Minister of State for Agriculture and Food David Heath has today announced the re-appointment of Anthony Hams OBE to the National Forestry Company for three years. Robin Pellew and David Nicholls have also been reappointed for one year. Biographical …
New appointments to England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Conservation Boards have been made by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson. The appointments took effect at the start of April. The post-holders …
Some of the world’s greatest environmental assets will be preserved thanks to a British led initiative, Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced today. The latest round of the Darwin Initiative will see a total of £8.7 million committed over the next …
Infrared surveillance cameras monitoring badger visits to cattle farms will be used in a new study to determine the risk faced by individual farms of badgers entering buildings. Surveillance cameras will be installed at 75 volunteer farms across South West …
Defra has permitted the on-farm burial or burning of carcases for farmers affected by the bad weather. The recent bad weather has been a severe blow to British farmers making it extremely difficult for farmers to dispose of animal carcases. During these …
New appointments to England’s National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority have been made by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson. Each appointment will take effect from 1 April 2013. The post-holders are the …
A major project to find Chalara-resistant ash trees has been announced by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. The £1.5 million project is part of the latest Chalara Management Plan published today, and will see a quarter of a million young ash trees …
The Government has brought in a temporary and limited emergency relaxation in driver hour regulations to deliver feed supplies to livestock farms to make sure essential deliveries of animal feed get through during the current extreme winter weather …
Businesses and homes in England’s remotest spots could benefit from superfast internet as the third round of the £20m Rural Community Broadband Fund opens today. The fund is part of the joint Defra/Broadband Delivery UK Fund and aims to help hard to reach …
Up to 450 homes and businesses in Northamptonshire’s Tove Valley are expected to benefit from superfast broadband after a £117,000 grant was approved to get the scheme underway. The Defra grant will help homes and businesses to overcome social and economic …
A triennial review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) starts today, Environment Minister, Richard Benyon announced. The JNCC provides evidence and advice to underpin the Government’s environmental policies. The aim of the review is to look …
The UK has struck a deal to keep the Common Agricultural Policy on its path of reform, the Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson announced today. In response to pressure from the UK, the Agriculture Council has provided reassurance that each of the four UK …
Spring is on its way and this Tuesday, Defra will harness the power of Twitter and lead a 12-hour “tweet-a-thon” to celebrate England’s forests and mark the first week of spring. This marathon Twitter event will run from 9am to 9pm and together with lots …
British agri-technology firms are hoping to take advantage of a new trade agreement planned between the EU and Thailand. The agreement, which is currently being negotiated in Brussels, reflects the growing business relationship between the UK and Thailand …
The spread of bovine TB led to the slaughter of 28,284 cattle in England in 2012, a 7% increase compared to 2011. New statistics, published today, highlight the growing impact of the disease on the UK dairy and beef industry and emphasise the need to take …
When asked what a “blackberry” is, 82 per cent of people aged 16-24 instantly thought of a mobile phone rather than a fruit according to new figures published today. Results from an online YouGov poll also showed 55 per cent of the UK population haven’t …
The Ecosystem Markets Task Force has published its final report into business opportunities that also benefit the environment which is available to view online here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ecosystem-markets/work/publications-reports/ Responding to the …
“The vast majority of test results from food retailers, wholesalers, and caterers are now in. The results continue to show that over 99 per cent of processed beef products are what they say they are on the label. “The food industry and Food Standards …
Discards will become a thing of the past after the UK Government secured a historic victory in Brussels to set firm dates to introduce a ban. The agreement signals a momentous step towards fundamental reform of the broken Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and …
Two pilot badger culls to tackle the spread of bovine TB will go ahead this summer in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson confirmed today. Speaking at the National Farmers Union (NFU) annual conference, Mr Paterson …
