Farmers Guardian
November 27, 2009

  • ‘Gamble’ of euro machinery imports

    November 27, 2009

    THE strong euro exchange rate has affected the price and sales of machinery in the UK, but are there other factors to this downturn? James Lane spoke to two farmers who import machinery to the UK.

  • £15 million boost to Scottish hill farmers

    24 November 2009

    SCOTLAND’S hill farmers are to receive a cash boost of around £15 million after plans to increase payments under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) were signed off today (Tuesday, November 24).

  • £2,000 bid tops Society sale

    November 27, 2009

    A total of 15 dogs sold to a top of £2,000 – averaging £1,063 – at Tomatin Sheepdog Society’s sale at Lairgandour, courtesy of Daviot Farms.

  • AGCO to close Randers in 2010

    25 November 2009

    AGCO, parent company of Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Valtra and Challenger, is said to be in consultations with staff at its Randers combine assembly plant in Denmark regarding closure.

  • Agriculture in the national news - November 23

    23 November 2009

    A DAILY look at how agriculture has hit the headlines across the country (Monday, November 23)

  • Agriculture in the national news - November 24

    24 November 2009

    A DAILY look at how agriculture has hit the headlines across the country (Tuesday, November 24).

  • Agriculture in the national news - November 25

    25 November 2009

    A DAILY look at how agriculture has hit the headlines across the country (Wednesday, November 25)

  • Agriculture in the national news - November 26

    26 November 2009

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

  • Agriculture in the national news - November 27

    27 November 2009

    A DAILY look at how agriculture has hit the headlines across the country (Friday, November 27)

  • AGROMEK 2009 - Milk robots compete for attention

    25 November 2009

    Following hot on the heels of Agritechnica, this week’s Danish Agromek livestock show might be a good deal smaller, but still offers plenty to see.

  • AGROMEK 2009 - new parlour hygiene systems go on display

    25 November 2009

    Bacterial problems are a huge problem on Danish dairy farms, affecting animal health and suppressing milk yields. The industry is now fighting back and there are plenty of new hygiene systems on display at this week’s Agromek.

  • Approved Quarantine Units explained

    November 27, 2009

    What are they?AQUs are Animal Health-approved quarantine units on farms introduced to provide an outlet for calves from TB restricted holdings. They differ from Approved Finishing Units (AFUs) as they only take calves.

  • Are you still in an NVZ?

    26 November 2009

    MANY farmers could no longer be in an NVZ following a series of successful appeals. We will be updating the list of successful appeals as they are published, so keep checking to see if your area is affected.

  • Audi A4 Allroad is clever and versatile

    November 27, 2009

    ROAD TEST: A4 Allroad 3.0Tdi Quattro

  • Baling makes feeding much simpler

    November 27, 2009

    FARMERS should not be put off red clover by the perception it is difficult to ensile, as it can be made successfully in clamps or bales, says Dr Davies.

  • BBSRC invites views on £1m farm research centre

    27 November 2009

    THE Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is set to build a £1m farm-scale research facility in Devon.

  • Beltex reigns supreme at English Winter Fair

    23 November 2009

    Andrew and Becky Bishop of Eldersfield, Gloucestershire, took the overall sheep title adding to their run of successes at recent winter primestock events.

  • Benn relaxes cross compliance rules to aid flood hit farmers

    27 November 2009

    DEFRA Secretary Hilary Benn has temporarily relaxed cross compliance rules to help famers hit by the floods in Cumbria.

  • Bishops Castle bull trade is tip-top

    November 27, 2009

    The bull trade at the Bishops Castle suckled calf sale has been described as ‘among the best ever seen’ with 25 bulls selling to average of 199p/kg and £656 per head.

  • Bpex to retain DAPP in current form

    24 November 2009

    The board of the British Pig Executive has decided the Deadweight Average Pig Price (DAPP) is to continue in its current form.

