Farmers Guardian
December 14th 2007

  • ‘Failed’ varieties to be trialled

    December 14th 2007

    SO unusual were the 2007 season’s growing conditions that the HGCA sought independent advice on the statistical validity of its Recommended List trials results, RL manager Dr Jim McVittie has confirmed.

  • ‘Great uniformity’ of ewes in sheep flock competition

    December 14th 2007

    THE 2007 Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Association’s flock competition, sponsored by Farmers Guardian, was closely contested between flocks from around the country, including strong entries from Northern Ireland.

  • ‘Unsustainable returns not supermarkets’ fault’

    December 14th 2007

    MILK producers did receive higher milk prices as a result of increased retail prices in 2002/2003, says The British Retail Consortium.

  • 7,500gns peak for Texels

    December 14th 2007

    TRADE at the Christmas Cracker sale of in-lamb Texels at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, peaked at 7,500gns.

  • A company eager to bounce back

    13 December 2007

    MERIAL Animal Health has had a strange year. Despite being shut down after the foot-and-mouth virus leak from Pirbright, the company is today a key player in the battle against the bluetongue virus. ALISTAIR DRIVER spoke to an upbeat David Biland, Merial managing director, UK and Republic of Ireland, about where the company goes from here and whether it can deliver a bluetongue vaccine on time.

  • A good business plan is worth its weight in gold

    December 14th 2007

    IN the first of a series of workshops, the Yorkshire branch of the Fresh Start Academy has teamed up with business advisers and experts to help educate young people keen to become involved in farming.

  • Aberdeen-Angus herd winners

    December 14th 2007

    THE winners of the North East England Aberdeen-Angus Club annual herd competition were Adrian and Penny Johnson (Yearsley herd) in the small herds’ section and Mrs Holliday (Dacre herd) in the large herds’ section. The judge was Victor Wallace from Northern Ireland.

  • Agriculture needs access to latest technology

    December 14th 2007

    FUTURE legislation relating to crop protection products, genetic modification and counterfeit products are the three key issues for the European agricultural industry as we head into the New Year, believes David Scorer, managing director of Dow Agrosciences.

  • Apple and mincemeat parcels with brandy butter

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Janet Skidmore of Gunvil Hall Farm, Wymondham.

  • Ardstewart flock takes Irish Beltex sheep title

    December 14th 2007

    THE Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s flock competition – now in its second year – was won by Wade McCrabbe’s Ardstewart flock at Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

  • Availability of full RL list

    December 14th 2007

    Summaries of the new HGCA Recommended Lists are available on the HGCA website www,hgca.com. The full HGCA Recommended Lists booklet will be distributed to farmers early in the new year. Look out for details of spring crop recommendations in the December 21 issue of Farmers Guardian.

  • Blonde d’Aquitaine cross fetches 400p/kg at Gisburn primestock show

    December 14th 2007

    A 21-month-old Blonde d’Aquitaine cross heifer that tipped the scales at 552kg won Gisburn Auction Mart’s Christmas primestock show. The prize winner came from for 21-year-old Hayley Baines, Trawden, Lancashire.

  • Bluetongue detected near Middlesbrough

    14 December 2007

    BLUETONGUE has been detected in an imported cow on a premises near Middlesbrough which is outside the existing Bluetongue Protection and Surveillance Zones.

  • Brassica Bulletin

    December 14th 2007

    In our sixth Brassica Bulletin, we visit a Worcestershire beef, sheep and arable unit where out-wintering suckler cows on fodder crops is reducing costs and freeing up buildings for more store cattle.

  • British Blue cross takes honours

    December 14th 2007

    TOP honours at Bakewell’s Christmas primestock show, sponsored by Farmers Guardian, went to a British Blue cross heifer from Nigel Birch, Monyash.

  • BUSINESS IN BRIEF

    December 14th 2007

    FOMG awarded £60,000 grant

  • Calum wins best apprentice award

    14 December 2007

    CALUM McLeod, a 21-year-old agricultural engineering apprentice from Saline, Fife, and a student at Oatridge College, has landed a top award in the competition to find Scotland’s best apprentices.

  • CAP health check views

    13 December 2007

    WELSH Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, will be seeking industry views from across Wales in the New Year on issues covered by the 2008 CAP health check review – not least the possibility of giving up the historically based Single Farm Payment system currently operating in Wales.

