Agriculture in the national news - April 30

Price fix probe in milk and butter dropped

A consumer watchdog has dropped most of its investigation into price fixing in milk and butter and will reduce the fines on firms that accepted some liability in its broader probe of the dairy industry.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said on Friday it had also withdrawn allegations of price fixing in milk and butter against Tesco, which had not accepted any liability.

Reuters
http://tinyurl.com/34pd8ay


Farmers vent anger at RPA’s ‘mapping fiasco’

FARMERS have expressed their anger and dismay over the Rural Payments Agency’s mapping fiasco during an NFU Council meeting last week.

Unequivocal calls for action were laid at the feet of RPA chief operations officer Steve Pearce with NFU members speaking of their frustrations at the “man-made bureaucratic incompetence” that has seen members left without any maps, inaccurate mapping, incomplete paperwork or tied in knots trying to get through the labyrinth RPA call centre.

South West Business
http://tinyurl.com/26cjxoy?


Attack launched on delay over RPA payments

FARMING leaders in England have this week launched an unprecedented attack of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), the body responsible for dealing with farm support south of the Border, accusing it of being unable to function effectively.

A statement issued by the National Farmers’ Union, the Country Landowners’ Association and the Tenant Farmers’ Association came after a meeting with Defra minister Lord Davies and RPA chief Tony Cooper.

The Scotsman
http://tinyurl.com/24567nh


Swine fever ‘a threat to Russian grain exports’

Russia’s two-year-long outbreak of African swine fever, which has led to more than 25,000 animals being destroyed, threatens the country’s grains exports, US officials have warned.

Russian export rules forbid exports from areas which have had an outbreak within the last 12 months of the viral disease, which can kill pigs within a week.

Agrimoney
http://tinyurl.com/249rdre


On-farm political forum with candidates

MONTGOMERYSHIRE voters will get the chance to quiz the constituency’s parliamentary candidates at an open political forum organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ county branch office.
 
The event will be held at Tynllwyn, Llanfair Caereinion (SY21 0HE), home of the FUW’s county chairman, Arwel Rees, at 11am tomorrow (Friday, April 30).

Welsh Daily Post
http://tinyurl.com/23ueuhx


The lies the animal rights lobby are telling about Kate Hoey

I bumped into the Labour MP Kate Hoey yesterday, canvassing in her Vauxhall constituency, and had a very jolly chat with her.

The animal rights lobby have been running a ferocious campaign against Hoey, because she’s the Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, and supports hunting.

Daily Telegraph
http://tinyurl.com/27kxufm

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