Farmers Guardian
November 10th 2006

  • ‘Dairy Evening’ sees £2,573 high

    November 10th 2006

    PRICES reached £2,573 at the annual dairy evening at Holsworthy market, Devon.

  • ‘Distortion’ of GM issue

    November 10th 2006

    THE NFU has been accused of distorting the views of organic farmers in its response to Defra’s consultation on GM co-existence, the growing of GM crops next to non-GM crops.

  • ‘Remarkable turnaround’ in fortunes

    November 10th 2006

    BRITISH farming is set to continue its recovery, according to the NFU’s quarterly Farming Outlook report.

  • £1,680 top price for organic dairy cattle

    November 10th 2006

    A TOP price of £1,680 was achieved when 46 organic dairy cattle went under the hammer at Carmarthen livestock centre.

  • £1,950 – Rock on Tomatin

    November 10th 2006

    TOP price at Tomatin Sheepdog Association dog sale at Lairgandour Farm, Daviot, Inverness was £1,950 for Chris Robertson’s two-year-old Rock (273761) from Shetland, paid by Messrs Fowlie, Guise, Alford.Eighteen-month-old Cap (T. Lambe’s Craig, G. Dey’s Meg) made £1,800 for George Dey, Bridge of Don, paid by Angus Nicholson, Isle of Skye. Fifteen dogs sold to an average of £1,108. Five pups averaged £402.

  • 1,200gns at Meare Court herd dispersal sale

    November 10th 2006

    PRICES rose to 1,200gns at the dispersal sale of the Meare Court herd of Holsteins, the property of the Bray family, Wrantage, Taunton.

  • 500 lots on offer at farm dispersal sale on the Hurley Estate

    November 10th 2006

    MORE than 500 machinery lots were offered at the farm dispersal sale held at Hursley Estate, Winchester, Hampshire, and the auctioneers, Bays Curry McGowen, reported a strong trade.

  • A milestone was reached in Cornwall this week

    9 November 2006

    The 212-acre Goviley Farm at Tregony became the 500th farm in the county to be connected to broadband.

  • A vet who fought many battles

    November 10th 2006

    ONE of the biggest mistakes in agriculture in recent years was the decision to cut back on testing for TB in cattle.

  • Agriculture remains a dangerous industry

    November 10th 2006

    Highest rate of reportable non-fatal injuries at 2,020 per 100,000 workers

  • Allison’s journey into the organic

    November 10th 2006

    THE experiences of a farming family converting from conventional to organic farming were related by farmer Allison Tyrell, guest speaker at the Glamorgan Federation of Women’s Institutes’ autumn council meeting.

  • Alpacas – an alternative breedstock

    November 10th 2006

    THE fox hunting season got off to a flying start at the weekend, but owners of sheep or poultry might be better advised to get hold of a couple of alpacas to deal with Reynard, suggested top breeder Bill Potts.

  • Alternative option for ‘post-em’ tank mix

    November 10th 2006

    GROWERS whose planned pre-emergence Liberator (diflufenican+flufenacet) applications were delayed by unfavourable weather, could consider an alternative role for the herbicide as a residual partner for Atlantis (iodosulfuron+mesosulfuron) at post-emergence, says Bayer CropScience. 

  • An end to mixed beef on shelves gets MPs backing

    November 10th 2006

    MPs have backed calls for an end to supermarket shelves having a mixture of beef from different countries of origin.Almost one hundred MPs representing all the major political parties, have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM), backing the physical separation of meat from different countries of origin in supermarkets.The NBA say consumers are mistakenly buying meat from other countries because of the lack of a clearly defined separation.

  • Annual vets roadshow underway

    November 10th 2006

    MOREDUN vets and scientists have embarked on their annual roadshow of animal health meetings around the country. The roadshow, which will run between until November 23, has already visited Scotland and is also due to visit Ashford, Kent, the Duchy College, Cornwall, Leominster, Carmarthen, Newtown, Kirkby Lonsdale and Harrogate.Details on Moredun’s website www.moredun.org.uk/events or from Margaret Bennett on 0131 445 5111.