  • Carl Hester demo, Jan 12

    12 December 2007

    DRESSAGE rider Carl Hester is bringing a quartet of champions to show off in his forthcoming lecture demo in Yorkshire.

  • Carlisle champion Beltex at 2,050gns

    December 14th 2007

    A TOP call of 2,050gns was paid for the champion in-lamb Beltex at Carlisle.

  • Celebrations

    13 December 2007

    PAST and present students and staff are invited to join the 60th anniversary celebrations of Derbyshire Agricultural College, formerly Broomfield College.

  • Champion makes 440p/kg at Newark and Notts

    December 14th 2007

    CHAMPION at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Christmas primestock show was a British Blue heifer from Frank Page, Rugby.

  • Children in the countryside

    12 December 2007

    SIR Don Curry, chair of the Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy Group, visited Wiltshire College, Lackham, as part of the Year of Food and Farming.

  • Christmas chocolate brioche pudding

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Emma Heatman of Sidcup, Kent.

  • Christmas ginger sticks

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Laura Evans of Drws-Nant, Llandrillo, Corwen.

  • Christmas trees another specialist crop

    December 14th 2007

    A MINI ‘forest’ of Christmas trees has sprung up in a giant marquee alongside the busy A48 trunk road in South Wales.

  • CLA claim a breach of trust by Defra as some avian flu restrictions are lifted

    14 December 2007

    FREE-RANGE poultry in the Restricted Zone around the two avian flu outbreaks in East Anglia have been let outside again this week following the removal of Defra’s requirement to house birds in the zone.

  • Companies join forces to develop new winter oilseed rape varieties

    12 December 2007

    AGROCHEMICAL manufacturer Bayer CropScience and French seed business Euralis Semences have announced that the two companies are to work together to develop new winter oilseed rape varieties for the European market.

  • Compulsory EID of sheep date set

    13 December 2007

    THE European Union has officially stated that the recording of individual sheep movements by electronic identification (EID) will become compulsory on January 1, 2010.

  • Computer suite launched

    14 December 2007

    A NEW IT teaching centre has been officially opened at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire.

  • Confronting the issues facing contractors

    December 14th 2007

    The National Association of Agricultural Contractors held its annual conference at Stoneleigh, providing contractors with updates on a wide range of subjects. Andy Collings reports.

  • County team captains take three of the top places

    December 14th 2007

    THERE is always an air of anticipation about the South Wales Nursery Championship, which is the climax of the nursery season for the seven eligible counties. This year it was the turn of the Glos/Gwent Committee to stage the event, at Andy Poole’s Saxon Farm, Redmarley, while the sheep came from Angie Blackmore.

  • Creamy swede bake

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Janice Vooght of Hayes Farm, Newton Abbott, Devon.

  • Creditors meet as Farm Force Engineering faces liquidation

    December 14th 2007

    ONE of Britain’s leading cultivation equipment manufacturers, Farm Force Engineering, is due to be placed in voluntary liquidation at a creditors’ meeting today, after which its assets will be sold.

  • Dairy market expected to remain volatile

    December 14th 2007

    DAIRY farmers had been enjoying improved prices for their milk during what has otherwise been a difficult year, but should not become complacent, NFU chief dairy adviser, Tom Hind, told the conference.

  • DCD chairman resigns

    12 December 2007

    AFTER just six months as chairman of the Dairy Crest Direct Board, Nottinghamshire milk producer Ian Sharman has resigned. He is replaced by vice-chairman of three years, David Herdman.

  • Decision to scrap management plans from ELS attacked

    13 December 2007

    THOUSANDS of farmers have been left struggling to qualify for rural development funding after Defra was forced to scrap a number of key environment management plans this week.

  • Defra guilty of maladministration - but no compensation

    14 December 2007

    DEFRA has been found guilty of maladministration following a five-year investigation into the ban on pigswill processing.

  • Defra launches a consultation into shifting costs to farming

    December 14th 2007

    LIVESTOCK farmers could be graded according to biosecurity standards, with those considered to pose the greatest risk forced to pay more under Defra plans to shift more of the cost of disease control on to the industry.

  • Defra Pirbright inspection regime ‘under-resourced and lacking in expertise’

    13 December 2007

    DEFRA’S efforts to regulate Pirbright and other laboratories dealing with dangerous animal pathogens are under-resourced and lacking in expertise, a damning report has concluded.

