will, 66; 3, R. Levy, Megan, 49; 4, K. Reed, Thistledown Greg, 46. Rookie, J. Bastable, Meg, 87; 2, H. Long, Wren, 71.
Trials diary
ENGLAND
December 14. RYEDALE, Raylia Dugmore and Will Young, Crosscliff, Langdale End, YO13 0LN, what3words: afterglow.nights.vegans, contact R. Dugmore, tel: 01723 882 434. FLYDE, Fylde Nursery, Hall Trees Farm, Chipping, PR3 2NF, 9.30am start, usual Pennine interclub rules apply, contact Mr Longton, tel: 07736 278 398. TRAWDEN, E. Thornally and E. Street, Hull House, Hellifield, BD23 4JP. NORTHUMBERLAND, Dykehead Farm, Rochester.
December 15. MID SHIRES, FramlandFarm, ScalfordRoad,MeltonMowbray,Leicester,LE131LB, 8.30amstart,nursery/novice/beginnertrials,contact Gill,email:gillburbidge2014@gmail.comortel:07950 738732. ESSEX, GreatHomewoodFarm,Honeypot Lane,SouthChailey,Lewes,BN84QL,nurseryand novicetrial,contactElaineAnstey,tel:07778677 955,oremail:vernonanstey@btinternet.com. December 22. RYEDALE, Stuart Walton, Sandhoe Farm, Carlton Goole, DN14 9RS what3words: started.wildfires.outsize, contact S. Walton, tel: 07789 740 122.
WALES
December 14. SOUTH WALES NURSERY FINAL, Carmarthen,contactAnnaProthero,tel:07795178 451,or email:anna_prothero@hotmail.com. December 21. TYNWERN, Llanrhystud, SY23 5BD, 9am start, contact Emyr Lloyd, tel: 01974 272 282.
RYEDALE, Boynton (T. Bennett) Nursery (17 ran) 1, G. Blyth, Cloddiau Bet, 67; 2, S. Aconley, Hilston Rob, 66; 3, I. Murdoch, Dunelle Mouse, 64; 4, J. Atkinson, Scalpsie Riot, 58 OLF; 5, D. Bristow, Greenhow Tess, 58; 6, R. Cole, Tilly, 54. WEST COUNTRY, Mill Hill (V. Pitts) Driving, 1, D. Cole, Juno, 80; 2, A. Hendy, Brynn, 75; 3, A. Hendy, Spike, 71; 4, R. Greep, Doug, 62; 5, A. Beard, Mae, 61; 6, L. Lock, Rae, 52. Mx 1, D. Cole, Mac, 86; 2, D. Cole, Sam, 84; 3, L. Lock, Ben, 80; 4, S. Mills, Kismet Apache, 74; 5, S. Mills, Kismet Alba, 71; 6, R. Greep, Tweed, 70.
GOOSTREY: Mon, hay, square bale to £95/tonne, small bale to £145/t; round bale to £98/t; haylage, square bale to £56-75/t, round bale to £50-95/t; grass silage, round bale to £45/t; barley straw, square bale to £122/t; wheat straw, square bale to £96/t; oat straw, square bale to £108/t.
CARLISLE: Mon, hay, twin packs to £120/t; oat straw, round bale to £31/ bale; barley straw, round bale to £39/ bale; wheat straw, mixed round and mini Hesstons to £125/t.
The recently launched book, Exmoor Farms – A Year on the Moor, is an insight into the lives of those who farm the landscape. Angela Calvert finds out more.
As agriculture has evolved over time, those who farm on Exmoor have adapted to change. Its iconic landscape is a result of the interaction between people and nature over thousands of years.
While many farming methods have remained unchanged for centuries, farmers have also embraced the challenges and opportunities which come with new technologies and consumer demands, while at the same time maintaining the environment and ensuring their businesses remain sustainable and profitable.
Exmoor Farms – A Year on the Moor is a snapshot in time, showcasing Exmoor’s farmers, their families and their farming systems, as well as associated businesses and contractors who are all part of this unique community. Its creation has been a collaboration between The Exmoor Society and the Exmoor Hill Farming Network (EHFN), with support from the Royal Countryside Fund and the Exmoor National Park Authority.
Katherine Williams, network manager for EHFN, says: “I had become increasingly concerned by some people’s perceptions that farmers are responsible for environmental damage and wanted to find a way to change this and highlight how our farmers are balancing food production, nature conservation and environmental benefits.
