Farmers Guardian
March 9th 2007

  • ‘Colostrum can help fight common diseases’

    March 9th 2007

    Successful calf management is finding the right balance between exploiting what Mother Nature can do on her own and helping her out in a way that is specific to each individual rearing unit. JOANNE PUGH reports from the first of three calf management meetings organised by Farmers Guardian, Intervet and Eblex.

  • ‘Do your homework on trial results to get better information on early varieties’

    March 9th 2007

    FARMERS should do more research when looking at trial results and not just rely on the NIAB recommended list, according to two different seed companies.

  • ‘Little and often’ the key to feeding pregnant ewes

    March 9th 2007

    Lower forage quality and potentially larger than normal lamb crops in some areas are combining to put considerable pressure on sheep farmers this spring.

  • ‘Test your wormer now’ say SAC vets

    March 9th 2007

    Sheep farmers are being asked to test the sheep wormer they plan to use this season during the next few weeks, especially in areas of the country where worm resistance is particularly high.

  • ‘Under fire’ over Hill Farm Allowance

    March 9th 2007

    THE Rural Payments Agency has come under fire in the House of Commons over administrative errors that have hit hundreds of upland farmers.

  • £21m paid out this week as rate of progress slows down

    March 9th 2007

    THE rate of progress on 2006 Single Payments is slowing after the initial rush of full and part-payments.

  • £3,000 worth of prizes up for grabs

    March 9th 2007

    COULD you be our Fair Trade for British Farmers Campaigner of the Year? Or win our Junior Fair Trade Campaign of the Year?

  • 1,250gns top for Bolham Holsteins

    March 9th 2007

    A catalogue of just over 100 dairy cows drew a large crowd to the dispersal of Richard Kalloway’s Crosses Farm milking portion of the Bolham Holstein herd, Clayhidon, Cullompton, Devon.

  • 7,000gns Solitude Aled tops Dungannon Charolais

    March 9th 2007

    Charolais bulls met a flying trade and sold to 7,000gns at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s spring show and sale at Dungannon. Sale topper was senior male and reserve male champion, Solitude Aled, from John McMordie, Ballygowan, Co. Down. A Doonally New son, Aled qualified for the NI Elite Beef Quality Initiative and sold to Noel McIlwaine, Plumbridge.

  • A new genetic database

    March 9th 2007

    All sheep performance data is now available on-line through the new easy-to-use BASCO database.

  • A smarter way to riding straight

    March 9th 2007

    Joni Bentley has founded her own riding technique, the Bentley Technique, drawn from many sources, including French classical dressage, Feldenkrais, the Alexander technique, NPL and Reiki. She is also researching the magic of movement with Massih Yaghmaie, an osteopath, cranio-sacral osteopath, acupuncturist and a naturopathic physician. Here, Joni works with a pupil to demonstrate the importance of straightness in horse and rider.

  • Agreement is way forward for government heritage plans

    12 March 2007

    THE NFU has called on the Government to negotiate management agreements with farmers if new legislation on scheduled ancient monuments means that sites can no longer be used for arable production.

  • Agreement is way forward for government heritage plans

    12 March 2007

    THE NFU has called on the Government to negotiate management agreements with farmers if new legislation on scheduled ancient monuments means that sites can no longer be used for arable production.

  • ALPEGO's novel way of transferring seed

    March 9th 2007

    Alpego has come up with a novel way of transferring seed from a front-mounted hopper to the coulters at the rear.

  • Amazone AD-P special drills

    March 9th 2007

    Amazone has increased the hopper capacity of the AD-P Special drills from 750 litres to 1,500 litres on the 4m version.

  • Another boost for biofuels

    March 9th 2007

    THE future for biomass and biofuels was given another boost this week, as the European Commission moved closer to compulsory targets for the use of renewable energy.

  • Arla producers keep share cash option open

    March 9th 2007

    MILK Partnership, the shareholding company owned by members of the Arla Foods Milk Partnership, is keeping its options open when the Scandinavian parent co-op Arla amba, secures the remaining 49 per cent of Arla UK as currently proposed.

  • Avian flu lifts

    9 March 2007

    DEFRA has announced that as of Monday the Surveillance Zone (SZ) and Restricted Zone (RZ) restrictions still surrounding the site of the Suffolk avian flu outbreak will be lifted.

  • Ayrshires at the Royal Highland

    March 9th 2007

    AYRSHIRE cattle are to be exhibited at this year’s Royal Highland Show after all, and will be entered in line with the Ayrshire Cattle Society’s showing regulations.

  • Back to classroom on farm open day safety

    March 9th 2007

    A group of Surrey farmers have gone back to the classroom to learn about the primary school national curriculum.

  • Belarus 422

    March 9th 2007

    Made at the Minsk Tractor Works, the main feature of the 49hp Belarus 422 is that it heralds the start of a new, more modern image for the brand in the under 100hp sector.

  • Belgian Blues to 8,600gns at society show and sale

    March 9th 2007

    A top of 8,600gns for bulls and 8,500gns in the female section was realised at the British Belgian Blue Cattle Society’s national show and sale at Chelford, Cheshire.

  • Besson launches DXR Discordon

    March 9th 2007

  • Big breakfast in support of British farmers – and charity

    March 9th 2007

    AN East Lancashire firm of chartered accountants hosted a big breakfast in support of British farmers while, at the same time, raising money for charity.

