01630 692 500
Judge Paul Batty QC has added to the growing number of calls for rural crime to be taken more seriously after he heard the trial of four men accused of stealing a mini tractor worth £2,000. At Carlisle Crown Court Judge Batty insisted that a statement from the farmer should be read to the court, even though the prosecuting barrister had not intended to do so.
"The jury should be told of the effect it had," said the judge. "Rural crime is often dismissed as if it is just this, that...
Farmers Weekly reports that the egg supplier that provided all of the eggs used by McDonald's in the west of the USA has been dropped after an undercover camera exposed animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions on their farms.
Footage broadcast on ABC News America filmed last summer by animal rights group Mercy for Animals, shows poultry workers at Sparboe Farms bying birds to strings and throwing them around the factory, dragging them along the ground and tossing them in the air....
Hybu Cig Cymru has headed a red meat promotion trade mission and been successful in exporting Welsh Lamb into the Canadian market with high hopes for sales into Sweden and China.
It was revealed at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair that a consignment of Welsh lamb has already been shipped across the Atlantic, with further supplies to follow. This marks a successful attempt to move into the North American market by HCC and several Welsh processin companies.
“HCC led a trade mission...
Defra has announced a new Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme which will make £20 million available in grants of between £2,500 and £25,000. The grants will be for qualifying items and further information, including a guidance booklet, is available on the Defra website.
The application form for applications under the first round should be available to download from 16th November 2011 when the application period opens.
Dan Bowden has been researching and analysing the CAP reform proposals and has written a brief information sheet trying to explain what the current proposals might mean to British farmers.
One of the biggest challenges will be proving that you are an 'active farmer' and could potentially result in you having to disclose a great deal of personal information about non-agricultural income.
Jim Paice, farming Minister, has defended Government plans for a badger cull in the face of fierce criticism of the proposed policy from Opposition MPs.
The Farmer's Guardian reports that MPs repeatedly clashed over the scientific justification and humaneness of the proposed cull in England during a headted debate in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday).
Labour MP Mary Glindon, who led the debate, claimed the policy was not backed by evidence.
She argued that the...
The largest independent dairy in the North East, Lanchester Dairies, is under new ownership after the company's entire shareholding was acquired by two of its four founders, Billy and Julie Austin.
The Austins are now sole shareholders of the dairy, based in Lanchester, Co Durham, after buying out co-owners Geoff and Sandra Austin, with whom they founded the dairy business as a diversification from the family dairy farm in 1992.
The dairy business now buys and...
The Welsh Government's decision to abolish the Less Favoured Area payment top-up within its new environment management scheme will result in farmers in these areas losing 20% of their subsidy, according to a report in the Farmers Weekly.
The decision, which will affect nearly 80% of agricultural land in Wales, means that for the first time in more than 60 years, Wales has no scheme specific to areas with more challenging farming conditions.
Although Glastir payments have been...
A farming company in Fife has been fined £20,000 after an employee became entangled in machinery inside a grain reception pit.
Heavy rain at R Todd & Company's Blacketyside Farm had caused the pit to fill with about 12 inches of water. Farmworker Peter Ednie was trying to empty the water when his foot got caught in the unsheathed part of a screw auger inside the pit and although it was switched off it had not been isolated from the power source. Mr Ednie continued to pass...
Johann Tasker writes in the Farmers Weekly that farmers who refuse to adopt 'green' measures planned by Brussels will lose far more than the expected 30% of their annual subsidy cheque.
Apparently proposals unveiled this week suggested 30% of direct payments would depend on farmers respecting certain agricultural practices including maintaining permanent pasture and cultivating at least three different crops on arable land.
To receive 100% of their direct payment, farmers would...
Barbers Rural
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Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 1EW
tel: 01630 692 500
mail: info@barbers-rural.co.uk
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