Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: It's the end of the road for sugar beetAugust can often be a wet month here, and 2026 hasn’t been an exception. We had 63mm of rain in the month, which is nearly as much as May, June and July combined. Thankfully,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: It's as if someone threw a tin of green paintWhat a difference over 100mm of rain has made. We are no longer breaking shear bolts or wearing metal away on our cultivation equipment as quickly. We have been able… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Drilling oilseed rape in three methodsWith harvest finished in record time, the combines are now sitting waiting for the beans. They can be frustrating to wait for, especially after we had weeks of good weather… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: It was one of those emails you dreadA few weeks ago I got one of those emails you dread: The Environment Agency wish to do a farm inspection. Of course it would have to be right in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Wait for rain is agonisingAs the days tick by and August draws to a close, we are still agonisingly awaiting some rain here in Herefordshire. Since the beginning of June, we have recorded a… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: A rewarding trip home down memory laneThis month I have had an adventure, a trip back home of sorts and down memory lane. I grew up on a dairy farm in South Auckland, and when I… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Harvest done, thoughts turn to soil testingHarvest is done and dusted. I was anticipating another dismal and disappointing year, especially having seen posts on social media of so many with underwhelming yields. Happily though the oats… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Watching crops melt away was heartbreakingThis harvest has been the ultimate giver of false hope. Crops looked full of potential, but high temperatures and a lack of rain, resulted in poor yields. I always try… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: To plant or not to plant? That is the questionWith yet another dry harvest over, can we go another year? We are always the optimists as farmers, but without water what can we grow? We can look at changing… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Combine breakdowns and variable crop yieldsHarvest started at Southesk on 21 July, fully a week earlier than normal and has already produced more than enough drama both crop and operationally related. The combination of three… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Yields 30% down on 10-year averageAs across much of the country, harvest came early to Shimpling Park Farm this year. It was hardly surprising, as all our crops came into ear at least a fortnight… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: New farm sign prompts neighbour commentI had an interesting conversation with one of our neighbours who lives along the farm road. I had recently installed a new farm sign with the usual notices – CCTV… More articles
