Rural News

Long-time senior CLAAS employee Thomas Spiering will be joining the group’s executive board from 1st October 2023, where he will be overseeing the company’s self-propelled harvesters business unit.

The life of Samantha Kinghorn MBE changed in an instant when she was crushed by a forklift at the age of 14, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. With her incredible spirit and determination, she has climbed the sporting ladder and is now Britain’s fastest-ever female wheelchair racer. Farmers Guide spoke to Sammi about triumph over adversity in the context of Farm Safety Week.

To raise awareness of the important role livestock plays in feeding the population sustainably, AHDB has partnered with independent production company ITN Business to create a news-style programme exploring the positive contributions of livestock to both society and the environment.

Volunteers from a Ukrainian charity recently attended the Kent County Show to demonstrate how ageing pickup trucks from British farms can be repurposed to support the Ukrainian Army.

The new discovery+ docuseries Vinnie Jones: The Wild Life (w/t) will follow the footballer turned TV personality’s venture transforming his run-down West Sussex farm into a thriving enterprise championing regenerative principles.

Returning for its third year, the Sustainable Farming Conference hosted by NFU Cymru will celebrate the harmonious relationship between agriculture and the environment through stimulating discussions and a farm tour showcasing sustainable farming in practice.

The North Country Cheviot, a hardy and versatile Scottish sheep breed first introduced to Wales in the 1970s, is celebrating its 40th appearance at the Royal Welsh Show this year.

Writtle University College, one of the UK’s leading providers of land-based courses, has recently announced plans to merge with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), a move that will enhance the offering and research capabilities of both institutions.

The UK’s only two-day on-farm regenerative agriculture conference, Groundswell, sold out for another year, attracting over 6,500 attendees, with 75% either directly farming or involved in a farming enterprise.   

Farmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to increase security in their farmyards and fields as harvest approaches due to a recent upsurge in global positioning systems (GPS) thefts reported by authorities.

Rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths has recently visited Sealands Farm near Bridgend, South Wales, to learn about its sustainable farming practices that benefit the environment and business alike.

New research by rural insurer NFU Mutual has revealed that nearly a quarter of people – and just under one third of those living in the countryside – are concerned that poor road conditions in rural areas present a barrier to country living.