Farmers Guardian
June 29th 2007

  • ‘Don’t talk yourself out of future support in business-based culture’

    June 29th 2007

    THERE was growing evidence of a business-based culture change among farmers said Sir Don Curry, chairman of the Sustainable Farming and Food Implementation Group.

  • ‘Fine specimen’ North Country Cheviot just has the edge over its Texel rival

    June 29th 2007

    THE North Country Cheviot champion, a three-crop ewe by Crookstone Firestart and shown by father and son, Jim and William Thomson, just edged ahead of its Texel rival, another female, to take the supreme individual sheep championship at the Royal Highland Show.

  • ‘Fine-tuning’ to Recommended List proposed

    June 29th 2007

    THE Agricultural Industries Confederation has called for a focus on candidate and best-in-class varieties following CEL’s decision to carry out a strategic review of the HGCA Recommended List operation.

  • ‘Sacred’ bullock fight could go to European Court

    June 29th 2007

    CONFRONTATION is looming over the future of Shambo, the so-called ‘sacred’ bullock which has tested positive to bovine TB at the Skanda Vale Community Centre in West Wales.

  • ‘Tremendous back’ Beltex takes sheep inter-breed

    June 29th 2007

    “She is easily one of the best handled animals here today and has a tremendous back on her – what more could you want?”, said Yorkshire-based sheep farmer Richard Bulmer when judging the sheep inter-breed championship.

  • ‘Turn clock back’ to help protect Atlantis efficacy

    June 29th 2007

    A leading weed expert has warned growers that the only way to protect the efficacy of the grass-weed herbicide Atlantis (iodosulfuron +mesosulfuron) is to stop using it.

  • ‘World-scale’ £200m, 420m-litre biofuel plant to be built in Hull

    June 29th 2007

    A joint venture ‘world-scale’ biofuel plant is to be built near Hull by Associated British Foods (ABF) BP and DuPont.

  • ‘World-scale’ £200m, 420m-litre biofuel plant to be built in Hull

    June 29th 2007

    A joint venture ‘world-scale’ biofuel plant is to be built near Hull by Associated British Foods (ABF) BP and DuPont.

  • £90 tops at Gisburn

    June 29th 2007

    EARLY breeding sheep were keenly sought at Gisburn Auction Marts last Saturday. One-crop Suffolk ewes from Frank Brown, Clitheroe, Lancashire, topped the sale at £90. With store lambs achieving £31.Averages: breeding ewes: Suffolk one-crop ewes £84, Suffolk aged ewes £75.Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son.

  • 3,600gns for Belgian Blue Bull tops Skipton trade

    June 29th 2007

    AT the sale of pedigree Belgian Blues at Skipton auction mart a blue and white May 2005-born home-bred bull from Ken Gamble, Thorpe, Yorkshire, sold for 3,600gns.

  • A dramatic transformation of both the buildings and the farm business

    June 29th 2007

    The transformation of the derelict farm buildings into business units and a farm shop complete with butchery, have given Elaine Keith’s family farming business a completely new direction.

  • A few surprises up X3’s sleeve

    June 29th 2007

    Road test: BMW X3

  • A step closer to reducing insurance costs for equine industry?

    2 July 2007

    PEOPLE in the equestrian industry are hoping that a Ten Minute Bill drafted by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and presented by Stephen Crabb MP will offer many rural businesses the chance of relief from soaring insurance costs. A House of Lords legal judgement in 2003 had extended the scope of the Animals Act 1971, meaning that keepers of animals, including farm animals and horses, can be liable for accidents involving their animals even when they have taken all reasonable ...

  • Agco buys stake in Laverda

    June 29th 2007

    AGCO has bought a 50 per cent share in Laverda’s combine and grass equipment business from the Argo Group.

  • Agricultural shows important in satisfying public’s curiosity

    June 29th 2007

    When successful Yorkshire businessman Michael Abrahams was announced as the new President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society – which runs the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event Countryside Live Food and Farming Fair – he promised to uphold farming traditions and encourage diversification wherever possible. As he prepares to hand over the title to his successor, DANUSIA OSIOWY catches up with him and asks whether it’s mission accomplished? Pictures by Adrian Legge

  • Aintree International Equestrian Centre encouraging youngsters to 'saddle-up'

    2 July 2007

    AINTREE International Equestrian Centre, based in the grounds of world famous Aintree Racecourse, this week opened its doors for the first time to budding young riders of the future by offering over 300 children from Liverpool schools the opportunity to learn equestrian skills and sample free riding lessons in a 'taster week'.

  • Allay public concerns

    June 29th 2007

    NFU council members were given guidance on how to respond to the growing public concern over ‘food inflation’, sparked by rising global commodity prices.

  • An ambitious plan needed to double farm’s turnover

    June 29th 2007

    Salle Moor Hall Farm in Norfolk produces organic arable crops, vegetables and meat. Its new general manager Giles Blatchford has been charged by it’s owner with taking the business forward. CLEMMIE GLEESON reports.

  • Angled spray boom nozzles increase control

    June 29th 2007

    USE of alternate forward and backward angled nozzles along the sprayer boom has improved control of black-grass from pre-emergence spray applications by up to 30 per cent, compared with standard 110 degree vertical flat fan nozzles in Syngenta trials.

  • Angus producer wins Scotch Steak title

    June 29th 2007

    AN Angus beef producer finishing just 55 cattle beat off the cream of Scotland’s beef finishers at the Royal Highland Show to produce the best Scotch steak.

  • Are cattle really the cause of bovine TB spreading across the country?

