The Source

Research from the University of Warwick highlights six key priority areas for farmers and growers to develop their skills in order strengthen their businesses. "It can’t be emphasised enough how important it is that skills training evolves at least as rapidly as the introduction of these new technologies"

Meadow Farm, our mixed lowland farm model, made its largest-ever margin from production in 2025/26. As previously reported, this is actually only the second time in its history that the business has made a profit before support payments. For the current year, an increase in both variable costs and overheads, results in a large fall in the margin from production, but it is still budgeted to be positive.

A St George’s House Consultation Summary, 7th - 8th May 2026

No food system anywhere in the world achieves all the desired goals at the same time: healthy food, sustainable, fair and affordable. This is not a technical failure, but the result of a system that gets stuck because there is resistance to change. Where exactly does that resistance come from? And more importantly: what can you do about it, and how can you steer this process? 

Digital Twin technologies are virtual representations of physical farming systems that integrate real-time data, simulation models, and predictive analytics to support monitoring and agricultural decision-making. They are increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of digital transformation in agriculture and have demonstrated strong potential for improving precision farming, resource optimisation, and input efficiency. 

How to monitor soil health more frequently within the rotation is the subject of the AHDB new evidence-based web pages.  

Through the Farmer Welfare Grant, £1.5 million will be available over 3 years to support farmer mental health and wellbeing. Rural and agricultural charities and organisations across England will be able to apply for funding, so support can be delivered by the groups that already know and work closely with farming communities. 

Under the new regulations, the current carriers, brokers and dealers registration regime will be replaced by a full environmental permitting system, bringing waste controllers and transporters into the same regulatory framework as other permitted waste activities. Applicants will face identity, tax and criminal record checks, together with requirements to demonstrate technical competence before being permitted to operate. 

It’s Back! Farm Safety Week returns this summer from 20-24 July for its 14th annual campaign, managed and funded by the team here at the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) and this year, we’re doing things a little differently… 

Quite often, I get asked by clients: “What makes the top farmers stand out from the rest?” “What are the top 10% doing that the other 90% are not?” 

"Broadly, the changes only apply to new applications for planning permission made from 6 August. To note, planning permissions and applications for permission already submitted will continue to be subject to existing BNG legislation. " 

Pressure to reduce the use of plastic on bales comes from many directions, with wrap costs climbing, disposal often difficult and expensive, and plastic in fields and hedgerows unsightly and potentially damaging to livestock and wildlife. Its use may even incur a tax in future.