Farming Western Daily Press 25 September 2013

Ministers deeply divided over spread of wind turbines Page 4

PM in foot and mouth accusation

Scenes such as this one at the Bridgwater and District Agricultural Society ploughing match at Chedzoy last weekend are common across the West at this time of year

Gordon Brown’s former spin doctor Damian McBride has claimed David Cameron wanted to go on holiday amid the huge foot and mouth crisis in 2007.

Mr McBride’s memoirs of his controversial period as the former Prime Minister’s press aide, which has threatened to overshadow Labour’s conference, gives details of the “first crisis” of his premiership.

The outbreak on a beef farm in Surrey in August 2007 sent jitters through the leadership given the woeful handling of the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, which devastated the West Country’s farming and tourism industry.

Mr McBride, whose book is being serialised in the Daily Mail, recalls the Prime Minister, enjoying a holiday in Dorset, taking a phone call confirming the outbreak.

Labour pledge on cull will ‘knock the living daylights out of farmers’

Former Labour spin doctor Damian McBride behind claim

BY GRAEME DEMIANYK wdnews@b-nm.co.uk

Spin doctor Damian McBride

The leader of Britain’s biggest farming union has criticised Labour’s pledge to halt badger culling, warning it would “knock the living daylights” out of the industry.

As reported earlier this week, a Labour government has pledged to halt the expansion of culling to curb the spread of bovine TB. The success of two pilot culls, ongoing in Somerset and Gloucestershire, will determine whether more shooting takes place in up to 40 areas – most likely in the South West.

Speaking at its fringe event at the Labour conference in Brighton alongside the party’s frontbenchers, National Farmers’ Union president Peter Kendall was dismissive of Labour’s plan to focus on vac-

cination instead. Mr Kendall told delegates: “What absolutely frustrates the hell out of me is you (Labour) don’t even talk about the length of time on badger vaccination, you just talked about the money being put into it. I tell you what, that will just knock the living daylights out of dairy farmers.”

He said farmers could see what was happening in the Republic of Ireland, where he claimed culling had contributed to a 50 per cent drop in disease levels in cattle.

“Then we hear from Mary (Creagh, Labour Shadow Environment Secretary) that Labour won’t be rolling out the ‘disastrous badger cull’. Our farmer members will think: ‘Well, what are you going to do other than argue about what money you are going to put into badger vaccination’.”

He added: “Please, please

come out with something more meaningful than looking at what is being spent on badger vaccines.”

At the event, Shadow Farming Minister Huw IrrancaDavies said that even if the pilot culls achieved the predicted 16 per cent benefit in reducing cattle bovine TB it would still “not be sufficient”.

Mr Irranca-Davies said it will, instead, be spending more money to speed up the development of an oral badger vaccine, which he stated could help eradicate bTB in cattle within the 20-year time frame laid out by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson in his TB eradication strategy, which includes widespread badger culling. Mr Kendall told him farmers would be deeply frustrated at his party.

Meanwhile in Wales there appears to be an acceleration

in plans to vaccinate badgers.

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced six pilot areas where it will run a trial to boost the roles vets play in helping farmers deal with outbreaks.

The Welsh Assembly government wants to increase the role played by private vets in helping farmers manage TB breakdowns and minimise their impact.

It is launching an initiative known as Cymorth TB – which translates as Support TB – to provide practical support and advice. The pilot runs from this autumn until spring next year.

East Monmouthshire is among the six areas chosen for the pilot – alongside the Gower, Anglesey, East Carmarthenshire, north Pembrokeshire and Wrexham.

Private vets will be encour-

aged to suggest which elements of veterinary and farm management advice they believe is most appropriate for their farming clients.

Options will include providing advice on biosecurity, farm management and cattle trading strategy – as well as badger vaccination.

Wales’ chief veterinary officer Christianne Glossop was reported by Farmers Weekly as saying the key aim was to minimise the impact of TB and clear up breakdowns more quickly. “We want to gain a clear understanding of what tools are most relevant in different areas,” she said.

The project would see the “dream combination” of an epidemiologist, government veterinary officer and local private vets working together focusing on individual disease clusters.

‘Almost pleaded with Gordon so he could go back to Brittany’ He writes: “He said: ‘Bloody foot and mouth disease!’ We set off back to London at 5am.

Gordon barrelled into the back of the car with a cry of ‘Let’s go!’ as if we were in The Sweeney.”

He recounts how Mr Brown and Mr Cameron, then leader of the Tory opposition, spoke often during the crisis.

“Towards the end Cameron asked Gordon almost pleadingly when he thought things would stabilise sufficiently so Gordon could go back to Dorset and Cameron could go back to Brittany,” he writes in the book, Power Trip, published yesterday. “His exact words were: ‘I can’t go until you do, and we won’t get a holiday at this rate. But you really have to go away first.’”

WDP-E01-S3

Chris Rundle lavishes praise on anti-badger cull ‘genius’ Page 5

1

Farming

2 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

WDP-E01-S3

Joanna steps in to EU pig welfare row

BY RUTH LUMLEY wdnews@b-nm.co.uk West Country farmers have long complained they face unfair competition from European producers who are slow to meet welfare standards.

It has been a common story across multiple sectors that Europe passes stringent laws, British farmers spend fortunes complying with them and then watch continental operators gain market share by failing to adopt the same standards, giving them a huge competitive advantage when it comes to costs.

Now they have a new ally in campaigning actress Joanna Lumley – who has condemned the neglect of pigs in farms across Europe following an investigation by an animal charity which claims widespread law-breaking.

Ms Lumley and Dan Jorgensen MEP revealed the results of an investigation by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), which alleges wide-

44

Farms, from 45 visited by CIWF, said to breaking welfare laws spread breaches of EU law in place to protect the welfare of pigs, at a meeting in the European Parliament.

CIWF went undercover in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Spain over six months in order to expose the reality of life for pigs farmed in Europe, a spokeswoman for the charity said.

Compassion visited 45 pig farms in these six countries and claims all but one were breaking welfare laws which require pigs to be provided with materials such as straw so that they can engage in natural behaviours such as discovering their surroundings and manipulating materials, the spokeswoman said.

The Absolutely Fabulous star continued: “In natural conditions pigs are highly active, spending 75 per cent of their day rooting, foraging and exploring.

“Such activities are impossible for factory farmed pigs. Bored and frustrated, they turn to the only other thing in their bare pens: the tails of other pigs. They begin to chew and then bite those tails.

“To prevent tail biting, farmers slice off (dock) part of the piglet’s tail. However, scientific research shows that the correct way to prevent tail biting is not to dock the tails but to

keep the pigs in good conditions.

“In recognition of this, the Pigs Directive has since 2003 prohibited routine tail docking.”

She said footage recorded by CIWF found pigs kept in appalling conditions, from filthy barren pens and pigs covered in excrement and flies to sick pigs left to die in dingy corridors.

Ms Lumley, a patron for CIWF, asked MEPs to use their influence in their home countries, and with the European Commission, to ensure the Pigs Directive is enforced to protect Europe’s pigs.

She said: “I don’t know what I’m most shocked by, this ghastly film showing pigs kept in this deplorable way, or the absolute indifference of most European member states and many pig veterinarians.

“Everything shown in this film is indefensible. Pigs are sentient beings and they can feel joy, affection, fear and indeed despair.

“The scandal is that the EU Pigs Directive is a law that is completely flouted. Pigs need straw to root around in and mustn’t have their tails docked. What has happened to that law? Laws must be enforced – otherwise there’s no point in parliament, there’s no point in democracy.”

Philip Lymbery, chief executive officer of CIWF, said: “We urge pig farmers to belatedly respect the welfare laws and the member states and the commission to now enforce these laws with real commitment.

“We also urge retailers to not stock pork, ham and bacon that have been produced illegally.”

The welfare of pigs in Europe has long been of concern, with the National Pig Association last year urging supermarkets and suppliers to sign up to only use pork produced ‘legally’ after the introduction of a ban on sow stalls.

A statement on its website in August said: “Half of EU countries have failed to clamp down on farms where sows are illegally confined.

“Data from the European Commission in August reported that only 13 member countries were fully compliant — Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Sow stalls have been banned outright in the United Kingdom since 1999.

“Proceedings were started against Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Poland and Portugal. The Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Finland, and Slovenia are still being investigated.”

Sermons on the Mump propose solution to the disastrous Biblical flood

A photograph taken from the air shows the extent of the flooding on the Somerset Levels last year, whish also hit Taunton, through which the River Tone runs after draining the Levels. The Environment Agency drafted in the UK’s largest pump to cope

Take a vast area of flat land, send two rivers draining half an entire county’s rainwater to meet in its midst, then watch coastal tides bring silt-laden water 18 miles inland – and what have you got?

Britain’s largest regular flood. England’s biggest parttime lake. The UK’s biggest ever pumping operation.

Threatened farms. Ruined businesses. Some excited environmentalists.

Any one of those answers would apply to the Somerset Levels and Moors which were swamped last year by floods of Noah-like proportions. The great inundation made news headlines – what isn’t so widely known is the story behind the biggest flood to hit the West Country in 50 years.

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis was joined by various Somerset

movers and shakers, agricultural leaders and members of the media on Burrow Mump this week to hear the story as the Royal Bath and West of England Society launched a fund to raise £3 million to dredge key rivers.

This week the moors were green – if the group had stood on the Mump a year ago the entire landscape would have reflected the blue of a cloudless sky. In places, floods covered the lowlands to depths of more than four metres – and the UK’s biggest ever pumping operation was required to get the water out.

From our vantage point we could see the place where the rivers Tone and Parrett join in their mission to take half Somerset’s water to the sea.

And here’s the added fact which would have inspired Noah to build his Ark on the

Mump. Despite being 18 miles from the coast, the rivers here are tidal.

And the second biggest tidefall in the world also happens to be one of the muddiest. What the Bristol Channel does twice a day, everyday, is pump silt up to the Tone-Parrett pinchpoint – and just about everywhere else it can reach.

The man behind the biggest rock festival on Earth is also a dairy farmer, and he told me: “I’m a proper native. I’ve been going down through the moors all my life and when they’re properly drained, they’re beautiful. But it’s all cock-eyed at the moment.

“People used to use draglines and dredge – it’s such a simple operation and needs to be kept going,” he added.

“Farmers are going bust because they can’t get the winter forage in for the cattle – and that is serious. For them, it is a very pressing plight and it has to be dealt with now, otherwise there will be no recovery.”

Now, in a bid to alleviate the problem, the Royal Bath and West of England Society has launched its £3 million-plus dredging fund.

Edwin White, chairman of

WESTERN DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 FARMING 3

WDP-E01-S3

Athletes stop by UK a leader in for meat greet energy index Three top-rated athletes paid a visit to one of the South West’s leading butchers on Saturday, as part of a sponsorship deal.

Olympic bobsleigh members John Jackson and Paula Walker joined disabled sailor Andrew Farrow at Walter Rose and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Owner Steve Cook claimed it was a “terrific honour” to be associated with the sportsmen and said that a diet of topquality meat from his shop will help the athletes in their competitions.

He said: “Their sports are about power, speed and precision – and you need some topquality fuel to build such powerful bodies and that’s where we come in. Our policy is to source as much of our meat as possible from within Wiltshire – a lot of it comes from within a few miles of our Devizes shop, providing top quality and absolute traceability.”

Mr Jackson and Miss Walker have been named in Great Britain’s squad for the Olympic qualification events, while Farrow is competing in the 2.4mR World Championships in his yacht, despite being paralysed from the chest down in a fall seven years ago.

