Internet trading saves farmers £s
Beef labels step closer
COUNTRY-of-origin labell-ing for beef is a step closer after European farm ministers agreed the need to provide consumers with more information. But it is uncertain when labels will be introduced because the ministers cant agree on what they should contain.
A two-stage European Comm-ission proposal means that shops could be required to label the place of slaughter from this September. Full information on the country of birth, fattening and slaughter could be required from 2003.
Final details must be thrashed out during the coming months between the European Farm Council and the European Parliament. Council president Luis Capoulas Santos said there was a real commitment to meet those deadlines.
British farm minister Nick Brown supports national labelling "so that consumers know where the product comes from". But he insists it is important "not to clutter up the label" and is willing to accept the term "of EU origin" as an alternative. *
Internet trading saves farmers £s
FARMERS and dealers are discovering the opportunities to be had from buying and selling farm supplies on the internet where they often pay less than they would in person. Buyers have found they can search for bargain deals on a full range of agriculture products from the comfort of their own office or home.
Seed potato grower James Grant, of J&S Grant (Roskill) from the Black Isle, Ross-shire, has just put 17t of Maris Piper potatoes up for auction using farmers weekly internet site FWi. He said: "Selling on-line can offer a good deal to both sellers and buyers and has the appeal that buyers are able to contact growers directly."
Howard Johnston, of Carlisle-based John Deere dealers Johnston Tractors, was the first customer to buy a tractor on FWi-Exchange.
"We were interested in the concept because e-commerce is becoming increasingly important and wanted to see what it would be like," he said. "We found the process of buying a tractor on-line straightforward and being able to buy from the comfort of my office was another advantage."
Among the first lots on offer on FWi was a Yamaha Big Bear 4×4 ATV put up by Yamaha. The company donated the £3500 received to the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. FWi joined forces with QXL, Europes leading on-line auction house, offering farmers everything from tractors to cattle tags late last year. Its internet address is www.fwi-exchange.com *