Farmers Guardian
October 5th 2007

  • "Best news in years" for the dairy industry

    4 October 2007

    TWO of Britain's leading farmer-owned dairies are in advanced discussions over a merger in what has been described as "the best news for the dairy industry in many years."

  • "Best news in years" for the dairy industry

    5 October 2007

    TWO of Britain's leading farmer-owned dairies are in advanced discussions over a merger in what has been described as "the best news for the dairy industry in many years."

  • ‘Delighted’ at biggest ram sale go-ahead – on two days

    October 5th 2007

    THERE is no stopping Europe’s biggest ram sale, but instead of one sale there will now be two at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells – on Sunday, October 14 and Saturday, October 27.

  • ‘Tackle’ controllable disorders

    3 October 2007

    WITH diseases about which people had no control over, such as bluetongue, two experts from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) expressed amazement that more was not being done to tackle disorders that could be eradicated – such as BVD.

  • 15 new products to go on show from kverneland

    October 5th 2007

    The Kverneland Group says that in addition to dancing girls and a free €250 spare parts voucher for show visitors, it will reveal no fewer than 15 new products.

  • 8m ultima drill with 4,000-litre capacity

    October 5th 2007

    Kockerling will launch a brand new 8m Ultima universal drill to support the current 3m and 6m versions already available in the UK.

  • A grand day out at Kington

    October 5th 2007

    IT was a battle of wills at this year’s Kington Show as Herefordshire and Radnor Young Farmers competed against each other during a day dedicated to competitions.

  • A promising future in the showring beckons for this young handler

    October 5th 2007

    As Holstein UK announced the disappointing news that this year’s All-Breeds All-Britain Calf Show would be cancelled due to the return of foot-and-mouth last month, young competitors were dealt another blow in what has been a rollercoaster of a summer. Continuing its support of young breeders and handlers Farmers Guardian meets one member representing the Scotland South Holstein Young Breeders Club.

  • Ag students celebrate graduation day

    15 October 2007

    AGRICULTURAL students at Harper Adam University College recently celebrated their graduation day.

  • AGM

    2 October 2007

    WALES YFC members from across Wales travelled to Bangor for the AGM weekend in September.

  • Agri Technica

    October 5th 2007

    In just a few weeks Europe’s biggest machinery show will open its doors to an expected 260,000 visitors. Ahead of the event STEVEN VALE outlines a small selection of the highlights that will be on display at Agritechnica.

  • Agricultural events diary

    5 October 2007

    October 6-7

  • Ainsworth praises farmers’ courage and determination

    October 5th 2007

    PETER Ainsworth, Shadow Defra Secretary, praised farmers for their ‘courage and determination’ in the face of this summer’s horrors of foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue and the widespread flooding.

  • An alternative to skid-steer loading

    October 5th 2007

    JCB is set to unveil a new compact loader next month – the 403 Agri.

  • An hour in the October garden

    October 5th 2007

    Michaelmas, on September 29, meant paying the rent and traditionally was the time when the landlord had a look at your garden! October was always a time of hard work, tidying and preparing for next year.

  • An ill-conceived, potentially damaging, ill-timed example of regulation for the sake of it

    October 5th 2007

    The NFU has arranged a number of regional meetings throughout October to discuss the NVZ consultation. Here the union’s Dairy Board chairman GWYN JONES gives his views.

  • As bluetongue cases reach 24 UK included in EU zone for first time

    3 October 2007

    THE number of confirmed cases of bluetongue disease has risen to 24, Defra has revealed.

  • Asda plans local food markets

    October 5th 2007

    ASDA is set to launch in-store farmers’ markets across its stores in Yorkshire, offering fresh, local produce to customers.

  • Atherstone win Farmers Guardian Trophy at HOYS

    4 October 2007

    THE Atherstone Hunt mounted games team have galloped to an undisputed victory in the Farmers Guardian Trophy at Horse of the Year Show.

  • Atherstone win Farmers Guardian Trophy at HOYS

    4 October 2007

    THE Atherstone Hunt mounted games team have galloped to an undisputed victory in the Farmers Guardian Trophy at Horse of the Year Show.

  • Autumn agronomy website

    October 5th 2007

    A NEW autumn agronomy website built by ADAS on behalf of BASF is offering one BASIS point for registered agronomists and growers who work through training elements of the site.

  • Autumn sales back on track

    October 5th 2007

    WELSH Black cattle will be back in the ring at Llandovery on October 18 as the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s autumn sale season gets back on track.

  • Benn ‘ignoring coastal access concerns’

    5 October 2007

    DEFRA Secretary Hilary Benn has been accused of ‘ignoring’ those affected by the decision to introduce a statutory right of access all around the coast, which he announced last week.

  • Better drilling

    October 5th 2007

    Precision drill operators will need no reminding of the difficulty in ensuring the number of doubles and missed seeds is kept to a minimum. A vision-based system from Dutch-firm Kramer Bant Mechanisatie (KBM) is available initially for fitting to the Italian-made Gaspardo Orietta four-row drill. Infra-red camera images of a section of four seeding discs are shown on an in-cab monitor, so constant monitoring can help reduce drilling mistakes. The option costs £1,650 (includes fitting).

  • Big grab from trioliet

    October 5th 2007

    Big mixer wagons need a big grab to fill them. That is the message from Dutch-firm Trioliet, which will launch a 2cu.m version at the show.

  • Blue Cross Rolleston celebrates its first anniversary

    3 October 2007

    LAST weekend, the Blue Cross’s equine welfare centre in Rolleston-on-Dove celebrated its first anniversary.

  • Bluetongue and climate change

    October 5th 2007

    BLUETONGUE was one of many symptoms of climate change, suggested Peter Ainsworth.

  • Bluetongue vaccine is pushed to the fore by EU scientists

    4 October 2007

    EUROPEAN Union scientists have pushed vaccination to the fore of future bluetongue control policy.

