Farmers Guardian articles from November 2004

Farmers Guardian archives from November 2004

2m margin rule relaxed.
November 5, 2004... MORE than one-third of England's fields will be exempt from the controversial two-metre margin rule, Defra announced this week as part of a package of announcements on next year's CAP reforms. A rare victory for the farming industry over...

Asda's 0.5ppl more for supplier group.
November 5, 2004... ASDA has announced it will pay its new, dedicated group of 600 farmers 0.5p per litre more for their fresh liquid milk from December 1 this year. The supermarket's move follows the first ever meeting of the Asda/Arla raw milk price review...

All pieces of the jig-saw not in place yet - Whitty.
November 5, 2004... FOOD and Farming Minister Lord Whitty said Tuesday's announcements would help to remove some of the uncertainty surrounding the January changes and help farmers plan their businesses. However, he acknowledged `all the pieces of the jig-saw'...

CAP reform - 57 days and counting.
November 5, 2004... NATIONAL RESERVE THE National Reserve exists to minimise disadvantages to farmers, who for a variety of reasons may have seen changes in their business during or since the reference period that would adversely affect their historic...

`Stack' entitlements.
November 5, 2004... FARMERS in Scotland will be able to consolidate or `stack' entitlements if they have less land in 2005 compared with the number of entitlements allocated to them. This could be because of the non-renewal of seasonal lets or expiry or...

New cattle controls come into force to prevent TB spread.
November 5, 2004... NEW cattle controls intended to prevent the spread of bovine TB from hotspot areas to clean areas came into force on Monday. The changes, first suggested in Defra's TB strategy consultation in February are: * A recalculation of routine...

Compensation valuation `cull' rapped by industry.
November 5, 2004... GOVERNMENT plans to remove farmers' rights to individual compensation valuations for cattle culled because of diseases like bovine TB have been condemned by the livestock industry. Industry leaders say the proposed new system of fixed table...

`Terrestrial bone' in beet pulp from Germany.
November 5, 2004... THE German Government is facing fresh embarrassment over BSE, in the wake of a formal early warning notice from the Irish Department of Agriculture stating that evidence of `terrestrial bone' had been found in sugar beet pulp imported from...

Bennett's fears for medium-sized farms.
November 5, 2004... NATIONAL Farmers' Union president Tim Bennett has expressed his concern for the future of medium-sized farm enterprises, in particular in the eastern counties and beyond. He joined arable, dairy, vegetable and fruit farmers at meetings...

Health and welfare powers could switch to Assembly.
November 5, 2004... GOVERNMENT legislation, transferring powers on animal health and welfare to the Welsh Assembly, was being debated in the Commons on Wednesday and the Lords yesterday. If approved, the draft National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of...

New Welsh scheme to tackle scrapie cases.
November 5, 2004... A NEW scheme to tackle scrapie came into being in Wales this week. All farmers who report and have a confirmed case of the disease will now have to cull the whole flock or blood test every animal to determine its genetic profile. Welsh...

Dairy consultancy deal.
November 5, 2004... ADAS has sold its dairy consultancy business to The Dairy Group - a new business wholly owned by the former staff of the ADAS Dairy Group. The Dairy Group will continue to operate from its Taunton base and encompass all existing ADAS dairy...

GM `going Dutch'.
November 5, 2004... THE Dutch government has paved the way for the introduction of GM crops. It has reached agreement on co-existence rules designed to minimise the risk to conventional and organic crops. Surprisingly this was reached with little...

Promise campaign delight despite `general cynicism'.
November 5, 2004... THE 3,600 positive responses to the Little Red Tractor `Promise Campaign' announced at the NFU Council meeting came from just 500 farmers - around 1 per cent of those contacted by the union. But despite attracting replies from just a...

Strategy to exploit crops for industry.
November 5, 2004... PLANS to exploit the commercial, scientific and environmental potential of crops grown for manufacturing, rather than food, have been unveiled by the Government. Food and Farming Minister Lord Whitty launched a long-term vision aimed at...

NFUS new staff.
November 5, 2004... Three new staff members have been appointed by the NFUS. Anna Davies, who previously worked at Scottish Field, will be the union's new communications officer. Alison Mitchell has taken up the post of regional manager for the Highlands, and...

