By unlocking the export potential China offers the pig industry, not to mention the red meat sector as a whole, we could gain entry into a marketplace which comprises a fifth of the world’s population.Farmers Guardian
December 2, 2011
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£165m funding boost for rural business
30 November 2011
A NEW £165 million boost for rural businesses and communities has been announced by Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman.
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£5m package to beat the metal theives
1 December 2011
THE NFU hopes the creation of a national £5 million metal theft taskforce will help prevent major disruptions to farms, rural businesses and their communities.
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A top of 4,100gns reached at Western Holstein Club sale
1 December 2011
AT the Western Holstein Club sale, Beeston, the best trade was for heifers with six animals selling for 3,000gns or more, but it was a cow which secured the top price of 4,100gns.
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Aberdeen-Angus calf title for Elize
1 December 2011
THE championship in the Aberdeen-Angus calf show went to Hamish Sclater, Turiff, with the home-bred heifer, Deveron Elize.
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Abolishing sugar regime will boost UK economy - Paice
30 November 2011
FARMING Minister Jim Paice has claimed liberalising the EU’s ‘protectionist’ sugar regime would bring ‘huge benefits for Britain’s economy’.
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Achievement Award for world class shearer
30 November 2011
IN recognition of his standing as one of the top shearers in the world, NSA Cymru’s Achievement Award has this year gone to Machynlleth’s Gareth Daniels.
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AD plant is first for West Yorkshire
2 December 2011
A NEW anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in West Yorkshire will generate enough electricity to power 650 homes and will be the first in the area to use both energy crops and food waste to generate electricity.
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Agriculture in the news - December 1
1 December 2011
A round up of farming news from across the UK.
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Agriculture in the news – December 2
2 December 2011
A ROUND-UP of farming news from today’s newspapers.
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Agriculture in the news - November 29
29 November 2011
A round up of farming news from across the UK.
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Agriculture in the news, November 28
28 November 2011
Eglingham and Ponteland wind turbines set to get green light despite protests
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Alternative farm gate lock developed
1 December 2011
A LOCK product has been produced by Zedlock to provide a solution to the problem of rural crime.
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Anthony Bambridge’s honoured by potato industry
1 December 2011
ANTHONY (Tony) Bambridge, co-founder of B and C Farming, has been awarded the 2011 British Potato Industry Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sector.
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Award for sheep farmer’s contribution to industry
30 November 2011
ONE of the most progressive sheep farmers in Wales and beyond, Alwyn Phillips of Pen y Gelli, Ffordd Bethel, Caernarfon, is the 2011 winner of the John Gittins Memorial Award for an outstanding contribution to the sheep industry.
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Beef cattle
26 January 2012
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Better heat detection with Silent Herdsman
1 December 2011
THE latest version of NMR’s heat detection system, Silent Herdsman, has improved sensitivity for monitoring movement and the ability to group cows. All current systems are being updated.
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Better value for Scottish farmers
1 December 2011
David Barnes, the Scottish Government’s director of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Scottish farmers received some of the lowest payments per hectare in Europe.
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British producers must seek out new growth opportunities
2 December 2011
SAINSBURY’S has committed to doubling its sales of British food by 2020 to more than £8 billion a year.
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Calls to drop excessive CAP bureaucracy
1 December 2011
CLA president Harry Cotterell called for the European Commission to drop the definitions of ‘active farmer’ and plans to cap the largest payments.
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Calves sell to £500 at Gisburn
29 November 2011
THE championship at Gisburn’s Christmas show for rearing calves went to Trevor Hodgson, Dent, Cumbria, with a six-week-old bull calf by the British Blue bull, Moorsley Anderson, out of a Holstein Friesian cow. He sold to D. and J. Errington, Cockermouth, for the day’s top price of £500.
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Canada opens door to Welsh lamb exports
30 November 2011
WELSH lamb has broken into the Canadian market after a successful trade mission headed by red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru - and there are high hopes for sales in Sweden and China.
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Carcase crowns go to Beltex and Texels
30 November 2011
FOUR exhibitors took the leading honours in the well-supported lamb carcase classes – but all their entries carried Beltex or Texel breeding.
