Farmers Guardian articles from November 2006

Farmers Guardian archives from November 2006

D-day for Royal Bath and West showground.
November 3, 2006... THE Royal Bath and West of England Society could be forced to sell its showground at Shepton Mallet in Somerset in order to survive. Plans to redevelop the 240-acre site - without affecting the annual Royal Bath and West Show - have long...

Battle over EU modulation halts Stewardship scheme.
November 3, 2006... THE Environmental Stewardship Scheme has ground to a halt because of the battle taking place in Brussels over voluntary modulation rates. Agreements for schemes like Entry Level Stewardship starting from January 1 next year will be put on...

Part payment decision is expected in two weeks.
November 3, 2006... Farmers can expect an announcement on partial payments in the next fortnight, according to Defra. Defra secretary of state David Miliband is set to keep his promise, made at the Labour party conference in September, to make a statement to...

Rooker to hold SPS surgeries.
November 3, 2006... FOOD and Farming Minister Lord Rooker will face MPs in weekly Single Payment surgeries from January. Farmers dissatisfied with the processing of their agricultural subsidies can ask their local MP to take problems directly to the top. ...

McNeill must answer MPs' questions on Single Payment fiasco.
November 3, 2006... THE former chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency could face censure if he fails to turn up for questioning by MPs on November 20. Johnston McNeill failed to attend a Public Accounts Committee hearing on the Single Payments fiasco on...

Positive thinking on climate change following major review.
November 3, 2006... FARMING groups are optimistic there will be greater incentives for bio- energy production, following the publication of a major review on climate change this week. The Treasury-funded review recommends a range of measures including...

Fears of `flight from hills' if Defra adopts.
November 3, 2006... THE NFU has warned of a potential `flight from the hills' if Defra goes ahead with its reported intention to introduce an uplands-only environmental scheme in 2008. After the department's consultation in February, Defra has indicated it...

Foot-and-mouth false alarm at Essex abattoir.
November 3, 2006... FARMERS across the country breathed a sigh of relief last week as a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease in Essex was found to be a false alarm. Last Thursday a pig was discovered with a blistered nose at Cheale Meats abattoir near...

Drought order extension withdrawn.
November 3, 2006... SUTTON and East Surrey, the only water company to put a drought order into force this summer, has decided to withdraw its application to extend its drought order powers, which are due to end on November 15. The move has been welcomed by the...

Too many farmers failing to register management plans.
November 3, 2006... WITH the completion of a Crop Protection Management Plan formally recognised within Entry Level Stewardship, reaching this year's Voluntary Initiative target should be straightforward enough. If there is a challenge, however, it is that too...

Charges increase is bad for customers.
November 3, 2006... CHANGING the charging structure for pesticide approvals could lead to the loss of a substantial number of minor horticultural crop sectors in the UK, the NFU warned this week. Responding to the Defra Pesticides Safety Directorate...

Coastal landowners receive a recompense `glimmer of hope'.
November 3, 2006... LANDOWNERS on the British coastline have been given a `glimmer of hope' this week with the government's commitment to consider compensation for those who lose land to coastal flood management. Until now such compensation had been ruled out...

Pesticides campaigner launches High Court challenge.
November 3, 2006... GEORGINA Downs has launched a High Court legal challenge against what she describes as the Government's `fundamental failure to protect people from pesticides'. The pesticides campaigner is hoping to convince a High Court judge that Defra...

Have your say on how levy money is spent - Kendall.
November 3, 2006... FARMERS and growers have been urged by NFU president Peter Kendall not to miss the chance of having a say on how their levy money is spent. He has called on producers in the livestock, pigs, cereals and oilseed, horticulture and potato...

Union accused of `terror campaign' against grower.
November 3, 2006... PICKETS of supermarkets stocking produce from the UK's largest strawberry grower S&A Produce were carried out by the T&GWU on Tuesday as the producer accused the union of a `campaign of terror'. Trade unions picketed branches of Tesco and...

Cutbacks hit potato ring rot review.
November 3, 2006... A POTATO industry consultation planned following the 2004 potato ring rot `Lessons Learned' review has fallen victim to the Defra budget cuts announced last week. The review proposed a number of areas for consultation relating to...

Survey to raise sector profile.
November 3, 2006... HORTICULTURALISTS are being invited to take part in an NFU survey to raise the industry's profile and isolate what problems it faces. NFU horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst said the survey would help build a fuller picture of the...