  • Breeders must raise farmers' expectations

    November 27, 2009

    Joanne Pugh reports from the Sheep Breeders Roundtable conference as Australian Charollais breeder Ian McDougal ruffles some feathers in giving his views on marketing pedigree rams.

  • Bristol’s autumn collective event sees top of 2,250gns

    November 27, 2009

    PRICES peaked at 2,250gns at the autumn collective sale of dairy cattle at the Bristol Sales Centre.

  • Broader range of chemistry required for autumn weed control challenges

    November 27, 2009

    The withdrawal of trifluralin and IPU, combined with an exceptionally dry autumn, has provided a challenging combination for growers this season in terms of weed control options and herbicide performance.

  • 'Business as usual' at Cockermouth market despite floods

    23 November 2009

    IT is very much ‘business as usual’ at Cockermouth’s auction mart despite the destruction caused by the floods in the town centre less than a mile away.

  • Cairness Renovator daughter tops Suffolk females sale at 8,000gns

    November 27, 2009

    THE annual production sale of Suffolk females from the Cairness and Perrinpit flocks and a consignment from the Hazeltree flock produced a top bid of 8,000gns.

  • Check you have the correct battery

    November 27, 2009

    THE ‘Type’ of battery fitted to a tractor is important and is usually shown on the label in a series of letters and numbers to indicate its specification.

  • Climate change a key selection criteria in sheep

    November 27, 2009

    TWO commercial lamb producers in a room dominated by pedigree ram breeders were not afraid to speak their mind about the type of sheep they wanted.

  • Cooking up a farmhouse treat this Christmas

    November 27, 2009

    MEET our new cookery expert, farmer’s wife Helen Colley as she shares her fool-proof recipes for the perfect Christmas treats.

  • County councils ‘selling off family silver’

    23 November 2009

    Selling off county council farms was ‘akin to selling off the family silver’ and must be stopped, delegates were told at the NFU Tenant Farming Conference.

  • Critics slam Government over controversial climate change report

    26 November 2009

    A GOVERNMEMT-BACKED report advocating large cuts in livestock numbers to combat climate change and improve public health has provoked a storm of controversy.

  • Cross-bred cattle dominate English Winter Fair

    23 November 2009

    WITH entries up across the board in the cattle section the strong line-up of beef cattle was led by two cross-bred entries.

  • Cumbria flood damage bill £3m and rising

    23 November 2009

    CUMBRIA’S floods have already cost around £3 million worth of damage, says the countryside’s biggest insurer.

  • Cumbria University's investment a firm commitment to farming

    23 November 2009

    An investment of £100,000 by the University of Cumbria will see it begin rearing beef cattle at its own farm, boosting its commitment to agricultural students and farming.

  • Dairy cattle to £2,090 at Leek

    November 27, 2009

    The 80 dairy cattle on offer at Leek sold to £2,090 for a second calver from Messrs Pearson, Longsdon, Stoke on Trent.

  • Dairy processing research moves into the 21st century

    23 November 2009

    An advanced dairy processing facility is to be built at Reaseheath College, to promote business growth and diversification in the North West region.

  • Deere ups the power on Mannheim models

    25 November 2009

    Most 6030 and 7030 series tractors built in Germany will receive a 5hp increase, John Deere has announced.

  • Early signs look good for new Horsch drill

    November 27, 2009

    Horsch has not generally provided for those requiring smaller drills, but its mounted three-metre Pronto EX disc drill has been trialled this year before an anticipated early 2010 UK launch. FARMERS GUARDIAN talked to one satisfied pre-production user in Suffolk.

  • EBV attitudes changing

    November 27, 2009

    FARMERS do not have a black and white attitude towards Estimated Breeding Values, but there is a sliding scale ranging from enthusiastic to sceptical.

  • Electronics sparkle of Toyota’s off-roader

    November 27, 2009

    ROAD TEST: Toyota Land Cruiser

  • Ensiled red clover can be fed to most ruminant livestock

    24 November 2009

    The Silage Advisory Centre is keen for more farmers to grow red clover for silage. Here it looks the crop’s benefits and how to ensile and feed it.