    June 29th 2007

    aCENTRAL to the ISG's conclusion that the Government should focus all its efforts on curbing cattle-to-cattle transmission of bovine TB is its belief that cattle are spreading the disease across the country.

  • Asda under attack from united front

    June 29th 2007

    SUPERMARKET group Asda came under dual attack, as the chairmen of the NFU’s dairy and poultry boards both attacked the retailer over its pricing policy.

  • Atlas AR65 Hybrid

    June 29th 2007

    COMPACT equipment specialist F Weyhausen has teamed up with Deutz engines to develop the Atlas AR65 Hybrid – a prototype compact wheeled loader that combines a diesel engine with an electric motor system.

  • Ayrshire heifer gets the nod in weather depleted dairy lines

    June 29th 2007

    JUST two breeds were represented in the dairy section of judging at Derbyshire show with the wet weather keeping the Holstein entries at home.

  • Battalion had Cereals launch

    June 29th 2007

    CEREALS 2007 saw the launch of high yielding Group 2 winter wheat variety Battalion.Battalion’s agronomic characters are said to include excellent high yields, Solstice-level protein content, good disease resistance, which includes a 9 rating for resistance to brown rust and pch1 eyespot resistance, and good second wheat performance.“Battalion is rated as a desirable Group 2 variety by UK millers,” said Ed Flatman of RAGT Seeds.

  • Battered crops but situation could have been much worse

    June 29th 2007

    TORRENTIAL rain in some areas of the UK left combinable crops battered, in what has been the wettest June on record.

  • BBRO’s open day

    June 29th 2007

    CLEMMIE GLEESON reports from BBRO’s open day, which shared the latest sugar beet advice with growers in Norfolk.

  • Beet yields continue to rise

    June 29th 2007

    SUGAR beet yields continue to increase year on year, unlike any other mainstream crop, said Mark Culloden of BBRO.

  • Benn gets off on wrong foot

    3 July 2007

    HILARY Benn certainly got off on the wrong foot as far as the Tenant Farmers’ Association was concerned, after he had to cancel an appearance at the organisation’s reception on Monday.

  • Berry research project promises to deliver profits for soft fruit sector

    2 July 2007

    BRITISH Summer Fruits and Winter Berries are to sponsor an in-depth three-year research project on consumer shopping behaviour for the soft fruit sector.

  • Better Returns winners announced

    June 29th 2007

    THE winners have been selected in the Farmers Guardian/Sheep Better Returns Programme competitions ran in the paper at the end of May.

  • Better Returns winners announced

    June 29th 2007

    THE winners have been selected in the Farmers Guardian/Sheep Better Returns Programme competitions ran in the paper at the end of May.

  • Bidding peaks at 1,500gns for Olmo Prelude Tugolo daughter at Beeston

    June 29th 2007

    BIDDING peaked at 1,500gns at the dispersal of the Coolepilate herd of pedigree and un-registered Holstein cattle at Beeston Castle on behalf of Peter and Barbara Robinson and Partners, Nantwich, Cheshire.

  • Big benefits from big changes in PLI

    4 July 2007

    A dramatic change to the calculation of the UK’s Profitable Lifetime Index with more than half the focus now on ‘fitness’ traits has been welcomed by breeders, breeding companies, major retailers and the RSPCA, says MDCbreeding+.

  • Big benefits from big changes in PLI

    4 July 2007

    A dramatic change to the calculation of the UK’s Profitable Lifetime Index with more than half the focus now on ‘fitness’ traits has been welcomed by breeders, breeding companies, major retailers and the RSPCA, says MDCbreeding+.

  • Breaking up is so very expensive to do

    29 June 2007

    THE recent Court of Appeal decision in Charman continues the trend in divorce cases of increasingly higher payouts to wives.

  • British Blondes exported to Poland

    June 29th 2007

    A CONSIGNMENT of 15 British Blonde d’Aquitaine heifers from two different herds has been exported to Poland.

  • Call for communities to take control of assets and services

    28 June 2007

    A RECENT report, which calls for more rural communities to take control of their own local assets and services, criticises politicians, traditional funding streams and planning laws being too urban-focused and failing to understand the differing needs of rural communities.

  • Campaign to get more potatoes on family table

    June 29th 2007

    ENCOURAGING more families to eat potatoes more often is the key to a new marketing campaign launched by the British Potato Council at the event.

  • Campaign to raise awareness of rural crime

    28 June 2007

    DO NOT run the risk of rural crime – that is the message from Strathclyde Police as a new rural security zone is launched in Ayrshire.

  • Canopy management starts when seeding

    June 29th 2007

    DON’T wait until next spring to manage your 2008 oilseed rape canopy, start before you even put the crop in the ground if you want the best chance of getting it right and achieving the least possible cost.

  • Cattle Controls

    June 29th 2007

    There are two strands of thought emerging on the ISG’s proposals for additional cattle controls.

  • Cattle Results

    June 29th 2007

    BEEF- Inter-breed (Judge, A. Fotheringham, Forgandenny, Perthshire) Supreme, J. and A. Forsyth, Fancy This (Limousin x); reserve, R. and J. Graham, Grahams Butterfly.

  • CEREALS NEWS IN BRIEF

    June 29th 2007

    • EAST Anglian grain cooperative, Fengrain, has unveiled its new online service, Fenactive, which will allow members to see farm samples, store intake, contract details, weights and other information from their trading accounts with the company, on a daily basis.

