Thankfully, intermittent rain continues to ease the warm weather we’re having, but the damage done earlier in the year means that those who have cut grass in recent weeks have been reporting less forage than needed. It’s never too early to start planning what action may be needed later in the year as a result.
Soil health is key to resilient plants that can maintain growth for longer in dry conditions. This topic was considered in depth during our first Regenified workshop last week. Alongside our partners The Royal Countryside Fund we are supporting 20 farm businesses to implement a Regenerative approach on their holdings and explore the benefits of verification through the UK’s first RegenAg certification scheme. It was a day full of discussion and learning including a brilliant rainfall simulator demonstration on four different soil covers that emphasised the importance of maintaining cover, good rooting and soil structure.

There are lots of you travelling to the Groundswell conference in Hertfordshire next week, keep an eye out for us as some of the Hub team will be there too! Watch this space for more announcements later in July as we will launch our FarmSafer campaign and restart an ever bigger & better FarmGate nutrient balance programme.

WAFM Mental Health Awareness Workshop

Wed 9th July  

Bromyard Area

Click here for more info & to book

Grassland Diversity & Resilience with Herefordshire Meadows 

Thurs 10th July 

5:30pm to 8pm 

Boycefield Farm, Dilwyn, HR4 8JF

Click here for more info & to book

Yellow Wellies: Farm Safety Week 2025

Mon 21st to Fri 25th July 

Farm Safety Week highlights the vital importance of safety and well-being for everyone involved in agriculture.

Learn more click here 

Are you a woman that needs to take a break from the farm?

Clay Pigeon Shooting 

Wed 31st July

H S Activities, Lowe Farm, Much Dewchurch, Hereford, HR2 8DG

Click here for more info & to book

The Government’s Autumn 2024 Budget saw significant changes to the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (APR) rules, through the introduction of a restriction on the 100% relief from inheritance tax (IHT) to the first £1m of qualifying assets. Any excess asset value over this amount will only receive 50% relief from IHT, resulting in an effective tax rate of 20%.

Despite significant lobbying from farmers and industry representatives, there is no sign of any changes being made to these rules, meaning farmers and business owners must now begin planning in order to mitigate any IHT that may be due on their estate. This article discusses some initial actions to take to assist with IHT planning.

Environment Agency Inspection and Compliance Figures for 2024/25

The Environment Agency have just published their inspection and compliance figures for 24/25. Across England 4000 inspections were completed with 2211 or 49% having at least one non-compliance. The chart below shows the top 8 most common non-compliances.

 The two most common breaches relate to Farming Rules for Water, the following six relate to SSAFO Regs. 

Working with the local Environment Agency team the Hub have produced a number of "Farming in the Wye" guides which summarise the requirements of Farming Rules for Water so make sure you download these or pick one up at one of our events!

Click here to view & download Farming in the Wye booklets

Bluetongue Update: England-Wide Zone & New Welsh Rules from 1 July

From 1 July 2025, the whole of England will become 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.

What This Means for England:

• Free movement within England: From 1 July, cattle, sheep, camelids, and other ruminants can move anywhere in England without a movement licence or bluetongue testing.
• Until 30 June, current exemptions remain in place. Non-breeding animals over 60 days old can move within England from the existing RZ without pre-movement testing.

Wales: New Movement Rules Apply

The Welsh Government is introducing stricter border controls for animals entering Wales from the English RZ:

• From 20 June 2025:
• Movements into Wales to live (excluding slaughter) require:
• A specific APHA-issued licence, and
• A negative pre-movement test (valid for 10 days).
• Vaccinated cattle (two doses of BTV-3 vaccine, plus 21-day waiting period) may move under licence without testing.
• Sheep and other ruminants must test negative even if vaccinated.
• From 1 July 2025:
• The test validity period shortens to 7 days.
• Animals sent for slaughter must go to a designated Welsh abattoir, under licence and with appropriate vector control.
• Movements to Welsh markets or shows are treated as “moves to live” and must follow the same licence and testing or vaccination requirements.

Vaccination Strongly Advised

Vaccination is the most effective long-term control measure. Keepers moving animals to Wales or Scotland are urged to speak to their private vet about BTV-3 vaccination. All vaccinations must be reported to APHA within 48 hours.

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.

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.

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

“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay” Henry Ford

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

Agriculture Health and Safety:
How to Meet Your Legal Responsibilities (E-Learning)

DEFRA’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 :
Ensure your application is in by midday, Thursday 10th July

Offering grants to farmers, growers, foresters, and contractors in England. The fund supports investment in equipment that boosts productivity, improves slurry management, and enhances animal health and welfare.

• Grants available: £1,000–£25,000 per theme

• Total funding: £46.7 million

• Themes: Productivity, Slurry Management, Animal Health & Welfare

• Deadline: Midday, Thursday, 10th July 2025

The fund is competitive, and applications will be assessed based on how well they meet each theme’s objectives.

Click here to Find out more and apply

Funding Available to Improve Livestock Health and Welfare

Herefordshire livestock farmers can access funding through Defra’s Improve Animal Health and Welfare (IAHW) scheme, supporting proactive vet visits to improve herd and flock health as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

What’s Covered?

• Animal Health and Welfare Review: A vet visit to assess your animals, test for key diseases, and provide tailored advice.

• Follow-Up Testing: Additional vet support to manage endemic diseases identified in the review.

Funding Levels (per species):

• Pigs: £557 (review), £923 (follow-up)

• Sheep: £436 (review), £639 (follow-up)

• Beef: £522 (review), £837 or £215 (follow-up)

• Dairy: £372 (review), £1,714 or £215 (follow-up)

Who’s Eligible?
Farmers must:

• Apply before arranging a vet visit

• Keep at least 11 cattle, 51 pigs, or 21 sheep

• Be responsible for livestock in England

Up to three reviews and three follow-ups per species are allowed, spaced at least 10 months apart. Activities must be completed by 19 June 2027, with claims submitted by 19 September 2027.

How to Apply
Applications are open year-round. Start by registering on the GOV.UK website, then arrange a vet visit.

Plant Trees with Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods Scheme

Landowners and farmers in Herefordshire can access funding and support through the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme, offering up to 75% funding to plant 500 or more trees over at least 0.5 hectares.

Why Get Involved?
Planting trees can:

• Support biodiversity and wildlife

• Improve shelter for livestock

• Contribute to flood prevention

• Provide long-term income potential

What’s Included?
Eligible applicants benefit from:

• A site visit and tailored planting plan

• Trees and protective materials

• Optional contractor planting (60% funded for 1ha+ sites)

Who Can Apply?
Anyone with land suitable for planting 0.5 hectares or more, either in a single block or in multiple areas of at least 0.1 hectares, planting 1,000–1,600 trees per hectare.

Apply Now
Applications are open for planting between November 2025 and March 2026. You’ll need a map and grid reference to apply.

For more details and to apply, visit:
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/morewoods

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).

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 

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

Deadline for print copy 24th of each month.

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