Today's News - 29 March 2012

“It is now certain that agricultural, veterinary and food industry use of antibiotics – which represents one half of all antibiotic use in the U.K – impacts on antibiotic resistance in animals which in turn impacts on antibiotic resistance in humans. Antibiotic resistance is developing faster than we can develop new antibiotics – if we don’t act now, we will rapidly arrive at a situation where we are unable to treat some bacterial infections.”
Dr Ron Daniels, executive director of the Global Sepsis Alliance and chair of the United Kingdom Sepsis Trust, on the overuse of antibiotics in farming – Soil Association – 29 March 2012

Report links E.coli to livestock antibiotics
The Soil Association has blamed the rise in prevalence of an antibiotic resistant form of E.coli on the over-use of antibiotics on livestock farms. The accusation was made in a report by the organisation – E.coli superbugs on farms and food – which focuses on a type bacterium known as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E.coli. The report estimates there were 750,000–1,500,000 cases of E.coli infections in 2011, resulting in nearly 40,000 cases of blood poisoning and nearly 8,000 deaths. This represents a fourfold increase since the 1990s.
Farmers Weekly (29 Mar)
Meat Info (29 Mar)
The Poultry Site (29 Mar)
Read the report: ‘E.coli superbugs on farms and food’
Read Dr Ron Daniels’ blog: 'Antibiotic use on farms is costing human lives’

Fears GM wheat that fends off greenfly could affect humans
A GM wheat that sends greenfly packing has been developed by British scientists. But environmental groups fear that the new crop could damage eco- systems and might affect humans.
The Daily Mail (28 Mar)
GM wheat trial begins amid high security
Farmers Weekly (28 Mar)

Farming needs 'climate-smart' revolution, says report
Farming must intensify sustainably, cut waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farms, it says. The Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change spent more than a year assessing evidence from scientists and policymakers. Its final report was released at the Planet Under Pressure conference.
BBC News (28 Mar)

Inspectors deployed at ports for first time in decades
RSPCA inspectors were at a UK port today for the first time in more than a decade to check the welfare of hundreds of calves and sheep being shipped abroad. Last week the RSPCA’s new chief executive, Gavin Grant, met with Thanet Council, which owns the port, to ask for permission for RSPCA inspectors to attend and pledged ’zero tolerance’ of any hauliers found breaking animal welfare rules.
Farming UK (28 Mar)

Easter egg makers not doing enough to cut packaging, says MP
A Lib Dem MP has accused confectionery giants and supermarkets of complacency when it comes to Easter egg packaging, in an analysis that claims they have made little progress in the past year in reducing card and plastic and improving recyclability. However, Soil Association licensees Montezuma’s and Green & Blacks were highlighted as having the ‘best egg-to-packaging ratio’.
The Guardian (29 Mar)

Yorkshire drought 'will push food prices up and quality down'
The long run of dry days will cause vegetable crops to suffer and Mr Poskitt warned consumers to expect a lower quality of product from farms which do not receive enough rain this season.
The Telegraph (28 Mar)
Wheat prices rise as European drought fears grow
Farmers Weekly (28 Mar)

Garden starlings in 79% UK decline
The number of starlings seen in people’s gardens has fallen by almost four-fifths since 1979, the RSPB has said. This year's survey of garden birds by members of the public revealed an average of just over three starlings per garden, compared to 15 in 1979, a fall of 79%, the wildlife charity said.
The Guardian (29 Mar)

Farming Today
A field trial's underway to test a genetically modified wheat variety which scares off aphids, and attracts the insects’ predators, by mimicking their alarm signal. Scientists at Rothamsted Research are developing the wheat. Plus, how the new National Drought Management Group hopes to share out what water resources England has this year. And, the rarest British heavy horse: the Suffolk Punch.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (29 Mar)