Updated 10:34am 11 February 2012:

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Karen Dent

Karen Dent

Livestock rustling is increasing in the North

LIVESTOCK rustling is on the rise, costing UK farmers at least £6m last year - and the North East is among the worst affected areas.Read

Rough times ahead for Britain's small firms

ANOTHER stormy 12 months is on the cards for Britain’s small firms, according to a New Year economic forecast by the Forum of Private Business (FPB).Read

Exports deal could end beef trade war

THERE are signs that the long-running beef trade war between Europe and North America could be coming to an end.Read

Go Wansbeck shuts down after a job well done

AN enterprise agency in Northumberland is closing down after helping more than 140 firms to find a base for their business.Read

Hexham mart: December 20

Store cattle: A small show of cattle were forward. Trade maintained recent high rates and a full clearance was achieved.Read

Peter Kendall, NFU president

New Year message from NFU President Peter Kendall

AS I look forward to 2012, of all the statistics I have seen on the performance of British farming in this past year, none has impressed me more than the figure for the exports of food and drink: a staggering £5.85bn in just the first six months of 2011.Read

Claire Whitfield

Buoyant year expected for estates and farms in the North of England

PRICES for premium farms and estates in the north of England will remain strong next year with continued demand from abroad.Read

Europe turmoil will see land demand rise

THERE are concerns that shake-ups in agriculture at a European level could put short-term downward pressure on land supply in the region.Read

Ex-union president on board of insurer

FORMER NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren has joined the board of rural insurer NFU Mutual.Read

A van stuck in the snow

Review into red diesel use for farmers in winter

A REVIEW is to be carried in the new year on relaxing the rules to allow farmers to use red diesel when gritting roads during severe weather.Read

Limousin 40th Anniversary Herds competition award presentation - Judge Sam Coleman, Craig Ridley and William Sherrard of Pfizer

Haltcliffe Limousin herd recognised as unequalled

The cream, as they say, always rises to the top and the Ridley family from Cumbria has certainly risen to the top of the pedigree Limousin breed in the past 10 years. BRUCE JOBSON finds out moreRead

British Telecom loco

British Telecom set to create 750 jobs in South Tyneside

TELECOMS giant BT is ahead of schedule with plans to create 750 jobs in South Tyneside after a decade after winning more outsourcing work.Read

Victorian Pantry catering company moves to Tedco Business Works building

A CATERING company whose name harks back to the 19th Century has won a contract with a museum, but had to move somewhere more modern to take it on.Read

Acklington mart: December 15

NORTH East Livestock sold 46 prime cattle including 3839 sheep comprising 3042 lambs and 797 ewes.Read

A chicken

Eu battery hen rules unfair

THE news that 50 million hens in 13 of the 27 EU member states will still be kept in battery cages when the New Year dawns provides more ammunition for those who would like to see the UK significantly reduce the consequences of continuing as a member of the European Union.Read

Angel Biotechnology prepares for its return

PHARMACEUTICALS firm Angel Biotechnology is aiming to raise £1.15m in a share placing, most of which will be ploughed into its Cramlington site.Read

Government says that farming payouts on track

THE Government says that the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has paid 87% of Single Farm Payments (SPS) this month – its highest ever level and beating its own target by 1%.Read

Carlisle: December 19

Store sheep – A good offering of store lambs were forward and once again new purchasers were present ensuring trade remained excellent. Top price of the day went to a pen of 20 Beltex cross lambs at £86 from Messrs J Oliver & Sons, Walton Wood Head, Brampton. Read

Farmers' union hits out at 'premature changes'

PLANS to make major changes to the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) action programme are “premature and unnecessary”, according to the NFU.Read

Getting the best value for cull cows

EFFECTIVE finishing will add between £75-£100 to the market value of a cull cow this winter, according to calculations by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (Eblex).Read

Author Profile

Karen Dent is a business reporter who specialises in small businesses and rural affairs. Prior to joining the our team Karen spent most of her career as a broadcast journalist, most recently working for the BBC.

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