Here at Agricology we are delighted that our To Till or Not to Till podcast host and long-time collaborator Wallace Currie (Rural2Kitchen) has been nominated for an award in the Content Creator of the Year Category.

Friend of Agricology and field-day host Rob Harvard has made the shortlist in the Grassland Farmer of the Year Category, while dairy farmer David Finlay has been shortlisted for the Regenerative Farmer of the Year award. David’s position on the shortlist reflects his pioneering work combining agroecology, agroforestry and agro-technology approaches that cut waste, facilitate natural processes and reduce dependence on external inputs. You can read more about it in his Agricology farmer profile.  

The award ceremony will take place on the 16th October in Birmingham.

The post British Farming Awards Shortlist Announced appeared first on Agricology.

Over three years, the Roads to Resilience project is offering 40 farmers in the Midlands the chance to work with experts from Andersons, the GWCT Allerton Project and Ricardo. Participants will baseline their business, looking across the whole farm to tackle challenges, and unlock opportunities. Participants will also get fully-funded 1:1 business and environmental advice, tailored workshops, accredited training, peer networking, and support to future-proof their farm.

If you would like to benefit from the advice, support and learning available through this opportunity, to work towards resilience, future proof your business and get you ready for new opportunities then please apply using this online form. More information about what is available is listed below:

One-to-one advice

Business Advice – A face-to-face farm business review with an Andersons business consultant, a detailed report, a follow-up meeting. This can include: 

• A review of your business
• Help with future planning
• Advice on business structure
• Analysis of capital investment and future funding
• Tenancy help
• Diversification advice

Environmental and Regenerative Farming Advice  – A one-to-one visit from an environmental adviser, a report of options for your farm and follow-up advice on taking actions forward. Advice is tailored to your needs and can include:

• Government grants and schemes
• Private grants, projects and premiums
• Farm carbon assessment
• Regenerative agriculture
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Watercourse protection
• Pollution prevention

Tailored workshops

Work and learn with 39 other farmers. Expand and increase your own findings by comparing and discussing these with peers through farm visits and regular discussion.

The programme of focussed workshops with experts will look at all aspects of business, environmental and personal resilience. Key topics will include: soil health, regenerative practices, wildlife and habitats, environmental schemes, Defra updates and business and accounting support. These will be hosted at Allerton and farms involved in the project.

Accredited training

• BASIS Sustainable Land Management courses (1-day or 5-day options) worth up to £1300.
• Bespoke training courses covering soil, water, cover crops and regenerative farming.

Online toolbox

Access to an online toolbox of farm business and environment courses, information and self-help checklists.

Who do we want to work with: 

• Farmers looking to improve business resilience and take steps on the journey to more sustainable farming.
• Farmers keen to work with us for 3 years, including a programme of workshops, 1-2-1 advice and peer-to-peer learning.  

APPLY NOW – DEADLINE 11th AUGUST 2025

Read more about the scheme and see the FAQs here.

The post Roads to Resilience Project Offers Fully-Funded Opportunities for Midlands Farmers appeared first on Agricology.

About the organisation

For more than 30 years the Allerton Project has been at the cutting edge of research into sustainable farming methods, biodiversity & habitat creation, and rural landscape management. Combining our modern, productive farm with a full-time research team we have the scope to conduct research into agri-environmental issues at a range of scales, from experimental plot to whole-landscape.

Research results are used to inform both practice on the ground – disseminated to practitioners through events for farmers and other agricultural professionals at Loddington – and policy at the national level via a long history of productive engagement with policymakers and civil servants in successive governments. The results are also shared with the scientific community through publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The role is a full time position, with the appointed candidate expected to work 37.5 hours a week over 5 days. It is a 2-year fixed term contract, with a view to extend depending on funding.

Read more about the role and apply here.

Applications close on the 1st August.

The post Job Opportunity at The Allerton Project appeared first on Agricology.

The Defra Secretary Estate has asked Lady Batters (former NFU President) to come forward with recommendations for how to improve farm profitability. In her call for evidence, Minette Batters has asked stakeholder to identify opportunities and barriers to profitability in farming. The Soil Association is responding to the review. They will be highlighting the specific issues around profitability in the organic sector, as well as the profitability challenges more widely facing farmers who are moving towards more agroecological approaches. These include reducing synthetic inputs, building soil health and the specific challenges around horticulture. They are also keen to highlight the need for farmers to have access to baseline data and ongoing monitoring.