`No let-up' in hunt supporter protests.
November 5, 2004... GOVERNMENT Ministers and Labour MPs who support the hunt ban have been warned there will be no let up in the campaign of disruption to their public engagements. The Countryside Alliance is helping pro-hunt supporters `greet' Ministers and...

Lapwing prize.
November 5, 2004... The RSPB is inviting entrants to its Lapwing Champion 2005 competition. The closing date for entries is March 18, 2005, with #1,000 on offer for the UK Lapwing Champion and #500 for the runner up. Last year's winner was Martin Hole, who farms...

Meat passion.
November 5, 2004... Hybu Cig Cymru's new television advertisement to promote Welsh red meat was seen for the first time by viewers across England and Wales on Monday. It centres on a new slogan - Passion on a Plate - to help get across to consumers meat's taste...

Red meat post.
November 5, 2004... Rural Regeneration Cumbria has announced the appointment of Dan Weston as red meat production and marketing adviser. His post has been funded through the Defra Rural Enterprise Scheme. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Dipping seminars.
November 5, 2004... THE Environment Agency has organised two sheep dipping seminars, in Lancashire and Cumbria, encouraging mobile sheep dipping contractors to help minimise pollution risks when working on local farms. The seminars will be at the agency's...

Illegal meat imports move `will not deter gangs'.
November 5, 2004... THE Government's new initiative to tackle illegal meat imports has been welcomed by the Farmers Union of Wales - but with a warning that it would do little to deter professional smugglers. "This campaign seems to be aimed at ordinary...

Views sought on changes to rights of way records.
November 5, 2004... INTERESTED parties have been urged to express their views on proposals to alter the way Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 records are kept. Defra intends to reduce to one single step the current two-part process local authorities have...

Land cheaper.
November 5, 2004... The average price of agricultural land and buildings sold in Wales in the final three months of 2003 was #6,700 per hectare, according to Welsh Assembly collated returns - slightly down on the #6,800 average for the year as a whole. ...

Steak and comedy.
November 5, 2004... SIRLOIN steak, donated by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) for a buffet at a fund-raising comedy evening and auction has helped the Cystic Fibrosis Holiday Fund charity raise #40,000. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Visitor record.
November 5, 2004... A record 54 countries were represented by visitors to this year's Royal Welsh Show, with 800 people from abroad travelling to the event from as far away as the Falkland Islands, New Zealand and Australia. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Machinery rings exempt.
November 5, 2004... A NORTHERN MP has tackled farmers' fears that new Government laws on gangmasters may impact on machinery rings. Berwick MP Alan Beith claims he has gained assurances from the Government that the new law to licence gangmasters will not...

CAP support budget lower than expected.
November 5, 2004... EUROPEAN Union spending requirements on CAP market measures in the 2005 budget year will be E221.5m lower than originally proposed, at E44.598bn, according to the Agriculture Directorate-General's revision of expenditure forecasts. The...

Wind farm turmoil as campaign is labelled `unreliable'.
November 5, 2004... CONTROVERSY has broken out over the future of Britain's wind farms following claims the general public is being misled. A new PR campaign from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), which claims to give a voice to the 74 per cent of...

Woodland aid.
November 5, 2004... FOLLOWING a meeting with key representatives from the forestry sector, Nature Conservation Minister Ben Bradshaw has announced a further #3m funding for the support of private woodlands. Judith Webb, representing the forestry sector and...

NFU backs biomass energy.
November 5, 2004... THE NFU has joined in the support for biomass energy, calling it `crucial to future energy policy'. In response to Defra's Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme, launched on October 15, the NFU has identified three priority areas for biomass...

VIEW FROM BRUSSELS: Europe still awaiting its new commissioners.
November 5, 2004... IF all had gone according to plan a new European Commission would now be in place, and Franz Fischler would have been celebrating his retirement on a beach in Bali. Instead he and his fellow commissioners are all back at their desks in a...

OPINION: Get on with it.
November 5, 2004... In less than two months - 57 days to be precise - the farming world as we know it will be no longer. On New Year's Day, in a puff of smoke coupled subsidies will disappear and the Single Farm Payment System will arrive, bringing with it a whole...

Common VAT questions answered.
November 5, 2004... Susan Shaw, tax director and head of the agricultural group at accountants, Smith & Williamson, which operate from offices in London, Belfast, Bristol, Guildford, Leamington Spa, Salisbury, Southampton, Tunbridge Wells and Worcester, answers...