  • Champion and reserve at Lancaster June sale join the Tinehill dairy herd

    June 29th 2007

    THE continued rise in the price of dairy cattle was evident at the June sale at Lancaster, which was followed by the dispersal of D. and C. Strachan’s Rendham herd of pedigree Holsteins based at Saxmundham, Suffolk.

  • Championing food from the local area

    June 29th 2007

    Fantastic food, award winning chefs and cookery demonstrations will be on offer at this year’s show, including one of the finest range of cheeses in the country.

  • Chance to meet FG's Editor

    June 29th 2007

    Ever fancied picking the brains of the editor of Farmers Guardian?

  • Charolais bull takes beef value championship

    June 29th 2007

    A PEDIGREE Charolais bull was the winner in the Breedplan competition, a class where the judge had access to the breeding values of each of the cattle entered.

  • Charollais breed to the fore

    June 29th 2007

    CHAROLLAIS sheep were at the fore in the sheep inter-breed judging, taking the championship and reserve, and both were exhibited by Charles Sercombe, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

  • Citroën C5

    June 29th 2007

    Citroën’s C5 is to get the introduction of an optional automatic transmission for its range-topping 173hp 2.2HDi engine, in both saloon and estate versions. The self-shifting transmission is said to offer 39mpg on the combined cycle, which complements the six-speed manual gearbox version currently available. The 2.2Hdi engine has a torque peak of 400Nm available from 1,750 rpm, which is enough to propel the C5 from 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 138mph. The C5 estate ...

  • City children’s farm visit

    June 29th 2007

    CHILDREN from London’s Vauxhall Primary School joined their MP, Kate Hoey, on a recent visit to Chichester College’s Brinsbury Campus to get a taste of farm life.

  • Clare Balding to speak at BETA Conference

    4 July 2007

    BBC television sports presenter Clare Balding will be the keynote speaker at this year’s British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Conference and Autumn Exhibition.

  • Continued upward moves on milk price

    June 29th 2007

    MORE milk price increases are coming through as processing returns improve further and spot prices for liquid milk strengthen.

  • Cow fertility

    30 June 2007

    DAIRY Vet's June videos include interviews with the country's top vets as we take a look at cow fertility and the costly problem of metritis, plus tips on making the most of sexed semen.

  • Cutting waste in milk packs

    June 29th 2007

    THE Welsh organic milk co-operative, Calon Wen is supplying Waitrose with milk in the new ‘eco paks’ – the first organic milk supplier to do so.

  • Dairy Results

    June 29th 2007

    Inter-breed (Judge, A. Dunlop, Mid Kelton, Castle Douglas) Supreme, J. and I. Wilson, Wellhead Rocket Boo (Jersey); reserve, Almond Holsteins and A. Patterson, Herdstown Rachel 388 (Holstein).

  • Delivery of training for stockmen has been revolutionised

    3 July 2007

    A NEW ‘one stop shop’ for dairy training courses is set to revolutionise training in the dairy farming sector enabling stockmen to choose and book training courses far more easily.

  • Delivery of training for stockmen has been revolutiuonised

    3 July 2007

    A NEW ‘one stop shop’ for dairy training courses is set to revolutionise training in the dairy farming sector enabling stockmen to choose and book training courses far more easily.

  • Demand outstrips organic milk supply

    4 July 2007

    BETTER prices for ‘conventional’ milk, plus increasing grain prices, have seen a reduction in milk producers looking at organic production.

  • Demand outstrips organic milk supply

    4 July 2007

    BETTER prices for ‘conventional’ milk, plus increasing grain prices, have seen a reduction in milk producers looking at organic production.

  • Derbyshire Show

    June 29th 2007

    THE beef inter-breed title at Derbyshire County Show, held at Elvaston, Derby, went to Woodlands Adorable, a Belgian Blue heifer bred and exhibited by Nicola Beardsley, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

  • Derbyshire Show Results

    June 29th 2007

    Dairy - Inter-breed (Judge, J.A.R. Yates, Derby) Supreme, R.T. and J.I. Adams, Bigginvale Butterpuff (Ayrshire); reserve, Coldeaton Jerseys, Coldeaton Rochette Josephine.

  • Desi Dillingham to take up role as BHS president

    28 June 2007

    “HUMAN tornado” and former chairman of British Dressage Desi Dillingham is to become the new British Horse Society (BHS) president after Noel Edmonds leaves the position. Edmonds, who has been in the role for three years, recently announced his intention to step down.

  • Don’t go to work on an ad

    June 29th 2007

    THE UK egg industry has been banned from re-showing the iconic ‘Go to work on an egg’ TV advertisements as part of the 50th anniversary of the British Lion mark.

  • Double tags: Nothing ‘set in stone’

    28 June 2007

    THE NFU is claiming victory in the sheep tagging debate after Defra promised not to ‘gold plate’ identification legislation.

  • Electro power

    June 29th 2007

    AN incorrect telephone number was supplied in the June 15 edition of Farmers Guardian in the new products section. Anyone wishing to obtain more details from KiwiKit about its Electro Power range of electric fences should call 01584 831452.

  • Encouraging the next farming entrepreneurs

    June 29th 2007

    REASEHEATH College, Cheshire, has launched an innovative academy for would-be farming entrepreneurs.

  • English Sheepdog Trials Results

    28 June 2007

    HARDEN MOSS, Holmfirth, Friday Open (45 ran): 1, C. Cropper (Water) Rap, 80 of 90; 2, S. Holt (Rawtenstall) Sid, 79; 3, J. Witter (High Whitley) Joe,73; 4, D. Carlton (Newton) Finn, 70; 5, J. Elliott (Fulwood Booth) Roy, 67;6, G. Birchenall (Chinley) Judy, 66.

