Lesley Nicholas, owner of Girt Down Farm in Devon.

Although 80% of farm holders are men, agritourism and the outdoor accommodation sector appears to offer equal opportunities for both men and women. Dr Maura Farrell, leading researcher of a recent study in Ireland, believes women have played a key role in driving growth in the agrotiurism sector.

“Women are willing to go beyond the tradition and engage in diversification, giving rise to this idea of a progressive feminism within agriculture for women,” she remarked.

With farmers facing reductions in subsidies, increasing costs and unpredictable weather throughout the year, agritourism is becoming a popular form of diversification on farms.

According to new data from UK-based holiday booking website Pitchup.com, women own more than half of the campsites listed on the platform, which is among the highest figures across Europe. Women make up just 26% of campsite owners on the site in Germany, 28% in Spain, 36% in Italy and 41% in France.

Brodie Farrow, brand marketing manager at Pitchup, commented: “The feedback we’ve heard from site owners in the UK is that our sector provides enjoyable and often lucrative careers for women, so we’re glad to see that the results reflect this.

“In fact, our top earning campsite so far this year is owned by a woman, with sales topping £160,000. Pitchup itself is made up of 60% women, many in senior leadership roles, which we are very proud of.”

Harriet Cunningham, owner of Benville Manor Camping, pictured with her daughter.

One such woman taking the lead in campsite ownership is Harriet Cunningham, owner of Benville Manor Camping, which she runs with her daughter. The diversification project started during Covid when people couldn’t holiday abroad, leading to the family turning a wildflower meadow into the perfect camping site.

“Everyone got involved – it was a multi-generational family project,” Ms Cunningham recalled.

“It was extraordinary really how many people turned up unprepared. A lot of young families came from Bristol for their first ever camping trip, in order to escape the city. In the beginning we lent out a lot of wellies, jumpers and extra pairs of socks! Once people got the hang of it, it was lovely to see how everyone embraced being out in the wild.

“I think it’s a great industry to work in as a woman. It’s not easy – you have to clean a lot of toilets and clear up a lot of rubbish – but it’s very sociable and so rewarding seeing how much people enjoy the experience you’ve created,” she added.

Lesley Nicholas, owner of Girt Down Farm in Devon, also turned to camping as a way to create an additional income stream during the pandemic.

“I first came across Pitchup in the summer of 2020. With the pandemic meaning no one could go abroad, I knew there were problems getting accommodation locally. Always looking for ways to diversify, I thought a campsite could work for us.

“I decided to fill in an application, having told my husband I was doing so (who wasn’t too keen on losing a farming field!). After adding some pictures, I was advised that it would be live on the website by tea time.”

Having no expectations going into the project, Ms Nicholas was surprised by the response she got from Pitchup.com users.

“I thought I would be lucky to get 5 or 6 bookings a week, little did I know by the time I went to bed that evening I had 30 bookings with the first arriving in the morning!

“We have been open for 3 summers now and have enjoyed it immensely.”

The post Study confirms women are driving the growth of agritourism appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Group 3 winter wheat Bamford outyielded LG Astronomer, despite early N sampling tests recording the Astronomer crop as containing a higher amount of N.

Independent seed breeder Elsoms Seeds, in collaboration with German seed breeder Saaten Union, launched a series of trials in 2020 looking at N efficiency in all their candidate varieties and near market lines, Elsoms technical manager George Goodwin confirmed.

“Elsom’s company ambition is ‘Grow more from less’ and the best way to achieve that is to observe how varieties react to Nitrogen in response to differing timings and volumes,” he said.

According to Mr Goodwin, the trials aimed to identify how far N inputs could be reduced without having a drastic effect on yield or quality. Other than determining which varieties are the most N efficient, the findings also revealed the reasons for this increased efficiency, enabling the team to isolate specific genetic traits for future cross breeding.

“The key benefit to our growers is that we can then offer them specific husbandry advice when the variety becomes commercialised, saving them money on the cost of N and potentially time, if we can reduce the number of N applications from 3 to 2 on certain varieties,” he added.

Having run the trials across two sites over the last three years, Saaten Union UK cereal product manager Andrew Creasy believes the data set will enable arable farmers to increase crop productivity while reducing artificial inputs.

“Over the last 3 years, we’ve annually assessed 10 different winter wheat varieties including 3 controls, across 4 different Nitrogen regimes. The rates we looked at were zero N, 85kg of N – early applied, 150kg of N applied in 2 splits, and finally 200kg of N applied in 3 splits of 50, 100 and then 50kg.

“Trials were replicated twice each year, on heavy soils at our Cowlinge trial site, and then on lighter soils at our site near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk to give us the widest performance comparison across different soil types,” he added.

While the research is still ongoing, Mr Creasy revealed several important discoveries that have already been made.

“One significant result is that of the varieties we’ve trialled, many with French and German parentage, have yielded better when 150kg of N is applied early in the season in 2 splits, than under the longer 3-phase approach of applying 200kg of N.

“Given the recent predominance of dry spring and summer weather it’s clear that much of the late applied N is not getting into the plants due to a lack of soil moisture. However, there’s also enough evidence in the data to suggest that the varieties with German and French parentage perform much better when N is front loaded, regardless of weather conditions – given that not every year has been consistently dry between 2020 and 2022.

“The 2021 N efficiency trials also gave us a revealing insight into optimising yields from the Group 2 milling wheat Mayflower. When 85kg of N was applied early, Mayflower outyielded competitor variety KWS Extase and when both varieties received 150kg of N, applied early across 2 splits, there was no difference in yield between the 2 varieties,” he explained.

Alongside Mayflower, other varieties have also demonstrated positive effects, Mr Creasy added.

“In the 2022 trial, the Group 3 wheat Bamford outyielded LG Astronomer, despite early N sampling tests recording Astronomer as containing a higher amount of N than Bamford at the early flag leaf growth stage.

“This demonstrated that Bamford was able to make better use of its N than Astronomer in the same growing conditions, and across all input regimes, in 2 different sites,” he remarked.

The performance of Bamford and LG Astronomer in the 2022 trials is illustrated in the graph below:

Graph comparing Bamford and Astronomer yield based on 2022 trials.

Commenting on the results, Mr Creasy said: “Taking varieties out of their comfort zone to find their optimum level of N for yield and quality is a significant step forward when looking to develop new varieties that are able to express the same use efficiency characteristics.