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Castlecairn Celtic Star daughter tops 2,200gns at Shrewsbury
29 November 2011
TEXEL females were in demand at Shrewsbury at the major reduction sale of the Claybury flock of James and Hannah Draper, Shrewsbury.
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Champion makes £3,800 at Christmas Classic sale
1 December 2011
THE supreme champion at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, held at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, sold for £3,800 to one of the judges.
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Champion sells at £2,800
1 December 2011
IN the post-show sale, the champion Mistique, from Jennifer Hyslop and Andrew Richardson, sold for £2,800 to Mark Philips, Carlisle.
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Chancellor pledges £80m for new Pirbright facilities
29 November 2011
THE Chancellor has promised to plough £80 million into new research facilities at Pirbright.
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Chile aims to attract UK pig companies
1 December 2011
THE Chilean government export development agency, Prochile, is to hold a meeting in London to attract UK pig companies to invest in Chile.
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Choose carefully who you sit next to at meal times
December 2, 2011
On my way in to write this article I managed to fall up to my knees into a deep, well-camouflaged hole which was full of dung. It took a long time to lose that special smell, and I intend to suggest politely to my husband when he comes in for lunch that a drain cover might prove useful.
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Christmas champion makes £3,000 at Bentham
1 December 2011
PRE-sale judges, Robert Ford, Brindley, and David Hancock, Elton, awarded the championship at Bentham’s Christmas Dairy Show to Wyredale Minister Content 30, owned and bred by Mark and Heather Atkinson, Quernmore.
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Colic is biggest risk to horses this winter
1 December 2011
HORSES are at more risk of colic during the winter months compared to any other time of the year warns South West rural insurance company Cornish Mutual.
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Cow positioner for rotary parlours can be retro-fitted
1 December 2011
THE retro-fit Wetit Wave, a cow positioning device for rotary platforms, has been launched by Dairy Spares.
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Cowshed
27 January 2012
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Cutcombe sale sees wide margin in prices
1 December 2011
THERE were 424 cattle at Cutcombe on Monday for the penultimate cattle and final Exmoor Suckled Calf Rearer’s Association (ESCRA) sale.
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Dairy additive claims to boost milk output
1 December 2011
A NEW natural dairy additive, capable of achieving significant results, has been launched by Harbro.
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Dairy Farmer December digital edition
1 December 2011
Don’t miss this month’s Dairy Farmer. Take a look at the digital edition today.
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Dairy feeding outside
20 January 2012
Picture of the day
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Dairy prospects and opportunities ‘encouraging’
1 December 2011
THE medium-term prospects for dairy farming are encouraging, with some real opportunities to be grasped.
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DARD to pay £200m in Single Payments in December
29 November 2011
THE majority of farmers in Northern Ireland will receive £200 million in Single Farm payments by the end of the year.
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December drought talks after low winter rain levels
1 December 2011
SAFEGUARDING water for food production in the Fens will be top of the agenda when the NFU meets senior Environment Agency officials today (Thursday, December 1).
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Defra to pay out thousands of pounds to SPS victims
30 November 2011
DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have agreed to pay out thousands of pounds to farmers who suffered financially from maladministration of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).
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DEKALB® Planting Population Calculator App
2 January 2012
DEKALB provides recommended planting populations for corn and soybean crops.
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District Farmers' Association dinner dance
30 November 2011
RAGLAN and District Farmers’ Association celebrated its 180th anniversary by hosting a commemorative dinner and dance.
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'Do not undermine UK agriculture,' Kendall warns Government
28 November 2011
THE Government should fight the corner for British agriculture and not put it at a financial disadvantage with other European food producers, NFU president Peter Kendall has told farmers in North Wales.
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Do you have an award-winning solution to a farming problem?
1 December 2011
THE 2012 Lamma event is just over a month away, and this year farmers and small manufacturers will have a chance to win a new award.
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Drilling for carrots
30 March 2012
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Dry cow dietary management is of equal importance
1 December 2011
OFTEN the poor relation when it comes to dietary management, dry cows actually deserve a higher spot on the ration priority list, says James McCulloch, of Agrimin.
