Farmers Guardian
May 9th 2008

  • £4m in grants and few barriers to entry in biogas production market

    9 May 2008

    THE treatment of waste and emissions of greenhouse gases and methane continue to be a concern in the agricultural industry. Could biogas be an answer to these problems? Katie Lomas reports.

  • 2,650gns peak at Wharfedale Mart

    May 9th 2008

    PRICES peaked at 2,650gns at a special sale of pedigree breeding cattle at Wharfedale Mart.

  • 2007 flood damage could have been vastly reduced, conclude MPs

    7 May 2008

    THE damage caused by last summer's catastrophic floods would have been dramatically reduced if key authorities had not been oblivious to the risks posed by the extreme rainfall.

  • 35,343 head of cattle through Mercado de Liniers

    May 9th 2008

    MERCADO de Liniers market at Buenos Aires had 35,343 head of cattle (previous week 23,343 head). Trade was firm for clean cattle with steers and yearlings around the same money. Good cows were a firm trade for the domestic market. The Autumn cow cull is well under way and over 5,000 cows in the market each day.

  • 5,800gns Geronimo heads Stratford South Devon trade

    May 9th 2008

    THE Midland South Devon Cattle Breeders Club’s sale at Stratford upon Avon saw a strong entry of high quality bulls, which attracted a record top price for the club.

  • 9,000 farmers still awaiting Single Payments

    6 May 2008

    AROUND 9,000 farmers in England are still awaiting Single Payments worth £190 million, the latest figures from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) show.

  • A clear focus and commitment to what the commercial breeder wants

    May 9th 2008

    AS part of our coverage of the Charolais sale at Carlisle on Saturday May 10th, FG will be filming and following the progress of breeder Arwel Owen.

  • A strong hand

    May 9th 2008

    Depending on your standpoint, the recently published Competition Commission's report on the grocery sector might be described as like the parson's egg.

  • A sustainable future

    May 9th 2008

    BARRY ALSTON takes a look at two ventures that are taking rural sustainability far further than most farming diversification projects.

  • ABC publishes new budget and costs book

    9 May 2008

    RELATIVELY strong markets for combinable crops for this harvest should mean this sector does see a lift in profitability for the current season, says Richard King, editor of the latest edition of the Agro Business Consultants (ABC) agricultural budgeting and costing book just published.

  • Advice on management and cattle nutrition

    May 9th 2008

    LEADING industry experts will be providing advice to farmers on profitable grassland management and cattle nutrition in a series of technical seminars.

  • And the trophy winners are:

    5 May 2008

    For the fourth year running, the Cornwall federation won the The Prince of Wales Perpetual Charity Challenge Trophy for raising the most money per member for charitable causes over the past 12 months.

  • Application optimisation research

    May 9th 2008

    AS the main partner to RASE for the Grassland and Muck Event 2008, Yara will be focusing its attention on optimising the application of fertiliser to grass to maximize returns.

  • Applying N to OSR canopy

    May 9th 2008

    EVIDENCE to support the application of nitrogen to the flowering canopy of oilseed rape has been growing since 2005 and is now producing a convincing financial argument. Yield increases ranging from 3.5 to 46 per cent – with 15 per cent regarded as typical – mean application costs of £50/hectare are producing returns of around £150/ha.

  • Arable 'weeds' adapted to the techniques of farming

    May 9th 2008

    Arable farmers do not usually consider their cropped land as a reservoir of wildlife, even though recognising its importance for a range of birds, small mammals and beneficial insects. But some species have thrived in the past because they were adapted to the techniques of arable farming, and these are arable 'weeds'. FWAG's Elizabeth Ranelagh explains.

  • Argentine farmer' strike may be over

    May 9th 2008

    THE Argentine farmers' strike may be over. Farmers’ groups met with the government on Tuesday and both sides seemed to have reached a tentative agreement in the two-month-old dispute that has placed the beef and corn exports in chaos.

  • ARLA Foods increase investment in Argentina

    May 9th 2008

    ARLA Foods is increasing its investment in Argentina. Last year, the Board of Directors decided to invest $20 million US in the expansion of the factory in Porteña.This will now be increased by an additional $10 million US to finance a new production of ingredients for ice-cream and cheese.

  • Around the marts

    May 9th 2008

    Cockermouth: On the back of a trade where all classes of primestock reached new highs in Cockermouth last week, Friesian bulls sold to one of the highest prices recorded – 127.5p. Prime heifers averaged 166.3p from a top of 184.5p.

  • Assembly acts to end confusion over common land

    May 9th 2008

    THE Welsh Assembly has responded promptly to industry concerns over possible genuine errors being made on Single Application Form submissions due to confusion regarding common land.

  • BASF targeted in GM protest

    6 May 2008

    ACTIVISTS prevented staff entering BASF UK’s headquarters at Cheadle Hulme, near Manchester, this morning (Tuesday, May 6), in a protest at the company’s GM potato trials.

