Farmers Guardian
May 5th 2006

  • ‘Hopeful’ over TB action – ‘transparent’ on calf trade

    May 5th 2006

    ON the day bovine TB pre-movement testing came into force in Wales, NFU national president, Peter Kendall, said he was ‘hopeful’ there would be some ‘positive’ action towards tackling the disease fairly soon.

  • An hour in the May garden

    May 5th 2006

    When May blossom finally arrives, an old man’s beard of wispy white from the back of the garden, or in a thousand fields, you can really begin to enjoy your gardening, writes PAUL PEACOCK.

  • Attention to detail is key to smooth herd expansion

    May 5th 2006

    WHEN organic producer Graham Morgan took the opportunity to move to a new farm and significantly increase herd size, he did not plan on a marked increase in cell counts.

  • Audi allroad

    May 5th 2006

  • Be guided by trends of market

    May 5th 2006

    FARMERS looking to break out of the current restrictive environment of agricultural commodity production should be looking at market trends rather than watching what their colleagues were doing, the audience was told.

  • Beckett bites back

    5 May 2006

    See this week's FG for Defra Secretary Margaret Beckett's letter to FG regarding the SPS row.

  • Benefit from pounds strength

    May 5th 2006

    POTENTIAL rises in dairy ration prices have more than been offset by the increase in the strength of sterling this week.

  • Bread wheat N efficiency

    May 5th 2006

    CONSIDERABLE differences have been identified in the efficiency with which the five currently Recommended bread wheats appear to utilise fertiliser nitrogen in the latest series of Masstock Arable Group Co-ordinated Growing Systems trials.

  • Business is childs play for Jacqui

    May 5th 2006

    FARMER’S wife Jacqui Lea knew her customers thought highly of her toy shop. Now she has the seal of approval from the industry.

  • Buying a used ATV – When paying more can cost less

    May 5th 2006

    An ATV is such a familiar item of farm equipment that it is all too easy to forget just how much there is to look over when buying a used example. Putting a well-worn or poorly maintained one right can cost a small fortune, so it really does pay to check any used buy properly. For this reason, it can pay to buy from a dealer. A well-worn ATV can be surprisingly expensive to put right.

  • BYDV hits winter wheat

    May 5th 2006

    Small, discrete patches of BYDV have appeared in winter wheat and barley crops in Yorkshire and the East Midlands

  • Commercial catch-up

    May 5th 2006

    The Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham, gave the chance to catch up on the latest developments in pick-up trucks, vans and light commercial vehicles. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

  • Complete rethink to tackle environmental mastitis

    May 5th 2006

    WITH a herd of 180 high yielding dairy cows, brother Peter and Mike Jones have been waging a lengthy battle against environmental mastitis.

  • Creating a future-proof dairy

    May 5th 2006

    Designing and developing a purpose-built dairy unit on a greenfield site is no small task, especially when you are only 25 years old. JOANNE PUGH met Steve Cope, the young dairy farmer who has put grand ideas into action.

  • Cutting costs? Think again with Group 1

    May 5th 2006

    WHEAT growers contemplating cutting costs and reducing final nitrogen applications on wheats are being advised to think again – particularly on Group 1 varieties.

  • Deadlines – what’s good for the Government is good for farmers

    May 5th 2006

    THERE must not be one rule for Government and another for farmers, Defra has been told, following its request for the EU payment window to be extended.

  • Distinctive look helps Kyron really stand out from the crowd

    May 5th 2006

    KOREAN manufacturer Ssangyong it seems, is on a charge. Having established itself as a maker of a good value 4x4 with the Rexton, the firm is now padding out the range with the smaller Kyron – and it will be followed later in the year with a third 4x4, the Actyon.

  • Do you really know how much grass is in front of your cows?

    May 5th 2006

    Across the country turnout has been delayed by three weeks on average but, as grass growth begins to recover, one nutritionist is urging farmers to take a more measured approach to grazing management.

  • Dodge caliber

    May 5th 2006

    Chrysler has announced prices of its stylish Dodge Caliber hatchback, which is available in four models – S, SE, SXT and SXT Sport. There’s a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines, with the oil-burner getting a six-speed manual box.

  • Export market re-opens ahead of Beef Expo

    May 5th 2006

    THE re-opening of the beef export market for British beef has generated excitement in the beef industry, which will be reflected in Beef Expo 2006 at Carlisle next month, chairman of the organising committee, Ian Watson, told a press briefing on Tuesday.

  • Farmers hold key to biodiesel market

    May 5th 2006

    BIODIESEL production capacity is rising so rapidly in the UK that oilseed rape production will soon be the limiting factor, leading to price rises to farmers.

