Grazing pressure has transformed our world and it must be used again to transform it once more. The Sahara was created by grazing pressure and is expanding as a consequence. The same applies to the American dust bowl. The Highland clearances combined with the removal of predators like Lynx and Wolves have devastated Scotland. That perceived magnificent scenery is man made. The Lake District should be covered in Atlantic rain forest. Samuel Johnson once complained bitterly that his beloved “Peak District had been ruined by cutting down all the trees and building thousands of miles of hideous dry stone walls”. Although the title of this post is simple “grazing pressure” I am including grazing of plants other than grasses here. That includes tree leaves, seedlings and even water plants. this is more accurately called browsing. It is not just cows sheep and rabbits that do the damage. So do goats, deer and other small mammals. Our insatiable demand in the west for meat has changed our world. We have also hunted other large predators almost…

Fantastic, we can now have meat, sugar and butter grown in the lab. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ern1zjkvyo Meat, sugar and butter grown in the lab How efficient is it to grow meat? Lets have a look. Who is doing it? IFT? We talked to Ivy Farm Technologies in Oxford who are ready to go with lab-grown steaks, made from cells taken from Wagyu and Aberdeen Angus cows. Can you have a fatty steak or streaky bacon? It takes two years at least to grow most steaks.

Sugar and the Bees – Sustainable Food Production The use of neonicotinoids is controversial, but we know that they are absolutely lethal to bees. They are a class of neurotoxic pesticides, banned in the EU, loved by Sugar Beet farmers in the UK. Their use has sparked intense debate among scientists, environmentalists and policymakers. As their impact on ecosystems becomes increasingly evident, the call for a ban on these substances has gained momentum. This post will explore the effect of such a ban which finally appears to be in place on the UK Statute Book. On the other hand and rather dramatically, Sugar could be described as lethal to humans. This is the crop which is reliant on Neonicotinoids grown around 100,000 hectares n the UK. Sugar beet is grown entirely to produce Sugar. It has a byproduct, Sugar Beet Pulp which is a useful animal feed with about two million tonnes produced each year. Farmer Reaction and Why this is a Great Development for UK Farmers The Farming lobby and the NFU are up…

The concept of net zero is flawed, although achieving an equilibrium between carbon output and carbon sequestration is a fine ambition. However we don’t measure outputs properly or report them properly. This leads to what I refer to as Net Zero Nonsense. It is a political ambition whose date can rather conveniently be moved around to suit other policy choices. Let’s have a look at why the concept of Net Zero is terminally flawed. Introduction to Net Zero The term net zero has gained significant traction in recent years, particularly as nations, corporations, and individuals strive to address climate change. Simply put, net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equal amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere. However, understanding the nuances of this concept is crucial for effective action against climate change. This article delves into the challenges and misconceptions surrounding net zero, particularly highlighting the complexities and pitfalls associated with its implementation in various sectors, including the aviation industry. What is Net Zero? Net zero is a…

As storm Eowyn hits Yorkshire I wonder how many climate change warnings do we need. We are definitively in a climate emergency, despite the denials from international leaders and influencers who should know better. How Many Climate Change Warnings do we Need What are the 7 effects of climate change? What are 10 ways to reduce global warming? Government Trump

Ghost Bats are under serious threat. This highlights a huge issue that the human race has in the fight against climate change. Entitlement. We must change our attitudes on land ownership. We must challenge the big five world agribusinesses. Five large multinationals dominate the agricultural value chain: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Bunge, Cargill, China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC). The article below tells you all you need to know about how self interested land owners think they an do what they like with the land. Not Another Ghost – Surely This Has To Stop . . . https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/14/out-of-sight-and-out-of-mind-conservationists-alarmed-as-nt-land-clearing-threatens-endangered-ghost-bat-habitat When are the human race going to stop and think about their actions? We need to reach a point where removal of any trees any where on our precious world is treated as a crime against humanity, a war crime. It is that serious. This habitat cannot be replaced or moved or offset with some carbon credits. The proposal is to clear 6000 Hectares of forest in the Northern Territory. Australia’s environment…

This post explains why Crofting is Sustainable Farming, particularly on farming with beef and sheep. Why? Firstly it is important to state that crofting is a developed traditional farming system that makes best use of it’s local environment for farming. The fact it is relatively not harmful for wildlife is coincidental and crucial. The only fertiliser used traditionally is seaweed. That’s fine within reason. It is also coincidental because support of crofting is national policy in Scotland. How is it that Crofting is sustainable farming?

From a farmers perspective times are hard. Not least, the weather has been awful for the last year. However that is not the only issue. We live in changing times where the guaranteed subsidies available under the European Union are being removed. Alternative programs are being put in place such as the ……………………………. and the Welsh …………………………… This is why we are developing the Shepherds of the Trees project. A Farmers Perspective Times are changing. The weather is more challenging. Our relationship with the EU has changed. Meat consumption is falling. Certain industries, namely sheep, beef and dairy are highly inefficient uses of land and energy. Is it really that hard to find an external link for farming