NBA takes Irish beef battle to FSA.
November 3, 2006... THE National Beef Association has written to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) demanding action over claims that consumers are being misled by Irish beef farm assurance cover, writes TOM LEVITT. The NBA claims a breakdown in the inspection...

Short farm journeys exempt from new transport rules.
November 3, 2006... TRANSPORTERS can, from today, apply for authorisation to carry animals under new tougher rules, which become law in January 2007. Farmers moving animals in their own vehicles under 50km from their holding or for veterinary treatment will be...

Winter Fair entries on high.
November 3, 2006... THIS month's Royal Welsh Winter Fair entries are nudging last year's record levels, while prize money from the RWAS and breed societies has reached new heights. At 287, cattle entries for November 27 and 28, are well up on all of the past...

Defra canvasses views on birds.
November 3, 2006... DEFRA has launched a public consultation on proposals to change the list of bird species that need to be registered if kept in captivity. Under Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, certain bird species are registered with the...

Government steps up surveillance for signs of avian flu.
November 3, 2006... THE Government is stepping up its surveillance of nature reserves, parks and reservoirs for signs of avian influenza. Environment secretary David Miliband announced on Tuesday that more than 300 sites were being added to the list of areas...

Champions of countryside must be rewarded: Kendall.
November 3, 2006... FARMERS have been championed as managers of countryside, and food retailers have been told they should be rewarding value, not cutting prices, to create a sustainable supply chain. NFU president Peter Kendall told leading food and grocery...

Bovine TB blood test is hailed as a `useful step'.
November 3, 2006... THE decision to use the gamma-interferon blood test in Wales to increase the accuracy of the bovine TB testing regime is being seen as a `useful step forward' in detecting infection in cattle, but attacking TB at source - in wildlife - remained...

Question mark over tenancies.
November 3, 2006... THE future of tenant farmers on council estates across the country has been thrown into doubt this week. Gloucestershire County Council has rejected a legal challenge to review its decision to consider selling farms at the end of the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Promote local.
November 3, 2006... Montgomeryshire AM, Mick Bates, is calling on the Welsh Assembly to promote more locally sourced food in schools, encourage children to eat healthy food and teach them basic cooking skills. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

`Wish-list' envy of others.
November 3, 2006... IT may be a single market in Europe and a Common Agricultural Policy, but the Irish farming lobby has squeezed a wish-list from their Government that farmers elsewhere can only envy. This will see a big boost in funding for young farmers...

Value the `human factor'.
November 3, 2006... THE human factor was often forgotten and neglected, but was a very important part of a veterinary surgeon's daily work, the president of the British Veterinary Association, David Catlow, said in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. He told the...

Those making rules really must get a grip of reality.
November 3, 2006... I have been to a few meetings recently concerning that well publicised subject of the environment, cross compliance and waste management. The more you read about the new rules and regulations, the more ridiculous they seem to be. Whoever...

OPINION: Green for go ... now.
November 3, 2006... It is, of course, always good to be able to put a positive story in the main news pages - and the opportunities presented to agriculture in tackling climate are in many regards positive. Farming suffers fundamentally from being seen as too...

Deadline looms large for Tir Gofal scheme.
November 3, 2006... A NEW window for receiving applications for the Tir Gofal scheme opens later this month - but with demand likely to be high, it will only last for a limited period. So if you want to be in with a chance of being accepted, applications have...

Threefold benefit to farm in mission to enhance, diversify and create.
November 3, 2006... WITH a fresh application period due to open this month under new Welsh Assembly administration, the pioneering Tir Gofal agri-environmental scheme has just notched up a significant landmark achievement. BARRY ALSTON reports. A MID Wales...

Europe wages war on animal disease.
November 3, 2006... Europe is on the alert: Unexpected animal disease outbreaks have shocked scientists and vets alike. With the European Union's expansion eastwards the same scientists fear we are unprepared for the biosecurity risks of opening up borders. TOM...

DISEASE UPDATE.
November 3, 2006... Bluetongue There are still 30 to 40 new cases being reported daily in and around the hotspot areas of Belgium, Netherlands, Northern France and Germany. The insect vector is now believed to be a previously established one in Europe and not...

Councils quick to say `no' to GM crops.
November 3, 2006... LOCAL authorities in the South West have once again said `no' to the introduction of GM crops in the region. A total of eight councils in the region have responded to Defra's public consultation on the co-existence of GM crops, expressing...

