Your Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire county NFU update

Following the success of the Harvesting Talent Young Member Conference earlier this year, Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire and Hertfordshire NFU Young Members  (under 40ish) are invited to an exclusive visit to Frontier Agriculture's Sandy site. This behind-the-scenes tour will provide a fascinating insight into the business, including the laboratory, seed plant and storage facilities.

The visit will be followed by an interactive workshop led by Clare Malone, Talent Acquisition Partner at Frontier Agriculture. With more than 22 years' experience in recruitment and talent acquisition, Clare will share valuable insights into Frontier's approach to attracting, recruiting and retaining talent. Members will have the opportunity to explore how these recruitment strategies and best practices could be adapted and applied within their own businesses.

The event will conclude with an opportunity to continue discussions and network with fellow young members over a drink and supper at a local pub.

Please note that safety boots must be worn for the site tour. High-visibility vests and bump hats will be provided, although members are welcome to bring their own bump hat if preferred.

Join us for an important discussion on rural crime and community safety, bringing together NFU members, Bedfordshire Police Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT), and Blake Stephenson MP (Mid Bedfordshire). This is a valuable opportunity for farmers to raise concerns, share experiences, and hear directly from those working to tackle crime in our countryside. We encourage all members to attend and have their voices heard on the issues that matter most to agriculture and the wider rural economy.

WRE invites you to join us for the latest lunchtime webinar on Environmental Destination for abstractors and stakeholders across the East of England.

Environmental Destination (ED), as described by the Environment Agency, considers how water abstraction may need to change to achieve and maintain a healthy water environment, both now and in the future.

As Water Resources East moves forward in bringing together the evidence, understanding and innovative options and opportunities in waterbodies and catchments with abstractors and stakeholders across the region under ED, we are keen to keep you involved and up-to-date on progress and ways you can take part and stay informed.

During this webinar, we will:

• Demonstrate how you can use the new WRE Environmental Destination Catchment Dashboard to look at the current data available:
  • For your business on current abstraction, future modelled licence changes, relevant water resources data and future option ideas
  • For your river, catchment, local site to look at the data, monitoring and information for your area of interest and water resources opportunities

• Hear about the results emerging from the technical investigation work looking at:
  • The impacts of abstraction on our hydro-ecology in the region, alongside other parameters such as water quality and urbanisation effects
  • The location of gaps in water resource, water quality and macroinvertebrates monitoring knowledge
  • Initial prioritisation of waterbodies for future investment/activity

• Explore how WRE are using tools (e.g. the Environment Agency SACO tool), to start analysing the benefits and impacts of changes to abstractions/discharges, and how investment in water resource options such as storage or nature based solutions could achieve environmental destination outcomes.

Enjoy a thrilling afternoon of racing at Huntingdon Racecourse this November, celebrate the jump season in full swing and the local farming and agricultural community. Expect competitive racing, a fantastic atmosphere, and an enjoyable day out for all.

10% off their tickets.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Huntingdon Racecourse website. Simply enter the code AGRIH10 at checkout to receive your 10% discount.

Water Resources East have just launched a Water Resilience Grant which is open to agricultural and horticultural businesses across Cambridgeshire.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available to help reduce the use of abstracted water and consumption of public water supplies (’mains water’). Funding can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. Example projects could be rainwater harvesting, irrigation controllers, precision irrigation technology etc. The scheme is also open to innovative water saving and efficiency projects. 

Scheme Overview

• Location: Projects must be located within Cambridgeshire
• Project Aims: Projects that improve water use efficiency e.g. rainwater harvesting, soil moisture sensors, irrigation controllers etc.
• Open to: Agricultural and horticultural businesses operating within Cambridgeshire
• Grant value: £2,000–£50,000
• Funding contribution: Up to 50% of eligible project costs, paid after costs have been incurred and claimed
• Match funding required: 50%
• Total funding available: £1.3 million
• Funding provided by: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) via Cambridgeshire County Council

 Information about the grant including the guidance, FAQs and application form, can be found on the grant webpage.