http://www.farminguk.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Farming UK British Farming Forum : Last 10 Posts Wed, 16 May 2012 22:07:43 +0000 Wed, 16 May 2012 16:58:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.70 30 www.farminguk.com/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3874&PID=4639#4639 Author: cioaca
Subject: Looking for agriculture Partner
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 16:58

HI me name is Mesesan Mihai 25 years old from Romania country Romania.I,am a griculture engineer.I,am looking for a investor or a association a partner which would like to come and work agriculture land in Romania and to exports in Europe or in Romania. I have agricultural land very large surface 1000 acres hectares that can be work with agriculture machines and established cultures of :corn,barley,grain,forage grass crops.And I have an area of pasture which is very good for cows its very nutritious and has a large surface 30-200 acres. WE can make a beef cattle farm or milk cattle farm, or a sheep farm.Thanks you for the time granted to red this message post. I expect an answer from you if you are interested of my proposal or if you know someone who would be interested and would like to do it please contact me its no problem you can come in Romania and stay at me house and see the land, my proposal its real i,am real and i,am a serious person.If you will be interested in me proposal write to me back and i would leave my cell phone number and we can talk by phone thank you me , Please contact me if you are interested i can send pics with the land oki. ]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 16:58:04 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3874&PID=4639#4639 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3873&PID=4638#4638 Author: cioaca
Subject: Looking for agriculture Partner
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 16:54

HI me name is Mesesan Mihai 25 years old from Romania country Romania.I,am a griculture engineer.I,am looking for a investor or a association a partner which would like to come and work agriculture land in Romania and to exports in Europe or in Romania. I have agricultural land very large surface 1000 acres hectares that can be work with agriculture machines and established cultures of :corn,barley,grain,forage grass crops.And I have an area of pasture which is very good for cows its very nutritious and has a large surface 30-200 acres. WE can make a beef cattle farm or milk cattle farm, or a sheep farm.Thanks you for the time granted to red this message post. I expect an answer from you if you are interested of my proposal or if you know someone who would be interested and would like to do it please contact me its no problem you can come in Romania and stay at me house and see the land, my proposal its real i,am real and i,am a serious person.If you will be interested in me proposal write to me back and i would leave my cell phone number and we can talk by phone thank you me , Please contact me if you are interested i can send pics with the land oki.contact me on yahoo mail ionu_662@yahoo.com]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 16:54:45 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3873&PID=4638#4638 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3872&PID=4637#4637 Author: The Editor
Subject: New bull will breed milk buyers’ ideal cow
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 09:20

A new bull has marched to the top of the Holstein sire rankings as the number one improver of feet and legs and offers outstanding health and fertility traits into the bargain.

The Goldwyn son, Bullgneis, scores a massive +4.19 for feet and legs which is far above his nearest rival, while he is also the highest Type Merit bull (at +3.44) amongst the top 10 feet and leg improvers.

This TM score ranks Bullgneis (full name, Paleotto Goldwyn Bullgneis) in sixth position for overall type amongst all bulls (UK and international) available to dairy producers.

Those who use him will also find his daughters have low somatic cell counts (his SCC Index is -17); long lifespans (LS Index +0.3) and remarkably good fertility (Fertility Index +3.9).

"It’s no surprise that his daughters also have excellent locomotion," says Alison Lovell from Dairy Daughters, "and with good udder traits too, he is one of the best health and welfare bulls on the market.

"This is critical for the modern dairy producer who likes to see high welfare standards alongside good profitability, and it’s just as important to the milk buyers who are increasingly demanding just this type of cow."

No slouches in the parlour either, they will produce high quality milk (Predicted Transmitting Ability for fat is +0.11%) in plentiful quantity (PTA milk 192kg).

Molly Westwood from Dairy Daughters has just returned from a trip to Italy where she saw some of the earliest Bullgneis daughters in this bull’s country of origin.

She says: "I viewed five daughters by Bullgneis all of which had a great set of feet and legs and tracked incredibly well. The udders were also really good with great teat placement and strong attachments.

"Overall they were well balanced cows that were definitely holding their own in commercial dairy systems."

Bullgneis’s pedigree is yet another attraction as the bull descends from a Morty x Outside from the great Raven family whose consistency in breeding is well known.

Bred in the renowned Paleotto herd, the Italians are increasingly proving to be as stylish with their cattle as with everything else in life.]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 09:20:02 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3872&PID=4637#4637 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=4636#4636 Author: The Editor
Subject: CLAAS to expand RTK network
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 08:53

CLAAS UK is expanding its UK RTK (Real Time Kinematics) signal network that will result in the company being able to provide coverage of over 60% of England’s arable area.

In addition to this expansion in the base station network, CLAAS is also taking the opportunity to increase the signal strength, which will provide a stronger signal, ensuring consistent connection.

Currently, the CLAAS RTK network covers major parts of Lincolnshire and the eastern counties, using RTK masts erected on either dealer or customers’ buildings.

The expansion in the network has been made possible following an agreement that will give CLAAS access to a wider range of existing structures, such as television and wireless masts, on which to mount its base stations.

