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.Agriculture in the national news - January 29
A DAILY look at how agriculture has caught the headlines across the country (Friday, January 29).
Genetically modified seeds ‘are everywhere’
GENETICALLY modified crops are everywhere, it seems - even in Europe.
Strict laws designed to keep the European Union free of unauthorised GM crops and products are not working, and are posing problems for the EU’s €150 billion livestock industry, according to farmers’ representatives.
Rapemeal seen threatened by UK biofuels expansion
Rapeseed meal’s place in animal feed rations in Britain looks under threat with the first of two major bioethanol refineries due to enter commercial production soon, industry sources said on Thursday.
Ensus is due to ramp up its biorefinery in northeast England during the first quarter of this year. It will take about 1.1 million tonnes of wheat and produce bioethanol and around 350,000 tonnes of a high protein animal feed.
Stranded sheep left high and dry
A SHEEP has been safely rescued – after being marooned on its own desert island.
Locals think the ewe became stranded on scrubland in the middle of Dartmoor’s Meldon Reservoir after wandering across the frozen surface during the recent big chill.
When the ice melted, the lone sheep was left high and dry.
Western Morning News
http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Stranded-8211-sheep-daren-t-dip/article-1780199-detail/article.html
European Parliament : Agriculture Can Help Slow Global Warming
Agriculture can help to slow climate change, but should be ready to adapt to the impact of global warming, said Agriculture Committee MEPs and scientists at a public hearing on Wednesday.
“Agriculture can provide solutions for the future”, given its direct relationship with the earth and living things, said Parliament’s rapporteur report on agriculture and climate change Stephan Le Foll (S&D, FR).
EGov
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/33087
Defra plans livestock tax to pay for costs of disease outbreaks
THE Government this week published draft legislation for a new independent body to deal with animal health in England.
Hilary Benn, Defra Secretary of State, said separate measures for making livestock farmers split the cost of fighting and preventing animal disease outbreaks would follow.
Darlington and Stockton Times
http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/farmingbusiness/4880364.Defra_plans_livestock_tax_to_pay_for_costs_of_disease_outbreaks/
Sheep farmers trying to get to grips with electronic tagging
HUNDREDS of Cumbrian farmers gathered at Penrith mart this week to find out what they should do about electronic sheep tagging.
Many are still confused by the technical legislation that came into force on January 1. Electronic tagging was introduced to improve traceability in England but the impact is unlikely to be fully felt until the autumn breeding sales.
Cumberland Times
http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/farming/sheep_farmers_trying_to_get_to_grips_with_electronic_tagging_1_666496?referrerPath=farming/
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