News &
Insights

Freshgrass Holdings and Fane Valley Co-operative Society today announced that they have reached an agreement to become 50/50 joint owners of Drummonds, subject to the approval of The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Both parties have confirmed that the key objectives of the Joint Venture will be to continue to support the excellent business relationships formed over the…

Knowing the fertility of the soil on your farm is the first step towards growing healthy crops of cereal and grass. The fertility of the soil on your farm will vary from field to field according to soil type and the management of the field. To get a snapshot of fertility, soil samples will provide…

As part of its ambitious sustainability vision for the future, White’s Oats has unveiled a full sweep of A+ Eco Scores across its range of porridge oats awarded by not-for-profit organisation Foundation Earth to understand the environmental impacts of its products. Using methodology developed by Mondra and borne out of research from Oxford University, a…

It has been a very wet autumn and most cattle are now housed. However, for those youngstock that are still grazing, most farms will be thinking about housing them soon. As cattle do not pick up worms or fluke while they are indoors, this is an ideal time to control worms and fluke for the…

As winter feeding commences, Fane Valley Feeds’ Ruminant Nutritionist Dr David Johnston outlines some practices farmers should employ to maximise efficiency during the coming months. With most cows housed in recent weeks due to adverse weather conditions, many dairy farmers across Northern Ireland are keen to maximise silage use within their milk production systems this…

The rumen plays an essential role in a cow’s digestive system. It is like a large fermentation vat hiving with microbes that break down the animal’s feed so as it can be absorbed and used for energy. To ensure the animal is efficient and healthy the rumen must be functioning well and must have a…

With the increasing price of chemical fertiliser ensuring your pH is correct is even more important than ever. Grassland soils should have a minimum pH 6.3 and cereal soils minimum pH 6.5 for optimum production. With recent reseeds and the commencement of autumn cereal drilling, it is critical to lime and ensure your crops establish…

Variety selection and making the most of the genetic advances of new varieties has become an increasingly important part of integrated crop management to help reduce the risk of pests, disease and weed problems on farm. One of the latest genetic advances in the armoury for virus control is the BYDV tolerant variety Amistar from…

Maize silage is an excellent feed for both dairy and beef cattle due to the starch, energy and intake characteristics. With crops almost ready to harvest and a lot of money already invested in the crop it is vital to get the harvest and ensiling right to get the best return on your investment.  …