  • Fertility focus helps cut costs of extended calving intervals

    May 5th 2006

    Through the MDC’s £1,000 for 1,000 cows initiative and with encouragement from Asda, many of the 1,600 members of the Arla Foods Milk Partnership (AFMP) have had access to courses on footcare and mastitis control. More recently they have benefited from herd fertility workshops led by Paddy Gordon of the Shepton Vet Group.

  • Finding the right diet for your horse

    May 5th 2006

    While rationing for dairy cow diets has been standard practice for years, putting together an accurate mix of protein, energy, fibre and other nutrients for your horse according to his size and exercise regime is more tricky. LIZ FALKINGHAM spent a day with horse nutritionist Stephanie Wood, looking at a new service being offered to address this problem area.

  • First foray to Skipton Blues proves a winner

    5 May 2006

    BREED stalwarts Danny and Jane Wyllie made their first-ever foray to Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire, pay dividends when they were awarded the championship at the second annual show and sale of pedigree Belgian Blue breeding cattle.

  • First UK calves for 10 years head for the continent

    May 5th 2006

    THE first British calves in 10 years to set foot on the Continent should be arriving at rearing units in Belgium and Holland later today.

  • Foraging for a solution to make better quality silage

    May 5th 2006

    The self-loading silage wagon market is getting a new lease of life as farmers look to longer chop lengths in an effort to increase forage quality. Mervyn Bailey reports on contractor Stuart Johnstone who has invested in two wagons not just for silage, but also zero grazing.

  • Get forms in by May 15

    May 5th 2006

    FARMERS are being urged to get their forms in by May 15 – if necessary with a covering letter – even if they are not convinced of their accuracy. Defra now seems unlikely to announce that penalties will be waived for late and inaccurate forms submitted between May 15 and June 9, the absolute cut-off point.But the RPA has said farmers will not be penalised if there are inaccuracies on forms that are the fault of the agency.

  • Government gives biomass a boost

    May 5th 2006

    FINANCIAL initiatives for businesses installing biomass heating boilers will begin before the end of the year, Government energy officials confirmed this week.

  • Huge on-farm savings for Farmers Guardian Keenan competition winner

    May 5th 2006

    Later this month, FG will be launching this year’s Keenan competition, offering readers the chance to win a £22,500 Klassik. Here, we catch up with last year’s winners.

  • Hundreds enter to win Blonde genetics prizes

    May 5th 2006

    THE British Blonde Society/Farmers Guardian competition to win £1,000 worth of Blonde genetics attracted hundreds of entries.

  • Industry coping with bird flu

    May 5th 2006

    THE poultry industry is fighting back after three outbreaks of low pathogenic H7 strain avian influenza on Norfolk farms and the subsequent cull of 50,000 birds.

  • Innovation awards for the dairy industry

    May 5th 2006

    There was an increase in the number and quality of entries for the Milk Development Council’s annual Awards for Dairy Innovation.

  • Isuzu

    May 5th 2006

  • Leaks lead to claims that Ministers misled farmers

    May 5th 2006

    MINISTERS have been accused of misleading farmers over the Single Payments crisis after news of two significant developments leaked out last week.

  • Leicestershire Show

    May 5th 2006

    Off to a flier on new site with Blonde in top spot

  • Leicestershire Show Results

    May 5th 2006

    DAIRY

  • LEXUS RX350

    May 5th 2006

  • Limousins lead Perth at 3,800g

    5 May 2006

    THE United Auctions Perth Spring sale of pedigree cattle saw a top price of 3,800gns with Limousins leading the way on Monday.

  • Livestock chairman’s concerns over viability

    May 5th 2006

    THE viability of primary producers in the livestock chain is one of the greatest concerns for NFU livestock board chairman Thomas Binns who took office in March.

  • Margaret is a top learner when it comes to a new farm business

    May 5th 2006

    IN every walk of life experience is an invaluable asset – but it does not mean there is no room to broaden those skills even further.

  • New Charolais 5,000gns breed centre record at Ross-on-Wye show and sale

    5 May 2006

    THE Charolais breed established a new 5,000gns centre record at Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, during the breed society’s spring show and sale.

  • New wave of confidence as beef exports resume

    May 5th 2006

    A new wave of confidence swept through the British beef industry this week as the resumption of exports brought hopes of higher prices and a brighter future.

  • No contamination found on anthrax case farm

    May 5th 2006

    INVESTIGATIONS into the possible source of anthrax, which caused the deaths of two cattle on a South Wales farm, have found no trace of contamination.

