Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Much to learn from farmer overseasAs 2024 comes to a close, it’s fair to say it’s been a difficult year and a lot of change has taken place. 2025 is a new year and we… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: To really learn we must realise our ignoranceFifteen years ago I read a book which seemed to join up the swarm of random dots in my head called Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows. At its simplest,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Will we still be buying nitrogen in the future?To buy or not to buy, that is the question. The air that we breathe is 78% nitrogen. Why would we want to buy it, when we can just fix… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Good health comes from good foodNovember came to the rescue, at least as far as the weather is concerned, and in contrast to last year, we’re drilled up. Bar a bit of spraying, we’re ready… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Death duties are abandoned in New ZealandMy father, along with others of his generation, speak of the impacts of Death Duties on farming families in this country, so we watch with sadness at the political changes… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Cereal crop economics are getting precariousChecking in on the future markets and seeing the downward trending red arrow week after week is becoming increasingly disheartening. I sold a good chunk of 2024 wheat about a… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: A farmer's job is never finishedWell, last time I wrote, it was about completing a slow, drawn-out linseed harvest. I am pleased to say I've finally got it complete, and what an experience that was.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Proud to stand together at the London rallyOur autumn drilling is finally finished, thanks to a kind November. We’ve learnt that although the 12m Horsch Avatar works very well in damp November conditions, the crows love the… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Capping of BPS leaves us with £50,000 holeWhat a turbulent five weeks since I last drafted an article. Last week, we had over 100mm of rain, with 60mm in 24 hours and 15mm of that in an… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Intense ag course will have lasting valueAt the time of writing I am halfway through my Worshipful Company of Farmers course at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). For those readers who have undertaken the course they… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Wet winters driver for future cropping scrutinyBlimey! How things can change in just five weeks. It stopped raining and the ground has dried enough to get granular lime and polysulphate on the wheat. Positive thoughts about… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: All those political promises were liesLike all farmers I’m deeply frustrated by the Labour government's Budget. All those promises made at the NFU conference have turned out to be lies. Like most farms, we will… More articles