  • Assessing progress

    November 10th 2006

    SIR Don Curry, chairman of the group implementing the Government’s Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, visited the North West to assess progress of delivery of the strategy in the region.

  • Avondale is top

    November 10th 2006

    FIFTEEN teams from West Region did battle for a place in next year’s Scottish Young Farmers’ national five-a-side football finals.

  • Award-winning research proves mirrors reduce travel stress

    10 November 2006

    A study proving that giving horses a mirror reduces stress during travel has won the Royal Agricultural Society of England's 'Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award'.

  • Banker warns that UK farming could miss out on biofuel boom

    November 10th 2006

    THERE was no doubt biofuels would be part of the future, but would all farmers, asked Martin Redfearn, national agricultural specialist with Barclays, which co-sponsored the conference.

  • Bed cultivator that works at higher rates – on less power

    November 10th 2006

    STANDEN Engineering has designed and developed a new bed cultivator which, it claims, is able to work at higher rates than other machines and requires less power to operate.

  • Best environmental practice earns a Green Apple Award

    November 10th 2006

    SOMERSET farmer Philip Ghazala and his family are celebrating winning a prestigious Green Apple Award for environmental best practice.

  • British beef exports get royal seal of approval

    November 10th 2006

    BRITISH beef got a Royal backing this week as Prince Charles hosted a dinner to promote the recently re-opened beef export market.

  • British farmers set to miss out under reforms

    November 10th 2006

    BRITISH farmers are set to lose out on an EU initiative to reform the fruit and vegetable regime. 

  • Brown Swiss and Holstein pure breeds ‘a sound mix’

    November 10th 2006

    Pedigree Holstein breeders turned Brown Swiss enthusiasts and organic farmers turned conventional; brothers Jack and Barclay Taylor are no ordinary dairymen. JOANNE PUGH went to find out about the many changes the two have made to their business.

  • Buoyant trade for lambs this autumn

    November 10th 2006

    BOTH finished and store lambs are meeting a generally buoyant trade this autumn.

  • Carmarthenshire Nursery’s close call

    November 10th 2006

    ON Saturday and Sunday the weather was at its most glorious autumnal best: fine and warm by day, but frosty at night. It was in such conditions that competitors from Carmarthenshire gathered at Merlin Court, Llangadog where Glyn Jones set out a course on a flat field. The outrun was around 220 yards, the first drive was to the left and there was a shed before penning.

  • Chancellor urged to give tax breaks to biofuel industry

    November 10th 2006

    CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has been urged to give incentives to the biofuel industry by a cross-industry group made up of Saab, Morrisons, Ford and the NFU.

  • Charolais to 8,400gns at Dungannon

    November 10th 2006

    BULLS peaked at 8,400gns and females at 8,000gns at Northern Ireland Charolais club’s autumn show and sale at Dungannon.

  • Collection success for lamb plant

    November 10th 2006

    MORE than 20,000 lambs have already been procured for a Gaerwen, Anglesey, abattoir and processor through a new collection centre near Welshpool which opened just eight weeks ago.

  • Coloured Dairy Breeds show and sale

    November 10th 2006

    BIDDING peaked at 3,400gns at the Farmers Guardian sponsored Coloured Dairy Breeds show and sale at Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire.

  • Compacting plastic bag waste to make cost savings

    10 November 2006

    THE new Bag Boxer from Techneat Engineering will enable farmers to reduce the volume of plastic fertiliser and seed bags by a factor of up to 10:1 and significantly cut the cost of transport and storage, says the company.

  • Complex system to blame for chaos – Rooker

    November 10th 2006

    FOOD and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has admitted that the complex system put in place by his predecessors was largely to blame for the Single Payment chaos.

