Agricology Blog

We were delighted to take part and attend (in-person and on-line) the Oxford Real Farming Conference a couple of weeks ago. Ever inspiring, we thought we’d give you some of our reflections along with some useful resource recommendations that were highlighted in the sessions that we attended…

Agricology were thrilled to take part in Northern Ireland’s first regenerative agriculture festival, which took place at the Sheddings, a beautiful venue that forms part of the Glenarm Estate in County Antrim...

Come along to ‘The Study’ at Groundswell, where a varied and stimulating range of talks combining science, education and farming await...

A pioneering on-farm conference focusing on soil health is gearing up for its launch on a Cumbrian farm this summer (June 25th-26th). Carbon Calling is a knowledge exchange initiative created by farmers to promote discussion among livestock and food producers, and help them address climate, biodiversity, societal and food security issues.

A survey of over 220 livestock farms (80% commercial) in the UK and Ireland has reported up to 69% reduction in antibiotic use, up to 70% reduction in vet costs, significant reduction in disease frequency and severity, and 84% overall improvement in livestock health through the use of Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAMs).

How can the farming industry be efficient, sustainable and proactive, whilst maintaining profitability, regenerating biodiversity and contributing to ambitious carbon Net Zero targets at national and global level? This is, quite literally, the billion dollar question on many farmers’ lips at the moment - and as the sector comes under increasing pressure to evidence its environmental contribution, it’s a question that’s becoming ever more urgent.

If you have never gotten down on your hands and knees to sift through a cow or sheep poo, then grab a 'stool.' Each pat is a whole micro-habitat in itself for a whole diverse collection of insects, but for the purposes of this article I want to focus on the dung beetles who occupy these gorgeous one-off homes. These beetles bring a number of positive attributes not just to farmers, but are also a very important link in ecology.

There are many farmers - conventional, organic and those in-between - successfully reducing or using low levels of antibiotics and they are using many different methods.

Over the last few years our antibiotic usage had naturally declined via the introduction of deep bed sand cubicles, more cow space for feed and water, improved grazing access with concrete sleeper tracks, clean water troughs and an increasing attention to preventative hygiene.

Insights and demonstration into cattle foot trimming at Daylesford Organic Farm.

Have you ever wondered about all the things that your land delivers and whether there may be any way of measuring it? Not so long ago Michael Gove, as Environment Secretary, talked a lot about the historic opportunity provided by Brexit for ensuring that any funding for farming (which may replace the funding under CAP), rewards the delivery of public goods from land and not just food production. But if this is going to be possible, we need to find ways of identifying and measuring them.

Richard Smith, Farms Manager for Daylesford Organic, explains how they rear their Friesian calves at Daylesford. This includes having a calf stay with its mum for 6 days - which allows it to take as much colostrum as it likes from its mum and gives it a fantastic start.