  • BASF targeted in GM protest

    6 May 2008

    ACTIVISTS prevented staff entering BASF UK’s headquarters at Cheadle Hulme, near Manchester, this morning (Tuesday, May 6), in a protest at the company’s GM potato trials.

  • Bazadaise dispersal sees a peak of £2,600

    May 9th 2008

    A top of £2,600 was realised at Newark livestock market when the Wreake Valley herd of pedigree and crossbred Bazadaise cattle from Richard and Julie Chandler, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was dispersed.

  • BE launches training competitions aimed at new eventers

    9 May 2008

    TO help bridge the gap to affiliated eventing, British Eventing is offering eight training classes located around the UK, sponsored by Tri-zone®.

  • Bee investigation stepped up

    May 9th 2008

    WORK investigating bee colony losses by the National Bee Unit (NBU), begun last year, is being given higher priority.

  • Beef finishers still need to drive a hard bargain, says NBA

    May 9th 2008

    ALTHOUGH deadweight cattle prices have topped 260p, finishers still need to try and drive a harder bargain, says the National Beef Association.

  • Beltex shearling ewe wins the top sheep title in 'difficult to judge, excellent' class

    May 9th 2008

    IN spite of fewer entries than usual in the sheep section, the standard remained high, with the inter-breed title going to David Gardiner's outstanding Beltex shearling ewe.

  • Benefits of setting grass chop length to 20mm

    May 9th 2008

    SETTING the forage harvester to chop grass for ensiling to 20mm could have significant benefits for dairy farmers, according to John Twigge of Frank Wright Trouw Nutrition International.

  • Biofuel targets attacked by group of MPs

    7 May 2008

    THE Government must impose an immediate moratorium on biofuel targets in the face of rising food prices, an influential group of MPs have urged.

  • Brand new winter shows announced

    May 9th 2008

    TWO new winter primestock shows have been announced – one in the east and one in the north.

  • British Blues at Skipton

    May 9th 2008

    CHAMPIONSHIP honours at a show and sale of pedigree British Blues at Skipton, North Yorkshire, went to Gareth Hogg, Copgrove, Harrogate.

  • Bromstead Jed Missy wins dairy competition

    May 9th 2008

    QUALITY, but not quantity was the order of the day in the dairy section. However, inter-breed judges William Bunting and Hazel Bickerton, Derbyshire, were impressed with the standard of the cattle before them and chose for their champion, Bromstead Jed Missy.

  • Bro-Waen Erddyn son tops Welsh Black Society sale at 3,400gns

    May 9th 2008

    LEADING the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s sale at Dolgellau was a 24-month-old bull, which realised 3,400gns.

  • Calls for clearer labelling of beef

    6 May 2008

    COUNTY council trading standards departments are being pressed to increase inspections of food outlets to find out if they are selling foreign beef marked as “local”, “Welsh” or “British”.

  • Case IH dealers

    May 9th 2008

    Case IH has appointed three new dealers in Wales as well as Andrew Davies as new sales manager to cover the region.

  • Case study – Cannington cold stores

    9 May 2008

    SOMERSET’S first biogas plant is to be built at Cannington Cold Stores near Bridgwater.

  • Charolais and Simmental both go to 5,000gns at Perth multi-breed sale

    May 9th 2008

    Charolais and Simmental bulls dominated Perth’s multi-breed show and sale this week with both breeds selling to a top of 5,000gns.

  • Charollais pen make the top price of £102 per head

    May 9th 2008

    CHAMPIONS at the May prime lambs show at Skipton, North Yorkshire, were a pen of three 45kg Charollais lambs from Martin Preston, of the Robston Partnership, Bingley, Yorkshire.

  • Confidence is reappearing in agriculture

    9 May 2008

    OPTIMISM is said to be reappearing within the industry, according to the latest economic forecast by Martin Doyle, NatWest and RBS agriculture director in Wales.

  • Co-operation must be a consideration

    May 9th 2008

    TO run a successful dairy business you do not need to be a farmer. It also does not follow that good farmers make good managers of larger organisations.

  • Cost-effective reseeding can bring an extra £275 per year in milk value

    May 9th 2008

    Newly completed financial analyses have shown that reseeding could pay for itself many times over in extra, highly economic milk from grass – helping dairy farms make the most of improved milk prices by minimising supplementary feeding costs.

  • Counting the true cost of poor weed control

    May 9th 2008

    A series of trials have disproved the rule of thumb that 10 per cent weed cover is equal to a 10 per cent grass yield loss, according to Duncan Connabeer of Dow AgroSciences.

  • Crichel Principle sets a world record

    May 9th 2008

    BRITISH bred bull Crichel Principle has entered the international record books by producing more sexed semen than any other bull in the world.At 13 years of age Principal has given 116,000 straws of sexed semen, which Cogent said had been driven both by worldwide demand and his high fertility – he gave semen seven days a week when he was at his prime.

