Farmers Guardian
April 1, 2011

  • 300 sheep stolen from Berkshire field

    28 March 2011

    THIEVES stole more than 300 sheep from a field in Kintbury, near Hungerford, Berkshire.

  • A genetic approach to management of take-all

    April 1, 2011

    WHEAT growers could control take-all by selecting varieties which reduce the build up of the disease in soil when they are grown as a first wheat.

  • A sustainable future for UK farming

    April 1, 2011

    How can the farming industry secure a sustainable future? A meeting at Adam Henson’s farm last week brought the whole chain together, from farmer to retailer. Emma Penny reports.

  • Achieve the ‘holy grail’ of maize

    4 April 2011

    TO highlight the potential for maize silage and grain maize in beef rations, Eblex organised two on-farm events. Ann Hardy reports from the one at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire.

  • Analyse grass available to achieve best from grazing

    April 1, 2011

    ?EFFICIENT grazing management is easy to talk about but difficult to achieve, said Bill Hardman, Dugdale Nutrition’s technical manager, speaking at a farmer meeting at Garstang, Lancashire, last week.

  • Angus beef boost in USA

    April 1, 2011

    ?Licensed partners of the Certified Angus Beef brand worldwide sell more than 907 tonnes of branded product per day, and supply has increased 92 per cent in the past five years. Mark McCully, CAB assistant vice-president, said demand for CAB products grew along with supply.

  • Animal Health merger 'will benefit disease control'

    31 March 2011

    THE merger of the Animal Health agency and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) will improve the UK’s ability to combat animal disease, according to Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman.

  • Annual show and sale of Cheviot hoggs at Longtown market

    April 1, 2011

    THE annual show and sale of Cheviot hoggs was held last week at Longtown market within the weekly primestock sale.

  • Around the marts

    April 1, 2011

    A round up what had been happening at marts around the country.

  • Assess fertiliser requirements carefully this season

    April 1, 2011

    FIRST-cut silage has never been more important, says Dave Davies of the Silage Advisory Centre (SilAC), referring to the high cost of bought-in feed and fertiliser.

  • Awareness of anthelmintic resistance growing

    April 1, 2011

    AWARENESS of anthelmintic resistance in cattle appears to be rising, according to a survey conducted by Elanco Animal Health.

  • Beetle could devastate potato crops

    28 March 2011

    THE NFU is calling for statutory measures to prevent a beetle that has the potential to ‘devastate’ potato crops from entering the UK.

  • Bella tops Haresfoot dispersal

    April 1, 2011

    THERE was an international flavour to the buyers list when the Haresfoot herd of Ayrshire cattle was dispersed at Beeston Castle market on Tuesday.

  • Bio-ethanol co-product feeds a viable alternative

    5 April 2011

    THE increasing availability of co-product feeds from European bio-ethanol production is creating a new opportunity for UK beef farmers to re-think feeding strategies and improve margins, says KW nutritionist, Richard Wynn.

  • British Blondes top 6,800gns at Borderway

    4 April 2011

    BIDDING peaked at 6,800gns at the British Blonde Society’s early spring sale at Borderway Mart on Saturday.

  • Bumper wheat crops in Pakistan

    April 1, 2011

    ?The Ministry of Food and Agriculture says two bumper wheat crops were harvested in 2009 and 2010. One million tonnes were exported with plans to export up to three million.Cereal supplies in the country are plentiful and prices comparable with the international market.

  • BVD vaccine information

    April 1, 2011

    ?TWO announcements have been made by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, both regarding its BVD vaccine Bovilis BVD.

  • Calls doubled to farming helpline

    30 March 2011

    A CHARITY which helps farming families has seen calls to its helpline double over the last few months.

  • Canadian dairy decisions based on climate and quota

    April 1, 2011

    ?TALKING about the other end of the year from the grazing season, guest speaker Chris Parry said more than 35degC below freezing was common in his part of the world.

  • Chance sparks start of Blue herd

    April 1, 2011

    How has an electrician managed to collect three successive Royal Highland Show breed championships and the British Blue Cattle Society’s premier breeder award? Neil Ryder meets Kevin Watret to find out.

  • Changing diets could reduce livestock emissions

    30 March 2011

    BURPING cows have long since been blamed for adding to greenhouse gas emissions, but, according to Defra-funded research, this could be reduced by changing their diets.