  • Cow welfare’ a big influence on profits’

    November 10th 2006

    ON an average-sized dairy farm, lameness was costing an average of £7,200 a year – 0.6p/litre, though in really bad cases this could escalate to 1.2p/litre.

  • Dairy Crest moves into France with St Hubert purchase

    9 November 2006

    DAIRY Crest has moved into the French market by purchasing Saint Hubert French and Italian spreads from Uniq for £248m.

  • Dartmoor Pony Rescue Centre – One Year On

    7 November 2006

    THE Dartmoor Pony Rescue Centre (DPRC) was established in September 2005 and took on its first four ponies - which were left unsold at the pony sales - in October 2005. One year on the charity is celebrating several successes and looking to the future.

  • Defra staff get more than £4m in bonuses

    November 10th 2006

    A CATALOGUE of failures with this year’s Single Payment Scheme did not stop staff at Defra receiving more than £4 million in bonuses in the 2005/6 financial year.

  • Digesting waste and biomass to produce a biofuel

    November 10th 2006

    METHANE is a greenhouse gas 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide – and agriculture was responsible for 17 per cent of the UK’s emissions.

  • Don’t waste money on inefficient converters

    November 10th 2006

    REGULAR weighing of finishing cattle is essential to identify slow growers so that they can be marketed as soon as possible.

  • English Sheepdog Trials Results

    November 10th 2006

    HAYFIELD, The Grouse, Glossop, (55 ran) Nursery: 1, D. Whitehead (Edgworth) Ted, 75 of 90; 2, L. Bone (Holmfirth) Ches, 73; 3, R. Hodgkinson (Chinley) Kim, 70; 4, C. Storey (Delph) Lark, 70; 5, A. Von Dinther (Whitchurch) Monty, 69; 6, S. Wilkinson (Thurgoland) Snow, 68; Nursery championship (3): 1, J. Bell (Howden) Jill, 80 of 100; 2, D. Whitehead Ted, 71; 3, G. Dermody Mott, 70. Nursery aggregate: G. Dermody Mott.

  • EU wants a disease prevention strategy

    November 10th 2006

    THE European Commission wants a new animal health strategy based on preventing disease, but the issue of farmers meeting part of the cost has moved back up the political agenda. 

  • Event aims to show the very best of British livestock

    November 10th 2006

    THE 2006 National Primestock Show and Sale marks another milestone in the event’s history with the reintroduction of live pig classes after an absence of almost 20 years.

  • Family combining tradition with new innovative ventures

    November 10th 2006

    The agricultural industry has changed dramatically in recent years, creating a need for farmers to do the same. One Somerset farming family’s ability to move with the times was instrumental in their winning the inaugural Farming Family of the Year Award, sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers.

  • Farm borrowing is still increasing

    November 10th 2006

    TOTAL borrowing in the UK agricultural industry has climbed by a further £379 million in the past 12 months – and it could go higher.

  • FCBs growing

    November 10th 2006

    FARMER controlled businesses (FCBs) in England now have a turnover equivalent to almost half the output of English agriculture, says the English Farming & Food Partnerships (EFFP).

  • Fewer problems for Welsh farms?

    November 10th 2006

    WELSH farmers will face fewer repercussions than their English and Scottish counterparts over the continuing delay to rural development plans, according to NFU Cymru.

  • FG competition winner

    14 November 2006

    THE lucky winner of the Bates Innova Dressage saddle in the Farmers Guardian competition was Sue Brommel, from Leire, Leicestershire (pictured).

  • Five dogs from same litter are North Wales qualifiers

    November 10th 2006

    FIVE dogs out of the same litter are through to the North Wales Nursery final – and after just two heats of this year’s seven qualifying nursery trials in North Wales.

  • Flowers and plants

    November 10th 2006

    BEDDING and pot plant grower, Lionel Mills, has been re-appointed as the vice-chairman of the flowers and plants committee COPA/COGECA, the European farmers’ and growers’ organisation. Mr Mills, who is based in Kent, will represent the NFU and its grower members for a further two years.

