England faces prolonged lack of rainfall Water restrictions could continue into next year despite forecasts for a wetter autumn as the impact of the summer drought continues. Environment Agency modelling suggests 120% of typical rainfall is needed over the next seven months for all areas to recover. Even under... Read more

A Hertfordshire farmer crushed beneath 1,500kg of hay bales is backing calls for safer working practices after being told he had a 75% chance of never walking again. Will Dickinson suffered 12 broken ribs, eight spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis when three bales fell from a trailer on... Read more

Farm leaders are pressing the government to underwrite interest-free crisis loans as drought, disease and rising costs leave businesses short of the cash needed to plant crops and replace livestock. The proposed Keep Britain Growing Loan would target viable businesses hit by exceptional losses. Farm organisations say urgent support... Read more

Regenerative farmers are being encouraged to rethink their approach to crops and livestock amid increasing concerns over profitability. Poor margins, rising costs and lower support payments are continuing to squeeze margins, growers and livestock producers were told during a business seminar at last month’s Groundswell festival. New estimates Financial... Read more

Farms providing supplementary feeding are supporting higher numbers of many important farmland bird species. Run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and sponsored by the NFU, the annual Big Farmland Bird Count encourages farmers and land managers to record the bird species and numbers on their farms... Read more

Vital checks should be undertaken in good time before before applying to join the relaunched Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), say advisers. Launched last month, SFI 2026 is now open to farmers without an existing Environmental Land Management agreement and those with less than 50ha. Other eligible farmers will be... Read more

Moving to a reduced or no-tillage system on a farm with varying soil types is a challenge familiar to many farmers. What works in one field could be an abject failure in another. Similarly, what drill system do you go for? A tine drill will give greater flexibility in... Read more

More than 350 exhibitors and hundreds of speakers will attend Groundswell next month – as the two-day festival hosts its most expansive programme yet. Farmers, scientists, food businesses and environmental campaigners will gather at Lannock Farm near Hitchin to debate regenerative agriculture, soil health and sustainable food production. Groundswell... Read more

Groundswell 2026 will take place on 1-2 July at Lannock Farm, near Hitchen, Hertfordshire, about an hour north of London. The event opens from 7am until midnight on both days, with camping available from the evening of 30 June. Organisers provide shuttle buses from Stevenage station and expect thousands... Read more

Road safety campaigners are warning of a “perfect storm” this summer with accidents involving agricultural vehicles expected to rise sharply. NFU Mutual data shows collisions between agricultural vehicles and third parties are 56 per cent more likely between May and September than during the rest of the year. The... Read more