Farmers Guardian
September 7th 2007

  • ‘No point increasing yields unless the extra litres are profitable’

    September 7th 2007

    Milk prices are on the up, quota is not a huge concern, milk buyers cannot get enough milk to fulfil contracts – surely it makes sense for all dairy farmers to increase yields? Promar national dairy consultant Derek Gardner takes a look at the best options for this autumn.

  • ‘Tick’ logo sparks row over country or origin labelling

    September 7th 2007

    A ROW has erupted between the heads of the leading farm assurance scheme and new logo scheme, which claims to be the only one offering guarantees about country of origin.

  • ‘Unsustainable situation’ leads the NFU poultry chairman to reconsider

    September 7th 2007

    NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns has admitted he is considering his own future as a poultry producer, as feed costs hit his business hard.

  • A different farm view

    September 7th 2007

    Cheshire Farms Competition has traditionally been awarded to well-run conventional farms, but this year for the first time, it has gone to a unit where a successful open farm diversification targeted at children runs alongside a thriving organic commercial farming business. NEIL RYDER reports.

  • A host of new kit set to be unveiled

    September 7th 2007

    If the early signs are anything to go by then this year’s Agritechnica promises to reward visitors with a host of new products. Ahead of the event Amazone, Grimme and Krone reveal some of the new machines that will be on display. Steven Vale takes a look at some of the highlights.

  • All systems go for new £50m Cumbrian dairy

    September 7th 2007

    DUTCH businessman Ronald Akkerman will announce the preferred revised site for his company’s new £50million dairy in Cumbria in just under two weeks’ time.

  • Another chance to ask the experts

    September 7th 2007

    Following two very successful rounds of calf management meetings, Farmers Guardian has once again teamed up with Intervet, manufacturers of Bovilis Bovipast RSP, and new partner Volac International to offer readers the chance to interrogate experts on a range of calf rearing issues.

  • April 2008 winner

    2 May 2008

    THE winner of the April caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is Tom Whitaker, Park Lane Farm, Preston, Lancashire with:

  • August 2007 winner

    7 September 2007

    THE winner of the August caption competition, who wins £50 of Countrywide vouchers, is Roger Poynton, Bowgage Farm, Grindley, Staffordshire with:

  • August 2008 winner

    29 August 2008

    THE winner of the August caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is John Mellin, Mill House Farm, Skipton, with:

  • Beef clubs should spread the message

    4 September 2007

    THE beef industry is in need of rescue says the National Beef Association and the processing and retail sectors have the ideal vehicle on which to acknowledge a 21-24p/kg deadweight is needed and prevent store cattle sellers taking the hit.

  • Beef clubs should spread the message

    4 September 2007

    THE beef industry is in need of rescue says the National Beef Association and the processing and retail sectors have the ideal vehicle on which to acknowledge a 21-24p/kg deadweight is needed and prevent store cattle sellers taking the hit.

  • Beef clubs should spread the message

    4 September 2007

    THE beef industry is in need of rescue says the National Beef Association and the processing and retail sectors have the ideal vehicle on which to acknowledge a 21-24p/kg deadweight is needed and prevent store cattle sellers taking the hit.

  • BHS Diamond Jubilee triptych originals to be auctioned at AHT Awards

    6 September 2007

    THE original paintings in the British Horse Society’s (BHS) Diamond Jubilee Triptych are to be auctioned at the Animal Health Trust Equestrian Awards Ceremony in November.

  • Broadening horizons thanks to scholarship

    5 September 2007

    FOUR young farmers from across Wales are benefiting financially from this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship.

  • Call for Government help to bridge shortfall in wheat and oats production

    September 7th 2007

    A BRITISH organic cereal producer is calling on the Government to help bridge the shortfall in supply of UK grown wheat and oats.

  • CALLING ALL CALF REARERS

    September 7th 2007

    For the third time Farmers Guardian has teamed up with Intervet Animal Health to offer a series of calf management meetings involving a range of industry experts.

