Farmers Guardian 22nd November 2024

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Restoring nature is essential for Lake District farmer. See p93-95.

Olivia Midgley, Editor – olivia.midgley@agriconnect.com

Farming made a mark on the capital and change must follow

IF anyone was in any doubt of the strength and capability of the farming community, this week’s rally in Westminster made both abundantly clear.

You came in your thousands. You made a stand. And then left peacefully, leaving no physical trace. But what you did on Tuesday will make history.

Aside from the celebrity appearances, impassioned political voices and pleas from across the farming fraternity, it was actually the tone of the event and its sheer magnitude which has left an imprint on the people who came and experienced it.

From where I stood in Whitehall, it was the polite but powerful silences, quiet contemplation – a mark of respect for those who could not attend but wanted to – and the generations of farming families united in solidarity, which said as much about the strength of feeling and what it all meant, as the roar of the crowds.

And for those watching from afar – and indeed around the corner in the Treasury – its impact will surely have been felt.

Planned with military precision, the rally, which organisers estimate about 40,000 people attended, along with noisy Conservative-led demonstrations outside Parliament and a fiery NFU mass lobby of MPs just a stone’s throw from Downing Street, made sure farming’s voice was heard.

It did good work too.

Forage Aid founder Andrew Ward and his team’s inspired plan to use the event to form a massive food bank, not only fed thousands, but cemented the tag line for the event – ‘We Just Want to Feed You’.

What happens next is key and the Whitehall rally’s architects, who include high-profile farmers Olly Harrison, Clive Bailye, Martin Williams and James Mills, are driven by their opposition to the Government’s Budget – and have vowed to maintain this momentum.

They plan to bring in wider businesses affected by the Budget to form a coalition from the private sector, to call for change and, in some cases, a reversal of tax hikes.

We know food brings people together and right now, small and medium-sized businesses hold more weight than the Government might realise.

will not back down and they

Farmers and small businesses like them will not back down and they will not go quietly.

And should Chancel-

And should Chancellor Rachel Reeves et al be in any doubt as to farmer feeling, our message was delivered loud and clear this week: this is just the beginning.

Thousands of farmers descended on London on Tuesday (November 19) to protest against Autumn Budget announcements. The FG team was out in force reporting from

l Farmers plead for Government U-turn

AFTER weeks of planning, farmers from across the country descended on London on Tuesday to oppose the Government’s proposed new Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules.

Thousands of farmers, from farms of all sizes, stood shoulder to shoulder, generation to generation, to highlight the impact this would have if brought into play.

Organiser Olly Harrison made the opening speech, spurred on by a cheering crowd.

He said: “Is it the beginning of the end of UK farming, or is this the beginning of some direct action to save this farming community we all love and which feeds this nation every day? They think they can replace us with imported food, but they cannot.”

“Does the Government even know where food comes from?”

Supporters from outside the farming sector also showed up in support of farmers.

One attendee said: “I am not a farmer, but this is important.”

Various speakers made their plea on stage, including fellow organisers Andrew Ward and Martin Williams,

Starmer told to ‘buckle up’ on IHT fight

Baroness Kate Rock, author of the Rock Review, who spoke on behalf of tenant farmers, and Clare Wise, whose family has farmed at Manor Farm, near Darlington, Co Durham, since 1875.

Passionate

In a passionate speech to the crowd, she told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to ‘buckle up because you are not going to win this fight’ and that she would fight to protect her farm with ‘every last breath’.

High-profile figures came out in droves too, including Reform leader Nigel Farage and TV farmer Jeremy

‘OVERWHELMING’ AMOUNT OF FOOD GIVEN TO FOOD BANK

FARMERS from across the country may have gathered in London to speak out against Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget announcement around Agricultural Property Relief, but it was also an event which showcased the community spirit that farming is known for.

London food bank City Harvest said it was ‘overwhelmed’ by the donations and managed to fill seven trucks full of food which will provide 15,500 meals.

Farmers were seen donating everything from bread, milk and meat to vegetables and tinned food. Protest organiser and farmer

Andrew Ward said: “The amount of food brought to the rally on coaches and trains from all corners of the country surpassed our wildest dreams. Farmers brought 6.7 tonnes of food, leaving City Harvest Food Bank overwhelmed by the phenomenal generosity of attendees in such appalling weather.”

The charity said the donations were accompanied by ‘moving’ handwritten letters from farmers and their children, detailing how long they had been producing food and what the impact of the Government’s Budget would mean for their way of life.

Clarkson, who was, he said, advised by doctors not to attend due to his recent health issues.

He highlighted the endless navigation of policy which farmers face – a lot of ‘complication… and endless costs’ for ‘very little money’.

He asked the crowd to raise their hands if they were from a family farm and asked those who thought they were going to be unaffected to lower them.

To a sea of raised hands, he said: “Thank you. My case rests.

“I want to finish with a message to the Government. For the sake of everyone here, and for all the farmers stuck at home paralysed by a fog of despair, I beg of the Government to be big, to accept that this was rushed through and it is a mistake and to back down.”

Farmers outside of London support cause

RALLIES were also organised at locations across the country for those who could not make it to London, including at auction marts.

Karen Johnston organised the Back British Farming rally in Orkney, which took place at 11am at Orkney Auction Mart, Kirkwall, said the demonstration was about ‘so much more’ than the recently unveiled changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Inheritance Tax, describing the Budget announcement as ‘the final straw’.

She said: “There has been a lot of unrest for a long time. Why does the Government seem intent on wanting to force us out of business?

“UK farmers are the best in the world, yet we are made to jump through hoops. We want to support our farmers and let the general public know that food does not grow on supermarket shelves.”

MORE than 1,500 farmers sent out a clear message to their MPs at the NFU rally this week, demanding the family farm tax to be stopped, and for the policy to be properly consulted on by those in the farming sector who it directly affects, rather than Treasury civil servants.

Speaking to her local Labour MP John Whitby, upland Derbyshire farmer Jane Bassett said while he ‘listened’ to the group’s concerns, by the end of the meeting they felt it was just ‘warm words’.

She said: “We made it clear to our MP we are in it for the long haul, and that it really matters to us, to our homes, families, businesses and wider rural economies – which sits on the back of farming being viable.”

Mark Wainwright, a mixed farmer from North Yorkshire, said it was a ‘multi-pronged attack’.

He said: “The subsidies have gone away at an accelerated rate, the whole confidence is out of the industry, so why would I want to blow more money in? It is the exact opposite.”

North Devon sheep and beef farmer

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin said the Budget proposals were the ‘last straw for the farming community’.

She said her message to her local Conservative MP was to ‘speak up for us’.

“Give us a voice, do not agree with what we are saying, but give us action.”

Cumbrian dairy and sheep farmer Barbara Fell said she had made the journey to ‘try and safeguard the farm’ for her son, who would be the fifth generation.

She said under the current proposal he would face a bill of at least £100,000.

She said: “You do not make a fast fortune on milk with the milk price.

“You cannot amass money to pay the Inheritance Tax. We have only got small margins to work with.

“The problem is we are never in charge of our own destiny; we cannot pass any cost on. This Budget is taking money out. They are pulling the rug out from the farmers who want to carry on.”

Robert Padfield and his two children James and Grace travelled to the rally from their cereal farm in Essex.

Grace said: “It affects what we want to do as the next generation.”

Nick James, an arable and beef farmer from the Isle of Wight, said the Budget was going to ‘destroy food security and the family farm’.

He said: “I am here to see my MP Richard Quigley and I just want to look him in the eye and see what he says about destroying the last industry this country has got.”

Treasury must recognise impact on tenants

THE Treasury has ‘not properly understood’ how land is occupied in the UK and has developed a policy in which it has forgotten about the tenanted sector.

That was the message from Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) chief executive George Dunn, who warned that some tenant farmers were already having conversations with their landlord or land agent about having to make ‘serious changes’, including looking at bringing Farm Business Tenancies back in-hand to sell off, if proposals stay as they are.

He said the TFA had asked the Treasury if it knew how many Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief claims were made from landlords with multiple tenancies, and was told it could not provide the data. He questioned what impact assessment had been done for the tenanted sector.

Opportunity

Tenant dairy and arable farmer James Wallis, West Sussex, was given an opportunity as a new entrant to work with a multi-generational estate on a long-term agreement. He said the owners had invested ‘a considerable sum in infrastructure improvements’.

But he feared landlords could now be ‘frightened off’ long-term tenancies and farm improvements.

“Business Property Relief should be reinstated and landlords who are willing to grant genuine long-term tenancies should be nil-rated for APR.”

Annie Halls, a tenant arable farmer from Essex, was hoping to be the third generation on an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy.

She said: “I am not convinced the Government understands the value of the tenanted sector.”

Farmers call on MPs to speak up

Farmers in London on Tuesday (November 19).

Chancellor ‘refusing’ NFU meeting

● Defiant message from Tom Bradshaw

By Rachael Brown

IF the Government can accept the human impact of its Inheritance Tax changes on farmers, NFU president Tom Bradshaw says he will lose all respect for it.

It was a defiant message from Mr Bradshaw, who said the situation will be only be resolved by sitting down with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, ‘but at the moment she is refusing to meet with us’.

In his opening address at the NFU rally at Church House on Tuesday (November 19), Mr Bradshaw was greeted with three cheers from the audience becoming visibly emotional at times, when speaking about the ‘human impact’ of the policy on farming families, adding ‘it is wrong on every level’.

He told members to ‘look their MPs in the eye and make them understand there is a political price

If they accept that the human impact of this policy is something they can live with, then I will lose all respect for this Government

TOM BRADSHAW

to be paid’, not just in Westminster, but in Cardiff, Edinburgh and in Belfast.

Speaking to Farmers Guardian, Mr Bradshaw said the ball was in the Chancellor’s court on a meeting, with the only communication so far being a response to a letter which requested to meet, in which she responded ‘no’.

MPs UNITED BEHIND FARMERS

POLITICIANS of all stripes were united behind farmers in backing calls for a Government U-Turn on its damaging Budget.

MPs speaking to Farmers Guardian said the industry’s voice would be listened to, with many publicly backing FG’s Save Britain’s Family Farms campaign.

Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins, who was leading a Conservative demonstration outside Parliament on Tuesday before joining the Whitehall farmer rally, blasted the ‘city dwelling socialist Government’ and its ‘list of broken promises’.

Speaking alongside fellow MPs in rural seats, including West Yorkshire’s Robbie Moore and Aberdeenshire’s Harriet Cross, Ms Atkins said: “City Steve [Reed] promised the farming community that they would not change Inheritance Tax rules calling it a ‘desperate nonsense’ and now they have done the opposite of

When probed if he thought the policy was a ‘political standpoint’ and whether this Government cared about losing the rural vote, Mr Bradshaw said he did not believe it was a ‘political judgement’ but ‘the longer they leave this hanging the more I think it is vindictive rather than miscalculated’.

“If they accept that the human impact of this policy is something

they can live with, then I will lose all respect for this Government. It is not acceptable, the unintended consequences and what we might see in the coming years. I do not believe they can live with that.”

A spokesperson from the Treasury said: “Ministers from both HMT and Defra have regularly engaged with the NFU, including the Secretary of State, Farming

what they promised. We know they have broken their promise on delinking payments and on National Insurance.

“The Government must listen to us, to Farmers Guardian and the real farming experts that this policy may look good on a spreadsheet in the Treasury but it will have real life consequences for our family farms and tenant farms up and down the country.”

Destroy

New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch added: “This policy is not going to raise any money. So in a year’s time, if they [Labour] have not U-turned, this is going to be patently obvious. We will reverse this policy. It will destroy farming as we know it in this country.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who attended the rally with Cumbrian MP Tim Farron, said farmers were ‘feeling let down and taken for granted’.

Mr Davey blasted the previous Conservative Government’s record with farmers, highlighting the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme and ‘butchered’ trade deals.

He added that this was why Labour’s policies were ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’.

He said the Liberal Democrats would be working cross party to apply pressure on Labour.

North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain highlighted the strength of feeling across the country, having met with several of her constituents who had travelled all the way down to London for the protest.

She said commentary that farmers could pass on the land as long as they lived seven years was unhelpful, highlighting the case of a constituent where the father in the family had recently died unexpectedly.

Clacton MP Nigel Farage, who

This policy may look good on a spreadsheet in the Treasury but it will have real life consequences for our family farms and tenant farms

VICTORIA ATKINS

also attended the rally, added the Whitehall protest was ‘the beginning of a rural revolt’.

Tom Bradshaw was greeted with three cheers from the audience at his opening address at the NFU rally.

Minister and Exchequer Secretary.”

NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader called on Defra Secretary Steve Reed to go back to the Treasury to ‘interrogate’ the figures, adding ‘they are wrong’.

Mr Bradshaw added the union ‘does not know what farmers are going to do next’ if the Government continued with the proposed changes.

He added: “I do not want farmers to take action that it is going to result in empty supermarket shelves, but I know the strength of feeling and the sense of helplessness that many are feeling.”

FG editor wins BSME Award

FARMERS Guardian editor Olivia Midgley has won the New Editor Award at the British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) Awards 2024.

The judges commended FG’s editor for her ‘transformative impact on the brand through innovative initiatives and a strategic vision that has truly made the magazine her own. Under her leadership, FG has continued to evolve while staying true to its roots’.

Ms Midgley said the award recognised the whole team’s efforts in delivering the best technical information from within the agricultural sector, across both print and digital.

She added: “We look forward to continuing to innovate and support our readers with valuable insights and information.”

Key NFU priorities at lobby

■ NFU ‘strongly disputes’ claim 73% of farms will not be impacted by these changes

■ Food security is national security –the union highlights changes will ‘snatch away’ next generation’s ability to keep producing

■ Agricultural Property Relief/ Business Property Relief are not loopholes – they are specifically designed policies introduced in 1984 to protect Britain’s family farms from being broken up and sold off

■ When you make a promise to farmers you keep it

STEVE REED SAYS FARMERS HAVE THE FIGURES WRONG

DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed was resolute on his view that the Treasury’s figures on how many farms will be affected were ‘robust’, with the vast majority of claimants to pay nothing more under the new policy.

When asked by Farmers Guardian why he thought thousands of farmers were protesting in Westminster, if there was no issue, he said he ‘understood’ that change brings ‘concern’, but farmers were ‘angry’ about ‘a lot of things’, referring to decisions made by the former Government.

When probed if the sector deserved an apology for changing Inheritance Tax when he specifically said it would be untouched, he would not apologise and said ‘the previous Government should apologise’.

Cover up

“Where the trust has been broken is coming into the General Election nobody knew there would be a £22 billion black hole in the public finances because the previous Government deliberately covered it up,” he said, adding the Government had had to make difficult choices.

Mr Reed also made his first appearance before the Efra Select Committee on the same day.

Chair Alistair Carmichael asked Mr Reed if the farmers, who have looked at their own personal situation and know their farming business, were wrong.

Mr Reed said: “Assuming these projections from HMRC validated by Office for Budget Responsibility [OBR] and Institute for Fiscal Studies [IFS] are correct, then many of them, probably happily are wrong.”

He added the numbers being banded around were ‘enormous and very frightening’.

Mr Carmichael interrupted to point out the numbers were based on Defra data.

But Mr Reed said it was based on Defra data showing the value of the farm’ and where people have ‘drawn a straight line to an IHT liability’.

“Ownership is more complex than one person and one farm and when you take into account other factors, as the Treasury has done, OBR and IFS has done. They all say less than 500 would be affected a year,” added Mr Reed.

Olivia Midgley

DAIRY FARMS

DAIRY incomes dropped 68% lower to £70,900 with the fall in the farmgate price of milk, although there were wide variations in prices.

Crop output fell by 27%.

Variable and fixed costs rose by 3% and 11% respectively, most notably for general farming costs, livestock specific costs, electricity and casual labour.

Overall, the net contribution of agricultural activities fell from £182,100 in 2022/23 to £34,700 in 2023/24.

Average income from diversified activities fell by nearly a quarter to £10,400. The average Basic Payment was £17,700, while agri-environment payments were £8,200 – an increase of 14%.

GETTY

PICTURE:

PIGS AND POULTRY

FARM Business Income for specialist pig farms increased to £135,800, while specialist poultry farms rose by nearly a quarter to £143,600, with higher output from egg enterprises the main driver.

LIVESTOCK

LOWLAND grazing livestock farms’ income fell by nearly a quarter to £17,300, driven by lower output from crop and sheep enterprises. Agricultural input costs fell by 5%. Variable costs were 9% lower, driven by falls for animal feed and general farming costs, while fixed costs decreased by 1%. These reductions were not enough to offset a drop in output from crops of 23% and sheep of 13%.

Output from cattle enterprises,

In 2023/24, across all farm types, the average net Basic Payment Scheme payment received was approximately £18,300.

● Agri-environment scheme incomes up

By Alex Black

DRAMATIC drops in Farm Business Income figures for all farm types except specialist pig and poultry farms in England in 2023/24 paint a ‘stark picture’ of the challenges farmers face, which has now been exacerbated by the Budget changes.

In 2023/24, across all farms types, the average net Basic Payment Scheme payment received was approximately £18,300, and net income from agri-environment activities increased by an average of 14% to £10,600.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the figures showed the industry needed a Government to support British agriculture, but it had instead seen the opposite in the latest Budget, with farmers left reeling.

CEREAL FARMS

FOR cereal farms, Farm Business Income fell by 73% to £39,400, while general cropping farms’ average income was 24% lower at £95,300.

Although smaller yields and crop area were contributing factors, the key driver was a drop in average prices. Variable and fixed costs both increased, with fertiliser up 44% and crop protection up 22%.

which typically make up the largest proportion of livestock output on this type of farm, fell by 2%. The average loss increased to £11,200.

The average Basic Payment fell by a quarter, while agri-environment payments increased by 22%.

For grazing livestock farms in Less Favoured Areas, higher fixed costs were only partially offset by an increase in output.

At £23,500, average income was 12% lower than in 2022/23.

Farm Business Incomes drop dramatically

Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said one of the biggest problems facing farming was the lack of profitability for the goods and services farmers provided.

“Farmers need fairer prices for their produce and better treatment across supply chains, along with international trade deals that do not undercut them by allowing imports

Overall, cereal farms failed to make a positive return on their agricultural activities in 2023/24, with an average loss of £26,400. The average Basic Payment was £26,100, while income from agri-environment activities rose by 18% to £13,200.

The net contribution of diversified activities was £26,500, which was a 4% increase on 2022/23.

from countries with lower welfare and environmental standards.

“Farmers also deserve to be properly recompensed for all the public goods their land provides – like flood defences and habitat restoration,” he said.

He added working alongside nature was crucial, but it was clear maintaining food security and protecting nature ‘cannot be separated’.

Fixed costs rose by 9%, most notably for general farming costs and net interest payments, which rose by 29% and 67% respectively.

Output from sheep enterprises was 3% higher, supported by firm prices, while cattle output was virtually unchanged. The average Basic Payment fell by 18% to £17,100, and agri-environment payments rose by 5% to £14,700.

A more substantial increase was seen in the return on diversified activities which rose by 75% to

£2,400, largely driven by income from building rental and recreation activities.

Cattle without capital, with

Alex Rawlings farmed 300 acres in Wiltshire with a herd of 50 spring calving suckler cattle, when he began considering ways to boost farm business income. Then he heard about Gamechanger.

Gamechanger is ABP and Sainsbury’s integrated beef programme, supplying premium, low-carbon beef to Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range.

Through the programme, Gamechanger dairy farmers use high performance, easy calving Aberdeen Angus sires provided by Genus and Cogent, to supply maximum efficiency beef calves that thrive and go on through Gamechanger to grow and finish on a grass and forage-based diet.

With enough shed space and grass availability for more cattle, Alex was attracted by the idea of regular, steady farm income to complement what he was doing, without the need for capital.

Alex says: “I discovered that Gamechanger offers ways to incorporate more cattle alongside the existing suckler herd. I looked at the options to rear calves, grow youngstock, finish cattle, or a combination of these, and decided on growing and finishing cattle. To me, a big benefit of Gamechanger was the ability to finance cattle purchases through Oxbury. I wanted to invest in enough cattle to improve the farm’s monthly income which Oxbury enabled me to do quickly and without financial capital outlay.”

Gamechanger, which works with 640 farmers across the UK, sourced a batch of 45 Aberdeen Angus sired, high-health calves from a nearby Gamechanger rearer. Arriving at 100kg the calves were housed for one month, weaned onto their new forage-based diet, grazed out for summer, and then housed and fed on a high-forage diet throughout winter.

Alex says: “I really liked the quality, consistency and performance of the first batch of Gamechanger cattle, so I decided to receive a second batch of 45 grower cattle which have been equally as good. They graze GS4 leys abundant with legumes and herbs, offering a good source of protein and general nutrition, so cattle are performing at up to 1.5kg/dlwg on this, and then during housing they are fed on grass silage, whole crop barley and brewers’ grains and their growth rates can

reach 2.2kg/dlwg. We weigh cattle at least once a month when housed, and a little less when at grass.

Gamechanger growers and finishers are given an AgriWebb livestock management software subscription which aids performance monitoring and helps to guide finishing decisions. Alex aims to finish cattle at 600-640kg by 21 months of age and delivers them to his nearest ABP abattoir, in groups of four.

He adds: “It’s a different way of farming cattle to what I’m used to with sucklers. It helps support the farm’s income and it’s rewarding to see cattle performance through AgriWebb, which is proving the best data management system I’ve come across; it’s user-friendly and shapes our decisions about cattle diets and management for the better.”

Alex’s key takeaways:

• You know your future income from the day calves arrive on farm, which is good for budgeting.

• Oxbury financing meant no financial capital outlay required to get going.

• Gamechanger calves are healthy and have a great start, they are well reared so grow efficiently and perform consistently right through to finish.

Gamechanger farmers are supported by dedicated, regional staff who are contactable by phone for advice, and who can guide farmers to specialist support as needed. All calves are sired by one of six industry leading Aberdeen Angus bulls exclusive to Gamechanger and sourced by Genus and Cogent for their exceptional fertility, calving ease, and growth rates. Gamechanger is expanding and needs more dairy calf suppliers to increase throughput, offering regular and reliable income for calves, on farm collections and the option to rear, grow and finish cattle as well, with models to suit the needs of every farming business.

To explore the full range of options call 01458 259413 and see our website for testimonials gamechangerfarming.com.

FARMERS WEATHER

For more on the weather, see this week’s Farmers Weather column on page 96.

Farmers face first snowfall

● Temperatures drop well below freezing

By Alex Black

THE UK weather took a wintry turn this week with farmers in parts of Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland facing snowfall.

Icy weather was expected to persist, with windy conditions and wintry showers expected tomorrow (November 23), according to the Met Office.

Monday night (November 18) saw sub-zero temperatures for much of the UK, reaching as low as -11.2degC at Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

The Met Office was forecasting a spell of very strong winds and some rain or snow for all parts of the UK.

It will be mild for most parts, especially towards the South East, although the strong winds will make it feel rather cold.

It was then expected to turn colder, with a return to wintry showers before

Heavy snow fell over North Wales on Monday night, leaving many inches of snow in its wake on Tuesday morning.

conditions settle down at the beginning of next week.

Temperatures were then trending back towards average, but overnight frosts are likely and rather cold days where fog persists.

Met Office deputy chief meteor-

ologist Mike Silverstone said: “A deep area of low pressure looks likely to influence the UK’s weather this weekend.

farmer protests, with Jeremy Clarkson stating at the protest that some farmers had remained at home to deal with the wintry conditions.

Gritting

“While this will bring in milder air to most parts, it also brings with it some heavy rain and strong winds at times. It is too early for precise detail, but there is a potential for further warnings.”

Snowfall had also impacted the

He said: “A lot of farmers today will be on gritting duty. I know of two farmers who are not here today because they feel obliged to clear the roads.”

Welsh Conservatives launch SFS alternative

at the moment, calling their scheme ‘practical and forward-thinking’.

THE Welsh Conservatives have announced their proposed Welsh Farming and Countryside Scheme (WFCS) as an alternative to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

He said: “The WFCS is not just about meeting environmental targets, it is about securing the future of Welsh farming, protecting our rural heritage and supporting our local economies.

The proposed scheme will focus on a 70% baseline payment, with food security and traceability as a priority. Actions not related to food production will be paid for by the climate change budget.

There will be support for all farmers with farmers having more say over the scheme they opt into.

James Evans, MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, highlighted the community was under immense pressure

“Following engagement from the industry we believe the scheme offers a viable alternative to Labour’s deeply unpopular SFS. If the scheme does not work for our active farmers, it does not work for anyone.”

MORE ON THE SUSTAINABLE

FARMING

SCHEME

See page 14.

Bird flu confirmed in Cornwall

A BIRD flu outbreak has been confirmed at a commercial poultry farm in Cornwall.

The Government said all poultry on the infected premises –near Rosudgeon, near Marazion – would be humanely culled and a 3km protection zone and

10km surveillance zone had been put in place.

It is the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 – the major strain – this season.

The H5N5 strain was detected on a farm in the East Riding of Yorkshire earlier this month.

● Knowledge of data helps case for funding

UNDERSTANDING the numbers is key for farmers looking to reach net zero, or beyond, and creating a whole-farm carbon balance sheet is a critical place to start.

Prof John Gilliland is a Northern Irish farmer, chair of ARCZero, a group of seven farms in Northern Ireland working toward net zero, and adviser to AHDB and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), and has also previously served as Ulster Farmers Union president.

Prof Gilliland ran a research farm in the Republic of Ireland for seven years, which was the first to fully baseline all the carbon on its landscape.

“And we found that actually farmers are custodians to a lot of carbon,” he said.

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Northern Irish Government launched a competition for farmer-led innovation, and Prof Gilliland and six other farmers bid for funding.

“We are now four years into it and we have had some remarkable revelations. It has also helped us focus better on our farms,” he said.

The seven farmers went out and found their own numbers on carbon stocks and Prof Gilliland said they could now make better quality decisions.

Some were already beyond net zero, whilst others still had a way to go.

Prof Gilliland said some farmers would find reaching net zero easier than others, and suggested farms could trade ‘carbon quotas’ in the same way they traded milk quotas.

He highlighted net zero was not the same as zero emissions, but emissions were what were talked about mainly, whereas farming was probably the only sector which could actually have assets and build them.

Numbers key to reaching net zero

Alongside AHDB and QMS, Prof Gilliland was now conducting a baseline pilot on 170 farms, building on the experience in Northern Ireland.

“From the AHDB and QMS call for applications for the pilot, we were completely oversubscribed, and if we could find another vehicle that could fund them, we would like to cover an awful lot more farms,” he said.

Knowledge

He added this was a ‘knowledge-based’ journey and if people talked ‘at farmers’ instead of with them they would get the wrong reaction.

“But the key thing, the one thing we succeeded [in] with the Belfast Government, is that measuring with this kind of accuracy is a public good.”

He said knowing the numbers helps in their argument for funding when there are so many competing priorities in Government.

“You gave us £X million and we delivered you twice this in public goods back again. And unless we can articulate that, we will not win this argument in Number 11.”

Prof Gilliland said the seven farms had also benchmarked against each other, which allowed them to focus on areas which needed improvement.

As a result, the farms had been able to be more resilient both economically and environmentally. They were also now also making more money.

He also highlighted some of this

Down on the Farm

farmers

■ Measured and managed carbon flows at the individual farm level

■ Empowered farmers to make positive change towards carbon zero farming

■ Focused on building carbon stocks and reducing fossil fuel use

■ Provided robust data on farms to present to policymakers

was about going back to techniques which farmers’ grandparents had used, but they now had the science to measure the benefit that ‘they could see but we could not quantify’.

“If you look at the scale of change that farming has [gone through] since the second world war, it has changed beyond recognition and it will change again,” he added.

“And I will argue that in the next 10 years we will have more change than we had in the last 30 years. But what we need to do is help my peers, farmers, with as much really good information, but focus it on their own assets.”

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

with Philip Cosgrave Agronomist, Yara UK Ltd.

New grassland research examining the performance of foliar nitrogen

There has been a great deal of interest over the last three years in foliar applied nitrogen (N) on grassland. To learn more about the performance of foliar N on grass, Yara UK began a replicated plot trial in 2023 which will run for three years.

The trial is modelled on a 4-cut silage system, with the first cut taking place in early May, with subsequent cuts taken every 5 weeks approximately.

The total season N rate per ha for the 5 treatments (trt) is as follows: trt 1 - 0 kg, trt 2 - 340 kg (100% soil applied), trt 3 - 203 kg (86% soil applied, 14% as a slow-release foliar N product), trt 4 - 203 kg (100% soil applied), trt 5 - 203 kg (28% soil applied, 72% as a foliar urea

The total dry matter (DM) yield per ha for each trt was 4,490 kg, 12,371 kg, 10,285 kg, 10,536 kg and 8,985 kg for trt 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The N response for trt 2 and 5 was 23 and 22 kg/DM per kg of applied N, while trt 3 and 4 had a N response of 29 and 30 kg/ DM per kg of applied N respectively. With

To listen to the podcast, visit farmersguardian.com/ podcasts

product + humic acid). The total N application rate for trt’s 3, 4 and 5 is 40% lower than trt 2.

The foliar N is applied 10 – 12 days after the previous cut to ensure there was enough leaf surface to intercept the foliar products.

2024 results

Alongside AHDB and Quality Meat Scotland, Prof John Gilliland is conducting a baseline pilot on 170 farms.