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Eblex increases levy income to £12.665m
1 December 2011
ALMOST £13m was raised by Eblex in the year to March 31 from the levy on slaughter cattle and sheep.
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Egg ban up for debate
1 December 2011
DEFRA is expected to make an announcement soon on the measures it intends to introduce to protect UK egg producers from illegal imports next year.
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Eighteen sheep killed in dog attacks
29 November 2011
EIGHTEEN sheep were killed and a further six were injured in suspected dog attacks on a farm near Solihull, West Midlands.
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Environment schemes to be ‘more ambitious’
1 December 2011
UK agri-environment schemes will have to become ‘more ambitious’ under the CAP reform package, the conference was told.
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EU budget ‘diplomatic car crash’ could hit CAP funds - MEP
1 December 2011
AN MEP involved in negotiations on both the CAP reforms and the EU budget has warned of a ‘diplomatic car crash’ over EU funding that he said will affect the CAP.
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EU must stop 'dragging heels' over EID
29 November 2011
EURO MP Julie Girling has told the European Commission to ‘stop wasting farmers’ time’ and issue a statement of compliance for electronic identification of sheep (EID).
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EU quad bike rules would be 'detrimental' to farmers
28 November 2011
PROPOSED EU rules aimed at making quad bikes safer could have a severe knock-on effect on the costs of Utility All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) used on many farms, a Conservative MEP has warned.
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Euryn Jones joins HSBC
1 December 2011
HSBC has appointed former Barclays man Euryn Jones (pictured) as regional agriculture manager for Wales.
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Ewes feeding
17 January 2012
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EXCLUSIVE: Aiming to get Scotland into the bigger league
2 December 2011
SUCCESSIVE UK Governments have left Scotland languishing at the bottom of the pile in Europe for agricultural support, which has strengthened the country’s case for devolution, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.
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Farming confidence in Wales is on the up
1 December 2011
CONFIDENCE among Welsh farmers is on the up, with many positive about the short- and long-term future and most looking to increase production over the next five years.
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Farmland birds still in decline
1 December 2011
STEWARDSHIP schemes are having little impact in the fight to stall the decline of farmland birds.
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Feed supplement to help with forage shortages
1 December 2011
AN alternative feed, Forage Maker Blend, has been launched by Waterhouse Feeds.
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Feeding the dry suckler cow
1 December 2011
IN the latest article in the feed planning series we take a look at feeding suckler cows to achieve maximum productivity.
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Fine grade cubicle bedding
1 December 2011
A NEW super-fine grade of cubicle bedding Dairy-Gyp has been developed by Gypsum Supplies Group.
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First winter sale at Stow-on-the-Wold
1 December 2011
THERE were 200 lots of hay, straw and fodder catalogued at the first winter sale at Stow-on-the-Wold last week. Prices were slightly down on last year and just above 75 per cent clearance was achieved.
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Focus on cow condition scores to boost fertility
1 December 2011
MANAGING body condition score in the pre- and post-calving period will help ensure better reproductive performance this winter.
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Focus on grazing management for performance
1 December 2011
WITH efficient grazing being ‘more competitive’ than silage and purchased feeds, Dr Michael O’Donovan told the 2011 Pasture to Profit conference it was important to focus on grazing management to achieve high cow performance from grazed grass.
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Fogging contractors urged to join assurance scheme
1 December 2011
THE Potato Council’s biennual British Potato event took place in Harrogate last week. Teresa Rush reports on the highlights.
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Food and farming union to launch tribute to the British Land Girls
30 November 2011
A NEW campaign to honour the British Land Girls has been launched by Staffordshire Women’s Food and Farming Union.
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France's ban on GM crops was illegal
29 November 2011
FRANCE’S highest court has confirmed the European Court of Justice’s judgment that the 2008 French ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops (GM) was illegal.
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Free bulk milk test for Ostertagia
1 December 2011
A FREE bulk milk test to indicate whether treatment of adult dairy cows for gastrointestinal worms is justified has been introduced by Pfizer VPS via animal medicine supplier suitably qualified persons (SQPs).
