I hope you all benefitted from the rain this week, much needed after such a long dry spell. The rumour mill continues to turn about potential sudden closure of Capital grants, latest update from Defra is that 75% of budget has now been allocated and applications should be made sooner rather than later.

Upcoming Events

Webinar: From Pixels to Production: Applying Computer Vision in Agri-Food

Wed 6th August , 12pm 

Boost your business with the Innovate UK BridgeAI training. Open to businesses of all sizes!

To register please click here 

HR Essentials Training with Marches HR  

Fri 15th August  

9:45am to 2:30pm 

Venue TBC, Hereford HR2

Click here for more info & to book

Free Hereford HR Clinic with Marches HR 

Wed 20th August

9:45am to 5:30pm 

Book your 30 minute slot to chat to Lorna about all things HR

Click here for more info & to book

Farm Safer: Free First Aid Training Workshop

Fri 12th September

9am to 4:30pm

Moccas Village Hall, Hereford HR2 9LQ

Click here to book your space

Save the Date!
Rural Business Advice Day 

Wed 5th November 2025

11am to 4pm 

Lyde Arundel, Hereford HR4 7SN

For up-to-date details click here

Hub Go-To-Businesses

Valuing agricultural land and property for Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a complex and evolving area. Valuers must interpret not only market dynamics and land use but also intricate legal and tax frameworks. With major reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) due in April 2026, professionals in this space face increasing pressure to navigate uncertainty while delivering defensible valuations.

Training & Development

FarmSafer: Lifesaving Training for Herefordshire Farmers Launched

We are proud to launch FarmSafer, a new initiative aimed at improving on-farm safety by equipping local farmers with essential emergency first aid skills tailored for agricultural and forestry environments.

FarmSafer has been made possible through funding from Herefordshire Community Foundation and the Jack Hughes Fund. This vital support will enable 48 farming businesses across Herefordshire to access the fully funded “Emergency First Aid with Forestry” training – a course designed to respond directly to the types of serious injuries most likely to occur in farming settings.

Please check out Whats On section on our website for dates for the forthcoming training.

Free AI and machine learning training for UK food and farming businesses

• Introductory online sessions
• Free one-day workshops for practical skills develoment or, 
• Flexible online training modules to learn at your own pace.

• Real-time monitoring of crops, animal health and processing.
• Using drones and satellite data to simplify decision-making.
• Anomaly detection.
• Forecasting and stock managing.

Apprenticeships, Training &
Short Courses available

• Animal care & welfare
• Farm Worker
• Forestry & arboriculture
• Welding
• Farriery

• Felling & processing trees
• Safe use of pesticides
• Tractor Driving
• Welding, metal work & fabrication
• Blacksmithing
• Chainsaw maintenance

The Jack Hughes Fund supports the cost of training for members of Herefordshire’s farming community.

Funding & Schemes

DEFRA’s 2025 Capital Grants scheme is now open, providing £150 million in funding to support farmers, landowners, and land managers across England with environmental and infrastructure improvements. However, the RPA has confirmed that nearly 75% of the available funding has already been allocated for this round. The scheme is expected to close in the coming weeks, so if you haven’t yet submitted your application, it’s important to act quickly. Once the round closes, no further applications will be accepted — including those that have been started but not completed. Another funding round is anticipated in 2026.

The grants cover a wide range of practical improvements, including hedgerow planting, boundary restoration, natural flood management, and air and water quality enhancements. New for 2025 are grants for woodland condition assessments, wildfire risk checks, drystone wall repairs, and support for hosting educational access visits.

Funding caps apply depending on the category. There's a £25,000 limit for air quality, water quality, and flood management items, and a £35,000 cap for boundaries, trees, and orchards. There is no cap on assessment or improvement plan items. Applicants must have management control of the land for at least three years and can only submit one application per Single Business Identifier (SBI) each calendar year. Some items—particularly in air and water quality—may require prior approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser.

Applications must be submitted via the Rural Payments service. With high demand and no guarantee of extended availability, those interested should prepare and apply as soon as possible.

For Full Guidance and how to apply visit GOV.UK - Capital Grants 2025

Grazing relief now available for farmers affected by dry weather..

Livestock farmers in England experiencing forage shortages this summer can now request temporary changes to grazing rules under the Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes.

To help ease the impact of severe local drought conditions in parts of the UK, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will review applications for derogations on a case-by-case basis.

