All from last 7 days MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESNorthern Ireland plans £75m cull sow processing plantPlanning proposals have been submitted for a £75m pig processing plant near Ballymoney in Northern Ireland. The proposals lodged by family-owned meat processor Bann Side Foods include a plan to… WILDLIFEMixed reaction after Norfolk sea eagles project approvedPlans to reintroduce white-tailed eagles to Norfolk have been approved amid industry concerns that the apex predators could prey on vulnerable livestock. Following a public consultation, Natural England has granted… ENVIRONMENTNI Assembly climate change bill would hit farmers hardPoliticians in Northern Ireland have voted in support of a private member’s bill on climate change which, if passed into law, could undermine much of the province’s livestock farming. The… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESMedina Dairy plans for July milk price riseMedina Dairy has announced a 2.7p/litre increase in its core Watsons milk price from 1 July 2021, which will take its standard litre price to 28.24p/litre. The company attributed the… OILSEED RAPEWhy confidence is returning in oilseed rape cropsThe area drilled to oilseed rape this summer could increase by about 10%, reflecting the sharp rise in rapeseed prices and some greater grower confidence in avoiding cabbage stem flea… TOOLSElectric oil pump makes for mess-free lubricant top-upsAn Australian firm has come up with an ultra-clean means of filling engines with lubricants and coolant. Rather than the messy combination of manual pump, jugs and funnels, Macnaught’s garage-grade… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTABP Food Group to buy remaining 50% of Linden FoodsABP Food Group has announced that it has reached an agreement with Fane Valley Co-op to buy the remaining 50% of the Linden Food Group it does not currently own.… CROP MANAGEMENTNew SDHI fungicide seed treatment for winter cerealsA new-generation seed treatment which controls against a wide spectrum of seed and soil-borne diseases will be available this autumn, for use across all winter cereal crops. The seed dressing,… LIVESTOCKHow hill farmers can tap into new market for light lambsHill farmers could tap into new markets for lighter carcasses by intensively finishing lambs to a deadweight of 12-16kg. With producer groups in Ireland already supplying up to 30,000 lighter… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Lack of April showers hits winter barley yieldThe lack of rainfall in April will certainly affect the winter barley yield. After coming out of a wet winter, the last thing it needed was a drought and continuous… LIVESTOCKSheep auction raises over £2,000 in memory of young farmerSheep donated to Skipton Auction Mart have helped raise £2,240 for young farmers in memory of a much-loved Cumbrian young farmer and stockman. Hannah Brown’s untimely death in March this… NEWSOpinion: Trading carbon may carry downsides for farmersCarbon farming, or the sequestration of carbon in agricultural soils and the subsequent sale of “carbon credits”, has hit the headlines with the recent high-profile sale of A$500,000 (£280,000) of… DIVERSIFICATIONResearch highlights key trends in farm-based holidaysPeople in their mid-20s to mid-30s are driving growth in the farm tourism market with bookings for farm holidays and rural stays 45% higher than in 2018, according to research… NEWSFarmer sent threats after questioning vegan cafe milk policyWelsh hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones has spoken out after he and his family received death threats from vegan activists. Mr Wyn Jones, who runs an 809ha farm with vegetables and livestock… HEALTH AND WELLBEINGCampaign encourages farmers to open up on mental healthThe Farming Community Network (FCN) is asking farmers if they really are “as tough as old boots”, as part of a new initiative to encourage rural workers to talk about… PIGS6 ways pig unit works with minimal zinc and antibiotics useEnsuring good gut health in piglets pre- and post-weaning is the foundation for lifetime health and performance on Harper Adams University’s 230-sow farrow-to-finish unit. The unit, which operates as a… CROP WATCHCrop Watch: Hopes for warmer weather after rain arrivesRain has brought much-needed comfort for many crops that have struggled through a cold and very dry April, and they will hopefully benefit further as temperatures warm up. But with… DISEASE MANAGEMENTInsecticide gets emergency authorisation for sugar beetSugar beet growers have another option for managing beet yellows this spring, following the emergency authorisation of InSyst (acetamiprid). The approval permits one application of Certis’ insecticide to control peach… PLANNING PERMISSIONPermitted development appeal opens way for new-buildsLandowners could unlock greater money-making potential with Class Q buildings after a key planning case set an appeal precedent. Hannah Moule, director at the Rural Planning Co, explained that permitted… YOUNG FARMERSBridgette Baker: Uni is a not-to-be-missed opportunityIf you've got the option of going to university, it's worth giving it good consideration. I applied to do an agriculture degree as I wanted to be more prepared before… TRACTORSKubota adds electronic rear lift for M5 tractorsAn electronic rear lift (ELC) is now available as a retrofit add-on for older Kubota M5 tractors. The ELC is a factory-fit option for the recently introduced M5002 range, but… OILSEED RAPEWhy Holl oilseed rape is working for winning growerLincolnshire grower Mark Stubbs switched to growing high oleic low linoleic (Holl) oilseed rape varieties for the chance to earn a premium price and now sets an ambitious target yield… LIVESTOCKHow Eternit roofs can improve livestock welfare and profitFor over 100 years, Eternit’s innovative high-performing roofing solutions have been helping farmers provide better homes for their animals, boost profits and future-proof their businesses for the next generation. Who… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Breed change is a big learning curveIt seems strange to be the new boy once again. Having made the decision in 2019 to sell our Holstein herd and buy in 200 Jersey heifers, we’ve been overwhelmed… ENVIRONMENTLivestock targeted as UN seeks lower methane emissionsAgriculture has a key role to play in reducing global methane emissions, so limiting the climate change impact of one of the most potent greenhouse gases, a new UN report… More articles