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Fuel rebate for parts of rural Scotland
29 November 2011
AREAS of rural Scotland where residents are faced with crippling travel costs are to benefit from a fuel rebate.
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Future of Gangmaster Licensing Authority under reveiw
1 December 2011
THE future of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is unclear, after Jim Paice said talks were taking place about moving it out of Defra’s control.
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Good Evans: Will we soon be greasing up our old hedgeback ploughs?
December 2, 2011
With the world population notching up to seven billion, with another couple of billion predicted to come, Roger Evans questions whether we can still afford to leave land out of production, or whether like the WarAg we should be looking to every square metre. And then there’s his new loader.
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Good start for Andrew Dickman’s Moss secures first place at Troneyhill
1 December 2011
GOOD work at the top of the course gave Andrew Dickman’s Moss a comfortable lead over the field at Troneyhill.
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Grain market update - November 29
29 November 2011
Early week London wheat futures running either side of £143 through to May. The International Grains Council has slightly reduced its estimates for global wheat production but despite this, and despite a higher feed usage, it still sees a surplus. Spot ex-farm wheat around £140/tonne.
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Grass offers highest rate of returns
1 December 2011
ENTHUSIASTS of grassland-based systems from across the country gathered at Worcester recently for the 2011 Pasture to Profit conference, organised by the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and the British Grassland Society (BGS). Katie Lomas reports.
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Half of heifers make £2,000 or more at Borderway
1 December 2011
HALF of the fresh heifer entries at the Border and Lakeland Club sale at Borderway mart made more than £2,000.
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Hall’s entries dominate sheep lines
30 November 2011
THE lengthy journey from Cumbria to Builth Wells turned out to be well worth the effort for the Hall family in the sheep championship line-ups, as there home-bred entries took both the overall and reserve rosettes.
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Hallbankgate Federer leads Carlisle Charolais sale at 11,000gns
29 November 2011
CHAROLAIS met a flying trade, selling to a top of 11,000gns at the breed society’s autumn sale at Carlisle.
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Heated forage affects intakes and performance
7 December 2011
MANY farmers are facing the consequences of excessive heating of silages and mix rations. This can lead to increased feed wastage, reduced dry matter intakes and poor cow performance.
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High sugar grass guide
1 December 2011
THE potential for reducing methane emissions from livestock is now included in an updated version of British Seed Houses’ technical guide on Aber high sugar grasses.
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High-ranking Canadian genomic bulls available
1 December 2011
BREEDING company Semex UK has secured access for a limited period to two of Canada’s highest-ranking outcross genomic bulls.
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Holistic approach to forage yields better margins
2 December 2011
ADDING a specialist variety of grain maize into the cropping mix alongside lucerne and grass has allowed North Cornwall farmers Michael and Anthony Grills to consolidate and expand their dairy enterprise - even in the face of price adversity.
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In-calf heifers
19 January 2012
Picture of the day
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Initiative will help new entrants enter sector
28 November 2011
A NEW joint initiative has been set up to help attract and accelerate the number of new entrants into Scotland’s agricultural and rural land-based businesses.
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In-lamb Suffolk ewes to £720 at Lancaster
1 December 2011
THE dispersal of pedigree Suffolks at Lancaster, on behalf of W.A. and M. Eccles, Longridge, saw a top price of £720 for a 2008-born ewe, by Orion President, scanned in-lamb with twins, to Conveth Track Race. She sold to M. Radford.
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Irish sugar groups join forces
1 December 2011
THE two groups working to get the Irish sugar industry back up and going - BEET Ireland and the Irish Sugar Biorefinery Group - are to join forces and launch a joint initiative.
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John Davies: Quality and price to the forefront with lambs selling well
29 November 2011
I know this may be tempting fate but what a beautiful open autumn we’ve had so far and the grass is still growing.
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John Walton: Cows are safely housed but our joint venture has now ended
1 December 2011
THE last of the corn was sown in near perfect conditions on November 21.