What are your challenges to profitability?

The Soil Association’s aim is to highlight the profitability challenges that you as a farmer face, as well as suggestions for government action, and examples of how moving to an agroecological system has improved profitability.

Contact the Soil Association

If you have suggestions for material that the Soil Association could include, please email policymail@soilassociation.org by Friday 4th July. Use the headline “Farm profitability review”. They will look for any common themes to include in their response. If you have specific suggestions for case studies, please flag these and the Soil Association will come back for further information.

Many thanks in advance for your contribution to this important project!

Find out more

Press release, published in April 2025: Former NFU President and farmer Baroness Minette Batters appointed by Defra to lead Farm Profitability Review 

The post Call for Farmer Insights into Profitability Challenges and Opportunities appeared first on Agricology.

Methane is a natural by-product of the digestive process of ruminant animals, where microbes in the rumen ferment feed and produce methane as a waste product (known as enteric methane production). Globally, there are an estimated 1.2 billion sheep, producing around seven million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere, approximately 6.4% of the total enteric methane from livestock.

Sustain Sheep builds on research from New Zealand which suggests that, by exploiting the natural variation in methane emissions between individual sheep, selective breeding could reduce emissions by 1-2% per year, without compromising genetic improvement in other traits.

Building on existing and previous project collaborations at home and abroad, the Sustain Sheep project, which has just reached the end of its first year, uses portable accumulation chambers across all countries for individual animal methane measurements.

In the UK, hill sheep from SRUC’s Hill and Mountain Research Centre near Loch Lomond (approximately 450 lambs measured over four years), as well as performance-recorded Texel sheep flocks (around 500 lambs measured over two years) are participating in the research, which will run to 2027.

John Yates of the Texel Sheep Society said: “Methane measurement using Portable Accumulation Chambers (PACs) is still in its early stages, but if scalable and affordable, it could play a vital role in breeding programmes to support the government’s net-zero target.”

Dr Nicola Lambe from SRUC said: “A crucial aspect of this project is understanding what impacts there might be of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) on other animal characteristics such as growth, feed intake and efficiency, and quantifying the effects of these. This will enable recommendations for breeding programmes to be determined in tandem with the economic implications of selecting for low-methane sheep.

“In the UK and other countries there is chronic under-adoption of genetic improvement as a means to meet policy targets for lower GHG emissions, and there are many barriers to taking up new outcomes from research by the sheep industry. The robust science from the project will provide a mechanism for national and global comparisons to underpin Governmental GHG reduction targets for the successful implementation of science into policy.”

It is expected the research will provide tools and knowledge to help steer the direction of future breeding programmes and related government policies, so that UK sheep producers can see clear benefits from reducing methane emissions from their flocks.

Sustain Sheep is carried out under the Green ERA-Hub, a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation (R&I) programme.

The post Sheep Experts Team Up to Reduce Emissions appeared first on Agricology.

The British Farming Awards is an annual event, now in its’ 13th year, which offers the chance for over 800 farmers and industry professionals to come together and celebrate pioneers and change-makers from across the sector. Hosted by the Farmers Guardian and supported by Morrisons, the BFA was created to recognise the hard work and successes that farmers and land workers continue to achieve in the face of challenging weather conditions and ever-growing economic pressures.

This year the awards ceremony will include a new accolade to recognise the UK’s first Regenerative Farmer of the Year. This category promises to highlight those in the industry who are helping to future proof their farms and agriculture on the whole through regenerative farming techniques. Whether through the adoption of wildlife-friendly practices, responsible stockmanship, or the use of renewable energy, nominees will demonstrate a commitment to farming in harmony with nature.

The other categories include:

• Agri-Tech Innovator of the Year
• Content Creator of the Year
• Agricultural Student of the Year
• Arable Farmer of the Year
• Beef Farmer of the Year
• Contractor of the Year
• Dairy Farmer of the Year
• Diversification of the Year (Large)
• Diversification of the Year (Small/ Medium)
• Family Farming Business of the Year
• Farm Worker of the Year
• Farmers Guardian Farming Hero
• Grassland Farmer of the Year
• New Entrants Award: Against the Odds
• Sheep Farmer of the Year
• Sustainable Farmer of the Year

The award ceremony will take place in Birmingham on the 16th October 2025, If you or someone you know deserves recognition for their work within the agricultural sector, nominate them via the link below! Entries close on the 22nd June.

