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Know How / Carbon

Carbon reduction is key to reducing the impact of climate change and meeting the UK's target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Farm businesses will need to implement low-carbon solutions to help reach these targets and qualify for new payment schemes. Find out what other farmers are doing and learn about carbon management.

CARBON

Welsh project seeks to make carbon-absorbing biochar

Converting slurry into carbon-absorbing biochar could help Welsh farmers meet new pollution control regulations. The concept of making biochar from manure is not new, but a project in Wales backed…

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…

LIVESTOCK

How a 2,600-cow housed herd drove down carbon emissions

Integration of dairy and arable enterprises, targeted use of nutrients and a focus on feed sourcing have been the driving forces behind a 40% drop in emissions at Grosvenor Farms,…

CARBON

World’s first verified carbon-negative tree nursery founded

The world’s first verified carbon-negative tree nursery, founded by farmer’s son Renwick Drysdale in Scotland, is seeking to help meet surging demand for tree planting and habitat restoration projects. The…

CARBON

Analysis: Can Welsh tree cover plans work for farmers?

One of the most repeated complaints about the Welsh government’s plans for future rural support is that farmers will be required to plant 10% of their land with trees and…

BEEF

How an intensive beef finisher has cut carbon footprint

A Welsh beef finisher is demonstrating that making structured progress towards net zero is achievable in an intensive farming system. Dylan Jones, who farms on Anglesey in partnership with his…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Scots government attaches new conditions to future support

The Scottish government has released further details on actions farmers and crofters will have to take to receive future farm support payments. The latest update to the Agricultural Reform route…

BUSINESS

What does new natural capital toolkit offer farmers?

Defra and an environmental company have joined forces to produce a new website and online toolkit to help farmers exploit natural capital markets. The Farming Toolkit for Assessing Nature Market…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Expert advice for making trees work on your farm

Large-scale tree planting has come under fire for taking up productive farmland and altering the character of local environments. But the right tree, planted in the right place, can generate…

BARLEY

Malting barley growers to take up fossil-free green fert

About 20 growers in the north of England and Scotland will be growing spring malting barley and wheat for the distilling market using Yara’s fossil-free green fertilisers next spring, under…

BUSINESS

Project shows how farming can hit – or better – net zero

A pioneering carbon project in Northern Ireland has demonstrated that farms can make structured progress towards net zero and revealed that some are already hitting the target. Under NI’s Climate…

BUSINESS

What opportunities does new biomass strategy offer farmers?

The area of land devoted to perennial biomass crops has remained stubbornly low, despite an aspiration to increase the use of home-grown biomass in the power, heat and transport sectors…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Are wetland crops the future on lowland peat?

England’s lowland peat soils are some of the most valuable when it comes to food production, but they also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Draining peatland soils has allowed them…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Transition Farm Walk visits carbon-negative arable unit

Farmers Weekly Transition Farmer Andy Bason provided an insight into his carbon-negative, Hampshire-based arable unit during a recent farm walk.  The Transition Farm Walk saw more than 80 visitors descend…

CARBON

How fenland farmers are cutting greenhouse gases from peat

High levels of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the drained lowland peat soils in the Fens are threatening to change how they are managed and what they can produce. Finding…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How Wold Top Brewery barley grower lowered carbon footprint

The Yorkshire farming family behind the successful Wold Top Brewery and Yorkshire’s first single-malt whisky distillery is using the latest precision mapping technology in its drive towards a low-carbon, sustainable…

FARM POLICY

Farming needs £4.4bn a year, say green lobby groups

Tougher environmental targets and higher costs to achieve them mean a substantial increase in Treasury funding for farm support is needed, according to a new report from green lobby groups.…

SOILS

How new tech aims to improve soil carbon measurement

Measuring soil organic carbon accurately has always been difficult. But with the rise in interest in carbon trading in agriculture, as well as the other benefits from managing carbon stocks…