Rural News

The AgriScot Business Skills Competition, sponsored by NFU Mutual and supported by Scotland’s Rural College, looks to support aspiring young professionals by encouraging them to think about the skills required to manage an agricultural business, whilst also connecting them with mentors and networks, to help with their personal and professional development. 

To enable more farmers to be part of the scheme, Defra has announced support will be provided to those who started their Countryside Stewardship (CS) 2024 applications by the deadline of Friday 15th September to make sure they can still benefit from the scheme.

A farmer in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) near Swansea is pleading to visitors to follow the Countryside Code and keep a safe distance away from wildlife after a newborn foal was forced over a cliff edge by selfie-takers.

Britain’s farmers and growers are saying a huge “thank you” to the public for the overwhelming support shown for the unique role they play in feeding the nation and caring for the great British countryside.

A project being launched by Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) Education and AHDB will be offering 20 farmers from England and Wales fully funded training to deliver memorable on-farm experiences and help school children better connect with food and farming.

Kuhn Farm Machinery is showcasing a diverse range of machinery at Tillage-Live on Thursday 14th September at WH Corbett in Atherstone, Warwickshire. Here, the manufacturer shares which products attendees can expect to see in action and which will feature on its stand.

More than a thousand farmers and foresters agreed farming with trees is a “win-win” for climate and business resilience at the first-ever UK Agroforestry Show held last week to promote the uptake of agroforestry among producers across the country.

Farmer Robert Moore made it his goal to leave his 356-hectare arable unit in a better state for the environment and wildlife than when he took it on in 1988. To do this, he has balanced sustainability and profitability in his approach to farming.

Farmers in the Midlands are being advised by the police to increase vehicle security following a spate of 20 high-value tractors and telehandler thefts in Staffordshire and Shropshire over the last month. Police suspect a highly-organised criminal gang is responsible for the thefts.

Dr Johnny Wake, who took over the running of the historic Courteenhall estate ten years ago, was presented with the prestigious Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners at the Royal Windsor Estate yesterday (Thursday 7th September).

With the launch of the SFI scheme delayed until mid-September and farmers facing a bleak end to 2023, the NFU is calling on the government to “do the right thing” and halt all further reductions to BPS payments until environmental schemes are fully up and running.

Practical ways to lower carbon emissions will take centre stage at this year’s Dairy Show, where farmers can expect the latest advice, research and tools to help them on the path to net zero.