Happy new year. January is always a month that flies by but in theory should be quiet, with little other than routine feeding to be done.

By rights, when you read this Stephen and I should have had a couple of days in Glasgow at the Semex conference, which is always an interesting and thought provoking conference. However, it has obviously been cancelled due to restrictions in Scotland.

Floss Styles, 30, is the founder of the First Generation Farmers Group on Facebook. From two sheep to 60, she is building up a farming business in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, while working full-time.

Combining genomic testing with a sexed and beef strategy is helping Aberystwyth University’s farm to efficiently breed the best replacements to suit their new robotic system.

Cost and carbon footprint have driven a Devon family to reduce the number of replacements reared.

Increased demand for dairy means the industry has a bright future, as long as farmers can weather the storm ahead. Industry leaders run through what challenges they can expect in the forthcoming years.

Labour savings, improved cow performance and better health management have been some of the benefits of moving to robotic milking on one Cumbrian dairy farm.

An automated feeding system is proving its worth on a Shropshire farm where yields, cow health and feeding efficiencies have been given a boost.

Moving from conventional milking to robotic milking has the potential to drive numerous efficiency gains on-farm and help future-proof dairy businesses.