Liz Wright, Editor of Smallholder welcomes news and views from readers

Goat open day in south west

TO mark the completion of a substantial investment programme, Forde Grange Goat Dairy near Chard on the Dorset/Somerset border is opening its doors to the public on September 12. The open day, which will run between 12.30 and 4pm, allows access to what has become one of the largest goat dairies in the country milking over 1300 goats daily and producing more than 110,000 litres of mile each month.

GIVE OLDER EX-RACEHORSES A CHANCE

THE organisation that led the way in racehorse rehabilitation in Britain is urging the country's riders to give older horses a chance.

Accidents on the land warning

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show that in the 10 year-period between 1997/98 to 2006/07 there were 399 fatal accidents involving farm workers and 134 of these fatal incidents occurred during the harvest months of August, September and October.

All there is to know about slurry

The slurry centre will join the popular soil surgery and silage clinics offering timely advice to farmers visiting the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, to be held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 September by its organiser, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

Garden Organic sheds light on lunar growing

With over 100,000 hectares of land worldwide under biodynamic management, the UK's leading organic charity is helping more people learn about this lunar approach to growing during Biodynamic Food Fortnight from Friday 3 - Sunday 19 October 2008.

Will our 'Awful August' end on a high?

As August draws to a close the wet weather which has brought flooding to many areas is expected to end.

On-line with British reared meat

A long-established Midlands butcher has reinvented' the company to become a booming national online retailer - after a dreadful year' of being hit by floods, the credit crunch and competition from supermarket giants.

Extension to bluetongue zone

Defra has today confirmed that the Bluetongue Protection Zone will be extended into Northumberland and Cumbria shortly. However, this will not happen before September 1 unless the re-emergence of circulating disease requires it.

Subsidised carcass collections in doubt – Scottish islands may suffer says Janice Houghton Wallace CROFTERS on some of Scotland's islands are losing a facility that will not only have an affect on livestock farming but could also impact the environment and island sustainability.

From bank work to pig farming

A woman from Cornwall who gave up her job as a bank manager to become a pig farmer says her business is thriving thanks to demand for local food.Now Sally Lugg's husband has also given up his job to join the business.

British Saddleback Top Pig of the Year Despite the wet summer, most agricultural shows went ahead and in the pig classes, many have triumphed as Breed or even Supreme Champion on the day. But with shows spread from the depths of Cornwall to the north of England, how do we know which is really the best pig?

Conservation competition to encourage dormice

The wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species has launched a new competition for farmers and landowners to reward active conservation of hedgerows. These iconic features of the British landscape support a huge variety of native wildlife, such as the hazel dormouse and other vulnerable species, yet their decline is widespread. Reconnecting the Countryside' therefore aims to highlight the importance of hedgerows as both habitats and wildlife corridors, whilst celebrating the efforts made by the farming community to protect them for posterity.

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Campaign urges Don’t hesitate vaccinate message from JAB

With just three weeks to go before the first anniversary of bluetongue being detected in England the JAB campaign group is urging farmers to vaccinate their livestock to stop the disease from taking hold in this country as it has in Europe.

Accidents on the farm still a huge problem

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show that in the 10 year-period between 1997/98 to 2006/07 there were 399 fatal accidents involving farm workers and 134 of these fatal incidents occurred during the harvest months of August, September and October.

Health and Safety warning

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned farmers to ensure their workers are properly trained and machinery is regularly inspected and serviced, after a farm worker was permanently paralysed by a falling silage bale.

Food security welcomed

The NFU has welcomed the launch of Defra's consultation on UK food security on a changing world but expressed its disappointment at the continued emphasis on international factors.

Right of access given boost

A CLA campaign to win fundamental changes to Government proposals for a right of access to the English coast have been given a major boost by a House of Commons Select Committee.

Invasive beetle in the south west

An invasive non-native insect, which could harm woodland areas and garden plants in the UK, has been identified.

Slowdown in beef

Lower prime cattle supplies are likely to mean a favourable market balance for beef producers for the remainder of the year despite the possibility of a slowdown in the growth of domestic beef demand as consumers increasingly feel the economic pinch and the recent cooling-off of cull cow prices, in particular.

Keep vaccinating against bluetongue urges jab campaign

Livestock farmers are being urged to continue joining the Bluetongue vaccination campaign to protect the industry against this devastating disease.

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