  • Chinese scientists produce GM milk

    4 April 2011

    SCIENTISTS in China have created genetically modified cattle that produce the equivalent of ‘human’ milk, according to a report in a Sunday newspaper.

  • Chocolate spot threat

    April 1, 2011

    FURTHER reports have been received of chocolate spot symptoms in winter bean crops, says PGRO.

  • CLA hits out at BBC cuts

    31 March 2011

    THE BBC’s proposals to cut its local radio output to two shows a day – breakfast and drive time – have been sharply criticised by the Country Land and Business Association.

  • Climate change advice to help businesses

    29 March 2011

    AN online tool to help small businesses prepare for the risks associated with climate change while enabling them to save money has been launched today, (Tuesday, March 29).

  • Clipping foliage to manage sclerotinia

    31 March 2011

    A NOVEL technique of clipping carrot foliage along the edges of rows could provide an additional route to reducing damaging sclerotinia infection, according to independent crop consultant, Howard Hinds.

  • Cockermouth champion sells at £2,200

    April 1, 2011

    COCKERMOUTH mart’s March show and sale of store cattle attracted a record entry of 924.

  • Cogent bull dies

    April 1, 2011

    ONE of Cogent’s founding bulls - Aquila Patron Lucente - has died aged 13.

  • Cogent Twist sexed semen

    April 1, 2011

    SEXED semen is now available from the Shottle son Cogent Twist.Details on 0800 783 7258.

  • Costs shared on new high-welfare veal project

    April 1, 2011

    ?A new joint venture high-welfare veal scheme aims to reduce the reliance on imported Dutch veal by the food service company involved.

  • Costs shared on new veal project

    29 March 2011

    A new joint venture high-welfare veal scheme aims to reduce the reliance on imported Dutch veal by the food service company involved.

  • Cowmen Comment: Rampaging heifers soon make mess of my garden

    1 April 2011

    As I write it’s very wet and muddy. Young stock feed is short but we’re not the only ones round here buying in as the shortage is so severe you have to take what ever there is regardless of price.

  • Cross compliance failures fall

    29 March 2011

    FARMERS are following the rules on cattle identification more carefully than ever, according to the rural Payments Agency.

  • Dairy Crest under fire over milk prices

    31 March 2011

    MANY of Dairy Crest’s milk&more contracted producers have been aggravated to see DC increase its doorstep milk&more price by 3p/pint (5.28ppl) after they received just 0.46ppl from April 1.

  • Dave builds on nursery success at Berry Moor

    4 April 2011

    CONTINUING the success they had in the nurseries through into the opens, John Atkinson and Dave (C. Smart Jill & Guy) took their first open title last Saturday at Berry Moor, near Barnsley.

  • Defra crackdown as farmers accused of TB fraud

    31 March 2011

    DEFRA has announced a tough new regime to DNA tag cattle testing positive for Bovine TB after it emerged some farmers in the South West and the Midlands had been illegally swapping ear tags.

  • Denis Chamberlain appointed as RASE chief executive

    30 March 2011

    DENIS Chamberlain has been appointed as chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE).

  • Dry soils would benefit from rain

    April 1, 2011

    DRY soil conditions are starting to cause concern in several sectors. Rainfall levels during March have been very low, with some areas receiving only 3mm during the month.

  • Easter bunny shortbread in baskets

    April 1, 2011

    THIS recipe was sent in by Jessica Taylor of Shenley Lodge, Milton Keynes, whose tried and tested bunny biscuits are a well-received Easter present among family and friends.

  • EU talks over cloned meat collapse

    29 March 2011

    EU TALKS on the regulation of food from cloned animals have collapsed again, leaving the issue clouded in doubt. 

  • Family pull together to achieve a bright future for upland farm

    29 March 2011

    The Dunning family are not ones to just get by and instead manage a multi-faceted upland farming business. Wendy Short visits the family to talk about their optimistic business looking forward.

  • Five minutes with Stuart Doughty

    April 1, 2011

    RURAL businesses gathered at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday at a special ceremony where the Farmers Guardian-supported Countryside Alliance Award winners were announced.

  • Flea beetle threat to UK potato crops

    April 1, 2011

    A PEST found on ware potato crops from Spain and Portugal could cost the UK potato industry up to £40 million if it is allowed to become established in this country, says the NFU.

