Know How / Air and water

As part of the transition to a more sustainable future, improving air and water quality is fundamental. New regulations will come into force to reduce ammonia emissions and fertiliser use in the agricultural sector. We look at low-emission farming techniques which can help you become less reliant on inputs that are harmful to the environment.

AIR AND WATER

Welsh government unveils £20m funding for slurry management

The Welsh government has unveiled a multimillion-pound funding package to help farmers improve slurry storage infrastructure on farms to comply with air and water regulations. In total, £20m has been…

NEWS

Defra reveals multimillion-pound River Wye action plan

A new multimillion-pound action plan has been launched by the government to protect the River Wye in Herefordshire and support industry efforts to fully restore it in the long term.…

AIR AND WATER

New urea standards come into effect on 1 April in England

Farmers in England should only be using urea that has been treated with a urease inhibitor from Monday 1 April under the terms of a new Red Tractor standard. The…

AIR AND WATER

Video: FW Investigates - would dredging reduce flooding?

The past few months of relentless wet weather have again highlighted the pressing issue of how best to manage rivers and watercourses near farmland. Heavy rainfall events are becoming more…

AIR AND WATER

Law firm to seek compensation for River Wye pollution

A law firm that specialises in environmental litigation is building a case against poultry giant Avara Foods to try to win compensation for thousands of people and businesses in the…

DAIRY

Revised methane method pegs dairy emissions 20% lower

Net carbon emissions from a sample of livestock farms fell significantly when analysed by a carbon methodology that accounts for biogenic methane. Distinguishing between biogenic (methane from ruminants) and fossil…

AIR AND WATER

Environment Agency defends itself in River Wye pollution case

The Environment Agency has defended its record in enforcing statutory pollution controls in the River Wye catchment, as part of its defence in an ongoing legal challenge brought by environmental…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

How trading natural capital can help recoup BPS losses

Farmer interest in trading natural capital is in the ascendancy. Legislation has just been passed requiring house builders and commercial developers to deliver at least a 10% improvement in biodiversity…

NEWS

Would river dredging help prevent flooding on farms?

The recent storms Babet and Ciaran unleashed widespread flooding on agricultural land across the UK, costing farmers millions of pounds in crop losses and damage to infrastructure. Climate scientists warn…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How water treatment technology could cut slurry storage

Adapting water treatment technology to a farm setting could reduce slurry storage requirements by 10-15%, make better use of farm nutrients and produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge…

NEWS

Natural England spent £18k of taxpayer cash on SSSI hearing

Natural England spent more than £18,000 of taxpayers’ money on travel and accommodation to designate an area of Cornwall a heavily protected conservation area, Farmers Weekly can exclusively reveal. Ten…

AIR AND WATER

£1m pot to tackle ammonia emissions on Welsh farms

Technology developers are being offered up to £200,000 in government cash to help reduce ammonia emissions from cattle farming in Wales amid a warning that levels are “creeping up”. The…