Today's News
02 August 2012
“I understand now the importance of the organic farming model. It reconnects our people to the earth and protects our biodiversity.”
Jayaseelan Naidoo, chairman of GAIN, on helping Indian farmers break their dependence on chemical through organic methods – Huffington Post – 1 August 2012
Pig farmers being forced out of business, survey warns
Pig farmers say they are being forced out of business by rising feed prices while supermarkets have tried to push their prices down. About 100 farmers are likely to leave the industry this year, representing 10% of Britain's small to medium-sized producers, according to a new survey of the industry by the National Pig Association.
The Guardian (1 Aug)
Input rise could force pig farmers out of business
Farmers Guardian (1 Aug)
Farmers urge shoppers to ‘save’ British bacon
Farmers Weekly (1 Aug)
The Naandi Model: A solution to global hunger?
Jayaseelan Naidoo, chairman of GAIN, writes about the work of the Naandi Foundation in India to help farmers develop organic farming methods and break their dependence on the chemical industry and their products. The Naandi Foundation works with farmers to transfer the skills of organic farming, develop the technology to make organic fertilizers from local materials, to increase productivity and to meet household food security and raise incomes by accessing even the global markets.
Huffington Post (1 Aug)
GMO potatoes: Is the biodiversity shortcut worth it?
Last week’s announcement that Ireland’s environmental protection agency approved the nation’s first trial of the genetically modified Amflora potato has reactivated the conversation about the spud, which has actually been kicking around Europe — on a trial basis — since 2010.
Grist (1 Aug)
Sustainable fish sales surge in the UK
Sales of alternative and more sustainable species of fish have risen sharply over the past year, UK supermarkets reported on Wednesday. Following a year of high-profile awareness campaigns to encourage take-up of sustainable fish, Sainsbury's has seen a surge of as much as 117% in sales of lesser-known fish species across the UK this year compared to 2011. It says sales of seabass are up by 57%, fresh pollack by 15%, trout by 29% and tilapia by a significant 117%.
The Guardian (2 Aug)
NFU seeks to promote dairy Producer Organisations in Britain
The NFU is taking the first steps towards increasing participation in milk Producer Organisations (POs) in Britain. The union has published a ‘Dairy and Producer Register Form’ in order to collect details of farmers who are interested in forming a POs. POs allow groups of farmers to come together to market their milk collectively, with elected representatives negotiating prices with milk buyers on their behalf.
Farmers Weekly (2 Aug)
Blackberries fruiting at record late time of the year
The devil is set to get into the blackberries later than ever before this century, according to early reports from the UK's annual survey of wild trees and shrubs' fruiting season. The traditional phrase for the fruit over-ripening and losing its crisp taste is unlikely to be bandied around until mid or late August, if first reports from the mass exercise prove to be a consistent pattern.
The Guardian (1 Aug)
US weather drags lobster prices down as it threatens to drive cattle costs up
If you're ordering surf'n'turf, it may just about work out even for you. The fortunes of two of America's most popular menu picks are heading in opposite directions, with a sharp fall in the price of lobster to be offset by a jump in cost of dining on steak. But as patrons ponder their mixed culinary blessings, lobster and steak producers are being left out of pocket as environmental factors conspire to knock the delicate supply-and-demand equation off balance.
The Guardian (1 Aug)
Farming Today
Caz Graham hears how drought in America's Mid-West is putting a squeeze on British pig farmers. Across the Atlantic, the drought is having a serious effect on the biggest agriculture crop in the states - corn. The short supply of crop is driving up global feed prices. Now, there's a row between livestock farmers and ethanol producers who burn corn to produce energy, it's an almost classic food versus fuel debate.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (2 Aug)
And finally…Campers invited to wake up to the sound of 1,000 yawning pigs
Campers will have the chance to sleep among the pigs at Eastbrook Farm later this month. The Camping with Pigs weekend takes place from August 16-19 at Eastbrook Farm, in Bishopstone, will give guests the chance to walk, cycle, horseride and wake up to the sound of yawning pigs. Booking is essential. For more information call 01793 790460, or email carolyn@helenbrowningorganics.co.uk
Swindon Advertiser (1 Aug)
