Opening plenary and introduction, with a word from founders and sponsors about the history and principles behind the ORFC and real farming.

What would it look like to have a million better jobs in UK farming? 

Government and food industry policy, which affects farmers in the UK and overseas, fails to adequately protect nature and promote sustainable farming, and undermines the resilience of rural economies and the ability for farmers and others to make a good living on the land. With our panel we will discuss an alternative vision and debate whether a target of a million…

Building soil organic matter ups biological activity, nutrient availability, water infiltration and moisture holding capacity.

Andy Whitmore (Rothamsted Research) will draw on the long-term experiments at Rothamsted and the wider science to sum up the best-proven steps farmers can take to build soil organic matter. Guy Thallon (Produce World Group) will report on practical trials comparing different soil amendments on working farms. Caroline Corsie (Worcestershire Wildlife Trust) will share insights from her ‘field lab’…

Hot on the heals of the Food Sovereignty Gathering in Hebdon Bridge (October 2015), this session will focus on how we can build effective links between the wide variety of organisations working on food and farming issues, to ensure radical change for the better in the UK food system.

We will seek inspiration from practitioners who are achieving change from grassroots food supply for local communities (Organiclea), via building positive political relations with the…

The UK needs more 100% grass-fed beef and lamb to meet growing demand from consumers. The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association encourages farmers to kick the ‘grain habit’ and finish animals off grazed grass and conserved forage crops, but many are put off by a perceived lack of financial returns. Today we launch a new booklet highlighting the positive economics of some of our members, to show how economically viable this way of farming can really be.