This month, local South Staffordshire Soil Farmer of the Year and winner of our Whitegrove Trophy Competition, Tim Parton spoke to Janet Hughes, director of DEFRA’s Future Farming and Countryside programme about his passion for sustainable soil management on his farm. “Soil is such a valuable resource and we can’t afford to abuse it” Tim is the farm manager …
In England, Direct Payments are being gradually phased out over a seven year transition period. Table taken from the Agricultural Transition Document (DEFRA 2020). DEFRA have developed a BPS payment reduction calculator to help you prepare your farm business for the reduction in basic payments. Use the BPS reduction calculator
The Farming Investment Fund (FIF) provides grants to improve productivity and bring environmental benefits. The FIF is made up of two separate funds: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (for grants between £2,000 and £25,000 Farming Transformation Fund (for grants between £35,000 and £500,000) The application window is between November 16th 2021 – 7th January 2022. …
This years winner of the White Grove Trophy Farm Conservation Competition is Tim Parton, Farm Manager at Breewood Park Farm, South Staffordshire. The trophy is awarded annually to the farmer in Staffordshire who has done the most to encourage environmental management on their farm alongside successful commercial activity. The award was judged by Michael Williams, …
Staffordshire Winner of the White Grove Trophy Farm Conservation Competition 2021 Read More »
This year’s winner of the Whitegrove Trophy award is Mr John Billington of Adbaston Farm. He will receive the Silver Lapwing trophy, now in its 41st year, to celebrate his success at managing a commercial farm whilst integrating conservation efforts into his farming business.
Following their success last year in the Whitegrove Trophy, the Staffordshire farming wildlife and environment competition, Kinver farming family F C Osborn and Son have entered this year’s national FWAG competition for the Silver Lapwing trophy, sponsored for the 9th year by Waitrose. Martin Osborn and his sons James and William won last year’s county trophy for …
F C Osborn enter Silver Lapwing following Whitegrove triumph Read More »
Charlie Morgan is a national grassland specialist who worked for IGER/IBERS for 22 years where he helped develop new grass varieties and grazing methods to benefit UK agriculture. He is recognised as a leading expert in grassland management and will be available to offer specialist advice to farmers in the catchment groups facilitated by Chris Seabridge. Mr Morgans …
Specialist grassland advice available to catchment groups Read More »
Chris is the facilitator for the Blithfield Reservoir farmers catchment group: he is working with Nina Yiannoukos of South Staffordshire Water (SSW) to set up training for group members who need certificates on field and knapsack sprayers. Farmers can no longer use ‘grandfather rights’ to use sprayers but must have proper training to use modern …
Enthusiastic members of Lonco Brook farmer’s catchment group spent a pleasant evening on the farm of group Chair Nick Galbraith on 3rd July. They came to view his Countryside Stewardship scheme options and discuss the ins and outs of the scheme with Nick and with Chris Seabridge. Nick has established a practical scheme that contributes …
Lonco Catchment Group sees Countryside Stewardship in action Read More »
Farmers from the Lonco Brook catchment met up to launch a new group that will work to improve the environment around them. Fifteen farmers attended the initial meeting of the group on 12 December 2016 and heard Chris Seabridge outline the challenges he sees facing farmers in managing land to meet consumer and social demands …
