Check out this awesome YouTube viral of ‘extreme shepherding’, courtesy of a inspiring group of Celtic Farmers.

The video, produced by Samsung to advertise LED TVs, features a flock of sheep fitted with LED lights, which are then herded to recreate a fireworks display, a version of the Mona Lisa and a computer game of tennis.

Bernard ‘The General’ Llewellyn from Carreg Cennen Castle in Carmarthenshire said that he had been asked to get involved with the filming of the viral video because he had supplied animals for films before.

The film makers had also been keen to find a vantage point overlooking a hillside, so they could film the sheep as they moved across it.

Mr Llewellyn said originally the film makers had wanted to get actors involved, but they agreed in the end that it would be easier if the people involved knew how to handle sheep.

“We filmed it in the middle of February and it took two very full days for them to get all the footage. We used about 300 sheep and put LED coats on about 100 of them. They told us what their ultimate scenario was and we tried to achieve it – but they have enhanced it digitally as well.

“Everyone is surprised and delighted by the response – it has just captured the imagination. I have had calls from all over the world from friends asking ‘Is that you?’”

Mr Llewellyn, who is also NFU Cymru’s rural affairs board chairman, added: “I was pleased by the response, as farmers get so much bad press. It is nice to see life beyond that and we had fun doing it. If things work, you get a lot of satisfaction.

“They are talking about it being one of the biggest video hits of the year. We’ve even got a film crew from Boston, USA flying over next week.”

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Mike Hambly, who farms near Callington in Cornwall and is chairman of the NFU’s South West arable board, is now vice-chairman of the Copa-Cogeca cereals working group.

He’ll be joining farmers from across Europe to support and promote the cereals industry.
 

Mike said: “One of my first priorities will be to ensure the European Commission’s CAP reform proposals move the sector into a new competitive age, rather than tie it up in red tape.

 
“Reforms of the CAP must not prevent European cereal producers from being able to meet the growing world demand for food in a manner which allows us to compete in the market place and ensure a sustainable farm income level.

He went on: “I will also be arguing for increased research and innovation to help our industry meet today’s great challenge to increase food production sustainably.

 
“Apart from food, the next great global challenge is energy security and I will be highlighting the key role our farmers can play in providing a sustainable source of green energy from agriculture, complementing food production.”

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Cornwall could be selected for the two pilot badger culls now scheduled to commence next summer, it has emerged.

Pilot culls due to take place in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset this autumn were postponed in October, at the request of the NFU,

An eleventh-hour revision of badger numbers in the two areas made it virtually impossible for the policy to go ahead with any certainty of success.

Defra Minister Owen Paterson has stressed his ‘absolute commitment’ to going ahead with two pilot culls next summer but said it was up to the NFU to decide which areas are selected.

Farmers who are for the culls praised Paterson’s for standing by the controversial policy, which has incensed Green MPs and mainly urban Labour MPs.

Cull opponents won a Commons debate 147 votes to 28, but the victory has no legal weight.

The farming minister got fed up toward the end of it and admitted to the Telegraph he muttered ‘I can’t stand any more of this’ as he walked out.

NFU president Peter Kendall has confirmed that other areas beyond the two selected last year will be considered for the fresh cull in 2013.

He said: “I think we should be having an urgent stock take about whether these are the best two areas or whether there are better areas out there to act as pilots going forward.”

“These pilots are going to decide the fate of the policy.

“So I want to make sure, especially with the changing badger numbers, that we have the best areas that can work most effectively.”

The West Gloucestershire and West Somerset areas were selected as the pilot cull areas by Ministers in January from a shortlist submitted by the NFU and National Beef Association.

Mr Kendall pointed out that Defra received a number of submissions from areas putting themselves forward as pilot cull areas then and said this was likely to be the case again next year.

The two pilot areas were issued with provisional licences by Natural England this autumn, which authorised ‘control operations’ over areas of around 300sq.km over four year terms.

The challenge is to reduce badger numbers by a minimum of 70 per cent.

