News
All the latest happenings in the world of sustainable farming
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Magic Margins
LEAF (Linking Environment & Farming)articleOver the last year, we have been busy sowing some new field margins at Mylnefield and Balruddery Farms. Like our existing buffer strips (habitat margins...
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IFM: A framework for the future
LEAF (Linking Environment & Farming)articleFor the last 25 years, LEAF has been at the forefront of developing and delivering Integrated Farm Management (IFM). Last week, we held our first...
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Valuing Your Soils: New Guidance for Scottish Farmers & Crofters
SRUCarticleIt can take 500 years to replace 25 mm (1 inch) of top soil, yet in the UK it is estimated that 2.9 million tonnes...
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Cooking with Grass – Energy Production Message from SRUC
SRUCarticleWith despite uncertainty over future levels of subsidy for energy production there is still considerable interest in using grass as a feedstock for on-farm anaerobic...
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Horticulture students working to safeguard survival of UK seed varieties
Garden OrganicarticleEnsuring the long-term survival of the country’s original bean varieties is part of a key project involving Nottingham Trent University. Horticulture students at the university’s...
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Natural England is now blogging
GOV.UKarticleNatural England has launched a new blog to give readers insight into its work. Whether it’s opening up a stretch of the England Coast Path,...
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Conservation Agriculture as part of Integrated Farm Management
LEAF (Linking Environment & Farming)articleConservation Agriculture is a practical concept, which when used as part of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) can improve productivity, profits, and food security whilst preserving...
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'Ecological intensification’ swaps pesticides for biodiversity
Horizon MagazinearticleWhile farmers often turn to pesticides and herbicides to get as much produce as possible from their land, there’s something new on the menu that...
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Learn to manage woodland for game and wildlife with the GWCT
GWCTarticleThis June the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) will launch a new Woodland Management training day in Leicestershire. The event is hosted and organised...
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UK farmers to cut antibiotic use to combat drug resistance
The GuardianarticleA new taskforce to reduce the use of antibiotics in farming in the UK is being set up in response to government concerns on the...
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Soil Farmer of the Year announced
Farm Carbon Cutting ToolkitarticleClive Bailye, an arable farmer from Staffordshire has won the UK Soil Farmer of the Year, organised by Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit (FCCT) and Innovation...
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Livestock in Low Input Systems (LILIS) Conference 9th June
SOPAarticleThe LILIS (Livestock In Low Input Systems) conference will look at the successes and challenges of upland livestock production in organic, upland and similar low-input...
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Growing From Your Roots
Garden OrganicarticleGarden Organic’s Growing from your Roots (GFYR) project has been busy working with a wide range of community groups in the West Midlands, helping to...
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Scientific briefing reveals new data on impact of neonicotinoids on pollinators
Soil AssociationarticleSoil Association scientific briefing reveals new data on impact of neonicotinoids on pollinators. The briefing looked at the latest scientific research and its implications for...
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Faecal egg counts to control parasites
Soil AssociationarticleSenior Certification Officer, Stephen Smith talks about how to carry out a faecal egg count and what it could reveal. What are faecal egg counts?...
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Monitoring reveals changes in biodiversity & the environment
Rothamsted ResearcharticleScientists carrying out long-term monitoring at the North Wyke site of Rothamsted Research have detected trends in the biodiversity and the environment. Lower surface wind...
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Spelt and Rye Event on 2nd July at Nafferton Farm
Nafferton Ecological Farming GrouparticleAs part of the continuing series of events focusing on rye and spelt trials, the Nafferton Ecological Farming Group will host a summer information session...
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Increasing grassland species improves pollination and yields
Science for Environment PolicyarticleGrasslands cover 30–40% of European agricultural areas. Agri-environmental schemes leading to even small changes in grassland biodiversity could elicit extensive benefits. A new study on...
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Why fluoroquinolone antibiotics in poultry should be banned
CIWFarticleFluoroquinolones are antibiotics classified by the World Health Organization as ‘critically important in human medicine’ due to their importance for treating infections such as Campylobacter,...
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New resources on organic protected cropping
Organic Research CentrearticleThe EU-funded Biogreenhouse project - Towards a sustainable and productive EU organic greenhouse horticulture - has concluded with a major International Symposium on Organic Greenhouse...
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Organic farm incomes up in 2015
Organic Research CentrearticleA new financial report published this month shows organic farm profits increasing, with organic dairy farming outperforming conventional dairy farming in England and Wales. This...
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Glyphosate: authorise for 7 years & professional uses only, urge MEPs
European Parliament NewsarticleGiven concerns about the carcinogenicity and endocrine disruptive properties of the herbicide glyphosate, used in many farm and garden applications, the EU Commission should renew...
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Can eating meat ever be ethical?
The IndependentarticleMeat has been so cheap for so long that it became easy to forget exactly how it is produced. However, various food scandals, including the...
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Orchard diversity in focus as industry rethinks approach to growing food
Produce Business UKarticleAs conventional chemical pesticides continue to be withdrawn from the market, integrated pest management (IPM) programmes are increasingly incorporating alternative forms of control. UK researchers...
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IFM: A framework for the future
LEAF (Linking Environment & Farming)articleJoin us for a one-day conference exploring the development, opportunities and future potential of Integrated Farm Management. We will examine the development of IFM, consider...
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Agri-Innovation Den open for applications
Agri-Innovation DenarticleOne pot. Scores of competitors. Who will take their share of £350K from the Agri-Innnovation Den this time? The hunt is back on for world-class...
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Is UK agriculture doing more damage than climate change?
Garden OrganicarticleScientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), working with colleagues from other UK research institutes and the RSPB, have said climate change and...
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Countryside Stewardship: What are the organic options for 2016?
Soil AssociationarticleTim Bevan, Soil Association Farm Advisor fills us in on what to look out for when applying to the Countryside Stewardship scheme. The main objective...