DEFRA

A red squirrel feeds in the Trosssachs on September 28, 2018 in Aberfoyle, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Tackling threat of grey squirrels to red squirrel population: Rebecca Pow

Steve Barclay leaves 10 Downing Street, London. PIC: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Why Defra needs someone with farming experience as Minister - Sarah Todd

While government announcements were welcomed on Back British Farming Day, more can be done said the NFU.

"What we have is still a million miles away" - NFU on help for farmers

Brucella canis can spread from dogs to humans in rare cases (NationalWorld/Adobe Stock)

Explainer Three people in UK test positive for bacterial disease spreading in dogs

Samantha Franks is a senior research ecologist with the British Trust for Ornithology and has been working on the project to tag curlews in The Yorkshire Dales.

Experts surprised by early results of project to monitor curlews in Yorkshire

Nature Matters is exploring environmental stories in the region. Photo: Yorkshire and North East Film Archives

Historic footage from Yorkshire Film Archive looks back at air pollution

Asian hornets have been spotted near Dover in Kent

Government issues urgent warning after ‘killer’ Asian hornets spotted

Farmers pass fireweed as they take advantage of last year's long hot dry weather to harvest the wheat in fields close to Thixendale in the Yorkshire Wolds. PIC: Tony Johnson

Yorkshire farmers are an easy net zero target for the Government - GP Taylor

Adam Henson leads the discussion on the new EFRA report on the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show. Left to right: Sir Robert Goodwill, Mark Spencer and Mintte Batters. Picture by Simon Dewhurst.

Communities left 'hollowed out' by farming firm closures, says shadow secretary

Water samples being collected from a river. PIC: James Hardisty

Dumping of sewage in rivers shames regulators and the Government - The YP says

Are genetically modified sheep the future of farming?

Ben and Emma Mosey at Yolk Farm near Boroughbridge where they have a cafe and farm shop as well as poultry business.

Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

"If everything did go wrong, we start again", poultry business on bird flu risk

The cross-party group of MPs pointed to evidence which suggests a higher rate of suicide among agricultural and veterinary workers compared to the broader population.

Government urged to tackle farmer suicide

'It has been positive to see the government setting out plans to support farmers and land managers in confidently accessing payments from the private sector'. PIC: Tony Johnson

New nature investment standards can give farmers confidence - Glyn Jones

Sea life die off at Saltburn, Cleveland. (Credit: Paul Thompson)

Councillor backs calls for public inquiry into 'marine disaster' off coast

Ticks can sometimes be very small and hard to spot.

Deadly tick-borne virus discovered in Yorkshire - the first in the UK

Thousands of dead crabs and lobsters began washing ashore between Hartlepool and Whitby in October 2021.

Crab death scientists ‘surprised’ politicians have ‘questioned their integrity’

Dead and dying starfish that have been washed up on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire. PIC: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Mistrust of Defra over shellfish deaths is understandable - The YP says

Fishing crews staged a protest in Teesport, Middlesbrough, near the mouth of the River Tees, demanding a new investigation into the mass deaths of crabs and lobsters in the area on May 19, 2022. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

We will support those who fear more marine life deaths - The Yorkshire Post says

A swaledale sheep on the hills near Clapham Station in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Picture Tony Johnson

Calls for new powers and long-term funding to protect Yorkshire's National Parks

Sheep at Wetheriggs Animal Rescue

Wildlife rescue and farm park in Yorkshire to close and rehome animals
A family-run wildlife rescue and visitor attraction off the A66 in North Yorkshire is to close after a bird flu outbreak left it in financial difficulties.

Anton James is Project Manager at the Flood Innovation Centre

Developers shouldn't fear new sustainable drainage system rules: Anton James

A controlled heather burn on the moors above Castleton in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Picture Tony Johnson

Argument burns on over best way to manage peat moorlands

More than 100,000 people have signed an NFU petition calling on the government to ban sky lanterns across England and Wales. The petition is supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the RSPCA and Keep Britain Tidy.

NFU petition calling for ban on sky lanterns tops 100,000 signatures

Glyn Jones is head of science (plant) at Fera Science.

Enhanced payments for ‘farming with nature’ are a positive step - Glyn Jones

The prospect to debate the shooting of woodcocks in parliament comes after a petition calling to limit the woodcock shooting season hit the threshold at which it can be considered to be debated. The petition, created by the BBC’s Chris Packham, passed 100,000 signatures in December.

BASC and Chris Packham happy to take shooting debate to parliament

John Duggleby from Beswick Hall near Driffield pictured by the River Hull in the East Riding

Farm of the Week: "Wolds land has been sacrificed to protect Hull from floods"

Controlled burns on grouse moors being carried out in the winter and subject to stringent regulation.

Burning complaints are "deliberate campaign of mis-information" says Moors group

The Boxing Day dip at Bridlington in 2019

Boxing Day dip cancelled at Bridlington over concerns about pollution

With pictures of empty egg shelves and UK fruit and veg growers under massive pressure due to soaring energy costs and workforce shortages, other farming sectors could soon be under threat from immediate supply issues caused by a lack of fairness for farmers and growers throughout the supply chain, the NFU has warned.

