Rural News

The NFU has launched its sector-specific plans for boosting farm business resilience and climate-friendly farming yesterday (22nd February), which outline how farmers can unlock the benefits of increased efficiency and lower costs while improving the sustainability of food production.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has launched a new guide this week designed to help farmers understand and address ash dieback. This new guide outlines six simple steps to help famers and landowners identify, assess and manage this disease.

In partnership with North-West based Positive Biocarbon, Lancashire County Council is trialling the use of biochar to remediate soils and capture atmospheric carbon for thousands of years.

As part of A-Plan Insurance’s Rural Community blog they spoke to Rhi about her experience as a suckler beef and sheep farmer based in the Shropshire Hills.

With the reality of global turmoil, climate change, and rapidly rising world populations, the NFU is today warning that the clock is ticking for government to match warm words with actions to ensure British farmers and growers can continue to play their part in feeding and fuelling a changing and challenging world.

The “well-organised” break-in at a secure distributer store saw a large quantity of herbicides stolen.

AHDB is looking to save around £500,000 from its annual budget moving to new headquarters near Coventry better suited to its current sector teams and support staff.

Jeremy Clarkson’s foray into keeping beef cattle saw him discover TB-infected badgers at his Oxfordshire farm, which is in a higher risk area for bovine TB. Recent episodes of Clarkson’s Farm, which highlighted the devastation TB can cause on British farms, have prompted debate on badger control methods.

With the first named storm of the season expected to bring 75mph wind and heavy rain to the North of England and Scotland today (17th February), the NFU Mutual is urging farmers to plan ahead and take necessary safety precautions to protect their families and livestock.

As part of the 6th annual Mind Your Head campaign, intended to raise awareness of deteriorating mental health in the agriculture sector, Farmers Guide spoke with two mental health charities about how pressures like avian flu and price increases have affected farmer well-being.

West Oxfordshire District Council has been widely criticised and accused of treating Diddly Squat Farm unfairly, as the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm showed Jeremy Clarkson being refused planning permission for a new restaurant, car park and even a farm track.

Farmers enrolling in the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme are being advised to take steps to avoid unnecessary expenses during the application process.