Menu

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.

WEED MANAGEMENT

Why propyzamide use in OSR and beans remains in the balance

Delivering best practice for successful weed control with propyzamide while preventing it from entering water courses and reservoirs remains a difficult balance. What’s good for weed control frequently increases the…

ENVIRONMENT

EA launches guidance to support farm inspections

The Environment Agency (EA) has released new guidance and a short film to help farmers prepare for inspections, which take place year-round and target areas most at risk of water…

FARM POLICY

NVZ review: Welsh farmer frustration continues with rules

Since 2021, farmers in Wales have had to contend with the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations. These designated the whole of the country as a nitrate vulnerable…

ENVIRONMENT

£1m from government to clean up River Wye

An additional £1m to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye have been made available by the Welsh and UK governments with a series of research initiatives. The joint…

AIR AND WATER

Moorland group warns of landscape-scale wildfire risk

Recent wildfires in the Peak District have sparked concerns about the growing fire risks in moorland areas, particularly amid policies aimed at removing livestock from these landscapes. In the first…

ENVIRONMENT

Chicken manure waste ruling deals blow to poultry industry

In a major blow to the NFU, the High Court has ruled that chicken manure must be classified as “waste”, a decision that has been hailed as a victory by…

DAIRY

In-parlour sniffer sensors could provide low-cost methane test

Sensors that sample cows’ breath while they are feeding in the milking parlour could provide a simpler and more accurate solution to monitoring methane emissions. The sniffer sensor technology has…

ENVIRONMENT

Cost a major barrier to cutting farm GHG emissions

Cutting excess nitrogen use and minimum tillage are seen as most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a farmer survey. The survey, carried out by Agri-food…

BIODIVERSITY

Lottery grant to help northern farmers realise natural capital

A group supporting farmers in the north of England to capture income from natural capital markets has secured £100,000 to fund catchment-scale conservation work. Wensleydale & Swaledale Environmental Farmers (Swef)…

AIR AND WATER

Water companies offer premiums to Wildfarmed wheat growers

Four water companies in England are to pay regenerative wheat growers up to £200/ha, in some cases more, if they don’t use pesticides and adopt practices shown to reduce soil…

AIR AND WATER

Keep methane inhibitors in the toolbox, says Lords report

Adding methane inhibitors to ruminant rations has “significant potential” for mitigating emissions of this gas from agriculture and should be monitored closely, says a new House of Lords report published…