Farmers Guardian
On the farm

  • Dairy: Combining robots with paddock grazing can work

    21 May 2012

    More and more dairy farmers who want to optimise milk from grass are looking at the potential of using robots. Chloe Palmer reports.

  • Dairy: Costings and tankers prompt switch back

    20 May 2012

    MILK price was a deciding factor when Cumbrian farmer Terry Dixon converted to organic production 13 years ago. Despite a move back to conventional farming, organic is still influencing his decisions. Neil Ryder reports.

  • Farmer makes the most of fulfilling his lifelong dream

    27 March 2012

    When Mark Dean chatted with a farming friend eight years ago little did he realise he would be lambing 750 ewes every year. Chris Berry finds out how the man, who believes in doing things in pairs, realised his ambition.

  • New Zealand couple share their environmental farming vision

    March 23, 2012

    Taking care of the environment is a labour of love for Grant and Bernie Weller who farm Crosshill Farm in New Zealand. They spoke to Olivia Midgley while on a rare visit to the UK.

  • Farm’s individual location offers plenty of opportunities

    21 March 2012

    Pedigree beef breeders Andrew and Alison Clark from Ringinglow, Sheffield, know what they want and leave nothing to chance, as Chloe Palmer found out when she went to meet them.

  • Precision in every aspect has aided farm business growth

    13 March 2012

    It has been an impressive road of expansion for Colin McGregor whose astuteness now ensures business comes to him, and not the other way round.

  • Red Polls prove versatile and make economic sense

    8 March 2012

    Starting up a rare breed dairy herd from scratch may be too much of a challenge for some, but for John Butler and owner of Avenue Farms, Michael Jarmon, it is a dream which is paying dividends. Olivia Midgley reports.

  • Attention to detail and investment are basis of farm’s success

    29 February 2012

    Within less than a decade, the Harvey family has almost tripled cow numbers, switched to pedigree breeding and increased yields so much they have topped the NMR production figures in Scotland for three consecutive years. Jennifer MacKenzie reports.

  • Hatching a business plan to crack organic egg market

    16 February 2012

    Chris Tarran almost called time on his poultry business when he realised each of his 11,000 hens were making a £2 loss. Chris Berry meets the man who started from scratch and believes size really does matter.

  • Veal could prove to be the cream of the crop

    7 February 2012

    It is not easy being different, but the Archer family do not give up easily and attention to detail is everything, particularly when educating the public about the new meat in town.

  • Rich dividend from his Beef Shorthorn investment

    31 January 2012

    The search for genetic improvement and long-term business prospects led Cumbrian farmer Charles Lowther to establish a pedigree herd with a purpose, as Neil Ryder found out when he went to meet him.

  • Self-sufficient system ensures the future of Scottish pig unit

    26 January 2012

    IT was his entrepreneurial spirit which allowed Andrew Rennie to take a step into the unknown and turnaround the fortunes of his business. Erika Hay visits Aberdeenshire to meet the man behind the methane magic.

  • Farming in harmony with the downland environment

    19 January 2012

    THE rough grass areas and challenges of a downland farm have never deterred Chris Passmore from building a mixed farming system that plays to its strengths. Jonathan Long finds out more.

  • Family considers moving after TB impact becomes too much

    January 13, 2012

    AS the bovine TB crisis continues unchecked in Wales, the owners of an award-winning pedigree beef herd are taking a serious look at their future and whether a move to Scotland is the only answer. Barry Alston reports.

  • Good etiquette lies at the heart of successful livestock show judging

    December 30, 2011

    While taking a title at an agricultural show is a great achievement, being asked to judge at one of these events is also a huge honour. Wendy Short talks to a cattle breeder and experienced show judge from Carmarthen, Wales, to get some tips on judging etiquette.

  • Three family generations of show support

    December 30, 2011

    Members of an extended family based in West Yorkshire have been supporting their local show for three generations. Whether it is sheep, cattle, crafts or baking - everyone in the family has a role, as Wendy Short found out when she talked to the ladies of the household.

  • Farming in 2041: The report's conclusion

    20 December 2011

    THE report says recent research has shown there are five factors most people associate with high quality rural landscapes.

  • Farming in 2041: Lowland farming on Romney Marsh

    20 December 2011

    THE decline of commercial sheep farming would increase the area already cropped intensively for cereals, potatoes and field vegetables. The small parcels of land not suitable for draining and cultivation would be used for amenity and recreational purposes.

  • Farming in 2041: Upland hillsides on Exmoor

    20 December 2011

    MOST small farms would become non-commercial smallholdings in which extensive livestock farming continues, using rare breeds and lower inputs.

  • Farming in 2041: Upland pastures in the North York Moors

    20 December 2011

    Livestock grazing will disappear from large areas of the uplands, being retained in a few areas only for conservation purposes, to be replaced by naturally colonising scrub and planted woodland. Remaining farms will get larger, with many relying on tourism to maintain incomes.