  • Challenging year for Countrywide Farmers

    September 7th 2007

    AN £11.2 million sale of surplus freehold land has boosted Countrywide Farmers results for the year to May 31, 2007.

  • Changes could lead to water savings for agricultural sector

    4 September 2007

    WATER savings of up to 50 per cent could be made in the agricultural sector by applying innovative changes to the irrigation infrastructure and technological investments according to a European Commission report published last week.

  • CHOCOLATE POTS

    September 7th 2007

    “THIS is a very easy recipe for lovers of chocolate,” says Janet Skidmore, of Gunvil Farm, Wymondham, Norfolk.

  • Claybury make it five in a row

    September 7th 2007

    CLAYBURY Texels have won the overall championship in the Shropshire and Borders Texel Club flock competition for the fifth year running, along with winning the best gimmers award.

  • Considering the European market in milk mergers

    September 7th 2007

    THE British liquid milk market is not insulated from possible European trade and should not be treated as such, says a new report.

  • County Fermanagh breeders take Charolais show top titles

    September 7th 2007

    THE tenth anniversary of the Northern Ireland national Charolais show at Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona, saw Co Fermanagh breeders walk off with the major titles when Adrian Richardson from Maguiresbridge took the supreme female title and Stewart and David Bothwell from Ballinamallard were awarded the supreme male title.

  • Crops Storage

    September 7th 2007

    POOR storage continues to be potentially a weak link for quality in the cereal supply chain. However a new £1.3 million LINK project, funded jointly by Defra and industry, is aiming to find solutions to current storage challenges. TERESA RUSH reports.

  • Dairy farm goes for over £9,000/acre

    6 September 2007

    A 215-acre north Shropshire dairy farm has been sold to an Irish buyer in excess of £9,000 per acre.

  • Dairy producers can beef up returns from calves and cull cows

    September 7th 2007

    THE message at the ‘beef from the dairy herd’ exhibition – a regular feature at the Dairy Event – will be that there are many more opportunities for dairy farmers to make better returns from beef.

  • December 2007 winner

    4 November 2008

    THE winner of the December caption competition, who wins £50 of Countrywide vouchers, is Linda Slater, North Whitehouse Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland with:

  • Defra update on fmd restrictions

    4 September 2007

    THE timetable for the UK’s return to foot-and-mouth disease free status has been updated.

  • Defra update on FMD restrictions

    September 7th 2007

    IT looks like all will be back to normal from Monday – with the exception of exports to third countries outside Europe.

  • Demand for organic food and drink soars – up 22pc last year

    September 7th 2007

    SALES of organic food and drink continue to rocket with 22 per cent growth last year bringing total annual sales to £2billion.

  • Drainage problems at Pirbright known about for four years

    7 September 2007

    PROBLEMS with the drainage system at Pirbright, which almost certainly caused last month’s foot-and-mouth outbreak, were known about for the past four years, it emerged on Friday.

  • Early wheat results reveal lower quality

    September 7th 2007

    WHEAT protein content and hagberg falling numbers are lower this harvest than last, according to preliminary figures from this season’s HGCA cereal quality survey.

  • Early wheat sample results show lower quality

    4 September 2007

    THE first set of results from this season’s HGCA cereal quality survey suggest that early harvested wheat samples show a reduction in wheat quality on last year with an decrease in hagberg falling number and protein content.

  • Elite Holstein bulls on offer at Borderway

    6 September 2007

    ELITE Holstein bulls will be on offer at the Borderway Mart, Carlisle on September 17.

  • End to set aside ‘a wildlife and environmental disaster’ claim

    7 September 2007

    THE end of set aside would be disastrous for farmland birds and other wildlife and could undermine the positive impacts of agri-environment programmes.