“The EHFN celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and I had been thinking for a while about a book to mark its foundation. I wanted to find a way to tell the hidden stories of our farms – a record of the farming year that would show some of the things our farmers do and capture this moment in Exmoor’s history. A book also seemed like the perfect way to showcase the value of the network.
“The fact that it is the National Park’s 70th anniversary this year gave the book additional significance.”
Exmoor Farms –A Year on the Moor
After meetings with The Exmoor Society and its chair, Kate O’Sullivan, Katherine – with the support of EHFN chair Ian May – began to turn the idea into reality. Newsletters were used to invite farmers and landowners to express an interest in getting involved, ensuring there was a geographical spread across the whole region.
Charities, businesses and the wider community were asked for sponsorship, and their positive responses allowed the project to go ahead.
In the spring of 2023, local author Victoria (known as Tortie), from near Lynton, and photographer Eleanor Davis, from Chittlehampton, came on board. They spent the year interviewing and photographing more than 100 people.
Tortie and her husband, Chris, have been farming on Exmoor since 1986. They breed pedigree Devon cattle and Exmoor ponies, have a couple of small-scale renewable energy projects
and open their farm up for tractordrawn tours during the summer.
Katherine says: “In Tortie, we were lucky to find someone who many of those interviewed already knew and trusted, meaning they were happy to speak to her openly about their lives and work. Eleanor’s tireless work captured more than 300 stunning images of people, farming businesses and landscapes, despite the weather challenges, and we were also grateful for contributions from other photographers.”
Tortie says: “It was a real privilege to speak to so many people and get to know them. I tried not to be too intrusive, but on the other hand, I wanted to share the human interest stories behind the farms and businesses.
“We decided the book would be broadly themed with the seasons, starting in April with lambing which is a key time for many farmers. As well as farmers, I also spoke to local businesses and organisations, as they are all part of what makes up this community.
“We wanted it to be ‘very present’
about this specific year. It was a balance between celebrating the farms, but also keeping it real – we wanted it to be positive but without sugar coating.”
When the realisation of the complexity of delivering the project hit, Jane Pearn – a director at EHFN and former teacher, who has been involved with farming all her life – volunteered to become editor.
She says: “I had no previous experience of editing a book, but everyone involved pulled together to make it work. There have been highs and lows and unexpected challenges, but it has all been worthwhile.”
The culmination of everyone’s hard work finally came together this autumn. After being printed locally by Short Run Press in Exeter, the book was launched on October 16, which is, fittingly, Exmoor Day. This coincided with the 70th anniversary of Exmoor being designated as a National Park at Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auction’s Cutcome Market, Wheddon Cross, which also features in the book.
Following the launch, there was an exhibition of the photos at White Rock Cottage, a former school in Simonsbath, with plans underway for further exhibitions in the region and possibly nationally.
Katherine says: “Before the launch, one of my concerns was whether the book would appeal to people who were not involved with farming on Exmoor, but we did not need to worry.
“The book has been really well received and sold well, so we are considering a rerun, and the exhibition has attracted visitors from all parts of the UK, as well as from abroad. We will be forever grateful for everyone’s help in capturing these moments in time, which we hope will be cherished for many years to come, and we wish we could have included many more farms.
“The book and the exhibition not only mark the anniversaries but are a celebration of the passion, knowledge and commitment which goes into farming on Exmoor every single day.”
The Exmoor Hill Farming Network
THE Exmoor Hill Farming Network was established in 2014 as a successor to the Exmoor Hill Farm Project, which ran from 2009 to 2013 to improve the sustainability of Exmoor’s farms, provide an information hub for farmers and foster a friendly, inclusive community.
Key funders are The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF) and Exmoor National Park Authority. In 2020, the Network transitioned to a Community Interest Company, a move made
possible with the encouragement of The Farmer Network in Cumbria and Farm Cornwall, plus tremendous help from the late Robert Deane, to whom the book is dedicated. This decision reinforced commitment to a grassroots approach: truly independent and farmer-led. Today, the Network is one of 56 farm support networks across the UK led by the RCF and supports 453 farming businesses in the Greater Exmoor area.
Exmoor ponies are a vital part of the moor’s heritage.
Inset: Katherine Williams had the idea for the book to showcase Exmoor’s farming communities.
Exmoor farmers are focused on maintaining the environment as well as ensuring their businesses are profitable.