The post The British Farming Awards Introduces Regenerative Farmer of the Year Category appeared first on Agricology.

The loans are available to small or start-up farming businesses who might otherwise struggle to secure commercial funding, explains Chris Jones, adviser to the Dean Organic Fund. Terms range from two to five years, with loans from £5,000 to £25,000. “We are looking to make a big impact, and support a wide variety of enterprises founded on organic farming principles. The Fund is open to applicants from all walks of life, and may just provide that turn-key investment to a well-founded enterprise.”

Since 2018, the Fund has supported nearly 50 farmers, producers and food businesses, ranging from market gardens in the Cotswolds to a pop-up organic shop on the North Coast 500 route. Other businesses include organic dairies in Devon and a community-led vegetable enterprise in Somerset.

Sally Hempsell benefited from a £25,000 loan to invest in cattle and a four-wheel drive vehicle to move them between sites as part of her conservation grazing business in North West England. Grazing Matters provides a mix of grazing regimes tailored to different conservation needs. “Farming and food production can work alongside the conservation of special habitats and biodiversity,” she says. “The loan was instrumental in allowing me to set up the business.”

In each case, the loan terms are moulded to suit the business requirements and realistic repayment terms, says Mr Jones. “We do not expect a return on our investment, but we do expect to see the legacy fund delivering growth in the organic sector; with loan applications reaching a high bar of planning and thought.”

Loans can be made to finance transformative investment in equipment, innovation, stock or other forms of capital, excluding property or land. Applicants are welcome from private or public companies, sole traders, partnerships, and community / social or charitable enterprises with a legal entity.

“Applicants will preferably be certified organic producers or in conversion, but otherwise should follow practices closely aligned to organic principles,” says Mr Jones. “This really is a golden opportunity for businesses exploring, innovating or expanding in the organic sector.”

For more information visit www.organicresearchcentre.com/farming-organically/the-dean-organic-fund/

The Organic Research Centre (ORC) is a small charity, yet it is the UK’s leading independent research organisation for agroecological farming approaches such as organic and agroforestry. It drives its own research agenda to tackle global issues by acting locally and finding community-based solutions for farmers and their supply chains. For more information please email DOF@organicresearchcentre.com.

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“BASE-UK is delighted to be hosting the regen conference at this year’s Cereals Event,” explains Rebecca Goodwin, administrator at BASE-UK. “It is especially exciting as knowledge exchange is the foundation of our organisation, and the majority of our speakers are members.

“This highlights the wealth of knowledge, expertise and innovation that exists within our network. Our members work with the system day after day and can provide practical insights and expertise to the industry discussions,” she says.

Edwin Taylor, chairman of BASE-UK, believes the push towards regenerative methods is being fuelled by necessity. “As a result of seeing a significant decline in the resilience and workability of their soils, many farmers are exploring changes to their farming practices to rebuild soil health. Some may have investigated this option when the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) offered support for this transition, but even without such schemes there are still many compelling benefits and reasons to adopt regenerative practices.”

In a session entitled: ‘Enterprise stacking – the regen way’, Seb Richardson, a BASE-UK member, will discuss how he uses different enterprises on his family farm to achieve multiple benefits. Seb, a fifth-generation farmer, farms in partnership with his parents on their 700ha mixed arable and beef farm in Northamptonshire. He believes regenerative farming offers an opportunity to stack enterprises in the same field and has introduced SFI options, carbon credits, livestock integration and bi-cropping.

He began his journey to regenerative farming in 2019, when the family turned to a non-plough-based system. “We still focus on food production, but enterprise stacking allows us to do this while diversifying the farm,” he says. “We were able to join the SFI before it closed. Hopefully by the time Cereals comes around we will know more about the next SFI and can discuss this more in depth.

“Cereals offers two days of gaining knowledge from different people with different specialities; you won’t learn anything if you just stay locked up in your silo – it’s important to get out and gain knowledge from different people.”

