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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.

LIVESTOCK

How Brecon Beacons farmers are improving water quality

Establishing buffer strips, resting fields and using precision technology to aid the timing of nutrient applications could all help drive improvements in water quality, preliminary findings from a pioneer project…

NVZS

Welsh NVZ rules 'affecting farmers’ mental health'

NFU Cymru has warned that new agricultural pollution control rules in Wales are heightening farmer stress and anxiety levels. The union has started gathering evidence to challenge rules which it…

AIR AND WATER

Farmer co-op partners with Rothamsted to raise water quality

The Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), a co-operative setup to help farmers generate and trade their natural capital, has formed a new partnership with Rothamsted Research, to monitor water quality and…

AIR AND WATER

River Action considers appeal in Farming Rules for Water case

Environmental campaign group River Action is considering an appeal against a High Court ruling which rejected its claim the Environment Agency has been acting unlawfully in the way it enforces…

CARBON

Levy bodies aim to establish farming's true carbon footprint

The AHDB and Quality Meat Scotland are investing some £2.5m and £375,000 of levy-payers’ money respectively in a major new research project designed to calculate agriculture’s true carbon footprint and…

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…