Dairy Farmer articles from January 2004

Dairy Farmer archives from January 2004

COMMENT: Way ahead - says RSPB.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Just as most of you were starting to decide on future business plans and whether the post-MTR game was worth the candle, along comes Lord Whitty firecracker in hand. Back into the melting pot goes the favoured historical basis and out...

No cut back yet as quota prices rocket.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Production continues to race ahead in spite of warnings that output will have to fall by over 50m litres a month for the next three months to avoid going over quota. A slight reduction in weekly production at the beginning of January...

ASDA set for direct supplies.(Milk Supply Chain)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Following in the footsteps of Marks and Spencer and Waitrose, ASDA has announced that it is looking to build a dedicated milk supply chain. The company is currently considering submissions from interested processors and is ideally looking...

Reducing protein is the best option.(Dairy Farms)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Cutting back concentrate usage would seem the sensible option for herds going over quota but beware of the consequences in the next quota year, warns Pye Bibby nutritionist Duncan Rose. Early lactation cows are particularly vulnerable to...

A year to remember.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Sue and Andrew Sanders recorded a bumper year in 2003. In September they won the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup, then results announced this month show that they are NMR's top ranking Holstein herd. Their 200 cows yielded 13,629kg - up from 12,209kg last...

Milk recording deal.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Subject to contracts and approval from the Competition and Charity Authorities, NMR will acquire the business of CIS and Holstein UK's rights to the 1-Stop service from HUK. Once the deal is completed, NMR hopes to take over the reins of CIS at...

Last call for your entries.(Dairy Farmer )(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Hurry up if you want to stand a chance of winning a weekend break in Paris and #1000 worth of farm inputs. Entries for the Dairy Farmer of the Future 2004 close on January 31. It is open to anyone under 30 or who has been employed in dairy...

GM maize takes step closer.(Genetically modified)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... The prospect of commercially grown crops of genetically modified maize in the UK moved a step closer following advice from the Government's statutory advisers the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). The committee has...

Milk keeps crops free from fungus.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Farmers are constantly being told of the need to add value to milk - but now researchers at Harper Adams have come up with the most bizarre new product yet suggested. According to crop specialist Dr Peter Kettlewell, diluted milk sprayed on to...

COWMEN COMMENT: Now Tim is mixing it with the great Mr Vinnie.
January 28, 2004... Not content with his appearance in the Star our Tim is now mixing it with the famous and none less so than Mr Jones himself. Now after a real life audition, is he about to launch himself on a film star career? Read on. At last some welcome...

COWMEN COMMENT: Just time for a pint and prayer en route.
January 28, 2004... The New Year finds Sally Leaney in combative mood ready to put the world to rights. And how! New Year's resolutions? Do you love them, hate them, or simply ignore them? Whichever it is, I do wonder if the Government even has the future of...

COWMEN COMMENT: Now he's the great blue cheese tester!
January 28, 2004... Fresh from his role as the nation's yoghurt tester our Stratford-upon- Avon thespian has now squeezed a gap in his heavily-booked schedule to become head cheese tester. Whatever may have gone wrong last year, the new one is started with a...

EU NEWS: UK escapes worst of Parmalat implication.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... The dairy industry across Europe has been rocked by the multi-billion pound financial crisis at Parmalat. The company is not only Italy's biggest milk processor, but is in the top ten of European dairy processors. The business has global...

EU NEWS: Commission says no threat from enlargement.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... European Commission enlargement expert Graham Avery has warned farmers in the EU 15 not to see a bigger European Union as a threat to their financial future. Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, he said farmers in the ten new member...

EU NEWS: Question over historical basis.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... While it is expected the dairy sector will be decoupled from January 2005, it could be some weeks before the structure of entitlements is known. The assumption has been that England, Scotland and Wales would base entitlements on historic CAP...

EU NEWS: Irish exodus on the cards.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Ireland's agricultural research organisation Teagasc has forecast that a third of dairy farmers will quit the industry within the next three to ten years. It also says 15 per cent will quit more quickly, leaving soon after the new CAP reform...

EU NEWS: Dairy budget overspend.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... The CAP budget ended 2003 under spent, but the dairy budget limit was exceeded by #90 million. This reflected the need for export refunds to support milk prices in the face of weak international commodity markets. Exporters were also badly hit...

POTTER'S VIEW: Pressure mounts as quota prices rocket.
January 28, 2004... Quota broker Ian Potter and his staff have been rushed off their feet as production continues unabated and producers look to ensure they have enough quota to avoid swingeing super levy penalties. In all the time I've been trading quota I've...

INTERVIEW - TOM HIND: NFU is clear on its MTR policy.(National Farmers Union)(Interview)
January 28, 2004... The New Year saw a new chief dairy policy advisor at the NFU, Tom Hind, who has come straight out of the Brussels office. David Matthews caught up with him to hear his views on his new job and where he sees the industry going. Now you used...