  • Equine course makeover

    June 29th 2007

    Over in the equine section, organisers are keen to maintain the show’s traditional roots. Around 2,000 horses and ponies will compete on a new course, created by an internationally-renowned designer, in a bid to scoop the increased cash prize.

  • Ex-state vets urge caution over TB report

    June 29th 2007

    A GROUP of former state vets has written to Defra Secretary David Miliband warning him against ‘serious misinformation’ contained in the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) on bovine TB’s report on badger culling.

  • Farm open days to examine the modern dairy herd

    June 29th 2007

    TWO farm open days in July will examine a number of issues facing today’s modern dairy herd – and it is not too late to book a place.

  • Farmers urged to throw lifeline to farmland birds

    28 June 2007

    SEVERAL bird species, including corn buntings, yellow wagtails and tree sparrows, are having a hard time in many parts of the country – but they have been discovered in important numbers in the Humberhead Levels.

  • Finding a culling method that works

    June 29th 2007

    There is an belief among farming and veterinary organisations that, despite obvious practical and political difficulties, an effective and economically-justifiable badger culling strategy can still be devised.

  • Fire damage to Cader Idris nature reserve

    June 29th 2007

    WARDENS from the Countryside Council for Wales are assessing the damage caused to a nature reserve at Cader Idris, after fire decimated important wild-life habitats.

  • First Milk and Kerry get Co-op cheese deal

    June 29th 2007

    DAIRY Farmers of Britain said it pulled back the tender that could have seen it continue with the Co-operative’s 6,000- tonne cheese contract because at the prices being indicated, it could make more money by channelling milk elsewhere.

  • Flower blooms to take supreme dairy title

    June 29th 2007

    HAVING no milk contract at home was no bar to Jersey breeder Emma Murray as her three-year old Whiteoaks Julian Flower powered its way through the dairy classes to take best of breed and, later, the supreme championship in the dairy cattle section.

  • Forestry and pole climbing

    June 29th 2007

    Determined competitors will battle it out in the Great British Pole Climbing Championships, held within the Forestry section of the showground.

  • Full-scale electronic ID trial on the cards

    June 29th 2007

    A FULL-SCALE trial of the proposed electronic identification system (EID) for the sheep industry is on the cards for the whole of Scotland.

  • Further benefits at Mole Valley

    June 29th 2007

    THE farmer-owned co-operative, Mole Valley Farmers, has launched a new shareholding membership enabling ordinary shareholders, currently those who hold 15 ordinary shares at £150, to become farmer shareholders

  • Fury over wool price collapse

    June 29th 2007

    THE NFU livestock board was asked to consider a resolution calling for the resignation of Frank Langrish, chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board.

  • Grants for UK grain

    June 29th 2007

    PROJECTS estimated to generate over 1.5 million tonnes worth of extra grain usage in the UK have been awarded grants by the HGCA in their latest round of enterprise awards.

  • Grazing Monitor

    June 29th 2007

    Avoiding Glastonbury syndrome

  • Harden Moss Sheep Dog Trials

    27 June 2007

    SOME 200 dogs took to the field for the annual Harden Moss Sheep Dog Trials over three days.

  • Harden Moss Sheep Dog Trials

    27 June 2007

    SOME 200 dogs took to the field for the annual Harden Moss Sheep Dog Trials over three days.

  • Hat-trick of Lincolnshire titles for Bilsthorpe Cutter Sue

    June 29th 2007

    THE champion Holstein, Bilsthorpe Cutter Sue 23, took the dairy inter-breed title for the third year running, a feat she has also achieved at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Show.

  • Haywood replaces Forster as new chief executive

    4 July 2007

    THE National Beef Association’s former policy adviser Kim Haywood has taken up the position of chief executive to replace Robert Forster who is retiring in August.

  • Heavy horse champion

    June 29th 2007

    IT was the Clydesdale breed champion that came out on top in the heavy horse inter-breed championship.

  • Heavy horse was a clash of the titans

    June 29th 2007

    IN the Shire horse classes the big moment of the day came in the stallion class where the past two reserve champions from the Shire Horse Show, Peterborough, (2006 and 2007) met in the same class for the first time and went on to take the overall championship and reserve rosettes.

  • Hickstead Derby report 2007

    2 July 2007

    Rising to the extra challenge set by four inches of rain over the previous few days, and coping admirably with the resulting wet, muddy ground, veteran show jumper Geoff Billington proved he is still one of the best by finally winning the Hickstead DFS Derby three decades after he first entered it.

  • High percentage are sold at Exeter ewe and ram sale

    June 29th 2007

    THE June sale of early breeding ewes and rams at Exeter Livestock Centre attracted a smaller entry than last year but the entry of 1,745 saw a much higher percentage of sheep sold.

  • Highlight of 1,260gns at sale of Craycombe

    June 29th 2007

    A MAJOR reduction sale of the noted and successful Craycombe fold of Highland cattle for Judith Dawes, Fladbury, Worcestershire, sold to a packed ring of buyers and supporters with the highlight of the sale being 1,260gns for Phyllis 2 of Craycombe. This eight-year-old cow by Philip of Trathallan sold with a heifer calf at foot to S. Tedbury, Pulborough, Sussex.

  • Hilary Benn replaces Miliband at Defra

    28 June 2007

    HILARY Benn is to replace David Miliband as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  • Holsworthy mart achieves £1,700 top for first-calver

    June 29th 2007

    A TOP of £1,700 was achieved when an entry of 200 dairy cattle went under the hammer at the monthly show and sale at Holsworthy market, Devon.