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Ladies in Pigs new cook book
30 November 2011
IF you are looking for an extra something for a stocking filler, the new Ladies in Pigs Farmhouse cook book has been published.
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Lamma 2012 - key information
25 November 2011
All the key information you need to know about the Lamma 2012 show.
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Lancs countryside experience
30 November 2011
THE Royal Lancashire Show, which closed in 2009, may not be rising from the ashes just yet, but volunteers have taken the first steps to realising their dream.
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Landscape View
25 January 2012
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Latest dates for FG26/46 discussions, meetings and visits around the regions
1 December 2011
UPCOMING discussions, meetings and visits around the regions.
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Levy rise plan
1 December 2011
THE Potato Council is proposing a 3 per cent levy increase for 2012/13. The increase is the third instalment of three rises approved in 2009.
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Limousin cross heifer is overall champion at Royal Highland Winter Fair
1 December 2011
THE popular winner of the overall beef championship at the Royal Highland Winter Fair was 18-year-old Jennifer Hyslop from Girvan, Ayrshire, with Limousin cross heifer Mistique.
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Live or dead route to top lamb prices?
1 December 2011
TOP-NOTCH lambs have reached phenomenal levels in auction rings over the past two weeks.
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Livestock market update - November 30
30 November 2011
Beef and lamb again continued strong this week. Cattle were on a par with last week. There was negligible decrease in pig prices. Despite a big jump in lamb prices last week, they moved upwards again in the week to November 29 according to AHDB Wednesday figures.
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Llyn Peninsula farmer wins Fferm Ffactor 2011
2 December 2011
A DAIRY farmer from the Llyn Peninsula has won a prestigious competition.
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Making the most from miscanthus
1 December 2011
Developments in agronomy are lifting yields and boosting returns from energy crops, Farmers Guardian reports the latest.
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Making the most of peas in 2012
30 November 2011
Agronomy advice for getting the best from the new season pea crop was given at a Daltons Seeds meeting. Dominic Kilburn reports.
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Meat industry will cope with strike action - BMPA
28 November 2011
THE meat processing sector will cope with Wednesday’s planned one-off strike but could face serious difficulties if the dispute escalates, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has warned.
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Millions paid out in Single Payments today
1 December 2011
FARMERS across the UK will begin receiving their Single Payments today (December 1), as the European Commission payment window opens.
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Mobile event guide: Lamma 2012
6 December 2011
LAMMA is the UK’s leading farm machinery equipment and services show.
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Nematicide residues linked to dry soils?
1 December 2011
LACK of soil moisture may have contributed to this season’s nematicide residue problems, although there are unanswered questions about residues in irrigated crops.
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New bottle sizes for Zactran
1 December 2011
TWO new bottle sizes of Zactran antibiotic have been launched by Merial Animal Health.
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New Zealand facing low lamb crop
1 December 2011
THE country is facing its second smallest lamb crop in 55 years.
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Newcomers on the Pulse RL revealed
1 December 2011
POTENTIALLY significant improvements in downy mildew resistance, yield advances in some categories and the return of one winter bean variety from Outclassed to Fully Recommended are among the developments seen on the latest Pulse Recommended List.
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NFU rules out any wrong-doing over livestock chairman
1 December 2011
THE NFU has cleared livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh of any wrong-doing following published claims of a conflict of interest between his job and his private life.
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NFUS ups opposition to Mercosur talks
1 December 2011
NFU Scotland has cranked up its opposition to ongoing trade talks between Europe and the South American trading bloc, Mercosur.
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Norbrooks extends its NSAID range
1 December 2011
NORBROOK’s NSAID range is being expanded with the launch of Loxicom injection for cattle, pigs and horses.
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Norfolk FWAG takes forward steps
2 December 2011
THE Norfolk branch of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) has taken positive steps after its parent organisation went into administration by forming a company limited by guarantee.
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Now not the time for action
1 December 2011
NFU president Peter Kendall urged farmers not to make radical changes to their businesses, such as ploughing up permanent pasture because of concerns over the reforms until they are finalised.