Farmers will always battle on

ANNA Longthorp’s outstanding Farming Matters column last week captures the mood of farmers spot on. For those of us who have committed a lifetime to farming, it is only too clear that the Government has broken faith with our industry, our ethos and our right to exist. What is worse, is that they have pulled the rug from under the feet of a generation to whom, in John McCrae’s immortal words, ‘from failing hands we throw the torch’. Rest assured though, farmers will never lie dead and buried in this battlefield while young people like her articulate such stirring arguments.

Tom and Janet Roskilly, Tavistock.

Who agrees?

I SEE Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner rejected the idea the Government was wrong and said it was ‘striking’

Social media reactions

READERS had their say after Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said he stood with the Chancellor on Agricultural Property Relief. However, he acknowledged there was disagreement about the figures.

■ Inheritance Tax is becoming more and more unfair by encroaching further and further onto the part of society that can’t afford to pay that kind of money on their inheritance.

MICHELLE GARSIDE

how many farmers said ‘you’re right to make this change’ in Inheritance Tax (FG November 15). I am prepared to be ‘struck’ if Mr Zeichner would care to clarify how many farmers have responded in this manner.

Gillian Herbert, Herefordshire.

Money for what?

I WAS concerned to read that the Farming Minister, Daniel Zeichner

■ It isn’t just farm businesses that are affected. Think of the suppliers; producers of cattle and sheep tags, corn merchants, hauliers of straw, feed and machinery, machinery and tractor dealers, fertiliser suppliers, vets, meds, boluses, doses, feed licks, halters, diesel, garages, mechanics – this list is endless. Destroy farmers and you destroy lots more. The environment that is maintained for free by farmers,

(FG, November 15), is supporting the Chancellor’s decision with regard to inheritance taxation of farms, and furthermore is boldly saying on the positive side that he has secured a £5 billion ‘agricultural budget’ over the next two years.

He goes on to tell us that it is taxpayers’ money, something of which we have always been well aware.

However, a fair amount of this budget will be lost in the huge bureaucratic processes that currently exist, and most of the payments coming to farmers will be for environmental pro-

drystone walls, hedgerows, stone barns... what a mess the countryside will be in a short space of time.

ALICE AMSDEN

■ A very small step in the right direction that they at least acknowledge the discrepancy.

ROSEMARY THOMAS

■ When he sits down to dinner tonight remember where it came from.

CATHERINE ANDREW BRAID

tection, along with habitat and biodiversity enhancement on their farms. So, is this an ‘agricultural budget’? The definition of agricultural is ‘the cultivation of crops or the raising of animals for food production’. I cannot see how hardly any of this £5bn forms an ‘agricultural budget’.

I would like the Farming Minister to rethink the name given to this budget as it appears to be completely misleading to the taxpaying public. May I suggest he calls it an environmental budget, and that he then pushes for farms that choose to sign up to these long-term environmental and nature-recovery schemes from this budget to be exempt from Inheritance Tax due to the fact that they have shown themselves to be good and effective long-term custodians of the land in line with Government policy, thereby creating great future benefit to the general public.

Andrew Beavan, Knighton.

First-hand look

Fred Read driving the tractor during harvest at Sacrewell Farm, Wansford, Peterborough. Sent in by Fred’s son, Geoff Read.

AS a ‘working’ farmer, perhaps it would be prudent to extend an invitation to Ms Reeves to join me at the sharp end for a few days to see farming as it really is. It then may dawn on her,

news, analysis, data, pricing, insight and market intelligence to agribusiness professionals across the globe. This policy sets out how we do this and applies the use of your personal data that you disclose to us by entering into our competition to win £200 for the Stockjudging Competition or £20 Love2Shop vouchers for the weekly Crossword Competition, referred to throughout this statement as the “Competitions”. How we collect your information: We collect the personal data you have provided to us by filling in the form on our website www.fginsight.com OR printed form when entering the Competitions. If you have entered the Competitions via our site we may also collect some technical information about how you use our site, for example, the type of device you are using, your operating system, IP address, uniform resource locator (URL), clickstream and length of visit. How we use the information you provide: We will use your personal information: • to administer the Competitions, on the basis that the use of your personal data for this purpose will be necessary to enter you into the competitions and, if you are successful, contact you to notify you of your prize; and, • if you are new to Farmers Guardian and where you have agreed to this, to provide you with news and updates from time to time about our services; and, if at any point in the future you do not wish to receive any news and updates from us or from, you can unsubscribe from our marketing list at any time by following the steps below. To unsubscribe from any communications using the link on the email we send you or by emailing us at dataprotection@farmersguardian.com. We will not use your information for any purposes except those listed in this policy without letting you know and getting your permission, if necessary, first. Who do we share your information with? We will not disclose your information to any third parties without your consent, except where: • it is necessary to enable any of our staff, employees, agents, contractors, suppliers or commercial partners to provide a service to us or to perform a function on our behalf; • we have a legal obligation to disclose your information (for example, if a court orders us to); or • there is a sale or purchase of any business assets, or where Farmers Guardian or any of its group companies are being acquired by a third party. Where we use third parties as described above to process your personal information, we will ensure that they have adequate security measures in place to safeguard your personal information. For how long do we keep your personal information? We keep your personal information for 36 months for the purposes for which it was collected or for any period for which we are required to keep personal information to comply with our legal and regulatory requirements, or until you ask us to delete your personal information. Your rights: You have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. These include the right to: • find out how we process your personal information; • request that your personal information

just what damage she has wreaked upon the farming industry by her ill-conceived and financially inaccurate policy on proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief.

We could then discuss how she envisages farming will function going forward and where her next meal will be coming from. In addition, this could be extended to cover the economics and viability of 100-acre farms, food security, the balance of payments from continual and increased importation of food commodities, the change to the landscape from enforced land sales to meet death duties, and last but by no means least, the extra funding required to provide for the well-being of farmers’ mental health as they come to terms with a lifetime of hard work eroded before their own eyes.

Hugh Wroth, Wiltshire.

Yearly struggle

I SEE first-hand how small farms struggle, especially in Devon and Cornwall. They have no holidays abroad and in my family’s case, the children work on the farm to help from a young age. It’s a yearly struggle. The often wet weather in West Devon doesn’t help.

Susan Groom, Via email.

Emily Ashworth Online Editor – emily.ashworth@agriconnect.com

The hand that feeds you Leader

BEING at the heart of the farmer protest in London on Tuesday (November 19) is a day I will never forget.

What a show of unity it was. Thousands of farmers, rural business owners and even members of the public standing side by side in hope of change was a sight to behold. It certainly sent a clear message: This is just the start.

Critically, the industry has to tackle Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ narrative that taxing family farmers to the tune of £500 million is essential to fund public services. To put it in context, the Government has pledged to invest £25 billion in the NHS, yet there is no plan to reform the ailing health service.

So, let us flip this. A Love British Food project from a Lancashire NHS hospital (as reported by Farmers Guardian on October 4) highlighted that by putting local, seasonal British foods on its menu, patient stays were brought down on average by 1.7 days.

A real difference can be made by increasing the amount of nutritious food in the public sector, but people should be able to feed themselves and their families such food at home. Without supporting home-grown produce, we put all of this – and more

Young Farmer Focus

‘For anyone thinking about studying ag, I would say go for it’

Background: I come from a beef and sheep farming family. My dad runs the business alongside his role as the president of the Manx NFU on the Isle of Man.

I have just completed a degree in agriculture with farm business management at Harper Adams University, which has set me up well for a career as an agricultural consultant. For anyone thinking of studying at Harper, I would say go for it. And I would highly recommend to anyone looking to study at Harper, or any university, for that matter, to make sure they join a sports club. It is important to balance studying with wider university life.

I have loved my time and will miss it.

– at risk, and FG’s Save Britain’s Family Farms campaign aims to showcase just what farming can deliver for society.

Being immersed in the protest reminded me how vital it is to listen to the people, and if the Government does not do that, it is, as many said on Tuesday, going to make a big mistake.

A mistake it has made already in assuming it can fix a broken system by taking it from one and blindly giving it to another, when actually the two are intrinsically connected.

It would also do well to take note of the banners, warning: ‘Do not bite the hand that feeds you’.

Earlier this year, I was named as one of six students who won Morrisons’ Sustainability Prize for my dissertation evaluating the uptake and utilisation of precision livestock farming technologies on British dairy farms. Precision technology: Research indicates that precision livestock farming technologies, when used to their fullest, may be able to solve labour shortages and improve environmental and financial efficiency on dairy farms. In my eyes, these three factors are currently the biggest issues facing the sector. However, my preliminary research showed there was a distinct lack of understanding of the extent to which these technologies had been

Harry Parsons

adopted and how they were actually being used on farms in the UK.

Winning the award was an amazing and brilliant feeling.

Knowing that the work was getting recognition, given the huge number of hours I poured into it, was very rewarding.

Employment: Following graduation, I now work as a rural business adviser at SRH Agribusiness. I had completed a work placement at the firm during my studies and to now be working for the team is fantastic.

In the role, I advise agrifood clients across the North West on matters ranging from grant applications to strategic business planning. With the turbulence of the current policy landscape in England, we are finding that we are busier than ever helping our clients maximise their competitiveness for the years ahead. Returning home: While I eventually want to return home to the Isle of Man, the opportunity to see, advise and learn from so many different agrifood businesses in England is going to keep me here for the foreseeable future.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to be featured, email chris.brayford@agriconnect.com

Laxey, Isle of Man

Harry Parsons, 22, is a rural business adviser at SRH Agribusiness. He recently graduated from Harper Adams University.

Harry Parsons

Edited by Alex Black – 07880 490 486

SFS PLANS STILL TO BE DECIDED

DEPUTY First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies will be unveiling a ‘revised’ Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) at the forthcoming Welsh Winter Fair.

Hybu Cig Cymru was focusing on positivity at its latest conference, but questions around ongoing staff challenges continued to be raised. Jane Thynne reports from Bulith Wells.

HCC looks to move on from negativity Business

Mr Irranca-Davies said the Welsh Government had yet to make any ‘final scheme decisions’ on SFS but that the ministerial roundtable had been working ‘relentlessly’ to review the scheme design before it is published in 2025.

He said he wanted to reassure farmers that food production remained the ‘cornerstone’ of the agriculture sector, but it sat alongside environmental improvements and the enhancement of on-farm biodiversity.

He thanked HCC for its work to achieve these goals, adding HCC was ‘very important’ to Welsh Government as it had a shared vision of a profitable, sustainable, innovative and competitive industry.

However, if those present were hoping Mr Irranca-Davies was going to denounce Welsh Government’s plans to introduce the controversial 10% tree cover and habitat restoration universal actions, they were disappointed as he reasserted the administration’s goals of achieving a ‘greener Wales’ and that there would be no slow down on its ‘pathway to net zero by 2050’.

He said as laid out in the recently published and updated Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales, climate change was already having an ‘impact’ on food production and the industry ‘cannot keep having separate conversations of food versus the environment’ as they were interdependent.

NEW GRANT AVAILABLE

FARMERS in Wales are being urged to apply for a new £1.5 million Government grant for horticultural production. Applications are now being welcomed for Agricultural Diversification and Horticulture – a capital grant scheme available to farmers and existing horticultural producers in Wales.

The scheme is open to farmers and growers eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme and who have three hectares of eligible agricultural land in Wales or those who want to start a commercial horticulture business, but are unable to do so without the grant. Farmers have until January 17, 2025, to apply.

● Board looking to implement a ‘new vision’

GLOBAL growth and an attempt by the levy body to shake off the internal negativity of the past 16 months dominated last week’s Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) Conference.

Held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, the event was themed ‘Succeeding in global and domestic markets’ and HCC chair Cath Smith said the levy body had seen a year of achievement and strong delivery and she was confident there was more to come.

Over the past 12 months, Ms Smith said HCC had driven up the red meat sector’s profile, achieving nearly 24 million views during the UK ‘Love Meat’ campaign and increasing brand awareness by 26%. Half the consumer audience had a higher regard for Welsh farmers after seeing HCC’s advertisements, she said.

Despite the positive messaging, the issues of staffing and allegations of bullying which have plagued the organisation over recent months were raised once again during members’ questions.

In her opening speech, Ms Smith mentioned the search for a new chief executive which was triggered by the resignation of Gwyn Howells in July.

THE red meat sector must be ready to recognise growing UK markets as well as global opportunities if it is going to remain viable, according to industry trade experts.

Dr Awal Fusseini, halal sector senior manager at AHDB, told HCC levy payers as major lamb and sheepmeat producers, Welsh farmers should pay close attention to the requirements of the halal market as demand rose across the UK and to territories including the Middle East.

According to a recent University of Huddersfield study which Dr Fusseini

HCC chair Cath Smith said that the levy body has driven up the red meat sector’s profile.

Questions were first raised about HCC’s work culture back in February, after it was revealed six employees had levelled multiple allegations of bullying against another staff member. In June, two board directors, Prys Morgan and Rhys Davies, also both stepped down.

HCC levy payer and former board member John Yeomans asked current director and session chair John T. Davies whether the person at the centre of the allegations had been removed from the organisation and whether he could confirm reports that a third of HCC staff had either left of

Livestock farmers should look both at home and away

co-authored, the value of the halal meat and poultry sector at slaughter totalled approximately £1.7 billion out of an overall UK total of £11bn – which equates to about 15% of the overall value. Assuming the market for halal remains constant at 15% over the next five years, this figure is projected to rise to almost £2bn by 2028.

Jason Craig, market development lead at HCC said in terms of export, it was also important for Welsh farmers to consider carcase balance alongside finer cuts.

Mr Craig highlighted the importance

were planning to leave. Mr Davies said he understood the concern and the past 16 months had ‘not been easy’.

Not ideal

“It is something we would like to have avoided and it has not been ideal. You could argue, it should have been dealt with differently, but one thing is for sure it could not have been ignored. And [I can assure you] no aspect of the journey has been ignored.”

Ms Smith said now was the time for HCC and its incoming leader to implement a ‘new vision’, adding they were looking for ‘someone exceptional’.

of securing a home market alongside that of our near neighbours in Europe. But he also explained how HCC sought to build new markets in high quality markets such as Japan and Dubai.

“Our goal is not to increase exports but to ensure we have enough demand so should one area decrease we have options open to us,” he said, adding with the cost of living crisis, cheaper Southern Hemisphere cuts were coming into the UK so it had responded by ‘dialling up’ export markets.

● Tax would be di icult to legislate

By Rachael Brown

A CARBON border tax on meat would be the ‘right thing to do’ but it would be difficult to do ‘politically’.

That was the message from businessman and co-founder of Leon restaurants Henry Dimbleby, speaking at the Agricultural Industries Confederation conference last week.

for Carbon border tax on meat ‘right thing to do’

If there was a situation where carbon emissions were being reduced from UK meat, but higher carbon products were continuing to be imported, Mr Dimbleby said a carbon border tax would be ‘theoretically’ right, but questioned how it could be done legislatively.

He said: “All economists accept the way you deal with externalities, you tax them in. So the person who is producing or buying the food is paying for the harms they cause.”

‘EU will be first’

He said he expected the EU to be the first to introduce a tax and the UK to follow.

Mr Dimbleby also stressed the importance of reducing the amount of meat being produced in the UK, in order to meet biodiversity and carbon targets. But he said meat eating was part of the culture of the UK, which was an obstacle when compared to measures like the sugar tax.

“If you try to introduce a meat tax you would be out in Government in

seconds. That is where I feel sometimes a bit depressed,” he said, adding meat should be up for discussion just like fossil fuels.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw was asked if he agreed that the ‘coyness’ around meat was unhelpful for discussions.

But he was pulled up by the television and radio reporter and chair Tom Heap when he spoke about global production, who questioned if his response was ‘a bit of a get out’.

Mr Bradshaw said: “No it is not a get out. Unless there is border adjustment mechanism to stop us being disadvantaged, you cannot be in a position where we do less here and then we are still open to global trade that undercuts us.”

When talking about biodiversity decline and the impact of farming, the NFU president criticised the data, adding biodiversity decline was being caused by people.

Mr Dimbleby disagreed, stating the 50% decline of bird life had happened on farms not in cities.

However, he added it was not farmers’ fault but the incentives needed to change.

Mindset change needed on regenerative farming

IT is possible to move to a regenerative arable farming system in the UK, which is either carbon neutral or carbon positive, but it requires a mindset change.

That was the message from Nonington Farms director Emma Loder-Symonds, speaking at the conference, who said there was ‘so much data available now’ that shows a regenerative farming system ‘does work and can work’.

She said by cutting nitrogen in half, they had not seen a change in yield, highlighting the importance of soil health.

On the tricky topic of yields, Groundswell co-founder Paul Cherry said that while their yields had reduced, their costs had too.

Waste

“Food is only so cheap because there is so much of it. We waste food because it is so cheap.

“We are producing the wrong sort of foods, we should be eating more of the food we produce

ourselves rather than feeding it to pigs, chickens and cattle.”

Both Ms Loder-Symonds and Mr Cherry believed wheat should not be fed to livestock, with Ms Loder-Symonds saying their gut was not designed to eat grain and it increased methane levels.

Profitable

Ms Loder-Symonds said the farm was more profitable now, but it takes a lot more ‘application time’ to fill in forms for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and other forms of public and private finance.

A poll of the audience taken at the end of the session on whether regenerative agriculture will be the mainstay of agriculture in 10 years time showed that the majority disagreed.

When asked why the industry was not fully buying into regenerative, Mr Cherry said farming was ‘very conservative, with a small c’. “The industry is very longterm.”

Co-founder of Leon restaurants, Henry Dimbleby.

● Sector rarely been as challenged as now

A GRITOURISM has become one of rural Scotland’s fastest growing sectors with an estimated 800 businesses now involved in one way or another. It is now believed to be worth £60 million a year to the economy and that is not including the £110m which comes from farm retail.

But the sector has rarely been as challenged as it is just now, according to Scottish Agritourism lead Caroline Millar. She told the organisation’s annual conference in Perth (November 18-19) that the recent UK budget would cause real problems which could see businesses close.

The Employers’ National Insurance increases in particular would cause real problems. Many members might only employ one or two people on the farm side of their business but 20 or 30 on their agritourism or food retailing business.

Ms Millar said: “People are worried about NI, but also about recruitment of staff when there is no clear immigration policy. The UK also has the highest VAT rate in Europe which does not help.”

Changes to Inheritance Tax are also of real concern especially where diversified businesses have invested heavily and considerably increased the value of their holdings.

Positive outlook

Nonetheless Ms Millar remains relentlessly upbeat about the prospects for agritourism and believes an increase in turnover from £170m to £250m is possible by 2030. She would also like to see the number of businesses involved increase to over 1,000.

“It is all possible but we have to stay real. Genuine agritourism can only be offered by farmers, crofters and rural estates and wherever possible should include a food offering. I sometimes fear that we are not being taken seriously by the core agricultural industry.

“There is often a perception that diversifying is an acknowledgement of failure in mainstream farming and we have to get away from that way of thinking,” said Ms Millar.

Delegates at the Scottish Agritourism event.

As farmers prepared to protest the Budget implications in London, delegates at the Scottish Agritourism event heard about the impact on the growing agritourism sector. Ewan Pate reports.

National Insurance hike affects agritourism

In the meantime, there seems to be obvious interest in tourism-based diversification with over 300 delegates at the conference including visitors from Canada, India and New Zealand. In 2026 the Global Agritourism

Network is coming to Scotland. It will be based in Aberdeen with around 1,000 delegates expected. Conference speaker Rachael Hamilton, MSP for the rural constituency of Ettrick, Roxburgh and

For an agritourism cafe in Scotland, staff development has been vital to success

STAFF development can be easy to ignore while building an agritourism business, but it can be as important as serving up the very best of local food.

In 2005, Sarah Heward founded her Real Food Cafe in a former Little Chef building in the village of Tyndrum, which sits astride one of the busiest routes into the Western Highlands. The business, which is open seven days a week now turns over £2.5

million per year, but can only do so with the help of an enthusiastic staff of 30. It has won awards for its staff development programme which is run by her husband.

Ms Heward said: “Our mission is to pay top dollar which we do by running a profit-sharing scheme. We offer great conditions and smart uniforms so that everyone feels valued.”

She also lays great store in

community involvement including a litter collection scheme in the village and running mini-rugby coaching sessions. Raising funds for a high-quality disabled toilet in the village has helped make it a more popular stopping off point.

“Food quality is our core value. However, at the Real Food Cafe we source everything we can from Scotland,” she added.

Berwickshire who has also recently become deputy leader of the Conservative group at Holyrood, said: “I have noticed that the agritourism sector is full of young enthusiastic people.

“Job creation is so important and these enterprises are offering a way for young people to stay in the rural areas of Scotland.

“I would like to see an expanded young famers grant scheme re-introduced and not one like the last one which was restricted by lack of funds and where there was only a 30 per cent uptake.

“I know that short-term let regulations with their heavy-handed licencing schemes are also causing problems as is lack of infrastructure especially broadband.

Rachael Hamilton

Edmund Sword, divisional director at rural insurance specialist Lycetts, explores the promise and perils of rural farm

Risks and rewards of farm stays

As UK farmers face increasing pressures, many are transforming their farms into thriving tourist destinations.

Farmers, now more than ever, are looking beyond traditional practices to sustain and maintain their livelihoods.

Edmund Sword, divisional director at rural insurance specialist Lycetts, said cultivating tourism into future business planning on-farm could provide farming with ‘lucrative’ opportunities in the future.

Among the most promising opportunities is the expansion into rural tourism, where farm stays – ranging from charming holiday cottages to luxury glamping experiences – are capturing the public’s imagination.

But in exploring the promise of farm stays, which can unlock new revenue streams, Mr Sword has also provided an insight into the critical challenges of the growing trend.

Growing appeal

Rural tourism has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, he said, fuelled by a growing desire among the public to reconnect with nature and experience the tranquillity of the countryside.

Farm stays, where guests can immerse themselves in rural life, have become especially popular.

Accommodation varies widely, from traditional holiday cottages to unique offerings, such as glamping sites, woodland yurts and shepherd’s huts.

Mr Sword said: “Farmers are increasingly capitalising on these trends by converting existing buildings into holiday lets or repurposing non-productive land for accommodation such as glamping pods.”

Among the most promising diversification opportunities for farmers is the expansion into rural tourism.

The ability to operate temporary glamping sites for up to 60 days without planning permission, a change in law which came into force in July 2023, has further eased the entry into this market, making it an ‘attractive’ option for many.

He said: “The primary advantage is the additional income stream which can help offset the volatility of agricultural markets.

“Rural tourism also allows farmers to make better use of underutilised land and buildings, transforming these assets into profitable enterprises.

“Moreover, by opening their farms to the public, farmers can also raise awareness of agricultural practices, fostering a deeper connection between consumers and the origins of their food.”

Risks

While the rewards of farm stays can be significant, they are not without risk from the potential hazards on-farm.

Mr Sword said: “Farmers must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and implement appropriate measures to mitigate them.

“Certain farm areas may need restricted access, or additional safety equipment and signage may be required to ensure visitors are aware of any dangers.

“Accommodation provision must meet building and fire safety standards, and regular maintenance is essential to prevent accidents and injuries.”

Diversifying into rural tourism offers farmers an exciting opportunity to enhance their income while sharing the countryside’s beauty with the public.

It is essential, however, to approach these ventures with a clear understanding of the associated risks

and responsibilities they pose, Mr Sword said.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of guests should be a priority, necessitating careful planning, rigorous adherence to health and safety regulations, and comprehensive insurance cover. By taking these steps, farmers

can protect both their visitors and their businesses, allowing them to confidently reap the rewards.

“With the right support and appropriate cover, the focus can remain on creating memorable experiences for guests, secure in the knowledge that livelihoods are protected.”

Edmund Sword

● Stability expected for soya markets

By Alex Black

THE EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) will be delayed for a year after MEPs ratified the postponement.

The delay was proposed by the European Commission in October, after concerns raised by member states, third countries and traders that they would not be able to fully comply with the new rules under the original timetable.

The EU deforestation regulation was due to come into effect on December 1, 2024. The legislation was looking to prevent deforestation related to EU consumption of products including soya, cattle, palm oil and coffee.

The European Parliament said it had agreed to the delay so that companies could comply with the new regulations, which ensures products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land.

Under the new timetable, large operators and traders will have to respect the obligations stemming from this regulation as of December 30, 2025, whereas micro and small enterprises would have until June 30, 2026.

European Parliament confirms EUDR delay

The Commission will have to finalise a country benchmarking system by June 30, 2025.

The National Pig Association (NPA) has welcomed the delay, adding it would bring some stability to the market for soya.

The National Pig Association has said the delay will bring some stability to the market for soya.

MEPs also adopted other amendments, including the creation of a new category of countries posing ‘no risk’ of deforestation, in addition to the existing three categ-

ories of low, standard and high risk. Countries classified as ‘no risk’ would face significantly less stringent requirements, as there is a negligible or non-existent risk of deforestation.

NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson said: “This is the most sensible option available, given that it has become increasingly clear the supply chain is simply not in a position to deliver the requirements of EUDR by the start of next year.

“This will allow a transitioned introduction and, therefore, time for the supply chain to adjust to the new conditions, the detail of which will require further clarification.

“It is now important that the UK Government adjusts the timetable for the similar UK Forest Risk Commodities regulation accordingly, so we are in step with the EU on this.”

Farm Profile

Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768 796 492 – angela.calvert@agriconnect.com

For more features, go to farmersguardian.com/farm-life

Andrew Brewer was recently crowned Carbon Farmer of the Year by the Farm Carbon Toolkit. Ruth Wills finds out how he achieved his accolade.

Being prepared to adapt pays off for Cornish dairy farmer

Andrew Brewer farms alongside his wife, Claire, milking 450 Jersey cross cows at Ennis Barton near Fraddon, Cornwall. And while he has achieved the title of Carbon Farmer of the Year in 2024, his sustainability journey has spanned more than 20 years.

He says: “We have been using mixed species swards for over a decade; we initially used them to try and improve soil structure after out-wintering.”

And although his grazing strategy

■ 450 Jersey cross Irish Friesian cows

■ Andrew sits on Arla’s Global Sustainability Board

■ 400 hectares (988 acres) in total, with some rented to vegetables, some for wholecrop and some fodder beet

has changed, maximising grazing is an important part of his system.

“We are aiming to graze the cows every day of the year, even through the winter,” he says.

Grazing strategy

Rather than out-wintering, he uses an on/off grazing strategy.

“The cows might only graze for three hours if it is really wet. We have a mild climate in Cornwall – it can be wet and windy, but generally our grass can grow right through winter,” he says.

“Fertiliser use is minimal; we do

■ Cows not AI served for replacements go to a Hereford bull

■ Ennis Barton has been in the Brewer family for nearly 100 years

■ Six members of staff

■ The family has invested in a wind turbine and solar panels, making them almost off-grid

not use any artificial fertiliser on grassland. We make the most of all our slurry and import some digestate from a local digester.”

Alongside the grassland, the family grows 20 hectares (49 acres) of fodder beet.

Andrew says: “This is to help increase energy density in the herd’s diet – we are aiming for 12ME [metabolisable energy] for all our forage. We calve from late July to early October and have a tight autumn block.

“We artificially inseminate with sexed semen for replacements,

aiming for between 100 and 120 replacements a year. Everything else runs with our Hereford bulls and the calves are finished for beef.”

Due to bovine TB restrictions and Arla’s ‘Every Calf has a Value’ policy, the decision to finish the calves for beef was a no-brainer.

“The most profitable option for us was to finish them,” says Andrew.

During the calves’ first winter, they are out-wintered on grass and calf pellets.

“Bulls are kept entire and are killed at about 13 months old, with

Farm facts

Andrew Brewer

Farm Profile Cornwall

the heifers slaughtered at 16-18 months old. We like to keep our cattle uniform, so we can hit market specifications,” says Andrew.

The finished calves are sold to a local abattoir, with some going through the farm diversification – a fish and chip shop.

“This is run by my daughter, Rebecca, and some of the beef goes through there in burgers,” he says.

Opportunities

Sustainability is a passion of Andrew’s and the opportunities in this area have taken him beyond the farmgate.

“I sit on Arla’s Global Sustainability Board because I want the work that Arla is doing with sustainability to be fair to everyone, across all countries, as well as the various systems in the UK – it is important that all are fairly represented,” he says.

But the turning point for him was in 2013 when he completed a Nuffield Scholarship, leading to a new outlook on the importance of soil.

“My scholarship looked at: ‘Who will milk the cows in the future?’ But it was meeting other farmers from around the world which opened my eyes to the fact that our soil, if we treat it badly, is going to be a limiting factor to our business,” he says.

From then on, Andrew has actively looked at ways he can optimise his system – and one of those ways is by getting involved in trials.

“I have worked closely with the Farm Carbon Toolkit for 10 years and, as a part of that, with Farm Net Zero on a five-year project with National Lottery funding. The five years allows us to think a little longer term on the trials we run,” he says.

“This summer, we have been running a trial comparing mixed-species swards with ryegrass-clover swards, and the impact on dairy cow rumination and activity. The results are not ready yet, but it will be interesting to see what comes out.

“We have also been involved in a trial this year looking at maize, and seeing if maize helps our late block of calving cows get back in-calf, as it increases the energy density of the diet.

“Our involvement with the trials allows us the opportunity to show better farming practices to the general public, through involvement with the National Lottery Funding, the Environment Agency and Cornwall County Council. We have had all these organisations onto our farm so we can promote our practices to the wider industry.”

The couple are also passionate about educating children.

“We have hosted the Kingfisher Award Scheme, which gives children opportunities to go onto farms,” says Andrew.

“For us, it means 700 children visiting over a week. And we also have good connections with the local primary schools, who visit throughout the year. It is important to educate not only the children, but the teachers too.”

Carbon footprint

Andrew has baselined his carbon footprint across the farm.