  • Bluetongue: The facts

    4 October 2007

    FOLLOWING the confirmation of a bluetongue outbreak JACK DAVIES answers farmers’ concerns in an FG Q and A and WILLIAM SURMAN looks at the continental experience of the bluetongue virus.

  • Borderway is more than a mart – it is also pedigree herds

    October 5th 2007

    HARRISON and Hetherington, the company behind the Agri-Expo event, may be best known for live auctions – but it is also the proud owner of pedigree herds of Belted and Dun Galloways.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month off to a galloping start

    3 October 2007

    A BRIGHT pink horsebox – worth more than £4,000 – made its first public appearance at this week’s opening day of the Horse of the Year Show to help get Breast Cancer Awareness Month off to a galloping start.

  • British tomatoes on the doorstep

    October 5th 2007

    BRITISH tomatoes have a major advantage over imported competition in that they can be in retail outlets within two days of picking, whereas imports can take seven to 10 days to reach retail shelves, said Ray Plummer of Flavourfresh, Banks, Southport.

  • British Veterinary Association annual congress

    3 October 2007

    WHILE the current foot-and-mouth and bluetongue outbreaks were touched upon, speakers at the British Veterinary Association annual congress focused more on the future – increased disease levels and ways to tackle them. JOANNE PUGH reports from Belfast.

  • Bronze medal show garden tale of inspiration in the face of FMD

    October 5th 2007

    A MIDLANDS radiographer and farmer’s wife whose livestock was wiped out by the devastating 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic made her debut as a garden designer at last weekend’s Three Counties Agricultural Society-organised Malvern Autumn Show – and was awarded a Royal Horticultural Society Bronze Medal for her efforts.

  • Carol Mellin and Maisie take the Nidderdale open

    October 5th 2007

    AT Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, the last northern agricultural show of the season, Carol Mellin and Maisie took the open trial title.

  • Carrot harvester gets hydraulic drawbar

    October 5th 2007

    Simon used the Dutch event to reveal a new hydraulically pivoting drawbar on its two-row T2NK trailed carrot harvester. The idea is that the concept allows the tractor operator to position the drawbar so that he can see the side of the carrot row as it is being lifted. This means that the tractor operator can clearly see whether the lifting units are set to deep or too shallow and make adjustments accordingly.

  • CCB

    2 October 2007

    Teithiodd aelodau CFfI Cymru ar draws Cymru i Fangor ar gyfer penwythnos y CCB ym mis Medi!

  • Celebrating

    October 5th 2007

    Staffordshire YFC is celebrating a boom in its membership figures, with 148 new people joining clubs across the county over the past 12 months. The county, along with others nationwide, is busy holding annual meetings and electing new officers for 2007-2008.

  • Celebrity chef lends his support

    4 October 2007

    JAMIE Oliver has leant his support to the NFU’s campaign to encourage shoppers to buy more British lamb and support farmers hit by the recent foot-and-mouth and bluetongue outbreaks.

  • Cert ID launch new Mycotoxin Certification Standard

    3 October 2007

    A MYCOTOXIN Certification Standard launched last week is designed to be the farm standard for fusarium control with respect to legal compliance and market expectations, according to the company responsible for its development.

  • Charolais bid to 2,600gns

    October 5th 2007

    CHAROLAIS females met a solid trade selling to a top of 2,600gns at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s official female show and sale in Dungannon.

  • Cheese awarded Protected Designation of Origin

    2 October 2007

    STAFFORDSHIRE Cheese has become the latest UK product to be recognised under EU law for its quality and regional identity.

  • Cheshire crumbly campaign

    October 5th 2007

    A CAMPAIGN to promote traditional crumbly farmhouse Cheshire cheese was launched at the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival at the weekend.

  • Cheshrie land sells to a top of £6,189 per acre

    1 October 2007

    ARABLE and pasture land at Coole Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire sold to a top of £6,189 per acre when a total of 387 acres were sold by Wright Manley.

  • Community and Environment Challenge

    2 October 2007

    GETTING involved in work in the community can be very rewarding and fun.

  • Competitive linseed contract to beat osr?

    3 October 2007

    A SEEMINGLY attractive contract for winter sown linseed is being offered to arable farmers who, it is pointed out, still have time to get it in the ground.

  • Complementing a solid business

    October 5th 2007

    RUNNING the family’s own farm shop and supplying a local on-line retail food business would, in theory, be a conflict of interest but in practice they complement each other and raise the overall profile of good food.

  • Computer-controlled fertiliser spreading

    October 5th 2007

    Amazone will reveal the prototype of a fertiliser spreader fitted with an infra-red camera above one of the spreading discs.

  • Conservative Party Conference

    October 5th 2007

    David Cameron was under pressure this week to wow the electorate with promises for life under a Conservative Government. For farmers that included pledges of reduced bureaucracy, a more trusting leadership and better protection from imported animal diseases. CLEMMIE GLEESON reports from Blackpool.

  • Continental experience of bluetongue virus reveals it can survive the winter

    4 October 2007

    IN June this year, bluetongue virus was confirmed in an animal in Germany and the disease nightmare was again a reality.

  • Countryside Alliance appeal for the Government to invest in rural roads

    4 October 2007

    THE Countryside Alliance has called on the Government to invest in rural roads to help reduce the accident rate.

  • Cross compliance: Water Volume Issue Resolved

    5 October 2007

    IN addition to keeping their land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) farmers must also comply with Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) to fully meet their Cross Compliance requirements and receive their Single Payment in full.

  • Crown rust spreads to Wales

    October 5th 2007

    RECENT warm temperatures and heavy dews have produced the perfect conditions for crown rust fungal disease to develop – and in the areas of the country unused to seeing it.

  • Crunch time for young entrepreneurs

    1 October 2007

    FIVE candidates have made it through to the final stages of this year’s Young Rural Entrepreneur competition.

  • Cull not justifiable without further wildlife studies

    3 October 2007

    DESPITE complete confidence that badgers played a role in spreading bovine TB, more research was needed to prove that culling the wild animal would solve the problem in UK cattle.

