Herefordshire Rural Hub Needs You!

 We need you take part in something important.

As farmers, we all know the spotlight is on the Wye and Lugg rivers. There’s a lot said about farming’s role, but not always the full picture — and rarely with local evidence to back it up. That’s why we need you!

By signing up to the FarmGate Nutrient Balance Programme, you’ll help us:

• Build a locally owned dataset
  Instead of relying on outside assumptions, we’ll have hard evidence from real farms across Herefordshire.
• Show what’s actually happening on the ground
  The balance tool measures what’s coming in and going out of your farm gate. It will highlight how we’re already managing nutrients well, and where there’s room for improvement.
• Tell a more realistic version of events
  With enough farms taking part, we can present a clear, farmer-led picture of nutrient use in the Wye catchment — and challenge some of the myths being told about our industry.
• Protect our future.
  This data is already influencing local discussions about water quality, regulation and funding. By joining in, you’re helping to make sure farmers’ voices are heard and evidence is fair.

What you share stays private — your farm data will never be made public. Results are anonymised and fed into the bigger dataset, so the story told is collective, not individual.

The process is simple. We sit down with you 1:1, work through the figures, and make sure you get something useful back for your own decision-making.

This isn’t about ticking a government box or chasing a grant. It’s about Herefordshire farmers, taking control of the story and making sure the real picture is heard.

60 farms participated in the pilot last year and we’d like to visit another 100 before the of March!

Sign up here → FarmGate Nutrient Balance Programme

Upcoming Events

Farm Safer: Free First Aid Training Workshop

Fri 10th October

8:30am to 4pm

Brockhampton Village Hall, Hereford HR1 4SG

*Three Spaces Available*

To book email us click here 

HR Clinic with Marches HR  

Wed 15th October  

9:45am to 1:30pm 

Rural Enterprise Centre, 30 Vincent Carey Rd, Rotherwas HR2 6FW

Click here for more info & to book

WAFM: Men in Agriculture Comedy Night

Wed 15th October 

7pm to 10pm

Lyde Court, Lower Lyde, HR1 3AE

Click here to book

WAFM - FREE Mental Health Awareness Workshop

Thurs 23rd October 

6:30pm to 8:30pm  

Duchy of Cornwall, New Barn, Dewsall HR2 8DA

Click here to book 

Don't miss the FREE BridgeAI Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in AgriFood Workshop

Tues 18th November 2025

10am to 4pm 

Ledbury RFC, HR8 2LP

Click here for more info & to book

Hub Go-To-Businesses

With the Autumn Budget due on 26 November 2025, speculation is mounting around how Chancellor Rachel Reeves will address the Uk's fiscal challenges.  While she has pledged not to raise income tax, VAT, or employee National Insurance, there is growing talk of reforms that could directly affect farmers, landowners, and rural businesses.

The following highlights some of the main tax rumours relevant to farmers and landowners;

Rural Business Advice Day

Presentations

Stand Holders

Refreshments

Regulation & Compliance

Bluetongue Update

Defra has confirmed 87 cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) in Great Britain (including 83 in England, 4 in Wales) and 1 case of BTV-8.

A Temporary Control Zone is in place in Monmouthshire, and all of England remains under movement restrictions.

The risk of further spread by midges is classed as high in the south-east and East Anglia, and medium elsewhere. Farmers and livestock keepers are reminded to be alert for symptoms, maintain biosecurity, and comply with testing and movement rules.

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.

Training & Development

FarmSafer: Lifesaving Training for Herefordshire Farmers Launched

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.

Dates & Venues

Fri 10 Oct - Brockhampton Village Hall * SPACES AVAILABLE*
Mon 10 Nov - Monkland Village Hall *FULLY BOOKED*
Mon 1 Dec- Stoke Lacy Village Hall *FULLY BOOKED*
Please note workshops are initially limited to one participant per business.

To book your space, state your Name, Address, Contact Tel No., If your address is different to the farm/business address please state that also.  Click here to email - secure your space

Ready to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning in your AgriFood operations?

Book your FREE space for a in-person workshop.  Discover how cutting-edge technologies can boost sustainability, increase effeciency and drive profitability in your business.

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

The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme is now open for applications. Invitations are being sent in phases through the Rural Payments service to those who have already completed pre-application advice.

What’s on offer:

• Over 130 actions and 140 capital items to support biodiversity, woodland, water and habitat management.

• Rolling applications with monthly start dates and quarterly payments to support cashflow.

• Agreement lengths of 5, 10, 15 or 20 years depending on the options chosen.

• Woodland and agroforestry options require an approved management plan.

Applicants should be ready to provide supporting documents (maps, quotes, business information) as part of the review process.

The scheme is part of the government’s plan to expand environmental land management, with funding increasing to £2 billion a year by 2029.

👉 Find out more and check eligibility on the GOV.UK blog.

The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) is set to award over £12.6 million this autumn to support innovative projects across agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.

Funding opportunities include:

• Feasibility Studies: £200,000–£500,000 for projects testing new ideas in real-world conditions.
  The competition will open 13 October 2025
  A consortia-building event will be held 14 October 2025
  The competition closes 3 December 2025.

• Small R&D Partnerships: £1 million–£3 million for projects developing new products or services closer to market.
  The competition will open 15 September 2025
  A consortia-buidling event will be held on 18 September 2025
  The competition will close on 5 November 2025.

These competitions are part of the government’s wider plan to invest £200 million in agricultural innovation by 2030, helping farmers and growers increase productivity and sustainability.

Find out more and apply via the Farming Innovation Programme.

Advice & Support

FarmGate Nutrient Balance Approach Expanded for 2025

Farming with Nature 

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust supports customers with habitat and conservation advice including:

• Wildlife & Habitat Surveying
• Habitat Management Plans
• Biodiversity Net Gain

Find out more and get in touch via www.herefordshirewt.org/farmingwithnature

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 four advisers working across Herefordshire: Alice Probert and Rob Edwards cover the Arrow, Lugg, and Frome catchments, Nick Hinchliffe covers the Wye, and Amy Stephens handles the Leadon.

CSF offers free, confidential and impartial advice. The team of local advisers can help you with: Nutrient, slurry and manure management, Soil health, Pesticide handling, Natural flood management , Reducing ammonia emissions,  Sustainable water use, Guidance on farming schemes and regulations,

Even though DEFRA capital grants are currently closed, CSF can still offer advice visits which can include discussions and potential approvals for any future capital grants windows.  If you are interested in applying for future grants we would strongly recommend getting in touch with CSF as soon as possible to ensure you have the right supporting documents lined up ready to apply in good time before the next window opens.

Booking a CSF Visit
To request support, email a completed Catchment Sensitive Farming Advice Request 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).

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