  • Defra updates blueprint for exotic diseases

    12 December 2007

    DEFRA’s contingency plan to deal with outbreaks of exotic diseases has been laid before Parliament.

  • Dolcorsllwyn herd wins Limousin club’s contest

    December 14th 2007

    THE North West Midlands and North Wales Limousin Club’s herd competition was won by G. Vaughan’s Dolcorsllwyn herd, which also took the honours in the large herds section. The competition was judged by G. Swindlehurst of Procter Farms at Clitheroe, Lancashire.    

  • Dorset leads way for Longhorns

    December 14th 2007

    TWO Dorset-based herds fared well in this year’s Mid-West Longhorn Breeders’ Group herd competition.

  • Double 20,000gns peak in record Limousin Red Ladies sale at Carlisle

    December 14th 2007

    BIDDING peaked at 20,000gns twice at the record-breaking British Limousin Cattle Society’s Red Ladies Derby at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart.

  • EC set to impose restrictions on imports of Brazilian beef

    13 December 2007

    THE European Commission has finally bowed to pressure to restrict Brazilian beef imports in a move that could bring about a timely boost to the EU beef market.

  • English trials results

    December 14th 2007

    TRAWDEN, Bondcroft Farm, Embsay, Skipton, Nursery (38 ran): 1, K. Bolland (Bolton Abbey) Whin, 75 of 90; 2, J. Cropper (Deerplay) Bill, 74; 3, Jim Jackson (Downham) Jess, 71; 4, Richard Hutchinson (Littledale) Tot, 70, OLF; 5, T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Tom, 70; 6, B. Clarkson (Embsay) Ben, 68.

  • Estima seed rates guide can reduce costs – and further guides are in the pipeline

    December 14th 2007

    OPTIMISING potato seed rates by taking account of tuber size and seed age is key to the new seed rate recommendations guide for the variety Estima.

  • EU proposes 2pc dairy quotas rise

    December 14th 2007

    EU Commissioners have proposed a 2 per cent increase in dairy quotas in response to growing demand for milk and dairy products.

  • Farm visit brings home impact of foot-and-mouth outbreak to Minister

    December 14th 2007

    THE devastating impact of the foot-and-mouth outbreak on Welsh farming families was brought home to Wales Office Minister Huw Irranca-Davies during a Farmers Union of Wales-arranged farm visit in Ceredigion.

  • Farmer John and his wide world of adventure

    December 14th 2007

    BARRY ALSTON takes a look at a family farm with a diversification venture unique in more ways than one.

  • Farmers tell us why they go to their vet for animal medicines

    13 December 2007

    AT the end of November, Farmers Guardian looked into the issue of free prescriptions for animal drugs and the fact very few farmers were using them to buy products from sources other than their vet. JOANNE PUGH and KATIE ROEBUCK spoke to a number of farmers around the country to find out why.

  • Fat profits and acquisitions mutually exclusive, says DFB

    December 14th 2007

    DAIRY Farmers of Britain’s annual results will continue to show a net loss while it invests in the future of the business.

  • FFA clashes with NFU over fuel prices protest

    14 December 2007

    PROTESTERS will gather at a number of oil refineries across the country tomorrow in response to increasingly high fuel prices.

  • FFA talk to OFT about UDF auction

    12 December 2007

    A WORRYING fall in realisations in the United Dairy Farmers December milk auction has ruffled the feathers of Farmers For Action Northern Ireland and brought calls from the Farmers Union of Wales for supermarkets to maintain support for dairying.

  • Foot-and-mouth infected soil may have been sold

    13 December 2007

    AN INQUIRY into this summer’s foot-and-mouth outbreak has been told that soil infected with foot-and-mouth virus may have been transported away from Pirbright for sale as topsoil during the summer.

  • Four-month amnesty declared on Transport Competence Certificates

    12 December 2007

    DEFRA has declared a four-month amnesty for people transporting horses or livestock who miss the January 5 2008 deadline for gaining a certificate of competence.

  • Frangzipan tart

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Christine Butcher of Towcester, Northamptonshire.

