Farmers Guardian
October 20th 2006

  • ‘A’ District Swaledales peak at £6,500

    October 20th 2006

    TRADE peaked at £6,500 at the annual show and sale of 258 aged and shearling rams held on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association ‘A’ District at Middleton in Teesdale.

  • ‘Efficiency is key, not food miles’

    October 20th 2006

    THE growing movement in Europe, particularly Britain, for consumers to base food-buying decisions on how far goods have travelled is a worrying trend for a food-exporting nation like New Zealand.

  • £38,000 helping hand for Swaledale breeder Ali’s trust

    October 20th 2006

    Ali Johnson (centre), from Wolf Hills, Weardale, received a cheque for £38,000 which was raised at a barbecue and promise auction during the summer, from the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association and friends, for the Ali Johnson Trust.

  • £480 Gisburn Texel champion

    October 20th 2006

    THE champion Texel shearling ram at Gisburn’s fortnightly sale of breeding sheep produced a top price of £480. Trade topper was an April-born shearling by Burthwaite First Choice and out of a half Dutch home-bred ewe from Keith Stones, Richmond, Yorkshire. It sold to an undisclosed buyer.

  • £6,000 top price at St Johns

    October 20th 2006

    A TOP price of £6,000 was paid on the second day of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association ‘D’ District ram sales at St Johns Chapel Mart.

  • 1,900gns Bristol Angus

    October 20th 2006

    BIDDING peaked at 1,900gns at the Aberdeen Angus show and sale at Bristol.

  • 600gns for champion at Ruswarp sale

    October 20th 2006

    THE champion ram at the Swaledale Sheep Breeders’ Association ‘E’ District sale at Ruswarp sold for a top price of 600gns.The ram lamb owned and bred by David Hanson, Fylingdales, Whitby, was bought by the day’s judge David Nelson, Priorsdale. Auctioneers: Richardson and Smith

  • A re-think on autumn weed control

    October 20th 2006

    AUTUMN weed control programmes may need to be reconsidered as a result of the warm, wet weather conditions, agronomists are advising.

  • Acquisition to widen service

    October 20th 2006

    THE West Wales-based farmer owned co-operative, Carmarthen and Pumsaint Farmers has incorporated its near local neighbour, David Davies Farm Supplies. David Davies Farm Supplies has an animal health product range and expertise and by combining with CPF it is felt the company now has the resources to service a much wider audience. • CPF David Davies Farm Supplies has a turnover of £4 million.

  • ADAS Welsh Black fetches 2,500gns

    October 20th 2006

    BIDDING peaked at 2,500gns for a six-year-old bull at the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s annual pedigree sale at Llandovery.

  • Alfy makes 37,000gns at Carlisle Limousin sale

    October 20th 2006

    A TOP price of 37,000gns was realised at the autumn sale of Limousin bulls at Carlisle.

  • Alwinton gives Turnbull’s Mirk a first open title

    October 20th 2006

    PAUL Turnbull’s Mirk took his first open title on Saturday at the Northumberland League trial at Alwinton.

  • American hog merger

    October 20th 2006

  • Another store gets closer to producers

    October 20th 2006

    SAINSBURY’S wants to forge closer links with some of the dairy farmers that supply its two main dairy processors, Dairy Crest and Robert Wiseman.

  • Argentina’s beef export ban relaxed as 70 per cent of 2005 levels allowed out of country

    October 20th 2006

    ARGENTINA’S Agriculture Ministry has announced a further relaxation on its controversial beef export ban by allowing exporters to ship up to 70 per cent of 2005 export levels.

  • At 31 Melanie Hall is the NFU’s youngest ever regional director

    October 20th 2006

    Melanie Hall has been officially appointed regional director of the South West NFU. David Burrows went to meet her.

  • Back ‘home’ to run SAC services in North East

    October 20th 2006

    RETURNING to his home area to take over responsibility for SAC’s new services for North-East England is Ian Cairns.

  • Beeston peaks at £1,190

    October 20th 2006

    MORE than 400 head of dairy cattle including more than 250 milking cows and heifers went through the ring in Wright Manley’s mid-month sale at Beeston Castle.

  • Bluetongue disease control zone widens

    October 20th 2006

    DESPITE expectations that cold weather would end the bluetongue disease outbreak, European Commission vets have extended the control zones further into Germany.

  • Board Bia denies NBA claim over Irish beef assurance

    October 20th 2006

    BOARD Bia, the body responsible for developing Irish food exports, has described claims that non-farm assured Irish beef is being sold by UK supermarkets as ‘absolutely totally untrue’.