  • English Sheepdog Trials results

    September 7th 2007

    FYLDE, Hall Trees Farm, Chipping, Saturday Open (64 ran): 1, C. Cropper (Water) Roy, 95 of 100; 2, Michael Longton (Quernmore) Monty, 931¼2; 3, A. Kyme (Lumb) Floss, 93, olf; 4, J. Cropper (Deerplay) Fleet, 93; 5, H. Gorst (Calder Vale) Bess, 921¼2; 6, L. Cowper (Threlkeld) Gael, 91.

  • Estuaries may get SAC status

    September 7th 2007

    THREE estuaries – the Dee, Humber and Severn – have been earmarked by the Government as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect vulnerable wildlife and habitats. Defra has written to the European Commission to seek SAC status to add to the UK’s 611 SACs covering just over 2.5 million hectares.

  • Farm Health Planning area

    September 7th 2007

    TAKING inspiration from the Defra initiative, a new feature at this year’s Dairy Event will be a Farm Health Planning area promoting positive health planning in the dairy and beef sectors.

  • Farming cleans up its act on pollution and ‘green’ issues

    September 7th 2007

    FARMING is becoming a cleaner, greener industry – serious pollution incidents within the industry fell by 35 per cent to their lowest level last year.

  • February 2008 winner

    29 February 2008

    THE winner of the February caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is Robert Wornham, Buntingham, North Hertfordshire with:

  • Feed price crisis explained...

    September 7th 2007

    Feed ingredient prices rocket

  • Finalists line up to challenge each other for this year’s Gold Cup

    September 7th 2007

    Six herds have been shortlisted for this year’s RABDF/NMR Gold Cup – half of which have been finalists before, and half of which have qualified for the first time.

  • First Milk to increase core price

    6 September 2007

    FIRST Milk is increasing its core milk price by 2.5ppl from October 1 and appears confident that its producer price will top 25ppl from November 1.

  • First Milk to increase core price

    6 September 2007

    FIRST Milk is increasing its core milk price by 2.5ppl from October 1 and appears confident that its producer price will top 25ppl from November 1.

  • Friesian overhaul

    September 7th 2007

    The British Friesian breed evaluations underwent the same recent overhaul as the other dairy breeds with the figures released in the August proof run.

  • Going organic to ensure farm’s future

    September 7th 2007

    Always one for a challenge, Dairy Shorthorn breeder James Robinson is enjoying the experience of converting to organic. KATIE LOMAS went to find out how the farming enterprise has had to evolve since the decision was made to implement the changes.

  • Good reasons to think today about the Power of Attorney

    4 September 2007

    FARMERS and rural businesses are being warned that time is running out to protect their properties and business affairs in the face of new Government legislation.

  • Good reasons to think today about the Power of Attorney

    4 September 2007

    FARMERS and rural businesses are being warned that time is running out to protect their properties and business affairs in the face of new Government legislation.

  • Good times ahead for UK dairying, says bank’s Steve Ellwood

    September 7th 2007

    THE future of a sustainable dairy industry lies in properly developed supply chains and competitiveness in a globally influenced market.

  • Grazing Monitor

    September 7th 2007

    Should I graze or should I cut now?

  • Group seeks to unite all Tesco milk producers

    September 7th 2007

    A group of North West dairy farmers supplying Tesco via Robert Wiseman Dairies want to form a dedicated Tesco producers group and forge closer links with the supermarket.

  • Heathersedge Eurovision on song again at CHAPS championships

    September 7th 2007

    IN what must be turning into a golden year for Wayne Thorneycroft and Mrs Ibbotson’s Heathersedge Eurovision, the five-year-old mare added the Clarendon Coloureds Ridden Horse of the Year title to her Royal International ribbons at the CHAPS championships.

  • Heckingham Blondes help ‘complete the farming circle’ where commercial and environmental needs blend well

    September 7th 2007

    WHEN Nick Roberts bought Heckingham Hall in Norfolk five years ago it fulfilled a lifelong dream. From six generations of farmers, agriculture was in his blood.

