News

Running a team of teaser rams with ewes before tupping has the potential to manipulate lambing date and shorten the lambing period, Hannah Noble reports on how to best manage and utilise teasers on-farm.

A review of evidence and new trials work have revealed the factors most likely to influence cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressure in winter oilseed rape.

Mure Grant, 20, is a sheep farmer’s son from Thurso, Caithness, and recently competed in Scotland’s young handlers section at the international sheepdog trials.

In these uncertain times, it might be tempting for farmers to put the brakes on investment in sustainability but now is the time to ensure the British agriculture sector is at the centre of a green economic recovery, and the support for farmers is out there, says Lee Reeves, head of agriculture at Lloyds Bank. 

Beef and lamb prices continue to be above those last year against a background of higher retail sales, the prospect of increasing foodservice sales and pressure on slaughter numbers.

With more than one million people backing food standards by signing the NFU petition to protect them in law, we may yet force the Government’s hand on this issue, says Tim Farron, agriculture spokesman for the Liberal Democrats.

In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, the Tories are preparing to sacrifice farmers on the Brexit altar by trying to prevent the Scottish Government from maintaining EU standards, says John Finnie, Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

Defra’s public money for public goods scheme could be open to challenge from other countries at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), according to two industry experts.

I have absolutely no objection to high animal welfare standards, but selling them as a magical business opportunity for UK farmers after Brexit is beyond laughable, says Norman Bagley, head of policy at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS).

As lockdown enters its final stages, in England at least, it is remarkable to consider the changes wrought by this unprecedented time. None more so than the impact the pandemic has had on the travel and transport industries.