Serving the Farming Industry across the Midlands for 35 Years
AD plants could help ensure energy security
Support for anaerobic digestion could help ensure energy security – and meet the UK’s net zero ambitions, says an industry body. The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) says it has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves – urging her to support the sector and its potential to produce clean,... Read more
Satellites measures wheat nitrogen in the field
Scientists have developed an accurate method for using satellite imagery to test nitrogen concentrations in wheat. Hyperspectral satellite crop analysis has successfully used to test nitrogen concentrations in thousands of wheat samples in the field. The samples were measured by agri-tech start-up Messium and verified by Eurofins Agro Testing.... Read more
Campaigning farmer  returns to Arable Event
Farmer and anti-inheritance tax campaigner Olly Harrison will headline the speaker list at next month’s Arable Event on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border. Mr Harrison will join a panel of expert speakers during the day – including Roy Jackson and Claire Smith, both partners at business advisors WR Partners; Joe Lloyd... Read more
Spending review ‘must deliver for UK farmers’
• Fair funding needed for farming • Details on revised SFI awaited • Farm investment and certainty Industry leaders are ramping up efforts to secure a fair deal for farming ahead of next month’s government spending review. Funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Environmental Land Management (ELMs) and... Read more
‘Rush’ for renewables puts food security at risk – MP
Former science  minister George Freeman MP has accused the government of putting food security at risk by prioritising Net Zero over farming. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Freeman (pictured right) said swathes of farmland risked being lost under subsidised solar panels generating expensive electricity as the government... Read more
Food security and environment at risk from Labour budget cuts
Anger at closure of  green scheme Farm leaders have urged the government to renew its commitment to food production and the environment following a series of cuts and tax rises. The warning follows last month’s closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applications with immediate effect – and... Read more
‘Punjabi Farm’ in Worcestershire takes to the big screen
A farming family whose roots stretch from India to Worcestershire starred on the big screen after creating a documentary mini-series.         ‘It’s a Punjabi Farm Innit’ follows the journey of the Makhan Singh Padda family from the Punjab to Vicarage Nurseries, in Bretforton, in the Vale... Read more
Industry continues to battle against ‘unjust’ inheritance tax
• Treasury refuses to listen to farmers • Government ‘no interest’ in moving • Leaders propose compromise tax Industry leaders have pledged to fight on after the Treasury again refused to back down on plans to impose inheritance tax in farmers. It came after Treasury minister James Murray summoned... Read more
Mass rally celebrates 60 years of MF137
More than 200 historic tractors came together for a mass rally at last month’s Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show. Some 203 Massey Ferguson 135s – a model which sold more than any others in the series and remains in use across the world today – were showcased at... Read more
Thousands of farms could face inheritance tax raid
• Single farm owners at most risk • Retailers in government warning • Plan now for secure farm future More than 42,000 farms larger than 50ha (125 acres) will be affected by changes to inheritance tax rules, suggest the latest estimates. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has calculated... Read more