Today's News - 31 October 2012

“Gardeners grow their own potatoes because they don’t want potatoes that have been sprayed with chemicals.”
David Shaw, research director for Sárvári Research Trust, UK,
The Telegraph, (Oct 30)

When the chips are down: potato, maize and rice crop yields set to fall
Farmers in developing world will have to grow different food to prevent world going hungry in changing climate, says report.
The Guardian (31 Oct)
Find out more about the benefits of crop rotation.

Top seven genetically modified crops
Margie Kelly, communications manager at Healthy Child, Healthy World, looks at the top seven genetically modified crops growing in the US.
Huffington Post (31 Oct)
Find out more about why we campaign against GM crops.

The fight against potato blight
An outbreak of late blight in potatoes has shone a light on a quiet revolution, which aims to banish the disease from gardens. John Walker reports.
The Telegraph (30 Oct)

Bad weather hits British honey production
Rain and cold weather this summer saw honey yields from hives fall by almost three-quarters, the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) said today.
The Guardian (30 Oct)
Honey Harvest 'devastated' by wet summer
BBC News (30 Oct)
Honey's too tight to mention: rain and cold weather hit hive yields
The Independent (30 Oct)
Do your part to #SavetheBees by supporting the Soil Association’s Keep Britain Buzzing campaign and receive your campaign badge and pack of bee-friendly organic phacelia seeds.

MP backs plans for sky lantern inquiry
SOUTH Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news the Government will launch a long-awaited inquiry into sky lanterns and their impact on livestock.
Farmers Guardian (30 Oct)
Sky lantern inquiry welcomed by WFU
Farmers Guardian (30 Oct)

Potato industry in 'perfect storm of misery'
The Potato Council has called on retailers to increase the price they are paying for potatoes in what it is describing as a "watershed season" for some growers.
Farmers weekly (30 Oct)

Farmers’ markets are facing welcome challenges
As every retailer knows, the past four years has been pretty tough with everyone guarding the contents of their purses in the recession. Those taking stalls at farmers’ markets have not escaped this tightening of the purse strings but Douglas Watson, the national development officer for the Scottish Farmers’ Market Partnership, said they had two plus points when it came to sales.
The Scotsman (31 Oct)
Find out more about what we’re doing in Scotland:

Legal appeal may cost council dear
MID Devon District Council could face a legal bill of tens of thousands of pounds after an environmental co-operative whose 'green' smallholding scheme it rejected earlier this year lodged an appeal.
This is Exeter (31 Oct)

Farming today
An expert in tree health at Aberdeen University says more resources are needed to tackle tree diseases to prevent permanent damage to the UK's countryside. Meanwhile, the Food and Environment Research Agency is working with the Forestry Commission to implement the ban on ash imports and enforce the new movement restrictions within the country. With news that the Gangmaster's Licensing Authority has revoked a company's license for breaching labour regulations, their Director of Strategy insists that light touch regulation is adequate in dealing with exploitation. Finally, we visit a riding stables in Worcestershire to find out what the poor hay harvest this year means for winter feed stocks
BBC Radio 4, listen again (31 Oct)

And finally…100 years ago: Where the Celtic fairies dance
A perfect ring of dark green grass, six to eight feet across showed plainly on the springy turf of the salt-sprayed cliff; the Celtic fairies had been dancing.
The Guardian (Oct 30)