  • Free specialist advice for disease-hit livestock farmers

    December 14th 2007

    FARMERS in the East of England affected by bird flu, foot-and-mouth and/or bluetongue, are being urged to take advantage of the free specialist consultancy advice.

  • Funding secured until 2011

    December 14th 2007

    FUNDING for the Recommended Lists has been secured through to the end of harvest 2011, HGCA has announced.

  • Fungicide aimed at septoria and rust

    December 14th 2007

    A SIMPLE, one-pack fungicide designed to fit the needs of the grower looking for a broad-acre solution for septoria and rust control at T2 timing in winter wheat is how Bayer CropScience sums up its new fungicide – Firefly (100g/l prothioconazole + 50g/l fluoxastrobin).

  • Great Yorkshire

    December 14th 2007

    THE Great Yorkshire Showground is not situated inside the bluetongue Surveillance Zone, as stated in FG December 7. The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show still plan to hold the event as usual although, as the current movement restriction zones stand, some regular exhibitors (those situated within the zone) will not be able to exhibit.

  • HGCA recommended lists 2008/09

    December 14th 2007

    Thirteen new varieties join the HGCA Recommended Lists for 2008/09 and a further 22 varieties have been removed. Teresa Rush reports.

  • High blight fungicide sales during summer

    December 14th 2007

    BLIGHT fungicide sales increased by around 40 per cent during summer 2007 compared to previous years, according to Simon Parker, potato manager, Syngenta.

  • Home-bred Texel crosses top Bentham sale

    December 14th 2007

    THE championship rosette at Bentham Auction’s Christmas lamb sale went to Lancashire breeder George Foy for a pen of 10 home-bred Texel cross lambs, weighing 46kg and selling for £150/ head to the show judge, Jim Hadwin, buying on behalf of Kitsons Butchers, Stockton on Tees.

  • It’s time for the rebirth of a hedge with history

    December 14th 2007

    VIEWPOINT: By Liz Walker

  • Jim Kennedy makes history in beef carcase championship

    December 14th 2007

    IN the Scottish National Fatstock Club carcase awards, farmer and livestock buyer Jim Kennedy of Maybole, Ayrshire, dominated, taking home both the beef and sheep championships and an armful of other trophies.

  • Katie follows mum’s success with win

    December 14th 2007

    THE previous week her mum took the title, but last Saturday 18-year-old Katie Bolland gained her first nursery win with Whin.

  • Lawsons takes title in Holstein club competition

    December 14th 2007

    THE Lawson family’s Sweetings herd were overall winners in the Lancashire Holstein Club’s herd competition. The Lawsons also picked up a number of prizes in the large herds section.

  • Longhorns top 2,300gns

    December 14th 2007

    THE mid-west Longhorn Breeders Production Sale at Taunton Livestock Centre on Saturday saw bidding peak at 2,300gns. Making top money was a two-year-old bull, Long Ash Fruit from Sid Hollier, Maiden Newton, Dorset, bought over the telephone by Robert Gunn, Caithness.

  • Lord Rooker urges a quick decision over badger culling

    December 14th 2007

    FOOD and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has urged his own Government to stop ‘procrastinating’ over badger culling and make a firm decision.

  • Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

    December 14th 2007

    BARRY ALSTON looks at how a couple is developing a business that is having a big impact on landscapes and highways up and down the country.

  • Milk figures

    December 14th 2007

    MILK producers are leaving the industry at a slower rate than we have seen for some time.

  • Milk price rises expected despite commodities peak

    December 14th 2007

    WHILE dairy commodity values have begun to slip and the Milk Price Equivalent has peaked, further lifts in farmgate price are expected before mid 2008.

  • Mincemeat Streusel

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Mrs R. Allen of Parks Farm, Uttoxeter.

  • MPs call for action over poultry welfare

    12 December 2007

    MPs have called on the Government to take action to address issues of poultry welfare and the heavy discounting of poultry products in supermarkets.

  • MPs call for action over poultry welfare

    12 December 2007

    MPs have called on the Government to take action to address issues of poultry welfare and the heavy discounting of poultry products in supermarkets.

  • New descriptive list varieties

    December 14th 2007

    Winter triticale: Two new varieties were added to the descriptive list of winter triticale. These are Grenado from Polish breeder Danko, marketed in the UK by Senova and Trilogie, bred in France by Maison Florimond Desprez and marketed in the UK by Elsoms Seeds.Winter rye: No new varieties have been added to the descriptive list of winter rye. Gamet was removed from the list.

