farmland News
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Comparing farmland changes in China, the Netherlands and Germany
Converting agricultural land for non-agricultural use has implications for food security and environmental degradation, and concerns many countries across the world. How different nations address these issues has been examined in a recent study which compares the governance structures for farmland conversion in the Netherlands, Germany and China. Working within the RECREATE project1, partly ...
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Abandoned farmland widespread in central and eastern Europe
A new study suggests that abandoned farmland is widespread in Europe and that not all land that has been abandoned is unsuitable for farming. Understanding how abandoned farmland is distributed may be important for making land management decisions – for instance, recultivation versus reversion to forest. To meet the future demands of a growing population, it may be necessary to increase ...
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Birds could provide a simple means of identifying high nature value farmland
New research from central Italy shows that high nature value farmland in the region can be accurately identified by the presence of just four bird species. Once such groups of species have been identified for different regions, they can provide a quick and inexpensive tool for assessing the ecological value of farmland, the researchers say. Agriculture is a major land use across Europe and ...
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Tenth of China`s farmland contaminated
A tenth of China's farmland is contaminated with fertiliser, polluted water and heavy metals, threatening the country's food supply, official Chinese sources have said. As much as 12.3m hectares of farmland are affected by pollution from liquid and solid waste, some of which makes its way into the food supply, China's official news agency Xinhua reported. The statistics, sourced from the ...
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Monitoring farmland biodiversity across Europe: it could cost less than you think
How can we monitor Europe-wide farmland biodiversity so that it makes sense to farmers, is ecologically credible and still is affordable? Two new studies published in the Journal of Applied Ecology and the Journal of Environmental Management think it is possible. These studies were conducted by international groups of scientists including Alterra. Combining stakeholder priorities for biodiversity ...
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New framework aids identification and assessment of High Nature Value farmland from local to EU-scales
With over half of Europe’s species dependent on agricultural habitats, protecting ‘high nature value’ farmland is vital to biodiversity conservation. However, the identification and assessment of such farmland requires careful co-ordination, concludes a recent study. The researchers present a framework to help with this process and make a set of key recommendations. Almost 40% ...
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Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity
Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...
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Farmland biodiversity monitoring costs estimated
Monitoring biodiversity on farms is vital for conservation policies but how much does it cost? In a new pan-European study, researchers develop a standardised monitoring programme and estimate it will cost an average of €8 200 per farm to conduct. This cost could be dramatically cut if volunteer ‘citizen scientists’ or farmers help gather data for the programmes. Monitoring ...
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Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity
Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...
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Protecting farmland biodiversity
A new study describes the rate of loss in plant diversity in intensively farmed fields. The authors recommend that measures to protect biodiversity should focus on low-intensity farmland, due to difficulties associated with rebuilding lost biodiversity in intensively farmed land. Intensive agriculture is one of the main drivers of the decline in worldwide biodiversity. The rate of species ...
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Bees in the city: urban environments could help support pollinators
Urban areas may support higher levels of bee diversity than expected, new research has shown. The UK-wide study compared three different habitat types — nature reserves, farmland, and urban areas — and found a higher number of different bee species in urban areas than farmland. However, the overall pollinator diversity, which included species of bees, flies, hoverflies and ...
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NFU Leads Launch of 2014 International Year of Family Farming Campaign
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson and members of the U.S. national committee to promote the United Nations’ (UN) International Year of Family Farming held a teleconference this morning to kick off events. “NFU is pleased to lead the U.S. efforts as a part of the global initiative that the UN is commencing today,” said Johnson. “In the United States and ...
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Commercial forestry – benefits for biodiversity?
Commercial forestry, often slated as monoculture, may have an important role to play in maintaining biodiversity. This beneficial effect occurs in nearby fields grazed by livestock, rather than the forest itself. This surprising finding could be important for the conservation of grassland species, which have declined dramatically over the past 100 years as agriculture has intensified in Europe. ...
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Syngenta launches The Good Growth Plan
Six commitments to address critical challenges for the planet and its people Comprehensive and ambitious with measurable targets for 2020 Focus on resource efficiency, the environment and rural communities Syngenta today announced six commitments to address the global food security challenge. The Good Growth Plan has specific, ambitious and measurable targets which focus on boosting ...
By Syngenta
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Balanced approach to restoring farmland biodiversity shares and separates land
It is possible to balance agricultural production with improved biodiversity on farmland, according to researchers. A new study suggests using a combination of land sharing techniques, which enhance biodiversity on existing farmland, with land separation techniques, which designate separate areas for conservation and farmland production. The expansion of agriculture and intensification of ...
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12 week curfew for depositing tyres on farmland
For two years Adrian Last illegally stored waste tyres on disused farm land in Louth while trading as The Branch/Crusade on Waste. Yesterday (Monday 27 January), Boston Magistrates Court sentenced him to a 12 week electronically monitored curfew. Last will be required to stay indoors between the hours of 8pm and 3am. The Court also told him he would pay £500 towards the Environment ...
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TC Growers Update: ‘So You Want to Start a Farm’ Registration Open
Assistance is always important when starting a market farm or attempting to access land. Community help, mentors, partners and expertise are required to successfully get your farm business off the ground, and SFA’s Twin Cities Growers Network is partnering with U. of M. Extension for two upcoming workshops that will explore these topics. First, TC Growers coordinator Karl Hakanson will ...
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Alan Heuberger Elected to Deere & Company Board of Directors
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) today announced the election of Alan C. Heuberger to the company's Board of Directors. Mr. Heuberger is a senior investment manager at BMGI, the office responsible for all non-Microsoft investments for William H. Gates III as well as for the investments of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. These investments include Deere & Company. "We look forward ...
By John Deere
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Obama seeks 5% spending cuts for all agencies
This week, as part of an effort by the Obama administration to cut spending and address the out-of-control federal budget deficit, the White House has asked federal agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent. In the announcement, Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who’s the top fiscal adviser for the administration, announced that all "non-security" agencies will ...
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Agri-environment Schemes: Call for more landscape connectivity
A popular way to improve biodiversity is to provide financial rewards for environmentally friendly methods of managing farmland. A recent study investigates how the benefits of these schemes can be optimised and made more cost-effective. The findings highlight the importance of hedgerow trees in the survival of farmland wildlife. By 2010, the European Commission aims to halt the decline of ...
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