“Our future objective will be to pass this key husbandry advice onto agronomists and growers to support them in their variety decision making process,” he concluded.

The post Trial data to benefit growers looking to improve variety performance appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The meeting, featuring inspiring presentations from speakers involved in farmer-led research, aimed to find solutions to the ongoing fertiliser crisis that continues to impose considerable strain on the agricultural sector.

Jerry Alford, senior farming advisor at the Soil Association, opened the session by introducing the Innovative Farmers network and its role in creating more on-farm fertility production to reduce the scale of fertiliser inputs.

Putting the soil before the product can go a long way

Offering a unique perspective on the issue at hand, market gardener Amelia Lake provided delegates with detailed insight into the operations of her small but mighty Real Food Garden business in Cornwall.

From humble beginnings starting out with less than two acres of land, Ms Lake’s market garden grew into a thriving business selling produce via an on-site farm shop and veg box scheme. Between June and January each year, an impressive 55-60 veg boxes are produced per week, which is made possible by the smarter utilisation of available space.

Ms Lake explained that, by taking a restorative and holistic approach to soil health, she and her partner Chloe have been able to build resilience in the soil over time and increase what the ground is able to give.

Almost from the beginning, the team of two have been involved with The Soil Carbon project, now known as Farm Net Zero, which works in collaboration with the Farm Carbon Toolkit. As a result, they have been better able to assess and monitor the soil, which has helped to demonstrate the viability of their approach.

“Through our carbon calculator, we know we’re locking in 31 tons of carbon every year, and the soil is sequestering 19 tonnes of that,” Ms Lake said. She added that there has also been a 1.1% increase in soil organic matter per annum, which is about ten times the average rate.

Nutrient density of the fresh produce is also being measured using a spectrometer and compared to organic products on retailer shelves. Ms Lake found the nutrient density of her produce to be consistently higher, which she attributes to the healthy soil foodweb at the garden.

“Instead of thinking about the product, we’re thinking about the soil,” she pointed out, saying the approach has been highly productive for the business so far.

With regards to increasing soil fertility, Ms Lake and her partner are conducting a two-year fertility building programme on designated areas, which involves rotating brassicas with non-brassica crops. The aim is to ultimately build organic matter and resilience in the soil through plant root growth as opposed to using compost.

Ms Lake also addressed tackling food waste at the Real Food Garden, saying she managed to close the loop on food waste by cultivating crop residue back into the soil and using chickens, sheep and pigs to turn it into manure.

Moreover, the garden has been using green waste compost (GWC) since its launch, which is high in carbon and a valuable food source for the food web. Not only does it enhance soil structure and fertility, but also improves soil pH which has been really valuable, Ms Lake explained.

However, GWC also has its downsides, in that it comes from off-farm and the labour to spread it is really significant for the business. Therefore, to make sure every kg of material is paying its weight, Ms Lake enrolled in a field lab led by Innovative Farmers and Farm Net Zero to find out if there is a way to increase biological activity in the compost.

The trial involves comparing GWC inoculated with hedge soil, home-made compost and wood chip material with an uninoculated control and looking at differences in crop yield and quality. Ms Lake said the aim is to develop a better compost in the same volume, or in other words, to use less of the same material with better results.

The results of the field lab will be released following the 2023 growing season. For more information and to follow the progress of the trial, visit: https://www.innovativefarmers.org/field-lab?id=cc682427-a840-ed11-81a8-005056ad0bd4

Untangling controversies around sheep and red clover

Gillian Preece, livestock farmer and senior agri consultant for ADAS, shared details of an Innovative Farmers project conducted to debunk a long-standing myth in the industry relating to mating breeding ewes on fields containing red clover (RC).

According to Ms Preece, the current recommendation is not to mate sheep on RC due to the legume’s phytoestrogen content. However, anecdotal evidence has so far indicated the practice shouldn’t cause issues, which goes directly against industry guidelines.

In the hope of uncovering the true facts and potentially remove barriers to sheep farmers rearing on RC, Ms Preece applied and got accepted to do an Innovative Farmers project investigating fertility issues in ewes relating to RC.

The trial involved four farms across the West Midlands and into Wales that have existing herbal leys containing RC and sheep of the same age, breed and history. Three weeks prior to tupping time, the flocks were each split into two groups, with one mating on sward containing RC and the other on non-RC.

Sward assessments revealed quite a large variation in RC content between the four farms. Ms Preece explained that the farmers have all planted herbal leys to comply with Countryside Stewardship guidelines, which require a minimum of 10% RC content. However, because they are in different years of establishment, the RC content of swards was uneven.

The results of the trial revealed no negative effects on ewe fertility when grazing swards containing an average of 18% RC (by fresh weight). Scanning results showed a 170% average scanning percentage in ewes on a grass-only diet versus 181% in ewes on RC. There was also no significant difference in barren rate between the two groups, Ms Preece added.

While the results indicate farmers can have confidence mating sheep on RC, Ms Preece pointed out the evidence is still insufficient to cause a change of attitude in the industry as the trial was conducted on only four farms and wasn’t fully controlled.

Therefore, she highlighted the need for further investigation so farmers and in particular vets, feed advisors and seed reps can have more confidence in the results.

Putting the trial into perspective, Ms Preece said: “There’s an increasing focus on the use of legumes within grassland systems to reduce nitrogen use and also to capitalise on environmental stewardship opportunities.

“We need to see more legumes be grown so we can ultimately reduce that reliance on artificial nitrogen within red meat production.”

Working towards improved nutrient cycling through better soil health

Next up, Matthew Izod, who farms a 500-acre conventional arable farm with his father just outside Chipping Norton, talked delegates through a couple of Innovative Farmers trials he has been involved in and the lessons learned so far.

The first trial, sponsored by Thames Water, is looking at the effects of a no-till & cover crop system on soil nutrient availability over a five-year period. While improvement has been negligible so far, Mr Izod noted the system takes a bit of time to work and is eager to see the results at the end of the trial.

The second project backed by AHDB tested the effects of a living mulch clover understory on the 2021 cropping season. According to Mr Izod, the clover established really well and acted as an effective weed deterrent for the cash crop as well as improving soil structure and providing ground cover after harvest.

Unfortunately, the mulch caused a major yield penalty, and so improved methods are needed to control it in the next trial, Mr Izod concluded.