  • Cynllun Her y Gymuned

    2 October 2007

    Mae cymryd rhan mewn gwaith gwirfoddol yn hynod o foddhaol ac yn hwyl!

  • Cynllun Menter CFfI Cymru NatWest

    2 October 2007

    Sut byddwch chi yn hoffi’r cyfle i ennill hyd at £900?

  • DC offers incentive for more winter milk

    4 October 2007

    DAIRY Crest is offering its milk producers who feel they can produce in excess of forecast for October to March, the chance to opt out of seasonality adjustments in the next milk year.

  • DC offers incentive for more winter milk

    October 5th 2007

    DAIRY Crest is offering its milk producers who feel they can produce in excess of forecast for October to March, the chance to opt out of seasonality adjustments in the next milk year.

  • Deadline extended for OCDS

    October 5th 2007

    BOOKINGS for the disposal of pre-August 1996 cattle during this calendar year can now be made up until October 31,2007.

  • Deadline extended for OCDS

    2 October 2007

    BOOKINGS for the disposal of pre August 1996 cattle during this calendar year can now be made up until October 31 2007.

  • Deadline extended for OCDS

    2 October 2007

    BOOKINGS for the disposal of pre August 1996 cattle during this calendar year can now be made up until October 31 2007.

  • Demise of set-aside is a chance to look forward

    October 5th 2007

    WHEN Defra announced last week it would follow the EU Commissions plans to reduce set-aside to zero per cent for the 2007-2008 season, a huge cheer could be heard among the farmers of Britain.

  • Department of Transport finally agrees to relaxation of drivers’ hours rules

    3 October 2007

    RULES limiting drivers’ hours have been relaxed in areas outside the foot-and-mouth disease Risk Area to allow important movements of animals, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced.

  • Developing the skills for future leadership

    October 5th 2007

    Pamper poles and kayaking were just some of the challenging activities that faced 40 Young Farmers from Cumbria during their residential training weekend.

  • DFB and Wyke return improved prices to producers

    October 5th 2007

    DAIRY Farmers of Britain has announced milk price increases for conventional, Channel Islands and organic milk.

  • DFB reaches 23.5ppl

    1 October 2007

    DAIRY Farmers of Britain has announced milk price increases for conventional, Channel Islands and organic milk.

  • Don’t leave it too late to change new rules – via Europe

    3 October 2007

    THERE is little point in getting involved in consultation periods for new laws and regulations at a national level – the critical time to suggest changes is at European level.

  • Dutch Carrot and Onion demonstration

    October 5th 2007

    New harvesters featured prominently at the Dutch Carrot and Onion demonstration. While the emphasis is on increased output and quality, manufacturers are looking to simplify the task of the operator. STEVEN VALE reports.

  • E Premium John Deere

    October 5th 2007

    The full details remain under wraps but John Deere will reveal a special version of its 7430 and 7530 tractors. Known as E Premium versions, they feature an innovative electrical system, which provides electrical power of up to 20kW.

  • Eighth case of FMD confirmed – cattle slaughtered on four more farms

    30 September 2007

    FOOT-AND-MOUTH disease (FMD) has been confirmed at premises near Wraysbury, in Surrey, where cattle were slaughtered on suspicion on Saturday

  • Electric spreader

    October 5th 2007

    Elsewhere on these pages there is news of John Deere’s electric tractor. However, while it is suggested that this electric power could be used to power the tractor’s air-conditioning system and other items such as water pumps, etc, the big question is whether the electrical energy can also be used to power attached implements.

  • English trials results

    4 October 2007

    NIDDERDALE SHOW, Pateley Bridge, Open (49 ran): 1, C. Mellin (Oakworth) Maisie, 94 of 100; 2, R. Airey (Trawden) Bet, 91; 3, S. Duckworth (Haslingden) Highcliff Tom, 89, OLF; 4, R. Briggs (Wennington) Wenndale Star, 89; 5, S. Beaton (Nun Appleton) Pershore Glen, 85, OLF; 6, C. Cropper (Water) Roy, 85.

  • English Winter Fair is cancelled

    4 October 2007

    THIS year’s English Winter Fair has been cancelled due to the foot-and-mouth and bluetongue disease outbreaks.

  • Environmental considerations for dairy

    3 October 2007

    THE biggest test for the world’s dairy industry is how it responds to the global environmental agenda.

  • EU legislation may cause trouble for the oat industry

    October 5th 2007

    FURTHER EU legislation governing fusarium mycotoxin levels in cereals destined for human consumption could pose problems for the UK oat industry.

  • EU points to milk quota increase

    October 5th 2007

    EUROPEAN Union Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel is moving towards a significant increase in milk quotas from next April.

  • EU reclaims £100 million of CAP spending

    5 October 2007

    EU member states have misspent CAP money to the tune of £100 million, all of which will now return to the community budget.

  • EU would fund bluetongue vaccine costs

    4 October 2007

    WHEN a vaccine finally does become available for the current strain of bluetongue the EU will fund 100 percent of the vaccine costs and 50 percent of the cost of administering it.

  • Exchange rate favours SPS

    October 5th 2007

    SINGLE Payment Scheme claimants can expect an increase of 2.82 per cent in payment compared with last year.

  • Exchange rate favours SPS payments

    2 October 2007

    SINGLE Payment Scheme claimants can expect an increase of 2.82 per cent in payment compared with last year.

  • Exchange rate favours SPS payments

    2 October 2007

    SINGLE Payment Scheme claimants can expect an increase of 2.82 per cent in payment compared with last year.

  • Fallen stock arrangements remain in place for now

    5 October 2007

    THE arrangements for the collection of fallen stock remained unchanged this week – no entry into farmyards by collectors, and hunt kennels are unable to feed carcases.