  • Farming in 2041: Vale of Pickering

    20 December 2011

    THIS area would change from a mixed farm landscape to one dominated by continuous arable cropping, with energy crops being planted on less productive land. Farms would grow larger, with more intensive land use.

  • What the countryside might look like without livestock in 30 years

    20 December 2011

    THE crucial role livestock plays in maintaining the English countryside has been highlighted in a new report examining what could happen to some of England’s most cherished landscapes if beef cattle or sheep numbers were reduced or they disappeared from the countryside.

  • UK farmer discovers common ground with St Lucian producer

    14 December 2011

    CAN the Fairtrade model help UK farmers secure a better price from retailers? In a special report from St Lucia, Cumbrian farmer Robert Craig discovers the shared similarities between milk and banana producers. Danusia Osiowy reports.

  • Cows, health and wildlife come first on profitable dairy farm

    6 December 2011

    THE Gassons, of Redlands Farm, Oxfordshire, are proud of what they do - as a dairy business, for their cows and for the environment. Alistair Driver finds out why.

  • Striving to breed the right cattle

    1 December 2011

    KEITH Bamlet is attempting to find the right type of heifers to form the basis of his herd, as Ann Hardy reports.

  • Two successes with two sheep breeds on two separate farms

    24 November 2011

    ONE farms in Wales, the other in England. Barry Alston meets up with two brothers celebrating championship successes with two breeds of sheep.

  • Team effort keeps buildings full and farm’s livestock rolling

    17 November 2011

    THERE is never a dull moment at View Valley Farm, with buildings and labour used all year round for a seasonal ‘rotation’ of livestock. Angela Calvert reports from this successful enterprise in Northamptonshire.

  • Friends' partnership creates exceptional Hereford beef in Durham

    15 November 2011

    A partnership between friends has led to a new Hereford herd being established to supply pure Hereford beef to steak restaurants in two four star hotels. Neil Ryder reports.

  • Award-winning dairy gets the green stamp of approval

    2 November 2011

    ONLY a handful of farmers can truly say they are following their dream while doing their bit for the environment along the way. Olivia Midgley went to meet the boss of an operation in Sussex, who is doing exactly that.

  • Putting business decisions ahead of the ‘farming way of life’

    27 October 2011

    Arable farmer and contractor Robert Alexander talks about partnerships, peas and working towards a paperless system at his Norfolk enterprise. Clemmie Gleeson reports.

  • Diversification proves there is life beyond dairy farming

    20 October 2011

    Following a health scare the ‘white stuff’ has given way to slate grey on a west Wales family farm, as Barry Alston discovered when he met Eurig Evans.

  • Simple organic system and breed switch bring savings

    18 October 2011

    THE Blakey brothers manage their own food security, relying on their home turf to finish their Lleyn flock and suckler beef herd. Wendy Short visits Northumberland to find out why their independence is reaping rewards.

  • Keeping customers happy is Lothian dairy farmer’s main priority

    11 October 2011

    THE portfolio of products at Bonaly Farm Dairy come with guaranteed provenance and pedigree quality, and a willingness by Donald Laird to go that extra Lothian mile - come rain, hail or shine. Erika Hay reports.

  • Making pragmatic decisions is key to Devon pig farmer’s success

    29 September 2011

    Devon farmer Andrew Freemantle on his Kenniford pigs, his profitability and his role in ‘that’ Tesco advert.

  • Simplistic approach keeps finishing operation moving

    22 September 2011

    Brothers James and John Burnett run a slick finishing operation at their mixed farm near Newark and, despite a volatile market, continue to strengthen their farming formula. Angela Calvert reports.

  • Constant improvements keeps business in clover

    15 September 2011

    SWARDS with a high inclusion of white clover form the basis of a grassland competition winner’s sheep enterprise on the Isle of Man.

  • Egg business started small but grew into a free-range empire

    8 September 2011

    FROM selling eggs out of a Ford Transit van to producing more than one million a day, Glenrath Farms continues to be a Scottish success story. Ben Briggs speaks to company chairman John Campbell to find out about the journey.

  • Two enterprises work together to create one optimistic future

    6 September 2011

    THE pig and arable enterprise in West Yorkshire serve to complement each other with Peter Batty being ready for the challenges they bring and believing it is the best way for his business to run. Angela Calvert reports.

  • Juggling farm, family and political life successfully

    23 August 2011

    In 2004 Roger Lewis won the Farmers Guardian Dairy Farmer of the Future competition. Barry Alston visits the young Welsh farmer from South Wales to talk about the new doors it opened both on and off farm.

  • Good ideas come naturally for one enterprising farmer

    August 19, 2011

    There is multi-tasking then there is Andy Fussell. With multiple business enterprises on the go, he is his own marketeer with tangible results, as Danusia Osiowy discovered when she visited Somerset.

  • Ridleys hold open day as part of ‘Limousin Weekend’ celebration

    14 July 2011

    IT is 40 years since the Limousin breed came to UK shores and the British society was formed. To mark the occasion a ‘Limousin Weekend’ has been organised, supported by FG and including a farm open day. Katie Lomas visits the hosts.

