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15-11-2012 07:26 AM
20-11-2012 10:22 AM
| Posted by A. Scientist
There is no evidence that the welfare of hens kept in cages is worse than those kept on free-range. On the contrary at least 5 recent scientific review and papers have found the welfare to be on average better. Mortality rates are less than half for hens in cages plus their eggs are likely to be cleaner and the birds are much less likely to suffer from parasitic diseases. Hence hositals ought to use cage eggs in preference to free range unless they are sure the free-range eggs come from farms with much better than average performance. The RSPCA is misleading ministers and the public with this campaign that is not evidence-based, just emotive. However I agree with them regarding meat. There is good evidence that welfare is improved with higher than legal minimum standards for pigs and cattle.
14-11-2012 11:44 AM
14-11-2012 13:34 PM
| Posted by dave
I wish you would all stop using the word "their milk" as meant to represent milk belongs to farmers, IT BELONGS TO COWS AND THEIR CALFS,its like reading a story from nazi times this, nothing belongs to you that you dont produce yourselves.
15-11-2012 09:25 AM
| Posted by Gee
So... Errr who do the cows belong to oh yes the cruel farmer who works 14 hours (in our case) to accommodate the them!
19-11-2012 15:29 PM
| Posted by Ed
Hey Dave sometimes you are better off just to keep your comments to your self.
20-11-2012 08:58 AM
| Posted by dairy farmer's wife
a cow is not a machine you can fuel with diesel and a grease gun. She needs food, care and comfort. If the world market does not recognise this soon and pay the required price to the producer, there will be no industry left. Milk is a one-of commodity which is vital for children and old-folks, pay up now OR ELSE!!!
13-11-2012 15:00 PM
13-11-2012 15:50 PM
| Posted by Clued-Up
Haworth and the NFU should realise the public support the RSPCA over their stance on the badger cull.
14-11-2012 15:25 PM
| Posted by average joe
A large number of the public that live among the cattle farming community see the devestation caused by this disease and to the farmers lives through loss of cattle. It is not the place of the RSPCA to take sides on this.lf the badgers are being shot legally as part of a cull, they should not be persecuted for this in any way. The CEO should stand down for taking the RSPCA in the wrong direction.
14-11-2012 21:58 PM
| Posted by cape breton
Less than 10% of cattle that are slaughtered for health reasons is TB related. What is the industry doing about the other 90% which are culled for infertility, mastitis, chronic lameness and other health issues and pathologies that cause immense suffering. The silence is deafening.
13-11-2012 10:29 AM
13-11-2012 18:51 PM
| Posted by Mary
You don't get what you DESERVE, you only get what you NEGOTIATE. As producers you have the whip hand. For goodness sake, use it.
12-11-2012 13:51 PM
12-11-2012 17:17 PM
| Posted by Patricia Cobbold
I am really pleased that someone is looking at this. A while ago I sprayed roundup believing it to be safe, the next day my dog ate some of the grass I had sprayed and was violently ill and had to be hospitalised. When I told the vet what had happened, he dismissed my thoughts as rubbish and my dog was treated for pancreatitus instead. When I took him off all medication he became well. Round up, is unsafe for animals and the labels should be changed.
12-11-2012 21:39 PM
| Posted by Meadows
In the future Patricia Cobbold, I would suggest you read the product data sheet!
It provides a clear indication as to use and keeping the area free of animals following application.
It provides a clear indication as to use and keeping the area free of animals following application.
13-11-2012 12:59 PM
| Posted by S A M
It's all very well developing GM crops that tolerate glysophate. Monsanto will now have to turn their attention to developing human beings that are tolerant to glysophate enriched crops! Who knows perhaps in bowels of their labs they already hard at work!
13-11-2012 13:05 PM
| Posted by sandy
Meadows, funnily enough all the wild animals in the fields and meadows can't read, nor can the bees and Colony Collapse Disorder has increased dramatically this year, wake up dear.
13-11-2012 13:08 PM
| Posted by Ollie
Seems to be yet another example of a product being promoted by industry that later turns out to be damaging. Remember DDT anyone- so safe you could drink it they said! Why do we put our faith in these 'safety authorities' when they rely on safety data supplied by the company responsible for producing the products? It threatens not only health but out entire way of farming, take a leaf out of Eric Herme's book: http://tinyurl.com/clmj4xv he'll show you the damage Roundup does to his farm and his livelihood- why is this govenment hell bent on pushing GM and it's associated chemical cocktails? Vested interests?
13-11-2012 13:10 PM
| Posted by John Wilson
When local authorities use glyphosate herbicides they do not warn residents that their neighbourhood has been sprayed.
We have no way of knowing if our pet is sniffing/ licking/ eating/ walking on recently sprayed vegetation. My authority, Newcastle upon Tyne, dismiss my suggestion that their spraying policy may be harming pets and humans.
I have good anecdotal evidence that it has harmed dogs in my locality.
We have no way of knowing if our pet is sniffing/ licking/ eating/ walking on recently sprayed vegetation. My authority, Newcastle upon Tyne, dismiss my suggestion that their spraying policy may be harming pets and humans.
