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‘Most’ organisations aim to buy local food

A CLA survey into public and private sector food procurement policies reveals two-thirds of organisations aim to buy British or local produce. Read

Farmland prices defy the slowdown

THE price of farmland has soared by 34% during the past year, despite the slowdown in the wider property market, figures showed yesterday. Read

Action call to realise potential of UK farmers in tackling crisis

IF the Government is serious about helping to tackle the developing world food crisis, it should be doing much more to realise the potential offered by its own farmers and growers, the NFU said yesterday. Read

Prime cattle change boost

NORMAL trading for prime cattle across the UK begins on Monday following yesterday’s European Commission decision to raise the carcase age requirement for the removal of vertebral column to 30 months. Read

Brown hints at rethink on drive for biofuels

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown indicated yesterday that the Government’s enthusiasm for biofuels may be waning, amid concerns that the increasing use of farmland for energy crops is playing a big part in the global surge in food prices. Read

‘Too little vaccine for stock at risk’

MORE bluetongue vaccine could be on the way to ensure the whole of England is covered, the National Farmers’ Union says. Read

New oilseed variety shrugs off frosts

THE low biomass winter oilseed rape variety Es Alienor is proving excellent for the North and Scotland. Read

Lamb quality ‘holding up well despite difficulties’

THE quality of lambs slaughtered and classified in English abattoirs has held up remarkably well over the past year, according to new figures from the English Beef and Lamb Executive. Read

Saint’s day spotlight on local food

TO celebrate England’s patron saint, who is also the Patron Saint of Agricultural Workers, the Country Land and Business Association is hosting a St George’s Day breakfast at Broom Mill Farm Shop, West Auckland, tomorrow morning, April 23. Read

Control of rats ‘an increasing challenge’

RAT control is becoming a major issue for farmers, according to a national study conducted by behaviour-led pest control experts, Sorex. Read

NFU still backs GM crops despite latest study in US

THE National Farmers’ Union has said it still backs genetically modified crops despite the results of study conducted in the US that has shown that genetic modification can reduce productivity. Read

Slurry smell a taste of future

A FOUL smell wafting over large parts of eastern England over the weekend is a taste of things to come if the Government presses ahead with its plan to ban slurry spreading during the winter, the NFU has warned. Read

Cost benefits of roofing slurry midden

SIMPLY roofing over a midden on a Lake District hill farm has made all-round benefits to the environment and in savings on labour and other costs. Read

H&H group appoints new chief executive

THE H&H Group, Carlisle, has appointed Brian Richardson, who has spent 25 years in agribusiness management as its new chief executive. Read

Advice on offer from Farm Link

MICK Booth first learned about grant aid from Farming Connect Cumbria at a meeting. The couple began planning the roof in the summer of 2005 and receiving estimates. Read

‘More pig farmers to quit’ as feed costs soar

THREATS to the British pig industry from rocketing feed costs and almost static prices are likely to continue, says an independent report. Read

Surveyor chosen by tenants

RICHARD BROWN, of Hexham & Northern Rural, has been appointed by the Tenant Farmers Association to its list of recommended professionals. Read

Eblex in St George promotion

THE ENGLISH Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) is launching a special promotion in the run-up to St George’s Day in a bid to increase sales. Read

Farmers lose court bid to halt TB slaughtering

A GROUP of farmers yesterday lost their High Court battle to stop the ‘potentially disastrous’ slaughter of dairy cattle that tested positive for Bovine TB. Read

Sales of British pork are crackling

LATEST sales figures show overall increases of 10% for fresh and frozen pork over the last 12 weeks, according to figures produced for the British Pig Executive. Read