  • A handling system which benefits all

    July 8, 2011

    Cattle handling facilities designed for ease of flow and staff safety by Derbyshire-based beef finisher Andrew Hallifield were given the seal of approval by international experts at the weekend.

  • Discovering the Jersey cow

    5 July 2011

    FAITHFUL Jersey breeders, David and Anne Shaw, talk about lobbying at Westminster, tearooms at the Great Yorkshire and why UK dairy farmers need to climb the pricing league. 

  • Conservation and intensive growing can fit like a glove

    July 1, 2011

    The Piccaver family, winners of FWAG’s Silver Lapwing Award 2010, farm intentionally to encourage conversation alongside Jepco, their commercial farming business. Angela Calvert meets manager, Phillip Hubbart, to discover their winning methods

  • Promoting the native pig at home – and in America

    July 1, 2011

    Having shipped six native breed pigs across the Atlantic, John Sutcliffe is passionate about promoting local produce. Ben Briggs spoke to the Cumbrian breeder who gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘pigs might fly’.

  • Voluntary measures fit well on a fenland farm

    July 1, 2011

    It is 20 years since the Casey family started growing leeks. Back then it was just two and half hectares (six acres), but now it stretches to 65ha (160 acres) and makes up the major part of the farming business.

  • Former supermarket chief gets hands-on in new beef enterprise

    28 June 2011

    Angela Calvert talks to Yorkshire Agricultural Society retiring president Sir Ken Morrison, the founder of Morrisons supermarket, who has no thoughts of taking it easy.

  • Simplifying system for more balanced work and home life

    June 24, 2011

    DAVID MacTaggart wants his Scottish livestock farm to secure a work/life balance, and thanks to his research and innovations he is achieving just that at Hallrule Farm in the borders. Erica Hay reports.

  • Dedication to developing a composite hill sheep breed

    June 17, 2011

    Ballymena Market in County Antrim will be the venue for NSA Sheep Northern Ireland on Monday, July 4. Ahead of the day, Joanne Pugh visited the region to find out more about plans for the event.

  • Stock judge highlights changes to farming

    June 10, 2011

    LIVESTOCK breeders from around the country will be judging at this year’s Royal Hoghland Show. Katie Lomas went to meet one of them, beef inter-breed judge John Wight.

  • Upland farmers do whatever it takes to keep the business going

    8 June 2011

    Survival of small upland farms these days often means working off the farm to supplement income and reliance on the SPS to make ends meet. High Corn Park in County Durham is no exception. Wendy Short reports.

  • Applying poultry experience to beef farming

    June 3, 2011

    THE Blade Farming celebratory event was hosted by James Hook, one of Blade Farming’s beef finishers, who has used experience within the poultry sector in his recently-established beef enterprise.

  • New live classes and competitions at Sheep South West

    June 3, 2011

    THIS year, the NSA Sheep South West event is heading to the far south of Devon and will be hosted on a mixed sheep, beef and arable farm.

  • Sheep: Farmer’s stumble upon the Poll Dorset breed worked out well

    June 3, 2011

    Ahead of his big day hosting the 2011 NSA Sheep South West event, Andrew Palk explained to Wendy Short his farming system and why introducing the Poll Dorset breed was almost by accident.

  • Beef Stockman of the future - A clear vision for reaching his goals

    May 27, 2011

    DAVID Thirwell, the 2011 winner of the Farmers Guardian Beef Stockman of the Year, talks to Katie Lomas about his management for JSR Farms at Givendale Farm in York.

  • Livestock production and wildlife go hand-in-hand

    19 May 2011

    UNEXPECTED circumstances allowed Jo and Michael Taylor to turn their love for rare breeds from a hobby into a full-time farming business. Clemmie Gleeson discovers more about their journey en-route to their Suffolk business.

  • Family’s farm shop driven to success by its customers

    12 May 2011

    A desire to deliver exactly what the customer wants has driven the Webster family to develop their farm shop into a thriving business, the heart of which is their own beef-rearing unit. Katie Lomas went to Ormskirk to meet them.

  • Producing quality lamb at minimal cost

    May 6, 2011

    John and Dafydd Parry Jones farm side-by-side, but on two separately managed units. Barry Alston meets the brothers who will jointly host NSA Welsh Sheep 2011.

  • Business aspirations become a reality after upping sticks

    3 May 2011

    DAIRY farmer Peter Joules of PHR Farms tells Jonathan Long why upping sticks from Wales to Kent was the catalyst in securing an Arla liquid milk contract and raising his milk price along the way.

  • Bringing food to festival-goers and the public

    April 29, 2011

    A Scottish farming couple now provide their home-grown food to up to nine music festivals a year and take a mobile approach to selling direct to the public.

  • A community approach to management decisions

    21 April 2011

    BORDERS farmer Alistair Hodge knows being in a partnership that owns and manages Scotland’s newest Monitor Farm will open up his business to high levels of scrutiny many would shy away from.