I have good anecdotal evidence that it has harmed dogs in my locality.
12-11-2012 08:56 AM
12-11-2012 15:31 PM
| Posted by nishal
great chance for uk's dairy industry. I am sure chinese will like the taste of nutritive cheese of uk.
08-11-2012 15:55 PM
09-11-2012 16:38 PM
| Posted by Valentine Dyall
Pete Riley conveniently forgets the GM-labelled food products that have been on sale in EU supermarkets for years and continue to be sold. Customers are clearly voting with their wallets.
But Pete knows the purpose of labelling claims by the anti-GM brigade: pious noises notwithstanding, the reason is to scare people off, not to inform them.
But Pete knows the purpose of labelling claims by the anti-GM brigade: pious noises notwithstanding, the reason is to scare people off, not to inform them.
12-11-2012 17:44 PM
| Posted by Kev C
I think that claims made by the pro-GM brigade that the anti-GM brigade want to scare people off the GM products is all hot air and bluster from the pro-GM brigade. What they forget conveniently to tell people is that the GM products are not fully tested for long term impacts on humans and animals or the natural environment. Not 'Independently' tested that is. If they were a lot more people would be buying organic food products for both themselves and their pets.
But here is an interesting take on the recent labelling proposition in California. The pro brigade had their campaign bolstered with over $46 million to say no claiming among other things that it would cost jobs. Always a vote winner that one. This is despite the fact (please feel free to check this out for yourselves) that all the food that is produced in the US that is exported to the UK and the EU is labelled. Exactly the same food that is not labelled that goes onto the shop shelves in the US. Another claim they make is that it would confuse the customers. ??? Are they saying that we over here are more intelligent? Less easily confused?
Or are they simply frightened that with all the research coming out of the woodwork that suggests the industry controlled research is anything but as robust as the likes of Monsanto and Dow and Syngenta claim? Maybe profits do come before customer safety?
But here is an interesting take on the recent labelling proposition in California. The pro brigade had their campaign bolstered with over $46 million to say no claiming among other things that it would cost jobs. Always a vote winner that one. This is despite the fact (please feel free to check this out for yourselves) that all the food that is produced in the US that is exported to the UK and the EU is labelled. Exactly the same food that is not labelled that goes onto the shop shelves in the US. Another claim they make is that it would confuse the customers. ??? Are they saying that we over here are more intelligent? Less easily confused?
Or are they simply frightened that with all the research coming out of the woodwork that suggests the industry controlled research is anything but as robust as the likes of Monsanto and Dow and Syngenta claim? Maybe profits do come before customer safety?
12-11-2012 17:47 PM
| Posted by Mark Thornton
Labelling is needed because well designed independent tests have not been used in the approval process. An in depth recent study in France has shown that tumors appear after the timescale of the short tests done by the developers for the approval process.
Most manufacturers are keen to advertise their product widely, why do they want to keep GM secret?
Most manufacturers are keen to advertise their product widely, why do they want to keep GM secret?
05-11-2012 10:58 AM
05-11-2012 17:00 PM
| Posted by Martin Paterson
This is great news about independent, commercial-scale but what about the so called "Farmscale" wind turbines.
If a farmer can afford to invest in a larger, or even medium wind turbine or work with a commmercial investment outfit, good luck to them. But its the small wind turbines (in our Gaia-Wind's case UK built) that are the true basis of individual energy independence. Increasingly this is the kind of alternative energy source making a real difference on the rural scene.
At Gaia-Wind, we are finding that our small wind turbine owners are able to make real changes to their lifestyle and to the arithmatic of their homes and businesses. Our owners are breaking free from rocketing energy price rises and at the same time finding ever more simple and efficient ways to use this expensive resource on farm.
These small wind (in our case 11kWh) turbines are generating real lifestyle and financial returns from the Three Card Trick.
Small wind turbine owners can:
• Offset their utilities bill by using their own energy – even switching from e.g. oil heating can be cost efficient
• Sell the remainder of energy generation back to the Grid; and
• Still receive considerable FIT payments of 21 p for every unit generated
This is real renewable energy: So be an "IMBY" and praise the turbine that goes In Your Back Yard.
If a farmer can afford to invest in a larger, or even medium wind turbine or work with a commmercial investment outfit, good luck to them. But its the small wind turbines (in our Gaia-Wind's case UK built) that are the true basis of individual energy independence. Increasingly this is the kind of alternative energy source making a real difference on the rural scene.
At Gaia-Wind, we are finding that our small wind turbine owners are able to make real changes to their lifestyle and to the arithmatic of their homes and businesses. Our owners are breaking free from rocketing energy price rises and at the same time finding ever more simple and efficient ways to use this expensive resource on farm.
These small wind (in our case 11kWh) turbines are generating real lifestyle and financial returns from the Three Card Trick.
Small wind turbine owners can:
• Offset their utilities bill by using their own energy – even switching from e.g. oil heating can be cost efficient
• Sell the remainder of energy generation back to the Grid; and
• Still receive considerable FIT payments of 21 p for every unit generated
This is real renewable energy: So be an "IMBY" and praise the turbine that goes In Your Back Yard.
