News

Elanco agrees to acquire Bayer Animal Health

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Written by Jamie Day

Elanco has ended long running speculation by confirming its agreement to acquire Bayer Animal Health, subject to regulatory approvals. The deal, worth $7.6 billion in a 70% cash:30% equity deal, propels Elanco to becoming the world’s second largest animal health company behind Zoetis. It is expected to complete by mid-2020. Elanco only completed its flotation […]

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New COO for BASIS

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Written by Jamie Day

BASIS, the agricultural standards setting, auditing and training organisation, has appointed Linda Lippiatt as chief operating officer (COO), with a remit to support the current team as well as driving business operations forward with a new sustainable, green strategy. Ms Lippiatt is from a West Country farming background, and is BASIS and FACTS qualified. She […]

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NFU calls for E10 roadfuels

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Written by Jamie Day

The NFU has written to a number of government departments calling for the mandatory 10% inclusion of bioethanol in petrol (E10) by 2020. It says the move from the present 5% inclusion would underpin the domestic wheat market at an uncertain time, as well as helping the UK reach its net zero carbon targets by […]

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Blight trials target application techniques

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In such a challenging season for potato blight, application techniques have shown the potential to make a significant difference in preventing disease infection and maintaining a cleaner, greener crop canopy.

Results of independent Eurofins trials in Derbyshire - maintained under artificially high disease pressure conditions and inoculated with blight strains in mid-July, along with natural infection - highlighted the strong performance of Revus and maindipropamid-based fungicides throughout the season.

Speaking at last week’s trials site open day (22 August), Syngenta Technical Manager, Michael Tait, reported on a trial to test intrinsic fungicide activity, where the same product is applied repeatedly on a plot throughout the season...

Defra: Farming is Changing

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From their tweet today:

Farming is changing. Leaving the EU means we can design our own #agricultural policy to support the #farming industry. We plan to:
  • phase out and ‘delink’ Direct Payments
  • improve regulation
  • launch the new Environmental Land Management scheme
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-farming-changes-to-farming-in-england

Protecting lambs from pasteurellosis this autumn

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Disease diagnostic data from the last five years highlights a spike in the number of lambs succumbing to pasteurellosis during September, October and November (see figure 1).

“Last autumn, pasteurellosis – the pneumonic and septicaemic form – was the most common cause of death in lambs,” points out Dr Katie Waine, who is based at the University of Nottingham undertaking a three-year training residency to become a veterinary pathologist, jointly funded by AHDB and MSD Animal Health.

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“As part of the project I collate the information from Farm Post Mortems Ltd on diseases that have been seen over the previous three months and produce quarterly reports. We also talk to the farmers who have...

NSA launches a UK-wide survey on sea eagle release

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Written by Rachel Martin

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has opened a farmer-facing survey to gather views on the introduction of sea eagles in the Isle of Wight following the release in recent weeks.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “While this release may currently be considered a local event, if successful, it could result in White-Tailed Sea Eagles being widespread across the UK with no real discussion or engagement with the farming community.

“The birds are already present and growing in number in Scotland following a staged release over the last 40 years, and it is clear that current policy and regulatory approaches are not leading to harmonious relationships.”

The...

Cardigan mart closure ‘another blow’ for industry

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Written by Rachel Martin

The announcement by J.J. Morris Auctioneers that Cardigan Animal Market will close next month, has been described as another blow for the industry by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

According to the auctioneer, the final market will be held on Monday, September 9. It is believed that the closure of Cardigan mart will not affect markets in Crymych and Whitland.

The mart ran sales for fat lambs and cull sheep and calves every Monday. As well as sales for store cattle, weaned calves, grazing cows and breeding stock on the first and third Monday of the month.

Rising costs, reduced animals and TB outbreaks in the area were cited as reasons for the closure.

It comes...

Herbicide resistance crisis targeted by new Oxford tech firm MoA Technology

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Written by Charlotte Cunningham

Crop protection discovery company, MoA Technology Ltd, has secured over £6m of funding to develop its unique crop protection discovery platforms in a bid to avert the global herbicide resistance crisis. Charlotte Cunningham reports. It’s no secret that the overuse of a range of herbicides has led to increasing levels of weed resistance. The weeds are winning, and the the industry is in need of a new range of clean and effective herbicide options to work alongside cultural controls. Spun out from Oxford University’s Plant Sciences Department in 2018, MoA Technology was set up to address this challenge. The company has developed its own discovery platform and is...

Deere Hints at Q4 Restructure, Added Focus on Precision Agriculture

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Written by David Frabotta

Deere, the giant maker of tractors and combines, plans to cut costs as U.S. farmers continue to grapple […]

The post Deere Hints at Q4 Restructure, Added Focus on Precision Agriculture appeared first on PrecisionAg.

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Red meat exports up 13% in half quarter of 2019

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Written by Rachel Martin

Exports of red meat and offal from the UK have enjoyed a strong start to the year with shipments surpassing 300,000t – up 13% on 2018.

According to the latest HMRC figures, more than £711 million worth of beef, lamb and pork products were shipped around the world in the first six months of the year.

However, compared to the 13% increase in volume, it’s only a rise of 8% in value compared to last year, when red meat exports stood at £658 million.