  • Award-winning dairy farmer creates first class environment

    20 April 2011

    It was never an option to exit the dairy industry, says Welsh farmer Jonathan Wilkinson. Here he tells Barry Alston why installing a Westfalia rotary system has made the work/life balance a lot more easier of late.

  • French genetics offer real value for money

    18 April 2011

    Visitors to this year’s Beef Expo can book a place on the farm tours, which take place on the day before the main event. Angela Calvert visited one of the tour farms to get a flavour of what delegates can expect.

  • Farm prone to flooding make the best out of the situation

    April 8, 2011

    IT’S not always the case that bigger is better but attention to detail that counts for more as the Hawley family tell Angela Calvert when she visited Leicestershire.

  • Family pull together to achieve a bright future for upland farm

    29 March 2011

    The Dunning family are not ones to just get by and instead manage a multi-faceted upland farming business. Wendy Short visits the family to talk about their optimistic business looking forward.

  • Step-by step approach to organic conversion

    23 March 2011

    ASK Nigel Carey how many organic farmers there are in Norfolk and he starts to count the fingers on one hand, while reeling off their names. While there are not more than a handful of organic producers like him in the county, he makes the point that his ilk are few and far between in a region that has been at the forefront of delivering high input, high output food production since the Second World War.

  • Family farm shop builds a reputation for its service

    22 March 2011

    NORTH EAST farming couple, Edward and Rachael Jewson, ploughed their savings into creating Knitsley Farm Shop and are now reaping the rewards of their self-created business venture.

  • Partnership approach to managing the landscape

    March 18, 2011

    FARMING in the uplands brings its own unique challenges, but father and son team, Neil and Steven Taylor, are optimistic for the future, as Angela Calvert discovered when she went to meet them.

  • Carmarthenshire family proves the winning farm shop formula

    10 March 2011

    At 3,237, the UK tally of farm shops continues to grow, so how do you ensure you become more than just a number? Barry Alston visits a Carmarthenshire family whose investment and determination has proved its sceptics wrong.

  • No regrets after trading the office for life on the farm

    1 March 2011

    JOHNNY and Susie Mackey, know all too well of the barriers facing new entrants in farming but are proof they can be overcome. Erika Hay discovers why they only see farming’s opportunities and not its obstructions.

  • Wind energy benefits Lancashire cheese firm

    February 25, 2011

    Lancashire cheese makers, Nick and Richard Kenyon, explain to Danusia Osiowy how the installation of a wind turbine put Dewlay cheese on the map and became a first for the UK dairy industry.

  • MooTube - the funniest farming videos on the web

    24 February 2011

    WELCOME to MooTube where we’ll be bringing together some of the best farming videos on the web, from some of the best comedy sketches on TV to the hilarious home videos taken on farms. Sponsored by Triple Blue

  • The co-operative turning a commodity into a regional brand

    17 February 2011

    PEAS are often seen as a commodity, but a group of Yorkshire producers hopes a new brand will open up new markets. Angela Calvert reports.

  • Determination builds Bluegrass pedigree dairy herd

    14 February 2011

    PEDIGREE Jersey breeders, Barry and Jenny Daw, have achieved remarkable results with their Bluegrass herd. Ann Hardy visits the couple to talk tactics, tenancies and TMR.

  • From second city urban life, Clive follows dream to rural Shropshire

    February 4, 2011

    ANGELA CALVERT met husband and wife team, Clive and Caroline Taylor, whose latest challenge started seven years ago.

  • Branching out after a pint of beer

    3 February 2011

    ROB Mutimer’s latest venture proves some of the best ideas start in the pub. The head of Swannington Farm to Fork tells Clemmie Gleeson how the demand for traceable meat unexpectedly steered the business to the market.

  • Diverse challenges prove a woman’s work is never done

    27 January 2011

    IF women are best at multitasking, then Catherine Thompson is helping to lead the way. Angela Calvert finds out why the vulnerability surrounding Holme House Farm has only served to make her work even harder.

  • Commercial breeding: Reaseheath's real strength

    January 21, 2011

    While student labour is relied on, and teaching those students is a major part of the job, the sheep unit at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire, is also a commercial concern.

  • Doorstep delivery is cornerstone to Acorn’s future growth

    20 January 2011

    DOORSTEP milk delivery is something of a rarity on our streets today, but for one farm in Co Durham, it has proved the salvation for their business. Mark Holdstock went to find out more.

  • Brothers profit by utilising the great outdoors

    12 January 2011

    WELSH duo Alun and Arthur Owen on being brothers, neighbours, business partners and telepathic thinkers all to the benefit of their dairy farm business.

  • Raising the profile of British venison – and tackling supply

    December 23, 2010

    Nigel Sampson has turned his love of deer into a thriving commercial enterprise which produces everything from venison to clothing and furniture. Danusia Osiowy meets the farmer turned businessman to find out more.

