Top Stories

'Prepare for the unexpected' - 10 ways to survive living with a farmer

15 Jul 201904:00

Former journalist and blogger Emma Lander tells us the top ten things she’s learnt from living with a farmer.

UK farmers urged to prepare for more currency volatility ahead

13 Aug 201712:00

Farmers need to be prepared for more currency volatility while the UK prepares to leave the EU if they want to carry on ‘business as usual’.

Advice Brexit Business Politics

Improving rural security: Nine ways to keep your farm vehicles safe

15 Aug 201711:45

Good security is crucial to protecting your property. But as no two farms or rural businesses are the same, there’s no standard, one-size-fits-all solution.

Advice farm life Handy hints Machinery Rural crime

TOP TIPS: 10 ways to keep your cattle safe from bovine TB

15 Aug 201716:00

As England and Wales battle to get on top of bovine TB and the disease closes in on Scotland, we have put together some top tips on keeping your cattle safe and preventing the spread of infection.

Advice Beef Bovine TB dairy farm life livestock Scotland Scottish Borders Wales Welfare

Young farmers: What to do if you don't get your A-Level grades - clearing explained

15 Aug 201809:00

As pivotal exam results emerge and loom, thousands of students will be looking ahead with a mixture of nerves and excitement to university.

Advice Getting started Handy hints New entrants Young farmers Young Farmers Clubs

TOP TIPS: 10 ways tenants can prepare themselves for Brexit

20 Aug 201716:00

10 top tips from the TFA for tenants to prepare themselves for Brexit.

Advice Brexit Business

Farmers urged to take precautionary measures to combat arson attacks

29 Aug 201715:25

The CLA is urging farmers to take precautionary measures during harvest and beyond in order to reduce their chances of being a victim of arsonists.

Advice arable farm life Harvest Rural crime

Farm advice: How to spot cyber crime and what to do

05 Sep 201715:03

Being targeted by scammers is, unfortunately, something which happens often in today’s society.

Advice farm life Handy hints Rural crime

FARM TIPS: How to store your combine over winter

12 Sep 201715:00

With some careful post-harvest storage checks and techniques, a lot of stress and breakdowns can be avoided the following season.

Advice farm life Handy hints Machinery

BPS advice: A land and payment checklist for farmers

19 Sep 201716:13

With farmers’ attention being on outdoor work at this time of the year, NFU BPS expert Richard Wordsworth runs down a few BPS-related issues to be aware of.

Advice arable Business farm life Handy hints livestock Machinery Scotland

10 tips and tricks for surviving harvest while dating a farmer

17 Jul 201906:00

With harvest 2019 just around the corner, Kristeena Patsche gives us a few tips and tricks to help partners survive this vital time of the year.

Advice arable farm life Getting started

Fuel & machinery: Top five tips for keeping your farm moving

20 Sep 201706:00

When it comes to the busy harvest season you need to be confident that your machinery is in tip top condition and won’t let you down.

Advice arable farm life Machinery Scotland

Make sure any self-employed farm workers really are self-employed

20 Sep 201711:50

Employers have been urged to check staff are self-employed in the eyes of the law or they could owe substantial amounts in back pay and unpaid National Insurance contributions.

Advice arable Business farm life Legal Help livestock Politics

How to roll a fleece

10 Oct 201710:30

To get the most value out of your wool, it is worth leaning how to roll the fleece properly. British Wool gave their top tips for rolling your fleece.

Advice Handy hints livestock sheep

EXPLAINED: Can a farmer ever drive a tractor on the motorway?

25 Sep 201709:25

A farmer caught driving on the motorway in a tractor has been reprimanded by police - but what are the rules? And are tractors ever allowed on the motorway?

Advice farm life Handy hints Machinery Tractors

Buyer's guide: 150hp tractors for less than £30,000

27 Sep 201710:45

Second-hand tractors can provide cheap power for any type of farm.

Advice arable Buyer's Guides farm life Handy hints livestock Machinery Tractors

TOP TIPS: A guide to selling or letting a farm at its best

02 Oct 201708:00

The key to a successful farm sale or letting is to ensure it looks its best when people come to view it.

Advice arable Business farm life Handy hints livestock Scotland

How it works: Altering tractor tyre pressures on the go

04 Oct 201710:45

The convenience of being able to alter tyre pressures while on the go, to ensure the correct operating pressures for field or road work, is now a reality with a retro-fit central tyre inflation system.

Advice arable farm life livestock Machinery Tractors

Infants, pregnant women and the elderly can now eat runny eggs

11 Oct 201708:00

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced it has changed its advice on eating raw and lightly cooked eggs

Advice livestock poultry Welfare

Breathing new life into unwanted farm goods with shabby chic revolution

18 Oct 201710:00

With the rise in popularity of ’shabby chic’ furniture, Farmers Guardian visited Silverwoods Auctioneers in Lancashire to see which old farm artefacts are in demand.

