While proposed UK government policy on inheritance tax attracted national attention to the farming sector, 2024 was another challenging year climatically. The UK’s wheat harvest (our main crop) declined by 20% in area and 10% in yield, with rainfall patterns driving a shift from winter barley to spring barley. Oilseed rape production declined by over 30% while oat production increased by 19%. While none of us can control weather patterns to provide more sunlight or delay wet weather at harvest, researchers and businesses offer many products and technologies focused at enhancing soil health to potentially maximise production.

Speakers include:

Phil Scott, Head of Purpose and Sustainability, Lake District Farmers

Lake District Farmers, towards net-zero meat production

Dr Ben Herbert, Stopford Projects Ltd

Nutragy: a low cost soil fertiliser

Dr Russell Sharp, Eutrema Ltd

Protecting soil biology on regenerative farms

Dr Csilla Hudek, Researcher, Lancaster Environment Centre

Advances in soil health research to help farmers reverse soil degradation

From 2 pm in Lancaster Environment centre (LEC) Training Rooms...............

For maps and directions to Lancaster University please visit: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/aboutus/maps-and-travel/

Parking is available (£2 for 2 hours) at Visitor Parking Zones I and H: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sustainability/action/travel/parking/visitor-parking/