Farm manager John Aynsley, who farms just under 1,600ha on the Skelton Estate in north Yorkshire, will also be sharing his journey at the conference, drawing on more than a decade of experience in conservation agriculture. Recently, he has explored enterprise stacking as a way to plan for the future. “If you don’t prepare to work with no subsidy, then you may be on the back foot in a few years’ time,” he says.

“Food production is not at the top of this Government’s priorities, so events like Cereals are important; as no matter how old you are there’s always something new that can be learnt.”

Stacking enterprises, like integrating livestock with arable rotations, is important for a farm’s profitability, notes John. “It’s not always about directly grazing arable land but using livestock elements (such as applying manure) on arable land, although grazing can be a great opportunity for younger people with small flocks and mobile pens to get involved.”

The post Regenerative Agriculture in the Spotlight at Cereals Event 2025 appeared first on Agricology.

Permanent grasslands in agricultural areas are important for biodiversity – especially pollinators. Researchers in Belgium found irregular, curved mowing patterns had positive effects on pollinators compared to conventional block cutting. 

Up to 34% of the agricultural area of the EU consists of permanent grasslands. These habitats have a dual role in supporting biodiversity and serving agricultural functions, such as grazing and hay production. Their role in maintaining wild pollinators such as bees and butterflies also benefits agriculture where crops – especially fruit – rely on them for pollination. However, in the 2020 European Environment Agency State of Nature in the EU report, the conservation status of nearly half (49%) of grasslands was assessed as ‘bad’. Meanwhile, a dramatic decline in pollinating insects has been reported in Europe (and globally) in recent decades, in several key habitats, including grasslands[1].

Semi-natural grasslands require ongoing management to prevent the growth of woody vegetation and maintain their distinctive characteristics. Typically, land managers do this through regular grazing or mowing. Mowing an entire area at once, however, can have a negative impact on biodiversity as sources of food and shelter are abruptly removed. This problem can be mitigated by mowing only part of the total area on each occasion. One way of achieving this is in the rotational or ‘block’ mowing system, where all parts of the plot are cut at least once a year, but a patch is left unmown each time. Traditionally, a rectangular patch is cut, with the position of the rectangle moved on each occasion to cover the entire area over two or three mowing cycles.

In recent years, an alternative system for partial mowing has been developed and employed in the Flanders region of Belgium, explain researchers behind a new study, using curved instead of straight mowing lines. This simple but innovative approach involves marking a path – a ‘sinus’ – through the grassland, and mowing the flanking area in curved lines. The proportion mown each time remains at two-thirds, but the shape of the area is changed each mow, producing a scattered pattern of cut and uncut zones. By varying mowing cycles spatially and temporally, the goal is to create diverse grassland habitats with a range of food and shelter for resident fauna, including pollinators, say the researchers.

In this study, researchers compared the impact of block mowing and sinus mowing on wild pollinator species (bees and butterflies) abundance and diversity, looking at six pairs of nearby sites in Flanders. A range of landscape types were represented in the sample plots, with pairs sharing similar land cover categories in the surrounding 0.5km (for example urban zones, water bodies, types of agricultural use or semi-natural habitat). 

After collecting baseline data on flora and pollinators, the researchers applied block mowing to one site and sinus mowing to the other within each pair, mowing twice a year from 2019 to 2021. They conducted regular transect surveys on each site to record bee, butterfly and flowering plant species between April and September – the season when bees and butterflies are most active. In total they recorded observations of 6,827 bees and 4,918 butterflies.

After one year, they found minimal difference between pollinator counts in each mowing regime. However, in year two they observed significantly higher values for abundance, species richness and species diversity of bees in sinus-mown sites. The results for year three agreed with this positive trend for bees, while butterfly abundance was significantly higher for sinus-mown sites in the second and third years, and butterfly species richness and diversity apparent in year three.

Survey data indicated that sinus mowing could be especially beneficial for certain groups of bee and butterfly. For instance, grassland specialists that feed from multiple flower species particularly thrived under the sinus regime, note the researchers. They also reported that while the beneficial effects were observed only with common butterfly species, all bees from common to very rare (based on national Red List assessments) appeared to benefit.

These results demonstrate significant potential for sinus mowing to support pollinator communities more effectively than block mowing, say the researchers – and beneficial effects may occur rapidly, within two or three years. They argue for more widespread adoption of the technique in the management of permanent grasslands in Europe, and relevant policies to encourage this.

