Dairy Farmer articles from March 2005

Dairy Farmer archives from March 2005

COMMENT: Undone by spring flush?(dairy prices)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Bank of England figures showing agricultural borrowings have reached their highest December level for 20 years will perhaps come as no surprise. According to Lloyds TSB the majority has gone to cover cash flow shortages: "It is the...

FFA is confident 3p price rise achievable.(Farmers for Action)
March 4, 2005... In spite of few signs of an improvement in milk price, FFA leader David Handley remains confident that a 3ppl cost price increase is still achievable. Milk industry leaders are hoping that DFB's move to increase its own doorstep milk price...

Dairy Crest wins #40m ASDA cheese contract.
March 4, 2005... Some eight months after the loss of its #20m ASDA liquid milk business, Dairy Crest is celebrating the winning of a new #40m contract that doubles the amount of own label cheese it supplies to the retailer from 15,000 to 30,000 tonnes a year....

DFB gets profit lift.(Dairy Farmers of Britain)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Dairy Farmers of Britain has reported a 22% increase in half year turnover to #265m and a 56% increase in group operating profit to #11.5m. The acquisition of ACC has contributed #61.2m to group turnover and #550,000 to group operating profit...

MDC fights off `useless' label.(Milk Development Council)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... The Milk Development Council is bravely shrugging off damning comments of a report on the nation's 529 quangos, or Non Departmental Public Bodies, which deemed the organisation, along with the British Potato Council, to be among "the nine most...

Lockerbie is the loser.
March 4, 2005... Milk Link's Cheese Company plant at Lockerbie lost out to Dairy Crest's rival plant at Aspatria in ASDA's supermarket cheese retendering, but at what price was the tender won? Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Dutch quota prices rocket.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... An expansion drive by dairy farmers in the Netherlands has sent milk quota prices rocketing. At the start of this year they crossed the psychologically significant 50 cents (35p) a litre barrier, as farmers expand their businesses to cope with...

Lower cholesterol `cheese'.(dairy products industry)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... When production director Richard Clothier's cholesterol test proved higher than normal it set him thinking about his cheese making activities at Wyke Farms, Bruton, Somerset. His research led him to Leskol, which looks and tastes the same...

Wiseman share price increase.(Robert Wiseman Dairies)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Shares in Robert Wiseman Dairies have increased by almost 40p since the beginning of the year. Following an Extraordinary General Meeting allowing the Wiseman family to buy back shares without triggering a takeover, some 700,000 shares have...

COWMAN COMMENT: Agreeing an acceptable figure on our rented land.
March 4, 2005... Like many getting to grips with the SFP, our Yorkshire correspondent Tim Gibson is wondering what a fair figure would be on some of his rented ground and who should claim the entitlements. Spring is in the air and hopefully, by the time you...

COWMAN COMMENT: Why Mrs B may be keen to collect a scalp or two.
March 4, 2005... It's true to say that our south-west correspondent Sally Leaney is not Defra's biggest fan at the moment and she fears they may be out to show their teeth once the SFP is up and running. Last night on television I caught sight of a unique...

COWMAN COMMENT: I thought it must be my scintillating company.
March 4, 2005... Our Stratford-upon-Avon correspondent Paul Higgins is getting a tad suspicious about his new-found popularity and the myriads of visitors who suddenly want to call on him, especially when they won't leave without his autograph. Read on... ...

Westbury: after faltering start can it fulfil original objective?(interview with the chairman of Westbury Dairies)(Interview)
March 4, 2005... Hailed initially as the salvation of the dairy industry, Westbury very quickly ran into financial difficulties and one way to placate the pressing banks was a bail out by the three producer co-ops. David Matthews talks to Westbury Dairies' new...

POTTER'S VIEW: Defra's dairy decision comes under challenge.(Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
March 4, 2005... This month Ian Potter lights the blue touch paper by questioning the legality of Defra's interpretation of the dairy regulations and asks just who will be leading the campaign on producers' behalf. Turn the air conditioning up all ye in the...

EU NEWS: Fears of milk price drop grow.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... There are growing fears that the final quarter of 2005 could see a significant drop in milk prices. In July the European Commission will trigger its next round of CAP reform support price cuts for the dairy sector, and this year the signs are...

EU NEWS: European dairy fraud inaction criticised by Committee.(European Parliament's budgetary control committee)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... The European Parliament's budgetary control committee, which monitors spending by the Commission, says Brussels officials have failed to explain a lack of action over a dairy fraud master-minded in Italy but involving other EU member states....