  • Dairy farm profitability in environment harmony

    9 May 2008

    CLIVE Gurney’s picturesque Herefordshire dairy farm was an inspired choice to launch the Milk Road Map. At an event, attended by Food and Farming Minister Lord Rooker, industry representatives and local farmers, Mr Gurney demonstrated how profitable farming can go hand-in-hand with caring for the environment. ALISTAIR DRIVER reports.

  • Dairy industry leadership development conference

    May 9th 2008

    Despite production costs rapidly eating up the stronger milk prices generated by the current tight supply-demand balance, few delegates to the dairy industry leadership development conference could fail to have been enthused and inspired by most of the presentations.

  • Developing trends in wagon market sees steady trade

    May 9th 2008

    Increasing diesel prices are helping self-loading silage wagons increase in popularity. The UK market is currently estimated to be around 80 units per annum with Shaun Groom of market leader Pottinger saying there was a lot of business done early this year but after a slight lull there are now a lot of enquiries again.

  • Digester push for UK farms

    9 May 2008

    FOOD and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has told farmers he is ‘pushing’ his Department to do more to encourage the uptake of anaerobic digestion on UK farms.

  • Engaging with rural Scots

    May 9th 2008

    THE Scottish Alliance has given cautious praise to the Scottish Government for its first 12 months in office.

  • English Sheepdog Trial Results

    May 9th 2008

    TRAWDEN SPRING Open, New Close Farm, Downham, Clitheroe, Lancashire (82 ran): 1, S. Cropper (Deerplay) Black, 78 of 90, OLF; 2, R. Handy (Settle) Jim, 78; 3, Tim Longton (Quernmore) Jake, 77; 4, L. Bone (Holmfirth) Ches, 76; 5, F. Cleary (Tockholes) Dan, 75, OLF; 6, T. Huddleston (Caton) Udale Spring, 75.

  • EU could lift feed ban

    6 May 2008

    BRITISH farmers could save millions on their feed costs if the EU presses ahead with controversial proposals to relax the ban on animal proteins in pig and poultry feed.

  • EU could lift feed ban

    6 May 2008

    BRITISH farmers could save millions on their feed costs if the EU presses ahead with controversial proposals to relax the ban on animal proteins in pig and poultry feed.

  • EU proposals threaten vital wheat fungicides

    May 9th 2008

    THE main group of fungicides used to protect UK and European wheat crops - the triazoles - could be outlawed under plans being proposed by the EU Agriculture Council.

  • Farmers report rise in killer ravens

    6 May 2008

    FARMERS across the country are reporting a huge increase in the number of ravens swooping on livestock and killing newborn lambs and calves.

  • Farmers report rise in killer ravens

    6 May 2008

    FARMERS across the country are reporting a huge increase in the number of ravens swooping on livestock and killing newborn lambs and calves.

  • FG wins award for Fair Trade campaign

    8 May 2008

    FARMERS Guardian celebrated last night (Wednesday, May 7) after winning Editorial Campaign of the Year for its Fair Trade for British Farmers campaign at the PPA (Periodical Publishers Association) awards .

  • Finishers need to drive harder bargain - NBA

    6 May 2008

    ALTHOUGH deadweight cattle prices have topped 260p, finishers still need to try and drive a harder bargain, says the National Beef Association.

  • Finishers need to drive harder bargain - NBA

    6 May 2008

    ALTHOUGH deadweight cattle prices have topped 260p, finishers still need to try and drive a harder bargain says the National Beef Association.

  • Finishers need to drive harder bargain - NBA

    6 May 2008

    ALTHOUGH deadweight cattle prices have topped 260p, finishers still need to try and drive a harder bargain, says the National Beef Association.

  • First peach potato aphids of 2008 are caught

    May 9th 2008

    THE first two peach potato aphids of 2008 were caught in the Rothamsted Insect Survey suction traps last week.

  • Fischer Boel hints at CAP payments status quo

    May 9th 2008

    A move towards area-based Common Agricultural Policy payments has been the front runner on the future of the CAP for some time - but in a major speech this week, European Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel appeared to reject this in favour of the status quo.

  • Food price strategy ‘not good for sustainable farming’

    9 May 2008

    FOOD and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has warned his Government that seeking to keep a lid on food prices in response to its election disaster could be counter-productive.

  • Game cover crops may breach SP rules

    May 9th 2008

    PEOPLE who grow game cover crops for their shoot could innocently be in breach of new regulations governing Single Payments, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has warned.

  • 'Gate to Plate' is targeting better returns in Wales

    May 9th 2008

    BARRY ALSTON reports on a new initiative aiming to help producers help themselves to better livestock returns.

  • Gisburn’s champion heifer leads dairy sale at £2,320

    May 9th 2008

    THE champion heifer made the top price at Gisburn’s May dairy show and sale, Lancashire. Show judge Martin Jennings, Keighley, Yorkshire, bought the title winner, a Campogallo PG Tresor-sired heifer, consigned by Guy Pearson, Skipton, Yorkshire, for £2,320.

