51AVÊÓƵ

This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: Steve Witherden, Labour MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr

Dan Hawes grew up on an arable farm in Suffolk and now produces strawberry and raspberry plants for the UK fruit market with Blaise Plants, sister company to Hugh Lowe Farms, Kent. The business grows outside, under tunnels and in glasshouses and produces more than four million plants a year. The arable side includes environmental schemes, with a mix of wheat, oilseed rape, beans and barley crops

Alan Carter farms in partnership with his parents, Paul and Christine, on a 162 hectare (400-acre), 400-cow dairy unit at Constantine, Cornwall, with 130 milking cows, supplying Saputo. Alan, also a parish councillor, and his wife Sarah, have two children, Ross and Dana

Farmers in England are reminded of the spreading restrictions on urea fertilisers beyond April 1, 2025 and applying protected urea, instead of untreated urea or ammonium nitrate, will offer both environmental and economic advantages

Rod Cordingley, a valuation and asset management specialist at Stephensons Rural, breaks down the changes and provides essential guidance for farmers facing the new tax environment

Farmers urged to be ready to spray as soon as conditions improve

Dan Jones farms 650 ewes at the National Trust-owned Parc Farm, which sits on the Great Orme on the North Wales coast near Llandudno

Farmers are urged to stay vigilant this lambing and calving season after cases of Schmallenberg have been identified in southern Scotland

James and Isobel, with their two young children, recently bought their first farm, and plan to run beef and sheep over 13.8 hectares (34 acres), renting a further 44.5ha (110 acres). James works for tech firm Breedr as UK country manager

The latest Dairy Antimicrobial Focus Report from Kingshay, shows antimicrobial usage has reduced by nearly a fifth over the last five years