  • Bowland Fresh on more shelves

    October 20th 2006

    A REGIONAL success in milk marketing – Bowland Fresh – has announced a significant increase in its retail listings.

  • Breat cancer link to farming ‘too small to be definitive’

    October 20th 2006

    CANCER experts have criticised a study claiming a link between farm work and breast cancer in women.

  • British calf market ‘optimistic’

    October 20th 2006

    THE overseas market for British calves could develop and grow in the medium term as Europe’s dairy cow numbers continue to fall, says the Meat and Livestock Commission’s economics division.

  • British Ploughing Championships

    October 20th 2006

    THE world reversible ploughing champion, Simon Witty, from Malton, North Yorkshire, added another trophy to his collection when he became the new British national reversible ploughing champion, for the fourth consecutive year.

  • Bryan’s deserved award after a lifetime of toil

    October 20th 2006

    A Mid Wales farmer who has diligently served the dairy industry and negotiated on behalf of milk producers at the very highest level was rewarded at the show for his life-long service.

  • Campaign to beat negative potato image

    October 20th 2006

    THE British Potato Council is spearheading a major national campaign to break down some misconceptions – namely that potatoes are not as healthy or convenient to cook as other carbohydrates.

  • Case IH Magnum 310

    October 20th 2006

    CASE IH's Magnum 310 is the flagship of the US-built range and gets a 9-litre power plant not found elsewhere in the four-model Magnum range.

  • Champion handler Mark Williams

    October 20th 2006

    PRIDE of place in the calf classes went to the March-born Jersey, Tregibby Just Wait Roxy, shown by eight-year-old Ifan Wilson (pictured right), from Gwbert Road, near Cardigan.Taking the reserve rosette was the Dairy Shorthorn, Elkington Fairy 10, shown by Jenny Davies, Llangynin, near St Clears. Top young handler was Mark Williams, from Clemendy, Llangain, with Jenny Davies again runner-up.

  • Choice lots return to the east as Ingham and Joelee herds top 3,800gns

    October 20th 2006

    A TOP price of 3,800gns was achieved when the entire adult portion of Jonathan and Judy Deane’s Ingham and Joelee Holstein herds, Norwich, went under the hammer at the Norton and Brooksbank Sale centre, Cumbria.

  • Christmas turkeys get ‘from UK’ logo

    October 20th 2006

    THE NFU has created a UK logo to help members persuade consumers to choose farm-reared turkeys this Christmas.

  • CIF - delivering the strategy

    October 20th 2006

    THE Cereals Industry Forum (CIF) has become one of five main organisations involved in the delivery of Defra’s Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, said CIF chairman, Prof Christopher Ritson. The other main organisations involved are the English Farming and Food Partnerships, the Red Meat Industry Forum, the Food Chain Centre and Assured Food Standards.

  • Clock is ticking on UK rebuild of secure, clean energy supply

    October 20th 2006

    THE UK has just nine years in which to rebuild some 40 per cent of its generating capacity in ways that are secure, reliable, clean and do not result in an unbalanced dependence on any one fuel.

  • Contractor & Machinery: Big tractors on test

    October 20th 2006

    As machinery grows the need for more power up front also increases and figures from the AEA show that there is now more demand for 250hp plus tractors. To see how they compare Mervyn Bailey, Geoff Ashcroft, Oliver Rushton and Frits Huiden were able to see how four top models perform.

  • Cookery stars to showcase regional food at Countryside Live

    October 20th 2006

    THREE award winning cooks from the Great Yorkshire Cookery Competition 2006 will showcase their culinary skills by preparing their dishes in front of an audience at the Countryside Live event’s cookery theatre at the end of this month.

  • Defra and RPA slammed over payments fiasco

    October 20th 2006

    CRITICISMS of Defra Ministers and the RPA’s handling of Single Payments have been validated this week by a damning report from the Government’s financial auditor.

  • Devon Hedge Week workshops

    October 20th 2006

    DEVON Hedge Week starts tomorrow, focusing on the importance of the county’s hedges to the region’s birdlife. The week involves a series of workshops organised by the Devon Hedge Group, and range from hedge-laying courses and farm walks to hedge management under the new Agri-Environment schemes.A leaflet giving details is available in libraries and Tourist Information Centres or on www.devon.gov.uk/hedges.

