Farmers Guardian articles from August 2008

Farmers Guardian archives from August 2008

World trade talks collapse brings mixed reactions.
August 1, 2008... * Deal would have cost EU E30million * Bilateral trade agreements fear By Jack Davies WORLD trade talks collapsed in Geneva this week much to the delight of European farmers who had feared a deal could have resulted in a surge of...

Exporters and ferry operator in trouble as trade grinds to a halt.
August 1, 2008... * Last shipment was two weeks ago * Calves due for export are shot By William Surman BRITAIN'S calf export industry has entered into its second week without business. As trade has ground to a halt, thousands of calves due for...

EU says no to export ban.
August 1, 2008... EU vets decided not to impose formal sanctions on the export of calves from the UK last week after Defra argued restrictions were not necessary. Europe's Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) were considering action...

The infected farm.
August 1, 2008... THE 12 calves that tested positive for TB in Holland came from a farm in Worcestershire. While the precise location of the farm has not been revealed, FG understands it is close to TB hotspot Broadway. The Independent Scientific Group...

Pitfalls of involving the European Commission in TB.
August 1, 2008... FRUSTRATED with Defra's efforts to control TB, many industry leaders have turned to the European Commission for help. However, there are possible pitfalls of involving the Commission: The main tool the Commission holds over the UK is...

Bluetongue complacency fears.
August 1, 2008... * Vaccination scheme a success so far By Joanne Pugh THE uptake of bluetongue vaccine was at such a high level, the vaccination programme was at risk of becoming a victim of its own success, said Peter Morris, chief executive of the...

Increased supply could cause crop prices to fall.
August 1, 2008... WHEAT and barley plantings have seen a significant increase this year, fuelling speculation that increased supply could bring prices down. The figures from the HGCA Planting Survey also show the set-aside area has fallen dramatically...

Row threat over plans to replace set-aside.
August 1, 2008... A NEW row has threatened to break out between farmers and conservation groups after Environment Secretary Hilary Benn gave his backing to controversial plans to replace set-aside. The measures, included in a range of options in Sir Don...

Call to keep GM trial site locations out of the public domain.
August 1, 2008... SOME of Britain's leading GM researchers have called on the Government not to reveal GM field trial locations to the public. Prof Howard Atkinson, from Leeds University, had been conducting the only GM trial to be approved by the Government...

Government aims to bring down production barriers.
August 1, 2008... * UK agricultural industry a huge asset By Jack Davies FARMERS should be given the tools to make decisions based on the market and be allowed to produce `as much food as possible', claimed Chancellor Alistair Darling during a visit to...

GM facts.
August 1, 2008... * Since 2000 the UK has conducted 54 GM field trials and nearly all have been vandalised by activists. There are still no commercially grown GM crops in the UK. * GM crops have been grown commercially worldwide since 1996 and last year...

Welfare issues key on cloned animal products.
August 1, 2008... EU scientists have concluded that milk and meat from cloned animals is safe for human consumption, but concerns over animal health and welfare look set to scupper moves towards using the technology to produce food. Concerns have been...

Fears over handling of aminopyralid products.
August 1, 2008... DOW AgroSciences has asked the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) for a temporary suspension of sales and use of herbicides containing aminopyralid until assurances can be given that the product and subsequent treated forage and resultant...

Co-op's DC cheese buy.
August 1, 2008... FARMER co-operative Long Clawson Dairy has bought Dairy Crest's Stilton and speciality cheese business - including Hartington Creamery. Long Clawson Dairy chief executive Martin Taylor said: "This is a significant step for our small...

Farmers for Action crusading to achieve fairer abattoir prices.
August 1, 2008... FOLLOWING milk producers' lead, beef farmer members of Farmers For Action are urged to participate in a campaign to gain fairer prices from abattoirs. The pressure group has launched a `cost increase' letter which it says should be copied...

CLA launch fly-tipping campaign.
August 1, 2008... * Cleaning up costs #50 million a year By Rachel Connolly A CAMPAIGN to change the law that currently sees landowners footing the #50million bill for clearing fly-tipped rubbish, has been launched by the Country Land and Business...

Fantastic atmosphere at the Game Fair.
August 1, 2008... A RECORD 151,000 people visited The CLA Game Fair over three days at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire - 9 per cent up on previous records. The show, which was cancelled last year, was celebrating its 50th anniversary, which was marked by visits...

Call to move Soil Directive forward.
August 1, 2008... EUROPEAN environmental organisations have challenged the European Union's French presidency to start delivering on its promise to move forward on the Soil Framework Directive. The legislation was stalled last December following rejection of...