Farmers confused as MEP warns of migrant `controls'.
November 3, 2006... RESTRICTIONS to the amount of migrant agricultural workers allowed into the UK each year are set to hit the South West's farming industry hard. The warning, from Liberal Democrat MEP for Somerset, Graham Watson, is after plans by the Home...

Work starts on 70-acre showcase site.
November 3, 2006... WORK has begun on the 70-acre site in Somerset which is set to showcase farming to the British public and promote the real value of milk. The development - which has a working title of `Puxton Park' - is focused on a working organic dairy...

All in clover: But first you must dispel myths about organics.
November 3, 2006... Gone are the days when the decision to convert to organic farming was based solely on ethical grounds - now there is a multi-billion pound market to consider. DAVID BURROWS looks at the decision-making process. A EUROPEAN Commission report...

Geese award winners open their doors to producers.
November 3, 2006... MEMBERS of the Goose Producers' Association visited Claire and Robert Symington's Seldom Seen Farm at Billesdon, Leicestershire for their 24th farm walk and annual meeting. Mr and Mrs Symington rear over 2,700 geese and 500 free-range...

Winners of first John Adlard sponsorship.
November 3, 2006... AT the annual meeting following the farm walk presentations were made to the winners of the first John Adlard Memorial Sponsorship Scheme. They were: Judith Dryden, from Co. Durham and John Arwel Jones, from Denbighshire. Mr Adlard,...

Father and son plough into the history books.
November 3, 2006... THE Mitchell family from Forfar have been celebrating a Scottish ploughing first this week. Andrew Mitchell won the reversible championship at the Scottish Ploughing Championships near Macduff over the weekend, while his 17- year-old son,...

Abattoirs `should support initiatives'.
November 3, 2006... Though AIMS, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, is going from strength to strength, overheads, such as those created by the Meat Hygiene Service, are crippling association members and threaten to become more onerous as the...

Going the extra mile for `trust and integrity'.
November 3, 2006... THE move towards resumption of beef from animals over 30 months old entering the food chain was a test of the industry which it had passed with flying colours, said Prof. Patrick Wall, chairman of the European Food Safety Authority. To...

NFU boss retains his upbeat approach.
November 3, 2006... NFU president Peter Kendall continued to promote his upbeat forecast for the food and farming industry, with the possible exception of the dairy sector. Beef prices were heading upwards, possibly on the back of the resumption of the export...

Time is now right to grasp opportunities.
November 3, 2006... THE implementation of the new EU food hygiene regulations in January, together with the consultation on the future of the Meat Hygiene Service this year, made it an opportune moment to consider alternatives, the conference was told. It was...

Eblex chief's keen to paint positive picture.
November 3, 2006... RICHARD Ali, Eblex chief executive, tried to paint a positive picture for AIMS members. England's small and medium sized abattoir sector accounted for 45 per cent of cattle slaughtered in England and close to a third of the national total. ...

Bambi completes the double at Harrogate.
November 3, 2006... With a record-breaking 9,300 attendance and capacity beef and sheep entries, this year's Countyside Live was a huge success. JOANNE PUGH reports from the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. THE commercial beef champion from the Great...

David's `last minute decision' pays off.
November 3, 2006... HAVING made a `last minute decision' to enter the national festival of meat competition, David Ward walked away with the top prize for a saddle of lamb. Mr Ward has never entered the Royal Smithfield Club competition before, which is...

Trophies and certificates aplenty for young Hannah.
November 3, 2006... BY the end of Countryside Live, 12-year-old Hannah Brown was struggling to carry all the trophies and certificates she had collected over the two days. She took first place in both the sheep and beef young handling competitions as well...

`Good length' pair take the supreme.
November 3, 2006... THE native breeds came out on top this year with judge Brenda Wear consistently placing Suffolk crosses over the continental breeds. The supreme championship went to Malcolm Stewart of Brotherstone, Melrose, Roxburghshire, for his pair of...

Worcestershire the best at stockjudging.
November 3, 2006... A NEW `farming debate' proved very popular this year with visitors crowding into the cookery theatre to learn more about farmers' role in the countryside. Visitors were invited to ask about all aspects of producing food and energy crops...

Farming debate a big hit with visitors.
November 3, 2006... A NEW location for the Young Farmers national stockjudging competition did nothing to dent entries or enthusiasm - and a team of four from Worcestershire took the top prize. Traditionally held at Smithfield, the national final was moved to...