  • Farm standard for fusarium control

    October 5th 2007

    A MYCOTOXIN Certification Standard launched at the meeting is designed to be the farm standard for fusarium control with respect to legal compliance and market expectations, according to the company responsible for its development.

  • Farm-fresh produce direct to the door

    October 5th 2007

    Selling good food on-line is the basis of a freshly launched Liverpool-based business, goodfoodstore. The business plans to make maximum use of food produced in the North West, preferably in and around Merseyside and delivered by van to homes in key areas of the region. NEIL RYDER talked to one of its founders Adrienne Taylor and to two of its suppliers.

  • Farming in Japan

    1 October 2007

    JAPANESE farmers may have a loyal Government, protective of its legion of small-scale producers, and consumers who will readily pay more for home-grown food, but like farmers worldwide they are facing a multitude of challenges too.

  • Fella 15m and 18m tedders

    October 5th 2007

    Fella highlights include new 15m and 18m tedders and an impact protection system for its latest triple mower.

  • Figures show generic milk advertising works

    October 5th 2007

    MILK marketing in Scotland has been credited with helping to generate an additional 100 million litres of milk sales over the past four years.

  • First Milk delivers

    October 5th 2007

    HAVING already given expectations that its milk price would top 25p by November, First Milk has confirmed a 2ppl rise to its core price to 25.1pp from November 1.

  • Floods and feed push retail prices up

    4 October 2007

    THE price of food has risen by 2.7 per cent this year and is up 0.6 per cent from last month, according to a report from the British Retail Consortium.

  • Floods and feed push retail prices up

    4 October 2007

    THE price of food has risen by 2.7 per cent this year and is up 0.6 per cent from last month, according to a report from the British Retail Consortium.

  • Follow herbicide sequence for optimum weed control

    October 5th 2007

    DIFFICULT arable grass weeds should be treated with a sequence of residual and contact herbicides to achieve optimum control this autumn.

  • Foot-and-mouth and bluetongue latest

    1 October 2007

    OUR constantly updated FG website has all the latest news on the current foot-and-mouth and bluetongue outbreaks, including the new movement controls that came into place this weekend.

  • Forage wagon with a dual purpose

    October 5th 2007

    Strautmann will unveil a new Giga Vitesse forage wagon, the first that also doubles as a trailer for forage maize work.

  • Former vice-president is elected FUW life member

    October 5th 2007

    FORMER Farmers Union of Wales vice-president, Swancott Pugh, of Henblas, Llwyngwril, near Tywyn, Gwynedd, has been elected a life member of the union in recognition of her outstanding contribution over many years.

  • France receives lion's share of CAP funds

    3 October 2007

    FRANCE again received the lion’s share of CAP funds in 2006, confirming why it makes sound economic sense for its Government to be the EU’s most staunch defender of the CAP status quo.

  • France receives lion's share of CAP funds

    3 October 2007

    FRANCE again received the lion’s share of CAP funds in 2006, confirming why it makes sound economic sense for its Government to be the EU’s most staunch defender of the CAP status quo.

  • FTA create new forum on welfare in transit

    October 5th 2007

    A NEW forum to discuss the welfare of animals during transport has been launched by the Freight Transport Association.

  • FTA launch forum on the welfare of animals during transport

    2 October 2007

    A NEW forum to discuss the welfare of animals during transport has been launched by the Freight Transport Association.

  • Fun way for pupils to learn

    4 October 2007

    A NEW user-friendly multimedia resource offers children a fun way to learn about healthy eating and an insight into the ‘field to fork’ cycle of how wheat is grown and used to produce breads and cereals.

  • Government to unveil disease recovery package next week

    4 October 2007

    THE Government is set to unveil a recovery package next week to help farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth and bluetongue outbreaks.

  • Government's search for climate champions

    1 October 2007

    THE Government has launched a nationwide search to find nine ‘climate change champions’ to help promote a healthier and friendlier environment.

  • Grazing monitor

    October 5th 2007

    Following the conclusion of Farmers Guardian’s Grazing Monitor a fortnight ago, we take one last look at the UK’s grass stocks.

  • Greater access to the countryside has all round benefits

    2 October 2007

    OPENING up the countryside has all round benefits and figures strongly in Welsh Assembly plans for greater public access, according to Assembly Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, speaking at a Royal Welsh Showground meeting of local authority officials.

  • Growers sought for ‘closed-loop’ contract on new milling wheat

    October 5th 2007

    GROWERS are being sought to grow a new milling wheat variety, with improved starch potential, on a novel speciality wheat contract this autumn.

  • Handy for the bigger jobs but tough going on softer, wet ground

    October 5th 2007

    This is the second instalment of our long-term test featuring an RTV 900 from Kubota. Cathal McCarron examines how the utility vehicle has handled life on a working dairy farm in Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and looks to see if it is a worthy challenger to the traditional quad favoured on many farms.

  • Helpline numbers

    5 October 2007

    BUSINESS Link is providing practical guidance and helping farmers to identify the best specialist advice available for their specific needs during this the current disease outbreaks.

  • High ground clearance

    October 5th 2007

    Ground clearance is an issue with any sprayer, but a version that offers a clearance of 2m is somewhat unusual.

  • Hilary Benn talks with farmers at Skipton auction mart

    4 October 2007

    HILARY Benn, Defra Secretary, visited Skipton auction mart in Yorkshire today as part of a fact-finding mission to talk to farmers and establish what they want to see happening in the future to alleviate the current situation.

  • Holaras depth control

    October 5th 2007

    An electro-hydraulic depth control of the lifting system is a feature of the UR205 trailed onion harvester from Dutchfirm Holaras.

  • HOYS show jumping October 3

    3 October 2007

    THE talking point of the day was the unique result in the Senior Newcomers.

  • HOYS show jumping October 3

    3 October 2007

    THE talking point of the day was the unique result in the Senior Newcomers.

  • HOYS show jumping October 4

    4 October 2007

    ROBERT Bevis showed top form and an unrivalled turn of speed on Wexford in the Grandstand Media Welcome Stakes to win the class with the fastest of seven double clears, just ahead of Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera.

