Agriculture in the national news - July 19

19 July 2010

A DAILY look at how agriculture has caught the headlines across the country (Monday, July 19).

Russia swelters in heatwave, many crops destroyed

Soaring temperatures across large swathes of Russia have destroyed nearly 10 million hectares of crops and prompted a state of emergency to be declared in 17 regions.

On Friday the state-run Moscow region weather bureau said it expected the heatwave, which has gripped the country since late June and is estimated to have already cost the agricultural sector about $1 billion, to continue into next week.

Reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66F2LX20100716?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&rpc=401

Fears grow that GM crops will be forced on to Scottish fields

The UK Government’s “respect” agenda towards Scotland could be wrecked by disagreements over growing genetically modified foods, following a new move by the European Commission.

The commission last week proposed a law that would enable countries to back or ban genetically modified (GM) crops. The Scottish Government fears this will allow ministers in London who are pro-GM crops to force them on an unwilling Scotland.

Scottish Herald
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/fears-grow-that-gm-crops-will-be-forced-on-to-scottish-fields-1.1041980

Communities learn to grow the food of the future

From 200-acre hill farms to a small plot at the village hall, community gardens are springing up all over Wales, Chris Kelsey writes

As I enter the corner office a little distance from central Cardiff I notice tomatoes and chilli peppers growing in a box inside the window.

Wales Online
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/go-green/go-green-green-living/2010/07/19/communities-learn-to-grow-the-food-of-the-future-91466-26868348/

Badger cull warning as Royal Welsh Show opens in Powys

The Royal Welsh Show opens in Powys on Monday with a warning to farmers not to think of breaking the law by killing badgers on their land.

The warning by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president in Wales Ed Bailey follows the Court of Appeal decision to quash plans for a cull in north Pembrokeshire.

BBC Online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-10678282

Environment quangos to be cut, says Caroline Spelman

Environment quangos will be cut as part of coalition spending reductions, the environment secretary has indicated.

Caroline Spelman suggested the bodies would be axed to protect frontline services such as flood defences and animal health protection.

She also called her department, Defra, the “government’s emergency service”.

BBC Online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10676997

Worrying cases of sheep mauled by family dogs

A friend, whose farm lies on the edge of a large housing estate, was telling me about a big black mongrel dog that was often seen running unattended and was suspected of a spate of sheep-worrying incidents this spring.

The first incident happened at a neighbouring farm where a pregnant ewe had its ears chewed off and its legs badly bitten.

Herald Scotland
http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/corporate-sme/worrying-cases-of-sheep-mauled-by-family-dogs-1.1042039

Prince Charles and the countryside paupers

Businesses encouraged to help the countryside have come up with a poor response, says Geoffrey Lean.

It was the morning of the 1992 general election and I was having breakfast for the first – and, let me hasten to say, the only – time with the Prince of Wales.

Daily Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/7897664/Prince-Charles-and-the-countryside-paupers.html

‘Boost’ to tots from cow milk

Cow milk increases the resistance of babies to allergies later in life, claims a university study.

Many doctors have suggested that it should be avoided in the early months and others advocate “mother’s milk only”.

The Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/07/16/boost-to-tots-from-cow-milk-115875-22416597/#ixzz0u7F7q4gX