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.

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.

I have heard of ‘Singing for the Brain’ to improve the quality of life for those suffering from Altziemers, but improved milk production when offering Shakespeare to Dairy Cows?

Apparently its true, the 170 herd of Holsteins living near Maidstone in Kent have been treated to regular performances by The Changeling Theatre Company of exerts from the Merry Wives of Windsor amongst others.  During the time of the rehearsals milk production rose by 4%.  In 2001 Leicester University undertook a study to show that stress on Dairy Cows was reduced when exposed to the calming effect of classical music.

If you are looking for new was to boost your milk production and provide a little bit of culture for your workforce you could do worst than offer rehearsal space to your local theatre group.

They said they fixed the problem in IT. They said they couldn’t duplicate the issue. They sent the computer back again, when a sane person would have given it exactly what it deserved – a one-way trip to the burn pile. For each problem solved by the technological wonder, three more are created to torment hapless cube residents.

Here are five reasons to trade that computer in and get a tractor instead:

Reason #1: Breakdowns are logical.

If something breaks on a tractor, the part that caused the issue can be identified and replaced without a specialized degree. When on the phone or visiting a mechanic, he will never say to just shut it down and start it up again to see if the problem goes away.

Reason #2: The engine runs without electrical power or an internet connection.

Power blips and internet hiccups are realities of the business world. These troubles happen without warning, leaving employees to scramble to catch up when the connections are restored. It also pushes deadlines out when information cannot be exchanged. This leads to unnecessary stress and is easily removed from life when operating a tractor instead of a computer.

Reason #3: Tractors do not cause eye strain.

There are no special glasses to cut the glare from the hood of a tractor, because sunglasses and a hat are all that is needed. With GPS developments, in a few years a driver may not even need to see to operate the tractor. Even owning a tractor older than the operator will not cause damage to the eyes. However, manual levers may increase other muscles.

Reason #4: Work completed from the seat of a tractor can be explained.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of pointing toward growing crops, harvested fields, or another work of the land and knowing that something has been accomplished. It is also easy to describe to family and friends. Say good-bye to the blank stares of loved ones after explaining a seemingly useless job.

Reason #5: When the tractor spreads manure, a shower is all it takes to get clean again.

Well, a power washer may help to clean the tractor, too. However, days of kissing up to the boss are over. No more orders that aren’t even phrased politely like “Get this done yesterday.” This may not apply to married people. The wife is still an irrational force, whether married to a businessman or a farmer.

Computers cause stress and impacts many areas of life. Life from the seat of a tractor allows the operator much more satisfaction as an occupation. Don’t be afraid to leave the digital life behind.

If you love being outdoors and have a drive to better the environment, there are interesting and exciting ‘green jobs’ that you can pursue. With several categories of outdoor environmental jobs, you are sure to find your niche in this growing sector.

In the field of natural resources and conservation, rangers, wardens, and landscapers work outside in all weather conditions. They are involved primarily with land stewardship and monitoring. In addition, they work with the public to educate on topics pertaining to the land’s resources and the steps that can be taken to preserve them.

Ecology

Protect the endangered species of the world when you work in the field of Ecology. Analyse how organisms interact with their natural environment and report on the distribution of organisms in a specific area. Make a difference when you work to create and maintain thriving natural habitats.

Energy

Energy is a rapidly growing field with diverse and exciting new positions. Wind is an energy source still being evaluated so there are many positions for wind resource specialists. Out in the field, they conduct assessments, design measurement campaigns, and evaluate wind farm layouts. Similarly, hydrologists are hired to study the distribution and circulation of water and their work is done primarily through research at outdoor sites.

Construction and Engineering

There are many construction jobs that focus on the geotechnical aspects of building projects. Evaluating the earth’s subsurface, creating foundations, and monitoring the conditions at the building site are all duties that fall under this category. Geotechnical engineers and construction workers assure that the physical and chemical properties are taken into consideration before and during building.

Recycling and Waste Management
Those looking to work hands-on to better the environment can consider a job in waste and recycling. Many of the worksites are located outdoors and the jobs can include collection services, sorting and processing, and composting and landfill operations.

Farming and Animal Care

Another hands-on industry is farming. The United Kingdom is rich in farm land. Animal care, horticulture, and fencing are just a sample of the many jobs in the agricultural community.

Recreation Jobs

For individuals who are adventurous and athletically inclined, there are many outdoor recreational jobs that connect people with the environment. Those working in a wilderness park, leading a mountain climbing or river rafting expedition serve an important purpose. They are bringing others closer to nature as well as educating them on their surroundings.