  • Bolstering summer grass

    March 9th 2007

    FOLLOWING a testing 2006, farmers on drought-prone soils have already been seeking alternative ways of bolstering summer grass production, according to Martin Attwell of Oliver Seeds.

  • Borders Festival of the Horse

    7 March 2007

    IF it’s equestrian action you are looking for, don’t miss the BHS Borders Festival of the Horse running from May 18-28.

  • Bovine breeding companies are ‘left in the lurch’ by ban on NZ semen exports to the EU

    March 9th 2007

    Biosecurity New Zealand has revealed the procedural failings which led it to halt bovine semen exports to the EU two weeks ago.

  • British success as Limousin bull takes male championship and best ‘carcase’

    March 9th 2007

    Despite last-minute wranglings with Defra over taking their bull to SIMAGENA, the Northern Ireland-based Crawford family were celebrating a worthwhile trip after their Limousin bull, Sauvignon, took male champion at the show.

  • Broader horizons after trip to the American mid-west

    March 9th 2007

    Students at Oatridge College, West Lothian, are busy putting together their applications for an exchange visit to Kirkwood Community College, Iowa, USA. NEIL RYDER talked to last year’s exchange students to find out what the visits involved.

  • Call for more information on local biofuels crops

    March 9th 2007

    Lincolnshire farmers are interested in the idea of growing crops for biofuels, but feel they do not yet have enough information about the environmental benefits or the longer-term prospects.

  • Can you help with historic farm inventory?

    March 9th 2007

    A 1930s working farm on one of the most complete historic estates in the country is looking for volunteers to assist in the inventory of all its valuable historic equipment, books, artefacts and vintage machinery.

  • Case’s Puma tractors on show

    March 9th 2007

    The European versions of Case IH’s Puma tractors were on display for the very first time in Paris this week.

  • Changfa targets European market

    March 9th 2007

    CHINESE tractor maker Changfa has only been making tractors for five years but it has big plans to boost the current production from 10,000 to 50,000 within the next five years.

  • Charolais cross sale at Selby

    March 9th 2007

    Selby Mart, Yorkshire, conducted the dispersal sale of Charolais cross breeding cows and in-calf heifers on behalf of Messrs Difuria, Beckingham, Doncaster. A full ringside saw heifers and calves sell to £980 for a Charolais cross with a three-month-old heifer calf at foot. Cows and calves sold to £930 for an eight-year-old cow with twin calves. In-calf heifers sold to £770 and in-calf cows to £760.

  • Charolais show

    March 9th 2007

    Top honours in the East Midlands Charolais Show were awarded to Andrew and Hillary Taylor, who run the Brinsley herd in Nottinghamshire.Leicestershire exhibitor J.R. Webb took second place with the Rushfield herd, while third place was snapped up by the Sunnyside herd of G. and G. McDowell, Leicestershire.

  • Chile challenges Argentina over subsidies at WTO

    March 9th 2007

    Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, has said her government will file a lawsuit against Argentina for its use of agricultural subsidies.

  • CLA calls for action on amendment to Animals Act

    March 9th 2007

    The Country Land and Business Association is redoubling its efforts to halt the spiralling costs of insurance for horse-related businesses following the tabling of a House of Commons motion.

  • Clean bill of health for Bowland

    March 9th 2007

    East Lancashire-based Bowland Dairy Products, closed four months ago after the EU took issue over its procedures for re-processing antibiotic and other tainted milk, has now been given a clean bill of health.

  • Clear role for producers

    March 9th 2007

    The future is ‘optimistic for the brave’, according to Phil Hadley of Eblex, with a clear role for farmers who can efficiently produce beef animals.

  • Co-financing may temper modulation

    March 9th 2007

    THE Government has indicated it is willing to match money taken from Single Payments to fund agri-environment schemes, a decision that could be worth over £100 million to farmers.

  • College update

    March 9th 2007

    News from around the colleges and universities

  • Commitment needed on local renewable energy

    March 9th 2007

    ‘German farmers lead the way’, a Farmers Guardian headline shouted out recently. It turns out our northern European neighbours are powering ahead on bio-energy investment with 15 per cent planning to, or already putting money into biogas production.

  • Communications jobs at RPA

    March 9th 2007

    THE Rural Payments Agency has not exactly covered itself in glory as far as its communication skills are concerned in recent years.

  • Complaint was worthwhile

    March 9th 2007

    Taking issue with the big retailers is not necessarily a lost cause.

  • Consumer confidence boost at sausage ‘backstage’ day

    March 9th 2007

    There was further good news for consumer-producer relationships in the South West this week as customers were given the opportunity to go ‘backstage’ at a local butchers’.

  • Contracts warning

    6 March 2007

    GRAIN traders, Gleadell Agriculture have warned farmers of the danger of conditional contracts for ethanol production.

  • Convince the consumer why they must pay more

    March 9th 2007

    VIEWPOINT: by Guy Smith

  • Cornish dairy farmers get cream in producer specific deal

    March 9th 2007

    For the average Milk Link producer in West Cornwall, a new partnership and dedicated supply arrangement with a clotted cream manufacturer, could be worth an additional £3,000 a year.