  • Homebred Lincolnshire Longwool ram takes sheep inter-breed title

    June 29th 2007

    FOR the first time in several years a Lincolnshire Longwool sheep took the inter-breed title at the Lincolnshire Show.

  • Honda accord Sport GT and SE

    June 29th 2007

    Honda is to launch two new diesel versions of its Accord – the Sport GT and the lower specification SE. Sharp handling with performance car styling and high-grade equipment is the domain of the 2.2-litre i-CTDi Sport GT, which gets dark chrome door handles and front grille, 17-inch (saloon) or 16-inch (estate) alloy wheels in dark graphite finish, premium white pearl paint option and sports suspension. The Sport GT gets a carbon-effect inlay in the dashboard and centre console, red ...

  • Horse & Country TV launches at The Royal Show

    4 July 2007

    HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex, launched a new equestrian and rural Sky television channel Horse & Country TV, at the company’s new building at Stoneleigh Park on Monday of the Royal Show.

  • How to give a public speech

    29 June 2007

    IF giving a public speech seems like a daunting prospect watch farmer Richard Bowdler giving tips on how to make it a fun experience and how to conquer those all important nerves.

  • Huge demand for UK breeding cattle to Russia

    June 29th 2007

    RUSSIAN demand for UK breeding cattle is ‘massive’ according to a National Beef Association delegation, which visited an exhibition for animal husbandry and livestock breeding in Moscow recently.

  • Huge growth in ‘home-brew’ biofuel plants is expected

    June 29th 2007

    NO duty will be payable on a business’s annual biofuel production up to 2,500 litres from tomorrow (Saturday 30th).

  • ILPH searches for a new chief executive

    3 July 2007

    THE International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is looking for a new chief executive on the retirement of John Smales at the end of 2007. John Smales reaches retirement age and has decided to step down at the end of the year.

  • Increasing threat of blight in potato crops

    28 June 2007

    THERE is now an increasing threat of blight occurring in potato crops across the UK following the recent wet and warm conditions.

  • Irish export 50 cattle to the Italians

    June 29th 2007

    IRISH Aberdeen-Angus breeders have achieved a breakthrough with the export of 50 pedigree and commercial Aberdeen-Angus cattle to Italy.

  • Jaguar X-Type

    June 29th 2007

    Jaguar has simplified its X-Type range with S, SE, Sport Premium and Sovereign trim level specifications. Engine line-up remains unchanged with 2.0 and 2.2-litre diesels, the 2.5-litre V6 petrol and the 3.0-litre V6 petrol all-wheel drive. All versions get bluetooth connectivity, 17-inch alloys, bright mesh front grille, leather or leather/cloth seats, dynamic stability control, cruise control, and an auto clear view pack that includes rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and interior ...

  • Jeep Patriot

    June 29th 2007

    The Patriot is Jeep’s entry-level 4x4 model for the UK, and is priced from £15,995.

  • Joint venture creates new testing and trials company

    June 29th 2007

    A NEW plant breeding company has been established in the UK following the establishment of a joint venture between NPZ Lembke, Germany and Serasem SNC, France.

  • Lady Byford elected as new RABDF president

    29 June 2007

    THE Conservative peer Lady Hazel Byford has been elected as the new president of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).

  • Land sells for £26,000/acre

    June 29th 2007

    A 4.87 acre plot of grazing land in Alvanley near Frodsham has sold for £130,000 – more than £80,000 over the guide price. “With the land fetching over £26,000 an acre, this is a record sale for us,” said Edward Clark, managing director of Denton Clark. The land had no planning permission and was purely for grazing use. It was bought by a private buyer who wanted the land near his house.

  • Largs Show, Renfrewshire

    June 29th 2007

    Results:

  • Late N can boost OSR margins

    June 29th 2007

    APPLYING a proportion of an oilseed rape crop’s nitrogen late can increase gross margins where crop canopies are average or slightly below average in size, studies conducted by Kemira GrowHow, in conjunction with ADAS, have revealed.

  • Lemken stretches its min-till line up

    June 29th 2007

    Lemken has shown its hand on some of the new kit it will be showing at Agritechnica this year including wider cultivators and a bigger cultivator drill. MERVYN BAILEY reports from the firm’s annual showcase in Germany.

  • Lemken tansanit plough

    June 29th 2007

    THE Tansanit plough is getting hydraulic reset that not only allows the leg to lift but also move to the side.

  • Lincolnshire Show

    June 29th 2007

    A POINTS system by all the breed judges decided the beef inter-breed championship with the Charolais winner, Mortimers Racey, heading a very strongly-supported section.

  • Lincolnshire Show Results

    June 29th 2007

  • Little Red Tractor should be the only assurance symbol

    June 29th 2007

    THE NFU is calling for the food industry to put its weight behind the Little Red Tractor logo as the sole symbol of farm assurance.

  • Livestock focus for 2007 event

    June 29th 2007

    The 149th Great Yorkshire Show is gearing up to be its biggest and best yet, as organisers welcome a number of new launches onto the 250-acre site.

  • Livestock numbers falling in Hampshire

    June 29th 2007

    THE third annual Hampshire Farming Conference at Sparsholt College last week marked the beginning of Hampshire Fare’s fortnight-long celebration of local food and farming, the largest such festival in the country.

  • Longer beet campaign is anticipated

    June 29th 2007

    THE 2007 campaign is likely to be longer then previous years as the four remaining factories cope with an increased amount of beet, said Clive Casburn.

