Farm Life

This month, Roger Evans tells us about the current craze to emblazon tractors with the owner’s name, and why, in days gone by, he preferred to retain a certain amount of anonymity when it came to driving on the public highway.

Many farmers voted to leave the EU despite the fact that leaving putting the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) at risk. As we all know, the top up from the BPS is the difference between profit and loss on many farms.

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, or so the saying goes. Let’s hope the stormy weather early in the month leads us into a more positive and helpful scenario soon.

AS the coronavirus crisis spooks Governments, individuals and financial markets, empty supermarket shelves have become a visible symbol of the panic which has crept into many areas.

As I write, several local towns are again cut off by road due to flooding, many for the fourth time in as many weeks. As soon as we enjoy a dry day, there is a two-day deluge and the water rises again to dangerous levels, leaving homes and businesses flooded and roads impassable.

As the UK sees the biggest shake-up in agri-funding in decades, future Government policy must support farmers for the ‘public goods’ they provide in tackling climate change, says Martin Lines, Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) chairman.

"There are so many opportunities for those with very different backgrounds to contribute to agriculture"

We are celebrating National Butchers Week by catching up with Tom Wood, Artisan Butcher

Rosemary and her husband Joe farm a closed herd of 100 pedigree Friesian type cows, 60 youngstock and breed bulls for sale. She has served on the MDC Council, Veterinary Products Committee, the RSPCA Council and was WFU dairy chairwoman.