SUMMARY
SUMMARY
DEFRA blunder puts brakes on pig sales
Pig prices are climbing on the back of the recent Brussels decision to allow the resumption of exports. But a paperwork blunder by DEFRA means the first shipments are taking longer to organise than expected…p22
Let land a nice earner
Farm incomes are falling, but the return from tenanted land remains good. Latest figures show that let land outperformed every other form of UK investment last year. But the market is tight with little available to buy..p24
Irish ups and downs
Irish hill farmers could benefit from a 20% increase in area aid payments following a shortfall in the number of claimants. But the Irish Farmers Association is unhappy and claims mountain farmers are still losing out…………………p25
All smiles in Sussex
Some good news from Conyboro, our adopted Sussex arable and dairy unit – milk yield is up and the oilseed rape is looking good. Unfortunately blackgrass problems are breaking the herbicide budget…..p27
Battle to be best
The final of the Farm Business Administrator of the Year 2001 competition brought together a wealth of talented individuals. Find out who triumphed in a closely fought battle to be acknowledged the industrys best………………………………..p28
Short straw
Straw is likely to be in short supply this winter and prices look set to rise even higher. The Hay and Straw Merchants association is recommending farmers make careful use of existing supplies……………..p32