EU NEWS: UK is well placed to survive impact of dairy reforms.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... A report has forecast that the Fischler CAP reforms will trigger massive changes in the European dairy industry. The 150 page analysis of the impact of the reforms, published by Agra Europe, says they will lead to massive restructuring, but it...

EU NEWS: High score for dairying.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... An on-line survey of shoppers in the UK has ranked pasteurisation of milk as the second most important innovation in the food industry of the 20th century. It was beaten for number one place by frozen food in the survey carried out by the...

EU NEWS: Predicted growth in cheese consumption gives some optimism.
March 4, 2005... The European Commission has published a bullish forecast for dairy markets from now to 2011 - but for many farmers the challenge will be to survive market pressures until the expected improvement is felt in milk prices. This is part of a market...

BREEDING: Justice reigns supreme in latest proof rankings.
March 4, 2005... Although the latest Holstein sire rankings have remained relatively stable, there are a few new additions and improvers to interest both the pedigree and commercial producer. Angela Rhodes takes a look at the main movers in the table. ...

Top 10 Actively Marketed Sires Ranked on #PLI.(Illustration)
March 4, 2005... Top 10 Actively Marketed Sires Ranked on #PLI Milk CFP SCC PLI Type Supplier (kg) (kg) Merit O-Bee Manfred Justice 873 60.0 -13 95 1.03 Dairy Daughters...

How locomotion score is linked to pregnancy rates.
March 4, 2005... Conventional approaches to improving fertility were challenged at this year's British Cattle Breeders' Conference in Shropshire, with delegates given a fresh perspective on improving pregnancy rates and the use of crossbreeding to improve...

Cross-breeding is route to lifting poor fertility status.
March 4, 2005... Interest in crossbreeding among commercial producers is apparently at an all time high internationally, fuelled in part by an ongoing large scale trial in California. Trial co-ordinator Dr Les Hansen, from the University of Minnesota, was...

Poland gears up to seize bigger slice of market.(Top Farms Glubezyce)
March 4, 2005... With close to 9m tonnes of milk quota, Poland has the production potential of the rest of the new member states put together. The majority of that production may, for the moment, be coming from herds of 10 or so cows, but as farm manager...

Customised indices made to suit particular systems.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... With the introduction of new indices, genetic base changes and the relocation of MDCEL to Scotland, 2005 promises to be a busy year. Speaking at the conference, Lucy Andrews from Holstein UK, who will be responsible for the setting up of...

At home with Charlotte.
March 4, 2005... The Milk Development Council has launched a new interactive `Story of Milk' CD Rom for primary school children. The CD features cartoon characters Charlotte the cow and farmer Winterbottom and is designed to tell 5-11 year olds how milk is...

Letter: Don't knock it.(Letter to the Editor)
March 4, 2005... From: S R Spencer, Bentley Fields Farm, Alkmonton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Having read Potter's View I am somewhat surprised by his criticism of the NFU. Ian, you have been at the sharp end of the quota market for long enough to know better...

Letter: Electrical supply.(Letter to the Editor)
March 4, 2005... From: John Perry, commercial director, BC Electrical Techniques Ltd, Pembroke Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1DE. For years development of farms and their buildings has been hampered by lack of a three-phase 415V electrical supply. Now,...

FORAGE: Grass lets: who will be putting in claim?(Single Payment Scheme )(Interview)
March 4, 2005... The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme brings some significant implications for land tenure. Farmers need to review all their farming agreements quickly and take action to ensure they don't lose out on any entitlements. Derek Gardner...

FORAGE: Establishing clover into grass leys.
March 4, 2005... Establishing clover rich swards has never been without its problems especially as regards weed control but there is now growing interest in first establishing a grass-only ley and then stitching in the clover seed afterwards. The...

AIC Forage Additives Register - Participating companies.(Directory)
March 4, 2005... AIC Forage Additives Register - Participating companies Mr D Forster ABNA Ltd (inc Forage Systems, KW) ABN House, PO Box 250, Oundle Road, Woodston, Peterborough Cambridgeshire PE2 9QF Tel: 01733 555552 Fax: 01733 422843 Mr J...

FORAGE: Getting to know what grazing is really worth.
March 4, 2005... As the days lengthen cows are longingly looking over the gate waiting for turnout, but are you sure you will be getting the most from your grazing? Dr John Allen, technical director with Frank Wright Ltd, argues that farmers must be more...

FORAGE: Cornish farm takes grazing DMs as part of the routine.
March 4, 2005... A strange smell in the kitchen was the only downside when one Cornish farmer decided to assess grazing dry matters on a regular basis. Now he's been told to get a microwave for the farm office before turnout this year! Farming in...