Over half of the UK’s rural population work at jobs related to the farming industry. That accounts for half a million workers on the nearly 19 million hectares currently classified as agricultural land. To keep this important industry alive and economically healthy, new ways of producing crops and new uses for existing crops offer an exciting and prosperous future for farmers.

Farming jobs are vital for today’s economy for many reasons that tend to be overlooked with all the emphasis on “green” projects, revitalizing inner city areas and the upcoming Olympic Games in 2010. That is not to deny the importance of these other schemes; everything has its place and time, but the time for attention and investment in agriculture is now, before it is too late.

Farms Support Small Rural Communities

The countryside has become a tougher place to live, financially speaking, since many conveniences, such as subsidized public transport, choice of schools and easy access to commuter routes are missing or harder to obtain outside of the urban areas. For the fewer every year that stick it out in “the sticks”, local farms offer a place to buy produce of all kinds, act as a social center during seasonal celebrations, and most importantly, are the major employers in the area. If these small holders and farmers are not actively encouraged by decent financial incentives to remain in business, the next generation will not be farmers, but have to seek alternative careers, elsewhere. The result for small villages would be a gradual death, closure of local small schools and hospitals, followed by residents relocating in search of work and better services.

Small Businesses are the Root of Economic Growth

UK business statistics show the most growth, economically speaking, comes from the small to medium size businesses, which includes many farms. Those employing fewer than 250 staff have increased their business sizes and production, taken on loans to re-tool and improve all aspects of their businesses. This, in turn, creates new job, a cycle that is vital for the survival of small communities in rural areas.

History has a Habit of Repeating Itself

A hard lesson learned during WWII involved the quick cultivation of any even remotely suitable land for food crops. As food imports were halted by shipping coming under fire from enemy planes, the UK had to turn inward to supply itself with any foods that could be grown or raised at home. An army of workers recruited from many who were previously not in the general workforce produced huge amounts of food to sustain the population. Any reduction of imported foods, for whatever reason, will inevitably drive prices up and create shortages again. This could be a major problem if sufficient farming businesses no longer exist, or have cut back on production.

Growing Crops for Fuel for the Future

With the high process of petrol and heating oil, research is continuing into using crops to produce the energy needed. “Biofuels” as they are called, currently cause 30% to 40% less carbon emissions than the oil alternatives, offering a very profitable future for farmers who can use less productive land to grow the crops, since they typically need lesser soil quality than fruits or vegetables.

The Food Chain Stops Here

Farms are only the starting point for a huge industry based around food delivery and packaging. When those nice fresh vegetables arrive in a London supermarket, they have passed through many hands and helped provide jobs in all the stages in their journey. The food processing industry takes the basic raw materials and turns them into the convenience foods that help busy workers eat a good hot meal at the end of the day. Produce markets in London and other cities rely on fresh supplies coming from farms located all over the UK, as well as other EU countries. UK produce has an excellent reputation for good agricultural techniques, keeping up with recent health and safety regulations (often at a high cost) and are considered providers of superior quality produce.

Adaptability for Survival

Research into which crops will be effective in the coming year has lead to increased revenue and production for farmers. They are prepared to be more flexible in the selection of crops than ever before. Examples of this are identifying areas where markets are under supplied and converting existing fields and greenhouses to produce crops to fill these holes. Organic produce has gained popularity with consumers, and offers a good return for many farmers who have switched over some acres to grow vegetables in this way.

All the above reasons show how important farming is to the UK economy, and where it can assist in the future, by adapting and diversifying to changing needs.

Figures released by DEFRA show that average farm business income for all farm types was slightly higher in 2008/09 at £50,900 compared to £48,200 in 2007/08. This reflects firmer prices during the year for a range of commodities, particularly pigmeat, lamb and beef and to a lesser extent milk. Farmers also saw an increase in the value of their single farm payment due to a more favourable exchange rate compared to the previous year.

Of the individual farm types, specialist pig farms, grazing livestock farms and dairy farms all saw modest increases in income, whilst cereal farms, poultry farms and horticultural units saw a small decline in income.

Despite the call to “Buy British” it seems that UK supermarkets are leaving British plums to rot this year whilst stocking their shelves with imported products. Despite a bumper British harvest, supermarkets are stocking imported fruit blaming the unpredictable British weather and saying that they have to make contingency plans to import fruit in case the British harvest is poor and cannot now change these plans.

One sheep breeder is celebrating this month following the Scottish National Texel Sale in Lanark. Graham Morrison’s February-born lamb, Deveronvale Perfection, sold for 220,000gns (£231,000) smashing the previous UK and world record prices for a sheep.