Dairy Farmer articles from May 2006

Dairy Farmer archives from May 2006

COMMENT: Two birds and one stone.(cut the price to the consumer and increase it to the producer)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... With 115 Express stores opened last year and another 130 on the way it seems there is no stopping the steamrolling Tesco juggernaut. But lurking behind the record #2.21bn pretax profit (up a staggering 17%) is a small figure saying that...

Milk price drop helps drive inflation down.(benchmarking prices )
May 10, 2006... ASDA's decision to drop the milk price to #1.00 for four pints was a politically motivated one, according to an industry spokesperson. It is claimed to have come within weeks of a meeting between Tony Blair and ASDA senior executives at...

DFB increases organic milk price.(Dairy Farmers of Britain)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Dairy Farmers of Britain has increased its organic milk price by 3.6ppl from Apr'06.The group says the increase has been achieved as a result of increased demand for organic milk and organic dairy products amongst consumers. This...

Arla opens new factory at Lockerbie.
May 10, 2006... Arla Foods UK plc has officially opened its #18m new factory at Lockerbie, allowing the firm to fully declare that Arla supplies "Scottish milk from Scottish farms, processed in Scotland". Milk is sourced from 21 new Arla Foods Milk...

Milk good for babies before they are born!(sufficient vitamin D levels)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... A Canadian research study has stated that women who restrict their intake of milk during pregnancy may deliver smaller babies because they are not getting sufficient vitamin D levels. The study, by Montreal's McGill University and the...

DFB secures Aldi contract.
May 10, 2006... Dairy Farmers of Britain has been awarded a 12-month contract to supply liquid milk to over 100 Aldi stores. The contract began on May 1, 2006, and equates to volumes in excess of 12.5m litres - around 35% of Aldi's milk business. It is not...

Pressure grows for cross border deals.(dairy farmers)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Quota trader and DF columnist Ian Potter is certainly making waves on the cross border trading front - and not just in Europe. News of his involvement has now reached as far as Japan, with its Dairy News publication reporting on the...

Mystery advert warns of risks to food security.
May 10, 2006... Four `disenchanted' business men have forked out tens of thousands of pounds to inform the public via national press adverts that the British dairy cow could be "an endangered species" because 2000 farmers left the industry in one year and 31%...

Second lowest year on record for milk production.
May 10, 2006... Cumulatively the UK produced 13,600.7m litres for the 2005/6 milk year - the second lowest year on record after 2000/01 at 13,549m litres. But does this drop in production matter? "Not really," according to some milk purchasers, who are...

Cowman comment: We should be more careful talking about zero grazing.
May 10, 2006... The interpretation of such commonly used terms as zero grazing may be providing lobbyists with gratuitous ammunition to throw back at us believes our Yorkshire correspondent Tim Gibson. I finally started to `fresh cut' some grass in the...

Cowman comment: We shouldn't really be surprised by the rpa fiasco.
May 10, 2006... South-west columnist Sally Leaney is annoyed as the next person for having to carry the cost of the delayed SFP but in the meantime she has to get on with the myriad of other demands on her time. Up until the end of April, the delay in our...

Cowman comment: Braced for bad news from our milk buyer.(shortage of milk)(Brief article)(Column)
May 10, 2006... This month Paul Higgins finds his worst fears are well founded when he gets a surprise visit from his milk buyer and is forced to seeks solace in his redundant barn where something rather different is brewing. There are some people in life...

Interview: What Milk Link's refinancing will mean for producers.
May 10, 2006... Questions have been asked over the sustainability of Milk Link's bold commercial strategy. David Matthews talks to finance director Nairn Glen as to what exactly the latest refinancing package means for members. Ok, so tell me about what...

Potter's View: How we missed chance of playing with Accrington Stanley.
May 10, 2006... Floral dance? Clog dance? No, but when ready made promotion opportunities come along, which is by no means everyday for milk, then as Ian Potter tells us we should be ready to grab them with both hands. Mention the name Accrington Stanley...

EU News: Commission fires off signals that are set to unsettle industry.(European Commission)
May 10, 2006... If dairy farmers harboured any hopes the European Commission might help drive up milk prices these were dashed by the head of its milk products division. Thorkild Rasmussen used a speech to Irish dairy co-operatives to underline the...

EU News: Challenge to EU rules on quota trading.(Ian Potter challenges European Union's rules)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Quota broker Ian Potter has moved to the next stage over the challenge to EU rules which prevent milk quota being traded between member states. The Rural Payments Agency has refused to accept registration for quota sold from the UK to Italy...

EU News: Irish warning on tough year ahead.(Irish Dairy Board)(cuts in export refunds)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... The Irish Dairy Board has warned that 2006 will be a challenging year following the publication of its results for 2005. Managing director Noel Cawley warned that EU policies would impact the European dairy industry this year. The IDB said EU...

EU News: Arla keeps fingers crossed as trade picks up.(European dairy market)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Arla has its fingers crossed that its loss of business in the Middle East, after the publication in Denmark of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, has been stemmed. Arla products are back in many stores and the company says most consumers...