  • Countess joins WI

    March 9th 2007

    The Countess of Wessex has joined the Women’s Institute and will become a member of Bagshot WI in Surrey.She is the latest member of the Royal Family to join the UK’s largest voluntary women’s organisation. The Queen is a member and president of Sandringham WI, and The Duchess of Cornwall is member of Tetbury WI in Gloucestershire.

  • Cumbria steals the show

    March 9th 2007

    Cumbria YFC played to packed audiences when they held their County Drama Final at the Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick.

  • Dairy heifers to £1,240 at Bentham

    March 9th 2007

    Newly-calved dairy heifers sold to £1,240 at Bentham Mart’s weekly sale, in Lancashire. The trade topper,a home-bred heifer from H. Huddleston and Son, Arkholme, Carnforth, was also the top priced dairy beast sold throughout February and the owners were presented with a £100 Genus semen voucher.

  • Deadline extension for Cumbrian plant contracts

    March 9th 2007

    Cumbrian milk producers interested in supplying the proposed new 60,000 tonne cheese factory of Ronald Akkerman’s Partners in Cheese, have seen the deadline for the return of contracts extended to March 14.

  • Deutz-FAHR Agroclimber crawler

    March 9th 2007

    The AgroClimber crawler was a highlight on the Deutz-Fahr stand.

  • Doing your homework on financial risks can save headaches later

    March 9th 2007

    Farmers do not see many bad debts – but that does not mean they never happen. Only last week, some beef producers in the north caught a cold when a meat processor called in the administrators. Farmcare’s David Gardner, project manager of the Defra-sponsored ‘Risk Aware’ programme, urges all farmers to be cautious.

  • Double ton for Herefordshire FWAG

    March 9th 2007

    Herefordshire FWAG has just submitted its 200th Entry Level Stewardship Scheme application.

  • Doubts over vets’ ability to cope with PrMT work

    March 9th 2007

    FRESH doubts are being expressed about the ability of vets to cope with the extension of pre-movement testing, just one week into the new system.

  • Dow fighting the counterfeiters with new patented technology

    March 9th 2007

    Agrochemical manufacturer Dow AgroSciences is employing patented technology in the fight against counterfeit products and provide traceability of its products from manufacture to farm.

  • Dramatic final for Wales YFC

    March 9th 2007

    The final rounds of Wales Young Farmers Clubs’ Welsh Drama competition are being staged at Theatry Gromlech, Crymych, on March 9 and 10.

  • Ear-tagging required for Argentine exports

    March 9th 2007

    In a bid to qualify more of Argentina’s beef for export, as of March 2 all cattle farmers will be required to eartag their calves with individually-numbered identification.

  • English Sheepdog Trial Results

    March 9th 2007

    YORKSHIRE, The Riddings, Bolton Abbey, Nursery Championship (7 ran): 1, R. Airey (Trawden) Sky, 93 of 100; 2,T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Kate, 91; 3, C. Mellin (Oakworth) Tan Hill Jess, 81; 4, R. Jewitt (Naburn) Nell, 75; 5, A. Baines (South Stainmore) Moor Lodge Emma, 68.

  • Ensuring pork assumes its rightful place on our menus

    March 9th 2007

    Gammon, bacon or a pork chop is all a pig has become in the eyes of the majority of people. TOM LEVITT meets Richard Fagen, the chef trying to change the habits of a generation.

  • Entitlements sale boost

    March 9th 2007

    Standard entitlements made three or more times their value in Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ penultimate sale of the season at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

  • Excellent water savers

    March 9th 2007

    WATER saving tactics by farm businesses were so good that judges decided to honour every finalist.

  • Fair Trade symposium

    March 9th 2007

    Next Wednesday, at the Country Living Spring Fair, CL editor Susy Smith and FG editor Liz Falkingham will host the Fair Trade for British Farmers symposium.

  • Farm centre is set to open in time to catch summer rush

    March 9th 2007

    The new farm visitor centre near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset is set to open on schedule and in time for the summer tourism rush.

  • Farm fuels were not to blame in petrol crisis

    March 9th 2007

    BIOFUEL was not implicated in the fuel contamination crisis that caused hundreds of cars to break down in the South East.

  • Farmers seeks badger culling licences

    March 9th 2007

    FARMERS in the South West of England are seeking licences from the Government to cull badgers. The move by two groups in Devon and Gloucestershire follows indications last week from Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker that the Government could be preparing to lift the nine-year moratorium on badger culling licences this summer.

  • Farmers urged to contact the Competition Commission

    7 March 2007

    FARMERS are being urged to make their views known to the Competition Commission’s investigation into complaints about the way supermarket chains and other large retailers treat their suppliers.

  • Fears remain that sheep and cattle might soon vanish from Welsh hills

    March 9th 2007

    With a final decision on cutbacks in Tir Mynydd hill farming support payments to Welsh farmers still hanging in the balance after more than 14 months of wrangling, is it any wonder there are deep-seated concerns over the long-term future of farming in the uplands?

  • February finish for beet campaign

    March 9th 2007

    The 2007/08 sugar beet campaign will start earlier and last longer this year but should finish in February.

  • Final chance to enter Diversification awards

    March 9th 2007

    Enterprising South West farmers have until March 14 to enter this year’s Rural Business Development Awards, sponsored by Farmers Guardian.