  • Shallots enjoy a five-year high

    December 23, 2010

    Shallots have seen a massive rise in popularity over the last five years with UK retail sales now at £8.6 million - up 46 per cent during that time.This year looks like being an even better year for UK growers. They are predicted to do better than their European counterparts as spring weather conditions were poor in France and Holland, and so their production is down by over 20 per cent.

  • FG advent calendar 2010 - share your festive photos

    1 December 2010

    EACH day in December we will be revealing our advent calendar picture. You can also send in your festive farm photos and we will add them to the calendar throughout December as we count down to Christmas.

  • A clear breeding goal and commitment to the Friesian

    November 26, 2010

    What is the secret to breeding the top three proven Friesian bulls currently available in the UK? Joanne Pugh meets the Robotham family to find out.

  • Canny couple cultivate strong future by pooling of resources

    November 26, 2010

    From share farming to running their own business, Tom and Caroline Fromant have pooled resources to create Nene Valley Beef. JANE BROWN reports.

  • Friends in high places are lending a helping hand

    November 26, 2010

    Barry Alston takes a look at a Mid Wales self-help lamb marketing initiative inspired by royalty.

  • Beef: Making money despite difficult farm geography

    November 19, 2010

    AT Newhouse Farm in Somerset, the date each animal should be finished and leaving the farm is written on an eartag as a constant reminder of targets. Ann Hardy meets a beef farmer who never takes his eye off the ball.

  • Getting the most from rations on a tight system

    November 19, 2010

    Be it home-bred pedigree Simmentals or bought-in store cattle, Alan and Kate Gamble do everything they can to maximise the finished product. Joanne Pugh visits their farm at Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders.

  • Royal Welsh Winter Fair preview: Chasing top spot at Llanelwedd

    November 19, 2010

    BARRY ALSTON drops in on two of the Winter Fair’s most consistent exhibitors in the sheep and beef cattle rings. PICTURES: Arvid Parry Jones

  • Easycare the breed of choice in Pershore

    November 12, 2010

    LOYALTY to a breed is misplaced if it does not suit the farm or make a profit, says William Steele. After running one of the oldest Suffolk flocks in the country, and trying several other breeds, he tells Joanne Pugh why the Easycare is now his breed of choice.

  • Family has confidence to invest in future

    November 12, 2010

    As milk price wars continue between the retailers, one East Midlands family still believes their supermarket contract is giving them confidence to invest in the future, as ANGELA CALVERT finds out.

  • Building a brand to extend pig business to more outlets

    November 5, 2010

    Brothers Mark and Paul Hayward trusted their instincts and took their Suffolk pig farming business in a different direction. Clemmie Gleeson meets the partnership behind Dingley Dell Pork.

  • Preventative approach aids wellbeing

    October 29, 2010

    As rearers of quality breeding stock and large-scale lamb finishers, Alan and May Collins believe prevention of disease is always better than cure. JOANNE PUGH visits the Exmoor National Park to meet the couple.

  • Trying a new breed prompts changes to whole farm business

    October 29, 2010

    Buying Galloway cattle to graze in an environmental project prompted Cumbrian farmers Richard and Alison Maxwell to reconsider how they run their continental cross suckler cows. Jennifer MacKenzie finds out more.

  • Attention to detail pays off in the end

    October 22, 2010

    BIG is not necessarily better as dairy farmer Roger Ridgway proved when he reigned numbers in and converted Clovers Farm to a new organic enterprise.

  • Ambitious farm project set to reform food chain

    October 15, 2010

    Two decades ago, Ian and Louise Nelson had £1,000 and no farm. Today, they have a farm complex with a turnover of more than £1.5 million. William Surman visits the South East to discover how they turned their figures around.

  • Ebb and flow on banks of Severn

    October 1, 2010

    Whether farming in the hills or lowlands, it takes special skills to succeed. But working alongside Britain’s longest river presents its own unique set of options and challenges for a mid Wales farmer. BARRY ALSTON reports.

  • Award winners aim to up flock standard

    September 24, 2010

    While David and Matthew Prince have won the 2010 Eblex award for most progressive Texel flock, they are as equally committed to performance recording their Suffolk, Beltex and Dutch Texel sheep, too. ANGELA CALVERT meets the father and son team.

  • Realising a childhood dream of owning a Manx farm

    September 24, 2010

    A young Manx farmer is gradually achieving an ambition he has had since he was a boy - to have his own farming business.

  • Grasping opportunities to make a name for dairy farm

    September 17, 2010

    The Norton family farm in Frettenham, Norfolk, has seized the opportunity to follow customer trends in social media networking, doorstep deliveries and unpasteurised milk to transform its business from barely surviving to a thriving, profitable enterprise.

  • Adaptable sisters just get on with the jobs at hand

    September 10, 2010

    DESPITE farming in a remote part of Derbyshire, sisters Kath Birkinshaw and Andrea Jolly have anything but a quiet life, as Angela Calvert explains.

  • The unlikeliest place for quality grass

    September 10, 2010

    LAST week Emyr Jones opened his gates to visitors for the first time since winning the British Grassland Society’s grassland management competition in 2008.

