Small Farms Get Priority for Nature Funding
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announces smaller farms will get first access to the Sustainable Farming Incentive in June. Learn about the new application window and the scheme's limited budget.
Category : Search result: Westmorland farming
Bird Flu in US Dairy: A Warning for UK Food System
The spread of H5N1 bird flu through US mega-dairies exposes the dangers of industrial farming. As the UK's dairy sector consolidates, are we facing similar risks?
1951: How Rough Fell Sheep Survived Snow in the Dales
A look back at Harry Griffin's first Guardian Country Diary from 1951, detailing how Rough Fell ewes in Westmorland dug snow holes for shelter during harsh winter weather. Discover timeless farming resilience.
Pink Slime on Tasmanian Beach Prompts Algal Bloom Fears
A mysterious pink slime has appeared on secluded Tasmanian beaches, prompting fears of a harmful algal bloom. Authorities are testing as scientists warn of rapid growth and potential risks to marine life.
Jordan's ancient olive harvest wilts under record heat
Record-breaking heat and drought have destroyed 70% of Jordan's olive crop, endangering livelihoods and a centuries-old tradition. Discover the impact on families and the economy.
Somerset farmers trial bulrush crop on peat to lock carbon
On the Somerset Levels, innovative 'paludiculture' sees bulrush harvested for insulation, offering a sustainable future for waterlogged peat and fighting climate change. Discover the novel farming method.
Critics Slam UK Animal Welfare Strategy as Inadequate
A Guardian editorial praising UK animal welfare reforms has sparked fierce backlash. Critics argue the strategy merely tinkers with a brutal system, comparing it to Victorian cholera fixes, and call for a fundamental shift away from meat consumption.
Brazil's Caatinga shifts to arid zone, desert threat grows
A 5,700 sq km area in Brazil's north-east is now classified as arid, the country's first. Climate change is accelerating desertification, devastating goat herders' livelihoods. Read the full report.
Animal welfare strategy lacks wildlife and factory farm focus
Experts argue the government's new animal welfare strategy fails to protect free-living wildlife and doesn't halt factory farming expansion. Read the critical response.
Vezo people adapt to climate change with seaweed farming
Facing collapsing fish stocks, Madagascar's semi-nomadic Vezo people are cultivating seaweed as a vital new income. Discover how climate change and industrial trawling are reshaping an ancient maritime culture.
Inheritance tax threshold for farms raised to £2.5m
Ministers increase the inheritance tax threshold for agricultural assets from £1m to £2.5m following fierce backlash from farmers and rural MPs. The move aims to protect family farms from being broken up.
Labour's Animal Welfare Plan Sparks 'War on Countryside' Row
The government unveils a sweeping ban on puppy farming and trail hunting. Critics accuse Labour of ignoring rural Britain, while animal charities welcome the reforms.
England to ban hen cages and pig farrowing crates
The UK government announces a historic ban on battery cages for hens and farrowing crates for pigs in England by 2027, marking a major victory for animal welfare campaigners.
Puppy farms, snares and trail hunting to be banned
Sweeping animal welfare reforms will outlaw puppy farming, snaring and trail hunting. New laws to phase out colony cages and farrowing crates by 2030. Read the full details.
Halophytes: Could salt-loving plants save coastal farming?
As rising seas salinise soils, scientists and chefs in the Venice lagoon are turning to forgotten halophytes. Discover how these resilient plants could safeguard our food future.
Farmers 'bewildered and frightened' by inheritance tax reforms
A major government review identifies inheritance tax as the single biggest threat to farming viability. New 20% levy on farms over £1m sparks industry fear and protests. Read the full report.
Nature-friendly farming schemes hit by funding and contract issues
England's ambitious landscape recovery scheme faces low uptake as new contracts allow termination with just one year's notice and funding is slashed. Conservationists warn of a major step back for wildlife.
Seismic Waves Could Revolutionise Soil Health Mapping
A groundbreaking technique using seismic waves to map soil health could boost crop yields and help prevent famine. Experts say it's a potential 'holy grail' for agriculture.
Seismic Waves to Unlock Soil Health Secrets
A breakthrough project using seismology promises to 'see' into soil, boosting yields and cutting pollution. Could this be the holy grail of sustainable agriculture?
UK farmers lose £828m after hottest spring and summer
A new study reveals UK arable farmers face over £800m in losses after the hottest spring and summer on record devastated harvests. Discover the impact on food security and calls for urgent support.
Myanmar conflict drives 18% rise in opium farming
The ongoing civil war in Myanmar has triggered an 18% annual increase in opium poppy cultivation, reshaping global narcotics supply chains and funding armed groups. Read the full analysis.
Young NZ Farmers Struggle with Land Ownership
Young farmers in New Zealand face impossible barriers to land ownership despite feeding the nation. Discover the human stories behind the statistics and what's being done.
Clarkson bans non-British cakes from his pub
Jeremy Clarkson enforces a strict 100% British ingredient policy at his pub, The Farmer's Dog, even banning customer birthday cakes. Discover his costly commitment to UK farming.
California farms sprayed 15m lbs of PFAS on crops
Shocking study reveals California farms applied 15 million pounds of PFAS 'forever chemicals' to food crops between 2018-2023, posing serious health risks to consumers and farmworkers.
Treasury delays farming report until after Budget
Government accused of burying farming review revealing inheritance tax concerns. Key report with 57 recommendations delayed until after Autumn Budget. Read the full story.
Bird flu outbreak: UK government imposes new measures
The UK government has announced new national measures to contain a spike in bird flu cases. Here's what you need to know about the risk and the safety of poultry products.
Brazil's Green Desert: Farmers Reclaim Land
In Brazil's Bahia state, local communities are fighting back against vast eucalyptus plantations that have created ecological dead zones, threatening water supplies and traditional livelihoods.
UK livestock farms exposed in climate emissions scandal
Shocking investigation reveals hundreds of factory farms failing to report their climate impact, undermining Britain's net zero targets and environmental accountability.
UK Farming Crisis: Third of Farmers Made No Profit
Shocking new data reveals nearly a third of UK farmers operated at break-even or loss in the past year, threatening Britain's food security and rural economy.
Remote Control Technology Transforms UK Farming Practices
Discover how cutting-edge remote control technology is reshaping traditional farming practices across the UK countryside, bringing unprecedented efficiency to modern agriculture.
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