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* Next-generation precision farming technology * Potential ranging from driverless tractors to robotic crop analysis * What are growers likely to see in the next decade? * From those early [...]

The article provides information on alternative cropping that would boost great yields, according to Strutt & Parker's Mark Hall. Miscanthus is suited to traditional maize-growing areas. Harvesting is usually in autumn by mowing/ swathing and baling or in bulk by forage harvesters. Yields are low in the first two years and may not be worth harvesting. Its main end uses are for industrial applications and use as a dietary supplement in animals. Planting and yields of borage and sunflower are also discussed. INSET: CEREALS VIEW.

The article focuses on the opportunities offered by energy revolution in farming. It discusses the turn of agriculture into renewable energy such as electricity on their farming process such as heating and transport. It cites the challenges posed by intermittent electricity generation in balancing of grids that leads to the growth of demand-side response (DSR). Also discussed is how DSR providers can earn high revenues from entering contracts with National Grid and reduced energy consumption.

The article offers suggestions for buying unmanned aerial vehicles which are very useful in agriculture. Jack Wrangham from mapping and spraying firm Drone AG, recommends buying a ready-to-go integrated system as it will save time. It mentions three types of drones which include multirotor, fixed wings and hybrids. It presents views of Chris Eglington, co-founder of drone spraying company Crop Angel, on multicopters and equipment of drone aircraft.

The article discusses the developments in the agriculture sector in Great Britain, particularly on the organic market. Based on the data from the Soil Association, many producers have already returned back to traditional production in order to improve their margins, which declined by 5% in 2012. The opinion of Clinton Devon Farms manager George Perrott on the developments is also cited.

The article discusses the developments in the agriculture sector in Great Britain, particularly on the Renewables Heat Incentive (RHI) implementation. It cites as example the experience of the Wood Advent Farm in Exmoor, Somerset, England, which installed a biomass boiler in 2009. The opinion of farm manager David Brewer on their operation is also cited.

The article discusses highlights of the European Food and Farming Partnerships conference held in London, England on November 8, 2011. Topics taken up include expansion plans of Tulip Food Group pork processor, consumer demand for premium pork in supermarkets, and sales of Fairtrade products. Speakers include chief executive Steve Murrells of Tulip, Martyn Jones of Morrisons, and Mike Gidney of the Fairtrade Foundation.

The article reports on the opposition of farm consultants to the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2011. It is suggested that the reforms will unfairly penalize larger, more efficient farming businesses. It also discusses the possibility that businesses will implement structural or operational changes to comply with the proposed rules.

The article details how the New Zealand-style grazing system has evolved at Tregeiriog Farm over the past years and what challenges lies ahead. It highlights farmer Aled Jones' optimism about the coming year as spring lambing gets underway at the farm. It explains the volatility of market prices and input costs and its implications for farmers. It highlights the importance of flexibility and cost control to successful farming.

The article discusses the optimism expressed for the 2010-2011 farming season by Guy Hildred and Edward Bishop, partners at HBH Farming Ltd., which is composed of 2,500 hectares of combinable cropping in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire in England. Hildred says that they are pleased with yields and the fact that costs are not rising as much as the price of the product. Figures on yields of crops such as wheat, spring beans and oilseed rape are provided. Fertilizer requirements for 2011 were already purchased in 2010.

The article provides information potentialities of biomethane in agriculture and farming sector including its ability to generate electricity. Topics discussed include collaborated efforts of energy firm Npower and rural consultancy firm Butler Sherborn to develop "Green gas" scheme, International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, and gas purchase agreements (GPAs).

The article reports that the quality standards for compost to be enforced in May 2007 will ease the regulatory burden on growers and could result in an increase in its use on farms in Great Britain. Under the standards, any compost produced to Quality Protocol for Compost standards will not be classed as waste. Soil scientist Susie Holmes states that the amount of compost applied on-farm is growing as people are increasingly looking to agricultural uses.