Speakign about Mr Farrow, Mr Cook said: “Not only is he competing at the highest level, but he has overcome such adversity to get there, He is a real inspiration to us.”

the society’s agricultural policy group, explained: “We’ve been doing this sort of work for nearly 250 years – in the early days the society was involved in schemes in the Levels – so we have a long history.

“The first thing people think when they see the big lake is: ‘Thank God I don’t farm there.’

We had a group of farmers come over from the east of England and they were absolutely horrified. They saw farmers who’ve had to sell their stock. They saw businesses who couldn’t operate, and they saw roads closed.

“The area affected is 15 per cent of Somerset. We have to ask the Government – what do you want of this land? Do you want to compensate farmers and say – we want a bog for the wading birds, fauna and flora etc? Or do you want it as productive land? At the moment the Environment Agency (EA) is trying to say – we want both.

But both doesn’t work.”

When it comes to dredging, the EA doesn’t get too good a press on the Levels. I put it to area flood and coast-risk manager, Nick Lyness, that his agency’s decision to cut back

Michael Eavis talks to Edwin White and fellow farmer Anthony Gothard. Philip Vaux of New Rydon Farm among his ruined crop of Lady Rosetta potatoes

on dredging was at the heart of the watery problems.

“The reality is that we haven’t had a big enough pot of money,” he replied. “ It is a huge problem. Last year was a particularly bad one, but was part of an ongoing problem.

How do you maintain a location where the silt comes in twice a day with the tide? It is expensive.

“Last year this region had over 200 communities flooded – £400 million worth of damage to the flood defences,” said Mr Lyness, who admitted that the EA had spent a large amount on last year’s pumping.

“It was a difficult decision,” he said. “You think – we divert this money elsewhere if we turned the pumps off. So I think the work of the task force is very important.”

The task force Mr Lyness refers to is being chaired by one time NFU executive Anthony Gibson, who lives locally and told the WDP it had been set up to bring the many interest groups together.

“We need to decide what we want this area to be like in the future and then construct mechanisms to make that happen,” said Mr Gibson.

WesternDaily

The UK is one of just a handful of countries which score a AAA rating for secure, affordable and environmentallyfriendly energy.

The country came fifth out of 129 countries in the World Energy Council’s (WEC) energy sustainability index this year, falling three places as it has seen “small declines” in the security of supplies and affordability of energy.

But the UK is only one of two countries, along with Switzer-

129

Countries featured in the report, with the UK ranked fifth land which topped the index overall, to be ranked in the top 20 on all three sections; security, equity and environmental sustainability.

Only five countries got the AAA rating, as most nations continue to struggle to balance their energy needs, a report published by the WEC and management consultant Oliver Wyman showed.

Last year’s index ranked the UK as 15th, but under new criteria used this year it would have been second in 2012, falling to fifth this year, the report explained.

Creamery lifted

by Dairy Crest Dairy Crest has confirmed a £45 million investment at its Cornwall creamery, adding to the Davidstow plant’s 120strong workforce.

The investment is planned to enhance the value – through demineralisation – of the dried whey that already results from cheese-making processes at the Cathedral City creamery, and target it at baby foods.

Dairy Crest aims this new line of production to begin in the first half of 2015 and anticipates that the project will boost its annual operating profits by over £5 million.

In its pre-close trading update for the six months ending September 30, Dairy Crest said that its half-yearly results will reflect a “steady” first-half performance, with sales of Cathedral City outperforming the market. Despite a trading environment it described as “challenging,” the dairy giant said that its cheese business in particular had performed well in the first half.

However, Dairy Crest said that the butters and spreads market has been “difficult” and that profits in its spreads business will be lower than last year.

It said that profit expectations for the full year ending March 31, 2014 remain unchanged.

The underlying performance of its dairies business continues to improve.

WesternDaily

www.westerndailypress.co.uk

4 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

WDP-E01-S3

Turbines row shows no sign of abating

BY ANDY GREENWOOD wdnews@b-nm.co.uk Whitehall’s most senior civil servant reportedly had to intervene in the simmering row over wind farms between Conservative Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey.

The Ministers are said to be “at war” over a report ordered

by Mr Paterson on how wind turbines – a controversial issue in the South West, where many protests have begun against their use – affect the countryside economy.

Mr Paterson has said wind farms are often “regarded as a complete scam”.

But Mr Davey hit back in his

Owen Paterson, who is reportedly rowing with Lib Dem Ed Vaizey

240 Number of wind turbines planned for the £3 billion Atlantic Array keynote address at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, saying Mr Paterson wanted to “cull wind turbines faster than he can cull badgers”.

It has now been reported that Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood intervened to tell Mr Paterson that he could not release the report.

Sir Jeremy’s action is said to have followed accusations from Mr Davey that it would have “under mined” the reputation of Whitehall.

In a story dogged by claim

and counter-claim, Mr Paterson’s aides said claims the mandarin was called in to settle the dispute were “completely untrue”.

Mr Davey told the Daily Tele graph that the Cabinet Secretary made it “clear” to Mr Paterson that he was banned from releasing his original report.

“Well the Cabinet Secretary actually made it clear,” Mr Davey said. “He (Owen Paterson) is not in charge of energy.”

He added: “I’m told, though I haven’t seen this report, that it really didn’t meet normal standards of evidence and scientific analysis. I’m sure everyone in Whitehall would expect Government to come up with things that couldn’t be destroyed in a few minutes because the quality was poor.”

Mr Davey said that his Department for Energy and Climate Change was now working on a new report alongside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) – something sources in Mr Paterson’s department have denied.

The new report is to look at the impact of all renewable energy sources, including disputed solar farms and highly contentious fracking, on the rural economy and how they affect house prices.

“It’s not an Owen Paterson report,” Mr Davey said. “It’s a joint report. He wanted to do a Defra-only report. He was told he couldn’t. We’ll see what it comes out with. The remit is to look at all aspects of energy and climate change policy impacts on rural areas.”

UKIP chairman Steve Crowther, a leading voice in the campaign against the £3 billion Atlantic Array project, to be sited off the North Devon coast, said: “It is not going to be long before the Gover nment’s energy strategy falls out of bed.”

Export advice for a famous food sector Small food-and-drink businesses are being urged to make the most of the £90 billion sector this week, and grow an international market.

Despite the sector – which has particular resonance for the South West – being Britain’s largest manufacturing sector, just 10 per cent of producers export.

With many experts blaming a lack of information, international trade website Open to Export is collaborating with Government and industry bodies this week to prepare UK businesses ahead of Anuga, the world’s largest trade fair for the industry.

The focal point of the week will be two online seminars the second of which is tomorrow, featuring Defra, UKTI and the online trading platform itradein.

The launch comes as the Food and Drink Federation

126%

Increase in food and drink exports to China in the first half of 2013 announced a first-half growth of 2.5 per cent in food and nonalcoholic drink exports, to £6.1 billion.

Chocolate led the way with a rise of 5.4 per cent to £249 million, followed by cheese, one of the West Country’s prime products, which grew by 3.8 per cent to £210m.

Soft drinks were up 5.5 per cent to £187 million, followed by sweet biscuits (up 14.2 per cent to £136m) and confectionery (up 6.8 per cent to £86 million).

Wheat and barley, which suffered disastrously from the weather last year, suffered in particular, falling by 9.4 per cent to £958 million.

Exports to China grew the most, more than doubling (up 126 per cent) to £102 million.

The top eight markets remain unchanged, with Ireland topping the table. Exports to EU markets grew by 1 per cent.

Rally drivers pass under wind turbines in Mytherin, Wales, during the Rally of Britain in 2009. The effect of turbines on the rural economy is the cause of a row between Lib Dem and Tory coalition partners, say reports

Halloumi sales rocket as summer and top chefs whet UK palate Britain now consumes more halloumi cheese than anywhere outside its native Cyprus, with 3,030 tonnes imported into Britain in 2012 – double that of the next biggest European buyer, Sweden.

The British love-affair with the chewy Cypriot cheese has grown dramatically thanks to celebrity chefs and more adventurous culinary tastes.

Tesco - which now sells six varieties - has seen sales of its own-brand halloumi are up by 132 per cent.

The chain has doubled its range of Greek cheese in the past year, with sales of feta cheese also soaring.

Tesco cheese buyer Ashleigh MacFarlane said: “We started selling one type of feta and one type of halloumi about 10 years ago in our larger stores.

“The majority of sales would come during the summer months as they were then mainly bought to go in salads.”

Halloumi is made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk and its high melting point means it can be fried, grilled or barbecued. It is also packaged in brine, which means it can be stored unopened for up to a year.

It has also become a popular

Halloumi’s high melting point lends the Cypriot cheese to grilling and is a popular side order in many restaurants

choice in restaurants such as Nando’s, which serve slices of halloumi as a side order. Its sales have risen 138 per cent since 2010.

Antonis Evangelou, owner of London’s Lemonia restaurant, said he now sells 60kg of the cheese per week.

“You can do so many things with it,” he said. “More people are requesting it now.

“It’s not just growing in Britain but everywhere – in the US, in Europe. I was in Dubai recently and they served it in the breakfast lounge, it was very popular, they ate all of it.

It’s a unique taste.”

In 2012 the UK imported

more Halloumi than Sweden, at 1,280 tonnes, Germany, at 870 tonnes and Austria, at 510 tonnes, put together.

With rising demand, the Cypriots have begun a fight to give Halloumi a protected designation of origin (PDO) status from the European Union.

The protection would lay down a criteria which a cheese would have to meet in order to be labelled as “halloumi” and protect the Cypriot industry from competitors.

However the process has so far failed, resulting in big clashes as to how to make the cheese, with some also containing cow’s milk.

Processors put up milk prices Milk prices are to rise in coming weeks, following a decision by three processors.

First Milk is increasing the price for its manufacturing and liquid pools by 1ppl from November 1. This moves the standard litre prices to 32ppl and 31.85ppl respectively.

Meadow Foods announced it will be increasing the price it pays by 1ppl from November 1.

This will take the standard litre price to 32.25ppl.

Glanbia Cheese also moved by 1ppl from October 1. This will take its standard litre price to 32.6ppl.

The latest announcement follows price rises last week by Muller Wiseman and Sainsbury’s.

WDP-E01-S3

WESTERN DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 FARMING 5

Chris Rundle In the presence of true genius Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be amazed. For I have stumbled on the answer to what has become generally known in farming circles as the Badger Problem.

Well, actually, it would be disingenuous of me to say I have happened across it personally. I am merely acting as a conduit for the dissemination of what in any light cannot be regarded as anything less than the good news for which scientists, politicians and indeed all livestock farmers have been waiting for so long. It shines out like the star guiding the three sages.

All it takes to sort out badgers and TB, it seems, is for us to pay more for our milk.

Oh, and drink less of it.

For this startling nugget of wisdom we have to thank one member of the ‘badger night patrol’ in this neck of the woods, whose members have to steel themselves, it seems, against the incessant screams of badgers as the animals are gunned down by the ruthless marksmen employed by Defra – though who, thus far, have not themselves suffered any bullet holes (“We haven’t lost anybody yet,” as she puts it).

For those of you who believe that bovine TB is an almost insurmountably challenging epidemic and that the transmission of the disease from badger to cow a most complex mechanism, the understanding of which has taxed some of our finest scientific minds, the revelations of one Mrs Smith (not her real name) will come as a most pleasant surprise. In a letter to her local paper, she sets out the solution in terms which are a model of clarity and conciseness and offer a case so cogently argued that it is truly a wonder that no-one has happened on it before.