What do you think about the Badger Cull? Let us know! Just post or poll below!

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Unnecessary changes to the NVZ Action Programme will pile pressure on an already struggling dairy industry and make it difficult to utilise slurry effectively.
 
Despite Defra leaving many parts of the NVZ Action Programme unchanged, a two week extension of the closed period for spreading slurry and poultry manure will increase the severity and costliness of the programme.

This comes despite the Government’s own evidence showing a widespread and continuing decline in nitrate levels.
 
In its consultation response in March, the NFU questioned the necessity of pre-empting results of the 2008 Action Programme, which has not had long enough to contribute to further reductions in nitrate levels.
 
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “Our members will find it more difficult to utilise slurry effectively without causing crop or soil damage as the Government continues to shrink the window when application is practical.

“The additional costs of damage to crops or to soil structure will also make it more difficult for struggling dairy farmers to keep their heads above water. 
 
“Defra’s consultation offered the choice between longer closed periods and a reduced maximum application in the weeks after the closed period ends. 

“From a practical perspective shorter closed periods and better practice when spreading is a far easier pill to swallow.

“But it is galling to see that Irish closed periods and slurry storage are already less demanding than those in England, despite the wetter climate of Ireland.
 
“A further disappointment is Defra’s decision not to act on the NFU’s proposal to amend the grassland derogation so that it can help dairy farmers with between 70 and 80 per cent of their farm in grass, as compared to the present situation where only farms with 80 per cent or more grass receive this help.

“At a time when maintaining their businesses is so challenging, dairy farmers could have been helped by greater flexibility.”
 
 
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A new strategy to address the crisis facing British dairy farmers has been agreed at an important meeting of the Dairy Coalition today.

The new strategy will help to secure the long-term future of the British dairy industry.
 
The ten point plan to build a fair and functioning marketplace has been agreed by all members of the coalition, the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, FFA, TFA, WFU and the RABDF, and will focus on three key areas including:

• Exposing bad practices
• Redefining and empowering the farmers’ role in the supply chain
• Ensuring the supply chain is transparent and fair.
 

Cheese also moves into the spotlight with the SOS Dairy campaign including milk and cheese in its focus.

In particular, the Coalition has committed to campaigning to promote UK cheese and calling for own-label supermarket cheese to be British.
 
Speaking after the meeting, NFU dairy board chairman Mansel Raymond said: “The first priority of the Dairy Coalition of organisations is to see a fair and functioning market place for the UK dairy industry.
 
“We firmly believe that all farmers should receive a fair and sustainable milk price; one which at least covers their costs to produce milk.

“This is the only way we will be able to ensure shoppers have the choice of British dairy products on supermarket shelves.
 
“What is very clear is that the dairy market has failed. Market highs have not been passed down to the farm gate.

“We need to see all milk buyers developing their own appropriate and transparent milk procurement and pricing models that are equitable for all parties and cover farmers’ production costs.
 
“I firmly believe that the British dairy industry can have a very bright future. We need to have every part of the dairy market working to capture present and future market opportunities both here and abroad.

“We have a growing demand for fresh, British, quality dairy products from a growing world population and we must be in a place where we can respond.”
 
The Ten Point Plan:
 
Expose those whose damaging behaviour undermines the liquid milk market.
 
Work with milk buyer farmer representatives to ensure that representation is professional, independent and democratic, so that farmers’ interests are protected.
 
Set out a roadmap to capture the maximum opportunity for Producer Organisations to rebalance the negotiating power within the milk supply chain and assist farmers wanting to set up POs or other collaborative organisations within the dairy sector.
 
Work to finalise the code of good practice for dairy contracts.
 
Develop a process to monitor and report on the implementation of the Code of Good Practice for Dairy Contracts, to ensure its earliest and complete adoption.
 
Encourage all milk buyers to develop their own appropriate and transparent milk procurement and pricing models that are equitable for all parties and cover farmers’ production costs.  Clearly, the coalition doesn’t seek to say what that model should be, but we want to see all milk buyers working to create their own models that deliver a fair and sustainable price for farmers.
 