Warnings over further food shortages unless government takes action

Rural communities, like Muker in The Yorkshire Dales, are running out of patience warns CLA president Mark Tufnell who criticised the government for letting rural communities fail.

Lib Dem leader calls for designated rural minister because of DEFRA "neglect"

File photo dated 04/10/22 of a tractor passing a sign near Eccles in Norfolk, in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ).

Egg shortages expose cracks in the way farmers are treated: Kamran Mahroof
Avian flu has caused the current egg shortage and we’ll get through it, just as we have got through other catastrophes, but we can’t continue papering over the cracks when it comes to the UK’s farming sector.

The NFU is calling for an urgent investigation by Defra into whether an “exceptional market conditions” declaration should be made under the Agriculture Act 2020, given the severe disruption which egg producers and UK consumers are experiencing.

"Someone needs to get a grip" - Yorkshire farmer on egg crisis

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England have committed to consulting with Cycling UK and The British Horse Society after legal threats over access to a new National Trail.

Horse authority threatens legal action over new National Trail plans

Hundreds of parlour pots (lobster/crab pot) used for commercial fishing stacked along the harbour at Whitby, East Yorkshire.

Concerns over dumping more dredgings from the river Tees in the North Sea

The dead crustaceans began washing ashore in Yorkshire and the North East last Octobe

MPs told ‘exceptionally toxic’ chemical may have caused crab and lobster deaths

The NPA has called on the Government to introduce essential reforms across the pork supply chain to avert the collapse of the British pig industry and protect the UK’s food security.

Pig farming sector demands better contracts in bid to stop the complete collapse

The ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ programme is a three-year Defra funded Programme (July 2021 to March 2024) running in all of the English National Parks and AONBs to help farmers and other land managers adapt to future changes in agricultural support.

National Park urges farmers to make funding bids for environmental projects

More than 20 leaders from agriculture and horticulture met this week and have committed to spearheading a collaborative, industry-wide action to attract more people into farming and growing careers.

Industry leaders to do more to raise awareness of careers in farming and growing

Picture James Hardisty.
Hundreds of parlour pots (lobster/crab pot) used for commercial fishing stacked along the harbour at Whitby, East Yorkshire.

Mayor vows that 'not a single gram' of dredged material will be dumped in sea

Whitby Harbour

Crab and lobster deaths: Call for investigation into fishing industry 'disaster'

Picture: Gary Longbottom.

Government schemes now ready to help Yorkshire's farmers - Victoria Prentis

The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the first of three schemes which make up the new environment land management scheme.

Pivotal moment for farming as first "public money for public goods" scheme opens

Handout photo issued by Paul Grainger of hundreds of dead crabs on the beach at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool in October

PM urged to help 'devastated' fishermen after mystery crab and lobster deaths

Whitby Harbour

Harmful algae bloom blamed for deaths of thousands of crabs off Yorkshire coast

Ukrainian agricultural workers should be housed at former RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse, says Baroness McIntosh

Ukrainian should be housed at former RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse - YP Letters

Alex and Rob have converted the family’s West Yorkshire arable farm to organic

Brothers turned the family arable farm organic

George Eustuce. Pic: Getty.

George Eustice out of touch over shopping comments - Yorkshire Post Letters

The first installment will be paid in July and the second in December for the duration of the agricultural transition

Direct payments split into two in bid to ease farmer cashflow

Demonstrations took place at Morrisons stores in Bradford and Hull at the weekend

Activists protest against 'Frankenchickens' at Yorkshire Morrisons stores

Lindsay and Michael discovered the chicks at the back of their house.

Yorkshire couple horrified by shocking discovery behind their house

Snowy scenes in Kirklees, West Yorkshire (PA)

Conservatives lose polling lead in rural areas, new research suggests

Environment Secretary George Eustice says the country needs to reduce its dependence on manufacturing processes dependent on gas.

Restrictions on harmful fertiliser delayed to cut costs for farmers and shoppers

Whitby Harbour

Yorkshire mass crab and lobster deaths: Government close investigation again

A falcon pictured in front of the house at Duncombe Park.

Fears that small zoos will be wiped out by new proposals suggested by DEFRA.

Pic: James Hardisty.

Here's what is needed for a more profitable rural sector - Mark Tufnell

Can more be done to prevent power lines coming down during storms?

Storm Gladys: How to avert threat to power lines – Yorkshire Post Letters

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, himself an arable farmer, wants Defra to move its HQ to North Yorkshire.

Time to move Defra to York ; here’s why – The Yorkshire Post says

Julian Sturdy has suggested Defra could benefit from being based closer to farming communities

Moving Defra to Yorkshire 'makes perfect sense', suggests Tory MP

Dead crabs on the beach at Saltburn

Mystery crab and lobster deaths: Investigation re-opened after fishermen's probe