Latest Farm Business Income figures – NFU response
New Defra figures have shown a dramatic fall in farm incomes for the third consecutive year.
T he NFU says this has had a huge impact on farming businesses with some sectors, such as dairy and pigs, seeing their incomes halved.
It believes the main reasons for the dramatic falls are lower commodity prices and market volatility including a strengthening pound in 2015.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said:“ Our work in influencing decision-makers is more important than ever to support our members, many who’ re struggling to make ends meet.
“ The NFU is continuing to work with government to ensure they provide the right support for our members – from pushing for burdensome regulation to be removed that remains a major block to growing competitiveness for most farm businesses and policy decisions based on sound science. We also continue to work closely with the supply chain to ensure retailers are sourcing and promoting British food wherever possible.
“ In recent weeks we have focused on urging dairy processors to be open and honest in a bid to build better, fairer supply chain relationships and to ensure contracts that are fit for purpose. We regularly meet with retailers with recent successes on those signing our Fruit and Veg Pledge that will provide security for suppliers, fair terms and price certainty. We meet with banking
leaders to ask for their continued support for the industry in these challenging times.
“ These latest farm business income figures underline the need to ensure that British agriculture is dealt with fairly when Government starts its negotiations for a post- Brexit Britain.
“ The most immediate issues confronting the farming sector are trade and access to labour- these must be at the heart of any discussions for the country’ s future farm policy so that our industry is able to achieve its true potential.”
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See how the experts have“ A Way with Dogs”
Hold onto your seat – the competition is fierce- top sheepdog handlers compete in CSJ’ s brand new 4 part film series starting 14th November on www. csjk9. com
T he four episodes span ten weeks and feature nine of the UK’ s top sheepdog handlers and dogs. Each uses their skills and intelligence to compete over a challenging course to be the first to win the title‘ A Way with Dogs’ Champion.
Viewers will be able to see clearly how the experts handle their dogs and hear full commentary from international judge and handler, Mike Northwood and presenter Bryony Billson at www. csjk9. com
The nine top handlers compete over a tricky course in the Clwydian Hills of North Wales at the home of the late H Glyn Jones, himself a former International Supreme Sheepdog Champion and 5 times winner of the Brace Competition on‘ One Man & His Dog’.
The competition will be judged by Aled Owen, four times winner of the International Supreme Championship and two times World Trials Champion and the handlers include a full time shepherd, Medwyn Evans, this year’ s Welsh National Champion, farmers including the‘ Master’ handler Gwyn Jones( 3 x International Supreme Champion), as well as a Stock Buyer, a retired head teacher / OFSTED Inspector and a milk retailer.
CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds founder, Ceri Rundle( H Glyn Jones’ s daughter), is a renowned sheepdog handler herself, having been the first lady to qualify for the Welsh National Team with her homebred dog, Bwlch Hemp in
1996, later earning two further national‘ caps’ and competing in the World Trials in Ireland in 2005. She was the first lady to be elected on to the Panel of National Judges for Wales which has allowed her to judge in USA, Europe and Scandinavia and she was also honoured to become Chair of the North Wales Sheepdog Society in the early ' 90s.
Ceri now spends most of her time promoting CSJ’ s feed, herbs and treats for dogs but tries to find time to train and trial her young dogs and continues to develop her world famous Moel line of Border Collies( a continuation of her parents famous ' Bwlch ' line).
She says,“ We wanted to portray the true skills of the handler and the dog, enabling the viewer to see the straight lines to and through the hurdles and the tight turns …. which is the aim of the handler. Our films will show this very clearly- allowing the viewer to understand what is going on and how the run is judged.”
Filmed against a stunning backdrop the action culminates in a nail-biting final film available on Boxing Day- the four programmes will be released on: Monday 14th November Monday 28th November Monday 12th December Monday 26th December Watch‘ A Way with Dogs’ and see who wins. Visit www. csjk9. com Champions in every field www. farmingmonthly. co. uk November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 09