Business News

Farmers and landowners are being invited to a free event in Kent to learn more about rainwater harvesting and associated funding opportunities on Friday 3 March, at Marden Cricket and Hockey Club in Tonbridge.

Agri-tech is a cornerstone of efficient, sustainable food production – and a new conference in South West England promises to lead the way by showcasing the latest opportunities and development.

Free-to-use diversification website The Business Barn is asking farmers and rural landowners to share their experiences.

Farmers of the future were given potentially life-saving advice from UK Power Networks, during a visit to Hadlow College in Kent.

More than 100,000 supporters have signed the NFU petition calling for a total ban on sky lanterns in England and Wales due to the dangers they pose to the environment, livestock, and those living in rural areas.

Former dairy farmer and Defra farming minister Mark Spencer will take to the stage at next week’s Dairy-Tech on 1st February at Stoneleigh Park, setting out government plans for the sector. 

The government has announced today that it will speed up the Sustainable Farming Incentive roll out, with six new sets of paid action – and is set to introduce Countryside Stewardship Plus.

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.