  • Diesel shortage sparks strikes

    October 20th 2006

    A crippling diesel shortage in Argentina has sparked farmer strikes up and down the country.

  • Disappointment at Government’s vision for CAP

    October 20th 2006

    THE Tenant Farmers Association has formally rejected the Government’s ‘Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy’ document.

  • Double red tape on cross-border farm

    October 20th 2006

    BARRY ALSTON takes a look at some of the problems of being a cross border farmer – not least the on-going shambles of getting hold of English Single Farm Payment entitlements.

  • Drought havoc in Australia

    October 20th 2006

    LIVESTOCK prices across New South Wales are in free fall, with farmers selling off record numbers of sheep and cattle as the drought worsens.

  • Dry stone walling award winner

    October 20th 2006

    Sheep farmer Stan Bargh has won a second victory in the Country Land and Business Associations dry stone wall competition.

  • Eastacombe Ayrshires sale

    October 20th 2006

    THE Eastacombe herd dispersal of pedigree Ayshires from R.H. Petherick and Son, Holsworthy, Devon, achieved a top price of £1,071.

  • English Sheepdog Trials Results

    October 20th 2006

    NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE, Alwinton, Open (35 ran): 1, P. Turnbull (Rothbury) Mirk, 88 of 100; 2, A. Tait (Thropton) Dale, 87 time; 3, T. Iley (Longframlington) Dice, 87; 4, G. Thompson (Edmundbyres) Kyle, 86; 5, P. Turnbull Cap, 85; 6, J. Fyall (Rochester) Shep, 84. Novice: 1, S. Wallace (Penpont) Mairi, 82.

  • Estimated fall in cereals and OSR output no surprise

    October 20th 2006

    PRELIMINARY estimates of a fall in the Scottish cereals and oilseed rape harvest come as no surprise, according to NFU Scotland.

  • EU funding for women in agriculture

    October 20th 2006

    EU money is available to fund women’s programmes in agriculture, forestry and horticulture business sectors.

  • Farm support to stay after 2013 says EU Commissioner

    October 20th 2006

    MARIANN Fischer Boel has delivered a blow to Tony Blair and Gordon Browns’ hopes of getting rid of farm support.

  • Farmers ‘need to trust Defra’ over disease initiative

    October 20th 2006

    FARMERS had to change and be prepared to go forward with an element of trust in their dealings with Defra in discussion on the responsibilities and costs of dealing with animal disease, an NFU-organised farmers’ meeting at Penrith, Cumbria, was told.

  • Farmgate price rises righting the wrongs, says Kendall

    October 20th 2006

    THE recent improvement in farmgate prices was righting the wrongs of the past decade and was good news for society, said NFU president Peter Kendall.

  • First honey show will bring a buzz to the event

    October 20th 2006

    This year’s Countryside Live fair will incorporate the first honey show in its history. DAN STEWART reports.

  • Five farming families join forces to launch butcher’s shop and website

    October 20th 2006

    FIVE South Wales Valleys farming families have moved into the retail meat business selling their own locally produced beef and lamb direct to consumers through their own traditional butcher’s shop.

  • Free-range eggs conference

    October 20th 2006

    JOHN Campbell, owner and chairman of Glenrath Farms, the UK’s largest producer of free range eggs, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s British Free Range Egg Producers Association annual conference, hosted by Hy-Line UK, at the NAC, Stoneleigh, on November 23. Also appearing will be Willi Kallhammer, chairman of the International Egg Commission and Dr Donald McNamara, executive director of the Eggs Nutrition Centre in Washington DC.

  • Frustration as RPA survey highlights ‘inaccurate’ claims

    October 20th 2006

    NEWS that farms in mid-Lincolnshire are the subject of a remote sensing survey has raised farmer frustrations and fears about the Rural Payments Agency to a new level.

  • Gareth takes the top stockman prize

    October 20th 2006

    GARETH Richards, 26, a farmer’s son and member of Builth Wells YFC, was best stockman (age 26 and under) at Brecknock Young Farmers’ annual stockjudging competition.

  • Getting the most from your investment

    October 20th 2006

    TO see how much staying power these tractors have we invited Froment to do a dynamometer test. The Sigma Dynamometer was set to auto mode so all the tractors were tested in the same way and the results can be found on the following pages.

  • Gibbs Denley joins FarmWeb

    October 20th 2006

    ONE of East Anglia’s largest insurance brokerages, Gibbs Denley, has become a member of FarmWeb, the national network of specialist agricultural insurers.

