Shorthorn is the key to survival
Cumbrian marginal land farmer Tony Wood is convinced that the Beef Shorthorn
is the key to survival since decoupling of agriculture for the family farm. [
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article]
Ice Cream Connoisseur adds value
Self-taught connoisseur of ice cream Leigh Stamper’s ambition took 10 years to
come to fruition, but now this business is adding
ten times more value to the milk produced compared with that sold on the milk
contract. [
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article]
Hobby proves to be valuable enterprise
Pedigree Texel sheep flocks founded almost 20 years ago as a hobby have proved
a valuable enterprise alongside a pedigree dairy herd for a Scottish farming
family. [
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article]
Visitor centre sheds light on farming today
A Northumberland farmer’s five-year vision to open his farm to the public
and give them inside knowledge of the industry has finally come to fruition. [
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article]
In the pink with British Blues
An enthusiasm for breeding pedigree beef cattle and encouraged by prices for
cross-bred British Blue suckled calves have led Malcolm Telfer and Helen Claxton
to start a new beef venture. [
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article]
Roofed Midden benefits Lake District Farm
Simply roofing over a midden on a Lake District hill farm has made all round
benefits to the environment and in savings on labour and other costs. [
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article]
Cattle Shed ensures viability of Lake District Farm
Building a new cattle shed has helped ensure the future viability of a beef and
sheep farm in the heart of the Lake District. [
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article]
Sheep Housing benefits the Environment
New sheep housing has provided all-round benefits in efficiency, welfare and
for the environment on a West Cumbrian upland unit. [
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article]
Bright Future for Blondes
The Blonde has a bright future according to Mike Harrison whose suckler herd
which produces Blonde crossbred calves has picked up a national award. [
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article]
Maize improves Milk Production
Maize silage has been an important component in the diet of one of the leading
UK pedigree Holstein herds in the UK despite its northerly base at Thursby, near
Carlisle. [
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article]
Lakeland Beef underpins the market
Dedicated beef producer and regular supplier of prime quality Lakeland Beef,
Alan Brown says the brand has helped to underpin the market at a time when prices
have been in the doldrums. [
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article]
Galloways out-perform other breeds
A switch to an extensively run herd of pure Galloways has paid dividends in today’s
de-coupled agriculture for a Northumberland estate. [
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article]
Roundhouse wins top CLA award
What has been described as “an ingenious concept for housing livestock” has
won the CLA President’s Award for the best new build in England and Wales. [
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article]
Dirty Water Pumping
A small investment has saved both time and money for Lake District beef and
sheep farmer Martyn Mawson who farms in a high rainfall and a catchment sensitive
area only half a mile above Bassenthwaite Lake. [
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article]
Defra Farm Health Planning
Dairy farmers Trevor and John Whitfield are already reaping the rewards of farm
health planning under a new initiative as one of eight
advocate farms involved in the XLVets Dairy project run under Defra’s
Farm Health Planning scheme. [
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article]
Cumbrian Specialist Beef Unit
Re-structuring of the farm business after 2001 at Cracrop, Kirkcambeck, near
Brampton, Carlisle, concentrated on two pedigree beef herds – Charolais
and Limousin. [
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article]
Environment Enhancement
Specialist beef producers Brian Atkinson and his father Brendan have been able
to enhance their farm’s environmental benefits while maintaining a sound
commercial enterprise in shape for post 2012 without a Single Farm Payment. [
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article]
Pioneer Gold
Pioneer Foodservice, of Carlisle, has picked up a gold award for signing-up
customers to the English Quality Standard scheme for beef and lamb. The company
works closely with the English Beef and Lamb Executive. [
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article]
Nancy leaves Farm Link
Nancy Tweddell has moved on from her role as Cumbria Farm Link Manager. Her
departure marks 11 years of work with Cumbria’s farming and rural
communities on a number of funding initiatives. [
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article]
Naturally-reared Passion
A passion for naturally-reared, quality food and the desire to share that
with others has led Jo Kemp to produce her own traditional beef and lamb. [
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article]
Committed to Milk
A commitment to the future of milk production for the next generation of the
Dockeray family has involved investing in new dairy facilities and splitting
the farm partnership. [
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article]
Oxford Down - Ease of Management
Ease of management, early lambing and superior eating quality of finished lambs
are just some of the attributes of the Oxford Down which has kept Andrew Rutherford
faithful to the traditional British breed for the last two decades.
