Dyfed Smallholders' Association

"Farmers will be able to grow GM potatoes in Europe for the first time after a controversial ruling by the European Commission.

The GM Amflora potato has been developed by German chemical giant BASF to produce more starch. It is expected to be mostly grown in Germany for industrial purposes like the paper industry, but not food.

However it is unlikely to be grown in Britain because there is no demand for the potato in industry.
Luca Zaia, Italian Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia, said his country was against the decision. Martin Hausling, a German Green MEP said approval of the potato "flies in the face of the 70 per cent of consumers who are against GM food, as well as the anti-GM position of the European Parliament." Heike Moldenhauer, of Friends of the Earth, said the potato carried a controversial antibiotic resistant gene that could cause problems if it enters the food chain through feeding the industrial pulp from the potatoes to livestock: 'This decision puts profit before people or the environment and will do little to increase public confidence in the Brussels bureaucracy.'"

Today's News - 3 March 2010 Soil Association

The new 2010 Real Seed Catalogue is out now.

Its online at:    http://www.realseeds.co.uk
It contains all of the new season's seed and lots of exciting new varieties.  They have also added more information about sowing and harvesting times to help you plan your crops for the season.  To save paper and resources  The Real Seed Company are trying to send out fewer paper catalogues this year, so they are not sending them automatically to people who've ordered online and would encourage people to browse the online catalogue. They are still really happy to send you a paper version if you would like one.  To get a paper copy, just request one using the form on the 'paper catalogues' page on the website, and it will be sent out to you.

Anyone who passed a car driving test after 1 January 1997 is required to pass an additional practical driving test before they can gain category b+e entitlement to tow trailers. The b+e category allows someone to drive vehicles up to a maximum authorised mass (MaM) of up to 3.5 tonnes, i.e. the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry safely, to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kgs MaM.
Without this entitlement drivers will be in breach of the law when towing and, if involved in an accident, may not be covered by their insurance.

The Skills Development Programme delivered by Lantra, on behalf of farming Connect, offers 80 per cent funding to eligible applicants towards various training courses, including trailer towing. For further information on skills assessments and training contact Lantra on 01982 552646 or farming Connect on 08456 000 813.