This Week in Farming: Cereals, Mona latest and OFS plaudits
© Tim Scrivener Welcome back to another sparkling edition of This Week in Farming, your regular round-up of the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days.
But before we talk about this week, a final reminder about next week.
Landing on your mat next Friday will be our extra-special 90th anniversary edition, including a reproduced version of our very first magazine from 1934.
Do tell any non-subscribers who may be interested to keep an eye out for it.
Now, on with the show.
Cereals 2024: The debrief
Growers from across the country came to Hertfordshire to shiver their way through two unseasonably chilly days at the Cereals event this week, with plenty to see, do and discuss.
Our team were out in force to cover the latest news from agrochemical manufacturers, seed breeders, machinery sellers and many more, and you can scroll through the headlines here.
In my editorial this week, I wrote that I was cheered by the mood of cautious optimism at the event, with plenty of growers reporting crops worth investing in even as challenges remain.
Looking ahead
Despite the weather, growers’ thoughts are now inevitably turning to harvest and beyond.
Don’t miss this round-up of the latest fire-fighting kit to offer machinery a first line of defence in what may be tinder-dry conditions.
And with fields still bearing the scars of all the wet winter weather, this guide to getting soils back on track after a washout season may be a good companion to your first stab at a plan for what to plant where next time.
Mona fallout
Our thoughts remain with the suppliers and others affected by the collapse into administration of startup cheesemaker Mona Island Dairy, including Welsh taxpayers.
Farmers affected are now having to negotiate alternative arrangements for their milk with their backs to the wall, and it is to be hoped that all are treated with respect.
If you have any further information on any part of this unfolding situation, please contact deputy editor Abi Kay at abi.kay@markallengroup.com to discuss the issue in confidence.
When two tags go to war
A quiet but consequential debate is happening throughout the livestock supply chain on the future of tags that could have significant cost implications for many farmers.
Livestock reporter Michael Priestley reports on whether the currently less common ultra-high frequency tags could in time overtake the current standard low frequency type.
This would simplify fast reading of tags, especially in markets and lairage, but potentially make a lot of current kit redundant – which may go some way towards explaining why certain segments of the industry are resisting it.
Who’s up and who’s down?
A big FW salute to outgoing NFU Sugar Board chairman and Open Farm Sunday (OFS) stalwart Michael Sly, who is surely on the up this week after welcoming the 100,000th visitor to his farm after participating in the event for 17 of the past 18 years.
And feeling gloomy this week? Perhaps long-standing opponents of digital grain passports.
After seeing off another attempt to get the technology launched, the industry has girded its loins and come back with a renewed business case to persuade the doubters.
Listen to the FW podcast
Don’t forget the latest edition of the Farmers Weekly podcast with Johann Tasker and Sandy Kirkpatrick.
Listen here or bring us with you in the cab by downloading it from your usual podcast platform.