“The dairy industry,” she writes, “is the main reason there is so much TB in cattle.”

I will leave you to consider the profundity of this statement for some several minutes because to me it requires the same level of contemplative thought as is required to imagine the sound of one hand clapping. But you will get there, I am sure.

Let us carry on as Mrs Smith expounds her theory.

“Pressure from supermarkets and the consumer for lower prices force farmers to produce milk as cheaply as possible, giving rise to low welfare standards of dairy cows.

“The life of a dairy cow now is pure drudgery, hence the immune system is badly affected, giving rise to the susceptibility of [sic] disease. For this to change we need to pay more for our milk, and farmers to have much smaller herds to enable much better management of individual cows.”

Let us pause again there to

Bovine TB has been studied by some of the finest minds around but the solution to its spread is far simpler, according to a letter-writer from Somerset

enable the import of all this to sink in because I truly believe we are in the presence of genius. The revelation that their own poor welfare standards have been the ultimate cause for the TB epidemic will come, I realise, as unwelcome news to thousands of conscientious dairy farmers who genuinely believed that they were doing their utmost to provide the highest standards of welfare possible for their milkproducing charges because they had always been led to believe – as indeed had their fathers and their fathers’ fathers, yea unto the 20th generation – that cows would only provide generous yields if they were kept in an environment where the greatest possible degree of attention was indeed devoted to providing the highest possible levels of com-

fort, care and attention.

Clearly they’ve been wrong all these years. Evidently they have not been caring for their cows as well as they might.

Hundreds, I am sure, would form an orderly queue outside Mrs Smith’s door were she now to set up a consultancy advising them how to change their ways.

(I must add, however, a personal note of caution here, because despite during my career having attended dozens of agricultural shows and admired thousands of dairy cows there displayed, I have never noticed such low welfare standards manifested physically in the beasts being paraded and judged. Though that is doubtless down to the fact that those selected for showing are members of an elite group which farmers

keep aside solely for the purpose, the animals being handfed, their coats brushed and hooves polished on a twicedaily basis and brought indoors to sit down and watch telly if the weather turns wet or cold.)

Not that smaller herds and, ergo, higher welfare standards are the whole solution. Warming to her topic, Mrs Smith offers an even more comprehensive approach.

“If you want to save the badger, help dairy cows have a better life, you must help the farmers get a better price for their milk by lobbying the super markets,” she counsels, in what many will regard as being a startlingly logical insight into the current sorry state of the dairy sector. Yet there is still more untarnished brilliance – if you can take it.

“This can also be achieved by reducing your dairy intake considerably or cutting it out completely so less milk is produced by farmers. Milk is not a healthy product for you or your bones,” she asserts.

This is the point at which we should consider seriously whether Mrs Smith would not make a worthy recipient of some international award for scientific research.

In a single sentence she overturns the received wisdom about the health benefits of milk, these having underpinned the domestication of cows for the last 10,000 years.

Obviously the entire notion that drinking milk is somehow beneficial to the human frame is one founded on shifting sand, on the deluded but perpetuated beliefs of the earliest farmers, which no-one – until the arrival of Mrs Smith on the scene – has thought fit to challenge.

As to “lobbying supermarkets” it’s a wonder no-one has thought of this before. Clearly, however, I have been spending far too much time asleep in the last 16 years since milk prices became fixed at ruinously low levels.

Thus I have only dreamed about the WI twice throwing its weight behind the pitiful efforts of the NFU to better the dairy farmers’ lot. I have been gently hallucinating under the effects of over-indulgence of fermented apple juice when I have pictured David Handley and the massed ranks of Farmers For Action blockading supermarket distribution depots and creameries in pursuit of the same objective – and receiving nothing more than writs and a gypsy’s warning from the judge for their pains.

It all suddenly becomes clear that all this has been a product of an over-active subconscious because, indeed, dairy farmers are in no better state financially than they were a decade-and-a-half ago.

So we must attach enormous importance to the fact that Mrs Smith (supported, no doubt, by the earnest members of her Wounded Badger

Patrol) will be quietly knocking on the back door of her local Tesco store, asking for a word with the manager and inquiring whether he couldn’t see his way clear to adding a couple of pence to the cost of a pinta in order to save the badgers, the cows and the farmers – in that order.

I wish her every success with such a radical approach and I look forward to news of a positive outcome.

I can think of few pieces of text that have inspired me quite so much as Mrs Smith’s treatise on the current state of affairs in one of our most important farming sectors.

It is heart-warming to know that not all the experts wear white coats, have string of letters after their names, or are bringing the accumulated wisdom of 100 centuries into play when they set themselves up in dairy farming.

It is truly gratifying that in village and hamlet reside unrecognised, unsung and unrewarded experts such as Mrs Smith who can, within the space of a few brief sentences, so illuminate the scene which she describes that even the blind could discern the straight and narrow path which leads to a satisfactory

DO YOU AGREE? westerndailypress.co.uk

Read opinions on the badger cull from right across the spectrum – and let us know your thoughts – online at www.westerndailypress.co.uk Write Farming, The Editor, Western Daily Press, Temple Way, Bristol BS99 7HD Email wdnews@b-nm.co.uk

resolution of an issue that has been taxing farmers, scientists and politicians to such an extent for so many years.

I am nothing less than humbled by her devastating ability to define a hugely complex problem and identify a devastatingly simple solution to it, all within the ambit of a couple of hundred words.

I am, in equal measure, inspired. No more shall I allow any unfamiliarity with the subject to cloud my mind and judgement, any lack of knowledge or understanding – or indeed, downright, 24-carat ignorance – to limit the authority with which I shall write on topics with which in the normal course of events I may be considered to be totally unfamiliar. No more shall I allow an absence of experience or expertise to act as a sheet anchor on my weekly journalistic journeyings.

I am already working on next week’s page, in which I shall be showing readers how to build a miniature nuclearpowered submarine that may be safely played with in the bath. Order your copy now to avoid disappointment.

6 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

Big names at dispersal of quality herd

BY SIMON COPP simon.copp@b-nm.co.uk One of the West Country most well-known pedigree herds, the Stourvale, was sold yesterday, attracting buyers from across the region.

Almost 40 years old, the herd of 455 Holsteins has been meticulously bred by Sid and Olly Rose for with the aim of milking well and lasting.

The herd was begun when Sid moved to Higher Farm, Manston, in 1974 buying 22 dairy cows from George Coombes.

Twenty years later, Olly’s interest in breeding was rewarded with the upgrading of the her with the Stourvale prefix during the late 1990s. A commercial herd, it has attracted some of the finest families in the region, with Chalclyffe, Dinnaton, Holmead, Littlebredy, Shilvington, Whitsbury and Vortex all featuring in the catalogue for the sale. The use of AI genetics from the pick of worldwide sires is also evid-

ent. Top price at the dispersal went, as predicted, to sevenyear-old Stourvale Shottle Welcome, who sold to the nearby Yardgrove herd of Blandford for 4,300gns. She has averaged over 15,000kg in 305 days with her last lactation being 18,154kg.

Close behind, selling for

4,300 Top price, paid for Stourvale Shottle Welcome

4,200gns to an undisclosed Dorset buyer, was seven-yearold Stourvale Boss Iron Beano, a fifth calver.

Stourvale Shottle Welcome will be joined at the Yardgrove herd by four-year-old Stourvale Matson Welcome, who was bought for 3,300gns.

Going further afield is Stourvale Bolton Beano, a two-

WDP-E01-S3

year-old sold to SA Davies & daughters of Camarthen.

The seven-and-a-half-hour sale, run by Greenslade Taylor Hunt, saw 450-head of cattle sold, with 75 successful buyers The Stourvale cows have been cubicle housed and fed a TMR ration of maize and grass silage with a blend and traffa gold, with stale cows out to grass and the high yielders kept in to maximise the use of feed. The cows are milked through the Herringbone Parlour and two years ago the decision was made to milk three times a day improving welfare and production by 10 per cent to cover costs. In fact a 17 per cent increase was achieved.

In recent years, improvements to the dairy set up have resulted in cow numbers being increased from 160 to 300. The heifers have been contract reared at Portesham by the Bartlett family and returned to Higher Farm at point of calving.

Having achieved everything felt possible at Higher Farm and with a young family to consider Olly and his father Sid have made the decision to move onto a new challenge and have agreed the sale of the far m.

As a result the milking herd and all of the served heifers and calves are being dispersed together with tractors, farm machinery and equipment.

A spokesman from Greenslade Taylor Hunt said: “You cannot fail to be impressed.”

Herd decline ‘will force beef up long-term’

Priory Barn, in Stogursey, Somerset, with equestrian arena and paddock, is for sale with Rural Scene. See this and more West Country homes in Saturday’s Western Daily Press

WesternDaily

The 3 per cent fall in the beef breeding herd as revealed this week by Defra, coupled with rising global demand, will “undoubtedly” have a longterm positive effect on beef prices.

As well as the fall in the year to June, the Defra survey also highlighted a fall of 40,000 in two years, with Debbie Butcher, of AHDB/Eblex, said there was no doubt a smaller breeding herd would affect beef prices in the long term.

She said: “With a lower breeding herd and increasing demand globally, I do not think in the broad picture it is in any doubt.”

But Ms Butcher said the poor spring of earlier this year meant the decline could have been even worse.

“The production cycle is three years but [beef numbers] are declining and have done over time and if that continues without any more expectations then the supply is not going to change.”

But she said the decline of the breeding herd in England was in line with the rest of the world.

The declining numbers come despite little change in the total number of cattle and calves in England over the past year, which have remained around the 5.4 million mark.

WesternDaily

www.westerndailypress.co.uk

WDP-E01-S3

WESTERN DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 FARMING 7

Efficiency key to surviving CAP reforms

Giant veg show putting down some new roots In vegetable growing circles, Morton, Illinois, is the undisputed pumpkin growing capital of the world.

Yet this weekend, thousands of miles away in the heart of the British countryside, monster specimens of this fascinating fruit will be on display at the Malvern Autumn Show – September 28-29.

Many farmers scoff at growing giant vegetables as a gimmick, but in horticultural circles there is fierce competition to grow giant produce.

Ten huge pumpkins, lovingly nurtured and carefully transported across the country by amateur growers, are among the bumper crop of 270 giant vegetables, ranging from parsnips, onions and marrows, to leeks, carrots and runner beans, all of them entered into the prestigious UK National Giant Vegetables Championship. The competition makes its debut at the Three Counties

Agricultural journalist Peter Hall joined 40 farm professionals at a special seminar in Devon on the implications of the Common Agricultural Policy reforms, staged by the national consultancy Andersons Faced by falling support payments farmers will, yet again, have to take a close look at efficiency changes.

That message was spelled out loud and clear at a special seminar on the implications of Common Agricultural Policy refor m.

“Many farm businesses could improve if they wished to make up the shortfall,” said Richard King, an Andersons’ partner. “This is not new – but CAP reform may give a new impetus to business improvement. The whole agricultural industry has a role to play in making the sector more profitable. There are some businesses where there are obviously improvements to be made through the use of modern technology. The aim should be for targeted, good investments – rather than wasting money on schemes that come to nothing.”

While there were still lots of proverbial “balls in the air” about the eventual details of CAP reform, since the end of June the main thrust of the new-look system had become apparent. A cut in support all round was inevitable – and how this would bite was best demonstrated by looking at models of different holdings.

