Agriculture in the national news - February 24

Farmers told to produce more food to prevent high inflation

UK farmers need to grow more food to prevent a repetition of recent price increases and increase the country’s food security, the rural affairs secretary warned on Tuesday.

Hilary Benn, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said that the UK must become more self-sufficient and develop the means to increase food production for less money.

The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7300462/Farmers-told-to-produce-more-food-to-prevent-high-inflation.html

GM and farming technology ‘key to fighting climate change’

Lord Smith tells National Farmers’ Union that climate change ‘could provide opportunities for novel crops and systems’

The government’s drive to push controversial genetically modified crops up the national agenda will receive a further boost today, when former cabinet minister Chris Smith will tell farmers that the technology has a key role in helping the UK beating climate change.

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/24/gm-precision-farming-environment-agency

NFU urged to back GM crop trials

Genetically modified crops could play a role in helping the UK cope with the impacts of climate change, Environment Agency chairman Lord Chris Smith is due to tell farmers.

Lord Smith will tell the National Farmers’ Union annual conference that global warming and a growing population will bring challenges for food security, the use of land, flood risk and water scarcity.

Press Association

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hN6nOD6xNN80vii35R40wgz99pkA

Blog: Will turning vegetarian save the planet?

Even committed carnivores can’t dodge the facts: we’re going to have to cut down on the red stuff. A bit.

The numbers look pretty unarguable. So much so that - as a senitive meat-eating, trying-hard green - I have to ask if Safran Foer is being too soft: can any meat-eater at all call themselves an environmentalist?

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/feb/24/vegetarianism-save-planet-safran-foer

Farmer out £60,000 after arson attack

A farmer is more than £60,000 out of pocket after a gang of youths burned down a barn and opened sheds to release 100 cattle.

Andrew Rowland said: “It was a totally senseless act, which has cost me a lot of money and a great deal of inconvenience.

Coventry Telegraph

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/02/23/farmer-out-60-000-after-arson-attack-92746-25892184/

Farmer took his own life

A prominent village figurehead took his life when his cancer became unbearable, an inquest heard.

Farmer and builder Alan Coram, 65, from North Newton, struggled after being diagnosed with oesophagus cancer.

This is Somerset

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Farmer-took-life/article-1859939-detail/article.html

SouthLakesfarmer crushed by hay – inquest

A FARMER died after bales of hay with a total weight of several tons fell from a trailer and crushed him against a mechanical grabber, an inquest heard.

John Michael Tuer, 52, was working at his own farm, Common Farm, near Windermere, on February 16 last year.

North West Evening Mail

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/south-lakes-farmer-crushed-by-hay-inquest-1.675738?referrerPath=home

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name