The article discusses spring cropping in Great Britain. Forward barley contracts worth up to £115 per ton in some areas and pulse prices £10 to 15 per ton above levels seen this time last year mean there could be renewed interest in spring cropping. Agronomist Bryce Rham of the Agricultural Innovation and Commercialization Center thinks many growers giving up sugar beet on light land will opt for spring barley instead, but says they must find a contract before sowing. INSET: CASE STUDY.

The article provides information on topics discussed at the 2006 ProCam open day in Great Britain. Growers must do more to target grassweed herbicides at the most competitive weeds and maximize the use of cultural and agronomic control methods, ProCam's technical director, David Ellerton advised. Ellerton said targeting the most competitive grass and broadleaved weeds in each field was also important, along with the use of stale seed-beds, drilling date, density and variety choice.

The article presents an interview with Assured Combinable Crops Scheme (ACCS) Chairman Tony Pexton. Pexton explained the benefits of ACCS to members. According to him, there will be a review of quality standards each year and they are set at a level the trade has put into. He said that Quality Assurance will not lead to a licence to farm.

Provides information on the use of agri-environmental schemes in Great Britain. Significance of Entry Level Scheme practices to farm profitability according to Cereals 2005 host, Velcourt; Background on the use of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; Comments by Paul Cartwright, Velcourt's trials officer, on selecting farming practices. INSET: What's new in agri-environmental schemes?.

Reports on the reasons for being optimistic about the future of farming in Great Britain according to delegates attending the 2005 Young Farmers annual convention in Torquay, England. Message sent by Prince Charles of Great Britain regarding the future of farming; Role of young people in the growth of farming; Support received by the horticulture sector.

Presents updates related to the Voluntary Initiative (VI) in Great Britain as of December 2004. Message of the British government's pre-budget report to the proponents of VI; Comment from Patrick Goldsworthy of the Crop Protection Association; Progress of the VI towards achieving its target Crop Protection Management Plans for March 31, 2005; Status of sprayer testing; Statement issued by Anne Abell of the Agricultural Engineers Association which administers the scheme.

The article focuses on the extension of sustainability criteria for the Renewables Obligation (RO) to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Contracts for Difference (CfD) that would require suppliers of crop-based feedstocks such as maize or grass silage to meet sustainability criteria. It mentions the guidance on same to be published by British Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). It adds views of Lucy Hopwood of bioeconomy consultant NNFCC, on same.

The article discusses the Cereals conference related to farming held in Great Britain as of June 2015. Topics include the views of William Cracroft-Eley , chairman of Terravesta, a company processing miscanthus into pellets for biomass plants, regarding signing up miscanthus growers on 10-year retail price index-linked contracts; biomass demand from large-scale power stations ; & the views of National Farmers' Union renewable energy adviser Jonathan Scurlock regarding demand of energy crops.

The article offers information on a surge in renewable energy uptake since the introduction of Feed-in Tariffs and industry estimations. It mentions that the starting point for farm business considering renewable energy generation should be to assess what resources, natural and man-made, are available on the doorstep. Also includes statement of National Farmers Union's (NFU's) Jonathan Scurlock.

The article discusses management of land within solar farms, as per the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) coming into effect in 2015. According to National Farmers' Union (NFU) chief adviser Jonathan Scurlock, there has been confusion about the eligibility of solar farms for BPS and there is an urgent need of Government clarification in this regard. It states that Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has not provided full details on using solar farms for agriculture purpose.

The article focuses on voluntary guidelines published by the trade association Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Association (ADBA) of Great Britain on the management of environmental risks associated with farming crop for anaerobic digestion (AD). Topics discussed include crop selection and integration to avoid soil erosion and monoculture cropping, increase in the AD sector with maize being the dominant crop and the benefits of AD crop farming like weed control and improved soil structure.

The article reports that Britishs landowners planning to install any renewable energy project should give greater consideration to the implications for future development opportunities for the farm sector. Topics mentioned include the risk of rushing to develop projects with no proper long-term business planning, a few key points to be aware of when planning projects according to Darren Hirst of renewable energy consultant Bidwells, and brief information on wind protection zones.

