Case Studies Category
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Defra to meet the cost of removing sheep killed in snow
Farmers in England are to be reimbursed for the cost of removing sheep killed in last month's snowfall. Defra is making up to £250,000 available to help cover the cost of removing sheep that didn't survive the freak weather. The move is the latest in a programme of support to help England's farmers, who have already been permitted to bury or burn livestock onsite. Farming Minister, David Heath, comments: "As I saw on my recent visit ...
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Maximise milk’s value or lose supplies says NFU
Dairy farmers expect forward-looking buyers to seek markets that maximise the value of milk and dairy products, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) said today. Around 85% of milk procurement volume is now signed up to the Dairy Industry Code of Best Practice for Contractual Relations. In addition, major milk buyers are developing modern, dynamic milk pricing mechanisms and the general public has a much better understanding of the situation facing British farmers. According to NFU dairy board chairman, ...
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Search for the UK’s most enterprising places
A competition to find the local community which is the most creative and successful in creating new jobs, supporting start-up businesses and promoting enterprise, is now open. The "Enterprising Britain Awards" celebrate the best public and private sector work that promotes business development in communities across the UK. There are four categories in this year’s awards: The most enterprising place in the UK. The organisation that best promotes enterprise. The organisation most successful in encouraging businesses to export. The school/FE college ...
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Surveillance cameras used to combat bovine TB
Infrared surveillance cameras monitoring badger visits to cattle farms are to be used in a new study to determine the risk faced by individual farms of badgers entering buildings. Defra has announced that cameras will be installed at 75 volunteer farms across South West England and over a four week period will count the number of badger visits. The study will also determine what factors encourage badgers to visit farm buildings regularly. Badger visits to farm buildings ...
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RSA raises profile in renewables sector
RSA has raised its profile in the renewables sector by insuring the construction and the operation of the largest wind farm project in the Netherlands. Work on the Noordoostpolder Wind Farm near Emmeloord began in February and the first batch of 26 wind turbines are expected to be completed in the first half of 2014. They will have a height of 135 meters and a blade diameter of over 127 meters, making the turbines the largest of ...
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Government update on heat strategy
One year on from the launch of the UK’s first ever heat strategy, the Government has set out the next steps to ensure low carbon heating plays an important role in the nation’s energy mix. The scale of the challenge is huge, with over 80% of heating used in UK homes, businesses and industry produced by burning fossil fuels, and over a third of the UK’s carbon emissions coming from the energy used to produce heat. However, ...
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Search for Chalara-resistant Ash intensifies
A major project to find Chalara-resistant Ash trees has been announced by Defra. The £1.5 million scheme, which forms part of the Chalara Management Plan published earlier this week, will see a quarter of a million young Ash trees planted in up to 25 sites. The sites will mainly be in East Anglia as this is the area with the most cases of Chalara, and the young trees will be exposed and monitored in the search for ...
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Rural broadband fund launched
Businesses in England’s remotest spots could benefit from superfast internet as the third round of the £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund opens today. The fund aims to help rural communities with limited or no internet to access superfast broadband, giving rural businesses a greater opportunity to profit and grow. Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, comments: “By getting people better connected, the Government’s £20 million broadband fund will give businesses and a boost and benefit the local economy.” The ...
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CAP policy deals stuck
The UK has struck a number of deals to keep the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on its path of reform. In response to pressure, the Agriculture Council has provided reassurance that each of the four UK countries can continue to implement CAP regionally. Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, comments: “A one size fits all approach to CAP just doesn’t work. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales must be allowed the freedom to deliver outcomes tailored to their own ...
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New route for SMEs to highlight problems with banks
In the wake of the interest rate swap mis-selling scandal, the Government wants to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to highlight the problems they are experiencing with banks. Representative bodies of SMEs and consumers generally can now apply to be designated as "super-complainants" to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Once designated they will have a fast-tracked route to raise issues in financial services markets with the new regulator, which will be required to ...
