Shadow Minister hears about farming concerns
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At a meeting at Devon YFC Centre, from left, David Barnes, Conservative Rural Action Group vice-chairman; County Councillor Michael Lee; CRAG member Malcolm Florey; YFC member Rebecca Griffin; Bill Norman, CRAG chairman; Peter Reed, Devon YFC chairman: Jim Paice MP, Shadow Minister of Agriculture; Mel Stride, prospective Parliamentary candidate for Central Devon and YFC member Katherine Sealy. AQ 4155
JIM PAICE MP heard of the key concerns affecting farmers across Central Devon, when he carried out a day-long, fact-finding tour of the constituency.
The Shadow Minister for Agriculture met with more than 60 Devon farmers during his four-pronged visit to the area – at Sandford, Okehampton, Bovey Tracy and Exeter.
The visit was co-ordinated by Mel Stride, the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Central Devon, who accompanied Mr Paice and spoke at each meeting.
During the visit, Mel informed the Shadow Minister of his latest campaign, calling on the Government to ring-fence a proportion of EU agricultural subsidies to provide a crucial financial lifeline for hill farmers.
The campaign, co-organised with Neil Parish MEP and Sian Flynn, the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for North Cornwall, calls for a percentage of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding to be set aside to help hill farmers across the country, including the Westcountry.
The funding would provide a much-needed fillip for the beleaguered hill farmers, currently in the grip of a long-standing financial crisis.
Speaking during the visit, Jim Paice said: “Hill farmers have a vital role to play in not only producing quality stock but also in maintaining some of the most fragile landscape.
“But their viability can only be assured if that dual role is recognised through appropriate financial support and any possible form of support can only be welcome.”
The national average business income for hill farmers - the amount on which they have to live after paying production costs - has fallen sharply in recent years, dropping from £17,459 in 2004 to £10,786 by last year.
Following last September’s foot and mouth outbreak, the National Farmers Union estimates the average income has now hit a crippling £5,900.
The number of farms, or holdings, in England fell to 11,198 in 2006, as hundreds sold up and their properties were converted into second homes or holiday cottages.
The campaign centres around the little applied Article 69 of the current CAP legislation, which allows a Member State to take up to 10 per cent of monies to be directed at one particular sector.
The scheme would provide an additional payment targeted at the “protection or enhancement of the environment”, or for “improving the quality and marketing of agricultural products”.
Mel said: “Farming is the source of so much for us in Devon.
“It supports, slaughter houses, food processing businesses, distribution businesses and, of course, through the stewardship of the land, our vital tourist industry. We all depend upon it.”
“Our hill farmers are under massive pressure and there has now to be a real fear for their future. This is a community where knowledge and know-how is preserved by being passed down from one generation to the next.
“We have to support hill farmers to ensure that they are economically sustainable and I will be working with Neil Parish MEP and Sian Flynn to see if there are ways in which CAP funds under Article 69 might be able to be channelled to support this particularly vulnerable group.”
Ploughing with horses and tractors
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Ploughing at Netherexe, near Rewe. AQ 3859
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Spectators watching a ploughman at Kelvin’s Charity Ploughing Match. AQ 3862
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Ploughing judges Colin Edwards, left, and Jack Farley, had some difficult decisions to make at the match held at Netherexe. AQ 3870
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Principal ploughing competition winners with organiser, Kelvin Garnsworthy, third left, and Mrs Helen May, second left, who presented the prizes. AQ 3877
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Sheila Kerslake helped to run the ploughing match and raffle at the ploughing match. AQ 3872
MOST of the heavy showers which passed over Mid Devon last Saturday fortunately avoided a Ploughing Match held at Netherexe, near Rewe.
Organised by Kelvin Garnsworthy, ploughmen came from Cornwall, Somerset and across Devon, to compete in a range of classes.
They found the ground had a hard crust, the very large field having previously been used to feed sheep Kale. The condition proved a challenge for the ploughmen.
Ploughing began at 10am, the majority of the 50 competitors using older tractors. However, there were some ploughing with teams of horses, which is always popular with spectators.
Some fine ploughing made for some difficult decision-making by the judges, Bill Bulled, John Kerslake, Winston Baker, Tom Broom, Chris Norman, Jack Farley, Colin Edwards and Bill Yeandle.
Steward was Peter Cole and Sheila Kerslake assisted Kelvin Garnsworthy processing the results and selling raffle tickets.
Prizes were presented by Mrs Helen May and thanks were expressed to her and her husband, Mr Ross May, who allowed the match to be held at their farm.
