tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:57:06 +0000Ombudsmansuccessful farmingfun on the farmsupermarket buying powerfarmingfamily farmingfarmideasa day out on the farmexpenditure cutsGrowHowfarm businessfarm subsidiesCAPfarm inspectionssupermarket complianceMPs expensesDefradisease risks of farm visitsNPKYaraCompetition Commissionlivestock farmingchildrens farmsgrassland managementfertiliser spreaderPractical Farm Ideaswww.farmideas.co.uk Bright ideas to make your farming more effective, safer, more productive, less polluting, more energy efficienthttp://farmideas.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)Blogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8661511022455093320Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:09:00 +00002013-03-13T23:09:15.056ZBovine TB moves up a gear - to the concern of all involved New figures published today show an increase of 9.6 per cent in cattle slaughtered for TB in England, which has now reached a figure of 38,010. It provokes a number of serious concerns. To summarise the problem:  The cost of compensation to the taxpayer rises as the costs in the following categories: 1. The compensation paid to farmers 2. Costs of testing - vet visits to farms etc 3. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/knzThbTqjO8/bovine-tb-moves-up-gear-to-concern-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/knzThbTqjO8" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2013/03/bovine-tb-moves-up-gear-to-concern-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8337853244607549763Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:45:00 +00002013-01-02T15:21:00.652ZThorny question of agricultural wage controls  NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond is firmly behind the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board saying "Removing this separate structure seems entirely consistent with modern notions of workers' rights, industrial relations and business management."  He says few farm workers receive the minimum.....    and that the average earnings for full time workers are 41 per cent above the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/7IC3xkZqagU/thorny-question-of-agricultural-wage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/7IC3xkZqagU" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2013/01/thorny-question-of-agricultural-wage.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-5788775635517129245Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:27:00 +00002012-11-29T12:57:13.183ZCleaning machinery prevents spread of seed and animal disease Taking unwashed machines from one farm to another risks spreading disease Moving farm machinery from one county to another, from one farm to another farm, or even from one field to the next field, has the real possibility of transferring seeds and diseases that can affect both plants and animals. How easy it is to finish one job, pack the harvester or spreader for transport, and drive off http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/n_4_F64Ei1g/cleaning-machinery-prevents-spread-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/n_4_F64Ei1g" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/11/cleaning-machinery-prevents-spread-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-5059981956862841110Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:48:00 +00002012-11-16T18:58:04.005ZYaragrassland managementNPKsuccessful farmingGrowHowlivestock farmingfarm subsidiesfarm businessWinter work on grassland will pay dividends Some timely ideas for grassland farmers to think of doing now A 'Think Piece' Blog:  Traditional grass management involves doing nothing over the winter months. Farmers wait until the soil warms up in the spring, when fertiliser is applied and the roller and the chain harrow get their annual outing. This Blog suggests that farmers who forget about their grassland over the winter are missinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/LG3hD_9xYyc/winter-work-on-grassland-will-pay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/LG3hD_9xYyc" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-work-on-grassland-will-pay.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-2812671509125773388Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:49:00 +00002012-09-19T12:50:45.906+01:00Reducing cow feed costs by up to 10% Feeding cattle is a skilled job Many farmers get 'the boy' to do the feeding. He doesn't mind doing it - it's mechanical and not hard work. Neither is it too complicated. He can do it unsupervised. Unlike milking, where a mistake can lead to a disaster, feeding has fewer pitfalls.  So milking is seen as the most important work on the dairy farm, and even in a beef unit. feeding is often a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/PoupCbeHs80/reducing-cow-feed-costs-by-up-to-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/PoupCbeHs80" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/09/reducing-cow-feed-costs-by-up-to-10.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-469179632329401650Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:35:00 +00002012-09-07T22:31:46.132+01:00<atom:summary type="text"> Organic Farming Takes a Knock FOR TWO DECADES and more farmers have been told that doing it organically is the only 'sustainable' way to farm. In the past few weeks I have read two reports which question the benefits of organic farming.  These are two high profile studies come from the most prestigious sources - the universities of Oxford in the UK and Stanford in the USA. Both have gained </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/GbwmEzWWduI/organic-farming-takes-knock-for-two.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)</author><thr:total>1</thr:total><description><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/GbwmEzWWduI" height="1" width="1"/></description><feedburner:origLink>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/09/organic-farming-takes-knock-for-two.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-9202722616817492</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-08-07T23:46:11.967+01:00</atom:updated><title>Quad bike gets electronic lockingThe New Issue of Practical Farm Ideas, Vol 21, issue 2, has been printed, mailed to subscribers and will be in selected rural stores from Thursday Aug 9. Click through here for details and to order  Our cover story in this new issue helps farmers keep their quad bikes - and other machinery - on the farm and not part of an insurance claim for theft. Quad bikes are so often left with their keys http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/mno3StiH7G4/quad-bike-gets-electronic-locking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/mno3StiH7G4" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/08/quad-bike-gets-electronic-locking.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-674927054569566249Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:56:00 +00002012-07-20T08:15:39.932+01:00Spotlight on The Dairy CrisisThe role of each party involved and why the minister might be deaf.  A neighbouring dairy farmer dropped in yesterday...  "what can be done to get us out of this mess?" he asks. He's an efficient farmer, runs a herd of 140 cows with his son, and is very concerned about the milk price reductions due in August.  I suggested farmers need to look at the components of the problem. What is the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/3VqUuOdl9wU/spotlight-on-dairy-crisis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/3VqUuOdl9wU" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/07/spotlight-on-dairy-crisis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-2006275755756643160Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:31:00 +00002012-07-10T23:57:07.326+01:00Let's get the London Milk March right! Milk:  the on-going farming crisis The presentation of the current dairying crisis needs planning and presentation. This article outlines what needs to be done by farming leaders, and the marchers in London. Dairy farmers need a better deal. But to get it they will need convincing arguments, a compelling presentation of the facts, and friends in high places.  The hope is that the march http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/6d9-ydl6OcI/lets-get-london-milk-march-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/6d9-ydl6OcI" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/07/lets-get-london-milk-march-right.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-6965854753792930069Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:00 +00002012-05-15T17:47:33.964+01:00Wiseman milk price forecast correct When on January 16, 2012  Müller Dairies bought Wiseman for £279.2m, the deal was said by Robert Wiseman to make strong strategic sense, to have synergy and the maximise the 'complementary positions' of the two companies. The 360p/share deal looked good for Wiseman shareholders, who had been trading the stock at 250p. I discovered that a large proportion of the purchase was from a Deutsche http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/Rmme2Goh_xo/wiseman-milk-price-forecast-correct.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/Rmme2Goh_xo" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/05/wiseman-milk-price-forecast-correct.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-3345594511747739730Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:16:00 +00002012-04-09T10:16:47.232+01:00Water harvesting saves farmer moneyPractical Farm Ideas arable contributor Mark Pettit who farms 600ha of all combinable crops near Gainsboroughhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/jmdHaY59BsQ/water-harvesting-saves-farmer-money.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/jmdHaY59BsQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/04/water-harvesting-saves-farmer-money.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8573627947877394705Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:17:00 +00002012-03-29T23:52:05.761+01:00<atom:summary type="text">The diesel question - future price trends, and cutting costs As the price of oil rises the pain for buyers increases. Farmers are price takers and not price setters, so they have no possibility to raise their selling price of corn, meat or milk to take account of the rise in diesel.                                                  www.farmideas.co.uk Securing supplies of diesel is a </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/biqJaruO4Sc/thediesel-question-this-seasons-price.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total><description><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/biqJaruO4Sc" height="1" width="1"/></description><feedburner:origLink>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/03/thediesel-question-this-seasons-price.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-3078577308332915101</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:21:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-03-23T16:21:38.610Z</atom:updated><title /><atom:summary type="text"> March 23 A less than neutral budget Farming didn't get a mention in the Budget speech, but that doesn't mean it will have no effect on farming. In fact, the long term consequences could be quite considerable. ON FUEL, the Chancellor is criticised for not giving an inch on the rising cost of fuel prices, and the confirmation of the increase in fuel duty this summer will surely make </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/aZ6IK6Uyk5E/march-23-less-than-neutral-budget.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total><description><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/aZ6IK6Uyk5E" height="1" width="1"/></description><feedburner:origLink>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-23-less-than-neutral-budget.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-3001123946080992905</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:14:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-03-22T11:14:59.706Z</atom:updated><title>farmersforum.iefarmersforum.iehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/NxsLbjDcVkU/farmersforumie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/NxsLbjDcVkU" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/03/farmersforumie.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-4580710270428746466Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:47:00 +00002012-03-16T10:31:54.976ZBBC Countryfile moves further away from farming The Magazine  -  Contact  -  On-Line Info BBC Countryfile moves further away from farming Many farmers are complaining that 'their' TV slot is being hi-jacked by people they describe as 'the sandal brigade', 'foodies and fadies'  and 'rural tourism' and so on. It's hard to deny it.  But, as Andrew Thorman explained to a group of farming journalists from the GAJ, the audiences for all the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/DRta6NbEoiI/bbc-countryfile-moves-further-away-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/DRta6NbEoiI" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/03/bbc-countryfile-moves-further-away-from.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8708771648359695032Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:39:00 +00002012-02-24T16:12:03.786ZHow productive is it to roll grassland? The cost of diesel and time makes it important for each tractor job to have a positive financial outcome. This blog asks about the benefits of rolling grass in the spring, and suggests the outcome may actually be negative.  Farmers might do a simple experiment to measure the benefits. If they are non-existent it may well be cheaper to take the day off and go fishing. Fields not poached http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/GF1K5WbkVUk/how-productive-is-it-to-roll-grassland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/GF1K5WbkVUk" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-productive-is-it-to-roll-grassland.