RASE agri community update - August
This month’s agri community newsletter includes an exciting new resource for farmers looking to turn potential pollution into farm resource efficiencies. It also has an article from Innovation for Agriculture, which explores the concept of Climate Smart Farming, a farm case study featuring one of the Soil Farmer of the Year 2024 winners and some updates on upcoming events.
Nutrients & Water
The Nutrients & Water guide is a free resource available to farmers, consultants and anyone interested in turning potential pollution into farm resource efficiencies.
The guide collates practical learnings from nine Nuffield Scholars, centred around the theme of nutrients and water. It includes actions that can be taken immediately on-farm, actions that require some planning and long-term options to consider. Read it here and let us know any comments or feedback via info@rase.org.uk.
This guide is the first of a mini series of guides, which RASE is producing in collaboration with Nuffield Farming Scholarships.
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. This Innovation for Agriculture blog discusses the impacts of climate change on agriculture, the objectives of Climate Smart Farming and, perhaps most importantly, what Climate Smart Farming is not.
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, which is jointly run by Innovation for Agriculture and Farm Carbon Toolkit.
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 here.
Future farm fuels
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who completed the farm fuels survey, whether at the Great Yorkshire Show, Driffield Show or online.
We’re thrilled to share we had over 400 responses from farmers, with each response contributing to building an accurate picture of farm fuel requirements across farm sectors. Currently in the process of data analysis, we are looking forward to sharing findings from the survey and other elements of the project later in the year.
Blenheim Palace Estate members’ event
Taking place on Wednesday 25th September, the next RASE members’ event will be held at Blenheim Palace Estate.
Roy Cox, Estates Managing Director, will lead an estate tour. He’ll outline how the Blenheim Estate is evolving to meet todays’ challenges and its pledge to become carbon neutral by 2027. He’ll also talk about some exciting new projects including a pioneering new gourmet mushroom farm.
In addition to the estate tour via tractor and trailer, the event will include pre-drinks and a delicious lunch in the Marlborough room.
Register via www.rase.org.uk/events to secure your place. Not yet a member? Contact our membership team today via membership@rase.org.uk to enable your application to be processed in time for you to book a place and attend.
Farm of the Future – dates for your diary
Thursday 3rd October - Farm of the Future: Agri-tech in Action at Riseholme Campus, University of Lincoln
Wednesday 6th – Thursday 7th November - Farm of the Future: Hampshire farm study tour
Wednesday 13th – Thursday 14th November - Farm of the Future: Yorkshire farm study tour
Why join the RASE membership community?
Becoming a RASE member will provide you with opportunities to attend members’ events such as members’ lunches, farm or estate tours and drinks receptions. Members also gain access to access a bank of online resources via the membership area of the website, while also supporting the society’s ongoing Farm of the Future initiative.
RASE offers a wide range of membership grades to suit everyone. These include Student, Associate, Member (MRASE) or Fellow (FRASE) membership, as well as corporate membership opportunities for businesses.
Not sure which membership option is right for you? Find more information about the membership grades here, or contact our dedicated membership team via membership@rase.org.uk to ask your question.
Best wishes,
The RASE team