The NFU has announced a half-day conference on regenerative farming on the 16th of November at the Midlands Machinery Show.
It’s aimed at farmers who want to find out more about what regenerative farming is and will include sessions that outline regenerative practices, examine the impact on the bottom line and talks from farmers employing regenerative farming.
“I am delighted to be chairing the East Midlands NFU Conference this year,” said David Exwood, NFU vice president. “The growth in interest from farmers about regenerative farming is clear to see and with this conference, our role will be to help members understand the principles and how it might fit into their businesses as food producers.”
Simon Fisher, NFU environment adviser, is organising the conference. “It is for farmers who see a lot of words about regenerative farming but wonder what it’s all about,” he explained. “Soil health is under the microscope at the moment, and that’s the foundation of regenerative agriculture – Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy focused on it, as does the NFU’s own Foundation of Our Food report.
“We also know that Defra is putting together a soil health action plan, and there is generally a lot of interest in regenerative farming amongst farmers themselves – this conference will therefore help them make a bit more sense of it all.
“We know a lot of soils are depleted, and if we’re going to be a more sustainable industry going forward then we’ve got to start putting some of these things right – if nothing else for the next generation of farmers.”
Precision technology can be used to minimise inputs added Mr Fisher, and there will be plenty to see and compare at the show itself.
Survey to be launched at the conference
The NFU also use the conference to run a survey about what regenerative practices are being used in the region.
Mr Fisher said: “There are five regenerative farming principles, and a lot of farmers are probably already doing at least some of these, like cover cropping and min-till which plenty of people have been doing for about five to seven years now. It will be interesting to see who is doing what, and how many are engaged in the full regenerative farming spectrum.”
This is the third time that the NFU has held a mini-conference at the Midlands Machinery Show. The show will run from the 16th to the 17th of November at Newark Showground.
For tickets and more information, go to www.midlandsmachineryshow.com