  • Holsteins unite Yorkshire family

    September 3, 2010

    The Pratt brothers are all about looking forward. From pedigree Holsteins to new milk contracts, they’ve a keen eye for an opportunity. WENDY SHORT visits North Yorkshire to see why the family are still at the heart of the farm.

  • Innovative farm plays B&B to other cattle

    3 September 2010

    STEVEN and Elaine Murray of West Preston Farm, Kirkbean, Dumfries, hosted a Luing Cattle Society open day. Neil Ryder reports on how the couple over-winter their cattle and sheep, while working with the RSPB to provide winter grazing for thousands of geese.

  • Improving the public’s perception of modern farming

    31 August 2010

    Cold Harbour Farm, at Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire, was one of the first LEAF (Linking Farming and the Environment) demonstration farms, opening its gates to the public in 1993 soon after the organisation was founded.

  • Farmer with a mission takes Rosemead herd to the next level

    August 27, 2010

    THE cows and bulls from the Rosemead herd of Aberdeen-Angus are recognised as some of the best in the country. Breeder, salesman and farmer Angus Stovold tells Jane Howard why meticulous detail to a herd health plan has resulted in a sound stream of willing buyers as she meets the man with a ‘big plan’.

  • Profit and efficient milking key focus of Helton herd

    August 27, 2010

    After just a few years on the show circuit, cheese producer Joseph Heler won last year’s exhibitor-bred title at the Dairy Event, which came after many years of breeding for one aim - profitable cows. Simon Wragg reports.

  • Overcoming the challenges to live the dairying dream

    August 20, 2010

    Welsh dairy farmer, Julian Nicholas, tells Farmers Guardian why he is finally living his dream after getting his foot on the first rung of the farming ladder.

  • Creating a sustainable, low maintenance flock

    August 6, 2010

    The North of England Mule has made a come-back on an estate in Cumbria, fitting a new, extensive management system for the commercial ewe flock. Jennifer MacKenzie reports.

  • Swapping the blackboard jungle for the rural idyll

    August 6, 2010

    WHILE busily furthering their teaching careers, David and Christine Sault always harboured ambitions for a life in farming. This became a reality when they took over the farm they had always desired, as Neil Ryder discovers.

  • Experimenting to better exploit home-grown silage resources

    July 30, 2010

    This year’s British Grassland Society annual summer meeting was held in East Scotland. Katie Lomas reports from one of the host farms where delegates were invited for a tour.

  • Putting faith in British pig industry by going Danish

    July 30, 2010

    SCOTTISH pig producer Robin Traquair explains why he destocked Wellington Farm in favour of Danish-bred pigs and why he welcomes the launch of the Specially Selected Pork Approved by Scottish SPCA scheme.

  • Running livestock in tandem with arable enterprise

    July 30, 2010

    This year’s British Grassland Society annual summer meeting was held in East Scotland. Katie Lomas reports from two of the host farms where delegates were invited for a tour.

  • Pedigree blueprint for Sussex success

    July 23, 2010

    Michael Hind explains why the Maplesden pedigree Sussex herd at Bungehurst Farm are challenging perceptions of the Sussex breed north of Watford Gap. Pictures: John Eveson

  • Getting a better lifestyle in dairying

    July 16, 2010

    With 52 homemade ice cream and sorbets up for grabs, the Beddoes family likes to give its customers a wealth of choice. Barry Alston discovers the secret of success at Common Piece Farm.

  • Good grass is a family tradition

    July 9, 2010

    NOT only is this year’s Royal Welsh host county renowned for the quality of the livestock it produces but it also has an enviable record for the high standard of grassland management.

  • Jerseys still the cream of the crop in the Dales

    July 9, 2010

    THE Dickinson family at Longley Farm know all too well the milk quality from their Jersey herd have secured them as one of the leading producers of cottage cheese, cream and yoghurts. Jimmy Dickinson explains the journey.

  • Low input New Zealand Romneys paying dividends

    July 9, 2010

    With classes for 45 breeds, the Royal Welsh Show regularly attracts an unrivalled display of sheep - but not every breed is represented. Barry Alston catches up with one of the ‘missing’ ones.

  • Turning to Salers for extra hybrid vigour

    July 9, 2010

    Bringing in fresh blood is becoming fashionable for some beef herds, so cattle breeds will be pushing hard to sell their merits. Barry Alston reports.

  • Forming a cohesive unit from differing specialities

    30 June 2010

    COUSINS Kit and Tim Papworth of Norfolk based contractor LF Papworth Ltd explain why new technology and farming co-operatives such as Anglia Farmers are helping to improve their management system.

  • Herdwick stalwart vying for show's top spot

    June 25, 2010

    David Thompson first showed his Herdwick sheep at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1979. More than 30 years later, he is as keen as ever and this year is looking forward to returning with last year’s champion to defend his title.