Expose bad practice or non-compliance with the Code of Good Practice and irresponsible behaviour in the milk market by developing a whistle-blower mechanism for farmers.
 
Campaign to promote British cheese and other dairy products to consumers and to retailers, both in the domestic market and abroad.
 
Work with DairyCo so farmers can utilise relevant market information published by DairyCo such as up-to-date global trends, league tables and dairy market predictions.

Prepare an ambitious strategy for the UK dairy industry’s future without EU milk quotas, which takes full advantage of growing domestic and global demand for dairy products.

What do you think about the NFU’s proposals? Let us know! Just post below!

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Robert Wiseman Dairy was the last to cave after a martial PR operation by farmers, their union, local press like CCN and you the public rendered their rip-off impossible.

Wisemans, now owned by German dairy giant Muller, agreed to drop its planned price cut of 1.7ppl, leaving its price to dairy farmers at 26.43ppl.

And US-owned cheap food giant Asda will as of tomorrow (Weds Aug 1st), be paying a proper price too.
 
The crucial Muller cut – which only brings things back down to a level where Dairy Farmers can cover their costs – came the day after First Milk, Dairy Crest and Arla gave in.

The big players gave in after a crisis-summit saw a Cornish Farmer humiliate Government Minister Jim Paice in front of millions of online viewers.

Dairy Farmer Anthony Wills from Wadebridge laid into Paice at a charged Whitehall meeting over his ill-timed exhortation for Dairy Farmers to again ‘pull in their belts’.

Anthony announced to a crowd of 2,500 furious farmers: “I thought all the speeches we’ve heard today were excellent.

Then to a chorus of approval he added: “Until it got to the Minister, Jim Paice.”

The encounter was streamed online by the NFU: and it proved the turning point of a long milk-prices campaign.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “This is testament to the hard work from all members of the coalition in Cornwall and beyond have done.

“We’ve had massive support from people up and down the country.
 
“I am immensely proud of what the coalition has achieved so far.

“In a little over two weeks we have seen the Co-operative, Morrisons and Asda agree to pay their farmers a price that covers their costs of production.
 
“With the announcement by Wiseman/ Müller, I am pleased to say the planned milk price cuts by all of the major dairy processors have now been rescinded before the August 1 deadline.

“This was one of our key goals when we set out and we have achieved it.
 
“This will bring some relief to dairy farmers who supply liquid milk to Arla, First Milk, Dairy Crest and Wiseman/ Müller.

“But we will continue working hard behind the scenes to ensure these first steps turn into a longer-term, sustainable milk price for all dairy farmers. This can’t be a short-term fix.
 
“We will continue in talks with the processors to work towards returning that lost money. We will meet to discuss next steps.
 
“I thank everyone; farmers, members of the coalition, and shoppers for their support. We could not have done this without them.”

Asda were the highest profile business shamed into action.

Dairy Director Karl Martin said: “We have listened to the concerns of our dedicated dairy farmers and recognise the financial pressures they are currently facing.

“As a result, from 1st August we will increase the premium we pay from 1ppl to 3ppl.
 

“Over the last eight years, in partnership with Arla, we have worked extremely hard to build an open, honest and transparent relationship with our farmers. We pride ourselves on listening and acting positively whenever necessary in order to ensure we operate within a sustainable supply chain.”
 

“In order to provide UK dairy farmers with a market for the excess cream they produce, Arla has expanded its butter processing facility in Westbury, Wiltshire adding new production lines to the plant. This will enable Asda to purchase significantly more British butter from Arla.

 
He added: “We are fully aware that the liquid milk we purchase is only half the story. A significant amount of the cream produced by the dairy industry in the UK is sold on the global commodity market.  In order to improve returns to farmers, Asda is committed to driving retail sales of British butter and cream. ”

 
 The successful campaign means:

– Asda will increase the price it pays dairy farmers by an additional 2ppl from August 1 taking its base price up to 29.5 up to the end of the year when it will be reviewed.