  • GM potatoes consultation closes today

    October 20th 2006

    TRIALS of genetically modified potatoes look set to be given the go-ahead by the end of the year as a Government consultation on co-existence rules – the growing of GM crops next to non-GM crops – closes today (Friday Oct 20).

  • Gritstone to 1,280gns

    October 20th 2006

    A TOP price of 1,280gns was realised when 350 fully registered Derbyshire Gritstones went under the hammer at Clitheroe Mart, Lancashire. Top call was for a two shear ram from D. Eggleton, Meltham, Huddersfield, selling to A.S.E.L. Heathcote and Son, Macclesfield, Cheshire.Auctioneers: Clitheroe Auction Mart.

  • Growers plan huge corn planting rise

    October 20th 2006

    LURED by a growing ethanol industry, US growers are already thinking about a huge increase in corn plantings next spring, according to a survey by Farm Futures magazine.

  • Growing Dorset YFC’s strength is down to unstinting teamwork

    October 20th 2006

    A DORSET Young Farmers’ Club is going from strength to strength thanks to the enthusiasm of its young members. Sherborne YFC reformed two years ago after a short break in its 70-year history. It now has an enthusiastic – and growing – membership of 10-15-year-olds who, at the club’s annual meeting, displayed an array of trophies and awards. “Every member has competed in something; everything from stockjudgjing, tractor judgjing or cookery. It was the youngest team representing a county ...

  • Had the tea, got the T-shirt

    October 20th 2006

    A GROUP of 11 farm-based tea shops throughout Cumbria, who are all featured in the county’s Tea Trail, have produced their own T-shirts as ‘must-have mementos’ for visitors.

  • Hedley’s ‘new’ herd of Lincoln Reds is still going strong – 50 years on

    October 20th 2006

    In 1956, Lincolnshire farmer Hedley Needler decided to break away from his father and brother’s Acthorpe herd of Lincoln Red cattle and set up his own Walmer herd. Alan Stennett met up with him to look back over some of the developments during the course of a half-century

  • HGCA OUTLOOK CONFERENCE

    October 20th 2006

    There were calls at the HGCA Outlook conference in London for the EU’s set-aside and intervention policies to be dismantled. Teresa Rush reports.

  • Holiday pay reversal

    October 20th 2006

    CHANGES to holiday pay regulations that could have cost the industry £14m have been reversed in an extraordinary general meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board.

  • Industry in crisis?

    October 20th 2006

    NFU president, Peter Kendall is to address Cumbrian dairy farmers on the region’s worries that its dairy industry is plunging into crisis as the price paid to farmers for their milk continues to be cut.‘What can we do about milk price?’ will take place on Tuesday, October 31 at the Shepherd’s Inn, Carlisle, starting at 10.30am.

  • Investigation into calf export delay

    October 20th 2006

    DELAYS which left a shipment of calves being held aboard transporter vehicles at Dover harbour for up to 15 hours are being investigated by the State Veterinary Service.

  • Investigation into calf export delay

    October 20th 2006

    DELAYS which left a shipment of calves being held aboard transporter vehicles at Dover harbour for up to 15 hours are being investigated by the State Veterinary Service.

  • Investors eye agricultural commodities

    October 20th 2006

    INVESTORS are paying increasing attention to agricultural commodities, attracted by their price volatility and the perception that they are undervalued.

  • Invoicing campaign to calculate costs

    October 20th 2006

    THE NFU launched its milk invoicing campaign this week and is appealing to all dairy farmers in England and Wales to support it. And in Scotland, NFUS is taking the milk price issue to supermarkets.

  • Irish processing cash injection ‘creates non-level playing field’

    October 20th 2006

    THE Irish Government’s match funding of €300million of EU money for its dairy sector could seriously impact on UK dairying, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dairy Farmers chairman Daniel Kawczynski told Defra secretary of state David Milliband last week.

  • Italian luncheon is literal success

    October 20th 2006

    AN influential group of top Italian food and trade writers has been wined and dined at the Cracco-Peck restaurant in the centre of Milan as part of an Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales – strategy targeting supermarkets and hypermarkets across Italy with Welsh lamb this autumn.

  • John Deere 8350

    October 20th 2006

  • Johnston McNeill got a £20k bonus

    October 20th 2006

    FAILINGS at the RPA did not stop its former chief executive Johnston McNeill from being paid a £20,000 bonus in 2005.