  • Galloway’s 1,500gns high for pedigree heifer at annual show

    November 10th 2006

    PRICES peaked at 1,500gns at the annual autumn show and sale of Galloway cattle held at Carlisle.

  • Garden health can be recycled

    November 10th 2006

    USED tea bags, banana skins and the contents of your vacuum cleaner can all help your garden grow healthily, Steve Brookes told 300 members of the Worcestershire Federation of Women’s Institutes at their autumn council meeting.

  • Gradings outdated from day one

    November 10th 2006

    CONFORMATION in sheep bore little relation to usable meat yield with the EUROP conformation grading system out of date from the day it was launched, said SAC sheep specialist John Vipond.

  • Growth in potato production drives move to the three-row

    November 10th 2006

    ACCORDING to Standen Engineering’s marketing director, Alex Mathias, the scale of potato growing in the UK has expanded in recent years to the point that on many farms a two-row trailed harvester no longer has sufficient capacity to cope.

  • Guide aims to combat the fly-tipping problem

    November 10th 2006

    A GUIDE to help landowners and farmers prevent illegal fly-tipping on their land has been published by the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group.

  • Handbook provides latest updates on field scale spraying

    November 10th 2006

    THE BCPC (British Crop Production Council) has revised and fully updated its sprayer operator books.

  • Helen Cole named BHS Young Instructor of the Year

    7 November 2006

    EIGHT enthusiastic finalists representing different regions of the country competed in the BHS Young Instructor of the Year final, sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers, which took place at Warwickshire College on Thursday October26.

  • Herbicides e-training pack

    7 November 2006

  • Industry ‘optimism’

    November 10th 2006

    A DEGREE of optimism was, according to Carwyn Jones, being detected right across the industry.

  • Installation of the FG prize was just in time

    November 10th 2006

    THE two winners of the Farmers Guardian summer mastitis control competition – run in association with Cepravin Dry Cow from Schering-Plough Animal Health – are Trevor Johnson from Twist Farm, Membury, near Axminster, Devon and Ian Scarisbrick from Valley Farm, Goostrey, Cheshire.

  • Isle of Mull mill produces Britain’s first organic tweed

    November 10th 2006

    BRITAIN’S first organic tweed is in production at a farm on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland.

  • It’s time to talk up how good farming really is

    November 10th 2006

    NFU president Peter Kendall told delegates he did not want sympathy for farming – he wanted a vibrant and proud industry.

  • Jill and Bill provide skills and thrills on Glossop hills

    November 10th 2006

    ON the breezy hilltops above Glossop, Derbyshire, the Hayfield Society held it’s third and final trial this season on Sunday where John Bell and Jill took the nursery championship and Gus Dermody won the novice championship with Bill.

  • Junior heifer heads the dairy bidding

    November 10th 2006

    THE DAIRY Shorthorn section was topped by a 2,500gns bid for a junior heifer, Marleycote Peggy 10, from G.G. Baynes and Son, Hexham, Northumberland.

  • Kendall frustrated in his bid to join Entry Level scheme

    November 10th 2006

    ONE farmer directly affected by the RDP delay is NFU president Peter Kendall. His attempts to join Entry Level Stewardship have been frustrated by mapping problems but he was finally expecting to begin an agreement early next year.

  • Large entry for Scottish Winter Fair

    November 10th 2006

    THERE have been large entries of sheep and cattle for this year’s Scottish Winter Fair, with numbers being well up on the year in all sections.

  • Lila in Holstein high of 24,200gns at Gargrave

    November 10th 2006

    THE global interest in leading Holstein genetics was demonstrated at the dispersal sale of the Acecroft herd, the property of Mark Falshaw, held on farm at Gargrave, Skipton, where a top of 24,200gns was realised.

  • Lincolnshire’s new organiser

    November 10th 2006

    ANGELA Bruntlett, a former member of Wragby YFC, is the new county organiser of the Lincolnshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. Most recently, Angela, married to former Wragby chairman, Ian Bruntlett, was customer service manager for Tesco, based in Skegness.