Advice arable farm life Getting started livestock

BPS payments: Issues for farmers to be aware of at this time of year

19 Oct 201715:45

NFU’s senior BPS adviser Richard Wordsworth discusses issues farmers should be aware of at this time of the year, for BPS payments relating to 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life Getting started livestock Scotland

Pesticides may not be cause of 76 per cent drop in flying insect numbers, says CPA

21 Oct 201707:00

The Crop Protection Association has warned further research is needed to establish the cause of a 76 per cent drop in flying insect numbers in Germany.

Advice arable Arable Farming Crop protection Crops Environment farm life Neonicotinoids

Farmers invited to free seminar explaining how to prepare for Brexit

23 Oct 201708:00

Farmers are being invited to a free Business Festival event that will include talks by local agriculture experts on how they can best prepare for Brexit.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life Getting started livestock

Mud on the roads: What farmers using public highways need to know

24 Oct 201715:15

All farmers must take responsibility for ensuring their own and each other’s safety where agricultural vehicles using public roads are concerned.

Advice arable dairy farm life livestock Machinery Scotland

Staying safe on country roads: 12 rural driving tips

26 Oct 201712:30

Country roads are the most deadly when it comes to road accidents, with almost 60 per cent of all fatalities occurring on them.

Advice arable dairy farm life Farm safety Getting started Handy hints livestock Scotland

Protecting farms: Tackling the threat of flooding in the UK

28 Oct 201707:00

Flooding is rarely out of the headlines but finding workable solutions is a challenge.

Advice arable dairy farm life livestock Scotland

Vermin control: How to prevent rats and mice causing farm headaches

01 Nov 201711:02

Farmers can undertake a number of proactive steps to prevent rats and mice from causing any headaches.

Advice arable farm life livestock Scotland Smallholders

How to maintain small tractors - and look after your attachments

01 Nov 201709:00

While there are still many jobs to do throughout the autumn and winter months, there will be some tools and machinery which you will not need again until next spring.

Advice arable dairy Equipment farm life Handy hints livestock Machinery Scotland Smallholders Tractors

Handy hints: Alternate bedding sources for farm winter housing

09 Nov 201707:00

With straw prices set to rocket this winter, Chloe Palmer weighs up the alternative bedding sources.

Advice Beef dairy farm life Grassland livestock Scotland

Vermin control: How to eradicate moles from your farmland

02 Nov 201713:00

Moles are troublesome vermin that can cause many problems to farmers but, if their behaviour and habits are understood, farmers can eradicate their presence.

Advice arable farm life Handy hints livestock Scotland Smallholders

Warning issued to farmers after spate of waste scams across UK

02 Nov 201711:31

Farmers are being warned they could find themselves in serious financial trouble if they fall into a trap set by waste scammers.

Advice arable dairy farm life livestock

Buyer's Guide: The ultimate UTVs for your farm

02 Nov 201711:30

Offering a balance between a comfortable pickup and go-anywhere quad bike, UTVs are quite capable of negotiating rough terrain, towing a small trailer or carrying tools to head off fencing.

Advice arable ATVs dairy farm life livestock Machinery Smallholders

Farmers - here's how to make sure you have the insurance you need...

03 Nov 201706:00

With farmers only finding their assets may be underinsured once they go to make a claim, Belmont Regency’s Becky Kooner offers advice on how to make sure farmers have the insurance they need.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life livestock Scotland

Livestock and water supply: what farmers need to know

06 Nov 201711:20

Ensuring livestock have adequate, clean water at all times is a welfare requirement, but can require thought and effort.

Advice Beef dairy farm life Grassland livestock Nutrition sheep Welfare

What could interest rate rises mean for your business?

07 Nov 201710:40

The Bank of England last week announced a 0.25 per cent rise in the base rate

Advice Business Funding Prices & trends

BPS 2017 payments: What farmers need to know and what you can do

08 Nov 201710:00

In the first of a two part blog on BPS payments, NFU Senior Adviser, Richard Wordsworth, looks at the state of play on 2017 payments.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life Getting started livestock

How farmers can cash in on the latest craft beer craze

10 Nov 201710:35

The UK craft beer industry is booming, so is there an opportunity for farmers to produce more home-grown hops?

Advice arable Business farm life

Experts warn cattle producers of deadly Blackleg risk: how to prevent it

16 Nov 201709:30

During a run of post-mortem examinations conducted on growing cattle this year, the clostridial disease Blackleg was discovered to be the second most common diagnosis.

Advice Beef dairy farm life Farm safety Grassland livestock Nutrition sheep Welfare

Avoid costly nerve injury in dairy cattle by changing injection techniques

17 Nov 201705:00

Research by experts at the University of Nottingham suggest current injection techniques found in the UK dairy industry need to change to avoid the risk of nerve injury.

Advice dairy Dairy Farmer farm life livestock Welfare

How to succeed at diversification: farmers urged to research market

20 Nov 201706:00

Diversification is likely to play an important role after Brexit but farmers have been urged to research their intended market first.

