Archive
- April 2012 (1)
- March 2012 (3)
- January 2012 (2)
- December 2011 (1)
- November 2011 (1)
- October 2011 (3)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (3)
- June 2011 (1)
- March 2011 (9)
Popular Topics
Why a blog?
The Farming Futures blog is for farmers, land managers and their advisers to discuss and debate the issue of climate change and sustainability in agriculture.
We’re interested in how you think we can produce more food for a growing population in the context of Government targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hotter, drier summers, higher energy and input prices, and the increased consumer interest in 'low carbon' food.
This is your place to take part in the debate. Find out why we think a blog is important by clicking here.
Blogs marked with our weak signals logo explore ideas, trends, technologies or behaviour changes that are as yet unrecognised by the mainstream farming industry. They might have a big impact on future farm practices or they might disappear. They help us to challenge assumptions about the future, navigate risk and seize new opportunities. If you spot a weak signal, get in touch and we'll get it on the site.
Want to contribute? Contact Farming Futures at farmingfutures@niab.com or phone 01223 342313.
UK Farming Map
Find Events, Factsheets and Case Studies specific to your region - take a look on our Google Map
Our audioboos
Could the ash cloud prompt a new communication trend in rural areas?
Twitter has been a vital resource for travellers stranded due to the volcanic ash cloud over the UK. Twitterers used the site to coordinate car shares and one traveller made a plea on the site for someone to give up their seat on Eurostar as he was transporting bone marrow. Eurostar saw his tweet and gave him a priority seat.
Taking the idea of strangers communicating together in crisis and relating it to farmers – I wonder how people in remote rural areas can harness Twitter to gain up-to-date information they need as it becomes available? Perhaps weather and disease-watch status updates?
Ben Snow, an internet whizz kid, created a map using google maps and Twitter (a mashup) on last winter’s snow, see an article about it here, or look at his site Positive, constructive outputs using social media this way are beginning to take shape.
Edwina Wood writes the Fulbrook Blog about agriculture and social media.
Wind - Factsheets
This factsheet provides an introduction to some of the issues that are going to be a significant part of the future of UK farming. It outlines some of the headline challenges that we are going to have to deal with, but also the...
Ideas on mitigating climate change.
Onshore generation of electricity from wind power can represent a significant business opportunity for UK farmers and land managers.
Wind power can be harnessed by the installation of a wind turbine or turbines that will generate a clean and...Wind - Case Studies
Rob and Emma diversified part of their farm in early 2009 to allow school children and other groups to visit the farm and learn about the...
Long before much of the farming world had acknowledged the benefits of renewable energy, Stephen Ramsden and his family took the plunge of installing...
Richard Gedge, a beef and sheep farmer based in Exmoor uses both wind and biomass to power and heat his farm. With a payback period of 5 years and...
Post new comment