Agriculture in the national news - October 26

26 October 2010

A DAILY look at how agriculture has hit the headlines across the country (Tuesday, October 26).

Global food crisis forecast as prices reach record highs

Rising food prices and shortages could cause instability in many countries as the cost of staple foods and vegetables reached their highest levels in two years, with scientists predicting further widespread droughts and floods.

Although food stocks are generally good despite much of this year’s harvests being wiped out in Pakistan and Russia, sugar and rice remain at a record price.

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/25/impending-global-food-crisis

Russia to resume wheat flour exports

Russia plans to resume exporting flour on January 1, 2011, but a larger ban on exporting wheat, barley, rye and corn has been extended through next June, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported Monday.

Russia imposed a temporary ban on grain exports this year amid the country’s worst drought in decades.

CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/10/25/russia.wheat.exports/index.html

Inquiry launched after child labour revelations

A CHILD welfare investigation has been launched after it was revealed youngsters were forced to work a field in near freezing temperatures.

As reported in your Worcester News yesterday, eight children aged between nine and 15 were taken into protective custody by West Mercia Police after a raid on a field in Kempsey, near Worcester, on Wednesday morning.

Worcester News
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/8474226.Inquiry_launched_after_child_labour_revelations/

West farms to benefit from superstore plan

West suppliers are expected to benefit after one of the big supermarkets announced plans to invest £40 million in farming in a bid to boost its rural supply chain.

Sainsbury’s said it will pump cash into its farming “development groups”, which it set up four years ago to work with farmers covering different product areas such as beef, lamb, milk and grain.

This is Somerset
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/West-farms-benefit-superstore-plan/article-2798329-detail/article.html

Man bailed in farm murder probe

A man arrested over the murder of a farmer believed to have died in a botched robbery has been released on bail, police have said.

Julian Gardner, 53, suffered multiple injuries after apparently disturbing crooks at isolated Bush Barn Farm in Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

UKPA
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i61PfSS7iB4Np8x0sRzrcBLpHhWw?docId=N0078351287998931565A

Flood schemes abandoned due to Defra cuts

My colleague Fiona Harvey has dug out the fact that an array of flood prevention schemes could soon be culled - despite claims by ministers pre-CSR that flood funding would be protected.

There could be “dozens” of flood measures among the casualties of the spending round including a £100m flood prevention scheme in Leeds.

FT
http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2010/10/flood-schemes-abandoned-due-to-defra-cuts/

Forestry Commission ‘sell-off’ attacked by environmentalists

Large swathes of cherished public forests in rural England could be sold off to developers as part of the Government’s efforts to plug the national deficit, it has been revealed.

According to reports, environment secretary Caroline Spelman is soon expected to announce plans to sell around half the 1.85 million acres woodland overseen by the Forestry Commission, Britain’s largest land manager.

The Cornishman
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Forestry-Commission-sell-attacked-environmentalists/article-2795332-detail/article.html

Farmer condemns cattle passport rules over bullock’s slaughter

A farmer has been forced to slaughter a healthy bullock because he couldn’t prove exactly when it had been born.

The meat from the animal had to be discarded because a failure to record its birth date meant it was denied documents allowing it to enter the food chain.

Daily Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/farming/8085923/Farmer-condemns-cattle-passport-rules-over-bullocks-slaughter.html

Rhinoceros horn: further changes to the UK law

THE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have issued further important guidelines regarding the sale of antique rhinoceros horn.

In addition to the decision in September to refuse nearly all current and future applications for the export of old rhinoceros horn sold in the UK, it is now also illegal to sell or advertise for sale any rhino horn work of art unless specific written clearance has been given by the UK CITES Management Authority.

Antiques Trade Gazette
http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/7708.aspx