Dear Member,
It has been an unseasonably warm and humid start to autumn, but here in Somerset we have finally received some much needed rain. This will be welcome news for anyone with autumn sown crops in the ground or grass reseeds underway. Whatever the weather has been doing on your farm, we hope your clamps are well filled and that you are getting prepared for the winter ahead.
We have plenty to share with you in this fortnight’s update, including two publications that we think are well worth a read, whether over breakfast, lunch, or whenever you prefer to catch up on your reading. If you do not receive your mailings by post and would like a physical copy of any of the publications listed below, please do not hesitate to contact us to request one.
Autumn Newsletter 2026
First up is our Autumn Newsletter. The big news being the launch of our brand new website, which now brings Kingshay, Dairy Manager and our training platform (previously FarmIQ, now Kingshay Training) together under one roof with a single login. There is also an article looking at whether your soils are really working hard enough for you, a round up from a hugely successful EDF Congress, the latest Dairy Manager figures, details of our new Dairy Management Academy intake, and all our latest staff and events news.
Well worth a proper read when you have got five minutes!
2026 Dairy Costings Focus Report
The second publication is our 15th annual Dairy Costings Focus Report, which highlighted the significant turmoil dairy producers faced in 2025/26. It demonstrates how the year evolved into two halves. High milk prices and record production led to plummeting milk prices in the latter half the year. Drought over the summer switched to flooding over the winter. Input costs soared amid political tensions in the Middle East, and looking ahead there appears to be more of the same. Overall, milk yields averaged a record 8,848 litres/cow among conventional Holstein / Friesian herds, up 6%, year-on-year.
This can be attributed to the relatively strong milk price in the first half of the year, combined with lower concentrate costs, making for an attractive milk: feed price ratio of 1.40, the highest since 2006.
As always, whatever is on your mind this autumn, from margins to soils to staff training, we are here to help. Do get in touch any time on 01458 851555 or [email protected], and we hope to see many of you at UK Dairy Day on 16th September or The Dairy Show in October.
All the best,
Invest in the future of your dairy business. The Dairy Management Academy is a unique programme designed for ambitious dairy professionals who want to build their confidence, knowledge and leadership skills while continuing to work on farm. Over 12 months, participants gain practical herd management expertise from leading industry experts, take part in on-farm workshops, network with like-minded dairy staff, and even benefit from an overseas study tour. Previous participants say the Academy gave them the confidence to make decisions, progress their careers and improve herd performance. If you have a team member with the potential to become a future herd manager, or if you’re looking to develop your own skills, we encourage you to take a look at the attached flyer and consider applying. It could be one of the best investments you make in the future success of your business.
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Contact us with any technical queries on [email protected] or call 01458 851555