  • Finding alternative ways of securing the silage clamp

    March 9th 2007

    Sheeting a silage clamp is a necessary chore if the ensiling process is to proceed successfully and quality silage is to be produced. Andy Collings takes a look at the systems now available which do not involve tyres.

  • First Milk invests in creamery

    March 9th 2007

    FirstMilk is spending millions on new whey processing equipment at the Haverfordwest creamery, Pembrokeshire.

  • First showing for The Valtra T171 hitech

    March 9th 2007

    Although we covered the technical details in a previous issue, Valtra’s new T series tractors were also on show to the public for the first time at SIMA.

  • Food procurement workshop

    March 9th 2007

    Local authority staff with responsibility for buying food for schools, the fire and rescue service, leisure centres and social care institutions throughout the East Midlands are being encouraged to buy from local suppliers.

  • Forster to step down from NBA

    13 March 2007

    ROBERT Foster is to retire as head of the National Beef Association in June. The outspoken former journalist joined the association as chief executive shortly after its inception in 1998 and has since become one of the industry’s highest profile figures.

  • Forthcoming events for this year in the Cotswolds

    March 9th 2007

    Residents and tourists will now be able to benefit from a year-long listing of traditional events taking place in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

  • Foton Europard

    March 9th 2007

    FOTON is one of a growing number of Chinese tractor makers looking to target the European market and used the French show to recruit a number of importers.

  • Genus’ beef and dairy breeding programmes relaunched

    March 9th 2007

    GENUS ABS has relaunched its dairy and beef breeding programmes as the Cornerstone Breeding Club and the Beef Breeding Programme.

  • Getting the message across – ways to promote British food

    March 9th 2007

    LINKING the dual roles farming plays in growing food and creating valued landscape is one of the key drivers of the Farmers Guardian ‘Fair Trade for Farmers’ campaign. It was alsoo the theme at an open meeting at Cerne Abbas this week, organised by Dorset Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). Designed to engage with the general public, there was plenty for farmers to take away too, and while it was Dorset under the spotlight many of the messages could apply equally to other areas ...

  • Goltix WDG now in granular version

    March 9th 2007

    The sugar beet herbicide metatmitron is now available in a MINrinse granular version.

  • Government approach to dairy market is outdated – First Milk

    March 9th 2007

    THE Government has an outdated national approach to defining the dairy market. That is the message in a letter from First Milk chairman Richard Greenhalgh to Defra Secretary of State David Miliband this week.

  • Grain maize area is set to double

    March 9th 2007

    THE amount of grain maize grown in the UK is set to double in the next five years as more dairy and beef producers appreciate its benefits as a homegrown energy source, according to Grainseed.

  • Grass, forage, silage and equipment

    March 9th 2007

    Farmers Guardian grass, silage, forage and equipment feature - helping you ahead of this year's season.

  • Grass, forage, silage and equipment

    March 9th 2007

    Farmers Guardian grass, silage, forage and equipment feature - helping you ahead of this year's season.

  • Gryland hydraulic drive rotor rakes

    March 9th 2007

    French firm Gryland Industries has developed two rotor rakes with hydraulic drive.

  • Haydon calls on tenants to back succession campaign

    12 March 2007

    TENANT Farmers’ Association (TFA) chairman Reg Haydon has urged tenants to back his organisation’s campaign to make landlords accountable for their actions on the thorny issue of succession.

  • Hill sheep sale records broken

    March 9th 2007

    Records were broken at Bentham Mart’s first multi-breed sale of hill sheep sold as individual females.

  • Holmer Terra variant 500

    March 9th 2007

    Holmer is looking to target large farms and contractors with a new version of its self-propelled Terra Variant 500 drive unit.

  • Host of new MF products

    March 9th 2007

    There were a host of new products at the Massey Ferguson stand, including the new 8947 telehandler and the 9895 combine, which boasts a 12,300-litres grain tank and the largest rotor in the business.

  • Imports suspended

    March 9th 2007

    Argentina has been forced to suspend imports of all meat products from Bolivia in response to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

  • Improved performance for fastrac tractors

    March 9th 2007

    Improved performance and reduced operator vibration and noise levels are features of JCB’s latest Fastrac tractors. Called the 2155 (160hp) and 2170 (170hp), and replacing the 2140 and 3170, both are aimed at customers wanting a lighter package than the current 3000 series models.

  • Improvement opportunities for OSR growers

    March 9th 2007

    UK oilseed rape growers have a new champion in their efforts to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the crop.

  • Increased silage interest

    March 9th 2007

    This year’s Westmorland County Agricultural Society Silage Competition received 39 entries – four times the number received in 2005.

  • Interest from abroad for British genetics and equipment

    March 9th 2007

    The five-day show, which fills six exhibition halls at the Paris Nord park, attracts in the region of 250,000 visitors, of which around 60,000 are non French.

  • Irrigation demand to rise dramatically

    March 9th 2007

    The demand for irrigation will increase by 20 per cent by 2020, a leading climate change expert has warned.

  • JCB 536-70 and TM310 telehandlers

    March 9th 2007

    Among the raft of new machines from JCB at SIMA were the 536-70 Loadall and the TM310 and TM310S articulated telehandlers.

  • JCB loaders gets more grunt

    March 9th 2007

    Contractors wanting more output to service high output foragers will be glad to know that JCB has pumped more grunt into the 414S and 416S.