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On Farm: Finding optimum cow loading to make best use of robotics
December 2, 2011
Putting too many cows through robotic milkers on one Lancashire farm meant cows were drying themselves off earlier than they should. Jeremy Hunt reports.
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Open day for £4m energy farm
1 December 2011
THE company behind plans to create a £4million ‘energy farming’ power plant in rural Lancashire is inviting farmers to see details of the project.
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Paice issues warning over EU sow stall ban
2 December 2011
FARMING Minister Jim Paice has warned that the current furore over the EU battery cage ban could be dwarfed by an even bigger crisis when sow stalls are banned in 2013.
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PCN and common scab top research priorities
1 December 2011
POTATO cyst nematode, water use and common scab are among the top research priorities for potato businesses, according to results from a Potato Council R&D survey conducted earlier this year.
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Pneumonia treatment for large animals
1 December 2011
ANIMALCARE has announced a new addition to its large animal range.
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Positive signals for farmers in Chancellor's Autumn Statement
29 November 2011
FARMING can and will play its part in leading the country back to sustainable economic growth, said the NFU today (Tuesday November 29), in response to the Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement.
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Potato growing costs set to rise by £8/t in 2012
30 November 2011
THE cost of growing potatoes is set to rise in 2012, with fuel, fertiliser and storage costs all likely to see significant increases.
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Prioritise controlling lameness in your herd
5 December 2011
LAMENESS remains a significant welfare concern for the industry as a whole, says Colin Mason of SAC vet services.
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Production capacity fears as cull cow slaughterings rise
1 December 2011
THE red meat industry is concerned high levels of cow slaughtering will impact both the internal and export beef markets.
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Project to help children learn more about agriculture
30 November 2011
THE Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo) is to launch a new winter education initiative to enable children to enhance their knowledge of agriculture.
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Pure Welsh from Andrew Davies are pig champions
30 November 2011
BOTH the top single and pairs championships in the pig ring went to home-bred Welsh entries from Andrew Davies, Trial Mawr, Llanon, Ceredigion.
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RABI crisis line opening hours extended
29 November 2011
THE Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) is linking up with Farm Crisis Network to extend the operating hours of its helpline.
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Reader recipe - Cheese biscuits from Sara Prentice
30 November 2011
THIS recipe was sent in by Sara Prentice of Hill Farm, Swine, East Yorkshire, who says the biscuits make for a great alternative to crisps or an accompaniment to a cheese board.
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Regularly analyse silage to get maximum benefit
1 December 2011
FARMERS are advised to pay close attention to how they sample silage clamps.
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Reliability key for dairy sires
1 December 2011
FARMERS should continue to pay attention to reliability when choosing dairy sires.
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Remote monitoring of ewes and newborn lambs
1 December 2011
SHEEP farmers can keep an eye on ewes and newborn lambs this coming season using a video camera to relay images to the farm computer and a mobile phone.
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Right fibre content to slow feed’s passage
1 December 2011
THE importance of getting the physical nature of diets correct this winter has been witnessed first hand by Mark Voss.
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Roving farmer makes 50th blood donation
30 November 2011
A LANCASTRIAN dairy farmer has marked his 50th birthday by donating blood for the 50th time.
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Royal Highland Winter Fair results
1 December 2011
Cattle
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RPA constraints
1 December 2011
DEFRA Minister Lord Taylor acknowledged the difficulties the proposed CAP reforms would pose for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
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Scotch Mules
24 January 2012
SEND in your farm pictures to share on our mobile website.
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Scottish butcher's sausage with a fizz
30 November 2011
A SOUTH west Scotland butcher has created a new sausage to give his customers an extra orange fizz.
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Second nursery title for Tom and Dave at Yorkshire trial
1 December 2011
AFTER winning at Lee End Farm, Quernmore, on the 13th November, on Saturday Tom Lawrenson’s Dave took his second nursery title at the Yorkshire trial at Trawden.
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Select Sheepware printer link
1 December 2011
A PROGRAM to link the Psion handheld reader to a portable printer has been developed by TGM software.
