Agriculture in the national news - March 31

Organic farmers paid for measures they already have in place

Organic farmers and landowners are being paid millions of pounds to adopt environmental measures many already have in place, spending watchdogs have warned.

The EU and UK Government is handing out £200 million over seven years to farmers willing to convert to organic methods and further help the environment by maintaining land for wildlife.

Daily Telegraph
http://tinyurl.com/ydn6p8r


A race to introduce GM corn before Africa’s climate worsens

In Kiboko, Kenya, a barbed wire fence separates a field of hybrid corn from the surrounding lands.

Inside the fence, food safety regulators are learning to grow the crop with little water.

In recent years, droughts have hit the region between June and September, reducing yields.

New York Times
http://tinyurl.com/yfjhr9f


Europe ready with cash help for farmers

Farmers in trouble because of the recession could be given up to £13,200 each to help them through.

The European Commission announced yesterday it had approved an application by Defra for emergency aid of as much as 15,000 euros a head for farmers – to be paid as grants and/or subsidised loans. But it was not clear last night if the money would actually be made available.

Yorkshire Post
http://tinyurl.com/ycuptfn


Farm fined over stream pollution at Wrangle

A farming company has been fined £10,000 after it admitted polluting a Lincolnshire waterway.

Staples Brothers Limited pleaded guilty to two charges arising from incidents where sewage got into a tributary at Wrangle between June and August 2009.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/yj9b3vt


Dairy skills exported to Africa

Dairy farming expertise from southern Scotland is to help tackle poverty and aid economic growth in Malawi.

The Scottish Agricultural College’s Dairy Research Centre in Dumfries is to lead the three-year project.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/yd2wadx


Association says AD plans hard to swallow

PLANS to step up the use of anaerobic digestion (AD) to dispose of waste and generate power published by Defra have quickly drawn criticism that they do not go far enough.

The document – Accelerating the Uptake of Anaerobic Digestion in England: an Implementation Plan – sets out the steps that Defra says need to be taken to turn AD into a significant force in energy generation.

The Journal
http://tinyurl.com/yac7o3e


‘Welfare issues’ at Blackhall petting farm

An animal campaign group says it has uncovered evidence of serious welfare issues at a County Durham petting farm.

The Captive Animals’ Protection Society (Caps) claims sick animals were untreated and dead ones left to rot at Tweddle Animal Farm.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/yjj7pww

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name