HEREFORDSHIRE farming families had the chance to meet His Majesty King Charles III at an event held at Somerset House.

The King is the royal founding patron of the Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), which hosted the event last week.

Farmers spoke with the King about the regenerative roundtable they had taken part in earlier that morning. Discussions from earlier in the day focused on the importance of soil health and enabling more farmers to adopt regenerative farming practices, cut input costs, and improve the resilience of their business.

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The RCF event brought together Herefordshire farmers, as well as soil health experts and corporate partners including McDonald’s UK and Ireland and Regenified, to mark the launch of new support for farmers. 

The RCF, partnered with Regenified, will be providing farmers in Herefordshire with workshops and certification on regenerative agriculture. The funding from Regenified will provide three workshops for a pilot group of farmers to benefit their businesses and the environment. The programme will be delivered with the support of the Herefordshire Rural Hub.

The RCF is committed to supporting the UK’s farmers, helping them to farm in harmony with nature and build resilient businesses that will protect the countryside for generations to come.

At the event, the RCF also launched its new Savings in Soil publication – a practical guide for farmers to boost their soil health and strengthen their business.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, said: As farmers face pressures such as climate change, and the unrelenting expenses of fertiliser, fuel and feed, it has never been more important to examine what lies beneath our feet. This practical guide outlines easy steps that you can take on your farm to improve your soil, explaining different strategies and their benefits.

“Maintaining and protecting your farm’s soil through effective management can help produce higher yields and better returns, which we all know are essential components in supporting strong, sustainable farm businesses. We hope this publication brings you some new information and ideas – to make your soil the best it can be.”