  • Good trials see Epure hit market early

    May 9th 2008

    A highly consistent performance from oilseed variety Epure in National and Recommended List trials to date has prompted KWS to bring it to market a year ahead of schedule.

  • Goodyear reach 400 on OE fitment

    May 9th 2008

    Goodyear has announced that its range of agricultural and industrial tyres have been approved by 400 manufacturers as original fitment in the last five years. Amongst these manufacturers are brands such as John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Fendt, Claas, Massey Ferguson, McCormick and Landini. There are several approvals for the 65kh rated Optitrac R+ tyre that is now offered in over nine sizes.

  • Grass crops may become the next biofuels ‘gold rush’, research suggests

    May 9th 2008

    FARMERS who can grow a wide range of biocrops for fuel or energy use already know they could have the makings of a ‘gold mine’ on their land – but now an even better bet could be on the cards.

  • Grass plot demonstrations area

    May 9th 2008

    FOR visitors interested in information on the varieties, sowing and grass responses to different soil treatments, there will be ten grass plot demonstrations.

  • Grazing Monitor: Look for an upturn in grazing quality and quantity

    May 9th 2008

    AFTER a slow start to the grazing season, farmers may soon see an improvement in the prospects from grazed grass.

  • Haltcliffe Braveheart tops trade at 25,000gns at Carlisle Limousin sale

    May 9th 2008

    Overall bull average of £5,048 – up £567 on 2007. HALTCLIFFE breeding was at the fore at the show and sale of Limousin cattle at Borderway Mart at the weekend with Haltcliffe Braveheart topping the sale at 25,000gns.

  • Heavy horse champion at Leicestershire Show

    May 9th 2008

    Heavy horse champion Ballafayle, a two-year-old Shire filly from T.J Yates, Duffield, Derbyshire.Credit: © FARMERS GUARDIAN please contact 01772 799445.

  • Heifer tops Lancaster Holsteins at 2,800gns

    May 9th 2008

    A heifer descended from three generations of EX cows topped the May show and sale of Holsteins at Lancaster.

  • High feed costs worry Korean farmers

    May 9th 2008

    THERE are 184,000 small farmers in South Korea, many feeding 20 to 40 cows for beef fattening.

  • High sugar leys help ice-cream dream come true

    May 9th 2008

    Increasing his returns from milk through a booming ice-cream business has led Leigh Stamper to increasingly concentrate on boosting production. Jennifer MacKenzie finds out how high sugar grasses have played a role.

  • High sugar varieties on show

    May 9th 2008

    NEW varieties of high sugar ryegrass and clover will be on show at the British Seed Houses stand along with other grazing-gap solutions.

  • Highcroft Jackie 7th takes her first inter-breed title after many breed wins

    May 9th 2008

    HIGHCROFT Jackie 7th, a nine-year-old Simmental cow, took the beef inter-breed championship at Leicestershire Show for owners Stuart and Sonia Keen, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

  • Improving ration can boost butterfat

    May 9th 2008

    FARMERS being paid a premium for butterfat should counter the season dip in fat after turnout by improving the fat profile of the ration, according to Alan Reeve of C&H Nutrition.

  • Independent trials of grasses in jeopardy

    May 9th 2008

    With only 60 per cent of grass seed sold in the UK independently tested – due to not all grassland merchants contributing to a voluntary levy to fund trials – exhibitors at the Grassland and Muck 2008 event will be raising farmer awareness of the issue. Simon Wragg found out more.

  • Invest and the future is bright: Steve Ellwood

    May 9th 2008

    ONLY a lack of trust through the supply chain, and insufficient investment, have held back the UK dairy industry from reaching a more prominent and profitable position in the global arena.

  • Ireland and Italy buying Scottish stores

    May 9th 2008

    NFU Scotland says domestic availability of Scotch Beef could become a problem due to increases in the numbers of animals being exported – particularly to Ireland and Italy.

  • Irish manufacturer brings more to self-loading arena

    May 9th 2008

    The choice of self-loading silage wagons looks to increase as Irish manufacturer Malone Engineering enters the market. The firm tested a prototype machine last year with positive results and a further seven pre-production wagons are being put to work this season.

  • Japan finds more contaminated beef from California

    May 9th 2008

    AUTHORITIES in Japan have found a further 700 cartons of beef, from a plant in California contaminated with spinal column tissue.The Department of Agriculture have banned beef from the plant concerned after the beef was discovered in a processing factory. However retail giant Aeon Group and Daiei, have decided to proceed with the promotion of US beef from May.

  • Keeping it flexible pays

    May 9th 2008

    Different enterprises complement each other and, in fluctuating markets, spread the potential business risks. Developing a wide variety of flexible farming enterprises is ensuring there is plenty to look forward to for future generations of the Rook family. ANGELA CALVERT reports.