  • HOYS show jumping October 4

    4 October 2007

    ROBERT Bevis showed top form and an unrivalled turn of speed on Wexford in the Grandstand Media Welcome Stakes to win the class with the fastest of seven double clears, just ahead of Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera.

  • HOYS showing October 3

    3 October 2007

    SHOWING at Horse of the Year Show kicked off to a solid start with some outstanding classes and very popular championships.

  • HOYS showing October 3

    3 October 2007

    SHOWING at Horse of the Year Show kicked off to a solid start with some outstanding classes and very popular championships.

  • HOYS showing October 4

    4 October 2007

    A PLACE reversal from last year put a smile on the face of Lucy Loughton and her mother Sarah when the Section A Halnaker Marten - produced by Sarah and ridden by Lucy - took the Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter of the Year Championship.

  • HOYS showing October 4

    4 October 2007

    A PLACE reversal from last year put a smile on the face of Lucy Loughton and her mother Sarah when the Section A Halnaker Marten - produced by Sarah and ridden by Lucy - took the Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter of the Year Championship.

  • Hybrid barley offers later drilling options to growers looking to increase cereals acreage

    October 5th 2007

    GROWERS looking to increase their cereals acreage this autumn are being reminded of the potential of hybrid barley for later drilling.

  • Improving ringcraft, riding and turn out

    5 October 2007

    FOUR lucky winners got the chance to spend a day with show producers Edward Young and Dinah Rose at their Ashbourne yard, as part of our showing clinic competition. FG went along to see how they fared.

  • Industry must get ready for a future of more diseases

    3 October 2007

    THE number and type of diseases farm animals are exposed to will continue to increase in the future – and farmers, vets and industry bodies must respond if UK agriculture is to survive.

  • International Programme

    2 October 2007

    THE closing date for receiving entries for the Wales YFC 2008 International Programme is October 22.

  • Jackie is NI vintage ploughing champion

    October 5th 2007

    THE 12th annual Northern Ireland Vintage Tractor Ploughing Championships at Hillsborough, were won by Jackie Moore, of Bangor, Co Down.

  • JCB makes best profit last year

    October 5th 2007

    JCB has announced its best profits to date. Pre-tax profits for were up 35 per cent on 2005 from £110million to £149million for last year. Its world market share increased from 9.6 per cent to 10.4 per cent and it became the third largest global construction equipment manufacturer by volume.This was thanks to the numbers of machines being sold increasing by over 10,000 units to 55,000.

  • Jobs at risk at Saputo plant

    October 5th 2007

    A shortage of milk is threatening up to 20 jobs at the former Dansco mozzarella factory. The Newcastle Emlyn plant was bought by Montreal-based international company Saputo after Dansco went into administration earlier this year owing producers £1.5 million – up to £100,000 in some individual cases. Scores of producers severed their contracts and the company now says production has been cut to five days.

  • Joined Up thinking with Kelly

    5 October 2007

    IF you’ve been to a Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks demonstration, you will know how inspiring the horsemanship skills employed by the both are. JILL FALKINGHAM decided to take things one step further and attend a five-day Intelligent Horsemanship course in Oxfordshire to learn those skills for herself

  • Kuhn launches 17.2m tedder

    October 5th 2007

    Kuhn is set to launch the widest working tedder on the market with the introduction of the GF17002. It has a working width of 17.2m uses 16 rotors and has an output of 12ha/hr. There is also a smaller GF13002 - working width 13m using 12 rotors and work rates of 10 hectares/hour.

  • Land sales

    October 5th 2007

    • ARABLE and pasture land at Coole Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire sold to a top price of £6,189 per acre when a total of 387 acres were sold by Wright Manley.

  • Latest disease update

    5 October 2007

    IT is understood that the agriculture secretary, Hilary Benn, could make a statement to the House of Commons next week on a possible compensation package for farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth and bluetongue diseases.

  • Lemken Duramaxx range

    October 5th 2007

    Lemken will unveil a brand new range of plough bodies.

  • Livestock housing and bedding

    October 5th 2007

    High straw prices and concerns over lack of availability have prompted some livestock producers to consider alternative bedding materials this winter. Elizabeth Anderton takes a look at the options.

  • Managing mycotoxins

    October 5th 2007

    A CCFRA-organised seminar, in association with Bayer CropScience, brought together growers, grain end users and scientists at the East of England showground, Peterborough, to discuss new developments in managing mycotoxins. TERESA RUSH reports.

  • Meat exports to resume from end of next week

    3 October 2007

    FRESH meat exports from Great Britain to Europe can resume from October 12, albeit with strings attached to the decision by EU vets.

  • Meat exports to resume from end of next week

    3 October 2007

    FRESH meat exports from Great Britain to Europe can resume from October 12, albeit with strings attached to the decision by EU vets.

  • Milk voucher value must be increased

    3 October 2007

    DAIRY UK has urged the Government to immediately raise the value of its Healthy Start vouchers which currently have a face value of £2.80.

  • Milk voucher value must be increased

    3 October 2007

    DAIRY UK has urged the Government to immediately raise the value of its Healthy Start vouchers which currently have a face value of £2.80.

  • Mower width hits 14.6m

    October 5th 2007

    Trailed mower cutting widths are about to get a good deal wider at this year’s show as JF-Stoll will premiere a version that offers a working width of 14.6m!

  • New Agrotron M series

    October 5th 2007

    Same Deutz-Fahr will replace the current Agrotron 120, 130, 150, 150.7, 165.7 and 180.7 with new Agrotron M series versions. Powered by new Stage IIIa Deutz Common Rail engines and spanning 131 to 191hp, the new versions are known as the M600, M610, M620, M640 and M650. There is no direct replacement for the 150.7.

  • New bluetongue movement controls in place

    30 September 2007

    NEW bluetongue movement restrictions came into place on Sunday morning (September 30).

