Author Posts: Farmers Guide

Demand for second-hand farm machinery is on the rise and Halls have reported selling nearly £5.6 million worth of equipment so far in what has been an exceptionally busy year for dispersal sales.

Farmers from all sectors who have invested in creating an additional income stream for their business are encouraged to enter Scotland’s ‘Diversified Farm of the Year 2023’ award, with the winner set to receive widespread recognition at the Scottish Agricultural Awards in October.

Meat alternatives brand Beyond Meat has seen its sales decline by nearly a third in the second quarter of 2023, as consumers opt for more affordable animal protein and the health credentials of plant-based meat are called into question by many.

In a letter to MPs, farm vets from VetPartners are calling on the government to address the volatility of the milk market at a time when farmers are facing increased labour costs and the price of fuel, equipment, energy and rents have risen.

Building on last year’s success, AHDB and UK exporters travelled to the Philippines to showcase the qualities of British pork and beef at the World Food Expo (WOFEX), meet key stakeholders and cultivate new business opportunities in the Asian market.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has praised AHDB’s commitment to expanding trade opportunities for UK lamb across the globe and has welcomed plans to launch a trade mission to Kuwait next month with the aim of unlocking further markets for British exporters.

To combat the growing issue of anthelmintic resistance, a recent study investigated measuring worm tolerance in lambs and the effect of genetics on how well untreated animals coped with a higher worm burden.

Emerging OSR varieties with improved genetics that keep plant stems healthy are offering growers increased resistance to yield-robbing diseases such as phoma, light leaf spot and verticillium, according to LSPB managing director Chris Guest.

Laurence J Betts Ltd (LJ Betts), grower of premium salads since 1930, has been acquired by the Regan family who are the owners of Hugh Lowe Farms Ltd, a neighbouring berry growing business in Kent, and of Blaise Plants Ltd, a plant propagator.

The government has been accused of sabotaging UK food producers by imposing further delays to import checks on fresh farm produce arriving from the EU, maintaining an uneven playing field for British farmers.

Read the latest news from Horsch, including a review of its new self propelled sprayer, how a completely revolutionary single disk drill can be used for optimum seed placement and advice for sowing in wheat straw with disc technology.

The industry-renowned dairy course ‘Entrepreneurs in Dairying’, run by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and sponsored by HSBC UK, is set to return this October and is open to anyone interested in a career in the dairy sector.