Farmers Guardian articles from February 2003

Farmers Guardian archives from February 2003

Call for badger cull in TB hotspots.(bovine tuberculosis)
February 7, 2003... NEW figures showing a dramatic rise in the incidence of bovine tuberculosis have prompted renewed calls for a limited badger cull in TB hotspot areas. Industry leaders due to give evidence to an inquiry by MPs into the Government's TB...

EC U-turn on meat hygiene charges.(European Union European Commission)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE European Commission has done a U-turn on plans to introduce charges that would have placed `disastrous' costs on the UK livestock industry. In the face of intense lobbying from UK farming and industry bodies, the EC has dropped its...

Massive pig pilfering in Lancashire.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... AROUND 730 piglets and weaners have been stolen from a breeding and finishing unit in Standish, Lancashire. The pigs were between three weeks and three months old, 300 of the younger ones still in heated modules. They were taken...

Government defends `broad and shallow'.(the United Kingdom's agri-environment scheme)
February 7, 2003... THE Government has defended its plans to introduce a `broad and shallow' agri-environment scheme in its response to a Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report. The report, `The Future of UK Agriculture in a...

First Dairy Farmer of the Future - just.
February 7, 2003... TREVOR Lloyd from Valley, Anglesey, is the first winner of the Dairy Farmer of the Future competition. In a close finish, he pipped Dorset producer Nick Tuke by just 2 per cent of the vote to win the coveted award - and will soon be jetting...

Competition Act infringed.(Northern Ireland Livestock and Auctioneers' Association)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE Northern Ireland Livestock and Auctioneers' Association infringed the Competition Act 1998 by recommending its members introduce a uniform commission to be paid by buyers of livestock in Northern Ireland cattle marts, the Office of Fair...

Point by point look at the new biosecurity measures.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Measures to improve disease detection and bio-security linked to the six-day rule: From March 4: * A responsibility will be placed on lorry drivers, farmers and others to ensure that they, and the exterior of their vehicles, are clean...

Pledge to fight `impractical' package tied to six-day rule.(Livestock Auctioneers Association)
February 7, 2003... AUCTIONEERS have vowed to fight plans to introduce what they claim are `completely impractical' new biosecurity controls as part of the altered animal movement regime for England and Wales. The Livestock Auctioneers Association says the...

NFU Scotland maintains opposition to `conditions'.(National Farmers' Union of Scotland)
February 7, 2003... FARMING organisations in Scotland remain divided over whether the six- day rule should be introduced north of the border. SEERAD is currently reviewing the 20-day rule in Scotland in the wake of the move to a six-day standstill on March 4...

Starcross Food resurrects troubled Amelca business.
February 7, 2003... THE dairy business amelca plc was sold out of administrative receivership this week in a multi-million pound deal to a newly formed company, Starcross Food. Behind Starcross are Cheshire farmer Derek Beresford and his brother David, plus...

Welsh favour six-day regime.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FARMERS are being urged by the Welsh Assembly's agriculture and rural affairs committee chairman, Glyn Davies, to accept the new six-day rule on animal movements. A long-term opponent of the 20-day restrictions, he said he was pleased that...

Time-table for progress on mid-term review.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE European Commission is hoping progress can be made on the mid-term review CAP reform proposals by the end of the Greek presidency in June. The European parliament, which has a right to be consulted but not heeded over CAP reform, has...

Call for swift action to halt unfit meat trade `menace'.
February 7, 2003... SWIFT action must be taken to halt the unfit meat menace, a farmers' leader warned a one-day seminar on illegal meat imports in London this week. "This is a major public health issue and must be treated with the seriousness it deserves,"...

Finishers in the dark on decoupled subsidy details.
February 7, 2003... FINISHERS need to know the start date for decoupled subsidy arrangements so they can adjust the price of feeding animals and not anticipate BSP or SP payments that they will be unable to collect, the National Beef Association has warned. ...

`Living in fear' after visit by bailiffs to recover costs.
February 7, 2003... A WOMAN who lost a legal action to stop sheep being culled on the Brecon Beacons in 2001 has vowed she will not give in to intimidation after DEFRA sent round bailiffs in a bid to recover #17,000 in legal costs from the case. Janet Hughes...

Centenary milestone for milk bars.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FOOD and Farming Minister Lord Whitty has opened the 100th school milk bar in England and Wales, boosting the drive to get more young people drinking milk. The bar, at Burlington Danes School in London, has been hailed as a milestone in...