Grassland management regimes that enhance biodiversity are important for rural landscapes, stress the researchers, where the needs of agriculture and nature conservation may compete with each other. Improvements in grassland patches can play a significant ecological role in increasing biodiversity at a landscape scale, they note, and wild pollinators also provide an important ecosystem service by pollinating a range of crops, especially fruit. They highlight sweet cherry (Prunus spp.) as an example that is common in Flanders and serviced entirely by wild pollinators.

This study focused on moderately dry (mesic) grassland areas. Future studies could evaluate the effect of sinus mowing in other grassland types, suggest the researchers, highlighting wet grassland (which is under threat in several areas in Europe) and High Nature Value grassland as potential priority candidates. The effect of sinus mowing on other species groups could also be looked at.

The post Grassland Study Reveals Best Mowing Pattern to Support Wildlife appeared first on Agricology.

Following a successful first year, another 25 farmers and advisors are being invited to join the FiPL funded Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme (RAAP) in the Cotswolds for 2025/26. Act fast to get involved with this exciting opportunity – the closing date for applications is Friday 2nd May.

Programme overview

The transition to a regenerative farming and agroecological future is a deep and complex journey. High levels of motivation, knowledge and confidence are required to successfully put the key principles into practice. The barriers and journey can be overwhelming, and pioneers can feel isolated. The RAAP has been created to change this!

The mission of the programme is to accelerate and deepen the adoption of regenerative farming practice and agroecological thinking in the Cotswolds, improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity and building resilience. If you are accepted you will benefit from over 120 hours of learning, most of which is free. The unique, fun, and high impact programme includes farm walks, guest speakers, technical workshops, agronomy clinics, meet ups at Groundswell and other relevant events, and mentoring. You can also join in sessions focused on media/communications, and project management and rural facilitation. You will also be invited to help organise the second Cotswolds regenerative agriculture conference in 2026. A number of the programme’s key elements and events will be opened up to other farmers and advisers from across the region, engaging a wider audience.

This innovative and intensive 12-month opportunity is hosted by Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL) and funded by a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant. 

Get involved

If you are a farmer or adviser in the Cotswolds, with an interest in regenerative agriculture and agroecology, and have a thirst for knowledge, the organisers would love to hear from you. Young farmers and advisers, and those with more experience, are all welcome.

Applications close on Friday May 2nd 2025 at midday. Participants will be confirmed soon after. If you would like to discuss the programme in more detail, please email Jonty Brunyee at jonathan@conygreefarm.co.uk or phone 07886 305508.

• The programme webpage can be found here.
• To be considered for the core programme please apply via this online form.
• If you simply want to be kept informed and be invited to the events suitable for a wider audience, please sign up to the CNL’s farming mailing list here.

The post Apply now to join the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme appeared first on Agricology.

There are two types of grant available:
• Support grants (up to £2,500): These help applicants explore their idea and work with a project facilitator to shape a strong proposal.
• Full grants (up to £100,000): To support farmer-led, collaborative research and innovation projects over 6 – 24 months.

Applications open Monday 28 April – apply via the Innovation Funding Service. Just search “ADOPT” and the live ADOPT competitions will come up. You can also prepare your idea and get help before you apply via the ADOPT Support Hub, available now.

The post New Defra farmer-led innovation fund launching 28 April 2025 appeared first on Agricology.

First Snapshot from across the growing network of networks – April 2025

As SFN membership tops 30 networks, between them representing over 2,400 demonstration farm experiences over nearly 400,000 Ha, we are delighted to be able to share the first quarterly ‘Snapshot’ newsletter. Spotlighting a network, a site and a farmer from across the hugely diverse demo farming community, the Snapshot is open to all and contains links to open events happening across the country.

Your Sustainable Farm Networks Snapshot edition #1. 

The SFN works primarily with Network Stewards to help coordinate and amplify their work of bringing together farmers with an interest in evolving farm practice to improve sustainability in all its forms. All sectors, systems and scales of UK food production are represented- across all four nations.

Look out for the SFN also at events through the summer- we will be at the Royal Highland Show, Groundswell, the Royal Welsh and Fields Good NI.

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