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), that will replace the Single Payment Scheme across the board, will see a reduction in total funds. For example, a 150-cow dairy farm of just over 100 hectares was estimated to be going to lose £6,000 a year in support, while a 154-hectare mixed lowland farm with beef, sheep and arable would lose a putative £9,150. The losses include the reduction of £30 per hectare in Entry Level Stewardship.

But, Mr King stressed, while the figures were substantial, efficiency savings were more than possible, which would offset them with plenty to spare. So the dairy unit could gain an extra £14,400 from restructuring the business, while the mixed farm could gain £25,500.

“The restructuring examples are based on figures for realistic improvements that could be achieved by these businesses,” Mr King insisted.

There were a range of efficiency changes possible; better technical performance, cost control, continued investment in the business, utilising all the assets available, like renewable energy outlets... and producing what the market actually wanted, he said.

The BPS was going to be more complex than the SPS, but rather than being defeated by it, farmers would learn to cope, Mr King added. The CAP reform was a tinkering at the edges of the existing scheme, to make it more palatable to the EU taxpayer.

And that, first and foremost, meant “greening” – or “agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment” – making up 30 per cent of an individual payment.

Mr King concluded that while the new CAP would only have a life of five years, the BPS, described by Defra as “a dog’s breakfast”, indicated the future direction of policy, with direct payments retained, and yet more greening measures.

“But shall we still be in the EU, or will there be a British Agricultural Policy by the end of this decade?” he asked.

270

Number of giant vegetables that will be on display at Malvern

Ian Neale, who is a regular winner in giant vegetable growing contests, among a display of huge pumpkins with a 3ft-long cucumber.

Showground in Worcestershire this year, following its move from the Royal Bath and West Showground, where it had been staged since 1997.

The giants will arrive at Malvern on the eve of the show, where they will be weighed in, courtesy of industrial strength scales.

Some 60,000 visitors are expected to attend the show over the weekend.

The event is a celebration of food, gardening and nostalgia, and boasts one of the largest gatherings of amateur growers in the country. Each year it takes delivery of some of the UK’s largest produce.

Other attractions include a Vintage Village with free jive lessons, grow your own demonstrations, a Royal Horticultural Flower Show, a cookery theatre, an artisan food market, native livestock, country pursuits and crafts and around 600 trade stands offering retail therapy for all.

When farming relationships break down the difficulties really mount up Sharon MacDonald When farming marriages or civil partnerships break down, arriving at a fair financial settlement can be extremely complex. Farming cases are challenging for a wide range of reasons.

Typically, farms have been in the same family for generations; agricultural land may have been added over the years, new partners may have become involved or the business may have diversified into

new areas, such as corporate hospitality, leisure or tourism.

To complicate matters, there are seldom any formal shareholders’ agreements or employment contracts in place to identify roles, division of labour, remuneration or ownership.

When we act on behalf of a husband or wife in a farming divorce, we have to make absolutely certain that all steps are taken to not only properly value the assets in question but to ascertain the appropriate income levels that can be provided going forward.

If both parties decide to remain working within the

farm, it’s vital that proper employment contracts and shareholders’ agreements are put in place to avoid disputes arising.

Using experts is also critical.

‘Separating parties often do not wish to sell the farm’ Solicitor Sharon MacDonald For example, you may need to use forensic accountants to value the farming business or appoint agricultural agents to value and market any prop-

erties; your farm should be marketed by specialists who can advise on whether you will achieve more by selling it as a whole or in lots. It is likely that you will also need tax advice and again, accountants who specialise in representing members of the farming community are always in the best position to provide this advice at a proper level of remuneration – nobody wants to spend more when they don’t have to.

In our experience, divorcing or separating parties often do not wish to sell the farm and will explore alternative ways of keeping it going. This may mean dividing it into different

businesses or setting up a partnership agreement or limited company so that the businesses can run in tandem with both parties’ roles being clearly defined; this will include details of their remuneration, benefits, perks and holiday entitlement.

A specialist in partnerships and company law will be able to help.

There is seldom an easy way out of a long-term relationship or marriage but it can help to ease the pressure if you know there is a team of experts working for you, not only in your best interests and those of any children involved, but also in

those of the farming business as a whole.

For a confidential and noobligation conversation with Sharon MacDonald, please give her a call at leading West solicitors Withy King’s Bath office on 01225 730 100 or email sharon.macdonald@ withyking.co.uk

8 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

WDP-E01-S3

Farmers’ bulletin board Market reports SEDGEMOOR Monday, September 16 PRIME CATTLE (182) UTM (160) & OTM (22) Prime Another good entry in terms of quantity at 182 head and also quality as several good runs of well fed cattle were presented. Top was 239ppk for a very shapely, well covered Blonde heifer from Messrs JR & EA Roberts, who also sold a similar black Limousin heifer at 238.5ppk, a red Limousin heifer at 234.5ppk and another shapely Blonde heifer at 228ppk. A super run of well fleshed continental heifers from Messrs JEF & KF Stephens peaked at 236ppk for a red Limousin, when others met calls of 230.5, 219, 218.5 twice and 218ppk. Best heifers from Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners to 234.5ppk, red Limousin, when Charolais sold well at 227 and 223.5ppk and a black Limousin at 223.5ppk also. A top drawer red roan Limousin from Messrs DH & SM Churchill hit 232ppk. 224.5ppk was bid for a better type red Simmental from Mr RW Fry. Best heifers all 220ppk plus.

Better heifers mid teens. Good types 200ppk plus. Heifers sold to £1,524.24 for the Limousin from Messrs DH & SM Churchill. Strong heifers from Mr EB & Mrs JA Webber returned at £1,408.83 (Charolais) and £1,392.30 (Limousin). £1,396.44 was bid for a Blonde from Messrs HJ & HB Case Ltd. Many other better type heifers £1350 to £1390.

Steers sold to 232ppk for a home bred, very shapely and lean Limousin cross Blue steer from Mr D Marshall. A black Blue steer from Messrs PA Strawbridge hit 223.5ppk. Messrs DH & SM Churchill also featured with their blue roan Limousin steer at 223ppk. At 223ppk also was a better type black Limousin steer from Mr EJ Westaway. 222.5ppk was bid for a Limousin steer from Messrs LR & BM Churches & Son. Better steers also mid teens. Good steers higher 200’s. Steers sold to £1,607.37 for a grand 786kg Charolais from Mr BA Sweet, who sold others at £1,583.82 (Simmental) and £1,559.42 (Charolais). The best of a good run of Charolais steers from Mr TL Greenshields & Son sold to £1,585.08, when another achieved £1,546.14. A further Charolais, this time from Mr RW Fry met a call of £1,557.89. Several other steers over £1500. Overage steers to a new market record of £1,825.95 for a tremendous 987kg Angus from Messrs PRS & EB Scott. Overage heifers sold to £1,276.15 for a Limousin from Mr MR Adams.

FINISHED LAMBS & HOGGS (455) A reduced entry of 453 lambs after a wet Sunday and a shocking storm early in the morning. Trade generally not strong enough to encourage Vendors to pick sheep in the rain. As a result of the short entry trade was however brighter. 40kgs at £75.20 from Miss BJ Beaver topped the sale at 188ppk, who also sold 44kg at £79 (180ppk). Other best sellers at 43kg £80.50 (187ppk) 43kg £77.50 (180ppk) 42kg £75 (179ppk) all from Mr JPT & Mrs BM Scott; 43kg at £78.50 (183ppk) 42kg at £76.80 (183ppk) and 43kg at £76.50 (178ppk) Mr AV & Mrs N Lee; 42kg at £76.50 (182ppk) Messrs WJ & IJ Gard; 42kg at £74.80 (178ppk) and 41kg at £71.80 (175ppk) Messrs TV & E Wotton; 40kg at £71 (178ppk) Mr WHC Inder and 46kg at £81.20 (177ppk) Mr T & Mrs D Kingdon. Well fleshed, shapely continental lambs are really sought and generate a real premium. Lean, plain lambs, particularly if around 40kg or less are harder to place and only finding buyers between 150 and 160ppk. Lambs sold to £81.20 on three separate occasions. In addition to Mr T & Mrs D Kingdon’s 46kg lambs, £81.20 was achieved by Mr TV & Mrs E Wotton with 47kg lambs and Mr R Withers, with his at 49kg. Mr R Withers also sold 46kg for £80 and 48kg for £77.50. No other heavy lambs to push the £80 mark. All other best lambs from £76 to £79 in the 42 to 46kg bracket.

Tuesday, September 17 BARREN COWS, BULLS, OTM & UFM PRIME (144) An increased entry of 144 cull stock met a widening trade. Meat cows maintain their value to 169ppk for a young red Limousin from Messrs AW Selley, who also sold an older red Limousin cow at 143.5ppk. A shapely Blue from Mr BC Knapp achieved 168ppk and a smart Saler from the same farm 158.5ppk.

Native cows rose to 154.5ppk for an Angus from Messrs AK & G Quinn.

Herefords to 152.5ppk from Messrs AB & NT Thorne. Better sucklers 135 to

145. Half meat types mid 120s. Steakers 115ppk.

Sucklers sold to £1,510.40 for a tremendous 1024kg Charolais from Mr RJ Williams. Herefords to £1,260.54 from Messrs MJ & DJ Jenkins. Other best sucklers £1000 plus.

DAIRY breeds peaked at 152.5ppk for a young Danish Red from Messrs MD Fone & Sons. Holsteins to 133ppk twice from Messrs FH Arscott & Son and Messrs IJ & SA Bell. Best black and whites 130ppk plus. Half meat to high 120’s. Steakers 115ppk. Several very plain cows 60 to 75ppk.

Dairy cows sold to £1,030.71 (HF) from Messrs MB & CJN Ayre, who sold another at £1,029.65. Another over £1000 at £1,004.85 (HF) came forward from Messrs House & Son. All cows averaged £698.18 but when over 50 per cent were very lean grade 4’s, the average is still acceptable.

CULL BULLS sold to £1,283.93 for a Limousin from Messrs SJ & JB Clatworthy. A strong Devon from Washingpool Farm returned at £1,276.13.

OVERAGE CLEAN sold to £1,127.85 for a South Devon steer from Mrs L Kent-Smith & Sons. Heifers to £1,087.79 for a Holstein from Messrs MB & CJN Ayre.

SHEEP Lambs (252) A smaller entry of 252 Lambs sold to a very similar trade on the week. Best well fleshed lambs in very short supply, creating real competition between butchers to a top of £104.50 for a 65kg lamb from Miss L Webber. Other heavy lambs at £95 (60kg) from Mr KJ & Mrs LC Popham; £85 (50kg) from Mr JR Snell and £84 (50kg) from Mrs L Webber again. Best continental, well fleshed handy weight lambs sold to £83.20 (44kg at 189ppk) from Mr FJ Heal & Son, who sold others at £71.50 (41kg @ 174ppk).

Others £77.80 (42kg @ 185ppk) Mr V Clarke; £78 (45kg at 173ppk) and £72.20 (42kg @172ppk) Mr B Lester; £80.80 (47kg @ 172ppk) Messrs SR Curtis & Partners; £74 (44kg @ 168ppk) Mr CT Rawle and £70 (42kg @ 167ppk) Messrs Vigar & Son. Leaner lambs however more difficult to sell in the 150 to 160ppk bracket and if below 40kg, below £60.

Cull ewes & rams (166) A few more cull ewes forward at 166 head sold to a steady trade. Top was £89.50 for Texel crosses from Mr GE & Mrs EJ Nicholls. Lleyns sold to £81.50 from Messrs AC Willy & Sons. Poll Dorset cross at £79, Mr GJ Cottrell.

