Dairyman John Adams has been voted farm worker of the year at a national awards ceremony. Mr Adams, 63, who works more than 12 hours a day at Iron Pear Tree Farm, in Rowde, won the title in the Farmer’s Weekly 2010 awards at a ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel, London, on Thursday.

Mr Adams has worked on farms all his life and has spent the last 25 years at Iron Pear Tree Farm where he looks after 200 Holstein cows. His gruelling day begins at midnight when he gets up to milk and feed the dairy cows and then muck out. He returns home at about 9am for an hour’s sleep and is back at the farm at midday for another four hours of milking and mucking out.

On most other dairy farms the work is divided up but Mr Adams is content doing it all, although in the afternoon he is helped by a colleague. He works seven days a week and has every third weekend off plus the Friday and Monday. Mr Adams said: “It’s quite pleasant when you go out in the morning. It’s lovely watching hares running in the fields and barn owls hunting for mice.”

Read the full story from the Gazette and Herald.

Using the shortlist function you can quickly and easily filter on-line applications to your vacancy advert, providing a list of candidates most likely to suit your requirements.

Click on the shortlist settings bar and filtering options will become available.

As you change the settings, like Drivers Licence,  applicants not matching your requirements will be greyed out leaving only the more suitable candidates.

• Highlight likely candidates
• Filter options can be saved for each advert

We briefly touched on this in May and the Equality Act has now become law from 1st October 2010, replacing nine existing laws with a single Act of Parliament. The aim of the new Act is to make it easier for staff to understand their rights and employers to understand their obligations.

Covering issues from gender pay gaps to pre-employment health screening, the Act is far ranging and it is your obligation to ensure you comply.

Two points to consider as an employer:

• With a few exceptions it is now illegal for employers to question candidates about health before they have been offered a job.
• If a co-worker is doing the same job as another member of staff but being paid more, they can ask for a pay rise and discuss their pay even if there is a pay non-disclosure clause in their contracts to ascertain if their is any discrimination.

For more information visit www.equalities.gov.uk

(please do seek legal advice to confirm any of the issues here)

Hemp is an excellent spring sown crop that requires no chemical treatment post emergence and offers farmers a profitable alternative break crop. It achieves a remarkable rate of growth often reaching a height in excess of 3 metres by mid August when it is cut.

source: hemp technology

Hemp provides a good barrier to pests and diseases. It is of particular use as a break crop in situations where resistant weeds are becoming a problem. Its deep roots are also very beneficial for soil structure. Slug activity after hemp is minimal compared with oil seed rape.

The hemp plant has two constituent parts: the fibre and the woody core or “shiv”. Demand for both of these products continues to grow rapidly.

Hemp fibre continues to be used in the automotive sector, primarily in the manufacture of door panels and other parts but in addition to this it will be increasingly used in the manufacture of natural fibre insulation.

Demand for shiv is also growing strongly in construction. Hemcrete® a sustainable, thermally efficient hemp lime bio-composite is now a certified and accepted product in both the commercial and domestic construction market segments. Recent and future projects of note are:

• Marks & Spencer’s Store – Cheshire Oaks
• Coworth Spa
• The Triangle 42 Code Level 4 Housing Development in Swindon
• 114 code level 4 houses at Diss in Norfolk
• The Institute of Sustainability Thames Gateway
• Kanes Foods Warehouse

To meet the demand Mike Duckett, Managing Director, of Suffolk based Hemp Technology is forecasting that 7,000 acres will be needed in 2011 an increase of over 100% on 2010.

For more information call Hemp Technology on 01986 835 678

Global Warming or just seasonal changes, whatever the reasons behind Russia’s drought and Pakistan’s floods the effects are being felt globally with the rise in wheat prices.  The price had reach a two year high, but has now fallen back slightly.  Good news for the cereal growers in the UK, but with rainfall in the UK lower than average will yields be down here too.  With other crops hitting records prices amongst them Palm Oil, should the British growers be looking for further diversification into unusual crops?

Demand is growing particularly for Hemp.  This spring-sown crop requires no chemical treatment post emergence and offers farmers a profitable alternative break crop.  It also provides a good barrier to pests and diseases especially in situations where resistant weeds are a problem.  Ground breaking usages by Suffolk based Hemp Technology are driving this demand.  Their thermally efficient composite is now accredited for use in the commercial and domestic construction industry.