Like many farmers, Mr Izod has been working to reduce the amount of fertiliser applied due to the major cost it incurs. Instead of the usual 200-250kg product/ha a year, the farm now uses 160 kg of product/ha with a reduced rate of liquid nitrogen. To increase the efficiency of fertiliser, Mr Izod also adds some Boost to the mix, which is a carbon and molasses-based fertiliser improver.

Tissue sampling is also carried out throughout the season to assess the nutritional needs of the crop. In addition, Mr Izod tested the soil for nutrient availability, which led to some profound realisations.

The results returned from the lab revealed that the amount of total nutrients present in the top layers of the soil (specifically potash, phosphorus and sulphur) is 20 to 200 times higher than the amount available to crops.

Therefore, instead of buying I artificial products, farmers need to focus on building fertility in the soil and making those nutrients available to the crop, Mr Izod pointed out. He added that nutrient cycling in the soil can be improved via the use of cover crops, especially legumes, as well as different drilling and cultivation strategies.

Improving rotation and integrating livestock on cover crops will be part of the solution, Mr Izod continued, saying they now cover 100% of the farm during winter. Sheep has been brought on farm in recent years to graze the cover crops and build soil fertility, and Mr Izod is looking to expand the size of his exiting flock.

Looking into the future, he said the ultimate goal is to have “a system where the livestock is working for me and the crops are working side-by-side.” Lastly, he reminded farmers while there is no quick fix to the fertiliser crisis, small changes can make a big difference.

The benefits of diverse forage crops for livestock and soil health

Last but not least, Sarah Whaley from the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) shared some fascinating findings from an ongoing Innovative Farmers field lab. In the role of project coordinator, she has been working closely with the four participating farmers in Devon and Somerset, as well as soil scientists and ecologists involved in the project.

Outlining the background to the trial, Ms Whaley said many farmers are dissatisfied with the current system of mono-culture forage crops for outwintering livestock as they provide minimal benefit to the soil and can actually deplete its health and cause structural issues like compaction.

Moreover, mono crops can be more susceptible to pests and diseases, requiring higher levels of chemical and fertiliser input. In addition, forage crops like kale provide insufficient fibre for sustaining livestock throughout winter, and farmers will need to supplementary feed hay which can be destructive to fields and adds to farmer workload.

A closer look to the 16-species mix on a trial field.

Ms Whaley pointed out that, although mono-culture winter brassicas produce reasonably reliable and low-cost forage, they under-deliver for soil health, water and the wider environment, animal welfare, public perception and farmer wellbeing. Therefore, the aim of the field lab has been to find and validate a diverse species mix solution as an alternative to winter grazing kale.

The trial was set up in May 2022 on two organic and two conventional farms in the South West. Each farm was required to drill 4 ha of a 16-species seed mix next to 4 ha of their usual winter forage crop.

The farmers selected for various traits in the seed mix, such as for soil benefit, winter hardiness, ecological benefit and birdseed. The full list of crops included in the diverse mix can be found on the Innovative Farmers website.

Cattle were weighed and body condition scored before the trial and have been monitored closely since the start of winter grazing in early November 2022. Soil sampling and testing was also performed before the trial and VESS scoring, earthworm counts, and rhizosheath development monitoring have also been carried out at regular intervals.

According to Ms Whaley, observations so far have shown significant improvements in soil health and biodiversity on diverse mix fields compared to kale.

The greater root biomass of the diverse mix has produced a much-improved soil structure on trial fields, with soil pit tests revealing an ideal chocolate cake-like texture. In contrast, the ground was much more compacted on the kale side and also had poor drainage, causing issues with water runoff and erosion.

In terms of biodiversity, the diverse mix attracted a greater number of invertebrates including pollinator species, while diversity in the kale crop was largely limited to cabbage butterflies.

Livestock has been doing well on both sides so far, but have appeared more content on the diverse mix fields, Ms Whaley said. She added the ground appears to be holding up better under the mixed plot, which helps keep the animals out of the mud and working less hard.

Even though the multispecies mix has largely been grazed down on triallist Richard Stanbury’s farm, the first signs of regrowth are already evident.

While all farms have moved through their mixed species plots faster than kale and had to provide supplementary hay, regrowth is already happening on mixed fields and farmers are hoping for a spring bite. Time will tell if the seed mix also offers economic benefits alongside soil health and biodiversity improvement, and Ms Whaley said there is still a lot to learn.

With regards to the fertiliser crisis, Ms Whaley suggested farmers should think of it as an opportunity rather than a hindrance.

“If I said, ‘what is the fertiliser crisis,’ many people would say ‘well, it’s the cost of fertiliser,’ but actually, the crisis is we’re using far too much of it. So, it’s our addiction to fertiliser that is the crisis,” she said.

Ms Whaley believes the solution starts with the soil and farmers working together with nature rather than against it: “We need to look at our farms in a much more holistic way and stop micro-managing every little aspect of a biological living system,” she concluded.

The post Building soil fertility is central to solving the fertiliser crisis, group says appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Stock photo for illustration purposes only.

The trial involves farmers comparing their usual winter forage of a brassica mono-culture with a diverse, 16-species fodder crop mix – including clovers, hairy vetch, ryegrass, spring oats, kale and linseed.

The aim is to investigate whether the multi-species mix can reduce soil erosion and increase biodiversity by creating habitats for wildlife, while also providing a nutritional crop that maintains animal health and performance.

The results so far are really encouraging, according to project coordinator Sarah Whaley from the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG).

The concept behind the trial

It is common practice among beef farmers to graze their cattle on a single brassica forage crop over the winter, such as kale or fodder beet, in order to reduce feed costs and indoor time for the herd.

However, many farmers are dissatisfied with the current system of monoculture winter brassicas as it damages soil health, increases surface runoff and causes issues in the wider environment despite providing low-cost and reliable forage. In addition, mono-crops are more susceptible to pests and diseases, requiring higher chemical and fertiliser inputs.

However, high nitrogen content and low fibre availability mean the rumination and general contentment of the animals can be compromised if left to graze on the fields alone. Therefore, farmers must provide supplementary hay to maintain growth rates, which adds to the workload and can create considerable destruction on fields.

Inspired by the success of a similar practice in New Zealand, the field lab set out to test whether the higher biomass of a diverse crop can boost farm resilience by protecting the soil structure. Amongst others, farmers were hoping to see reduced erosion and runoff, and higher worm counts, infiltration rates, and water holding capacity.