  • Live pigs make a welcome return to the winter show scene

    November 10th 2006

    ORGANISERS hope the re-introduction of live pig classes to the National Primestock Show and Sale, after a break of almost 20 years, will help rejuvenate the link between breeders and retailers.

  • Luminous pigs and silky goats on Channel 4 Farm

    November 10th 2006

    CHANNEL 4 is to feature a range of genetically modified animals in a new programme on the potential future of biotechnology in farming.

  • Making an attractive site to lure in big events

    November 10th 2006

    Forget the Olympics – the redevelopment project everyone is talking about in the South West is the one proposed for the Bath and West of England Showground in Somerset. DAVID BURROWS examines the ‘masterplan’ and its benefits for farmers and the region’s rural economy.

  • MIGRANT WORKERS

    November 10th 2006

    More than one in three agricultural workers are now estimated to be migrants. It is almost impossible to imagine how the sector could function without them picking and packing the fruit and vegetables, wrapping the silage or milking the cows. But what’s it like working on our farms and do farmers now prefer them to English workers? TOM LEVITT visited two farms to find out more.

  • Minister concerned over abattoir rules

    November 10th 2006

    UK Food and Farming Minister, Lord Rooker, was said this week to share Welsh farmers’ concerns over effects of new abattoir rules on small businesses and traditional cattle breeds.

  • Myerscough Equine Scientific Symposium 2007

    7 November 2006

    In February 2007 Myerscough College will be hosting its biggest ever annual Equine Scientific Symposium featuring leading guest speakers from the world of equine science.

  • Natural England’s ‘Breathing Places’ health campaign

    November 10th 2006

    NATURAL England launched its health campaign, ‘Breathing Places’ in the East of England this week – the first of four national campaigns to reconnect people with the natural environment.

  • New parlour only part of facelift at revitalised college

    November 10th 2006

    BARRY ALSTON looks at the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s dwindling number of agricultural colleges.

  • NFU Cymru conference

    November 10th 2006

    No joy for ‘drop cuts’ protesters

  • NFU EASTERN REGION CONFERENCE

    November 10th 2006

    New chief at the RPA should make for ‘more stable 2007’

  • Nuffield Conference

    November 10th 2006

    Throwing down the gauntlet to meet demands of the consumer

  • OP research delays were ‘unforgivable’ says Rooker

    November 10th 2006

    FARMING and Food Minister Lord Rooker has admitted that delays in a crucial piece of research on the potentially damaging effects on health of organophosphates was ‘unforgivable’.

  • Organic niche future

    November 10th 2006

    THE future of agriculture in the UK would be in ‘organic niche farming’, while GM crops were ‘unlikely to thrive’ in the UK, claimed Tony Blair.

  • Packed house for first BETA Conference

    7 November 2006

    Professionalism for profitability was a recurring theme of the inaugural British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Conference.Leading figures from across the equestrian industry packed a Harrogate venue on October 30 to hear a series of speakers and browse among information stands.

  • Payments promise ‘too little, too late’

    November 10th 2006

    SINGLE Payments will not start in England until mid-February and even then the vast majority of farmers will receive only a 50 per cent part payment.

  • Pearl purchase

    November 10th 2006

    A TOP of 1,450gns was achieved at the reduction sale of Messrs Thomas’s Gwynnog Holstein herd, Tyreglwys, Llanelli.Top call was for a Weeton Jackson daughter – Pearl Red 91, going to Elwyn and Cheryl Thomas, Pontantwn, Kidwelly.Averages: calved heifers £1,104.20; calved cows £722.33; maiden heifers £468.20.Auctioneers: Bob Jones-Prytherch and Co.

  • Plenty of challenges remain

    November 10th 2006

    AFTER a difficult 10 years the prospects for the crop sector were much improved but it also had to be remembered farmers ‘cannot be green if in the red’, said SAC crop specialist Keith Dawson.

