Farmers Guardian
December 28th 2007

  • 2007 - Looking back at the year’s highlights

    December 28th 2007

    The bad news just kept on coming. This is perhaps how many farmers will remember 2007 – a catalogue of disasters where misfortune reigned and hardship prevailed. As flooding, foot-and-mouth outbreaks, movement restrictions, bluetongue and avian flu collectively tested the spirit of the farming industry, you would be forgiven for believing 2007 was the year that farmers want to forget.

  • A true 4x4 but petrol model lacks performance

    December 28th 2007

    ROAD TEST – Suzuki Grand Vitara

  • Activity meters on offer

    26 December 2007

    MILK producers supplying Asda are being offered bovine activity meters at 30 per cent discount in a deal with Fullwood.

  • Adding more flavour into the milk business pays off

    December 28th 2007

    BARRY ALSTON reports from an award-winning dairy farm at the centre of a rapidly expanding self-help milk marketing initiative.

  • Aiming high for success in Beijing Paralympics

    December 28th 2007

    Dressage’s golden girl had a bad start to 2007, when both she and her top horse, Prinz Heinrich, were injured. Now, with a third World Championship title under her belt and a potential new horse on the scene, things are looking up again for Nicola Tustain. SARAH JONES talks to her about her career and her hopes for the Beijing Paralympics.

  • April

    December 28th 2007

    • THE Mallinson family from Cumbria made history at the National Holstein Show taking the overall title and the calf championship with a mother and daughter combination.

  • August

    December 28th 2007

    • PAUL Turnbull was chosen as captain of the English national sheepdog trials team for the second time after winning the national title with Mirk.

  • Beef should firm – but don’t expect it to match dairy

    December 28th 2007

    THE increases will come more slowly than those which the dairy industry welcomed during 2007 – but beef values should rise.

  • Belgian sheep farmer talks about his bluetongue experience

    24 December 2007

    A BELGIAN sheep farmer whose flock was infected with bluetongue earlier this year has spoken about his experience to the Suffolk Sheep Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Club.

  • Biofuels hopes hit by high feedstock values and cheap US/Brazil imports

    December 28th 2007

    ARABLE farmers looking to the biofuels industry to bolster wheat and rapeseed prices could be in for a disappointment. While European biofuel plants cannot operate at current high feedstock values, the market in Europe is being undercut by shiploads of cheap biodiesel and bioethanol from the US and Brazil. John Parry reports.

  • Bringing out the best in people and having fun at heart of YFC

    December 28th 2007

    EARLIER this year, programming assistant and radio presenter Ellie Leech was named YFC member of the Year. WILLIAM SURMAN catches up with the Harmston YFC member.

  • Britain is backing the Red Tractor

    28 December 2007

    BRITISH retailers and farmers are backing the Red Tractor food assurance scheme with two-thirds of all eligible fresh commodity foods sold through the major High Street retailers now featuring the Red Tractor food logo, new figures have revealed.

  • Bucking the trend on doorstep deliveries

    26 December 2007

    DOORSTEP deliveries of milk have been falling for 20 years and now only 13 per cent of the milk consumed in the UK is supplied direct to consumers – down from 80 per cent in the 1980s.

  • Countrywide steps on the gas

    December 28th 2007

    COUNTRYWIDE has ann-ounced the largest acquisition in the company’s history. 

  • Cumbrian shearers fly the flag for Britain in Iceland

    December 28th 2007

    THE skills of two young sheep shearers from Cumbria have been in demand in Iceland this winter after Icelandic farmers turned to the UK for experienced shearers to help with their annual winter clipping time.

  • Dairy farmers facing silage limitations

    December 28th 2007

    WHILE higher milk prices and no substantial quota risk mean dairy farmers are looking to boost output, national production figures suggest cows are not generally milking as well as they could.

  • December

    December 28th 2007

    • THE claims of dairy farmers were vindicated when Sainsbury’s, Asda and a number of dairy processors admitted taking part in price-fixing.The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) imposed fines totalling £116million on the two supermarkets as well as Robert Wiseman Dairies, The Cheese Company and Dairy Crest.Investigations into the roles of Tesco and Morrisons in the fiasco will continue into 2008.

  • Dramatic rise in bTB herds

    24 December 2007

    NEW figures from Defra show a dramatic rise in the number of herds affected by bovine TB and the number 0f cattle killed as result.

  • English trails results

    December 28th 2007

    DOVEDALE, Holme Farm, Ilam, Derbyshire, (44 ran) Nursery Trial: 1, G. Dermody (Nantwich) Jess, 74 of 90; 2, W. Allen (Sheen) Matt, 72; 3, R. Saxon (Bradwell) Peg, 70; 4, N. Vyas (Wigston) Mac, 69; 5, C. Pickford (Rainow) Spot, 63; 6, G. Dermody, Zac, 58.

