Farmers Guardian articles from November 2008

Farmers Guardian archives from November 2008

Pesticide vote disaster, industry vows to fight on.
November 7, 2008... * Just 20 MEPs voted against proposals By William Surman EURO-MPs have voted to dramatically cut the number of pesticides available for use by farmers, despite campaigning and direct lobbying by Farmers Guardian and industry...

TB eradication programme essential for EU compliance.
November 7, 2008... * New group shows a `shift in attitude' By Alistair Driver THE European Commission has warned Defra it must introduce an eradication programme for bovine TB that includes wildlife controls in order to comply with EU legislation. ...

No change of direction on culling, says Benn.
November 7, 2008... DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has made it clear the decision to set up a TB Eradication Group does not signal a change of direction on badger culling. Giving evidence on Wednesday, as part of the EFRA Committee's inquiry into badger and...

Farmers `not doing enough'.
November 7, 2008... WITH half a million cattle overdue for TB tests, the has hit out at farmers, claiming they are not doing enough to stop the spread of the disease. In May 2008 a total of 606 herds were more than 12 months overdue for their test, with...

Assembly adds extra powers in TB crackdown.
November 7, 2008... THE Welsh Assembly's comprehensive bovine TB eradication programme, which began last month with the task of testing of every herd in Wales, has been boosted by the ratification of new powers of entry. The move strengthens existing powers to...

Inspectors' strike ballot to hit MHS.
November 7, 2008... * Action timed for maximum disruption By Jack Davies MEAT processors could be left paralysed over the Christmas period, leaving farmers struggling to make crucial deliveries due to a threatened three-day walk-out by meat inspectors....

Winning cowgirl to roam Dorset peninsula.
November 7, 2008... LISA Hawthornwaite has beaten off stiff competition from budding cowgirls and cowboys from as far away as South America to become the National Trust's first cowgirl. Lisa, 30, will roam the Studland peninsula in Dorset on her five-year-...

OTM cattle consultation.
November 7, 2008... A JOINT consultation was launched last Friday by Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Food Standards Agency on proposals to raise the age above which cattle must be tested for BSE. Under the plans unveiled last month (FG October 17)...

New bluetongue strain.
November 7, 2008... SCIENTISTS have discovered another new strain of bluetongue, meaning there are now four serotypes of the virus in Northern Europe - BTV1, 6, 8 and the new previously undiscovered serotype. Scientists discovered the latest strain,...

Vaccination campaign opens up Scottish trade.
November 7, 2008... * Government picks up half of the cost By Jack Davies TRADE between England, Scotland and Wales opened up for the first time in over a year after Scottish farmers embarked on a six month compulsory vaccination campaign against...

BTV-6 `could spread unchecked for a year'.
November 7, 2008... FARMERS in the UK are unlikely to see a vaccine for the latest bluetongue strain to infect Europe for at least a year, a leading vaccine manufacturer said this week. Serotype 6 (BTV-6) was discovered in Holland last week, causing concern...

Smaller doses later.
November 7, 2008... SMALLHOLDERS are being warned the subsidised vaccine in Scotland will only be available in 100ml doses at the start of the campaign - enough for 50 cattle or 100 sheep. Merial said it will be releasing smaller bottles in the coming months...

IN BRIEF: `Tackle disease together' call.
November 7, 2008... NEW ways of tackling problems of importing cattle diseases are being sought by Dairy UK's Farmers' Forum. The call for an industry-wide approach was made by Shropshire farmer and Dairy Farmer columnist, Roger Evans, the new chairman. ...

IN BRIEF: Entries boom at Winter Fair.
November 7, 2008... ENTRIES for next month's Royal Welsh Winter Fair at Builth Wells, on December 1 and 2 have all but set new record levels. The cattle section, at 310, are only just short of last year's record, the number of lamb pairs at 345 is up by 62,...

IN BRIEF: Beltex change.
November 7, 2008... UNFORSEEN circumstances have meant the date of the Wales and Border Beltex Club's in-lamb ewe sale at Brecon takes place on December 10 - not December 11 as advertised. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Food miles cut.
November 7, 2008... THE UK's leading food and consumer goods companies have announced that an initiative to reduce the environmental impact of transporting food and groceries has removed the equivalent of 53 million journey miles from UK roads. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Stalwart dies.
November 7, 2008... GORDON Newman has died after a short illness. Among his many achievements was playing the major role in establishing the Straights Feeders Group, which went on to found the Maize Growers Association. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Withdrawal of genome select NZ bulls.
November 7, 2008... GENOMICALLY selectedHolstein Friesian bulls launched on to the New Zealand market this year and due to arrive in the UK next spring, have all been withdrawn from sale in New Zealand. The decision by NZ's Livestock Improvement Corporation...

