Having a succession plan in place is crucially important for farming families, as it can help prevent serious disagreements and the emotional turmoil that can come with them, as well as the cost of solicitors’ fees if those disagreements end up in court.   Speaking in the Farm of the Future webinar, ‘Planning for succession: Why, when and how’, litigation solicitor Esther Woolford from the Clarke Willmott agriculture team shared how disagreements around farm business succession can end up in the courts. She said: “In a farming family, the business is interwoven into the fabric of the family, and agreements can be reached around that kitchen table, but not documented, and unfortunately, sometimes disputes may follow.” Common scenarios that can

BNG can provide an opportunity to generate a new income stream by creating or enhancing habitats on their land that can be sold as biodiversity units to developers who need to offset and deliver 10% improvement in biodiversity for each of their projects. However, BNG requires long-term legal commitments of at least 30 years, so seeking professional advice is crucial before entering into any BNG agreement.

Farmers can secure income by restoring biodiversity through public funding like ELMS or private schemes like BNG and carbon storage. Options can complement farming, but legal advice is key.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a legal requirement for developers in England in 2024. But what is BNG? And what opportunities, if any, does it create for farmers? A recent Farm of the Future webinar covered this topic in depth, and can be watched in the RASE members’ resources. The following blog covers some key insights from the webinar, including the policy background, what BNG is trying to achieve, how it works in practice and options for farmers and landowners considering getting involved in a BNG project. What is Biodiversity Net Gain? All new development projects covered by the BNG legislation must deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity gain, as calculated using a standardised biodiversity metric. These projects must make sure

As decarbonisation and removing fossil fuels from the food system creep higher up the socio-political agenda, the agricultural industry must start planning for what will fuel agriculture post red diesel. To start the conversation, RASE and Yorkshire Agricultural Society co-hosted an event at Askham Bryan College in October 2024, which looked at the future of fuels in agriculture. View the event highlights video here or read on to find out more about what was covered. The tour of the ‘Electric Cow’ and demonstrations The event began with a tour of Askham Bryan’s anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, dubbed the ‘electric cow’. Attendees were able to see how the college processes its slurry to produce biogas. The biogas is then used to

Wool is ready for a renaissance, with farmers and industry leaders finding innovative ways to improve its quality, value, and sustainability. A recent Farm of the Future webinar featuring four experts – Frank Langrish, Tim White, Andy Wear, and Jen Hunter—highlighted the opportunities and challenges in making money from wool. The webinar covered the three key approaches farmers can adopt to make wool production a more sustainable and profitable enterprise. These strategies are: These strategies offer farmers practical solutions to enhance their wool production and improve sustainability in the industry. Growing better wool Speaking in the webinar, Frank Langrish, farmer and past chairman of British Wool, shared how he has bred for finer wool from Romney sheep, showing how strategic

In November 2024 RASE and Innovation for Agriculture delivered a farm study tour in Yorkshire, as part of the Farm of the Future series of activities. The tour focused on anaerobic digestion processes and supporting nature on farm to improve natural and economic resilience. It provided an opportunity for attendees to step away from the day-to-day running of their farms and to discuss different ideas and practices seen on the tour. DAY 1: Tour of Approach Farm with Angus Gowthorpe Angus led a detailed tour of his farm, describing how he has more than quartered his fertiliser use, and transitioned to a no-till system with no use of fungicides or insecticides. His use of herbal leys on heavy land, as

The Farm of the Future study tour held in Hampshire on 6th and 7th November 2024 brought together 22 attendees from 19 diverse farming businesses involved in both arable and livestock enterprises. The two-day event offered a unique platform for farmers to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration for implementing regenerative farming practices. Participants visited leading farms in the region, witnessing firsthand the innovative practices that are shaping sustainable and resilient farming systems. Through expert-led discussions and demonstrations, attendees explored practical ways to adapt to challenges in modern agriculture while prioritising environmental and economic sustainability. Leckford Estate – The Waitrose & Partners Farm During our visit to Leckford Estate, part of the Waitrose & Partners farm, attendees were

In October 2024, RASE and Innovation for Agriculture held a soil and compost workshop at Norton Court Farm in Gloucestershire. Debbie Wilkins runs the 950 acre farm, which has a mix of beef and dairy cattle, and arable. She is trying to support many natural systems while still being a productive farmer, implementing measures to restore biodiversity, improve soil health and manage flooding naturally.  The day centred around Debbie’s research project with the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) looking into the potential of a slurry free dairy farm. To achieve this, Debbie, alongside RAU students and researchers, has been investigating making bokashi with her farmyard manure, which is then spread on her fields to support soil health and crop growth. Know

Insect farming offers a way to upgrade low value organic materials to a protein rich product. The sector has grown significantly in the UK over the past 10 years, along with the number of companies developing products and technologies. A recent Farm of the Future webinar brought together Mike Boulton from Ento U.P, Thomas Farrugia from Beta Bugs and Larry Kotch from Flybox to discuss diversification into insect farming. The session was chaired by Nick Rousseau from the UK Edible Insect Association, which is building an insect farming community of practice to include experts, technology providers, retailers, product developers and manufacturers, alongside farmers and anyone else with an interest in insect farming. The speakers discussed the logistics of insect farming,