Environmental News

Farmers have fiercely criticised the introduction of a voluntary environment module by Red Tractor, which is due to be available from next year.

Responding to the latest State of Nature report, published this Wednesday (27th September), NFU President Minette Batters echoed farmers’ ambition to do more for nature recovery while producing high-quality, sustainable food, provided there is adequate support in place to keep businesses viable.

AHDB has welcomed a pioneering study by UK scientists that demonstrates the need for using multiple metrics, such as GWP*, to accurately assess the climate impact of methane from livestock for better policymaking.

To enable more farmers to be part of the scheme, Defra has announced support will be provided to those who started their Countryside Stewardship (CS) 2024 applications by the deadline of Friday 15th September to make sure they can still benefit from the scheme.

More than a thousand farmers and foresters agreed farming with trees is a “win-win” for climate and business resilience at the first-ever UK Agroforestry Show held last week to promote the uptake of agroforestry among producers across the country.

Farmer Robert Moore made it his goal to leave his 356-hectare arable unit in a better state for the environment and wildlife than when he took it on in 1988. To do this, he has balanced sustainability and profitability in his approach to farming.

Dr Johnny Wake, who took over the running of the historic Courteenhall estate ten years ago, was presented with the prestigious Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners at the Royal Windsor Estate yesterday (Thursday 7th September).

Extreme weather events driven by climate change and industry net zero commitments are focusing the potato supply chain’s attention on how to reduce the crop’s carbon footprint. Andrew Blair, field technical manager at the UK’s largest potato supplier, Branston, explains how an Innovate UK funded project is examining the potential for reducing carbon in potato production from growing through to storage and transport.

Nature-friendly farming solutions could offer a way forward for farmers dealing with the impact of climate change and the need to keep their farms profitable, according to a recent webinar organised by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN).

Testing has begun as part of a project to reduce the environmental impact of ammonia emissions from livestock, after ammonia-harvesting technology was put in place at a pig farm running the trials.

In line with Somerset-based Godminster Farm’s ethos: ‘nature repays those who treat her kindly’, Pete Cheek who has been in charge of the farm’s 300 organic dairy herd for more than 25 years, is working with McArthur Agriculture to replace imported soya bean meal from the cows’ diet with home-grown and roasted pulses.

Two farming estates in North Wales have been praised for their efforts to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, paving the way towards a more sustainable, greener future, by rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths.