The Source

Recent survey data from the Society of Agriculture has sparked an important conversation across the sector about how Farm Management roles are valued in today’s market.

With the ever-decreasing chemical arsenal UK fruit growers have to work with, is now the time to take a big leap towards biological control for pest and disease issues in our orchards?

The Farm Consultancy Group (FCG) recently began using Regeno’s Farmwalk app, which was designed to streamline record-keeping. It allows farmers and advisers to capture photos, voice notes and other evidence while in the field and automatically links them to relevant scheme requirements. It also supports Welsh and Scottish schemes as well as standards like Red Tractor and LEAF.

While shoot biomass contributes to soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation when residues are retained, empirical evidence highlights the crucial role of root traits in long-term carbon stabilization. At a given level of carbon input, breeding for deeper roots, enhanced exudation, and more recalcitrant biochemical composition can substantially improve the efficiency of SOC accumulation.

How the controversial herbicide saves wildlife and where it still falls short. “The path forward is not to defend glyphosate indefinitely nor to ban it reflexively, but to retain the efficiencies and environmental benefits it enables while developing alternatives with even smaller trade-offs.”

In a rare long-term public study that compared the effects of phytochemicals from rosemary and oregano with antibiotic growth promoters, animal scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favourable gut health and growth performance later in their lives by preserving microbial diversity to improve nutrient utilization.

A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops' absorption of "contaminants of emerging concern" (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed. CECs include pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials and PFAS (commonly known as "forever chemicals"). The researchers warn that even when present at very low concentrations, these chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology, disrupt soil health and pose wider environmental and human health risks.

In February 2026, the Law Commission published a scoping report on agricultural law in Wales. The scoping report examines a potential code of agricultural law in Wales and marks a significant milestone in the wider initiative to codify the law in Wales. This article briefly explores the scoping report’s key findings, the Law Commission’s rationale for a potential code of agricultural law for Wales and implications for practitioners.

University of Oxford Scientists have developed a breakthrough “superfood” for honeybees by engineering yeast to produce the essential nutrients normally found in pollen. In controlled trials, colonies fed this specially designed diet produced up to 15 times more young, showing a dramatic boost in reproduction and overall health. As climate change and modern agriculture reduce the availability of natural pollen, this innovation could offer a practical way to support struggling bee populations.

Artificial intelligence is now widely used across agriculture. Sensors monitor livestock performance, software supports crop planning, and supply chains increasingly rely on predictive analytics. Yet a more important question remains. If AI is already present, why are so many organisations still struggling to translate it into consistent, measurable value?

Nature markets can provide farmers with an additional source of income, as organisations look for new ways to meet environmental goals.

Properly resourced Cheesemakers benefit both the consumer and farmers.