  • Fonterra reaps benefits of commodities

    1 April 2011

    ?New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra says it is on track for one of its best years ever with a NZ$293 million (£136m) half year profit.The co-operative, not unexpectedly, puts the performance down to strong international dairy markets, although whole milk powder did fall in the most recent sale.The forecast payout to producers for the 2010/11 season could surpass Fonterra’s previous record in 2007/08.

  • Forage maize seed treatment approved

    April 1, 2011

    ?THE seed treatment Mesurol has gained CRD approval for application to forage maize, grain maize and sweetcorn seed in the UK.

  • Forward thinking, confident approach pays off for Samuel

    4 April 2011

    Samuel Carey is last year’s welcome recipient of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society scholarship. Here, he tells Danusia Osiowy why he couldn’t afford not to apply.

  • From saviours to award winners

    April 1, 2011

    FIVE years ago the parishioners of St Leonard’s in Herefordshire pooled resources in a bid to save their community shop.

  • Fungicide trials for winter barley produce high yields

    April 1, 2011

    WINTER barley growers using the new-generation barley fungicide Bontima (isopyrazam + cyprodinil) launched last season could get the best from it using application techniques which also improve spraying efficiency.

  • Genomics causes UK bull price rise

    4 April 2011

    Genomics is increasing the price being paid by continental AI studs for UK bulls, says Claire Swale of Heavenly Genetics.

  • Get rotation grazing off to the right start

    April 1, 2011

    THE most important factor of first round grazing is getting the residuals right, says DairyCo’s Piers Badnell.

  • Glanbia offers fixed price milk contract

    29 March 2011

    AN interesting three year fixed price milk supply scheme, but with an input costs escalator, is being offered by Glanbia Dairy Ingredients Ireland.

  • Going large to reduce harvesting and drilling bottleneck

    4 April 2011

    WHILE a basic rotation of wheat and oilseed rape can simplify logistics, it demands high output from equipment, as Rutland contractor R&R Mills found out when trying to keep up with rolling.

  • Good Evans: We seem to be falling badly behind with our spring work

    1 April 2011

    The sun has started to shine, the rain has stopped and Roger Evans is itching to get on with the land work… as soon as the ground dries up that is.

  • Grass quality paramount to improving calf growth rates

    April 1, 2011

    THE growth rates of young cattle spending their first season at grass is often disappointing, says senior ADAS livestock consultant, Elwyn Rees, but steps can be taken to remedy this.

  • Grassland units to benefit from urea-based KaN

    April 1, 2011

    ?FOLLOWING its launch to arable farmers earlier this year, Koch Fertilisers is also promoing KaN for use on grassland units.

  • Helping NZ farmers cope

    April 1, 2011

    ?Coroners are focused on helping farming communities understand how to avoid physical mishaps as well as why 25 farmers a year take their own lives as a result of mental stress. Chief coroner judge Neil MacLean said the team had been taking a particular interest in quad bike safety after three quad bike deaths occurred within six weeks in Northland - about a third of the national annual number.New Zealand Farmers Weekly

  • Indian TMR centre could go global

    April 1, 2011

    A COMMUNAL TMR centre has been set up by Keenan in India, potentially paving the way for similar agreements in other countries around the world, including the UK.

  • Industry slams decision not to sanction part payments

    31 March 2011

    FARMING industry leaders have criticised a decision by Farming Minister Jim Paice not to sanction partial payments to farmers in England still awaiting Single Payments.

  • Industry calls for manual SPS payments

    29 March 2011

    FARMING Minister Jim Paice has been told he must sanction manual payments to farmers still awaiting their Single Payments in England unless he can show progress is being made.

  • Industry calls for manual SPS payments

    31 March 2011

    FARMING Minister Jim Paice is set to reveal today whether he will sanction manual payments to farmers still awaiting Single Payments in England.

  • Invest in machinery before the tax breaks shrink

    4 April 2011

    FARMERS contemplating buying new machinery should do so before April 2012 if they want to save thousands of pounds in tax.

  • Kit designed to help collect and store cow colostrum

    April 1, 2011

    ?A NEW colostrum management kit is available from Wynnstay, designed to help farmers store excess bovine colostrum for use at a later date.

  • Lack of N holding back yields?

    April 1, 2011

    REDUCED rates of nitrogen may be holding back oilseed rape yields, according to a NIAB TAG survey.

  • Land Army memorial set for Moray

    28 March 2011

    A memorial to commemorate the work undertaken by thousands of women during World War 2 is to be sited in Moray, Scotland.

