Rural News

Exciting plans are underway for a National Sheep Association (NSA) event this autumn that will bring together the nation’s sheep farmers for a fresh style of enjoyable and informative farming conference.

Three cutting-edge projects relating to robotics and automation will receive a share of £9.13 million through the government’s Farming Innovation Programme, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, sustainability and climate resilience.

Nearly three-quarters of off-gas grid rural homeowners are expected to fall into fuel poverty as a result of the government’s proposed 2026 fossil fuel boiler ban, with 69% of households unable to afford a replacement electric heating system, new rural polling data has shown.

Popular healthy drinks brand innocent will no longer be offering its vegan coconut, almond and hazelnut-flavoured smoothies due to a continued lack of interest from customers, labelling the news “nutterly disappointing”.

Hosted by the Woodland Trust and Soil Association, the two-day event will explore how farming with trees can deliver business resilience and productivity while doing more for nature and the climate.

As the filming of Clarkson’s Farm season three continues, Jeremy’s latest business endeavour saw him launching a new spirit line by the name of ‘cow juice vodka’, which he claims is “the smoothest vodka in the coolest bottle”.

Farmers and growers can now choose from a variety of wildflower and environmental seed mixtures, launched by the Syngenta Operation Pollinator initiative, to boost payments from environmental schemes and unlock significant ecological and agronomic benefits.

Graham Miles, rural and agricultural chaplain for Suffolk, told Farmers Guide he receives calls from farmers all over the UK who are struggling with loneliness, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

The critical importance of agri-tech to agriculture and food is a key topic which will be discussed at the upcoming South West AgriTech Showcase next month.

Starting today (Tuesday 21 March), farmers and land managers can apply to the 2024 Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements, offering payments for actions that enhance and protect the natural environment alongside sustainable food production.

Suffolk and Essex farm shops are reporting increased footfall, as fruit and vegetable shortages have led to empty supermarket shelves. But farmers warn further shortages could be on the way as the cost of production soars.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to take extra precautions as quad thefts continue to rise this year, affecting many who rely on quads to look after livestock.