  • Jill wins Scottish Nursery Championship to add another string to Ian’s bow

    March 9th 2007

    The Scottish National champion, Ian Brownlie, added a new line to his trialling CV by winning the 2007 Scottish nursery championship with his two-year-old Jill (W. McAllister’s Hope, D. Kinloch’s Fly) in front of a crowd of around 400 at Pairney farm, Auchterarder on Saturday.

  • John Deere self-propelled sprayer

    March 9th 2007

    First seen in prototype at the last show two years ago, John Deere’s first European-built and designed self-propelled sprayer has now progressed to the pre-production stage.

  • Join our campaign

    March 9th 2007

    Speaking directly to the consumer on the need for fair trade for our farmers

  • King of the Cleeve Hill

    14 March 2007

    Trainer Alan King and stable jockey Robert Thornton took advantage of the high speed exit of hot favourite Well Chief in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival to scoop the prestigious prize.

  • Krone 1290hdp square baler

    March 9th 2007

    With pre-production machines working last year, Krone is now giving the go-ahead to the 1290HDP square baler.

  • Kuhn GF17002 tedder

    March 9th 2007

    For those with a massive area to cover, Kuhn has introduced a tedder with a working width of 17.2m and capable of covering 12 hectares per hour.

  • Kuhn Megant mounted tine drill

    March 9th 2007

    Kuhn had no less than 33 new products on show at SIMA and among them was a handful of new one-pass cultivating and seeding machines.

  • Landini Technofarm tractors

    March 9th 2007

    Although Landini’s new TechnoFarm tractors were premiered at last November’s Italian EIMA show, these were designed for the export markets.

  • Lobbying call to lift EU 24-month age limit on removal of vertebral columns

    March 9th 2007

    The National Beef Association has asked Defra to prepare an intense lobbying effort to persuade the European Commission to lift the 24-month age limit for the removal of vertebral column from cattle carcases.

  • Local produce survey of Powys businesses

    March 9th 2007

    Hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs across a large part of Mid Wales are to be asked what they want to see from local food producers in order to increase the amount of local produce they serve.

  • LS tractors reveals new prototype

    March 9th 2007

    LS Tractors revealed a prototype of its latest model – the U55, which should be available for sale in Europe by 2008. Spanning four models from 45 to 60hp, the top model on show is powered by a four-cylinder Mitsubishi engine.

  • Lucas G self-powered diet feeder

    March 9th 2007

  • Maize biogas production is a UK reality

    March 9th 2007

    BIOGAS production from maize is becoming a reality in the UK, delegates heard from grower Owen Yeatman during the Maize Growers Association’s recent Maize Conference at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

  • Make or break for Tir Mynydd support scheme at end of March

    March 9th 2007

    THE last week in March – the final week of the present Welsh Assembly – will be make or break time for industry efforts to get payment cuts restored under the Wales-based Tir Mynydd hill farming support scheme.

  • Mango Dessert

    March 9th 2007

    “This dessert is simple and delicious,” says Mary Hames of Meadow Farm, Athelington Eye, Suffolk, who sent in this week’s recipe.

  • MANITOU Telescopics get new cab

    March 9th 2007

    Manitou is fitting a new cab to all the MLT 6m and 7m telescopics and has also started the roll-out of the Stage IIIa engine in the 634 Plus shown here. The Perkins motor delivers 124hp and is can run on 30 per cent biodiesel.

  • Matrot Magister

    March 9th 2007

    Designed to replace the M41 self-propelled six-row sugar beet harvester, a feature of Matrot’s Magister is that the new 350hp Stage IIIa engine is located at the rear of the machine to reduce in-cab noise levels. In addition, the new engine reaches its maximum power at just 1,300rpm.

  • May deadline for farmer submissions

    March 9th 2007

    FARMERS are being urged to make their views known to the Competition Commission’s investigation into complaints about the way supermarket chains and other large retailers treat their suppliers.

  • Meat with different origins must be clearly labelled

    March 9th 2007

    SUPERMARKETS, which continued to claim there was no obligation to separate beef from different countries of origin, were certain to have that claim challenged, the National Beef Association has warned.

  • Mild winter results in high leatherjacket levels in Scotland

    March 9th 2007

    Leatherjacket population levels in grassland in Scotland are high for the fourth year in a row.

  • Milk poured into the slurry in protest

    March 9th 2007

    THOUSANDS of litres of milk were being poured into the slurry in West Wales this week as 58 producers reached the end of their tether with Newcastle Emlyn-based Dansco, one of Britain’s biggest mozzarella cheese makers.

  • Motivation to increase profitability

    6 March 2007

    TECHNICAL efficiency was a key topic at a series of calf management meetings put together by Farmers Guardian, Intervet and EBLEX. Ahead, of a full report in this week’s paper, JOANNE PUGH takes a look at some of the business pointers given to delegates.

  • MPs back Fair Trade for British Farmers campaign

    9 March 2007

    FARMERS Guardian’s campaign to secure fairer prices for British farmers has received strong backing in Parliament.

  • Mynach takes Limousin herd award

    March 9th 2007

    The Mynach herd of Messrs Griffiths, Cwmfelin, Mynach, took the overall championship as well as the extra large herd section in the South Wales and Mid West Limousin Club’s herd competition.

  • New Holland T7500 series

    March 9th 2007

    New Holland is making no secret of the fact that it is looking to renew its complete tractor line up by 2009.

