Ruth Wills

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Articles

Being prepared to adapt and change pays off for Cornish dairy farmer

Nov 21, 2024 | farmersguardian.com | Ruth Wills

To continue reading this article... Join Farmers Guardian Register for 1 free article a week or become a member to unlock even moreFarmers Guardian is the ultimate resource for farmers, providing unparalleled coverage of the key issues and trends affecting the agricultural industry. Real-Time Updates: Get the latest news and analysis on what's happening in the agricultural sector right now. From market trends to technological advancements.
Why Scottish regen farming business added beans to rotation

Nov 10, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Ruth Wills

A contract farming business bringing regenerative agriculture techniques to farms in Scotland has introduced beans into its rotations to improve soil health. Chris Leslie and his business partner James Hopkinson founded Cloud Farming in 2018 with a focus on regenerative farming solutions and good soil management.
Combining almost complete in a variable harvest

Sep 24, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Danusia Osiowy |Ruth Wills

Submitted by Georgina Hedley Combines are slowly being packed away across the UK, although some crops are still waiting patiently to be cut as the weather proves problematic. See also: Harvest highs and lows from Arable Insights farmer panelSomersetHarvest is mostly complete in the South West, with the odd field of linseed or beans still to go, explains Will Vaughan-France, director at Cannington Grain and Somerset farmer.
Harvest 24: End in sight as farmers make progress in dry spell

Sep 20, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Ruth Wills

As much of the cereal harvest draws to a close thanks to a spell of dry weather, farmers reflect on a difficult season, with many looking ahead to next year as good progress with drilling is made. See also: 2 farmers’ autumn drilling plans after last year’s wet weatherNorthern IrelandIn Northen Ireland, Richard Kane is down to the final few hectares of his 121ha spring barley following the worst nine months of weather he has ever experienced at Broglasgow House.
Harvest 24: Final push to complete challenging Scottish harvest

Sep 16, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Natalie Noble |Ruth Wills |Amanda Cornforth-Smith

Hill of Tarvit Farm, Ceres, Fife © Toby-Malcolm As harvest wraps up for many in the South of the country, combines continue to roll in the North. Yields are still proving to be mixed, with most crops achieving respectable quality. See also: Expert advice to improve soil fertility post-harvestScotland/PerthshireSpring barley harvest is looking positive in Perthshire; with combines about two thirds of the way through, says Robin Barron at East of Scotland Farmers.
Harvest 24: Stores report intakes down by up to a third

Sep 9, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Danusia Osiowy |Ruth Wills

Across the country, intakes to stores are still down by between a third and a quarter, with mixed results on quality. With the weather still hampering progress, growers are looking forward to seeing the back of this harvest. See also: How winter cover crops affect soil nitrogen supplyNorth YorkshireStarting in the North, intakes are down by a third and progress is difficult due to poor weather, says David Padgett, managing director at Argrain.
Harvest 24: Hard wheats outperform soft varieties in Kelso

Sep 5, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Danusia Osiowy |Ruth Wills

Harvest continues across the country, with variable results on wheat and several growers reviewing their strategy for the next season – turning towards environmental schemes to boost the bottom linesKelsoThe 650-ha wheat harvest is 60% through at Mertoun Estate Farm, near St Boswells, after a few damp days stopped progress. Yields have been variable, with hard wheats doing better than soft varieties, says farm manager Jack Parsons.
Harvest 24: Flax pulling in Yorkshire and 4.87t/ha OSR in East

Aug 29, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Ruth Wills |Lydia Wombwell

As harvest begins to wrap up in the South, spring barley is looking mainly reasonable while wheat proves to be a pleasant surprise for some. NorthumberlandIt has been a challenging harvest at Eshott South Farm near Felton, where Glen Sanderson is halfway through his 70ha of wheat, which is outperforming the rest of his crops. Typhoon and Graham have performed well at 8.4t/ha and 8.5t/ha, respectively.
Harvest 24: Spring barley and wheat off to slow start in North

Aug 20, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Ruth Wills |Danusia Osiowy

Submitted by Alasdair Elder Wetter weather has hindered harvest progress up and down the country, but quality remains decent in most areas. See also: Worst harvest for nearly 40 years at Northumberland farmLincolnshireMixed quality, ergot and lower yields are the headlines coming out of Union Grain, near Skegness, with weather conditions the main contributing factor. The co-op has taken in 4,000t of wheat, 1,600t of barley and 1,300t of oilseed rape so far.
Harvest 24: Pinched grains in Cornwall and halfway in Wilts

Aug 16, 2024 | fwi.co.uk | Ruth Wills

A frustrating harvest for many continues with very mixed results across the UK, with yields ranging from poor to surprising for the season. ScotlandThe oilseed rape and winter barley harvest is complete for farm manager Will Wombwell, at Dupplin Farms, near Perth. “We’ve averaged 3.8t/ha on 100ha of Exsteel oilseed rape, and only 5.5t/ha on 60ha of Tardis winter barley,” says Will.