A stomach for hardware.
November 3, 2006... SCENE - by the vet A FEW years ago one of our clients had a problem with some cows not performing and going off colour. When we examined these cows they presented many of the signs of `wire' or `hardware disease'. This is where a piece...

Arable: Discovering the options for work under an organic ELS.
November 3, 2006... DALBY Hall Organic Farm, on the south-eastern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, was the venue for a recent farm walk organised by ADAS on behalf of Natural England. The farm has recently entered into Organic Entry Level Stewardship and...

Arable: Storage fears as temperatures hold.
November 3, 2006... THE long, hot summer and warmest autumn on record are creating some difficulties with storage conditions for potatoes, as temperatures in- store remain several degrees higher than the norm for the time of year. "It's been a strange growing...

Arable: Rotting potato tubers found after change in storage conditions.
November 3, 2006... ROTTING tubers are already being found in some ambient potato stores, despite earlier suggestions that rots were not likely to be a problem this season, growers are being warned. The cause of the problem has been a sudden change in storage...

Arable: Shedding the plough for non-inversion tillage.
November 3, 2006... The BCPC Crop Science and Technology Conference took a wide-ranging theme - global aspects of crop production, crop protection and food supply - this year. John Parry reports from Glasgow. "WE'RE locked into non-inversion tillage now, I...

Arable: Beware of illegal agrochemicals.
November 3, 2006... THE growing trade in illegal agrochemicals was highlighted at the BCPC Crop Science and Technology Exhibition, Glasgow, when three Far East companies were required to cease commercial activities for promoting compounds protected by UK patents...

Arable: Database to manage markets and agronomy requirements.
November 3, 2006... AN on-line farm management aid was launched at the event. Aimed at farmers, advisers and the supply trade, it provides a comprehensive database describing over 50 crop options from amaranth and artichokes to willow and yew, and is to be...

FARM FEATURE: Cheese couple have plenty to smile about.
November 3, 2006... With more awards than they know what to do with, dairy farmers Philip and Carol Stansfield are a true diversification success story. KATIE ROEBUCK went to find out why the Cornish Cheese Company just cannot stop growing. The rewards from...

New Zealand offers new look on farming in a similar climate.
November 3, 2006... When Calum Main decided he wanted to see more of the world he did not feel he could organise an overseas trip himself. NEIL RYDER went to find out how he used AgriVenture to solve the problem. A DESIRE to widen his horizons and experience...

Country View: Trophy to mark special East Lothian grey partridge effort.
November 3, 2006... A NEW trophy is to be awarded to recognise those who have made particular efforts to help restore the grey partridge to East Lothian. It will be awarded annually from 2007 with the aim of encouraging more individuals, farms and estates to...

Country View: Flock would fill Christmas wish.
November 3, 2006... A FLOCK of chickens may not be everyone's idea of a Christmas gift, but it is just one of more than 24 gifts featured on the Save the Children Wish List, aimed at helping families beat poverty. The charity says that providing a family with...

Country View: Support up but fox and hare numbers down.
November 3, 2006... A NEW survey of hunts, carried out at the start of the 2006/07 season, has revealed that support and participation continue to grow, and that more land is available for hunting than before the Hunting Act. The news for foxes and hares is,...

Country View: `Speed dating' to find those perfect business partners.
November 3, 2006... SPEED dating with a difference is coming to Mid Wales later this month. As part of its on-going commitment to strengthen the local food economy, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is hosting a unique opportunity to help...

Country View: An hour in the November garden.
November 3, 2006... Now that the clocks have gone back, the garden seems to spend an extra month in bed, but nothing could be further from the truth. The days might be short, but whatever sunlight is around is put to good use, writes Paul Peacock. IT is...

Country View: Ian's expedition raises #6,000.
November 3, 2006... A LANARKSHIRE man who had to give up his farming job after a serious accident has raised more than #6,000 for RSABI (formerly the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) by completing a 34-day expedition in a Kubota RTV900. Ian...

Country View: Eight successes in a row.
November 3, 2006... BUILTH Wells YFC continued its winning run in Brecknock Young Farmers' annual senior written pub quiz competition by taking first place for the eighth year in a row. Team members Gareth Richards, Vicky Hope, Mairwen Davies and Emma...

Country View: Young not always a-maized by rural existence.
November 3, 2006... THE experiences of young people from farming and rural-based families have been incorporated in a play seen by 2,500 people and now set to spark discussion among decision-makers. The drama, The maize field was the culmination of a year-long...