  • Highest level of microdochium seedling blight for nine years after mild spring and wet weather

    September 7th 2007

    EARLY results from NIAB’s seed testing laboratory in Cambridge are showing that microdochium seedling blight is at its highest level in seed lots since 1998.

  • Improving pregnancy rates through fatty acids

    September 7th 2007

    FEEDING dietary fatty acids can improve pregnancy rates and research into the issue very rarely shows negative results.

  • Increase and schedule heat detection periods

    September 7th 2007

    HEAT detection is a big problem in large dairy herds where manpower is an issue, said Chris Watson from the Wood Veterinary Group, Gloucester, and a simple management system needs to be adopted with some scheduled means of tackling the issue.

  • Is your diet in good physical shape?

    September 7th 2007

    MILK producers should pay as much attention to the physical composition of the diet as they do to the nutrient analysis if they want to get the most from their cows this winter.

  • It’s vital to protect against pneumonia

    September 7th 2007

    When integrated into a wider calf management programme, pneumonia vaccines can play an important part in protecting young animals from damaging respiratory diseases. JOANNE PUGH takes a look at the latest advice and the different products on the market.

  • January 2008 winner

    1 February 2008

    THE winner of the January caption competition, is Lisa Thompson, Whitby, North Yorkshire with:

  • Jim Cropper and Fleet’s clear win in Fylde double gather

    September 7th 2007

    JIM Cropper and Fleet were the clear victors of the Fylde double gather championship on Sunday at Hall Trees Farm, Chipping, Lancashire.

  • July 2008 winner

    25 July 2008

    THE winner of the July caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is Richard Swindell, Bakewell, Derbyshire, with:

  • June 2008 winner

    26 June 2008

    THE winner of the June caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is David Forrest, Higham, Burnley, Lancashire, with:

  • Keeping Chickens

    September 7th 2007

    In the second part of our smallholder feature on starting out with chickens CLEMMIE GLEESON looks at breeding, hatching and the problem of unwanted cockerels.

  • Keeping somatic cell counts and bactoscans low – consistently

    September 7th 2007

    Having finished in the top four of a national milk quality competition for the past three years – and most recently winning it outright – Adrian Beresford knows a thing or two about keeping somatic cell counts and bactoscans low. JOANNE PUGH reports.

  • Kendall condemns ‘crass and ill-informed’ BRC comments

    September 7th 2007

    PETER Kendall has accused the British Retail Consortium (BRC) of making ‘crass and ill-informed’ comments about the crisis facing livestock farmers.

  • Lancashire Wildlife Trust seed Day

    6 September 2007

    LANCASHIRE Wildlife Trust is celebrating Organic Fortnight (September 1-16), on September 12, with a seed collecting and sowing day at its Tonge Moor allotment site.

  • Liebherr dealer network expands

    September 7th 2007

    Liebherr has expanded its dealer network with a new depot near Cannock, Staffordshire.

  • Lifting of final FMD restrictions brings some cheer for Defra

    7 September 2007

    CHIEF Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds, was able to unveil some good news on a terrible day for Defra and its Institute of Animal Health.

  • Lincoln to host BRC National Championships September 8-9

    6 September 2007

    THE British Riding Clubs (BRC) National Championships, the largest of their kind in the UK, will take place at the Lincolnshire Show Ground on September 8-9.

  • Llawhaden’s sporting prowess

    4 September 2007

    PEMBROKESHIRE’S young farmers have been busy proving their sporting skills both on and off the pitch, competing at rugby, netball, badminton, rounders and basketball, as well as indoor sports such as darts, pool, and board games.

  • Longevity the key

    September 7th 2007

    Taking care of his cows, machinery, parlour and land is a prime concern

  • Mackinnon and Nan’s run

    September 7th 2007

    EWEN Mackinnon and Nan’s second-placed run in the Scottish National sheepdog trials should have been reported last week as:

  • Maintaining a profitable balance in arable and milk

    September 7th 2007

    The RABDF/NMR Gold Cup – one of the highest accolades in the dairy industry – is awarded each year at the Dairy Event, the winner selected from a shortlist of top dairy herds in the country. Ahead of this year’s presentation, Simon Wragg went to catch up with the 2006 winner – Grosvenor Farms’ Hatton Heath herd.

