The Society’s year-round agricultural work is the responsibility of the Head of Practice with Science, Joanna Righton, supported by the “Practice with Science” Group chaired by Professor David Leaver. The purpose of the Group is to identify issues of strategic importance to agriculture and the rural sector and to advise the RASE Executive on these.

In essence, the Society wishes to facilitate informed debate about the future of farming, the environment and the rural economy by:-

• Producing reports which highlight information on topics of strategic importance;
• Acting as a crucial conduit between science, technology and practical application;
• Staging policy seminars on subjects of importance for farming’s continued success.

LATEST ACTIVITY

PRESIDENT’S SEMINAR – 28 FEBRUARY 2012

The Seminar will highlight the exciting research being undertaken in the UK on the wheat crop, and how the resulting technology could help drive much improved output. Presentations will give the event a clear focus on achieving greater food security and the contribution which wheat breeding can make to that key goal.

SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION & FARMLAND BIRDS SEMINAR – 30 NOVEMBER 2011

The Society brought together 90 policy makers, scientists, farmers and conservationists to explore ways in which farmland bird populations could be increased. Defra Minister James Paice was amongst the speakers. A resume, Press Release and the Seminar papers can be found here

OXFORD FARMING CONFERENCE PRACTICE WITH SCIENCE AWARD

The inaugural winner of the 2012 Oxford Farming Conference/Royal Agricultural Society of England Award sponsored by AB Agri, has been won by PiGIS, a pig grading information system established in Northern Ireland by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and CAFRE.

PiGIS is a unique online benchmarking tool that assists both pig producers and processors to improve carcase quality. The system captures data for over 99% of pigs slaughtered in Northern Ireland, including carcase quality data.

RASE Chief Executive Denis Chamberlain commented “The inaugural Practice with Science Award has drawn excellent entries from throughout the UK and across the spectrum of technical agricultural challenges. The Society’s Practice with Science motto acknowledges that scientific discovery only realises its value when it gets into practical farmers’ hands. This competition focuses attention at that key area of knowledge transfer and the winner exemplifies just what is needed to encourage smarter farming”.

RASE LAUNCHES ANAEROBIC DIGESTION REPORT

The Society commissioned a report, supported by the Frank Parkinson Trust, on the barriers to installation of small-scale on-farm anaerobic digesters. The report was launched on 14th April 2011. The full and short reports are available to download below, under Publications.

PARTNERSHIPS

The Society continues to develop its relationship with key research organisations including BBSRC and its individual research institutes, AHDB and NIAB TAG.

PUBLICATIONS

All our reports and extracts can be downloaded in Pdf format. If you wish to receive a hard copy, please contact Joanna Righton at joannar@rase.org.uk

• Anaerobic Digestion (April 2011) - Full report is available here
• Anaerobic Digestion (April 2011) - Short report is available here
• Soils: A Knowledge Map & Action Plan (December 2010) is available here
• Gap Analysis on the Future Requirements of Soil and Water Management in England (November 2010) - Full Report is available here
  A summary of the above report (November 2010) is available here
• Water for Agriculture (October 2010) - Implications for future Policy and Practice - Full Report is available here
  A summary of the above report (October 2010) is available here
• Applied Research Statement - Prof David Leaver is  available here.
• Reducing emissions from livestock - Dr David Garwes is available here.
• "The Current Status of Soil & Water Management" (October 2008) – full report is available here.
  A summary of the above report (October 2008) is available here.

SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (SaWMA) JOURNALS

SEMINARS

Upcoming Seminars:

• President’s Seminar – 28 February 2012 – please see LATEST ACTIVITY above

Previous Events:

• Farmland Birds Seminar: 30 November 2011, Royal Over-Seas League, London
• Anaerobic Digestion Report Launch: 13 April 2011, Farmers & Fletchers Hall, London
• Anaerobic Digestion Focus Group, 24 February 2011, Walford College, Shropshire
• Soils Gap Analysis Workshop: 8 November 2010, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
• Water Report Launch: 18th October 2010, The Farmers Club, London
• High-Sugar Grasses Seminar with IBERS: 27 May 2010, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
• Livestock Emissions Seminar: 11th December 2009, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

THE “PRACTICE WITH SCIENCE” GROUP

“Practice with Science” is the Society’s motto and still represents its core purpose today. The “Practice with Science” Advisory Group, chaired by Professor David Leaver, is tasked with identifying issues of strategic importance to agriculture, and advising the RASE Executive and Trustees accordingly. The Group, which meets quarterly, is a mix of farmers, academics and those involved in agricultural/environmental research.

CONTACT US

For further information or enquiries, please contact:
Joanna Righton, Head & “Practice with Science :
joannar@rase.org.uk, 02476 858 254

Alternatively, you can write to us at the following address:
RASE
Stoneleigh Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2LZ