August 2024 Snapshots

Innovation for Agriculture aims to equip farmers to make informed farm management decisions that put agricultural innovation into practice while enhancing farm business resilience. ?

This month’s snapshots newsletter includes:

• What is Climate Smart Farming? – a blog from Innovation for Agriculture
• Soil Farmer of the Year – a farm case study based on Ben Richards’ farm in Cornwall
• Upcoming Farm of the Future events and webinars

Sign up via our website to receive the full version of this newsletter directly to your inbox next month.

What is Climate Smart Farming?

Climate Smart Farming – also known as Climate Smart Agriculture – brings together the issues of food security and climate change.

Considering these issues together, rather in separate silos, can provide an approach to planning how farm businesses can produce food, adapt to climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously. Read more.

Soil Farmer of the Year – a farm case study

Ben Richards from Middle Trelan Farm Ltd in Cornwall was awarded third place in the 2024 Soil Farmer of the Year competition.

This case study explores how soil management has been a key focus on the dairy farm for over 20 years and looks at how practices have changed from the early noughties through to today. Ben shares that making more money has consistently been a key driver in the steps taken to improve soil health and reduce inputs. Read more.

Agri-tech in action – demonstration event

Join Innovation for Agriculture and RASE at Riseholme Campus, University of Lincoln, to see emerging technical developments that can help farm businesses improve efficiencies and increase resilience while moving towards net zero emissions.

The day will include a farm walk, practical demonstrations and discussions. Themes and topics covered will include natural flood management, technology, robotics and artificial intelligence, measuring carbon, soil analysis, agroforestry and use of livestock to regenerate soils and promote biodiversity.

The event is free for farmers to attend but registration is essential, apply for your place today.

Clearing the air: Comparing methane inhibitor options

The Farm of the Future webinar series is back!

Join Innovation for Agriculture’s head of livestock Holly Shearman on Monday 30th September as she chairs a discussion on the use of methane inhibitors in cattle feed. Guest speakers will include Annie Williams from the UK Agri-tech Centre, Sander van Zijderveld from Cargill and independent nutrition consultant Adrian Packington.

The discussion will cover what methane inhibitors are, the reasons to use them (or not) and the differences between the options available. Sign up via the RASE website.

Remember to sign up via our website to receive the full version of this newsletter directly to your inbox next month.