  • New Energy Crops Scheme open for applications

    1 October 2007

    THE new Energy Crops Scheme has opened for applications, although no grant agreements will be offered until the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 (RDPE) has been approved by the European Commission.

  • New fungicides for OSR project results are revealed

    October 5th 2007

    SUMMARY results for phoma stem canker and light leaf spot control from year two of the HGCA ‘New fungicides for oilseed rape’ project indicate that control of phoma leaf spot was less effective six to nine weeks after the first spray last autumn compared with autumn 2005.

  • New health strategy could hit disease emergency funding

    3 October 2007

    A NEW European Animal Health Strategy will draw together existing legislation and review disease priorities, meaning emergency funding for disease outbreaks like foot-and-mouth and bluetongue could be considerably lower than in the past.

  • New spreading technique for fertilisers

    October 5th 2007

    French-firm Sulky will launch a new range of fertiliser spreaders to replace the current Expert and Magnum versions.

  • NEWS IN BRIEF

    October 5th 2007

    Deadweight prices must rise

  • News in Brief

    1 October 2007

    STAFFORDSHIRE YFC is celebrating a boom in their membership figures, with 148 new people joining clubs across the county over the last twelve months.

  • NFU presses Government for disease recovery package

    2 October 2007

    NFU leaders have been in talks with senior Government officials about a possible recovery package for farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth and bluetongue outbreaks.

  • NIAB warning over stem nematode infection

    4 October 2007

    STEM nematode infection could be a problem for farmers wanting to sow home-saved bean seed this year, NIAB is warning.

  • Nidderdale Show Stockjudging

    4 October 2007

    OVER 78 young farmers across Yorkshire took part in the annual pre Nidderdale Show Stockjudging competitions.

  • Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: Totting up the costs

    October 5th 2007

    DEFRA released its proposals for the revision of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and the Action Programmes that implement them in England, along with a consultation on the proposals, just over six weeks ago on August 21.

  • No two grazing seasons are ever the same

    October 5th 2007

    LOOKING back over the 2007 grazing season the most striking observation that can be made is that there is never such a thing as a normal season.

  • Northern Ireland record smashed by Dorepoll Hereford

    October 5th 2007

    THE Northern Ireland record price for a pedigree Hereford was smashed when the Haire family, Crumlin, Co. Antrim, held the first production sale for the Dorepoll and Triple H Herefords at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

  • Novocat t8 triple mower highlight on pottinger stand

    October 5th 2007

    A new 8.4m triple mower will be the main highlight on the Pottinger stand. Called the Novacat T8, it differs to all other triple systems in that the three mowers have been taken off the tractor and fitted to a frame. What’s more, this frame is connected to the tractor via an 8m-long drawbar, which folds twice to reduce the length to 4m for transport.

  • October's Wales YFC newsletter

    2 October 2007

    WELCOME to the first Wales YFC newsletter, launched specifically in collaboration with the Farmers Guardian website.

  • OSR crops still susceptible to slugs

    October 5th 2007

    GROWERS in the south and east have been advised to stay vigilant as moisture returns to cloddy soils in which high value wheat and oilseed rape crops have struggled to establish. Poor seedbeds have left crops very vulnerable to attack from slugs.

  • Out-wintering cattle and sheep

    October 5th 2007

    This autumn and winter, Farmers Guardian is teaming up with British Seed Houses and Eblex to present a series of Brassica Bulletins that will chart the progress of seven farms across England to demonstrate the potential for out-wintering cattle and sheep on brassica fodder crops. Maize monitor will be appearing fortnightly starting from next week.

  • Parkin

    October 5th 2007

    “A tasty parkin for a chilly day,” says sender Marjorie Spencer of Middleton, Lancashire.

  • Perth bull sales rescheduled

    2 October 2007

    THE date of the autumn bull sales at Perth has been put back by three weeks in the hope that movement restrictions will have eased by then and farmers will be in a better position to buy bulls.

  • Plans for a £4.5 million Regional Agricultural Centre given the go-ahead

    5 October 2007

    PLANS to develop a new £4.5 million Regional Agricultural Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate have been given the go-ahead.

  • Plough-a-thon for Wythall YFC

    2 October 2007

    AN array of vintage and modern tractors along with traditional horse-drawn ploughs competed against each other in Wythall Young Farmers annual ploughing match.

  • Plough-a-thon for Wythall YFC

    2 October 2007

    AN array of vintage and modern tractors along with traditional horse-drawn ploughs competed against each other in Wythall Young Farmers annual ploughing match.

  • PM promises help for the farming industry

    29 September 2007

    THE Prime Minister has pledged the Government will do all it can to ease the regulatory and bureaucratic burden on farmers during this difficult time.

  • Potential solution offered in Welsh fallen stock trial

    October 5th 2007

    THE EU-imposed on-farm animal burial ban has never been a popular move as far as British livestock farmers are concerned – but an alternative disposal method for fallen stock is being trialled in North Wales.

  • Pre-96 cattle worth more

    3 October 2007

    A more favourable euro exchange rate has meant the October OCDS value has increased to £224.76.

  • Pre-96 cattle worth more

    October 5th 2007

    A more favourable euro exchange rate has meant the October OCDS value has increased to £224.76. Last month it was £219.66.

  • Preparations in full swing for breed societies' shows

    October 5th 2007

    HARRISON and Hetherington has breathed a big sigh of relief at the relaxation of the foot-and-mouth restrictions, and is stepping up the organisation of its inaugural Borderway Agri-Expo event in early November. JACK DAVIES takes a look at two breed society calf shows that will form part of the busy programme at the one-day event.

  • Preparing for the healthcheck ...

    October 5th 2007

    THE European Commission document, ‘Preparing for the Health Check of the CAP Reform’, outlines Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel’s thinking on the review process.

  • Prince Charles raises £620,000 for farming charities

    1 October 2007

    THE Prince’s Charities Foundation has raised over half a million pounds for farmers hit by the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak.

