Farming
Two new members for county’s show Two Blandford men have joined the board of Dorchester Agricultural Society as they begin a tricky year trying to organise Dorset County Show. Paul Dunlop, managing partner at law firm Blanchards Bailey, and Ben Best, who covers south Dorset as area sales manager for Blandford-based C&O Tractors, have been appointed to the ninestrong board of trustees of the society. The trustees, led by Dorset headteacher and farmer Nicola Ralph, guide and steer the society to promote excellence in agriculture. Paul said: “I am delighted to have been voted on to the board. I look forward to working with the show team and the other board members. “At Blanchards Bailey we are passionate about providing legal advice to the agricultural sector, with many of our staff farming or being involved with farming. “I hope my sector-specific skills and knowledge will enhance the management of the society.”
Paul Dunlop
Paul heads the Agriculture & Estates Sector at Blanchards Bailey’s head office in Blandford and advises farmers and landowners on all areas of the law. The firm has supported the Dorset County Show for many years, sponsoring livestock classes and the stockman’s supper as well as having a stand alongside the Country Land and Business Association (CLA). Paul added: “We are looking forward to having our own stand at the show when it next runs. This iconic event will take place once more, once restrictions are
Bethany’s off to the finals A Young Farmers Club member from the Sherborne club will be competing in the national finals of a talent competition after winning the county contest. Bethany Mitchell sang a Mumford & Sons cover while accompanying herself on acoustic guitar to win the day after a weekend of online entries from all over Dorset. She will now appear at the national finals on Saturday, July 10 at Staffordshire Showground, if restrictions allow – if not the show will be held online.Second in the Dorset contest were Puddletown YFC with Courting for Men and third and fourth was Beaminster YFC with Saturday Night and Walk eased and it is safe to do so.” Dorchester Agricultural Society (DAS) was established in 1840, and is Dorchester’s second oldest business. Dorset County Show is one of
Bethany Mitchell
of Life. Everyone who voted went into a raffle draw – winners included Charlotte Martin, Caroline House, Stuart Vickery, Beth Seare, Peter Riddle, Ann Rossiter, Sonia Raymond and Angela Frampton. The clubs are now planning a year of events. Go to dorsetyfc.org.uk to find out more. Dorset’s largest outdoor events, attracting about 60,000 visitors annually. If it is possible for the 2021 show to proceed, then it will take place on September 4 and 5.
Pesticide amnesty is hailed a success Some 3.5 tonnes of banned and outdated pesticides have been removed from farms across Dorset by the county’s Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) team. The farm pesticide amnesty has been hailed a ‘great success’ after 93 farms took part in the scheme, which the safe disposal of chemicals safely. The farm holdings took advantage of the amnesty, disposing up to 75 litres or kilograms free of charge and collected by Peake (GB) Ltd, a specialist agricultural waste 84
collection and disposal firm. Many participating farm holdings disposed in excess of the scheme’s limit and covered the additional cost themselves, removing 3,100 litres and 300kg of pesticides and other chemicals, which could otherwise pose a significant risk to the environment and water resources, particularly if they had been stored incorrectly. Richard Lambourne from Dorset’s Catchment Sensitive Farming team who lead the project, said: “The amnesty has been a great success,
helping farmers to correctly dispose of chemicals which can often be costly and difficult to get rid of. “The amnesty has shown a great willingness by farmers to take advantage of schemes like this to reduce risks to the water environment. “The scheme has also demonstrated a co-ordinated and joined-up approach with Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming team and Dorset’s water companies to help farmers deliver water quality improvements, with both Bournemouth Water and
Wessex Water sponsoring and contributing towards the delivery of the project. “Although water companies remove chemicals from raw water before it’s put into supply, it’s much more sustainable and cost-effective to work with farmers to reduce the chances of pesticides entering our water resources in the first place. “Through this amnesty we have helped facilitate the safe disposal of chemicals ensuring they won’t ever find their way into watercourses which could affect drinking water quality and damage the environment.”