Farmland birds: NFU and Defra in figures clash.
November 7, 2008... * Decline in species blamed on farmers By Alistair Driver THE NFU has hit out at claims by Defra that farming practices are to blame for a decline in numbers of certain farmland bird species. Wildlife Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies,...

Arable leads way as farming borrows #950m more than last year.
November 7, 2008... LENDING to the farming industry now stands at an all-time high of #11.1billion compared to around #10.1bn at the same time in 2007. The Bank of England announced an increase of around #950 million this week, driven largely by heavy...

GM soy bean could prevent heart attacks.
November 7, 2008... HEALTH-PROMOTING GM products hit the headlines again this week after researchers in the US successfully trialled a GM soy bean that can help reduce the risk of heart attacks. The research at the University of South Dakota saw scientists...

An appliance of science backcloth to food debate.
November 7, 2008... A NEW exhibition looking at the global food crisis and the debate surrounding GM crops is set to launch at the Science Museum in London, paving the way for a major public debate on the issue. The event, `Future Foods', will be launched by...

Angry colony of beekeepers mount protest.
November 7, 2008... * Investment pleas to save our honey By William Surman ANGRY beekeepers marchedon Downing Street this week to demand funding to halt the rapid demise of the bee population. According to the president of the British Beekeeper...

LETTER: Principality's serious action on bTB.(Letter to the editor)
November 7, 2008... I WAS disappointed to see the letter from G.R. Owens of McCartneys (FG, October 24) which claims there is inaction on bovine TB (bTB) in Wales. On the contrary, we are taking positive steps to remove this damaging disease through a...

LETTER: Uplands move won't stop rot.(Letter to the editor)
November 7, 2008... NOW the Uplands Environmental Scheme has been unveiled to replace the excellent Hill Farm Allowance Scheme (HFA), it's clearly not going to prevent a hill farming industry collapse. Parliament is, at last, realising Lord Haskins' advocacy...

LETTER: Injection option.(Letter to the editor)
November 7, 2008... A SMALL but important detail was missing from your recent sheep scab article `Good biosecurity can keep sheep scab off farms' (FG, p16, Animal Health supplement, October 24) where it says `injectable treatments such as Ivermectin deliver good...

LETTER: Warm warning.(Letter to the editor)
November 7, 2008... IT is as though Hans Christian Anderson has come back to life. While the House of Commons debated global warming, London experienced its first October snowfall since 1922. To combat a projected two degrees centigrade rise in temperatures,...

LETTER: Too many chiefs.(Letter to the editor)
November 7, 2008... HOW can Tim Smith of the FSA imply MHS meat inspectors are responsible for the #20 million of taxpayers' money spent over the last seven years (FG, October 24). I work at a small slaughterhouse in Somerset where, until July, we had two...

EDITORIAL: Taking a different view of life.(Editorial)
November 7, 2008... Being involved in agriculture has never been the easiest of jobs whatever you do. Making the best of tough times, growing business during the good periods and keeping up with what is happening is always a challenge. A fresh look at things...

OPINION: Few win this Euro lottery.
November 7, 2008... PRO-decoupling nerves frayed when production costs soared on the back of summer's oil price hikes and, as a result, more livestock farmers hope the comfort blanket of production-linked support payments will be re-installed. The EU's much...

Anger at continued delay of payments.
November 7, 2008... FARMERS in mid Wales are angry over continuing delays in long overdue payments for two Welsh Assembly administered support schemes. Many are owed thousands of pounds. Tired of waiting, they are pressing their local Assembly member, Mick...

Call for Scottish appeals agency.
November 7, 2008... THE Scottish Government has called for the establishment of an independent Appeals Agency to hear farmers' appeals on agricultural subsidies. The proposal follows a review of the current three-tiered system, which recommended a more...

Sad loss for Askham Bryan.
November 7, 2008... PROFESSOR Gareth Rees, former principal of Askham Bryan College has died. Prof Rees was principal from 2002 until summer of last year. His funeral will take place today (Friday, November 7) at East Riding Crematorium, Langtoft. David...

Council must source `local' school dinners.
November 7, 2008... COUNTY Councillors on the Isle of Anglesey were left red faced this week when they were forced to review school catering contracts after parents complained about the volume of foreign meat being served. The complaints followed the discovery...

Own brands instead of Red Tractor says TFA.
November 7, 2008... THE Tenant Farmers Association has told the newly formed Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) it should not be using levy payers money to fund the Red Tractor logo. The TFA's national chairman, Greg Bliss said: "the TFA...

