From Balmoral to Laois, the discussions of nature and farming just keep going
Balmoral Show may be over for another year, but the impact of the conversations sparked during those few days is just beginning.
There’s no let-up in a packed summer of shows, and we’re about to hit the road for the next stop at the Farming for Nature Festival in Co. Laois.
Balmoral once again provided a valuable platform for Northern Irish farmers, advisers and environmental organisations to come together and explore practical solutions for the challenges facing modern agriculture.
For us at the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) NI, the highlights included an engaging panel discussion with our CEO Martin Lines sitting alongside Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president John McLenaghan and Robert Craig of BASE Ireland. Together, they explored the importance of prioritising soil health as the foundation for a resilient and profitable farming future.
Our CEO Martin also joined a discussion focused on nature-based solutions for improving water quality. Alongside Eoin Devlin of the Ballinderry Rivers Trust and farmer-ecologist Mike Meharg of the Lough Neagh Partnership, the panel highlighted practical measures such as comfrey swales to help manage dirty water from farmyards while delivering wider environmental benefits.
The NFFN stand shared space with the farmer-facing teams from the National Trust, Woodland Trust, RSPB, Ulster Wildlife and Queen’s University Belfast Climate Co-Centre.
Together, these organisations demonstrated the growing support available to farmers who are leading the way in biodiversity recovery while continuing to produce some of the highest-quality food in the world.
Across the event, one message rang clear: farmers must be at the heart of any solutions to the problems facing our industry. More and more farmers are showing that working with natural processes is good for both business and the environment, whether it’s through improved resilience to drought and flooding from better soil health and fewer inputs, reduced veterinary bills from longer grazing rotations, or on-farm biodiversity recovery being encouraged through habitat management.
No single person has all the answers, but everyone has something to contribute. Events such as Balmoral create vital opportunities for knowledge exchange, allowing farmers to learn directly from one another’s successes, challenges and experiences.
And that spirit of sharing is set to continue at the next destination on our NFFN summer of shows. Farming for Nature in the Republic of Ireland has long celebrated outstanding farmers through its Ambassador Awards programme. Inspired by that success, Northern Ireland now has its own growing network of ambassadors and demonstration farmers who are openly sharing their journeys, discussing what works, what doesn’t, and the lessons learned along the way.
Unsurprisingly, then, the Farming for Nature Festival promises to be one of the highlights of the year. Set against the backdrop of Ballykilcavan Brewery, the festival will bring together curious, forward-thinking farmers eager to discover practical ways to reduce costs, improve environmental outcomes and strengthen the long-term resilience of their businesses.
The programme offers something for every farm type and interest. From discussions on agroforestry, cover crops and reducing inputs, to sessions on dung beetles, dairy farming and improving profitability, the festival will showcase real-world examples of farming with nature. Visitors can start the day with guided birdsong walks, dive into technical workshops, and hear directly from farmers who are making these approaches work on the ground.
As the day draws to a close, attendees can enjoy fireside conversations, networking opportunities and a screening of the acclaimed short film Growing Rich with Nature. Add in good food, live music and plenty of craic, and the festival offers far more than just a day of learning. It promises to be an opportunity to build connections and become part of a supportive farming community stretching right across the island of Ireland.
If you’re looking for practical ideas, fresh inspiration and honest conversations about the future of farming, make sure June 22 and 23 in Laois are in your diary. If you’ve not yet picked up your tickets, you can do so by visiting the festival’s website.