“We did it in two-hectare parcels, using soil health specialists from Terrafarmer – so we can understand how to make our business more resilient for the future and really fine-tune the system,” he says.

His carbon footprint for milk production was 0.9020kg carbon

We have a vision and future planning is key, and from adversity comes challenges, which causes change and opens opportunities

ANDREW BREWER

dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kg of fat protein corrected milk (FPCM) in the financial year from 2023 to 2024.

“This is significantly lower than the global average,” he says.

He also conducted a trial with some land he rents to a vegetable farmer, investigating how best vegetables can be integrated into a forage-based rotation, as well as how the detrimental impacts on soil structure can be minimised with livestock.

“We took 5% of the land back into our grazing platform, and the improvement in carbon of that percentage reduced our overall carbon footprint to 0.43kg CO 2 e/kg of FPCM.

“It is due to better soil structure, [the] mixed-species swards that went in after the vegetables, and the large increase in root mass,” he says.

Andrew and Claire have been

proactive when it comes to succession planning, and their two daughters, Rebecca and Emily, are part of the business.

“Although they do not currently work in the business, they are included in the business structure,” says Andrew.

The family aims to graze the cows every day of the year, including through winter.

“We went through a difficult succession period around 30 years ago, and I am determined not to let it happen again. We are always planning ahead; we have a vision and future planning is key, and from adversity comes challenges, which causes change and opens opportunities.”

But Andrew’s goals have changed over the years.

“We have probably moved from maximising the farm to optimising it,” he says.

Adaptable

So what is his advice for other farmers on a sustainability journey?

“My motto is that there is always a better way, so I always try and do the basics well,” he says.

“Do I claim to be the best farmer in the world? No, I do not. But as Charles Darwin said: ‘It is not the strongest species of the world that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is the most adaptable to change’.”

During

Mixed-species swards have been used at Ennis Barton for more than a decade.

the calves’ first winter, they are out-wintered on grass and calf pellets.

Arable

Edited by Alice Dyer – 07966 445 458 – alice.dyer@agriconnect.com

With the industry aiming to reach net zero by 2040, one of England’s largest arable farms is putting systems in place to achieve this. Alice Dyer reports.

How one of England’s largest arable farms is aiming for net zero

Sitting on some of the UK’s best soils, Waldersey Farms has a challenge on its hands when it comes to reaching net zero, but it is a challenge new managing director Mark Hall is embracing.

As the UK’s largest singly-owned grade one soil type arable farm, spanning 8,000 hectares across the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Fens, and producing a wide range of crops from

cereals to onions and potatoes, the estate has started the process by undertaking a huge baselining exercise, launched this autumn.

Working alongside the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), the baseline aims to collect data on all aspects of the farm’s environment from biodiversity to carbon emissions and soils across the entire holding.

Mr Hall, who recently joined the business to help drive this, says: “This

is a very substantial project, involving equipment such as carbon flux towers, new biodiversity sensors and a very comprehensive set of field studies, all aiming to give us a solid baseline behind our natural capital.

“From there, we can measure the impact of any changes of our operations and environmental management to show the benefits we are creating. It can also teach us where we are not doing so well.

“That enables us to say: ‘this is where we were, this is what we want to achieve’, and to ask are we are on target?”

Figures

The farm has already undertaken carbon assessments, which have given an algorithm-based calculation, but the aim is to now get ‘very solid’ figures drawn on what is really happening, rather than external studies, Mr Hall says.

The information collected from the UKCEH study will be combined with historic cropping information, yield maps, soil data and farm management data to create actionable insights that can be used to balance both financial and environmental returns.

Sitting on a broad range of soil types from silty fenlands to deep peats, one

Waldersey Farms, which spans 8,000 hectares, is carrying out a baselining study from which it will build its net zero project.

of the biggest carbon challenges for the farm will be over its peat soils.

“We want to find techniques which minimise or even reverse peat erosion,” says Mr Hall.

This includes exploring the use of paludiculture, a land management technique to cultivate specialist crops on wet or rewetted peatlands under conditions that maintain the peat body.

Root crops including onions and potatoes in the rotation also present challenges, with deeper cultivations typically needed to grow them.

Mr Hall says: “Across the root crops we have started introducing cover crops, but we are still challenged with reducing deep cultivations.

“On onions, there is some evidence from neighbouring farms that reduced tillage and use of cover crops can work. We need to trial that on our land across different soil types.

“This journey is all about giving these things a try and becoming more innovative.

“It is easy to get locked into traditional practices and be assured by those practices, but we have got to try to do things at a lower cost to the environment and be more sustainable on these very fragile and valuable soil types.”

Mark Hall

It is easy to get locked into traditional practices and be assured by those practices, but we have got to try to do things at a lower cost to the environment

MARK HALL

The cereals side of things is more straightforward, with Mr Hall bringing in practical experience from running his own arable farm in Bedfordshire with his wife Kier.

He says: “Waldersey is focusing on reducing tillage particularly across its combinable crop area.

“One aspect that always comes up on carbon assessments on arable farms is nitrogen fertiliser.

“We are always looking at ways to boost nitrogen use efficiency and reduce that particular emission – it is really important to the carbon balance sheet.”

Organic

So far, this includes the use of variable rate technology and organic nitrogen sources such as digestate and compost.

The farm is also keen to adopt current and emerging technologies to help reach its net zero goals, which Mr Hall is well placed to do, following his previous role leading the Europe, Africa and Middle East sustainability team at Syngenta, where he was responsible for research into precision application, soil health, biodiversity and carbon farming.

He says: “Data gives us a perfect situation whereby AI and new ways of

Farm profile

■ Waldersey Farms near Downham Market scales some 8,000 hectares

■ It is the largest singly-owned, grade one soil type arable farm in the UK

■ Soils range from silty fenlands to deep peats

■ Crops include potatoes, onions, sugar beet, wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape, peas and beans

Root crops including onions and potatoes in the rotation present challenges for the farm’s net zero ambitions.

analysing can lead us to insights we have not been able to achieve before.

“We need to harness newly emerging technologies for the benefit of sustainable production.

“Working at Syngenta, I learnt a lot about technologies and research going on worldwide, which can bring much more sustainability into agricultural production.

“There are so many fantastic startups and technologies out there and we have just been through a number of years in which agtech investment has been really strong.

“This has given me great insight into what is new and what is still some way off.

“It has set in place ambition and vision for what we are trying to achieve.”

Waldersey Farms’ ambition is to have a scalable net zero operation by 2040, which is not only important to its owners, but also a growing concern for the farm’s customers, according to Mr Hall.

He says: “Our customers for our

potatoes and onions are looking for sustainability.

“That is the challenge posed by our consumers, and we need to meet that challenge.”

And with the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), he hopes this could help others to make the transition.

“It is a challenging time for the industry. The loss of the Basic Payment Scheme is difficult for us and if you just view SFI as a source of income it does not look anywhere near as supportive, but actually there are areas we can use SFI support to help enhance our farming practices.

“There are some good options in there for us.

“The only difficulty is that SFI compensation rates are worked out on average farm yields in the UK so this means, for some options, comparing a grade one fen farm sometimes does not stack up for us.

“We just need to keep an open mind and use SFI to help support a

‘look and see’ approach. That should lead us to a position that is both environmentally and financially sustainable longer term.”

While Mr Hall recognises the scale of the Waldersey enterprise means it is well placed to trial different ways of farming, his own farm has showed it is possible on a smaller scale too.

He says: “The challenges are quite different on my home farm, trying to focus on how we make a more regenerative system.

“It is quite easy to question the inputs, but you can build a lot of risk if you are not careful.

“Start somewhere, start small, try it and see if it works and then add pieces to it,” he advises.

“A whole-scale shift to the key parts of regenerative farming is very risky and difficult to achieve.

“At home, we started by buying a low-disturbance subsoiler and mechanised in a way to try very low tillage agriculture and slowly adapted as we have learned more.”

The business sits on a range of soils from silty fenlands to deep peats.

Innovation, knowledge and profit are the three key themes for this year’s CropTec. Alice Dyer and Jane Thynne see what the new-look event has to offer.

Be the first to hear about the future of arable

For the past 11 years, the CropTec show has been showcasing technical knowledge, products, services and solutions to the UK’s most progressive growers and agronomists.

As the show enters its 12th year, it has unveiled a new brand identity and made significant changes to its conference programme, aligning with evolving agricultural practices and industry trends.

CropTec features exhibitions, conferences, workshops and presentations delivered by industry experts and thought leaders. These will cover a range of topics relevant to arable farming, including crop management, soil health and pest and disease control.

As part of the refresh, this year the

show will introduce three keynote theatres focusing on innovation, knowledge and profit, to provide visitors with practical advice about future-proofing their farms.

The sessions will explore a range of topics including agronomy advice, crop nutrition, pesticide regulations, diversification and the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in arable farming.

Verity Hyland, CropTec event director, says: “CropTec’s purpose is to help the farming community thrive.

“By bringing together companies, visitors and industry experts, CropTec shines a light on the arable industry’s key topics, concerns and opportunities. We cannot wait for our audience to experience the refreshed show.”

EXPERT-LED SEMINAR PROGRAMME

THIS year, CropTec will host three keynote theatres focusing on innovation, knowledge and profit, where industry experts will share practical advice on navigating future challenges.

The Innovation Theatre will host a series of seminars.

One of the highlights is a panel discussion featuring award-winning arable farmers, who will share the innovations they have implemented on-farm to boost productivity and yields.

This session will offer practical insights into the challenges faced, lessons learned and their success stories.

Another key seminar will focus on the future of arable farming through the lens of gene editing technology.

Esteemed experts, including representatives from Defra,

Rothamsted Research and the NFU, will discuss the potential of gene editing to enhance crop resilience, improve yields and address future agricultural challenges.

The session will explore how this cutting-edge technology could shape the future of farming and benefit UK agriculture.

Additionally, there will be a session on innovative systems and collaborative research and development, examining new technologies designed to support more sustainable crop production.

Attendees will also learn about controlled environment agriculture (CEA), an emerging method for producing crops more efficiently and sustainably.

This session, led by industry experts, will take a deep dive into CEA’s potential to transform the way crops are grown.

Key information

n When: November 27-28

n Where: National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

n How to get there: By car – for satnavs, use the postcode CV8 2LH and follow the AA road signs to find the main entrance to the site; parking is free of charge; By rail – Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and Warwick Parkway

An interactive session on the future of arable farming will explore how innovation can be applied practically on-farm, ensuring that technological advancements are not only cutting-edge but also accessible and usable for farmers on the ground.

Horsch

Leading agricultural machinery manufacturer Horsch is proud to sponsor this year’s Innovation Theatre.

The company’s commitment to soil health and sustainable farming practices is reflected in its development of no-till, min-till and regenerative farming products, which are tested on its own farms.

Horsch’s deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in modern agriculture fuels its innovative approach, aiming to

rail stations are situated on the main London Marylebone line; from these mainline stations, you will need to take a short taxi ride to the venue n Nearest airports: Stoneleigh Park is within a 30-minute drive of Birmingham International Airport n How to register: Visit croptecshow.com to register for your free ticket

improve soil health, increase productivity and contribute to healthier lives.

As farmers themselves, they understand farming’s challenges and opportunities. By working with their customers, combining courage, passion, innovation and knowledge, they contribute to the economic success of agriculture, improvements in the climate and healthier lives.

Stephen Burcham, general manager at Horsch UK, says: “Future success in farming can only come through open conversation and working together.

“We are delighted to be sponsoring the CropTec Innovation Theatre, which offers a great opportunity to meet forward-thinking farmers.”

This year, CropTec will unveil a new brand identity and introduce three keynote theatres focused on innovation, knowledge and profit.

PICTURE: TIM SCRIVENER

Cut CO2 emissions by up to 45%

Enhanced nitrogen utilisation

Maximum crop intake

Contains recognisable orange granules

CropTec seminar programme

This year’s CropTec conferences will shine a light on key topics including crop varieties, pesticide regulations, disease management, crop rotations and

diversification. Visitors can hear from other arable farmers from the UK and beyond, as they share their experiences and offer actionable advice to both improve and future-proof farming businesses.

THE INNOVATION THEATRE, SPONSORED BY HORSCH

Day one

10.30-11.30am Wins and lessons learned

Award-winning arable farmers and growers share:

n Innovations applied on-farm to increase productivity and yield

n Challenges and lessons learned

n Wins and success stories

Speakers:

n Tom Turner, national sales manager maize, KWS

n Andrew Ward, Roy Ward Farms

n Becci Berry, Brimstone Farm

n Tamara Hall, Molescroft Farm

2-3pm Future of arable:

THE KNOWLEDGE THEATRE

Day one

10-10.30am Opening keynote address

n NFU priorities and objectives

n Working with a new Labour Government

n Coming together to support UK farmers and growers

Speaker:

n David Exwood, NFU deputy president

10.30am-12pm Crop protection and production

n Launch of 2025 Descriptive List for peas and beans

n Crop protection –opportunities and challenges

THE PROFIT THEATRE

Day one

12.30-1.30pm Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

n Farming for the future, Defra

n Assessing the impact of SFI on farm businesses

n SFI for underwriting positive business decisions

Speakers:

n Matt Ward, services lead, Hutchinsons

n Amandeep Kaur Purewal, senior economist, AHDB

n Ben Taylor-Davies, farmer, Townsend Farm

n Rob Arden, policy team leader, Defra

3.15-4.30pm People and skills

Gene editing panel

What is gene editing and how will it benefit arable farming?

Speakers:

n David Exwood, NFU deputy president

n Nigel Halford, principal research scientist, Rothamsted Research

n Tom Allen-Stevens, founder, BOFIN

n Mark Buckingham, corporate engagement leader, Bayer Crop Science

Day two

10-11am Innovative systems

n Collaborative research and

development and new technologies to support the change to more sustainable crop production

n Biologicals benefits for broadacre

n Hybrid systems – controlled environment agriculture does not have to be standalone

Speakers:

n Richard Glass, innovation lead, UK Agri-Tech Centre

n Mark Horler, UK Urban AgriTech

n Harry Edwards, market development manager, Russell Bio Solutions

n Nayem Hassan, managing

n Considerations for harvest 2025 wheat – what will our plan look like?

Speakers:

n Andrew Blazey, chair, Association of Independent Crop Consultants

n Christopher Judge, senior technical officer, PGRO

n David Chandler, microbiologist and entomologist, Warwick University School of Life Sciences

n Alice Andrews, partner, Ceres Rural 2-3pm Around the world

Speakers and industry experts share their learnings of different farming practices and innovations from around the world and how they can benefit UK agriculture:

n Under 30s panel on entering food and farming

n Surveying future skills and training needs for technology and innovation

n Farming Community Network

panel – Assessing the well-being impact of Harvest ‘24 and preparing for Harvest ‘25 and beyond

Speakers:

n Alex Ansell, rural business consultant, DJM Consulting

n Richard Napier, plant scientist, Warwick University School of Life Sciences

n Georgina Lamb, senior partnerships manager, The Farming Community Network

n Olly Harrison, farmer and

n Black soldier fly farming around the world

n 11 months, one industry, six continents

n Working with large volumes of farming data in Argentina

Speakers:

n David Tavernor, founder, Fly2Feed

n Wallace Currie, podcaster, R2Kast

n Felipe Harrison, COO, Ag Analyst

n Jamie Stokes, partner, Tithe Farm

Day two

10-11am Soil health

n Discovering the truth about soil

n My transition from conventional broadacre to mixed farming, 10 years in

n The weather-proof farm

influencer, Olly Blogs Agricontract

n Richard Kaye, head of brand and communications, The Openfield Partnership

n Jon Tanner, commercial director, Agrovista UK

Day two

11.30am-12.30pm Financial planning

n Finance in a changing agricultural world

n Tax planning on new machinery and kit

n Assessing the impact of the autumn Budget

Speakers:

n Adam White, head of agriculture, Barclays Business

director, Russell Bio Solutions

n Toby Whatley, head of machinery and farm technology, FG 1-2pm Driving agricultural innovation with multiphysics and participatory design

An interactive session exploring advanced simulation technologies such as co-simulation and GPU accelerated solvers

Speaker:

n Marcelo Precoppe, reader in agricultural engineering, Harper Adams University

Speakers:

n Jacqueline Hannam, professor of pedology, Cranfield University

n Tom Allen-Stevens, founder, BOFIN

n Niels Corfield, independent adviser

n Tim May, organic and regenerative farmer, Kingsclere Estate

1-2pm Water efficiency

n Practices for water protection and resilience

n Connecting farming and water efficiency

Speakers:

n John Gadsby, ADAS

n Richard Reynolds, Anglian Water

n Harry Henderson, technical manager, BASIS Registration

n Ben Allman, partner, Ballards LLP

n Jeremy Moody, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers

2.30-3.30pm Market outlook

n What is driving grain prices?

n Fertiliser markets and forward planning

n What does a Trump presidency mean for global grains trade?

Speakers:

n Helen Plant, senior market analyst, Cereals and Oilseeds, AHDB

n Jane Thynne, journalist, FG

n Finley Hawkins, senior fertiliser business development manager, Frontier Agriculture

n Rupert Somerscales, chief analyst, Agri-Analytics

What to see at CropTec

CropTec brings together a wide array of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in arable farming technology, machinery and equipment. From precision agriculture tools

to sustainable farming solutions, attending CropTec allows farmers to explore a range of cutting-edge products and techniques that can help to optimise their operations and improve their business’ efficiency.

TOOLS FOR MORE PROFIT AND SUSTAINABILITY

VISITORS to the Hutchinsons stand at CropTec will find industry experts on hand to discuss topics including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and soil health and get an insight into what services and technologies are available to address these issues.

This includes the Omnia EasyPlan upgrade, which agronomy company Hutchinsons says represents a digital leap

forward in crop production.

Offering a set of developments allowing for complete paperless record keeping and work management, this technology is now available to both Hutchinsons and non-Hutchinsons customers.

Visitors can also hear how the latest functionality added to Omnia is designed to support farmers in efficiently managing and recording SFI actions.

REDUCING POTATO INPUTS

TAKING centre stage on the Emerald Research (ERL) stand at CropTec will be this season’s results from the Innovate UK-funded Transformative Reduced Inputs in Potatoes (TRIP) project, for which ERL is partnering with Dyson Farming Research, Light Science Technologies, Bangor University and the James Hutton Institute.

Central to the project is the OptiYield soil analysis and crop nutrient recommendation system, which has been used to prescribe the fertiliser, foliar nutrient and biostimulant regimes used in the trials.

The second season of trials has

Driving Innovation in AgriFood Systems

Innovate UK’s Healthy Living and Agriculture domain drives business growth by unlocking innovations that make life better.

• Delivering solutions that enable a productive, sustainable, and resilient agrifood system.

• Supporting the development of healthy, affordable, and tasty food while addressing global challenges in agriculture and food production.

Discover more about Innovate UK’s activities across agrifood systems here:

AT this year’s CropTec, Frontier Agriculture will focus on ‘the art of optimisation’, linking visitors to solutions that will help them to manage risk and build more resilient farming systems.

Core to this is the use of digital crop production tools and analytics, helping farmers to benchmark performance, work more efficiently, monitor the cost of production and capture trends, as well as take a more targeted approach through the use of precision technology.

Frontier will also share how its teams are supporting customers to capture and interpret their farm insights to support evidence-based decisions. Off the back of a difficult season, questions as to what nutrition

Results from the TRIP project will be among the items of interest at this year’s CropTec.

continued to assess not only the effect of switching from 100% soilapplied nitrogen and phosphate to majority foliar-applied, but also the result of decreasing overall nitrogen and phosphate volumes by up to 50% compared to conventional recommendations when supported by ERL’s proprietary biostimulants.

The results have provided a clear insight into the cumulative benefits of ‘stacking’ biostimulants and taking a more preventative and holistic approach to improving crop performance and efficiency, as opposed to a product-by-product treatment regime, says ERL.

INTERPRETING FARM INSIGHTS

strategies should look like for the spring will also be front of mind for many farmers.

Frontier senior fertiliser business development manager, Finley Hawkins, will take to the stage as part of the ‘Market Outlook’ session in CropTec’s conference programme to talk about fertiliser considerations for 2024/25.

Covering market drivers and impacts on purchasing decisions, Mr Hawkins will revisit the challenges of the past season and the importance of a nutritional review to help mitigate future risks.

As he highlights some of the learnings, he will also share some of the tools and analyses available to help farmers optimise their inputs.

ADDRESSING RURAL CONNECTIVITY

RURAL businesses with poor mobile phone coverage have the opportunity to test out signal boosters for free.

The River Severn Partnership is working with Warwickshire County Council to loan equipment to businesses across the River Severn Catchment to see if 4G and/or 5G signals can be improved.

This forms part of the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSP AWIR), a £3.75 million initiative wholly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It is set to strengthen

and elevate farming practices by showcasing the transformative potential of 5G and other advanced wireless technologies, aiming to boost efficiency, support sustainability and set new standards in modern agriculture and land-based industries.

In collaboration with Harper Adams University, Hartpury University will partner with farmers and landowners in the River Severn Partnership area to demonstrate the adaptation of advanced wireless technologies for crop monitoring, security maintenance and energy regulation.

The Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) will be unveiling a new format for the launch of its 2025 Descriptive List (DL) for peas and beans to give more growers the chance to engage in the research work.

Dr Chris Judge, the organisation’s senior technical officer, will present the DL at a CropTec Knowledge Hub seminar on November 27.

The event will also be attended by a number of seed breeders who have put varieties forward for trialling and it is free for any pea and bean grower to attend.

Important

Dr Judge says: “Based on our fully independent trial work, the DL is a very important tool for growers, giving them the relevant information to make an informed decision on which variety suits them and the market they are aiming to supply.

“But variety choice is only one part of the agronomy – having a more public launch gives growers the opportunity to ask questions

New format for pea and bean DL launch

VIDEO AID

THE PGRO is urging growers to consult the 2024 DL before choosing varieties to drill.

A series of short videos highlighting the varieties’ traits can be seen on the PGRO’s YouTube and social media channels.

■ The full DL can be accessed at pgro.org/ pulse-descriptive-list

about how to give crops the best chance of performing well.”

The launch will be held at 10.30am on the first day of the CropTec show.

The PGRO will also have a stand where growers can talk to staff about the other research work it carries out.

Growers are being urged to consult the Descriptive List before choosing a variety.

Initiatives such as the Nitrogen Climate Smart Project, and environmental policies influencing

the pulse crop, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, are expected to be topical.

The new Pronto 7 DC has a 7.2m working width that fits a 36m tramline system with one less pass per 36m than the 6m model. It has the same power requirement as the 6m model, which means a 16% improvement in efficiency.

Edited by Angela Calvert

For more sales content, go to

Shannagh flock leads Big Bang sale

l Suffolk tops trade selling for 10,000gns

THE Big Bang Export sale of Suffolk, Dutch Spotted and Badger Face Texels at Balmoral Park, Sprucefield, Northern Ireland,

topped at 10,000gns. The sale leader was a shearling gimmer by Limestone Another Level out of a home-bred daughter of Limestone Aston Martin, from A. and R. Wilson’s Shannagh flock, Raphoe, Co Donegal. It sold, carrying twins, to the

Greenfield Goldie, from Samantha Allen and Allen Shortt, Strabane, which sold for 5,000gns to Messrs Lynn, Armoy.

200,000gns breed record holder, Salopian Solid Gold, to Messrs McCafferty, Donegal, and Messrs McCrystal, Maghera.

Next, at 8,000gns from Alistair Gault’s Forkins flock, Newtownabbey, was a shearling gimmer by Ballinatone Show Stopper out of home-bred dam and in-lamb to Oakbridge Opportunity.

The buyers were Messrs Gurney, Coleraine.

From the same home and making 5,200gns was another shearling gimmer, this time by Crewlands Cruncher and carrying twins by Opportunity, which was knocked down to Messrs Trimble, Newry Down.

Boden and Davies, Stockport, paid 5,500gns for a ewe lamb by Birness Thunder from L. and M.

Gomershay dispersal tops at 4,100gns

THE dispersal of the autumn calving Gomershay herd for Spicer Partners, on-farm at Stalbridge, Dorset, produced the trade of the year, according to the auctioneers, peaking at 4,100gns.

Top price was for Gomershay Pepper Violet Ex92, a fourth calved cow which sold to Richard and Laurence Gay for their Walkabout herd, Axminster. One of that families in demand was the Urcias and the VG88 third calver, Pagani, made 3,800gns with

Gomershay Improbable Quincy, another third calver at 3,500gns.

Other third calvers sold to 3,400gns for a Tara and 3,100gns for a Cysnet, with second lactation Flos and Carlys at 3,300gns and Whitetime heifers at 3,000gns.

The calved heifers, Gomershay Sandman Gretal and Gomershay Flashback Cysnet topped the section at 3,700gns and 3,600gns respectively, both bought by SB Farms, Pembrokeshire, for their new herd,

Autumn born heifer calves that followed their dams sold to 620gns for Gomershay Cirrus Beatrice.

AVERAGES

179 mainly autumn calved cows including A lot heifer calves, £2,378; 57 calved heifers including A lot heifer calves, £2,474; 2 Hereford bulls, £1,775; 74 yearling heifers, £851; 91 heifer calves, £428; 418 head, £1,562.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

Store cattle sell to £2,020 at Hawes

THE show and sale of store cattle at Hawes topped at £2,020 for a 29-month-old heifer from M.P. and H.M. York, Sedbergh.

The championship went to a Limousin heifer from Croft Farm Partners, Hawes, and in reserve was another Limousin heifer, this time from J.R. Blades, Hawes. They sold for £1,920 and £1,820 respectively to the

judge, Martin Hare, Lane End Farm Shop, Tong.

British Blue heifers topped at £1,600 for a 15-month-old entry from J.F. Bowe and Son, Hawes. Steers sold to £1,640 for J.F. and G.R. Howard, Raydaleside. Native cattle sold well topping at £1,350 for Hereford heifers from C. Bell, Askrigg, with Aberdeen-Angus heifers selling to £1,340

for both R.W. Ewan, New Hutton, and Messrs Bell. Belted Galloway steers sold to £1,190 for C.H. Allen and Son, Hawes. Young Beef Shorthorns sold for £800 for Cragg and Carr, Hawes.

AVERAGES

Heifers, £1,204.50; steers, £1,324.70.

Auctioneers: Hawes Farmers Auction Mart Co.

Top price, a Suffolk shearling gimmer, from A. and R. Wilson, Raphoe, Co Donegal, which sold for 10,000gns to Messrs McCafferty, Donegal, and Messrs McCrystal, Maghera.

Liggett’s Carony flock, Drumquin, Co Tyrone.

Topping the Dutch Spotted trade at 5,000gns was Greenfield Goldie, a shearling gimmer by Diamond Felix out of Greenfield Fable and in-lamb to Diamond Got the Moves, consigned by Samantha Allen and Allen Shortt, Strabane. It sold to Messrs Lynn, Armoy.

Shearling

At 2,500gns from the same vendors was Brookhill Gaby, a shearling gimmer by Kilroot Everest, in-lamb to the same sire which went to Messrs Dodd, Lockerbie.

Badger Face Texels sold to 600gns for Little Whiskers Fiery, a ewe lamb by an imported sire from A. and J. Carson, Strabane, which sold to Messrs Crawford, Newtown Stewart. Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Store lambs in demand at Leek

THE 4,962 store lambs on offer at Leek were a strong trade, averaging £105/head, which was up £10/ head on the previous sale.

Beltex sold to £152.50 for R. Challinor, Dilhorne, with Texels, from Mrs Mottram, Uttoxeter, at £147.50 and other Beltex up to £142.50.

Mule wether lambs, from Geoff Wain, Brandside, sold to £136.50 with a pen from J.M. Cottrill and Sons, Bamford, at £99.

Charollais lambs from M.W. Woodward, Whiston, topped at £131 and Suffolk lambs from R. Bassett and Son topped at £127.

C.J. and M.J. Campbell, Hilderstone, sold Dorsets to £109.50 with Oxford cross lambs from R. and M. Phillips and Sons, Buxton, at £108 and Lleyn from S.W. Edwards, Bottomhouse, topped at £98.

Auctioneers: Leek Auctions.

Charolais Cattle Society sale reaches 10,500gns high

● Reserve champion sells for 10,000gns

AT the British Charolais Cattle Society sale at Welshpool, 30 bulls averaged £5,620 – an increase of £533 on the year – with a top call of 10,500gns.

Taking the top price was Esgob United, a 19-month-old bull which had stood second in its class to the champion, from Gareth Jones, Bala, Gwynedd. By 14,000gns Solwayfirth Peterpan out of the Anside Excalibur daughter, Esgob Hifi, it sold to R. Roberts, Abergele.

Also hitting the five-figure mark was the reserve overall champion, Castellmawr UFO, an April-born bull by Caylers Olympus from Alwyn and Medwyn Williams, North Wales, which sold at 10,000gns to A.L. Jones, Bala.

Next, at 9,000gns, was the overall

champion, Gretnahouse Ulric, consigned by Mike and Melanie Alford, Collumpton, Devon. The Lochend Nighthawk son sold to L.L. Morgan, Abertridwr.

Gerwyn Jones, Conwy, took 8,500gns for his first prize winner, Graiggoch Usefull, an 18-month-old son of Brampton Nacodar, which was knocked down to Messrs Evans, Gwynedd.

Making 8,000gns was Moelfre Usain by Thrunton Nugget from Kevin Thomas, Capel Iwan, Carmarthenshire, which went to W.G. Woosnam, Cefn Mawr.

