British pig farmers are calling for pork to be named the official food of Valentine's Day after Argentina's president dubbed it 'better than Viagra'.

Ms Cristina Fernandez claimed at a recent conference that "it is much more gratifying to eat some grilled pork than to take Viagra", leading pig producers to give her a prestigious 'Banger Award'.

The Award, given in recognition of services to pork and sausages, is the highest accolade pig farmers have to offer. Previous winners include Sir Terry Wogan, Chris Evans, Phil Tufnell, and Christine Hamilton. 

BPEX chairman Stewart Houston commented: "We've sent Ms Fernandez a letter to ask her to meet with us and accept one of our prestigious Banger Awards. We have known how tasty pork is and want to thank Ms Fernandez for sharing the love."

If you want to cook up a romantic pork dish this Valentine's Day for your loved one and test Ms Fernandez theory, here are two suggested recipes:

Farming makes you live longer.

At least, it does if Stanley Lucas is anything to go on. The farmer has hit 110, becoming Europe's oldest man - and the third oldest male in the world. He attributes his longevity to lots of fresh air and country food.

"I have never smoked but enjoy the odd sherry," he says. "I think the key to a long life is lots of outdoor living and I've never travelled far."

Stanley celebrated his birthday surrounded by 70 friends and relatives at a nursing home in Bude, Cornwall - plus his seventh card from the Queen.

He left school aged 14 to help run the family farm at Great Beer, near Bude, which he later took over. In 1926 he married his wife, Ivy, and they raised a family before her death in 1963.

Stanley was called up to fight in both world wars but was turned down due to a heart condition.

The football-mad great-granddad was born on 15 January, 1900, and played bowls for Cornwall in the 1970s, and continued the sport until he was over 100.

The oldest person is Japanese woman Kama Chinen, 114. Britain's oldest is Florrie Baldwin, 113.

Today's Farmyard Favourite is Tyke.

The photo was taken by Lucy Carnaghan of Chiddingly in East Sussex and shows him sheltering from the snow with Lucy's boyfriend, Tom Holt.

"Tyke is great, we got him three years ago in the summer. Sometimes he is a little tyke, hence his name, but all in all, he is a lovely sheepdog," she says.

This made me smile. It's a Haynes Manual - for chickens.

I remember Haynes Manuals fondly from when I was a teenager. They were statutory reading for anyone who needed tips on maintaining their first car (mine was a Triumph Dolomite). Didn't realise they covered chickens, too.

It's not just cats that show ingenuity when they're after a free lunch - this is Spot helping himself to a nice barbecue sausage (Maisie is looking on, obviously hopeful of leftovers). Thanks to Tony and Lesley Hextall of Haywards Heath in West Sussex for sending me the photo.

We've had some Farmers Weekly posters made which you can print off and put up in your windows (or tractor cabs!) to show your support for Alastair Postlethwaite, farming's hopeful in the BBC dance show So You Think You Can Dance.

Download the portrait picture here, and the dancing picture here.

Today's Farmyard Favourite is Pepper, a Labrador cross Japanese Akita who will be three in June.

"She loves playing with the frisbee, but it always ends up chewed to pieces," says Mandy Woodley from Slinfold in West Sussex.

Interested in taking up metal detecting after reading about the Staffordshire hoard? If so, here's a bit more about the pursuit in The Telegraph.

Thanks to everyone who's sent me their 'farmyard favourites' photos. This adorable poll Dorset lamb (called Hazelbury Nutmeg) came from 12-year-old Amber Eden who lives near Chagford in Devon. Obviously the lamb, like the whole Eden family, is a keen supporter of Yeovil Town FC.

Birds are in the news today.

There's an owl in trouble over its noisy attempts to attract a mate, while a nationwide count this weekend will attempt to measure how badly birds have been hit by the bad winter. More people than ever before, it seems, have been putting out food for our feathered friends this year - which is good news for the birds and, indeed, for opportunists such as Bracken.

Cute pet time.

The dog above comes from Francis Pawle of Bruisyard in Suffolk. "Full of classic terrier traits, Piglet is an extremely energetic and bossy three-year-old Jack Russell cross," he says. "Originally a rescue dog, her typical day now involves chasing startled pheasants, mice or her own tail."

The cat below comes from Lizzy Collins of Weston-sub-Edge in Gloucestershire.

Never thought I'd see a government minister posing as a rapper.

To be fair, it is for a good cause. Here's Northern Ireland's Minister of Ag and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew, with the microphone at the launch of a Breakfast Rap children's competition.

The contest is calling on kids to write a fun and informative rap song which celebrates breakfast and Northern Ireland food. She's pictured here with Ulster Farmers Union Seeds and Cereals Committee Member Tim McClelland, and youngsters Scott Aston and Nadine Shirlow. 

Today's cat is Boris.

According to owner Chris Archer of Hulland Ward in Derbyshire, Brois likes going for walks with the dog, climbing trees and roofs and anything else he can find that's dangerous.

"He's very friendly, but can't purr and sometimes likes to bite me," says Chris.

For fear of being accused of animal favouritism, I'm posting a cute cat and a cute dog photo today.

Felix (seen trying to help propagate some hyacinth bulbs) belongs to Chris and Pat Howland of Pagans Hill near Bristol.

Seeing as we're on a roll with pet photos, I thought I'd share this one with you. It was sent in by Maurene Morris and shows her son Michael and his hamster Bender (aka the Mad Mouse).

"We got Michael the hamster to replace his sister as she was going away to university - and for some reason our daughter thinks this is an insult," laughs Maurene from South Kyme Fen in Lincolnshire.

"On the night I took the photograph, Michael insisted on releasing Bender, thinking that it was hysterical to wind his mother up with a hamster running loose in the sitting room."

Some deer news.

I was surprised (OK, a little disturbed) to read about this couple in America who have a pet deer. You're probably wondering: What's so unusual about that? Well, this one lives indoors, is toilet trained and eats linguine.

Also, an albino deer has been spotted in the Italian countryside. Maybe he's related to Dorking's famous (now-deceased) albino squirrel.

With just two days to go before the voting closes, the contenders are frantically trying to whip up support.

Tori Fairey and Anna Simpson have even managed to get themselves into newspapers in a bid to take this coveted title, while Joe Tyson is set to make an appearance on Radio York in the next day or so.

Channel 5 - obviously short of people to interview - have asked me to go on TV to talk about the competition (I'm not, I should point out, a competitor).

Anyone doubting that farmers are sexy, should check out this piece in today's Independent - it reckons Stone Age farmers from the Middle East were a big hit with Western European women.

See the shortlisted 10 and cast your vote.

The first new vegetable to hit the shelves in almost a decade is due to go on sale in M&S next week.

Just don't tell Wayne Keble...

The photos of cats on bird tables has prompted a flurry of great pet pictures.

Thanks to Ian and Julia Hawley of Brentingby in Leicestershire for showing us this adorable pair.

It's Mr Toon (aka Toony) and black lab Bracken. 

Toony is a 16-year-old neutered tom who Julia's had since a kitten.

Apparently, he divides his time between mousing and snoozing - the latter preferably in a sunny spot in the garden or, in winter, on a bed.

"Although they are best friends, he is the boss of Bracken and the younger farm moggy, Tiger Frosty, who lives outside," says Julia.

"He can wrap my husband, Ian, round his little finger with his assorted demands for food, being let in, being let out, or getting the prime spot for a snooze on his lap. He is an affectionate and very individual little chap who is greatly loved!"

The picture below shows Toony after an obviously productive hunting session...