We have seldom seen such diverse growth stages across our spring crops, much within individual fields. Especially where we have still had no meaningful rain.

In a bid to meet growing consumer demand for alternatives to dairy, Meadow Foods is set to open a new £4m plant-based manufacturing facility. Mollie Leach and Cedric Porter report.

In the unlikely scenario that I ever appear on Mastermind, my specialist subject will be the complete works of Henry Brewis.

The weather is fantastic and it would have been great if agricultural shows, events and festivals which usually occur had been able to take place. The irony of having fantastic weather on the Easter and May Bank Holidays, when people cannot or should not be going anywhere due to lockdown is a double blow.

As I write, it feels like the calm before the storm. Usually around this time we would be flat out with T2’s on wheat, but that will not take long this year and we are now playing a waiting game for the spring cereals.

At the beginning of the month a wise farmer told me if there is no rain in the first week of May then there will be none for the rest of the month. After a brief interlude of 8mm rain last Sunday he has not been far wrong.

William Kinston, 17, is a dairy farmer’s son from Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, and is currently studying an agriculture level three diploma at Reaseheath College, Cheshire.

Why are tractors not allowed on the German autobahn? Without speed limits, a trusty tractor just cannot hold its own against gangs of lean, mean BMWs or Audis. Gaggles of tractors bouncing out onto these roads would just be sitting ducks.

US National Pork Producers Council and American hog producers do not want a ‘food fight’ with the UK pig industry writes John Wilkes.

CALVES are constantly faced with a barrage of attacks by pathogens but research shows supplementation with immune-boosting probiotics could help to tip the balance in their favour.