Females sold to a top price of 4,600gns for Gerwyn Jones’ Graiggoch Twirl, a two-year-old heifer by Maerdy Naser, out of the Balmyle Dickler daughter, Graiggoch Immaculate, which was knocked down to B. Walters, Dryslwyn. Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales.

Champion sells for £4,000 at Barnard Castle

THE Christmas show and sale of store cattle at Barnard Castle was judged by Angela Tarry-Smith, Warwickshire, and Louise Todd, Lincolnshire, who awarded the overall championship to a 16-month-old Limousin heifer from W.M. Reed and Sons, Westgate, which later sold for the day’s top price of £4,000.

The reserve champion was an

11-month-old Limousin heifer from Peter and Edward Walton, Mickleton, which sold for £2,700.

The second prize heifer over 14 months old, a Limousin consigned by A. and J. Harrison, Ettersgill, sold for £3,000.

At the same money was a third prize winning British Blue heifer over 14 months old from M. and B.

Second calver tops dairy sale at Market Drayton

AT Market Drayton’s dairy sale, a trio of second calvers from Hankins Heys Farm, Audlem, averaged £3,183 with a top of £3,400 and the other two making £3,150 and £3,000.

Other second calvers from K.J. Morris, Worcestershire, sold at £2,900, £2,750 and £2,600, with R. and R. Vernon and Sons, Burleydam, at £2,550.

The best of the calved heifers peaked at £3,200 for M. Weaver, Stone.

According to the auctioneers, the overall quality of the heifers

was a little disappointing, with the next best at £2,650 from R. and J. Merrett, Gloucester.

Bulling heifers

The 20 bulling heifers sold to £830 and averaged £767, with 12 heifer calves to £200 averaging £115. A 13-month-old Simmental stock bull sold for £2,850.

AVERAGES 18 fresh cows (all in), £2,074; 27 fresh heifers (all in), £2,053. Auctioneers: Gwilym Richards with Market Drayton Market.

Coulthard, Westgate, who sold another at £2,900.

The third prize winning heifer under 14 months old, a British Blue from F. and M.P. Allinson and Co, Baldersdale, made £2,600.

Steers

The top priced steer, at £2,010, was the third prize winning British Blue from J.R. and L. Harding, Darlington. The winning Limousin steer, which sold for £1,885, was from J.E. and E. Dobson and Son,

Frosterley, who also sold a Limousin heifer at £2,800.

Messrs Harrison had the second and third prize winning Limousin steers, which sold for £2,000 and £1,965 respectively. The top price bull, at £1,735, was a Limousin from D. and P.H. Brown, Aldbrough St John.

AVERAGES

Overall, £1,721.98; heifers, £1,763.19; steers, £1,654.25; bulls, £1,608.33. Auctioneers: Barnard Castle and Teesdale Farmers Auction Mart Co.

Bentham store lambs

TRADE for store lambs at Bentham was generally £120-£135/head, with the best Beltex lambs selling at extreme rates.

There were plenty of pens between £140-£160, topping at £173/ head for J. McAulay, Hawick.

This was followed at £168 with lambs from J. and M. Cockett, Ingleton; R.A. and C. Benson, Ulverston; and J. and G. Sinclair, Heriot.

Longer keep lambs were in the £80 range, with only a handful selling for less.

The strongest Mules sold in the

£105-£115 range, topping at £119 for A. Denby, Wennington.

The best Swale and Dalesbred lambs sold from £70-£88, with a trio from J.R. Middleton, Dent, to £95. A run of Scottish Blackface from A. Hoggarth, Selkirk, sold to £100. Cheviot lambs topped at £99 for the last draw of the season from J. Swift, Kendal.

A run of 503 Beltex and Cheviot Mules from Wester Ulston Sheep, Jedburgh, saw the best Cheviot Mules to £125.50.

Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son.

Esgob United, a 19-month-old bull from Gareth Jones, Bala, Gwynedd, which sold for 10,500gns to R. Roberts, Abergele.

Ben Wilson wins New Auctioneer of the Year

Supported by In association with

Growing up on a mixed family farm near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, from which all stock is sold through the live ring, Ben recalls attending market with his father from a very young age.

He says: “Dad has always used markets to buy and sell all his own stock and I went with him whenever I could and developed a real love of the auctions. I always knew I wanted to be an auctioneer.

“Thirsk is our local market and, while I was still quite young, I was o ered a job on Saturdays and in

school holidays, helping out and droving.

“When I left school I was o ered a full-time job and my first sale was in August 2022, when I sold a few rabbits and ferrets. The following week I started selling cull ewes and have sold them ever since.”

As well as continuing to sell cull ewes, Ben has progressed to selling store lambs, breeding sheep, pigs and machinery, as well as helping out with bigger cattle sales.

He has also been instrumental in introducing some new sales, including an evening ram sale

and a monthly store pig sale, as well as initiatives such as including shows at more sales.

He says: “Thirsk is a new modern market close to the A1 and I am keen to develop it further as I think there is the opportunity for us to grow.”

Support

Ben is keen to acknowledge the help and support he has had from senior auctioneers Tony Thompson and Emma Coupland, market chair Ian Woodhead, as well as previous market manager

Robers and current manager Craig

Many of the team, along with his family, were at the awards to see Ben announced as the winner, with host Vernon Kay also volunteering him to be the auctioneer for an impromptu charity auction.

He says: “I was delighted to be nominated, but to win was surreal. We all had an amazing evening at the awards and are still celebrating my win at the market. I was surprised and a bit nervous to be asked to do the charity auction, but then I really did enjoy it and it went very well.”

Andrew

Marwood.

Presenter Vernon Kay (left), Ben Wilson (holding his award) and his family, and Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.

Zwartbles sell to 2,200gns for ewe lamb

● Overall champion realises 2,000gns

IT was the winning ewe lamb and reserve champion, Statesman Magical, from B. Stayt, Bourton-onthe-Water, which led the trade at the Zwartbles Sheep Society show and sale at Carlisle at 2,200gns.

The daughter of Top Notch King

Kong, which was the first progeny to be offered for sale out of Craigies Just So, supreme champion at the 2021 Carlisle premier sale, sold to Messrs Henderson, Stirling.

Sire

Next, at 2,000gns, from the same home, was another ewe lamb by the same sire, Stateman Mississippi, out of Craigies Just Ace, which was

Female champion, Tryfil Briallen 21, from I.G. Roberts, Llanerchymedd, which sold for 3,400gns, pictured with, from left: Ioan Roberts and Welsh Black Cattle Society president

Welsh

Blacks to

3,400gns

high for female champion

AT the Welsh Black Cattle Society sale at Dolgellau females topped at 3,400gns for the female champion, the in-calf heifer, Tryfil Briallen 21 from I.G. Roberts, Llanerchymedd, which was bought by the judge, Elin Fflur Williams, Pantglas.

The second prize-winning in-calf heifer, Ysguboriau Vera, from William R. Pughe Jones, Ysguboriau, made 2,800gns to H.D. Roberts, Llithfaen.

Reserve champion

The reserve champion female, Tryfil Camelia 33, from Messrs Roberts, sold for 2,600gns to E. Vaughan, Conwy, who also paid the

knocked down to Messrs Jones, Llandrindod Wells.

The overall champion and winning shearling gimmer, Hayberries Lucy Liu by Norton King of the Road out of Goldies Jo, consigned by P. and S. Addison, Barnard Castle, also sold for 2,000gns to Messrs Boyes, Annan.

Two ewe lambs, Pendle Madonna and Pendle Martini, both by

BAKEWELL

LIMOUSIN in-calf heifers sold to £2,400, with 10 making more than £2,000. Store steers topped at £1,920, heifers sold to £1,800 and feeding bulls to £1,600.

In the prime section steers and heifers both topped at 374p/kg with a top gross price of £2,630 and heifers averaging 306p/kg. Prime lambs sold to 325p/kg and £171/head with an SQQ of 291.6p/kg.

LONGTOWN

THE 4,712 store lambs topped at £146/head for North Country Cheviots from Colin Armstrong, Blaebank. Suffolks sold to £143/head for S.D. Allen, Ellerslea, whose run of 216 Texel and Suffolk cross lambs averaged £130 per head.

The 561 feeding ewes sold to £134 for a Texel cross ewe from Meikle Whitriggs Farm.

BRECON

top maiden heifer price of 2,550gns for Seisiog Awena 81, consigned by T. and J. Jones, Caergybi.

The reserve champion maiden heifer, Caerynwch Gwenfair 92, from T.W. Williams and Co, Brithdir, made 2,350gns to the Partneriaid Bridin Partnership, Gwynedd.

The champion maiden heifer, Deicws Marion 38 from G.C. Wiliams, Conwy, went on to sell for 2,150gns to E. Lewis, Lampeter.

Machreth Llywelyn 2, a 1,070kg bull from Will and Huw Jones, Talyllyn Twyyn, sold for 2,500gns. Auctioneers: Farmers Marts (R.G. Jones).

THE prime lamb SQQ was 316p/kg with an overall average of 315.7p/kg. Light lambs traded from 293p/kg to 303p/kg for 35kg Scotch Blackface. Medium lambs sold from 305-358p/kg and heavy lambs from 285-330p/kg, topping at £162.40 for 58kg from G.J. Powell. Cull ewes topped at £180 for Texels from H.G. and G.H.M Davies.

CARLISLE

ON Monday cull ewes sold to a record-breaking £410/head for a Texel and £365 twice, again for Texels. Prime lambs topped at 500p/ kg for 40kg Beltex and £225/head for 46kg Texels.

Prime cattle sold to £2,605.76 for

Winning ewe lamb and overall reserve, Statesman Magical, from B. Stayt, Bourton-onthe-Water, which sold for 2,200gns to Messrs Henderson, Stirling.

Coverham KnockEmOut from Issy Hartley, Nelson, made 1,200gns each to Messrs Millar, Lockerbie, and Messrs Pritchard, Newcastle upon Tyne, respectively.

AVERAGES

6 aged ewes, £346.50; 32 shearling ewes, £554.53; 54 ewe lambs, £457.92.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

a 779kg Limousin cross heifer from Messrs Crichton, Egremont. Top price per kg was 347.5p for a 559kg Limousin from George Rome, Gretna. Steers topped at £2,373.89 for a 743kg Limousin from Messrs Beaty, Egremont.

Prime bulls sold to £2,929.74 for an over-30-month Limousin from Messrs Ridley, Wigton.

NORWICH

STORE cattle topped at £1,690 for 26-month-old British Blue cross steers from Chalke Farms, Barnet, followed by 23-month-old British Blue cross steers at £1,590 from J.B. Dring, Fundenhall. Holkham Estate, Holkham, sold 20-month-old Beef Shorthorn steers to £1,580. Guyer Farms, Methwold, sold 20-month-old South Devon steers to £1,570 and topped the heifer section at £1,530 with 20-month-old Aberdeen-Angus crosses. Chalke Farms sold 24-month-old British Blue cross heifers to £1,500.

PENRITH

STORE cattle averaged £1,415.66, topping at £2,135 for a 26-month-old dairy-bred Aberdeen-Angus bullock from W.K. and D. Hall, Bells View, with this consignment of seven dairybred British Blue and AberdeenAngus bullocks averaging £1,784.29. R. and J.M. Ridley, Ranbeck, sold seven Limousin bullocks but mainly 17-month heifers, averaging £1,717.86, topping at £1,895 for heifers. J. Farish, High Springfield, sold eight 22-24-month-old dairy-bred British Blue heifers to average £1,642.50, topping at £1,785.

Around the marts

Alywyn Jones.

PICTURE: ISLA CAMPBELL

Monday 25th November

Christmas Show of CALVES

Show 10.30am Sale 10.45am

Entries & Enquiries to Kyle PRIME, CAST & FEEDING CATTLE

Sale 11.30am (TB exempt section available) SALE OF PRIME LAMBS - Sale 12.30pm followed by CAST EWES, RAMS & GOATS

CHRISTMAS SHOW & SALE OF 30 DAIRY CATTLE

Classes for Pedigree & Commercial In-Calf, In-Milk & Maiden Heifers

Welcoming new sponsor Genus ABS Inc. consignment of x10 pedigree bulling heifers from P Baul, Ravensgate herd £100 for vendor of Champion £100 for purchaser of top priced animal Entries & Enquiries to Sarah 07710 795585

Wednesday 27th November

Sale of 4,068 STORE LAMBS & FEEDING EWES Sale 10.00am Main Ring

Working Sheep Dogs

Wednesday 27th November ONLINE TIMED AUCTION OF 53 SHEEPDOGS 31 Fully Broken, 18 Part Broken & 4 Unbroken

Bidding commences 8am Monday 25th Nov & Bidding finishes from 5pm Wednesday 27th Nov www.ccm.auctionmarts.com

PATELEY BRIDGE AUCTION MART

Saturday 14th December

STIRKS, WEANED/SUCKLED CALVES, BREEDING & CULL GOATS, STORE & BREEDING SHEEP

Inc XMAS SHOW FOR BEST BULL, BEST STEER, BEST HEIFER

(Entries close Monday 2nd December)

Agricultural Themed BORDER FINE ARTS & BESWICK PIECES & New Sale of AGRICULTURAL THEMED VINTAGE TOYS & COLLECTABLES

PEDIGREE SHEEP

Annual Winter Show & Sale of PEDIGREE BELTEX FEMALES

PEDIGREE TEXEL FEMALES

PEDIGREE BLUE TEXEL FEMALES

PEDIGREE BADGER FACE TEXEL FEMALES & WINTER SHOW STARS

Annual Winter Collective Sale of 150 Ewes inc Cons from F Joel & J Edmondson, J Wood & AM Leach

SATURDAY 3OTH NOVEMBER

CHRISTMAS PRIZE SHOW & SALE OF PRIME CATTLE, PRIME LAMBS & YOUNG HANDLERS LAMBS Sale at 11.30am

(Entries close Saturday 23rd November)

BROUGHTON AUCTION MART

MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2024

CHRISTMAS PRIZE

SHOW & SALE OF STORE CATTLE PRIME CATTLE & PRIME LAMBS & YOUNG HANDLERS LAMBS (also, sale of store lambs) Judging 4.30pm - Sale 6pm Entries close Tuesday 26th November For catalogues for all the above sales visit

Sunday 1st December

CRAVEN CHRISTMAS SHOW

Primestock, Carcass, Cookery & Children’s Sections, Produce & Charity Auction Schedule Available Online

Wednesday 4th Dcember

CRAVEN FEATHER AUCTIONS

Christmas Show & Sale of POULTRY, WATERFOWL, HATCHING EGGS & EQUIPMENT

(Entries close Friday 29th November)

Sale of FEEDING BULLS, PRIME CATTLE, BEEF FEEDING COWS, STORE & BREEDING CATTLE

Inc Christmas Show of STORE CATTLE

(Entries close Wednesday 27th November

XMAS Show Dates

Monday 2nd December

Christmas Show of CAST CATTLE & CAST EWES

NATIONAL CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY 29th NOVEMBER (11am) ON-FARM AT MILL FARM, STANTHORNE, MIDDLEWICH, CHESHIRE, CW10 9JT (off A54 Winsford Road, 3 miles M6 J18) DISPERSAL SALE OF THE MILLOAK HERD 105 HOLSTEIN FRIESIANS

★ ROBOT MILKED ★

★ 94 Milking Cows and Heifers ★ ★ 11 Close Calving Heifers ★

★ Young Herd – 67 Lacts 1 to 3 ★ Classified – EX, VG & GP ★

★ 10,035L 4.25%F 3.22%P cc107 ★ 36 12,000 to 16,000L Cows ★

★ Cubicles ★ Grazed Herd ★ All year calving ★ Closed Herd ★ For JE & J Oakes

MONDAY 2nd DECEMBER (10.30am)

AT MARKET DRAYTON MARKET, TF9 3SW (moved from Byley, Cheshire, for sale convenience)

DISPERSAL SALE OF THE HIGHER GREEN FARM HERD 135 HOLSTEIN FRIESIANS

★ 135 Milking Cows and Heifers ★ Cubicles ★

★ Rotary Parlour ★ Young Herd – 80 Lacts 1 to 3 ★

★ 8,301L 4.19F 3.42P cc200 ★

★ Mostly homebred and from Aintree and Lachstone ★ For A & J Richardson

Store Cattle Entries for Monday 25th November, Please call the Bakewell Office before 12 Noon on Friday 22nd November

T HURSDAY LUNCHTIME WEEKLY SHEEP SALE

Entries/Enquiries, contact

Office on 01629 812777 (option 2)

Stockjudging Competition

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.

How to take part

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.

ENTER ONLINE

Alternatively, you can enter the competition online at farmersguardian.com/showtimestockjudging

ANIMAL X ANIMAL Y

Trade buoyant in 2024 View from the Rostrum

Matthew Probert on the year in sales

This farming year seems to have flown by and now, with time to reflect and review sales, it can be said that farmers have enjoyed extremely buoyant trade for all classes of stock throughout 2024.

The sale prices achieved often exceeded all expectations, with both new individual and sale average records set throughout the country.

The spring season saw sheep and lamb couples often achieve £130 to £150 per life, while the prime hoggs, lambs and ewes regularly achieved £170 to £200.

The much anticipated autumn sales did not disappoint, with prices taking a much welcome rise, seeing breeding sheep achieving £220 to £250, rams £800 to £1,000, gimmer lambs £150 to £170 and store lambs averaging upwards of £90.

The cattle trade has held its own,

with beef now creeping up to unseen levels. Strongest stores are now easily £1,900-£2,000 with their younger counterparts, and spring-born suckled calves seeing steers at £1,100-£1,400 and heifers at £900-£1,200.

The cull market continues to perform well with cows regularly averaging 180 to 190ppkg and the ewes £110 to £120.

As a nation, we are now consuming our national breeding herd and breeding flock, which will have a knock-on effect on supply and potentially food security.

Quality

The success of the 2024 sales has been in no small part due to the care, attention, quality and pride that British farmers have in their stock and what they produce, for which they should all be congratulated.

It was great to see some of these honoured at the recent British Farming Awards.

We as auctioneers and auction mart operators are extremely honoured and privileged to be part of the UK agricultural industry, having served for more than 200 years. As market operators, we are extremely fortunate to have such a passionate and loyal customer base for which we will continue to work and serve with pleasure and pride.

One of the most recent challenges for many has been the outbreak

of bluetongue and the restrictions imposed by the ever expanding restricted zone. Our thanks must go to the Livestock Auctioneers Association and the tireless work its members have done to ensure that stock from within the ‘zones’ can still be traded, therefore allowing producers to receive a fair price.

As we look forward to the upcoming Christmas shows and sales we again have an opportunity to celebrate all things good about British farming, with these days giving producers the opportunity to gather to celebrate, reflect and no doubt speculate about the future of farming for which there will currently be no shortage of topics.

As an industry, we have so much to be proud of and deservedly so. So let us keep shouting and get the nation to ‘Back British Farming’.

Matthew Probert is principal auctioneer at North West Auctions. Call 07540 446 667, or email matthew@nwauctions.co.uk

Matthew Probert

BORDERWAY MART, CARLISLE

Tel: 01228 406200

500 STORE CATTLE

Wednesday 27th October -10.00am YOUNG CALVES – 10.00am

50 BEEF BREEDING CATTLE – 10.30am

WEANERS & YOUNG BULLS – 12.00noon

Including CHRISTMAS BULLANZA

Classes for over and under 12 months with special Native section

79 DARK DIAMOND SUFFOLK SALE

Saturday 30th November – 12.30pm 56 gimmers and 23 ewe lambs

Christmas Shows and Sales of PRIME CATTLE & PRIME SHEEP

Monday 2nd December

BORDERWAY MONTHLY DAIRY DAY

Wednesday 4th December

Entries close Wednesday 27th November

34

Also 36 SIMMENTAL COMMERCIAL HI HEALTH HEIFERS

Friday 6th December

Show 9.00am - Sale 11.00am PEDIGREE INLAMB SHEEP SALES

Friday 6th December

83 DUTCH SPOTTED IN-LAMB SHEEP

Show 8.00am  Sale 10.30am

9 BADGER FACED TEXEL

IN-LAMB SHEEP

Sale 12.30pm

101 BLUE TEXEL

The Black & White Sale Preview Friday 6th December – 7.00pm

International Reception - 7.30pm

And join us for THE sale event of the year THE BLACK & WHITE SALE on Saturday 7th December 10.30am HOLSTEIN – RED & WHITE –JERSEY – AYRSHIRE – WAGYA SELL

Whatever your preference – The Black & White Sale offers “la crème de la crème” of elite dairy breeding. The opportunities are UNIQUE with many FIRST-TIME offerings from the HOTTEST and most DESIRABLE animals and pedigrees on the planet.

PLEASE ORDER YOUR CATALOGUE TODAY email: blackandwhite@borderway.com View the online catalogue www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk

Follow our Black & White Sale Page for updates, videos and pictures of sale lots Sponsored by

CONTINENTAL INLAMB SHEEP

Friday 13th December

Entries close Friday 28th November

ONLINE SALE

SALE OF MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS & HEAVY PLANT items

Sale bidding starts 10.00am Wednesday 4th December until 10.00am Thursday 5th December

Entries close Wednesday 27th November or contact David Holliday 07710 189804, or Iain Dick 07713 599791

KIRKBY STEPHEN MART

Tel: 01768 371385

Christmas Prize Show and Sale of STORE CATTLE

Monday 25th November – 9.30am

Also Sale of Cast Cows and OTM Cattle with prizes for the highest price, per head & per kilos

MIDDLETON MART

Tel: 01833 640281

Christmas show and sale of STORE CATTLE & SUCKLED CALVES

Tuesday 3rd December

Entries close 10am Monday 25th November

H&H GROUP PLC (H&H)

SALE OF 5832 SHARES OF £1 EACH IN H&H GROUP PLC BY AUCTION

Friday 29th November 2024 –1.00 pm following the AGM

In Ring 1 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle

If you are unable to attend the auction, you can make alternative arrangements to purchase shares either by phone or by leaving commission bids with Margaret Irving on 01228 406334, 07912 485326 or margaret.irving@hhgroupplc.co.uk

Please note that copies of the Annual Report for the period to 30th June 2024 and Interim Report to 31st December 2023 are available on our website at http://hhgroupplc.co.uk/share-news/

Please note that only existing shareholders or restricted investors will be permitted to bid for these shares.

If you are Interested in purchasing shares you should contact Margaret Irving to establish whether you meet the eligibility criteria as a relevant investor under relevant legislation.

Investments in shares are for the long term. The value of your investment and the income derived from it can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested. You should not invest unless you are prepared to lose the money you invest. Investment is high risk and you may not be protected if something goes wrong.

If you are in any doubt about purchasing shares, you should consult an independent financial advisor authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. This financial promotion has been approved by SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (“SAPL”) under s21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act. SAPL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. SAPL makes no recommendation as to the suitability of shares in H&H Group plc as an investment.

BENTHAM AUCTION MART

Saturday 23rd November at 10.30am (Moved to Bentham Auction for convenience)

DISPERSAL SALE OF FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

On Behalf of F & ML Lee & Son, Oak Head Bank Izuzu D-Max Pickup, 2017, 11month MOT, 68,000 miles 5 Tractors Viz. MF5711 Dyna 4 4wd Tractor, 2021 – 557hrs MF390 4wd Tractor, Shuttle Box, L reg (1994) – 5311hrs c/w Chilton Loader, MF135 2wd Tractor (1972), MF165 Tractor, JCB 4tonne Digger (2006) c/w 3 Buckets, Mustang 2044 Skid-Steer, 2016, 836hrs Quad Bike Honda TRX420 FE1 (2300hrs/17,000km) Full range of Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment & Sundries See full details online. By Permission Set of Pens to hold

100 sheep, 6x Walk Through Troughs, 3x Free Standing Barriers, 2x Bale Feeders, 2x Portequip Calf Feeders, Harrington Sheep Handling System, ATV Towable Sheep Hayrack, Small Livestock Trailer Photos & Schedule Online

Tuesday 26th November at 10.30am Fortnightly Sale of 5515 STORE LAMBS

Wednesday 27th November 11am 100-150 Rearing Calves

2.30pm Christmas Show & Sale of 2500 Cast Ewes Sheep for judging to be penned by 1.30pm Followed by 3000-4000 Prime Lambs

Tuesday 3rd December

Christmas Show & Sale of 50-75 CAST COWS & OTM CATTLE & 150 STORE CATTLE

Thursday 12th December

Elite Breeding Sale- Cancelled CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Wednesday 4th December Hillbred Prime Lambs

Wednesday 11th December Rearing Calves

Wednesday 11th December Lowland Prime Lambs

Tuesday 17th December Farmers Stirks

Saturday 21st December Dressed Poultry

CHRISTMAS IN THE MART

Friday 13th December / Saturday 14th December

Inc. Friday Evening Farmers Carol Concert & Charity Tractor Run. Tradestands etc.

Richard Turner & Son

GISBURN AUCTION MARTS Auctioneers, Valuers, Agents

Rachel Capstick 07713075659 Jack Pickup 07710708326 Eleanor O’Neill 07706347505 Eli Tattersall 07955 288800

Saturday 23rd November

9:30am Weekly CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS

10:45am 15 GOATS followed by, 2 BREEDING RAMS 11am 1573 STORE LAMBS XMAS SHOW best pens 10 Cont/Native Thursday 28th November

10:30am REARING CALVES

Show 9:15 – Sale 10:30am XMAS PRIME STOCK all cattle penned by 8:45am - all cattle must be haltered CLASSES: (1)Continental Bull (2)Native Bull (3)Continental Steer (4)Continental Heifer (5)Traditional Heifer/Steer (6) Best animal purchased through Gisburn Auction (7) Best exhibitor bred Steer/Heifer (8)Young Farmer under 26yo 11.30am CULL CATTLE

11:00am WEEKLY DAIRY – Entries to Eleanor 12:30am STIRKS

Saturday 30th November

9:30am WEEKLY CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS 10am BREEDING & FEEDING CATTLE followed by STORE CATTLE - Show 9:30am – Sale 10:30am (1)Best Steer (2)Best Heifer (3)Best Bull Entries to the office by Tues 26th Nov, 12noon FESTIVE SHOW DATES

www.nwauctions.co.uk

info@nwauctions.co.uk

Thurs 28th Nov PRIME CATTLE

Sat 30th Nov STORE CATTLE

Wed 11th Dec Annual Christmas Carol Service

Thurs 12th Dec STRIKS

Thurs 5th Dec CALVES, MASSEY DAIRY, CAST CATTLE Sat 7th Dec PRIME LAMBS

Sat 14th Dec CAST EWES, Charity Lamb & YH Lamb show

Thurs 19th Dec SEMEX & JAMESON DAIRY Sat 21st Dec FESTIVE DREESED & LL POULTRY SALE

CHRISTMAS SHOW SCHEDULES ONLINE NOW! Last chance 24-25 Young Handlers buying is 30th Nov!

SALE Tuesday 26th November 12.30pm - Prime Lambs & Cull Ewes. Belly Clipping Service available.

FORTNIGHTLY STORE CATTLE SALE + CALVES/ STIRKS Thursday 28th November 12.30pm Sale of Young Bulls, Store Heifers & Steers. Rearing calves 12 noon

ONLINE MACHINERY SALE Thurs 12th – Sat 14th December

Intake of Items from Tues 26th Nov – Thurs 5th December . CHRISTMAS SHOW DATES

Lowland Lambs Tuesday 3rd December

– Pairs of Continentals Over/ Under 40Kg

Hill Prime Sheep & Ewes Tuesday 10th December – Pens of 4

Store Cattle Thursday 12th December

- Classes for Bulls, Heifers, & Steers Under/ Over 12months

Calves Thursday 12th December

- Classes for Continental, Native, B & W -Bulls, Heifers.

2nd. Collection: Wednesday 4th & Friday 6th. To include a special collective sale of Vintage Collectable Tractors, Machinery & Rural Bygones.

...Yorkshire’s Friendly Mart

SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER

Breeding & Store Cattle of all classes inc 15 Lim/Charx bulls,8-9mo,D Swinglehurst 3 Lim bulls,9mo J & L Cardwell

Breeding & Store Sheep & Goats

Breeding & Store Pigs

Pigs 9am Sheep 9.45am Cattle 10.45am

TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

CHRISTMAS PRIME CATTLE SHOW & FAIR Show of Prime Cattle, Pork Pie, Sausage & Cake Competitions

Machinery & Trade Stands, Live Music, Bar, Food, Visit from Santa and much more Everyone Welcome CATTLE JUDGING TO COMMENCE AT 5.30pm WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER

Contact Office for Details

Dedicated Slaughter Market

MART OFFICE: 01757 703347

CHRISTMAS SHOW OF PRIME BULLS JUDGING AT 9.30AM

RICHARD HAIGH: 07768 594535

SALE OF SHOW CATTLE

www.selbymart.co.uk

350 Prime Cattle 500 Prime Sheep 175 Prime Pigs Pigs 9am Sheep 9.45am Cattle 10.30am

*ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CURRENT BLUE TONGUE RESTRICTIONS*

*********************************

Contact Office for Details MART OFFICE: 01757 703347

RICHARD HAIGH 07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk

THE 95th MIDSHIRES PRODUCE AUCTION.

Approx 6,000 Tonnes on Farms and Estates in the Central Midland Counties.

To include a comprehensive selection of HAY, STRAW, HAYLAGE & SILAGE in all sizes, easily accessible to towns including Birmingham, Daventry, Kenilworth, Leicester, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Northampton, Rugby, Tamworth and Towcester.

Together with:

100 Tonnes Maize Silage at Church Lawford, Rugby. Plus: Hay, Straw & Logs for delivery.

Also included:

7 General Purpose Farm Buildings extending to 1,294m2 Approx. 89 acres of grazing, mowing and arable land for rent. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION ON

Tuesday 26th November 2024 at 2.30pm. The buildings and land will not be sold before 4pm.