  • PLUM STREUSAL

    November 10th 2006

    Carol Leigh of Lowton, Warrington, Cheshire, has sent this recipe. It can be served hot or cold with custard, cream or ice-cream, she says.

  • Politicians point finger for fiasco

    November 10th 2006

    WHILE farmers are left to bear the brunt of the latest rural funding fiasco, politicians were busy blaming each other.

  • Primestock show preview

    November 10th 2006

    The 2006 National Primestock Show and Sale will be held at the Staffordshire County Showground on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19. Media partner Farmers Guardian looks at this year’s big attractions.

  • Prince’s letter

    November 10th 2006

    A LETTER of support for farmers in Wales was sent to conference from Prince Charles expressing his concerns for milk producers.

  • Principality focuses on youth

    November 10th 2006

    MEMBERS of rural organisations across Europe joined Wales YFC when the federation hosted the Rural Youth Europe autumn seminar in Cardiff.

  • Putting the record straight

    November 10th 2006

    ONE of the top prices of 1,850gns at the Lancashire Holstein Club’s sale was achieved by Whitecarr Jackson Christine – a Weeton Jackson daughter from Tom Cowell’s Whitecarr herd and not Whitecarr Jordan Flow as stated in last week’s report.

  • Reaping the benefits of changing to a VMS

    November 10th 2006

    THE number of voluntary milking systems (VMS) worldwide would rise from 6,000 units to over a million by 2010. But if the current level of adoption in the UK continued, only a tiny percentage of those would be in this country.

  • RED LADIES DERBY, CARLISLE

    November 10th 2006

    Red Ladies Derby peaks at an 8,000gns high point

  • RSPCA ‘admits guilt’ over badger culling claim, says FUW

    November 10th 2006

    THE RSPCA’s failure to appeal against a ruling that their newspaper campaign against badger culling contained misleading information, has been labelled an ‘admission of guilt’.

  • RURAL development plans standstill

    November 10th 2006

    THE battle raging in Brussels over the UK’s plans to levy 20 per cent voluntary modulation rates has brought UK rural development plans to a standstill. FARMERS GUARDIAN looks at the implications.

  • SAC’s services conference

    November 10th 2006

    Developing countries hit by falling barriers

  • Salers peak at 4,000gns

    November 10th 2006

    BIDDING peaked at 4,000gns at the Farmers Guardian-sponsored annual show and sale of Saler cattle held at Castle Douglas. Cattle were in great demand and averages were up on last year’s figures.

  • Scotland’s 13,000 hill farmers face a lengthy wait for their cheques

    November 10th 2006

    SCOTLAND’S 13,000 hill farmers and crofters, who would normally expect to receive collectively around £61 million under the Less Favoured Areas Scheme (LFASS) next March and April, will have to wait until late autumn before the cheques are lodged in bank accounts.

  • Scottish Sheepdog Trials Results

    November 10th 2006

    PRIMESIDEMILL (Judge: P. Turnbull, Debdon) Nursery (12 ran): 1, J. Allan (Mountbenger) Tweedhope Trim, 90; 2, A. Dickman (Oxton) Jim, 74; 3, D. Armstrong (Lauder) Cap, 73; 4, W.S. Elliot (Halterburn) Joe, 68; 5, J. Robinson (Coldingham) Kim, 58; 6, D. Gilchrist (Oxton) Dan, 55 outbye. Novice: 1, A. Lyon (Yetholm) Gael, 73; 2, E. Foster (Earlston) Jen, 41.

  • Scottish Young Farmers East Regional seven-a-side hockey competition

    November 10th 2006

    EAST FIFE took first place in Scottish Young Farmers East Regional seven-a-side hockey competition. Held at Dunfermline Sports Academy, Dunfermline, nine teams did battle for a place in the national final in Galashields on November 19. Bell Baxter was the runner-up with Brechin third. The other East Region teams through to the final are Peeblesshire and Strathearn.

