News

Written by Rachel Martin

Applications are open for this year’s intake of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Agricultural Business Operations courses.

Last year, 166 people successfully completed the Level II courses.

Training is delivered over 20 weeks from October until March across one of the three CAFRE campuses. Last year, a total of seven classes covered the three agricultural sectors.

97% of students said they were satisfied with the course and felt it will be of benefit to them when running their farm business.

Co. Antrim farmer William Dennison, who successfully completed the course along with his son and brother, said: “I really enjoyed the course...

Written by John Swire

The NFU is reminding growers of simple but effective ways they can stay safe this summer as combines are dusted off and harvest begins in earnest.

As more agricultural vehicles take to the roads and fields, the NFU urges farmers and growers to follow five top tips:

• Check that tractors and trailers are roadworthy. Make sure that indicators are fully visible and that trailer brakes are working correctly.
• Ensure all drivers are competent. Children under 16 are only allowed to operate certain machines, and it is illegal for children under 13 to drive or ride on any kind of agricultural machine.
• Be clear on the weight of vehicles and trailers and follow...

Written by Rachel Martin

The UK’s largest hemp farm has been forced to destroy its crop after the Home Office declined its application to renew its licence.

Hempen – the firm behind the 40ac Oxfordshire farm – said it expected the ruling would cost it around £200,000 in sales.

The company was growing hemp and harvesting the flowers for the purpose of producing Cannabidiol products, such as CBD oil. However, clarification from the Home Office in November meant that only the stems and seeds could be harvested.

Last week, the firm’s license was denied for renewal meaning it can no longer harvest the crop in any form. The farm started work to destroy its crop on Monday (July 22)...

Written by Jamie Day

Directors of the AgriBriefing publishing and trade exhibitions business, have bought out their main investor. UK-based AgriBriefing was established in 2012, and now owns the Farmers Guardian stable of titles and Agrimoney website alongside the Feed Info and Urner Barry international online services and the LAMMA and CropTec shows. It now has a staff of […]

The post MBO for AgriBriefing appeared first on AgriTrade News.

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Written by John Swire

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has written to Boris Johnson to congratulate him on winning the election to become the leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister.

TFA chief executive, George Dunn, said “The TFA stands ready to work with the new Prime Minister and his Government on achieving both a successful exit from the European Union and on building a policy framework for a prosperous post-EU Britain. However, taking a ‘do or die’ stance on leaving the EU on the 31 October would be reckless in the extreme. Careful thought must be given to planning our exit rather than simply drawing a line in the sand”.

“We need high levels of both wisdom...

Written by Rachel Martin

Representatives from across the beef supply chain met at this week’s Royal Welsh Show, to address the falling market prices for beef.

The meeting brought together the presidents of both of Wales’ main farming unions, as well as Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association, the Welsh Government, and processors’ bodies BMPA and AIMS.

HCC presented an analysis of current market trends, which showed market prices for all classes of cattle fell substantially since April.

An increased domestic supply of beef cattle and a rise in frozen imports in late-2018 added to the woes created by subdued demand and weak consumer confidence...

126 The Golden Age Of Opportunity Is Now

Written by

Tonight I talked to chair of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, and corporate engagement lead for Bayer UK, Mark Buckingham.

We discussed GM and gene editing technology, it's potential to vastly improve crop production and reduce environmental impact, as well as lift people out of poverty in the developing World, and how the UK could take a giant step forward in this regard without the restrictive regulatory framework of the EU.

All this, and much more.





EAT FARM NOW: FOR ALL THE BEST FARMING & FOOD RELATED PODCASTS, VIDEOS, AND BLOGS, FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, PLEASE VISIT...

Written by Rachel Martin

Trials are taking place into new technology to alert cereal growers to the earliest signs aphids in a bid to prevent barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) following the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments as a prevention measure.

The latest advice is that regular crop monitoring followed by the targeted application of a suitable pyrethroid insecticide is now the most effective aphid control strategy.

Remote technology trials

The remote surveillance system, which is being tested by ADAMA, traps and identifies aphids in-field and alerts farmers to local flights in a more timely manner.

The new technology uses digital imaging software to...

Written by John Swire

NFU President Minette Batters has today congratulated Boris Johnson on his election as Conservative party leader and urged him to do everything in his power to ensure that our departure from the EU is carried out in a smooth and orderly way.

The NFU has been clear that an orderly departure, that includes free and frictionless trade with the EU, is crucial in delivering the best outcome for British food production.

Leaving the EU with a trade deal is vital to allow farm businesses and Britain’s food producers to have a viable and sustainable future – continuing to produce food to some of the highest global standards whilst at the same time protecting the iconic...