EU animal transport review is slammed.
August 1, 2008... THE European Commission has launched a review of the new animal transport regulations - just 18 months after they were introduced. The EC will review the legislation and has launched a public consultation on travelling times and stocking...

National NBA head to stand firm on TB.
August 1, 2008... * Fears over spread of disease to humans By Howard Walsh THE National Beef Association has a new chairman, replacing Duff Burrell, who stood down two weeks ago. In the NBA chair now is Christopher Thomas-Everard, who keeps suckler...

John Dykes is elected RHASS chairman.
August 1, 2008... BEEF and sheep producer John Dykes, of Mendick Lea, South Slipperfield, West Linton, Peeblesshire, has been elected chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. He takes over from Allan Murray, Redden, Kelso, who has...

`Adapting to climate change' hub is launched.
August 1, 2008... A new `one stop shop' aimed at helping public and private organisations adapt to the impact of climate change has been launched by Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock. She said as the climate changed there would be more extreme weather,...

LETTER: Restoring the nation's tidal habitats.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... KING Canute's attempt to resist the sea's advance on the Essex coast is now swathed in fable as much as it is in fact. Guy Smith's knowledge of the RSPB's Wallasea Island project is equally blurred (FG, July 25). Were his claims to be true,...

LETTER: Why should we have to travel?(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... AT the end of June, I received Eblex's latest bulletin listing their `busy schedule of events for summer with the focus on grassland management, beef rationing, sheep worm control and breeding and fertility'. Of the 17 events to October 16...

LETTER: Getting a better price for milk.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... At the end of May, retailers increased milk prices by 4p per litre, but only passed 0.5p per litre back to farmers. From last year, we have seen retailers having their own dedicated farmers to supply their milk. Why? To guarantee supply....

LETTER: Fighting for a fairer deal.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I would like to thank all those dairy farmers who have supported Dairy Farmers of Scotland in their goal to achieve a fair milk price for all. I'd like to urge those who have not yet responded to the DFOS letter to do so as soon as...

EDITORIAL: Was a conclusion ever possible?(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... THE monumental row between the 153 members of the World Trade Organisation on how to liberalise trade has come to a crashing end. Some might say it is about time - talks have stalled and stuttered pretty much since day one and most...

OPINION: Electronic common sense.
August 1, 2008... MODERN electronics and technology are an amazing example of man's innovation and technical advancement over the last century. Anyone who has been around for a major part of the last 100 years will have seen advances that will be difficult...

ANALYSIS: EU proposals threaten crop yields.
August 1, 2008... OVER the past 12 months the world population has swelled by 70 million and global food stocks have plummeted. Farmers have been unable to keep up with the increased demand and the price of core commodities have risen by as much as 60 per...

BUSINESS: Re-launch set for Bernard Matthews.
August 1, 2008... TURKEY giant Bernard Matthews is set to re-launch its brand, focusing on its commitment to championing British agriculture. All products produced by the firm will soon be branded `Bernard Matthews Farm' to reflect the company's pledge to...

BUSINESS: Feeding the troops with locally produced food.
August 1, 2008... BARRY ALSTON met up with the Army's top brass at the Royal Welsh Show - a brigadier with a self-set mission to feed his troops the best food available. * Local supply source base * Improving relations with local farmers AN army...

BUSINESS: Dairy UK cheese merger.
August 1, 2008... DAIRY UK has joined forces with the British Cheese Board (BCB) to provide a stronger voice for the British cheese industry. The merger was formally announced at this week's Nantwich International Cheese Show by Dairy UK director general Jim...

BUSINESS: Uruguay beef initiative.
August 1, 2008... THE Uruguayan beef industry is set to trial a new initiative, with producers selling direct to EU supermarkets and cutting out meat wholesalers. By the end of 2008 the scheme will see supermarkets buying locally packed retail packets of...

BUSINESS: Farmland values soar.
August 1, 2008... FARMLAND values have soared at the highest rate since records began, says the latest survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The first half of 2008 has seen average prices rise by 24 per cent to #5,247 per acre with...

BUSINESS: Pig slurry price soars.
August 1, 2008... PIG slurry is now worth three times what it was has been for the last decade - something that will boost the income of many producers, says Bpex. Bpex's Nigel Penlington said the rise was linked to the soaring cost of fertiliser, ammonium...

BUSINESS: Syngenta investment boost.
August 1, 2008... SYNGENTA is to increase investment in UK manufacturing, research and development by more than #100 million. The investments - part of a global expansion of #300 million - follow on the back of huge customer demand for crop protection...

