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In the know: Washington vineyards take strides to become more sustainable www.fruitandvine.co.uk

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Sales executive Sophie Smith sophie@fruitandvine.co.uk

Sales executive Rosanna Sweet hello@fruitandvine.co.uk

Sales executive William Taylor hello@fruitandvine.co.uk

Classi ed sales manager Nicki Procter hello@fruitandvine.co.uk

Marketing Marketing manager Charlotte Harknett hello@fruitandvine.co.uk

Design & Production Production manager Martyn Smith hello@fruitandvine.co.uk

Over made available in new round of FETF grants

£30M

Additional items have been added to the scheme for 2023, including mulchers for orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil

Defra has made £31 million available to farmers and foresters in the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), under the Productivity and Slurry budget.

An additional 21 items have been added for this year, including mulchers for forestry, orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil.

This will ensure as many farmers as possible can claim for the equipment they need to run a pro table farming business that delivers for both food production and the environment, Defra said.

Over 90 pieces of equipment are now available to claim. Funding has been increased from the original £17 million to £31 million, after 3,000 applications were received for the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry grants.

Other equipment available to the horticulture

Consultancy appoints senior viticulturist

Graham Fisher

Vinescapes has announced the appointment of Graham Fisher as senior viticulturist to its expanding team

Graham holds a BSc in Viticulture & Oenology and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his many vintages from around the globe, including New Zealand, South Africa and England. Graham has a background in IT but quickly caught the passion for viticulture and wine when travelling in New Zealand, which prompted a change in career in 2004.

Now based in Dorset, Graham is wellplaced to manage the fast-growing number of vineyards for clients across south west England.

UK vineyard and winery consultancy

The Board comprises six growers from the BBG membership and will be chaired by Dr Louise Sutherland, director of Ceres Agri-tech at Cambridge Enterprise.

Louise holds a PhD in plant pathology and is the chair of the Raspberry Breeding Consortium, with years of experience in the soft fruit industry.

The Board will have two main activities – delivering crop protection products and commissioning research.

It will work with Horticulture Crop Protection

Vinescapes provides a ‘ground to grape to glass’ service supporting growers and winemakers with their wine adventure. Services include detailed site selection, vineyard establishment, vineyard management, winery scoping and design together with mentoring, training and world class research and climate science.

Dr Alistair Nesbitt, CEO, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Graham to our team and feel very fortunate to have his experience, skills and expertise as we further grow the services and support that Vinescapes o er to new and established vineyards.” sector under the scheme includes fruit ripeness spectrometers and mobile vertical frost fans for vineyards and stone and soft fruit farms.

The FETF provides funding for farmers to invest in tools to improve sustainable production across agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Productivity and Slurry grants will speci cally support the purchase of equipment and technology to help farmers use fewer inputs, reduce emissions and cut waste.

Environment secretary Thérèse Co ey said:

“The tremendous interest shown in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry underscores the determination of our farmers to drive ever more productive and sustainable farming practices to keep food on our plates whilst protecting our important landscapes and habitats.

“By empowering farms to invest cash in new kit, we are ensuring our farmers, growers and foresters have the equipment they need to embrace innovation, protect the environment, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector.”

The government plans to o er further rounds of FETF funding in the future.

Graham said: “I have known Vinescapes and the team for a while. I have watched Vinescapes grow and recognise its excellent reputation and outstanding client focus. I look forward to joining the UK’s leading vineyard development company and using a technical and science-based approach to improve the health and productivity of the vineyards we manage.”

Ltd, a collaboration with all major crop associations. This includes provision of EAMUs (Extension Authorisations for Minor Use) and EAs (Emergency Authorisations), biological controls and biopesticides to meet the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) needs of UK soft fruit growers.

Research will also be commissioned to develop new IPM solutions for key strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry pests and diseases that a ect the sustainability of the UK soft fruit sector.

Dr Sutherland commented: “This is an exciting development that will generate signi cant bene ts for the UK soft fruit industry. British Berry Growers is keen to work and collaborate with researchers, businesses and other groups to develop IPM solutions for soft fruit pests and diseases either through Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd, or via our directly commissioned research and other projects where our interests overlap.”

The Board’s work is being funded by a voluntary levy paid by BBG members.