Latest farming opinions OPINIONOpinion: Big ag uses its power to exploit farmersMost of us are familiar with Del Boy’s “no money back, no guarantee” mantra, but don’t you feel like that’s where we’re at? The march of capitalism in farming over… OPINIONOpinion: Free farrowing pigs can be best commercial optionThere is a lot of talk in the industry about “flexible farrowing” – systems that allow temporary confinement of pregnant and birthing sows – with those in favour seeing it… OPINIONOpinion: All my organic preconceptions have been overturnedIt’s been four years since I first inflicted my opinions on the august readership of Farmers Weekly. Until now, I have resisted the urge to bang on about organic farming… OPINIONEditor's View: Up horn, down corn likely outcome in EU dealWe may be less than two months from the government’s most consequential bundle of decisions relating to agriculture for this parliament. The way Westminster’s negotiations with the EU pan out… OPINIONOpinion: Was stepping off insurance treadmill right for Bella?It has been nearly a decade since we had the grim job of calling the vet and asking him to put down an old dog. And bearing in mind that… OPINIONOpinion: Green Party will try to end farming as we know itThe exercise may not have had quite the effect my junior school teacher intended – on me at least. A general election was in the offing and she decided a… OPINIONOpinion: New planning powers may solve farming's ammonia problemAmmonia is a significant source of air pollution in the UK and can have an impact on protected sites. With agriculture representing 87% of total emissions, it is understandable that… OPINIONEditor's View: Maddening Trump tips UK farmers into the redIsn’t it maddening that US decisions that have been taken in the Oval Office, and those that are yet to be taken, will dictate whether a slice of UK farmers… OPINIONOpinion: Lack of opportunity for young farmers blights ScotlandLand and Freedom was the battle cry of the early 1900’s Mexican revolutionary Emilliano Zapata. Still a symbol for Mexico’s farmers today, his words also ring true for UK farming,… OPINIONOpinion: Biostimulants held back by inadequate regulationFor UK wheat producers, weather variability has overtaken traditional agronomy challenges as the biggest threat to crop performance, ahead of disease or weed control. On top of weather challenges, the… OPINIONOpinion: Mental health issues need empathy not appeasementThe second you say “mental health” in farming, some people switch off. They don’t do it because they don’t care. Often it’s the opposite. They care too much, don’t know… OPINIONEditor's View: Too much of our food is still in wrong placeWe are not angry enough about the amount of food that is wasted between field and fork. That was my overriding emotion after leaving a briefing this week put on… OPINIONOpinion: 'Baler twine sustainability' shows farmer ingenuityBefore sustainability targets, audits and carbon scores, farms were already running low-waste systems. Making do, fixing and reusing were not trends. They were skills learned out of necessity and they’re… OPINIONOpinion: The age of volatility demands a new approachIt’s been quite the half decade, hasn’t it? Covid-19, departing the European Union, the largest European war since 1945 and, now, a conflagration in the Middle East which threatens to… OPINIONEditor's View: Pleasing end to thorny dairy succession issueIf you have been to a few farming conferences in your time, you may well have seen the cartoon of two business owners talking about their staff. “What if we… OPINIONOpinion: New SFI means more risk and more cost for farmersThe announcement of the 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive has been met with a largely positive response, with the overwhelming feeling one of relief. It is unbelievable that our expectations have… OPINIONOpinion: Agri-tech must earn its place on-farm The potential benefits of embracing agri-tech for farmers running high-risk, capital-intensive businesses are clear to see. Innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, for example, holds huge potential to bring… OPINIONOpinion: Response to goose problem highlights crofting spiritOn a bright winter morning, six little heads appeared over the lip of a grassy slope on our croft. I watched the gaggle of greylag geese from my kitchen window… OPINIONEditor's View: Upheaval for farming likely in May electionsThere is a well-worn phrase in political circles about how one should interpret the many, many things that come out of the mouth of US president Donald Trump. The media,… More articles