BUSINESS: First Milk to put Welsh cheese on the map.
August 1, 2008... * Adding value to milk and cutting costs FIRST Milk has launched its first Welsh cheese, hoping to tap into consumer interest in local produce to put Welsh cheese on the map. Launched at the Royal Welsh Show last week, the Pembrokeshire...

BUSINESS: Making use of strong cull sow market prices.
August 1, 2008... PIG farmers have been warned not to keep older sows for too long, especially as the cull sow market is currently strong. Malcolm Stead of ACMC said: "Ideally, most sows should be replaced after their sixth litter, but we are seeing dams...

WORLD NEWS: New Zealand - US economy boosts beef exports.
August 1, 2008... The downturn in the US economy has forced many households to shop for cheaper cuts of meat - giving exporters such as New Zealand an upper hand in the US market. New Zealand exporters ship manufacturing beef to the US, allowing them to...

WORLD NEWS: Argentina - Switch to arable from beef.
August 1, 2008... Argentina is expected to drop out of the world's top three beef exporters this year as farmers increasingly switch to arable crops. The soy boom in the country is seeing more and more farmers get out of beef production, whilst government...

WORLD NEWS: Brazil - Record milk exports.
August 1, 2008... Brazilian milk sales have rocketed, with sales of US$226.8 for the first half of 2008 almost surpassing sales for the whole of 2007. The market is expected to improve next year, with the Brazilian government predicting dairy exports to...

WORLD NEWS: Argentina - Shortfall on beef orders.
August 1, 2008... The Argentinian government has authorised the export of 45,000 tonnes of beef for July - leaving a 32,000 tonnes shortfall on beef ordered from other countries. Meat plants in the country are only allowed to export 70 per cent of the...

WORLD NEWS: New Zealand - Serious feed shortages following drought.
August 1, 2008... Livestock welfare officers have reported a 65 per cent increase in post- drought workload, as serious feed shortages affect farmers in many regions. While there are widespread concerns about the condition of some dairy herds going ...

MACHINERY: The big contender in the combine market.
August 1, 2008... The `mine is bigger and better than yours' battle is about to get a fresh faced contender as New Holland introduces its flagship CR9090 Elevation rotary combine, claiming the title as the worlds largest capacity combine. Mervyn Bailey finds out...

MACHINERY: Fuel efficiency.
August 1, 2008... HEREFORDSHIRE-based 7Y Services has been running fuel efficiency courses to show farm workers how they can save fuel. Potential savings can be as much as #68 per day, #476 per week at harvest and potentially #6,000 per annum. The...

MACHINERY: New dealership.
August 1, 2008... FULLWOOD has expanded its dealer coverage in the South West by appointing Tiverton-based Stoneman Refrigeration. The new dealership will supply the full range of milking and cooling equipment as well as a maintenance and repair service for...

MACHINERY: Hydraulic self-levelling option on JD loaders.
August 1, 2008... JOHN Deere has added a hydraulic self-levelling option for the 583, 633, 653 and 683 front end loaders that were introduced last year. The loaders are suitable for the 72hp 5620 to the 140hp 6830 tractors with lift heights and capacities...

MACHINERY: SL350 joins Hustler range.
August 1, 2008... BROADWOOD International has expanded its range of Hustler bale dispensers with the SL350. This linkage mounted model is suitable for round and square bales and uses a hydraulically operated slat and chain set up to unroll the bale. For...

MACHINERY: Bales galore - all 7,000 of them in one season.
August 1, 2008... * Haylage making diversification * Small bales for the equine market Nick Lane with his son George will wrap 6,000 small sqaure haylage bales this year. FOR the majority of farmers, bale wrapping is usually a job involving scores...

ARABLE: Mixed performances.
August 1, 2008... TWO-ROW feed varieties were generally performing `close to what was expected', said Mr McVittie. "The two highest yielding two-row varieties on the List are Saffron and Retriever, which have both had similar yields to each other so far in...

ARABLE: Long service in Lincolnshire.
August 1, 2008... Three stalwarts of the Lincolnshire pea industry have clocked up an amazing 135 years of service between them, and most of these years for Louth Park Farms, now owned by the Co-op. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

ARABLE: First results in from HGCA Recommended List trials.
August 1, 2008... * 'Pretty good year' for winter barley * Caution needed in interpreting results By Joanna Baker THE first results from this year's Recommended List trials indicate that it has been a `pretty good year' for winter barley, according...