  • New livery for mccormick tractors

    March 9th 2007

    McCormick used SIMA to reveal new colours and graphics on all its tractor ranges. While the bodywork has been kept in McCormick red, the chassis now sports a new anthracite grey, which is the same as that used on the Landini tractors.

  • New project to build soil fertility

    March 9th 2007

    HDRA Garden Organic is leading a new Defra-funded project to help growers improve the ways in which they build soil fertility.

  • New WI website launched

    March 9th 2007

    The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) has launched a new, redesigned website at www.theWI.org.uk. The new website aims to support existing WI members, attract new members and position the WI as a modern organisation.

  • NEWS IN BRIEF

    March 9th 2007

    Organic dairy workshops

  • NFU accuses RSPCA of ‘misleading public'

    March 9th 2007

    THE RSPCA has been accused of misleading the public to promote its own food brand, after it was forced to retract a claim about the extent of consumer concern over farm animal welfare.

  • NFUS president wants supply chain commitments

    March 9th 2007

    FOR too long farmers have had contracts that were not worth the paper they were written on, claimed NFU Scotland’s new president Jim McLaren.

  • Norfolk farmers scoop Tesco long service award

    6 March 2007

    TWO neighbouring West Norfolk farmers, operating a joint venture supplying potatoes to Tesco, have been awarded this year’s Grower Long Service Award in recognition of the first class service and quality of their produce.

  • Norfolk neighbours scoop the Tesco long service award

    March 9th 2007

    Neighbouring west Norfolk farmers, operating a joint venture supplying potatoes to Tesco, have been awarded this year’s Grower Long Service Award in recognition of the first class service and quality of their produce.

  • Not castrating males could improve lamb growth rates

    March 9th 2007

    Leaving at least some male lambs uncastrated could be a useful performance improvement strategy for consideration in the coming season, according to the English Beef and Lamb Executive (Eblex).

  • Optimising high DM grass silages – the new challenge

    March 9th 2007

    THIS year is likely to be the warmest year on record – the Met Office says the temperature will be 0.54degC above the long-term average of 14degC recorded between 1961 and 1990.

  • Organic dairy market remains healthy says OMSCo

    12 March 2007

    THE organic dairy market has most definitely not reached a plateau and the challenge remains one of carefully managing the production increase to match unfulfilled demand.

  • OSR nitrogen rates may need adjusting

    March 9th 2007

    Oilseed rape growers should be wary of low soil mineral nitrogen levels this spring, and adjust nitrogen rates accordingly so that yields are not compromised, according to crop nutrition expert Mike Slater of Terra.

  • Over the hills and far away

    12 March 2007

    THE escapades and winning ways of Harford Logan and his border collies

  • PAYE and tax ruling on Kiwi shearers has sheep welfare implications

    March 9th 2007

    INCREASED regulation surrounding New Zealand shearing gangs operating in the UK could lead to millions of unshorn sheep this summer, according to the British Wool Marketing Board.

  • Peking Pork Stir-fry

    March 9th 2007

    It is the Year of the Pig in the Chinese calendar so why not try a Peking Pork Stir-fry.

  • Peter lays best hedge at Beetham

    March 9th 2007

    Thirty-two competitors ith ages ranging from 12 to over 70, and spread over four classes, took part in the Friends of the Lake District’s 28th hedge laying competition at Beetham, near Milnthorpe.

  • Philippines takes consignment of British pig semen

    March 9th 2007

    East Anglian pig breeding company Premier Genetics has exported 30 consignments of semen, each containing between 50 and 100 doses, to the Philippines.It has gone to a 5,000-sow unit run by Fil-am Feeds. The company’s AI sales manager Peter Buck said that the 6,500 mile journey had little effect on the quality of the semen.

  • Pilgrim’s Choice probiotic cheese

    March 9th 2007

    Pilgrims Choice is introducing Medium Probiotic cheddar.  It is the first ever medium strength variant for the brand.Made with what is claimed to be a unique and patented probiotic culture, the new cheddar is a smooth, rich and creamy cheese with a mellow taste. It is naturally matured for around six months. The development has come about in response to consumer demand for products with digestive health benefits, says the company.

  • Planning this season’s PGR programmes with minimal chlormequat residues in mind

    March 9th 2007

    Do not underestimate the value of later plant growth regulator treatments when planning this season’s PGR programmes for winter wheat, growers are being advised.

  • Plant breeding furthers drought tolerance options

    March 9th 2007

    PLANT breeding progress in established species such as white clover and cocksfoot, along with the inclusion of new pasture species such as perennial chicory, could offer livestock farmers more options to combat drought.

  • Poor ventilation and air flow in calf-rearing sheds

    March 9th 2007

    Stop worrying about sheds being too cold or rain getting in – the biggest problem in calf rearing buildings is poor ventilation and inadequate air flow.

  • Potato planting delayed

    6 March 2007

    THE wet weather continues to delay potato planting. Total planting up to March 2 is estimated at 1080 hectares, compared with 1760 ha in 2006, says the British Potato Council.

  • Pottinger jumbo

    March 9th 2007

    Pottinger was showing a new knife system for the Jumbo self-loading silage wagons, which will also be on the Torro range for next season.

