Jessica’s Rural Words

Indispensable Bucolic Information

What can we do to solve the shortage of farm vets?

What can we do to solve the shortage of farm vets?

Commentators, farmers and the veterinary profession have been reporting on a recruitment and retention crisis within farm animal practice for a number of years. While 10 new veterinary schools have opened at five universities over the last decade or so research from the Farm Animal Veterinary Society (FAVS) indicates that many undergraduate students may not […]

When five becomes four – does a shorter working week benefit rural areas? 

When five becomes four – does a shorter working week benefit rural areas? 

Back in 2018 Autonomy, a research organisation, began working with charities, businesses and public organisations to deliver working time reduction pilots. Over the last five years, for many the prospect of a four-day week has been enticing. In 2022 4 Day Week Global published the results from a pilot with 33 companies across the United […]

AI

What does AI mean for rural communities? 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a relatively new but rapidly growing technological field, and it is increasingly shaping the way we interact with the world. How is AI benefitting rural communities, and what more could it do? Jessica Sellick investigates. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. AI technologies can be found in a wide range of everyday applications – from virtual […]

plants

What more can we do to protect crops and plants? 

Back in January 2023, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in partnership with the Forestry Commission and the Scottish and Welsh Governments, published the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain. This sets out a 5-year vision for plant health. How is the strategy being implemented, and what does it mean for rural […]

Will the new Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act combat farm vehicle crime?

Will the new Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act combat farm vehicle crime?

The Act has been being introduced to prevent the theft of machinery and equipment used by the agricultural sector, particularly quad bikes, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). How will it help tackle equipment theft on farms, and what more can be done to support farmers struggling with both the fear of crime and being a victim […]

How much capital investment is being made in new (rural) hospitals?

How much capital investment is being made in new (rural) hospitals?

The New Hospital Programme was set up in 2020 to build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030. The Government allocated £3.7 billion in capital funding for this up to March 2025, with more to be provided for the following five years. How has the Programme been implemented so far, and what does it mean […]

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Jessica Sellick

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