Farming events and webinars
Quick links: Events, online and in person | Events in Scotland | Watch again
Save the date: Agroforestry Show 2025
Wednesday 10th - Thursday 11th September
Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross, Hertfordshire
Keep an eye on the Agroforestry Show website for updates.
Understanding the agronomy of intercropping
Monday 3th March, 6-7.15pm, online
Intercropping is growing two or more crops in the field at the same time. This practice can increase farming resilience and reduce chemical and fertiliser use on UK farms. One barrier to its uptake is the lack of knowledge about the agronomy of growing mixed crops, specifically around weed and pest control, but also around species selection and seeding ratios.
This webinar is led by our farming advisor, Jerry Alford. He will offer guidance on successful establishment and growth, weed control, species mixes and more. He will also look at research from industry experts and researchers.
Winter feeding and economics for beef and sucklers
Tuesday 4th March, 2-5.30pm
Bolton Village Hall, Alnwick NE66 2EE
Beef and suckler farmers, join our farming advisor Tabitha Acton and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)'s Emily Symonds for a workshop discussing the practicalities and economics of winter feeding. They're joined by Emily Grant from Forrit Consultancy and local upland farmer, George Burrell from Broome Park Farm. They'll look at winter feeding systems and the impact on costs and production.
The workshop covers:
- analysing your business
- understanding fixed and variable costs
- identifying key KPI metrics
- highlighting how key resources are being utilised
Agroforestry at Hall Farm
Thursday 13th March, 10.30-2pm
Brooksby Campus, Melton Mowbray LE14 2LJ
Join us for a farm walk looking at different agroforestry practices adopted at this working mixed farm campus in Leicestershire. It will include information on Biodiversity Net Gain and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
The walk includes:
- 20 acre field, divided into paddocks of herbal ley and mob-grazed predominately with cattle. These paddocks are divided up by alleys of mixed trees, including a range of fruit-bearing and nitrogen-fixing species.
- Six acre field divided up into rows of trees, a mixture of native and fruit and nut trees, and individually guarded with sweet chestnut. This overlays a diverse herbal pasture which is planned to be mob-grazed with sheep.
- The developing third system with pigs, currently in its early stages.
We'll be inviting farmers to join an agroforestry farming focused learning network.
Wireworm & Integrated Pest Management
Thursday 20th March, 10am-12pm, online
This webinar discusses the conclusions and recommendations of a recent Innovative Farmers field lab, looking at the potential for cover crops and biofumigant crops to control or reduce wireworm populations in potatoes, and exploring control methods by harnessing the chemical properties of mustards and buckwheat in rotations to ward off pests.
We'll be joined by wireworm experts, Martyn Cox and Ben Clunie, and agronomist Richard Griffith who oversaw the trial on Taylor's Organic Farm in Shropshire. We'll be looking at:
- the observations and conclusions made in the final report.
- the challenges, ie unexpected weather patterns, and the current limitations on detecting wireworm juveniles in the lab.
- what the trialists learned about understanding and controlling wireworm populations, and what this means for farmers.
Whole farm approach to feeding dairy cows
Wednesday 26th March, 10.30am-2pm
Godminster Farm, Bruton BA10 0NE
Organic dairy farm manager, Peter Cheek, leads a farm walk. There will also be a discussion about growing high nutrient resilient forage in ways that maximises soil health, biodiversity and climate outcomes.
Topics covered include:
- whole crop silages (oats, bean, rye mix), and how they fit in the rotation - timing and entry point in, establishment, weed management in absence of herbicides
- Westerwold Ryegrass, vetch and clover mix
- benefit of pea / barley mix - establishment, timing in the rotation
- diverse leys – managing to maximise production and longevity
- composting of manures to maximise nutrient stability and return
We'll also look at how these approaches are building organic matter and improving soil structure.
Maize Growing Conference and Farm Walk
Thursday 27th March, 10am-3pm
Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, PL17 8PB
Interested in finding out more about minimising the negative impacts of growing maize, while maximising yield, silage quality and soil health? Join this farm walk and see different establishment methods and growing approaches on the trial field at Duchy College.
We'll discuss:
- Establishment methods - their impact on soil health and structure, and the effects of different methods on yield and gross margins. We'll share the results and learnings from the Farm Net Zero-Innovative Farmers trials and hear from the farmers who took part.