  • New equine transport regulations

    11 December 2007

    THE new EU regulations to protect animals in transport come into force on January 5 and will affect farmers, livestock and equine hauliers and commercial pet breeders as well as those working at markets, slaughter houses and the like.

  • New figures highlight income concerns in LFAs

    December 14th 2007

    LATEST Welsh Assembly-collated figures for farms across Wales point to a wide variation in income figures for the 12 months to February 2007.

  • New top prices for Limousin heifer calves

    December 14th 2007

    LIMOUSIN weaned heifer calves averaged a breed and centre record at the society sale of weaned calves at Carlisle.

  • NFU Northern Dairy Conference

    December 14th 2007

    The NFU Northern Dairy Conference heard that changes are afoot in the industry from Diary UK chairman David Curry. But he believes an efficient British dairy industry has a sound future. NEIL RYDER reports.

  • Norfolk Farming Conference

    December 14th 2007

    A LINE-UP of experienced farmers and industry experts are scheduled to take the stage in the 2008 Norfolk Farming Conference at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, on Thursday, February 21.

  • OFT gives the go-ahead for proposed milk co-ops merger

    12 December 2007

    THE Office of Fair Trading has given its clearance for the proposed merger of milk co-ops First Milk and Milk Link.

  • OFT gives the go-ahead for proposed milk co-ops merger

    12 December 2007

    THE Office of Fair Trading has given its clearance for the proposed merger of milk co-ops First Milk and Milk Link.

  • Parelli launch new ‘success’ courses at Stoneleigh

    11 December 2007

    PARELLI Natural Horsemanship is launching a range of new courses at their UK base at Stoneleigh.

  • Pedigree Suffolks top 1,600gns

    December 14th 2007

    A TOP of 1,600gns was realised at the show and sale of pedigree Suffolk females at Beeston Castle auction, Cheshire.

  • Petition on NVZ changes

    December 14th 2007

    A petition against the proposed amendments to the NVZ legislation has been placed on the Number 10 website.

  • Picking the right crop for your needs

    December 14th 2007

    DAIRY herd feed efficiency and crop choice came under the spotlight in a forage maize workshop at Ullingswick, Herefordshire.

  • Pork fillet crackers

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Margaret Iveson of High Force Farm, Raydaleside, North Yorkshire.

  • Pre-Christmas tray bake

    December 14th 2007

    A BIG thank you to everyone who sent in a recipe for our Christmas recipe competition, sponsored by Waitrose. They all sounded delicious. The winner of our top prize of £100 Waitrose vouchers is Margaret Morgan with her recipe for pre-Christmas tray bake.

  • Pre-Christmas tray bake

    December 14th 2007

    A big thank you to everyone who sent in a recipe for our Christmas recipe competition, sponsored by Waitrose. They all sounded delicious. The winner of our top prize of £100 Waitrose vouchers is Margaret Morgan with her recipe for pre-Christmas tray bake.

  • Prospects look bright for 2008

    12 December 2007

    UK FARM income could rise by a third next year which would represent the best performance from the industry for over a decade, according to a comprehensive industry survey.

  • Raising the bar for farm technicians

    December 14th 2007

    EVERY time a machinery dealer looses a service technician it costs them at least £26,000 in lost earnings, recruiting and training and, in some instances, lost customers.

  • Record Texels at Hawes

    December 14th 2007

    A PEN of four Texel prime lambs sold for a new mart record price of 297p/kg (£134) at Hawes auction’s Christmas sale of prime lambs.The 45kg lambs consigned by J.J. Sunter, West Witton, sold to the show judge, P. Watson, Hellifield.Averages: standard 73.8p; medium 74.7p; Heavy 69.2p; overall 74.5p.Auctioneers: Hawes Farmers Auction Mart.

  • Reletting plans for crofts

    December 14th 2007

    THE Scottish Crofting Foundation has welcomed Crofters Commission action to require reletting proposals from the owners of three unused crofts at Harrapool, Skye.

  • Research aims to gain ‘Snapshot’ of farm costings among UK red meat producers

    13 December 2007

    STUDENTS from The Royal Agricultural College are working in partnership with the Red Meat Industry Forum to help encourage farmers to look at their farm costings.

