Business News

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is calling for the input of rural communities and businesses via a formal inquiry to help ascertain whether the countryside is being disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Esteemed psychologist Dr Hannah Vickery shared her top tips for improving communication on farm to keep staff motivated and increase productivity at this year’s Women in Dairy Conference in Worcestershire.

Sector councils will unveil their new strategies for tackling industry challenges during next month’s online event, where farmers can learn about the future direction of the AHDB.

The agricultural sector has seen rapid innovation in recent years due to the need to produce more food on less land, with technologies such as smart crops, agricultural drones, and smart greenhouses on the rise, according to GlobalData’s latest report.

In an effort to tackle the energy crisis and rising inflation, the Government has announced a series of tax cuts in its new Growth Plan that are expected to ease pressures in the farming industry.

The final phase of Defra’s Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF) is now live, offering up to 32,000 farmers in England who currently receive direct payments free business advice to help prepare for the upcoming transition.

In uncertain times, Rural Asset Finance is seeing more and more farmers looking to diversify into green energy. While traditional banks which may balk at the idea of loaning money for new enterprises that have not been tried and tested, Rural Asset Finance explains an alternative funding option that is available to diversifying farmers.

Combining satellite technology with precision machinery has enabled cereal grower Pat Thornton to reap the rewards of better crop uniformity and yield, by optimising inputs usage and tracking disease, on his farm in Doncaster.

When fourth generation farmer Tim Hopkin was facing the loss of his family farm as it was no longer profitable, he decided to come up with a solution. The result was Land App – a free mapping platform that helps farmers plan for the future and get the revenue they deserve from their land.

Since Covid-19 hit the UK in 2020, New Holland has operated a strict policy of no tours to keep the staff safe and the plant running – but Farmers Guide was lucky enough to be invited for a tour.

Media reports that the government is set to change or scrap the ELM subsidy schemes, backpedalling on its environmental commitments, “are simply not right”, Defra insists.

Ensuring plant breeding contributes to a more sustainable future for UK agriculture and exploring how the industry can collaborate to address this challenge, is to be explored at a knowledge exchange event next month.