Organisers of the Devon County Show are looking forward to joining colleagues from across the UK at the 60th national conference of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) in Torquay which starts on Sunday (November 6).
Ollie Allen, County Show Secretary and former chairman of the ASAO, said she was delighted that the event was returning to Devon.
She said: “We have some outstanding shows in this county and there can’t be anywhere better to shine the spotlight on these champions of our rural economy.”
Exeter headquartered accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards has appointed Julie Rose as branch manager to be based primarily at its Heathfield office, near Newton Abbot.
Chartered tax advisor Julie joins the firm from Farm Accounts where she spent 11 years and managed over 100 clients. In total she has over 17 years’ experience providing practical advice and business support to farms and other rural businesses, including management of accounts, ensuring compliance requirements are met for tax credits, self-assessment, PAYE and VAT. She has also carried out extensive tax planning work...
The charity Action on Hearing Loss has been awarded nearly £400,000 by the Big Lottery Fund to begin delivering vital information support for those with hearing loss in Devon and Cornwall and help reduce social isolation.
With nearly 300,000 people living with hearing loss in the two counties, the project titled ‘Hear to Inform and Support’ will work with local groups in the area such as community clubs and voluntary associations to make them more accessible and ensure that organisations increase their ability to support those with deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss.
As the UK Government works out what the nation's future relationship with the European Union will look like, some Devon farmers are concerned that Brexit will lead to challenges for an industry already feeling the strain.
While some in the agricultural industry feel that leaving the EU will create opportunities, others are concerned that breaking the ties could place yet further pressures on the industry with a potential loss of subsidises and uncertainty over new trade agreements.
And these on top of a list of challenges that farmers everywhere are facing, and which have...
A major new independent study¹ commissioned by The Prince’s Countryside Fund into the future of small family farms across the UK, has revealed a steep decline in numbers since the beginning of the century.
Over the last two or three decades, small family farms have experienced profound change. The report set out to explore the future for these farms by identifying the pace of change, investigating ways in which they might improve performance and viability as well as putting forward proposals for improvements to farm management, adjusting policies and bringing in new blood.
As dairy prices start to rally after a slump which has seen the number of dairy farmers in Britain halve in a decade and the milk price tumble by more than a third in the last 18 months, NFU South West dairy board chairman Andrew Branton is challenging milk processors to ensure that increased returns are passed along to farmers quickly, to ensure as many as possible stay in business.
Cheshire-based Meadow Foods have announced a farm gate milk price increase that will add one penny to the price paid to farmers in July and another in August. Somerset-based Wyke Farms is set to follow...
A packed audience of over 80 farmers and rural business owners from around the region assembled recently to listen to Minette Batters, the Vice President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), discussing the challenges facing the industry. The event, organised by professional services firms PKF Francis Clark, Savills and Stephens Scown LLP, was held at Lifton Farm Shop, Lifton, Devon. Minette Batters underlined that while the industry is facing many challenges, farmers need to “take control of their own destiny” and work more closely together to deliver “a coordinated message to consumers...
Learn how to cut grass and weeds without the need of a noisy fossil fuel burning lawnmower or strimmer
This practical day course will cover how to use and maintain a scythe (a traditional mowing tool) and provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to mow anything from a small lawn to a meadow.
During the course we'll make hay the traditional way to encourage wild flowers in the meadow.
Tea and cake provided, participants must be 12+.
Concessions available for EDDC tenants, please contact the Countryside team.
Farmers have expressed concern about the unknown implications of Britain leaving the European Union, according to a new survey by experts at the University of Exeter.
Almost half (45.8 per cent) of those questioned said the interests of British agriculture will be best served by the UK remaining a member of the EU.
More than a third (35.5 per cent) indicated that it would be in the interest of British agriculture to leave the EU. The remaining 18.7 per cent were unable to give an answer. If this group is removed the proportion in favour of remain is 56.6 per cent while 43.4...
Multi-award winning Devon farmer, Peter Greig, who together with his family, runs Pipers Farm, a 50 acre farm just north of Exeter, has been appointed to the board of Farmers & Fletchers in the City, the official home of The Worshipful Company of Farmers and The Worshipful Company of Fletchers, which also operates as a commercial conference, meetings and private dining venue.
Peter will bring to the board a wealth of experience gained over 25-years running a successful farming enterprise that works closely with 25 local family farms to provide high quality produce that is sold...