Advice Business Diversification farm life Getting started

'Bureaucratic shambles' - new RPA boss faces barrage of criticism

17 Nov 201714:50

In his first major public speech since taking over as chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Paul Caldwell faced a barrage of criticism from delegates at the Northern Farming Conference.

Advice Business farm life

Farm tips: How to manage lameness in store cattle

20 Nov 201714:05

Lameness is a major cause for concern in all classes of livestock and can have a marked impact on the bottom line with store and finishing cattle.

Advice Beef dairy farm life livestock Welfare

Clinical signs: Be aware of botulism in cattle when feeding silage

20 Nov 201715:50

While most beef and dairy cattle are now housed, be vigilant for signs of botulism when feeding silage.

Advice Beef dairy farm life livestock

Converting your farm outbuildings into popular holiday lets – five top tips

24 Nov 201706:00

Barns, stables and outbuildings offer shelter and storage but can often lie virtually empty or derelict on farms.

Advice Business farm life Handy hints Scotland

Why farmers should consider holiday lets outside tourist hotspots

03 Dec 201706:00

With many farms outside typical tourist areas, Cath Anthony at Bidwells told Alex Black why farmers should still consider holiday lets.

Advice Business Diversification Land and property

Farmers' markets: What growers and farmers need to know...

29 Nov 201706:00

Farmers’ markets are a great way for farmers and growers to promote their produce and learn about what their end customers really want.

Advice arable Business farm life Getting started Handy hints livestock

Struggling farmers warned against using unlicensed gangmasters for labour

06 Dec 201709:45

Farmers struggling to meet labour requirements have been warned against using unlicensed gangmasters following a crackdown by Britain’s anti-slavery body.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life livestock Scotland

Farmers must keep abreast of changing global trends post-Brexit

09 Dec 201712:00

Keeping track of currency markets and global trends will become even more important than ever post-Brexit.

Advice arable Brexit Business CropTec Show Politics Prices & trends

Farmers face huge fines or jail over health and safety breaches

08 Dec 201714:20

An agricultural risk expert fears farmers are risking severe financial repercussions, and even jail, because they are unaware of tougher penalties for health and safety breaches.

Advice arable Business dairy farm life Farm safety livestock Machinery Scotland

Farmers could benefit from food storage improvement to cut back on waste

10 Dec 201707:00

Improvements in food storage could help cut down on global food waste as well as providing a boost for farmers’ incomes.

Advice arable Business Crops CropTec Show

How to spot bird flu, what to do if you suspect it and how to prevent it

11 Dec 201705:00

If you keep poultry, you should keep a close watch on them for signs of disease, and maintain good biosecurity at all times.

Advice farm life Getting started livestock poultry Scotland Welfare

How farmers can avoid tax pitfalls on extra Christmas income

14 Dec 201706:00

Christmas brings lots of opportunities to generate extra income on farm but business owners need to be aware of the tax pitfalls.

Advice arable Business farm life Getting started Land and property livestock

Opening a farm shop? Here's five things you need to know...

19 Dec 201705:00

Opening a farm shop can be an attractive proposition for a farmer – opening up new markets and gaining an additional income stream which cuts out the middleman.

Advice Business Diversification farm life Getting started Handy hints New entrants

Farmers may be able to reclaim VAT on entitlements

21 Dec 201706:00

Farmers may be able to reclaim VAT on Single Farm Payment Entitlements if the income from subsidies was to be invested into taxable farming activities.

Advice Business farm life Funding Land and property

How farmers can use conversions to help save 'historic' farm buildings

27 Dec 201707:00

With most traditional farm buildings redundant for modern agriculture, Bidwells’ Cath Anthony explains how farmers can secure the future of their historic buildings.

Advice arable dairy farm life Getting started livestock

Farmers urged to use boosted profits to shield businesses from volatility

28 Dec 201707:00

Farmers have been urged to use the better returns from 2017 and 2018 and the period of calm before Brexit to set themselves up for the next decade.

Advice Brexit Business Funding Prices & trends

How to improve farm building design to increase livestock well-being

28 Dec 201711:00

It is essential animal housing provides a comfortable, clean and dry environment, free from hazards and health risks.

Advice Beef dairy farm life Getting started livestock Pig sheep Welfare

Gove speech: What farmers should consider when drafting legal documents

08 Jan 201814:20

While Michael Gove’s speech gave farmers time to prepare before changes to payments come into force, legal contracts entered into now could last beyond 2024.

Advice Business farm life Getting started Handy hints Legal Help

Recruiting farm staff: Five things you need to know

09 Jan 201813:40

With the availability of skilled labour widely touted to become an even bigger problem post-Brexit, Katie Jones talks to an expert about what employers can be doing to ensure the recruitment process is a pain free as

Advice arable Business dairy farm life Getting started livestock Scotland