Warwickshire

County Update

Nick Watts had an on-farm visit with head of communications for DEFRA Ashley Winter and the NFU Head of Communication, Sharon Hockley, kindly hosted by Julian & Phil Douthwaite at Townsend Farm a mixed – arable, beef & sheep enterprise all organic. This was a good exercise informally talking about how current government funding schemes work for farmers practically. The positives and all the practical negatives around schemes currently available. (DEFRA Visit pic attached)

Nick hosted a Warwickshire Rural Wildlife & Heritage Crime Strategy meeting at HQ. This meeting involved – PCC, Trading standards, wildlife crime officer, Warwickshire Police, National Rural crime chief – Andrew Huddleston), County council & district council, Harper Adams (Analytics). This was a well-structured meeting run by the PCC team and highlighted how much work there is to do and where all these separate entities could improve by collaborating further. This will all help our membership increasing confidence in reporting crime and crime prevention. Photo attached (Rural Crime workshop)

We attended the recent Warwickshire’s Finest Livestock event on a gloriously sunny Sunday. This was very well attended by local cattle and sheep farmers showing off their prized livestock. There was a good footfall of general public so really good for engaging with families and children and the activity booklets and bags and pens/pencils went down really well. In conclusion this was a good PR event and essential to support the event. The trade stands were sold out with a multitude of representatives from food, arts & crafts, and agricultural machinery on display. All in all, a really good event. Photos attached

Nick held a further meeting with the current PCC off the back of the County strategy meeting to push home the county needs from a member’s perspective. There will be an opportunity for a full consultation to help properly define the plan for the full term of 3 years. Further information on this consultation will be made known to members in due course.

Further work on the project of rural digital connectivity has been completed and I will be approaching members to take part in some trials to demonstrate the need to find a solution for those worst affected by the lack of internet connectivity and speed.

Farm Assurance Review survey

The Independent Commission wants to hear your views – complete the UK Farm Assurance Review survey by Saturday 31 August 2024 to have your say. We have received the following information from the Independent Commission. This is separate from the individual surveys carried out on NFUOnline and in the regional farm assurance meetings earlier this year, the results of which will be used to feed into the NFU’s response to the farm assurance review.

This survey is part of a comprehensive independent evaluation of the UK’s farm assurance schemes being conducted by the Commissioners of the recently launched UK Farm Assurance Review. The project is focused on re-purposing UK farm assurance for a post-Brexit world.

This should take no longer than 10 – 15 minutes to complete, for details regarding the survey and supporting partners for the Commissioners please click here.

For further info on the review including FAQs visit

This survey will close on 31 August 2024.

Your thoughts on a Nature Recovery Strategy for Warwickshire

The Government has asked Warwickshire County Council to prepare a Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. This strategy is to be produced by taking the views from all those that benefit from or impact on nature. That is every business, every organisation and every resident.

Through a detailed habitat mapping initiative across Warwickshire, they have identified existing valuable ecological areas and locations with potential for biodiversity enhancement.

To view the maps and take the survey visit

Survey closes on 29 Sep 2024

Farm for the Future – Royal Countryside Fund

Do you want help navigating agricultural policy changes including help with understanding ELMs and SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive)?

If you’re an owner-occupied or tenant farm in England that received BPS, The Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm for the Future programme is in its final year, offering a last chance for free support which includes a 1-2-1 session with a consultant to talk about your farm.

Its online workshops can be joined from the comfort of your own home via Zoom to help you and your farm business navigate policy changes and become more resilient and sustainable.

To find out more and sign up to the online group, contact Christina Hutchings via email [email protected] or call 07715 353 546 or visit www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/farmforthefuture

Staying safe this harvest

As the hum of combines start for harvest the NFU is continuing to keep health & safety at the forefront of members’ minds, reminding growers of simple but effective ways they can stay safe this summer as more agricultural vehicles take to the road and fields. For best advice to keep you safe and legal visit

#YourHarvest campaign

This is a celebration of the work that arable farmers do at harvest time and the work which has gone into producing crops throughout the year. The 2024 campaign focuses on:

Wet weather through winter and the impacts that this has had on harvest.
The supply chain and how the produce goes from field to fork.
Incorporating relevant sector and manifesto asks.

