Articles
Easter Howgate Study – Autumn Born Finishing Bulls
When Easter Howgate set out to ease housing pressure caused by an expanding spring calving herd, they found a unique solution. By establishing a “B Herd” of underperforming cows and…
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Conserving the Corn Bunting in Scotland
Biodiversity conservation is often more effective when implemented across larger areas than a single farm. Collaboration within farmer clusters and with other stakeholders enables farmers to implement measures to enhance…
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Water Security in Scottish Dairying
In recent years, Scotland’s weather has grown more unpredictable, and even the famously wet Scottish climate is beginning to show signs of strain with shifting weather patterns. For farmers, one…
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Is Subclinical Ketosis Draining Your Profits?
Clinical ketosis is easily identifiable, with affected cows showing rapid condition loss, a significant drop in milk yield and reduced appetite. These cows will also have an acetone odour in…
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Comparing GPS and Conventional Soil Sampling
Many farmers are adopting precision agricultural technologies such as variable rate lime and fertiliser spreading. Variable rate spreading relies on knowledge of the variation in soil nutrient content across a…
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Going Green: Understanding Ecological Focus Areas
The conditions tied to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are evolving. In the past, greening obligations mainly applied to arable farms, with growers required to set aside management options equivalent…
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The Role of Major Nutrients in Grass Plants
Plants capture light, converting carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates, such as sugars which are required for crop growth. This process of photosynthesis and the rate at which a plant…
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Trading Straw for Farmyard Manure – Calculating Relative Values for a Fair Exchange
Farmers may have sold straw in the swath this season or intend to trade baled straw for farmyard manure (FYM) over the coming months. For many arable and livestock farmers…
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A Practical Guide to Arable Contract Farming Agreements
In a sector still facing challenging commodity prices, collaborating with another business to maintain or improve margins will be attractive to those looking to restructure how they operate. This article…
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Thermal Imaging for Biodiversity Monitoring and Land Management
Thermal imaging is a non-invasive technology that uses special cameras to detect the infra-red heat given off by objects. Originally developed for the military, the technology has since been adapted…
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