  • Roast beef and fruit compote

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Hilary Costain of Ballachrink Farm, Colby, Isle of Man.

  • Royal Welsh Agricultural Society anticipates a loss

    December 14th 2007

    THE Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is expecting a year-end loss of around £300,000 – instead of an anticipated surplus of £185,000.

  • RPA ‘progress’ as first Single Payments go out in England

    December 14th 2007

    CHRISTMAS came early for about 1,000 farmers in England this week, as the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) paid out around £8million in a Single Payments test run.

  • RPA making progress but could still do better - NAO

    12 December 2007

    THE Rural Payments Agency has made good progress, but still has more to do to resolve all the problems it experienced with the 2005 Single Payment Scheme, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

  • SAC’s recommended winter wheats unchanged

    December 14th 2007

    WINTER wheat trials carried out for the 2008 Cereals Recommended List identified a number of varieties with seriously reduced grain set in 2007, says SAC.

  • Salisbury Christmas show

    December 14th 2007

    SUPREME champion at Salisbury’s Christmas show was a home-bred British Blue cross steer from R.A. and M.D. Butler, Thatcham. The title winner was later knocked down for 222p/kg (£1,323.12) to George Collingborn on behalf of Mark Newman of P.C. Turner, Farnborough.The Butlers also took the heifer championship with a home-bred Charolais sold to George Collingborn for 142p/kg.Auctioneers: Southern Counties

  • Santa’s shortbread

    December 14th 2007

    Sent in by Linda Platt of Woore Hall Farm, Woore, Cheshire.

  • SCC chief executive appointed

    December 14th 2007

    SOUTH Caernarfon Creameries, the North Wales-based producer co-operative, has appointed Alan Wyn Jones as chief executive.

  • Scottish trials results

    13 December 2007

    HAMILTON HALL (Judge, J. Allan, Mt Benger) Nursery (18 ran) 1, J. Hill (Heriot) Kim, 93/100; 2, V. Parkes (Yarrow) Tweedhope Lad, 88; 3, R.B. Henderson (Carcant) Lad, 87; 4, V. Parkes (Yarrow) Tweedhope Jess, 86; 5, J. Hill (Heriot) Bob, 85; 6, B. MacFarlane (West Linton) Joe, 78.

  • Selby auction mart's Christmas show and sale

    December 14th 2007

    HELD for the first time on a Sunday, Selby’s Christmas show and sale of primestock, attracted a good entry of livestock in all classes.

  • Selling Angus beef direct

    December 14th 2007

    From slaughterman to butcher to showman, Duncan Jeary’s working portfolio continues to expand beyond the farm gate. Setting up a farm shop to sell his Aberdeen-Angus beef direct to the public is the latest step for his farming enterprise, started from scratch 10 years ago. CLEMMIE GLEESON reports.

  • SHEEPDOG TRIALS DIARY

    13 December 2007

    ENGLAND - 15 December. MELTHAM, Nursery, Scarr View Farm, Lindley Moor, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD3 3SZ, 9am start, enter on field. HOLME, Nursery, Deerplay, on A671 between Burnley and Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 8RD, 9am start, enter on field. RYEDALE, Nursery, Haygate Lane, Pickering, 10am start, enter on field. WINDERMERE, Nursery, Dry Howe, Selside, Kendal, 10am start, enter on field before 2pm. ...

  • Sheepdog trials on satellite TV

    December 14th 2007

    A NEW series of televised sheepdog trials returned to the screens at the weekend, presented by Robin Page, chairman of The Countryside Restoration Trust. Come Bye is a series of 15, hour-long programmes from Horse and Country TV on satellite channel 280.

  • Sola drills seemingly fit the bill

    December 14th 2007

    As well as being aimed at medium-sized farms wanting to use a mix of min-till and conventional drilling for crop establishment the Sola drill from KRM is also being targeted at larger farms as a back-up in poor conditions to wide working trailed cultivator drills.

  • Some reservations, but NFU welcomes his comments

    December 14th 2007

    THE NFU has welcomed Lord Rooker’s ‘robust’ comments on the need for a badger cull but has expressed deep concern at his insistence that the industry must bear all the costs.

  • Sporting demand shooting upwards

    December 14th 2007

    DEMAND for sporting property has never been higher – and much of the demand is from overseas.