  • Farmer dismayed at refusal to permit the movement of cattle stranded in squalor

    December 28th 2007

    A FARMER has expressed dismay after Defra would not permit him to rescue 60 cattle that were housed in poor welfare conditions one and a half miles into a bluetongue protection zone because he lives in the surveillance zone.

  • Farmer is also a music star with her triple-harp

    December 28th 2007

    Fiona-Katie Roberts combines poultry farming with making a name for herself as a harp maker and player, and she travels extensively in the UK to raise the profile of her musical talents. JACK DAVIES visits her Yorkshire farm to find out how she juggles her two passions of music and farming.

  • February

    December 28th 2007

    • A NEW Simmental breed record price of 22,000gns was realised during the second week of Perth Bull Sales in February. Omorga Samson from John Moore, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, clinched the show title then sold for the record-breaking price to Adrian Ivory for his Strathisla herd, Meigle, Perthshire.

  • Former Chief Vet in New Year Honours List

    1 January 2008

    FORMER Government chief vet, Debby Reynolds, who took early retirement in November after four years in the post, has been awarded a CB in the New Year’s Honours.

  • Goodbye to Agricultural building allowances

    24 December 2007

    THE Government has re-iterated its intention to phase out agricultural building allow-ances by 2011 in a move set to cost the industry millions of pounds in extra tax.

  • Gus Dermody and Jess take two titles at Dovedale trial

    December 28th 2007

    AT the third and final Dovedale trial Gus Dermody took both the nursery trial and championship titles with Jess while David Whitehead won the novice trial with Ted, and 19-year-old David Cantril took the novice championship title with Sweep.

  • Huge turnout for Boxing Day Meets

    1 January 2008

    OVER 300,000 people are estimated to have supported 314 hunts meeting last week on the third Boxing Day since the Hunting Act came into force. Fine weather across the country saw record crowds at many meets.

  • John Bell wins NSA award

    December 28th 2007

    ONE of the prime movers in the revival of the Northumberland Show, John Bell, of Woodburn, is this year’s winner of the NSA Northern Region’s Iain Allison Memorial Award for his contribution to the sheep industry.

  • July

    December 28th 2007

    • DAIRY farmer Richard Mawson won the Farmers Guardian/Waitrose Best Young Farmer Producer award, walking away with a cheque for £5,000.

  • June

    December 28th 2007

    • AROUND 400 farms across the UK opened their gates to the public for the second Open Farm Sunday. Among those taking part was NFU president Peter Kendall, whose 620-hectare Church Farm at Eyeworth, East Bedfordshire, was visited by about 60 local schoolchildren.

  • Keep malting barley crops cool

    December 28th 2007

    MALTING barley growers are being advised to keep stored crops cool over the festive period to protect quality.

  • Kia Sportage

    December 28th 2007

    Kia has revamped its Sportage to improve driving dynamics – the changes include more responsive power steering, while new dampers provide a firmer ride with less body roll. Braking power has been increased with a change from 15 to 16-inch brake discs, while transmission ratios have been adjusted and the towing capacity has been increased to 1,800kgs.

  • Livestock news briefs

    28 December 2007

    MAJOR changes to next year’s British Pig and Poultry Fair (held May 13-14 at the National Agricultural Centre) will include attractions for a wider audience.

  • Logo is a success

    27 December 2007

    British retailers and farmers appear to be backing the Red Tractor food assurance scheme.

  • March

    December 28th 2007

    • SOMERSET-based national hunt trainer Paul Nicholls added a second Cheltenham Gold Cup win to his list of successes when the seven-year-old Kauto Star romped to victory under Ruby Walsh.

  • May

    December 28th 2007

    • Young farmers from across England and Wales travelled to Torquay for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs annual convention.

  • More gadgets and an improved sophisticated interior to boot

    December 28th 2007

    ROAD TEST – Honda CR-V

  • National centre for zoonosis research centre opens

    December 28th 2007

    What is claimed to be the world’s first multi-disciplinary zoonosis research centre has been officially opened at Liverpool University’s veterinary field station at Leahurst, near Ness, Wirral.

  • NFU demands action over NVZ plans

    28 December 2007

    THERE should be ‘substantial’ alterations to Defra’s proposals to change Nitrate Vulnerable Zones before they are implemented, the NFU has warned.

  • Nissan Murano

    December 28th 2007

    Two years since its European introduction, Nissan’s Murano has undergone a few improvements. While there’s there is still no diesel engine option and only a 265hp, 3.5-litre V6 petrol power plant for this second generation 4x4, there are changes to the exterior and interior, plus enhanced technology through an advanced CVT gearbox with adaptive shift control.

  • November

    December 28th 2007

    • Farmers Guardian joined forces with the NFU, Eblex and others from across the industry to launch the ‘Why beef and sheep farming matters’ campaign with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

  • October

    December 28th 2007

    • FARMERS Guardian’s Fair Trade for British Farmers eight-month campaign ended with an amazing 52,000 signatures of support. These signatures were handed over to the Food and Farming Minister, Jeff Rooker (pictured with FG’s Alistair Driver), who pledged to continue the political fight for a fairer price to be paid to farmers.

