Farmers cooperative increases turnover by more than 27 per cent
AtlasFram Group, the UKs largest farm inputs purchasing and crop marketing business, recorded a 27.1 per cent increase in turnover during the last six months of 2010, which it attributes to a combination of new Members joining the Group, a rise in purchases of farm inputs by existing Members and a much higher tonnage of […]
Queens University issues stark warning for the Irish hare
Researchers at Queens University Belfast have issued a stark warning about the future of the Irish hare and the threat it faces from the European brown hare, which has set up home in Mid-Ulster and West Tyrone. Dr Neil Reid from Quercus (Queens Universitys Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science), said: In March 2011, the […]
Somerset farmers talk energy and tax
Somerset farmers, land owners and rural business came together to discuss the hot topics of renewable energy and taxation in the agricultural industry on Thursday (March 24). The seminar, chaired by Philip Wilson of South West general insurers Cornish Mutual, was well timed, coming the day after the Chancellors Budget and right in the middle […]
Watercress successful in first stage of TSG protected status application
Food and Farming Minister Supports British Watercress Farmers in fight to protect age old tradition.. British watercress farmers are one step closer to becoming the champagne of the cress world after passing the first stage of their battle to gain EU protected status for the age-old method of growing watercress in pure, mineral rich flowing […]
Adding value and maximising profits in 2011
At a recently held briefing hosted by BASF, the message for the industry was clear; high wheat prices mean potentially higher profits from higher yielding crops – but only if correctly managed. Bill Clark, director of Brooms Barn, was quick to point out that this potential opportunity is also one of high risk, if fungicide […]
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Wales Storage Are You Ready?
Leading agricultural and environmental consultancy, ADAS is helping livestock farmers and landowners in Welsh NVZ designated areas to ensure that they are able to meet the 1st January 2012 deadline to have sufficient slurry storage in place. In Wales, a grant offering up to 40% of capital cost is available from the Welsh Assembly Government […]
Pollen beetle control: pyrethroid efficacy check advised
The spring 2011 HGCA information sheet on controlling pollen beetle and combating insecticide resistance in oilseed rape contains important updates to agronomic advice. Results collected by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) indicate that only 37% of samples in 2010 were susceptible to pyrethroids compared to 54% in 2009 and 85% in 2008. In 2009 […]
Roger Bright CB, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, is to retire at the end of December 2011
Roger Bright CB, has announced that he will retire at the end of December 2011. He will be 60 this year, and will have been Chief Executive of The Crown Estate for 10 years. The Chairman, Sir Stuart Hampson, will now set in hand, in conjunction with the Treasury, the process for selecting a new […]
A new approach to reduce the risk of take-all disease
The soil dwelling fungus ‘take-all’ inflicts devastating stress to the roots of cereals crops worldwide and is a major disease problem in UK wheat crops. However, recent field trial data from Rothamsted Research, an institute of the BBSRC, has demonstrated that farmers could control this devastating disease by selecting wheat cultivars that reduce take-all build […]
