Farming

Veterinary directorate gives green light to fast-tracking of Schmallenberg vaccine

21 May 2013

MSD Animal Health announced yesterday that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has granted the company a provisional marketing authorisation for Bovilis SBV, the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.
Unique opportunity to lead study tour of Peruvian agriculture

20 May 2013

I HAVE developed a soft spot for South America after agricultural study tours of Argentina in 2010 followed by Brazil and Paraguay last year.
Uncertainty in sheep market as new lambs come through

18 May 2013

THE prime sheep market is currently going through that annual period of uncertainty as old season hoggs dry up and new season lambs pick up in volume.

£2m funding open to new entrants and deer farmers

17 May 2013

A new scheme offering financial support to new farming entrants and deer farmers currently excluded from receiving single farm payments (SFP) opened for business this week.

Lochhead rebuffs NFUS plan to free up grazing for livestock

16 May 2013

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has firmly rebuffed a request by NFU Scotland to consider relaxing the rules on some agri-environment projects to help free up grazing for Scotland's struggling livestock.
Fresh-calved heifer sells for 2500gns at May Friesian sale

15 May 2013

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 167 store heifers in Dumfries on Monday to a top of 252.9p per kg and an average of 200.1p (-6.2p on the previous sale), while 243 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 268.9p and levelled at 212.3p (-7.3p).
Dairy herds suffer one of toughest years in memory, reveal farmers

14 May 2013

The 12 months to March 2013 has proved to be one of the toughest years in memorable history for many dairy farmers, with Kingshay Dairy Manager costings for conventional Holstein Friesian herds showing a margin over purchased feed down £17,775 on average.

Union reminds farmers to submit application for payments

11 May 2013

IT'S hard to imagine anyone forgetting, but NFU Scotland is reminding all farmers and crofters that the latest deadline is fast approaching for them to submit their annual application form for Scotland's various support schemes.
Evidence plants communicate via underground fungal networks

10 May 2013

PLANTS use underground fungal networks to warn their neighbours of aphid attack, according to researchers.
Farming unions join foreign peers in CAP battle

9 May 2013

The UK's four farming unions have joined those of Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands to demand that national governments co-finance any transfer of funds from the direct payments pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the rural development pillar.

Elsewhere on Herald Scotland

New AIC register assures standard of advice on livestock feed

4 May 2013

THE Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), the body that represents agricultural merchants, has launched the Feed Adviser Register (FAR) to assure the standards of advice in livestock nutrition.
Bad weather takes its toll as Scottish sheep losses rise by 50%

3 May 2013

The impact of recent extreme weather has been revealed by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) – the organisation set-up to co-ordinate the collection of fallen stock across the UK.
£6 million recovery package for farmers hit by poor weather

2 May 2013

A £6 MILLION package has been announced by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead to provide badly needed assistance to those farmers hardest hit by the recent snowstorms and other severe weather in 2012/13.