[
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Traditional Breeds for Profit
Traditional breeds of suckler cows which can be outwintered on the hill are
the key to profitable beef production for James Playfair Hannay.
[
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Gold Cup
The all-round performance of the 200-cow pedigree Ribblesdale herd run at Laneside
Farm, Waddington, near Clitheroe, has earned a place in the final
of the 2007 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition for the third year. [
read article]
Lumbylaw Texels
The Lumbylaw Texel flock at Billerwell Farm, Bonchester Bridge, near Hawick came out top on performance across all UK Texel flocks last year and the dispersal of the adult portion of the flock marks the end of an era for Richard Oates. [
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Savin HIll Meat
A Lake District farming and meat business is struggling to meet consumer demand
in the north west for its traditional native breeds of beef and pork. The
business at Savin Hill Farm in the Lyth Valley near Kendal had small beginnings
12 years ago. [
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article]
Northumbrian Rare Breed Meats
At a time when many livestock farmers in the region were seriously considering
their future in the aftermath of F&M, a couple realised
their long held ambition to sell their home-produced rare breed meats direct
to the public through a farm shop. [
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article]
Newfield Beef Shorthorns
A mission to find a particular type of duck led to the foundation of a successful
pedigree beef herd in north Yorkshire 20 years ago by Michael Abrahams and
his farm manager Ray Sanderson. [
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article]
Roman Excavations lead to new farm
Renewed interest in a Roman fort near Bishop Auckland has led to a fresh start
for farming couple Gordon and Julie Sedgewick. [
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article]
Pedigree Beef Recording
A judging seminar hosted by Beef Shorthorn breeder Carey Coombs at Carnwath
extolled the merits of pedigree beef recording.
[
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article]
Ashley uses Scabivax
With the entire female lamb crop selling through a handful of autumn sales,
Ashley Caton places great emphasis on the health of his stock to ensure they
thrive and to benefit future buyers.
[
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article]
Wild Geese scavenge Grass
Wild geese are arriving in larger numbers for an extended winter season
on valuable livestock grazing ground on the Cumbrian shores of the Solway
Estuary. [
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article]
Vaccination keeps Orf at bay
An outbreak of the sheep viral condition Orf convinced the Coates family that
a vaccination programme was essential, particularly as the disease prevented
selling at the main autumn North of England Mule gimmer lamb fixtures.
[
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article]
Borderfields produce Rapeseed OIl
A group of Borders farmers have set their store to trade beyond the farm
gate in premium products through a newly formed company. Borderfields was
set up by producers from the east coast in North Northumberland and the Borders.
[
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article]
Arable Prospects are Good
Future prospects for the North’s arable farmers are improving against
a background of an increasing demand for biofuels, a growing world population
and global warning. [
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article]
Cumbria's Auction Marts thrive in post FMD
Six years on from the start of the foot and mouth epidemic which devastated
Cumbria’s livestock industry, auction markets in the county are selling
more cattle and sheep through the market – at a greater turnover. [
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article]
A lifetime with sheep in the north
First and foremost a Northumberland farmer and a noted breeder of pedigree
sheep - Suffolks are his passion - Michael Walton is also an auctioneer and
has conducted specialist sheep sales across the country for the last 30 years. [
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article]
Increasing milk yield from home-grown forage
A west Cumbrian dairy farming family has made a two-fold impact on increasing
milk from home-grown forage – by growing maize and re-seeding cutting
and grazing fields with high sugar grass varieties. [
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article]
Planning Herd Health for Livestock Exports
Live export markets for both pedigree and commercial cattle may have re-opened
- but UK farmers need to take on board herd health planning now to avoid jeopardising
these opportunities warns Graham Brooks, the new president of the BCVA. [
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article]
Northumbrian Organic Feeds
Northumberland farmer Stuart Hyslop’s enthusiasm for the future of organic
livestock and arable production has led to the development of the northern
counties’ first fully organic blending and milling plant. [
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article]
[2005 features]
[2006 features]
