Rural News

Farming minister Mark Spencer drove a John Deere tractor into the Houses of Parliament recently as part of the Len’s Light Tractor Relay, which aims to raise awareness and break down the stigma around mental health in the farming sector.

An ex-SAS military adviser and his daughter have has launched a new business specialising in improving farm security and preventing rural crime.

This year’s National Organic Conference (NOC) showcased the value of cooperation to deliver transformative change throughout the UK’s food and farming systems.

A survey conducted by the Environment Agency has revealed that 18% of all waste produced in England may be illegally handled, with farmers reporting financial cost and visual blight as the main detrimental impacts of waste crime.

Farm manager Alex Parkinson from Burgess Farms in Norfolk has been announced as the winner of this year’s Young Organic Farmer of the Year (YOFY) Award, which celebrates prominent young farmers and growers who are passionate about implementing organic principles.

Morrisons has partnered with science-led data services company Downforce Technologies in its pursuit to optimise sustainable farming practices across five pilot sites, as part of the retailer’s ambition to become the first UK supermarket supplied by net zero carbon British farms by 2030.

Small and medium-sized farm businesses will be able to apply for a share of £5 million to fund innovative ideas aimed at boosting sustainable food production, supporting nature recovery and driving progress towards net zero as a new competition launches later this month.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis still impacting household finances, recent AHDB research has uncovered that consumers are willing to treat themselves in-home as a cheaper alternative to eating out, which presents an opportunity for some premium meat products.

A sale of 145 pedigree and pure-bred Hereford cattle at Shrewsbury Auction Centre last Tuesday (27th June) attracted great interest among breeders in England and Wales, with a cow and calf pair from the esteemed Santa Maria herd bringing in the top price at 4,100 guineas.

The popular Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show will be marking its 20th anniversary this year with many traditional attractions and some new ones, including a new vintage plant class featuring diggers, bulldozers and more.

To support diversity and biodiversity on their Shropshire farm, Mark and Liz Lea planted a woodland in February this year, supported by the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme.

On Wednesday 28th June, 3,000 children from 60 Essex primary schools took part in the fifteenth Essex Schools Food and Farming Day.