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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to start improving on-farm water quality

Putting resilience measures into a farming business is one of the best ways to protect water, prevent pollution and retain more water in the landscape. With many of the major…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

How trees can enhance and support your farm business

Woodland and forestry experts urged growers at a recent Transition webinar, to look again at the potential benefits of strategic tree planting. Transition Project editor and webinar host Johann Tasker…

ARABLE

Tips on achieving healthy hedgerows on farm

Hedges are a defining feature of our countryside and one of the best habitats for wildlife on any farm.  Far more than being a boundary, they also support farm business…

LIVESTOCK

How feeding methane inhibitors can help cut emissions

Methane inhibitors supplied in feed rations could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in ruminants. However, no one size fits all, advises Annie Williams, ruminant nutritionist and…

BUSINESS

Alternative land uses: Woodland creation - key points

Financial support for woodland creation and management in England is at record levels, so it could be the right time to consider this as an option. Talk of reducing sheep…

CARBON

Carbon markets: A beginner's guide

The UK’s carbon markets are growing, but there is confusion around the principles. Farmers Weekly asks CLA adviser Matthew Doran how they work. See also: Mineral rights - what farmers…

Case studies

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HOUSING AND HANDLING

How a forest grazing project doubled a suckler herd

The ability to graze thousands of hectares on the Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve, in the Cairngorms, has provided beef farmer Bobby Mackenzie with low-cost outwintering and allowed him to double…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How sustainable farming is central to Raby Estate's business

Attention to detail has been critical as Raby Estate has changed direction and set about creating a more robust and commercially viable business, with an environmentally sustainable farming enterprise at…

ENVIRONMENT

Award-winner shows ploughing can go alongside sustainability

Cambridgeshire farmer David Felce has been named this year’s winner of the BASF Rawcliffe Bridge Sustainability Award, for his focus on promoting biodiversity. David, who farms with his wife Hayley…

LIVESTOCK

How rotational hedge management is helping store more carbon

Hedgerows managed on a 12- to 15-year laying rotation store six times more carbon than those flailed annually, studies on a Cornish beef farm have shown. Overall carbon emissions at…

LIVESTOCK

How a Portuguese green oasis inspired a move to agroforestry

Mike Adams had never seen the point in growing trees in fields. But visits to farms in southern Europe and Turkey proved transformational; he is now sold on their benefits…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Benefits of sward lifting for profit and environment

A decade of sward lifting on a Cornish farm has prevented run-off after heavy rainfall, shortened the winter housing period and is helping soils to sequester carbon. A typical field…

Insights

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ENVIRONMENT

How Focus Farms are helping royal estate on regen journey

The Duchy of Cornwall has a long history of trying to do right by nature, with both the current Duke (Prince William) and his predecessor (King Charles) renowned for their…

FARM POLICY

Radical reset on food production needed says new report

The time has come for a radical reset in domestic agricultural policy, harnessing the full power of scientific advance with a view to improving UK food self-sufficiency, while reducing the…

ENVIRONMENT

How green outcomes can be delivered on a shoestring budget

In the heart of the Lake District, a group of 49 farmers has been testing whether environmental progress can be made without deep pockets. They are discovering just how far…

ENVIRONMENT

How Water Action Groups can help secure farm supplies

The Environment Agency (EA) is reviewing water abstraction licences, asking farmers to give up “excess headroom” due to over-abstraction in many catchments. Letters are being sent to farmers and other…

ENVIRONMENT

Water quality and supply: Striking the right balance on farm

Climate change and weather volatility pose major concerns for UK agriculture. In the past year alone, the UK experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall during the winter months, followed by one of…

ARABLE

Can arable farms operate without fossil fuels?

While completing his Nuffield Scholarship, Stuart Oates founded the Fossil Free Farm project, born of his belief that removing fossil fuels from farming is essential for future sustainability. Based at…

FARM POLICY

How the Ffermio Bro agri-environment scheme is bedding in

The Welsh government’s agri-environmental scheme for its designated landscapes and national parks – called Ffermio Bro – has started in earnest since its launch in April. Aiming to encourage nature-friendly…

ARABLE

What's in the latest capital grants offer for arable farmers?

A new round of capital grants worth £150m has opened in England, with arable farmers welcoming the latest opportunity to apply for funding to make environmental improvements. Against a tight…

Latest environment news

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NEWS

UK dairy farming benefits environment says report

The virtues of UK dairy farming, including its contribution to nutrition, health and environmental sustainability, are highlighted in a new report by the AHDB. The report, 'Balancing health and sustainability:…

ENVIRONMENT

Welsh committee warns of soil degradation threat

A Welsh committee has warned that soil degradation across Wales could affect future food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience – costing billions of pounds every year. In its report Digging…

ENVIRONMENT

Farmers rally in Suffolk village over new pylon route

A dozen tractors rolled into the village of Cotton, near Stowmarket, on Saturday (15 November) as farmers and campaigners staged co-ordinated protests across East Anglia against National Grid’s plans for…

ENVIRONMENT

Scottish government to reject livestock cuts in climate plan

Scotland’s livestock sector has been handed a timely boost after the Scottish government confirmed it will reject proposals to cut cattle and sheep numbers in its new draft Climate Change…

ENVIRONMENT

‘Lucky escape’ as government shelves COP30 methane pledge

The government has quietly shelved proposals to announce a UK-specific pledge at the COP30 climate summit to cut methane emissions from livestock by 30% by 2030, Farmers Weekly can reveal.…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Bovaer maker defends product after Danish farmer fears

The manufacturer of the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer has moved to calm fears over its safety after Danish farmers raised concerns linking the product to cattle illness and deaths. DSM-Firmenich,…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Scottish farmers offered £21.4m in sustainability grants

A total of £21.4m in grants has been offered to Scottish farmers and crofters through the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS), following unprecedented demand for the initiative. Launched in July,…

DAIRY

Dairy farmers sought to help set future environmental targets

The Dairy Roadmap, an industry-wide initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of milk production, is calling on UK dairy farmers to share their views on how future sustainability targets…

ENVIRONMENT

Sir David Attenborough backs £30m Rothbury Estate Appeal

Sir David Attenborough has stepped forward to support The Wildlife Trusts’ Rothbury Appeal at a pivotal moment, with just one year left to raise the remaining funds needed to purchase…

FARM POLICY

'Farming by the calendar' frustrates Welsh farmers

Welsh farm leaders are demanding a “more targeted and proportionate regulatory approach” as frustration mounts over the lack of flexibility surrounding slurry spreading on dairy and livestock farms. Under the…

WILDLIFE

Have your say on sea eagles in Cumbria

A public consultation is under way to gauge opinions on reintroducing white-tailed eagles to Cumbria – but the proposal has stirred mixed reactions, particularly among the farming community. The Cumbrian…

NEWS

Wiltshire solar farm enters public consultation phase

Plans for a major solar energy project in Wiltshire have moved to the next stage, following acceptance of the Lime Down Solar application by the Planning Inspectorate. Island Green Power’s…

Video

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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…

NEWS

Video: Farmer defends his actions on River Lugg

A Herefordshire farmer who was jailed for causing damage to a protected river has defended his actions, insisting they helped prevent flooding to local properties and land. Several homes along…

SHEEP

Video: How a lowland farm is preparing for low-methane sheep

Results from the first UK farm to test methane emissions in sheep using portable accumulation chambers have shown they were producing on average about 20g/day of methane and 1.2kg/day of…