Champion ploughman on the day was Peter Stone from Kingsbridge, who used a Fordson Standard tractor and Ransom High Cut plough. Reserve champion was Joe Hill, from Tiverton.
Results were: High Cut – 1 P Stone, 2 M Holloway, 3 R Hill.
Vintage Trailed – 1 R Horner, 2 D Harvey, 3 M Hallett. Vintage Hydraulic – 1 J Hill, 2 C Heard, 3 C Warren, 4 K Phillips.
Classic – 1 D Jenkins, 2 P Barriball, 3 T West, 4 P Studley. Novice – 1 R Anderson, 2 C Anderson, 3 J Foan.
Multifurrow – 1 G Henson, 2 A Heywood. Semi-digger – 1 M Adams. Reversible – 1 C Reed, 2 G Bulled.
Crawler – 1 D Eastley, 2 G Soper, 3 A Eastley. Horses – 1 M Kerswell, 2 A Williams, 3 A Trethaway. Counties – 1 A Ford.
Profits from the day will go to Crediton Hospital and the Laura Persey Trust Fund.
On October 26, the Western Counties Heavy Horse Society will hold it’s annual ploughing match at Netherexe.
Horse ploughing teams from across the country will be attending to compete and the occasion will be a spectacle not to be missed. The Society previously held a match at Netherexe in 1981.
Alan Quick
Mud dried up for show at Taw Bridge
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Ken Stenner ploughing on his Kubota 4WD horticultural tractor. SR 9093
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On the South Molton Hospital League of Friends stall were Rosemary Watts and Pat England. Both are committee members, Rosemary was treasurer for 15 years. SR 9084
SLITHERING mud in the morning dried as the sun shone and rain kept off, although chilly, a breeze helped things along at the Horticultural Day held at Taw Bridge at the end of March.
Organised by Ken Stenner with Lisa Leonard, Steve Talbot and Barry Williams, the day was to raise funds for South Molton Community Hospital League of Friends in memory of Ken’s wife, Ruth, who died earlier this year.
She had spent a lot of time in the hospital and Ken wanted to show his appreciation of the care she had received. Ken, who will be 81 next month, is a horticultural man at heart and a vintage vehicle rally enthusiast.
Thanks went to Chris and Margaret Burrows of East Leigh, who allowed the use of their field at Taw Bridge and who helped so much in preparation for the day.
Visitors delighted watching three years old cob D’Arcy pulling the harrows. The heavy horses were not able to be there that day, D’Arcy standing in for them and doing very well.
D’Arcy has only begun working since Christmas and this was his first show. His working partner at the Wembworthy farm of Francis Chiverton is Thor, a Clydesdale cross.
Francis restores old hose implements and equipment, which then gets used on the farm. Very little new or modern items are used there.
Despite the previous day’s rain, dogs from the Alaskan Malamute Working Association and Siberian Husky and Sled Dogs made an appearance during the afternoon, delighting everyone.
Showing a few pieces of the garden furniture they make were Fred and Janet Squance of Jubilee Park Timber, based at Winkleigh.
They make just about anything for use in the garden - benches, chairs, tables, lovers’ seats, garden gates, picket fencing, planters or anything else a customer might want. To know more contact them on 07980 812092.
They ran Hollyford Fencing near Crediton for many years before moving to Jubilee Park Farm.
There are still a few bills to settle before the final figure raised for South Molton Hospital League of Friends is known.
S Read
Great Devon quiz at show each day - and a Royal visit
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The Duchess of Cornwall, this year’s President who will be attending one day of the Show. Our picture was taken by Courier Editorial Manager, Alan Quick at the Show in 2005. AQ 5861
BIKE stunt supremo, Andrei Burton, broadcaster Douglas Mounce and children’s author, Michael Morpurgo, will be among the well-known figures making an appearance at Devon County Council’s stand at this year’s Devon County Show.
They will all be promoting the same message – celebrating Devon and making the county greener.
Andrei Burton, who is ranked second in Europe, will be promoting the Grand Western Weekend by using a canal barge as a platform for his breathtaking stunts.
The Weekend is being held at Devon County Council’s Grand Western Canal a week after the County Show.
The Cycle Circus will continue the entertainment in between Andrei’s performances.
There are also four Great Devon Quizzes throughout each day to test your knowledge on Devon’s history, culture and sporting prowess. Hosted by Douglas Mounce, the quiz uses ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’-style hand held voting controls and offers the chance to win a goody bag of local produce.
Former Children’s Laureate and much-loved author Michael Morpurgo will be doing a reading from one of his books and meeting children on Thursday morning. Authors Simon Hall and Belinda Seward will also be visiting on Friday and Saturday.
