Today's News - 05 April 2012

“Managing the certification process for such an iconic site was a positive and fulfilling experience. It’s great to know that after The Games take place these buildings and all the supporting infrastructure will be enjoyed and appreciated by Olympic Park visitors and the local community for years to come.”
Beck Woodrow, Soil Association Woodmark Project Manager, on 19 Olympic sites achieving certification for ethical wood sourcing – World Architecture News – 4 April 2012

Ethical wood sourcing at Olympic Park recognised
As the world counts down to the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games, news comes that the Soil Association Woodmark and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) have achieved certification for ethical wood sourcing at 19 separate sites across the park.
World Architecture News (5 Apr)
World first Olympic timber procurement success confirmed
Timber Trades Journal (31 Mar, pp.4-5)
Find out more about the Soil Association’s Woodmark here.

Nature studies by Michael McCarthy: Bees, pesticides and Defra’s weasel words
The coming together of a major problem and a leading problem-solver can be a significant moment, and we witnessed one such last week with the news that Professor Bob Watson is going to have a close personal look at the issue of neonicotinoids, the new nerve-agent pesticides, and their effect on bees and other pollinating insects.
The Independent (5 Apr)

Youngsters get hands on at Crofting Connections
On Monday, March 19, the Kirkwall Town Hall was the venue for a gathering of Orkney schools involved in the Crofting Connections project. Crofting Connections is a three-year project launched in August 2009 by the Scottish Crofting Federation and Soil Association Scotland, to give children from remote rural communities an opportunity to learn about crofting.
The Orcadian (29 Mar, p.12)
Find out more about Crofting Connections here.

Is this the end of the cheap burger? EU diktat on low-quality meat means prices are set to soar
The price of burgers, sausages and pies is to rocket because of an EU ban on low-quality meat. From the end of this month, there will be a ban on bulking up fast food and supermarket value ranges with reconstituted mince made from scraps of beef and lamb.
The Daily Mail (4 Apr)

Mass protest planned against GM wheat
The group, called “Take the flour back”, has launched a website campaign to protest against the aphid-resistant wheat trial in Rothamsted.
Farmers Weekly (4 Apr)

Schmallenberg tests on farmers prove negative
Laboratory tests were carried out at the Robert Koch Institute on farmers whose sheep flocks had been infected with Schmallenberg virus. The results all came back negative, indicating an ‘extremely low’ risk to humans from the virus.
Farmers Guardian (5 Apr)

Rice of an organic farmer, after being fed up of chemicals
Devendrappa S Bhoyi Kakkeri, 36, started farming at the age of 19. His interest in organic farming grew when his patch of land began demanding increased investments but continued to yield decreased profits. He’s now conserving 200 varieties of organic rice.
Daily News and Analysis (5 Apr)

Sales of natural baby products are rocketing
Mums are becoming big fans of natural baby products with sales of baby skin care products have growing more than 180% in the last three years.
Big Green Smile (5 Apr)

Standalone FSA welcomed for Scotland
Scotland is one step closer to getting its standalone Scottish Food Standards Agency (FSA) after an independent panel of experts favoured the move.
Farmers Guardian (4 Apr)

Arsenic in our chicken?
A pair of new scientific studies suggest that poultry on factory farms are routinely fed caffeine, active ingredients of Tylenol and Benadryl, banned antibiotics and even arsenic.
The New York Times (4 Apr)

Man gets two years in organic food scam
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken cited the long-running Lane County Farmers Market and strong local interest in pesticide-free foods as she imposed the 27-month sentence on 55-year-old Harold Chase. In a plea deal with the government, Chase pleaded guilty in December to a single count of wire fraud in connection with the case. He admitted wrongfully pocketing an extra $190,000 by passing off the conventional grain as U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic corn.
The Register Guard (5 Apr)

Farming Today
Hundreds of horses are flying thousands of miles from all over the world to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics. Caz Graham speaks to Tim Dutta to hear how he will be sending the American horses in their jet stalls. The Food Standards Agency is halting production of desinewed meat. Now the European Commission wants this meat to be specifically labelled as 'Mechanically Separated Meat'. And Caz walks along Hadrian's Wall to discover the economic benefit of taking a walk.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (5 Apr)

And finally…Who says bigger's better? The cosy eco-friendly micro houses made from household junk for less than $200
Made from scavenged materials, Derek Diedricksen's tiny houses cost just $200 to make. The 33-year-old uses parts of discarded household items to ensure each home has basic functions. Click the link below to see images.
The Daily Mail (5 Apr)