  • Lemon cheese

    April 1, 2011

    Makes two small jars

  • Level approach to managing outdoor pigs within the rotation

    April 1, 2011

    THE Land Plane will restore uneven land to state more suitable for cultivation.Dominic Kilburn went to meet its developer, Robert Self.

  • Like a duck to water

    April 1, 2011

    WATERWAYS contractor Land and Water Plant has specified a retractable amphibious undercarriage to suit a 10m long reach Hitachi ZX 70 excavator allowing it to fit through a 4m gate.

  • Limousin to host weekend to mark 40th

    April 1, 2011

    ?THE British Limousin Cattle Society is hosting a National Limousin Weekend to mark its 40th anniversary year - and Farmers Guardian will be official media partner for the event.

  • Limousins to 4,200gns at Dungannon

    April 1, 2011

    THE overall champion and reserve bulls shared the top price of 4,200gns at the Limousin Cattle Society’s spring show and sale at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

  • Loader updates for Quicke

    4 April 2011

    QUICKE has added 20 new loader models to its Dimension range, with a number of extra features and improvements, says importer ALO UK.

  • Longer days mean more can be done in and out of the kitchen

    4 April 2011

    FG’s cookery editor, Helen Colley, on how she will be making the most of the forthcoming bank holidays, how ducks could be the key to overhauling a Victoria Sponge and why Grandma always knows best.

  • Maize Watch - April 2011

    April 1, 2011

    As spring kicks into full swing and temperatures rise, the two Maize Watch farmers give an update on field cultivations.

  • Makers of Del Boy's coat win award

    April 1, 2011

    Del Boy’s taste in clothes was as synonymous with each episode of Only Fools and Horses as the character himself, but one garment in particular was a piece of comedy history. His sheepskin coat is just one of a long list of fashion pieces created by Suffolk-based Nursey Sheepskin, winner of this year’s Best Traditional Business award.

  • Making progress as NFUS meets Defra Secretary

    31 March 2011

    SENIOR figures from NFU Scotland met Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore in Westminster yesterday (Wednesday, March 30), in what the union delegation described as a ‘milestone’ meeting.

  • Man dies in forklift truck accident

    29 March 2011

    A man has died in a forklift truck accident on a farm in Aberdeenshire.

  • Maximising cereal use to achieve better efficiency

    31 March 2011

    TO make the most of home-grown feed, the Cowan family decided a change in farming policy was necessary on their traditional hill suckler farm in Llandysul, Dyfed, South West Wales.

  • 'Milestone' meeting for Spelman and NFU Scotland

    30 March 2011

    SENIOR figures from NFU Scotland met Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore in Westminster today (Wednesday) in what the union delegation described as a ‘milestone’ meeting.

  • Monckhaven Holsteins dispersed

    April 1, 2011

    THE first sale to disperse the entire Monckhaven herd of Holsteins on behalf of Martin and Jackie Monckton, Sound, Nantwich, topped at 4,200gns.

  • National fundraiser starts 2011 campaign

    April 1, 2011

    THE 2011 trial season in Wales has started, and, in anticipation of this year’s Welsh National at Milton Farm, Llanteg, Pembrokeshire, the first of three fundraising trials was held on Sunday at Cresselly.

  • New feeds partnership announced

    April 1, 2011

    ?A FEEDS partnership has been announced between Cornwall Farmers and Countrywide, allowing Cornwall Farmers to sell its Pinnacle range of compound feeds, alongside existing BOCM Pauls products, through a new long-term supply agreement with Countrywide.

  • New focus group to help farmers in renewable sector

    30 March 2011

    A NEW group is helping farmers overcome the challenges they are facing when tapping into the renewable energy sector.

  • New Kintyre monitor farm

    April 1, 2011

    A NEW monitor farm for Kintyre has been announced by Quality Meat Scotland.

  • New superfast broadband hits Yorkshire village

    29 March 2011

    INTERNET users near Scarborough are celebrating the arrival of superfast broadband thanks to a local land owner.

  • NFU praises record breaking milk prices

    28 March 2011

    THE NFU has welcomed Tesco’s decision to pay its dairy farmers a record high milk price.

  • No end to Russian export ban

    April 1, 2011

    ?There will be no end to the grain export ban until late September or October at the earliest, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said: “At the end of September or October we will count the volume of our harvest and only after that we can decide whether to lift the grain export embargo or to extend it. Resuming exports is one of our priority goals.”