  – As of tomorrow the Co-Op effect a price increase of 4.27ppl from August 1.
– Morrisons also announced a milk price increase of an additional 2p-a-litre premium for every litre of milk that it buys.
– There will also be an additional support payment equivalent to 3p-a-litre because of the extreme weather that is currently affecting farmers.
– These payments will last from August through to the end of October when they will be reviewed.

Well Done Everyone

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Cornwall Farmers has signed a manufacturing deal to source all its compound feeds from Harpers Home Mix in Holsworthy.

The new deal will see Harpers make Cornwall Farmers complete range of quality Pinnacle Compounds feed, working to Cornwall Farmers own formulations.

Harpers has built up an enviable reputation for quality and service since it was founded 20 years ago by Bill Harper.

Now part off the family-run Massey Bros (Feeds) Ltd, its purpose-built Holsworthy mill is ideally placed to service Cornwall Farmers customers across the region.

The deal also means that bulk delivery times will be reduced from four to just three working days.

This means Cornwall Farmers can be even more responsive to customer needs.

Harpers will also supply the bagged Pinnacle Compounds range through Cornwall Farmers network of 13 Country Stores across Devon and Cornwall.

Cornwall Farmers chief executive Simon Birch said: “This deal represents the coming together of two strong local agricultural businesses.

“Bill has a fantastic reputation for the quality of his feeds and service, and we’re delighted to be bringing manufacturing back into our heartland and supporting a great local business.

For our Pinnacle Compounds customers it’s business as usual, but with even better delivery times and of course the full support of our experienced technical team.”

Bill said: “Cornwall Farmers has been a bedrock of the agricultural community for more than 90 years and this deal will help cement that position while strengthening our own business here in Holsworthy.

“We’re proud of the contribution we have made to animal nutrition and farming businesses in the region, and look forward to producing the Pinnacle Compounds range to the quality and consistency that Cornwall Farmers and its customers demand.”

Cornwall Farmers, which is owned by its 4,200 members and has annual sales of almost £70 million, is one of the leading feeds suppliers in the South West and has more than 40 years’ experience in supplying compound feeds.

Pinnacle Compounds is a comprehensive range of compound feeds and services for dairy, young stock, beef, sheep, pigs and poultry, formulated and manufactured to Cornwall Farmers own exacting specification and standards, and backed up by a leading nutritional advice service.

Pic 1 shows Bill Harper (Harpers Home Mix) and George Hext (Cornwall Farmers Commercial Feeds Manager)

Pic 2 shows Bill Harper, Simon Birch, Richard Massey, George Hext, Dr Geoffery Vernon and Kynan Massey.

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Greening measures being discussed as part of the current CAP reform process will seriously damage the competitiveness of UK cereal farmers at a time when we are being asked to grow more, the NFU said today.

 
Following a successful trip to Strasbourg to meet with key MEPs involved in the CAP negotiations, NFU combinable crops board chairman Andrew Watts believes producers’ ability to respond to market signals and consumer requirements will be diminished, if greening proposals are not considered much more carefully. 


 
Speaking at the start of this year’s Cereals event, Mr Watts said that greening threatened the market orientation of the arable sector, potentially requiring farmers to grow inappropriate crops or reduce the productive area of their farm. This contradicts the thrust of previous reforms, which although tough, served to support the sector as it became more market oriented.


 
“This threat to arable production would be compounded should our own government be given licence to exaggerate distortions in support between English farmers and their neighbours in Europe by persisting with the highest rates of modulation possible”, he said.

“Our calculations show that if the changes Defra is seeking were to be implemented, a German arable farmer could potentially receive a payment more than 50 per cent greater than his English counterpart.”
 


While CAP reform negotiations continue, the combinable crops sector also faces a number of other key challenges over the coming months.
 


One of these will be to ensure our grain supply chains deliver the best possible for our farmers and their customers. 

The NFU has been working with the industry to develop a means for sharing information on grain quickly and thoroughly enough to support management decisions and to provide robust information on provenance.

