Western Morning News, The

Gold-Plated Sprayer Costs Pounds 150

IS this the ultimate in toy tractors? Die-cast model collectors are being offered a golden opportunity to acquire a very special limited-edition sprayer model from John Deere. The 5430i self-propelled sprayer is based on a Britains 1:32 scale model, but is finished in gold and presented in a special collector's box. It has been commissioned by John Deere Fabriek Horst, the company's factory in the Netherlands where the full-size sprayer is manufactured.

Hanging Gardens Prove Cost and Water Effective

APIONEERING method of growing plants is in use at Duchy College, Rosewarne, near Camborne. The technique, an adaptation of Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), was originally designed for water-poor countries such as the Sudan. It has been used at Duchy College for five years and is particularly pertinent these days as water rates are ever increasing.

Dilemma Over Buying Local When Travelling Abroad

IOFFER you what might be termed "the foodie's dilemma." A few days ago, on holiday in Portugal, my wife Claire and I went into a supermarket to buy the ingredients for a picnic. We decided on some air-dried local ham and a selection of fish pates, and I was just about to put some local cheese, made from a mixture of cows' and sheep's milk, into the basket when I spotted, half-hidden at the back of the counter, several packets of Wyke Farms Simply Gorgeous Vintage Cheddar. Now, Wyke Farms is a...

Region's Students Graduate From Harper Adams

Livestock Initiative Will Produce Action Plan

AS part of a wider South West Uplands Initiative, a new team is now in place to "deliver activity" in the Bodmin Moor area. Funded by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), the team's role will be to work with everyone with an interest in livestock production within the project area to develop and administer a strategic action plan for the livestock sector on Bodmin Moor.

Bull Travels to Cumbria Then Back to Devon

LIMOUSIN bull Loosebeare Diver made the long trip north to Carlisle from his home near Crediton, only to change hands and travel back to new grazing near Cullompton. Diver was the second most expensive bull at the British L i m o u s i -- C a t t l e S o c i e t y Autumn Bull Show and Sale, h e l d a t B o r d e r w a y M a r t , Carlisle.

Ahdb's Head to Be New Nfu Top Officer

KEVIN Roberts is to be the new director general of the National Farmers' Union. Mr Roberts, who is currently chief executive of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, will be taking up the post on April 1 2010. He will be succeeding Richard Macdonald, who retires in late November.

Magnificent Holding with Scope ; Farmland and Property

WARSON Barton at Coryton, a magnificent 342-acre farm in West Devon, has gone on the books of Strutt & Parker in Exeter (01392 229418) at a guide price of Pounds 2.75 million. The marketing of Warson Barton offers a rare opportunity to purchase a sizeable farm in good heart and in a beautiful part of the Westcountry, said agent James Baker. The property formerly comprised part of the Lewtrenchard Estate, but was sold in 1926 by Sabine Baring-Gould, best known as the author of the hymn "Onward...

Herbicides to Counter Winter Bean Volunteers

CONTRIBUTING to the debate about what to do to control winter bean volunteers in cereals now that straight CMPP-P can no longer be used in the autumn, cereal herbicide marketing specialist James Knight is recommending two contact-acting alternatives to Westcountry growers this autumn, Broadway Star or Boxer. Which one you use depends on the other weeds that you are coping with, he said.

Forum and Academy Mark Yfc Fed's Year

AYEAR of considerable achievement and the launching of new initiatives was recalled when the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs held its 72nd annual general meeting at the Royal Cornwall Showground. A packed audience heard the outgoing county chairman, Nicola Chegwidden, from Summercourt, present her account of her year, highlighting the many successes. It had started with the New Members' Fortnight, aimed to promote the name and reputation of the YFC in a bid to increase membership....

Eu Must Act Now to Embrace Gm Technology ; Neil Parish

FARMERS throughout the world have been handed a great challenge. They have been told to double food production in order to feed a global population estimated to hit nine billion in 2050. If that wasn't hard enough, they must do it with less availability of land, using less water and with diminishing supplies of fossil fuels. They must also help mitigate climate change and preserve the natural environment.

