Business News

Farmers and researchers at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2023 discussed various practical and cost-effective ways of increasing fertility and nutrient availability in the soil while reducing or eliminating the need for artificial fertilisers.

A survey of nearly 700 employers found that the availability of labour and access to staff with the right skills will continue to be an issue for agricultural and horticultural businesses over the coming years.

The impact of technology in increasing profitability and saving time in the agricultural sector has grown significantly in recent years and the rise of the farm management app Herdwatch epitomises this. The farm management app is now used on over 18,000 farms across the UK and Ireland, and allows farmers to manage their farm with an easy-to-use app catering for both cattle and sheep farmers.

Speakers at the 2023 Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) opening plenary reflected on the political and economic turmoil of the last few years and spoke of the changes that need to happen to secure the future of food and farming.

The results of an ongoing Innovative Farmers field lab indicate that diverse winter grazing crops offer major benefits to soil health and biodiversity, as well as the potential to cut input costs while farming in harmony with nature.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to fortify their farmyards to stop thieves from draining their diesel tanks and disrupting food production.

NFU Mutual is reminding farmers to prioritise safety in the event of a flood and have a plan in place as high rainfall continues to endanger rural homes and livelihoods across the UK.

Markets for carbon, biodiversity and other environmental services are widely expected to grow in the coming years. But given the infancy of such markets, there is still tremendous uncertainty about how they will operate. To help address such concerns, Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN), a UK-wide independent knowledge hub, is undertaking a review to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with nature finance.

Clarkson is said to have dropped his bid to keep his farm restaurant open despite protests from locals and an enforcement order from council officials.

From hand-packing produce on the Branston factory production line to being promoted to general manager at HarvestEye, Charlie Flack’s 21 years of experience in food production spans a variety of positions. Here, he discusses how his role progressed from the factory floor to head office, his proudest achievements in the industry and where he sees the next key focuses for harvest technology.

Farming minister Mark Spencer has confirmed increased payments for nature-friendly farming through ELMS, at OFC today (5th January) although farmers are still lacking the important wider details.

As is tradition, NFU President Minette Batters has issued a New Year message to the farming community, reflecting on the unprecedented challenges faced by food producers over the past year as well as the successes that have been achieved.