  • Maize monitor – countdown to harvest 2007

    September 7th 2007

    WHILE the vast majority of crops remain weeks away from any chance of harvest, there are signs of cobs yellowing in some of the better crops on very favourable sites, which at least shows the beginning of starch deposition. Warmth and sunshine would accelerate the process, and the variability being reported across the country means it will be all the more important this year to inspect individual crops regularly.

  • Maltsters ‘react responsibly’ to barley quality

    September 7th 2007

    UK winter malting barley crop quality is average to good, say grain traders Gleadell. Moisture and nitrogen levels are higher than last year and barley size is plumper, although hectolitre weights are disappointing, reflecting lower yields.

  • March 2008 winner

    28 March 2008

    THE winner of the March caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is Timothy Mason, Park Farm, Stowmarket, Suffolk with:

  • Marts up to the challenge

    September 7th 2007

    Borderway Mart at Carlisle will host a brand new event this November for beef and lamb producers. Ahead of the event KATIE LOMAS takes a look at what the busy autumn sales calendar might have in store for both Carlisle and other markets across the country.

  • May 2008 winner

    30 May 2008

    THE winner of the May caption competition, who receives a £50 high street voucher is James Handford, Buxworth, High Peak, Derbyshire, with:

  • MEPs propose ban on Brazilian beef

    6 September 2007

    MEPs representing farmers across from parts of the UK and Ireland have proposed a complete ban on Brazilian Beef imports.

  • Milk choice for schools

    September 7th 2007

    FLAVOURED milks can be sold in schools from September 10 when new regulations come into force in England.

  • Milk co-ops raise their producer prices again

    September 7th 2007

    THE milk co-operatives – or at least two of them – have announced further producer price increases for October and are snapping at the heels of the big processors’ increases.

  • Milk supplement

    7 September 2007

    FIND out the latest information on rearing calves and choosing pneumonia vaccines. Look at innovative dairy products hitting the market in the near future. And read about the old favourites and new features planned for this year’s Dairy Event at the NAC.

  • Monitoring and managing dairy cow body condition

    September 7th 2007

    Monitoring and managing dairy cow body condition is not just about minimising the inevitable negative energy balance in early lactation.

  • More money from Milk Link

    5 September 2007

    MILK Link members' liquid and manufacturing producer prices will rise by an average 4.6ppl from October 1.

  • More money from Milk Link

    5 September 2007

    MILK Link members' liquid and manufacturing producer prices will rise by an average 4.6ppl from October 1.

  • Multi-lingual dairy farm training dvd from the MDC

    5 September 2007

    A NEW, free, 12-language DVD to assist dairy farmers training students or farm workers – who increasingly might be from Eastern Europe – is available from the MDC.

  • New fears over OCDS scheme

    September 7th 2007

    FRESH concerns have emerged over the ability of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) to cope with numbers before it closes at the end of next year.

  • New Products - Alan Sayle Associates

    September 7th 2007

    THE production of alkalage (from cereal crops) and oxylage (from grass, clover and other green crops) will be promoted by Alan Sayle Associates, due to the launch of a new additive.

  • New Products - SCA NuTec

    September 7th 2007

    A FEED additive in the form of a sugar mineral complex – Amino Gold – will be launched by SCA NuTec to offer dairy farmers a way to improves rumen efficiency, increase milk yields and lift constituents.

  • New Products at this years Dairy Event

    September 7th 2007

    THE latest information from a new programme analysing maize silage in greater depth will be available to visitors to the David Bright stand. The work is being conducted by the company in conjunction with Edinburgh University and Bruce Woodacre, a ruminant nutritionist, to establish how different types of maize behave in the digestive system and to identify different types of starch. Research up to this point suggests particle size (the amount of processing of the grains in the ...

