A dairy producer from Northern Ireland shares his story about dealing with what he calls the ‘black hood’ of depression
Three years ago, Northern Ireland dairy farmer Adam Watson was not in a good place. Stress from falling milk prices and his forthcoming wedding started to affect his mental health. Little did Watson know then that those pressures would boil over and push him to a point where he seriously considered taking his own life. […] Read moreAuthor Archives
Autonomous farm project expands in Britain
The project harvests grain using only robots and autonomous machinery, including a tractor, combine and drones
Extra funding has been made available to expand an autonomous arable farming project in the United Kingdom. Initially launched in 2016 by Harper Adams University and Precision Decisions, the Hands Free Hectare project was designed to demonstrate that one hectare of grain (2.47 acres) could be grown to harvest without humans setting foot on the […] Read more
Norwegian health minister encourages meat eating
Norway’s new health minister has said people should be allowed to eat as much red meat as they want. Sylvi Listhaug implied that Norwegians shouldn’t be told what to do when it comes to health. She made the comments during an interview conducted by Norwegian broadcaster NRK who noticed Listhaug was eating red meat. “My […] Read more
Spanish farmers furious as released bear kills sheep
Farmers in Spain are on the lookout for a bear that killed eight sheep earlier this spring after it was released through a government program in neighbouring France. Talks were held between the French and Spanish governments after the female brown bear crossed the border into Spain and went on a killing spree. Back in […] Read more
Cows enter world’s first floating dairy farm
The world’s first floating dairy farm has accepted its first cows. Thirty-two animals recently arrived at the farm, based at the port at Rotterdam in The Netherlands. And what a luxury farm it is, with robotic milking, a slurry robot, spacious cubicles, automatic belt feeder and a rubber walkway. A nearby field offers the cows […] Read more
Southern Africa farmers remain optimistic
A visit to South Africa and Botswana finds producers taking steps to improve their operations and prepare for the future
Farm attacks in South Africa are reported almost on a daily basis. There is no denying they happen — the tragic results are plain to see. But what can be done about it? How does this affect how other farmers get on with life and their daily work? I’ve been fortunate enough to visit and […] Read more
Sark Island searching for new dairy farmer — and cows
An island off the coast of France is recruiting a dairy farmer to supply the islanders with fresh milk, but he or she must bring their own Guernsey cows. Sark Island is one of the Channel Islands measuring only 5.5 kilometres long and 2.5 km wide. It relies on tourism and agriculture to support its […] Read more
Kiwi smashes shearing world record
A New Zealand shearer has set a new world record for the highest number of merino sheep shorn in eight hours. Lou Brown, 31, sheared 497 sheep in eight hours, an average of one ewe every 58 seconds. Hundreds of fans came to Rockliffe farm near Kojonup, 250 kilometres south of Perth, Australia, to watch. […] Read more
Firm claims to keep milk fresh for 60 days
An Australian food technology company said it has developed the world’s first technology that can keep milk fresh for 60 days. Based in Coolum in Queens-land, Naturo said its new technology is a world first and the “biggest breakthrough in the global dairy industry since pasteurization in 1864.” Approved by Australia’s regulatory food safety authority, […] Read more
Pig behaviour study uncovers surprises
British researchers find that levels of play fighting in young pigs did not differ between the socialized and control groups
Research into pig behaviour carried out at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has come out with some surprising findings. The research team at the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at the university described the results as “intriguing” and “unpredicted.” It also found gender differences in the social-play behaviour of young pigs, with links […] Read more
