Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Food security is becoming high riskSpring 2026 has been a dry one across the UK, more so for some than others. We have been fortunate, with rainfall at critical times, leaving crops looking respectable, but… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Soils may be getting a little 'linseed sick'Things are hanging on in Devon after a 15mm drop of rain in mid-May. The wheats arguably look as good as they ever have. There's not much to pick between… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Winter cereals have run out of steamThe end is nigh! Well, at least it is for my winter cereals due to the ongoing drought this spring. Our light-land fields have really run out of steam. It… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cattle get air time as TV crew arrivesMay used to feel like a quieter month on the farm – spring drilling completed, cattle turned out, and only the spraying left to keep on top of. These days,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Record BYDV symptoms have got me thinkingWe have more barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) symptoms than I have seen before. I haven’t sprayed any insecticides on wheat for more than 15 years, although we did have… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Recent rain showers have saved cropsWe have had more than 55mm of rain, which has been a saviour for crops, especially the cereals as they were losing tillers fast. It has been a roller-coaster year… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: I'm now part of the sugar beet 100t/ha clubI’m going to start this column with some positives, because in these challenging times, I think it’s important not to forget that it’s rare that everything is rubbish at the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: High disease pressure adds to the costsThe less said about the weather the better. After only 12mm in the past six weeks the crops are struggling, with spring-sown naked oats suffering the most. In contrast, spring… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Rain welcome but dry spell needed for silageThe last time I wrote, there was the possibility of another drought. Thankfully since then we’ve had nearly the perfect amount of rain for the time of year. Crops and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Winter oats are best-looking crop on farmWe have finished planting the potatoes, and the main fertiliser applications are now complete. Our focus shifts to preparing for the harvest season. It is a busy time with spraying,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: We need to adapt to changing rainfall patternsIt rained today. Twice. I feel very fortunate as I hadn’t long finished rolling in the SFI plots and everything needs a drink. Three weeks ago the oats had the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cattle return and major cropping changesTimes are a-changing here, and we have cattle back at Valetta for the first time since the mid-1990s. When we first moved to this farm, we ran some cattle alongside… More articles