  • Kentmere Hall BFL tops Lazonby

    October 20th 2006

    AT the annual sale of rams at Lazonby Mart, it was a consignment of Bluefaced Leicester rams from the Kentmere Hall flock of P.L. and J. Dawson that led the bidding.

  • Key facts on rural economy available

    October 20th 2006

    A KEY source of up-to-date information about agriculture and the rural economy is now available to people living in West Wales as part of a unique pilot project.

  • Limousins on top at Skipton

    October 20th 2006

    LIMOUSINS reigned supreme at the annual autumn multi-breed show and sale of pedigree cattle at Skipton.

  • Log cabins for ‘spare land’ idea

    October 20th 2006

    NON-residential log cabins can make a profitable diversification for farms with some unproductive or ‘spare’ land claims an East Yorkshire company.

  • London market shoppers get a taste of West Country produce

    October 20th 2006

    VISITORS to London’s Borough Food Market have been treated to some of the best produce from the South West.

  • LOSS OF LIVEWEIGHT GAINS HIGHLIGHTED AS BIGGEST PROBLEM IN PNEUMONIA OUTBREAKS

    October 20th 2006

    THERE was one point all the speakers at the Farmers Guardian and Intervet meetings agreed on – the real threat posed by calf pneumonia is a loss in daily liveweight gains (DLWG) and not mortalities.

  • Luing heifer to £1,120 at Stirling

    October 20th 2006

    BULLING heifer entries were up 65 per cent at the autumn breeding sale held on behalf of the Luing Cattle Society at Kildean Market, Stirling.

  • Maltsters will pay the price

    October 20th 2006

    UK MALTSTERS, increasingly concerned over future supplies, are calling on growers to continue to plant malting barley varieties – and say they will pay a sustainable price.

  • Massey Ferguson 8480

    October 20th 2006

    THE only European in this group, the Massey 8480 continues the MF look it shares with the smaller models from Beauvais.

  • Meg does the double in Ceredigion nurseries

    October 20th 2006

    THE nursery trials in Ceredigion were held on Saturday at Penbwlch, Aberystwyth – a regular venue hosted by Ian Jones. Between them, the two classes saw 40 runs and what a successful day it was for Islwyn Jones’s Meg.

  • Moorland trophy for hefted ewe

    October 20th 2006

    STUART Wood of Wethercote Farm, Bilsdale, Helmsley, won the Moorland Association Rose Bowl Trophy for the best pen of ewes hefted to the North York Moors at Cundalls’ sheep sale, Fadmoor, North Yorkshire. He is a third generation tenant farmer, with 1,000 Swaledale ewes on Mexborough Estates’ Bilsdale West Moor, managed in tandem for red grouse.

  • Murray Greys peak at 1,025gns

    October 20th 2006

    PRICES went to 1,025gns at the Murray Grey Breed Society annual sale at Worcester market.

  • New Holland T8030

    October 20th 2006

    AS the T8030 isn't the New Holland flagship, though it is the lowest powered tractor in our group, it was expected to work hard to keep up with the competition. But when hitched up to the 3m Stubble Finisher it proved it could romp along at 11kph or there about, flicking from 11th to 10th when coming across some compacted ground.

  • Newnton herd dispersal

    October 20th 2006

    A TOP price of 3,900gns was achieved when the major portion of the Newnton Holstein herd, owned by Newtuck, was sold at Church Farm, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

  • NEWS IN BRIEF

    October 20th 2006

    Defra won’t backtrack

  • NEWS IN BRIEF contd

    October 20th 2006

    Innovation

  • Nunnerie Blackface son sells for £42,000

    October 20th 2006

    A BID of £42,000 topped the Blackface tup sale at Lanark.

  • OSR looking for a lift

    October 20th 2006

    THERE are few bright spots in the oilseed market which is still struggling to get back to its mid August high.

  • Our perfect tractor...

    October 20th 2006

    IN an ideal world, our perfect tractor is not any one of these tested, but a sublime mixture of the best elements of the four.

  • Phoma attack on OSR causes concern

    October 20th 2006

    PHOMA has attacked oilseed rape crops at its earliest timing since 1999, disease experts are warning.

  • PLOUGHMAN’S CASSEROLE

    October 20th 2006

    This recipe is from Nancy M. Taggart, of Onchan, Isle of Man. “You might notice that the quantities given are sufficient for only one or two people but I am a retired farmer’s wife and approaching four-score years. I enjoy these flavours still, imagining I have just cooked a lovely casserole for family and farm staff sitting around the dinner table and, of course, it is always followed by pudding; very often rice or sago baked in the bottom of the oven,” she says.

