All from last 24 hours ENVIRONMENTTree planting grants raised in WalesFarmers and landowners in Wales can apply for enhanced tree-planting grants from next Wednesday (4 March), the Welsh government has announced. The latest grants offer up to £13,294/ha, including 12 years… BUSINESSDemand for British food continues to grow says Tesco bossFresh food sales at Tesco have climbed by 6.6% on the previous year, according to its chief executive, Ashwin Prasad. Mr Prasad stated that demand for “fresh healthy British home-grown… ENVIRONMENTDorset farmer fined over slurry storage breachA Dorset farmer has been charged a hefty fine at Yeovil Magistrates Court after failing to install adequate slurry storage at his Blandford farm, breaching environmental regulations in a designated… FARM POLICYBradshaw demands urgent bovine TB planFarmers need a bovine TB eradication plan they “believe can deliver”, NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned Defra, as frustration boiled over at the union’s annual conference. In a blunt message… TRACTORSPunchy new John Deere 8RX 540 maxes out at 634hpJohn Deere reckons it has produced the world’s most powerful rigid-frame tractor. The wheeled 8R 540 and four-track 8RX equivalent are rated to a maximum output of 594hp, rising to… FARM POLICYSustainable Farming Scheme application window set to openFarmers in Wales will be able to apply for funding under the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) from Monday 2 March. Those seeking direct support in 2026 must decide at… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESAnalysis: Milk price crash tests dairy resilienceWith farmgate milk prices down by more than a quarter since the autumn, dairy producers are dealing with a margin squeeze few producers have experienced at this pace. Since October,… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2026: Low-cost tools and attachmentsFarmers have been busy in their workshops getting creative with clever tools and attachments to make life easier and save cash. We round up some of the best of these… BRITAIN'S FITTEST FARMERBritain’s Fittest Farmer 2026 opens for entriesBritain’s Fittest Farmer is back for 2026 and has opened for entries. Qualifying heats are scheduled for June at the Lincolnshire Show and the Cereals event (being held this year… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT6 tips on producing grass silage at optimal dry matterGood-quality grass silage is the foundation of the winter ration for livestock, and throughout the year for housed systems. A key metric for achieving the best intakes and performance from… CROP MANAGEMENTWhy spring beans benefit from earlier drillingLower growing costs, the opportunity to exploit the break crop effect, and better variety choice are all good reasons to grow spring beans this year. Timely drilling is advised to… DIVERSIFICATIONHow business rate changes will affect alternative enterprisesDefra estimates about 72% of farm businesses in England had some diversified activity in 2024-25. Farm shops, cafés and specialist dining experiences, storage units and renewable energy were – and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Major flood erodes soil and flattens fencesWith blue sky, sunshine and hard, frosty ground providing a pleasant view through the office window, it’s hard to believe we have endured more than two months of absolute weather… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2026: Seed bag lifter speeds drill fillingHamish Watson has been highly commended. There’s no need to tie up a telehandler during drilling season at Hamish Watson’s farm in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, as his tractor has all it…
