Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Crops look good, but profitability a concernI farm in the north of County Dublin and surrounding areas on a large family farm with seven brothers and their seven sons all working together in one shared business.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Maize set to be 'neck-high by 4 July'We have been lucky with rain in June, receiving 52mm. This was a little too late for the early maturing wheats, as they have gone downhill fast. The spring wheat… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: We can learn much from French attitude to foodWe recently returned from a week in France over half-term. The weather was fantastic, as was the food, beer and wine. At the same time, a farmer who many of… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Harvest prospects and next year's wheatsIt is that time of year again – for attending crop variety trial meetings. Well, it is for Dad, anyway. Yellow rust has definitely been the talk of the town,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: A whistlestop tour of rural AmericaIn late May, I was fortunate to have a week in the US visiting suppliers of an irrigation business we are part owners of. Nothing beats fronting up, in person,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Agricultural support is slipping away rapidlyI often start by talking about the weather, so here goes: it's very dry. That’s enough said on that. I’ll now move on to commodity prices. Well, prices are pretty… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hopes of good wheat yields in wetter DevonWith fairly consistent showers throughout May and early June, we’ve certainly had enough moisture to maintain yield potential in our area of Devon. And to top it off, the sun… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: We subsidise food with our diversificationsReturning from a break was made a more pleasurable experience by some rain, meaning everything had grown apace or been saved, depending on soil type. After last year forced a… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Homework that only realists should attemptThe weather eventually played ball at Shimpling Park Farm at the end of May, when we received an inch of rain, and then in the first week of June, with… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Still desperate for rain as ground is parchedThe brook at the bottom of our farm often runs low during the summer months. This spring, however, it has completely dried up. It’s no surprise really, considering throughout May… ARABLEFarmer Focus: Blackgrass warning to growers in the NorthThe rain has arrived and just in the nick of time. We had 48mm during the last 10 days of May, which has undoubtedly altered our harvest outlook for the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tasty bread made with low protein wheatFarming always has its challenges, and this spring has certainly been one of those. Nitrogen was left lying on the ground for weeks on end and plants are suffering from… More articles
