Defra Farm Health Planning
Dairy farmers Trevor and John Whitfield are already reaping the rewards of farm
health planning under a new initiative as one of eight
advocate farms involved in the XLVets Dairy project run under Defra’s
Farm Health Planning scheme. [
read
article]
Cumbrian Specialist Beef Unit
Re-structuring of the farm business after 2001 at Cracrop, Kirkcambeck, near
Brampton, Carlisle, concentrated on two pedigree beef herds – Charolais
and Limousin. [
read
article]
Environment Enhancement
Specialist beef producers Brian Atkinson and his father Brendan have been able
to enhance their farm’s environmental benefits while maintaining a sound
commercial enterprise in shape for post 2012 without a Single Farm Payment. [
read
article]
Pioneer Gold
Pioneer Foodservice, of Carlisle, has picked up a gold award for signing-up
customers to the English Quality Standard scheme for beef and lamb. The company
works closely with the English Beef and Lamb Executive. [
read
article]
Nancy leaves Farm Link
Nancy Tweddell has moved on from her role as Cumbria Farm Link Manager. Her
departure marks 11 years of work with Cumbria’s farming and rural
communities on a number of funding initiatives. [
read
article]
Naturally-reared Passion
A passion for naturally-reared, quality food and the desire to share that
with others has led Jo Kemp to produce her own traditional beef and lamb. [
read
article]
Committed to Milk
A commitment to the future of milk production for the next generation of the
Dockeray family has involved investing in new dairy facilities and splitting
the farm partnership. [
read
article]
Oxford Down - Ease of Management
Ease of management, early lambing and superior eating quality of finished lambs
are just some of the attributes of the Oxford Down which has kept Andrew Rutherford
faithful to the traditional British breed for the last two decades.
[
read article]
Traditional Breeds for Profit
Traditional breeds of suckler cows which can be outwintered on the hill are
the key to profitable beef production for James Playfair Hannay.
[
read article]
Gold Cup
The all-round performance of the 200-cow pedigree Ribblesdale herd run at Laneside
Farm, Waddington, near Clitheroe, has earned a place in the final
of the 2007 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition for the third year. [
read article]
Lumbylaw Texels
The Lumbylaw Texel flock at Billerwell Farm, Bonchester Bridge, near Hawick came out top on performance across all UK Texel flocks last year and the dispersal of the adult portion of the flock marks the end of an era for Richard Oates. [
read article]
Savin HIll Meat
A Lake District farming and meat business is struggling to meet consumer demand
in the north west for its traditional native breeds of beef and pork. The
business at Savin Hill Farm in the Lyth Valley near Kendal had small beginnings
12 years ago. [
read
article]
Northumbrian Rare Breed Meats
At a time when many livestock farmers in the region were seriously considering
their future in the aftermath of F&M, a couple realised
their long held ambition to sell their home-produced rare breed meats direct
to the public through a farm shop. [
read
article]
Newfield Beef Shorthorns
A mission to find a particular type of duck led to the foundation of a successful
pedigree beef herd in north Yorkshire 20 years ago by Michael Abrahams and
his farm manager Ray Sanderson. [
read
article]
Roman Excavations lead to new farm
Renewed interest in a Roman fort near Bishop Auckland has led to a fresh start
for farming couple Gordon and Julie Sedgewick. [
read
article]
Pedigree Beef Recording
A judging seminar hosted by Beef Shorthorn breeder Carey Coombs at Carnwath
extolled the merits of pedigree beef recording.
[
read
article]
Ashley uses Scabivax
With the entire female lamb crop selling through a handful of autumn sales,
Ashley Caton places great emphasis on the health of his stock to ensure they
thrive and to benefit future buyers.
[
read
article]
Wild Geese scavenge Grass
Wild geese are arriving in larger numbers for an extended winter season
on valuable livestock grazing ground on the Cumbrian shores of the Solway
Estuary. [
read
article]
Vaccination keeps Orf at bay
An outbreak of the sheep viral condition Orf convinced the Coates family that
a vaccination programme was essential, particularly as the disease prevented
selling at the main autumn North of England Mule gimmer lamb fixtures.
[
read
article]
Borderfields produce Rapeseed OIl
A group of Borders farmers have set their store to trade beyond the farm
gate in premium products through a newly formed company. Borderfields was
set up by producers from the east coast in North Northumberland and the Borders.
[
read
article]
Arable Prospects are Good
Future prospects for the North’s arable farmers are improving against
a background of an increasing demand for biofuels, a growing world population
and global warning. [
read
article]
Cumbria's Auction Marts thrive in post FMD
Six years on from the start of the foot and mouth epidemic which devastated
Cumbria’s livestock industry, auction markets in the county are selling
more cattle and sheep through the market – at a greater turnover. [
read
article]
A lifetime with sheep in the north
First and foremost a Northumberland farmer and a noted breeder of pedigree
sheep - Suffolks are his passion - Michael Walton is also an auctioneer and
has conducted specialist sheep sales across the country for the last 30 years. [
read
article]
Increasing milk yield from home-grown forage
A west Cumbrian dairy farming family has made a two-fold impact on increasing
milk from home-grown forage – by growing maize and re-seeding cutting
and grazing fields with high sugar grass varieties. [
read
article]
Planning Herd Health for Livestock Exports
Live export markets for both pedigree and commercial cattle may have re-opened
- but UK farmers need to take on board herd health planning now to avoid jeopardising
these opportunities warns Graham Brooks, the new president of the BCVA. [
read
article]
Northumbrian Organic Feeds
Northumberland farmer Stuart Hyslop’s enthusiasm for the future of organic
livestock and arable production has led to the development of the northern
counties’ first fully organic blending and milling plant. [
read
article]
[2005 features]
[2006 features]
