Know How / Carbon BREEDING AND FERTILITYNew breeding tools target flock efficiency and methane outputSelecting for low methane alongside desirable production traits could cut emissions by 10-20% over 10 years without compromising efficiency, a three-year research project has found. Data from more than 13,000… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONBiomethane backed as rural growth engine in ScotlandScotland could unlock £10bn of economic value and create about 8,000 jobs by dramatically expanding biomethane production, according to a new industry-backed report. Launched at the Royal Highland Show at… ENVIRONMENTAHDB baselining project shows farmers store more carbonThe amount of carbon stored beneath farmland may be significantly greater than previously thought, according to new research by the GB levy boards. Results from its comprehensive baselining project, covering… DAIRYHow breeding index could reduce dairy carbon footprintThe dairy genetic index EnviroCow can deliver environmental benefits on commercial dairy farms with a cumulative potential reduction in carbon footprint of up to 16%, according to a UK study.… DAIRYWhy cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shedFor one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms… BUSINESSWhat the biomethane revolution could mean for UK farmsThe UK produces about 7TWh (terawatt-hours) of energy from slurry, food waste, manure and crops, each year meeting just 1% of gas demand. However, the potential biomethane demand and output… ARABLEHow farmers can deliver for nature and their businessBalancing food production with delivering for nature is something many farmers are seeking to achieve. And there are ways to make environmental improvements, while also benefiting the bottom line. Practices… CARBONUpland sheep grazing protects stable soil carbon, shows studyA new study has highlighted the environmental benefits of upland sheep and suggests that their removal may negatively affect the long-term storage of stable soil carbon. The Manchester University study,… ENVIRONMENTHow Focus Farms are helping royal estate on regen journeyThe Duchy of Cornwall has a long history of trying to do right by nature, with both the current Duke (Prince William) and his predecessor (King Charles) renowned for their… BEEFHow efficiencies are cutting beef unit’s carbon footprintLess reliance on bought-in cereals and greater use of home-grown forage in cattle rations, as well as a sharper focus on herd health, are driving down greenhouse gas emissions from… LIVESTOCKHow rotational hedge management is helping store more carbonHedgerows managed on a 12- to 15-year laying rotation store six times more carbon than those flailed annually, studies on a Cornish beef farm have shown. Overall carbon emissions at… LIVESTOCKEgg producer's verdict on best alternative protein for layersFrom manure to processing, emissions from egg production can be tricky to manage. But replacing some, or all, of the soya in a standard flock’s diet with other proteins is…