Moves to appease Nestle producers.
February 7, 2003... STEPS have been taken by First Milk and Nestle to sweeten the pill for Nestle producers whose contracts are being assigned at the beginning of the new milk year. Many Nestle producers were not only shocked at the company's decision to...

Eviction claims an `unwarranted smear'.
February 7, 2003... LANDOWNING organisations in Scotland have heavily criticised allegations that landowners are evicting tenant farmers because of new agricultural legislation being considered by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Landowners' Federation...

Meeting market needs by changing breeding habits.
February 7, 2003... MANY British pig farmers are changing their buying habits and breeding habits as they get closer to their market, according to one of the country's smaller pig breeding companies. "We are noticing a new demand for our high-quality terminal...

KEEBLE'S VIEW: Are we being dismantled like coal and shipping?(Column)
February 7, 2003... Some 15 years ago an important group of land agents gathered from across Britain for two days to address the subject: `The family farm. What next?' That was in 1988. In 1962 I was a farm manager working within a team of land managers. One...

OPINION: The crisis of 2004.(Editorial)
February 7, 2003... BOVINE tuberculosis is marching unabated through the UK cattle herd. The latest DEFRA figures for 2002 make unpleasant reading - over 23,000 animals slaughtered, 1,666 confirmed new outbreaks and more than 4,000 farms under the straitjacket of...

Letting: Hidden pitfalls for landowners.
February 7, 2003... Potential pitfalls facing landowners who let land to tenants are outlined by Sarah Turner, of Lincolnshire-based agricultural soli- citors Roythorne and Co. LANDOWNERS considering letting land must be aware of their obligations to tenants,...

Letter: Save us from the regulators.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... I read Barry Alston's article (FG January 24) with interest and dismay. Pathogens have been present as long as there have been cattle. That cattle have to be clipped on the farm appals me. I don't know how the health and safety people...

Letter: University of Reading's Departments.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... Tom Stockdale in his letter `Loss of intellect hurts industry' (FG January 24) suggests that The University of Reading's Department of Agriculture (and by implication its Department of Agricultural and Food Economics) was closed down. Can I...

Letter: OP poisoning.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... Further to the sterling work carried out by Mrs Brenda Sutcliffe over the past 10 years on OP poisoning, I would like to open another avenue of research (her letter on November 22 and S.G. Lee from HMP Garth on December 6). If any FG...

Letter: Battle for Safeway.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... IF any good is coming out of the battle for Safeway, it is that the world is finally waking up to the damage caused by the concentration of market share in food retailing. Farmers are suffering low farmgate prices due to the cartel...

Letter: USA foot-and-mouth dangers.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... HAVING just visited family in America, I took a belated but well- wrapped Christmas cake and pudding. I declared both on my USA customs entry form. While waiting for my luggage there were numerous notices warning about the danger of bring...

Letter: Without adequate restraint.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... I WAS shocked to view the photograph (FG January 31) showing school leavers observing a herd manager checking a horned Hereford bull without adequate restraint. ALL animals are unpredictable. The correct methods of handling and restraint...

Letter: Farmers are being diddled.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... THE Inland Revenue is trying to deprive farmers of their money. Despite their empty words about fairness, may I alert your readers to the following. There has long been in existence legislation providing for farming losses to be set...

Letter: Vaccinate the badger.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2003... WE are not in favour of a cull of badgers regardless if they carry TB and pass it on to cattle. If it is proven badgers spread TB then the farmers who have a problem should be able to get the badgers vaccinated by DEFRA. Too many of these...

Farmers don't earn minimum wage.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... BRITAIN'S farmers are still earning less than the minimum wage, despite a second successive annual increase in farm incomes. Total farming incomes rose by 15 per cent last year to #2.36bn - the second successive increase since the 2000 low...

Overall increases in Scotland are hiding the desperate situation.
February 7, 2003... SCOTLAND 1. TIFF forecast to rise by 15 per cent in 2002. 2. Net farm income up from #6,000 in 2000/01 to #10,000 in 2001/02. Source Scotland, SEERAD. MODEST increases in overall Scottish farm incomes has masked a desperate...

The UK maybe showing signs of recovery, but N.Ireland is not.
February 7, 2003... WHILE the rest of the UK showed encouraging signs of recovery last year, the situation for farmers in Northern Ireland went from bad to worse. Hit by poor farmgate prices and the wettest year since records began, total farm incomes in the...