  • Poultry giant to receive compensation

    March 9th 2007

    POULTRY giant Bernard Matthews is to receive around £600,000 in compensation for the healthy birds culled following the H5N1 outbreak at its Holton plant last month.

  • Pressure increases on dairy herd margins

    March 9th 2007

    Lower milk prices and increasing feed costs are having a negative impact on dairy margins.

  • Producers wait and see as Tesco lifts milk price

    March 9th 2007

    TESCO has raised the retail price of milk and hopes are high that most of the increase will be passed back to milk producers supplying the supermarket’s two processors.

  • Progress and change on historic estate

    March 9th 2007

    When Freddie de Lisle took over the family estate he knew he had to find a way of making it profitable. The solution, he told ANGELA CALVERT, was a mixture of pedigree beef cattle and Stilton cheese production.

  • Progress towards eradication of sheep scab in UK

    March 9th 2007

    THE next step in the national sheep scab eradication programme was made on Monday with a joint industry and Government workshop in London.

  • Progress towards eradication of sheep scab in UK

    March 9th 2007

    THE next step in the national sheep scab eradication programme was made on Monday with a joint industry and Government workshop in London.

  • Put ideas into practice and win a trip to France

    March 9th 2007

    The farming community throughout Britain has been invited to enter a competition to submit a five-year business plan for the two farms and additional grazing area at Northumberland College at Kirkley Hall.

  • Qualifying round

    March 9th 2007

    The Westcountry qualifying round of the ‘Intercounties Ploughing Competition’ takes place at East Coombe, Somerset tomorrow (March 10).Sponsored by Bridgwater Agricultural Society, the event is open to all farmers in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.Those interested in competing should contact Valerie Giles on 01823 66098.

  • Quality Standard Mark for supermarket pork

    March 9th 2007

    More than 100 million on-pack stickers promoting the Quality Standard Mark for pork will be appearing in supermarkets across the country. The stickers are part of the Love QSM Pork campaign currently being run by the British Pig Executive (Bpex).

  • Quivogne V-SUB

    March 9th 2007

    Quivogne was showing the V-Sub, a trailed subsoiler that has a rear linkage for carrying a cultivator such as the disc unit shown.

  • Raising funds for Air ambulance

    March 9th 2007

    Brecknock YFC members Lucy Bufton and Vicky-Lynn Healey with county chairman Clair Powell present a cheque for £504 to Chris Morgan from the Welsh Air Ambulance. The money was raised from two charity auctions.

  • Record crops

    March 9th 2007

    Argentina's 2006-7 soybean harvest will be a record 42.5 million to 44.5 million tons, according to its Government.

  • Rostelmash looks to Europe

    March 9th 2007

    Russian manufacturer Rostelmash used the French show to look for a number of European agents to import its range of combines and self-propelled forage harvesters.

  • Royal International celebrates its first century

    7 March 2007

    THE Royal International Horse Show, which opens on July 25 at Hickstead, this year celebrates its 100th birthday.

  • Royal Northern Spring Show

    March 9th 2007

    A record attendance, estimated at more than 6,000, ensured the Royal Northern Spring Show had its best day ever at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, after being hit for the last three years by snow.

  • SAME TIGER

    March 9th 2007

    A feature of the Tiger platform tractor prototype on the Same stand was that it is made at SDF’s Indian facility. The result is a two-model range – Tiger 60 and Tiger 70, which is some 10 to 15 per cent cheaper than comparable Argon models.

  • Seminar has added value to farm shops

    March 9th 2007

    Suffolk agricultural college Otley College organised a one-day course at Alder Carr Farm in Needham Market to help give advice to the growing number of food businesses who own farm shops in the region.

  • SIMA Show

    March 9th 2007

    WITH over 200,000 farmers and members of the trade in attendance, SIMA proved to be more popular than ever as a large British contingent crossed the Channel to Paris.

  • SIMA Show

    March 9th 2007

    WITH over 200,000 farmers and members of the trade in attendance, SIMA proved to be more popular than ever as a large British contingent crossed the Channel to Paris.

  • SIMAGENA SHOW

    March 9th 2007

    Alongside all the rows and rows of machinery at the Paris-based SIMA show was SIMAGENA, the livestock section of the show.

  • Sinclair takes Scottish Member of the Year title

    March 9th 2007

    The Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Club’s competitions weekend at Thurso saw Bryan Sinclair, aged 24, from Halkirk YFC in the Caithness District, selected as 2007 Member of the Year.

  • Strictly adhere to labels and avoid stiff penalties

    March 9th 2007

    GROWERS must be vigilant over the detail on pesticide product labels when spraying crops this spring in order to avoid the risk of a penalty in their Single Payment.

  • Supporting good causes

    March 9th 2007

    North west Derbyshire Young Farmers’ region, comprising of Bakewell, Buxton and Hope Valley clubs, has presented cheques for £500 each to representatives from The Prince’s Trust, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and Farm Out project. Members from each club also recently took part in a one-day first aid course, which covered basic first aid and CPR.

  • Survey shows rural contentment but concern over loss of services

    March 9th 2007

    A MAJOR survey of people living and working in rural areas reveals high levels of contentment with their life but concern over the loss of rural services and environmental issues.

  • Tales of the Old Country Farmers

    7 March 2007

    THE memories of ten elderly farming men make up this anthology, and to read them is to discover ten personal histories, each unique, fascinating, and witness to a time long since past.