  • New Products- Genus ABS

    September 7th 2007

    CLAIMED to be the ‘most comprehensive system in the world for making genetic mating decisions’, GMS GenoMate will be launched in the UK by Genus ABS.

  • New products: Aqualution

    September 7th 2007

    A SYSTEM used elsewhere in agriculture is being made available to the dairy industry with a launch at the Dairy Event.

  • New Products: JohnsonDiversey

    September 7th 2007

    A SYSTEM claimed to be the biggest development in circulation cleaning for over 20 years, reducing the problems of waste packaging and greatly improving operator safety, will be launched by JohnsonDiversey.

  • New Products: Kingshay

    September 7th 2007

    A NEW, national study will be published by Kingshay at the Dairy Event, revealing that many dairy herds incur less than a third of the annual veterinary and medicine costs of others.

  • New Products: Scheme aims to make most of calves

    September 7th 2007

    JOANNE PUGH takes a look at the wealth of new products being launched at this year’s Dairy Event.

  • New Youth Forum leader

    4 September 2007

    HEDYDD Davies from Bro’r Dderi YFC has been elected as the new Youth Forum leader.

  • New Zealand halts promotional pressure on lamb market

    September 7th 2007

    THERE will be no further Meat and Wool New Zealand media promotion of New Zealand lamb in the British market this year.

  • NFU and NPA join forces to lobby for higher pig and poultry prices

    4 September 2007

    THE NFU and the National Pig Association have joined forces to campaign for higher prices for pig and poultry farmers in response to soaring feed costs.

  • November 2007 winner

    30 November 2007

    THE winner of the November caption competition, who wins £50 of Countrywide vouchers, is Lisa Todd, Linden Bowling Green, Lymington, Hampshire with:

  • October 2007 winner

    2 November 2007

    THE winner of the October caption competition, who wins £50 of Countrywide vouchers, is Nigel Hawcroft, Crewe, Cheshire, with:

  • On-farm lameness scoring is ‘quick, cheap and easy’

    September 7th 2007

    GETTING cows walking back to health using a system of on-farm lameness scoring is great for cow welfare and ultimately farmers’ pockets, as the average lameness case costs well over £180.

  • Organic milk summit: Supply and demand

    September 7th 2007

    THE annual organic milk summit, hosted by the OMSCo, will be at this year’s event for the second year running.

  • Pay-as-you-go scheme aims to keep down cost

    September 7th 2007

    It is now a year since Stockmen UK – an association catering for the needs of professional herd managers and herdsmen – was created. KATIE LOMAS found out how it had changed and evolved in that time.

  • Pirbright breaches ‘indefensible’ - Kendall

    7 September 2007

    THE NFU has described breaches in biosecurity at Pirbright that it is thought caused the foot-and-mouth outbreak as ‘indefensible’.

  • Pirbright lapse: Brown’s pledge to avoid repeat

    6 September 2007

    THE Government has pledged to tighten biosecurity controls at its research laboratories, after investigators identified a faulty drainage system at Pirbright as the likely source of last month’s foot-and-mouth outbreak.

  • Plan now to reduce reliance on straw bedding

    September 7th 2007

    PLANNING now to cut reliance on straw bedding this winter should not only reduce costs but also increase options for winter feeding during what could be a scarce year for quality forage.

  • Plans to merge rules on pesticide use

    September 7th 2007

    LOCAL authority, industrial and amenity users of pesticides will face the same record-keeping requirements as farmers and growers under a new proposal put forward by the Pesticides Safety Directorate and the Welsh Assembly.

  • Plant a ‘Choice’ daffodil

    September 7th 2007

    A NEW variety of daffodil has been created exclusively for Marie Curie Cancer Care and is available this autumn. The bulb has been named ‘Choice’ to reflect the charity’s aim to give more people the choice to die at home.

