16th September 2026
Last Word: Holding on for tomorrow
Life is difficult for me at the moment, is it hard for you? As an industry, the past few years have been a relentless grind with little reprieve and it’s affecting everyone, even this magazine.…
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Opinion
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16th September 2026
Talking Taties: The end for sugar beet
Knowing where to start with the positives of the 2026 summer beyond an easy harvest isn’t particularly easy; the payback time for my dryer upgrade in 2025 has certainly extended.
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16th September 2026
Nature Natters: To weed or not to weed?
Is it time to take a fresh look at the plants we normally call ‘weeds’? Technically, a ‘weed’ is any plant growing in a location where it isn’t wanted by humans. There’s no botanical classification for…
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16th September 2026
Smith’s Soapbox: Burgeoning bureaucracy?
My mum passed away in July, so the worrying news is that I’m now an orphan. She was 95 and increasingly infirm so it was a bitter-sweet moment. We were sad to see her go, but…
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27th August 2026
Last Word: Stop the bots
It seems AI-generated posters and social media content continue to plague me. Every corner I turn, ‘our bro’ ChatGPT is there. Even my beloved Pilates teacher is using it; love you, India. In fact, seeing such content turns me off – I’ll make it…
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27th August 2026
Talking Taties: Anyone sick of irrigators and irrigating yet?
Our irrigators have tested my patience this time, enough to force a rethink about how we do things here. We’ve adapted over time and will continue to do so, but growing root crops without water looks increasingly unviable, so we’ll have a review…
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27th August 2026
Nature Natters: From dust to robust – Papley Grove Farm’s soil journey
With this month’s issue focusing on soils, I thought I’d reflect on my own farm’s journey. Papley Grove has seen some changes during the past few decades, and I’ve done a lot of learning, made a lot of mistakes, but overall, I’ve improved the health of my land and the farm bank…
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27th August 2026
Smith’s Soapbox: The Spanish harvest of 2026
It’s said the reason us British are obsessed with the weather is because it’s unpredictable and in a state of constant change, hence it’s in need of comment. If that’s the case then the ‘groundhog…
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27th July 2026
Last Word: Extraordinary ordinary
As with most industries, names and faces in agriculture come and go, people shift things up, or factors beyond control have an influence. But it’s when someone retires having committed a lifetime to a cause,…
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27th July 2026
Talking Taties: More food for thought
It hardly seems a fortnight since spring and here we are at the cusp of harvest already, the irrigators are at full chat, the hay is made, sheds washed and kit almost ready.
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27th July 2026
Nature Natters: Different backgrounds, shared purpose
As I write amidst the heatwave, the merry-go-round of life and government is spinning ever-faster, and we await to see what comes next as Stephen Morgan steps into the role of Minister of State in…