The article discusses the trend for shared ownership of large-scale renewable energy projects between developers and local communities in Great Britain. Topics discussed include the British government's aim for renewable energy developers to offer communities the chance to purchase into larger projects by 2015 and an overview of the Shared Ownership Taskforce Action Plan's outlining of shared ownership and various investment models that could be used.

An interview with pesticide expert Paul Spackman is presented. Spackman discusses ideal locations to build a spray store, techniques to control leaks in a pesticide storage and the recommended state for pesticide storage. Also mentioned are important factors to remember when transporting sprays, what should be the immediate response after discovering a leak and things to consider when converting a building into a storage facility.

The article discusses the strong demand for energy crops such as maize and grass silage which resulted to price increases. Topics discussed include experts' suggestion for growers to look beyond price a tonne when making a decision whether to sign up to feedstock supply agreements for the biogas sector and other factors to consider including contract options and their terms and conditions and implications for the farm business.

The article provides insights on avoiding the negative effects of agriculture on watercourses in Great Britain. Points raised include the rules on the distance from a watercourse by which a farmer can cultivate, the restrictions on pesticide use near watercourses, and the prohibition of spraying over buffer zones or watercourses.

The article reports developments in the arable farming sector in Great Britain as of November 2013. It features farmer Stephen Evans of Northamptonshire, England, whose rotational use of biosolids resulted in improved soil phosphate at his farm. It claims that the focus on biosolids combined with a more intensive fungicide strategy improved output by almost one-third at the farm.

The article discusses planned improvements at the dairy enterprise at Clinton Devon Farms in Devon, England following the approval of its application for the construction of a stock shed. It mentions provisions stating that the unit will be only used for winter stock housing of cows between November and April. Plans regarding the increase in cow numbers at the farm are described. Expansions of the organic herd at the company's Otter Farm are also cited.

The article discusses the developments in the agriculture sector in Great Britain. It cites the criticism made by Northamptonshire, England-based beef farmer Philip Carter against ministry officials due to the undue delay of issuing the official tuberculosis (TB) testing results. The opinion of the spokesperson for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) on the developments is also cited.

The article reports that a consultation on proposed changes to the designation of upland areas will be closed on March 27, 2013. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation sets out the reclassification of Less Favoured Areas as Areas facing Natural Constraints (ANC). The plans include draft maps showing the proposed boundaries.

The article reports on the implications of the British government's introduction of a system of tariff cuts for non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments. For new claimants, RHI rates will be reduced by about 5% if uptake exceeds a target level. The government will also perform regular reviews of the RHI scheme.

The article predicts a difficult growing season in Great Britain in 2012, raising concerns for crop quality during the year. It examines the prospects of crops failing to meet contract specification and their implications for farmers in the country. It shows that issues are commonly resolved by looking at and understanding the contract and maintaining a dialogue between both parties.

This section offers news briefs on farming in Great Britain as of May 15, 2012. Readers are invited to share unusual or ambiguous tenancy terms on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, entitles or the right to claim on the forums of the web site www.fwi.co.uk. Higher grant payments are possible for farmers and landowners under the Forestry Commission's England Woodland Grant Scheme. Highlights of a Barclays survey on succession planning in farm businesses are presented.

The article reveals that a 10-year, index-linked rental or contract farming agreement for growing energy crops will be launched at the Cereals event in June 2012.

The article reports on the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board's proposal to increase the minimum wage of farm workers by 2-3 percent. Consultations on the proposals will run until June 10, 2012 and the revised hourly rates will be effective starting October 1, 2012. According to the National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland chief executive officer (CEO) Scott Walker, the farming industry needs to ensure that it can pay its workers not only in 2012 but in the future.

The article reports that the British Department of Energy & Climate Change's national energy trends and prices poll reveals that solar photovotaic (PV) accounted for 94% of the new capacity registered under Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) during the initial quarter of 2012.

The article discusses the report "The UK Bioenergy Strategy," which reveals that 50% of the British government's 2020 renewable energy target could be achieved by energy crops, wood and other forms of biomass such as wastes from agriculture. The report states biomass will play a vital part in realizing the target to source 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020. The report claims 0.01 million (m) hectare (ha) of land is currently planted to energy crops.