  • No single bull can fulfil all your requirements

    April 1, 2011

    WHEN considering purchasing a new bull, Cogent beef specialist Boomer Birch asks if this is too much like ‘placing all your eggs in one basket?’

  • Norman’s final hammer blow for charity

    April 1, 2011

    UTTOXETER-based auctioneer Norman Tweddle brought 47 years of selling livestock to an end on Monday when he sold one of his own Limousin cross store steers at Bakewell market for £2,090 with all proceeds going to local Rotary Club charities.

  • NZ farmers benefit from input loans

    April 1, 2011

    ?Almost 83,000 farmers benefited from agricultural input loans under the Zamfara Comprehensive Agricultural Revolution Programme between 2008 and 2010. Farmers initially paid 25 per cent of the total bill of their inputs and then the balancing 75 per cent after harvest.

  • NZ farmers to buy Wool Parnters?

    April 1, 2011

    New Zealand sheep farmers have been given six months to buy all or part of Wool Partners International (WPI) after the failure of the initial Wool Partners Co-operative (WPC)capital raising venture.

  • Online meat calculator

    April 1, 2011

    ?A MEAT per tonne of feed (MTF) calculator has been added to JSR’s new-look website.

  • Overseed the areas damaged in winter

    April 1, 2011

    TO prevent an ‘onslaught’ of weeds, Nick Gladstone of Hurrells says to overseed in fields that were damaged by the harsh winter weather.

  • Pembrokeshire double victory in silage competitions

    April 1, 2011

    BOTH winners in this year’s all-Wales silage competitions are from Pembrokeshire.

  • Photosynthesis project aims to boost food production

    28 March 2011

    SCIENTISTS have been awarded over £6 million to improve the process of photosynthesis in a bid to boost food and energy production.

  • Piglets need colostrum within six hours of birth

    April 1, 2011

    ?THE low levels of body fat reserves and glycogen in newborn piglets means piglets need colostrum as soon as possible after birth, said Yannig Le Treut of French nutrition company Lallemand.

  • Plant trees to reduce flooding, farmers told

    30 March 2011

    A GRANT scheme has been launched by the Forestry Commission aimed at getting landowners to plant trees to reduce flood risk in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  • Pollen beetle threat to OSR greater this season

    31 March 2011

    POLLEN beetle migration into oilseed rape crops has increased following the recent warm weather, agronomists are reporting.

  • Profits turn around at ANM

    30 March 2011

    SCOTTISH farmer-owned co-operative, the ANM Group, made an overall trading profit of £1.027million for the year ending December 31, 2010.

  • Project to improve dry cow management

    April 1, 2011

    BETTER ways to manage dry cows on dairy farms are being investigated by AgriSearch, Northern Ireland, in a project co-funded by the NI Government.

  • Protecting Japanese herds from contamination

    April 1, 2011

    ?Japan has asked farmers to keep cows and cattle in barns to prevent radioactive contamination of milk. They are advising feeding them with grass harvested before the nuclear plant accident. Mitsuhiro Honda at the Ministry of Agriculture said: “We are not concerned about the safety of beef as the meat now on the market came from animals born more than two years ago.”

  • Record numbers to start HLS agreements

    29 March 2011

    MORE farmers will take advantage of Higher Level Stewardship agreements in 2011/12 than ever before, according to new figures from Natural England.

  • Red Limousin cross heifer tops Carlisle sale at £3,750

    April 1, 2011

    DESPITE high feed costs and tightening margins, buyers were forward in numbers from all corners of the UK at Borderway mart’s suckled calves show and sale last week.

  • Rise in Beef Calf Scheme claims

    31 March 2011

    THERE have been around 422,500 claims under the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, about 16,500 more than in 2009.

  • Rural businesses triumph in adversity

    April 1, 2011

    RURAL businesses gathered at the Houses of Parliament at a special ceremony where the Farmers Guardian-supported Countryside Alliance Award winners were announced.

  • Salers make perfect commercial sense

    31 March 2011

    ALEC Robinson does not consider himself to be a pedigree man - his commercial suckler herd just happens to be made up of pedigree cattle. Neil Ryder finds out more.

  • Salmon boost to sow maintenance and foetal development

    April 1, 2011

    ?THE dry sow feeding curve is important to ensure optimum energy supply for sow maintenance and foetal development, said Dr Phil Baynes of Baynes Nutrition.

