12th February 2026
Nature Natters: Risk and reward
When we look at European crop trials and recommendations over the past 20 or more years, they’ve focused more on resilience to diseases and low-input systems, not just yield.
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Opinion
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12th February 2026
Smith’s Soapbox: Fifty year low point
I thought I’d introduce ‘Buddy’, our new Jack Russell terrier. Apart from having a life-long admiration for the breed, a key driver was the news I can no longer purchase rat poison strong enough unless…
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12th December 2025
Last Word: No such thing as can’t…
Having a slightly overactive brain at times means I struggle with the concept of standing still. Not literally, more in terms of how I meander through life. As such, I can be guilty of chasing…
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12th December 2025
Nature Natters: Planning for change in 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a time for reflection on what’s undeniably been a challenging year. Whether it’s the weather impacts, low commodity prices, or government policy changes, it’s been one heck of…
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12th December 2025
Smith’s Soapbox: Known unknowns
The news that this year’s harvest area for UK oilseed rape was the lowest figure since 1983 has made rather grim reading. Given the crop was still in its introductory phase on most arable farms in…
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12th December 2025
Talking Taties: All the fun
So where did we finish up with our taty harvest this time? 14 days, 6.5 people, 7435 litres of fuel, 3018t, 67ha lifted and very little road brushing required – it could have been worse, that’s for sure. We’re a few percent short of our contract yields, but it’s fair to say our worst…
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21st October 2025
Talking Taties: A new-to-us addition
Well, we started this month ahead of usual but things have a habit of upskittling themselves at times, and as things stand we’ve not yet started harvesting potatoes, despite half of them being ready.
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21st October 2025
Smith’s Soapbox: Blue or red?
There was an old adage that did the rounds, that UK agriculture was better off under a Labour government than a Tory one. Like many pearls of wisdom, it didn’t stand up to much analysis,…
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21st October 2025
Nature Natters: The future is diversity
I’m writing this during the party conference season, during which I’ll get the opportunity to attend a range of events for many different political parties. And in all of them, I’ll be putting forward discussion…
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21st October 2025
Last Word: Talk techie to me
Before I commence this month’s instalment, I’d better provide an avian update. Our seven mini dinosaurs are still with us, having progressed rapidly through the raptor stage into almost fully feathered fowl. They advanced from…
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26th September 2025
Talking Taties: Gleaning the positives
The only thing worse than a poor performing year is one that follows another poor performing year. It’s safe to say arable farming and taty growing isn’t much fun at the moment.
