Today's news - 18 January 2013

 
"In the Year of Natural Scotland, we are delighted to be working with our partners to continue to build on the success of Crofting Connections. We look forward to supporting more young people to learn about the contribution of crofting and the crofting counties to Scotland’s natural heritage.”
Laura Stewart, Director Soil Association Scotland
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (17 Jan)

Livestock farmers must be vigilant as heavy snow strikes
With the Met Office predicting heavy falls of snow livestock farmers are being advised to take extra special precautions to safeguard animal welfare.
Farmers Guardian (18 Jan)

The dream job – working on the land
The Soil Association’s new Future Growers Scheme (FGS) hopes to address this problem by bringing together highly skilled organic growers with a new generation eager to learn. There has been a huge demand for learning these skills and the FGS has already had over 500 applicants.
Countryfile magazine online (18 Jan)

Another good reason to eat your greens: It makes you more optimistic about the future
People who eat plenty of fruit and vegetables tend to be more optimistic about the future, new research suggests.
Mail online (17 Jan)

Horsemeat scandal 'must reignite food labelling debate'
Beef and lamb promotion body EBLEX has called for a new debate on the labelling of meat products in the wake of the horsemeat burger scandal.
Farmers Weekly (18 Jan)

Russia claims loss of confidence in EU animal products
Following the introduction of new restrictions on imports of animal products from the EU, Russian officials have warned the Russian industry has completely lost confidence in EU producers.
Globalmeatnews.com (17 Jan)

Minister for Learning Dr Alasdair Allan meets next generation of Scotland’s crofters
Crofting Connections, a unique crofting project for children and young people in the Highlands and Islands, will launch its second phase at Plockton High School today.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (17 Jan)

An ethical-shopping revolution's under way
Across the world – on high streets, in markets and online – a revolution is bubbling away. People are using their purchasing power to buy from social enterprises – a growing movement of businesses 68,000 strong in the UK alone – that sell products or services but reinvest profits for social good.
The Guardian (17 Jan)

Owen Paterson answers your questions on CAP reform
Where exactly is the UK going on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform? Join us next Wednesday (January 23) for a live web chat with Defra Secretary Owen Paterson who will be answering questions on his approach to the reform process.
Farmers Guardian (14 Jan)

What a Waste
A report out just last week said up to half the food we buy is wasted despite much of it being perfectly edible. In the Tonight programme Jonathan Maitland asks how we stop the average British family throwing away £680 worth of food a year.
ITV.com (17 Jan)
Read the Soil Association's response to the IME Report.

Coalition asks cereal companies to get the GMOs off the breakfast table
GMO Inside, a coalition dedicated to helping consumers to know whether or not foods are genetically engineered, announced that it wants Kellogg’s and General Mills to label or remove the ingredients in their products that are genetically engineered. For cereals, this could apply to as much as 80% of ingredients, including corn, soy, and processed sugars made from corn.
Examiner.com (17 Jan)

NFU livestock chairman's horror over Schmallenberg outbreak
The NFU’s livestock chairman Charles Sercombe has spoken of the devastating impact of Schmallenberg after the virus accounted for 40 per cent of his early lambing flock.
Farmers Guardian (18 Jan)

Farming Today
Was the drive for cheap food behind the horsemeat scandal? Charlotte Smith reports.
BBC Radio 4 (18 Jan)

And Finally… pictures of the spectacular mating ritual of the tiny peacock spiders in south-east Australia
Daily Mail (17 Jan)