The Source

Updated standards aim to give cattle more space, additional pasture access, and better welfare at every stage of life. The new revised standards will come into effect from April 20, 2026 and are designed to support better welfare outcomes, while remaining practical for farms to deliver. They feature a wide range of improvements based on best practice and the latest science and advice from vets, farmers, and welfare experts.

Faced with exploding global demand for protein and the growing environmental impact of animal farming, insects are emerging as an attractive alternative: they are rich in nutrients, resource-efficient and have already been tested by researchers, businesses and chefs. But behind all the hype, one question remains: is eating insects really a sustainable and safe solution for feeding the planet?

Alongside pulses and energy crops, fibre crops could be considered as an emerging third pathway for diversified arable rotations. With rising interest in natural fibres for bedding, biocomposites and manufacturing, flax and hemp offer soil-improving properties and new market opportunities—though not without challenges.

Tests have been carried out to establish the levels of methane being emitted by sheep living off a natural forage diet in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Forage for CH4nge project – funded by Innovate UK – is bringing together farmers and scientists to better understand how traditional breeds and different pastures can help reduce the environmental impact of sheep farming.

Between 6% and 10% of calves are lost on dairy farms in the UK, with scours and pneumonia accounting for three-quarters of the deaths.  Calves are not born with immunity to any of the diseases around them. The only way a calf can pick up any immunity is through colostrum.  Farms with good colostrum management will make more sales, regardless of what nutritional programme is implemented next.

"Regenerative agriculture is quite simple: it is any form of farming, i.e., the production of food or fibre, which at the same time improves the environment. This primarily means regenerating the soil. It’s a direction of travel, not an absolute.” Groundswell Agriculture Ltd

Digital twin technology is widely promoted as a transformative step for precision livestock farming, yet no fully realized, engineering-grade digital twins are deployed in commercial dairy or poultry systems today.

Hedgerows are a defining feature of the British countryside, offering far more than aesthetic appeal. When managed with care, they provide a wealth of ecological benefits and contribute meaningfully to sustainable land management. Here are five key reasons to value and maintain hedgerows on your land:

Running a successful dairy farm requires more than just hard work – it demands organisation, efficiency, and consistency. As dairy farms grow in size and rely on more hired or non-family workers, ensuring that tasks are done correctly and efficiently is becoming increasingly important.

There’s a subtle but sure revolution happening across the British countryside, and you won’t spot it in a headline or an annual review — you’ll see it in the cab of a tractor. There’s a younger farmer at the helm, phone in hand, flipping between yield maps, WhatsApp groups and weather radars while the tractor glides along neatly on auto-steer. It’s subtle, almost unassuming, but it’s exactly the kind of shift that changes everything. Because these younger digital-minded farmers aren’t just farming differently — they’re thinking differently. And that mindset is transforming how data is used across UK agriculture.

Walk into any supermarket in 2026 and you’ll notice something striking: shoppers are thinking about health. From protein-packed snacks and drinks to more natural product innovations, the aisles are buzzing with products promising better nutrition. Yet, there’s a catch. While health is climbing the priority list, many consumers say they can’t afford to put wellness first in the face of rising living costs.

Findings suggest that simple causal diagrams can structure data collection and interpretation in ways aligned with farmers' goals.