Million-pound climate funding.
November 7, 2008... SCOTLAND is set to receive #1,165,761 from the Climate Challenge Fund to invest in a series of community projects aimed at cutting the nation's carbon footprint. In total 18 projects will receive funding including #73,090 due to be pumped...

ANALYSIS: Eradicating bTB: Why Defra has shifted its stance.
November 7, 2008... The cattle industry has hailed the announcement of a Bovine TB Eradication Group as a `very positive step'. Alistair Driver asks whether this represents a turning point in the fight against the disease. What is the purpose of the group?...

Increasing challenges for the global dairy industry.
November 7, 2008... * UK dairy farmers are not alone AS British dairy farmers continue to struggle with rising production costs and low prices, farmers from around the world gathered in Kentucky, USA, to explain how they are coping with the challenges. It...

BUSINESS: `Significant' beef price rises to come.
November 7, 2008... * Consumers spend 8pc more this year EVERY beef cow capable of producing a calf that can be finished in 2010- 2011 is needed. The United Kingdom will produce less beef both this year and next. "It will export more, it will import less...

BUSINESS: Beef commands market.
November 7, 2008... BEEF continues to have the largest market share of the meat and poultry category, which as a whole, shrunk by 10 per cent in the 12 weeks up to September 9 compared with the same period in 2007. Latest figures from TNS show beef sales...

BUSINESS: Morris joins Hybu Cig.
November 7, 2008... THE Welsh red meat development body, Hybu Cig Cymru, has appointed Alan Morris as its new communications manager. He joins the agency from the Welsh Assembly Government where he was head of the corporate press team and before that, was...

BUSINESS: Record crowed hears upbeat milk message.
November 7, 2008... FIRST Milk is aligning itself with the highest paying customers in the highest paying sectors and will be at the forefront of the wider industry changes that need to happen, says the co-op's vice chairman Robert Shearlaw. In an upbeat...

BUSINESS: `Exceptional' pre-tax profit.
November 7, 2008... CARR's is expected to post pre-tax profits more than double those of the previous year. During 2008 the company has put out five profit upgrades reaching a figure "in excess of #12.5m". Chris Holmes, Carr's chief executive said it had...

BUSINESS: Milk Link appoint marketing manager.
November 7, 2008... Milk Link has a new marketing director, Hamish Renton, to oversee further growth into added value, branded, and licensed dairy related products. He joins the business from Uniq where he pioneered the development of a new range of value...

WORLD NEWS: Argentina.
November 7, 2008... Beef exports for the first 10 months of 2008 were around 300,000 tonnes. Assuming November and December exports are around 80,000 tonnes, this will be 170,000 tonnes short of quota. European buyers are offering 30 per cent less than...

WORLD NEWS: Russia.
November 7, 2008... Some 600 dairy cattle have arrived in the Amur region from Australia. The first calvers and heifers were the second shipment of Australian Holsteins to Amur this year. They are part of a shipment of 1,935 head of dairy cattle. There...

WORLD NEWS: WTO.
November 7, 2008... The EU's new trade commissioner, Baroness Ashton, has claimed there are still prospects of a World Trade Organisation deal on removing barriers to trade being reached. She was speaking after a meeting with WTO secretary general Pascal Lamy...

WORLD NEWS: Brussels.
November 7, 2008... The EU's pig management committee has described the market as stable, with average pigmeat prices at *165 per 100kg. Fresh and frozen exports have risen 44 per cent on last year, allowing stocks to be cleared at reasonable prices. ...

BUSINESS: Raw milk price expected to remain stable this winter.
November 7, 2008... * More competition in cheese market By Howard Walsh FARMGATE milk prices should remain relatively stable and stay above 26ppl through the winter. As market returns remain dominated by liquid and mature cheese, Dairy Group director...

BUSINESS: Forward prices boost pool.
November 7, 2008... GLEADELL Agriculture's 2008 wheat pool has put around #50/tonne extra in the pockets of growers who took the firm's advice to lock into forward prices. The pool returned a base price of #130.15 and an average of #133.15. Managing director...

BUSINESS: Farm production threat.
November 7, 2008... ONLY five percent of Scottish farm businesses are planning to increase output, according to the first 120 responses from NFU Scotland's `Credit Crunch and Input Costs - The Impact on You' survey. Three quarters of respondents planned to...

BUSINESS: Negotiating the planning minefield.
November 7, 2008... Always seek legal advice on what consents and permissions may be required when exploring possible diversification advises, Katherine Haslam of Adams & Remers Solicitors. * Seek advice to prevent a breach IF you see diversification as a...