Suffolk cross £78 and £74 Messrs F & M House & Son and £77.50 Mr TS Duck.

All ewes averaged £55.76. Lacklustre demand for plain ewes.

Saturday, September 21 Dairy cattle (169) Last week’s record entry of 159 was exceeded this week and included 89 freshly calved cows and heifers. With more dairy cattle on the market and several dispersal sales in the West Country at the moment, the trade was inevitably down on previous weeks.

The prices overall looked satisfactory however with fresh purchasers at Sedgemoor from Wales and Derbyshire.

Alan Witcombe continues to produce Centre topping heifers this week to £2180. Others to £2020 Messrs RF Tucker & Son and Messrs M & K Churchill & Son; £1920 Messrs Snook Ltd and £1900 Mr F Luff. Pedigree calved cows still in demand to £1920 Messrs Snook Ltd. Others £1700 North Dairy Farm Ltd and £1660 Mr NP Gibbins. Brown Swiss heifer to £1500 Mr R Webb. Swedish Red heifers to £1820 Mr NC Taylor. Served heifers to £1300 Mr ME Heal. A consignment of 24 x 3 to 4m in calf heifers from Mr C Bulled sold to £1000 x 6 to average £918. Yearling to bulling heifers to £720 Andy Neill Farm Services.

Store cattle & grazing cows (747) Another entry in excess of 700 at 747 strong stores, 1,134 including the stirks, met a firmer trade as further new faces from the North and East reappear. Top was £1480 for a tremendous feeding steer being a 20m Charolais from Mr AD Wright, Huntworth, who sold another 19m at £1370. Simmental steers at £1385 (22m) £1280 (19m) £1270 (22m) £1255 (20/21m) £1245 (19m) £1205 (20/21m) a Blonde (19m) at £1370 and a Shorthorn (20m) at £1165 from the same farm. A superb show. Other best type feeding Charolais at £1375 (25m & FA) from Messrs HC Derryman & Son, Stockland, who sold others 25m at £1175; an exceptionally well grown type (14m) at £1215 from Mr M Jarvis, Ashreigney; 19/25m at £1170 from Mr

NR Huxter, Bridport and 17/20m & FA at £1145, Messrs CG, GR & MS Spiller, Upottery. Limousin steers topped at £1385 for a big framed 29m & FA Red from Mr THJ Denbee, Wedmore. Other Limousin steers at £1205 (25m & FA) Messrs HJ Cox & Son, Burtle; £1195 (21m) Mr M Jarvis again; £1170 (19m) Mr NR Huxter again; £1170 (27/29m & FA) Mr WJS Camp, Kentisbury; £1160 (18m & FA) Messrs ET Summerfield & Son, Oxford and £1100 (19/21m) Mr DJ Heal, Burtle. A good show of Blue steers this week to £1320 (23m) from Messrs D Wyatt & Son, Axminster.

Others at £1240 (26m & FA) Messrs HC Derryman & Son again; £1175 (19/24m & FA) Messrs F & H Farms, Tiverton and £1120 (25m & FA) Messrs HJ Cox & Son again. Other Simmental steers at £1200 (23/24m) Mr A Burland, Spaxton.

NATIVE steers continue in a rich vein to £1455 for Angus (25/27m & FA) from Mr CJ Chant, Bower Hinton, who sold another (25m) at £1135. Other Angus steers at £1440 (24m & FA) Messrs PH Creed & Son, West Pennard; £1200 (27m & FA) Messrs KH & BA Male, Fivehead; £1120 (22/26m & FA) The Mowlem Partners, Chard; £1110 (18m & FA) Messrs KMS & ME Dew, Hemyock and £1100 (25/26m & FA) Messrs HC Derryman & Son again. Hereford steers sold to £1145 (25/28m & FA) from Mr CJ & Mrs SM Hutter, Oakford.

DAIRY bred steers rose to £1182 for two grand 20m & FA Montbeliardes from Mr MD & GJ Curtis, Yeoford. Tremendous Holsteins from Mr KJ & Mrs LC Popham, Bridgwater (22/26m & FA) met a call of £1,175, with others from the same farm (22/25m) at £1,130.

Longer term Friesians at £1,035 (30/31m & FA) Mr F Bolton & Son, Tiverton; £1,020 (25m & FA) Mr THJ Denbee again; £980 Montbeliarde (22m) Manor Farms, Langport and £930 (28/29m & FA) Mr CJ & Mrs SM Hutter again.

HEIFERS peaked at £1270 for a fit 28m & FA Charolais from Mr THJ Denbee again. Other well fleshed Charolais at £1,245 (17/23m & FA) Messrs CG, GR & MS Spiller again. An exceptional feeding Charolais (23m) from Mr J Wylde, Bridgwater rose to £1,230. Fleshed Blue heifers to £1245 (20m & FA) Messrs CG, GR & MS Spiller again. Others £1210 (21/24m & FA) Messrs WJ & PR Doble, Cotleigh.

Several good feeding heifers between £1,070 and £1,100. £1,100, Limousins (22m & FA) Messrs CG, GR & MS Spiller again; £1,100 Charolais (24m) Mr TR House, West Pennard; £1,090 Limousin (29m & FA) Mr WJS Camp again; £1080, Limousin (20/21m) Messrs RW Tapp & Son, South Molton; £1,075, Simmentals (23/25m) Mr A Burland again; £1075, Blue (25m & FA) Messrs HC Derryman & Son again; £1,070 Charolais (23/24m) Mr NR Huxter again and £1,070 Blue (21/24m & FA) Messrs WJ & PR Doble again.

Angus heifers sold to £1,110 (28m & FA) from Messrs KH & BA Male, Fivehead.

Others £1000 twice (22/26m & FA x9) from The Mowlem Partners again and Mr CJ Chant (25m & FA) again.

Young stores sold to £1045 for a very shapely 16m Limousin heifer from Messrs HJ Delbridge, South Molton.

Steers to £1040 for a Simmental (16m & FA) Mr M Naish, Kenn, who sold others (16/17m) at £1030.

“Far ming” cattle dearer with more faces around the ring but third grade types still only finding homes at lower monies.

Suckler cows, calves & stock bulls (3) Small entry when a Limousin cross cow (04.10) and her Charolais bull calf (19.06.13) sold to £1250 from Mr M Jarvis.

Stirks & busk calves (384) Another large entry when good conformation types sold well and a large company of buyers were present, however some plainer types were met with a little more resistance. Top price was £875 for a 7m British Blue from Messrs RJ & PJ Northover who also sold others at £755 (8m) £690 (8m) £660 (6m) and £645 (6m). Other Blues to £790 (13m) from Mr G Bowditch who also sold another at £675 (13m) and £630 (6m) from Mr GRA Miller. A fine entry of Charolais from Mr JR Payne sold to £795 (8m) and £785 (8m). Other Charolais to £775 (8/9m) from Messrs NJ Cooke & Co; £775 (13m) from Mr GM Veysey and £755 (6m) from Messrs RJ & PJ Northover. Limousins to £760 (11m) from Mr RJ Whitcombe. Others sold at £755 (11m) from Messrs A & P Bradford; £720 x 3 (13/14m) from Mr R Reddaway; £702 (10m) from Messrs MJ & VM Pile and £700 (6m) from Mr JR Hall. Blondes

Straw loaded at Manor Farm, Bulford, on Salisbury Plain, bound for Launceston, Cornwall. This same lorry was loaded here at 7am the same day and had already returned for a second load.

PICTURE: DAVID HARGRAVE to £740 (8m) from Messrs D & P Pengelly. Simmentals to £675 (8m) from Messrs M & K Churchill. A large entry of Friesians which topped at £445 for bulls and £425 (8/13m) from Mr SJ Williams. Heifers to £790 (9m) from Messrs RJ & PJ Northover who also sold others at £620 (8m) and £545 (6m).

Other Blues to £690 (6m) from Mr GRA Miller who sold others at £610 (6m) and £505 (6m). Limousins to £780 (11m) from Messrs EM, JM & CL Wallbridge when others sold at £690 (6m) and £540 from Mr JR Hall; £618 (11m) from Messrs A & P Bradford; £610 (11m) from Messrs MJ & VM Pile who also sold others at £530 (10m) £510 from Mr MJ Northover and £500 (13/14m) from Mr R Reddaway. Charolais to £660 (8m) from Mr RJ Whitcombe when others sold at £615 (8m) from Mr JR Payne, who also sold others at £605 (8m) and £550 (8/10m) from Mr GM Veysey. Blondes to £620 (7m) from Messrs D & P Pengelly.

Many thanks once again to all for the continued support.

NON-EXPORT CALVES (560) Beef Breeds (409) Another large entry and a two tier trade. Best calves excited considerable interest when top Limousin bulls sold to £464 from Messrs M & P Watts & Son. Others £450 from Messrs RJ Tucker & Sons; £438 from

Messrs M & P Watts; £422 from Messrs TA Hole & Sons and £418 from Messrs B & P Horsey & Son. Simmentals £455 from Messrs A & J Churchill and £438 from Messrs AF & AH Powell. Blues not quite so firm, the best to £382 from Mr MC Clothier £372 and £358. Best continentals over £300 but more in the £240-£300 range. Medium bulls selective from £150-£250. Heifers also eased back, only a handful over £300 to £375 for a Blue from Messrs R & EJ Phillips.

Others £345, £340 from Mr JL Bartlett.

Most classy heifers £220-£270, Blues again more selective from £150-£250.

Plain calves harder to place. Good demand for native bulls when Angus bulls sold at £358 from Messrs R & EJ Phillips and £318 from Mr MJ Grabham and Herefords £410 from Messrs R & EJ Phillips. Others £390 and £315. Hereford heifers strong to £177 from Messrs House & Son. Angus heifers not so dear only the best over £100 to £140.

Friesians (151) Not so many black-and-whites forward sold to a more selective trade. Usual numbers of buyers but not quite the sharpness of previous weeks. Top British Friesians £164 from Messrs SW Batten & Sons. Others £162 from Mr MJ Grabham; £140 from Mr M Churches and Holstein Friesians to £135 from

Messrs MEJ & PJ White; £120 from Messrs DE & WM Headon; £110 from Messrs P & M Eccles. Most good bulls £50-£80 but many average Friesians £30-£50 and plain calves easier at £15-£30. Black and whites look good value as corn prices have fallen – fill your sheds.

SHEEP (3282) Store Lambs (2240) A larger entry of 2240 Store Lambs sold to a slightly firmer, more competitive trade for all presented. The best sold to £94 from Mrs E Green. Others £80 from GJ Warren Farming and Messrs S & D Wilson; £79 and £78.50 from Mr J White; £77 from Mr A Hassed; £76.50 from Mr C Peach; £75 from Mr EP Cooper and £72 from Messrs JN & W Rodgman. Mediums ranged £50-£70. Very small nearly all £27 plus. Overall average £54.80.

Grazing Ewes & Rams (707) A smaller entry of 707 Grazing Ewes and Rams sold to an overall stronger trade for all presented. The best sold to £98 from Chipstable Produce. Others £97.50 from Mr KJ Seymour; £97 from Messrs RE & EJ Parsons; £95 and £89 from Mr M Alford; £93.50 from Mr RL Stanley; £92.50 from Messrs FJ & G Heywood & Son and £89 from Messrs

WDP-E01-S3

WESTERN DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 FARMING 9

Diary dates

Rural life is well covered in the Western Daily Press, with forthright farming opinions from Ian Liddell-Grainger and Derek Mead, and a round-up of news from the dressage arenas and cross-country courses across the South West – every Saturday

SEPTEMBER Today: Dairy Farmers’ Business Seminar, Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, 7pm. 0845 458 7485

OCTOBER

DH & Mrs SM Churchill at 223.5ppk.

