Your Correspondence

Sir, Many supporters have contacted us recently to voice their concerns about ragwort, which is blooming at the moment. As every horse owner and farmer knows, ragwort contains toxins which can have debilitating or fatal consequences if eaten by horses and other grazing animals.

Money for plants, but farmers wait for cash

THE news that Defra have spent over £80,000 on plants for their offices over the last four years would have been funny if it weren't so serious. The figure was given to the Taxpayers Alliance by Defra under the Freedom of information Act.

Mel honoured by Queen’s award

NFU regional director for the South West, Mel Hall, was awarded a MBE in this year's Queen's birthday honours.

Consultation on health check proposals

THE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a twelve-week consultation on the European Commission's proposals for the "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Reward for NFU lobby

FARMERS will no longer be penalised under cross compliance for valid utilities work on their land after three years lobbying by the NFU resulted in a victory with the Rural Payments Agency.

	Defra highlights changes following stewardship review
	DEFRA has released its review of environmental stewardship highlighting various changes that are to be implemented.

New booklet helps irrigators thinking about building a storage reservoir

THE Environment Agency has published a guide for farmers and others who are considering building a storage reservoir for irrigation.

AWB out of step with economic position says NFU

THE NFU has expressed disappointment at the outcome of the Agricultural Wages Board over the conditions underpinning the 2008 Agricultural Wages Order, which it feels is completely out of step with the economic environment in which the sector operates.

Movements not to blame for TB

I READ in your March edition about the repeated claim of the Badger Trust that cattle movements are responsible for the majority of bovine TB outbreaks.

Law must apply to all

THE following story made me very angry.

More ...