Archive for February, 2009

Posted on: 10th February 2009

Growing rhubarb

Rhubarb benefits from a generous mulch of organic matter, as this reduces drought stress in summer and ensures a long picking season.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

January meeting and AGM

The group held its AGM at the last meeting on 8 January 2009. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Smallholders’ tips

Tools and how not to use them Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Crying Game

There’s hardly a meal that doesn’t involve an onion and, if you plan ahead, you can grow and store enough to last the year. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Micro livestock: little-known small animals

Micro livestock, small breeds of conventional animals, are becoming more popular in developing countries where they are usually raised for subsistence rather than commercial purposes.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Pregnant women and the lambing season

Pregnant women who come into very close contact with sheep during lambing face a risk to their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes. These include chlamydiosis (enzootic abortion of ewes - EAE), toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which are common causes of abortion in sheep.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Blood spots in eggs

As the egg yolk is forming it is enclosed in a sac containing blood vessels that supply the yolk-building substances.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Campaign calls for better pig welfare and labelling

The RSPCA has launched a campaign calling for better EU laws to protect pig welfare.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

Food Chain Information

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that slaughterhouses must receive Food Chain Information (FCI) for all calves less than 8 months of age.

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Posted on: 10th February 2009

BSE testing age

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recommended to UK Health Ministers an increase in the BSE testing age for cattle slaughtered for human consumption from 30 months to 48 months. This would allow older cattle back into the human food chain - a change welcomed by beef producers and the NFU. Health Ministers in all four UK countries must express their support for this move before the change can be implemented but this is
expected to be a formality.
Source: Farmers Weekly

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