News
79: Deal or no deal? The impact of Brexit on the red meat trade
79: Deal or no deal? The impact of Brexit on the red meat trade
Written by AHDB
AHDB's John Bates and Michael Haverty from the Andersons Centre talk through the findings of a report into the impact of various Brexit scenarios on the red meat trade.
Download the full 'Red meat route to market' report
Find out more about AHDB's Brexit analysis work
Continue reading more on the ADHB Website...
NFU responds to IPCC report
Written by John Swire
In response to the IPCC report on land use across the world and its impact on the climate, NFU President Minette Batters said: “Having gone through the report in detail, it is clear that the IPCC recognises the important role animal products play in a balanced diet, and when produced in sustainably in low greenhouse gas emission systems is actually part of the solution to climate change.
“It is therefore incredibly frustrating to see this inflated within some part of the media to recommending a reduction of meat consumption in the UK.
“I take this opportunity to reiterate that our aspiration to become net zero – reducing our greenhouse gas footprint and offsetting...
FG 'Ploughing Through Brexit' with Vicki Hird & John Wilkes
FG 'Ploughing Through Brexit' with Vicki Hird & John Wilkes
Written by
Hosts Will Evans and FG’s chief reporter Abi Kay were joined for the latest Ploughing Through Brexit podcast by Vicki Hird, who is a campaign strategist, freelance consultant, and sustainable farming campaign coordinator at Sustain, and John Wilkes, international livestock industry consultant and Farmer’s Guardian’s official ‘man in Washington'.
Together they discussed the ins and outs of a potential trade deal between the UK & USA, and it's implications for farmers and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
www.fginsight.com...
AHDB invests in practical support for growers facing chemistry loss
AHDB invests in practical support for growers facing chemistry loss
Written by JamesTaylor
AHDB’s Strategic Potato Farm network is carrying out a variety of trials to ensure growers have effective alternatives for banned chemicals such as diquat and CIPC.
The trials currently being undertaken on the network of five farms – based in Perthshire, West Suffolk, Shropshire, Somerset and North Lincolnshire – are supported by research funded by AHDB, ensuring the results are both robust and commercially viable.
Release Date:
Thu, 08/08/2019
Continue reading more on the ADHB Potatoes...
Natural England Crowdfunding
Natural England Crowdfunding
Written by Defra Press Office
Natural England Crowdfunding
Today there has been coverage in the I paper and ENDS Report on recent incorrect claims that Natural England is “crowdfunding” to deliver its statutory functions, following statements made by Mark Avery. These claims are simply untrue.
Organisations other than charities are allowed to receive donations. In our case, these generous donations enable us to go above and beyond to do even more for the environment and for people than we can through...
£2.5 million extra funding for environmental projects
Written by Charlotte Cunningham
The fourth national round of the popular Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund opened this week for applications. Charlotte Cunningham reports. Groups of farmers and landowners are now able to bid for a share of the £2.5 million Countryside Stewardship Facilitation fund, with applications open until 4 October, according to the latest announcement from Defra. It is expected to support approximately 40 new facilitation groups to deliver large-scale environment improvement in their area over the next three years. Improvements could include natural flood prevention, enhancing wildlife habitats or planting more trees. To apply, groups must submit plans showing how...
Tips for Managing Cover Crop Mixes
Written by Angela Lovell, originally published in No-Till Farmer USA in November 2018
Choosing a cover crop cocktail is only a start, says Adam Daugherty, as managing carbon-to-nitrogen ratios and adapting planting strategies play a big role in success. There are many variables for growers to consider when they’re implementing cover-crop mixes into their no-till rotation — including mix design, carbonto-nitrogen (C:N) ratios, cash crop goals, termination strategies and biomass management.
“The goals will be different for everyone and will change from field to field, with changing conditions and with time,” says NRCS district conservationist Adam Daugherty. Here are strategies for thinking through some of these important decisions...
Night drone patrols enlisted to crack down on illegal field butchery
Written by Rachel Martin
Police in Northamptonshire are now using thermal imagery drones to keep an eye on livestock overnight as an investigation into illegal sheep butchery continues.
Under Operation Stock officers are investigating several reports of the illegal butchery of lambs and sheep across the county. It’s thought at least than 100 sheep have been butchered illegally in the county since March.
Using the drone’s thermal image technology and flying no higher than 400ft, its operators can monitor large rural areas, with any heat sources such as livestock, people or vehicles shown up in bright yellow.
If any suspicious activity is spotted, the operators can liaise with officers on...
78: How will new technology future-proof the soft fruit industry?
78: How will new technology future-proof the soft fruit industry?
Written by AHDB
Welcome to the next horticulture focused podcast and in today’s episode Scott Raffle our Knowledge Exchange manager for soft fruit and Mark Else from NIAB EMR, will be sharing some of their fascinating work currently taking place at the WET Centre in Kent.
If you would like more information on the WET Centre and the current soft fruit projects please visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/wet-centre
Information on the Precision Irrigation Package please visit NIAB EMR’s WET Centre website.
There are plenty of upcoming and events coming up...
£2.5 million boost for farmers working on environmental projects
Written by Rachel Martin
A fourth national round of the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund has opened for applications.
The £2.5 million fund is expected to support around 40 new facilitation groups to deliver large-scale environment improvement in their area over the next three years.
Groups of farmers and landowners will be able to bid for a share until October 4.
Improvements could include natural flood prevention, enhancing wildlife habitats or planting more trees.
To apply, groups must submit plans showing how they will work together and share knowledge to protect and enhance their local environment, in line with their local Countryside Stewardship priorities.
