DEFRA have published statistics on UK Biodiversity Indicators which give a mixed picture of changes to biodiversity in the UK. Whilst some indicators showed both short and long term improvement, others showed declines. The press release with further detail can be found on the DEFRA website.
An agricultural contractor in Wiltshire has been fined £1,800 plus costs after being prosecuted by the Environment Agency for polluting a brook with slurry which had run off an adjacent field. The full story can be found on the Environment Agency website.
DEFRA have published the latest compensation tables for animals slaughtered for TB, BSE, brucellosis and EBL for April 2009. They can be found on the DEFRA website.
A new Grazing Exchange has been set up in East Anglia to match livestock owners in search of grazing land with landowners who have grass available. The Grazing Exchange is supported by Natural England, Easton College and the Eastern Region Grazing Forum. More information is available on the Eastern Region Grazing Forum website.
The Commission for Rural Communities has announced that £19 million of funding from the Bog Lottery Fund will be available to 55 villages to restore or build village halls. For further information, go to the CRC website.
CRC have produced the latest in thier series of Rural Recession Intelligence Reports, focussing on rural housing. This finds that despite a fall in rural house prices, affordability remains a problem and repossessions are on the increase. A summary of the report can be found on the CRC website.
DEFRA has published regional sustainable development indicator results for English Regions. These indicators are to support the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy and it has been possible to produce regional versions for use by the Government Office Regions. It is hoped that these indicators will help to provide a better perspective of sustainable development within regions. Further information is available on the DEFRA website....
Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, has today announced that the South Downs is to become England's ninth National Park. This will see an area of 627 square miles becoming designated with this new status. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
Campaigners opposed to a proposed new eco-town in Warwickshire are taking their case to the Court of Appeal, according to a report on the Planning Portal website.
FWAG have launched the 2009 Silver Lapwing Awards and application forms can be downloaded from the FWAG website.
Welsh Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has today announced the next steps to be taken with the Welsh TB eradication programme. A badger cull is to be carried out within an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) which is to be located within Dyfed, with North Pembrokeshire being the preferred location. Further assessments are to now be carried out. Further information is available on the WAG website.
The Forestry Commission are inviting nominations for the Ian Forshaw Memorial Medal which recognises outstanding contributions to Welsh forestry. Further information is available on the Forestry Commission website and the closing date for nominations is 15th June 2009.
RIDBA have announced that a new edition of the Farm Buildings Handbook will be launched on April 7th. The book covers all aspects of farm building construction including legislation, planning, design and specification. It will be available direct from RIDBA or via Amazon or specialist retailers, priced at £12.
Farmers Weekly have published an article on IHT written by CAAV Secretary and Adviser, Jeremy Moody. To view the article, go to the Farmers Weekly website.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced today that an injectable bovine TB vaccine for badgers will begin to be used from 2010. Initially vaccination will be carried out in up to six areas where there is a high incidence of bovine TB and will continue for a minimum of five years. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
English Heritage is launching the first national survey of England's 9,300 Conservation Areas in order to assess their condition. The survey will take the form of a questionnaire to local authorities and the results are expected to be announced in June. For further information, go to the English Heritage website.
It is understood from reports by the Farmers Guardian that the bovine TB compensation case (Partridge Farms) appeal which was heard in the Court of Appeal on 16th and 17th March has concluded and judgment has been reserved. Further information is available on the Farmers Guardian website.
Natural England have brought a case against a dog walker who allowed 3 dogs to roam off their leads in a Nature Reserve which was also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The dog walker was prosecuted under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and fined £250 with £250 costs. The full press release can be found on the Natural England website.
A Suffolk farmer was fined £2,500 with £4,609 costs when he admitted causing pollution of a watercourse with pesticide. The pesticide had travelled through drains from the sprayer filling site to the stream, where it killed crayfish and invertebrates. The Environment Agency stated that the case showed the importance of siting pesticide handling areas well away from drainage systems. A more detailed report is available on the Environment Agency website....
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has announced the statutory levy rates for 2009/10. Most are unchanged from last year with the exception of the levy on pig producers. The full press release can be seen on the DEFRA website.