  • Kendal spring sale

    May 9th 2008

    AN entry of 751 cattle at Kendal Mart’s spring store sale saw a total clearance and a top of £890.Top money was paid for a Limousin heifer from Michael Moorhouse, Cartmel, Cumbria.The championship title went to a Limousin steer from Doug Freeman, Troutbeck, Cumbria, and was bought by the judge, S. Dodd, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria, for £840.Auctioneers: North West Auctions.

  • Krone’s Big X 650 is the ‘boss of its job’

    May 9th 2008

    After his first season’s use with a 653hp Krone Big X 650 model, Cheshire contractor Chris Richardson is pleased with the way his foraging operation is now progressing.

  • Lake District walling competition

    May 9th 2008

    ENTRIES are being invited for the Friends of the Lake District’s walling competition at Elterwater tomorrow, May 10. The annual competition is the first of five across the UK in a national championship to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Dry Stone Walling Association. Details on 01539 720788.

  • Landmark for Joskin tankers

    May 9th 2008

    Joskin has produced its 20,000th slurry tanker and is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The landmark slurry tanker is a Quadra model and is heading to Poland.

  • Landmark off-road decision

    May 9th 2008

    QUADBIKES, 4x4s and motorbikes are to be forbidden from using public paths across Twyford Down, Hampshire, following a landmark court decision, which could have far-reaching implications for the use of off-road vehicles on bridleways and footpaths elsewhere.

  • Leicestershire Show

    9 May 2008

    FG has a full round-up and results from the classes at the Leicestershire Show.

  • Leicestershire Show results

    May 9th 2008

    CATTLE - BEEF

  • Lely sales up

    7 May 2008

    BEDALE based Lely robotic milking systems specialist Tim Gibson has notched up sales of 50 units in five years.

  • Machinery put through its paces

    May 9th 2008

    AROUND 65 hectares of the site at Stoneleigh is dedicated to working plots of land allowing farmers to assess the latest grassland and muck machinery in a working environment.

  • Milk deficit becoming apparent

    9 May 2008

    EVEN with the current spring flush one of the smallest in recent years, it remains sufficient to mask the reality of the country’s growing structural shortage of milk, says Dairy Farmers of Britain.

  • More bluetongue vaccine on the way

    7 May 2008

    DEFRA has issued a tender to supply an extra 13 million doses of bluetongue vaccine to protect the country against the spread of disease.

  • Need exists to train your future leaders

    May 9th 2008

    DFB's scholarship programme was borne out of a perceived need to train young people whose natural abilities could be developed to create the co-op's leaders of future.

  • New Asda the catalyst for a local food deli

    May 9th 2008

    NOT too far away from Carnguwch, the opening of a new Asda store in Pwllheli – despite considerable local opposition – was just the spur brothers Geraint, Eilir and Dafydd Hughes needed to launch their own delicatessen.

  • New distributor named for Schaffer

    May 9th 2008

    Cyril Johnston has been appointed distributor for Schaffer in the UK and Ireland. The Northern Ireland-based firm has been working with Schaffer there for the past two years with the 900T and 930T proving popular.

  • New inclusions for Grainfarmers’ lists

    May 9th 2008

    OILSEED rape Recommended List candidate varieties for 2008/09 DK Cabernet, Dimension and DK Secure have been included in the Grainfarmers offer for next season.

  • New on-farm quick test for foot-and-mouth

    May 9th 2008

    A RAPID on-farm test has been developed to detect the foot-and-mouth disease.

  • New technology breakthrough

    May 9th 2008

    A technological breakthrough that is on the verge of revolutionising the food processing and packaging industries could soon be offering arable farmers science fiction solutions to the control of pests and diseases.

  • New Zealand's PPCS and Alliance Group to merge

    May 9th 2008

    NEW Zealand farmers will force a merger of PPCS and Alliance Group as a starting point for meat industry consolidation, if the two companies can’t stop squabbling.

  • NFU urges RSPCA to support British free-range egg production

    9 May 2008

    BRITISH poultry farmers cannot meet the rapidly growing demand for free-range eggs because of over-strict RSPCA standards on stocking density, industry experts have warned.

  • NIAB launches new herbage varieties performance guide

    May 9th 2008

    A NEW booklet based on NIAB Recommended Lists drawing on independent trials conducted in England and Wales will be launched at Grassland and Muck 2008.

  • Nicolas is the first French winner

    6 May 2008

    Nicolas Touzaint has become the first French rider to win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, in a competition filled with thrills and spills

  • North Somerset Show

    May 9th 2008

    HEADING the beef lines at the North Somerset Show at Wraxall, near Bristol, on Monday, was the Limousin breed champion Quaish Bee from N.R. Hill. Reserve inter-breed was British Blue champion Launcherley Cleopatra from A. Hendy.