  • Environment Agency will have 'too much power' to handle floods

    25 November 2009

    THE NFU has expressed concern over the extent of the powers being granted to the Environment Agency in the Government’s new Flood and Water Management Bill.

  • EU urged to take action on food labelling

    24 November 2009

    THE NFU has called on the EU to legislate to improve county of origin labelling.

  • Euro machinery 'now three times the UK level'

    November 27, 2009

    Farm diversification is seen as the norm now, but for Lee Sutton, a trip to Agritechnica in 2003 took him in another direction - importing Krampe trailers from Germany.

  • Farmers ‘still in the dark’ over NVZ appeals

    25 November 2009

    FARMERS have voiced their frustration that they are not being given enough information about NVZs after Defra announced a number of zones which were reclassified on appeal.

  • Farmers to learn new TB test regime

    25 November 2009

    FARMERS across England are being informed of their new TB testing requirements this week.

  • Farmers urged to observe buffer zones in OSR and bean crops

    26 November 2009

    AS post-emergence herbicides are applied to oilseed rape, the Voluntary Initiative (VI) is reminding growers to observe voluntary five metre no-spray zones between crops and any watercourse.

  • FBT lengths must increase - NFU

    23 November 2009

    LANDLORDS have been urged to ‘significantly increase’ the length of their tenancy agreements to give tenants the confidence to invest in their future.

  • Fears over rising MRSA levels in EU pigs

    27 November 2009

    MRSA has been found in pigs in 17 of 24 EU member states – but not the UK, according to the first Europe-wide survey of the bacteria.

  • Fears over wheat bulb fly risk

    26 November 2009

    SPRING cereal growers are being advised to protect seed against the threat of wheat bulb fly following high autumn egg counts.

  • FEI to allow horses to compete on ‘bute’

    25 November 2009

    IN a controversial decision the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has voted to allow the use of a limited number of painkillers, including phenylbutazone (bute), on horses during competition.

  • Finding a home for dairy calves on TB-restricted farms

    26 November 2009

    THE loss of young dairy calves is one of the most miserable consequences of our bovine TB problem. Now something is being done to address it.

  • Fitting an autolube system

    November 27, 2009

    Running a tillage train or large machine needing lots of greasing up each day, frustratingly eating away at valuable work time.

  • FSA to canvass pubic opinion on GM foods

    27 November 2009

    THE Food Standards Agency (FSA) is launching a mass public consultation to engage consumers on the controversial debate over GM foods.

  • Full Results from the English Winter Fair

    23 November 2009

    FULL results from the 2009 English Winter Fair, held at the Stafford Showground on November 21-22.

  • FUW demands hill farm support extension

    25 November 2009

    THE Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) is demanding the Wales-based Tir Mynydd hill farming support scheme should be extended and the start date for the Assembly’s proposed Glastir land management replacement scheme postponed.

  • Hatherleigh’s £1,700 for in-calf Red Ruby Devon

    November 27, 2009

    Red Ruby Devons sold to £1,700 when Philip and Nicky Howard, South Molton, sold their Ash Farm herd at Hatherleigh market in Devon recently.

  • Hovis to source all wheat from British farmers

    25 November 2009

    BRITAIN’S most famous baker, Hovis, is shifting to a 100 per cent British policy for wheat sourcing.

  • How WAGs are hoping to combat water shortages

    23 November 2009

    Are you concerned about future water security and impact of climate change? Dominic Kilburn hears from water abstractor groups whose farmer-members hope to secure enough water volumes to irrigate crops, despite ever-increasing demands on water supply.

  • Jedward music keeps cows happy

    26 November 2009

    A DAIRY farmer from Dorset claims milk production on his farm has increased dramatically since he started playing the music of X-factor finalists John and Edward to his cows.

  • Jim’s trusty Ford motors to Deerplay win

    November 27, 2009

    Jim Cropper and Ford took their first win on Saturday at the Holme nursery held at Deerplay.

