Small Farmer's Journal

I like to think I'm a positive sort of chap… but sometimes, occasionally, it is hard to remain completely without foreboding. Today I am struck by the thought that British farming is under pressure, and many a small farmer here in the UK would agree that the current government’s policies are contributing to, or at the very least failing to alleviate, what many small farmers see ...

Bloat can be a frustrating problem and sometimes a serious emergency. Carl Dahlen, Beef Specialist, North Dakota State University says legume pastures like alfalfa generally have the greatest bloat potential, especially if it’s lush regrowth. Some farmers put up one or more cuttings as hay and then graze the regrowth in the fall.

My husband and I have a small 7 acre farm in Beavercreek, Oregon, where we ride, drive, and farm with our horses. When working horses there can be as many opinions about how to do it correctly as there are people you ask. Here are some of my thoughts about how to apply knowledge of horse dispositions to the driving horse and farming set up based on my experiences working primari...

Cotswolds are one of the most important breeds in British history, with a legacy extending to the United States. But ironically, the breed is now considered rare by the Livestock Conservancy in the United States and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in England. Modern agriculture has pushed out breeds like the Cotswold, but this hardy dual-purpose sheep continues to be an asset to ...

I have custody of The Wee Holms, a strip of land along the river that a century ago was held in respectful awe as a fairy domain. A place where they would baffle and confuse the unwary, and where when crossing it was imperative to turn your coat inside out. My great-grandmother knew the fairies, she lived in Pothill, the clachan above here, and she oft told my mother that their ...