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Sheepdog trials diary: 02.12.11
1 December 2011
SHEEPDOG trials diary for week beginning Friday 2nd December
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Show winner grosses 450p/kg at Otley
29 November 2011
CHAMPION at Otley’s Christmas Primestock show and sale was a Limousin cross steer from the Priestley family, Clayton, Bradford.
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Shropshire Gold iPhone App
26 December 2011
FARM and country accommodation providers in Shropshire have launched an app for all iPhone, Blackberry and Android mobile phones.
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Silver Lapwing Award double for Fens farmer
30 November 2011
FOR the second time, a south Lincolnshire fen farm has been honoured with the prestigious Silver Lapwing Award at a ceremony in the House of Commons.
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Single-point win at Powys final for Graham and Patch
1 December 2011
THE Powys Nursery final, hosted by Aubrey Lloyd and Brenda Howson at Perthyduon Farm, Llandefalle, Brecon, resulted in a single-point win for Graham Powell and Patch.
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Skipton Christmas prime show is a cracker
1 December 2011
SKIPTON’S Farmers Guardian sponsored Christmas primestock show and sale produced all round exceptional trading levels, including an all-time record market price for the supreme champion prime lambs.
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Store cattle top £2,000 at Leyburn
1 December 2011
AT Leyburn’s Christmas show and sale of store cattle, the championship and the J. Duffus Memorial Cup for the best Limousin went to James and Rachael Wilkinson with a Limousin steer.
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Striving to breed the right cattle
1 December 2011
KEITH Bamlet is attempting to find the right type of heifers to form the basis of his herd, as Ann Hardy reports.
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Subsidy protest in Bulgaria
1 December 2011
A NATIONWIDE protest by farmers at cross-border checkpoints and main thoroughfares is being driven by discontent over subsidy.
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Taking control over price through direct selling and diversification
7 December 2011
AS winners of the highest placed Jersey herd in this year’s Gold Cup competition, the Richardson brothers tell Wendy Short why they would never consider changing breeds, and how they have added value to their product.
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The lesser of two evils
1 December 2011
APART from the absurd added layers of bureaucracy, the damage it will do to EU food production, its failure to address the EU’s environmental problems, its impact on UK agri-environment schemes and the myriad of problems, complexities and inequalities the greening, capping, active farmer and redistribution elements throw up… what is there not to like about the European Commission’s CAP reform proposals?
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The Wool Clip - Working wonders with wool
29 November 2011
IT has taken time and tenacity, but the women behind The Wool Clip enterprise have brought the textile back into the conscience of residents and tourists visiting the Cumbrian region. FG catches up with two of the members 10 years on.
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Top price of £2,370 at Leek
1 December 2011
AN entry of 53 dairies and three calves at Leek saw an average of £2,069 for the top seven.
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Turkey still affected by foot-and-mouth
1 December 2011
FOOT-AND-MOUTH disease continues to cause intermittent problems in endemic regions.
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UK and EC on CAP collision course
1 December 2011
Politicians and industry leaders from the UK and Brussels gathered in London for the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum conference on CAP reform.
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UK stays close to bottom in UK milk price ‘league table’
30 November 2011
THE latest European milk price ‘league table’ shows the UK is seventh from bottom.
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UK to rely on EU FMD vaccine bank
2 December 2011
THE UK Government will rely on the EU foot-and-mouth vaccine bank in the event of a future outbreak.
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Use the military’s leadership principles to achieve success
1 December 2011
LEADERSHIP in the military can mean a life or death situation and developing it as an attribute takes work. Emma Penny reports from the latest FG26/46 meeting, plus a round-up of other FG26/46 news and events.
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Using wormers correctly will help stop resistance
1 December 2011
A SERIES of meetings organised by DairyCo and Eblex have been reinforcing their joint initiative – control of worms sustainably (COWS). Angela Calvert reports from one of the meetings, which was held in Leicestershire.
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Valley in Scotland
18 January 2012
Picture of the day
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Valtra's new tractor leaves predecessor behind
1 December 2011
BILLED as a small tractor with a big tractor’s features, James Rickard puts Valtra’s latest A series tractor to the test.