Country View: Ex-presenter is WI guest speaker.
November 3, 2006... FORMER BBC `Ground Force' presenter and ex horticultural student at Writtle Agricltural College, Chelmsford, Kirsty King, was the guest speaker when 400 Suffolk East WI members gathered at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, for the federation's...

Country View: Keith clinch it at double.
November 3, 2006... KEITH YFC members claimed double success in Scottish Young Farmers' North Region beef cattle dressing challenge. Gavin Petrie and Martin Irvine from Keith won the senior trophy with 77 points. Fellow club members Darren Irvine and Craig Hendry...

Country View: Trust's work is just tree-mendous.
November 3, 2006... THE work of the Woodland Trust and the history of trees and ancient woodland were highlighted by Stephen Hartford, speaking to 500 delegates from 90 WIs attending the Warwickshire Federation of Women's Institutes autumn council meeting....

Country View: Tim takes top job.
November 3, 2006... Tim John, with county vice-chairman, Rhiannon Llewellin. TIM John, a 28-year-old farmer from Lambston, Haverfordwest, is the new chairman of the Pembrokeshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. He is the first member of Brawdy YFC to hold...

WORKING DOGS: `Doubles' at Ringinglow for Gerry and Dennis.
November 3, 2006... BOTH Gerry Clark and Dennis Hudson enjoyed double victories at the Ringinglow trial held at Peak Forest, Derbyshire, on Saturday. Gordon Birchenall, of Chinley, judged the 53 nursery and novice dogs. The running was on touchy Mule hoggs and...

WORKING DOGS: Family `battles' at Brecknock.
November 3, 2006... INTEREST is always high at the first Nursery trials in any county with dogs on their first outing in public, much speculation on their future prospects and, in certain cases some guessing as to the value of dogs that will be sold at the end of...

OBITUARY: Brian Fothergill.(Obituary)
November 3, 2006... AFTER a lengthy illness Brian Fothergill, of Silsden, died on Saturday. Although he rarely competed he was well known for training then selling on young dogs, many of which saw success on the trial fields. He also hosted both open and nursery...

Autos & 4x4: Fine-tuned for comfort.
November 3, 2006... Four-wheel drive estate cars represent that half-way house between practical estate car and all-out 4x4. And for Audi at least, the Allroad model has been particularly successful. This new version comes on the back of the latest A6 Avant...

Autos & 4x4: Citroen C-Crosser.
November 3, 2006... Citroen is to enter the 4x4 market next year with a sports utility vehicle, badged the C-Crosser. It measures 4.64m by 1.81m and is 1.73m high and will seat up to seven passengers. It comes with a 156hp 2.2HDi engine that can run on 30 per cent...

Autos & 4x4: V6 diesel boosts power and torque for next generation.
November 3, 2006... THE fact that Mercedes' ML270 Cdi was the firm's best selling 4x4 suggests that buyers appreciate having plenty of torque matched with economy. There wasn't a more powerful diesel simply because the in-line six used in the E320Cdi wouldn't...

Autos & 4x4: Honda CR-V.
November 3, 2006... Honda promises better handling, sophistication and practicality with its new CR-V. Off-road, it gets a revised Real Time 4WD system that detects front wheel slip and sends more torque to the back wheels. The new CR-V also incorporates Trailer...

Machinery: Trailed sprayers to cut chemical overlap.
November 3, 2006... Reducing chemical over-lap is just one feature of the John Deere 800i trailed sprayers. There are two models, the 832i and 840i, which have tank capacities of 3,200 and 4,000 litres and boom widths spanning 18m to 39m. These latest...

Machinery: JCB broadens horizons with compact line-up.
November 3, 2006... JCB has introduced five compact tractors with power outputs of 23hp to 54hp that will be manufactured in the Far East before being shipped to Staffordshire for final assembly. Available through the Groundcare division, the tractors have...

Machinery: A slight dip, but a good year for tractor sales.
November 3, 2006... WHILE tractor sales for August and September are slightly down on 2005 figures, this has still been a good year so far for tractor manufactures, with more vehicles sold to date (11,344 units) than in the same peiod in 2005. On a regional...

Machinery: Eco 180 extends Broadwood's Tuchel range of sweepers.
November 3, 2006... Broadwood International has added to the Tuchel range of sweepers with the Eco 180. Aimed at smaller tractors in the 30hp or so category, it has a 1.8m working width. The sweeper is carried on the tractor's rear linkage, with the rotary...