Edward Worthy

150 years supporting the rural community in Essex Founded in 1858, the Essex Agricultural Society (EAS) has been supporting and serving the rural community in Essex for over 150 years. With a membership network of over 600, EAS promote agriculture and...

Many of us have enjoyed a blissful summer of warm days and balmy nights. Even those of us who dislike the heat have appreciated brighter skies and sunny weekends with the family. For farmers, though, the story is altogether different and the consequences of...

This week has seen some welcome news for farmers and rural businesses that continue to suffer at the hands of rural crime. As of today The NFU are spearheading a new service for farmers and the public to report rural crime to the national charity,...

Fly tipping is becoming a blight on the UK’s landscape. At a time when correctly disposing of waste (especially industrial waste) is becoming more expensive, many unscrupulous traders (and individuals) are choosing to fly tip, rather than take their...

After all the rain we had last week there was still an unbelievable turnout for the annual High Easter Point to Point at the weekend. Thousands donned their wellies and had a flutter or two on the day's races as well as watching a live feed of the...

In a recent article published by Whirledge & Nott they reported that The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced changes to permitted development rights for agricultural buildings which will come into force on 6 April...

In a recent bulletin published by Strutt & Parker they reported that 85% of deaths in agriculture in 2016/17 were people aged over 45 and the over 60s accounted for 50% of the total deaths. As with any business, those involved in farming and agriculture...

This green and pleasant land is facing some major changes. While the news has been focused on the impact of Brexit on urban industry and businesses like banking and finance, it is the UK’s farmers who are preparing themselves for some of the biggest...

Yesterday 70 of the county’s farmers and land owners braved a very blustery ‘ Dengie Peninsula’ to attend the CLA’s annual AGM. Gepp and Sons were delighted to sponsor the event which was held at the Stow Maries Aerodrome ,...

On 10 March 2017, a farming company pleaded guilty for breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £50,000 at Norwich Crown Court. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the farm company had failed to...

In a recent article published by Farmers Weekly four in every 10 acres of farmland marketed in 2016 remained unsold or were withdrawn by the end of last year, according to data from Strutt & Parker . This was the highest proportion of...

In a recent article by Farmers Weekly farm leaders are demanding stricter rules on the use of drones in the wake of booming Christmas sales and the launch of a government consultation. While on-farm use has many potential benefits and...

In a recent article by Lockhart-Garratt millions more trees will be planted across the country thanks to grants from the Woodland Carbon Fund, which has opened for applications today. More than £19million has been made available by...

Rustlers have stolen a gaggle of Christmas geese worth up to £100,000 in an overnight raid on a farm. A police spokesman said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Bawburgh area near...

In a recent Farmers Weekly article by Suzie Horne it is reported farm rooftop solar installations could be hit by a six-to-eight-fold hike in business rates from next April if government plans go ahead. Most at risk are projects where the...

Technology has become an increasingly important part of modern farming. The latest innovation comes in the form of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known as drones. Drones are enabling farmers to fine-tune chemical and fertiliser application...

On Wednesday, the Essex Agricultural Society hosted an important rural question time at Writtle College on the facts behind the 'Brexit' debate and the impact on agriculture and the rural economy. The high profile panel...

Farmers and landowners in Essex are being frustrated in their attempts to convert old agricultural buildings to much-needed homes in the countryside. Recently published figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) reveal that...

The eastern region’s farm businesses and rural communities face an uncertain future if Ministers fail to instigate carefully considered, long-term plans upon the result of the European Union (EU) referendum, the CLA says. The organisation, which...

The concerns of Suffolk and Essex farmers and landowners regarding the impact of the England Coast Path on their property and businesses were discussed at a CLA forum held today (26 February) at the Burness Parish Rooms in Melton, Suffolk. The event...

Ministers must complete reforms to make the compulsory purchase system fairer for rural businesses affected by the HS2 scheme says the CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses. This week the HS2 Select Committee, which has been hearing...

This winter's heavy flooding in parts of Scotland, northern England and north-west Wales is thought to be the worst for several years. The disruption has hit the farming community particularly hard, with farmers expected to make insurance claims for more...

After struggling to cope with the heaviest rainfall on record, Farmers Weekly report that water companies are being urged to examine how they would cope with the worst drought for a century. The recommendation is contained in Environment...

According to a recent article by Farmers Weekly farm crime has continued to dog the agriculture industry during 2015 with the National Rural Crime Network estimating the cost of such incidents could be as much as £800m. Topping the list...

In a recent article published by the CLA, Natural England is currently working on a number of stretches of the England Coast Path in the eastern region. In Essex, Natural England has begun to investigate coastal access around Mersea Island, and between...

DEFRA minister George Eustice has called for longer farmland tenancies, stating that in doing so would encourage more people into the industry. Landowners should be encouraged to let out more of their land for longer periods (for farming)...

Under the Government's new Countryside Stewardship scheme, which comes into force on 1 January 2016, farmers will be expected to erect EU billboards on their land. The new rule is contained in section 8.4 of the Government’s latest...

Rural crime in England and Wales costs more than £800 million a year, according to a survey carried out by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN). This is twenty-one times more than previous estimates suggest. The figure is calculated by...

Dairy farmers are being asked to take part in a survey on their use of migrant workers to help make a focal point their crucial role in the workforce. The Royal Association for British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) survey takes five minutes to complete...

With the need for diversification more and more farmers are looking for creative ways to subsidise their income. In a recent ' Farmers Weekly ' article Mark Saich, a beef farmer from Sussex is putting the finishing touches to his £150,000...

A farm tenancy agreement is vitally important when a farmer is to use a landowners land for agricultural purposes. However, farmers have been urged to seek professional help when signing, as such agreements can often contain onerous terms that the tenant had...

The High Court's decision in Cosmichome Ltd v Southampton City Council [2013] EWHC 1378 (Ch) which was issued on 23rd May serves as a warning to those relying on restrictive covenants to secure development clawback payments. The...