Lutterworth Rugby Football Club, Ashby Lane, Bitteswell, Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4LW

(3 Miles from Junction 20 of the M1 Motorway)

What3words: ///facelift.testing.prevented.

Catalogues & Information Tel: 01788 564749

7 – 11 Albert Street, Rugby, CV21 2RX www.howkinsandharrison.co.uk/auctions

HAWES, NORTH YORKSHIRE, DL8 3NP 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk

Friday 22nd November 10:30am

Catalogued Sale of 1438 Store Lambs

Tuesday 26th November 10am 2000 Prime Lambs

400 Cast Ewes & Rams

Tuesday 10th December

Christmas Show & Sale of Prime Lambs

Classes for pairs of Bel & Tex, other breeds pens of 5 Kindly sponsored by Hammonds Butchers, Ms Tophams, & Northern Fallen Stock Ltd Christmas Show & Sale of Calves. Sponsored by Genus Breeding & Wensleydale Creamery.

Saturday 18th January 2025

Show & Sale of Ind Registered Ewes & Gimmer Lambs on behalf of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Assoc, also Show & Sale of Ind Registered Ewes & Gimmer Lambs on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Assoc, also Show & Sale Individual Pedigree Females Entries close 30th December.

Monday 25th November

Usual Sale of Fatstock

Monday 2nd December at 10am Usual Sale Fatstock Inc X-mas Show of

Irish Charolais Cattle Society

Bulls Catalogued

• All animals are export tested

• All animals are Genotyped, Myostatin tested & Pre-sale inspected

• All bulls are fertility tested

• All animals sold in Euros

• The Charolais Society will give €250 back to the purchasers of the first 20 bulls to sell for over €4,500 in the ring at this sale.

• Free Transport available to the UK Mainland following the quarantine period after the sale.

• Online bidding available through Mart Bids.ie

• €100 paid towards transport costs to Northern Ireland or free transport can be arranged Catalogues available at www.charolais.ie

Do

like

and meet new

If you are looking for new friends in a relaxed and informal environment, then try Country Link – the social network for the countryside. Open to anyone, and with a national network of local groups, Country Link offers a variety of pre-arranged meetings, events, and activities to suit all tastes, encouraging friendship but is not a dating agency.

Take a look on our website, call 07932 537183, or email contact@country-link.co.uk for more information and to find out what is happening in your area.

LOVE’S IN THE AIR Farmers with a Christian faith find love and happiness through the off-line introduction & dating agency called ‘Friends1st’. You can too. Call us on 0121 405 0941 today to nurture the seeds of your love life and you will be pleasantly surprised by the number of people on our books we can introduce you to. There’s no need to be alone anymore. Enjoy an offline personalised supportive service. www.friends1st.co.uk/ christian-farmers-dating

• BOREHOLE DRILLING FOR DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES

• WORK CARRIED OUT TO A VERY

• 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 Visit our Website www.waterwellengineers.co.uk Email: sally@waterwellengineers.co.uk

•

•

APPOINTMENT OF TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO HYBU CIG CYMRU (HCC) / MEAT PROMOTION WALES

Remuneration: £300 per day covering time spent in role, plus reasonable travel expenses.

Can you make a real difference to the development, promotion and marketing of Welsh red meat? If you believe you possess the passion and ambition to make a difference to an organisation responsible for developing, promoting and marketing red meat, then the role of member of Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) might be for you.

HCC are seeking to appoint motivated individuals to join a Board who are committed to public service, have the capacity to think differently and are determined to achieve these ambitions across Wales. We particularly welcome applications from women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled people who are under- represented on the Board.

The closing date for applications is 13/12/2024

For further details and to apply go to https://gov.wales/public-appointments or for queries contact by email publicappointments@gov.wales

A large print, Braille or audio version of this advert can be obtained by request from publicappointments@gov.wales.

HERDSPERSON/MANAGER

We are seeking an experienced herdsperson/manager to join our team taking care of the day-to-day running of a 250 cow dairy herd in the Lincolnshire Wolds near Alford, providing milk for on farm cheese making.

The position could suit an individual application or a couple. There will be competitive remuneration commensurate with experience and includes a recently renovated 3 bedroom cottage.

For further information or to apply please contact David Burns at dburnsconsultancy@gmail.com

Please email your CV and a covering letter to David.

Experienced Beef Stockperson

Location - Devon | Competitive salary Kite Consulting

Job Title: Senior Herdsperson | Location: Cumbria Closing date: 4 Dec 2024

We’re looking for a dedicated, experienced and enthusiastic Senior Herdsperson to join our progressive, organic dairy family farm in Cumbria. This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic individual eager to join a thriving organic farming operation, with a strong focus on sustainability.

About the Role: As the Senior Herdsperson, you’ll take on day-to-day responsibility for managing the health, welfare, and productivity of our herd of Montbeliarde cows. You’ll work closely with the business owner and farm staff, ensuring high standards of animal welfare, and leading on day-to-day herd management including fertility management and foot health. This is the perfect opportunity for a driven, motivated person looking to grow and advance their dairy experience and career. With time this role could offer the opportunity for profit share. Are you ready for a new challenge and the next step on the farming ladder? If you’re passionate about organic farming, animal welfare, and sustainable agriculture, we’d love to hear from you!

For more information or to apply, head to JobsInAgriculture.com

Second

Packo RMIB 3800ltr & RMIB 6000 ltr

New Heat Recovery units in stock 01772 780806 www.ddcooling.co.uk

Milking Machine

Complete with Honda engine and Electric motor. This unit is ready for work and can be delivered anywhere in the UK.

Livestock Supplies LTD

Ashley: 07831 887531, Office: 01829 260328, Will: 07769 974476 www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

Diamond 32/32 fast exit, 2010 MM25s transponders etc 01260 226261 (T) ICE BUILDERS plate coolers refurbished bulk milk tanks, most sizes available. 01260 226261 (T)

Email: Info@symmsfabrication.co.uk Web: www.symmsfabrication.co.uk

ALWYN MANZINI Sheep Scanning services, covering all areas. Tel: 07813 693316 (T)

CONCRETE GROOVING Neil O’Donnell -Tel: 01900 817009 or 07759 194600 Nationwide (T)

Calf Hutches. Complete with fencing. A large selection of all animal and calf feeding equipment and all other associated products also available. Massive saving on list price Livestock Supplies Ltd. Ashley: 07831 887531 Office: 01829 260328 www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

6 PEDIGREE

Suffolk Ram Lambs for sale. MV accredited, Heptavac P System, well grown, excellent confirmation.

T Robinson Crusow Flock North East Lincs Tel: 01469 560235 - 07836 502088 (p)

DAIRY CATTLE FOR SALE

A weekly selection of freshly calved & in-calf dairy cattle sourced from the UK. All guaranteed and delivered anywhere in the UK Finance can be arranged.

Livestock Supplies Ltd

Ashley: 07831 887531, Office: 01829 260328, Will: 07769 974476 www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

Buckhurst Aberdeen Angus

PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL BULLS

Functional,

Pilsbury

Aberdeen Angus

fertile, forage fed young bulls

from our 120 cow herd reared at 1000ft suitable for pedigree, dairy and suckler heifers. Performance recorded, Fertility tested. Johnes, BVD, IBR accredited Nationwide delivery 07966 360210 Peak District, Derbyshire

FRESH REARING CALVES

Available in suitable batches delivered to most parts of the country Continental Bull and Heifer calves 3-5 weeks old available now. Quality store cattle sourced directly from Welsh/Shropshire Borders Farms, delivered to your farm. Delivery Nationwide.

Livestock Supplies Ltd

07831 887531 Office: 01829 260328

www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

to work, delivered direct to your farm, very quiet, easy calving. Also females available. Health monitored, closed herd, full pedigree with each animal, Red tractor. Semen Available.

Adrefelyn Aberdeen Angus

Has a selection of working bulls and bulling heifers for sale From a closed herd. Easy Calving. Telephone: 01978 780368 or 07986 113221 Wrexham (P)

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

SALE FROM LEESEMANOR BEEF

Quality, home-bred Limousin cross British Blue young cows and heifers, with Lim x and BB x calves at foot. Also two excellent Lim x British Blue bulls. Eager for work, all quiet, TB tested and ready to go. ALWAYS NEGATIVE FOR TB Wilf Lomas - 01606 832142 or 07769704628

NEW Premium Products

Inc. Rolled Barley, Maize Gluten, Hi Pro Soya, Malt Pellets, Sugarbeet Pellets, Oatfeed Pellets & Syrup Suitable for Cattle and Sheep

Premium Starter 18%Bulk £245 ex - Bags £255 ex Premium Grower 16%Bulk £230 ex – Bags £240 ex Premium Finisher 14%Bulk £220 ex – Bags £230 ex Bespoke Rations available to your requirements

Skim Milk Replacer Elevage Boost

Skim Milk Powder Crude proteins: 22.5% Crude fat:25% Crude fibre: 0.00%

Ashley J Latham • Livestock Supplies Ltd Office: 01829 260 328 • Ashley: 07831 887 531 • Will: 07769 974 476 • Email: ashley@livestocksupplies.co.uk BEESTON GATE FARM, BEESTON, NR. TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE CW6 9NN www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

CW6 9NN www.livestocksupplies.co.uk

NEW STORE IN CUMBRIA

Buy your farms fibre cement roofing sheets direct from

We have been trusted by farmers over Great Britain for generations because of our high-quality fibre cement sheets.

All sheets and fittings are available in 7 di erent colours and can be delivered direct to your farm within 5 working days (with o oad included).

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS

Although every advertisement is carefully checked,occasionally mistakes do occur.We therefore ask advertisers to assist by checking their advertisements carefully and advise us immediately should an error occur. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE INCORRECT insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement.

While every endeavour will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers, the publisher does not guarantee insertion of any particular advert.

CHESTNUT FENCING STAKES, mixed halves & quarters. 10/ 12cm tops. National delivery available. Mob: 079852 98221 colin@ cwpfencing.co.uk Nationwide (T)

Be careful anytime you are asked for

If someone asks, don’t provide the information requested without confirming that they are legitimate.

Farmers Guardian only ever ask for your banking information if you are purchasing a

Property Landscape

Current outlook for the land market

Adapting to the impacts of the Budget

The Budget announcements have not been kind to agriculture or the ownership of land and rural businesses. The one spark of good news is that there does not appear to be any changes to Rollover Relief, which allows sellers of land to roll over the tax liabilities into other qualifying assets.

This may have the unintended consequence of increasing sale prices if there is a greater amount to shelter from tax. However, it is hard to say if the changes to Capital Gains Tax will alter the supply and demand rhythm of the market.

Main drivers

The main drivers for selling in today’s market are the lack of succession, retirement or debt reduction. We have undertaken over 1,250 farm business reviews so far under the Farm Business Advice Service (a free service for farm businesses funded by Defra) helping farmers in the North understand their long-term business aspirations in a no-subsidy world.

Asset sales for reinvestment has been the answer for some, while others have decided that it is time to quit altogether. The realisation that change opens doors to new opportunities has been the overwhelming response.

Changes to Inheritance Tax rates and reliefs will impact many family businesses and restructuring will be essential between now and April 2026. The agricultural tenancy sector has been given somewhat of a lifeline by retaining Agricultural Property Relief, even at the reduced levels.

Confirmation of a reduced budget for Defra – matching the underspend of the previous Government – which, together with higher costs, could have considerable impact on farm incomes and cashflow, could easily bring more land to the market.

John Coleman

If the supply of land outstrips demand, we may see prices start to fall. More likely, it will encourage more non-farmer buyers who are looking for natural capital projects which create ‘green credits’ for sale to the building and other ‘dirty’ industries.

Strong farm businesses will prevail, and we anticipate the opportunity for economies of scale will help keep prices high for the very best land and property. It would be a brave agent who suggests that the price of land will continue to rise next year, but there are sufficient positive measures which would indicate that they are not likely to fall by any dramatic measure.

North East prices

The North East of England has been active throughout 2024, although the initial rush to the market in spring slowed up considerably with the General Election announcement and persistently stubborn interest rates.

Some exceptional prices have been achieved across the region, with parcels of prime arable land on the Co Durham/North Yorkshire border exceeding £20,000 per acre, bringing the average price above £11,500 for the first time since GSC Grays started keeping records 10 years ago.

John Coleman is head of farm and land sales at GSC Grays. Call 01748 829 203, or email jarc@gscgrays.co.uk

FARM TO LET

Higher Shuttling Fields Farm, Shuttling Fields Lane, Hoghton, Preston PR5 0LH by informal tender

A traditional livestock rearing farm incl a farmhouse, traditional and modern farm buildings set in 60 Acres There are approx 55 acres of farmable grassland

Initial 10 Year Farm Business Tenancy commencing on 1 February 2025 subject to contract

Open Viewing Dates

Thursday 21 November 2024 at 11am to 12pm

Wednesday 27 November 2024 at 1pm to 2pm

Informal Tenders deadline 12noon on 11 December 2024

For further details visit www.shpvaluers.co.uk

Contact: Adam Pickervance MRICS adamp@shpvaluers.co.uk

Tel: 01772 555403

/ Wanted

Farmers Guardian

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.

Finance: Terms & Conditions

Farmers Guardian, Fginsight.com and fgbuyandsell.com (hereinafter referred to as ‘Farmers Guardian) may contain advertisements, links to other Internet websites or online and mobile services provided by independent third parties, including websites and telephone contacts of our advertisers and sponsors (what we call “Third Party Sites”), either directly or indirectly.

It is your decision whether you purchase or use any third party products or services made available on or via Third Party Sites and you should read below carefully. Our Privacy Policy does not apply to Third Party Sites. In no circumstances do we accept responsibility for your use of Third Party Sites or in respect of any Third Party products. By Third Party Sites we mean websites, online or mobile services provided by third parties, including websites of advertisers and sponsors that may appear in Farmers Guardian. By Third Party Products we mean products or services provided by third parties.

Farmers Guardian contains advertising and sponsorship. Advertisers and sponsors are responsible for ensuring that material submitted for inclusion on Farmers Guardian complies with international and national law. Farmers Guardian (nor its websites) is not responsible for any error or inaccuracy in advertising or sponsorship material. Any agreements, transactions or other arrangements made between you and any third party named in, on (or linked to from) in Farmers Guardian and its websites are at your own responsibility and entered into at your own risk.

Farmers Guardian promises to develop and operate with reasonable skill and care and will use reasonable efforts to promptly remedy any faults of which it is aware.

Farmers Guardian does not provide any other promises or warranties about its products and services. Farmers Guardian is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. This means that Farmers Guardian does not make any promises in respect of Farmers Guardian or the services and functions available on or through Farmers Guardian, Fginsight.com and fgbuyandsell.com or of the quality, completeness or accuracy of the information published on or linked to from Farmers Guardian, Fginsight.com and fgbuyandsell.com other than as expressly stated above.

The above disclaimers apply equally to your use of Farmers Guardian, Fginsight.com and fgbuyandsell.com without limiting the above; Farmers Guardian and its websites are not liable for matters beyond its reasonable control. Farmers Guardian does not control third party communications networks (including your internet service provider), the internet, acts of god or the acts of third parties.

Farmers Guardian liability will not be limited in the case of death or personal injury directly caused by Farmers Guardian negligence in those countries where it is unlawful for Farmers Guardian to seek to exclude such liability.

Any individual, who is in doubt about entering into a loan agreement, should seek professional advice or consult an authorised person who can assist in relation to entering into a credit agreement. Before acting on any information you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to these matters, any relevant offer document and in particular, you should seek independent financial advice.

All loans, loan participations and financial products or instrument transactions involve risks, which include (among others) the risk of adverse or unanticipated market, financial or political developments and, in international transactions, currency risk. Lending against non-traditional physical collateral exposes investors to specific risks such as the potential for fraud, theft, damage and illiquidity.

p/loader

Kioti DK5020C, 50hp cabbed, air con, ag tyres, 5 year warranty

Kioti K9 2410 ( new model ) UTV, 50k, full cab & heater £19,500 00

Kioti K9 2410 c/w deluxe factory cab, air con, 50k, new styling POA

Alo buckets, silage grabs, shear grabs POA Ritchie heavy duty yard scraper POA S/H TRACTORS & MACHINES

2019 Deutz 6130 c/w Quicke Q4 loader, very tidy £44,000 00

2022 Deutz 5090D keyline c/w new Quicke X3 loader POA

2023 Kubota RTVX1110 UTV Full cab, 1200 hours £15,950 00

2018 Polaris Ranger XP UTV, 480 hours c/w alloy top, very tidy £10,500 00

2014 Polaris Ranger UTV, full cab, 2210 hours, tidy £5,500 00

Weaving 2.7m flail mower, as new £2,800 00

Krone AM243CV mow/co tidy £2,750 00 Perfect 2.8m, flail mower c/w hyd side shift

00 Dragone 2.0mtr flail topper hyd side shift

00 KV 346 mow/co very tidy £2,000

McKee multi purpose trailer, 12 tonne, sprung drawbar, o/s wheels, as new

6 ton manure spreader

ZAM3000 fert spinner, very tidy

& Equipment

2021 John Deere 6155R, 1867 hours, CommandPro 50kph, F/Links + PTO, AutoTrac Ready

£102,500 +VAT

2019 John Deere 8370RT, 5090 hours, AutoPowr 40kph, Cab Suspension, 30’’ Tracks + Wide Wheel Drive, Front Linkage

£130,000 +VAT

2023 John Deere 6R 150, CommandPro 50kph, F/Links + PTO, AutoTrac Ready £POA

2023 John Deere 6R 155, AutoPowr 50kph, F/Linkage + PTO, Auto Trac Ready, 1011 hours. Subsidised Finance and Warranty! £POA

2022 Fendt 516, Profi Plus, 50kph,RTK Guidance, LED Lights, 1335 hours £112,500 +VAT

2022 John Deere 6R140 1780 hours, AutoQuad 50kph, Full Suspension £88,750 +VAT

2023 John Deere 6R 155, CommandPro 50kph, 710/600’s, 600 hours, Manufacturer Warranty!

+VAT

2021 John Deere

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Machinery

Edited by Toby Whatley

– 07583 054 831 – toby.whatley@agriconnect.com For more machinery content, go to farmersguardian.com/machinery-news-hub

If you are looking for a new sprayer or would like to upgrade on technology, there is plenty to see at CropTec, with the latest machines and on-stand simulations of terminals, nozzle control systems and site-specific spraying technology. Jane Carley reports.

CropTec sprayer showcase

JOHN DEERE/FAROL

JOHN Deere is represented by dealer group Farol, which will have machines on display plus a host of technology to try out.

The 4,000-litre 3400M from the company’s latest 300M compact self-propelled sprayer range will be on show, featuring the PowrSpray fluid control system and individual nozzle control.

It will be joined by the R962i trailed sprayer on a John Deere 6R185 tractor. From the highspec R900 range, this machine offers PowrSpray and individual

nozzle control, 250mm nozzle spacing, which allows a lower boom height to reduce drift without compromising on the droplet spectrum, and TwinSelect nozzle switching. The R900 sprayers are compatible with closed transfer couplers.

Demonstrations

Visitors can learn about ExactApply PWM, Operations Center, HarvestLab and Precision Essentials, featuring the G5 display with live demonstrations on the Farol stand.

AGRIFAC

AGRIFAC will be exhibiting the Vanguard 6,000-litre, 36-metre selfpropelled sprayer, designed to offer a driving speed of up to 50km/h and featuring fast-filling, fast-cleaning technology plus fast-folding booms. The technology on this sprayer includes 250mm PWM StrictSprayPlus and the HighTechAirPlus system, both developed in-house by Agrifac. StrictSprayPlus uses 250mm nozzle spacings and offers individual nozzle control, turn compensation and pressureindependent rate control.

StrictSprayPlus calculates the speed and required spraying rate

for every nozzle. These values are used to determine how much every single nozzle needs to spray. The flow is controlled by changing the time that the switching nozzle body is opened and closed. By varying the frequency and the open/close ratio, the final rate per nozzle is established.

Constant droplet size

HighTechAirPlus is a combination of traditional spraying, air assistance and mixing in the nozzle holders. Liquid is delivered to the nozzle by pressure, along with air created by a dedicated pump, giving a constant and easily set droplet size that can be adjusted to changing conditions from the cab.

CHAFER MACHINERY

CHAFER will be exhibiting a full-specification Sentry trailed sprayer. This includes highlights such as the new ePlumbing RinsePro plumbing system utilising twin liquid pumps, central tyre inflation and a raft of other updates on the 5,000-litre machine.

Visitors will be able to view and control the Raven Hawkeye pulse width modulation (PWM) demonstration rig, showing all the benefits of the popular system. Features such as droplet control,

precise rate application and turn compensation help differentiate PWM from conventional sprayers.

Project

Chafer will also have an update on the Smart Sprayer for BlackGrass Mapping and Resistance Monitoring project, which is a site-specific spraying and crop management project being carried out by the company in partnership with Bosch Rexroth, BASF and Rothamsted.

CropTec Preview Machinery

HORSCH

HORSCH will present AutoSelect Pro, the latest update of its automatic nozzle control system which now has curve compensation added to its features. The system automatically switches the nozzles at the operational speed to ensure a consistent application rate. It also automatically adapts the working height of the boom, removing workload from the operator and improving performance.

AutoSelect Pro curve compensation adjusts the application rate when cornering.

BATEMAN SPRAYERS

THE centrepiece of Bateman Sprayers’ exhibit will be the RB55 high-capacity sprayer with a 5,600-litre tank and a suite of high-tech options, including Capstan Pinpoint III, Ag Leader autosteer and E Drive electronic control of the hydrostatic transmission.

Bateman Sprayers will also be discussing the latest developments to the Capstan

The quantity is increased on the outside of the curve and reduced on the inside. Horsch sprayers with AutoSelect can be upgraded to AutoSelect Pro.

Visitors can also discuss spot spraying technologies, which the company is developing based on its pulse nozzle system, PrecisionSpray.

Horsch is currently researching methods such as ‘green on brown’ and ‘green on green’ detection and carrying out field tests with different camera manufacturers.

AMAZONE

Pinpoint PWM system. CAP MOD is an expansion of Pinpoint III that allows a tablet or laptop to interface with the system either in tandem with or, in a limited capacity, in place of a typical field computer. It allows individualnozzle, variable rate control and higher resolution mapping, and is designed to merge Pinpoint II and Pinpoint III in a way which makes the systems more flexible.

KUHN FARM MACHINERY

KUHN will be demonstrating its CCI IsoBus terminals at the show. A highly compatible solution offered by a number of implement manufacturers, the CCI 1200 AEF-certified IsoBus terminal offers a large 305mm (12.1-inch) anti-glare touchscreen.

It is capable of simultaneously displaying a range of essential

information and supports the connection of a joystick and cameras.

The CCI 1200 is available to control Kuhn’s sprayers, offering greater functionality than a standard IsoBus connection. The terminal can control and monitor more sections and is designed to be easier to control.

AMAZONE will present the latest model in its self-propelled sprayer range, the Pantera 7004. This sprayer tops out the range at a 6,600-litre capacity and can have booms with up to 48-metre working widths.

The Pantera 7004 features a new, quieter cab, with the placement of the 306hp engine being a factor in the improved cab environment. Pump capacity has been increased and is up to 610 litres per minute with up to 750

litres/minute maximum suction.

A new chassis design offers up to 10% auto-levelling for improved ride and stability. The Pantera 7004 is designed to be manoeuvrable and lightweight, with an identical turning circle to the smaller 4504 variant and with negligible weight increase.

Amazone will also offer a digital demonstration of its AmaSelect Nozzle bodies in action, showcasing CurveControl curve compensation as well as AmaSelect Spot and AmaSelect Row.

SANDS SPRAYERS

SANDS Sprayers will present the Horizon 4000, which is a mid-range Horizon model benefiting from the company’s Panoramic cab –designed in-house and built in Germany – and features the latest Category 4 filtration.

Powered by a Stage V final watercooled 214hp engine with AdBlue, the Horizon 400 has fully hydrostatic four-wheel drive with four-speed transmission for high field torque and road speed. Suspension is a

self-levelling hydro-pneumatic system with an optional ‘Dual Ride’ facility for a softer ride in the field.

The 4,000-litre main tank has a 300-litre wash tank and a 400 litreper-minute pump. The version on show will have a 30-metre boom, but up to 40m is available and variable geometry is also an option.

Sands will showcase this sprayer fitted with an N sensor, allowing real-time variable rate applications of liquid fertiliser.

This year, Switzerland played host to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) annual congress. James Huyton visited a no-till farm in the heart of the Swiss flatlands that turned an Australian insight into positive change.

A Swiss move to minimal cultivation

Switzerland is a country that conjures up visions of lakes, mountains and rolling pastures, but it may not be the first place that comes to mind for progressive arable farmers. But

Swiss arable farmer Reto Minder has been breaking the mould in cultivation practices since the farm took its first steps toward no-till back in 1997.

Located in Jeuss on the outskirts of Fribourg, the family’s holding was

taken over by Mr Minder in 2005, with the 40-hectare unit cropping winter wheat, spelt, sugar beet, soyabeans, grain maize, Brussels sprouts, tobacco and grassland.

Although Mr Minder’s cropped area may not seem much compared to many of the UK’s larger cereal businesses, it is a relatively large farm in Switzerland, where average farm sizes are around 20ha.

Swiss agricultural policy, subsidies and the competitive nature of land prices dictate farm sizes.

However, the farm size does not detract from the work being carried out to improve soil health and establishment practices. Mr Minder is the President of the Swiss No-Till Federation and he points out there are 330 no-till farmers covering a

cropped area of around 15,000ha in the country.

Sometimes a different perspective brings insight and change to a farming system. In Mr Minder’s case, this came with a gap year in Australia. Knowledge gained there provided the building blocks of no-till on the Swiss farm.

Global insight often yields rewards for progressive farmers and this year’s CropTec event will be testament to that with the knowledge hub presenting views from six continents.

Mr Minder said: “We have made mistakes over the years, moving to notill, and my neighbours said I was crazy at the time, but we are still here farming successfully. Building the right crop rotation and crop diversity is important for our system.”

Reto Minder says 25 years of no-till have improved the water infiltration rates of his soil and its resilience to adverse weather conditions. Right is a sample from a neighbouring organic farm, while left is from his no-till cultivation land.

The farm uses a three-metre Boss HD direct disc drill

A GPS-guided strip-till cultivator operates at minimal depths.

Working with a Government research project, the farm is trialling relay intercropping with cash crops such as sugar beet and maize.

Cereal establishment is carried out with the farm’s three-metre Boss HD trailed unit, complete with a 3,200-litre hopper and 250mm row spacings.

The farm’s New Holland TS135A makes light work of the trailed unit, with the 710/50R26.5 flotation tyres helping spread the weight of the machine, says Mr Minder.

Liquid fertiliser dosing units have been added to the drill’s coulter unit allowing Mr Minder to apply starter fertiliser to the seedbed.

Mr Minder also uses controlled uptake long-term ammonium nutrition (CULTAN) for vegetable production and secondary fertiliser applications.

Waste

The soil-injected nitrogen is claimed to reduce nitrogen leaching by 38% on average. Improvements in Swiss water treatment plants allow the ammonium for CULTAN to be obtained from the human waste treatment process.

One of Mr Minder’s biggest establishment aims is to retain permanent green cover throughout the season.

In recent years, he has used drones to sow cover crops in standing crops, but generally, the Boss drill is the preferred establishment technique into stubbles.

Much of the farm’s straw is sold to a local livestock farm, where Mr Minder has a muck-for-straw agreement.

He also uses the Kinsey soil analysis system to monitor nutrient levels and build-up of humus in the soil.

Mr Minder says: “I always like to try

and develop a new phase of the system each year.

“In 2004 we moved from ploughing our Brussels sprouts land and I bought a strip-tillage cultivator.”

He says that due to the nature of transplanting young plants, they still operate strip tillage in this system to minimal working depths.

“To gain further row accuracy, we operate a Trimble receiver on the back of our strip-till cultivator,” says Mr Minder.

Mr Minder puts some of his system success down to a varied rotation, but tackling weather adversities can offer significant challenges when growing some crops.

“We see longer dry spells in Switzerland and the sugar beet can often suffer from leaf drop in hot weather,” says Mr Minder. It has taken a lot of thought with row spacings, but this season we trialled relay intercropping sugar beet and maize.

“Working with my local contractor, we adapted his precision drill to direct drill beet and maize.”

Many growers will be familiar with intercropping, where one or more crops are grown alongside the main cash crop, but the main difference with relay intercropping is the use of two cash crops grown in tandem, planted and harvested at different times.

The logistics of sowing, harvesting and providing nutrition to two different crops at two different times in the same field may feel a backward step and a logistical nightmare for many.

Mr Minder’s direct liquid fertiliser applicator applies controlled uptake long-term ammonium nutrition to the rooting zone.

But Mr Minder is taking part in a six-year Government-funded project to look at the viability and benefits of the system.

Improvements

Early results of last year’s wheat and soyabean relay intercrop show significant improvements in plant photosynthesis, says Mr Minder.

“I also hope to see benefits in protecting the beet crop against glasswinged cicada infestations,” he says.

“We are also continually looking to reduce our herbicide applications and this season we have been trialling spot spraying.”

As in most European countries, Mr Minder faces challenges around a diminishing pool of active ingredients and chemical options to control pest and disease pressures.

So, by using sap analysis on growing crops, he is aiming to keep his crops at peak performance with the correct nutrient balance.