Farmers and farming are potentially the UK’s most useful asset for the future, producing not only food and bio fuels, but now main stream construction materials.

Unfortunately Phytophthora ramorum is once again occurring.  Also know as Sudden Oak Death, cases have been reported in Cornwall, Staffordshire and in Devon.  This disease affects the Rhododendron species, but can also be found on Pieris, Leucothoe, Viburnum and Larix.  Inspectors from FERA the Food and Environment Research Agency have confirmed these outbreaks. 

 It was first identified in California in 2000 and then later in Oregon, USA.  However, the form of P. ramorum in North America is of a different sexual mating type to the fungus in Europe.

Infection by P. ramorum is usually characterised by the presence of dark red to black sap oozing from the trunk: bleeding cankers or tarry spots.  This is often on the lower portion of the trunk but may also occur several metres up the stem. When the outer bark is removed from the bleeding canker, mottled areas of necrotic, dead and discoloured dinner-bark tissue can be seen. Black zonelines are often present within and around the edges of the necrotic region.

Frankly, I am glad not to be a Shrub or Tree.

At a prison not that far away from me, an inmate made a bold escape for freedom on the prison’s very own tractor! He must of been doing quite well as the alarm was only raised after an ex-employee at the prison spotted the inmate driving down the A361. Police gave chase across a golf course and finally cornered the vehicle [prisoner escapes on a tractor].

I would really like to think that the police pursued the offender using their latest crime-fighting vehicle, a John Deere 6630 tractor. [Operaton Fusion]

“

[source: lincs. Police force

It is a wonderful feeling to get a new job! The excitement of meeting new people, learning new things and of course collecting that paycheck are thrilling to anticipate, but a realistic sense of what you will be facing makes the process much less likely to disappoint. As anyone who moved to a new school learned early, it can be a little tough to break the ice and feel comfortable with new people and situations right away.

To make sure you get off on the right foot, here are a few helpful tips to get you through that first week at a new job.

1. Enthusiasm

Entering a new job with an enthusiastic attitude is the best way to make a good impression, as long as you don’t “overdo it” and look like you are full of ambitions to take over the jobs of the people training you. Therefore, the delicate balance needs to be achieved where you are eager to learn, excited about the opportunity but don’t come across as a “brown-noser” or threat to anyone’s position.

2. Grooming

Of course, you will want to look your best when you start your new job, which usually means getting a fresh haircut, giving yourself a nice manicure and picking out the most fashionable — yet comfortable — clothing, shoes and accessories. Be aware that while you’re getting trained, you’ll probably be in close contact with people and should avoid wearing any heavy perfumes or aftershaves that might offend delicate noses. A clean fresh-scrubbed smell is always welcomed, but avoid strong scents it could turn people off before you even have a chance to dazzle them.

3. Paying Attention

The first couple of days at a new job can be a whirlwind of people giving you information, advice and direction. It can be easy to get confused, so it is advisable to keep a small note pad and pencil — or the technical gadget that will do the same — on you at all times so you can take notes to refer back to later. It will not only impress people at the moment, but you will be spared having to go back and ask a question that has already been answered.

4. Chatting

Of course, your first few days you’re going to want to get to know little bit about your coworkers and they are going to want to know details about you as well. However, you have to be very aware that your conversations could be disruptive to the normal flow of the routine and be prepared to end a conversation quickly and suggested it be finished later if you sense it might not be an appropriate time.

5. Tidiness

While you’re settling into your space in the office you might create a bit of a mess, so be very aware of any clutter that piles up around your work space that might put others off. Also show great respect when you are in common areas like lunchrooms and break rooms by picking up after yourself and taking a moment to police the area for the benefit of all your fellow employees.

When you have finally found the job of your dreams and have been called to attend that all-important interview, you want to be sure and make the most of your opportunity to generate the kind of impression that will help you stand out in the crowd. Below are some helpful hints that have made a big difference for other job seekers who were stalking the perfect career — and bagged it.

Research

The more familiar you are wtih with company profile before your interivew, the better impression you will make because you understand the phrases and terminology that is used in thiis particular business, so consider it is rather like learning the native language before journeying to unknown lands. By displaying a knowledge of the company’s personality and how it relates to their managment strategy and goals, you can give yourself a distinct advantage over other candidates.