  • Making history as crossbred Fancy This takes the title

    June 29th 2007

    FOR the first time in 167 years a crossbred animal walked into the ring at the Royal Highland show and was placed above all the pedigree entries.

  • McDonald’s meets its farmers

    June 29th 2007

    IT is not only the supermarkets seeking to publicise their links with the farmers who supply their fresh produce.

  • Mere House Farm trials as popular as ever as Floss and Taff take the spoils

    June 29th 2007

    THE annual trials held at Mere House Farm, Llanbister Road, Powys held last Saturday were divided into two sessions. In both sessions the Novice class was run combined with the Open and no dog could run more than once. The event is always popular and this year proved no exception with 90 dogs going to the post.

  • Miliband on his way

    28 June 2007

    SPECULATION is rife that David Miliband is on his way out of Defra, as Gordon Brown puts in place his new Government.

  • Milk Link achieving its goals

    June 29th 2007

    MILK LINK members are seeing the results of their investment in the co-op’s various processing activities – not least in the key market sectors of cheese, long life milk and ingredients.

  • Minister’s modest 2007 RPA goals not ambitious enough

    28 June 2007

    THE Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has been set a target of making 75 per cent of 2007 Single Payments by value by the end of March 2008 and 90 per cent by the end of May.

  • Mitsubishi Outlander

    June 29th 2007

    Mitsubishi is to widen the appeal of its new Outlander later this year with the introduction of a high-power diesel engine. The 2.2Di-D oil-burner was missing at launch earlier this year, but has finally arrived with 156hp at 4,000rpm, and 380Nm of torque delivered at 2,000rpm. Coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox and driving all four wheels, the more powerful diesel engine version could also get new milled finish 18-inch alloys, rain and rear parking sensors, soft touch paint finish ...

  • More of the Same in the near future

    June 29th 2007

    Same Deutz-Fahr might be celebrating 80 years of tractor manufacture but it has no time to dwell on the past. Instead, it is hard at work looking to break into the rapidly expanding tractor markets of India, China and Russia, writes Steven Vale.

  • Movement needed on bTB before cost-sharing talks

    June 29th 2007

    THE NFU is warning Ministers that it will be ‘impossible’ for its members to enter into any policy on sharing the costs and responsibility of animal disease control until the bovine TB issue is resolved.

  • MRSA superbug ‘could spread to UK’

    June 29th 2007

    WARNINGS that a new strain of the superbug MRSA, which has developed among intensively farmed poultry and livestock on the Continent, could spread to the UK, have been issued by the Soil Association.

  • National Farmers Union Council Meeting

    June 29th 2007

    Dairy outlook brighter but frustrations with the supply chain remain

  • New FWAG Cymru chairman

    June 29th 2007

    THE new chairman of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Cymru is Alun Edwards, pictured left on his farm at Cae Coch, Rhydymain, near Dolgellau.

  • New range of high type bulls developed

    June 29th 2007

    A NEW range of high type bulls has been developed by Cogent Breeding for dairy producers ‘whose breeding objectives are focused towards breeding a better cow’.

  • New Welsh Minister ‘left in no doubt’ by FUW president

    June 29th 2007

    THE traditional family farming structure must be preserved in order to be able to guarantee food supplies in the face of global warming, the Welsh Assembly’s new Farming Minister has been told.

  • NEWS IN BRIEF

    June 29th 2007

    Business loan

  • NFU campaigns to bring younger generation into farming

    2 July 2007

    THE NFU has launched a new campaign designed to attract young people into farming.

  • NFU launches a valuable teaching aid

    June 29th 2007

    THE NFU has officially launched teachers’ packs for its ‘Why Farming Matters’ campaign, aimed at showing children where food comes from and how farming affects their everyday lives.

  • NFU Scotland urges talks

    June 29th 2007

    NFU Scotland and other farming unions have told Defra that direct talks with Defra Ministers on proposed cost sharing of animal health and welfare policies must now take place.

  • No reprieve for dairy quotas

    June 29th 2007

    EUROPEAN Union Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel, has confirmed that all dairy export refunds and intervention support will be gone by 2013, whether or not there is a new WTO deal.

  • No, we are the UK’s oldest show!

    June 29th 2007

    CLAIMS that the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society is the UK’s oldest agricultural society are being challenged by the Mid Wales-based Brecknockshire Agricultural Society.It was formed in 1755 – a full 12 years before its north of England counterpart and two years ago, the show celebrated its 250th anniversary.Are there any more shows who think they are older?

  • North West Simmental scheme winners

    June 29th 2007

    THE overall winners of the Simmental monthly scheme from the North West for 2006 to 2007 were T.B. Stamper and Son for a steer and A.J. Halliwell for a six-week old Simmental calf. They both received £20 and a body warmer.

  • Not guilty verdict in pesticides trial

    June 29th 2007

    A JUDGE instructed a not guilty verdict on 11 counts of illegal storage of pesticides faced by independent importer of pesticides, at a hearing in Shrewsbury Crown Court, after the prosecution said it would not be seeking a retrial. Judge Onions also awarded John Rawlings, of Kyreside, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, 50 per cent of his own costs for the entire case.

  • Outright rejection of all culling methods

    June 29th 2007

    Arguably the most controversial element of the ISG report was its outright rejection of all badger culling strategies on the basis of a trial looking at only two strictly defined methods.

  • Performance recording of the pedigree beef herd is essential

    2 July 2007

    A JUDGING seminar hosted by the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society extolled the merits of pedigree beef recording, which is being demanded by newcomers to the resurging traditional breed.

