For years, arable farmers have chased the biggest, newest machinery, which often come at vastly over inflated prices, in a bid to produce the best quality crops with the highest yields to match – whilst also showing off their new toys to neighbours into the bargain.

However, with compaction in soils causing severe problems particularly on arable farms, coupled with the evidence that shallower cultivations not only have the potential to boost yields but also reduce production costs, surely the need for smaller sized tractors and equipment is becoming obvious.

Sure, such machines might not be the most impressive, but why sacrifice the very life blood of agriculture underneath our feet, when lesser sized and less powerful machinery will do a much better job, and at vastly reduced price? 

Add to that the news that reduced applications of nitrogen fertiliser to potato crops is boosting crop yields and quality, and at long last, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel for hard-pressed farmers desperate to make ends meet now – and when we eventually leave the EU.

If less means more with nitrogen fertilisers on potatoes, the same will perhaps hold true in other crops, including grassland. There is also the potential that potash and phosphate fertilisers might also be better targeted, which can only be good for everyone’s bank balances.

And, maybe, if more farmers actually analysed the soil underneath their feet to find out the nutrients it contains and its pH value, they would actually discover they were pouring money down the drain. While the majority of farmers do see some benefits to applying nitrogen fertiliser, much is also wasted especially when so much is applied as a ‘routine,’ and to low pH soils too!

Get the right feed advice

The new Feed Adviser Register has to be good news for livestock producers too. 

All too often we are told “You get what you pay for”, and yet an 18% crude protein feed from one feed manufacturer or adviser can cost significantly more or less than from another.

There have been tales of discrepancies about various feeds and diets for years, so the new FAR accreditation scheme promises to deliver professionally recognised, up-to-date advice and diets that will not only reduce costly inputs but also improve animal health. 

It should also help to reduce carbon footprints, which will prove a win-win situation for farmers, feed manufacturers, consumers and the Scottish Government.