  • Prince’s boost to farming charities

    5 October 2007

    COUNTRYWIDE floods, foot-and-mouth disease and bluetongue have come hand-in-hand with record high feed prices and poor farmgate returns this summer leaving many farmers on the brink – both economically and emotionally.

  • Processor levels must have a lower limit than regulations

    October 5th 2007

    FOOD processors will have no choice but to set mycotoxin specification levels below regulatory limits to ensure that final product regulations are met.

  • Prototype mechanical hoe for faster speeds

    October 5th 2007

    The Dutch Arable Research Institute (PPO) revealed the prototype of an in-the-row mechanical hoe.

  • QMS board members deadline nears

    October 5th 2007

    TIME is running out for applications from potential new board members for Quality Meat Scotland. The new board will take over on April 1 next year when QMS becomes a non-departmental public body. It will be made up of a maximum of 12 members, including a chairperson and appointments will be for three or four years with the possibility of re-appointment.

  • Rear-steer axle for carrot lifter

    October 5th 2007

    A steered rear axle option is a feature of Asa-Lift’s new two-row self-propelled carrot harvester.

  • Reasons to extend Bluetongue Control Zone to be outlined on Monday

    6 October 2007

    REASONS why the Bluetongue Control Zone should be extended to cover the whole of the country are expected to be outlined to the NFU Council on Monday by Suffolk county chairman John Collen.

  • RECYCLED PAPER

    October 5th 2007

    Paper-based bedding can be spread after use

  • Regional launches ensure a fresh start for budding farmers

    1 October 2007

    DEVON’S Young Farmers have become the first federation to host a Fresh Start Academy.

  • Relaxation of controls in the south

    2 October 2007

    DEFRA has relaxed the foot-and-mouth status from high-risk to low-risk for a large area of the south east, effective from midnight last night.

  • Rhaglen Rhyngwladol

    2 October 2007

    Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer derbyn ffurflenni cais ar gyfer Rhaglen Rhyngwladol 2008 yw’r 4ydd o Dachwedd.

  • Robust approach required at T3

    October 5th 2007

    EAR or T3 fungicide sprays are currently a compromise between foliar disease top up and ear disease control, according to Dr Alison Daniels of Bayer CropScience.

  • Rural entrepreneur finalists

    October 5th 2007

    FIVE candidates have made it through to the final stages of this year’s Young Rural Entrepreneur competition. Adam Metcalf, Ben and Charlotte Hollins, Neil Harrison, Alison Ashton and George Morgan will be invited to present to a panel of experts in London in a final bid to win the prize of £10,000.

  • Rural voters ‘ignored, neglected’

    October 5th 2007

    RURAL voters were being ignored or neglected by the Government which had an ‘urban agenda and urban attitudes’, claimed Shadow Agriculture Minister James Paice.

  • Rye-grass levels cut by delayed sowing and chemical control

    October 5th 2007

    DELAYED sowing of cereals, together with effective chemical control can significantly reduce rye-grass problems, according to the HGCA, which has just published a new topic sheet on effective, sustainable rye-grass control.

  • Sat-nav to aid busy harvests

    October 5th 2007

    Satellite navigation systems have made huge inroads in the motor industry and these days there can be few car users that do not possess such a system. The tractor looks set to be the next machine to get the navigation treatment with a system from Muller Elektronic.

  • SAWDUST

    October 5th 2007

    Claimed to be cheaper than straw

  • Scottish trials results

    4 October 2007

    Acharacle (Judge: N. Campbell, Kinross) Open - 52 ran – 1, S.L. Davidson, Jim, Sandbank, 96; 2, P. Martin, Maid, Glenlyon, 86 outbye; 3, N. McVicar, Spot, Dunoon, 86; 4, C. Davidson, Tweed, Sandbank, 85; 5, A. McCuish, Moss, Skipness,78 Outbye; 6, I. McConnell, Dan, Appin, 78; Confined – 1, J. Ferguson, Craig, Strontian; 2, B. Tennant, Lynn, Ardgour; 3, B. Tennant, Sam, Ardgour.

  • Scrapie scheme has had a major impact

    3 October 2007

    ALTHOUGH the future of the scheme was in doubt, the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) had achieved great things since its inception and had a major impact on the national sheep flock.

  • Sheepdog trials diary

    4 October 2007

    ENGLAND

  • Small-scale farmers working together to get the best price

    October 5th 2007

    COOPERATION is central to the marketing of all Japanese agricultural products with the vast majority of farmers being members of a co-operative for buying and/or selling.

  • Staffordshire cheese is awarded PDO

    October 5th 2007

    STAFFORDSHIRE Cheese has become the latest UK product to be recognised under EU law for its quality and regional identity.The award of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) means that 36 UK products now enjoy protection under the EU Protected Food Name Scheme. The food names are legally protected on the basis of their link to a specific geographical area or because they are made to a traditional recipe.

  • Stop weeds smothering newly sown leys

    October 5th 2007

    CHICKWEED and seedling docks can have a devastating impact on young grass at this time of year so it is important to act now and stop them, and other weeds, smothering newly sown leys.

  • Subsidy cap will impact co-ops and larger farms

    October 5th 2007

    PLANS to redistribute Single Payment money within member states have been described as ‘potentially divisive’ and ‘unjustified’ by UK farming organisations.

  • Sugar negotiations continue after Farm Ministers agree programme of changes

    October 5th 2007

    THE decision by EU Agriculture Ministers to support plans for changes to the sugar regime restructuring scheme has been backed by the NFU.

  • SW Blonde competition

    October 5th 2007

    THIS year’s South West Blonde Club’s herd competition was judged by Roy Kinnish, Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

  • Taking on the complementary challenge of SPS and environmental stewardship

    October 5th 2007

    The advent of the Single Payment and Higher Level Stewardship scheme has changed the face of Offley Hoo Farm, in Hertfordshire. CLEMMIE GLEESON met farm manager Jon Birchall.

