IN BRIEF

16 February 2001

IN BRIEF

&#8226 THE Newport and District Agricultural Society (01952-810814) has set up an annual bursary in the name of Richard Watson Jones to give local candidates the chance to attend the Oxford Farming Conference. The NFU has also set up a scholarship in the late vice-presidents name at Harper Adams University College. For details contact Richard Jopling on 01952-815290.

&#8226 EUROPES finance ministers have approved additional funding of k971m (£621m) to deal with the BSE crisis, as proposed by Brussels two weeks ago. Most of the cash (k700m or £447m) will pay for 530,000t of over 30-month beef under the purchase-for-destruction scheme. BSE testing will absorb k33m (£21m), leaving just k238m (£152m) for intervention.

&#8226 THE Countryside Alliance is hoping that beacons will be lit across the world in support of the countryside march on March 18. Supporters from America, France, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Hong Kong and Australia have already signalled they will light a beacon to show their support for the march in London. The plan is to light the beacons on March 12.

&#8226 FOOD safety commissioner, David Bryne, has written to the German government, criticising it for insufficient controls when removing specified risk materials in abattoirs.

Several recent shipments to the UK and Ireland have included cattle carcasses with spinal cord still attached. NFU president, Ben Gill, has urged the commissioner to take action should his warnings go unheeded.

&#8226 PROVISIONAL figures show that 4.9m litres of liquid milk were imported from France from Apr 1 to Oct 31, 2000. But junior farm minister Baroness Hayman said the quantity of milk, expressed as proportion of UK production of raw milk, was lower than in the same period of the previous year. She added it was less than 0.1% when compared to UK production.

&#8226 PROCEEDS from farm open days held this spring will be donated to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, says the NFU. Last year NFU members raised nearly £8000 for the charity.

Anyone wanting to take part needs an information pack which includes health and safety advice and NSPCC information. Call Victoria Brook for details 020-7331 7292.

GERMANY has received a second legal warning from Brussels for failing to protect the habitat of an endangered hamster in the north-west of the country, as demanded by the 1992 Habitats Directive. The commission blames intensive agriculture and the construction of an industrial site for the infringement. Failure to comply could lead to a European Court hearing.