02-11-2012 15:23 PM
03-11-2012 10:19 AM
| Posted by G Powell
Does the use of gm crops have a part to play in the disease affecting ash trees.
01-11-2012 15:54 PM
02-11-2012 17:14 PM
| Posted by Sutherland Pest Control
Believe that the trees and the bees (both in decline) should be a priority. We (homo sapiens) will not be far behind.
01-11-2012 15:31 PM
05-11-2012 17:37 PM
| Posted by farmideas
What's the position of the RSPCA Freedom Food? Doesn't look like inspectors are doing their job so well - or is the scheme pretty well self-certificating? Members pay good money to belong, and want their membership to mean something.
01-11-2012 11:22 AM
02-11-2012 18:29 PM
| Posted by s l thusoo
the problem is not so serious if tackled systamaticaly with the guidence of experts.as apathologist and extention worker i can also give opinion.
30-10-2012 11:05 AM
28-11-2012 23:49 PM
| Posted by James
This article, like most others, naively assumes that the supermarket chains' policy to exclude unsustainable palm oil refers to all products. It does not. It only refers to their own brands - which might account for only a small proportion of the palm oil derivatives in the products which they continue to sell.
29-10-2012 15:03 PM
30-10-2012 17:51 PM
| Posted by Noel McGeeney
We (Longford Royal Canal Group) Ireland,have OAk trees on Canal Line. We have noticed that the Trunks of our Oaks Have becomed Ribbed.Would this be Sudden Oak Death. If so what can we do to save them. Hoping you can help.
29-10-2012 12:40 PM
29-10-2012 16:15 PM
| Posted by Anon
It won't be problem next year because already decided there is far too much risk and far too much capital tied up for too little reward - so sorry Mr Tesco but no more potatoes will be grown for you on this farm whilst I am here.
29-10-2012 07:43 AM
29-10-2012 08:32 AM
| Posted by Herve
I think there is some mistake in the first graph "Soya" of this page. The red plot does not have a label.
The color of "Soya" does not match with the color of the curve. What does the label "non OGM" stand for ?
Thanksfully
The color of "Soya" does not match with the color of the curve. What does the label "non OGM" stand for ?
Thanksfully
26-10-2012 11:16 AM
05-12-2012 09:15 AM
| Posted by Kyle
What percentage of these U.S. grains of superior "consistency and quality" are genetically modified (GMO) and does the "transparency and reliability of the U.S. marketing and delivery systems" include transparency about whether these grains and corn are GMO?
25-10-2012 18:40 PM
25-10-2012 19:28 PM
| Posted by Clued-Up
The NFU have been given a lifeline, if they could but see it. The public won't stand for a badger cull and farms and other businesses in the cull areas would have suffered hugely if it had gone ahead.
Government's been given a bloody nose for going ahead with the loathsome plan to slaughter thousands of badgers (only 1% - 2% of which are bTB infectious); it won't want to repeat the experience.
That being so, now's the time for the NFU to get the fastest possible movement on introducing the new bTB cattle vaccine and getting as much taxpayer help as they can with the costs of introducing it.
Government's been given a bloody nose for going ahead with the loathsome plan to slaughter thousands of badgers (only 1% - 2% of which are bTB infectious); it won't want to repeat the experience.
That being so, now's the time for the NFU to get the fastest possible movement on introducing the new bTB cattle vaccine and getting as much taxpayer help as they can with the costs of introducing it.
23-10-2012 16:37 PM
24-10-2012 15:33 PM
| Posted by M. Hughes
Instead of obsessing about badgers why doesn't the FUW press for urgent action on a cattle vaccine but more importantly put its own house under scrutiny: let's have research into the health of cattle, the conditions under which they are housed, the reliability of the skin test, the shortened life span of today's dairy cows, the importance of minerals like selenium in cattle diet, the frequency of bTB regulation infringement and, crucially, the real issue--the continuing buying, selling and across country movement of cattle from herds with a poor TB history. They might like to consider, too, whether farmers should receive compenssation only when they can demonstrate good on-farm biosecurity.
23-10-2012 09:58 AM
23-10-2012 13:33 PM
| Posted by f hooton
an example of politicians thinking they know better than scientist and playing god with nature.
27-10-2012 11:05 AM
| Posted by tony hopper
Great new that our MP`s have halted this misguided piece of legislation before our badgers are executed. Killing badgers is WRONG. Thank God they did not get away with it. The fact that we have got a postponement, even though that is not the same as an abandonment of the policy, will make a difference to animal welfare decisions in Britain in the coming months and years.
However we cannot relax. In Paterson we see a man who is absolutely obsessed with culling badgers. He will never change, even when confronted with irrefutable evidence that he is wrong. He is not a man anyone will be able to reason with. He's almost a perfect caricature of the kind of ruthless old-style toff that nobody wants in their party.
However we cannot relax. In Paterson we see a man who is absolutely obsessed with culling badgers. He will never change, even when confronted with irrefutable evidence that he is wrong. He is not a man anyone will be able to reason with. He's almost a perfect caricature of the kind of ruthless old-style toff that nobody wants in their party.
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