HEIFERS sold to £1,427.80 for a strong 649kg Charolais from Mr AL Burrough. Several £1300 plus. STEERS rose to 218.5ppk for a Simmental from Mr RR Cheriton. Other best steers at 216.5ppk for a Limousin from Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners; 216ppk for a Blonde from Messrs Stuart Ford & Co; 215.5ppk for a Limousin from Messrs DH & SM Churchill and a Gelbvieh from Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son. Better steers generally around 210ppk.

STEERS sold to £1,603.32 for a grand 744kg Limousin cross Blue from Messrs DH & SM Churchill.

SHEEP Finished lambs & hoggs (955) Over double the entry but trade remained strong for all presented. The best were 175ppk plus and sold to 180ppk from Messrs G & H Passmore and Messrs EJW, AJ & MJ Land. Others 178ppk from Messrs VJ & MJ Headon; 177ppk from Mr PD Godfrey and 176ppk from Messrs JPT & BM Scott, Mr JE Reason, Messrs EB & JA Webber, Messrs DM & DM Ginger, Mr DJ Gay and Mrs KM Martyn. Heavier lambs sold to £85.50 and £80 from Messrs VJ & MJ Headon. Others £83.50 and £81 from Milborne Wick Farms Ltd; £83 and £80 from Mr THJ Denbee; £80.50 and £80 from Mr A Dagger; £80.50 from Messrs DM & DM Ginger and £80 from Messrs EJW, AJ & MJ Land. Overall average £72.30.

FROME Wednesday, September 18

Baker & Son. Mediums ranged £50-£70.

Plain £35-£50. Boners nearly all £20 plus. Overall average £51.58.

Breeding Ewes (282) A few less forward sold to a similar trade. Suffolk Mule 2T sold to £110 and £104 from Foxhollow Farm Ltd and £104 from Messrs NF Clothier & Sons. Suffolk cross Scotch ½ bred 4T sold to £95 from Chipstable Produce.

Stock Rams (53) A good entry of 53 Stock Rams sold to a steady trade, when the Suffolks met a particularly pleasing level of interest.

A smart run of Charollais to £320 and £310 from Mr A England. Leading the Suffolks was Mr M Smith to £310 and £300. Others to £240 and £225 from Mr B Gibbins. Texels to £180 from Messrs AC & D Grossey.

PIGS (258) Store Pigs (86) Stores a shade easier although still keen demand for well shaped white stores. 8 w/o to £39 from Mr ER Stamp.

10 w/o to £47. 14 w/o to £65. Good types from Mr MJ Luther, Mr JJ Newth and Mr J Blakemore.

Breeders (1) Coloured sow to £185 from Messrs A & M Farms.

Fat Pigs (159) Another very large entry of generally good quality pigs met a strong trade if a shade easier than last time. Thicker

types were easier. Lights to £110, mediums to £155 and heavies to £176 and £174. Best pigs from Mr C Chilcott, Messrs LE Miller & Son, Mr T Stockwell, Mr A Griggs, Mr B Whitrow, Mr JR Bament and Mr P Godwin.

Cull Sows (10) Very small entry with few well fleshed sows sold to a top of £226 from Mr S Symonds.

Boars (2) To £143 from Messrs R & K Down.

Monday, September 23 PRIME CATTLE (204) UTM (179) & OTM (25) Prime Cattle A larger entry of 204 cattle, when best cattle were in very short supply and sold well. However, many very lean or not up to weight, either showing the signs of Autumn grazing or just not with sufficient growth, which were harder to place. Top was 237ppk for a Limousin heifer from Messrs JEF & KF Stephens, who also sold a Blonde heifer at 228ppk and another Limousin heifer at 224ppk. Three quality red Limousin heifers from Mr WJ & Mrs RA Alford sold well at 229.5, 228.5 and 226ppk. A Blonde heifer from Mr RM Prouse rose to 225ppk.

A super Charolais from Mr AL Burrough 224.5ppk; a barley Blue heifer to 224ppk, Mr SER Hunt and a shapely Limousin cross Blue heifer from Mr

BEEF CATTLE (134) Another large entry with many grass fed cattle and only a few yard finished top grade sorts forward. Trade and prices were again mixed with the best in strong demand and at a premium.

Other grades variable and non assured cattle hard to sell.

UTM Steers (46) Best bred steers scarce and keenly wanted with a cracking Limousin from Smith Farms topping the day at 231p/kg and £1568.

Blondes to 223p/kg from AL Gwyther.

Quality well finished Continentals a firm trade and generally from 195p/kg.

Herefords to 202.5p/kg from AW Tippetts & Son and £1354 from Smith Farms. Angus to 209.5p/kg from R & J Gregory and £1407 from P & S Watts.

Grass fed cattle variable with non FABBL registered cattle easier.

UTM Heifers (49) A very mixed quality entry with no best pure bred heifers forward. Trade was easier throughout for all grades with non FABBL heifers harder to place and discounted. A Limousin from the Bishop family topped the day at 212.5p/kg with others to 210p/kg and 208.5p/kg from ER & R Bowring. Other smart cross breds from 190p/kg and in demand. Other grades less money. Herefords to 193.5p/kg from FI Baker. Angus to 205.5p/kg from P & S Watts and Partners. Devons to 185.5p/kg from FI Baker. Overage Beef (39) A mixed quality entry with no best bred types.

Generally a firmer trade for the better quality but the lesser types at reduced levels. Hereford steers to 187p/kg and £1312 from Smith Farms. Simmental heifers to 179.5p/kg and £1143 from EL Leigh & Son. Friesian steers to 182.5p/kg from RE & EJ Parsons and heifers to 164.5p/kg from AH & SM Mitchell.

Overage Beef (39) A mixed quality entry with no best bred types. Generally a firmer trade for the better quality but the lesser types at reduced levels. Hereford steers to 187p/kg and £1312 from Smith Farms. Simmental heifers to 179.5p/kg and £1143 from EL Leigh & Son. Friesian steers to 182.5p/kg from RE & EJ Parsons and heifers to 164.5p/kg from AH & SM Mitchell.

BARREN COWS & BULLS (180) Another large entry but very few quality meat cows forward. A good trade for the fleshed types but the many plain and poor cows were again easier as overall demand for cow beef falls.

Dairy Cows (134) Best quality Friesian meat cows a good trade from 120p/kg to 137p/kg from Evershot Farms and £1162 from Witcombe Farm Partners.

Overall 52 cows sold in advance of 120p/kg. Manufacturing types again in less demand and generally from 95p/kg with the plainer types also an easier trade from 75p/kg. The many poor cows spoiling the averages. Beef Cows (38) A mixed and variable trade according to quality. A Limousin from RS Baber topping the day at 157.5p/kg.

Blues to 141.5p/kg from N Paul. Angus to 137.5p/kg from Tuckmarsh Farm Ltd. Ayrshires to 134p/kg from Biddesden Farm Partnership. Simmentals to 144.5p/kg from PB Farm Enterprises. Charolais to 155.5p/kg from CM Currell. Other grades easier and also at lower levels. Bulls (8) Angus to 139p/kg from DL Deacon and Friesians to 118.5p/kg from HRH Hansford.

DAIRY (30) Trade very lively today for the calved cattle as the milk price continues to move forward and clients look to fill their tanks. All the higher quality heifers over £1700. A super consignment from AF Leighton seeing prices from £1790, £1800, £1820 to £1900. Numerous average quality heifers from £1400 to £1600 were readily sold. Calved cows a little scarce this week but all wanted with Shorthorns to £1650 and British Friesians to £1550 again from Tony Leighton. Slighter Jersey x Shorthorn heifers saw competitive bidding to £900. In-calf heifers finding trade easier and although some nice types were available buyers generally wanting milk now.

NON EXPORT CALVES (366) The largest number for some years forward with Autumn calving now in full swing. Trade remains very buoyant with all calves wanted by the large attendance of buyers. Continental Bulls Fewer of the very best forward but a flying trade for all on offer. The best over £400 with a large entry of Blues topping twice at £440 from BWR Hasell & Son and MR Giles. Charolais to £434 from MS Shears with his Blondes to £348. Limousins to £322 from GV Sparkes & Sons. Continental Heifers The best shaped calves continue to sell to a fast trade well in excess of £270. A top at £350 for a Blue from R Padfield. Simmentals to £312 from Grove Farm Partners. Limousins to £248 from J Keedwell. British A good entry of native sired calves with medium and best sorts selling well. Plainer calves a touch easier. Large numbers of Angus with older bulls to £430 from H Bishop & Son and younger sorts to £408 from RL & CJ Curtis. Older Angus heifers to £312 from H Bishop & Son with younger types to £215 from R & R Collis. Hereford bulls from SH Harris to £390 and heifers to £250 from J Wake.

Friesians Numbers increasing weekly and making up a third of today’s entry.

A good entry of weaned calves saw a strong trade with the best British topping at £310 from H Bishop & Son. Younger calves sold well all day with the best British Friesians to £192 from RF Stratton. Holsteins to £175 from CT & MJ Garraway.

SHEEP (448) Prime Lambs (275) SQQ 169.34p/kg Max 184p/kg £85/head Demand certainly outstripped supply today with many more required which would sell to advantage. The better lambs which carried meat were at a premium and trading at 170p/kg+. A cracking entry from ME Richards & Partners topped both the section in both per kilo and headage terms to 184p/kg (43kg) and £85 (52.5kg). A very smart consignment from RW & J Margham, Isle of Wight, met competitive bidding from start to finish to sell at 183p/kg (38kg), 181p/kg (36kg) and 179p/kg (36.5-41.5kg) twice with their entry of 54 lambs averaging 176.76p/kg. Other heavies to £79.20 (43kg) from ME Richards & Partners, £78.20 (50kg) from RD Ham and £78 (57kg) from Miss S Godwin.

Cull Ewes & Rams (145) A pleasing number forward and trade certainly more vibrant than of recent weeks.

Better fleshed Continental x ewes trading either side of £60. Stronger sorts to £76.50 from Miss S Godwin and twice to £66.50 from RW & J Margham. Mule grazing types either side of £30. Store Lambs A small entry with top price of the day at £61 from H Buckley, Bruton, closely followed at £60 from SD Fry, Melksham. Good medium types trading between £50 and £60 with the smaller sorts from £30 to £40.

Friday, September 20 CATTLE (972) Suckler Cows & Calves Demand firm but not quite at the same levels of previous weeks. Nice well presented strong Cows with 1mo Calves from Mrs HME Gulliford topped at £1000 and saw good competitive bidding. Grand In-Calf Limousin x Cows from Brian Godwin saw the best to £1,125, £1,015 and £950.

Breeding Bulls Only one forward this week but the quality was outstanding with a marvellous 2½-year-old Ped-

igree Limousin from Karina Heritage sold at £1,800.

Young Continentals A huge variation in trade in this section today based entirely on the quality of animals available. Best home bred single suckled cattle selling to quite amazing levels but second-grade types were much more difficult to sell. Outstanding show type 13mo British Blue Steers from Steve North and family to £972.

Other good well presented Continental Steers 10-12mo all reached over £800.