FERTILITY: Endometritis - a practical approach.
May 10, 2006... In this the fifth in our Intervet fertility series, vet David Black looks at some of the causes of endometritis and what we can do practically to minimise the incidence. Inappropriate transition diets, high yielding cows on a knife edge...

Breeding: Best buys for both type and production.(milk production)
May 10, 2006... Last month we looked at bulls on a budget, this month we take a look at the best all round type and production bulls on the market. As Angela Rhodes reports it is possible to have high end type without breaking the bank. Slim dairy margins...

Breeding: New players for spring quartet.
May 10, 2006... Dairy Daughters has boosted the high type end of its line-up this spring with the launch of four new proven bulls from World Wide Sires US and European studs. German proven Enos is the highest index bull of the quartet with a #PLI of 45,...

Milking: Whatever next - triangular shells that match the liners.
May 10, 2006... You may well have heard of the benefits of triangular liners but now there is a triangular shell to go with it. Find out what one producer thought of the combination. Always looking for something new, Kevan Windridge agreed to trial a...

Milking: Why taking milk from summer grass can be hit or miss affair.(nutritional composition of grass)
May 10, 2006... Maintaining milk output during the grazing season is an on-going challenge for many milk producers, particularly as lactation yields have risen. KW Alternative Feeds nutritionist Dave Collett investigates the reasons behind the problem and...

Milking: Make sure your parlour is operating as it should.
May 10, 2006... Despite all the latest gizmos, a high proportion of producers are still failing to get the best out of the hardest working piece of kit on the farm. Angela Rhodes looks at how parlour performance could be improved. The average dairy cow...

Milking: Adding rapid exit to trusted herringbone lifts throughput.
May 10, 2006... As herds get bigger throughput in terms of cows per hour takes on ever greater significance. Geoff King looks at one manufacturer's attempt to increase throughput in the time proven herringbone. Putting a new angle on an old theme has seen...

Milking: DIY test pinpoints cell culprits.(dairy industry)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... HIGH somatic cell counts can easily knock off #2000 from a dairy herd's profit, but now farmers can use an almost instant test to make sure high cell milk doesn't get into the bulk tank. A spin-off from human health technology and developed...

Milking: Cumbrian family goes for 48/48 herringbone.(investment in buildings and equipment)
May 10, 2006... A six figure investment in a two storey building with new milking and feeding equipment is already reaping rewards in terms of reduced work time and increased yields for producer Michael Wilson. Jennifer MacKenzie has the story. Michael...

BALING & WRAPPING: Tanco.(introduction of bale wrapper )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Labour saving devices have become increasingly popular in today's time conscious world. An interesting development from Tanco is a bale wrapper that can be fitted to the front of a tractor loader or telehandler. Billed as a true labour...

BALING & WRAPPING: Elho.(introduction of silage bales)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Identification of silage bales can prove a vital tool when it comes to managing animal nutrition and forward planning diets. With this in mind comes a new bale-marking device from ELHO. Enabling farmers to code different qualities of silage...

BALING & WRAPPING: Claas.(introduction of round balers)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... The six model range of Claas fixed chamber Rollant round balers also includes a version with an integrated bale wrapper behind the bale chamber. Known as the Rollant 255 Uniwrap, this machine now features a totally enclosed plastic film...

BALING & WRAPPING: Vicon.(Vicon's BW8100 can be used as a standalone wrapper)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... The BW8100 from Vicon can now be used as a standalone wrapper thanks to a new joystick controller. The operator can use the joystick to load the bale before engaging the automatic wrapping process. The operator can then choose where to...

BALING & WRAPPING: Lely.(introduction of G-5040 Combi bale wrapper)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Dairy farmer customers interested in purchasing a Goweil bale wrapper might like to know that the G-5040 Combi is now finished in Lely's familiar red livery. The company says that since taking over the sole UK distribution rights of the...

BALING & WRAPPING: Taarup.(Taarup to exhibit its 7640 round bale wrapper at Grassland UK)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Visitors to next week's Grassland UK might see a Taarup 7640 round bale wrapper using Taarup's optional 3D wrapping system. Offering the capability to apply less film, while providing a similar level of protection as conventional wrapping...

BALING & WRAPPING: New Holland.(Profitable Farming Company introduces Moisture Monitoring System)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Dairy farmers will be aware of the problems of mould and wadding when baling in moist conditions. But take heart as the Profitable Farming Company has just launched a system that allows accurate moisture readings to be taken when actually...

BALING & WRAPPING: Claas.(Claas makes a number of upgrades to its Rollant round balers)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Claas has made a number of upgrades to its Rollant round balers. First up is the fact that all Rollant balers are now fitted with new heavy duty Reynolds drive chains which have a 10% greater tensile strength. Until now the chopping system...

BALING & WRAPPING: Vicon.(introduction of Bale in One (BIO) combination baler-wrapper )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Vicon has added the Bale in One (BIO) combination baler-wrapper to its growing range of grass and forage equipment. Billed as ideal for farmers and smaller contractors looking for a one man baling and wrapping operation, a feature is the...