Ran in partnership with FWAG in the South West, research elements and overall project management have been carried out by ecologists and soil researchers, who also provided farmers with a wealth of knowledge on the importance of farming on healthy soils.

Elaborating on the concept behind the trial, Sarah Whaley from FWAG said: “Plants work better in a community, and diversity supports the beneficial symbiotic relationships both above and below ground.

“While conventional farming practices have relied on mono-cropping as a rule, there is much research around improved responses in soil health, animal performance and wider environmental benefits from bringing in diversity.

“Whilst winter brassicas are valuable to farmers, this field lab aims to investigate if there is an alternative way that offers a multitude of benefits over forage value alone.”

She added that the crop mix developed for the trial is not a “one-size-fits-all solution” and its success will vary depending on the soil type and climate of farms amongst other factors.

If successful, establishing diverse seed mixes could be rewarded in the government’s Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) which currently require farmers to have “no more than 5% bare ground over winter.” Moreover, by reducing fertiliser inputs, diverse forage crops could also contribute to meeting the industry’s Carbon Net Zero targets.

Trial design and early establishment

The field lab was set up in May 2022 on four beef cattle farms in Devon and Somerset, of which two are organic and two conventional. Each farmer was required to establish a 4 ha plot of forage brassica or fodder beet as per their “normal” system and an equal-sized plot of the diverse forage crop.

A display of some of the species included in the diverse mix.

Drilling of the two crops was either carried out on the same field or adjacent fields to match soil type and growing conditions. Prior to crop establishment, soil sampling was carried out to determine nutrient availability.

The 16-species mix was selected by farmers for soil health, ecological benefits, birdseed, winter hardiness and fodder potential. The components of the mix, of which 27.275 kg was sown per ha, can be viewed on the Innovative Farmers website.

For the following 12 months, the trial set out to monitor and measure the potential of the diverse mix to:

• maintain animal health, welfare and performance

• extend winter grazing and produce a ‘second bite’ of grazing in early spring, depending on regrowth

• improve soil quality for the following cropping season

• boost biodiversity by creating a habitat for multiple species like pollinators and invertebrates, including insects and seed that are a food source for bats and birds

• reduce soil erosion, compaction and run-off of sediment and nutrients into waterways

• decrease pest and disease pressure requiring fewer inputs

• reduce indoor housed winter feed, incurred costs, and use of fossil fuels.

Cattle was weighed and body condition scored prior to the trial and have been closely monitored on both trial and control fields. Moreover, visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) scoring, earthworm counts, and rhizosheath monitoring were also carried out throughout the field lab as part of the holistic soil management system implemented on trial fields.

The farmers participating in the trial have reportedly been very enthusiastic and cooperative, eager to discover the benefits diverse forage has to offer. Some have already experimented with grazing cover crops of four to seven species including grasses and annual clovers with good results.

Triallist George Greed, who farms 280 cows on his organic farm in Devon, said:

“I passionately believe I have a responsibility, as a farmer and custodian of this land, to do what I can to support biodiversity. From providing shelter and food for wildlife and pollen for bees to providing a more diverse source of winter bird food, I am interested to find out what benefits diverse fodder can provide.”

His opinion is echoed by other participants, including Chris Berry, who farms a 180ha conventional farm supporting 900 breeding ewes and lambs alongside 65 head of beef cattle near Exeter.

He said: “There is quite a bit of unknown within this trial, but I think we all agree there is massive potential. As a curious farmer who out-winters most of our livestock, I am always looking to improve or seek out better alternatives to achieve the best all-round sustainable outcome for the soil and livestock health.”

Animal health and welfare has been a top priority throughout the trial, and farmers had complete autonomy over management decisions to suit their livestock. For example, it was up to the farmers to decide when to start feeding hay or how often to move cattle within their strip or cell grazing systems.

Speaking to Farmers Guide, Sarah Whaley said the establishment of the trial mix has varied between farms depending on the timing of drilling and available moisture, but has overall been satisfactory. Some species, such as the tillage radish and vetch, were more dominant and spread quickly, while a small number of species failed to germinate entirely.

Results so far show potential for the future

According to Ms Whaley, the beneficial effects provided by the diverse mix were evident from very early on following establishment. When compared with adjacent mono-crop fields, there was significantly greater pollinator presence on the trial side, owing to the greater amount of forage available for these species.

A closer look at the 16-species mix on a trial field.

Invertebrates in general were also far more abundant in numbers and diversity on trial fields, which had a knock-on effect on bird numbers, Ms Whaley said. Meanwhile, the kale crop on the control fields attracted a large number of cabbage white butterflies, but was lacking in most of the diversity and ecosystem services benefitting the trial fields.

In terms of soil health, the complex and dense root structure of the multispecies crop produced very stark results when compared to the simple rooting system of the kale crop. To illustrate the magnitude of the effect, Ms Whaley shared observations from a farm where a single 8 ha field was divided between the 16-species mix and the kale crop.

Despite the two plots having had the same tillage and soil structure, sampling revealed vast differences in the soil structure on either side. Ms Whaley described the trial side having the “ideal chocolate cake texture” with the soil being friable and crumbly, while the soil on the kale side was noticeably more compact with obvious layering.

“There seems to be less compaction [on the trial side], much greater organic matter, deeper rooting and greater root biomass which helps the soil structure with the roots exudates feeding soil microbial activity,” Ms Whaley explained in an interview with Farmers Guide.

Moreover, the diverse mix had considerably less disease and pest pressure, likely due to the diversity of species counteracting the overabundance of a single population of pests, Ms Whaley said. While there were instances of aphids or dock persisting on mono-crop fields, the multispecies mix remained largely unaffected.

“The diverse mix probably reduces the risk of a single species being attacked by a single pest and farmers losing a whole crop as there are other species that are more resilient,” Ms Whaley added.

Presenting at the Oxford Real Farming Conference on the 6^th of January, Ms Whaley provided some more recent updates on the trial, which was 6 months in progress at the time.

Cattle have been grazing on the fields since November and have been content on both sides. However, due to all farms moving through their mixed species plots at a high rate and the kale crop not providing enough fibre, supplementary feeding of hay was necessary on both sides.

At the same time, while the diverse mix has evidently lost a lot biomass, that material has gone back into the soil to benefit the underground ecosystem, unlike the kale stalks, Ms Whaley pointed out. She added that soil health appears to be a lot better on the mixed species plots, with the animals being held out of the mud and working less hard.