BREEDING: HUK clinches a deal in the end.
January 28, 2004... Fourteen years after the Wilson Report recommended the formation of an independent cattle database for the UK there has at last been a major breakthrough with the announcement that NMR and Holstein UK are to join forces to set up the Centre for...

BREEDING: Genetic evaluation work shared.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Breakthroughs in breeding are like buses - you wait for ages and then two come along at once! Co-inciding with the announcement of plans to set up the Centre for Dairy Information, the MDC finally announced that the contract to carry out its...

BREEDING: Touch of style from Italian stud.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Joining Semen World's proven line-up from Italy is high milk and type sire Campogallo PG Tresor. The bull is another high ranking son of Cesar Mascot Valentein who is also responsible for the current No 1 #PLI sire Raul. Although lower on...

BREEDING: Genus adds to Friesian line-up.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Flagship sire in Genus Breeding's Friesian line-up for 2004 is the newly proven Dutch bred Tittenser Hylke. Hylke is claimed to be the highest indexed Friesian in the UK rankings with a #PIN of 18. The bull is out of an 85pt Dutch...

HEAT DETECTION: Big brother is keeping an eye on your cows!
January 28, 2004... Big Brother, minus the diary room, could soon be coming to a cubicle shed near you. Angela Rhodes reports on a new surveillance system which looks set to revolutionise heat detection in large herds. Heat detection rates are running at an...

NVZs can be good for you.(Nitrate Vulnerable Zone)
January 28, 2004... Good NVZ practices such as observing closed periods for fertiliser application and avoiding over-application of Nitrogen can save money. So says Kemira GrowHow's Technical Manager for South Wales, Howell Richards. "Here in South Wales we are...

SEMEX CONFERENCE: Co-ops must offer real market bonus.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Aberdeen farmer Maitland Mackie, who has turned his farmhouse ice cream into a national brand, challenged the view that co-operation would solve the price crisis in the dairy industry. He told delegates that co- operatives could not expect to...

CONFERENCE: Shortage of quality staff will be an increasing constraint.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Dairy buildings expert John Hughes has forecast that the availability of quality labour will increasingly become a constraint on the dairy industry. He said the number of dairy farmers will continue to decline, and that the industry would...

SEMEX CONFERENCE: Herd health schemes to be more important.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Moredun Institute scientific director Professor Quintin McKellar has forecast that herd health schemes will take on a new significance in the coming years. He said this would reflect twin pressures on the farming industry - the need for herds...

SEMEX CONFERENCE: Farmer-friendly cows are the ones we need.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Holstein UK breed development executive John Gribben told delegates that classification was improving the knowledge base for selection. He said that in the past recommended bull lists had concentrated on the milk production potential of sires,...

SEMEX CONFERENCE: Don't shirk asking awkward questions.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Semex chairman Drew Sloan used his keynote speech at the conference to urge farmers to take more interest in the running of co-operatives and other farming organisations. Calling for greater levels of accountability, responsibility and...

CONTRACTING: NAAC gears up to meet new waste regulations.(National Association of Agricultural Contractors)
January 28, 2004... Dairy farmers are caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to meet ever more demanding rules and regulations but they have little or no cash available to do so. The options open to them are narrowing alarmingly, so to get the necessary...

CONTRACTING: Maize grain gets a foothold in the south.
January 28, 2004... Having just learned to fully embrace maize as a forage crop, attention is now being focused on maize grain where crimping is opening up new possibilities. Feeding crimped maize grain to dairy cows will become the next major step forward in...

CONTRACTING: Take a closer look at contract milking.(LKL Services)(Dairyforce)
January 28, 2004... The increasing skills shortage in the UK dairy industry means it is becoming extremely difficult to find and retain good herdsmen. Angela Rhodes finds out how contract herd care can take the hassle out of recruitment and be a cost-effective...

CONTRACTING: Single pass maize drill makes its eco-friendly debut.
January 28, 2004... Researchers in Switzerland have developed a revolutionary single pass drilling technique for maize which has the potential to reduce soil damage and limit pollution problems. Angela Rhodes reports on the MGA's evaluation of the technique in the...

CONTRACTING: Telehandlers set to get bigger and better.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Exact figures have yet to filter through, but the AEA estimates that somewhere in the region of 2500 new telehandlers were sold in the UK during 2003 with contractors accounting for a large proportion of sales. Steven Vale reports. In...

CONTRACTING: MASSEY FERGUSON.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Massey Ferguson's 8900 series telehandlers are fitted with a new cab, new engine and new exterior styling for this season. The cab is designed to provide operators with additional floor space and a simpler control layout. Made for MF by...

CONTRACTING: NEW HOLLAND.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... A new blue livery is not the only feature on New Holland's latest range of LM-A telehandlers: they have new Tier II engines, 20% faster hydraulic cycle times, improved hydraulic control options and a longer chassis for more stability. The...