  • Strong trade at Taunton

    December 14th 2007

    TRADE was strong at Taunton auction mart’s Christmas Cracker collective dairy cattle sale with bidding peaking at 2,150gns twice.

  • Study finds pesticide levels did not pose a risk to school children

    13 December 2007

    PESTICIDE residues found in fruit and vegetables supplied to school children did not pose a risk to children’s health, a study has found.

  • Study shows Defra failed to contain FMD

    14 December 2007

    DEFRA failed to contain the summer’s foot-and-mouth outbreak despite declaring the country disease-free, a new study has shown.

  • Successful pilot means Sainsbury’s roll out new scheme to all in January

    December 14th 2007

    ‘TRY Something New Today’, Sainsbury’s has been urging its customers for the past two years.

  • Surrey horse abuser fined and banned for 10 years

    13 December 2007

    A SURREY woman who failed to show at Guildford Magistrates Court in November, charged with causing unnecessary suffering to three ponies, has been banned from keeping any more horses for 10 years.

  • Swill processors to hear if they have case for compensation

    12 December 2007

    FARMERS suing Defra for maladministration following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 will hear this week if they have a case for compensation.

  • Swill processors to hear if they have case for compensation

    12 December 2007

    FARMERS suing Defra for maladministration following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 will hear this week if they have a case for compensation.

  • Taking on the world’s finest riders at Olympia is a family affair for William

    December 14th 2007

    IF you are a show jumper and your name is Whitaker, then the expectations are high.

  • Thompson show herd winners

    December 14th 2007

    THE winners of the Thompson’s Show Herd of the Year championship, announced at the Northern Ireland British Blue Cattle Breeders Club dinner dance, was the Lukeroyal herd.The herd, owned by Diane and Mel Lucas and based on the Sevenmile Straight, Co. Antrim, was place ahead of the Knockagh herd belonging to Jime Ervine and family from Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.

  • Turkey weighs in at 45lb in ‘oven ready’ competition

    December 14th 2007

    HEAVIEST bird in the Welsh Turkey Association’s annual oven ready competition – it weighed in at 45lb – came from Martin Davies, of Cuckoo Mill, Pelcomb, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

  • UK to receive £116m flood money from EU

    December 14th 2007

    THE European Commission has approved an aid package of £116million to help the UK deal with damage caused by the floods in June and July this year.

  • US farm income record

    December 14th 2007

  • Utilising Orkney BVD experience

    12 December 2007

    EARLIER this year, as part of an ongoing series on bovine viral diarrhoea, Farmers Guardian reported on the Orkney BVD eradication scheme. Now we meet two vets who have visited Orkney in order to find out more about what has been achieved.

  • Welsh lamb for Christmas

    December 14th 2007

    TELEVISION presenter Sian Lloyd is fronting a campaign to boost sales of Welsh lamb over the Christmas period, to help struggling Welsh sheep farmers.

  • Welsh trials results

    13 December 2007

    SOUTH WALES Nursery championship, Individual: 1 and champion, K. Evans (Brecknock) Bob, 8; 2 and reserve champion, R.B. Pugh (Radnor) Moss, 10; 3, I.B.. Jones (Cerds) Penllwyn Joe, 11; 4, D. Meek (Glamorgan) Shona, 21olf; 5, W. Reed (Glos/Gwent) Jill, 21; 6, I.B. Jones (Cerds) Penllwyn Don, 22; 7, I, Jones (Brecknock) Tom, 23; 8, P. Tomkins (Radnor) Mirk, 25olf; 9, R. Millichap (Radnor) Mirk, 25; 10, D. Meek (Glamorgan) Mirk, 26olf: 11, L.N. Watkins (Carms) Nell, 26; ...

  • Winter barley

    December 14th 2007

    Wintmalt is only new variety to join the list

  • Winter oats

    December 14th 2007

    No new oat varieties for RL

  • Winter oilseed rape

    December 14th 2007

    What was added to the Recommended List?

  • Wool Board members seek re-election

    December 14th 2007

    THREE board members of the British Wool Marketing Board, who are due to reach the end of their present term of office in March 2008, are standing for re-election.

  • Working on ‘hallowed turf’

    12 December 2007

    STUDENTS at Askham Bryan College are helping to restore the hallowed turf of Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

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