There have also been signs of regrowth on the mixed fields, and it will be interesting to see whether the animals will get a second bite in the spring which they certainly won’t get from the kale crop, Ms Whaley said.

A strong advocate of regenerative agriculture and agroecology, Ms Whaley emphasized that managing a living system is never linear and farmers have to be flexible to adapt to the needs of their soil and livestock.

Considering the multitude of benefits diverse seed mixes can provide, she encourages farmers to experiment with multiple species and monitor what works best on their farm. After all, seed cost is negligible compared to the costs associated with soil destruction caused by the current system of monoculture winter brassicas, she added.

Trial field showcasing the diverse crop mix.

Regarding the potential impact diverse fodder crops could have on farm resilience and the wider environment across the UK, Rebecca Swinn, Innovative Farmers manager said:

“Success could help farmers increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and protect their most valuable resource – soil. Field labs mean that the results can be put directly to use so practices can change in real time. Giving farmers the confidence to test these ideas is what Innovative Farmers is all about.”

“If you look after nature, it will look after you”: A triallist’s view

Richard Stanbury, one of the participants of the trial, farms about 450 head of beef cattle and lambs around 900 ewes on his farm in Devon. In an interview with Farmers Guide, Mr Stanbury related his experiences with the trial so far and shared his views on farming in harmony with nature.

With his beef operation, he has been aiming to finish as many followers as possible on a grass-based diet and to ultimately outwinter the entire herd. In recent years, the farm gradually transitioned away from the single monoculture system to drilling plant mixes of two to three species including brassica, oats and ryegrass.

Mr Stanbury’s initial aim with the trial mix was to give the animals the crop in the field rather than having to supplementary feed. “This way, they would graze quite naturally outdoors, get what they need and be happy, and also wouldn’t be stood around one spot eating the round bale and destructing the soil,” he remarked.

Like other participants, Mr Stanbury was also surprised at the striking difference the 16-species mix made to the soil and the welfare of his animals. He recalled the day his farm received four inches of rain during the first week of winter grazing and said it was rewarding to see how well the mix coped.

While there was a lot more poaching and standing water on the kale side following the downpour, the trial plot had shown hardly any signs of heavy rain, with the soil being a lot more free-draining due to the root structure.

Worm counts have also been higher on the trial side with significantly more biodiversity observed above ground. Mr Stanbury said the cows also lied down more frequently on the trial side due to the ground being much less compacted, which positively affects their welfare.

“It gives you happiness that you are doing your bit for the environment, a bit of pride,” he told Farmers Guide. “The public will also be on your side if they see farmers giving back to the environment.”

When asked about the challenges encountered during the trial, Mr Stanbury said the main struggle with the mix was determining the size of land to seed on. As some species like the radish or sunflower provide no nutritional value to cattle, the mix offers less dry matter overall and requires a larger area to satisfy the needs of livestock.

Even though the multispecies mix has mostly been grazed down on Richard Stanbury’s farm, the first signs of regrowth are already evident.

At the end of the day, even if there is a need for supplementary hay and growth rates are the same on both sides, Mr Stanbury said the seed mix offers massive benefits with reduced soil impact and poaching and a potential re-graze in the spring.

He recommends farmers give the seed mix a try and see how it works on their farm, starting with three or six varieties and gradually building it up based on the needs of the soil and livestock.

“By doing it this way, we’re farming with nature, wildlife, and still farming productively. Those two things work hand in hand,” he said.

In his final remarks, Mr Stanbury reminded farmers of the importance of keeping an open mind and trying new things, especially in the face of challenging times that lie ahead.

To keep up to date with the progress of the trial and to learn more about farmer-led research, visit: www.innovativefarmers.org

The post Grazing cattle on a diverse forage crop could benefit soil health, biodiversity, and your purse appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Researchers are looking at using insects in animal feed.

Global demand for livestock products is expected to more than double by 2050. Livestock production already accounts for around 18 per cent of global carbon emissions and 70 per cent of all agricultural land use worldwide.

The Innovative Knowledge Exchange award of nearly £10,700, funded by the SEFARI Gateway, will be used to look at the possibility of insect farming as a future solution to sustainable agri-food systems in Scotland.

It will bring together insect farmers, feed business operators and policymakers to develop a roadmap for insect farming for feed – particularly BFS (Hermetia illucens).

In addition to leading the animal feed project, researcher Dr Pattanapong Tiwasing is calling for restrictions to be lifted on the sale of whole insects and their ingredients for human consumption in the UK.

While edible insects have featured in Asian, African and South American diets for centuries, until recently they have been seen as a novelty food in Western countries – and are often linked to extreme eating challenges on television shows such as I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!.

The European Commission approved the sale of whole insects and their ingredients subject to specific authorisations in 2018. However, following Brexit, this does not apply in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) where edible insects are not regulated or approved for sale.

Pattanapong, a researcher at SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre, has called for the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland to urgently introduce a new ‘Great Britain-specific transitional measure’ to enable the insect sector to survive in the UK.

Pattanapong, who is originally from Thailand where eating insects as a snack is commonplace, said: “The introduction of new and developing EU regulations relating to edible insect products have muddied the waters, leading to confusing procedures for those looking to trade and export edible insects.

“This has been particularly impactful following the UK’s exit from the EU because it means there are currently no regulations for the edible insect (for human consumption) industry, and it is therefore illegal to sell insects for human consumption in the UK.

“Policymakers need to take urgent action in order for the insect sector industry to survive in Europe and the UK.”

For more information read the Rural Policy Centre’s policy spotlight ‘From yuck to yum: unlocking the potential of edible insects’ or listen to Pattanapong explain more about the insect sector on the SRUC Podcast.

The post From yuck to yum: research to unlock the potential of edible insects appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Agricultural faculties in universities and colleges have been collating data for the Defra-funded Farm Business Survey (FBS) for the past 85 years – so what impact has it had on the industry?

What is the Farm Business Survey and why is it important?

Now in its 86^th year, the Farm Business Survey (FBS) brings together invaluable data on the physical, economic and environmental performance of farm businesses in England. Built into anonymous data sets, the information has been used to inform government, policymakers, educators, researchers – and importantly, farmers.

Most recently it has been used to inform the Agriculture Act 2020, says Charles Scott, head of the FBS Unit at Newcastle University, which is part of the group that collates the data. “Very important areas of investigation have previously included the reliance on direct payments in various forms, as well as diversification and the extent to which it supports agricultural activities.”

