Insightful

Virtual home-working has been a learning curve for many agricultural employees, so what lessons can be learned from the journey so far? Danusia Osiowy speaks to three young professionals who have adapted to new working days.

Insufficient immunity is increasing cases of lungworm in cattle, and this season is providing the perfect conditions for autumn outbreaks of disease, according to vet Claire Whittle.

Close attention to calf rearing begins from the moment of birth at West Mill Farm, Dorset. This is driving fast growth, high health, superb conception rates to sexed semen and calving at 24 months.

Targeting oilseed rape crops on more fertile fields and more extensive use of manures could help crops better cope with the challenges of cabbage stem flea beetle, says Suffolk farm manager, Simon Eddell.

There can be few practices on the farm which can be changed with so little investment, and to such great effect, than age at first calving. Still, the UK’s age at first calving remains stubbornly fixed at an average 28 months, despite the well-promoted benefits of calving at two years.

Agriculture is a highly versatile industry and the adaptations and innovations taking place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic only reinforces its ability to change at short notice. We catch up with two young professionals whose roles have changed as their sectors face the reality of Covid-19.

Beef producer Paul Humphreys has high expectations of the stock he produces at Blixes Farm, near Chelmsford, Essex, and knows exactly the end-product he wants his butchery to create.

Wormer resistance is a very real threat to sheep farming. Farmers must adopt new, sustainable worming practices to prolong the effectiveness of wormers.

OSR growers at the latest Syngenta iOSR group meeting highlighted their commitment to their most profitable break crop, but reinforced the need for a better understanding of establishment to achieve more consistent results.