  • Poisoned rodent rules concern

    October 20th 2006

    UNNECESSARILY complicated Defra guidelines for the disposal of rodents killed by poisoning are causing North Wales Conservative AM, Brynle Williams, concern.

  • Post Offices at risk

    October 20th 2006

    THE Countryside Alliance has called on the Government to break its ‘deafening silence’ over the future of the rural Post Offices network.

  • Poultry industry takes cost suspension demands to House of Commons

    October 20th 2006

    POULTRY farmers across the country are being asked by the NFU to lobby MPs at the House of Commons on October 25.

  • Pre-movement Testing

    October 20th 2006

    For many farmers, the Government’s TB policy is already somewhat lop-sided. In a few months the scales will tilt even further towards cattle controls as the pre-movement testing rule is expanded. This is a step too far, says the NFU, but Defra is not budging. ALISTAIR DRIVER and DAVID BURROWS report on an issue that is threatening to scupper any talk of partnership on disease control policy.

  • Pre-movement testing (PrMT) the story so far

    October 20th 2006

    • PrMT was introduced in England on March 27, 2006, and in Wales on May 2.

  • Pre-movement testing: Success or failure?

    October 20th 2006

    I hate running close to deadlines, it has always struck me as unprofessional, and having done some editing myself, I know what it is like to be on the other side of the fence, staring at a lump of white space and wondering whether some overpaid prima donna is going to condescend to do the job they promised to.

  • Pre-movement testing: we look at the impact on The Auctioneers

    October 20th 2006

    ALTHOUGH there has been disruption and extra costs, markets have so far coped with Phase One, of PrMt, according to Livestock Auctioneers Association executive director Chris Dodds.

  • Pre-movement testing: we look at the impact on The Farmers

    October 20th 2006

    THE impact of PrMT on farmers is about much more than the obvious financial cost of the test, considerable though that can be.

  • Pre-movement testing: we look at the impact on The Vets

    October 20th 2006

    ONE of the big questions about extending TB testing to 42 days is whether vets could cope with the increased demand. If they cannot, farmers will be left unable to move cattle when they want to.

  • Processors face disposal problem after dairy closure

    October 20th 2006

    MILK processors could be faced with the more expensive alternative of incineration for the disposal of reject milk consignments.

  • Producing pigs that provide ‘power to the people’

    October 20th 2006

    If virtue were a saleable commodity, Bedfordia Farms would be quids in. TIA RUND finds out just how much this farming group values its green credentials, and how others might now be able to piggyback on its success.

  • Promotion is rewarded

    October 20th 2006

    ONE of the originators of the Farmers Markets initiative that led to their successful development throughout the UK, has been made an Associate of the Royal Agriculture Societies for his work in promoting British agriculture.

  • Protection zone set up after outbreak

    October 20th 2006

    SOME 14,000 birds, mainly grey partridge, have been culled following the confirmation of an outbreak of Newcastle Disease on a poultry holding in East Lothian.

  • Rams achieve £3,000 at Hawes

    October 20th 2006

    AT the ‘B’ District annual show and sale of Swaledale rams and ram lambs at Hawes, a top price of £3,000 was realised.

  • RASE to take full control of Royal Show

    October 20th 2006

    THE Royal Agricultural Society of England is to take full control of the Royal Show from next year.

  • Region’s unity helps sustainable strategy

    October 20th 2006

    THE sense of unity among farmers in the South West has helped the region push forward its Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy.

  • Rejected Hill Farm Allowance case is overturned on appeal

    October 20th 2006

    A Northumbrian far-mer with both severely disadvantaged ground and lowland, whose Hill Farm Allowance claim had been disallowed by the Rural Payments Agency on the grounds of stocking rate, has had the decision overturned on appeal.

  • Research solves the mystery of white thistle

    October 20th 2006

    QUERIES about the appearance of white thistles have been occupying the minds of H L Hutchinson’s technical support staff in recent weeks but a little research has solved the mystery, according to the company’s technical support manager Ian Black.

  • Robin’s Kings Suffolk flock and ram catches the eye of the judge

    October 20th 2006

    ROBIN Irwin of Kings Nympton, Devon, took the overall championship in the West Country Suffolk Sheep Association competition with his Kings flock, and also had the champion ram in Davishill The Crown.

  • Romney ram lambs to £700

    October 20th 2006

    ROMNEY ram lambs sold to £700 at the special Romney sheep day at Ashford Market, Kent.