The next 30 years.
November 5, 2004... To complete our '30 years of Progress' series in association with Monsanto and Roundup, we ask six industry experts what we might expect for agriculture in the next 30 years. James Gibson reports. JIM ORSON: FARMERS should not assume...

Q&A: Landlord and tenant should get together to avoid SFP pitfalls.
November 5, 2004... It's good to talk. That is the overwhelming message to landlords and tenants from their representative organisations ahead of next year's CAP reforms. The Single Farm Payment system creates many potential complications and conflicts where...

High welfare stock niche market could be more secure.
November 5, 2004... HIGH welfare livestock production may still be regarded as only a niche market, but it should not be ignored, producers have been advised. The current market indicates that finding a niche may be the best strategy for survival, claimed John...

Decoupling `not a new idea in hills'.
November 5, 2004... Imminent changes to the Common Agricultural Policy and their likely impact on the fortunes of farmers were pored over at the annual Great North Meet at Kiklington, North Yorkshire. Michael Finch reports. THE concept of decoupling was not...

SFP value slashed over next decade?
November 5, 2004... RURAL funding proposals from the European Commission appear to hold out the prospect of more cash. But they will be challenged by several member states, including Britain and the Single Farm Payment could be slashed over the next 10 years. ...

EA: Aim is to work with farmers.
November 5, 2004... SOME farmers might be worried that with the approach of cross- compliance they will face tougher and more frequent farm inspections on issues such as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. But that was not necessarily the case, Sir John Harman, Environment...

Heather Trust.
November 5, 2004... The Heather Trust, working in partnership with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, has been awarded funding worth #45,000 to increase the area of heather in Upper Nithsdale. The project, to be called `Linking the Ling', aims to...

The power for Scottish seed industry lies in promotion.
November 5, 2004... THE Scottish seed potato industry, which can be worth up to #80 million in a good year, has the potential to develop new markets, but only if it is permitted to have the power to promote its products. Since 1997 agriculture has been a...

New chairman.
November 5, 2004... Eden businessman Michael Bell has been appointed new chairman of Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency. Mr Bell, managing director of his family's bakery firm Bells of Lazonby, has been a CREA board member since 2002. He succeeds John Dunning, of...

Blackbrook in `overall' win.
November 5, 2004... THE trophy for the overall champion herd in the Midland Longhorn Breeders Club's 2004 herd competition went to the Blackbrook herd of Mr and Mrs J. Stanley, which also won the large herd category. The winner of the small herd category went...

Horton flock in top spot.
November 5, 2004... TOP place in the Shropshire and Montgomery Area Suffolk Club competitions has gone to the Horton flock of Mr and Mrs John Pryce for the third time. Established in 1967, the flock is based at Prenafel, Trefnanney, near Meifod, Powys, and...

Ayrshires in very close competition.
November 5, 2004... THE overall points winners of the North East of England Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association's herds competition were J. Lund and Son, with the Dowager Marquis of Normanby as runner-up, and A. and J. Myers, third. Results: Herd...

Outstanding contributions to club take special prizes.
November 5, 2004... THE Millstones Restaurant, Harrogate, was the venue for this year's Yorkshire Holstein Club presentation evening. The event was attended by 130 guests. Club chairman Peter Waring introduced the guests: Mr and Mrs Gavin Paterson, Mr and Mrs...

For half century of service.
November 5, 2004... RETIRED Banffshire cattleman, Alan Robertson, of Keith, has been presented with a Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland long-service medal, after working for the McNicol family at Knock, Rothiemay, for 50 years. He had a...

Dairy winners in West of Scotland.
November 5, 2004... THE West of Scotland Dairy Show was staged at Fenwick when the judges were Paul Rawcliffe for the Holsteins and Andrew Hodge for Ayrshires. Results: Holstein. Cow in calf, 1, A. Cousar, Howcommon Seabreeze 9; 2, H. Guthrie, Mosside...

Liaison post.
November 5, 2004... NFU Cymru has a new Welsh Assembly liaison adviser. Huw Rhys Thomas, from Crymych, has a mixed farming background and previously worked for the British Cattle Movement Service, in Cumbria. He is a graduate from the University of Wales, Cardiff....

Couple are `better off' contract farming on the Isle of Man.
November 5, 2004... THEY might not be looking at an early retirement but Brian and Fiona Brumby believe they are probably better off, seven years into a contract farming arrangement on the Isle of Man, than they would be on a farm business tenancy in England. ...

