Sponsored by
Food, Drink and Agriculture
Farming: Questions over £6m weather support
THE Scottish Government’s announcement earlier this week of details of its £6 million weather aid aimed at sheep and cattle farmers was yesterday viewed with a degree of scepticism by the chairman of the Scottish region of the National Sheep Association.
‘Spy in the sky’ warning to growers
Growers of horticultural crops who are not paying a levy to the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) were warned this week that a “spy in the sky” will be used to track them down.
Waterlogic agrees acquisition of Cool Clear Water
WATERLOGIC, the Aim-quoted maker of water dispensers, is poised to break into the Australian market after agreeing the A$60 million (£38.4m) acquisition of Cool Clear Water (CCW).
For dairy producers, size does matter
With a public sympathy for small family dairy farms, a suggestion was made yesterday that some method of keeping them in business – possibly with financial inducements – should be considered.
Farm wage plans welcomed
NFU Scotland yesterday described the proposed increases in minimum agricultural wages as “proportionate and reflective of the hugely challenging year faced by the sector”.
£80m to spend on that ‘special occasion’ meal
PUBS group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday unveiled an £80 million investment cocktail targeting special occasion eating, family dining and “upmarket” metropolitan socialising.
AG Barr ‘positive’ despite Britvic jobs axe
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr has insisted that it “remains positive” over its planned £1.4 billion merger with Britvic, which today unveiled plans to cut hundreds of jobs after reporting a 50 per cent jump in profits.
2 commentsLondon blocks calls for livestock levy repatriation
The prospect of Scotland getting its hands on £1.4 million of livestock levies annually going into the English meat promotion board slipped away this week with Whitehall rejecting the Scottish Government’s latest claim to the cash.
£6m weather aid package unveiled
Details emerged from the Scottish Government on who would be eligible for the £6 million of weather aid cash with sheep, cattle and arable farmers all being eligible to apply for funding.
1 comment
Marine Harvest close the net on Cermaq acquisition
Norwegian fish producer Cermaq has failed to win enough shareholder support to buy Peruvian fish feed maker Copeinca, opening the door to a $1.7 billion (£1.1bn) takeover of Cermaq by rival Marine Harvest, the world’s largest fish farmer.
Beef prices ‘may cause backlash’
A WARNING has come over a potential backlash to soaring beef prices as judges selected entries for the McIntosh Donald/Tesco Scotch steak competition at next month’s Royal Highland Show.
Land reform report opens up several old wounds
Any views emerging from the Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) set up last year by the Scottish Government to take a radical look at land ownership issues were always likely to be controversial, with a history of division and dispute littering the territory.
Europe’s CAP debate set to run and run
It LOOKS as if extra time will need to be played to conclude the talks on the next common agricultural policy (CAP) where the original timetable was to have them done and dusted by the end of June.
Hope for battle against Scmallenberg virus
Pharmaceutical giant, MSD Animal Health yesterday announced that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) of the United Kingdom had granted the company a provisional marketing authorisation for Bovilis® SBV, the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.
Farming: Owners of sheep-worrying dogs need bitten
Ben was about the poorest sheepdog around, and I can say that from pretty close observation as he was the shepherd’s dog on my father’s farm.
4 commentsTesco goes for all Scottish sourced chickens
Another five million chickens of those produced annually in Scotland will appear on the supermarket shelves of retailing giant Tesco following its decision to only source fresh chicken from this country for its 194 Scottish stores.
2 commentsUncharted territory
In NORMAL times, this is the changeover period in the sheep trade, with the supply of hoggs from the previous year drying up and new lambs coming on to the market.
1 commentTrust targets next generation
Six projects aimed at educating and informing Scottish children about farming and food have been awarded a total of £30,000 in the first distributions from NFU Scotland’s Centenary Trust.
Farming: Honesty is key to winning over consumers
Pig and poultry producers need to be more straightforward, honest and open about animal welfare if they are to encourage shoppers to choose British food over cheaper imports.
Scottish dairy herd free of Schmallenberg virus
So FAR so good but watch out in the future was the message from the NFUS yesterday after it reported no positive samples in a survey as to whether the Schmallenberg virus had entered Scottish dairy farms.
EU rules end hope of aid
Although sympathetic to a plea from NFU Scotland for a relaxation in grazing rules for agri-environment schemes, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday warned any such move might infringe strict European rules.
1 comment£2m plans for new entrants and deer farmers
Details emerged yesterday on how the £2 million promised in February by rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead would be distributed to new entrants and deer farmers, both of whom are currently excluded from single farm payment support (SFP).
C&C to grow Tennent’s sales overseas
TENNENT’S maker C&C Group is preparing to launch its flagship lager into overseas markets including India, while freezing prices at home and introducing a beer aged in whisky casks.
Olympic ideal could boost beef sector
There is nothing particularly sporting about it but the Olympic podium model for providing future subsidies looks the best option for specialist Scottish beef producers, according to Scottish Rural College beef specialist Douglas Bell.
1 commentCall to end milk quota system
MOVES in Brussels that would fund short-term supply problems in the milk sector in Europe were yesterday attacked by both Scottish and English NFUs as only adding to bureaucracy and helping competitors.