At the same time, CLAAS is also introducing a new base station that will provide an open signal that can be accessed by any RTK receiver using CMR+.

"The one great advantage of being able to use structures such at TV masts is their height," explains CLAAS Efficient Agriculture Systems (EASY) product specialist Edward Miller. "By being able to mount the base station high up the mast, this provides far greater coverage."

"As part of this network expansion, we are also substantially increasing the signal strength from the current 25 watts up to 2kW. This will be a big benefit as it will provide a stronger, more reliable signal."

As previously, the positioning of the new base stations will ensure that there is a considerable overlap between areas, ensuring that there are as few dead spots as possible, so that contractors or farmers are never out of range of a mast.

When complete, this will virtually guarantee coverage over initially 60% of England’s arable area from Yorkshire down to the south coast as west to Swindon.

Due to the signal strength and use of higher masts, users in this area can be confident that they will be able to receive a consistent, high strength signal, regardless of where they are, or the terrain. Ultimately the aim is to provide coverage throughout the whole UK.]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 08:53:04 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=4636#4636 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3870&PID=4634#4634 Author: The Editor
Subject: Grass-fed beef ’better for people’ says research
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 08:37

Feeding cattle on grass throughout their lifecycle is the most environmentally sustainable way to rear beef, according to new research for the National Trust.

One of the biggest global challenges is how to increase food security whilst reducing the environmental impacts of food production.

Livestock - like cattle and sheep - produce high levels of methane as part of the process of digesting grass.

This has led to suggestions that intensive production methods - where cattle are fed largely on cereals, producing less methane - should be preferred over more traditional grass fed livestock farming.

However, in a report issued today, research at 10 Trust farms shows that while the carbon footprint of grass-fed and conventional farms were comparable, the carbon sequestration contribution of well-managed grass pasture on the less intensive systems reduced net emissions by up to 94 per cent, even resulting in a carbon ’net gain’ in upland areas.

The farms that had recently converted to organic status showed even greater gains.

Rob Macklin, National Agriculture and Food Adviser at the National Trust, said: "The results are contrary to recent thinking that livestock farming methods must intensify further in order to lessen carbon emissions to feed an ever-increasing world population."

"Maximising carbon efficiency alone is too simplistic. Many less intensive livestock systems would be classed ’inefficient’ on the carbon emission scale, yet are much less reliant on artificial inputs and tend to have less impacts on water quality, loss of soil organic matter and reduced biodiversity.

"We believe that optimised beef production - deliberately accommodating less than maximum output in order to secure stronger and broader ecosystem protection - is the best sustainable use for the grasslands in our care.

"The debate about climate change and food often calls for a reduction of meat consumption and a more plant based diet, but this often overlooks the fact that many grasslands are unsuitable for continuous arable cropping.

"Grasslands support a range of ecosystems services including water resources, biodiversity and carbon capture and storage. Grazing livestock not only contributes to their maintenance but also turns grass into human-edible food."

Other recent research [3] found that the health benefits of beef (and lamb) are greater when animals are fed totally on grass - their natural food. Omega 3 fatty acids - recognised as essential to good physical and mental health - are higher in meat from grass and the levels of saturated fat are a third of grain fed beef.

Patrick Begg, Rural Enterprises Director at the National Trust, said: "This research is incredibly timely. Policy makers across Europe and in the UK are having to tackle the issue of carbon-efficient food production right now.

The debate is all about bringing broader public benefits to the fore alongside food production and this research demonstrates how extensive, grass-fed beef should be at the heart of discussions.

"We need to find new market mechanisms which reward optimised rather than maximised beef production and as bodies like the Government’s Ecosystem Markets Task Force gather their thoughts we think this research demonstrates an area which is due some real focus. Current Common Agricultural Policy reform discussions can also benefit from understanding what this research is telling us and, as the reform drives towards even stronger ’greening’ of the payments farmers receive, we think management that delivers quality, grass-fed beef should be encouraged even more through agri-environment measures.

"We’ll be taking the findings forward with our tenants, policy makers and the industry to explore how we can develop a market advantage which supports a stronger grass-fed beef sector".]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 08:37:47 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3870&PID=4634#4634 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3869&PID=4633#4633 Author: The Editor
Subject: NPPF backed by environmental bodies
Posted: 16 May 2012 at 08:35

The Government’s stance on brownfield development as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework has been welcomed by land and environmental institutions.

The NPPF was introduced by the Department for Communities and Local Government on the 17th March 2012 and is considered to be an improvement on the draft policy.

The policy explicitly acknowledges that building on brownfield land should be a priority and states that "Planning policies and decisions should encourage the effective use of land by re-using land that has been previously developed".

The Contaminated Land Network (CLN) of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) welcomed the stance after previously highlighting concerns with regard to the original draft.

CIWEM further commented on cuts to public funding streams to the brownfield sector, leading to the potential for heightened human health risks and pollution of the environment.

The NPPF further reinforces that development principles should be sustainable and that a site investigation should be undertaken by a competent person to include an appropriate assessment of risk and "after remediation, as a minimum, land should not be capable of being determined as contaminated land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990".