Looking to reduce herbicide applications, the farm recently trialled the latest spot spraying technology from Ecorobotix.

Between two and six seasonal workers are employed for vegetable transplanting and harvest.

Using a band of nozzle bodies and camera systems, the sprayer can target spray weeds in vegetable crops or reduce the use of herbicides in stubbles.

Expanding its TM articulated telehandler range, JCB has brought out two models to provide increased performance in a compact chassis. Toby Whatley reports.

Two new TM models are being offered with a 109hp TM280 and 130hp TM280S.

New mid-range Telemaster models introduced by JCB

Created to occupy a position in the manufacturer’s TM range between the smaller TM220 and larger TM320 models, the TM280 and TM280S have been introduced to provide a 2.75-tonne lift capacity and a 4.8-metre lift height, with an overall machine height of 2.6m.

JCB claims the maximum height is not exceeded with any of the tyre choices offered, which includes 600/50 R22.5 flotation variants.

When fitted with the narrowest 420/75 R20 tyre option, the machine achieves a claimed overall width of 2.1m.

Power is supplied from an in-house assembled 4.8-litre, Stage V DieselMax 448 engine, which provides an output of 109hp and 516Nm in the TM280 version, with the uprated S designation delivering an output of 130hp and 550Nm.

Both machines use a 140-litre/min, 240-bar variable displacement hydraulic pump. Claiming to reduce fuel consumption, both models operate with an on-demand cooling sys-

The TM280 models have been designed to provide increased hydraulic and lifting capacities in a compact chassis.

tem and include a reverse fan option.

Two transmission options are provided with the smaller TM280, operating with a single-range 30km/h hydrostatic, and the TM280S fitted with a version of the manufacturer’s DualTech VT hydrostatic mechanical hybrid which provides hydrostatic drive at lower speeds of up to 25km/h,

and changes to a direct mechanical drive at higher velocities, with a maximum speed of 40km/h.

For users of high hydraulic flow attachments, including brushes, root chopping buckets and bedding dispensers, a creep transmission mode is provided on both transmission options which separates engine speed control

from the accelerator pedal so that the full hydraulic pump output is available while operating at up to 20km/h.

The CommandPlus operator’s cab has been lifted from the larger TM320 and TM420 models and includes a programmable 360-degree lighting system with parking light timer.

For increased illumination, the machines can be fitted with an optional LED road and work light package.

Three trim levels of Agri, Agri Plus and Agri Pro can be chosen for the cab and exterior specification.

Boom

The boom uses the same cross-section dimensions as the TM320 and operates with 500-hour greasing intervals aligned with engine service periods. JCB says all service points are accessible from ground level.

Optional Smooth Ride System boom suspension can be fitted with three carriage designs, including JCB Q-fit, pin and cone, and euro hitch couplings. The new TM280S will make its UK debut at LAMMA, held at the NEC on January 15 and 16, 2025.

The countdown has begun for aspiring engineers to enter the highly anticipated Young Engineer Award, which will be presented at LAMMA 2025.

Entries open for LAMMA Young Engineer Award

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham on January 15-16, 2025, LAMMA attracts more than 40,000 visitors and brings together more than 600 exhibitors, showcasing the latest advancements in tractors, combines, arable and grassland machinery. With the Young Engineer Award, LAMMA champions the creativity, skill and dedication of the next generation of engineers.

Entries are now open and will close on December 2, 2024.

THE Young Engineer Award is open to anyone aged 16-35 who has played a role in designing, creating or modifying machinery or technology which benefits farming.

Eligible entries can include:

■ Fully designed and manufactured products ready for market

■ Prototypes still in the development phase

■ Concepts at an early stage of ideation

Why enter?

THE Young Engineer Award offers a unique platform for emerging engineers to:

■ Gain industry recognition at the UK’s largest agricultural machinery show

■ Present innovations in front of a wide-ranging audience, including industry leaders, manufacturers and key decision-makers

■ Network with potential

■ Modified existing products, provided they deliver significant improvements in terms of efficiency, profitability or sustainability

This award is not just about showcasing finished products, it is about recognising potential and innovation, encouraging young engineers to keep pushing the boundaries of agricultural technology.

employers, partners and collaborators in the agricultural engineering sector

■ Help shape the future of farming, contributing to vital areas, such as sustainability and efficiency on-farm

By participating, young engineers have the chance to showcase their talents, with the potential for career-defining opportunities.

THE Young Engineer Award is a flagship part of the LAMMA Show, designed to highlight the brilliant innovations and contributions of young engineers working in the agricultural sector.

This award celebrates individuals, or teams, who have developed a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology which has significantly enhanced efficiency,

How to enter

ENTERING the Young Engineer Award is simple. Applicants must submit details of their project or product, explaining how it contributes to improving on-farm efficiency, profitability or sustainability.

Submissions can include products in any stage of development, from fully operational products to initial concepts.

The deadline for all entries is

profitability or sustainability in farming operations.

Following a record number of entries in 2024, the 2025 awards promise to raise the bar even higher. Whether it is a fully manufactured product, a prototype in development or a concept in the early stages, the award encourages young innovators to bring their ideas forward for recognition on a national stage.

December 2, 2024. Do not miss the opportunity to be part of an award which shines a spotlight on the agricultural engineers of tomorrow.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To enter the Young Engineer Award or to learn more about the LAMMA 2025 Show, visit lammashow.com/ lamma-awards/young-engineeraward-lamma-2025

Who can enter?

About the Young Engineer Award

Ieuan Evans, from Mid Wales, inventor of the Smart Slurry Pump, was named winner of the Young Engineer Award at LAMMA 2024.

Livestock

Edited by Katie Jones – 07786 856 439 – katie.jones@agriconnect.com For more livestock content, go to farmersguardian.com/livestock-news-hub

Evening Sidekick Jennifer made history in this year’s AgriScot dairy showcase, scooping the SuperCow championship for the second year running. Hannah Morgan reports.

SuperCow and Holstein champion, Evening Sidekick Jennifer, from Evening Holsteins, Carlisle.

l SuperHeifer goes to supreme Holstein heifer

IT was a day to remember for the Wilson family, Cumbria, when their six-year-old cow Evening Sidekick Jennifer was tapped out as SuperCow champion for a second consecutive year. This marks the first time the same cow has claimed the championship for two years running and adds to an already impressive track record, after it claimed the supreme championship at all three of the UK’s major dairy shows last year.

The home-bred EX95-classified cow calved its fourth in June and was shown giving 70 litres daily. Part of the Wilson’s 450-cow Holstein herd, the win also marked a fourth consecutive championship win at AgriScot for the family.

Reserve SuperCow was the Ayrshire champion, Allstar Ringer Joybell, a three-year-old cow from

Results

SuperCow (Judge, I. McLean, Northern Ireland) Supreme, Evening Holsteins, Evening Sidekick Jennifer; reserve, E. Tomlinson, Allstar Ringer Joybell.

SuperHeifer (I. McLean) Sup., I.A. Smith and Sons and Boclair Holsteins, Boclair Lambda Hope 18 (Holstein); res., B. and M. Yates, Logan Latenite Shania Red (Red and White).

Holstein (I. McLean) Sup., Evening Holsteins, Evening Sidekick Jennifer; res., The Lustre Syndicate, Dulais Silver Lustre; sup. heifer, I.A. Smith and Sons and Boclair Holsteins, Boclair Lambda Hope 18; res. heifer, J. Kennedy and Son, Clydeview Fuel Esmeralda.

Ayrshire (I. McLean) Sup., E. Tomlinson, Allstar Ringer Joybell; res., J. Adamson and Sons, Swaites Promise 9; sup. heifer, M. Bryson and Son, Middle Shamrock KM2; res. heifer, G.G. Baynes and Son, Marleycote Mary Rose 8. Any other breed (I. McLean) Sup., S. Dixon,

Reserve SuperCow and Ayrshire champion, Allstar Ringer Joybell, from Evie Tomlinson, Cardigan.

Jennifer does the double at AgriScot

Evie Tomlinson, Cardigan. Homebred Joybell was classified VG88 as a two-year-old and calved in September with its second. Its previous wins this year include UK Dairy Day heifer and supreme Ayrshire champion, All Britain and Ireland photographic competition champion and reserve inter-breed champion at the Welsh Dairy Show, where it stood supreme heifer in 2023.

Judge Iain McLean, of Priestland Farm, County Antrim, said his SuperCow champion and reserve were two world-class

Oxton Ric Wildeyes 970 (Dairy Shorthorn); res., T. Lochhead and Sons, Kedar Faust Esprit (Brown Swiss) sup. heifer, Lightening Holsteins, J. Wilson and A. Clough, Kedar Aldo Snogging (Brown Swiss); res. heifer, B. Lawson and Sons, Lisnamulligan Peeress Rose 7 (Dairy Shorthorn).

Red and White (I. McLean) Sup., A.H. and F.M. Wilson, Nethervalley Awesome Rosanne Red; res., R. and M. Scott, Parkend Kimball Starlet Red; sup. heifer, B. and M. Yates, Logan Latenite Shania Red (Red and White); res. heifer, M. Bryson and Son, Parkend Starlet Squared. Jersey (I. McLean) Sup., B. and M. Yates, Logan Chrome Caribbean; res., K. Scott, Layward Divinely Victorious; sup. heifer, S. and S. Murray, Princesstillstar Chocochip Interest; res. heifer, R. and M. Scott, Nethervalley Oliver Regina.

cows, although he had no hesitation in tapping out his winner which he described as a phenomenal animal.

Reserve Holstein was EX97classified Dulais Silver Lustre from the Lustre Syndicate, comprising the Howni, Iscaway, Logan, Shambles and Wiltor herds which bought the September 2017-born cow for 40,000gns from the Welsh Sensation sale in 2023.

Taking reserve in the Ayrshire section was Swaites Promise 9, an EX90-classified home-bred cow from John Adamson and Sons, Pettinain.

Red and White

Topping the Red and White section was fourth calver, Nethervalley Awesome Rosanne Red, from A.H. and F.M. Wilson and the team at Tregibby Farm, Cardigan.

The EX94-classified cow was bought from Robbie Scott’s Nethervalley herd, Ayr, as a year-old heifer. This year it also stood Red and White champion at UK Dairy Expo, and was Royal Welsh reserve Holstein champion and Welsh Dairy Show reserve champion.

Reserve Red and White cow

was VG87-classified Parkend Kimball Starlet Red from Robbie Scott, Ayr.

Jersey

Champion Jersey was Logan Chrome Caribbean, a home-bred second calver from Brian and Michael Yates, Castle Douglas. March-calved, it was shown giving 30 litres and is one of a handful of Jerseys the family keeps alongside their 280-cow Holstein and Red and White herd.

Reserve Jersey went to Layward Divinely Victorious, a March 2020-born cow from Kerry Scott, Mealsgate.

In the any other breed section, it was the Dairy Shorthorn, Oxton Ric Wildeyes 970 from Shaun Dixon, Co Durham, which took the red ticket. The October 2018-born cow is classified EX91. Reserve any other breed went to the Brown Swiss, Kedar Faust Esprit, a homebred January 2020-born cow from the Lochhead family, Dumfries. This year’s SuperHeifer championship ticket went to the Holstein heifer champion, Boclair Lambda Hope 18. Bred by brothers John and David Brewster,

Lanark, the VG88-classified twoyear-old is now shared with Ian Smith and Sons, Lanark, who bought a half share in January this year. Led by David Gray, it was shown giving 38 litres and was

praised by the judge for its strong lines and openness of rib. It has previously won at the National Holstein Show in September and stood reserve overall heifer at this summer’s Royal Highland Show.

Reserve SuperHeifer went to Brian and Michael Yates’ homebred Red and White heifer champion, Logan Latenite Shania Red. December-calved, the VG87classified two-year-old has not yet

been beaten in its class, standing supreme at UK Dairy Day, champion at the South West Scotland Dairy Show and winning the Red and White section at this year’s Royal Highland Show.

Red and White cow champion, Nethervalley Awesome Rosanne Red, from A.H. and F.M. Wilson, Cardigan.

Any other breed heifer champion, Kedar Aldo Snogging, a Brown Swiss from Lightening Holsteins, J. Wilson and A. Clough.

Reserve SuperHeifer and Red and White heifer champion, Logan Latenite Shania Red, from Brian and Michael Yates, Castle Douglas.

SuperHeifer and Holstein heifer champion, Boclair Lambda Hope 18, from Boclair Holsteins, Lanark, and Ian Smith and Sons, Lanark.

Any other breed cow champion, Oxton Ric Wildeyes 970, a Dairy Shorthorn from Shaun Dixon, County Durham.

Jersey cow champion, Logan Chrome Caribbean, from Brian and Michael Yates, Castle Douglas.

The results of a study which looked at options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in sheep flocks were outlined in a recent webinar. Wendy Short reports.

Efforts to drive flock performance efficiency should also deliver a reduction in GHG emissions, explained Hugh Martineau, of Cumbria-based tech company, Map of Ag, speaking on a Farming Connect-hosted webinar which addressed ideas on possible ways of reducing emissions.

“The figures used to calculate GHG emissions are based on the annual level of inputs like fertiliser and feed, calculated against the total weight of meat produced on farm”, he told delegates. “Therefore, producing more from less will usually enhance the farm’s environmental performance.

“I predict that the supply chain will be asking livestock farmers to submit evidence of their attempts to improve the environmental credentials of their enterprises in the not-too-distant future. In the longer term, it may be a requirement for securing a market for livestock, so it is advisable to get ahead of the curve.”

The figure for individual farm GHG performance is known as emissions intensity and is measured as kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) generated, per kg of deadweight sold off the farm, said Mr Martineau. Map of Ag has developed an interactive computer programme which allows producers to manipulate theoretical inputs and performance figures to calculate the potential effect on their unit’s GHG emissions.

The Farm Metrics ‘What if’ tool has been trialled by 22 flock keepers participating in discussion groups in Wales run by Farming Connect.

One case study farmer in the project operated a high-input, high-output system.

“In this flock, the females were lambed as shearlings and fed a total mixed ration including soyabean, sugar beet and molasses,” said Mr Martineau. “The ewes were offered purchased concentrates while their lambs were at foot, and the average finishing time for the lamb group was minimised with the addition of creep feed.

“The results from this system showed a high scanning and rearing percentage and a low rate of ewe and lamb mortality, with the lambs finished at an average of 16 weeks. This excellent performance efficiency helped to offset the relatively high figure for inputs when the tool was used to calculate the emissions intensity, which was 27.18kg.”

Another farm had implemented a completely different system, with no purchased feed of any kind, he reported. Nevertheless, the disparity between the emissions intensity

Reducing a flock’s GHG emissions

figures for the two farms was relatively small.

“Relying on grazing alone has a positive impact on the input figure but the output was lower in comparison with the high-input, high-output unit. The results also highlighted the increased vulnerability of a grass-based enterprise to the effects of the weather, against a more intensive management approach.

“Looking back over the previous couple of years, the emissions intensity

for the low-input farm was 30.13kg in 2022/2023, when challenging conditions made it difficult to reach ewe fertility targets. There was a high empty rate and a low scanning percentage.

“By contrast, the emissions intensity went down to 28kg in 2023/2024. The weather had been kinder, with a subsequent rise in both forage quantity and quality when weighed against grass productivity from the previous year. This boosted ewe performance.”

Using the tool to manipulate the scanning figure from 177% to 182%, for example, would reduce the emissions intensity by almost 3kg, he added. The average figure for flocks within the project was 26.3kg, with an average of 29.5kg published by AHDB in the years from 2018 to 2022.

Key message

No single measure can be taken to achieve a significant cut to the GHG figure for a sheep flock, he said.

“The key message is to focus on what is right for the farm business as a whole and make small changes to a range of different aspects that will bring down the overall figure.

“In terms of inputs, replacing

purchased feed with home-grown ingredients is likely to bring down the farm’s emissions intensity. Feeding soyabean-derived products will normally increase emissions, with a lower figure from using home-grown, or locally grown, field beans as an alternative.

“Looking at ways of cutting chemical fertiliser application rates is another option. Herbal leys, and/or the addition of clover to grass mixes, may also be useful.”

However, there is a limit to how low farmers can go with minimising inputs, without having a negative effect on profitability, he told delegates.

“The limit is largely due to the biological processes that are inextricably linked to livestock and crop production. This is another issue which should be communicated to the associated industries and wider public.”

He urged producers to avoid considering GHG emission figures in isolation.

“It is simply another way of measuring productivity and profitability. Any progress that is made will also be beneficial for animal health and welfare in general,” said Mr Martineau.

No single measure can be taken to achieve a significant cut to the GHG figure for a sheep flock.

Hugh Martineau

PICTURE: JOHN EVESON

With recovery and recycling for farm plastics limited in some parts of the country, one organisation is working to improve the options for farmers. Hannah Morgan reports.

APE looking to close the gap in UK agri-plastics recycling

● Plans to build national recycling structure

CURRENTLY, about 25-30% of agricultural plastics are recycled in the UK, which is significantly less than countries such as France (75%), Germany (70%) and Ireland (95%).

However, not-for-profit organisation Agriculture Plastics Environment (APE) is looking to change that.

The industry-led body, funded by manufacturers, distributors and merchants supplying farmers and growers, was launched in the UK four years ago.

APE chief executive Ian Creasey says its focus is to fundamentally improve UK agricultural plastic recycling rates and reduce the shortfall the UK currently has in comparison to other countries.

He says: “The sense we as an organisation are getting is that farmers want to recycle more but are limited because of high costs or because outlets to do so are not available in their area, and so recycling does not get done.

“Costs can typically range from between £150-£300 per tonne for harder-to-recycle plastics like silage bale wrap, silage sheeting or mulch film.

“These materials are often typically dirty or wet too, and therefore heavy, which contributes to pushing up the cost for farmers.

“Another common scenario we see is some confusion or misunderstanding between farmers and collectors of this kind of waste. It might be collected by a local council, for example, for what is assumed to be recycling, but the council may then not want to cover the recycling cost so the products end up in landfill.

“There are parts of the country that are very well served with collectors and recycling capability, but many regions simply do not have this resource or structure in place.”

To address this, APE is looking to build a national recycling structure focused on a network of bring centres or collection points.

“Solutions have got to be easy, accessible and affordable for farmers or they will never work,” says Mr Creasey.

“Having bring centres or collection points has proved to be a significant part of the success model in Europe and other parts of the world.

“These centres are open at various times of the year within a 10-15 mile radius, for example, of a group of farms. Farmers can then take their products here, rather than just relying on on-farm collection.

Momentum

“This is not only cheaper for farms but can also create a sense of momentum within communities and awareness that on a particular date, plastic waste can be dropped off at a bring centre and then picked up by a collector or recycler.”

Key to this, however, is the requirement to sort and separate plastics, which is part of the education process APE wants UK farmers to go through

Agriculture Plastics Environment (APE) is looking to increase UK agricultural plastic recycling rates with a network of bring centres or collection points.

Solutions have got to be easy, accessible and affordable for farmers or they will never work

IAN CREASEY

with the manufacturers, distributors and merchants it is working with. The overarching ambition APE is working towards is for UK agri-plastics recycling rates to move upwards of 60% in the next four to five years.

Mr Creasey says: “It is an ambitious target, but the UK needs to be up to recycling 70-80% of its agricultural plastics in this time, not just from a more efficient use of resources perspective but also an environmental one – that is what is driving APE to

work with and across the whole sector to improve UK agricultural plastics recycling rates.

“There is a lot of work going on both to reduce the volumes of plastic used on-farm and increase recycled content, but it is difficult to imagine right now how we can take plastic out of farming. [What is needed is] a more sustainable approach to the whole process of recycling what is used.”

Government engagement

Crucial to making this happen is engaging with Government, says Mr Creasey.

“Engaging with UK Government to get their input and support to increase agricultural plastics recycling without costly legislation is an important step.

“In England, we are working to engage with Defra to get agricultural plastic recycling supported and incentivised, potentially as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

“In order to be a sustainable farming enterprise, there has to be a solution to agricultural plastic waste – it cannot just be dumped in a landfill or burnt.”

MAIZECROPWATCH

With maize the mainstay of his forage ration, dairy farmer Jon Bult takes no chances and opts for the best early maturing variety for his needs. An early maize harvest allows him to maximise his use of overwinter cover crops, delivering soil health benefits and the bonus of a Sustainable Farming Incentive payment.

Early maturity maize allows cover crop benefits

For north Somerset milk producer Jon Bult, growing very early maturity maize is a key part of his dairy farming strategy at Collum Farm, near Weston-super-Mare.

It allows him to consistently underpin the ration for his 700 topperforming cows with a high energy forage, despite some marginal land and the challenging growing conditions of recent seasons.

Equally importantly, it means he can prioritise soil health on-farm by maximising the area of maize stubbles which are successfully drilled with an overwinter cover crop.

In 2024, Jon grew 324 hectares (800 acres) of the very early maturity, high yielding variety Gema, from Lima-

grain’s robust and extensive UK screening and testing programme, and believes it is the combination of traits in modern varieties like this which will continue to make maize a mainstay at Collum Farm.

He says: “We are on heavy ground, loam over clay, and a lot of our land is marginal for maize.

“It makes absolute sense to opt for the earliest maturing varieties.

“We are feeding a forage ration which is 70% maize and 30% grass silage, with cows inside all year round, so we need both high yields and energy.

“We use modern varieties like Gema because the earliness is not impacting significantly on the yield potential, and it will deliver high starch, so it is ideal for our situation.

“We grow straight Italian ryegrass

after maize and, being at sea level and with minimal risk of frosts, can typically drill this successfully as late as the end of October.

“In the past, we have been able to establish grass with relatively light cultivations, but with increasingly wetter conditions we had to cultivate deeper and deeper in order to achieve success.”

Grain maize

In previous years, Jon has taken a proportion of his crop as grain maize, but this year has prioritised an earlier harvest by taking it all for forage to drill as big an area as possible with an overwinter cover crop.

He says: “To be successful in this changing climate, you have to evolve your tactics and be prepared to adapt.”

As a straight overwinter cover crop, established after maize, the Italian ryegrass qualifies for the Sustainable Farming Incentive action SOH4, which is currently worth £203/ha (£82.15/acre), but Jon says the greater value is in the benefits to soil health.

He says: “Minimising soil erosion and nutrient losses is the main priority.

“We will terminate the cover crop in spring, then apply farmyard manure and slurry before going back into maize.

“We will be growing Gema again in 2025. If we had the ground, I would like to grow more, including some grain maize again, but land is our limiting factor at the moment.”

In an ideal season, Jon aims to drill maize from April 20, although it has been later in the past two cold wet springs, even as late as May 14.

He uses a standard herbicide programme, with pre-emergence applications for the earlier drilled crops. He is routinely soil sampling his fields on a four-yearly rotation, and reports the key indices to be optimal, but is considering foliar applied nutrition as a possible development going forward. The 700-strong milking herd comprises both Holstein Friesians, which average more than 12,000 litres per cow per lactation, and pure Jerseys, which average 7,000 litres/cow/lactation.

ESTABLISHING a winter cover crop after maize is recommended best practice, delivering important soil health benefits, but can also allow growers to access additional payments through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), says Tim Richmond, maize manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK and Ireland.

He says: “The starting point is to grow early maturing varieties, to create as big a window as possible to establish a following crop. With the continuing success of maize breeding programmes, this can be achieved without any significant compromise on dry matter yield or quality.”

He points to the exciting newly listed very early variety, Duke, and brand new LG31.152 which is expected to push the boundaries on earliness and yield, along with existing varieties on the Descriptive List, such as established favourites like Gema, Dignity and Skipper.

The forage at Collum Farm consists of 70% maize and 30% grass silage.

The ability to harvest early enables Jon Bult to establish a Sustainable Farming Incentive-qualifying overwinter cover crop of Italian ryegrass.

Sponsored Content

He says: “Duke will also have broad appeal for farmers across the maize growing spectrum. It is the latest LG variety to enter the Descriptive List and is a first choice variety on Favourable and Less Favourable lists, having performed consistently in trials and demonstrated an ability to produce outstanding yields of very high quality forage in a short growing season.

Optimum conditions

“Duke will give many growers the opportunity to drill later and still harvest in good time, exploiting optimum conditions and allowing time to establish a range of following crops.”

Undersowing maize is another potential SFI payment opportunity, qualifying under the companion crop action.

In addition to the payment, undersowing offers the advantage of the cover crop being established as soon as maize

comes off, but it requires the right equipment, the right timing and the right combination of species to work well and avoid the risk of affecting the primary crop performance.

John Spence, forage crop product manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK and Ireland, recommends a Festulolium when under sowing at around six leaf stage, due to its drought tolerance and ability to establish in shade.

If drilling concurrently with the maize, a mix including tall fescue and festulolium reduces competition for the maize.

In terms of winter cover crops to establish after maize, John says good value and fast growing options include Italian ryegrass and Westerwolds, as it will generally be too late for brassicas like mustard, rape or stubble turnips.

Forage rye is an increasingly popular choice for farmers, with John reporting a

significant uplift in sales of Limagrain’s long established variety Humbolt.

For a multi-species cover crop, forage rye with common vetch, as in LG Lift n Fix, provides the ideal combination of a crop which mops up residual nutrients while fixing nitrogen for future cropping.

SOH4: WINTER COVER CROP FOLLOWING MAIZE CROPS

● Cannot be used as a cash crop, but can be grazed

● £203 per hectare year (£82.15/acre/year)

CSAM2: MULTI-SPECIES WINTER COVER CROP

● Cannot be used as a cash crop, but can be grazed

● Minimum of two species from different plant groups (brassicas, legumes, cereals/grasses, herbs)

● £129/ha/year (£52.20/acre/year)

CIPM3: COMPANION CROP

● Undersowing maize

● £55/ha/year (£22.26/acre/year)

Maize Crop Watch is sponsored by

LG Seeds markets agricultural seed specifically bred for the UK climate by the breeder Limagrain Europe.

Jon Bult grew 324 hectares (800 acres) of Gema this year and says modern varieties with early maturity and good yield will continue at Collum Farm.

Tim Richmond

Dairy goat farmer, Charlie Whitehouse, put the herd’s health and welfare at the heart of the system when the family built a new dairy goat unit at Bradley Farm, Gloucestershire. Farmers Guardian finds out more.

Farming a mixed enterprise of just more than 809 hectares (2,000 acres), a combination of owned, rented and contract farmed land, Charlie Whitehouse works in partnership with his father Philip.

Charlie says that after a lot of research, the dairy goat unit was built in 2006, with milking starting in July 2007.

With a herd of 650 milking goats, they have also developed their own added-value gelato, fresh milk and soap products, marketed under their ‘Oh My Goat’ brand.

Charlie says: “We always wanted to continue to grow the business using the assets we already had and the option of milking goats seemed the best fit for us.

“It has not displaced existing enterprises and has enabled us to add maize and feed oats into the arable rotation.”

The family keeps a mix of British Saanen and British Toggenburg goats, both strong, hardy breeds.

Milk production averages four litres per day per goat in summer and three litres per day in winter, with an annual yield of 1,200 litres per goat.

Optimised housing is basis for health and business expansion

The herd is housed year-round on deep straw beds, so optimising the environment for nannies, does and kids is critical.

When they set up the goat enterprise, Charlie felt they could justify the investment in bespoke buildings.

“You need a building that is cool in the summer and warm enough in winter,” says Charlie.

“Goats like to be warm with an even range of temperatures. We suffer from a greater loss of yield when they are cold than we do with excess heat.

“When it comes to goat health, one of the biggest challenges you have

got with housed animals is having enough fresh air in circulation, at the right temperature and with the right air flow.”

Poor air flow can lead to higher pneumonia levels and mycoplasma, with animals coughing and simply not thriving as a result, Charlie adds.

Protect

It is important to both protect the goats from adverse weather and optimise natural air flow inside buildings and the Whitehouse family worked with livestock environment specialists, Galebreaker, for advice on this critical

factor. Variable ventilation systems (VVS) are fitted down the full length of the building, one on each side, with the curtains automatically moving up or down depending on the conditions.

“The automated VVS we installed increases the quality of the air and subsequently improves the goats’ environment – it is an absolute game changer,” says Charlie.

“In hotter weather the curtains are open all night but, if we suddenly get a chillier evening, they automatically close at the right time and we have not got to think about it.”

Further technology on the unit

Charlie Whitehouse and his father Philip built their dairy goat unit in 2006 and have a herd of 650 goats.

includes remote controls in the JCB and feeder wagon for the fabric doors on the main feed passageways.

“In the winter, we open them and close them from the cab,” says Charlie. Kidding takes place four times a year, with about 400 reared on the unit, fattening most of the males and rearing the females as replacements.

It is a closed herd and they are using artificial insemination [AI] on their best 30 females, with mainly Saanen semen, and keeping the resulting males for breeding rather than buying-in billies.

Charlie put up a marquee within one of the buildings for kid rearing, because he found they were getting chilled in the winter, but struggled to ventilate the temporary structure properly and saw a rise in pneumonia.

Consequently, he fitted a ventilation tube along the top of the marquee and has seen a definite improvement in the kids’ health as a result.

Charlie says the ventilation tube

was specified to ensure the system was effectively able to draw in fresh air and disperse it evenly at animal level to remove moisture, gases, airborne pathogens and excess heat.

He says: “We have got it set up on a moisture sensor and a timer, so we can ensure there is always some fresh air, but it stays warm at the same time.”

Preventative

Charlie takes a proactive approach to disease management and they now spend a lot more time talking to the farm vet about preventative options to help avoid any issues.

This includes regular data collection and monitoring health, nutrition and performance trends across the herd so they can keep making tweaks.

Goats are fed a total mixed ration

and, once a month, they weigh the refusal and send to the nutritionist who helps advise on improvements.

