Woodland Trust event calls for farmers to respond to Defra Command Paper

Last week I attended an event organised by the Woodland Trust and hosted by Stephen Briggs at his farm in Cambridgeshire. The aim of the afternoon was partly to introduce farmers to the potential for using agroforestry on their farms, partly to discuss the Defra ‘Health and Harmony’ consultation document and partly to encourage delegatesContinueContinue reading “Woodland Trust event calls for farmers to respond to Defra Command Paper”

Who will win the Hedge Cutting debate? Birds v Contractors

In this week’s Farmers Weekly it is difficult to ignore their campaign to repeal the August hedge cutting ban. It seems that the furrows in the brows of contractors are getting deeper and two years after the ban was put in place they continue to call for its reversal. It is an issue that seems toContinueContinue reading “Who will win the Hedge Cutting debate? Birds v Contractors”

What’s the future for Oil Seed Rape?

It won’t come as a shock to many to hear that the year thus far has been incredibly warm and dry, particularly in the south and east of the UK. Back in September, Gravesend in Kent faced temperatures of 34.4 degrees celsius, the hottest September day in more than 100 years. Other areas have sufferedContinueContinue reading “What’s the future for Oil Seed Rape?”

Bees , Pesticides and Politicians

A week ago, all eyes in the European arable industry were on the European Commission as they decided whether or not to place a ban on neonicotinoids, the pesticide family thought to be influencing the decline in bee populations. In fact, in the end, only 15 member states voted for the ban on clothianidin, imidacloprid andContinueContinue reading “Bees , Pesticides and Politicians”