Gerald Potterton

Farmer Writes: suckler farmers the backbone of the beef industry

The suckler men (and women) have persevered and for the past 18 months are receiving decent money for their weanlings.

FARMER WRITES 6 May 2026

Farmer Writes: suckler farmers the backbone of the beef industry

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Farmer Writes: are we happier today than people were in 1926?

Farmer Writes: are we happier today than people were in 1926?

FARMER WRITES 22 April 2026

Farmer Writes: why astronauts have really flown to the moon

Farmer Writes: why astronauts have really flown to the moon

FARMER WRITES 8 April 2026

Farmer Writes: maybe I'll become a summer grazing farmer

Farmer Writes: maybe I'll become a summer grazing farmer

Farmer Writes: maybe I'll become a summer grazing farmer

FARMER WRITES 25 March 2026

Farmer Writes: back out and working in the fields again

Farmer Writes: back out and working in the fields again

Farmer Writes: back out and working in the fields again

FARMER WRITES 11 March 2026

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Farmer Writes: why virtual farming tours were best for me

Farmer Writes: why virtual farming tours were best for me

Gerald Potterton reflects on his interview for a Nuffield Scholarship. Nowadays his tour of distant agricultural fields is limited to terraHorsch.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: I've planted my own hare's corner

Farmer Writes: I've planted my own hare's corner

Undaunted, I decided to do my own thing without state aid and planted 800 trees in the new ‘garden’ or as we’ll call it now, the hare’s corner.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: why many of our fields are no-till ready

Farmer Writes: why many of our fields are no-till ready

It is, on our heavy flat land, the principal reason why I like min-till; the good trafficability it provides, allied to the fact of how level the fields become when ploughing ceases.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: as a tractor, I would be an ageing Fendt

Farmer Writes: as a tractor, I would be an ageing Fendt

Putting on my socks used to be something that I could do, without even thinking about it. Now it’s a big deal.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: overindulging on looking back on the past

Farmer Writes: overindulging on looking back on the past

It’s not a good way to be, but I suspect most people who are prone to bouts of depression are similar.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: three places very close to my heart

Farmer Writes: three places very close to my heart

Two are avowedly Christian and the third one has Pagan roots, but that was put right by a turbulent visit of none other than St Patrick.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: a poke around someone else's farmyard

Farmer Writes: a poke around someone else's farmyard

But a dairy farmer in what passes for his workshop is like me in the lingerie section in Marks and Spencer – we’re both quickly passing through and very uncomfortable about the whole experience.

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

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New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

Irish dairy farmers will have the opportunity to see the latest technologies from New Zealand at an on-farm open day at Camcloon Dairy, Ballyfin, Co Laois, on Tuesday 19 May 2026 from 10am.

New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

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