Livestock Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Yield up 6 litres with 365-day housingWe’ve worked towards housing the cows all year round for a number of years, and after completing the cubicle shed last autumn, we have done just that. From a production… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hedge rules show red tape continuesThe May ultra-marathon is complete. I can’t thank my team enough. The highlight was taking on an extra 53ha with a day’s notice and getting it drilled up from scratch.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Don’t forget farming’s role in tourismWe recently returned from a fantastic break. Apologies in advance if this article sounds like an advert from the Welsh tourism board, but our experience was genuinely that impressive. We… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Environment inspectors show farming interestIt has been a busy month since my last piece. Entertainment has included a couple of trips away from the farm. I went to Krakow in Poland for my stag… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Forage scheme dug us out of a holeGrass growth only saw a significant increase in the second week of May. Prior to this, persistent rain and temperatures around 9-10C left many silage fields seemingly stuck in winter… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Would it be hypocritical to continue judging?I recently had a fabulous day out judging at the Devon County show. I was treated to beautiful cattle and a two-year-old heifer that was probably the clearest champion in… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Zero grazing starts eight weeks later than 2023They say a week is a long time in politics. Well, a month seems to go ridiculously fast in farming, once the weather plays ball. After a terrible March and… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Hoping to stave off disease with wheel washOne of the UK pig industry’s biggest challenges is protecting the health of our herds by keeping out disease. For those of us farming in the outdoor sector rather than… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Mower leaves wheelings but maize is inI’ve had a busy few weeks since the sun came out. This article has been in the back of my mind for a week or so, but trying to find… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Tractor in flames as clean grazing startsApart from the last couple of ewes, 2024 lambing is done at time of writing. After some significant number changes, reducing to 180 ewes this year – 550 less than… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Clover reseed needed after winter soakingMaize drilling has just finished as I write. Seed was wrestled into the ground. To say we started from a seed-bed that was “wet” is an understatement. It’s a bit… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Composted muck makes light work of cartingThere is always a sense of relief here as we progress through May. I imagine everyone is glad to see the back of the gloomy winter and benefit from the… More articles