FORAGE: Choosing best cereal variety for wholecrop.
March 4, 2005... Paying more attention to variety choice could boost wholecrop yields and even save money on input costs, according to NIAB forage specialists. Angela Rhodes finds out more about NIAB's new Descriptive Lists for wholecrop cereals. Cereal...

FORAGE: Putting eye over lastest additives.(silage inoculants and feed additives)
March 4, 2005... Improved conservation of high dry matter silages and low rate applications are just some of the latest silage additive developments to come to the market this season. Angela Rhodes reports. High dry matter silages may do wonders for feed...

FORAGE: How high sugar grass lifts yield.
March 4, 2005... Results show that high sugar grasses can provide rumen bugs with extra energy to process more of the protein in grass leading to higher milk yields. Grazed grass has been shown in trials at IGER's Trawscoed research farm to support average...

FORAGE: How to get best from high yielders when out at grass.(high yielding dairy industry)
March 4, 2005... There is more than one way to supplement a high yielding dairy cow to get the most from a grass-based system and the secret is knowing which is best. Sara Gregson reports on research at Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Grass alone cannot...

Year off to a poor start.(Dairy products industry)
March 4, 2005... With DEFRA confirming the weighted average farmgate milk price for the calendar year 2004 of 18.58ppl, 0.55ppl up on the previous year, our analysis of this month's milk price league, comparing Jan'04 prices with Jan'05, would suggest that...

Milk Link just behind co-ops.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Studying the lower end of this month's price table, it's worth highlighting that Milk Link's 12mth rolling average price of 17.98ppl for our standard is just 0.01ppl behind First Milk and 0.27ppl behind our DFB compositional price. This is...

Milk auction takes tumble.(dairy products industry)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... United Dairy Farmers February milk auction sold a total of 56mltrs (supply starting 1stMar) for an average 17.20ppl, exactly 0.5ppl down on the 44mltrs sold in Feb'04, and just over 2ppl down on last month's average of 19.24ppl. This is...

Direct supply milk price cut.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... North Devon farmhouse cheesemaker, Parkham Farms, has cut its direct supply milk price by 0.5ppl from Jan'05. Following a 0.75ppl increase in Nov'03, the company's last price change was a 0.5ppl cut from May'04. The company paid the best...

Wyke Farms says it can't go it alone holding prices.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Wyke Farms, Somerset, is to cut its milk price by 0.5ppl from Feb'05, the last price change from the company dating back to Nov'03. The company says it fully supports the current activity by farmer organisations to highlight cost...

Marketing: Always putting customers first.(Excellence in Marketing Award to Long Clawson Dairy)
March 4, 2005... Long Clawson Dairy recently received the Chartered Institute of Marketing's Food, Drink and Agriculture Group's `Excellence in Marketing' Award. Find out why. New speciality blended cheeses such as Fiery Mex, Creamy White Stilton with...

Marketing: Wensleydale's fruity flavours.(Wensleydale Creameries)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Wensleydale Creameries will be putting their latest cheese and fruit combinations on show at the IFE food exhibition in London this month. Pioneers of the cheese with cranberries speciality, the latest 'fruits' of the Wensleydale...

Marketing: Omega 3 boost to image of organics.(organic milk)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Organic milk contains more Omega 3 fatty acids than conventional milk, according to research. These help to combat heart disease and arthritis and have also been found to aid concentration. The Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences has...

Marketing: Low carb milk drink for Atkins.(Milk Link Beverages)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Milk Link Beverages has begun production of the UK's first low carbohydrate milk under the Atkins licence at its Kirkcudbright site. The semi-skimmed milk, which will have half the carbohydrates of normal milk and an extended shelf life of...

Marketing: Cheese leaflets.
March 4, 2005... The British Cheese Board has produced two new leaflets: Choose Cheese, a step-by-step guide to different categories of British Cheese, and A Kids Corner, a leaflet with cheese related jokes, games and easy recipes for children to create. To get...

Marketing: Glass bottles make a comeback.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Consumer pressure and ethical environmental issues have influenced South Caernarfon Creameries' decision to re-instate the glass bottle to their doorstep delivery rounds. The company, which collects 95m litres a year from dairy farms in north...

GOOD EVANS: Testosterone is pumping but to what effect?(below)
March 4, 2005... Some of you may remember the MMB's catchy Bullpower branding, well our intrepid hero has that in abundance, or more precisely his farm does. But despite this massive arsenal of firepower, it doesn't seem to be working... We had a Health...