renewable energy

The Cereals Event will go ahead as planned on the 30th of June, despite the delay in the lifting of lockdown restrictions, as it will still comply with local and national legislative measures, organisers have confirmed. As an outdoor agricultural event, Cereals will not be affected by the delay...

Thursday 17th June 2021 is Clean Air Day; a day dedicated to highlighting the issues of air pollution that in turn emphasise the changes in our everyday lives which can and will have a positive impact on climate change. This year’s Clean Air Day is focused on how the future of our children’s...

Written by William Kellett Barclay Bell from Rathfriland, Co. Down, has been awarded the John Finnan Oat Quality Award by White’s Oats, for his ecological farming practices and commitment to producing sustainable, high quality porridge oats. Bell, who is an eighth generation farmer and farms...

Written by Rachel Martin Islanders on Rathlin have ambitions to generate their own renewable energy in an effort to create local jobs and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots visited the island to see its wide variety of...

Written by John Swire The agricultural sector is returning to knowledge from more than a century ago, but with updated science and technology, says a co-author of The Agricultural Notebook. The Notebook, which is widely regarded as ‘the Bible’ for every agricultural student, farmer, and...

Just been listening to Today on Radio 4 (between 8:30 and 9:00) where the head of some think tank or other is using French based thinking to suggest that the UK will be able to feed itself sustainably going forward growing, amongst other things more nuts and using ruminant animals. Have a...

Written by John Swire Leading commercial fuel supplier Watson Fuels has launched a carbon offset initiative providing farmers and its customers in the agricultural sector with a convenient and cost-effective way to help reduce their carbon footprint. For 2019 Watson Fuels became a fully carbon...

Written by Charlotte Cunningham Red Tractor has secured free access to the biofuels market for its members, with demand predicted to increase again this year. Charlotte Cunningham reports. According to Red Tractor, this means that cereals, oilseeds and sugar beet produced under the assurance...

Written by John Swire Farmers and landowners in England who have previously been advised that wind turbines are not a viable diversification option are now being encouraged to reconsider their potential. It is expected that a policy change could mean onshore wind will soon be able to again...

Just read about this new requirement for a calculation. I’m not sure how they think farmers without a weighbridge will be able to estimate accurately the amount of crop that comes in from the field. Is this them getting worried that farmers will start selling 10/20% as non-assured off the...

Hi All, I'm not 100% sure if I'm putting this in the right place or if I'll get any responses. However, I thought I'd give it a bash. If anyone reading this has any bright ideas that might help us progress in the right direction, then they'd be really gratefully received :) Anyways, with my...

Written by William Kellett A new award aiming to crown the Diversified Farm of the Year has been launched by AgriScot. Thanks to support from SAC Consulting, part of SRUC and long-term Agri Scot partner Royal Bank of Scotland, the new award will complete the prestigious stable of AgriScot farm...

“Meat and dairy consumption must fall if Britain is to meet its 2050 net zero target” No doubt we will see strenuous attempts to achieve this perhaps even by legislation. So the question is: How are you, as dairy farmers in the front line, going to react? What do you think will be coming...

These two articles by By David Pannell ( from Australia) has certainly made me think https://www.pannelldiscussions.net/2021/04/346-soil-carbon-1/ https://www.pannelldiscussions.net/2021/05/347-soil-carbon-2/ The comments section is worth reading too as I believe these policies are going to...

Written by John Swire Innovative solutions are required from the whole industry to help free range egg producers take further steps towards a more carbon-efficient future. A new report from the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) has highlighted how farms can make...

Written by Rachel Martin Farmers will need to play a central role if renewable energy target to generate at least 70% of Northern Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 is to be achieved, the Ulster Farmers’ Union has said. This year the region managed to generate almost half...

Climate change is a pressing challenge to current and future food production. To continue to feed a growing population, it is clear that food production methods will have to adapt to become more resilient. I am studying for my MRes in Urban Agriculture at Harper Adams University. I am keenly...

a good article in the sunday times business section about the drax powerstation, the article said that it imports wood chip from lousiana usa to burn in the powerstation to create electricity and gets nearly £900 million a year in subsities from the govt how the hell does all that make sense ...

Hi chaps As above I’ve been approached by a company saying that we have suitable ground for a electricity battery storage facility . Offering good money index linked over 30 years 5 acres required. They want me to sign a letter of Authority to give them permission to negotiate with the power...

Burning coal in open fire banned in the green and pleasant land from today.The lucky ones will have mains gas, the unlucky ones can freeze like brass monkeys or take the knee to OPEC. How is one expected to keep one's mansion warm?