  • Plan is ready in event of foot-and-mouth outbreak

    2 July 2007

    A NEW vacccination preparedness plan for foot-and-mouth has been developed with Defra by Genus ABS, Promar International and HTSPE.

  • Plan is ready in event of foot-and-mouth outbreak

    2 July 2007

    A NEW vacccination preparedness plan for foot-and-mouth has been developed with Defra by Genus ABS, Promar International and HTSPE.

  • Preparations underway for a year-long campaign

    June 29th 2007

    Farmers will be given an insight into the Year of Food and Farming ahead of the campaign that begins in September.

  • Pressure builds for a ban on Brazilian beef imports to EU

    June 29th 2007

    WITH beef producers apparently happy to support the Scottish Beef Cattle Association’s campaign to ban Brazilian beef, petition signatures would be running into thousands by the end of the show, the association claimed.

  • Preston herd dispersal peaks at 1,700gns

    June 29th 2007

    PRICES peaked at 1,700gns when Michael Williams, Preston Gubbals, Shrewsbury, dispersed his Preston herd of pedigree Holsteins at Beeston Castle auction.

  • Questioning the cost-benefit analysis

    June 29th 2007

    The industry is set to challenge the ISG’s cost-benefit analysis that underpinned its conclusion.

  • Renewable energy systems – what you can do on your farm

    June 29th 2007

    In the third of our features on climate change and renewable energy David Burrows looks at how to save energy on farm by investing in a renewable energy system.

  • Rooker ‘open-minded’ on badger cull despite report

    June 29th 2007

    JEFF Rooker has launched a scathing attack on the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) on bovine TB in the wake of its outright rejection of badger culling.

  • Royal Highland Show Picture Gallery

    June 29th 2007

  • Royal Highland Show Picture Gallery

    June 29th 2007

    DESPITE torrential rain, more than 75,000 people made the trip to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston at the weekend.

  • Royal Show inter-breed results

    3 July 2007

    BEEF cattle from the north of the country took the top honours in the inter-breed with a Limousin from a North Yorkshire based herd taking the overall championship and a Lancashire family winning reserve with a Simmental.

  • RPA reminds farmers about weather cross compliance exemption

    2 July 2007

    THE Rural Payments Agency is reminding farmers of the exemptions that exist within cross compliance rules that could help them during this spate of wet weather.

  • Russia wants a grain cartel

    June 29th 2007

    WITH demand for cereals booming for the food and fuel markets the Russian Government says it is time grain producing nations created a cartel equivalent to OPEC for oil.

  • Sarah Cripps and Oliver Jones

    June 29th 2007

    FARMERS GUARDIAN equestrian and countryside editor Sarah Cripps, daughter of Mr and Mrs Harry Cripps of Disley, Cheshire, has married Oliver Jones, son of Mrs Judy Jones and the late Joshua Jones of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

  • Sarah Rawcliffe and Richard Bennett

    June 29th 2007

    THE wedding took place on May 12 between Miss Sarah Rawcliffe, daughter of Mr and Mrs George Rawcliffe of Gorse Covert, Warrington, Cheshire and Richard Bennett, only son of Mr and Mrs Dryden Bennett of Lower Whitley, Warrington, Cheshire, at All Saints Church, Daresbury.

  • SCENE – by the vet

    June 29th 2007

    Taking steps to avoid heat stress

  • Scottish Sheepdog Trials Results

    28 June 2007

    TOMATIN (Judge, N. MacEachern, Dunoon) Open (60 ran) 1, S. Alexander (Abernethy) Scott, 94; 2, J.R. Welsh (Girvan) Mac, 84; 3, S. Alexander (Abernethy) Jill, 83; 4, J. Sutherland (Durness) Maid, 82 Outbye; 5, B. Strachan (Roybridge) Bonnie, 82; 6, J. Lamont (Portree) Kerry, 82. Local, 1, I. MacKay (Leanach) Judy, 80; 2, H. Munro (Leys Castle) Tess, 74; 3, H. MacLean (Culloden) Eilidh, 68.

  • Sheep Results

    June 29th 2007

    SHEEP - Inter-breed (I. Thomson, Peebles) Sup., W. and J. Thomson (North Country Cheviot); res., J. Forsyth (Texel).

  • Sheepdog Trials Diary

    28 June 2007

    ENGLAND - 30 June. NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE Open, Debdon Farm, Rothbury, 9am start, enter on field. ROOTEN BROOK Open, new venue signed from Quernmore crossroads, near Lancaster, Lancashire, 8.30am start, first 40 dogs to enter on field. LUNE VALLEY Open – cancelled.

  • Show organisers urge visitors not to drive

    4 July 2007

    ORGANISERS of the Great Yorkshire Show are urging visitors and exhibitors to consider alternatives to driving to the event next week.

  • Show Results

    June 29th 2007

    (some results were not available).

  • Shropshire and West Mid Show

    June 29th 2007

    SIMON WRAGG reports from the Shropshire and West Mid Show, Shrewsbury, where thunderous clouds failed to dampen spirits as several newcomers to the show ring shone through.

  • Simmental club’s team selected

    June 29th 2007

    THE North West Simmental Club held its annual stock judging evening at Mr and Mrs R. Carter’s, Gerrard House, Wigton, to select the teams for the stock judging to be held at the Royal Show.More than 40 members took part and the winner was Stuart Hird; with Ros Pattinson, second; and Becky Holliday, third.

  • Snow Queen

    June 29th 2007

    Sent in by Lynne Bramham of Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

  • Speculation rife of shake up at Defra

    June 29th 2007

    A NEW Ministerial team was expected to put in place at Defra towards the end of this week, as incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown stamped his authority on the Government.