  • Labelling rating system ‘too wide’

    25 November 2009

    SHOPPERS could be being misled by plans for a ‘traffic light’ system of labelling which groups healthy cuts of lamb, beef and pork with more fatty products, according to Hybu Cig Cymru, the Wales red meat promotion agency.

  • Landini launches 'Techno' versions of PowerMondial

    26 November 2009

    LANDINI has upped the beat of its four-cylinder PowerMondial range by adding ‘Techno’ versions which will, it hopes, appeal to a wider range of users.

  • Landlords refute 'bullying' claims

    November 27, 2009

    THE Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) has refuted claims by the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) that ‘bullying tactics’ are being used to increase rents.

  • Lib Dems call for 'fair' CAP

    7 December 2009

    THE Liberal Democrats have called for a more equitable Single Payment Scheme in light of figures showing that £120 million was awarded to just 387 recipients last year.

  • Lucky dozen get chance to own special John Deere sprayer model

    25 November 2009

    Twelve die-cast model collectors in the UK are now the lucky owners of a special limited edition gold model from John Deere, following the company’s 5430i self-propelled sprayer draw.

  • Margins tight for 2010 - ABC

    24 November 2009

    ARABLE profitability will be marginal at best in 2010, according to the latest predictions from Agro Business Consultants (ABC).

  • New project looking to create biofuel from grass

    25 November 2009

    FARMING industry representatives, technology companies, fuel manufacturers and distributors are working with researchers at Aberystwyth University to develop a more sustainable method of producing biofuel from grass.

  • Newcastle students muck in for charity

    23 November 2009

    TWENTY students from Newcastle University leant a helping hand to raise more than £500 for charity after holding a muckathon.

  • NFU launches Christmas turkey campaign

    24 November 2009

    THE NFU has launched its annual campaign to promote fresh, British turkey for Christmas.

  • OMSCo makes bursary awards

    23 November 2009

    Reading University students Matthew Pilkington, 22, and George Andrew Portch, 20, have won the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative annual bursary scheme.

  • Organic farming has 'profound effect' on climate change

    26 November 2009

    CONVERTING the UK entirely to organic farming would have a ‘profound effect’ on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Soil Association has claimed.

  • OSR yields: Advanced plants needs TLC

    November 27, 2009

    Despite exceptionally dry autumn conditions, many winter rape crops across the Midlands and south of England look too far advanced for this time of year and have grown too quickly.

  • Pedigree dairy cattle to £2,420 at Gisburn

    November 27, 2009

    The championship at Gisburn’s pedigree dairy cattle show and sale went to Simon Thompson, Ribchester, Preston.

  • Pedigree judge takes top carcase prize

    23 November 2009

    TOP honours in the cattle carcase section went to Bernard Price of Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, who was also judging the pedigree live cattle section.

  • Poorly starting tractors - not just a battery issue

    November 27, 2009

    THERE’S nothing worse than a tractor which won’t start on a frosty morning. Read our guide to poor starters including advice on how to identify the problem in your tractor and keep up maintainence to prevent it happening.

  • Protecting the environment

    November 27, 2009

    A £2,000 bursary to help students learn more about protecting and improving the countryside has been announced at Askham Bryan College, near York.

  • Rank Hovis drops test for milling wheat mycotoxins

    26 November 2009

    RANK Hovis is the first miller in the UK to drop the requirement for milling wheats to be tested for DON mycotoxin levels this season as a result of the low level of incidences discovered since harvest.

  • Recipe: Cranberry sauce

    November 27, 2009

    I think all the trimmings that go with a Christmas dinner are the best bit and this cranberry sauce recipe is so good. It even brightens up a cold turkey sandwich no end.

  • Recipe: Festive fruit pudding and brandy sauce

    November 27, 2009

    Simple alternative to traditional Christmas pudding.

  • Recipe: Honeyed Sausages

    November 27, 2009

    This recipe has been used by me for the past 15 years and is still as popular today as it was then.