Robin Jackson, director of Rural Business Research (RBR) at Duchy College, highlights that it’s not just the government that benefits from this information. “Industry bodies – like the NFU and CLA – and multiple allied steering groups draw on information generated from the FBS – like the Enterprise reports and Defra’s Farm Business Income (FBI) report,” he says. “So do notable publications like Anderson’s John Nix Pocket Book”. Furthermore, information from the FBS reaches consultants, researchers, educators, veterinary professionals and farm businesses who use it in their services, research, teachings and advice. “It helps to refresh the teaching of future farmers and growers and those in associated industries,” says Mr Jackson.

Formed in 1936 as the Farm Management Survey by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF 1919 to 1955), the FBS has always been carried out by independent universities and colleges. Its lineage is expansive and intertwined with many British and global historic events, says Mr Jackson. “It was created to keep a finger on the pulse of agriculture at a time, post World War I and during the depression, when there was a concerted effort to pursue facts and figures in relation to different theories and methods to validate societal economics.”

Documents reveal a variety of reasons for maintaining the FBS over the decades, evidently to inform policy, but also because of its potential to be transformative for industry. Further justification was found in 1973 when the UK joined the European Union and data was needed to contribute to the European Farm Accountancy Data Network.

“It has informed government through wars and geopolitical turmoil – going into and out of the European Union – as well as through financial crises like recessions and other traumatic events like foot-and-mouth and the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Mr Jackson.

To date, the annual FBS remains commissioned by government and stands out as the largest research survey focused on farm and horticultural businesses in England. It has also continued to be undertaken independently by Rural Business Research (RBR), a non-profit partnership of six university and college research units, delivering for the past 18 years.

So what’s the draw for farmers?

The FBS comprises a sample of farms that are representative of the population in terms of type, size and location – around 1,750 farms across England.

“It’s a stratified randomised approach,” says Mr Scott. “Farms are drawn from a list based on the June Census, sampling at about 2.5% of the farming population. The FBS data represents 90% of England’s farmed area and agricultural output. “For most, the incentive to get involved is having a free management account with detailed benchmarking ability. Farmers are able to benchmark against their peers – similar local farm types and business models – and are then able to take that information and benchmark regionally and nationally.”

Any farmer – participating in the survey or not – can access benchmarking information for free, says Laura Black, vice principal at Askham Bryan College. “They can go to the FBS website and benchmark against similar business models; nation, farm type and tenure, by inputting their details – which won’t be stored or shared.”

Farming is a difficult sector to get information from because of its sheer size, complexity and variety – but that’s exactly what the FBS has been doing since 1936, says Mr Jackson. “We don’t make decisions for government; it is for them to base decisions around the data we provide which is rigorous, statistically relevant, and – crucially – independent.”

Ben Lang, head of the FBS RBR Unit at Cambridge University, adds that the partnership of universities and colleges has helped facilitate the co-development of methodology which enhances the accuracy and reliability of information processed. And keeps track of the many changes underway in farming. “Farmers are facing a multitude of operational and financial challenges. The survey turns that into hard data that demonstrates farmers’ experiences and can be reflected directly to government to explain what’s going on,” says Mr Lang.

The FBS collects over 2,000 variables and has documented the farmers’ experience through policy changes like the multiple crises of the Common Agricultural Policy, introduction of environmental schemes, and the challenges of Brexit.

The future of the FBS

Recently, Defra awarded the next FBS contract to Promar International, a leading provider of agricultural consultancy services. Paul Wilson, chief executive of RBR, and professor of agricultural economics at the University of Nottingham, who has led the FBS since 2006, says although this marks the end of the RBR’s involvement, their legacy will live on for many years to come.

“This includes through the skills and expertise of the university and college staff who transfer to work for Promar. The FBS sample continuity will be enhanced through farmers who choose to continue to take part in the survey. The methodologies in the FBS draw upon 86 years’ experience and intellectual input from our university and college institutions. This has played a key role in the rigorous data and analytical protocols that underpin delivery of the quality FBS data. We hope that our collective insight and experience will be retained within the FBS as it continues to serve the needs of Defra, farmers and growers, and the wider industry at this important time in our agricultural history and development”.

The post Farm Business Survey: A lasting legacy appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Precision farming, which involves the use of technology to improve data monitoring and interpretation on farms, has the potential to bring down food costs, boost growth, and improve agricultural productivity as set out in the government’s growth plan.

Yet only 9% of government grants in England are destined for enhancing farm productivity, which the Social Market Foundation (SMF) says is insufficient for promoting large-scale investment in precision technologies. In its latest report, Moovin’ On Up, the think tank marks uncertainty around future funding as the single biggest barrier to farmers modernising their operations.

Innovative farming tools, such as smart weighing systems, electronic ID (EID) tags, monitoring collars and farm management apps could go a long way towards closing the agricultural productivity gap between the UK and other countries.

Using data from the US Department for Agriculture (USDA), the SMF’s study highlighted the sharp contrast between New Zealand and UK agriculture. Namely, farming in New Zealand has increased its productivity by nearly 70% in the last 30 years, while British farming has only shown a 10% productivity growth (see below).

International comparison of total factor farm productivity. Base (100) = three-year average to 1990. (Source: US Department of Agriculture) Image © The Social Market Foundation

SMF director James Kirkup said that, while this is by no means a criticism of the UK agriculture sector, it is an indication that it could do better. Recognising that technological adoption could be a major driver of growth, the think tank carried out research funded by MSD Animal Health UK to identify the main barriers to precision farming uptake in Britain.

Moovin’ On Up: Key findings and recommendations

Published on 18^th October, the study outlines the main pressures faced by UK farmers in the current socio-economic climate. Other than the productivity challenge, which is largest in the livestock sector, farmers are also expected to respond to environmental pressures such as improving biodiversity and moving towards net zero targets.

Other concerns relate to food production and security, animal health and welfare, and the cost-of-living crisis in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the study’s co-author Aveek Bhattacharya from the SMF, precision livestock farming has the potential to address all of these challenges, alongside improving farm safety and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite the considerable gains precision technologies could bring to the livestock sector, the report found that current levels of uptake are “patchy at best”. Data from Defra’s Farm Practices Survey featured in the report shows that regular weighing to measure growth rates is highest in pigs and poultry (64%), while the use of estimated breeding values is most common in the dairy sector (69%).