Farmers can submit their requests using either the: 
SFI query form (PDF) or the Countryside Stewardship Minor and Temporary Adjustment (MTA) form (PDF).

Roads to Resilience -
Working with Midlands Farmer for resilient, profitable businesses

Regulation & Compliance

Bluetongue Update

From 1 July 2025, the whole of England became a single Bluetongue Restricted Zone (RZ) in response to the continued spread of Bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). This aims to simplify livestock movements and better reflect the disease situation.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season is 7.  On 11th July 2025, two cases of BTV-3 were confirmed positive on two cattle in Herefordshire following a non-negative pre-movement test. 

The risk of transmission via infected midges is now considered to be very high in England and most of Great Britain.

Bluetongue is Notifiable

All suspected cases—including abortions or birth defects potentially caused by bluetongue—must be reported immediately to APHA.

For full guidance on animal movements, restrictions, and disease control measures, visit the government information and guidance page.

Wyescapes

Landscape Recovery - Opportunities for Farmers:
Update on Wyescapes

Defra’s Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme remains an important opportunity for farmers to secure alternative funding streams that enable them to make bold long term management changes on their land. With rumours of a third round potentially opening later in 2025 we thought we’d give an update on progress with the Wyescapes LR project that the Hub is currently delivering with 49 Herefordshire farms. Successful LR bids enter a two year development phase during which 6 key work streams have to be completed, Wyescapes is now in its final year of development and gathering momentum as it prepares to submit final plans to Defra at the end of the year. To inform the submission participating farmers, the Wyescapes board, project staff and partners are all working intensively to complete the following across the 12,644 acres of land currently in the project:

• Plan the on-the-ground interventions that would be delivered during the 20 year delivery phase
• Baseline for current production data, habitat condition & priority wildlife species
• Identify private sector investment that is needed to match fund Defra’s contribution
• Develop the legal entity and governance that is required to hold project funds and administer them to land managers for action taken on the ground

Wyescapes is the largest and most ambitious environmental initiative in the Wye catchment, only possible because of the ambition and strong collaboration between the participating landholdings. Our goal as the lead organisation for Wyescapes is to support the participating farmers to develop alternative business models, capitalise on farmland “natural capital”, support climate-resilient food production and adapt management of land currently being impacted by prolonged flood events.

As interest in Wyescapes grows, so too is the project’s profile. On 5th July, the project hosted our North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns at Thingehill Court . Ellie was very engaged and interested to hear from our host James Hawkins about the opportunities and challenges that Wyescapes seeks to address. More recently, on 24th July, Wyescapes was featured on BBC Midlands Today and reported on BBC NEWS.  It is fantastic to raise wider public awareness of the vital work being taken by farmers in the Wye and the benefits that long-term, collective action can offer for water quality, wildlife, and soil health.

You can find out more about the project on our newly updated Wyescapes webpage and if you want to stay in the loop sign up for our quarterly Wyescapes e-newsletter.

If and when a Round 3 opens for LR we will be seeking to add those still on a waiting list for Wyescapes to the project so if are you are farming in the river corridor between Leominster and Symonds Yat but not in the project it might not be too late - get in contact with us via wyescapes@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk to ensure you are on our list!

Advice & Support

FarmGate Nutrient Balance Approach Expanded for 2025 

Last year the Hub launched a pilot to build a locally-owned dataset that captures real-time nutrient load on farm. This approach is helping to inform the narrative around nutrients and river pollution as well as proving a valuable opportunity to consider inputs and exports from the holding.

The 2024 pilot found that participating farms were running at an average deficit of -14kg P/ha which differs significantly to the widely accepted figure from Lancaster University’s REPHOKUS study which estimated farms were running at an excess +6kg P/ha. This initial finding is important and justifies expansion of the scheme to better quantify and capture what is happening on the ground.

During 2025 we’re working with our Farm Herefordshire partners to expand the approach with the aim of assessing a further 100 farms. The visit normally takes less than an hour and provides on the spot results which are confidential to you. 

Farming with Nature

• Land Management
• Natural Asset Reviews & Farm Plans
• ELM Advice and Applications
• Peer to Peer Knowledge Exchange
• Conservation Project Management
• Wildlife and Survey Monitoring
• Natural Flood Management
• Watercourses
• Pond Creation and Management
• Environmental Regulation Compliance
• Woodland management.

Species-Rich Grassland: Advisory Services from Herefordshire Meadows

• Advice & guidance regarding management or restoration of species-rich grassland.
• Grassland assessment for suitability of SFI options for livestock, soil health, flood and drought resilience and biodiversity.
• Grassland surveys e.g. assessing suitability for GRH6 option.
• Guidance regarding permanent grassland, floodplain and cultivated land.

