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Gwyn Howells

Helping to keep farmers connected

MORE than 6,000 Welsh farmers have now attended events on the Welsh Assembly Government’s Farming Connect support scheme for the sheep and beef industries – a strong sign of the widespread, all-Wales industry participation to date. Read

Moc Morgan

When irritating flies promise anglers a most welcome bite

IN MY schoolmastering days, I would occasionally ask the pupils to write about their favourite day of the week or their favourite month of the year. Invariably Saturday was the favourite day and for most August was the favourite month. Read

Simon Hart

Week’s aim is to give all a good shot

NATIONAL Shooting Week returns from May 3 to 11, providing a perfect opportunity for those who are new to shooting to give it a try at events across Britain. Read

Kingfishers are star attraction

STAFF, volunteers and visitors to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust National Wetland Centre Wales have been following the progress of a pair of kingfishers who have been extremely active around their new nesting site. The distinctive birds, which reside around slow-moving or still water, have been making their nest in a bank at the centre. The pair have been excavating new burrows and providing great spectacles for visitors as they fly repeatedly into the bank with their sharp bills. Read

Maureen Lloyd

On the right track to start the season

WALES & Border Counties hosted their second meeting of the 2008 season last Saturday on a cold day at the all-weather track at Tai’rgwaith, near Ammanford. Read

Cutting cow costs

DAIRY producers could save more than £100 a cow by improving the fertility of their herd through simple monitoring techniques. Read

Liz Shankland

Roxy’s guest of honour

It may be party time at the smallholding for Josh, but the birthday boy gets overshadowed by one of the guests Read

Moc Morgan

Healthy trout play big part on a good Friday

WHEN I was in college I read a long thesis written about Tregaron, my hometown. It was a really well written piece of work and made interesting reading – as indeed you would expect of an essay that gained a PhD. Read

Gareth Vaughan

Deferred fuel hike fails to impress

THE Chancellor’s decision in his recent Budget to postpone plans to raise fuel duty until October has failed to boost his popularity in farmers’ eyes. Read

Liz Shankland

Roxy lamb adapts to dog’s life

There’s an unexpected and very demanding new house guest at the smallholding Read

Dai Davies

Bid to bring balance on biofuels

THE introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) on April 15 has been dubbed Biofuels Day by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) as the industry mounts a joint effort to dispel some of the myths surrounding biofuels. Read

Brian Lee

Little Ed helps Rhys to second hat-trick

HENGOED’S Rhys Hughes chalked-up his second hat-trick of the season at the rain-soaked Glamorgan Hunt Steeplechases with Well Mick (young horse maiden), Little Ed (confined) and Bob Bites Back (restricted) – and all three are trained at Pyle by Robert Scrine. Read

Jonathan Evans MEP

We must help ban this cruel fur trade

THE European Union has threatened to ban seal fur imports which could help to bring about the end of controversial seal hunting in Canada. Read

Paddy Rooney

Building must be allowed in the countryside

FOR all the credit squeeze gloom, there is no sign yet that house prices are falling off a cliff – in fact over the country as a whole they are continuing to rise, though more slowly than in recent years. Demand continues to outstrip supply, and the law of supply and demand rules. Read

Elin Jones.

Assembly on track to cutting farming red tape

TODAY may be April 1 but for farmers in Wales the regulatory burden they face in order to meet both European and domestic legislation is no joke. Read

Moc Morgan

Anglers discover insect life benefits

MOST of us, especially the older generation of car owners, can remember a time when washing the windscreen was a regular occurrence in summer because of the huge number of dead flies that lay plastered on the windscreen. Read

Leigh Roberts

Sorry to waffle on – but guess what food day it is today

FED up of Easter eggs? Well today is International Waffle Day and to celebrate, Wales’ only waffle-making company, Tregroes Waffles, is encouraging sweet-toothed shoppers to buy waffles to enjoy with a hot cup of tea. Read

Birds know spring is coming, even if we humans don’t

THE stormy and unpredictable weather this month may have left you wondering what’s going on with the seasons. Read

Liz Shankland

Real-life tales of debauchery just outside the window

George the ram lamb has left our smallholder columnist with some big worries Read

Brian Lee

Welsh champions 25-length dash

REIGNING Welsh ladies’ champion rider Isabel Tompsett was in brilliant form at the Curre and Llangibby Hunt Steeplechases on Saturday landing a double with Chesnut Annie (ladies’ open) and Check Up (maiden two, part two). Read

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