As well as daily in-parlour milk recording, they have begun to sample milk from each goat four times a year to measure fat, protein and cell counts, to help meet customer needs for cheese production and powder for infant formula.

Goats’ milk continues to increase in popularity with its fresh, clean taste, high digestibility and a range of other nutritional and health benefits.

Charlie says he was keen to make the most of their goats’ milk to generate added value products and began by using a table-top machine to make hand-made premium gelato in their kitchen.

To this day, the gelato is still made

Farm facts

■ 100 Stabiliser suckler cows

■ 700 Lleyn and Charollaiscross ewes

■ 650 hectares (1,606 acres) of combinable crops

■ 650 British Saanen and British Toggenburg milking goats

in small batches in the same way and Charlie is proud of the fact that Oh My Goat is a real family affair.

The whole process, from milking the goats to making and potting the gelato, is carried out on-farm.

They have also focused on sourcing other local ingredients when developing the range of gelato flavours.

After an overwhelmingly positive response to the gelato – including winning the Great Taste awards in 2021 and 2022 – the product range was extended to include fresh goats’ milk and locally-made goats’ milk soap, with all products sold via a self-service vending machine and honesty shop on-farm.

Gelato

Each week, around 75 litres of milk is sold directly as fresh milk or gelato through Oh My Goat, with most going to H. Walker and Sons Dairy for sale as liquid milk or for cheese.

In a further development of the enterprise, they run a pop-up gelato parlour which can be booked for events, serving produce from their converted horse-box or trike.

The gelato is also stocked in a number of local farm shops, cafes and delicatessens.

The plan is to continue to develop new products, building on the strength of the established Oh My Goat brand, with the health and welfare of the goat herd at its heart.

Goats like to be warm with an even range of temperatures. We suffer from a greater loss of yield when they are cold

CHARLIE WHITEHOUSE

The goats’ building is fitted with variable ventilation systems featuring curtains down each side to regulate temperatures.

Remote controls in the JCB cab open and close the fabric doors on the main feed passageways.

Livestock

l UK genetics being promoted in Argentina

A NEW Argentinian all breed and a Hampshire Down world record of $80,000 (£61,000) was set at the El Harem sale.

The record-breaker was a ram by Maes-Glas Abacus, owned by Carlos Mario Laborde, which sold to a consortium of Hampshire Down breeders in Uruguay.

Its sire was bred by Eirlys Jones of the Maes-Glas flock, Pembrokeshire, from semen exported to Argentina.

Earlier in the year, the ram had been supreme champion at Palermo Show, a major Argentinian show, under judge Alison Halcrow, Northamptonshire, who described the ram as ‘a strong, powerful ram, very correct on his legs and in his teeth, with excellent top line, great depth of ribs, with a long wide loin’.

Mrs Jones’ son, Stuart, was in the audience with a contingent of UK Hampshire Down breeders, who were in the country to promote the breeding and sale of UK genetics.

Dr Rob Grinnall, sheep sector consultant for UKTAG, the British company working with the levy boards to promote UK livestock genetics around the world, says: “Argentina has great potential as a market for UK breeds, with around 15 million head of 10 different breeds. The most important region is the Southern Patagonia, which holds 6m out of those 15m animals.

“The region has historically been mostly driven by wool breeds, such as Corriedale and Merino.

New Hampshire Down world record

The record-breaking ram, owned by Carlos Mario Laborde, which sold for $80,000 (£61,000) to a consortium of Hampshire Down breeders in Uruguay.

However, the appearance of synthetic materials has heavily impacted on the ovine sector for the last 30 years and brought a new imperative to the wool industry.

“The reconversion of Patagonian flocks from wool to meat breeds might bring a huge opportunity for both UK genetics and Patagonian farmers, considering the reputation

Risk to dry cows from high potassium silages

MINERAL analysis of grass silage from the three years from 2022 to 2024 has shown some pronounced trends which dairy farmers need to think about when rationing their dry cows in particular.

Bruce Forshaw, ForFarmers product manager, says: “The potassium content of grass silage has trended up by 8.39% since 2022. Potassium is a major cation, so increased levels will affect the dietary cation-anion balance, known as DCAB, of a diet.

“You are aiming for a low-DCAB diet for dry cows that encourages an animal’s hormone system to mobilise calcium from her bones, ensuring she has enough available calcium at the point of calving. She will naturally start to mobilise calcium when she calves, but there

can be a 48-hour lag time and this is when clinical and sub-clinical milk fever can occur.”

Mr Forshaw says that during the same period chloride (anion) in silages has been trending down, which will also affect the DCAB value of the forage.

Analysis

He says: “If your silage analysis is showing these issues, look to add more low-DCAB forages such as wholecrop, straw, maize or more mature grass silages that did not receive much slurry.

“We know how important it is to get nutrition spot on when rationing dry cows, so a mineral analysis of all forages is essential, especially this year.”

of Argentina as a world high-quality protein provider.

“There are already some examples of crossing breeds that helped pioneer farmers to gain an additional 30-40% weight in just five months. The key is finding the breed that best adapts to the hostile environment in Patagonia – an arid region with lack of pastures that can accommodate two to three animals per hectare.

“The demand is not restricted to the Hampshire, with Texels also being used in neighbouring Paraguay and across the Latin America region. The possibility to export other breeds from the UK is very real and immediate.”

UNITED STATES

IN the US, UK genetics are estimated to have totalled about £1.75 million in value.

Dr Rob Grinnall, sheep sector consultant for UKTAG, says: “This has hugely outdone the meat trade by a potential factor of 10, making this a crucial market to continue the concerted effort of promoting UK heritage sheep breeds.

“In this market, at least, it is not the commercial buyers who are making the difference but the wealthy hobbyists who are looking for the unusual and those wool breeds that were taken

The demand is not restricted to Hampshire Downs [...] The possibility to export other breeds from the UK is very real and immediate

DR ROB GRINNALL

over long before the TSE ban. These breeders are now looking for the original genetics to bring fresh vigour to those flocks where they have been unable to bring in fresh bloodlines.

“Along with potential new breeders, they are looking to the UK as a source of new vigour, but also for new breeds not seen before in the US, such as Dutch Spotted and Swiss Valais.

“Breeds exported as embryos so far are Swiss Valais, Scottish Blackface, Suffolks, Kerry Hills, Texels, Dutch Spotted and Zwartbles.”

This

special features farmers

tech and herd expansion,

non-steroidal

When reviewing and fine-tuning ration effectiveness, molasses and molasses-based liquid feeds could offer significant benefits this winter, says independent nutritionist Dr Emma Redfern, of ER Nutrition.

She says: “Many farmers are having to base diets on higher-fibre grass silages, which are more difficult for rumen microbes to digest, leading to problems with dry matter intakes and cows not milking as expected.

“In addition, these forages are low in sugars and the rapidly fermentable carbohydrates the rumen requires.

“These factors point to diets needing careful balancing to promote greater rumen efficiency to support high dry matter intakes and optimise production.”

She says molasses and molasses blends can provide a valuable source of fermentable energy to improve fibre digestion.

Molasses contains a blend of different types of sugars, she says, including sucrose and glucose, which are the important six carbon sugars proven to be more beneficial to cows.

They are more highly rumen fermentable, increasing microbial protein production and stimulating rumen microbes to improve fibre digestion.

Specifically, they are a feed source for the specific rumen microbes essential for breaking down lignin, making fibre more accessible to the fibre-digesting bacteria.

who have invested in

and we speak to vets about

anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief.

76 EXPANSION

Shropshire farm aiming for 1,800-cow target

80 MONITORING

Make sure your cows perform this winter

Dr Redfern says: “Sugar supplementation improves microbial efficiency and supports the growth of fibre-digesting bacteria, with multiple studies showing an enhanced milk yield and an increase in milk solids.

Forages

“This year’s forages have been later than usual, meaning a reduction in quality and metabolisable energy, combined with higher neutral detergent fibre and lignin levels. Much of the maize is expected to be low in starch, so ultimately producers are likely to see more indigestible lignin and can expect less milk from forage.

“Molasses is a great source of fermentable energy for rumen microbes to promote more rapid fibre degradation, increasing the supply of nutrients to the cow. And by increasing rumen outflow rates, it can lead to greater dry matter intakes.”

Using molasses is an efficient way to increase sugar levels without taking up much space in the diet and it is a very consistent feed.

Otherwise, Dr Redfern says she would have to use high inclusion rates of biscuit meal, which would typically be inconsistent, varying in quality, and can be oily.

Using molasses is a way to increase sugar levels without taking up much space in the diet and is a very consistent feed, says Dr Emma Redfern.

A project to lift cow numbers to 1,800 within a decade has been completed by the Oakley family, including the installation of a rotary parlour and a move to being fully housed. Wendy Short reports.

Expansion plan put in action at Shropshire family farm

Some 1,550 commercial Holstein Friesians go through the parlour three times a day at Lower Shadymoor Farm, near Shrewsbury, explains Miles Oakley, who farms with his parents, Mike and Davina.

He says: “In 2014, we were milking 800 cows twice a day through a 20:40 swingover parlour.

“It was in need of replacement, and it was taking 7.5 hours per milking, so the idea of saving time by switching to a rotary parlour was attractive.

“We had always wanted to have a

large herd and, in 2015, a 60-point Waikato rotary parlour with Afimilk automated technology was commissioned.

“An automatic dipping and flushing system was added in 2022.

“On changeover day, the cows were milked at 2am in the old parlour as usual and the bulk tank was moved in time for the next milking in the rotary.

“It now takes just five hours to milk almost double the number of cows, compared with the previous regime.

“Yields rose from 8,000kg to 9,000kg within the first 12 months,

partly due to the reduced standing time, but also because of genetic progress and feeding improvements.”

Yields currently stand at an average of 12,000kg at 3.95% butterfat and 3.29% protein, with milk sold to Muller on a cost-of-production contract to supply Sainsbury’s.

All year

The cows calve all year round and are milked at 4am, midday and 8pm.

The family has ‘no regrets’ about choosing the rotary parlour, although Mr Oakley points out that it uses larger

volumes of water compared with the previous system.

“We have three boreholes, which make it financially viable,” he says.

“In fact, the dirty water generated plays a useful role in flushing out the gridwork and managing the waste sand bedding from the cubicles.

“The passageways are cleaned using a tractor and box scraper, mainly because auto-scrapers are expensive, but also because we suspect that the sand would increase the replacement rate for the wearing parts.”

An opportunity to purchase a near-

Lower Shadymoor Farm installed a 60-point Waikato rotary parlour in 2015 to help with the business’ expansion plans.

by second farm in 2012 facilitated the expansion plan and it is used for heifers of up to 10 months.

In recent years, the family has moved from a flying herd to rearing almost all the replacements, to drive genetic progress and ensure a consistent heifer supply in the event of a TB breakdown.

After 10 months, the heifers are moved to a local contract rearer who keeps them until one month pre-calving.

The cows are managed in groups of 200 and the milkers are housed in more than a dozen separate sheds.

Housed

Lower yielders were grazed when the rotary parlour was first installed, but the cows have since been fully housed for ease of parlour access and greater dietary control.

The family farms a total of 720 hectares (1,780 acres), growing about 404ha (1,000 acres) of maize to complement the grass silage, with forage making up 55% of the total mixed ration dry matter.

The other ingredients are wholecrop, caustic wheat, waste bread, Traf-

ford Gold, a 26% protein blend, protected methionine and minerals.

“The dry ration ingredients are soaked in water the day before feeding to enhance palatability and digestibility, as well as giving greater control over the ration dry matter content,” says Mr Oakley.

“The cows are also given an 18% protein, high-energy nut in the parlour. In an effort to cut production costs, the daily allocation was reduced a couple of months ago from an average 3kg/head, spread over the three milkings, to 2kg.

“The aim is to eliminate parlour concentrate feeding altogether. Hopefully, it will improve herd health and increase the margin over purchased feed figure. The final decision will depend on how it affects cow flow into

PICTURES: RUTH REES

Miles Oakley has seen milking cow numbers rise from 800 in 2014 to 1,550.

Dairy

Farm facts

■ The main unit covers 129 hectares (320 acres), with 81ha (200 acres) on the second farm.

The remaining acreage is a mix of rented land, farm business tenancies and contract arrangements

■ Heifers are calved at just under 23 months

■ The business trades as Oakley Farming

■ Grass reseeding is managed in-house, with contractors used for most other operations

■ The cows are vaccinated for protection against IBR, BVD and leptospirosis

■ The herd achieves a pregnancy rate of 32%, with an 80% submission rate and a 40% conception rate

■ The farm is in a high-risk TB area, but the herd is clear at present. The next testing date is December 2024

the parlour, and it might turn out to be too ambitious.”

Grass silage is made from five cuts of ryegrass across just over 220ha (550 acres). On average, the fields are reseeded every four to five years.

He says: “We have been discussing the idea of introducing red clover into the sward next year to lift silage protein levels, but there is a concern that it would be more difficult to control weeds because it would restrict herbicide options.

“Some farmers are finding herbal leys beneficial with SFI support, but our focus is on producing high-energy grass and we cannot risk any shortfall in forage dry matter production.”

Fertility is managed by fitting the heifers with heat detection collars, while the cows have Afimilk pedometers to alert to the onset of heat and early signs of mastitis, with Afimilk MPC milk meters recording yields and monitoring cow weights twice daily.

dry matter.

Females are bought in on occasion to maintain a tight calving pattern.

“The heifers are genomically tested and given a customised index figure based on production, health and stature parameters,” says Mr Oakley.

“We were using Wagyu semen on the lower end of the herd and for the third service-plus for maiden heifers, and for first and second calvers.

“However, as part of our Sainsbury’s contract, we are moving to Aberdeen-Angus. The beef cross calves leave the farm at three-to-four weeks old.”

He reports that the parlour is showing signs of wear and tear and reflects on progress to date.

“We keep a range of spare parts on site and, whenever there has been a breakdown, the dairy engineers have had the parlour up and running within a couple of hours,” he says.

“The frequent usage has taken its toll on the metalwork in places and at

some point it will either have to be replaced, or we will look at possible investment in a brand-new rotary parlour.”

Further expansion has not been ruled out, although its effect on the personal lives of everyone associated with the unit will be factored into any future changes.

Balance

“As a family we have achieved our vision, but maintaining the right worklife balance for ourselves and for the staff has remained centre stage as the unit has grown,” he says.

“I returned to working with the cows this year, but the addition of a new herd manager this autumn has already helped to ease the pressure.

“Despite still milking the cows a couple of times a week, it allows me to focus my time on managing the farm, the contractors and the team of 20 staff. We never actually thought that

we would reach this point and I personally would like to go up to 2,000 cows; there are currently 1,830 cubicle places, plus a straw yard.

“Nevertheless, that would probably depend on being able to find a new site with the buildings in a more centralised position.

“The main limiting factors to increasing cow numbers on this farm would be sourcing the right additional staff and finding a way to export the excess slurry.

“We have already put in a satellite lagoon on the second steading and that has helped with establishing a combination of umbilical and dribble bar spreading, which has boosted grass growth.

“Otherwise, we have developed a workable system for dealing with a large number of cows and there is no reason why a few extra head could not be managed. It would help to spread fixed costs,” says Mr Oakley.

The ration is based on maize and grass silage, with forage making up 55% of the total mixed ration

The cows are housed in more than a dozen separate sheds.

The Oakley family have moved from a flying herd to rearing almost all of their own replacements.

QUICK & RELIABLE REPAIRS

Did

Mark Jones has turned to technology to maintain his spring calving herd’s tight 10-week calving pattern, with the new system also giving a clearer understanding of cows’ health and fertility status. Farmers Guardian reports.

Monitoring tech maintains farm’s tight calving pattern

Nether Garrel Farm near Dumfries, one of 10 units that make up the Farming Partners business in Scotland and Ireland, is managed by Mark Jones who, in addition to running the 205-hectare (506-acre) farm, also owns a 10% share of the animals in his care.

The 650-cow herd is managed on a New Zealand-style grass-based system, with all cows and first lactation heifers grazing from February to November and calving in a 10-week window starting on February 1.

The herd averages 6,000 litres and 520kg milk solids per lactation and is milked twice a day through a 54-point rotary parlour which is equipped with automatic cluster removers and an automatic teat sprayer to enable it to be operated by one person.

The herd’s calves are reared at a separate youngstock unit which houses a total of 1,500 animals including calves and heifers from two additional Farming Partners dairy units. In-calf heifers are brought back to Nether Garrel at 23 months of age to calve at 24-25 months.

Key to the success of the herd’s tight calving pattern is the ability to get each new group of heifers in calf at the same time and to reliably and

An automatic sorting gate was installed in 2023 to help with fertility and health issue detection.

accurately detect heats in the herd’s adult cows.

Mr Jones says: “The arrival of each new batch of in-calf heifers marks the start of the busiest time of the year for us as it means the entire herd will soon start calving.

“85% of the herd will calve in the first six weeks which means things get moving really quickly after February 1.

“With so many animals calving and then coming back into heat in such a short window of time, spotting every heat is a real challenge.

“We used to use tail paint to tell us which cows were bulling, but we knew we needed a more reliable and less time-consuming method, not just to improve insemination accuracy, but also to make it easier for ourselves to keep on top of everything.”

Monitoring

To improve heat detection rates and to reveal any fertility- or health-related problems, a SenseHub herd monitoring system including an automatic sorting gate was installed in November 2023.

After just one breeding season, its advantages have been clear.

“All in-calf heifers are fitted with their own SenseHub collar as soon as they arrive back from the youngstock unit,” Mr Jones explains.

“For the remainder of their time here, those collars collect data which enables us to determine when animals are in heat and if there is anything wrong with the individual animal.”

The farm’s four full-time staff all have the monitoring system’s app installed on their phones and use it to log anything they think worthy of note such as a lame or injured animal, or any medical interventions or treatments that the wider team should be aware of.

“As well as spotting heats accurately, the system’s biggest advantage has been that we can now run the herd without any relief labour or additional milking staff,” says Mr Jones.

“Without the collars and the sorting gate that the collars talk to, we would need at least two relief milkers to take the pressure off our full-time staff, so we are saving at least half a labour unit every day.”

In addition to reducing the manhours needed to spot heats and segregate animals for artificial in-

Mark Jones, farm manager at Nether Garrel Farm.

semination (AI), the collars and sorting gate have also proven invaluable in promoting improvements in cow health and fertility.

“We are always looking at ways to maintain or shorten the herd’s calving window and specifically to increase the number of calves born during the first six weeks by reducing our empty cow rate,” says Mr Jones.

“The information the system provides helps us to have a clearer understanding of each animal’s fertility status before the breeding window opens, so that instead of having to guess which cows are not coming into heat, we can accurately see which cows are not cycling properly.

“We can then intervene with a progesterone treatment to make sure every cow stands the best chance of getting back into calf as soon as possible and at minimal expense.”

In its first year, Mr Jones estimates that the monitoring system contributed to a 15-20% reduction in veterinary interventions.

Facts

He says: “This is primarily because we now know which cows need help. Previously there was an element of pot luck, but now we are dealing with facts.”

AI is carried out once a day by an external AI technician, with sexed semen used on the herd’s top 60% of cows and the rest put to beef semen.

Bulling heifers are synchronised to ensure they are inseminated within the same time frame as the herd’s adult population, with a sweeper bull used to catch any animals that do not conceive to AI.

The collars act as an additional pair of eyes and ears to spot any underlying problems, Mr Jones says, with animals showing reduced activity, suppressed feed intake or lower than normal rumination being highlighted on the app’s health report.

“We have found that the most

The monitoring system contributed to a 15-20% reduction in veterinary interventions in its first year.

common reasons a cow might be highlighted is because she is starting to come down with something like mastitis or milk fever, or the early symptoms of a twisted stomach or e.coli infection,” says Mr Jones.

“The app cannot tell us what is wrong, but it brings the affected cow to our attention so that she can be checked over visually and, if necessary, drafted so that she can be treated as soon as possible.

“It saves us another huge chunk of time and makes managing the herd a lot easier, less stressful for everyone and more efficient.”

The sorting gate is the farm’s second sorting gate, but the first to be fully programmable and totally autonomous.

“Our original drafting gate relied on us visually identifying each cow for sorting as she exited the milking plat-

form,” Mr Jones says. “That was a time-consuming, and not entirely foolproof system.

“We use it to draft animals for vet

days, PD scanning, tagging, foot-trimming and sending cull cows away, but the role it plays during the breeding season is its biggest advantage.”

Dairy

There

can sometimes be confusion among farmers about the difference between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Farmers Guardian reports.

NSAIDs have an extensive role in providing pain relief

Vets often assume that farmers are aware of the differences between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, but anecdotal feedback from vets suggests there is some uncertainty about the difference between the two, with the numerous products on the market adding further confusion.

NSAIDs have an extensive role in providing pain relief in dairy cattle while reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock, says Katherine Timms, ruminant veterinary adviser at Ceva Animal Health.

She says that following the UK Government’s introduction of legislation on May 17, 2024, banning the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics on farms in a bid to prevent antibiotic resistance in humans, there now needs to be an increased focus on what can be done on-farm to provide pain relief.

Ms Timms says: “The good news is that sales of antibiotics on UK farms have more than halved in the past decade, and vets have an important role in helping their farming clients to further reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock. This includes utilising NSAIDs in a variety of situations where pain relief and their anti-inflammatory properties are required.”

She says that NSAIDs are versatile and can be used for a variety of issues including the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with mastitis, pneumonia, lameness and husbandry procedures such as dehorning.

Tim Potter, vet and senior clinical

■ NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the sensation of pain and inflammation alongside the production of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

Different prostaglandins have different functions, such as making nerve cells more likely to respond to pain signals and causing blood vessels to dilate. NSAIDs can be likened to humans using ibuprofen.

NSAIDs can be used for a variety of issues, including the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with mastitis, pneumonia, lameness and dehorning.

director at Westpoint farm vets, says: “Pain in any form will have a negative effect on animal performance, such as milk yield or growth rates.

“So, by reducing inflammation and pain in animals, farmers can help ensure optimum performance. Pain is also a welfare concern, and it is essential that we always work to minimise its effects.

Expectations

“There are expectations from industry milk processors, supermarkets and consumers that pain relief [is] used alongside routine procedures such as disbudding or castration, or when an animal gets ill.

“Using NSAIDs alongside a nerve block during procedures like disbud-

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NSAIDS

AND ANTIBIOTICS

■ Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by either killing bacteria or stopping them from spreading, which helps a body’s immune system to eliminate the infection.

Antibiotics are specifically effective against bacterial infections because they destroy the crucial parts of bacteria needed for survival, like cell walls or DNA, and stop bacteria’s growth by preventing them from making certain proteins needed for them to multiply.

ding and castration reduces the increase in blood cortisol and adrenaline/noradrenaline chemicals which are released when the body is in pain and or stressed. These chemicals can lead to immunosuppression and increased risk of disease.

“By giving an NSAID, you can reduce the extent of stress-related immunosuppression, helping protect calves from diseases like pneumonia, and also helping to improve wound healing and reducing the chances of infection.

“The use of NSAIDs alongside management procedures such as disbudding can also help performance. Studies have shown that calves given an NSAID at the time of disbudding had significantly higher growth rates for the 15 days immediately after the procedure when compared to calves which did not receive an NSAID treatment.”

Digital dermatitis

Dr Potter adds that, more recently, studies have proven there are huge benefits in using NSAIDs for digital dermatitis.

And he says the routine use of NSAIDs in heifers at first and subsequent calvings, and in conjunction with conventional best practice of a therapeutic trim and a hoof block every time a dairy heifer is identified as lame, has been shown to lead to an absolute reduction in lameness of

approximately 10% and a decrease in severe lameness of 3%.

It can also reduce the likelihood of cows being culled, compared with animals treated in accordance with conventional best practice of a therapeutic trim and a hoof block on the sound claw (if deemed necessary) every time they are treated for lameness.

He also says cows with digital dermatitis have been found to be 2.57 times more likely to be lame with digital dermatitis compared to those treated with an intramuscular injection of ketoprofen.

He adds: “Cows that were lame prior to treatment and did not receive ketoprofen were over 20 times more likely to remain lame a week post-treatment compared to cows that did receive ketoprofen.

“There is also a benefit in milk yield; on average, all treated animals –including those that were not lame –gave nearly 3kg/day more, but the freshly calved cows, which were lame at diagnosis, gave over 10kg/day more over seven days.”

Dr Potter says there is comprehensive research on the use of NSAIDs at calving to improve the welfare of both cows and calves in the postpartum period, and that productivity gains were also identified.

“All NSAIDs are currently off-license in neonatal calves and in heifers at calving, but can be prescribed by your vet if deemed beneficial,” he says.

Trials diary

WALES

November 16. CEREDIGION NURSERY 5, Coedperthu, Beulah, N.C.E. 9am start, contact Aled Evans, tel: 01239 851 014. GLOUCESTER AND GWENT NURSERY 8, GL20 6EU, contact Anne and Dave Cooper, tel: 07813 027 090. BRECON NURSERY 4, Awellach, Llanafan, LD2 3PL. November 17. GLAMORGAN NURSERY 7, Glyn Evans.

November 23. RADNOR, Elan Valley, LD1 6NY, beginners, novice and nursery classes, 10am start. CEREDIGION NURSERY 7, Gilfachyfran, Abermeurig, SA48 8PH, 9am start, contact Carol Hope, tel: 01570 470 458. GLOUCESTER AND GWENT NURSERY 9, Bumsberrow Heath, Ledbury HR8 1PB, contact Angie Blackmore, tel: 07855 843 226.

For winning results

Welsh results

BRECON, Nursery 4, Llanafan fawr, (A. Price) 1, A. Games, Rip, 10; 2, T. Thewissen, Oak Ben, 13; 3, D. Bevan, Floss, 16; 4, Misena Oaksheepdogs, Oak Bill, 17 OLF; 5, K. Evans, Valley View Dan, 17; 6, K. Evans, Kemi Cap, 19. Novice 1, G. Davies, Nell; 2, I. Jones, Erwood Spot, 13; 3, T. Thewissen, Fynbos Turk, 14; 4, W. Jones, Erwood Ruby. Beginners 1, A. Piper, Fleur, 27; 2, A. Turmer, Nell, 34. GLAMORGAN (R. Games) Nursery 1, M. Edwards, Bronallt Gem, 19; 2, L. Howells, Taff, 21; 3, M. Edwards, Lexi, 22 OLF; 4, D. Howells, Kate, 22; 5, J. Howells, Gwen, 24, 6, D. Millichap, Rose, 29. Novice 1, D. Howells, Mick, 10; 2, J. Howells, Millie, 12; 3, R. Ellis, Dewi Ken, 13; 4, M. Edwards, Lexi, 14; 5, D. Millichap, Rose, 17 OLF; 6, L. Howells, Taff,17 GLOUCESTER AND GWENT (S. Maynard) Nursery 1, N. Matthews, Hilltop Zac, 28; 2, S. Currie, Tom, 33; 3, B. Watts, Sky, 40; 4, R. foote, Hilltop Ben, 43; 5, B. Lester, Tysswg Lass, 46; 6, A. Blackmore, Jodie, 50. Novice 1, B. Lester, Tysswg Lass, 29; 2, N. Matthews, Hilltop Lexi, 33 OLF; 3, M. Jones, Clint, 33; 4, M. Jones, Mack, 39; 5, D. Cooper, BrynYr-Orsedd Cap, 49; 6, A. Blackmore, Rosewood Peg, 50.

CARMARTHENSHIRE (S. Harden) Nursery 1, H. Thomas, Nant y Moel Trim, 15; 2, G. Lewis, Lynn, 18; 3, A. Driscoll, Kinloch Keeper, 19; 4, T. Mallon, Hill Runner Halle, 21; 5, M. Owen, Megan, 24; 6, M. Jones, Mainstay Maddie, 25 OLF. Puppy 1, H. Thomas, Nant y Moel Trim, 15; 2, G. Lewis, Lynn, 18; 3, A. Driscoll, Kinloch Keeper, 19; 4, T. Mallon, Hill Runner Halle, 21; 5, M. Owen, Megan, 24; 6, M. Jones, Mainstay Maddie, 25 OLF. Novice 1,

November 24. RHOS YR HAFOD, Llanarthne, SA32 8LG. GLAMORGAN NURSERY 8, David Howells, Treguff, Cowbridge, CF71 7LT. November 30. GLOUCESTER AND GWENT NURSERY 10, Mynyddislwyn NP12 2BU, contact Jamie Garland, tel: 07725 995 270. CEREDIGION NURSERY 8, Tynwern, Llanrhystod, SY23 5BD, 9am start, contact Emyr Lloyd, tel: 01974 272 282. December 1. GLAMORGAN NURSERY 9, Mike Edwards, Maes Eglwys Farm, Pantlasau, SA6 6NR.

ENGLAND

November 23. HOLME, S.Duckworth, Cloughead, Grane Road, Haslingden, BB4 4AT, 9.30am start, cafe and toilets on-site, Pennine rules apply, contact Shirley, tel: 07890 545 437.

A. Green, Midge, 15; 2, M. Owen, Helen, 18; 3, A. Green, Jan, 24; 4, A. Sharpe, Coalfield Gryff, 26; 5, M. Thomas, Coafield Beci, 48T; 6, A. Sharp, Chiltern Bolt, 54T.

