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Oxford Farming Conference

News live from the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), the annual event which brings together the farming industry to discuss and debate the big issues in agriculture. Delegates include farmers, agribusiness, Defra politicians, scientists and scholars. You can also find news from the The Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) on this page.

All OFC and OFRC articles

FARM POLICY

Steve Reed’s OFC speech: Bold vision, unanswered concerns

Defra secretary Steve Reed presented his government’s long-term vision for UK agriculture at the Oxford Farming Conference, but his speech was met with widespread farmer dissatisfaction. Farmers, frustrated by years…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 236: Defra's big plan for farming

In this episode, UK environment secretary Steve Reed pledges a better future for Britain's farmers. Is it a New Deal? Or is it a raw deal? Mr Reed's speech to…

FARM POLICY

Labour policy debated at special FW Question Time

How farmers should respond to political challenges was a key focus for the latest Farmers Weekly Question Time event, hosted by Johann Tasker at the Oxford Farming Conference. Topics discussed…

NEWS

Hydrogen fuel key to decarbonising agriculture, says JCB boss

Hydrogen fuel is poised to become a gamechanger for the agricultural sector in its quest to reduce carbon emissions, according to Tim Burnhope, JCB’s group director of special projects. Speaking…

OFC

OFC 2025: “UK needs more grazing livestock, not less"

Delegates attending the recent Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) have accepted the idea that UK agriculture needs more, not fewer, grazing livestock, to be truly sustainable – the subject of the…

FARM POLICY

Video: Oxford protesters stand up against IHT policies

Protesters sent a clear message to Defra secretary Steve Reed as he gave a speech to farmers today at the Oxford Farming Conference. As Mr Reed outlined his long-term vision…

NEWS

Defra secretary gives the thumbs up to gene editing at Oxford

Legislation to speed the use of gene editing (GE) in crop breeding will be laid before parliament this spring, Defra secretary Steve Reed has confirmed. Primary legislation to allow gene…

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OFC

FARM POLICY

Steve Reed’s OFC speech: Bold vision, unanswered concerns

Defra secretary Steve Reed presented his government’s long-term vision for UK agriculture at the Oxford Farming Conference, but his speech was met with widespread farmer dissatisfaction. Farmers, frustrated by years…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 236: Defra's big plan for farming

In this episode, UK environment secretary Steve Reed pledges a better future for Britain's farmers. Is it a New Deal? Or is it a raw deal? Mr Reed's speech to…

FARM POLICY

Labour policy debated at special FW Question Time

How farmers should respond to political challenges was a key focus for the latest Farmers Weekly Question Time event, hosted by Johann Tasker at the Oxford Farming Conference. Topics discussed…

NEWS

Hydrogen fuel key to decarbonising agriculture, says JCB boss

Hydrogen fuel is poised to become a gamechanger for the agricultural sector in its quest to reduce carbon emissions, according to Tim Burnhope, JCB’s group director of special projects. Speaking…

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ORFC articles

NEWS

ORFC spreads global message of hope for food and farming

Speakers at the opening plenary of the 2024 Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) have spoken of their hope for the future of food and farming amid political uncertainty and turmoil…

Ag charities urge farmers to seek mental health help

Agricultural charities are urging farmers struggling with their mental health to speak up and get help during these tough times. Over the past 12 months, the UK food supply chain…

PULSES

New film links animal feed to deforestation in Brazil

A new documentary film commissioned by the Landworkers’ Alliance (LWA) will seek to raise awareness of how animal feed production is contributing to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.…

EVENTS

ORFC 2022: Rise in Covid cases forces event to go virtual

The 2022 Oxford Real Farming Conference will take place virtually in January after rapidly increasing coronavirus cases forced the cancellation of the face-to-face event. The organisers released a statement explaining…

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