  • Salmon linguine

    April 1, 2011

    Serves two - four depending on portion size (and appetite)

  • Scottish estates launch pioneering wildlife initiative

    30 March 2011

    THREE Scottish estates in the Cairngorms National Park have been named as the first to pilot the pioneering Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) initiative.

  • Set annual targets to improve fertility

    April 1, 2011

    FERTILITY in suckler herds can only be improved if current performance is assessed, potential improvements identified and made, and then performance reassessed again and again, says Gavin Dick, rural business consultant at SAC Stirling.

  • Sheepdog trials diary

    April 1, 2011

    Sheepdog trials for the week beginning April 1.

  • Showtime for grooming company

    April 1, 2011

    ?LIVESTOCK grooming products specialist ShowTime has purchased the large animal division of another grooming product company, Christies Direct.All the large animal products previously sold by the Northern Ireland-based Christies Direct will now be sold under the ShowTime brand.Details on 01759 368 588 or www.showtime-supplies.co.uk

  • South Devons set record of 10,500gns at Exeter sale

    31 March 2011

    A NEW record price for South Devon cattle was set at the Society’s spring sale at Exeter Livestock Centre with bidding peaking at 10,500gns and averages up by more than £900 on the year.

  • Straid Kep’s hot streak earns John McKillop wins in two trials

    April 1, 2011

    JOHN McKillop’s Straid Kep is in top form, taking first place at both of Scotland’s most recent trials. Kep led a closely contested list at Invergarry and won the Drimnin double lift trial with a comfortable lead over the field.

  • Struggles over NZ milk prices

    April 1, 2011

    ?Agriculture Minister David Carter has washed his hands of domestic milk pricing after advice that government intervention in the retail market is not sustainable. It follows public outcry at the rising retail prices for milk, with allegations the supermarket duopoly and Fonterra near-monopoly were keeping prices high.

  • Surveyors join forces in merger

    April 1, 2011

    ?National chartered surveyors Fisher German are joining forces with Worcestershire chartered surveyors John Sanders.Fisher German has 11 offices in the UK and the merger will increase its office structure to 13. John Sanders specialises in property agency and rural consultancy in the Welsh borders and the West Midlands.

  • Sweden Aberdeen-Angus semen export

    April 1, 2011

    ?SEMEN from the Scottish-bred Aberdeen-Angus bull - Wedderlie Net Profit - has been exported to the Yxskaftkalens pedigree herd in Sweden, an 80-cow herd plus EU-approved distribution centre for imported semen and embryos.

  • Tackling the costly issue of stillborn piglets

    April 1, 2011

    MORE than 900,000 piglets are stillborn every year in the UK, which is not only an ethical issue, but means a potential £38 million is lost to the pig industry.

  • Taiwan FMD outbreak worst seen

    April 1, 2011

    T?he foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is the worst seen in the past three years on the island.

  • TB substantially down in Wales, steady in England

    28 March 2011

    THE number of animals slaughtered because of bovine TB in Great Britain fell by 10 per cent in 2010 to just under 33,000 cattle. However, the headline figure masks significant variation between Wales, where the cattle was down by 26 per cent, and England, where the figure was broadly on a par with 2009.

  • Tight calving helps towards achieving goals

    4 April 2011

    ONE calf per cow per year is the only way to make a suckler beef enterprise worthwhile, says Norfolk farmer James Woodhouse. He tells Joanne Pugh of the steps he has taken to achieve this.

  • TRC chairman slams news of racehorses being put down

    31 March 2011

    Brian Acott, chairman of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, has reacted angrily to news from Ireland that racehorses are being put down because their owners are no longer able to afford them.

  • Treated fodder beet varieties

    April 1, 2011

    ?SEED for the fodder beet varieties Blaze, Blizzard and Robbos is now available treated with Force, rather than Mesurol.Limagrain says this will give improved pest resistance, as the active ingredient in Force - tefluthrin provides protection against the mangold fly, millipede, pygmy beetle, spring tails, and symphilids.Details on 01472 371 471 or visit www.limagrain.co.uk

  • Treating cattle for fluke at grass could maximise growth

    April 1, 2011

    A fluke treatment at grass, as well as at housing, could help beef farmers get more from grazed grass, says Merial Animal Health vet adviser, Fiona MacGillivray.