Figures show exports of pork and pig meat products rose from 166,000 to 183,000t, worth £268 million – an increase of 15%. Almost half of the shipments were to non-EU third-country markets.

African Swine Fever has...

Natural England Chairman Tony Juniper at the Birdfair and Call for Evidence on the National Food Strategy

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Natural England Chairman Tony Juniper at the Birdfair and Call for Evidence on the National Food Strategy

Written by Defra Press Office

Tony Juniper at the Birdfair

Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, standing on stage in front of a crowd in a tent at the Birdfair event at Rutland Water in Leicestershire

Tony Juniper at the Birdfair on Friday

On Friday (16 August), Tony Juniper took part in a ‘Question Time’-style panel debate with leading environmental campaigners, including Carrie Symonds and Chris Packham, at the Birdfair at Rutland Water in...

AHDB campaign makes strides in reversing falling dairy consumption

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Written by Rachel Martin

11% more young parents will buy dairy products according to research carried out after the second year of AHDB and Dairy UK’s marketing campaign.

The study also showed an 8% fall in the number of people cutting their dairy consumption, along with an 11% reduction in intentions to consume plant-based substitutes.

Targeting 20 to 35-year-old parents, the promotional activity used humour to share moments when dairy makes life better through the spoof organisation ‘The Department of Dairy Related Scrumptious Affairs’.

Rebecca Miah, AHDB head of dairy marketing, said: “We knew dairy was being overlooked as a category so it’s fantastic to see that people are...

Opinion: 5G Wireless Internet Service is Necessary to Meet Future Farming Demands

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Written by Matt Hopkins

Expanding wireless internet access in rural areas will continue to fuel the truly game-changing advances being made by […]

The post Opinion: 5G Wireless Internet Service is Necessary to Meet Future Farming Demands appeared first on PrecisionAg.

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Welsh dairy co-op posts record sales of £52.9 million

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Written by Rachel Martin

Wales’s oldest dairy farming co-operative is celebrating record sales of £52.9 million.

The boost has allowed South Caernarfon Creameries to create 11 new jobs taking its total workforce to 130.

Based in Chwilog, near Pwllheli, the firm has expanded its product range, grown its customer base and recruited more Welsh farmers as supplying members.

The creamery, which is best known for its award-winning Dragon branded cheeses and butter, saw a 17% increase in sales in the last financial year.

It means total sales generated by the plant at Chwilog near Pwllheli have increased by some 60% in the last two years. The growths follows a major £13.5 million investment to...

Government launches consultation on future of UK agri-food industry

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Written by Rachel Martin

British shoppers could be able to buy environmentally-friendly, healthy and affordable food under plans for a radical shake-up of the UK’s agri-food industry.

As one of the first steps, the Government is today (August 17), launching a call for evidence, giving everyone from consumers, farmers and food producers, to scientists and academics, an opportunity to shape how we produce, sell and consume food in the UK.

Their views will inform the first major review of the nation’s food system in nearly 75 years, led by entrepreneur Henry Dimbleby, to ensure the food industry is fit for the future, supports growth, enhances the environment and is resilient to the...

BPS loan support for Welsh farm businesses announced

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Written by Rachel Martin

A new loan facility to help Welsh farmers who won’t receive their Basic Payment on day one has been announced by Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.

The existing Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment window of December 2, 2019, until June 30, 2020, will be maintained, whilst a BPS Loan Scheme for farmers who don’t receive their first payment on that date will also be provided.

The loan for farmers who do not receive their BPS payment will be worth up to 90% of the claim value.

It is hoped the BPS payment and loan scheme will provide certainty to farmers concerned about cash flow as winter and the UK’s exit from the European Union...

Water companies pledge to plant 11 million trees by 2030

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Water companies pledge to plant 11 million trees by 2030

Written by Defra Press Office

Image of people planting trees

Credit: Yorkshire Water

Water UK has today (15 August) announced that English water companies have pledged to plant a combined 11 million trees over the coming decade.

This forms part of their wider pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030, with the companies announcing joint proposals to plant the trees on around 6,000 hectares of land across England.

While some of this land is owned by the water companies themselves, additional land will be provided by...

Brexiteers promised a new dawn for UK farming, not agricultural Armageddon | Polly Toynbee

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Brexiteers promised a new dawn for UK farming, not agricultural Armageddon | Polly Toynbee

Written by Polly Toynbee

A new report sounds the death knell for Britain’s farms in the event of no deal. It’s not the vision our farmers were sold
A small flock of sheep is trotting down Whitehall today to join a meeting of farmers who are coming together to mark the launch of a devastating report on the impact of a no-deal Brexit. The report rings the death knell for upland hill farming, but sheep are only the first in the line of fire...

BASIS expands team with new COO

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Written by John Swire

Standard setting, auditing and training organisation, BASIS, has appointed a chief operating officer (COO) to support the current team and drive business operations forwards with a new sustainable, green strategy.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO, explains that Linda Lippiatt is a farmer’s daughter from the West Country and has 22 years’ experience across the agricultural industry and already holds BASIS and FACTS qualifications, which will be highly advantageous.

“The team management, commercial, operational and auditing skills Linda gained earlier in previous roles at ForFarmers and Tulip, make her the perfect fit for the close-knit BASIS team,” he says.

Linda adds that...
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