Agriculture in the national news - June 29

EFRA chairman’s farming pledge

Efra concerns are my concerns. I was brought up in the Durham Dales and after 10 years representing a largely rural constituency (Vale of York), I have been elected to represent a new constituency even more rural (Thirsk, Malton & Filey).

Select Committees set their own agendas in a consensual manner, so before I can promise a particular agenda, I must wait for the election of the rest of the members of the Efra Committee.

Yorkshire Post
http://tinyurl.com/28e79s8

Conservationists warn of hay meadow decline

“Constable? Turner? Give me a hay meadow any day,” says Tony Bullough as we get our first glimpse of New House Farm.

And the National Trust warden has a point - the fields surrounding this small farm are a glorious sight.

Perched in a small valley near the village of Malham, in the Yorkshire Dales, the meadows provide a blaze of colour in the more typical green of the rural landscape.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/2dm2yfl

Weak euro lifts hopes for EU dairy exports

The decline of the euro, coupled with a revival in milk production prompted by higher prices, has raised prospects for Europe’s dairy exports – in particular cheese, trade in which is to recover to pre-crisis levels.

US Department of Agriculture staff have lifted estimates for European Union exports for most dairy products, including milk powders, of which the region is the second largest shipper after New Zealand.

Agriweather
http://tinyurl.com/2eb8r3b?

HighlandShow carves place in record books

SCOTLAND’S major showcase of all that’s best in farming, food and the countryside is celebrating its most successful year yet.

Bumper crowds flocked to the Royal Highland Show as box- office records were smashed on three out of the four days of the agricultural showpiece at Ingliston, near Edinburgh Airport.

Scotsman
http://tinyurl.com/298ym7r

Critics oppose ‘massive’ pig farm in south Derbyshire

Protest groups are opposing an intensive pig farming and bio-gas plant in rural Derbyshire that could produce up to 1,000 piglets a week.

Midlands Pigs Producers said its premises in Foston would have 2,500 sows and 20,000 piglets in its indoor industrial unit.

BBC Online
http://tinyurl.com/22ro2wj?

Visitors to the countryside ignorant of E.coli danger

TWO thirds of visitors to the countryside are not aware of the risk posed by E.coli, researchers have found.

More than 2,000 tourists, residents and farmers from North Wales and Scotland took part in the survey carried out by the universities of Bangor and Aberdeen.

Wales Online
http://tinyurl.com/29ksowp

Farmer-falconer keen to champion Dutch Texel sheep

WHEN a group of Kiwi farmers visited his farm in 2008, Dutch Texel specialist Steve Smith had a trick up his sleeve.

To demonstrate the merits of Dutch Texel breeding, the Mid Wales farmer compared the carcasses of two crossbred lambs, both butchered by Alun Davies of Berriew.

Daily Post
http://tinyurl.com/26lnwbd

Farmer killed by train while herding cattle across tracks

A FARMER was killed after he was struck by a train while attempting to herd livestock across a railway line.

James McInerney (62) was the second man to be killed by a train in less than 48 hours.

On Saturday, Eddie Shoer (18) died after he apparently chased a pet dog on to the tracks near Nenagh train station in Tipperary.

Irish Independent
http://tinyurl.com/2batuga

West Cumbrian farmer speaks out after dog attacks

A west Cumbrian farmer has spoken about his disgust after a dog carried out a frenzied attack on his flock of sheep.

One sheep died, another is fighting for its life and eight others were injured from the dog bites – believed to have been inflicted during a savage attack by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

News and Star
http://tinyurl.com/2cjxnd7

Qataraims for food goal in radical desert farming plan

Qatarcould never be accused of being a shrinking violet. The Gulf nation may have failed in its bid to bring the 2016 Olympics to the Arabian Desert, but the country is embarking on a project that appears at least as audacious - an attempt to make the desert bloom and achieve food security.

The aim of the Qatar National Food Security Programme is to bring the country as close as possible to food self-sufficiency by 2023.

Financial Times
http://tinyurl.com/2ehznke

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