  • Passion for pedigrees creates legacy for generations

    June 25, 2010

    It took a lifetime to build up a business renowned for its top-notch pedigree cattle from a dilapidated farm, but while Neil Massie takes more of a back seat these days, his herds have a strong future. Bob Dow reports.

  • Learning from collective experience to improve sustainability

    June 18, 2010

    Two monitor farms have been set up for the benefit of farmers in North East England. Wendy Short went to the first open day at Cragg Top Farm, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

  • Robots help to maintain the local feel

    June 18, 2010

    ADRIAN and Rachel Robinson, are used to moving with the times and with the installation of state-of-the-art robotic milking equipment, so are their cows. Joanne Pugh discovers the evolution behind Mawley Milk.

  • Building a commercial ‘natural’ flock

    June 11, 2010

    With more than 1,600 entries from 22 different breeds competing in this year’s sheep judging, the competition for red ribbons is sure to be fierce. Farmers Guardian went to visit the winners of last year’s sheep inter-breed trophy.

  • Memorable ‘lady’ has loads of bottle . . .

    June 11, 2010

    Young dairy farmer, Jess Vaughan, explains how she achieved her business plan to realise her childhood dream of running her own enterprise – Jess’s Ladies Organic Milk. WILLIAM SURMAN reports. PICTURES: Eric Beard.

  • Real purpose puts Nick in the Black

    June 4, 2010

    Meet the top three in the first Beef Stockman of the Future Award.

  • ‘Wake-up call’ brings re-evaluation and unprecedented success

    May 28, 2010

    Finishing cattle at the right time, weight and grade needs a precision operation and high degree of skill. ANN HARDY visits a Somerset farm consistently achieving both high grades and prices.

  • Crowning glory into an under supplied market

    May 28, 2010

    THE UK asparagus season is now in full swing and the huge surge in demand is offering growers the opportunity move into a market that is currently screaming for supplies. Angela Calvert reports.

  • Former legal eagle has the buzz for business

    May 28, 2010

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  • Ivor’s investment puts faith in dairying and next generation

    May 21, 2010

    BARRY ALSTON meets Welsh farmer Ivor Beech whose practical investments are proving fruitful for the next generation.

  • Switching from livestock to arable operation

    May 21, 2010

    Later this year, Yorkshire farmer Stephen Tuer will switch the focus of the family farming business from livestock to arable, while at the same time joining the Entry Level Scheme for the first time. ANGELA CALVERT reports.

  • Fast finishing breed ticked all the boxes

    May 14, 2010

    VISITORS to this year’s Beef Expo will have the chance to visit two contrasting beef farms in Northumberland the day before the main event. One of farms is home to the Piatroon herd of Charolais. Angela Calvert reports.

  • Managing major changes profitably

    May 14, 2010

    As well as seeing a pedigree enterprise, visitors will also spend time at a large-scale commercial beef breeding and finishing unit. Ahead of the farm visit, ANGELA CALVERT met Jamie Wood, who runs the family business.

  • New Zealand-style system buys precious time

    May 14, 2010

    Robert Craig is starting his two-year term as chairman of Cumbria NFU, while balancing a specialist dairy farm. NEIL RYDER meets the man whose major concern is how to attract young people into farming.

  • Adapting to a low-cost system to grow margins

    May 7, 2010

    Two recipients of last year’s Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) travel scholarships visited New Zealand to look at sheep farming. Barry Alston meets them both.

  • Mystery shopper case study: Craigie’s Farm Deli and Café, Edinburgh

    May 7, 2010

    OWNER John Sinclair has employed a mystery shopper on a monthly basis for the past 18 months.

  • Mystery shopper case study: Mainsgill Farmshop and Tearoom

    May 7, 2010

    Tips for creating a good customer impression.

  • Shifting focus from livestock to grass

    May 7, 2010

    DURING his travels, Aberystwyth-based agricultural consultant, Eurion Thomas, was taken by the ‘totally different attitude’ New Zealand farmers have to their UK counterparts.

  • Unravelling the shopping mystery

    May 7, 2010

    A MYSTERY shopper can be the eyes and ears of your business and offer a valuable insight into your customer’s shopping experience. Wendy Short reports on how they can help your farm shop or rural enterprise.

  • Ellis family take the Fosse Way to diversification

    April 30, 2010

    The historic location of Fosse Way has helped a Warwickshire family to capitalise on new ventures and serve their home-grown produce via their onsite outlets. ANGELA CALVERT reports.

  • General election 2010: Voters' views from UK farms

    28 April 2010

    How farmers from across the country will vote and what they have to say about the political future.

  • General Election 2010: Young Farmers share their views

    28 April 2010

    HOW the next generation in the farming industry will vote at the General Election.

  • FUW sets out election demands

    23 April 2010

    FAMILY farms have to be at the heart of Government rural policies, Farmers Union of Wales president, Gareth Vaughan warns prospective MPs in the union’s ‘Farming for all our Futures’ General Election manifesto.

  • NSA sets out General Election demands

    20 April 2010

    THE National Sheep Association (NSA) has called on Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown to give a commitment to supporting the sector as they continue their campaigns for the upcoming General Election.