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-2407185201326549993Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:33:00 +00002012-10-06T22:17:40.990+01:00Farmers have a major role in drought and flood issues Todays DEFRA conference should be looking at soil management The up-coming drought in the S-E of England is worrying farmers, who are demanding concessions to any drought orders in order to protect their crops and livelihoods. Yet it is on their land that the rain mainly falls. Is modern land management, that is, the way farmers work the land, in any way responsible for the problems of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/InkgETC0Kf0/farmers-have-major-role-in-drought-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/InkgETC0Kf0" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/02/farmers-have-major-role-in-drought-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-4367056741071675122Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:12:00 +00002012-02-18T19:35:43.577ZEU funding: less for farming, more for scienceFarm leaders need to focus on agri research funding as well as defending farmers' CAP entitlements 'Cut spending on agricultural support through Single Farm Payment and use the money on increased research' is not simply a call from UK universities wanting to protect their budgets, but is one which looks like getting the backing of Business Secretary Vince Cable. In a recent interview to the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/G4a4jFMtvpc/eu-funding-less-for-farming-more-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/G4a4jFMtvpc" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/02/eu-funding-less-for-farming-more-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-6801717197078894300Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:53:00 +00002012-01-29T21:45:35.318ZSome 'modern' farmers are slow to changeSome 'modern' farmers are slow to change For them, the risks of change are greater than the security of doing things the way they have been done for the past few decades. Is there any other trade or business so resistant to change and technical development as farming? Air transport took a about a decade to make the huge change from propellers to jet engines. Medicine takes on new drugs and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/ywiMstzdGxs/some-modern-farmers-are-slow-to-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/ywiMstzdGxs" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2012/01/some-modern-farmers-are-slow-to-change.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-39520428438600710Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:52:00 +00002011-09-15T15:02:19.237+01:00"If you want to become richer than a banker, become a farmer" says top US investorThe message that the world of global food surpluses is coming to an end is now well understood. The news headlines might have recently been dominated by riots, the Arab Spring, phone hacking and Amy Winehouse, but food and energy supplies are an issue which be with for for many decades.  Farmers are the people who know how to grow and harvest food, and, if we're all going to be eating in 20 yearshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/RrAS7eenQG8/if-you-want-to-become-richer-than.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/RrAS7eenQG8" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/09/if-you-want-to-become-richer-than.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-1299513050359280708Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:35:00 +00002011-08-20T13:58:06.925+01:00Dairy farmers face tough winterNumbers of farmers in the dairy sector face a tough winter, and the shortage of fodder and bedding for their stock will only add to their troubles. The article suggests that the situation could be helped if those farmers growing crops would bale more of their straw, and even bale straw from oil seed rape. In this way farmers can be seen to be working together.  To the arable farmer the straw fromhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/56ip-7ozZyM/dairy-farmers-face-tough-winter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/56ip-7ozZyM" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/08/dairy-farmers-face-tough-winter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-731893277397364393Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:57:00 +00002011-08-09T16:57:36.275+01:00family farmingThe future of the small family farm p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} The future of the small family farm Defra's interest in exploring how agricultural tenancies can be made more competitive and supportive of people entering farming might be seen as more political than practical. A reduction in the number ofhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/GmsgnJOYLDk/future-of-small-family-farm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/GmsgnJOYLDk" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/08/future-of-small-family-farm.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8404336375051009860Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:51:00 +00002011-08-04T14:34:47.281+01:00Farmers cannot prosper without new ideasProtecting tractor glass from breaking Have you noticed how big tractor cab windows have become? Not only are they an easy target for the wayward stone thrown up by the hedge trimmer, mower, tedder and other implements, they are expensive to repair. And when they shatter, the bang is quite frightening. The new issue of Practical Farm Ideas shows how an inventive farmer has made clear plastic http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/1LJEPqQIXMY/farmers-cannot-prosper-without-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/1LJEPqQIXMY" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/08/farmers-cannot-prosper-without-new.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-5348700286608180246Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:49:00 +00002011-07-12T15:49:17.112+01:00Subscribers' Newsletter July 2011May: ISSUE 20-1, published May 8. Changes to the magazine cover have gone down well with farmers and other magazine designers - some even emailed us with their approval! May: GRASS & MUCK, Stoneleigh  May 18 With minimal crops it was difficult to assess forager and mower performance. I was looking for, and found, some machinery that would do the job cheaper, but most companies were paradinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/TEA-raNK0RY/subscribers-newsletter-july-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/TEA-raNK0RY" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/07/subscribers-newsletter-july-2011.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29353917.post-8346271953722847537Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:39:00 +00002011-06-13T13:39:26.500+01:00Could mega-farms compromise food security? p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} Why food security is best served by a large number of smaller operators. Is it feasible the problems of Southern Cross care homes could be replicated in other sectors, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Farmideas/~3/NLjpfoo9ICo/could-mega-farms-compromise-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Donovan)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Farmideas/~4/NLjpfoo9ICo" height="1" width="1"/>http://farmideas.blogspot.com/2011/06/could-mega-farms-compromise-food.html