  • Season length prompts review of beet fertiliser

    November 10th 2006

    FERTILISER use in sugar beet needs to be reviewed in the light of potentially longer growing seasons and the need to improve leaf quality.

  • Shorthorn Society show and sale

    November 10th 2006

    A top beef price of 2,300gns was realised at the Shorthorn Society show and sale at Chelford. A total of 216 animals, both dairy and beef, were sold making it the largest sale of Shorthorn cattle seen for some years. KATIE LOMAS reports on the Farmers Guardian-sponsored event.

  • Speakers reveal eclectic mix of tales

    November 10th 2006

    SCAMS, chemicals and health were on the agenda when 280 members of North Yorkshire East Federation of Women’s Institutes gathered at Easingwold School for their autumn council meeting. Len Swift, of North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards gave an insight into mail and internet scams; Richard Corbett MEP discussed chemicals and health; and Barbara Harpham, director of Heart Research UK, spoke about the charity’s work, including its appeal which transforms unwanted jewellery ...

  • Spirited challenge

    November 10th 2006

    TWELVE months ago NFU Cymru president, Dai Davies, challenged Assembly Countryside Minister, Carwyn Jones, as to whether he had the ‘bottle’ to tackle the root cause of bovine TB.

  • Standing still isn’t a Scottish option

    November 10th 2006

    THE farming industry in Scotland had been well served by a whole range of co-operatives owned largely by producers and processors for many years.

  • Sticker can make motorists aware

    November 10th 2006

    NFU Scotland is to provide farmers with a means by which they can apologise to motorists for any delays caused by slow farm vehicles on public roads, in the hope that motorists themselves can gain a greater understanding of what farming delivers.

  • Strategy plan to conserve the UK’s animal genetics

    November 10th 2006

    THE genetic material of the UK’s farm animals is to be conserved under a genetic strategy plan.

  • Suffolk shearlings realise 1,300gns

    November 10th 2006

    SHEARLING ewes sold to a top of 1,300gns at the Bentley production sale of 81 Suffolk sheep, the property of T.C. and C.A. Harding, held on farm at Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

  • Supermarkets ‘aren’t necessarily ogres’

    November 10th 2006

    SUPERMARKETS were not necessarily the ogres they were always painted, suggested Philip Richardson this year’s winner of the David Black Award – a top accolade in the pig industry.

  • Tackling TB

    November 10th 2006

    TACKLING the bovine TB issue, Carwyn Jones said he had made it clear many times before that if there was sufficient evidence to justify a particular course of action, he would take it.

  • The Australian ‘big dry’ could lift global dairy prices

    November 10th 2006

    GLOBAL dairy prices could be in for another boost as a result of drought in Australia hitting production. 

  • The Australian ‘big dry’ could lift global dairy prices

    November 10th 2006

    GLOBAL dairy prices could be in for another boost as a result of drought in Australia hitting production. 

  • The Duchess of Cornwall becomes president of the Brooke

    7 November 2006

    Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has become president of the Brooke, a UK charity which helps millions of working equine animals and their owners in some of the poorest parts in the world.

  • The new Chairman Designate of the levy boards, John Bridge talks to FG

    November 10th 2006

    IF you have ever complained about how your levy money is spent, now is the time to do something about it.

  • There’s no quick fix for dairy producers

    November 10th 2006

    THERE was no ‘quick fix’ to the problems facing the dairy industry, but there was an opportunity to demonstrate the need for a sustainable market place, including the need for producers to have a fair return for their product, NFU president, Peter Kendal, said in Carlisle on Monday.

  • This Year's Primestock Show Judges

    November 10th 2006

    This year’s panel of judges carries a weight and breadth of experience from both the commercial and pedigree livestock arenas and the meat processing and retail sectors.

  • Trading Standards investigate calves consignment mix-up

    November 10th 2006

    TRADING Standards officials are carrying out investigations at a Lancashire auction mart after ‘mix-up’ led to a consignment of calves, due for export, having to be slaughtered.

