News & Blogs - July 2010

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Could future water scarcity mean shorter not longer growing seasons for UK farmers?
Increased investment is being poured (excuse the pun) into securing water supplies for farmers and growers in East Anglia. On-farm reservoirs are flying through planning permission and food giants such as PepsiCo are investing heavily in technology,...
Will Frazer~Friday, 30 July, 2010 - 17:10  |  0 comments
Wind of change in the uplands
Travelling to Middlesmoor in the heart of the Nidderdale Area of National Beauty (AONB) to look at Stephen Ramsden’s wind turbine really shouldn’t have filled me with that much excitement. I had seen it all before some three years ago an...
David Hugill~Friday, 30 July, 2010 - 11:47  |  0 comments
My beef with soya
When I read the newspaper, about all sorts of things of which I have only a general grasp, I tend to accept that the story presented is basically true. But when I see a piece about a subject of which I consider myself to have some knowledge, there on...
Dr Duncan Pullar~Monday, 26 July, 2010 - 11:32  |  0 comments
Climate news and knowledge#3
In the last couple of weeks there has been discussion around ways to reduce emissions from agriculture by looking at landuse overseas, evidence that Kent is realising its own climate of opportunity and debate over how to ensure food security alongsi...
Will Frazer~Friday, 23 July, 2010 - 18:03  |  0 comments
Let them eat grass?
A herd of 8,000 dairy cows housed indoors all year round, fed, watered and monitored for optimal health? Is it the future of ‘low carbon’ dairy farming? You’ve probably heard the mantra: efficiency, efficiency, efficiency – it...
Madeleine Lewis~Friday, 23 July, 2010 - 08:00  |  0 comments
Growing up - is vertical farming the future?
Are high rise farms, vertical farming, and urban farming the solution to feeding our growing population? More and more architects, politicians and urban planners are latching on to the idea that something radical has to be done to feed the world...
Valcent~Wednesday, 21 July, 2010 - 15:36  |  0 comments
Hotting up - the Renewable Heat Incentive
Heating farmhouses and farm buildings already costs enough, but most experts agree that energy prices are only going one way – up. Farmers have been quick to explore the benefits from the Feed-in Tariffs introduced in April, and now there...
Rebecca Seaman~Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 - 16:36  |  1 comments
Reduce traffic and get soil in pole position
Over the past decade there has been a drive towards the adoption of conservation agriculture to reduce costs and increase carbon sequestration. But this is causing concern due to the potentially negative effects of increased soil compaction. So, how...
Tim Chamen~Friday, 16 July, 2010 - 09:57  |  0 comments
Miscanthus - Biomass, briquettes and BBQs
I wouldn’t describe myself as an eco-warrior, in fact far from it. But on my placement year out from Harper Adams University College I have discovered a different mindset. UK farmers and landowners are ultimately the custodians of our great Bri...
Tim Sedgewick~Tuesday, 13 July, 2010 - 09:58  |  3 comments
Climate news and knowledge#2
In the last couple of weeks there has been talk of uncertainty about investment in AD, innovative responses to the impacts of the dry spell, spiced up sheep and super cows... Are we getting left behind on AD?Despite encouraging noises from Governmen...
Will Frazer~Friday, 9 July, 2010 - 14:19  |  0 comments
Could trade be the answer to the water crunch?
In the North West of England a hosepipe ban is currently looming and farmers are facing restricted abstraction licenses. But despite the dry conditions water is not yet in such short supply elsewhere because of groundwater reserves. Could water trad...
Will Frazer~Friday, 9 July, 2010 - 11:38  |  1 comments
Less fuel and more cash - DIY for cereal growers
Improving the efficiency of field cultivations doesn’t have to be about big investment - as you will well know there are often simple solutions sitting right under your nose. A simple leveling board on your ‘combination drill’ can d...
Michael Donovan~Thursday, 8 July, 2010 - 11:41  |  0 comments
Should British consumers only eat British produce?
Last month at the Cereals show, I was asked to compete in a Royal Agricultural College team to debate the motion ‘This House Believes that British Consumers do not need to consume only British Produce.’ Initially I was hesitant to state s...
Angharad Evans~Monday, 5 July, 2010 - 12:16  |  0 comments
Water, water all around, and not a drop to drink!
Rainfall in the first five months of 2010 was the lowest in 45 years this blog reported last week! Being located in Cheshire which is famous for green fields and lots of rainfall, water’s not always been something we’ve been worried about...
John Allwood~Friday, 2 July, 2010 - 14:54  |  0 comments
Vertical farms and hydroponics for Qatar
Bold plans have been set out by Qatar to achieve national food security in the wake of the food crisis two years ago. Qatar plans to increase the area of cultivated land by up to 85,000 hectares. In an area of the world where access to fresh water ha...
Will Frazer~Thursday, 1 July, 2010 - 15:30  |  2 comments