CONTRACTING: JOHN DEERE.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Boasting more power, extra hydraulic performance and a wider range of options, John Deere's 3015 and 3020 series telehandlers replace the previous 3200 and 3400 models. All four new versions 3215 (115hp), 3220 (125hp), 3415 (115hp) and...

CONTRACTING: JCB.(introduces Farm Special Plus lifting machinery)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... JCB's 535-95 Farm Special Plus is aimed at operators looking for high lift coupled with powerful engine and drive train performance. Ideal for heavy-duty straw and grain handling, the machine shares overall dimensions with current 530-70 and...

CONTRACTING: MANITOU.(introduces new telehandler, engine and joystick controls)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... New Tier II engines, a new joystick control system and a new MLT 741 telehandler head up Manitou developments for 2004. New Tier II engines are now included in all MLT models, which has led to model numbering changes. The 630 replaces the...

CONTRACTING: FARESIN.(in late stages of testing prototypes of new telehandler)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Italian-firm Faresin claims to be at an advanced stage of testing with prototypes of a telehandler with integrated rear linkage and PTO. Called the A628, the project is being carried out in conjunction with French-firm Haulotte. Lifting 2.8...

CONTRACTING: CLAAS.(new engine available on farm machinery)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... In addition to the existing 122hp engine, Claas Targo customers can now opt for a new 99 hp engine (Perkins 1004.40T). Although smaller, this latest engine provides increased torque and better fuel con-sumption over the 106hp engine it...

CONTRACTING: REDROCK.(Redrock Engineering introduces new telehandler and new engine)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Major developments from Redrock Engineering include a new Tier II engine in the existing TH280 telehandler, and a new model - the TH280S. In the TH280, the Perkins 118hp engine is replaced by a smaller Iveco 101hp version which offers...

CONTRACTING: HIGHER REACH MERLO.(Merlo UK hay bale-stacking machine)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Merlo UK is currently evaluating a 9m-lift height Multifarmer in addition to the current 6m version. Shown at the Italian EIMA show in November, it offers the same 3 tonnes lift capacity, and the 9m version is the result of big farm and...

CONTRACTING: THREE-WHEELED TELEHANDLER.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Manitou is looking to gauge interest in a three-wheeled telehandler. Called the Twisco SLT 415 and powered by a Lister Petter 39.7hp engine, the machine is capable of lifting 1.5t to 4m. The company feels that it could provide contractors with...

CONTRACTING: FOR CONFINED SPACES.(new Weidemann telehandler operates in confined buildings)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Weidemann claims that its 5006 is one of the smallest telehandlers on the market, which is likely to make it popular with contractors operating in confined buildings. UK importer PLG Loaders says that a number of machines have already gone to...

CONTRACTING: CATERPILLAR.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... New control layouts designed to provide simpler operation are a feature on Caterpillar's latest telehandlers. Known as the B series, and replacing the previous TH62 and TH82, there are two agricultural models - the TH220B and TH330B. These...

CONTRACTING: MERLO.(introduces new boom and axle options on TurboFarmer equipment)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Last year Merlo showed future options of boom and front axle suspension systems on TurboFarmer telehandlers to improve operator comfort and performance. For fixed front axle models, the boom suspension system uses a nitrogen hydraulic...

SARS gives boost to colostrum milk sales.(Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... New Zealand dairy company Fonterra recorded a boom year for its colostrum products in 2003. The company has developed two speciality milk products. One is branded `Stolle' and is milk from cows that are immunised to induce the formation of...

Cheese for Burns night.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... The traditional haggis and neeps Burns night feast is best rounded off with two top Scottish cheeses, according to Sainsburys. The retailer is promoting its Isle of Bute mature cheddar and Taste the Difference Mull of Kintyre extra-matured...

Trial shows benefits of calcium for bones.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... The Dairy Council's first issue of Nutrition News brings more strong evidence on the role of calcium - of which milk is one of the best sources - and physical activity on bone health. An American study with 239 children aged between three...

Milk Link to go `Cornish'.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Milk Link will now be supplying fresh milk to retail outlets in the south-west following its purchase of Newlands Dairy in Liskeard. Newlands has an annual capacity of 20m litres - supplied by Milk Link - and has been selling its fresh milk...

Chocolate treat for everyone.(milk chocolate not a major source of lactose intolerance)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Milk chocolate can now be included in the diet of those with lactose intolerance, according to a recent trial. Twenty-five women and two men, all with a history of lactose intolerance, were given chocolate samples made with varying lactose...

Yoghurt duo in panto tour.(Muller marketing)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Muller's well-known children's characters, Bud and Baz, who appear on the packs of their Yogz children's yogurt, are appearing in around 2000 performances of Jack and the Beanstalk this pantomime season. The company has recently invested...

GOOD EVANS: The case of Mr Grumpy and the dairy inspector.
January 28, 2004... Now our very own hero, hastily restored to the straight and narrow by his returning spouse, is beginning to feel even the little things are starting to irritate him. Or is it just too much curry? It could be that I become grumpier as time...