Spain - MARM presents ECOGAN
The Spanish Minister of Agriculture has presented the software ECOGAN, an application for the estimation of emissions and consumption of resources in farms.
Page 31 of articles about environment
European Union - Commission explores carbon tax
The European Commission is studying the possibility of introducing a carbon tax with the aim of giving farmers an incentive to use the least polluting fuels and reducing household energy consumption.
Ireland - Dept calls on parties to provide Nitrates feedback
A six-week consultation period on the new Nitrates Action Plan is set to be announced by the departments of Agriculture and Environment this week.
Genencor welcomes biofuel guidelines
The European Commission has made a decision on guidelines on biofuel sustainability and certification
USA - EPA publishes new guidance on CAFO discharges
The Environmental Protection Agency published a new 18-page guidance document it says "provides clarification of some regulatory requirements" for CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) on national discharge permits.
Comparison of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from fattening pigs kept either on partially slatted floor in cold conditions or on fully slatted floor in thermoneutral conditions
Continuous measurements of ammonia and greenhouse gas were achieved on exhaust air from two fattening rooms differing by the type of floor (totally slatted vs partially slatted floor) and the ambient temperature. Temperature was regulated at 18°C in the room with partially slatted floor (room CP18) and 24°C in the room with fully slatted floor (CI24).
France - Continued support for energy improvement in agriculture
The French minister of agriculture, Bruno le Maire, has decided to maintain the plan for energy improvement in agriculture to which 29.2 million euros will be assigned.
The effect of adding fibre sources to diets on the volatilisation of ammonia and the production of methane from pig effluents
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the incorporation of 20% of three raw materials rich in fibre (dried distiller's grain solubles, sugar beet pulp and oily rapeseed cake) on animal growth performance, nitrogen and carbon excretions, and ammonia volatilisation and methane production from effluents.
UK - Pigs and poultry farm practices survey 2009
79% of holdings with outdoor pigs use a site rotation system with an average of 17 months being spent in a paddock before rotation.
United Kingdom - Recent changes to the NVZ boundary
The NVZ boundary was revised in May 2010 as a result of appeals by farmers against the decision to designate land within an NVZ.
33 Smithfield Foods Facilities Recognized with AMI Environmental MAPS Awards
Thirty-three Smithfield Foods, Inc. facilities in 18 states have been recognized by the American Meat Institute with Environmental MAPS Recognition Awards for their longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship through the organization and implementation of Environmental Management Systems and/or achievement of ISO 14001 certification.
Netherlands -Twenty percent fewer livestock will curb manure oversupply
The oversupply of manure from Dutch livestock farms is rising as a result of stricter environmental regulations. To solve this problem without manure export or technological innovations, the number of livestock will have to be reduced by twenty percent before 2020, reports the Agricultural Economics Research Institute (LEI).
The GIRO Technological Centre promotes biogas generation from slaughterhouse waste
The GIRO TC is organizing an international workshop to disseminate new ideas and scientific knowledge to enhance slaughterhouse waste energy recovery into biogas.
USA - USDA looks at energy production on U.S. farms, ranches
The most recent Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 farms and ranches that were producing their own energy.
United Kingdom - Farmers being challenged on their environmental performance
A new survey released by Farming Futures – an industry-led project which helps farmers respond to climate change – reveals that one in four farmers have noticed increased interest from customers in their environmental performance over the past year.