`Superb' heifer takes supreme beef title.
November 5, 2004... A STRONG standard of beef entries made competition in the cattle classes tough, but Limousin breeders Phil and Sharon Sellers dominated the championships. Their 16-month-old heifer Mistique won her individual class before being named top...

Pen of three Texel crosses just `perfect'.
November 5, 2004... A `perfectly matching pen of three' took the top prize in the lamb primestock championship. Scottish judge, Brian MacTaggart, said he found the winning three Texel crosses to be `good over the backs and full in the giggetts'. The pen...

Beef ribs win.
November 5, 2004... IN the beef ribs competition Tom Bowring beat off competition from a number of older competitors, including his parents. Three members of the family had entered the competition, a regional qualifier for the Royal Smithfield Club's national...

Beef: `Encouraging opportunities'.
November 5, 2004... Duncan Sinclair, MLC beef economics manager WITH beef consumption expected to remain comfortably over the 1 million tonne mark, prime cattle supplies set to fall back, lower calf availability from the dairy herd, and no prospect of OTM...

Flock stability set to continue.
November 5, 2004... Jane Connor, senior economic analyst, MLC The particularly stable outlook for English sheep producers originally predicted by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) last spring is set to continue for the coming season, according to its...

Herbs from the gourmet county.
November 5, 2004... With their flourishing dried herb business - `Norfolk's Finest Herbs' - Rosemarie and John Chandler of Home Farm, Riddlesworth near Diss, Norfolk, have fulfilled their need to diversify while exploiting the public's growing interest in locally...

Successful sugar beet harvest predicted.
November 5, 2004... SO far, so good is the verdict on the early stages of what is expected to be another long beet processing campaign. Although sugar contents are not as high as last season`s exceptional levels, they are up to the 5-year average and with a...

Wheat research results offer higher quality and yields.
November 5, 2004... SYNGENTA is aiming to present UK farmers with the first varieties from its winter wheat breeding programme within the next two to three years. The company has made major investment in breeding technology, including genomics and marker...

Results of Defra ring rot review published.
November 5, 2004... DEFRA has published the outcome of an evaluation into the recommendations arising from the potato ring rot `Lessons Learned' review. Ben Bradshaw has accepted 53 of the 54 recommendations included in the report. The only recommendation...

Winter wheat varieties on increase.
November 5, 2004... AFTER years of dominance by the `middle block' of Group 3 wheats, the spread of winter varieties is becoming more dynamic, with a squeeze from the top and bottom, said ex-NIAB cereal variety specialist, Richard Fenwick. Commenting on wheat...

Risk model aids eyespot spraying.
November 5, 2004... SCIENTISTS have developed a risk model to help growers decide whether or not they need to spray their winter wheat crops against eyespot. "Using a table, growers can calculate a total risk score for their crop," said Prof Graham Jellis,...

New rhizomania cases confirmed in survey.
November 5, 2004... MORE new cases of rhizomania disease have been confirmed following the annual aerial survey of sugar beet crops conducted during August. From the air a total of 170 suspect fields were spotted, subsequent follow-up checks confirmed the...

Conclusions from the Soil2Crop initiative.
November 5, 2004... * Soil examination is necessary to identify, overcome and rectify soil problems of degradation and compaction; this is best done in late spring. * Reduce the intensity and number of cultivations; consolidate after cultivation and...

Reduce diffuse pollution through effective planning.
November 5, 2004... THERE is a need to reduce diffuse pollution on farm, according to Peter Costigan, scientific co-ordinator for natural resources and rural affairs at Defra. "There is widespread concern about the effects of diffuse pollution from...

Good soil structure aids quality and environment.
November 5, 2004... GOOD soil structure is fundamental to both quality production and environmental protection. That was one of the main conclusions from the HGCA's Soil2Crop initiative, which aimed to improve farm profitability through better understanding of...

Sprayer operator roadshows.
November 5, 2004... AGRONOMY advice and supply specialist Agrovista UK has announced its support for another UK-wide programme of Sprayer Operator Roadshows in support of the Voluntary Initiative. Over 1,000 operators received training from Agrovista in last...

Emphasis on soil types and cultivation.
November 5, 2004... ONE of the key principles of the Soil2Crop initiative was to try and establish crops with the minimum amount of soil disturbance possible using reduced or minimum, non-inversion tillage cultivation techniques. "There is no doubt at all that...

