Agriculture in the news - January 27

27 January 2012

A round up of farming news from across the UK and the world.

Beef and milk sectors lead English income rise

ALTHOUGH estimated Scottish farm income figures are not due to be released until next week, comparative figures from England published yesterday show substantial rises, particularly in the beef and milk sectors.

According to the estimated figures from Defra’s farm business unit for the 12 months to the end of February 2012, dairy farmers are predicted to see a 27 per cent increase in incomes. Grazing livestock farms should also see incomes improve, with a 30 per cent rise expected for lowland units, but incomes on upland farms will have a more modest 7 per cent rise.

The Scotsman

http://www.scotsman.com/business/food-drink-and-agriculture/beef_and_milk_sectors_lead_english_income_rise_1_2080238

Weak euro delivers timely boost to dairy exports, says industry expert

The weakness of the euro has delivered a timely boost to Irish dairy exports, ensuring that co-ops are in a position to hold current milk prices, according to one industry expert.

IFA national dairy committee chairman Kevin Kiersey said that, since last April, the euro had weakened by over 11% against the US dollar, and by 6% against sterling.

Irish Examiner

http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/weak-euro-delivers-timely-boost-to-dairy-exports-says-industry-expert-181665.html#ixzz1keIOEtMR

Teagasc: 2011 produced some of the highest cereal yields on record

Ireland has enjoyed high cereal yields over the last decade, with the highest average wheat and second highest average barley yields in the world, according to Teagasc research.

Teagasc head of crops science John Spink told those attending the Teagasc National Tillage Conference in Kilkenny that 2011 produced some of the highest yields on record, with an average increase of 13% on 2010 yields. This result was particularly surprising, given the record years that preceded.

Irish Examiner

http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/teagasc-2011-produced-some-of-the-highest-cereal-yields-on-record-181664.html#ixzz1keIc3xFb

Dumfries and Galloway rural crime response earns praise

Police have praised the public for a “very positive reaction” to a plea to help catch “ruthless” thieves operating in rural Dumfries and Galloway.

BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-16738379

Minister outlines Ireland’s CAP reform priorities

Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, welcomed European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, to Dublin last week, and impressed upon the Commissioner the key CAP reform priorities for Ireland following the publication last October by the Commissioner of his legislative proposals for the period 2014 to 2020.

Offaly Express

http://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/business/minister_outlines_ireland_s_cap_reform_priorities_1_3452997

Holy mackerel! Toppled lorry dumps thousands of fish in farmer’s field

A Biblical scene met Northern Ireland farmer Gordon Flinn after a lorry overturned into his field, spilling tonnes of fish.The ‘fish farm’ accident caused an overnight internet sensation this week, as a photo taken by Mr Flinn’s daughter Louise went viral.
“It was like a catastrophe, as though the fish had fallen out of the sky,” the civil servant said today.

Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/holy-mackerel-toppled-lorry-dumps-thousands-of-fish-in-farmers-field-16109727.html#ixzz1keG1ndmA

Decline and fall of English country estates

ENGLAND’S landed estates have contributed a huge amount to the country’s prosperity and the physical appearance of our landscape, but in the last 100 years many of those estates have been sold and broken up, with some of them replaced by motorways, supermarkets, power stations, airports or housing. Many a motorist has stopped for a coffee at a motorway service station without realising that the tarmac on which they’ve parked was once the site of a sweeping drive leading to a graceful country house and parkland.

Yorkshire Post

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/decline_and_fall_of_english_country_estates_1_4180197

Farming firm makes innovative moo-ve into cow cubicle market

Cows can count on more comfort in their cubicles thanks to a farm supplies company in Co Antrim. Northern Farm Supplies in Toomebridge designed a new ‘flat pack’ cubicle for cows which is already in use on farms in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/farming-firm-makes-innovative-moove-into-cow-cubicle-market-16109687.html#ixzz1keHJtKOd

More remains on farm where David Griffiths was found

A second burial site containing human remains has been discovered on a farm on the outskirts of St Austell where two men were shot dead and buried last summer, a court has been told.

Bracknell and Ascot Times

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2107175_more_remains_on_farm_where_david_griffiths_was_found