Business News

Farmers of the future were given potentially life-saving advice from UK Power Networks, during a visit to Hadlow College in Kent.

More than 100,000 supporters have signed the NFU petition calling for a total ban on sky lanterns in England and Wales due to the dangers they pose to the environment, livestock, and those living in rural areas.

Former dairy farmer and Defra farming minister Mark Spencer will take to the stage at next week’s Dairy-Tech on 1st February at Stoneleigh Park, setting out government plans for the sector. 

The government has announced today that it will speed up the Sustainable Farming Incentive roll out, with six new sets of paid action – and is set to introduce Countryside Stewardship Plus.

Farmers and researchers at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2023 discussed various practical and cost-effective ways of increasing fertility and nutrient availability in the soil while reducing or eliminating the need for artificial fertilisers.

A survey of nearly 700 employers found that the availability of labour and access to staff with the right skills will continue to be an issue for agricultural and horticultural businesses over the coming years.

The impact of technology in increasing profitability and saving time in the agricultural sector has grown significantly in recent years and the rise of the farm management app Herdwatch epitomises this. The farm management app is now used on over 18,000 farms across the UK and Ireland, and allows farmers to manage their farm with an easy-to-use app catering for both cattle and sheep farmers.

Speakers at the 2023 Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) opening plenary reflected on the political and economic turmoil of the last few years and spoke of the changes that need to happen to secure the future of food and farming.

The results of an ongoing Innovative Farmers field lab indicate that diverse winter grazing crops offer major benefits to soil health and biodiversity, as well as the potential to cut input costs while farming in harmony with nature.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to fortify their farmyards to stop thieves from draining their diesel tanks and disrupting food production.

NFU Mutual is reminding farmers to prioritise safety in the event of a flood and have a plan in place as high rainfall continues to endanger rural homes and livelihoods across the UK.

Markets for carbon, biodiversity and other environmental services are widely expected to grow in the coming years. But given the infancy of such markets, there is still tremendous uncertainty about how they will operate. To help address such concerns, Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN), a UK-wide independent knowledge hub, is undertaking a review to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with nature finance.