  • Stewardship scheme not delivering, says Plantlife

    June 29th 2007

    A REPORT published this week highlights the plight of Britain’s rare cornfield flowers and the failure of current conservation policies to conserve them effectively, says wild plant conservation charity Plantlife.

  • Support warning to sector

    June 29th 2007

    WITHOUT some form of EU livestock support beyond 2013, and unless government delivers on promises of better regulation, Scotland could miss out on what appears to be a strong future for the meat sector.

  • Survey reveals producers are increasing health risks by buying in mixed stock

    June 29th 2007

    AROUND 80 per cent of the farmers questioned by Intervet Animal Health at Beef Expo claimed all homebred calves were ensured an adequate colostrum intake and, therefore, a good start to life.

  • Target met after delaying disputed claims

    28 June 2007

    FOOD and Farming Minister Lord Rooker has hailed the achievement of the Rural Payments Agency in reaching its June 30 deadline target for 2006 SPS payments.

  • TB Crisis: ISG report – where do we go from here?

    June 29th 2007

    IT is not over yet. that was the clear message from the farming and vetinary sectors in the wake of the outright rejection of badger culling as a policy option in the Independent Scientific Group's (ISG) report on bovine TB.

  • The Royal Show finishes a day early

    4 July 2007

    The Royal Show admitted defeat and has finished a day early due to bad weather.

  • Top marks for 'Countryside Classroom' at Northamptonshire farm park

    2 July 2007

    A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE farm that has been in the same family for three generations has re-gained a top accreditation from Defra to be used as a ‘countryside classroom’ to teach schoolchildren about nature and farming.

  • Top price of 4,500gns for Komet Jordan Roxy

    June 29th 2007

    A LARGE crowd descended on Beeston Castle auction, Cheshire, for the sale of the entire milking portion of the Ashacres herd of pedigree Holsteins, the property of John Wynn, Ash Acres Farm, Whitchurch, Shropshire, together with the Komet herd, a small and select herd based on PI bloodlines set up by Phil Wynn (John’s son) and Graham Brindley and kept at Ash Acres Farm.

  • Treating weed beet early is essential

    June 29th 2007

    TACKLING weed beet must be a priority for growers said Tim Duckett.

  • U-turn in flood defence spending welcomed

    4 July 2007

    DEFRA Secretary Hilary Benn has committed his support to those affected by severe weather conditions, signalling a U-turn in the Government’s proposed cuts in flood defences.

  • Veggie Benn says dietary preference no bar to new job

    2 July 2007

    HILARY Benn has brushed aside the controversy over the revelation that he is a vegetarian with a plea to the industry to judge him on what he does, not what he eats.

  • Vicon RO Series

    June 29th 2007

    APPLICATION rates are now simpler to set up on Vicon’s new range of fertiliser spreaders, the RO series. Flow Pilot replaces the threaded rod and adjuster system previously used to set the application rate and uses a more durable lever system connected directly to the spreading mechanism.

  • Visitors guide to canoeing on Ullwater

    28 June 2007

    A new leaflet about canoeing on Ullswater has been produced by Eden Rivers Trust, in partnership with Canoe England, as part of its Discover Eden Heritage Lottery Funded Project.

  • Weed Control conference

    June 29th 2007

    PLANNING autumn 2007 weed control strategies? Bayer CropScience in conjunction with Farmers Guardian is hosting a free, one-day weed control conference at the East of England showground, Peterborough on Thursday July 12.

  • Wellhead Rocket Boo makes it two-in-a-row in dairy class

    June 29th 2007

    FOR the second year running, Wellhead Rocket Boo, a Jersey cow from Andrew and Isobel Wilson, won the supreme dairy championship.

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trials Results

    28 June 2007

    MERE HOUSE. Session 1 Open National: 1, D. Evans (Libanus), Floss, 7; 2, K. Evans (Libanus) Mirk, 8; 3, D. Griffiths (Caerphilly) Gwen, 9; 4, S. Harden (Pembroke) Juno, 13; 5, I. Jones (Erwood) Jess, 15; 6, J. Hudd (Waun Tysswg) Fleece, 16.

  • Wet weather leads to increased risk of sheep parasites

    June 29th 2007

    THE wet weather since early May has created ideal conditions for sheep parasites, particularly parasitic worms, to prosper, according to SAC vet Brian Hosie.

  • What next in Cornwall is up for discussion

    June 29th 2007

    CORNISH agriculture’s future will be under discussion at a special seminar organised by Transition Cornwall, and held at Liskeard on July 4.

  • Whiterose Cap sets unbeatable standard

    28 June 2007

    JOHN Chamberlain and Whiterose Cap won the double gather championship which concluded three days of competition at the Harden Moss Sheep Dog Trials, held near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

  • Will bio-ethanol from corn be ‘boom and bust’?

    June 29th 2007

    Viewpoint: By Liz Walker

  • Win tickets to the Great Yorkshire Show

    27 June 2007

    Fancy a day out to this year's Great Yorkshire Show?

  • World Trade talks collapse

    June 29th 2007

    THE World Trade Organisation negotiations have crashed yet again and there is no plan B to get them back on track.

  • Young farmers: We need to be proactive and create new opportunities ourselves

    29 June 2007

    A close working relationship with retailer Waitrose and a determination to source opportunity and support from beyond the farm gate has helped one young farmer establish a viable business in an era of uncertain change for the beef sector. Simon Wragg reports.

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