Today's News - 16 November 2012

"We recognise this could result in a small increase in the retail price of chicken, but we believe that people would be willing to pay a little more to reduce the risks to their health and help safeguard the effectiveness of such an important class of antibiotics into the future."
Richard Young, Soil Association policy advisor,
The Scottish Farmer, 15 November 2012

Call for antibiotic ban
Opponents of intensive agriculture have called for a ban on the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in poultry production.
The Scottish Farmer (15 Nov)
NFU urges antibiotics awareness
Farmers Guardian (16 Nov)
Concern over fluoroquinolone antibiotics in poultry production
Meat management.com (14 Nov)
Find out more about the human health risk from antibiotics
Listen to Richard Young, Soil Association policy advisor, talk about antibiotics at 17.30 tonight.
BBC World Service (16 Nov) 

RSPCA questions welfare standards of hospital food
An expose by the RSPCA into the sources of hospital food has revealed that most animal products served in hospitals come from animals reared “in poor conditions.” The study revealed eggs, chicken and pork came from animals raised on basic welfare standards.
Farming Online (15 Nov)

Forget weedkiller and learn to love weeding
Roundup Gel may have won awards, but Alys Fowler prefers wielding an old bread knife to rid her garden of weeds. 
The Guardian (16 Nov)

The GM tree plantations bred to satisfy the world's energy needs
It's a timber company's dream but a horrific industrial vision for others: massive plantations of densely planted GM eucalyptus trees stretching across Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and China, engineered to grow 40% faster for use as paper, as pellets for power stations and as fuel for cars.
The Guardian (15 Nov)

California genetic food vote is no victory for science
Imagine there are two plates of food in front of you. One is labelled "natural", the other "genetically modified". Which would you choose? I know what I'd do. Regardless of what the logical side of me knows, I'd feel more comfortable eating "natural" food.
New Scientist (15 Nov)

Gong for school meals company
The company which supplies school lunches to Torbay Council has been awarded the Silver Food for Life Catering Mark.
South West Business (15 Nov)
Find out more about the catering mark for schools 

What Are GMO's, And What Health Risks Do They Pose?
They’re in 80% of the food we eat: genetically modified organisms. Some say they pose serious health risks. Some believe those risks to be so serious, they’re willing to break the law in order to notify their fellow consumers that products may contain GMOs.
FoxCT (14 Nov)

UK fares badly in European water pollution table
The UK is among 16 European countries where more than 10% of groundwater is in poor chemical status, reveals a report.
Farmers Weekly (15 Nov)

Danone keeps half a million yoghurt bottles from landfill
A recycling scheme by Danone has resulted in 500,000 yogurt bottles being prevented from going to landfill.
The Grocer (14 Nov)

Water trading could be key to tackling future droughts
Water could one day be effectively traded, but more work is needed to ensure growers don't lose out in future droughts such as the one seen earlier this year, according the early results presented at the RASE Soil and Water Live Event.
Farmers Weekly (15 Nov)

Dairy gangmaster changes plea to guilty
A gangmaster said to have supplied overseas workers to some 500 UK farms has admitted operating without a licence.
Farmers Weekly (16 Nov)

The big sellout -- Majority of organic companies owned by mega corporations
One of the most beneficial aspects of the Yes on 37 campaign is the transparency it created regarding seemingly 'natural' and organic brands claims Carolanne Wright.
Natural News (15 Nov)

Farming Today
A farmer's heartbreak as his sheep are slaughtered alive by criminals. Charlotte Smith talks to the Greater Manchester police about who might be behind the attacks.With Christmas approaching, Farming Today visits a cranberry farm in Kent as the race starts for the festive harvest. And battle lines are drawn over a proposed 25 billion Euro cut to the Common Agricultural Policy.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (16 Nov)

And finally... Wildlife on a walk - your Green shoots photographs
We asked Guardian readers to immerse themselves in the natural world by getting outside on a wildlife walk and recording their experiences
The Guardian (12 Nov)