Graphic Examples

We all know that “a picture is worth a thousand words” so make the most of this principle during the interview by presenting the portfolio of your work that can be reviewed while you elaborate. It is much more convincing for the interviewer to see professional samples of your work rather than just have to take your word for it. Make sure there is very little copy to read — simple captions at the most — since text can distract the interviewer from listening to your commentary. If your presentation is on your computer, be sure to have a a couple of hard copies and discs and/or flash drives that you can leave behind for them to consider later and share with others.

Negotiating

Regardless of how determined you are to have the job, it is always a good strategy to go in with the attitude that you have certain criteria that must be met before you would consider the offer. Appearing over-anxious and eager to please does not necessarily endear you to the interviewer, but having a cool yet shrewd attitude can convey your business-savvy nature, which is what potential employers want to see. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the benefits you can expect and chances for advancement within the company. Understand that you can use bargaining techniques to maintain control over the conversation so that you project a sense of self-assurance instead of appearing gullible by just agreeing to all terms as presented.

Persistence

Since employers are often swamped with potential applicants, it is obviously in your best interest to try and keep your name and face at the top of the pile while decisions are being made. The trick is to not appear to be a pest or become worrisome, but rather to convey a sense a genuine interest that extends past the interview session. You can stop by the main office to ask general questions about the company and politely inquire about the status of your application. Making personal appearances gives you the chance that have to encounter other staff members who may be able to influence hiring decisions — if you make a good impression on them. You can also maintain daily e-mail contact by simply providing additional information about topics discussed during the interview that do not require a reply.

Creativity

Showing an “above and beyond” attitude can also get you noticed when confronted with a virtual sea of competition. Take the initiative by offering to do a “test-run” on a project or ask for a tentative assignment so you can prove how quickly you can accomplish the task. If you know the company is interested in certain markets, you can present the interviewer with an impromptu research and development project that you concocted — just to show you are serious about the job. And it never hurts to come up with follow-up gifts that you can send to the personnel department who are considering your application, like a nice coffee cake or box of chocolates.

Having a great appearance, sterling CV and handful of glowing recommendations might make you feel prepared for a job interview, but how well you handle the “behavioural” questions also requires some careful consideration.

Here are some examples of show-stopping questions that can leave you groping for answers without proper preparation.

Consider how you would answer them while you have the time to think it through, because even though you might not face exactly the same questions, it is a good mental exercise to be used to devising answers to such questions in advance.

1. If aliens landed in your front yard and offered you any job in the world, what would your answer be?

This kind of a question gives you a chance to show off your sense of humor and your ability to think on your feet. The actual answer to the question can be as fantastical as you like as long as it does an insult the type of work you are applying for, of course. One interesting response from a job applicant to this question was,”‘First I would want to go change my clothes since the aliens just scared the crap out of me! … then I would ask for a job as Chief Navigator so I could enjoy coming to Earth and start scaring the crap out of other human beings.”

2. If you could change places with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?

This is another ploy to determine if you will blurt out an unconsidered answer or adopt a “deer-in-the-headlights” response while you try to come up with a good answer. So go ahead and smile and take a deep breath while you consider your audience and devise a proper response. It always wisest to just be honest and chose someone you truly admire, but it’s probably not the best time to mention you once had daydreams of being Tarzan.

3. If you had six months paid leave, what would you do with the time?

This one can test a number of different personality aspects for the interviewer, so answer carefully and with an awareness of what kind of social and leisure activities are considered ” appropriate” for the type of position you want to land. Of course, you can use this opportunity to try and score some ” brownie points” by keeping it altruistic like “helping build houses in Haiti” instead of something juvenille like “hanging out at the golf course drinking beer.”

4. If you could compare yourself with any animal, which animal would you choose…and why?

There are several different ways to approach this type of question: humorously, figuratively or logically. The idea is, of course, to create a strong image of yourself, so don’t be tempted to say something too silly like “an aardvark” that really would not reflect well on your association with noble creatures. Of course, to use a response like, “a lion, because he is king of the jungle” does not indicate you have a very lively imagination. Consider a more lovable approach with a response like “I would like to be a dolphin so I could finally understand just what they have been saying.”

5. In a news story about your life, what would be the big headline?

Questions like this are a wonderful chance to show your high self esteem while wrapping it up in humble modesty. Quite an achievement, undoubtedly, but good answers to this question include: “Man Finds Secret To Happy Life,” “Devoted Worker Sets All-Time Sales Record” or even “Local Man Finds Job of his Dreams.”