  • UK farming leaders raise concerns over EID

    30 March 2011

    CONCERNS over the implementation of the electronic tagging (EID) rules for sheep have been raised by UK farming leaders during meetings with delegates from the EU Food and Veterinary Office.

  • UK rams exported to create pedigree flock in the Atlantic

    April 1, 2011

    ?DORPER sheep have been exported from the UK to St Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, 1,200 miles from the nearest landmass.

  • UK to press on with green light for animal cloning

    1 April 2011

    THE UK is set to press ahead with a change in the rules to allow products from the descendants of cloned animals into the food chain, following the collapse of talks on new novel food rules in Brussels.

  • Ultimate chocolate fudge cake

    April 1, 2011

    A PERFECT Easter treat - ultimate chocolate fudge cake.

  • United Dairy Farmers auction price shock

    1 April 2011

    ?DAIRY farmers supplying Northern Ireland co-op United Dairy Farmers were shocked by last Thursday’s monthly auction which delivered an average 3ppl down on the month.

  • Upgrade for herd program

    April 1, 2011

    ?VETS and technical advisers are currently being trained by NMR to use the new InterHerd+ dairy management program.

  • US ethanol production rising

    April 1, 2011

    ?Use of corn for ethanol production is projected to continue rising - but less rapidly than the sharp pace over the past five years. Most ethanol production in the US uses corn - some 36 per cent of total corn production over the next five years.

  • US machinery exports up

    31 March 2011

    US EXPORTS of agricultural-related machinery totalled more than US$8.95 billion (£5.48bn) in 2010, a gain of more than 12 per cent compared to the previous year, according to the US Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

  • US meat exports boost trade balance

    April 1, 2011

    ?Meat exports are boosting the trade balance. Meat export federation president and chief executive Philip Seng says the US agriculture sector is feeding much of the world. The red meat sector added US$4.24 billion (£2.66bn) to the US balance of trade in 2010.

  • US TV star backs campaign to save Welsh farm

    29 March 2011

    THE National Trust has kick-started a £1m campaign to help save a farm and lake which form the backdrop to one of the most iconic views in Wales.

  • Volatility in pig feed prices continues

    31 March 2011

    ANY recovery in pig prices is likely to be undermined by continuing volatility in feed prices.

  • Watercress farmers apply for EU protection

    28 March 2011

    BRITISH watercress farmers have passed the first stage of their battle to gain EU protected status for the age-old method of growing watercress in pure, mineral rich flowing water. 

  • We’ll have to supplement if grass growth doesn’t improve

    April 1, 2011

    Warmer weather and an application of N should improve grass situation.

  • Why we must improve on silage making techniques

    1 April 2011

    Promar’s dairy consultant Derek Gardner suggests that with concentrate prices going through the roof, there is a real need to start addressing the decline in milk from forage.

  • William and Andrew Cowx: A breed of ewe which only produces twins wanted

    28 March 2011

    Lambing is getting into full swing with far too many threes and fours. I would like a breed of ewe which just produces twins - has anyone any recommendations? At least the weather is making lambing a pleasure, I only hope it lasts. 

  • Win a £50 M&S voucher - April caption competition

    April 1, 2011

    TAKE part in our monthly online caption competition and give us your witty or interesting caption suggestions for this photograph.

  • Wiseman producers check their carbon footprint

    29 March 2011

    ROBERT Wiseman milk producers are being offered an ‘E-CO²’ carbon and energy audit.

  • Wiseman producers offered carbon audit

    April 1, 2011

    ROBERT Wiseman milk producers are being offered an ‘E-CO2’ carbon and energy audit.

  • Wiseman profits in-line with expectations

    31 March 2011

    ALTHOUGH Robert Wiseman Dairies is seeking to recover increased costs from its customer base, those costs have further escalated since the process began.

  • World Farmers Organisation to address food security

    31 March 2011

    OVER 50 national farmers’ and agricultural cooperative organisations from all over the world have come together to create the World Farmers Organisation.

  • Yorkshire Dales housing plan launched

    28 March 2011

    THE Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has launched its new Housing Development Plan with the aim of delivering sites for affordable housing over the next 15 years.

  • Young farmers are struggling to get onto the ladder, experts say

    30 March 2011

    THE UK has a wealth of young agricultural talent at its fingertips, but funding and a lack of available premises is preventing young farmers from getting started.

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