Find out more here

Members can get involved by using the #YourHarvest on social media platforms or contacting [email protected] to share stories.

Dry weather advice

NFU HQ policy advisers have pulled together practical advice on a number of areas affected by ongoing dry weather conditions.

Make sure you know what to do

Call for Participants: Advancing Fairness in the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector – University of Leicester

Are you into fresh fruit and or vegetable cultivation in the UK? University of Leicester are conducting a study on advancing fairness in fresh fruit and vegetable sector and would love to hear from you!

Participation in the study involves farmers who are into the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK and who are suppliers to large retailers in the UK.

All data collected will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and anonymity based on University of Leicester's guideline and used solely for academic purposes.

To participate or learn more, please Visit https://bit.ly/3L6VQTZ or contact Nike directly through [email protected].

Members support would be invaluable to the success of this research.

Questionnaire for pilot study - https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Ip8UzYPUFmq1UG9FIUnzVaHnAQRUG1V/view?usp=sharing

Lamb production, husbandry and management methods – take the NFU survey

NFU is seeking members’ participation in a short survey on the lamb production and husbandry and management methods.

This will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of practices within the sector and the necessary information and data to highlight the detrimental impact of introducing restrictions on these routine management procedures.

To take the survey visit

The deadline for the survey is 26 September 2024. NFU members will need to be logged in to take part.

River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region Grant funding

The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region has launched a £100,000 opportunity for businesses and voluntary groups in the Severn Catchment Area to apply for funds from its Wireless Innovation Grant fund. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and managed by Shropshire Council, this program is part of a wider £3.75m project which aims to encourage business and organisations to adopt technologies enabled by advanced wireless connectivity.

Grants of up to £5,000 each are available for businesses and organisations in the catchment area, covering Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, to assist in purchasing and installing wireless technologies.

Advanced Wireless Innovation Region | River Severn Partnership

Warwickshire Police - Operation Recall

This is a national initiative with the Police, National Rural Crime Unit, NFU, National Sheep Association, CLA, Nature Watch Foundation and RSPCA, who have come together to raise awareness with regards to livestock worrying.

The aim is to drastically reduce the number of incidents where animals suffer, whether that’s injured livestock, wildlife or dogs killed as a consequence.

For more information contact [email protected] or visit Warwickshire Rural Watch – Closing the gate on rural crime

Warwickshire RABI Tractor Run

The route will last around 1.5 – 2 hours and will take you through the lovely Warwickshire countryside.

A raffle will be drawn, any donations are gratefully received.

Date

27 October 2024

Venue & Timings

Please arrive by 10am for coffee & biscuits – at Budbrooke Farm, Woodway, Budbrooke, CV35 8QJ by kind permission of Bob Shelswell & Helen Moore.

Cost

Entry is £10pp including refreshments.

Booking

Please RSVP by 20 October 2024 to Richard Morton on 01926 494690 or 07483 846122

Ragwort – control & disposal

The NFU is reminding livestock farmers to remain vigilant to the risk of ragwort poisoning. Here's some advice on control and disposal.

Ragwort poses a real risk to animal health, with potentially fatal consequences if it is ingested by horses or livestock, either in its green or dried state. Left unchecked, a ragwort problem is likely to become worse, as the species is highly vigorous. A single specimen can produce up to 150,000 seeds with a germination rate of up to 70%.

For more advice on control and disposal click here

Hedgerow management rules: new legislation update

New legislation, (the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024), has come into force, meaning that continued baseline hedgerow management practices will remain in place. This follows draft legislation which was published on 16 April 2024 and which passed through both relevant Houses of Parliament committees in May. The new rules will provide a consistent approach across all people operating on agricultural land. This includes:

A 2-metre buffer strip, measured from the centre of a hedgerow, where a green cover must be established and maintained. Also, no cultivation or the application of pesticides or fertilisers should take place within this buffer strip.
A hedgerow cutting ban from 1 March – 31 August (inclusive).

These practices will be subject to exemptions and derogations which are set out in the legislation and rules for farmers. The new legislation broadly mirrors the previous approach under cross compliance, but it is critical to carefully consider the guidance in place.

Warwickshire

Cyber Crime

Event details

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