Enterprise Inns toasts end of wintery snap
RECENT milder weather has handed a much-needed boost to Britain’s biggest pub landlord after the freezing winter kept drinkers away and drove half-year sales 4.2 per cent lower.
Farming: Unanimity is lacking in EU
THERE was unanimous support for only one issue yesterday at the EU Agricultural Council yesterday and that was a need to have all the main bones of the next common agricultural policy (CAP) settled by the end of June when the Irish will lose the council presidency.
Performance testing makes sheep breeding a science
Sheep producers have been slow to commit to using performance recording as a method of improving their financial returns but one of the enthusiasts for using breeding figures yesterday claimed that there could be a bonus of around £1,000 per ram from doing so.
Andrew Arbuckle: Carving up the £1bn SRDP cake is no easy task for minister
YOU would think it was the best job in the world spending £1 billion – but being cabinet secretary and having the next Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) cash to distribute is a veritable minefield.
2 commentsScotland’s meaty success in Hong Kong
The Scottish red meat industry has made its presence keenly felt in Hong Kong this week at HOFEX, the largest food and hospitality trade show in Asia-Pacific.
1 commentMarketing is key to dairy future
The best way to secure a future for the Scottish dairy industry is to look at increasing marketing options according to NFU Scotland in their response to a Scottish Government review into the sector.
Falling salmon prices and disease take toll
FALLING prices due to a global increase in salmon supply hit sales and profits at Marine Harvest’s Scottish operations.
Bullish forecasts for global cereal crops
The latest bullish cereal production predictions for 2013 produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)did not dent confidence in grain trading futures yesterday with markets remaining at previous levels.
Tenants urged to resist ‘unreasonable’ rent hikes
With less than a fortnight to go before May term rents have to be agreed, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) has urged tenants not to feel pressurised into agreeing last-minute demands for “unreasonable” rent increases.
1 commentBanks ‘failing to back beleaguered farmers’
One in ten farmers who approached their banks in the past month asking for an extension to their borrowing facilities as a result of the cold, late spring were turned away according to a survey conducted by NFU Scotland.
Co-operating to campaign for co-financing support
The potential loss of millions of pounds in direct subsidy payments for farmers yesterday galvanised farming leaders across Europe to call for any move of support cash towards environmental and rural objectives to be financially matched by national governments.
Paul Walsh to step down as Diageo chief executive
A DOYEN of the international drinks industry, Paul Walsh, is to step down as chief executive of Diageo after a 13-year reign at the helm of a group that includes Scotland’s biggest whisky business.
Tribute to Jack Clark’s years in livestock industry
MORE than 200 farmers crowded into Carfraemill last week to pay tribute to Jack Clark’s 48 years in the livestock industry – he started work with John Swan as an office boy in 1965, moving upward in the company to retire as managing director.
Study casts light on whys and wherefores of bee numbers
FOLLOWING the ban on a major pesticides because of fears that it was affecting the bee population, a project that aims to improve the food supply for bees and other vital pollinators on arable farms has produced it first year’s results.
Scotland hit with £8m fine from EU
SCOTLAND was yesterday hit with a fine of almost £8 million over a long-running dispute regarding the implementation and regulation of European Union support.
1 commentLeatherjacket risk warning
If WEATHER problems this spring have not made life difficult enough for cereal growers and grassland farmers, yesterday produced a warning that both grain and grass crops are under considerable threats from leatherjackets.
Stockbroker eyes ‘cereal’ funding
A FORMER stockbroker at Scottish investment bank Noble has launched his own range of cereal bars after swapping stocks and shares for fruit and oats.
Business people: Raising a glass to savvy student
AN ABERDEEN University student is toasting a website hosting deal with Glasgow-based Iomart Group, which he hopes will keep his whisky site up and running.
Australia ‘one of worst offenders’ for fake Scotch
LAWYERS have branded Australia as “one of the worst markets for the sale of fake Scotch whisky” and have applied to register the spirit as a certification trademark to protect Scotland’s national drink “Down Under”.
3 comments
Cook school owner branching out into goat farming
A COOKERY school owner is branching out into goat farming after discovering a gap in the market that means most male kids are treated as a waste product.
Campaign aimed at checking origins of pork is run
British pig producers have this week run a campaign aimed at checking the origins of pork being sold by major supermarkets and catering firms.
Rising prices for beef cattle add to pressures on processors
BEEF producers selling their stock are getting record prices, with the £4 per kilo deadweight barrier having been well and truly broken, but Stuart Ashworth of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) yesterday pointed out the pressure the new high prices were putting on other links in the beef supply chain.
Famous Grouse producer promotes McCroskie to board
WHISKY distiller Edrington yesterday promoted Scott McCroskie to its main board as group commercial director.
Campbells Prime Meat up profit thanks to new premises
CAMPBELLS Prime Meat is reaping the benefits of its state-of-the-art factory near Linlithgow, which helped the firm to nearly treble profits last year despite the “highest inflation in red meat price in the past 20 years”.
Wet weather ‘bonus’ for dairy farms
In NORMAL times, milk processors attempt to push down the price they pay for milk at this time of year as cows benefit from the spring flush of grass. But in this very abnormal year, with grass slow to come away, the major buyers are finding themselves competing for short milk supplies.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 5 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: West