Written by Rachel Martin

The potential impact of a No-deal Brexit was just one of the issues raised during a meeting between the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) and Defra Secretary Michael Gove.

Defra Secretary Michael Gove and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns met FUW president Glyn Davies this week at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show.

During the meeting, Davies told Gove and Cairns that no responsible UK Government or Parliament would allow the UK to leave the EU without a deal.

Davies said: “We have been relentless in highlighting the grave economic impacts for agriculture, rural communities and other industries of a hard Brexit, and our concerns regarding the rhetoric of both of the prime...

Long-run perspective on EU agricultural output growth and GHG emissions

Written by Alan Matthews

The extent to which agricultural growth can take place while at the same time reducing agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is much debated. There is a widespread view, reflected in the agricultural mitigation chapter of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report in 2014, that changes in food consumption patterns will be necessary if GHG emissions from global agricultural production are to fall sufficiently to help to stabilise the climate by 2050. The diet changes proposed, including a shift away from...

Imperfect science of intensive farming | Letters

Written by Letters

Intensive farming does not represent the best use of our agricultural land, says Sue Pritchard
The Crop Protection Association (CPA) criticises the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission report, Our Future in the Land, for its absence of science (Letters, 22 July). As much as they’d like us to believe it, they do not have the monopoly on the scientific arguments.

Good science is a rigorous and critical process of inquiry: it is far from perfect, neutral and incontrovertible. It was...

Protections against oak processionary moth

Written by Defra Press Office


FC

In an interview with Horticulture Week Ken Cox, the managing director of Glendoick Gardens, has criticised the government for taking too long to tackle the tree pest oak processionary moth (OPM).

Mr Cox said it has taken the government three years to introduce proper measures following a finding of OPM at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016. This is not the case. We have had a series of measures in place since...

Written by John Swire

Allflex Livestock Intelligence today announced a competition amongst beef farmers to celebrate the recent launch of its SenseHub™ Beef Monitoring System. Developed from the original Heatime™ heat-detection system, SenseHub Beef is the world’s first heat and health-monitoring solution that specifically analyses the real-time behaviour of beef cattle to enable the herd and individual animals to be managed more efficiently. The product enables beef farmers to stay in touch with their herd anytime and anywhere and works with housed or grazing herds and cattle located away from the farm.

SenseHub Beef lets farmers know if an animal is in distress or needs attention and...

Written by Agriland Team

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said that it will work with incoming UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “achieve the best possible Brexit outcome that will enable the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland to flourish”.

Earlier today, Tuesday, July 23, Johnson was formally announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party, and will now take over from Theresa May as prime minister.

Ivor Ferguson, the UFU’s president, said: “We have continuously stressed that leaving the EU without a deal would be catastrophic for Northern Ireland’s...

Written by Matt Hopkins

Elders head of technical services Graham Page believes for precision agriculture to deliver value it needs to support […]

The post Australia: Elders Ltd. Tech Lead Weighs in on Precision Ag Adoption appeared first on PrecisionAg.

Continue reading on the Precision Ag Website...

Written by Matt Hopkins

Reading plant stress can be a difficult endeavor, especially for nuts or wine grapes, where deficit irrigation is […]

The post U.S.: Real-Time Water Data Delivers Big Opportunity for Fruit and Nut Growers appeared first on PrecisionAg.

Continue reading on the Precision Ag Website...

Written by Matt Hopkins

Raven Industries, Inc., a leading provider of precision ag technology, has expanded its logistics and control offering to […]

The post Raven Introduces Connected Workflow Solutions for Ag Retailers appeared first on PrecisionAg.

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Written by Rachel Martin

Figures from across agriculture called on the new Prime Minister to focus on stability and to avoid playing ‘populist politics’ as he sets out his Brexit plan.

Boris Johnson will be sworn in officially as Prime Minister tomorrow (July 24) following Theresa May’s last Prime Minister’s questions.

National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters congratulated the incoming Prime Minister. She said: “We have an opportunity to develop a new agricultural policy that works for Britain and create a sustainable, vibrant and competitive future for farming.”

Batters said she would write to the incoming Prime Minister, the union highlighting additional policy priorities for...

Written by Agriland Team

The French government is set to ask the European Commission for a payment of €1 billion to help its farmers deal with the prolonged spell of high temperatures.

According to a report by international news agency Reuters, France has already had to implement restrictions on water use in 73 of the 96 administrative departments in the country.

Didier Guillaume, France’s agriculture minister, told national newspaper...