Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Arable outlook as bleak as 10 years agoAfter a nice dry spell over Christmas and New Year, we have had nonstop rain for the past couple of weeks. It's a chance to plan for the year ahead.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Defra delivers another stewardship conundrumIn typical Defra style, literally weeks after it left me in a conundrum over our Countryside Stewardship (CS) extension – and I chose not to extend – it announces that… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: We should call subsidies 'government contracts'We’ve had news that a form of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be coming out this year, with the potential introduction of capping. If it does come in, I… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tariff chaos bound to affect commodity pricesThe world has seen another senior moment from Trump, first threatening tariffs on a few EU countries and Britain over Greenland before changing his mind and dropping the idea. We’ve… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Big business change sees breeding flock goWe are taking a very hard look at all parts of our business, with an open mind to making change. Change became reality here last Monday when we sold our… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: UK organic area fails to hit demandAnother year started for Alice and I with two days at the excellent Oxford Real Farming Conference. With 2,000 delegates and 418 speakers from all continents, there really was something… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Good nutrition is key to finding happinessThe farm was covered in snow last week, making for a truly wonderful winter scene. It is so enjoyable seeing a typical winter for once. Or is it? We still… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Crops are an easy target for pink-footed geeseIn terms of the weather at least, 2026 has arrived with intent. Our coastal location hasn’t been too affected, with snow lasting only two days. However, persistent rain and sleet… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Spring barley is now risky and unpredictableJanuary is the month when new year resolutions begin and some end, we see night-time temperatures dip below 0C and we begin to look ahead at the upcoming workload. Before… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Crops benefit from cold weather snapWith the nice cold snap behind us, crops seem to look a little perkier and much better for it. The cold weather has hardened them and knocked disease back. I… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: I’ve reached farmer survey saturation pointSurveys seem to be filling my in-tray this winter. Despite barely having enough time to write my Christmas thank you cards, we are continually asked to feed back to our… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Times are hard times but fortunes will changeAs much as I want to forget about the sprayer in the middle of winter, the blessed agronomist keeps finding things for it to do. To be fair, he’s not… More articles
