Agnew continues to press the European Commission over the battery cage ban
The East of England MEP and farmer, Stuart Agnew has continued with his campaign to get the European Commission to understand the full implications of its decision to ban battery cage produced eggs from 1st January 2012. He has today (15th March) submitted a new raft of written questions to the Commission which highlight the […]
Farmers and growers to benefit from renewable heat incentive
Opportunities for farmers and growers to provide heat services from renewable technologies such as bioenergy, solar and ground source heat pumps are set to grow rapidly, the NFU said today. This follows the long-awaited announcement of details of the Government’s ground-breaking 860 million Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Displacing oil-fired and natural gas heating, as well […]
Third of farmers spend 15 or less on preventing theft
One in three farmers rely on a simple padlock or less to protect hundreds of thousands of pounds of equipment, a survey has revealed. Rural crime costs the UK at least 42 million a year, yet a survey for security specialist, Agri-Track, found that one in six farmers only security equipment is a padlock and […]
Seven biggest food retailers sign Government healthy living deal
Britains biggest food retailers have signed up to a full list of pledges being launched by the Government today (Tuesday) which aim to help consumers make healthier choices. The seven largest food retailers in the UK, all members of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), have committed themselves to every relevant pledge on food and alcohol […]
Rural pets benefit from new campaign to keep animal disease at bay
Owners of working dogs are being offered the chance to help keep both their working animals and family pets alike healthy with a special discount offer on vaccination to ease strains on household bills during the economic downturn. Vets are backing the National Vaccination Month campaign (www.nvmonline.co.uk) which runs during May and practices across the […]
Defra Uplands Policy Review – Good news for farmers & landowners in less favoured areas, say Saffery Champness
Richard Cartwright, a partner of Saffery Champness Landed Estates & Rural Business Group in Bristol, who has clients in the Dartmoor and Exmoor areas, says: The publication today of Defras Uplands Policy Review is welcome news for landowners and farmers in the less favoured areas of the UK. It is also encouraging that the Environment, […]
New transcription factor reveals molecular mechanism for wound-induced organ regeneration
Researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center (PSC) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have identified a novel transcription factor controlling how plants dedifferentiate cells in response to wounding. The finding sheds first-ever light on the molecular-level mechanisms of plant cell dedifferentiation, offering fundamental insights on wound-induced organ regeneration and […]
Which crop protection product has over 190 uses?
The question of which crop protection product has over 190 approved uses was posed to an audience of advisors, manufacturers and researchers at the recent Crop Protection in Southern Britain Conference. Barrie Hunt of Interfarm UK Ltd provided the answer and the evidence that the biological product DiPel DF, based on the naturally-occurring micro-organism Bacillus […]
Swansea scientist discovers natural solution for bluetongue disease
A researcher at Swansea University has discovered that a strain of fungus could be used to control the insect-borne bluetongue virus (BTV) common in livestock, potentially preventing thousands of losses to farmers each year. Dr Minshad Ali Ansari who works in one of the leading insect mycopathology (insect pest control) teams in the UK – […]