  • Recipe: Quick shortbread

    November 27, 2009

    It is not often that I give away my top secret recipes, but this one I will share with you.

  • Record attendance at water protection workshops

    26 November 2009

    RECORD numbers of agronomists have attended water protection workshops this autumn.

  • Red clover 'can help drive production'

    24 November 2009

    The Silage Advisory Centre is keen for more farmers to grow red clover for silage. Here it looks the crop’s benefits and how to ensile and feed it.

  • Results round-up

    November 27, 2009

    READ our full round-up of results from events in England, Wales and Scotland.

  • Romanian to take over as EU farm chief

    27 November 2009

    A FORMER Romanian Agriculture Minister is set to be the new EU Agriculture Commissioner.

  • RPA continues to be hit by flooding chaos

    23 November 2009

    THE Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is continuing to offer a severely reduced service due to the flooding in Cumbria.

  • RPA re-opens offices after flood chaos

    24 November 2009

    THE Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) Workington site has re-opened for business after being closed for two days due to the flooding in Cumbria.

  • Rudis fungicide gets brussels sprouts approval

    24 November 2009

    FIELD vegetable fungicide Rudis (prothioconazole) has gained approval for brussels sprouts use.

  • Sarkley sale leader peaks at 25,000gns

    November 27, 2009

    Prices of 25,000gns and 17,000gns led a tremendous sale trade of maiden and yearling heifers from the noted Sarkley Limousin herd of Glyn Pennie and his sons – Chris and Nigel – Montgomery, Powys at Borderway Mart, Carlisle last Saturday.

  • Scotch Whisky given legal protection

    24 November 2009

    NEW regulations which will protect consumers from bogus ‘Scotch’ whisky will provide a major boost to the Scottish food and drink industry.

  • Scottish industry backs red meat levy rise

    26 November 2009

    THE Scottish arm of the National Beef Association (NBA) has hit out at criticism from parts of the industry over plans to increase the levy paid by farmers to fund Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

  • Skipton dairy best of £2,450 for fresh heifer

    November 27, 2009

    Top honours in Skipton’s Christmas dairy auction went to Malcolm and Robert Swires, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate.

  • Skoda Superb estate

    November 27, 2009

    SKODA’s largest car, the Superb, is now available as an estate. Measuring 4838mm long, 1,817mm wide and 1,510mm high, it offers a load volume of up to 1,865 litres reducing to 633 litres with the rear seats up.

  • Solid Lancaster dairy trade peaks at 2,400gns

    November 27, 2009

    A bigger entry, but a slightly less high quality offering of dairy cattle at Lancaster than in October, saw a solid level trade, with all but one of the heifers on offer finding a buyer.

  • Spec changes for Citroen C5

    November 27, 2009

    CITROEN has announced specification changes for its C5 range, including a new 2.0HDi 160hp diesel engine which replaces 2.0HDi 16V 140hp and 2.2HDi 173hp engines.Developing 340Nm of torque and producing less CO2 emissions, says the firm, it also brings the choice of six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearboxes.There is also an integrated Bluetooth system with USB Box media player on Exclusive-spec models.

  • Spring crops face weed battle after warm Autumn

    26 November 2009

    SPRING crops sown in 2010 could face difficult-to-control weed populations unless interim treatments are considered.

  • Stand and deliver is what Mark expects of Holsteins

    November 27, 2009

    ?Combining intensive farming with conservation is growing Mark Lovatt’s farm business, and paving the way for future development. ANGELA CALVERT reports.

  • Step-by-step guide to testing battery and charging circuit

    November 27, 2009

    1. Place the multimeter across the battery terminals. A fully charged battery should produce a reading of 13.2V. Check the earth strap, all wires and connections are sound.

  • Survey reveals taking on an apprentice is good for your business

    November 27, 2009

    It seems apprenticeships are catching on beyond the realms of television, after new research revealed a growing number of consumers are more likely to use a business if it offers the career route to young people.