BUSINESS: Arla's five-year global strategy.
November 7, 2008... A NEW global strategy aimed at delivering the best milk price to its co- operative farmer owners has been announced by Arla Foods amba. It is a five-year plan in which the Scandinavian business assures its UK operation will still play a...

CROP & GRASS NUTRITION: Cutting costs with `nitrogen fixing' clovers.
November 7, 2008... A livestock producer, who has experimented with red and white clovers to boost soil fertility on his grazing land, has halved the cost of chemical fertiliser inputs. Ean Stewart is now planning to adopt a similar policy on his silage...

CROP & GRASS NUTRITION: A blend for varied weather and soils.
November 7, 2008... MR Stewart's grassland adviser, Lindsay Ker of LS Smellie, says the rising cost of chemical fertiliser has encouraged many livestock producers to take a closer look at using clover mixes to enhance soil nitrogen content. The Castlehill Red...

CROP & GRASS NUTRITION: Strike balance when using nitrogen fertilisers.
November 7, 2008... Careful use of nitrogen fertiliser can have both economic and environmental benefits, Dan Kindred, ADAS, told growers at a recent Farming Futures/HGCA workshop. "Around 70 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions from a wheat crop are due,...

CROP & GRASS NUTRITION: Potential shown for bi-cropping.
November 7, 2008... The main benefit of bi-cropping wheat in a permanent clover base is the potential for nitrogen fixation and reduction in use of artificial fertilisers. Bi-cropping, which involves growing two crops together, is commonly adopted in the...

ARABLE: Early-drilled crops doing well.
November 7, 2008... * Seed has little `get up and go' By Joanna Baker DESPITE difficult field conditions leading to slow drilling progress in many areas, around 90 per cent of the planned winter barley area and 85 per cent of winter wheat is now in the...

ARABLE: Seed treatment offers improved yields.
November 7, 2008... A new insecticidal seed treatment for oilseed rape offers longer activity duration and improved yield potential compared to its predecessor, says Bayer CropScience. Modesto combines Bayer's neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin with beta...

ARABLE: Options for control of TuYV aphids in OSR.
November 7, 2008... INSECTICIDAL seed treatments are likely to be the main option for control of turnip yellows virus-transmitting aphids in oilseed rape - for the near future at least. Foliar insecticides and resistant varieties offer some prospects for...

ARABLE: Modesto label claims.
November 7, 2008... * Cabbage stem flea beetle useful control of shot holing damage to cotyledons and seedlings caused by early attacks of adult CSFB, improving crop establishment. * Turnip sawfly - reduction in foliar damage caused by feeding activity of...

ARABLE: Precision farming project.
November 7, 2008... GROWERS interested in precision farming techniques are being encouraged to get involved with a new HGCA project, Be Precise: Precision for efficiencies, savings and the environment. "The project aims to bring the concepts of precision...

ARABLE: Rethink strategies for meadow-grass control post IPU.
November 7, 2008... TIGHT schedules and challenging seedbeds have led many growers to focus on drilling rather than weed control, but experts are warning about overlooked annual meadow-grass control. Early treatment is advocated wherever possible but, with...

ARABLE: Potato costs likely to rise by 15 -20pc.
November 7, 2008... CHOOSING the right land to grow crops on is a key part of business improvement, according to Jay Wootton of Andersons. "Most growers are still not being critical enough with their land selection and should not grow crops on land that is...

ARABLE: Sacrifice temptation to opt for quantity over quality.
November 7, 2008... Seed potato exports and business improvement were among the hot topics on the agenda when members of the British seed potato industry met at the Potato Council's Seed Industry Event `Rising to the challenges ahead', in Crieff, Perthshire....

ARABLE: Great Britain's seed potatoes.
November 7, 2008... * Some 350,000 tonnes of seed potatoes are grown in Great Britain each year - 75 per cent of which are produced in Scotland. * Seed potato exports from Great Britain have increased from 70,000 to 90,000 tonnes per year over the last 10...

ARABLE: Plant breeders sought to fill a growing global demand.
November 7, 2008... THERE is an acute shortage of plant breeders in the UK and many concerns about where the next generation of breeders will come from, according to Dr Nigel Kerby, managing director, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS). Based at SCRI...

FARM FEATURE: Fiery favourites' eclectic mix adds true farm value.
November 7, 2008... What fruit comes in 100 different varieties, has the ability to produce through frost, and is fierce enough to make your eyes water? Ann Hardy reports. When Jason Nickels and Steve Waters began tentatively growing chilli plants in their...

