Our blog
The latest ideas, opinions and innovations from people working in sustainable agriculture
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Support climate friendly farming - one donation, twice the impact
From 22nd to 29th April the Organic Research Centre (ORC) is taking part in the Green Match Fund Campaign 2022, organised by the Big Give...
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Use of complementary and alternative methods is significantly reducing antibiotic use and vet costs on UK and Irish farms
A survey of over 220 livestock farms (80% commercial) in the UK and Ireland has reported up to 69% reduction in antibiotic use, up to...
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Water companies and farmers: the dream team?
You are probably familiar with the headline that no waterbody in England is free of pollution . Who is to blame? When under the inspection...
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Seeds - always there when you need them? Why every farmer and grower should be producing seed...
As farmers and growers, without seeds we have no crops. Yet for the vast majority of vegetable growers, including organic and agroecological producers, these seeds...
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How do English farmers learn and finance agroforestry? New insights from the Agroforestry ELM Test project
Following a well-received evidence review in which the main factors holding back agroforestry in England were identified, the Agroforestry ELM Team, led by the ORC,...
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FREE environmental and business support for English farmers through Farm for the Future programme
The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) is inviting farm businesses to join our new Farm for the Future programme, which is being delivered both virtually and...
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The Potential for Cell Grazing Herbal Leys
Dr Jordana Rivero, Head of the Grazing Livestock Systems cluster at Rothamsted Research, is involved in interesting research exploring the potential and impacts of cell...
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Delivering Greener Grassland - A Cross-Industry Partnership to Grow Pasture Based Solutions to Climate Change
How can the farming industry be efficient, sustainable and proactive, whilst maintaining profitability, regenerating biodiversity and contributing to ambitious carbon Net Zero targets at national...
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Call on Government to Increase UK Hedgerow Network by 40% by 2050
Who even cares about hedgerows? This would have certainly been my view as a young boy, cycling many unnecessary extra miles to see friends on...
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Allowing bees to 'be' - Reflections of a bee keeper...
I am a beekeeper in Derbyshire with six apiaries on six farms (totalling over 40 hives). They include 20 acres of apple orchard, 120 acres...
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Understanding farmer and soil microbial interactions - farmer input needed!
Mary Eliza, a PhD student at the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, is looking for farmers to fill out a survey...
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Calling arable farmers!
A joint industry and Research Council funded project looking at how to reintegrate sheep into arable systems for the improvement of soil quality is seeking...
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Call out to farmers to take part in a survey about IPM and what it means to you!
Increasingly, farmers and other land managers are looking for ways to reduce their reliance on pesticides. This is due to a number of reasons including...
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A researcher's reflections on EURAF 2021 - the fifth European agroforestry conference
The fifth cross-European conference on agroforestry, EURAF 2021, was recently held online and attended by several members of the ORC. This conference was delayed in...
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Planting a living textbook for agroforesty at FarmED
Whether conventional, organic, regenerative, agroecological, or any other flavour of farming, it seems more and more farmers are getting interested in agroforestry. I’m not sure...
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The Agroforestry ELM Test project: Transforming the English agricultural landscape with trees
Interest among UK farmers in planting trees on their land has skyrocketed recently. Only ten years ago a survey indicated that very few farmers know...
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#30minworms survey - get involved!
Due to popular demand, the #30minworms survey is back! Following feedback, this spring farmland survey is trialling a new way to support your earthworm identification...
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Feeding pigs and poultry on 100% organic and regional feed - what have we learned in the OK-Net EcoFeed project?
Background For organic pig and poultry farmers, living up to the ideal of feeding 100% regional and organic feed is difficult and especially for protein...
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Living mulches for sustainable cropping systems: A step towards 'Regenerative Organic' Agriculture in the UK?
Reducing tillage and chemical inputs can be beneficial for soil and the environment, so could a permanent clover understorey acting as a 'living mulch', moving...
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The seeds of diversity - the challenges of seed supply in extraordinary times
It is not an easy time with the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. It is great that the pandemic has highlighted for people...
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