The top end of the quality Heifers from Tony and Margaret Meredith peaked at an excellent £920. Heifers generally were at easier levels this week however a number of younger well shaped Heifers ranged £550-£600. Second quality Dairy crosses saw buyers much more hesitant throughout.

Forward Continental Steers Quality was an exceptional trade with fierce bidding forcing prices over £1,500. Top honours go to Bill and Val Masters with their pen of Charolais Steers 25mo to £1,532. Several consignments sold well with Blues from Ian Sargent to £1,190 and to £1,225 from Brian Trott. Simmentals met a fast trade to £1,270 from Bill and Val Masters with younger Simmentals to £1,125 from Ian Sargent and £1,135 from Steven and Richard Weeden. Limousin from Ian Sargent to £1,140 and £1,192 from Bill and Val Masters. Overage Limousin Steers were wanted and sold to £1,315 (38mo) from Paul Hurd. Heifers met another sensational trade with quality over £1,000. Blue Heifers set the trade for the day to £1,060 from Peter Ross to £1,100 (22mo) from Ken and Nat Crang. Charolais Heifers were a highlight from £1000 to £1132 from Brian Trott and £1060 from Dennis Higgins.

Forward Simmentals met keen interest from £970 to £988 from Steven and Richard Weeden and £975 from Richard Sparshott with the best to £1050 (26mo) from Ian Sargent. Similar Limousins ranged from £960 from Ken and Nat Crang, £980 from Dennis Higgins and Peter Ross. The best sold well from £1,030 to £1,080 from Peter and Jo Gould. Younger feeders wanted and regularly sold from £795 to £845.

Hereford (67) A fast trade for the smaller entry forward. Yearling Steers generally over £500 to top at £590 from RM Hendy. Medium-framed feeders a good trade from £705 to £765 from DJ Snaith. Fleshed types sold well from £800 to £975. Forward Steers met fast bidding to £1,000 from Steve and Richard Weeden, £1020 from MS Small, £1035 from DC Newbury and stronger types to £1190 from JD Compton. A good selection of Heifers on offer with 10mo to £365 from RM Hendy. Medium Heifers from £602 to £658. Framed Heifers wanted to £1020 from DC Newbury and to £1068 from Steve and Richard Weeden.

Angus (202) Generally trade remaining at recent levels for the Angus Steers. Heifers overall slightly easier but perhaps not the overall quality and strength of last week. Very few younger Angus forward and a lot of Dairy x Angus lacking in condition. A small number of single suckled 10-12mo Steers and Heifers were on offer and dear with Steven Goldsacks to £858 and £808 respectively. More forward well conformed cattle having an excellent day with many going to Co Durham and Norfolk finishers. Super consignments from Nigel Doman and John and David Watts 16-18mo created furious bidding ranging £892-£1,045. Best fleshed Steers from Bill Masters to £1,232 and Heifers to £1,190 from SH & RS Weeden.

Friesians (249) Another large consignment of Holstein and British Friesian cattle today but comprising many plain types. Good buying support in this section and prices held up well although most were looking for the better fleshed types. Fed yearlings were a competitive trade with the best over £400 to top at £490 from NP Hayward.

Medium framed feeders wanted and sold well. More fleshed cattle seeing keener competition with the stronger Steers generally reaching £800+ and some British types selling in excess of £1000.

STORE LAMBS (385) A lively trade today with all types creating plenty of interest. Strong Dorsets topped the day at £76 from RW Humphreys of Dorchester. Well-bred mediums to £64.50 from C & A Stevens of Chapelton. Another excellent consignment from Holt Farms Salisbury to £58.00. Many more are wanted for this overall demand.

2: South West Growers’ Show, Matford Centre, Exeter. Details: 01404 821982 5: Truro & District Ploughing Match, Penstraze, 10am. 01872 277086 5: Crewkerne Young Farmers Club 50th Annual Ploughing Match. Hinton Park Estate, Hinton St. George.

6: NFU/YFC Harvest Festival Service, Exeter Cathedral, 7pm 8: NSA/RASE Open Day and Farm Walk, for next-generation sheep farmers, Manor Farm, Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire, 10am. Details: 07779 572598

Quota Milk Average wholesale price (4.00% butterfat, for 2013/2014 quota): clean 0.20ppl, used 0.20ppl.

Entitlements 2014 season price: Non-SDA £190-£200 per hectare. 2013 season average price: Non-SDA £213 per hectare; SDA £190 per hectare, moorland £39.60 per hectare Naked Acres 2013 hosting and letting season-average price: Non-SDA £49 per acre; SDA £35 per acre; Moorland £7 per acre Townsend Chartered Surveyors, Exeter, (01392 823935) and www.townsendchartered surveyors.co.uk

Useful numbers Defra general inquiries 08459 335577 Met Office 01392 885680 NFU South West 01392 440700 south.west@nfu.org.uk EBLEX South West 0870 608 6610 0871 504 3581 Rural Payments Agency 0845 6037777 Farm Crisis Network 0845 3679990 7am–11pm RABI helpline, financial help 01865 727888 ARC Addington Fund 01926 620135 office hours The Samaritans 08457 909090 24 hours a day Sole Occupancy Authorisation for multiple movements between groups of premises under the same occupation and management issued by local Divisional Veterinary Manager Devon 01392352825; Cornwall 01872 265500; Somerset 01823 337922

Contact us Western Daily Press Telephone 0117 934 3223 E-mail wdnews@bepp.co.uk Fax 01752 765535 Online www.westerndailypress.co.uk/ farming

10 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

WDP-E01-S3

Agriculture Private 08444 060262 | Trade 0117 934 3626

Cattle

Farm Produce

Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets

Hay, Wheat & Barley Straw

LANGFORD ABATTOIR Welfare quality and education

Bought and Sold Immediate Delivery

Slaughtering service on site • Butchery available

Call Ian Webber 01823 698570 07831364644

Steers, heifers and young bulls under 30 months Steers and heifers over 30 months to 48 months Also pigs, sheep and goats

©LW

Pedigree in calf Hereford heifers

Please contact: Colin Walters Tel: 0117 928 9202

29 months old, TB tested

Tel 07957 858637 (Dorset)

Langford Abattoir School of Veterinary Sciences Langford North Somerset BS40 5DU bristol.ac.uk/vetscience/abattoir

More than a quarter

of people found their most recent job through local media.

Soil association registered

Source: The Wanted Ads - Jobs - 2009

serving all the local community

It works

Classified 0844 406 0262 www.

thisisads .co.uk

JOHN BOLTON

Interested in Agricultural Advertising?

Agricultural Advertising?

YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE Advertise in the Western Daily Press every Wednesday and Saturday and reach a large farming community of over 83,000 readers every day!

£16

From

*

CLASSIFIED To sell your motor vehicle, call 0844 406 0261 or visit www.thisisads.co.uk Under £1,000

*

Contact us today:

T: 0117 934 3183 e: auctions@bepp.co.uk | www.westerndailypress.co.uk

7 in 10 job seekers would consider applying for a job if they came across one in the local media.

You’ve come to the right place!

Whether you’re selling machinery or your services.

Put an ad in Saturday’s Western Daily Press & reach an audience of over 83,000 people.

Contact us today:

Tel 0117 934 3183 auctions@bepp.co.uk www.westerndailypress.co.uk Source: The Wanted Ads - Jobs - 2009

All areas covered 7 days a week

Same Day Payment For barren cows, bulls, over age cattle, fat and lean Also Registered collector of fallen stock. Cattle, horses, calves, sheep, e.t.c.

Parbrook, Glastonbury BA6 8PB

Tel. 01458 850230 Mob. 07860 269462 07788153419

©NM

It works

It’s free to rehome your car accessories under £100 CLASSIFIED

Visit www.thisisads.co.uk

Sell your car... and all that goes with it.

CLASSIFIED

Visit www.thisisads.co.uk

WESTERN DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 FARMING 11

WDP-E01-S3

Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets

KING FARM WASTE Tel: 01761 221246 Mob: 07850 838046 No Annual fees, just pay for what we take away!

Bale Wrap/Poly Sheets/Fert Bags/Paper Cardboard/String/Net/ Cans/Tyres

Bagged, baled or loose

WE SUPPORT RECYCLING

UNRULY HEDGES? We can cut 14' trunks down to workable levels Also if ditches need addressing? to Elevate wet spots in feed, All work carried out with 360 track excavator. Operator with 30 years experience.

07860 882543 24 hour Service

Farming? You’ve come to the right place!

Advertise in the farmers market every Wednesday and Saturday and reach a large farming community.83,000 readers every day, the Western Daily is the one to read!

ABBOTT & CO LTD are buyers and sellers HAY AND STRAW also Bedmax, Bedrap, shavings & haylage

tel 01934 822177 or 01458 447833

15 Registered LLeyn Shearlings Born March/April 2012, genuine dispersal sale genuine offers please

TEL 01453 843150 / 07989 395996 (Gloucester)

British Limousin pedigree Cows 2 of, 2006 & 2008 born, pure bred limousin calves at foot, 1 bull, 1 heftier both 3 months of age, good confirmation and breeding, just wormed and coppered

Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets

Land And Farms

Texel Rams for sale

STRAW FOR SALE

Carmarthenshire Borders

Shearling Pedigree, MV accredited, Heptavac P+ vaccinated, from £225ono

Small and large bale straw for sale, delivery available

Tel 01308 423697 / 07944 731948

Tel 07778 902859 or 07515 850595

Keenan Klassic 200 Rear steering axle, 9 yrs old, complete with spare wheel, spare control box, extra blades and spare drive chain. VGC

(Frome area) Tel: 07776 140928

Pedigree Welsh Black Bull for sale Nice temperament, easy calving, 9 years old, genuine reason for sale, (photos available on request)

Tel 07779 640879

Pedigree Charolais Bull 4 years old and quiet.

Reasonably priced.

WARREN Point of lay table birds all ages.

Zwartbles Sheep for sale

Tractors & Farm Machinery

Sales with Service

Your official supplier for

KUBOTA UTILITY VEHICLES

Ewe lambs, shearling ewes and flock ewes. All MV accredited with pedigree certificates.

Pedigree Beef Shorthorn Bull For Sale

BROMHAM POLL HEREFORDS

3 years old, roan, good temperament, this years calves can be seen, TB tested, also some females for sale

Well grown Pedigree bulls, 16-18 months good colour and conformation, FABBL, eligible for Waitrose scheme,

Tel 01458 443788 / 07832 528600

Call Pike 01380 850412 (Wilts)

Tel 01633 873886 or 07831 308 283

For more details call 01568 708400 anytime.

07836 683324.

(J R Gold) - Tel 01884 259406

Tel 07702 343100 or 01380 870160 anytime (nr Trowbridge)

14 months old Good confirmation and temperament Delivered

Classified www.thisisads.co.uk

6 bedroom farmhouse. 3 cottages, excellent out buildings for livestock or equestrian use. 42 acres in beautiful locations. Well worth viewing -

Delivery throughout the South West

Leonard Irvine 07724 137583 / 01666 837649

PEDIGREE SIMMENTAL BULL

www.westerndailypress.co.uk

0117 934 3183 e: auctions@bepp.co.uk

Farmers Markets

Registered Soay Lambs and Kune Piglets For Sale,

BOOK YOUR

FREE

DEMO TODAY

Bristol 01454 415 428 Redhill Farm, Elberton, Bristol, Nr. Thornbury, BS35 4AG

Demo & Sales hotline 07831 127 258 www.listerwilder.co.uk

Tel 07855 576952 (North Wiltshire)

It works

Tel Gary 07585 121724

H. F. STILES & SON LTD. Wholesale Butchers

Fergusson 35 Diesel & 5 tonne tipping trailer

Return to owner slaughtering Return to owner slaughtering services • Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats slaughtered and butchered to your requirements.