  • Polaris plugs its ATV power and price gap

    September 7th 2007

    Ranger utility gets an extra row of seats

  • Potato maincrop plantings up on 2006

    September 7th 2007

    THE maincrop potato area is up this season on last, with a number of newer pre-pack varieties showing substantial increases in plantings, according to the latest planting and variety figures from the British Potato Council.

  • Preserving balance is not a backward step

    September 7th 2007

    THIS piece is about urban rule over rural matters, but as I sit down to write foot-and-mouth disease has once again entered our lives causing press-driven panic and rebellion by both walkers and the early morning dog defecators (know who I mean?)

  • Price rise needed to sustain lamb production – NSA

    September 7th 2007

    RETURNS in finished lamb markets and deadweight centres continue to disappoint with a seemingly erratic trade in some areas and severe penalties for lambs outside preferred weight specification.

  • Promote Fair Trade for a £1,000 chance

    September 7th 2007

    Farmers Guardian is looking to reward readers who have done the most work to promote the Fair trade for British farmers Campaign.

  • Record Cheshire land price

    6 September 2007

    ALMOST £21,000 per acre was achieved for 7.24 acres of land sold as part of Little Moss Farm, Great Warford, Alderley Edge.

  • Regaining control over the cost of winter feeding

    September 7th 2007

    REGAINING control over the cost of feeding this coming winter is becoming a major priority in the face of widespread price rises.

  • Revolutionary cold store is Branston’s ‘jewel in the crown’

    September 7th 2007

    A £5 MILLION investment programme by potato supplier Branston Ltd has just been completed and the company now boasts one of the industry’s most revolutionary cold stores.

  • Rot control in potatoes a big concern

    September 7th 2007

    THE coming potato storage season is set to be a challenging one with control of rots likely to be a major concern, says the British Potato Council, which has issued some guidelines to help storekeepers.

  • Royal opening of the event

    September 7th 2007

    The Dairy Event is returning to the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, later this month, on Wednesday, September 19 to Thursday, September 20, with many of the familiar sights from previous year plus some new attractions and features.

  • Scottish Sheepdog Trials results

    September 7th 2007

    Atholl and Weem (Judge: B. Alexander, Kinross) Open, 50 ran: 1, K. Wood, Drift, Blairlogie, 95; 2, J.A. MacLeod, Garry, Killin, 94; 3, J. Crockard, Jodie, Charleston, 92 outbye; 4, A. McKenzie, Tib, Lochgoilhead, 92; 5, W. McAllister, Ben, Milton of Buchanan, 91; 6, R. Simpson, Molly, Duchlage, 91.

  • Second success for Daniel at TREC British Championships

    6 September 2007

    DANIEL Nolan from Rugby won the Level 3 Individual class at the 2007 Barnsby BHS TREC Championships of Great Britain, just weeks after his win at the Chevron BHS TREC Welsh Championships.

  • September 2007 winner

    28 September 2007

    THE winner of the September caption competition, who wins £50 of Countrywide vouchers, is Tony Nicolson, Bolt Meadow, Greenfield, Lancashire, with:

  • Sheepdog Trials Diary

    September 7th 2007

    6, 7 & 8 September. LONGSHAW Open with championship, Longshaw Pastures, Grindleford Road, Sheffield, 7.30am start, entry closed.

  • Shop welcomes its 50th family farm

    September 7th 2007

    HARROGATE’S first ‘urban farm shop’, Weeton’s, is celebrating two years of support to local farmers by welcoming its 50th family farm supplier.

  • Show successes prompted the change in tack

    September 7th 2007

    Despite his family having a long history with Ayrshire cattle, Duncan Hunter made the decision in the late 1990s to move away from the breed and start investing in Holstein genetics instead. JOANNE PUGH went to find out why he soon made a U-turn, and is now actually breeding more coloured cows than black and white ones.

  • Shows update

    September 7th 2007

    A relaxation in livestock movement regulations means show societies can now confirm if livestock classes will be running as normal at their events.