- Different growing approaches: we’ll explore methods for under-sowing maize, sharing experiences from the trial, and options for intercropping maize with beans from a farmer trialling it in Cornwall.
- What makes good silage and how to maximise quality
Low Tillage Winter Forage Production
Wednesday 9th April, 10.30am-2pm
Tregooden Farm, Bodmin PL30 3PS
Come along to this farm walk, focussing on the technicalities of growing winter forage crops using non-plough-based systems.
You will:
- see how strip till and direct drilling are reducing the number of cultivations necessary to produce winter forage
- learn more about producing maize and arable silage or wholecrops without the use of tillage and associated negative impacts on soil health.
The event is free to attend, and includes a pasty lunch and refreshments. Thank you to Malcolm and Catherine Barrett for hosting this event, and for being one of our demonstration farms.
Exploring Alternative Crops and Soil Inputs for Resilient Farming
Friday 2th May, 10.30am-3.30pm
Fradswell Village Hall, nr Uttoxeter ST18 0EY
With a focus on the potential of fibre crops, alternative protein crops and bio-stimulants, this event is for farmers looking to diversify and anyone curious about the latest research and on-farm experience of these approaches. We'll be looking at:
- the benefits of growing fibre and protein crops for growers and supply chain
- how bio-stimulants naturally enhance soil health and crop resilience
- which practical growing techniques are being used successfully at Field Hall Farm
- which market opportunities and processing options are available through these alternative crops.
Field Scale Vegetable and Salad Production
Wednesday 14th May, 10am-2.15pm
Pollybell Farms, Gringley on the Hill DN10 4SN
Come along to Pollybell Farm in Nottinghamshire for a look at the practicalities and feasibilities of field scale organic vegetable production and packing. We will explore:
- how a horticultural enterprise operates within the wider rotation
- early stage trials to reduce cultivations through the use of cover crops, alongside management of lowland peat
There will also be an opportunity to find out more about our new learning network for growers.
Planning for change (Scotland)
Making the most of Whole Farm Plans
Thursday 20th February, 10am-2pm
Lochhouses Farm, near Dunbar EH42 1XP
Join us for a farm walk and workshop. We will explore:
- the upcoming Whole Farm Plans requirements and what these will mean for your farm
- how the Whole Farm Planning framework can be used to improve farm resilience
- potential benefits of reducing climate impacts of farming operations, e.g. using an Integrated pest management (IPM) plan to reduce the need for expensive inputs.
Sustainable Farming in Less Favoured Areas (LFAs)
Thursday 27th February, 12-2pm, online
Explore the feasibility of implementing LFA practices on your land and what types of support are needed for ‘sustainable and regenerative’ in Scotland. Researchers at the James Hutton Institute are consulting farmers and crofters to identify relevant practices and understand the barriers to their use.
Whole Farm Planning: Biodiversity Audits - Making it work for farmers and Crofters
Friday 7th March
Laggan of Clachaig farm, Nethybridge, Speyside
A look at how biodiversity audits can be a helpful tool for future farm management. This event has been organised by Cairngorm Crofters and Farmers Community Workshop, supported by Spey Catchment, SAC Consulting and Soil Association Scotland.
To book: email info@speycatchment.org or text 07572 186919 with your name and your farm name.
A Whole Farm Approach to Natural Capital
Wed 23 Apr 10.15am-12pm, online
In partnership with Woodland Trust, Finance Earth and Soil Association Certification, join us to explore the findings of our FIRNS project on natural capital development for small and medium farms in Scotland. The event looks at the challenges, the development of a 'whole farm approach' to natural capital and the outcomes so far. For farmers and crofters, landowners, policy makers, community leaders and environmentalists in Scotland.
Past events to watch again
Agroecology Transect - Exploring the barriers and levers to Agroecology
The Agroforestry Show 2023: links to audio recordings of all sessions. Find out more about the show on the Agroforestry Show website.
Groundswell 2023: links to recordings of our sessions and panel discussions.
Agroforestry carbon code: find out more, and scroll to the end of the page to see our recent event.
Agroecotech conference: watch our recent event on YouTube
Integrated pest management: watch these case study videos, showcasing participants of the Farming the Future programme with Nature Friendly Farming Network, RSPB, Pesticide Action Network and CoFarm Foundation on the Agricology website.
