This Week in Farming: Dealers, waste and Red Tractor
Scot Agri's Muir of Ord branch © Scot Agri Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days.
But first, here’s your markets (opens as PDF), with another week of turbulence for oilseed rape (this time in the right direction) and more gains for beef.
Now, on with the show.
About the author
Time for change, says Red Tractor
Red Tractor, the UK’s largest farm assurance scheme, has vowed to implement sweeping reforms recommended by the Farm Assurance Review.
The news came following a meeting of Red Tractor’s ownership board, which is made up of representatives from across the food supply chain.
In my editorial this week, I welcome the development and say it is time for critics of the unloved organisation to call a ceasefire to give time for it to make good on these commitments.
Waste ye not
Three separate stories jumped out at me this week – because in different ways they all screamed wasteful behaviour.
First, the senseless destruction of this tractor by arson. It is to be hoped the farmers, who are offering a reward for information that may lead to the conviction of those responsible, are successful.
Second, the cost of administration of the Scottish IT system that delivers payments to farmers and crofters. Did it really require £1.6m a month to outside firms to keep it up and running?
And third, the operation of Welsh levy board Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), which came in for some sharp criticism this week from processors Dunbia and Kepak.
They say it is duplicating work done by other levy boards and processors and its marketing is having no positive impact on red meat sales.
Dealership latest
It’s the latest dealer deep dive from the machinery team this week, with the publication of our annual ranking of the UK’s biggest sellers of agricultural machinery.
With the normal financial reporting delays, this is based on their turnover for the year ending April 2024.
We’ve also got the latest news on new partnerships between dealers and manufacturers right here.
Growing a livestock business
It’s always brilliant to feature enthusiastic people building a business in farming, especially when they’ve started from nothing.
That’s been the experience of David and Kirsty Tester, who now run 1,000 ewes and 30 sucklers, after originally meeting while studying agriculture at college in the 1990s.
In this separate piece with a dairy slant, deputy livestock editor Shirley Macmillan digs deep into the science of building good business relationships, vital for anyone who wants their enterprise to flourish.
Who’s up and who’s down?
Feeling glum this week are Steve Reed’s wellies. A mischievous parliamentary question from a Tory MP revealed he’s only visited four farms since July.
Feeling much more cheerful is a farmer from near Newcastle Emlyn who’s had dozens of stolen sheep recovered after a police investigation into the incident, with officers also arresting a 40-year-old man on suspicion of theft.
Listen to the podcast
Don’t forget to tune in to the FW Podcast, with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
You’ll find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, or free to listen to on our website.