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Virtual world of MyFarm becomes reality for a Cambridgeshire member
30 November 2011
THE virtual world of farming became a vivid reality for a Cambridgeshire resident after she signed up with the National Trust’s MyFarm experiment.
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Wales Woman Farmer of the Year
30 November 2011
A farmer’s wife from Meirionnydd is the new NFU Cymru-NatWest Wales Woman Farmer of the Year.
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Water problems are no surprise, says NFU
2 December 2011
WATER issues raised in the Environment Agency’s report on drought prospects over the next few months will come as no surprise to farmers, the NFU has said.
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Weight bands of cattle to change
1 December 2011
FROM the New Year, reported auction mart prices for cattle will be based on adjusted weight ranges to reflect the changing, and generally heavier weight, profile of cattle now coming forward.
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Welsh business of the year winner
30 November 2011
WINNER of the Wales YFC-NatWest Cymru Business of the Year Award was Steffan Kurtz, a member of Fishguard YFC, Pembrokeshire, with his agricultural contracting business.
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Welsh exhibitors rule the cattle ring at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair
30 November 2011
Barry Alston reports from a record breaking Royal Welsh Winter Fair – with a two-day attendance of 27,944 bettering the previous best of 2006 by nearly 1,000.
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Welsh farmers to receive SPS on time
28 November 2011
EIGHTY-EIGHT per cent of Welsh farmers will receive their Single Payments on Thursday, the day the European Commission payment window opens.
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Welsh Government plans for merger come under attack
2 December 2011
WELSH Government plans to merge the Environment Agency, Countryside Council and Forestry Commission in Wales, have been attacked by Shadow Environment Minister Russell George.
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Wet areas favour liver fluke
1 December 2011
CLIMATIC and environmental changes are believed to have played a key part in an increase in reports of liver fluke infection between 2001 and 2008.
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Wildlife Management student calls for help
2 December 2011
A SECOND year Wildlife and Countryside Management degree student at Moulton College, Northamptonshire, is appealing for farmers and land managers to take part in a survey on neglected woodlands as part of his degree course.
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Win £50,000 plus mentoring for your business in new competition
6 December 2011
GRADUATE and student entrepreneurs, including agricultural and rural businesses, are being given the chance to compete against University and Graduate entrepreneurs across Britain for regional and nationwide recognition and a cash and mentoring prize, in the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards.
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Winter dairying: Brothers make the right move into robots
1 December 2011
AFTER recently moving to a robotic milking system Ann Hardy asks dairy farmers Gordon and Andrew Thomas from near Bristol, whether they would do it all again and what their tips are for adopting this system.
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Winter Dairying: Consider improving a dairy parlour before splashing out on a new one
6 December 2011
MANY dairy parlours do not work as efficiently as they should - but instead of buying new, farmers could make significant improvements to their existing set up at minimal capital cost. Jane Brown reports.
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Winter Dairying: Maximise milk output with right energy feed choice
5 December 2011
CHOOSING the right energy feeds is going to be critical in maximising milk output this winter due to the variability of forage.
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Winter warmth for charity fund
30 November 2011
MOLE Valley Farmers has provided some additional warmth to The Addington Fund by donating one of its multi-fuel stoves to help with a new housing project ahead of the winter months.
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Women-only knowledge transfer group meets Minister
30 November 2011
THE Welsh Government’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies had a special ‘date’ at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday - meeting up with the first women-only Merched y Maes knowledge transfer group.
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Working together 'key' in Welsh CAP negotiations
1 December 2011
LEADERS of the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) and NFU Cymru have said securing the best deal for Welsh agriculture in the CAP negotiations is a ‘key priority’.
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Worthwhile first ever trip for Andrew Bishop
1 December 2011
ANDREW Bishop enjoyed a successful first ever trip from Gloucester to the Royal Highland Winter Fair by taking the overall sheep championship.
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Yeast may solve acidosis problem
1 December 2011
FARMERS struggling to maximise rumen efficiency and cow performance in the light of acidic silages should consider adding live yeast to the diet.