  • On course for a sustainable business

    December 28th 2007

    Dairy Farmers of Britain continues to take flak from dairy industry commentators. But the co-operative insists it is ‘on track’ with its medium term plan that entails continuing investment.

  • Orchards now eligible for SPS

    24 December 2007

    LAND under orchards and nursery crops in England will not become eligible under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) until the 2009 scheme year, Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has announced.

  • Out-wintering sucklers on kale

    December 28th 2007

    OUT-WINTERING suckler cows and store cattle has been a longstanding practice at 220-hectare Ravenswood Farm, Bonvilston, Vale of Glamorgan – but until this year the tendency had been to rely on grass as the primary source of winter fodder.

  • Parson's pork

    December 28th 2007

    THIS recipe was sent in by Doreen Leonard of Halse Farm, North Tawton, Devon.

  • Pride and Resilience – foot-and-mouth family look forward to 2008 with hope

    28 December 2007

    THE farmer at the centre of this summer’s foot-and-mouth outbreak has spoken of his optimism for 2008 desire get his business back to normal by the spring.

  • Restrictions on Brazilian beef could help market

    26 December 2007

    NEW restrictions on Brazilian beef imports could boost the UK and EU beef markets, according to analysts.

  • Rural people less likely to claim pension credits

    28 December 2007

    OLD people living in remote rural areas are far less likely to claim their pension credits than those living in urban areas, the Commission for Rural Communities has reported.

  • Scottish trials results

    December 28th 2007

    BALEAVES (Judge: D. MacDonald, Glendevon) Nursery (27 ran) 1, D. Mullen (Kinross) Glen, 85 Outbye; 2, J. Beale (Forfar) Sal, 85; 3, I. Brownlie (Forestmill) Wisp, 84; 4, D. Robertson (Luss,) Bill 81; 5, M. Caul (Egnomoss) Fleet, 80; 6, A. Wilkie (Lintrathen) Cap, 79. Novice, 1, M. MacTier (Comrie) Dot, 76.

  • September

    December 28th 2007

    • IT was the quiet ambition, teamwork and foresight of 26-year-old Stuart Rogers that secured a top prize win for the Farmers Guardian’s Dairy Farmer of the Future 2007.

  • Sheep farmers should check tag stocks

    26 December 2007

    SHEEP farmers should check their tag stocks in preparation for the implementation of the proposed new rules on double-tagging, say tag manufacturer Ritchey.

  • Sheepdog trials diary

    December 28th 2007

    ENGLAND - 29 December. RYEDALE, Nursery, Haygate Lane, Pickering, 10am start, enter on field. LEE END Open, Lee End Farm, Quernmore, Lancaster, LA2 9EE, 8.30am start, enter on field, proceeds to 2008 English National at Dovedale. WENNINGTON Open, Old Hutton Farm, Wennington, Lancashire, LA2 8PA, 8.30am start, enter on field.

  • Telone II withdrawal dates issued

    24 December 2007

    THE Pesticides Safety Directorate has issued dates for the withdrawal of the active ingredient 1, 3-Dichloropropene, which is marketed as the soil fumigant Telone II in the UK.

  • The damage pneumonia can cause

    31 December 2007

    DECEMBER'S Dairy Vet videos look into the damage pneumonia can cause in growing youngstock and what we can do to minimise the consequences of an outbreak.

  • The green cycle nears completion

    28 December 2007

    Chasing the ‘green’ dream, enterprising farming brothers Philip and Michael Bates have added biodiesel to their expanding list of produce. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

  • UK breeding sheep for Romania

    28 December 2007

    A number of UK sheep breeders who attended a major show in Romania have already received firm orders for 2,000 breeding sheep.

  • Uttoxeter Christmas dairy trade reaches £2,010 top

    December 28th 2007

    QUALITY cattle were a firm trade at Uttoxeter’s Christmas show and sale that drew an entry of almost 100 head.

  • Vaccine is finally ordered

    December 28th 2007

    THE news that millions of doses of bluetongue vaccine have been ordered was welcomed by the farming industry this week, but many have now called on the Government to develop a coherent vaccination strategy.

  • Visible improvements turned Llandyrnog’s fortunes around

    December 28th 2007

    LABOUR cost per tonne of cheese produced at Llandyrnog – and it will be in excess of 20,000 tonnes next year – has been more than halved over the past two to three years.

  • Win a brand new laptop

    December 28th 2007

    CHOOSING a bull is no easy thing – but if you can prove you know how to use Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to help make that decision you could be in with a chance to win a brand new laptop computer.

  • Work of three farming figures recognised

    30 December 2007

    THREE high profile specialists in their own field have been awarded Associateships of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

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