Author Posts: Farmers Guide

Weeks of rumours have been put to rest last Thursday (15th June) when Irish meat processor ABP Foods announced it will be taking over the Bridge of Allan abattoir and Queenslie meat packing plant in Scotland, leading to concerns being raised regarding the nation’s red meat sector.

A University of Warwick research project is looking to see haricot beans, otherwise known as the classic baked bean, grown on a commercial scale in the UK to reduce food miles, improve soil structure, and extend farm rotations with a short-season, nitrogen-fixing crop desired by British growers.

While financial and environmental pressures mount, so does our dependency on our soil. For those stepping away from conventional approaches, it can be a hard journey. Mark Shaw, UK manager at Gaïago, explains how microbes and natural substances can ease the transition, maintaining yields and building structure.

Groundswell Festival, which takes place at Lannock Manor Farm in Hertfordshire from Wednesday 28th to Thursday 29th June 2023, will include discussions on a variety of topics including soil health, water systems, fibre farming, nutrition, supply chains and landscape-scale regeneration, to name but a few.

As part of their work to contribute to farmers’ efforts in showcasing British agriculture, A-Plan Rural Insurance has set up a rural community blog where they invite farmers to give their experiences in the industry.

A vaccine developed by Scottish scientists that is considered one of the most significant advances in global livestock health over the last 25 years has been given renewed recognition as part of this year’s RHASS Presidential Initiative.

A new app for poultry farmers and backyard keepers has been launched to improve disease reporting and tracking and help limit the spread of disease, as the government continues to impose strict rules amid the country’s worst-ever avian flu outbreak.

Three ready-to-farm parcels of land set in the beautiful Welsh countryside have recently become available on the farmland market, launched by national property consultant Carter Jonas.

After lengthy and well-publicized rows with West Oxfordshire District Council, Jeremy Clarkson has finally been granted permission to extend the temporary car park at Diddly Squat Farm, but plans to open a restaurant at the site have been rejected.

This year’s South of England Show welcomed thousands of visitors from across the region, who enjoyed three days of first-class agricultural and equestrian competitions and displays, a great line-up of trade stands and some excellent arena events, accompanied by stunning summer weather.

NIAB has awarded its 2023 Cereals Cup to the winter wheat variety KWS Extase from KWS and the Variety Cup to the winter wheat Crusoe from Limagrain.

DSV UK showcased its latest varieties at Cereals 2023, including the first two OSR varieties available in the UK featuring the company’s new PhomaBlocker trait, which combines two complex phoma resistance mechanisms, according to DSV’s Sarah Hawthorne.