51AVÊÓƵ

Growing lucerne to reduce reliance on bought-in protein is part of one Leicestershire farm’s strategy to create a more sustainable farming system.

Cutting grass at the optimum stage and applying a silage additive are just some of the reasons one all-year-round housed herd is producing nearly 50% milk from forage.

Applying a silage additive to multi-cut grass silage can help create a more stable fermentation and cut dry matter losses in the clamp by half, according to recent trial work.

Reduced fertiliser costs and more milk solids means including clover in the sward could bring a benefit worth £215 per hectare, according to Irish research.

Thinking about what fertilisers are used and how they are applied could help farmers get ahead of the curve and reduce ammonia emissions before regulations are introduced.

This month, Ian Potter looks at the need to lift the image of dairying with the public, examines the dairy calf scheme being introduced by the two largest processors, and finally outlines the role beef retailers have to play.

Farmers are working 65 hours a week and struggling to recruit new staff. It’s time for industry to start collecting data on how labour shortages are affecting farmers’ mental health and wellbeing, says Cheshire dairy farmer Phil Latham.

The PM’s promise to give Ugandan beef a place on UK tables reveals his true position on the protection of production standards after Brexit, says Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru Ceredigion MP.