  • Taking on the complementary challenge of SPS and environmental stewardship

    October 5th 2007

    The advent of the Single Payment and Higher Level Stewardship scheme has changed the face of Offley Hoo Farm, in Hertfordshire. CLEMMIE GLEESON met farm manager Jon Birchall.

  • Three newcomers in puma range

    October 5th 2007

    Although the new top end Magnum 335 and Steiger Quadtrac 530 are likely to be the major crowd-pullers at the Case IH stand, the company will use the German show to launch four smaller Puma models to fill the gap between the Maxxum tractors and the smallest of the four Puma tractors launched at SIMA – the Puma 165.

  • Tip/retract hydraulic option

    October 5th 2007

    Swedish tractor loader ALO will reveal a new self-contained hydraulic cylinder/valve option, which allows the attachment to tip/retract without drawing on the oil supply to the main lift rams.

  • Tractor show

    October 5th 2007

    THE National Tractor Show, to be staged in a brand new £million exhibition centre at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on November 3 and 4, will mix old with the new – helping to celebrate 75 years of Perkins engines and more than 70 years of Ransomes MG horticultural crawlers.

  • TREATED WOOD PRODUCTS

    October 5th 2007

    Variety of treated wood-based materials have been developed

  • Two supreme Irish champions

    3 October 2007

    THE two supreme champions of the Irish National Ploughing Championships, staged at Tullamore, Co Offaly, were Willie John Kehoe and John Whelan, of Wexford.

  • UK resources ‘stretched’

    3 October 2007

    THE current foot-and-mouth and bluetongue crises, as well as the continued threat of avian influenza and long-term TB problem, highlighted how stretched UK resources were and how investment had never been more necessary, said BVA president David Catlow.

  • Users can earn BASIS point on new website

    3 October 2007

    ONE BASIS point is available to users of a new autumn agronomy website built by ADAS on behalf of BASF.

  • Variable drilling progress as some still wait for seedbed improvements

    October 5th 2007

    CEREAL drilling progress has been variable across the country with some growers now way ahead, while others have hardly started.

  • V-shaped seed coulter for onion drills

    October 5th 2007

    Kramer Bant has also developed a new seed coulter system option for Gaspardo onion drills. Drill operators are may already be aware that as standard the drills are fitted with a V-shaped design where the seed is placed on to the ground at the bottom of the V. Although this is followed by a rubber press wheel KBM stresses that the big limitation is that the seed is not compacted enough at the bottom of the furrow.

  • Wales YFC NatWest Enterprise Scheme

    2 October 2007

    HOW would you like the opportunity to win up to £900?

  • WASHED SAND AND SEA SAND

    October 5th 2007

    Significant liming value of sea sand

  • Website support for vets

    3 October 2007

    THE high suicide rate for the veterinary profession has promoted the launch of a new support website from the Veterinary Benevolent Fund.

  • Welfare of lambs stranded on hills

    October 5th 2007

    THE Scottish Crofting Foundation has welcomed the efforts being made by the Scottish Government to address the welfare situation of lambs stranded on hills where there is little or no grazing left.

  • Welsh Black Dancoed Cymro follows in his sire’s footsteps

    October 5th 2007

    LIKE father like son, Dancoed Cymro 13 is following in his sire’s footsteps to take the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s 2007 bull of the year award.

  • Welsh trials results

    4 October 2007

    ESKLEYSIDE. Open National: 1, G. Thomas (Llanelli) Moss, 17; 2, D. Evans (Libanus) Jess, 21; 3, G. Coombs (Pontypridd) Spot, 22; 4, K. Evans (Libanus) Mirk, 23; 5, G. Powell (Gladestry) Lad, 25; 6, K. Evans, Spot, 27olf. Novice: 1, D. Evans, Jess, 21; 2, D. Hemmings (Pershore) Bran, 29; 3, Y. Abrey (Llanfilo) Peg, 33.

  • Wheat eases but storage should pay dividends

    October 5th 2007

    AFTER the record high prices seen a month ago ex-farm feed wheat is now trading at around the £165 to £170/tonne mark for November movement, according to Centaur Grain, sales and marketing director, Richard Jenner, this week.

  • Whitchurch’s fund raisers

    October 5th 2007

    MEMBERS of Whitchurch Young Farmers Club have presented a cheque for £2,500 to Shropshire Rural Support. The money was raised through a charity barn dance at Vineyard Farm, Alkington.

  • Whitchurch's fund raisers

    1 October 2007

    MEMBERS of Whitchurch Young Farmers Club have presented a cheque for £2,500 to Shropshire Rural Support.

  • Whole country may be Bluetongue Zone

    5 October 2007

    THE Government and livestock industry are discussing the possibility of turning the whole of England or Great Britain into one Bluetongue Protection Zone.

  • Winning business in Wales

    October 5th 2007

    FOOD and drink producers across Wales are taking part in training sessions aimed at getting their products on to supermarket shelves. The ‘Winning New Business’ programme has been developed under the Welsh Assembly’s Going For Growth programme which helps producers meet the needs of major retailers.

  • Winter linseed profitability could beat oilseed rape

    October 5th 2007

    A seemingly attractive contract for winter-sown linseed is being offered to arable farmers who, it is pointed out, still have time to get it in the ground.

  • WOODCHIP – INDOORS

    October 5th 2007

    Offering health and cleanliness benefits

  • WOODCHIP – OUTDOORS

    October 5th 2007

    ONE serious contender as an alternative bedding solution is woodchip, for use in outdoor corral systems. Some 600 farms are already using the product successfully.

  • Wyke matches the big boys

    1 October 2007

    WYKE Farms has increased its milk price to 27.5p per litre.

  • YFC news round-up

    October 5th 2007

    Lancashire’s birthday

  • Zero set-aside impact to be monitored

    5 October 2007

    THE Government will monitor the environmental impact of the decision to set a zero set-aside rate for 2008, after its key green advisors warned of the ‘serious consequences’ of the decision.

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