Rural News

More than 300 British farmers have reportedly written to their MPs, following rumours that the government could be set to scrap or water down environmental initiatives.

The National Drought Group’s projections suggest the current dry conditions may be here to stay beyond spring next year, and preparations must begin now to prevent water shortages impacting agriculture and livelihoods across the country.

A recent review published by the Tenancy Working Group has outlined recommendations on how the government, tenants and landlords can work together to remove the barriers to a productive and resilient tenant farming sector.

At an online event hosted by Trinity Global Farm Pioneers, expert speakers discussed how agroforestry and biodiversity can help drive agricultural production and explored the barriers to uptake among farmers. Henrietta Szathmary writes.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is calling for the input of rural communities and businesses via a formal inquiry to help ascertain whether the countryside is being disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Researchers have recommended improving connections between farming and non-farming communities, after a new study revealed feelings of loneliness among farmers are exacerbated by the public’s lack of appreciation and understanding of the work they do.

The well-deserving recipients of the NFU’s 2022 Farming Champions of the Year award were the farmers of Ukraine, who have continued food production in the face of the horrifying challenges of the Russian invasion.

Esteemed psychologist Dr Hannah Vickery shared her top tips for improving communication on farm to keep staff motivated and increase productivity at this year’s Women in Dairy Conference in Worcestershire.

This year’s Women in Dairy Conference revealed details of the financial support dairy farmers in England could receive via the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, with the first set of payments to commence this autumn.

Sector councils will unveil their new strategies for tackling industry challenges during next month’s online event, where farmers can learn about the future direction of the AHDB.

British farming’s unexpected advocate Jeremy Clarkson is back with a new book this autumn, picking up from where he left off in A Year on the Farm, which described his first year as a farmer. It was a year that included ‘biblical weather, a forest of red tape, a lockdown, a herd of escapey sheep [and] 10 million vindictive bees […]’.

Dan Simpson and Ruby Cappleman experienced the ‘worst day of their lives’, losing 58 ewe lambs in a flash flood near Keswick and appealed to the local authorities for help managing the River Derwent.