They will all be supporting the National Year of Reading and Devon County Council’s drive to encourage people to join libraries and to find the youngest library member.
Young library fans will also enjoy meeting M@x, the canine mascot from The Zone, Devon County Council’s children’s library service website.
A film will also be screened about Farms for City Children which was set up by Michael Morpurgo and is the official charity of the County Show this year.
Devon County Council Leader Brian Greenslade said: “The Devon County Council marquee has become one of the major landmarks at the county show.
“This year we can once again promise all the entertainment and information that people have come to expect from us, underpinned by Devon County Council’s message about making Devon the greenest county!”
Other highlights to be enjoyed on the Devon County Council stand include:
• Information about glorious Devon walks from the Public Rights of Way team
• Cycling safely for commuting and pleasure with the Cycle Exeter team
• How to cut your petrol bills using Travelwise/car share Devon
• Fairtrade Devon who are aiming to make Devon a Fairtrade County by the end of the year
• The Devon Rocks initiative which is drawing people’s attention to Devon’s geological riches and heritage
•Information on children’s centres, fostering, Devon schools and a drive to recruit childcare workers
• Professor Fumbles, who will be keeping the children entertained all day.
Tickets are available from Crediton Information Centre, and other outlets, or book on-line at: www.devoncountyshow.co.uk .
Farmers lose £20 per pig
Local Conservative MEP, Neil Parish has called on the government to start getting to grips with the farming community after it emerged that the French government was directly subsiding pig farmers up to £12.4 million while farmers in the West Country are losing up to £20 per animal.
The French subsidies, set up for pig farmers in financial difficult, include a tax rebate worth £2.4 million and a loan subsidy fund worth up to £10 million and have come to light after Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament wrote to the Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fisher Boel, to gain clarification that the French subsidies were legal under European Law.
The Commissioner’s response indicated that they were legal and did not discriminate against farmers in other countries.
Said Neil Parish: “This is quite ridiculous. Whilst our pig farmers are losing up to £20 per animal the French are giving their farmers £12 million just to ensure that they stay in business.
“This illustrates the way in which France manipulates the rules to its own benefit, whilst also highlighting the stark contrast with the UK where our government, under Gordon Brown, is quite content to let our beleaguered pig farmers go bankrupt.”
YFC Ball
MEMBERS of Winkleigh YFC will celebrate their club’s 70th birthday on Friday June 27 with a Ball at the Fox and Hounds, Eggesford.
Tickets (£20 each) are available from John Snell on 07881 781 037.
The club is keen to exhibit a display of memorabilia of the club’s life. Any copies of newspaper cuttings, photographs, etc, would be gratefully received by Lucy Goss (07866 432 015).
Defra landfill figure wrong
Defra report about the amount of waste sent by Devon residents to landfill, have been successfully challenged by Devon County Council and other local authorities.
A parliamentary answer quoted the total amount of municipal waste collected within the county, as opposed to waste landfilled - a figure almost 50 per cent less. This gave the impression that more waste is being landfilled now than 10 years ago.
Defra has agreed that the wrong figures were quoted and a correction to the statement will be made through Parliament.
Witheridge YFC fun shirts with a message
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Helen and Katie Cox show off the new Witheridge YFC shirts. SR 8970
SMART black rugby shirts give members of Witheridge Young Farmers’ Club an identity that is fun.
The 10 points that make up the club ethos,* taking the initials of Witheridge, were thought up by 18 years old club member Helen Cox with her older sister, Katie. The shirts were sponsored by animal feed and general clothing suppliers Watermans of Tiverton.
Helen works at home on the farm and in the shop, she has her own flock of Hampshire Down sheep, which she is planning to show at the Mid Devon Show in July.
Katie is a bird keeper at Exmoor Zoo near Barnstaple, where she cares for a large range of birds from an oriole to an emormous crane.
“We wanted something different and something fun for our new shirts,” said Helen. The club meets on the first and third Mondays of each month with activities, outings, social events. You do not have to be in agriculture to be able to join. To know more, contact 01884 881280.
* Our photo shows the 10 points.
Benefits for stock and plants
THE next meeting of the Devon and Exeter Farming Group will be held at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, on Wednesday, May 7, when the speaker will be Danny Goodwin-Jones, from Trace Elements Services Ltd, which is based in Wales.
He will speak on trace elements and the benefits to stock and plant life and will also talk about TB. Members are asked to attend at 7pm, for a 7.30pm start, when orders for food can be made.
All are invited and further details can be obtained from group co-ordinator, Phoebe Emmett on 01392 660143.