Agriculture in the national news - April 9

Countryside campaigners call for rural-proof policies

A countryside organisation has said there needs to be a “robust rural-proofing of government policy”.

The call was made by the president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), William Worsely, during a visit to Devon and Cornwall.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/yazztml


Farmers faced with fertiliser fears

The arrival of spring has brought with it a number of concerns for farmers, especially those who left the ordering of their fertiliser requirements to the last minute.

Ken Bowler, marketing manager of Growhow, the largest fertiliser manufacturer based in the UK, said: “We are struggling with deliveries, especially getting into the north-east of Scotland, where we are now very much behind schedule.”

Press and Journal
http://tinyurl.com/ybkcq2f


North Dorsetfarmers ‘threatened’ by EU red tape

The UKIP candidate for North Dorset has claimed it would be “impossible” to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers without withdrawing from the EU.

Jeremy Nieboer said it was simply “fraudulent” for any party to claim it could, amid concern from the industry.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/y7s58fn


Satellite tags for geese to gauge wind farm impact

BARNACLE geese heading to the Arctic for the summer have been tagged with satellite trackers amid concerns wind farms could disrupt their migration.

Dr Larry Griffin, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust principal research officer, said geese’s main flight corridor takes them over the Firth of Forth where sites are earmarked for new turbines as part of the UK’s planned massive expansion in offshore wind power.

The Scotsman
http://tinyurl.com/y7a8d5b


How cattle farmers in Britain are cutting emissions from cow burps

Beef farmers in Britain are fighting back against the green lobby by producing meat with a lower carbon footprint.

Paul McCartney, Lord Stern and a host of high profile environmentalists have been urging the nation to cut back on red meat because the methane produced by cows belching increases global warming.

The beef industry has already noticed a dip in consumption over the last year with sales falling more than 2 per cent to just over one million tonnes in 2009.

Daily Telegraph
http://tinyurl.com/y98bqvy


Legal challenge to farmer’s green scheme in Talgarth

A national park has launched a legal challenge against the Welsh Assembly Government after it said a green energy plant could be built on a farm.

The Jones family from Talgarth, near Brecon, Powys, finally got the go-ahead in January to build an anaerobic digester after a public inquiry.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/y552zbd


Tory chairman declares Westmorland and Lonsdale key to May 6 power bid

A TORY boss has declared Westmorland and Lonsdale a seat his party will have to win if David Cameron is to stand a chance of forming the next Government.

Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles revealed the constituency was one of a number of key seats being targeted in a bid to win power at the General Election on May 6.

The Westmorland Gazette
http://tinyurl.com/y6y8plp


Self-shearing sheep bred by British farmers for first time

Self-shearing sheep which shed their winter fleeces naturally when the weather warms up are being bred by British farmers for the first time.

The new breed, called Exlana, is being developed by farmers in South West England to lose their woolly coats automatically in Spring.

Daily Telegraph
http://tinyurl.com/yelhzgx

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