• All carcasses can be hung before being cut.

• Packed ready for home freezing.

• Sausages and burgers made on request.

Advertising at the click of a mouse...

From making that special announcement to selling your motor, it’s never been easier to book a tailor made advert online. Simply visit www.thisisads.co.uk, follow the simple steps below and advertise from the comfort of your own home - with a few simple clicks of the mouse!

Tel 01249 730331

Please contact us for booking and more details.

Retail and wholesale butchers also supplied.

www.hfstiles.co.uk

Sloperton Farm, Westbrook, Bromham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2ED Tel: 01380 850153

FOR SALE 6 Kerry Hill X Suffolk Ewe Lambs and 2 Pedigree Ram Lambs Very Competitive prices

Interested in Agricultural Advertising?

You’ve come to the right place!

Phone 01934 513 367 0r 07792 157030

Whether you’re selling machinery or your services.

Put an ad in Saturday’s Western Daily Press & reach an audience of over 83,000 people.

HEDGE TRIMMING

STEP ONE

STEP TWO

Choose your publication.

Classify your advert.

. Competitive rates on Hedge Trimming All areas covered

Contact us today:

Tel 0117 934 3183 auctions@bepp.co.uk www.westerndailypress.co.uk

07947 565911

STEP THREE International 484 Tractor for Sale 1978 plate, With loader, VGC, £2750ono

Select your design and package.

STEP FOUR Input your details and chosen dates.

Tel: 07747 007770

AGRI LIME GYPSUM SUPERSLAG

King Contracting

It works

East Harptree, Bristol

Tel - 01761 221246 M - 07850 838046

Jacob Ewes 5 smart 2 tooth ewes, £95 each also 7 Jacob Ewe lambs, £70 each, All from multiple births by prize winning ram .

STEP FIVE

Preview your advert and pay online.

First time visitors will need to register their details.

Tel 01452 760168 (Gloucester Area)

Classified www.thisisads.co.uk

Book your tailormade advert at www.thisisads.co.uk co.uk

12 FARMING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS

WDP-E01-S3

Technical digest FEEDS

New moist feed

by Mole Valley With higher milk prices, lower concentrate costs and relatively high-cost forage, Mole Valley Feed Solutions has launched a new range of moist feeds, with “dramatic” onfarm results. Replacing maize silage is Mole Moist 1425, which at 14 per cent protein and 25 per cent starch, with a high level of sugar, was used to extend or replace dwindling stocks. Formulated using a specially developed molasses liquid, soya hulls and ground maize grain, typical responses have been in excess of one litre per cow per day.

The moist feeds are specifically designed to increase DM intake and milk yield. In many situations they will simplify the feeding system and reduce diet cost. Mole Moist 1600 is a 16 per cent protein, zero starch, high-sugar formulation particularly useful as a buffer feed with cows at grass.

The latest development for the autumn is Mole Moist 1805.

This 50 per cent dry matter, 18 per cent protein, 5 per cent starch product with a high level of sugar includes the molasses liquid, high digestible fibre feed materials and pressed sugar beet pulp. As fresh maize silage is introduced into many diets in the next few weeks this could be the perfect complement. Also, many dry second-cut grass silages may benefit from an injection of a succulent, very palatable, high sugar feed.

Further new products are planned for the winter as different requirements emerge and the economics of milk production continues to improve.

POULTRY

Academy open for apprentices The South West Poultry Academy is launching its apprenticeship programme on October 23 at Colliton Barton Training Centre, East Devon.

The academy has been developed through a partnership between the West Country Layers’ Association, the South West Chicken Association and Duchy College with the support of individual poultry businesses throughout the region.

The apprenticeship programme will offer a unique opportunity in supporting the industry to develop the skills of young broiler and egg producers. Where employers have a potential job vacancy the academy will raise the profile of career paths within the sector, and individual employers will be supported in filling vacancies through a recruitment and matching service.

During the programme the apprentices will be given the opportunity to learn and gain a recognised qualification in poultry skills while working and earning a wage.

More details are available from Rachel Watkins on 07966 558386.

Velcourt director Robbie Taylor and Evershot farm manager Allaster Dallas MILK PRODUCTION

Evershot hosts feed open day Making more of on-farm resources as a means of reducing costs and improving margins is the cornerstone of profitable milk production at Evershot Farms in Dorset.

The holding, north-west of Dorchester, hosted a well-attended open day focusing on high-quality forage.

Milk production from the 900 cows at Evershot Farms Ltd is dependent on a total mixed-ration diet, with no additional concentrate fed in the parlour. It is a system that relies heavily on producing high-quality homegrown forage.

“Our system is predominantly grass-based, so the TMR mix includes 70 per cent grass silage and 30 per cent wholecrop with a 36 per cent protein blend plus minerals fed according to yield,” said farm manager Allaster Dallas, who invited visitors to the estate’s 360-cow unit run at Melbury Dairy. “The feeding regime at Melbury is working well for us, but aiming for high-quality forages is the key.”

Mr Dallas takes four grass silage cuts starting as early as the end of April if the season allows. He added: “Grass is the cheapest feed for producing

milk and that’s why we feed a lot of it and why we want to make sure we can preserve as much of its nutritional quality.”

Velcourt Ltd, which has managed Evershot Farms for almost 20 years, organised the farm open day in conjunction with Envirosystems, which produces the silage additive Optimize and Envirobed cubicle bedding.

The herd, which has an average yield of 8,500 litres at 3.95 per cent fat and 3.2 per cent protein, is paddockgrazed on a 21-day rotation system – although that can vary depending on the time of year. The farm has an on-going reseeding programme with most fields reseeded every seven years with late-heading perennial rye-grasses.

Cows are cubicle housed and bedded on Envirobed on top of cubicle mats.

This year the grass silage has been treated with Optimize silage additive – a bacillusbased inocculant developed to achieve maximum stability in the clamp.

Velcourt took 800 acres of grass for first-cut silage, but such a large acreage had to be taken before a full wilt.

Kim Lockyer, regional South West sales manager for Envirosystems, explained: “Grass is the driver to profit at Evershot Farms with up to 800 acres being ensiled for first

cut and again for second cut.

This means achieving a prefect wilt is difficult, due to needing to clamp quickly. With lower dry-matter silage it’s essential to use an additive that’s effective in combating any risk of loss of quality caused by a build-up of lactic acid.

“Optimize is designed to do precisely that and to prevent the risk of the silage becoming over-fer mented.”

This year’s first-cut silage – which contained a high proportion of young, soft grass – had a dry matter of 20 per cent and a D-value of 75 per cent, ME of 12 and crude protein of 15.5 per cent.

The HE-VA Euro-Tiller, unveiled at Tillage-Live by OPICO

LAND REGISTRY

MACHINERY

Farmers are being urged to keep the Rural Payments Agency informed of changes to land and regularly update rural land register maps.

Many farmers only update their maps when they submit their Single Farm Payment application form – rather than telling the RPA about land changes as soon as they happen. Letting the RPA know immediately not only saves time later, it also ensures that pre-populated SFP scheme application forms are up to date and accurate, making the application process smoother and easier to complete.

Typical things that people forget to notify the RPA about include features that are ineligible for SFP, such as ponds, buildings and tracks with a hard surface, and it is a requirement of the scheme that farmers inform it of changes as soon as they take place.

RPA customer director Justin Chamberlain said the agency began using aerial photography alongside land inspections last year to help identify changes on the ground that need incorporating into rural land register maps, but it was still better for farmers to act first and report changes to the RPA.

by OPICO at Tillage-Live earlier this month, capable of working at speeds of up to 10mph.

The heavy-duty, high-speed, trailed cultivation and levelling machine is available in a variety of working widths, and folds down to 10ft.

The Euro-Tiller comprises four rows of cultivator tines, a Shattaboard, another five rows of tines, a second Shattaboard and then a harrow.

The cultivating tines are designed to break up dried-out plough furrows or crusty ground, while the Shattaboard tines level the soil. The harrow then ensures that an even seedbed is left.

Each element is individu-

Farmers told to Euro-Tiller remade for UK soils update maps The HE-VA Euro-Tiller was ally adjustable and the maone of the machines unveiled chine runs on multiple-depth

CROPS

Market for oats glut may be elusive The increased area of oats harvested this summer may result in a surplus for which there is no clear market – home or abroad.

Following the wet autumn and winter of 2012 many growers switched to oats for their fit within rotations, and because there was seed available. Some will have secured buy-back contracts offering premiums or set prices, but many are likely to have planted the crop on a speculative basis with no guarantee that the market would meet their price expectations.

The latest figures from Defra suggest that farmers planted about 138,000 hectares, an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year. When extrapolated to include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the total area is likely to be in the region of 164,000 hectares, an increase

Openfield market analyst Cecilia Pryce says a glut of oats may presents a problem for sellers of 39 per cent on 2012. According to Openfield market analyst, Cecilia Pryce, this could result in a crop of about one million tonnes, assuming yield reports are accurate.

She said: “Identifying a market for the surplus will be a challenge and may require

considerable price corrections to ensure competiveness with other exporters. Demand for oats is largely inelastic, as it is a poor substitute for wheat and barley, even in animal feed rations.”

She argued the only credible option for disposing of this surplus was to export it, but with the major oat-producing nations of continental Europe and Scandinavia also enjoying sizeable crops this would require some clever marketing.

“Across the EU 28 the oat crop is expected to come in at about 8.5 million tonnes compared with 7.9 million tonnes in 2012,” she said.

Outside Europe demand is likely to be covered by nearby producers, with Canada satisfying almost all of the demand from the USA and Australia meeting the needs of Asian consumers.

wheels spread across the width of the cultivator. This allows it to follow the ground and ensures uniform depth of cultivation.

OPICO’s James Woolway explained: “HE-VA has been producing mounted and trailed seedbed cultivators for over 20 years, but they were designed to suit European soil condition and lighter spring cultivation. We’ve been working with them to develop a trailed seedbed cultivator more suitable for British soils. The Euro-Tiller is suitable for both spring and autumn cultivation and provides an alternative to a power harrow.”

It costs £27,584 plus VAT.

The Landini H-5 series has more advanced technology under the hood MACHINERY

Landini unveils new-look H-5 A new version of the Landini 5H Series tractor has been launched with a more fuel-efficient engine, new power options and a refreshed cabin interior with additional information provided by the new instrument panel.

It is being introduced by Landini dealers in the South West: Farm Equipment Service, Radstock, for Somerset; Clive Dodson Agricultural Engineer, Blandford Forum, for Dorset; C J Keitch Engineering, Honiton and Lee Govier of Chulmleigh for Devon; Cornish Tractors, of Week St Mary, and ER Carlyon Agricultural Engineers, of Truro, for Cornwall.

The tractor also introduces a new “family face” for the Landini range, with a one-piece hood that not only incorpor-

ates driving and work lights but also provides plenty of airflow to help keep the engine working at the correct temperature.

“The new styling certainly gives the tractor a very modern appearance,” said Richard Wareham, service manager at AgriArgo UK. “It also emphasises the advanced technology beneath the hood that gives the tractor increased performance and better fuel economy.”

Buyers can have the Techno version, with a dry clutch 24x12 transmission and manual three-point linkage operation, or the dual power version, which not only comes with the wet clutch power shuttle transmission and more equipment, but also extra power for selected operations.