To gain a better understanding of farmers’ attitudes towards precision technologies, the study’s authors conducted in-depth interviews with 10 livestock farmers across the country.

While rather small, the sample incorporated a range of different farming systems, types of pasture and livestock, and geographical locations to ensure the most accurate representation of the industry.

The results of the study indicate that farmers in general are open to new technologies and many are already seeing benefits, although the full potential of precision tools is yet to be grasped in the farming community. As expected, younger generations were the most optimistic about data-driven farming systems boosting productivity and growth.

Moreover, the findings also suggested that farmers are most likely to trust local, “over the fence” advice when it comes to making investment decisions. However, uncertainty about the future of farming is holding many back from spending on technology, with cost being the number one barrier to modernisation.

Aveek Bhattacharya, chief economist, SMF. Image © The Social Market Foundation

Aveek Bhattacharya, SMF chief economist and co-author of the report said: “When it comes to adoption of new, cutting-edge technologies – key to enhancing productivity – farmers are more than willing but the Government needs to meet them halfway with a better-designed subsidy system.

“Better use of technology in farming could help the Government achieve its objective of boosting economic growth, but only if farm subsidies are well-targeted and offer strong incentives to invest in tools that improve farm efficiency.”

Based on available evidence, the study’s authors formulated a number of recommendations to promote the uptake of precision farming technologies. These include:

• Improving funding incentives for farmers to invest in precision technologies
• Facilitating better knowledge exchange “from the R&D lab to the farm gate”
• Creating better data sharing infrastructure
• Using regulation to promote change, such as mandatory EID tagging
• Rejuvenating farm management by providing new entry schemes and promoting farming to younger generations

Mr Bhattacharya is confident that if these objectives are achieved, farming in Britain can be shaken up towards a more efficient and productive future.

Relevance to the industry

During a recent media briefing, Thomas Burston, director of policy research at the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) made some comments on the relevance of the report to the industry.

He emphasised the purpose of farming, other than food production, is to manage risks to food security and tackle nature, climate and health crises. He acknowledged the current research as part of the growing body of evidence that uniting these goals is possible.

Mr Burston also agreed that the return on technological investment has to be calculable and fair for farmers and support from policy frameworks will be required to achieve broader farming outcomes.

Ian Anderson, Allflex managing director from MSD Animal Health UK also welcomed the report’s findings and recommendations. At the briefing, he reiterated the importance of research and collecting data in terms of improving animal health and welfare and reducing the strain on the environment.

“All of those [the report’s outcomes] we welcome, because the farming community are very hard working, they are very skilled, and we want to help them to have a profitable and sustainable future. I think this report takes us along that road,” he added.

Independent livestock sustainability consultant Dr Jude L. Capper, who helped inform the analysis in the report, commented:

“It is absolutely crucial that we move the British livestock industry forwards and encourage farmers to adopt technologies that will improve productivity, business resilience and sustainability.

“This report comes at a pivotal moment for evoking change and is an essential component of the knowledge base needed to back recommendations to all food industry stakeholders.”

The SMF report Moovin’ On Up, sponsored by MSD Animal Health UK, is available to view here.

The post Study links farmers’ reluctance to invest in new technology with funding uncertainty appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The data and analytics company predicts climate change and population growth will lead to greater automation in farming by 2030, driven by the need to collect large amounts of data to maximise crop and livestock efficiency.

In its recent report ‘Tech in 2030 – Thematic Research’, GlobalData outlines how technologies such as smart crops will help the industry meet food demands. These automated, self-regulating crops will collect data such as soil quality, growth rate, nutritional content, and fluid intake via numerous sensors.

The data will then be uploaded onto agriculture technology platforms to be analysed by artificial intelligence in order to optimise farm operations. According to Global Data, 2030’s farms will be connected via Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, allowing crops to self-regulate and helping farmers make smarter decisions.

Rachel Foster Jones from GlobalData said technological advances are urgently needed in the farming industry to secure a sustainable future.

“Multiple issues are currently putting pressure on agriculture: climate change is threatening capacity, population growth is accelerating, the amount of available land is reducing, and labour shortages are worsening. Agriculture technology will promise a much-needed solution,” she commented.

Advances in plant breeding and machinery have already made major improvements to farm productivity in recent years. However, the key to the future lies in precision agriculture and genomic research that will boost sustainability and crop resilience to climate change.

As part of what GlobalData bills as the ‘fourth agricultural revolution’, smart greenhouses are becoming more widespread across the globe. Smart greenhouse-related jobs have more than tripled since the start of 2021 as shown on the graph below:

Graph showing an increase in smart greenhouse-related jobs since 2020 (Source: GlobalData Tech in 2030 – Thematic Research report).

In light of these developments, Ms Jones urged young farmers to start working on their technical skills to prepare for the future job market.

“Investment in smart greenhouses is only going to increase as the challenges facing the agricultural sector call for more automation. As automation increases, farmers will be hired more and more for their technical expertise and data processing skills, as well as their knowledge of the agricultural process.”

According to Global Data’s report, the agricultural drone industry has also experienced rapid expansion with a 14-fold increase in patents between 2015 and 2021, making it one of the fastest growing non-military drone sectors. Agricultural drones are unmanned aerial vehicles currently used in agriculture for yield optimisation and monitoring.

Ms Jones added: “Modular-based innovation will mean that drones will be able to undertake advanced crop spraying and terrain monitoring by 2030. The labour crisis and skills shortage will bolster agriculture drone demand, as they will be able to undertake time-consuming tasks.”

To learn more about GlobalData’s Thematic Intelligence report, visit: https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/tech-in-2030-theme-analysis/

The post Report predicts growth in tech such as ‘smart crops’ by 2030 appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Ensuring plant breeding contributes to a more sustainable future for UK agriculture and exploring how the industry can collaborate to address this challenge, is to be explored at a knowledge exchange event next month.

Plant Breeding Fit for the Future is being hosted by the Soil Association and agri-tech innovation centre, Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) on 12th October 2022 at Aston University.

Delegates will join plant breeding and other agricultural industry experts to discuss and debate priorities and collaboration opportunities, as well as share resources, to ensure UK breeding programmes meet the needs and challenges of the 21^st Century.

The event will feature a wide range of perspectives, with engaging presentations from industry experts such as Professor Tim Benton of Chatham House, Tom MacMillan from the Royal Agricultural University and Paul Gosling of AHDB.