  • North Yorks outlet for Valtra

    May 9th 2008

    Valtra has appointed Wilfred Scruton as a new dealer for North Yorkshire. They will cover the area from Whitby in the north to the Humber estuary in the south and as far west as Leeds.

  • One-stop shop at the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre

    May 9th 2008

    Maximising the use of fertiliser and utilising the nutrient value of muck and slurry will be the key focus at the new Manure and Nutrient Management Centre, which will launch at this year’s Grassland and Muck event.

  • Organic farming within Wales on the increase

    May 9th 2008

    THE area of land under organic management in Wales increased 15 per cent in 2007 and now amounts to 90,000 hectares on 800 holdings – 6.3 per cent of the total Welsh agricultural area.

  • Out of the box performance win for Cornwall

    6 May 2008

    WITH a cast of 76 and a grand finale that would give any theatrical show a run for its money, the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs has won this year's national entertainments competition.

  • Performance recording

    May 9th 2008

    THE Beltex Sheep Society has launched a performance recording scheme to provide pedigree and commercial breeders with new information on carcase traits.

  • Plenty riding on New Holland FR9060’s performance for Somerset contractors

    May 9th 2008

    After four seasons with New Holland's 570hp FX60, Somerset contractors Robert and Colin Targett have stepped up to a 578hp FR9060 model for this season, focussing on the potential for longer chop length and greater in-field convenience.

  • Potential exists to re-open abattoir at Bishops Castle

    May 9th 2008

    PLANS to re-open the abattoir at Bishops Castle, on the south Shropshire/Powys border have been boosted with a feasibility study that has identified real potential for the business.

  • Proper contracts will give producers the confidence to invest, says the NFU

    9 May 2008

    THE NFU believes the DairyCo survey results highlight the need for proper contracts in order to give producers the confidence to invest. 

  • Ram performance trial compares New Zealand and UK genetics

    May 9th 2008

    SUFFOLK sheep breeders from across the UK visited a West Wales coastal farm to hear the initial findings from a ram performance trial comparing New Zealand and UK genetics.

  • Range of post hole borers extended

    May 9th 2008

    The Danuser range of post hole borers imported by Opico has been extended with the J20/80. Suitable for tractors between 20hp and 80hp it features a heavier 88mm diameter boom and 75mm diameter yoke to handle the extra lift capacity of the larger tractors.The J20/80 is suitable for augers measuring up to 600mm diameter. The £1,219 machine’s gearbox is covered by a five-year warranty.

  • Record entry of 92 at Erwood as local competitors battle for title

    May 9th 2008

    THE trials at Erwood are usually run on the same day as the Sennybridge Dog Sale, – a popular event bringing many from far afield.

  • Reforms to benefit the consumer, but what of the farmer?

    9 May 2008

    After a two-year investigation, costing the British taxpayer an estimated £2 million, the Competition Commission finally published its report into the grocery sector last week. JACK DAVIES looks at how the report will affect Britain’s farmers.

  • Reliability of yield is 'major factor' in shortlisting OSR

    May 9th 2008

    OILSEED rape growers cannot afford to choose a variety with a high average yield rating that masks a large variation in yield.

  • Rethinking your strategy on silage-making for better returns

    May 9th 2008

    THE English Beef and Lamb Executive (Eblex) will be encouraging farmers to update their grazing pastures and to rethink their silage-making strategy via a number of new initiatives.

  • Royal Show waits for late entries

    May 9th 2008

    THE Royal Show is keeping its cattle, sheep and pig classes open until close of business on Tuesday, May 13, for late entries from exhibitors struggling with the movement restrictions due to bluetongue.

  • Scepticism about the 7350's abilities are soon dispelled

    May 9th 2008

    One of the first users of Deere’s 7050-series self-propelled forage harvesters is Dinckley, Blackburn-based contractor John Brewer. He switched to a pre-production 450hp 7350 model at the start of the 2007 season to replace a seven-year old 6850.

  • Scottish honours for Limousin

    May 9th 2008

    CHAMPIONSHIP honours at the Scottish Limousin Club’s prime cattle show and sale at Lanark went to a Limousin steer from David Dickinson, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

  • See world-class trainer in action

    9 May 2008

    IRISH international show jumper John Ledingham will present The British Horse Society Coaching Convention at Myerscough College in Lancashire on May 15 2008.

  • Sennybridge dogs to 3,200gns

    May 9th 2008

    TOP at the Sennybridge dog sale was 3,200gns for a 16-month-old home-bred bitch from Tom Llewellyn, Ystradfellte. The buyer was D. Williams, Llangadog, Carmarthen.

  • Sheepdog Trials Diary

    May 9th 2008

    ENGLAND: 10 and 11 May. YORKSHIRE Opens with Championship, Little Thorn Edge Farm, Trawden, Colne, Lancashire, 8.30am start, entry closed, if running two dogs, one to be booked in by 11am, caterer, PRA eye testing on Saturday 10.30am to 3pm. CORNWALL, Trethern Opens, Trethern, Delabole, 8am start, entry closed.

