Farm Gate

ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) and Phil Carson catch up on the week's land use news - and meet forestry expert, Andrew Heald.

News items they discuss:

Highland estate to generate biodiversity credits with SLR and RePlanet

https://8point9.com/highland-estate-to-generate-biodiversity-credits-with-slr-and-replanet/

How will BNG affect the UK biodiversity credit market? Max Bodmer, RePlanet

https://8point9.com/how-will-bng-affect-the-uk-biodiversity-credit-market-max-bodmer-replanet/

Call for “radical rethink” to reap benefits of UK organic market for farmers

https://8point9.com/call-for-radical-rethink-to-reap-benefits-of-uk-organic-market-for-farmers/

40 projects to benefit from £25 million funding for natural flood management

https://8point9.com/40-projects-to-benefit-from-25-million-funding-for-natural-flood-management/

African Development Bank policies “undermining biodiversity”

https://8point9.com/african-development-bank-policies-undermining-biodiversity/

“China and Brazil can lead harmonised criteria” for green agriculture

https://8point9.com/china-and-brazil-can-lead-harmonised-criteria-for-green-agriculture/

SPECIAL GUEST

Is the UK facing a timber crisis?

https://8point9.com/is-the-uk-facing-a-timber-crisis/

Wood-based construction can reduce emissions and store carbon long-term

https://8point9.com/wood-based-construction-can-reduce-emissions-and-store-carbon-long-term/

LONGER CONVO -

Liberal Democrats promise £1bn extra for English farmers

https://8point9.com/liberal-democrats-promise-1bn-extra-for-english-farmers/

Prime Minister “needs to map a realistic future for farmers”

https://8point9.com/prime-minister-needs-to-map-a-realistic-future-for-farmers/

Welsh Government says “We are listening”

https://8point9.com/welsh-government-says-we-are-listening/

AND Embrace the canopy – Wales’ Sustainable Farm Scheme

https://8point9.com/embrace-the-canopy-wales-sustainable-farm-scheme/

Interviews with:

Max Bodmer from RePlanet - 1'05''

Elina Body from Vet Sustain and The George Farm Vets - 14'45''

Dr Kelly Hemmings from RAU - 24'50''

Navaratnam Partheeban from IVC Evidensia Farm Vets - 30'50''

Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) are joined by regenerative farming expert, Niels Corfield.

Stories discussed:

Fluke control & prevention, beyond testing & treatment

River Action taking government to court over River Wye pollution

First Milk announces acquisition of BV Dairy

Cost of living crisis causing loneliness epidemic for young people 

New housing developments to deliver a boost for nature in landmark move

Labour pulls ahead in crucial battle for the countryside vote

Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) chew through the week's land news, and talk to special guest, Rachel Jones (Sustain), about local food.

News topics discussed:

Scotland: Yousaf to continue 70 per cent direct funding, dependent on greening

https://8point9.com/scotland-yousaf-to-continue-70-per-cent-direct-funding-dependent-on-greening/

Survey reveals bleak relations between landlords and tenant farmers - FFINLO

https://8point9.com/survey-reveals-bleak-relations-between-landlords-and-tenant-farmers/

“Hidden” record of UK’s historic biodiversity to be digitised - PHIL

https://8point9.com/hidden-record-of-uks-historic-biodiversity-to-be-digitised/

UK-wide exhibition spotlights regenerative food producers - FFINLO

https://8point9.com/uk-wide-exhibition-spotlights-regenerative-food-producers/

Traceability markers to deliver transparency in recycled cotton supply chain - PHIL

https://8point9.com/traceability-markers-to-deliver-transparency-in-recycled-cotton-supply-chain/

Cairngorms awarded £10.7 million to become first net zero UK National Park

https://8point9.com/cairngorms-awarded-10-7-million-to-become-first-net-zero-uk-national-park/

National Parks must work for everyone

https://8point9.com/national-parks-must-work-for-everyone/

Four interviews today:

ffinlo and Phil talk through the week's land use news and are joined by special guest, Rhys Evans, from the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Wales.

News stories discussed:

High-tech aerial mapping reveals England’s hedgerow landscape

Economists calculate multi-trillion dollar opportunity to fix global food system

UK-Canada trade talks halted over safeguarding British food standards

“Deep concerns about biosecurity” at new GB border

Soil Association pushes back against criticism of organic salmon

A big win for grassland, but farmers need more

Farming risks being “lured” by far-right rhetoric

Regular hosts Phil Carson and ffinlo Costain are joined by Stephen Alexander from the Nature Friendly Farming Network in Norther Ireland.

News we discuss:

NFU and AHDB to commission independent review of farm assurance

Scottish Government publishes long-awaited Good Food Nation plans

Supermarkets accused of “acting like a cartel”

Farmers aim to save Long Compton Abattoir from closure

Northern Ireland: Four-point plan to back nature-friendly farming

NI faces a “public health emergency” unless permanent access to vet medicines is secured

Future Amoc collapse linked to Greenland ice loss could have “profound impacts”

Research says human behavioural crisis at root of ecological breakdown

A bumper programme, with five interviews covering everything from natural capital markets available to farmers to the fact that climate change is happening faster than predicted in Scotland. We'll hear from the Food Ethics Council about their proposals for UK dairy, from the head of the RSPB's Fair to Nature, and from a farmer who's successfully introduced hemp as a break crop.

Helen Avery from the Green Finance Institute
Abi Williams from the Food Ethics Council
Christy York from the Hutton Wandesley Estate
Mark Varney from Fair to Nature
And Dr Mike Rivington from the James Hutton Institute.

Breed is critical to any livestock operation and an active breeding programme helps farmers to develop their herd around particular beneficial traits.

In the run up to the British Cattle Breeders Club conference this January, we've been taking an in-depth look at how the traits and characteristics needed for regenerative farming differ from mainstream cattle production.

We'll hear from three farmers with active on-farm breeding programmes - Sophie Wilson from Starveall Dairy - Silas Hedley Lawrence from FAI Farms - and Phyllis van Amburgh from Dharma Lea in the USA. We also hear from Rob Havard, who runs the breeding farm, Phepson Angus.

From 8point9.com

This week Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) are joined by Rob Havard from Phepson Angus.

Links to news stories discussed:

Up to £25,000 for farmers affected by flooding

Nuffield report investigates carbon farming and soil carbon markets

A whole-sector approach needed to create resilience in UK dairy sector

Over half of adults want UK farmers to prioritise nature-friendly farming

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8.9 TV: Regenerative beef breeding: Rob Havard, Phepson Angus

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Flexible approaches needed to bring new entrants into small farming businesses

New Toolkit will empower farmers to assess nature market opportunities