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) Support

CSF have five officers working across Herefordshire: Alice Probert and Rob Edwards cover the Arrow, Lugg, and Frome catchments, Nick Hinchliffe and Tom Lancashire cover the Wye, and Amy Stephens handles the Leadon.

CSF offers free, confidential advice to help you meet regulations and improve farm efficiency through better nutrient, manure, and soil management. Officers also assist with government schemes the upcoming Higher Tier.

Capital Grant Scheme Update
The Capital Grant Scheme will reopen this summer after a pause. Some items require CSF approval, so if you’re planning to apply, arrange a visit soon. The scheme will provide up to £25,000 for water, air, and flood management projects, and £35,000 for boundary and tree works.

Book Your CSF Visit
To request support, email Part 1 of the Request_for_CSF_support_form to csf.severn@naturalengland.org.uk.

Herefordshire Natural Flood Management (NFM) Project:
Advice & grants available

• Bodenham Brooks (above Bodenham)
• Brimfield Brook (above Brimfield and Orleton)
• Cheaton, Cogwell and Ridgemoor Brook system (above Leominster and Frome)
  
• Dulas Brook (above Ewas Harold)
• Pentaloe Brook (above Mordiford)
• Tedstone Brook (above Bromyard)
• Red, Norton and Twyford Brook system (above Rotherwas, Hereford).

Consultations

The Government has issued a call for evidence to gather views on how to fairly and effectively boost incentives for businesses to invest in nature.

If you are involved in agri-food businesses, trade associations, farmers, and environmental NGOs we encourage you to share your insights on how policy can better support nature-positive investment—ensuring that commercial, agricultural, and environmental goals work together to deliver lasting benefits for both people and the planet.

Your responses will help shape policies aimed at increasing private sector demand for, and investment in, the protection and enhancement of nature.

To contribute, please send written submissions to Nature.Investment.CfE@defra.gov.uk by 11:59pm on Thursday, 7 August 2025.

Celebrate the people and organisations making a difference in Herefordshire with the Hereford Times Community Awards 2025.

• Environmental Project of the Year
• Best Community Project or Group
• Sports Team, Club or Personality of the Year
• Volunteer or Fundraiser of the Year
• Teacher of the Year
• Young Person of the Year
  
• Diversity in the Community Award
• GP Practice of the Year
• Mental Health Award
• Contribution to the Arts Award
• Business of the Year
• Health or Social Care Professional of the Year
• Farmer or Smallholder of the Year

Deadline for Nominations: 24 August 2025
An independent panel will select the winners, announced at the awards ceremony.

Awards Event: Wednesday 29 October, 6:30pm at Hereford Cathedral
Finalists and their guests will be invited to an evening of celebration, including refreshments and recognition.

Nominate Today – It’s Simple, Free, and Unlimited
Showcase the outstanding talent and dedication in your community.

Submit your nomination here:
https://www.herefordtimes.com/awards/community-awards/

Harper Adams University Regional Survey exploring
Rural Community Confidence in the Police

This survey aims to explore the experiences of rural and farming communities after victimisation, and the key factors influencing their confidence towards the police. This research is being undertaken by Dr Kreseda Smith, Rural Criminologist and Director of the Rural Resilience Research Group at Harper Adams University.  For more information please click here. If you have any questions about this survey or the research, or would like to complete the questionnaire in a hard copy version you can contact Dr Smith at kresedasmith@harper-adams.ac.uk.

You are invited to complete the survey if you are over 18, live or work in a rural area across Shropshire, Herefordshire, or Worcestershire, and have been a victim of crime.

To complete the survey please click here
The survey is open until 23.59 on 29th August 2025

To advertise events, services, training and job opportunities with us click here. 

Deadline for print copy 24th of each month.

Meet the Team

Kate Speke-Adams -
Hub Managing Director

For details about our projects & opportunities to work with us click here.

Sarah Starkey -
Hub Farm Resilience Project Manager

For info about any of our resilience projects click here.

Sue Powell -
Hub Finance Officer

For queries about finance & invoicing 
click here.

Jennie Hermolle -
Hub Wyescapes Engagement & Communications Manager

For information about our Wyescapes Landscape Recovery project click here 

We're proud to be part of the
Royal Countryside Fund's
Farm Support Group Initiative