  • RSPB’s fertilisers report sensationalist, says NFU

    October 20th 2006

    AN RSPB report claiming inorganic fertiliser use on farms has contributed to huge increases in levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in the environment has been criticised by the NFU.

  • Scottish Sheepdog Trials Results

    October 20th 2006

    HILLHEAD (Judge: J. Calvert, Brampton) Open (30 ran): 1, R. Dalziel (Ettrick) Jamie, 96; 2, E. Hope (Pembrokeshire) Queen, 95; 3, K. Freeman (Killin) Nell, 92; 4, R. Dalziel, Joe, 91; 5, E. Hope, Kep, 89; 6, R. Davies (Wales) Rose, 88.

  • Sheaves calls for South West brand to lift milk prices

    October 20th 2006

    THE South West’s leading food and drink organisation is keen to foster more relationships with the region’s commodity farmers – a move which could potentially benefit dairy farmers struggling to make ends meet.

  • Sheep sector has ‘plenty of room for improvement’

    October 20th 2006

    THE sheep sector is one of the sectors in agriculture with the greatest potential for improvement, SAC beef and sheep adviser Iain Riddell, told visitors in his keynote presentation at an SAC sheep research open day near Edinburgh.

  • Spanish buyers look to Welsh exporters for lamb

    October 20th 2006

    LEADING Spanish supermarkets buyers have been visiting key Welsh lamb exporters throughout Wales.

  • Spending on ‘ethical’ foods to top £2billion this year

    October 20th 2006

    PUBLIC spending on organic, free-range and Fair Trade foods will top £2billion according to new research. This will represent a 62 per cent increase in spending on so-called ‘ethical’ foods since 2002.

  • Staffordshire YFCs: Greatest growth in whole country

    October 20th 2006

    Every year the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs acknowledges the county that recruited the most new members in a 12-month period. Earlier this year the prestigious Merrick Burrell trophy went to Staffordshire, a county with plenty going on.

  • Steady demand for Welsh Mules

    October 20th 2006

    NEARLY 20,000 breeding ewes were sold at the Welsh Mule Sheep Breeders’ Association October sales at Builth Wells and Welshpool with a steady demand for sheep from customers across England and Wales.

  • Stiff competition for North Wales Holstein Club’s calf champion

    October 20th 2006

    CHAMPION handler at the North Wales Holstein Club’s annual calf show for the third time was Emma Williams, with 12-year-old Sian Davies reserve.

  • Study shows greater danger to migrants

    October 20th 2006

    MIGRANT workers were more likely to be involved in workplace accidents because they usually worked longer hours, worked shifts and had limited understanding of health and safety.

  • Supermarkets urged to support UK milk

    October 20th 2006

    Welsh Dairy Show

  • Swaledale reserve sells to the judge

    October 20th 2006

    A SALE topping 1,000gns bid was paid for a shearling at the annual show and sale of Swaledale rams at Skipton, North Yorkshire.Top price was paid by the judge, George Wainwright, Bamford, Derbyshire, for the reserve champion ram from C. Nelson and Sons, Bordley, Skipton.Mr Wainwright also bought the champion, a two shear ram, consigned by David Hargreaves, Airton, Skipton for 500gns.Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.

  • Taste of the West awards

    October 20th 2006

    FARMERS led the way in this year’s Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards. Dart’s Farm at Topsham, Devon, was Retail Outlet of the Year thanks to an impressive farm shop, while Wootton Organic Dairy, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, picked up the award for best organic product for its soft mould ripened cows’ milk cheese.

  • TB ‘holds back development’ on many farms, says Sir Don

    October 20th 2006

    THE Government’s own sustainable farming guru, Sir Don Curry, will be pushing for more action in combating bovine TB, writes DAVID BURROWS.

  • Tenancies reforms become law after 10-year campaign

    October 20th 2006

    AFTER more than 10 years of campaigning by tenant and farm associations, reforms to the Agricultural Tenancies Act were due to became law this week.

  • Tesco cash for organic dairy producers

    October 20th 2006

    TESCO is to pay the £400 or so organic inspection and technical support costs for all existing and new organic dairy farmers in its supply chain for the next three years.

  • Tesco challenged to share its record profits

    October 20th 2006

    TESCO is to be challenged by Welsh milk producers to share the company’s record profits with its suppliers before its supply chain dries up.