Limousin registrations high for 10th year.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... REGISTRATIONS of British Limousin cattle reached record levels again in 2002 - for the 10th year in a row. British Limousin Cattle Society's end-of-year figures showed 15,922 Limousin cattle were registered in the year, an increase of 859...

Scrutiny of sheep exports.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... RESPONDING to concerns about the welfare of British sheep exported for slaughter in France during the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha this month, Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley said all consignments of sheep for slaughter or further...

Management techniques can reduce PMWS pig fatalities.(wasting disease)
February 7, 2003... A survey of pig units hit by the wasting disease PMWS has confirmed that the implementation of certain management techniques can reduce the number of fatalities it causes and the length of time that it is at its most dangerous. MLC vet...

`Do not ignore TB'.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CONCERNS that the Government seemed to be shifting towards a policy of tolerance and control of TB - instead of pursuing its eradication - were expressed at a meeting of the British Veterinary Association Council. After the meeting, BVA...

Study help.(Royal Welsh Agricultural Society)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is inviting students in Wales to apply for scholarships to assist them to obtain university degrees - or complete an equivalent higher education course in land-based studies. To qualify a candidate's...

Missile tests affect farms.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FARMERS and householders in West Wales are livid after being told they may have to evacuate their properties for up to two days later in the month for the testing of a new missile. The trials could take place at the Pendine Weapons Range in...

Sheep: Price boost and optimism.
February 7, 2003... SHEEP producers can remain optimistic for the next 12 months, according to the latest forecast from Meat and Livestock Commission senior economic analyst Jane Connor. Lamb supplies will remain relatively tight throughout 2003, indicating...

Midlands businesses to get free online help.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... RURAL businesses across the West Midlands are to be offered free guidance and training to help them get online and make the most of their computers. Harper Adams University College, near Newport, Shropshire, is offering free help with...

`Share' food safety across whole chain.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... RESPONSIBILITY for food safety should be shared across the whole food chain, Dr Patrick Wall, Food Safety Authority of Ireland chief executive, told the inaugural Salmonella Control Forum, Chairing the event, staged to raise awareness of...

`Lifeline' initiatives needed for new entrants to farming.(WALES YFC)
February 7, 2003... WALES YFC leaders are pointing to a grim time ahead for farming without desperately-needed new entrant-orientated structural initiatives from politicians. "Although the industry has not been viewed through rose-tinted spectacles for a...

Do not disturb - you may be fined.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FARMERS are being urged to avoid disturbing the nests of water fowl and song birds - or risk prosecution and heavy fines. The CLA has warned time is running out to cut back waterside undergrowth and hedgerows before the start of the nesting...

Turning rural energy into regeneration.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FUNDAMENTAL regeneration of the social, economic, environmental and cultural fabric of rural Wales was one of the Welsh Assembly's main priorities, Rural Development Minister Mike German told a workshop on the Assembly's Rural Community Action...

Uganda task for Cheshire farmer.(Mark Walton)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CHESHIRE farmer Mark Walton was due to be heading out to Uganda yesterday to set up agricultural training at the Nile Vocational Centre. Mr Walton, from Stockley Working Farm, Arley, will be part of a 14- strong team from Altrincham Baptist...

Helping with form-filling.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... AN advisory package specially designed to help farmers wade through all the complex red tape surrounding slurry disposal under the new NVZ regulations has been drawn up by an independent group of pig consultants. "Our aim is to guide...

Union's nitrate concessions tempered by low grant aid.(NFU Scotland)
February 7, 2003... NFU Scotland has claimed it has won `important' concessions on the detail of how the Scottish Executive plans to meet its obligations under the EU Nitrates Directive. However, it has expressed disappointment at the grant available to...

CLA chief calls for red tape reduction.(Country Landowners Assoc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE whole rural economy was undergoing a transformation and it was important that those most affected had the largest possible influence on the outcome, said Lord Grantchester, newly-elected chairman of the CLA's Cheshire county branch. ...

Wider range of pumping equipment.(MIXRITE dosing pumps)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... MIXRITE dosing pumps have been added into the pumping equipment range of Javelin Water Engineering, Louth, Lincolnshire. The plastic pumps are water powered, self priming precision units suitable for injecting a wide range of liquid...