  • Skipton dogs to 2,300gns

    September 7th 2007

    A two-year-old dog from Sean Richards, Hapton, Lancashire, achieved the top price of 2,300gns at Skipton Mart’s summer sale of working sheepdogs. The buyer was Robert Garth and Sons, Keasden, Clapham.

  • SPS 2005 a ‘master-class in bad decision-making’ – MPs

    6 September 2007

    DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has come in for yet more stinging from MPs for their handling of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme.

  • Still waiting for exports paperwork

    September 7th 2007

    EXPORTS of dairy products around the globe, post foot-and-mouth, might be permitted, but are not happening because exporters cannot get the necessary paperwork from Defra.

  • Supermarket Watch

    September 7th 2007

    How the big four are responding to the feed price crisis, according to the NFU and NPA.

  • Tesco leads the way on pig and poultry prices

    6 September 2007

    TESCO is leading the response to pig and poultry producers’ call for higher prices to reflect rocketing feed costs.

  • Tesco leads the way on pig and poultry prices

    September 7th 2007

    With the pig and poultry sectors at breaking point due to the unprecedented rise in feed costs, the National Pig Association and the NFU have come together to campaign for higher prices. ALISTAIR DRIVER reports.

  • Things set to become worse for brassica growers

    5 September 2007

    THE difficult growing season so far encountered by brassica growers is set to become even worse with high levels of leaf disease prevalent earlier than normal this year, according to Andy Richardson of the Allium and Brassica Centre (ABC).

  • Three key steps to success

    September 7th 2007

    There were some practical tips for herbicide resistance management this season to be had at the Bayer Crop Science/Farmers Guardian Weed Focus conference on the future of cereal weed control . TERESA RUSH reports.

  • Traders’ grain search as wheat market soars

    September 7th 2007

    GRAIN traders are finding it difficult to find anything to buy.

  • VI spray scheme targets exceeded

    September 7th 2007

    FARMERS and spray operators involved in the Voluntary Initiative have been congratulated for their part in exceeding the scheme’s targets.

  • Vintage tractor drive

    September 7th 2007

    VINTAGE tractor enthusiasts are set to gather in Nantwich, Cheshire, at the end of the month for a charity drive organised by Crewe and Nantwich Lions Club to raise money for a new cancer treatment unit at Crewe’s Leighton Hospital.

  • Visitor centre investment

    September 7th 2007

    THE Scottish Executive has approved a £10million investment for the Gateway Visitor Centre at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. The new funding means the garden has reached its £15.7m funding target and that building work can start in the next few weeks.The Gateway is an all-weather visitor centre using state of the art technology to help the public connect to the world of nature and environmental issues.

  • Warm, wet summer prompts a major rat alert

    September 7th 2007

    WATCH out for larger than normal rat pressures on your newly-harvested grain this season, farmers have been warned by UK rodent behaviour experts.

  • Watch out for tree bee

    September 7th 2007

    AN unusual species of bumble bee, first found in the south of England six years ago, has now been spotted in the north east.

  • Welfare and cost benefits from extended lactations

    September 7th 2007

    The decline in fertility and the problems it poses for UK dairy farmers was the underlying theme of the ‘Fertility in Dairy Cows’ conference held at Liverpool Hope University. KATIE LOMAS reports.

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trials results

    September 7th 2007

    BARMOUTH Nursery: 1, H. Pritchard (Criccieth) Bet; 2, C. Humphreys (Pennal) Ben II; 3, D. Mackay (Carmel) Gwen; 4, A. Gilchrist (Tregeiriog) Moss.

  • Win a wheat bale prize

    September 7th 2007

    This giant 30ft Weetabix scarecrow has been built in one of Paul Turney's fields alongside the M1, near Northampton, to launch a national competition, run in conjunction with the National Farmers Union. Farmers can win up to £3,000 by creating on-farm sculptures from wheat bales. For more details visit www.weetabix.co. uk/farmer/howto enter.php

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