Nevertheless, CIWEM recognises that the revocation of the planning policy statement relating to land contamination is a considerable loss which could lead to inconsistencies in the assessment of land and potentially increased legal challenges to local authority decisions.

Revised Statutory Guidance on Part 2A EPA 1990 was introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on the 10th April 2012 and includes some considerable changes to the regime which are welcomed by CIWEM.

This includes the introduction of a significance test with regards to pollution of controlled waters, four site categories relating to both human health and controlled waters to aid the local authority decision making process for determination of sites and the requirement for a sustainability assessment.

CIWEM recognises the improvements to the previously unwieldy and unclear guidance and believes that the changes could kick start the largely stalled regime.

Danny Hope, Steering Group member of CIWEM’s Contaminated Land Network said "we believe that the government could still do more to safeguard human health and the environment whilst promoting regeneration of brownfield sites and would like to see further guidance come from central government."

"This could include support for development of a skills and competency framework and research leading to development of further generic assessment criteria for assessing soils and groundwater."]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 08:35:03 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3869&PID=4633#4633 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3861&PID=4631#4631 Author: Guests
Subject: Ford Farm adds mobile milking to its supplies
Posted: 15 May 2012 at 18:03

It's amazing how some of the turnkey solutions to constant pains and problems are already there. Awaiting to be discovered rather than be invented.
With dairy farmers squeezed for margins, this 'disruptive kit' is likely to put back the British fight, into the British cow!
]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 18:03:02 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3861&PID=4631#4631 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3868&PID=4630#4630 Author: The Editor
Subject: Scottish forests need restructuring says minister
Posted: 15 May 2012 at 15:30

The Forestry Commission Scotland has released a new publication which aims to help address growing business and environmental challenges that may be posed to forests in the future.

’Achieving Diversity in Scotland’s Forest Lanscapes’ is aimed at owners and managers of conifer woodlands. The practice guide, which includes case studies, highlights decisions which managers need to make when they are preparing a Forest Plan.

"Most of Scotland’s woodlands are 20th century conifer forests. They were planted primarily for commercial benefits and with little thought to their impact on local landscapes or their contribution to biodiversity" said Stewart Stevenson, Minister for the Environment.

"These forests are reaching maturity and are being felled and replanted - and this provides a perfect opportunity to restructure them. With careful design and planning these forests can be made more resilient to climate change and other associated risks whilst becoming more diverse habitats and enhancing the local landscape.

"Such restructured forests would continue to provide the nation with quality timber and other wood products - but by incorporating other tree species suited to the site they could also present new business - and recreation - opportunities."

The new UK Forestry Standard and suite of Guidelines promote the benefits of diversity throughout all aspects of the forest environment.

Drawn up with input from landscape architects, forest ecologists and professional foresters, the guidance addresses the challenges facing forest managers in achieving the requirements of the UKFS and offers integrated management options for delivering diversity in a range of situations.

For example, climate change is likely to mean changed site conditions in some areas - and this will impact on the growth of some tree species.

Selecting alternative species that are better suited to the projected conditions - and adopting appropriate silvicultural systems - could create different economic opportunities. Achieving this is one of the key challenges for sustainable forest management.

Nicholas Shepherd, a landscape and culture advisor, said "despite all the challenges facing forest managers in the future, developing a thorough and well thought out Forest Plan offers the best opportunity for establishing and sustaining a diverse forest that is resilient to climate change whilst also delivering biodiversity, landscape, operational and other benefits.

"This guidance aims to inspire managers and help them select the options to both meet their objectives and are appropriate for their forest."

The guidance comes in two parts. Part 1 offers practical advice and ideas - illustrated with case studies - on making the best use of diversity in forest management while preparing a Forest Plan. Part 2 offers illustrated examples of how the advice might come together in four different forest landscapes.]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 15:30:36 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3868&PID=4630#4630 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3809&PID=4626#4626 Author: roper
Subject: pest control
Posted: 15 May 2012 at 13:52

bump]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 13:52:36 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3809&PID=4626#4626 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3864&PID=4624#4624 Author: The Editor
Subject: Land agents enter into partnership with FVSS
Posted: 15 May 2012 at 13:18

A leading rural land and estate agent has joined into a partnership with Farm Valuation Services Scotland (FVSS).

Bell Ingram has announced the arrangement which comes in response to a sustained buoyancy in the farming sector.

"The farming sector has been indicating considerable demand for this type of specialist service for some time so we are delighted to be leading the field with this partnership" said director Mark Mitchell.

FVSS is headed by farm valuation expert and Chartered Surveyor, Grant Turnbull, who created the business.

Farm valuations constitute a very specific type of surveying work and require the comprehensive assessment of a range of factors which affect the final value.

"This collaboration with Bell Ingram will allow our combined areas of knowledge and expertise to be pooled to deliver a robust farm agency service to clients" Grant said.

Experience gained through roles with United Auctions and CKD Galbraith has allowed Grant to develop close relationships with farmers and associated professionals, making his knowledge of the sector second-to-none and he advises on all types of rural properties; from small holdings to large-scale agricultural enterprises.]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 13:18:26 +0000 http://www.farminguk.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3864&PID=4624#4624