Smallholder news, Smallholder for smallholders, keeping animals, poultry, buying a smallholding

Top dogs at Spring Festival

5:36pm Monday 30th April 2012

More than 1000 dogs are expected to compete for the prizes at the premier open dog show run in conjunction with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Spring Festival next month. The event is the only premier open dog show in Wales, a status granted by the Kennel Club three years ago, thus making it a qualifer for Crufts, the world’s largest dog show.

Miserable weather sends sales of warming foods rising

1:48pm Friday 27th April 2012

The wettest April in living memory has created a huge demand for typical winter warming foods plus of course rainwear says Tescos

Vibrant fibre festival

6:02pm Thursday 26th April 2012

Visitors to the wool and natural fibres extravaganza Wonderwool Wales on April 28 and 29 are promised a show that is full of colour, interest and creativity.

School farm opens gates 28-29 2012

10:40pm Monday 23rd April 2012

Chris Holloway, manager at The Warriner School Farm, is pleased to announce that we will again be hosting our popular Warriner School Farm Trust Farm Open Weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April, from 10am to 4pm on both days. Chris Holloway, manager at The Warriner School Farm, is pleased to announce that we will again be hosting our popular Warriner School Farm Trust Farm Open Weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April, from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Edible Gardens and Bees become trendy

1:17pm Monday 23rd April 2012

EcoLocal, a community based charity in Carshalton, are delivering one of only 10 Lottery funded ‘Local Food’ programmes in England. As part of the scheme, EcoLocal have created a community training allotment in Carshalton where people can learn how to grow their own fruit and veg.

Water saving advice on pig farms published

10:30am Monday 23rd April 2012

Practical steps to save water and money on pig farms have been published by BPEX. There are a number of short-term and long-term measures producers can take to conserve water in this latest Knowledge Transfer (KT) Bulletin.

Protecting yourself and your horse when on the road?

11:22am Wednesday 18th April 2012

Q/I ride out on my part bred New Forest pony all year round and always wear hi-viz in the winter or on gloomy days. But my friend says I should also wear it on sunny days. Why? And what else can I do to protect myself and my horse when I am on the road?

Mangelwurzels?

11:23am Wednesday 18th April 2012

Q/ Do Mangelwurzels really exist and can you still buy the seed?

Pork before piglets

11:25am Wednesday 18th April 2012

Q/ I've never kept pigs but I'd like to get a sow and breed some piglets. How do I get a sow?

A small swarm has moved in to my spare hive. Is there anything I can do to help them establish?

11:18am Wednesday 18th April 2012

First you need to be sure that you want to keep the swarm. Remember you don't know the origin of the swarm, its genetics, behavior (in terms of aggression), and disease status, and thus allowing it in your apiary is a potential risk. On a flip note, catching swarms is a cost-effective, practical alternative to increasing your apiary and introducing new genetics.