Rural News

Hartpury College will receive almost £1 million in government funding to upgrade two agricultural engineering workshops at its Gloucestershire campus and a further £1.4m to purchase cutting-edge equipment ahead of launching three new agriculture T Levels in 2024.

Two farming estates in North Wales have been praised for their efforts to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, paving the way towards a more sustainable, greener future, by rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths.

The NFU is calling for farmers to be considered in government plans to roll out new energy infrastructure and given the chance to have their say due to the impact this will have on rural businesses and food production.

Farmers are invited to a free event hosted by AHDB on 22nd August to learn about improving stock selection for slaughter based on current market trends and how to achieve a healthier bottom line.

Having signed a £48 million deal in June, AB Agri (part of Associated British Foods) has now completed the acquisition of National Milk Records (NMR), the primary supplier of management information and testing services to the UK dairy supply chain.

The Dairy Show is set to return to the Bath & West Showground in Somerset on Wednesday 4th October 2023 to showcase the latest innovations, address challenges and opportunities around net zero, and celebrate the best in British dairying.

Police are investigating the theft, which occurred between 3pm on 4th August and 10am on 8th August.

New oil burners are set to be banned in homes not connected to the gas grid by 2026, which campaigners warn will force rural communities to make costly upgrades to electric alternatives.

Meat alternatives brand Beyond Meat has seen its sales decline by nearly a third in the second quarter of 2023, as consumers opt for more affordable animal protein and the health credentials of plant-based meat are called into question by many.

Over £14 million will be on offer in new competition rounds to develop innovative solutions in the farming sector as part of the government’s Farming Innovation Programme, Defra has announced yesterday (2nd August).

The latest NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report reveals an alarming increase in criminal activity across the British countryside, with the total cost of rural crime adding up to an estimated £49.5m, a steep rise of 22% from the previous year.

UK livestock markets have raised thousands of pounds for mental health charities, in support of Len’s Light Tractor Relay – which saw a Warwickshire farming couple travel 2,000 miles in honour of their son, who died by suicide last year.