BALING & WRAPPING: Gallignani.(introduction of variable-chamber round baler )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... The latest variable-chamber round baler from Gallignani allows the density of the core, centre and outer part of bales to be separately controlled, allowing consistent densities to be achieved. Known as the GA V6 and suitable for silage,...

BALING & WRAPPING: Welger.(introduction of smaller variable chamber round bale model )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Welger has added a smaller variable chamber round bale model to its RP range. Known as the RP 435 and available in three different versions, it offers similar levels of specification to the current RP 535. Fitted with a 2.25m-wide pick-up...

BALING & WRAPPING: Vicon.(introduction of fixed chamber round baler)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Vicon's latest fixed chamber round baler is designed with a clear focus on improving silage bale quality and machine performance. Called the RF235, the all-new silage baler replaces the RF135 model. Available with Optifeed and Opticut crop...

BALING & WRAPPING: RECO.(Gallignani CR32, fixed chamber baler )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... The Gallignani CR32 fixed chamber baler is able to produce dense 1.2m x 1.25m bales from dry straw, hay and silage in a wide variety of conditions. Governed by a two-year warranty, standard features include net wrapping, fully automatic...

BALING & WRAPPING: Massey Ferguson.(introduction of balers(machinery))(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Offering users a cost effective option for making round bales in silage, straw and crops, the fixed-chamber MF 163 produces 1.20m x 1.25m bales. Main features include the front roller system combined with a chain and slat rear door to form...

BALING & WRAPPING: Case IH.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Case IH RBX round balers benefit from the availability of some new dealer installed accessories for this season. These include a roller crop press for the pickup wind guard for variable and fixed chamber models and a new hydraulic rotor...

BALING & WRAPPING: McHale.(introduction of F550 fixed chamber round baler )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... First launched to the UK market last year, McHale's F550 fixed chamber round baler is said to be proving popular with both farmers and contractors. Producing a bale size of 1.25m diameter x 1.23m wide, standard features include a 15 knife...

BALING & WRAPPING: Massey Ferguson.(introduction of variable chamber round baler )(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Massey Ferguson's latest variable chamber round baler is available in three different formats, all of which make 1.2m-wide bales from 0.60m to 1.65m in diameter. Known as the MF 167, the three models include the MF 167 VLR (double rake...

BALING & WRAPPING: New Holland.(New Holland BR560A fixed chamber round baler)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... New Holland balers benefit from a number of upgrades for 2006. For the BR560A fixed chamber round baler, a new rotor reverser is available as a dealer fit option. The reverser, similar to that used on the variable chamber models, allows the...

Letter: Appeal over Defra handling of TB.(Letter to the editor)
May 10, 2006... From: A L Bolt, Northcombe Farm, Cadeleigh, Tiverton EX16 8HT. We have been farming since 1957 and had our first Tuberculosis test taken in 1959/60 when we were tested about every two years. Our first failure occurred after 42 years of...

Workshop tips: Start off by building your own bale spike.
May 10, 2006... For my first piece in Dairy Farmer I have chosen one bit of kit which is needed on every dairy farm, irrespective of size or management system, and which should be possible to make in most farm workshops with the basic skills and equipment. ...

Workshop tips: Bale handler carries two round or three Hesstons.(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Moving single bales with handlers or tractor loaders that have the capacity to lift well over a ton is somewhat wasteful, and here's a bale handler I have recently seen. The frame is made from heavy walled box section and it has two pairs of...

Workshop tips: Twin-tine version that will give extra stacking height.(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Not having quite enough lift to stack bales in the barn is a common problem when handling with a standard tractor and foreloader. This twin spike machine has been designed by the farmer who made it to get the maximum height he can out of it,...

Milk prices: Spring brings weaker milk prices.
May 10, 2006... Milk price analyst Stephen Bradley comments on the latest milk industry developments. Most major cheese manufacturers have decided to cut direct supply milk prices from Apr'06. Main reasons cited as the growing fear of depreciating...

Milk prices: Bonus for more litres.(Claymore Dairies)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... Claymore Dairies, Nairn, is to cut its milk price to members of North Milk Co-op by 0.53ppl from Apr'06. The reduction in base price of 0.65ppl coupled with a reduction of 0.19ppl linked to the reduction in milk volumes supplied to ASDA, has...

Milk prices: Co-ops announce their round of cuts.
May 10, 2006... First Milk has confirmed that it is to cut its milk price by 0.5ppl through lower milk constituent payments from Apr'06 taking our `core price' down from 18.2ppl to 17.70ppl. DFB has also confirmed that it is to reduce its conventional (ie...

Milk prices: United's auction down on last year.(United Dairy Farmers Inc)(Brief article)
May 10, 2006... United Dairy Farmers April milk auction sold a total of 57mltrs (all contracts starting May 1) for an average price of 16.42ppl, 0.4ppl down on last year when the price averaged 16.82ppl but 0.24ppl up on the average last month of 16.18ppl. ...

Good Evans: Ready to lift a body into the boot.
May 10, 2006... As Roger Evans tells us you never know in this life what you will be called on to do next. Read on for his latest exploits. You should never mention the weather when you contribute to Dairy Farmer because of the delay between actually...