  • Government must allow farmers to flourish - NFUS

    13 April 2010

    THE next Government must create a policy that allows farming and food production to flourish, NFU Scotland has warned.

  • A fast improving South Devon herd

    April 9, 2010

    NO strangers to quality cattle, former dairy farmers David and Barbara Bowley are making waves with South Devon Cattle, winning an Eblex Most Improved Herd competition last year. Angela Calvert went to meet them.

  • Developing new avenues with farming at the helm

    April 9, 2010

    Despite having numerous business enterprises to his name, James Buckle’s job title of choice is still ‘farmer’. Clemmie Gleeson discovers more about his ‘trinity’ of Suffolk breeds.

  • Farming industry outlines election priorities

    7 April 2010

    FARMING and rural organisations have been laying out their priorities for the next Government, as the General Election campaign begins in earnest.

  • Return to pea crop turns out to be most profitable

    24 March 2010

    Cambridgeshire-based arable farmer Edward Davison, had an interesting 2009 season. A return to growing peas after a 12-year break produced higher than expected yields of over four tonnes per hectare and combined with the contract premium, the crop turned out to be one of the farm’s most profitable.

  • Formula to beat uphill odds also has sting of optimism in tail-end

    23 March 2010

    Upland hill farmer Richard Finlay has a reason to be optimistic thanks to a new partnership which sparked a shift in livestock management, an increase in herd size and a reduction in site costs. Angela Calvert visits North Yorkshire.

  • Cooking up a niche market to get better returns from Welsh lamb

    March 19, 2010

    For Daphne Tilley, nothing tastes better than locally-produced Welsh lamb and beef. Her specific choice would, of course, be her own Elwy Valley Welsh lamb and beef produced on the hills of Denbighshire.

  • Life-changing moment turns love of goats into a farm business

    March 19, 2010

    For the first time ever there were two winners of the NFU Cymru-NatWest Woman Farmer of the Year Award. Barry Alston meets Loraine Makowski-Heaton and Daphne Tilley.

  • Rotational grazing plan aims to stimulate grass after frosts

    March 19, 2010

    With spring in the air and despite the harsh winter, dairy farmer, Paul Dean, is already into his rotational grazing system. Katie Lomas went to Cheshire to meet him.

  • Enjoying the fruits of their labour in the Welsh Hills

    March 12, 2010

    Cattle and sheep have long been the mainstay of Britain’s upland farming areas – but soft fruit? Barry Alston takes a look at a novel diversification venture high up in the Radnorshire hills.

  • A little bit of New Zealand on the West Sussex downs

    March 5, 2010

    The devastating foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 may be an unlikely source of inspiration, but for Chris and Caroline Hodgkins it was a blessing in disguise. William Surman visits West Sussex to discover why.

  • High lifetime yielding cows are a way of life in Cornwall

    March 5, 2010

    Following an article in FG about lifetime dairy yield (LDY), Joanne Pugh went to see Tresemple Rebecca 18 – a pedigree Holstein bred by Paul Richards that has averaged 27.09 litres of milk for every day since she was born 12 years ago.

  • Investing in the future of dairying

    March 5, 2010

    New Fullwood parlour, cattle sheds and an innovative outlook help the Awde family build a future in dairying.

  • Boosting profile of Fens growers and environmental management

    February 26, 2010

    CAMBRIDGESHIRE Campaign for the Farmed Environment chairman Michael Sly explains how collaboration with other farmers has benefited the environment and his business.

  • Challenging convention on feeding following a gamble on Blue heifers

    February 26, 2010

    A speculative purchase of four British Blue cross heifers in 2003 has developed into a thriving suckler herd for Mervyn Thomas. Simon Wragg meets the farmer whose innovative thinking on feed regimes is challenging finishing times.

  • Pig farmers look to the future after turbulent years

    February 19, 2010

    Consumer demand for local food and the success of the Honest Labelling campaign will be crucial to the future of the country’s pig farmers, according to producer Stephen Thompson.

  • Diversification - elementary when your name is Watson

    February 12, 2010

    Arriving on Yew Tree Farm with just a couple of pieces of kit to their name, Jon and Caroline Watson have built their livestock enterprise from scratch and used history and circumstances to their advantage. Wendy Short SHORT reports.

  • Renowned dairy farmer turns his hand to beef production

    February 5, 2010

    Converted beef farmer and former vice chairman of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board, James Brown, talks to Linda McDonald-Brown about the changes needed to turn a renowned dairy farm into a top beef enterprise.

  • Turning a dairy dream into a thriving specialist business

    January 22, 2010

    In an area not renowned for dairy herds, two brothers’ passion for cheese-making has allowed them carve a niche as a specialist food producer.

  • Battling through hardship to live the ‘Italian’ dream

    November 6, 2009

    THE odds have been stacked against pig farmer Russell Kilvington since day one, but somehow each time he comes back stronger. William Surman reports.

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