  • TB test ‘invalid’ says Holstein breeder

    March 9th 2007

    Richard Bown, of Worcestershire-based Richaven Holsteins, has vowed to fight Defra over the positive TB test which prevented him taking a team of 10 show cows to the show.

  • Technoma tecnis trailed sprayer

    March 9th 2007

    Fresh off the production line was the Tecnis trailed sprayer from Tecnoma that replaces the Galaxy Super.

  • Temporary accommodation for seasonal workers in the countryside

    March 9th 2007

    ANDREW MOSS, chartered town planner in the planning team at North East law firm Ward Hadaway explains how there can be circumstances when new accommodation is justified in the countryside.

  • Terrano FX

    March 9th 2007

    The Terrano FX tine cultivator from Horsch now has the option of disc levellers and up to five different rollers.

  • The Riddle of Sphinx Rock

    12 March 2007

    IN The Riddle of Sphinx Rock, all-weather walker, writer and photographer Ronald Turnbull takes an entertaining, offbeat look at the history, geology and literature surrounding Great Gable, arguably the Lake District’s most popular hill, while outlining the various ways to the summit.

  • The Taste of Britain

    12 March 2007

    A FASCINATING book detailing the history of unique local produce from every corner of Britain, The Taste of Britain covers everything from much loved regional specialities to unusual gastronomic gems.

  • To cull or not to cull?

    March 9th 2007

    THE question of whether badgers should be culled to curb the spread of bovine TB is all-too-often presented – excuse the pun – as a black and white issue.

  • Top grading cattle winner

    March 9th 2007

    The latest winner of the quarterly prize for the top grading cattle at McIntosh Donald’s Portlethen meat plant is Haddo House Estates, Mains of Haddo, Tarves, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, with 95 per cent of cattle consigned meeting specification.

  • Top of 6,000gns at multi-breed Royal Northern Spring Show

    March 9th 2007

    Pedigree bulls sold to 6,000gns and trade was brisk at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ multi-breed show and sale. 

  • Triticales start to make significant contribution’ to UK livestock sector

    March 9th 2007

    TWO ‘new’ crops – spring triticale and lupin-triticalage – have started to make a ‘significant contribution’ in the UK, according to David McNaughton of Soya UK, and have a lot more to offer than many people realise.

  • Union’s election manifesto is a ‘wish list’ for agriculture

    March 9th 2007

    Eight weeks today the votes will have been counted and the make-up of the new Welsh Assembly decided. NFU Cymru has set the political ball rolling with the launch of its own election ‘wish list’. BARRY ALSTON reports.

  • Up to £5m not reclaimed by the RPA

    March 9th 2007

    UP to £5 million worth of Single Payments distributed in error last June is still sitting in farmers’ bank accounts, it has emerged.

  • Vaderstad Spirit cultivator

    March 9th 2007

    Having shown the prototype at Agritechnica in 2005, Vaderstad has now introduced the Spirit cultivator drill. Production is set to start in May and it is aimed at farmers with light and medium land.

  • VENTA EC300 combination drill

    March 9th 2007

    The Venta EC300 combination drill can be mounted on 3m power harrows and cultivators. It has a hopper capacity of 800 litres with the distribution head and seed pipes positioned outside to make cleaning the tank easier.

  • Warning over greenbelt land.

    13 March 2007

    THOUSANDS of acres of greenbelt land will have to be ‘sacrificed’ if government housing targets are to be met, countryside campaigners have warned.

  • Wheat-for-ethanol growers’ conditional contracts warning

    March 9th 2007

    Grain traders, Gleadell Agriculture, have warned farmers of the danger of conditional contracts for ethanol production.

  • Will milk ‘fix’ stick?

    March 9th 2007

    It is easy to become slightly euphoric when there is the prospect of a commodity price increase for primary producers.

  • William Hackett Chains rotary harrow

    March 9th 2007

    BRITISH firm William Hackett Chains had a rotary loosening and levelling harrow for horse maneges. This 2m wide implement has four rotors with fingers that dig into the surface and loosen it. Each of the rotor measures 600mm in diameter and has a bearing at the top. A levelling board on the rear completes the job. Selling through dealers, William Hackett Chains says the recommended retail price is in the region of £800.

  • World oilseed area set to overtake wheat

    March 9th 2007

    The discrepancy in rapeseed yield between the UK and our continental counterparts cannot be attributed to climatic differences alone, according to Grainfarmers oilseeds and business development director, Andrew Barnard.

  • Wyevalley heifer crop pulls in the buyers with 5,500gns peak

    March 9th 2007

    Bidding peaked at 5,500gns when Holstein breeders from across the country assembled at Ross Market, Ross-on-Wye, for the sale of Eryl and Eirian Done’s entire heifer crop from their pedigree Holstein Wyevalley herd at Credenhill, Hereford. They were joined by five consignments from breeders with connections to the herd.

  • Yorkshire committee members take two top nursery titles

    March 9th 2007

    At Yorkshire’s final nursery the top titles were taken by two of the society’s committee members with chairman Ronnie Airey winning the championship with Sky, while Keith Salisbury won the trial with Scott.

  • Your chance to win an iPod Shuffle

    16 March 2007

    ENTER our Dairy Vet clinical quiz and you could win an iPod.

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