RASE conference aims to tackle water management (From Salisbury Journal)

RASE conference aims to tackle water management

4:38pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Rural Focus By Anne Connon

A ROYAL Agricultural Society of England (RASE) conference at Stoneleigh Park will help farmers manage water and soil challenges both today and in the future.

Water is vital for British agriculture, but unpredictable rainfall has played havoc on farms right across the UK during the last two years, with the second driest spring in a century followed by the wettest summer.

Soil & Water LIVE (November 13) looks at how that sort of unpredictability can be best managed and what the future might hold.

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond and water resource specialist Paul Hammett will be among the speakers.

RASE chief executive David Gardner said: “Global food security champion Professor Tim Benton will open the event, followed by a debate exploring the value of water.

“We will hear from high profile panellists from Anglian Water, PepsiCo and the NFU on what we as a supply chain need to do to secure water for food production in the UK.”

A choice of nine technical afternoon workshops will give delegates a taste of the scientific solutions of tomorrow and the practical measures of use on farms today.

The NFU and Anglian Water will be looking at the future for water trading and abstraction, while Catchment Sensitive Farming will focus on reducing soil and nutrient losses and how to better manage resources on farm.

Soil biota, boosting arable soil productivity, water storage, irrigation, land drainage, livestock soil challenges and plant genetics will all be covered.

Tickets are on sale now at £82 plus VAT. For the full programme and to book, visit soilandwaterlive.org.uk.

• There is a £10 ticket discount for NFU members.