Danish, German and Dutch Agriculture Ministers link animal welfare and international finance
The Agriculture Ministers of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have called on EU Member States to safeguard animal welfare when granting investment capital through international finance institutions and when providing guarantees through export credit agencies. EU animal welfare standards are higher than those in the emerging economies receiving this investment capital, and where the exports […]
Market volatility takes its toll on farmer confidence, survey reveals
Falling farmgate prices and market price volatility have contributed to a drop in farmer confidence, a new survey by the NFU has revealed. After the last two survey results revealed a largely positive outlook within agriculture, latest results show a marked dip in short term confidence among farmers and growers. They told the NFU, as […]
Pesticide control – very high level of compliance with MRLs
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) latest Annual Report on Pesticide Residues contains findings from tests carried out in 2012 on nearly 79,000 samples and found that overall 98.3% of these food products were within the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides permitted in the EU. More pesticide residues exceeding the MRLs were found in […]
Grower post filled on HGCA’s R&KT Committee
Dr David Brightman, who farms 243 hectares of combinable crops in Warwickshire, is the latest grower member to join HGCA’s Research and Knowledge Transfer committee. After completing a PhD in Dietary Nitrogen Requirements of Cattle, David began his career as a lecturer at Brooksby College in Crop Production. He has received many agricultural awards including […]
NFU encouraged by HS2 Committee Chair’s letter to the Secretary of State
The Chairman of the HS2 Select Committee, Robert Syms, has written to the Secretary of State this week, asking that a set of planning guidelines be agreed to deal with specific rebuilding problems raised by the NFU at its evidence giving session in the House of Commons last month. The issue is that farmers who […]
Global redistribution of phosphorus use could improve food security
If the use and reuse of the finite resource phosphorus as a nutrient for plants were to be handled with greater care worldwide it would become possible to produce sufficient food for the global population in and after 2050. In addition to being home to a considerable proportion of the global population, China is also […]
Augusta produces 1 millionth John Deere tractor
Established in 1990, with the first tractor – a 55 Series model – coming off the line in 1991, the factory has specialised in the production of compact utility tractors and now supplies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series models from 26 to 115hp to a wide variety of customers and international markets. These […]
Progress on rural broadband as slow as a dial-up connection
The CLA which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses has told the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee that poor broadband connection is leaving rural areas at an economic and social disadvantage. Giving evidence to the Committee on 3 December as part of an inquiry into broadband coverage in remote rural areas, CLA […]
Vital CAP advice available for livestock farmers at Smithfield Festival
Vital Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) information on greening and how new and young farmers can receive payments will be available for livestock farmers attending the Smithfield Festival this week. The latest Defra Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) leaflet is available at the event, held at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on 4 and 5 December. […]