Some of the Dart family’s Devon cattle with Great Champson in the background.
In Your Field
Every week we follow the ups and downs of farmers around the UK
DAN HAWES
Kent
Dan Hawes grew up on an arable farm in Suffolk and now produces strawberry and raspberry plants for the UK fruit market with Blaise Plants, sister company to Hugh Lowe Farms, Kent. The business grows outside, under tunnels and in glasshouses and produces more than four million plants a year. The arable side includes environmental schemes, with a mix of wheat, oilseed rape, beans and barley crops.
It is amazing how quickly the year goes round and November into December is always a busy time both inside and outside of work. On the back of three busy weekends, with four dinners over the last two, three of which were the fancy black tie sort, I’m rather looking forward to the Christmas break to catch up (with sleep, but also my shopping).
Usually my social life isn’t quite so full, but it seems everything I’m a member of has a dinner or ball around Christmas and, if I’m honest, when you spend so much time in work boots with mud-splashed jeans, it’s quite nice to dress up and enjoy yourself every now and then.
After a charity auction I’m now the proud owner of a pedal NH tractor (for my niece). It’s a shame I don’t have a bigger garden to test drive it in, but I’m keen to grow her farming interest.
No slacking off at work either, tasked with getting all our CSTP (or cold stored tray plants to any nonfruit growers) into the cold stores –
‘We needed to pack 100,000 plants each day to be done by Christmas’
almost three million in around six weeks. These types of plants are grown outside and then stored in cold stores until required for planting, generally in late winter/spring. This spell around or below freezing holds the plant at its current stage, which then continues growth with early plant vigour once planted. We target minus 1.5 in store for the bulk of our plants, working with a couple of local apple producers who do an excellent job running stores for us.
We needed to pack 100,000 plants per day to be done by the farm’s Christmas break. No mean feat, but all the team have done a great job so far. We’re two fields down out of four, but that’s the two largest. You might remember I was worried about chill accumulation pre-packing due to the mild weather.
We pushed on and made a start as planned to make sure we could stay on track, but have adjusted our storage temperature plans accordingly, but the following week consisted of near or below freezing temperatures – just what we needed. That said, then frost damage becomes an issue if it gets too cold, but luckily not on this occasion. British weather – it’ll never be just right.
We bring all the strawberry plants back to the grading shed, where they are cleaned up as required then graded to specs, largely first class, but we also do second class in case they’re needed for gapping up field corners or for adjusting densities. It seems a waste to throw away any plant that may be useful, so long as the cost remains sensible. We do fall-out estimates in the year, so we can predict the num-
ber of plants in advance, but it’s only now that you know what you’ve got.
To help this estimation process we can also flower map in-house, which involves dissecting the plant under microscope to determine the meristem growth stages. This, along with a few assumptions, can tell us an estimated yield for that plant the following year – useful information for us and our customers. While all this is going on, I’ve also got a few mechanisation plans going on in the background, with some ideas still in my head, while other things we’ve come across are now in motion. Non-chemical and non-mechanical weeding is one thing I’m still looking at for next year, so if anyone has any good suggestions, please do get in touch.
Wishing everyone an enjoyable Christmas.
For location specific forecasts visit farmersweather.co.uk and for video updates go to weatherweb.net or call the number below. Call Farmers WeatherLIVE 0906 599 9308
‘Last month we had the first Dairy Shorthorn heifer calf born on-farm’
ALAN CARTER
Cornwall
Alan Carter farms in partnership with his parents, Paul and Christine, on a 162 hectare (400-acre), 400-cow dairy unit at Constantine, Cornwall, with 130 milking cows, supplying Saputo. Alan, also a Parish Councillor, and his wife Sarah, have two children, Ross and Dana.
We are now in the season where we have started breeding the cows. The bulls went with the cows and heifers on November 29. This is more than a week later than usual as we wanted to try and start calving nearer the end of August, than the middle of
the month, like this year. Colan is starting his third breeding season here, and his second with the cows.
We have a new red Friesian bull, Goonhilly Freddy, running with the heifers. The bull that was with the heifers last year went off, as his attitude was not good over the summer. We keep four bulls here on the farm, and it is no good to have one around that could be trouble.
Once the bulls start living with the cows, we must split the Jerseys away, and this year, the Dairy Shorthorns.
We are also giving the best Jersey cows and the six heifers one try with sexed semen. The Dairy Shorthorns will also be artificially inseminated, as I don’t think we need another bull here for those four.