Afternoon break-out sessions will provide an opportunity for delegates to engage in discussion on topics such as traits to support resilience, business models for the 21st century, achieving tailored varieties with limited resources, and the role of populations vs varieties.

Helen Aldis, head of business development farming and land use for the Soil Association, said: “To build resilience into the industry, farmers need to have confidence in a more diverse range of seeds that they can rely on in changing climatic conditions.

“Too often they can be limited to varieties bred to perform well under input-rich conditions, which are not always best suited to farms that wish to avoid or reduce their chemical use.

“Our Innovative Farmers field labs looking at how hop and wheat varieties perform in organic conditions have made a great start to this important conversation, but with changing weather patterns and input prices escalating, now is the time to bring more of the industry together.

“We encourage all growers to get involved with this event where we can share ideas on the plants we may need for a future farming system that is sustainable, resilient and profitable.”

Rather than discuss specific technologies, the conference aims to explore current plant breeding frameworks and future needs in agriculture.

It is hoped that by bringing practitioners, researchers and policy makers together, discussions will help to identify future breeding priorities and the changes required to successfully meet the challenges associated with a more sustainable future for agriculture.

Dr Ruth Bastow, innovation director for CHAP, said: “Plant breeding and the plant varieties we grow play a crucial role in sustainable agricultural systems. This event provides an excellent and timely opportunity to explore future requirements and explore how to maximise and leverage the impact of plant breeding to meet market needs alongside local and global challenges.

“The conference is focused on interaction and networking – we want those attending to feel comfortable to share their thoughts and views on what we need to prioritise, to ensure we have plants which are fit for our future.

“Bringing everyone together should prove an excellent opportunity to identify areas for potential cooperation, foster greater efficiencies and hopefully encourage a more successful transition from breeding programmes to realisation in the market.”

The event is kindly sponsored by the Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) and PBS International.

• Plant Breeding Fit For the Future
• Wednesday 12th October 2022, 09:00-17:00
• Conference Aston, Birmingham, B4 7ET
  Register here.
• Tickets £30 per person including lunch

The post Contribute to the future of plant breeding appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Ginny the Sprollie at Meadow Field Luxury Glamping.

Against a backdrop of pandemic puppies and a surge in staycations, the survey of 1,214 dog owners revealed nearly two thirds (60%) of dog owners say they will always take their pet away with them. Eighteen per cent will sometimes be taking their dog, while 17% are considering it. Only 5% of dog owners said they would never take their pet on holiday.

The trend extends to other hospitality venues, with 84% of dog owners having visited a restaurant, pub or café with their pet, and a further 10% wanting to in the future. Even dog friendly weddings are becoming common, with nearly a quarter (23%) of dog owners saying they have attended or held a wedding where dogs made the guest list.

Darren Seward, hospitality sector specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Holiday accommodation ventures – including caravans, campsites and B&Bs – are the most popular type of diversification, found on 12% of UK farms. Often boasting rural locations perfect for dog walks, these businesses are perfectly placed to cater for the surge of dog owners looking to take their pet away with them.”

Self-catered accommodation is the most popular option for those looking to take their dog away (considered by 85%). B&Bs (34%), camping (32%) and glamping (18%) were also highlighted as emerging trends.

The most popular holiday destinations for dogs were Cornwall in top place (30%), followed by the Lake District (25%), the Scottish Highlands (24%), and Devon (20%).

Mr Seward continued: “With the PDSA estimating over a quarter (26%) of UK adults now own a dog, it’s important for farms with hospitality diversifications to consider whether to extend their welcome to dogs, or risk excluding their owners altogether.”

Jules and David Mold own Meadow Field Luxury Glamping, a farm-based site in Warwickshire. Jules explains why, when opening the business last July, they decided to make one of the tents dog friendly:

“Our location and the nature of our accommodation makes Meadow Field Luxury Glamping an appealing option for dog owners. Not wanting to exclude dog-owners and their pets, we designated one of the tents to be dog friendly, while keeping the other dog-free for allergy reasons.

“The tents have cooking facilities, as well as beds and showers. As a luxury camping option, we strive to provide whatever will make our guests comfortable during their stay, and that extends to visiting pets. We supply a dog bed, food and water bowls, dog towels and waste disposal bags and bins.

“Outside we have a secure area, our Heritage Orchard located to the rear of the safari tents, where you can let your dog run, a hose for muddy paws and a tether near the front of the tent so you can keep your dog secure while enjoying time outside together.

“If you’re considering making your own business dog friendly, I think it’s important to establish clear rules and make sure these have been communicated to visitors. We leave a page outlining a few expectations in our welcome pack, establishing things like waste collection and disposal, lead use and the dog’s interaction with other guests. These don’t have to be onerous and most dog owners have a good idea of what is expected of them and their pet, but it ensures that having dogs on site works for everyone.”

Following the publication of their research NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Limited offered the following advice to businesses thinking of allowing guests to bring their dogs:

1: Set out clear rules

• Be very clear about which animals are allowed to stay, and any limits on numbers
• State what provisions are on offer such as food, water, toilet locations and pet bedding
• Set expectations for acceptable behaviour (from both the pet and their owner) such as commitments to extra cleaning, areas the animal isn’t allowed to go, any facilities the animal can’t use (bath, shower, swimming pool etc.)
• Speak to your insurer to establish if any property damage is covered and consider whether you need to include conditions for damage when agreeing terms of stay with the pet owner.

2: Consider how you will control pet-related risks, such as:

• Trips and falls over pets in and around the business
• Bites, scratches, fighting and aggressive outbursts between animals
• Storage of pet medications if requested by the owner
• Waste disposal of animal solids and fluids (will the local authority accept this in general waste or will it require specialist waste contractor to remove)
• Other guests’ potential allergens to pets and how guest rooms, bedding and towels will be hygienically cleaned, and pet hair removed
• Animals chewing during their stay. Electrical and IT cabling and plastic water pipes are prone to damage causing potential for electrocution and unexpected release of water
• In the event of an emergency pet owners will no doubt escape with their pet in hand. Consider how this may affect your fire evacuation plans.

3: Keep staff trained, informed and pet friendly

• Though it is important to ensure the pet, owner and other guests are safe, concern should also turn to your staff and keeping them safe. The correct training will make sure staff are aware of their responsibilities and safely follow new procedures and use of any new machinery or chemicals.

The post Diversified farms could benefit as holidaymakers look for dog friendly options appeared first on Farmers Guide.