Pottinger's new twin rotor rake.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... AUSTRIAN manufacturer Pottinger has added a new centre swath forming twin rotor rake to its range for 2003. Called the Eurotop 881A `Multitast', the new model features hydraulically adjustable swath width formation. The total width raked...

Largest range - but smallest spreader.(Millcreek Manufacturing Company)
February 7, 2003... BONHILL has announced a new franchise, Millcreek Mini and Compact spreaders from Pennsylvanian based Millcreek Manufacturing Company. Millcreek claims to offer the world's largest range of mini/compact manure spreaders. Bonhill says most...

Mounted rear press.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... ALTHOUGH not a complete alternative to a trailed double press, a single row mounted press with fabricated Razor rings, has been introduced as an option for the rear of the Tinemaster disc harrows from Quivogne. The Ipswich company says the...

Meat imports concern.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... IT was more important than ever that farmers should unite to counter the growing strength of the supermarkets and the large processors, especially for the dairy sector, warned the new chairman of the NFU's Cheshire county branch Tony Garnett....

CAP reform issue an opportunity not threat.(Common Agricultural Policy)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CAP reform was the biggest issue facing farmers right now, NFU livestock committee chairman Les Armstrong told the annual meeting of the union's Ceredigion county branch at Ciliau Aeron. "We have to get involved and get the criteria...

Wave of change for farmers.( NFU deputy president Tim Bennett)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE wave of change facing farmers was highlighted by NFU deputy president Tim Bennett, at Carmarthenshire NFU annual meeting. He said while the new six-day movement standstill arrangements would go some way to help with existing industry...

`Pay us what you owe us,' minister told.(Minister Mike German)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... `PAY us what you owe us' - was the greeting Welsh Assembly Rural Development Minister Mike German faced as guest speaker at Anglesey NFU annual meeting at Llangefni. He was told the delay by the Assembly in making support payments was...

Sheep `farm' is `switched on' to business.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... To thousands of people across West Wales he is known as Jim `TV' - but Jim Jones also has a `farm' that must be unique. BARRY ALSTON reports. FROM the outside it looks little different from any other electrical retail outlet. Inside...

Getting more from your grass and finances.(Farmers Guardian)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... `GETTING more from your grass and finances' is the topic of a series of free meetings being organised for farmers by Farmers Guardian in association with Dow Agro Sciences and Barclays Bank, at the beginning of March. The first speaker...

DEFRA `not meeting the needs of rural businesses'.(Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
February 7, 2003... RURAL businesses and jobs were suffering because DEFRA was not able to deliver the services that diversifying enterprises really needed, land and business owners told the Government's `rural tsar', Lord Haskins. The CLA, along with other...

Free e-mail market information service.(HGCA)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A free fast-track to essential market information in an easily- digestible format was launched last week, as the HGCA announced its new malting barley e-mail club. The club, which could be the first of many similar sector-specific...

Guaranteed base price on offer to those who work with merchants.
February 7, 2003... A new type of contract for malting barley growers - as possible option to cope with the volatilities of grain prices - was presented by one of Britain's biggest grain traders. Banks Cargill's Richard Whitlock asked farmers if they would be...

Rising worldwide beer consumption gives UK real market potential.
February 7, 2003... RISING beer consumption worldwide is creating a growing market for good malting barley, and UK growers could be at the forefront of the supply base - but maltsters are looking for a very specific formula from their suppliers. Alan Ridealgh...

Growers should fix malting barley prices now, while the price is high.
February 7, 2003... GROWERS should think about fixing prices with set contracts for malting barley now, while the price was on the up, rather than take the gamble of cashing in on possible further increases, according to HGCA economist Gerald Mason. "If...

Crop production could be under threat if chemicals are not controlled.
February 7, 2003... THE arable industry must do all it can to protect what is a critical group of chemicals in strobilurin fungicides to ensure that any build- up of septoria resistance is minimised, in order to have a profitable crop production sector in the...

Climatic impact research.(Produce Studies Research)
February 7, 2003... A STUDY on the impact of weather and climate change on food supply, crop production and crop inputs is to be undertaken by the agricultural market research company, Produce Studies Research, the market research division of Promar International....

Rooted autumn crops not crippled by rain.(Terra Nitrogen)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... EARLY reports from Terra Nitrogen's deep core soil nutrient monitoring sites show that crops sown in good conditions last autumn are well rooted and offer excellent yield potential, despite the very wet conditions suffered subsequently. ...