ARABLE: Powdery mildew incidence.
August 1, 2008... SUGAR beet powdery mildew put in its first reported appearance of the season last week, in a crop at Bawdsey in Suffolk. The disease is likely to spread further into Suffolk and south Norfolk and if the warm weather continues is expected to...

ARABLE: Potatoes in practice.
August 1, 2008... THE latest potato-related research and answers to technical challenges faced by growers will be among the highlights of next week's Potatoes in Practice event. Sponsored by the Potato Council and hosted by SCRI, Scottish Agricultural...

ARABLE: Boosting sugar beet yields and controlling disease.
August 1, 2008... A NEW sugar beet fungicide from Syngenta controls all key diseases and can boost sugar yields by up to 120 per cent, says the company. Priori Xtra combines the strobilurin azoxystrobin with the triazole cyproconazole. It is approved for...

ARABLE: On the board at Mylnefield.
August 1, 2008... DAVID Walker, who until March this year was the chairman of the British Potato Council, has joined the board of Mylnefield Research Services (MRS). Mylnefield is the commercial arm of SCRI, Scotland's internationally renowned centre for...

ARABLE: Optimum timings for application.
August 1, 2008... POTATO growers are advised that the window of application for in-crop applications of Fazor (maleic hydrazide) for suppression of volunteer potatoes in subsequent crops is fast approaching. There are, however, a number of criteria that need to...

ARABLE: Speciality OSR opportunities.
August 1, 2008... HIGH Oleic, Low Linolenic (HO,LL) oilseed rape growing is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition for UK growers with the arrival of the third Vistive variety in as many seasons, believes Frontier Agriculture which is including V161OL...

ARABLE: Growers alerted over seed-borne disease problems.
August 1, 2008... * Potential problems for wheat and OSR * Threat of stem nematode in beans GROWERS have been alerted to potential seed-borne disease problems in wheat, oilseed rape and field beans following wet and showery periods at critical times in...

ARABLE: Blight threat means tighter spray intervals.
August 1, 2008... CONSISTENTLY high blight pressure as indicated by a run of Smith Periods throughout the early and mid-season means that spray intervals must be kept tight and robust fungicide treatments with both foliar and tuber blight protection used from...

ARABLE: Direct early warning brassica disease alerts.
August 1, 2008... BRASSICA growers can now receive early warning of impending disease outbreaks direct to their mobile phone with the Syngenta Brassica Alert SMS service. Following trials for the past two seasons, the service alerting growers to the risk of...

FARM FEATURE: Following in mam's footsteps.
August 1, 2008... A cheesemaking family is breaking with tradition. Barry Alston reports. Of all the cheeses made in Wales, Caerphilly - or Caerfilli in its native language - is probably the most famous. Originating from South and West Wales, it was first...

YOUNGSTOCK: Full YFC programme at the Royal Welsh.
August 1, 2008... A hugely prominent YFC presence at the Royal Welsh Show was, as always, a major feature on this year's programme of events at the Builth Wells showground. Danusia Osiowy reports on some of the highlights. Pictures by Marcello Garbagnoli. ...

YOUNGSTOCK: Award will assist Rhun to grow his business.
August 1, 2008... BEEF farmer Rhun Williams of Tregaron, in Ceredigion, scooped #1,000 after he was crowned the winner of the Welsh Livery Guild Young Farmers award. The judging panel said they felt 31-year-old Rhun would benefit the most from the...

YOUNGSTOCK: Furthering their agricultural education.
August 1, 2008... FOUR Welsh YFC members have been announced as this year's recipients of the Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship. Kevin Davies of Llanwenog YFC, Ceredigion, will receive #500 from the scholarship towards a three-week tour of the...

COUNTRY VIEW: Tough cookies but Quail eggs possess delicate flavour.
August 1, 2008... Small is beautiful. Paul Peacock explains that the quail is not only a meal in itself but also lays tasty eggs. To say that quail is `posh' food belies its significance both on the farm and in the kitchen. Sure it is small, and there's...

WORKING DOGS: Jack takes a well-deserved first open win at Gargrave.
August 1, 2008... The Gargrave Show trial was held ahead of schedule at Home House Farm, but with the same Swaledale sheep. With hilly land as the backdrop, most handlers sent left as it took the dogs around to the sheep at the top on a flat route. Those that...

WORKING DOGS: Royal Welsh winner.
August 1, 2008... The Champions of Champions at the Royal Welsh Show was won by 2007 champion James McGee with Becca, ahead of Andrew Carnegie from Scotland with Lark. For the next two days, Qualifying Trials were held on a smallish course set on the hill...

