Last week, more than 130 members joined us near Piercebridge for a successful County Farm Walk and Summer Social, kindly hosted by William Maughan and his family. We were delighted to welcome NFU President Tom Bradshaw, alongside a range of expert speakers who provided valuable insight into current opportunities and challenges facing the industry.
The evening began with an informative wheat agronomy session led by Nigel Scott of ProCam, supported by David Maughan, before attention turned to free-range egg production with Jean-Paul Michalski from Noble Foods. The resident hens seemed just as interested in the discussion as the audience, and persuading people to leave both the poultry and the wheat plots proved one of the evening’s biggest challenges!
Fortunately, Robinson’s of Wingate provided an outstanding barbecue using meat from their own butchery, ensuring guests were well fed while networking with fellow members.
Tom Bradshaw spoke about the recently published Farming Roadmap 2050 and the government's response to the Farm Profitability Review. While welcoming the roadmap’s focus on resilience, profitability, productivity and sustainability, he stressed that ambitions must now be matched by practical action and clear delivery plans.
Closer to home, Tom also reflected on the current political uncertainty and reassured members that the NFU will continue working closely with Defra to champion policies that support growth, investment and confidence across the farming industry.
A huge thank you to William and his family for hosting such an enjoyable and informative event.
Members Prepare for New Rodenticide Requirements
Over the past year, many farmers have been adapting to new regulations surrounding the purchase and use of professional rodenticides. The changes mean that anyone wishing to continue buying and using these products must ensure they hold the appropriate qualifications, helping to promote best practice, reduce risks to non-target wildlife and minimise environmental impacts.
Since last autumn, I have been helping members prepare for the LANTRA Level 2 Award in Rodent Management, delivering training and facilitating assessment sessions across the county. When I first became involved, there were very few providers offering the qualification, making access challenging for many farmers. It has been encouraging to see this change over time, with training now much more widely available.
Most recently, I hosted what will be my final sessions before the summer break, with courses held for members in the Barnard Castle branch and at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. The strong turnout demonstrated the importance members place on remaining compliant while maintaining effective pest control on their farms.
With the current wave of assessments complete, I can finally file away my well-used “rat presentation” for a few months. No doubt it will reappear in the autumn and winter, when rodents start seeking warmer buildings and pest control once again becomes a priority for many farm businesses.
Primrose Care Farm: Dementia Support with a Personal Touch
I recently visited Primrose Care Farm, nestled beneath the iconic White Horse at Kilburn, and was delighted to see first-hand how farming can make a real difference to people living with dementia.
The farm provides a calm, welcoming environment where guests can interact with a wide range of animals, enjoy the outdoors and take part in meaningful activities. It was wonderful to see the positive engagement these experiences create, helping to boost confidence, encourage conversation and reduce feelings of isolation.
The star of the day was undoubtedly a magnificent bronze turkey, who proudly displayed his stunning plumage for everyone to admire. He certainly captured the attention of visitors and staff alike!
Primrose Care Farm demonstrates how nature-based care can support wellbeing while providing a valuable diversification opportunity for farming businesses. By combining agriculture, community and specialist care, it shows how farms can play an increasingly important role in supporting rural health and social care needs.