The event will be held at Babbinswood Farm, near Oswestry in Shropshire, on 4th and 5th October.  The organiser, Marches Real Food and Farming Network, said that the event emerged from an inaugural conference last year and will include the food partnerships of Shropshire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Powys.  They added: “It is all about ‘Our Local Food Future’ with a focus on agro-ecological farming and routes to market that enable access to wholesome and healthy food for all.   “It has been called a convergence rather than a conference as it will feature more workshops, pr ..read more

Beer Day Britain encourages people to join the National Cheers to Beer at 7pm on 15th June by raising a glass, saying ‘Cheers to beer’ and posting a message on social media with the hashtag #CheersToBeer.  Beer Day Britain was instigated in 2015 by Jane Peyton, an award-winning beer sommelier, drinks educator, broadcaster, author, events producer and founder of the School of Booze.  She said that the event receives no funding or sponsorship but is supported in kind by all the major organisations in the beer industry, including the Society of Independent Brewers Association, British ..read more

Mr Thurlow died on Saturday 8th June, only 12 days after the death of his wife Peggy.  The family said: “Whilst this is probably the most difficult challenge we have faced in our lives, we have so much to be thankful for.”   Proud of the family business   Mr and Mrs Thurlow met at Young Farmers in the early 1960s. The then Miss Peggy Wrinch was the club secretary, and Mr Thurlow was the club chairman.   The couple married in 1962. The family described them as being like “chalk and cheese”.   Mr Thurlow’s children, James, Nic and Sally, said: “Dad w ..read more

Strike action has been suspended at CNH Industrial’s Basildon tractor factory, to allow workers to ballot on a new pay offer. Industrial action scheduled for 18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, 26th and 27th June will not take place.  However, if the offer is rejected by the membership, fresh strike action will be announced, the trade union Unite said. The strikes, involving over 500 workers, took place over 10 days in May, and were scheduled for 12 days in June. Pay dispute The dispute is over an agreement signed in 2022 that pay increases would be calculated by the average rate of inflat ..read more

Videos and photos will explain what is happening on farms during harvest, what is being grown in the fields, how crops are being used, and how the produce ends up on people’s plates.  As the British arable sector prepares to celebrate its significant contribution to the nation’s economy and food production, the NFU is calling on the next government to further support those farming businesses hit by some of the most challenging weather conditions in living memory.  The NFU has recently revealed that farmers’ confidence across the arable sector is “at an all-time low”.   This fol ..read more

Party leader Keir Starmer said that Labour will set a target for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.   The manifesto continues: “We will introduce a land-use framework and make environment land management schemes work for farmers and nature.” Labour said it recognises that “food security is national security”. However, the party also said it will work with farmers and scientists to eradicate bovine TB, so it can end the “ineffective” badger cull. Animal welfare and climate  Labour’s animal welfare ..read more

Entry for World Cheese Awards 2024 opens today, photo by the Guild of Fine Food. The awards are the most influential accreditation scheme in the cheese industry around the world.  Entry for this year’s edition opened today, 13th June, and will continue until Monday 16th September, or until the entry cap is reached. The awards gala will be taking place in Viseu, Portugal from 14th to 17th November.   Each entry to the awards will be assessed on its own merit by a panel of over 250 technical experts, graders, buyers, retailers and food writers to be in wit ..read more

As the brain child of Agrii agronomist, Todd Jex, and Weaving’s head of sales, Simon Weaving, the collaboration will set out with a clear aim to demonstrate how farmers can achieve success in a regenerative farming system. The two companies will come together on a shared stand, which aims to be interactive with cover crop mixtures across the demo plot and pop-up marquees that will host targeted discussion, all interspersed with complementary low disturbance farm machinery. “The collaborative effort will give growers the opportunity to talk through the whole regenerative farming process; from ..read more

Abbots Juno was born on Saturday 8th June, photo by The Food Museum. The Suffolk museum located at Abbot’s Hall is the UK’s only museum dedicated to food. The site is also home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses, a breed that is considered ‘critically endangered’.  Yesterday, 12th June, the team announced that a rare Suffolk Punch horse named Faith had given birth to a female foal.  The foal was born on Saturday 8th June and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924.  Cause for celebration  A spokesperson for The Food Museum said ..read more

The campaign, supported by the Scottish agricultural charity RSABI, aims to encourage every young farmer to play their part in positively contributing to SAYFC, a safe, inclusive and fun environment for young people.   The initiative promotes healthy relationships, kindness and inclusivity through positive role modelling supported by education, training and awareness-raising.  Training and education  As well as promotions at the Royal Highland Show and other events followed by social media activity, the campaign will see the appointment of respect ambassadors in every club thro ..read more