Making a start in farming still proves viable.
November 5, 2004... Twins Robert and David Staveley have shown that it is still possible for young people to make a start in farming without having been brought up in the industry. Neil Ryder reports on their progress. Just over 10 years ago twins Robert and...

Quality priorities.
November 5, 2004... Priorities at Throstle Nest are to produce decent milk yields and quality from healthy cows, as cost effectively as possible with a simple feeding system, says nutritionist, Dave Jacklin "In the winter all milking cows are fed one total...

Farmers in the making.
November 5, 2004... In a new series we take a look at four farmers of the future who are currently studying agricultural courses at college or university and ask them about their views on the industry and student life. NAME: RACHEL WALDRON. Age: 21. ...

Five-a-side soccer places at stake.
November 5, 2004... FOURTEEN teams from Scottish Young Farmers' West region converged on Powerleague, Hamilton, to battle for places in the SAYFC national five- a-side football final next year. Crossroads YFC's Jim Dykes, Willie Dunlop, Stuart Hamilton, John...

Keeping in step with members' future ideas.
November 5, 2004... IT could be strictly ballroom dancing - plus bricklaying, car maintenance and scuba diving for Lincolnshire YFC following a consultation event with junior members. The meeting to discuss future ideas was made possible by a grant of #1,980...

Bankfoot and Edinburgh in soccer and hockey wins.
November 5, 2004... COMPETITION was keen when teams from Scottish Young Farmers' East Region contested the region's football and hockey challenges in Dunfermline. Bankfoot JAC claimed the football honours with Bathgate second and Brechin third. In the...

Erwood are on top form.
November 5, 2004... ERWOOD YFC claimed first place in Brecknock Young Farmers' intermediate brainstrust competition, the first event on the federation's 2004-2005 programme. The federation's pub quiz saw victory for Builth Wells and Sennybridge. Results ...

European study opening for Welsh YFC members.
November 5, 2004... FOR the first time, Wales YFC is offering an opportunity to members wishing to study agricultural projects in Europe in its annual travel awards. This month Wales members will be vying for this and an extended range of travel...

Cheque in memory of Mark.
November 5, 2004... A ploughing marathon, fete and promise auction have raised #10,300 for Saving Faces, part of the Cancer Research programme. The weekend was organised in memory of Mark Robinson, a past chairman of Nantwich Young Farmers Club, Cheshire, by...

Cornwall YFC event helps air ambulance fund take off.
November 5, 2004... CORNWALL Young Farmers have raised #8,000 for the county's Air Ambulance. The money was raised chiefly by 39 members taking part in a sponsored walk and cycle along canal towpaths from Gloucester to Preston. The cheque was presented...

Netball double for Ryedale.
November 5, 2004... FOR the second year in a row Ryedale District Young Farmers took first place in the women's netball challenge during Yorkshire YFCs' annual competitions for the Hollings, Crowe and Storr awards. Upper Wharfedale YFC, representing Craven...

Meningitis Cymru is chosen charity.
November 5, 2004... WALES YFC has chosen Meningitis Cymru as its charity for 2004-05. It aims to raise #10,000 to buy a mobile information unit for the charity and raise awareness of the symptoms of the illness. The charity which was formed in 1999, the year...

Four more nursery trials start their seasons.
November 5, 2004... MORE Nursery trials are under way in Wales. In Powys, which reverts to its old counties, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and Brecknock held their first Nurseries of the season. The field for the first Radnorshire Nursery at Craig-yr-Onon Farm,...

Thomas and Chip take well-attended title by clear margin.
November 5, 2004... THOMAS Longton's tri-coloured Chip topped the large entry of 57 dogs at the Northern Association's nursery trial held on Saturday at Newbiggin on Lune, Cumbria. Running was on Swaledale ewes over a sizeable undulating course that beyond...

Brand grows.
November 5, 2004... Cathedral City, the UK's number one cheddar brand, has increased its retail value by 18 per cent to more than #83m. This percentage growth, in both value and volume terms, is claimed to have outstripped the growth of both the cheese and the...

Livestock companies to merge operations.
November 5, 2004... Meadow Quality and Wessex Quality Meats are planning to merge their operations while retaining their separate trading names. The two companies have been working closely over the last five years to mutual benefit and involved in co-operative...