  • Tesco denies link to beef price drop in South West

    October 20th 2006

    TESCO has denied it was responsible for a recent fall in beef prices in the South West.

  • The national dairy herd declines by 1pc in a year

    October 20th 2006

    THE size of the national dairy herd has fallen by one per cent between June 2005 and June this year as increased cow numbers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland failed to compensate for the shrinkage in England.

  • Three Dalesbreds top £4,000 at the breeders’ association sale at Bentham

    October 20th 2006

    PRICES peaked at £4,000 on three occasions when 194 Dalesbred rams went under the hammer at the annual show and sale held on behalf of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association at Bentham.

  • Three-day capital celebration

    October 20th 2006

    A MAJOR celebration of the Welsh countryside, a food festival and a gala concert – all taking place over three days in Cardiff – will mark Wales YFC’s 70th anniversary in style. Thousands of members and supporters are expected to attend – as well as the general public.

  • Tillage North 2006

    October 20th 2006

    The sun was shining on the Northern Tillage event which no doubt helped the large attendance at Burghill Farms, Brechin, Angus. The light soil was kind to the machines but being Scotland there were also plenty of stones to contend with. Mervyn Bailey reports.

  • Top price of £500 for Texel

    October 20th 2006

    SUFFOLKS and Texels were to the fore during Aberdeen and Northern Marts second show and sale of rams at Thainstone.

  • Towing the line for charity

    October 20th 2006

  • Tried and Tested - Bedded Down

    October 20th 2006

    As winter approaches and most horses get ready for extra time in the stable, show producer Edward Young reviews some alternatives to traditional straw and shavings.

  • Vast database will provide consumer information for the cereals sector

    October 20th 2006

    UNITED Kingdom cereal and rapeseed producers now have access to a vast database of consumer information, courtesy of a new initiative funded by HGCA.

  • Virgin Trains call for tax concession on blended biofuel duty

    October 20th 2006

    VIRGIN Trains would use 4.5 million litres of biofuel every year if Sir Richard Branson’s lobbying for tax breaks on blended biofuel was successful.

  • Volac’s 200-mile journey for charity

    October 20th 2006

    VOLAC International, the Orwell, Hertfordshire-based feed and food nutrition company, plans to raise more than £5,000 for Cancer Research UK with 20 cyclists and support drivers undergoing a 200-mile journey from head office to Volac’s new joint venture dairy processing plant, DVN in Hoogeveen, East Holland.

  • Watch the Big Tractor Test video

    23 October 2006

    Watch the Big Tractor test Videos here

  • Welsh Dairy Show

    October 20th 2006

    BARRY ALSTON reports from this week’s Welsh Dairy Show at the United Counties Showground, Carmarthen.

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trials Results

    October 20th 2006

    STOKE BLISS. Open National: 1, G. Powell (Gladestry) Lad; 2, V. Morris (Clun) Nip; 3, J. Chamberlain (Builth Wells) Tess; 4, M. Watson (Cirencester) Sali; 5, M. Watson, Spike. Novice National: 1, G. Powell, Lad; 2, M. Watson, Sali; 3, A. Smith (Tenbury Wells) Lad, 4, M. Watson, Milo.

  • WFU to highlight plight of UK dairy industry

    October 20th 2006

    THE Women’s Food and Farming Union faced one of its greatest challenges since its beginnings in 1979, president Ionwen Lewis told the annual meeting at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

  • What a night to remember

    October 20th 2006

    DUMFRIES and Galloway Young Farmers Club were on top form for Scottish Young Farmers West Region ‘big night out’.

  • What are sugar beet growers’ plans for the future?

    October 20th 2006

    The trading window for sugar beet quota trading closed on October 6. John Parry talked to growers and advisers in the York and Alscott factory regions about their plans for the future.

  • Why you should have GPS fitted

    October 20th 2006

    THESE tractors are expected to pull wide acre eating tackle but what happens if there is a 200mm overlap on each pass. Not only is fuel been burned to work the same piece of ground but there is also extra machine wear and daily production can drop.

  • Wool prices look good as China plans to double processing by 2012

    October 20th 2006

    SIGNALS look good for higher New Zealand cross-bred wool prices in the medium term, says the country’s Elders Primary Wool manager Cedric Bayly.

  • Young adults taken out ‘into the field’ to learn about organic food production

    October 20th 2006

    BRIDGE Farm Links is a not-for-profit organisation, established in 2005 to provide training, work experience, mentoring and workshops in organic food production and rural skills for a range of age groups.