The article presents an update on the agriculture industry in Great Britain as of March 16, 2012. British Chancellor George Osborne will introduce his Budget 2012 statement to Parliament on March 21. A tax tribunal decision concerning Business Property Relief (BPR) could reportedly increase the number of family holiday businesses eligible for BPR. There was a 20% rise in tractor sales, according to the Agricultural Engineers Association show.

The article reports on National Australia Bank economist Tom Vosa's warning that while agriculture in Great Britain could have been sheltered from the global credit crisis, the current favorable attitude towards British farming may not last much longer. Bank lending to the farming sector has increased during the last months of 2011. However, Vosa points that when interest rates could go up, possibly in 2014, there will be less interest in the sector. He encourages farmers to secure lending now.

The article discusses the highlights of the 2011 Farm Energy event held in Peterborough, England. Independent consultant Peter Fane advised farmers about investing in renewable energy, stressing the profitability of energy use on farm. RenEnergy managing director Damian Baker explained the financial returns associated with solar photovoltaic system installation. Martin Redfearn of Barclays Bank talked about the long-term business plans of farms for renewable energy.

The article discusses the farming system at Overbury Farms in England, particularly how it contributes to carbon footprint reduction. Farm manager Jake Freestone mentions the importance of North Country mule and texel crosses in maintaining diversity in arable fields. The feeding routine given to lambs being observed under the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is described. It is added that the farm continuously earned a notable score in the Environmental Scorecard project.

The article reports that the British farmers are making good use of loan rates provided by the European Investment Bank (IB) which were reduced by around 0.8 per cent in 2011. It says that most 10-year as well as 11 to 25-year agricultural projects and agreements proposed in Great Britain are eligible for the loans. According to the author, funding costs in farming have increased by more than 3.4 per cent.

The article reports on the total contribution of farming to the economy of Great Britain in 2011. It says that this sector has contributed revenues of 7.4 billion British pounds in the year as basic prices in usual agricultural products increase by 5.3 per cent in 2010. According to the author, another trend that influenced the performance of the industry was the enhanced farm output by 20 billion British pounds.

This section offers news briefs on agriculture in Great Britain as of November 25, 2011. Mike Harrison of Saffery Champness claims that value added tax (VAT) changes based on the chancellor's November 9 statement and business investment tax relief could stimulate the rural economy. Agro Business Consultants sees rising costs to drive the average feed wheat production costs up to 130 pounds a ton for 2012. Mole Valley Renewables has teamed up with renewable electricity supplier Good Energy.

This section offers news briefs on the British agricultural sector. Analysis of British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) data by EBLEX found that 2.63 million calves were registered with BCMS from 2010 to July 2011. Richard Cartwright of Saffery Champness has warned that paper tax returns must reach HM Revenue & Customs by midnight on October 31, 2011 to avoid facing heavy penalties. A reports from DG Agri projects a positive outlook for agricultural commodities in 2012.

This section offers news briefs related to farming in Great Britain in September 2011. The provisional figures from the annual BPEX Interpig report starkly illustrate the wide variation in production costs for pig producers worldwide. The rural planning conference of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants will be held at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire, England. Northamptonshire farmers have been urged to show their support for plans to build a livestock market at Thrapston.

The article reports on an increase in net profit for the 2010 harvest in Great Britain, based on the results of a contract farming survey released by Bidwells at Cereals 2011 in June. There was a 1.6% increase in the farmer's charge on profits. The profit is partly attributed to an increase in crop prices. Fertiliser has emerged as the largest cost reduction for farmers.

The article presents the latest Agricultural Inflation Index issued by buying group Anglia Farmers as of February 2011, which showed that farm input costs increased by 8.4% in the six months ending February 2011. It claims that the increase is higher than those of the British Consumer Prices Index and the Retail Prices Index. The opinion of Anglia Farmers chief executive officer (CEO) Clarke Willis is also cited.