Successful...
Cost of rural crime hits £50 million in the UK
Written by Rachel Martin
The cost of rural crime has hit a seven-year high in the UK, reaching a staggering £50 million last year according to new figures made public today.
The report compiled by rural insurer NFU Mutual showed rural crime in 2018 increased by 12% compared to 2017.
The last time rural theft reached its current level was in 2011 when international gangs took advantage of a largely unsecured countryside, according to NFU Mutual.
Rural affairs specialist Tim Price explained: “Today, we are seeing another rise as organised criminal gangs with links to money laundering and drugs find ways to beat security and steal farm vehicles.
“Farmers and country people are suffering...
NFU pays tribute to former President Sir Simon Gourlay
Written by John Swire
Former NFU President Sir Simon Gourlay, a passionate moderniser whose reforms changed the way the organisation operated for the better, has died at the age of 85.
Sir Simon, President of the NFU from 1986 to 1991, farmed on the English/Welsh border, first as a beef farmer before turning his hand to dairying and later free-range egg production.
The former army officer was first elected to office as NFU Vice President in 1982, then Deputy President in 1984 and became NFU President when Sir Richard Butler stood down in 1986.
Paying tribute to Sir Simon Gourlay, current NFU President Minette Batters said today: “I send my deepest condolences to Sir Simon’s wife, Lady...
Red meat exports to US move a step closer
Written by John Swire
The UK continues to make positive progress to opening the market for red meat exports to America following a three-week visit from US government inspectors.
An inward mission, which ended last week (Aug 2nd), saw a team of government officials tour a number of facilities to get a closer look at the UK’s meat production controls.
The aim of the visit was to progress approval for beef and lamb exports and achieve ongoing approval of our current pork exports to the American marketplace. While in the UK, the visitors inspected five beef sites, four pork and one lamb, as well as several laboratories.
The inspections were hosted by the Department for Environment, Food...
New directors for the SRUC
Written by Jamie Day
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has appointment of three new non-executive directors to its board, in a move that leads to a 50:50 gender split for the first time on its board. Former Edinburgh College principal Annette Bruton, who was Scotland’s chief inspector of education for four years, joins the board in June, as does Margaret […]
The post New directors for the SRUC appeared first on AgriTrade News.
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Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers visits Whaley Bridge
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers visits Whaley Bridge
Written by Defra Press Office
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers yesterday (3 August) visited Whaley Bridge where she met with emergency response teams working around the clock to fix a breach at Toddbrook Reservoir.
Positive coverage of the Secretary of State on the scene, along with Environment Agency chair Emma Howard-Boyd, ran on Sky, BBC News and ITV...
Carrot growers review trials of linuron alternatives
Written by Rachel Martin
Plant disease experts and growers gathered in Yorkshire to review treatments currently being trialled on carrot and parsnip crops following the withdrawal of herbicide linuron.
Linuron protected crops against invasive weeds such as fat-hen, fiddleneck, and knotgrass.
including new actives and novel tank-mixes – some of which already appear promising.
The trials form part of SCEPTREplus, AHDB’s £1.4 million research programme, which focusses on developing sustainable solutions for growers across the country.
“With the loss of linuron, the future of weed control looked uncertain. However, the trials here are already looking very promising and show that there are...
IPCC leaked report: Going vegetarian and controlling land use are key to climate crisis
IPCC leaked report: Going vegetarian and controlling land use are key to climate crisis
Written by Robin McKie
Scientists in Geneva warn that cutting carbon emissions from cars and factories is not enough
Attempts to solve the climate crisis by cutting carbon emissions from only cars, factories and power plants are doomed to failure, scientists will warn this week.
A leaked draft of a report on climate change and land use, which is now being debated in Geneva by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), states that it will be impossible to keep global temperatures at safe levels unless there is also a transformation in the way the world produces food and manages...
FUW urges Welsh Government to lighten burden on farmers
Written by Agriland Team
It is within the Welsh Goverment’s power to lighten burden on farmers, the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) told the country’s farming minister.
Bovine TB and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) regulations were top of the agenda when Farmers’ Union of Wales officials met with Farming Minister Lesley Griffiths at the Royal Welsh Show.
“Both issues would and already do have serious impacts on farmers’ mental health and the wider economic consequences were to be felt as added pressure,” FUW president Glyn Roberts stressed.
Grain price: No sign of anything to shake up markets
Written by Agriland Team
As the harvest progresses, Irish farmers are still awaiting a price for their grain and as the European harvest continues at full throttle, there is nothing to suggest a major shake up in the market.
As of July 29, FranceAgriMer reported that 87% of the wheat harvest and 92% of the barley harvest were completed in the country. Across the water in the UK, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and ADAS put the percentages of the areas of winter barley and oilseed rape harvested at 49% and 31% respectively.
On Thursday, August 1, Agritel reported that the harvest of wheat (87% harvested), barley (89% harvested) and rapeseed (98% harvested) is...
Farmers call for law change on gene-edited crops
Written by Tom Allen-Stevens
What sort of regulatory environment for new breeding technologies is required and what will be the implication for farmers, and ultimately consumers, who lie at the heart of this debate? CPM reports exclusively on a survey of farmers. By Tom Allen-Stevens GM can be a divisive topic, and the farming community is no less split on how and whether it should be introduced as the public in general. Views on gene-editing, however are harder a gauge. A survey was undertaken in March 2019 by the Gene-Editing for Environment and Crop Improvement Initiative, that represents scientists, breeders and others in the UK agricultural industry with an interest in new breeding...