  • Shirley Cropper's Black takes first open title at Trawden Spring trial

    May 9th 2008

    TOPPING an entry of 82 dogs, Shirley Cropper's Black took his first open title on Sunday. Overlooked by Pendle Hill, New Close Farm, Downham, near Clitheroe, Lancashire, was the venue for the annual Trawden Spring Open trial.

  • Shropshire YFC raise £10,600

    6 May 2008

    SHROPSHIRE YFC had plenty to celebrate last weekend after completing a sponsored cycle and raising £10,600.

  • Sir Don Curry opens new NFSCo offices

    7 May 2008

    SIR Don Curry has officially opened the new National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) offices at quota broker Ian Potter Associates in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

  • Speed of approvals under the spotlight

    May 9th 2008

    EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel’s call for a shift away from the zero tolerance position on non-food GMOs so European meat production can remain competitive has been warmly welcomed by CLA Wales, which in turn has come attack from the GM Free Cymru pressure group.

  • Staffordshire member takes top award

    6 May 2008

    ALONG with all the socialising and partying of the weekend, there were a number of important and prestigious trophies also being awarded during the annual general meeting held on Sunday morning.

  • Stars in their Eyes finalists impress crowd and judges

    4 May 2008

    THE absence of her on-stage partner didn’t stop fifteen-year-old Libby Hancock from delivering a winning performance in the Stars in their Eyes competition final.

  • Stewardship rules are not set in stone

    May 9th 2008

    Tackling grassland weed infestations on land in environmental stewardship was the focus of a FWAG event in Cumbria. Producers were offered a number of practical tips, while the list of permissible herbicides also came under the spotlight.

  • Still not impressed with Brazil

    May 9th 2008

    DESPITE attempts by the Brazilian authorities to show them showpiece farms and abattoirs, a delegation from the European Parliament’s agriculture committee remained unimpressed with standards in its beef industry.

  • Stock can be followed down the production chain with new recruit

    May 9th 2008

    THE latest unit to sign up as a Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Monitor Farm is a first for the project in that it is linked to a finishing unit, allowing stock to be followed all the way down the production chain.

  • Streamlining of research

    May 9th 2008

    MORE than 500 scientists have joined forces to ‘streamline’ research on animal diseases and their implications for human health.

  • Strict policy continues after EU debate on GM

    May 9th 2008

    EUROPE will further delay decisions on the introduction of GM crops into the EU after a heated debate between European Commissioners on Wednesday ended in disappointment for the pro-GM lobby.

  • Strong store cattle trade at Thainstone

    May 9th 2008

    THE champion at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ latest show and sale of store cattle was a May 2007-born Limousin steer from Murray Rainnie, Loanhead, Logie Coldstone.Weighing in at 468kg it sold to the judge, Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud, for £800.Taking the reserve title was a 412kg March 2007-born Limousin heifer from Leys Farm, Leys Castle, Inverness. It was also bought by judge Mr Scott for £700.

  • Stuffed gammon steaks

    May 9th 2008

    THIS recipe for stuffed gammon steaks has been submitted by Mrs Rhiannon Evans, Prws-Nant, Llandrillo, Corwen, Denbighshire, who says it serves four people.

  • Survey shows growth in organic farming in Wales

    6 May 2008

    THE area of land under organic management in Wales increased by 15 per cent in 2007 and now amounts to 90,000 hectares on 800 holdings - 6.3 per cent of the total Welsh agricultural area.

  • The announcement of a badger cull could be Hilary Benn's final act at Defra

    May 9th 2008

    HILARY Benn's days as Defra Secretary could be numbered, but he is on course to announce his decision on badger culling within the next month, according to industry sources.

  • Thinner bale wrap cuts waste and costs without compromise

    May 9th 2008

    Volac is hoping that by reducing the amount of plastic waste from wrapped bales farmers will be tempted to use its new product Topwrap 2000.

  • Three per cent increase in subs levy

    5 May 2008

    SUBSCRIPTION fees will be increased by three per cent to help overcome the recent loss of government funding, after members voted unanimously at the 76th annual meeting of the National Federation of Young Farmers.

  • Top of 25,000gns for Limousins at Carlisle

    6 May 2008

    BIDDING peaked at 25,000gns at the spring show and sale at Carlisle on Saturday (May 3).

  • Track Guide launched

    May 9th 2008

    An easy to use GPS guidance system called the Track Guide is now available from David King Electronics. This in-cab colour terminal can easily be moved from machine to machine once the receiver is fitted.

  • Tractor sales up 11pc on last year

    May 9th 2008

    The latest figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association show that 5,578 tractors over 50hp have been registered in the first four months of 2008. This is an 11.4 per cent increase on same period the previous year.Registrations for April totalled 2,116 units which is 28.6 per cent more than in 2007.