We believe this information will generate savings and has value, if shared, and are pleased that the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) is in advanced stages of working up a proposal to deliver feedback of information to farmers and an electronic grain passport to cut duplication and risk of error.  
 


Mr Watts said: “For some dedicated supply chains this collaborative approach between processors, merchants, and farmers has already begun to pay off, and we see broadening the theme as a logical step in securing our competitive edge in home markets as we move into the future.”


 
Another area of concern for the NFU is crop protection as we begin to see the impact of legislation limit the development of crop protection products in the EU. 

Mr Watts added: “The pressure on fungicide programmes to protect our crops in a difficult season and the levels of blackgrass currently being seen around the country are timely reminders of our needs to remain focussed on sound agronomic practices as we strive to improve productivity.”


 
Farm transport is a further area where the NFU has been working hard to allow farmers to adopt technology widely available to improve farm operating efficiency.


 
Mr Watts said: “If economies are to be made in our production systems it is imperative that transport is modernised in the same way that harvesting and cultivations have in the past few years. There is a catalogue of challenges facing arable members.

“Our task is simply to enable them to respond to these challenges by assisting with solutions.”

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The smiling figure made out of farmer Peter Old’s hay bales went up in flames soon after Bonfire Night.

It was constructed by Praze Young Farmers to publicise their group and won a Cornwall Young Farmers competition.

Chairwoman Lucy Williams told the News: “The Straw Man was found burned down on Sunday November 6th, the Sunday after Bonfire Night.

“It’s a terrible shame.

“We had plans to dress it up for Red Nose Day Children in Need.

“We had an email from a lady just this week saying she was really sorry about it.

“They’d had a family member in Treliske and every day they used to look forward to seeing the Straw Man.

“So they were really upset.”

Praze Young Farmers put the Straw Man up over the weekend of September 23rd.

Lucy explained: “Praze Young Farmers does a lot of good work and our charities for young farmers are Macmillans Nurses and Phoenix Stroke Appeal.

“The straw man was popular and really boosted our image and helped us to promote young farmers.

“Some people thought it was a Fathers for Justice demo – because they also paint slogans on sileage bales at the side of the motorway.

“So we made sure the signs for the group were posted next to it.

“When the police phoned up on Sunday and said it was a suspected arson, I was in shock.

“You wouldn’t think anyone would go to those lengths to burn down something that was iconic, really.

“I suppose it was just people messing around, but it’s had a big effect on us.”

She went on: “It seems pointless putting up another one if it’s just going to get burned down.

“So now we’re taking the signs for our group that are around it down.

“But if enough Cornwall Community News readers wanted a new one – we’d consider it.”

Would you like to see the Straw Man reborn? Let us know – take our exclusive poll below! Praze Young Farmers have promised to keep a beady eye on the results!

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Police in Looe and Liskeard are setting up a new Farm Watch scheme to help reduce rural theft and burglaries in the area.

The scheme will run alongside current Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and is aimed at anyone who has a farm, smallholding or is involved in the rural community.

It is fully supported by DCCWA (Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association) and the Police.

PCSO Steve Cocks said: “The aim of the scheme is to help reduce and prevent crime and the fear of crime within our community.

This is achieved by keeping your ears and eyes open, using your local knowledge and reporting anything suspicious to the Police.

It’s also about members being sensible about their own security and keeping a look out for each other especially any vulnerable members of the community.”

Signs including street signs and literature will be available.

All members will be signed up to Community Messaging and will receive information and crime warnings from the Police.

The launch of the Farm Watch scheme will be on Saturday 12th November 2011 at Mole Valley Farmers, Moorswater, Liskeard between 10am to 4pm.

Neighbourhood Officers from Liskeard and Looe will be in attendance along with a DCCWA representative.

We would encourage all farmers, small holders or anyone with rural links to come along and join the scheme.

If you are unable to attend then please telephone 101 and ask to speak to either PCSO Bob Anslow (Liskeard) or PCSO Steve Cocks (Looe) so a visit can be arranged.

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