Last month we had the first Dairy Shorthorn heifer calf born on the farm. She was born just after the last dairy calf, so I have a house with
Crossword 1275
the Shorthorn, Little Jane, and the Friesian, Big Brenda.
Calving has slowed down a lot, with a gap of a month, then around 20 to calve by mid-February. This gap wasn’t originally intended but has worked quite well. It has eased the pressure of calf rearing, as the bulk of calves are weaned by the end of October.
In previous years there have been 60 calves on milk around Christmas, which is a lot of work when the days are so short. It seemed easier this year feeding the calves in late summer and autumn instead of mid-winter, and something we will repeat by leaving a six-week gap before the Hereford bull joins the herd.
This year we will be hosting Christmas day at our house. I use
the term ‘we’ very loosely as Sarah and Mum will be doing all the hard work. I won’t be doing any of the cooking, but I have been given the responsibility of mulled wine and cheeseboard. These are two areas that I have great enthusiasm for.
This is the first time we have hosted, as a lack of space and only owning four chairs has meant it has never been possible before. But now the extension is finished, we can’t use this as an excuse anymore.
I hope you all have a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Hopefully your machinery and livestock will behave themselves over the festive break, and you can manage to find some time off to celebrate with friends and family in between the regular winter work.
‘The future of agriculture should matter to everyone’
In bringing forward seismic policy changes, the Government has chosen to shut out those who understand how the countryside works. It is a shameful missed opportunity, and it is reckless.
Six weeks have passed since the Budget and this Government is stubborn in its course. Despite analyses showing proposed Inheritance Tax changes will generate negligible benefits for the Treasury while stifling growth in the rural economy, the leadership remains unmoved.
Individual farmers’ stories – of how capital taxation changes and cuts to the Defra budget will upend their livelihoods – go unacknowledged. Politically, this is calculated. Leaders see more risk in backtracking and facing a media uproar than in alienating a small segment of voters they believe they do not need. But let us be clear: these are not just policy tweaks. These decisions threaten to destabilise thousands of landbased businesses. The Chancellor might believe that ‘hard decisions’ today will bring better outcomes tomorrow – that is her prerogative. And yes, there are points of agreement:
the current Agricultural Property Relief rules do repress succession planning, and I will not defend a system that lets millionaires use farmland as a tax-free inheritance loophole.
Irresponsible
But let us not be naive. This budget is not just bad for farmers – it is bad for everyone. It is irresponsible.
Most people rarely consider their connection to rural Britain. That is understandable. We do not often think about emergency services unless we need them. But here is the thing: we are in a nature and climate emergency, and land managers are the first line of defence.
We are facing a future where it is harder for us to do our job – a job that benefits the entire country. But why? Perhaps their advisers have convinced them with notions like: ‘big landowners do not need public money; ‘farmland should not be a tax haven’; ‘national food security is a myth in a global market’; ‘if smaller, less efficient farmers exit, new entrants will do better’; ‘farmers need to share the nation’s financial burden’.
I have no idea if this is what the
JOE EVANS CLA vice-president
Government is thinking – they have not told us. But if I am right, then the policy on the table is about as progressive as the poll tax. Perhaps that is the idea; after all, the Lady is not for turning.
I would welcome a debate. I suspect we would find more common ground than the Government expects. But instead of dialogue, we get signals that Defra is seen as a luxury – a budget to be raided for more politically expedient causes like health or education. This terrifies me. Because agriculture is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
Critical role
We produce food, but we also play a critical role in the public service of water management, renewable energy and nature recovery – all of which are essential for the nation’s health, security and prosperity. The choices we make about how to use land impacts everyone.
All this for a suggested annual public investment of £3 billion – 10p per week per citizen, or less than 0.3% of Government spending.
And if you want to enjoy the
countryside, the footpaths come free. This is not just a rural issue. It is about the kind of future we want for Britain. Will we prioritise long-term resilience, sustainability and food security? Or will we strip away the foundations of rural life and hope someone else picks up the pieces when it all falls apart?
Short-sightedness
The Government might not think rural Britain matters. But the day they need us – and trust me, that day will come – they will realise the cost of their short-sightedness. The future of agriculture is not just a farmer’s issue – it is everyone’s issue. Let us start treating it that way.
The Government’s decisions in the Budget threaten to destabilise thousands of land-based businesses, says Joe Evans.
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