  • Trailed forager helps in managing the clamp – the key to quality silage

    May 9th 2008

    Making silage is not just about high volume, self-propelled forage harvesters – there is, it seems, still a useful income to be derived from operating trailed foragers. Andy Collings discovers more.

  • Twin-engined Jaguar offers a degree of flexibility on the job

    May 9th 2008

    Those looking to buy a new self-propelled forager now have plenty to choose from, as virtually all manufacturers have introduced new machines during the past 18 months. Geoff Ashcroft talks to contractors about their choice.

  • UK milk production 'on the fence'

    7 May 2008

    DESPITE an apparently more positive outlook on the future among British dairy farmers with fewer planning to quit and more looking at expansion, total milk volume will still fall.

  • UK milk production 'on the fence'

    7 May 2008

    DESPITE an apparently more positive outlook on the future among British dairy farmers with fewer planning to quit and more looking at expansion, total milk volume will still fall.

  • UK needs dairy cattle genetics suited to country’s requirements in the future

    May 9th 2008

    UK dairy farmers are once again at the forefront for genetics in milk production, but there are some traits on which we have done a 'pretty poor job'.

  • Urgent warning to be on the lookout for nematodirosis

    May 9th 2008

    THE Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has issued an urgent warning for farmers to be on their guard again nematodirosis now the weather is warming up.

  • US Department of Agriculture believes global beef will increase 1 per cent

    9 May 2008

    WORLD beef production will increase by more than half a million tonnes or one per cent this year says the United States Department of Agriculture (LMC).

  • Use the YFC organisation to 'make your voices heard'

    6 May 2008

    Get stuck in, speak up, embrace the opportunity to influence agricultural policy and use the organisation of Young Farmers’ to make your voices heard.

  • Utilising a four-cut silage system

    May 9th 2008

    Close attention to grass growth, sensible grazing and a four-cut silage system are the main issues involved in Stuart Yarwood’s grassland management policy. KATIE LOMAS went to meet him. PICTURES: Marcello GARBAGNOLLI

  • Vision is a key attribute for a business manager

    May 9th 2008

    DO not try to be a hero outside the boardroom and a loyal member within it, warned Irish dairy farmer and Kerry Group Advisory Board member Pat Minogue.

  • Volatile prices will remain but always moving upwards

    May 9th 2008

    DON'T underestimate the power of a co-operative, said Dairy Farmers of America's Jay Waldvogel.

  • Warning over relying too much on grass

    May 9th 2008

    WHILE many dairy farmers are glad to be able to turn out cows and reduce their reliance on expensive bought-in feed, Duke’s and Botley has warned against ‘over reliance’ on grass for milk production.

  • Warning over upland farms

    May 9th 2008

    CHANGES to farming support mechanisms could make it ‘economically unviable’ to keep livestock in the uplands, which in turn would threaten landscapes and environments, the Country Land and Business Association has warned.

  • Weighing up the guilt behind global warming

    May 9th 2008

    VIEWPOINT: By Liz Walker

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trial Results

    May 9th 2008

    ERWOOD Open National; Session 1: 1, K. Evans (Libanus) Spot lost 10 points; 2, R. Millichap (Port Talbot) Jen, 11; 3, R Millichap, Tweed, 15; 4, Kevin Evans, Bob,16; 5, P. Tomkins (Llandrindod Wells) Arnie, 17; 6, R.B. Pugh (Nantmel) Rock, 19. Novice National: 1, R. Millichap, Tweed, 15; 2, K. Evans, Bob, 16; 3. R.B. Pugh, Rock, 19. Open National, Session 2: 1, M. Bufton (Sarn) Nan, 16; 2, A. Price (Doldowlod) Lyn 18; 3, M. Bufton, Judy, 19; 4, C. Roberts (Llanwyddyn) ...

  • Wessex Grain delivers

    6 May 2008

    SOMERSET-based grain trader Wessex Grain made a profit of just under £100,000 in 2007.

  • Western Australia receives best April rainfall in 116 years

    May 9th 2008

    WESTERN Australia has had its best April rain in 116 years. The wheat-belt has finished all the planting for the new season.

  • What should I ask my agronomist?

    May 9th 2008

    It’s now or never for OSR fungicides

  • Winter cereals behind

    May 9th 2008

    WINTER cereals are seven to 10 days behind normal as a result of the cold weather during April, says ADAS.

  • YFC AGM 2008 - Entertainment gallery

    6 May 2008

    SEE all our pictures from this year's event.

  • YFC AGM 2008 - Out and about gallery

    6 May 2008

  • YFC AGM 2008 - Out and about gallery - Part 2

    6 May 2008

  • Young Farmers 2008 AGM

    4 May 2008

    YFC MEMBERS from across England and Wales descended onto Blackpool on Friday (May 2) to mark the beginning of this year's National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs annual meeting.

  • Young the top choice for Care Quality Commission

    May 9th 2008

    BARBARA Young is poised to leave the Environment Agency.

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