’For many years, we have known that in order for the farm to survive, we had to diversify’ says Laura Lewis

The Agriculture Bill returning to Parliament this week is an important step in the UK’s departure from the EU, setting out the route to a new, more tailored system of agricultural support, as well as providing the basis for U

Cover crop strategies – designed to protect margins, capitalise on farm payments and maximise environmental benefits – are essential, according to AHDB-funded research.

It is hard to remember a better climate for lambing. We have had six weeks of warm, dry days and, just as the last few hoggs lamb down, we had last week’s welcome rain to get the grass growing ahead of demand.

Lambs sired by performance recorded rams were heavier than lambs than sired by non-performance recorded rams in initial results from Meat Promotion Wales (HCC)’s hill ram scheme.

They say be careful what you wish for. We had been hoping for a break in the weather to get stuck in to some jobs and, crikey, we have been busy with fertiliser spreading, spraying, tanking, ploughing, subsoiling, power harrowing, drilling maize and spring barley, staff training, fencing and a few cows to milk. Even the dog is shattered.

Jessica Armitage, 25, from Oakham, Rutland, is a herdswoman at Keythorpe Organic Farms and is the owner and founder of PrOganic, a milk processing business.

Some guidance on safety at shearing has been produced by industry in response to the unique situation this year.

With the ongoing health crisis and many farm businesses experiencing cash flow issues, the phase out of BPS should be delayed by one year, says Neil Parish, chair of the Efra Select Committee.

With the media focused on the coronavirus crisis, UK-EU trade talks are likely to take place with far less scrutiny than usual, says John Henning, County Armagh beef farmer.