The Society’s year-round agricultural work is the responsibility of the Agri-Science Director, supported by the "Practice with Science" Group chaired by Professor David Leaver.  The purpose of the Group is to identify issues of strategic importance to agriculture and the rural sector and to advise the RASE Executive on these.

In essence, the Society wishes to facilitate informed debate about the future of farming, the environment and the rural economy by:-

• producing reports which highlight information on topics of strategic importance;
• acting as a crucial conduit between science, technology and practical application;
• staging policy seminars on subjects of importance for farming’s continued success. 

"Practice with Science" Activity Autumn 2010

• The next major report will be on the availability of water for agriculture and horticulture, and the implications of this for farming decisions medium-term. The report is being written by Reading University and will be launched in October 2010;
• The Society has commissioned a short report on the barriers to installation of small-scale on-farm anaerobic digesters, which will be published during Autumn 2010. Detailed case studies will be included. This report has been supported by the Frank Parkinson Trust
• A Soils Gap Analysis Report, in conjunction with Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency, is being written by Cranfield University and will be published in Autumn 2010;
• Following its work on emissions from farm livestock, the Society is represented on the industry’s Green House Gas Action Plan Group;
• The Society continues to develop its relationship with key research organisations including BBSRC, AHDB and SAC;
• A meeting of the Society’s Honorary Fellows will take place in November;

For information on the "Practice with Science" Group’s publications, please click here.
 

Selected Articles from the Soil and Water Management Association Journals

In the 1970s and 1980s, SAWMA produced a series of Journals. Many of the articles in the Journals are still very relevant today, offering farmers realistic and practical advice on how best to manage their soils. Selected articles are available here.

For more information on IAgrE please visit www.iagre.org