English results

NORTH WESTMORLAND, Lazonby Estates, (Judge S. Richards) Nursery (39 ran) 1, H. Svobodova (Hallbankgate) Ebby, 75 of 90; 2, M. Elliott (Alston) Drift, 65; 3, O. Dean (Carlisle) Sky, 64 OLF; 4, Thomas Longton (Quernmore) Gyp, 64; 5, M. Elliott, Mirk, 63; 6, D. Gallagher (Croglin) Mik, 56. Novice 1, P. Ellis (New Hutton) Tip, 74 of 90; 2, N. Westgarth (Askham) 67; 3, D. Purdham (Holmrook) Britt, 60; 4, E. Hill (Holmrook) Jess, 58. New Handler 1, Z. Edwards (Penrith) Queen; 2, R. William (Buttermere) Rebel.

NORTHERN, Richmond, (N. Tarn) Nursery (30 ran) 1, A. Hunter (Redmire) Tilly, 67 of 80 OLF; 2, Robert Hutchinson (Bowes) Rob, 67; 3, J. Tourish (Barnard Castle) Tess, 61; 4, F. Whitfield (Quebec) Polly, 60; 5, A. Grant (Ripon) Kirkbymoor Pip, 59 OLF; 6, Robert Hutchinson, Jet, 59. Novice 1, E. Hill, Jess, 60 of 90; 2, E. Hill, Pentre Roxy, 48. New Handler 1, K. Wilkinson, Ned, 59. MID SHIRES, Tewkesbury (J. Stubberfield) Nursery, (12 ran) 1, R. Cure, Sue, 77 of 90; 2, C. Frew, Fly, 71; 3, D. Cooper, Gem, 65; 4, A. Blackmore, Jody, 64; 5, P. Johnson, Bob, 63; 6, S. Mynard, Bonnie, 57. Novice, (9 ran) 1, A. Blackmore, Peg, 78 of 100; 2, J. Porter, Tan, 73; 3, D. Cooper, Cap, 70; 4, K. Manfield, Gyp, 64. Open, (4 ran) 1, H. Plant, Floss, 79. WESSEX, South Chailey (S. Frost) Nursery (31 ran) 1, J. Watson, Mick, 93; 2, P. Griffiths, Duchy, 91; 3, J. Watson, Jake, 89; 4, R. Hawke, Macey, 86; 5, A. Nikalls, Sky, 83; 6, M. Banham, Beacons Ben, 81. Novice 1, J. Watson, Max, 90; 2, E. Anstey, Castlewood Ben, 87; 3, A. Tackley, Bob, 84 OLF; 4, D. Heard, Ava, 84; 5, J. Watson, Mac, 83; 6, W. Cole, Moss, 82. Novice handler 1, Kevin Reed, Greg, 80.

Working Dogs

November 24. NSDA, Valley Farm, Bowes, DL12 9RH, Northern sheepdog association rules apply, 9.30am start, last booking in 1pm, only one dog after 12, contact Rob Hutch, tel: 07849 238 567. MID SHIRES, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1LB, 8:30 am start, open trial, contact Gill, email: gillburbidge2014@gmail.com, tel: 07950 738 732.

November 30. NSDA, Quebec, Durham, DH7 9RS, Northern sheepdog association rules apply, 9.30am start, last booking in 1pm, only one dog after 12, contact Frank Whitfield: 07714 590 249. FYLDE, Hollins Head Farm, Quernmore, LA2 9NA, 9.30am start, usual Pennine interclub rules apply, contact Mr Longton: 07736 278 398. YORKSHIRE, P. Simpson, Woodmanwray Farm, Dacre, HG3 4AR, Pennine rules apply, any competitor running more than one dog

must have one booked in before 12pm and take the next available run, contact Carol Mellin, tel: 07891 871 298.

December 1. RYEDALE, Stuart Walton, Sandhoe Farm, Carlton Goole, DN14 9RS, what3Words: started. wildfires.outsize, contact S. Walton, tel: 07789 740 122.

December 7. FLYDE, R. Dean, Old Trees Farm, Chipping, PR3 2NF. TRAWDEN, E. Thornally and E. Street, Hull House, Hellifield, BD23 4JP. RYEDALE, Trevor Fields, Manor Farm, Boynton, YO16 4XJ, contact T. Fields, tel: 07980 010 757.

December 14. RYEDALE, Raylia Dugmore and Will Young, Crosscliff, Langdale End, YO13 0LN, what3Words: afterglow.nights.vegans, contact R. Dugmore, tel: 01723 882 434. December 22. RYEDALE, Stuart Walton, Sandhoe Farm, Carlton Goole, DN14 9RS, what3Words: started. wildfires.outsize, contact S. Walton, tel: 07789 740 122.

The Menagerie nursery trial 2, York, was won by Graham Blyth, his third win in the nursery class with his consistent dog, Cloddiau Bet.

WESTCOUNTRY (P. Symons) Nursery, Maltese cross, (18 ran) 1, D. Cole, Mac, 47; 2, F. DavisRussell, Todd, 40; 3, D. Lobb, Jock, 38; 4, V. Pitts, Storm, 37; 5, T. Hopper, Lace, 36; 6, A. Hendy, Spot, 35. New handlers 1, T. Eden, Storm; 2, K. Cobain, Lace. (T Hopper) Driving, (16 ran) 1, A. Hendy, Bryn, 86; 2, D. Cole, Juno, 82; 3, P. DavisRussell, Esme, 75; 4, F. Richards, Bonnie, 52; 5, F. Davis-Russell, Drum, 51; 6, J. Tucker, Tess, 47. RYEDALE, The Menagerie 1, (R. Bristow) Nursery (27 ran) 1, S. Walton, Brackhomie Dolly, 72; 2, J. Atkinson, Whitecross Lloyd, 68; 3, J. Atkinson, Scalpsie Riot, 67; 4, D. Bristow, Greenhow Tess, 66; 5, N. Jones, Dunelle Flame, 65; 6, S. Walton, Dash, 64. Novice 1, J. Atkinson, Sandy, 80; 2, T. Bennett, Strike, 78; 3, B. Swinbank, Clemy, 63. New handler 1, L. Bray, Scalpsie Maid, 64.

RYEDALE, The Menagerie 2, (T. Bell) Nursery (25 ran) 1, G. Blyth, Cloddiau Bet, 88; 2, D. Bristow, Greenhow Tess, 75; 3, N. Jones, Dunelle Flame, 68; 4, T. Bennet, Denwyn Anni, 62; 5, M. Watson, Sugerhill Amber, 61; 6, J. Atkinson, Scalpsie Riot, 58. Novice 1, J. Atkinson, Sandy, 45. New handler, L. Bray, Scalpsie Maid, 77; 2, H. Cheadle, Suki. SHROPSHIRE/HEREFORDSHIRE, Nash (B. Howson) Novice 1, P. Thomas, Zak, 11; 2, M. Hooper, Gyp, 20; 3, L. Owen, Bonnie, 22; 4, I. Davies, Peg, 32; 5, S. Williams, Gwen, 36; 6, P. Thomas, Mollie, 37. Nursery 1, M. Hooper, Jet, 16 OLF; 2, K. Evans, Ace, 16; 3, G. Morgan, Roy, 40. FLYDE, Quernmore (34 ran) 1, R. Harrison, Nidge, 72 OLF; 2, T. Hoddleston, Betty, 72; 3, T. Birkett, Spot, 70; 4, T.W. Longton, Gyp, 67 OLF; 4, H. Gohst, Dan, 67; 6, T. Huddleston, Taylor, 67.

Market Prices Primestock

ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

Market Prices Store Cattle

ENGLAND

Newton Abbot (Rendells)

SCOTLAND

head.

Source: LAA/MartEye

16/29.9 35/177.3 29/134.8 19/88.6

Source: IAAS/ScotEID

MARKET

COMMENT

CATTLE and sheep prices were up at auction marts across England and Wales this week.

Young bull prices jumped 9.7p/kg to 297.5p/kg, while steers rose 4.8p/kg to 294.3p/kg. Heifer prices reached 310.2p/kg, a rise of 1.1p/kg, while cull cow prices also moved up.

In the sheep rings, lamb prices were up 2.5p/kg at 299p/kg.

Pig prices were mixed, with porkers up 7.7p/kg to 175.9p/kg but with decreases across the other categories.

As Farmers Guardian went to press on Wednesday (November 20), UK LIFFE wheat prices for May 2025 were trading at £192.40/tonne, a rise of £5.20/t on the week.

Source: LAA/MartEye

LIVESTOCK AVERAGES

Source: LAA/MartEye

Market Prices

DEADWEIGHT CATTLE

STORE SHEEP ENGLAND

DEADWEIGHT SHEEP

N/S

DEADWEIGHT PIGS

WALES

SCOTLAND

*Pigpricesarew/eNov12,2024. Source: AHDB

HAY AND STRAW PRICES

November20,2024

GOOSTREY: Mon, hay, round bale to £120/tonne (£27.18/bale), square bale to £120/t, (£29.62/bale); haylage, square bale to £80/t; straw, barley, square bales to £120/t; wheat, round bales to £106-£122/t, square bales to £80-£119/t (£99.28/t), £39.86/bale.

CARLISLE: Mon, oat straw, round bales to £42/bale; wheat straw, mini Hesstons to £136/t.

SOURCE: LAA/MartEye

LIVEWEIGHT HEIFERS (ENGLAND/WALES)

SOURCE: LAA/MartEye

CULL COWS (ENGLAND/WALES) DEADWEIGHT HEIFERS (GREAT

SOURCE: LAA/MartEye

SOURCE: LAA/MartEye

SOURCE:

Market Prices

UK DELIVERED PRICES – SUMMARY

FUTURES MARKETS (WHEAT)

*FortradingDelinkagerefamounts;19pper£1 ofDelinkagereferenceamount.**Estimates. ENGLISH DELINKAGE REF DATA: averageof 2020/21/22claims.Seller’s2023claimnotneeded. Estimatedreturn£1.20/£1refamountwithbuyer’s delinkpaymentlessthan£30,000post-transfer. SubjecttoDelinkagevalues2025-27.

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN: English:Defra estimates£20,000-£200,000/unitexcluding VATandassociatedfees,subjecttolotsize.Last tenderOctober21,2024,nextDecember2,2024. NUTRIENT NEUTRALITY: Long-termsales alltypesagricmanexcludingspecialisthabitat creation.Nitrates£3,000-£4,000/unit(£18,000£206,000/ha);phosphates£50,000-£65,000/ unit(£2,000-£169,000/ha). CARBON: Woodland Carbon>£35/WCU>£25/PIU.May2023WCG reverseauctionaverage£19.76. WATER: English abstractionlicenceslessthan£3-£15/cu.m. Source: Townsend Chartered Surveyors

CORN RETURNS EX-FARM PRICES

UK DELIVERED WHEAT PRICES

NATIONAL STRAIGHTS PRICES

2.

3.

DAIRY CATTLE PRICES

HAY AND STRAW: REGIONS

MILK PRICE LEAGUE TABLE

Source: AHDB

1.Thiscontractwillreceivea1.33pplguaranteedminimumpayment.2.Thiscontractwillreceivea0.50pplmemberpremiumpayment.2.Thiscontract willreceivea1.95pplTescocheesegrouppayment.3.Thiscontractwillreceivea1.00ppldirectpremiumpayment.4.Thiscontractwillreceivea0.54ppl avesustainabilitypayment.5.Thiscontractwillreceivea0.25pplactual13thpayment.Retailerpricesupplementsareincludedwhereapplicable. Supplementslistedareinadditiontolistedmilkprices.Milkpricesshownarethemonthlyandannualaveragepricethatwouldbepaidonacontract for12monthsgoingforwardifthepresentpricescheduleremainedthesame.Priceslistedaboveexcludecapitalretentions,administrationcharges, groupsubsandVATbutincludelevyandseasonalityadjustments.MilkcontractsareprovidedtoAHDBonavoluntarybasis.Allpricesshownare calculatedusingtheAHDBStandardLitre.ThisreflectstheaverageGBfarmandfromApril2024isbasedon1.5mlitres/year,4.20%butterfat,3.38% protein,160ksomaticcellcountand27kbactoscan.TherehasalsobeenaslightadjustmenttotheAHDBlevy,whichcameintoforceinApril2024.To calculatepricesspecifictoyourownmilkvisittheAHDBMilkPriceCalculator.PleasenotethatforBarbersthereisaguaranteethatshouldtheActual MilkPriceEquivalent(AMPE)-2pplmoveaheadoftheBarbers’priceJultoDec2024,Barberswillpaythisontheextralitresabovethebasevolume.

UK MONTHLY MILK PRODUCTION

15-16 January 2025

NEC Birmingham

The LAMMA Young Engineer Award showcases engineers who have created or made changes to a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology and, by doing so, improved efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm.

Eligible entries can include:

Products that have been designed and fully manufactured

Prototypes in development

Concepts in the initial stages of development

Entrants must be aged 16-35 years

Scan the QR code to enter now

Get your free ticket or visit lammashow.com

Existing products that have been modified, providing they have substantially improved the efficiency, productivity and/or sustainability of the product

by Emily Ashworth

Focus on Nature

Restoring nature is essential for Lake District farmer

The rolling hills of the Lake District are iconic and loved by many, and now a new project aims to preserve this natural beauty for the future.

A new collaboration between farmers called the Upper Duddon partnership, which is part of the Defra-funded Landscape Recovery scheme, encourages farmers and land managers to enhance soil, water and air quality; increase biodiversity; and manage and restore nature.

The partnership is one of 22 successful projects which have been selected across England, and aims to restore ecosystems across entire landscapes in the South Lakes.

With a long-standing passion for nature, one eager farmer, Patrick Deady, jumped at the opportunity to be involved in a project that promises to restore and maintain native species in tandem with supporting his farm business.

Mr Deady has managed Troutal Farm, a 150-hectare (371-acre) fell farm owned by the National Trust, for the last five years.

Having held various positions on farms since his late teens, Mr Deady applied for the tenancy because it allowed him to farm while maintaining his core principles around nature.

Mr Deady says: “I am not from farming stock but I have always been fascinated by nature and animals, so farming felt like a natural way of pursuing my interest.

“I now run a flock of 280 Herdwick breeding ewes. Combined with the shearlings and hoggs, there are around 450 sheep on the farm in total, alongside a small suckler herd of Herefords.

Low-input

“The farm is essentially a lowinput, low-intensity system, which prioritises extensive grazing, self-sufficiency and minimal plastic-use.”

As with most farm tenancies in the area, Mr Deady inherited the landlord’s flock of 180 Herdwick sheep and bought the remaining stock from the outgoing tenants.

Dedicating his efforts to rearing

Landscape

Recovery project objectives

ONCE the implementation phase begins, work will begin on the restoration of native woodland, wood pasture, heath, scrub and peatland.

Neil Winder, countryside manager at the National Trust in the North and West Lakes, says the project will include the necessary feasibility studies to enable the future restoration of rare species, including water

store lambs, he sells them at about six months old at Broughton market in October.

“Herdwicks are a hardy breed and live out on the fell for most of the year, managing to survive the rain and snow of winter while growing a lamb inside them.

“We bring them down to the fields at the end of April to lamb. Once the ewes have fed off the fresh spring grass, the harsh winter is soon forgotten and the rich milk they produce means the lambs

Patrick Deady

The Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project aims to restore ecosystems in the South Lakes, and one hill farmer was eager to get involved. Emily Ashworth finds out more.

voles, globeflowers, tree pipits and pine martens.

Mr Winder says: “This long-term partnership will help ensure a vibrant future for small farms in the Upper Duddon.

“By balancing grazing with wildlife habitat, wood pasture will provide an opportunity for sustainable and biodiverse land use while maintaining links with the landscapes of the past.”

grow rapidly, readying them for a quick return to the fell,” he says.

A noticeable change in the landscape became evident when Mr Deady returned to Cumbria seven years ago, after a decade of working in the north west of France.

After 10 years living away, he says it was clear to see what had changed, with many species of plants and animals that he would ‘expect to see on a regular basis’ seeming to have ‘declined’.

“Having been away for a long

time, it was noticeable that many birds, animals and insects were just not around in the numbers I would have expected, if at all. Especially fish in the rivers,” he says.

Focus on Nature

nature recovery project that was entering its development phase, and the involvement of local farmers was a crucial next step.”

A decline in nature throughout the fells of the Lake District may be a result of a combination of events, including climate change, non-native species invasions and habitat fragmentation.

Troutal Farm lies adjacent to Hardknott Forest, a 630-hectare (1,557-acre) spruce and larch woodland that is being restored to native broadleaf woodland, with the aim of enhancing biodiversity and wildlife habitats due to its limited access.

The project is currently in its two-year development phase, which will draw to a close at the end of 2024.

Land management

During this period, seven farms –including five National Trust and two privately-owned farms – have been involved in developing a land management plan that allows both farming and nature to thrive in this unique landscape.

Mr Deady says: “The work being carried out in the forest sparked my interest, and a few enquiries later, I was introduced to professor Dom Spracklen from the University of Leeds, who is leading the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project.

“He explained that the woodland restoration was now part of a wider

Mr Deady says: “The implementation phase commences in January 2025, which will signal the start of what will be a minimum 20-year scheme, allowing us to make the necessary changes on the land in order to achieve true landscape-scale recovery.”

This collaborative approach will result in a more natural, joined-up mosaic of habitats within this farmed landscape

He adds that this particular project will provide more bespoke support, tailored for their specific area.

“The focus will be on lowering the overall intensity of the farming systems within the project, while retaining a good level of productivity,” says Mr Deady.

The scheme is flexible, too –farmers have been able to choose to do as much or as little, in terms of increasing biodiversity and habitat creation, as they are comfortable with.

aims of the project, and the support and security it offers the farmers in the Upper Duddon for years to come.”

He also believes having farmers in the thick of the decision-making process is crucial to delivering such projects – many have years of experience and knowledge and it ensures, he says, ‘our voices are heard’.

“Previous schemes made some gains, but this collaborative approach will result in a more natural, joined-up mosaic of habitats within this farmed landscape,” says Mr Deady.

“I am really passionate about the

Farmers’ regular attendance at project meetings has guaranteed good engagement and the opportunity to address questions and concerns.

“Families have been farming these fells and valleys for generations and we need to be doing everything we can to ensure that will be possible for future generations,” says Mr Deady.

PATRICK DEADY

Focus on Nature

The Herdwick ewes live out on the fell for most of the year and are brought down to the fields at the end of April for lambing.

Troutal Farm runs a low-input, low-intensity system which prioritises extensive grazing, self-sufficiency, and minimal plastic use, says Patrick Deady.

PICTURES: MARCELLO GARBAGNOLI

In Your Field

Every week we follow the ups and downs of farmers around the UK

EMMA ROBINSON

Monmouthshire

Emma and her family farm in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, milking 100 pedigree Holsteins and selling raw milk from the farmgate. They also run 300 North Country Mules. Emma is Monmouthshire NFU chair and volunteers with the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

The outcome of the Budget is yet another thorn in the farmer’s side.

The impact this will have on family farms could be devastating .

A family farm may look a valuable asset on paper, but the majority of them are income poor.

Many farms are working with a mortgage, an overdraft and borrowed money.

Our county organiser Stella arranged a meeting with our MP, Catherine Fookes.

I reminded her that at the hustings she reassured us there would be no tax increases – broken promises from her and the Labour Party leadership.

Advice

All problems have solutions, but nobody lives forever, so it is best to get advice from the professionals that understand your business.

This comes at a time when farmers are all under pressure.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution has a free helpline for adults and children, 24/7, on 0800 188 4444, and there is NFU CallFirst on 03708 458 458.

We had a clear bovine TB test –

‘Many farms work with a mortgage, an overdraft and borrowed money’

such a relief. Our vet Charlie said whatever we were doing, keep doing it.

The maize yield was down from last year and we need to grow an earlier variety for next year, but having more Ontario heat units would be preferred, especially in September, instead of continuous rain.

The weather has been kind to us since the maize harvest so the wheat and oats is now all drilled.

We have power-harrowed a field of maize stubble to drill 15 kg per hectare of a seed mix to try to reduce soil wash.

Farmers Weather by Dr Simon Keeling

We have taken geo-tagged photos of every stage. I have been working with the Hartpury Agri Tech Centre, a free digital support service for farmers, who have helped me select some new technology to use on farm.

I have updated my farm software which will speed up compliance and reporting and I am also applying for a grant to install a new indicator on the weigh crate and a stick reader.

My son Harvey will be refurbishing the sheep shed this winter so, if we are successful with our new items, they will help us to become

Wintry weather, storms and ensembles

AS promised, a change in weather conditions has happened and this week has been much colder than the earlier stages of November.

A northerly wind has brought air direct from the cooling Arctic, making some days feeling bitingly cold.

There have been some snow showers, mostly on hills, as well as widespread frosts.

The cold story is not finished yet, because as we head into this weekend, conditions become more stormy, yet probably milder, with widespread severe gales, but some wintry conditions could occur ahead of less cold weather arriving. Next week

is presenting a few problems with forecasting too, and this is where we are relying on ensemble modelling to give us some answers, or at least a steer as to what might be ahead.

Ensemble modelling involves starting a traditional model from slightly different initial atmospheric states, many times over, and then looking at how often the forecast of future conditions falls into particular categories. An average of the outcomes of these can then be viewed and has been shown to provide a more accurate forecast.

Such models can also be used to output additional weather parameters,

beyond those of traditional models such as rainfall, temperature and so on. Severe weather indices can be produced within ensembles to give an idea of a range of errors and how likely a particular weather scenario such as widespread snowfall is likely to be.

It is these techniques that will be used heavily in forecasting for the rest of this week as we decide how severe any storms will be, and whether or not conditions become chillier again as we head into next week.

Forecasters have access to many new tools, it is deciding how and when to use them which brings out the best of the meteorologist’s skill.

more productive and improve efficiency.

On a lighter note, one of my milk customers approached me to see if we would show some of their vegan friends around the farm.

We said, ‘of course’ and they joined us for a milking one afternoon. We took them into the milking parlour and the cow cubicles and explained our system to them.

The outcome being they are now new milk customers. They liked the closed herd with some families tracing back 100 years.

For location specific forecasts visit farmersweather.co.uk and for video updates go to weatherweb.net or call the number below. Call Farmers

NEXT WEEK

Cumbria James Robinson

Yorkshire Helen Stanier

‘The curriculum barely covers food systems’

OLIVIA SHAVE

Norfolk

Olivia Shave is a shepherdess and the founder and director of Ecoewe which offers a range of sustainable products derived from the family’s flock. Olivia has launched the #Ruraleducationmatters campaign and a petition to revise the national curriculum and introduce comprehensive rural education in UK schools.

Istarted this petition with a clear goal: to urge the Government to fully embed food, farming and sustainable practices in our national curriculum.

As someone deeply connected to agriculture, I see a critical gap in our education system – a gap that does not prepare young people for challenges such as food insecurity, climate change and sustainability. This gap not only

undermines students’ understanding of the food they eat, but also leaves them disconnected from the systems that sustain us all.

Currently, the curriculum barely covers food systems, farming or environmental sustainability.

While students might briefly learn about nutrition or climate change, they lack any cohesive understanding of how food production, health and environmental stewardship are interconnected. This is a missed opportunity at a time when one in 10 UK households faces food insecurity.

Addressing food insecurity requires widespread understanding of sustainable food systems, a critical area of knowledge missing in education.

The Government’s curriculum review has already acknowledged that the current system is ‘not working’.

Yet, despite this, only superficial adjustments are being proposed and there is no opportunity for the radical changes that today’s young people need. We need more than incremental

Crossword 1272

GUEST COLUMNIST

tweaks. This review should be a chance to design a forward-thinking curriculum that gives young people practical skills and insights into food production, sustainable farming and the importance of local food systems.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows us that food and security form the foundation of human well-being.

However, our curriculum largely ignores this, leaving young people unprepared for the real-life challenges posed by food security, environmental threats and climate change.

Food education is not just about health – it is about community resilience, environmental responsibility and the foundation of sustainable development. Agriculture contributes more than £120 billion annually to the

UK economy and supports millions of jobs, yet it stays undervalued in policy and absent in education.

By not instructing young people about food and farming, we are missing an opportunity to show them the immense value of the agricultural sector and to inspire future generations to contribute to it.

This petition is a call for more than just reform; it is a demand for a curriculum that reflects the interconnected, sustainable future we need.

Together, we can drive meaningful change that helps us all.

PETITION INFORMATION

Visit Change.org and search for Integrating Rural Roots Education for a Sustainable Future.

Send in your correct entries to be in with a chance of winning £20 worth of Love2shop vouchers every month. Send to: Crossword No. 1272, Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9NZ.

ACROSS

1 Old measure of alliance (6)

5 Deceptive appearance of aspect involving publicity (6)

10 Release pressure in loveless coupling (5)

11 Sadly no bargain for this person with renewed spiritual life (4-5)

12 Unexpectedly espy other words announcing successful performance (3,6)

13 Nothing around outskirts of Hawaiinothing! (5)

14 Supporter backing flock with no limits within one’s particular area (7)

16 Tolkien’s farmer astride child’s horse titters (7)

18 Farewell remarks at bedtime for tinies? (3-4)

20 Tracks tup beginning to wallow in Scottish river (7)

22 Summary of what has been said concerning hat (5)

24 Frisky darn pup we removed from packaging (9)

26 Meddling with woollen yarn (9)

27 Austrian province’s somewhat naughty rollicking (5)

28 Firmly established tough lad chasing little marsupial (6)

29 Observe article and boil with anger (6)

DOWN

2 Unoccupied, some attempt yodeling (5)

3 Assembly of chromosomes broadly speaking (9)

4 Diplomatic mission primarily easing and moving steamship trapped in a bay (7)

5 Unit of length of animal’s coat, great in extent (7)

6 Group owned by company raising animals principally in China (5)

7 Who’d bleat about thing that destroys hope? (9)

8 Measure of the Spanish supporting one-time US President (6)

9 Tom and Sam maybe? Family men (6)

15 Progressive increase of intensity of last part in rough soccer (9)

17 Eager aunt sorted out warranty (9)

18 Occupy position of umpire - tense, having lost something (6)

19 Examined horse kept for breeding that is finally accomplished (7)

20 Hemp fibres no good as domestic fuel (4,3)

21 Off-peak calls? Especially popular in Swiss Alps (6)

23 Request some time to make folds (5)

25 Fish settle (5)

Answers to crossword 1270: Across: 1 Carrot, 5 Digger, 10 Pulse, 11 Boyfriend, 12 Unsightly, 13 Event, 14 Explain, 16 Deviser, 18 Transit, 20 Aphasia, 22 Ratty, 24 Paramount, 26 Incognito, 27 Noise, 28 Slicer, 29 Themed. Down: 2 Atlas, 3 Reed-grass, 4 Tibetan, 5 Dry-eyed, 6 Gorse, 7 Elevenses, 8 Spruce, 9 Editor, 15 Practical, 17 Vehemence, 18 Turnip, 19 Tipsier, 20 Airport, 21 Antler, 23 Yogic, 25 Unite.

Farming Matters

‘A start has been made, despite agriculture receiving only 4% of climate finance’

Four months ago, I thought – in a moment of madness – that I would try and get to COP29 in Azerbaijan and find out what it was all about. A combination of curiosity and the fact it was to be held in a country that reminds me only of Eurovision motivated me. So, I popped a post on LinkedIn saying: ‘Get me to COP’. It is notoriously hard to get one of the golden blue passes, but I am now indebted to a few individuals who wangled me in. So, what is COP29? It is the 29th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which has taken place over the past 11 days in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference gathers representatives from nearly 200 countries to discuss and negotiate actions to combat climate change. The theme this year was finance.

Many of you may be wondering why a farmer would want to go to a climate conference. Well, bear with me. Basically, I feel farming can offer a solution in this space. As we are named as those contributing to 30% of global emissions, it is my feeling we need some people from the ground to understand and input.

What does it look like to a newbie?

Well, there are two zones: the Blue Zone, which is where all the official negotiations happen and where countries have their pavilions that host talks throughout the days; and the Green Zone, which is open to the general public.

Each day has a theme – everything from energy to youth to science and tech. And guess what? Even food and farming had their day, which seemed very apt since it was happening on November 19 – a day that will live in farming lore for some time.

UK pavilion

The UK pavilion was packed with very British memorabilia, including a red phone box. Supposedly, 400plus Government officials attended; maybe it was because I was so mind-boggled by the whole thing that the only one I recognised was the Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband.

On Food and Farming Day, it really stood out how each country interpreted and valued this theme. Australia went all out, even having the head of their National Farmers’ Union equivalent on stage, along with their agricultural special representative. The UK seemed to have

muddled their idea of food and farming, talking only about transport. This was very disappointing as we have such a fantastic sector to share.

I participated in two panels on animal health, gave a talk on the importance of dairy in a nutritious diet, and led a session on what we are already doing in terms of carbon footprinting on farms.

So, what did I learn, and was it worth it? Food and farming have moved up significantly on the agenda here – real green shoots kind of stuff. Some top speakers from across sectors, including John Gilliland and Jack Bobo, did a great job highlighting what we are already doing in terms of climate, both in measuring impact and addressing nutrition roles.

In terms of official negotiations, there is still a long way to go. But a start has been made, with recognition that agriculture has many answers, despite only receiving 4% of climate finance.

Climate-smart agriculture

There was a lot of talk about climate-smart agriculture, an innovative approach which aims to increase agricultural productivity, enhance

Dairy farmer and Nuffield

farmers’ resilience to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing sustainable farming techniques tailored to local environmental conditions.

Was it worth it? Well, I would rather have farmers pull up chairs at these tables and influence decisions so things are achievable. However, I understand this is not for everyone, and we can all agree we are busy enough.

I spent five days there. Would I go again? Possibly, but we do need farmers at these global events.

Food and farming have moved up significantly on the agenda, says Sophie Gregory.

SOPHIE GREGORY

scholar