Celebrating Elite Aa Herd Status

FEW pedigree beef herds achieve Elite status, accredited as free from the four major diseases of Leptospirosis, Johne's, Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR or red nose) and Bovine virus diarrohea (BVD). So there were celebrations at Millvale Farm, Little Bosullow when the Rowe's herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus gained the Elite accolade this month.

Andrew Is Best Prospective Farmer

ANDREW Pascoe had more than one reason to celebrate when he graduated from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. As well as achieving a 2.1 BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Management, he was also awarded the McClellan Silver Medal for Best Prospective Farmer. Certificates and prizes were presented by Richard Macdonald, the director general of the National Farmers' Union.

Janine Shows Great Velocity to Land Three Wins at Festival ; the Petplan Area Festival Drew Bumper Entries From Across the Uk with Winning Westcountry Combinations Earning Their Passage to the Finals Next April. Annabel Groom Reports

AFTER a three-month break from competition, Janine Jansen's intermediate event horse, Velocity II won three out of three of her classes at the Petplan Area dressage festival held at The Grange, Okehampton. The KWPN mare by Krunch De Breve, took both the Open Elementary and Novice as well as the Novice 38 WQ scoring over 70 per cent each time.

A Show Season That has Not Been Without Its Dramas...

THIS show season has not been without drama. Heights of show horses have been questioned and there are still rumblings of overheight horses and ponies, with objections and remeasurements being requested before Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Many exhibitors feel that once measured for a season, the animal should remain in that section. The fact that size shouldn't matter if the horse is good enough was proved for one owner at HOYS whose horse measured out mid-season, and won in the next catego...

Shortage of Judges in This Part of Country

THE Petplan Summer Dressage Festival was held rather late this year, which meant many more riders had time to qualify and as a result there were bumper entries, even riders coming down from "up country", and the classes were bursting at the seams. This posed a great problem for Dave and Judy Reddan who organised the festival at the Grange Equestrian Centre, Okehampton, as some of the classes had to be divided, and under British Dressage (BD) rules each class had to have two judges, at List 4 ...

In-Form Ladies Lift Two Top Tickets

MARY Grose and her mother Sandra's mare Liska D'Aurore were the two ladies in form at the Hand Equestrian Centre's two-day show where they landed the 86-strong Devoucoux Star qualifier having earlier taken the top ticket in the national 1.30m classic championship. The Star is renowned as being one of the fastest finals on the showjumping circuit and as reigning Blue Chip champions, Mary and her 16hh Selle Francais mare showed their firm intention to retain the title.

Richest Raceday Draws Big Chasers

EXETER Racecourse stages its richest raceday next Tuesday with top billing going to the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup - and with a value of Pounds 75,000 it has once again attracted some top class chasers. Philip Hobbs plans to run Planet of Sound who won two decent novice chases at Newbury last season before his luck ran out at the Cheltenham Festival where he missed the break in the Arkle.

Lucy Lands Best of Brits with 'Exciting Prospect'

IN a gripping finale of the HSBC FEI Classics Series at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI**** in the south of France, Oliver Townend capitalised on his 12-point lead to add $150,000 to his large prize fund this year, making him the richest event rider in a 12-month period in the history of the sport. It wasn't a total success story, however, as a surprise cricket score in the final phase for the 29-year-old aboard his Burghley winner Carousel Quest handed the CCI**** title to Germany's Dirk Schrade.

Sign Up for Horses for Heroes

AN initiative which sets out to bring together horses and riders from across the equine spectrum and raise at least Pounds 1 million for the Help for Heroes charity has been launched. Ascot Racecourse and The HPower Group have launched Horses For Heroes, which will see 2010 horses ridden from Ascot Racecourse, round Windsor Great Park and back to the racecourse before racing begins on Saturday, July 10, 2010.