  • TAG maintains ASSET student investment

    November 27, 2009

    FOUR more students from the country’s leading agricultural universities have benefited from a unique scheme designed to support and encourage arable farming’s next generation.

  • Temple to challenge Meurig Raymond for NFU deputy president

    27 November 2009

    PAUL Temple, who stood down from the role of NFU vice president in March, is to challenge Meurig Raymond for the deputy president post next February.

  • Tenants accuse land agents of ‘terror tactics'

    23 November 2009

    Land agents had been using ‘terror tactics’ rather than facts and figures to pile pressure on tenants, said the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA).

  • The big issue at Oxford

    November 27, 2009

    Bookings are now being taken for the 2010 Oxford Farming Conference.

  • The perfect gifts for tractor drivers this Christmas

    November 27, 2009

    If you’re looking for something different to throw into the tractor driver’s toolbox this Christmas then read on, as Geoff Ashcroft reviews some of the industry’s latest workshop gadgets.

  • Three Counties to expand for 2010 show

    23 November 2009

    NINE years on from the foot and mouth epidemic that wiped out its traditional complement of livestock competitions, Malvern’s Three Counties Show is expanding to accommodate more animals.

  • Total clearance of Welsh Blacks led by Meadowsweet Lassie at 1,500gns

    November 27, 2009

    THERE was a 100 per cent clearance rate when 41 animals were presented for sale at the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s last pedigree sale of the year at Abergavenny cattle market.

  • UK genetics - what the farmers said

    November 27, 2009

    For UK geneticsDavid Raine, Bluefaced Leicester and Swaledale breeder and commercial lamb producer, CumbriaWith so many UK breeds ‘to go at’, we should appreciate what we have and do more with it.We haven’t even ‘scratched the surface’ of the genetics within hill breeds or behind maternal traits.UK breeds are already adapted to the UK environment and climateCreating a flock of easier care sheep is 75 per cent management ...

  • Vicon launch ISOBUS compatible sprayer range

    25 November 2009

    VICON’S new sprayer range, dubbed iXter, is said to be the industry’s first fully ISOBUS-compatible mounted sprayer series.

  • Weather delays end of potato harvest

    26 November 2009

    THE potato harvest is still not fully completed, with storms and flooding preventing lifting in many regions last week, says the Potato Council.

  • Welsh Assembly to visit upland farm

    23 November 2009

    A hard-hitting case for a better deal for upland farming will be put to the Welsh Assembly’s rural development sub committee in West Wales today (Monday, November 23).

  • Welsh farm incomes rise

    26 November 2009

    THE latest farm income statistics for Wales, published today (Thursday, November 26) by the Welsh Assembly show an average increase of 18 per cent.

  • Welsh TB programme 'ahead of target'

    23 November 2009

    THE latest figures show the Welsh Assembly’s bovine TB eradication programme is well ahead of target.

  • What do farmers want from Copenhagen?

    8 December 2009

    READ what industry leaders and politicians have to say about the key climate change talks in Copenhagen and what they are hoping to achieve.

  • Why rams should not be over-fed

    November 27, 2009

    Sheep Breeders Roundtable conference.

  • Worcester Berrichons’ 1,040gns ‘best’

    November 27, 2009

    Prices peaked at 1,040gns at the ‘best of Berrichons’ sale at Worcester market last week.

  • Working dogs: Trials diary

    November 27, 2009

    READ our weekly round-up of forthcoming fixtures in the sheepdog trials world.

  • World news round-up

    November 27, 2009

    Farmers Guardian takes a look at the wider global agriculture picture.

  • World's oldest sheep dies at 23

    24 November 2009

    THE world’s oldest sheep has died in Australia at the age of 23 after succumbing to a heat wave, it is being reported.

  • Young talent emerges at Nurseries

    November 27, 2009

    One of the results of the Nurseries in West Wales has been the emergence of three young handlers who have shown themselves capable of working in adult competitions.

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