Specialists back new services.(Agrovista.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Professional business services are to be offered to farmers and growers across the UK by the new company Agrogate, which is backed by crop protection specialists Agrovista. The new company's service package will include a unique...

Improvements each year from key plans.(Voluntary Initiative's Crop Protection Management Plans)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A MECHANISM for year-on-year improvement was how the NFU's Chris Wise described the Voluntary Initiative's Crop Protection Management Plans - a framework in which the key environmental concerns of water quality protection and wildlife...

Spray restored.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Potato growers and bulb growers in the Netherlands will now be able to use mancozeb in their fungicide spray programmes, following the recent re-instatement of its registration in this country, report manufacturers Dow AgroSciences. In...

Pesticide tax is real threat if environment targets are not met.
February 7, 2003... IT is clear now that there are some serious targets to reach for contractors and growers alike under the Voluntary Initiative - targets which must be met if there is to be any chance of staving off a pesticide tax. Speaking at a seminar...

Pure demand.(Lafarge Agricultural Products)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Lafarge Agricultural Products have expanded their Granucal distribution network in order to meet with increased demand for the pure granulated calcium fertilizer product. Two new centres have been opened north of the Border based at Ayr and...

`Green' energy.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE new `green' fuel made from processed rapeseed oil and a blend of ultra-low sulphur diesel, is now going on sale on supermarket chain Sainsbury's Greenwich store forecourt at the same price as ordinary diesel. Greenergy GlobalDiesel - said...

Bread baking wheats are potential market for Iranian millers.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... MILLERS from Iran are showing great interest in UK group 2 and 3 bread baking wheats, according to the HGCA. "Wheat buying in Iran is currently controlled by the Government Trading Corporation, but private millers are keen to investigate...

Expanding soya.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE national area of white lupins is expected to expand to over 5,000 acres this year with seed supply limiting the expansion, according to Soya UK. Uptake of the crop - which has 40 per cent crude protein and can be used to replace bought in...

Oilseed rape has best margin-earning potential.
February 7, 2003... OILSEED rape is set to produce the highest gross margin of any spring break crop this season at just under #500/ha, according to Monsanto. New season costings from the company at current market prices show oilseed rape varieties, such as...

Seaweed boost.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A new formulation of the potato fertiliser, Fulcrum CRV, that has been enhanced through the addition of seaweed extract is to be marketed by SvG Intermol. A molasses-based product, designed to increase tuber bulking, it will be sold directly to...

Resistance in black-grass is now prevalent.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... HERBICIDE resistance in black-grass is now so common that it should be considered an endemic problem, according to Dr Stephen Moss, of Rothamsted Research. Presenting the results of a survey of herbicide resistant black-grass by Rothamsted...

`Small farm' courses.
February 7, 2003... THE Prince of Wales has given Royal backing to a new vocational training scheme to help farmers on small- to medium-sized holdings to access wildlife friendly farming grants. The Prince attended the launch of the Pathfinders scheme, which...

Pedigree route to commercial success.(Trevor Lloyd)
February 7, 2003... When Anglesey dairy farmer, Trevor Lloyd, returned to the family farm he persuaded his father to change the farm into a specialist dairy unit. His success has earned him the top award in the Dairy Farmer of the Future competition. Neil Ryder...

Sue's ideal job combination is people and cooking.(Sue Creswick)
February 7, 2003... Two redundancies plus a talent for cooking great British breakfasts, cake making - and a few recipes from Farmers Guardian - added up to a new venture on a Derbyshire farm. Being made redundant from her part time job in a building society...

Oatcakes add to memories.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A trip down memory lane for Stafford and Birmingham Agricultural Society ladies' committee member and a retired farmer's wife, Dorothy Stubbs, was provided during Farmhouse Breakfast week. Mrs Stubbs cooked breakfasts for a VIP event in the...

Haggis heave of real spirit.(Michael Simpson)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A spirited haggis hurling effort by shepherd Michael Simpson has won him enough `wee drams' to last the year. Michael, who will soon be lambing more than 1,000 Blackface ewes on the Remony Estate, Kenmore, Aberfeldy, received the prize...

Gwent YFC chairman.(Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... MARK Williams a farmer from Llantrisant, has been elected county chairman of the Gwent Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. Mark, a member of Usk YFC, joined the movement 14 years ago and is a former club chairman, secretary and leader and...