  • Tried and Tested - Booted Up

    November 10th 2006

    FG tests out a selection of riding boots on the market

  • UK pig prices 11pc higher than EU average

    November 10th 2006

    PIG prices in the UK are now higher than those in the other main pig supplying countries, according to Pig Market Trends from the MLC.

  • Up to fifth not approved

    November 10th 2006

    UP to one fifth of pesticides sold in the EU could be fake or not approved for sale in Europe, according to the European Crop Protection Authority (EPCA).

  • Upgrade for Milkbench

    November 10th 2006

    MILKBENCH, the free and confidential, on-line benchmarking system designed for UK dairy farmers has had a significant upgrade.

  • Veteran Horse Society show hailed as huge success

    7 November 2006

    THE first ever two day show held specifically for veterans was a storming success and plans are already being put into place to run it again in 2007.

  • Water supply still uncertain

    November 10th 2006

    IRRIGATORS got through this summer without compulsory abstraction bans by good forward planning, good use of technology and by good luck.

  • We’ll keep a welcome in the hillside . . .and down town, too

    November 10th 2006

    THE countryside came to town as hundreds of Wales YFC members and thousands of visitors gathered in Cardiff to celebrate the federation’s 70th anniversary in spectacular style with a major festival and a gala concert.

  • Web workshops offered

    November 10th 2006

    SIX workshops demonstrating the opportunities of ‘digital diversification’ are being staged this month for the farming communities in North Yorkshire and Humber.

  • Welsh Blacks peak at 5,200gns at society’s annual sale at Dolgellau

    November 10th 2006

    MORE than 100 pedigree Welsh Blacks went under the hammer at the Society’s annual autumn sale at Dolgellau.

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trials Results

    November 10th 2006

    CEREDIGION Nursery. National Nursery: 1, I.B. Jones (Capel Bangor) Ben, 13; 2, I.B. Jones, Meg, 18; 3, J. Davies (Lampeter) Harry, 21; 4, S. Jones (Llangeitho) Halle, 23. National puppy: 1, I.B. Jones, Ben, 13; 2, S. Jones, Halle, 23; 3, B. Evans (Bronant) Sue, 31; 4, D.I. Morgan (Aberystwyth) Mirk, 33. South Wales Nursery: 1, D.I. Morgan, Mirk, 7; 2, R. Davies (Lampeter) Kay, 23; 4, B. Evans, Sue, 26; 4, S. Jones, Halle, 30. South Wales puppy: 1, D.I. Morgan, Mirk, ...

  • Wexham Cup winner is top bull at 4,300gns at Beeston

    November 10th 2006

    PRICES reached 4,300gns at the Western Holstein Club’s annual Wexham Cup bull show and sale held at Beeston.

  • Whitebred Shorthorns

    November 10th 2006

    A SMALL entry of Whitebred Shorthorn cattle produced a top price of 2,500gns at the annual autumn show and sale at Carlisle.

  • Whitford YFC enjoy a field day

    November 10th 2006

    WHITFORD YFC was overall winner of Clwyd Young Farmers’ county field day. Second place at the event, held at Ty’n Celyn Farm, Gwyddelwen, Corwen, courtesy of Mr and Mrs Hywel Roberts, was Cilcain YFC with Bro Edeyrnion YFC third. The senior stockman of the year title went to Arwyn Davies, of Whitford. Ifan Ellis, of Llansannan won the junior stockman award.

  • Winners epitomise what’s best about Yorkshire food

    November 10th 2006

    THE winners of the second annual Deliciouslyorkshire Awards, organised by the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and the Humber, all use a combination of tradition and innovation, mixed with commercial sense and a passion for what they do.

  • Yorkshire equine seminar

    November 10th 2006

    YORKSHIRE farmers considering diversifying into equine-related business ventures are invited to attend a special half-day seminar at Thirsk.