Farm Business

Dairy farmers are constantly being urged to increase milk from forage, but the exact financial benefits of doing this are not always spelled out.

As market analysts predict milk price rises into autumn 2022, dairy farmers who can maintain milk yields over this period will be in the best position to take advantage of this buoyant market.

Ross Dilks, an agronomist with Agrii and a dairy farmer in Derbyshire, says although his clients have tried a variety of home-grown feed sources over recent years, his experience shows grass is consistently the most cost-effective way to feed dairy cows.

Exploring all the options to increase milk from forage is yielding results on one Cambridgeshire dairy farm.

Yield mapping for grassland provides vital information to inform future decision making and diet planning and the technology need not cost the earth.

Machinery which is set up correctly lasts longer and makes better silage. These simple steps enable tedders, rakes and mowers to work effectively.

Switching to precision slurry application techniques leads to reduced contamination and improved grass growth. Two farmers share their stories.

Market forecasts show fertiliser prices are unlikely to drop any time soon as the perfect storm of high energy prices coupled with supply side issues mean stocks are tight and will remain so for the forthcoming season at least.

Two men have been convicted of the theft and dishonest handling of property from farms across Somerset following a police investigation. 

Recently, I’ve found myself believing two opposite things at the same time: I’m sure that food in this country is too cheap but I also know it’s far too expensive.