LIVESTOCK: Top Welsh cattle breeders recognised.
August 1, 2008... IN a new award scheme from HCC to celebrate top Welsh cattle breeders, Limousin and Charolais producers have been recognised. The awards are given to the `most progressive' herds that made the most genetic improvement according to Signet...

LIVESTOCK: On-farm trials look at reducing the regulatory burden.
August 1, 2008... * LMU's considered for England and Wales * Possibility of change by 2010 THE latest step in a long wrangle over Livestock Movement Units (LMUs) is a large-scale trial to determine if they can work in a real life situation to reduce...

LIVESTOCK: NMR first.
August 1, 2008... MILK recording company NMR is one of the first three organisations in the world to receive the new ICAR Certificate of Quality for production recording. The new certificate sets rigorous criteria that must be audited every three years,...

LIVESTOCK: Genus tour.
August 1, 2008... OVER 40 international guests from 11 countries have visited the UK to take part in the Genus ABS progeny tour, held annually for the last three years. James Hudson of Genus ABS said: "Seeing numerous daughters performing under a variety of...

LIVESTOCK: Overwhelming response to PCV2 vaccine project.
August 1, 2008... THERE has been an overwhelming response to the British Pig Executive's PCV2 vaccine project, in which pig producers are been given vouchers to purchase the vaccine if they then provide information on its efficacy. Over 391 units have...

LIVESTOCK: Additions to residues committee.
August 1, 2008... THERE have been seven additions to the Veterinary Residues Committee, which advises the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Food Standards Agency on the formulation of residues surveillance programmes and the significance of the results in...

LIVESTOCK: Be on your guard for sheep scab as sales season approaches.
August 1, 2008... FARMERS are being warned to be on guard for sheep scab infestation as the start of the autumn sales season and, therefore, increased sheep movement, gets closer. Autumn sheep movements are a major transmission route, although symptoms may not...

LIVESTOCK: Rodent control in silage is key to reducing infestations.
August 1, 2008... RATS need to be kept out of big bale silage and hay stores if rodent populations are to be reduced from the massive levels seen last winter, says Sorex rodent control specialist Martina Flynn. "Big bale silage and hay stores are ideal...

LIVESTOCK: Limousin chairman.
August 1, 2008... Chairman of the British Limousin Cattle Society is Jim Bloom of the Scorboro herd, Harrogate, Yorkshire. He takes over from Aled Edwards. Peter Kirton of Bewdley, Worcestershire, is vice-chairman and Roger Hazard, of Grantham, Lincolnshire,...

LIVESTOCK: Farmer of the Year.
August 1, 2008... OMSCo's Farmer of the Year is Tim Downes, of Longnor, Shropshire. The competition looked for `outstanding practice and innovation'. He was chosen for his `progressive approach, support for the local community and ardent dedication to organic...

LIVESTOCK: Judges for Gold Cup.
August 1, 2008... THE three judges selected for this year's NMR/RABDF Gold Cup are all dairy farmers - RABDF chairman Lyndon Edwards, NMR board mem-ber Bryan Thomas and 2005 Gold Cup winner John Round. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

LIVESTOCK: Elaine's new grassland role.
August 1, 2008... Elaine Jewkes has taken up the new role of GrowHow UK grassland specialist. She has joined the company from North Wyke Research, formerly part of IGER, where she spent 13 years working in applied research, specialising in soil and nutrient...

LIVESTOCK: Fears over complacency surrounding abortions in cattle.
August 1, 2008... THERE is a danger farmers could become too complacent about abortion in cattle, says the National Animal Disease Information Service (Nadis). It said that while Defra (England and Wales) or Seerad (Scotland) should be informed of all...

SHOWS: Inter-breed win for Cresswell Annie.
August 1, 2008... * Limousin is in-calf to Goldies Oswald By Katie Lomas A home-bred Limousin junior cow with calf at foot took the inter-breed trophy in the beef section beating a British Blonde cow into reserve. The winning Limousin was Cresswell...

SHOWS: Proven show winner takes top dairy title.
August 1, 2008... Inter-breed beef champion, Limousin Cresswell Annie from Anthony Sayer of Hilderstone, Staffordshire. IT was another dairy inter-breed win for Ian Williamson with his proven show winner - a Holstein - Goostrey Coll 225. The fifth...

SHOWS: Davidstow retain title.
August 1, 2008... FOR the second year running the supreme championship at the International Cheese Show held at Nantwich Show went to Davidstow. This year the champion cheese was the Davidstow creamery's extra mature cheddar. It beat a record number of...