YOUNGSTOCK: Aiding society's most vulnerable.
November 7, 2008... Travelling the world, gaining new insights into the farming industry and improving personal development are at the core of a Nuffield Farming Scholarship. Danusia Osiowy and William Surman report from the 61st annual Nuffield conference in...

YOUNGSTOCK: UK simply cannot compete in terms of bioethanol production.
November 7, 2008... UK farmers should concentrate on producing food and leave bioethanol production to those countries better equipped, according to Nuffield scholar Cathal McCarron. A visit to the bioethanol superpower, Brazil, convinced Mr McCarron the UK...

YOUNGSTOCK: Best Scholar Report.(Report)
November 7, 2008... DIANA Allen has won the award for Best Scholar Report 2007, co- sponsored by Farmers Guardian and HSBC. Since presenting her report on dairy cow comfort to scholars last year, Ms Allen has developed a troubleshooting system that helps dairy...

YOUNGSTOCK: Looks aren't everything when it comes to profits.
November 7, 2008... * Labour accounts for a third of costs "IF you breed a flock or herd that makes you money and doesn't give you hassle you'll soon get to like the look of them." That was one of the key messages offered by Charley Walker, whose...

YOUNGSTOCK: Best practice must be economically viable.
November 7, 2008... FOOD producers who are able to demonstrate higher environment credentials will secure consumer loyalty and be able to take a bigger bite of market demand. That was the message from Mike Tyers, who was awarded the annual award for the best...

YOUNGSTOCK: Still time to apply for a Nuffield Farming Scholarship.
November 7, 2008... IF you are passionate about food and farming and would like to travel the world in the name of agriculture there is still time to apply for a Nuffield Farming Scholarship. Many of this year's scholars unanimously agreed the opportunity...

YOUNGSTOCK: Agri-terrorism poses disease threat.
November 7, 2008... IF there was an award for most original Nuffield study it could well have gone to Richard Byrne. As a Territorial Army officer, Mr Byrne is currently serving with the marines in Afghanistan and was unable to present his findings. ...

YOUNGSTOCK: Winners surprised at their success.
November 7, 2008... Continuing our support for YFC clubs, Farmers Guardian sponsored the individual classes in the recent live and carcase stockjudging competition which took place at Countryside Live. Also taking place was the Young Handler's competition. *...

YOUNGSTOCK: Dylan's following in his father's footsteps.
November 7, 2008... FOLLOWING on from his father's success in the show ring, 14-year-old Dylan Jones from Llanrwst, Conwy, was the winner of the beef young handler competition. He was leading father Tecwyn's, British Blue cross steer, Black Jack, with whom he...

COUNTRY VIEW: Mutton Run starts season.
November 7, 2008... THE first new season North Ronaldsay mutton from the seaweed-fed sheep on the foreshore of the most northerly of the Orkney Isles, has arrived in London. The carcases were driven in two cars by a team of farmers, some of the country's top...

COUNTRY VIEW: Local produce central to island family's venture.
November 7, 2008... * Stars of Manx advertising campaign A family who gambled on a fresh start by taking up farming are the stars of the Isle of Man government's latest television advertising campaign. The Andersons - John and Fiona and their children...

COUNTRY VIEW: #2.2m rural grant scheme.
November 7, 2008... NEW Forest farmers, foresters and rural businesses have been quick off the mark to apply for grants of between #2,000 and #50,000 available under a #2.2million scheme from autumn 2008 to 2013. Applications are being received for a wide...

COUNTRY VIEW: Award for farmer with strong school links.
November 7, 2008... A farmer who has done pioneering work arranging school visits to farms has won this year's Welsh Organic Farming Award. Nick Rebbeck has farmed in the Lampeter area for nearly 30 years and has hosted school visits under the Tir Gofal...

COUNTRY VIEW: Crofting areas grow.
November 7, 2008... ARRAN, Bute, Greater and Little Cumbrae, Moray and parts of Highland not already within the Crofting Counties are to be designated new crofting areas. Environment Minister Michael Russell said this would aid sustainable economic growth....

COUNTRY VIEW: Price of organic pork? Anything?
November 7, 2008... Paul Peacock brings us a delicious pork pie with a huge difference, but worries about his supply of organic rare breed pork. One of the mainstays of small pork producers has been organic production. It sort of started a few years ago when a...

WORKING DOGS: Radnorshire title goes down to the OLF rule.
November 7, 2008... RADNORSHIRE held its first nursery trials, with 19 dogs competing in two classes at Gladestry. With both leaders on 12 points, the winner, Graham Powell with Maid, was decided by the OLF rule. Philip Pugh with Lilly were runners up. ...