Optimising Solar and Soils for Your Dairy Business – Seminar at Borderway UK Dairy Expo 2025
H&H Land & Estates is pleased to announce that as part of the 2025 Borderway UK Dairy Expo , they will be hosting a seminar to provide dairy farmers with valuable expertise on how to enhance their operations through solar energy and soil health improvements. This insightful seminar, “Optimising Solar and Soils for Your Dairy Business”, will take place at 3:00 PM on Friday, 14th March 2025, in Ring 3.
The seminar will cover key topics to support dairy farmers in making informed decisions about their land and energy resources. Guest speaker Mark Tolley from Go Low Carbon will discuss how dairy farmers can maximise the potential of agricultural buildings with solar panels, outlining strategies to optimise a solar system for maximum efficiency and cost savings on a dairy farm. Joining Mark on the panel, Jake Moscrop, Environment & Conservation Advisor at H&H Land & Estates, will focus on soil health, providing insights into the latest grants and schemes available to farmers to improve their soil quality, and Jonathan Hird, Associate Director & Chartered Surveyor at H&H Land & Estates, will highlight the financial schemes available for installing solar panels on farms.
“By investing in solar energy, farmers can significantly reduce their electricity costs, with some systems paying for themselves within three years due to reduced technology costs. Additionally, by exporting excess power to the grid, farmers can further boost their financial savings. This shift to solar also enables them to lower their carbon footprint, making their farms more sustainable and aligned with supply chain expectations while reducing reliance on the volatile energy market.” Says Mark Tolley
Soil health is crucial for livestock wellbeing and crop productivity and understanding soil nutrients, texture, and structure allows farmers to maximise profits through efficient nutrient and water management and enhanced carbon storage. “The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) currently provides funding for soil testing, soil management plans, and nutrient management plans, which can help reduce input costs and improve land productivity. So I will discuss how farmers can take advantage of these funding opportunities to ensure the long-term sustainability of their soil.” says Jake Moscrop
With grant funding appearing throughout the year, but often being quickly exhausted, Jonathan Hird will provide guidance on how farmers can access support, including the Improving Farm Productivity Grant and the process involved for applying. Additionally, for those who lack upfront capital, options such as financing through a reputable finance company to assist with cashflow and enable applicants to meet grant rules.
Attendees will also gain insight into the timelines involved in implementing these initiatives. Every solar PV system requires a G99 or G98 grid connection application to the District Network Operator, which currently takes around 50 business days to process. If the project involves a ground-mounted system, planning permission may be required, adding additional time before installation can begin. However, once all permissions are granted, installations can typically be completed within four weeks, depending on scheduling.
Borderway UK Dairy Expo is a leading event in the dairy sector, providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, industry advancements, and networking opportunities for farmers and professionals. This seminar is a valuable addition to the event, reinforcing its commitment to supporting dairy farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. By addressing critical topics such as renewable energy and soil health, this session will contribute to the ongoing development and resilience of the dairy industry.