  • Part Payments Underway

    10 May 2006

    PART payments worth £730 million are underway and should reach farmers ‘over the coming week’, new Defra Secretary David Miliband has announced.

  • Pay details to be available on website this autumn

    May 5th 2006

    DETAILS of the Single Farm Payments made to farmers this year will be made available on the Rural Payments Agency website from this autumn.

  • Pig industry vision outlined

    12 May 2006

    THE British Pig Executive (BPEX) vision to help create a profitable and sustainable pig industry was outlined by chief executive Mick Sloyan, on the first day of the British Pig and Poultry Fair at Stoneleigh.

  • Prepare for soaring summer cell counts

    May 5th 2006

    DAIRY farmers across the country may be glad to see the warmer weather but so are the bugs responsible for causing mastitis.

  • Pressure is mounting on Defra to make tallow ban U-turn permanent

    May 5th 2006

    DEFRA Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw is coming under increasing pressure to make last week’s suspension of the ban on burning tallow permanent.

  • Ragwort – ‘a danger to both man and animal’

    May 5th 2006

    In an impassioned plea at the British Horse Society (BHS) Ragwort Awareness Conference, top equine vet Prof Derek Knottenbelt called for the countryside to pull together to eradicate the poisonous weed.

  • Regulation roll out: Quarterly update

    May 5th 2006

    In January we gave you a summary of new regulations and legislation expected to affect arable farms over the next year. Alison Lea updates the calendar.

  • Relaunch of Finest red meat raises Tesco profile

    May 5th 2006

    TESCO, which has been raising its profile in the beef arena recently in staging a conference for farmers and suppliers and promising to bolster its regional producer clubs, has now ‘relaunched’ its extra-matured Finest red meat range

  • Rincon receives a power boost and independent suspension

    May 5th 2006

    HONDA does not quote a power output for its latest version of the Rincon. But engine size has been increased to 675cc which makes it Honda’s largest liquid-cooled single cylinder ATV.

  • Scanner is best new product

    12 May 2006

    EAST Riding Farm Services from Driffield, East Yorkshire, won the Best Overall New Product Award in the pig sector with its Insight Ultrasound Scanner for sows at this year's British Pig and Poultry Fair, Stoneleigh.

  • Sclerotinia on the increase in May

    May 5th 2006

    SCLEROTINIA activity in oilseed rape has increased considerably during the last week and is likely to keep increasing during early May, growers are advised.

  • Simmentals top of 3,100gns at Carlisle

    5 May 2006

    SIMMENTALS sold to 3,100gns at Carlisle, on Friday, at the society’s national spring show and sale. Leading was the February 2005-born son of Blackford Hawk, Astcote Sparrow Hawk. Out of Agardsley Annie 3 he was sold by S. and C. Evans, Astcote, Towcester, Northamptonshire, to R.I. Bell, Aspatria.

  • Solution sought to marts export rule ‘madness’

    May 5th 2006

    DEFRA has promised to review restrictive rules governing live exports that are preventing livestock markets being used as collection points.

  • TROUT FRITTERS

    May 5th 2006

    THIS recipe comes from Chrissie Cullimore of Mill Farm, Kelston, Bath.

  • Two share top award

    May 5th 2006

    THE prestigious Pig Industry Service Award, announced at the British Pig and Poultry Fair, Stoneleigh, went to two producers, both of whom are actively involved in promoting their industry.

  • Waitrose Best Young Farmer Producer Finalist

    May 5th 2006

    Six young farmers made it through to the final stage of the inaugural Farmers Guardian/Waitrose Best Young Farmer Producer award. Over the next six weeks, we will take a look at each business and its aims for the future. LIZ FALKINGHAM visited Cornish finalist Hugh Eddy to hear how his sheep’s milk yoghurts are taking off.

  • Wales goes ahead with pre-move bTB testing

    May 5th 2006

    DESPITE strong opposition , the Welsh Assembly went ahead this week with pre-movement bovine TB testing – with individual farmers picking up the costs.

  • Watch out for exceptionally high protein levels this year

    May 5th 2006

    THIS year’s cold, late spring brings with it a serious issue for dairy farmers – excess protein levels in grazed grass.

  • Well-timed fungicide will control disease

    May 5th 2006

    CONDITIONS have been perfect for cereal disease development but disease will be controllable as long as fungicide applications are properly timed.

  • Western Holsteins to 1,700gns

    5 May 2006

    THE Western Holstein Club April show and sale at Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire, saw an entry of 99 animals forward, including seven bulls

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