Somerset Farming Network

Somerset Farming Network
Name	Somerset Farming Network
Formation	1998
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	Taunton, Somerset
Region served	Somerset, South West England
Leader title	Director
Leader name	Mark Bishop

Somerset Farming Network

Somerset Farming Network is a regional non-profit promoting agricultural resilience and rural development in Somerset. Founded in the late 1990s, the organization connects farms, Somerset County Council, research institutions such as the University of Exeter, and advocacy groups including the National Farmers' Union to address challenges facing arable, livestock, and mixed farms. It operates across rural communities like Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills, and the Levels and Moors, coordinating trials, advice, and community outreach.

History

The Network was established in response to policy shifts after the Common Agricultural Policy reforms of the 1990s and local crises such as flooding on the Somerset Levels and animal health outbreaks like the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak. Early collaborators included the Somerset County Council, the Rural Payments Agency, and agricultural societies like the Royal Bath and West of England Society. Throughout the 2000s it expanded partnerships with academic groups from the University of Bristol and the Royal Agricultural University to lead research on soils and drainage in collaboration with environmental bodies such as the Environment Agency and conservation charities like the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The 2010s saw a shift toward resilience programming linked to national initiatives including support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and coordination with networks such as the Rural Services Network. Recent efforts have focused on climate adaptation following extreme weather events affecting Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

Organization and Governance

The Network is governed by a board drawn from local farm businesses, representatives of trade groups including the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, and officials seconded from the Somerset Association of Local Councils. Its executive team interfaces with regulatory bodies such as the Food Standards Agency and advisory services like AHDB. Operational units include a programs office in Taunton and regional coordinators working in districts such as Mendip District and South Somerset (district). Governance documents align with charity law overseen by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and reporting frameworks used by funders like the Big Lottery Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Strategic plans reflect priorities set by networks including the South West Rural Productivity Commission and regional development bodies like the Heart of the South West LEP.

Activities and Programs

Programs combine applied research, on-farm demonstration, and training. Demonstration farms host trials in partnership with institutions such as the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the James Hutton Institute (UK), testing soil management and hedgerow restoration techniques promoted by the Royal Horticultural Society and landscape initiatives led by the National Trust. Training workshops draw speakers from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board and the Institute of Agricultural Management, covering livestock biosecurity, machinery safety, and diversification opportunities linked to events like the Royal Highland Show. Community projects link to flood resilience work with the Environment Agency and peatland restoration models piloted with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. The Network also administers advisory clinics on land tenure and subsidies in coordination with the Rural Payments Agency and legal partners such as the Country Land and Business Association.

Membership and Community Engagement

Membership comprises family farms, tenant farmers, agritech startups, and parish groups across parishes such as Wet Moor and towns including Bridgwater and Yeovil. Members benefit from field days, newsletters, and joint procurement schemes co-developed with cooperative partners like the Plunkett Foundation. Youth engagement is delivered alongside organizations including the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Young Farmers movement, with school outreach in collaboration with institutions such as the Somerset Skills and Learning partnership. The Network convenes stakeholder forums with parish councils and charities including the Somerset Community Foundation to align local priorities with initiatives from bodies like the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership where cross-regional learning is relevant.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams include grants from national funders such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and commissions from regional development agencies including the South West Councils. Project funding has been secured through competitive schemes run by the Rural Development Programme for England and collaborative bids with universities including Cranfield University and the University of Plymouth. Corporate partnerships involve input from agricultural suppliers represented by trade bodies such as the Federation of Wholesale Distributors and engagement with retailers servicing the region like chains that source from Somerset producers. The Network also receives philanthropic support from trusts including the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and local donations channelled via the Somerset Community Foundation.

Impact and Regional Importance

The Network has influenced land-management practices across drainage systems on the Somerset Levels, biodiversity outcomes in habitats managed near the Exmoor National Park, and farm business diversification in market towns such as Bruton. Evaluations co-authored with academic partners including the University of Exeter Business School and the Centre for Rural Policy Research document improvements in nutrient management, reduced flood vulnerability, and enhanced market access for small producers selling at venues like the Bath Farmers' Market and supply chains servicing institutions across South West England. Its role in convening stakeholders during crises—ranging from zoonotic alerts coordinated with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to post-flood recovery alongside the Cabinet Office civil resilience frameworks—has cemented its position as a regional hub linking farmers, policymakers, and civil society.

Category:Agricultural organisations based in the United Kingdom