Rural News

Taking place from January to March, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) roadshows will address the ongoing crisis in the sector, discussing priority topics such as contract reform, production cost data, and avian influenza.

Three finalists have been named for this year’s Royal Dairy Innovation Award and will be presenting their products to a panel of independent judges at the Dairy-Tech event on 1st February.

Just under 200 tractors took part in the annual Boxing Day charity event in Larling, Norfolk, raising thousands of pounds for the rural mental health organisation YANA (You Are Not Alone).

Livestock farmers producing slurry are being encouraged to consider future plans when applying for the slurry infrastructure grant scheme that closes to applicants on 31 January.

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.

Lactalign, a device that counters the often costly impact of uneven weight and vacuum distribution of a milking cluster, has won a Gold Award in the Livestock Innovation category.

Thought-provoking talks and presentations will discuss resilience with pea and bean growers at this year’s Pulse Roadshow event, organised by Syngenta and the Growers Research Organisation (PGRO).

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.

Machinery launches, thought-provoking seminars, a live auction and free breakfast will be welcoming visitors to the West Country Farming & Machinery Show, a new free-to-attend event for the South West.

The ‘Dorset Lookouts’ is a new initiative that aims to provide a point of contact for farmers experiencing difficulties in the area, making sure they receive the help and support they need to cope with mental health struggles.

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.