Press Statement- GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, HOMEF and other CSOs Condemn Efforts to Sway the Public to Accept Agricultural Biotechnology and Denounce Release of Genetically Modified Cotton into Nigeria

GMO-Free

The GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and over 35 other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in a statement made available to the media condemned efforts by government and biotech corporations to persuade Nigerians to accept agricultural biotechnology and denounced the registration and release of genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties (Maycho C567 BG II and Maycho C571 BG II) into the country.

Is this West Virginia farming community the model for a utopian way of life?

Is this West Virginia farming community the model for a utopian way of life?

If one family can't maintain a farm of 300 acres then maybe multiple families can... and so communal farming is born again in Berkeley, where 11 families living on common land are trialling a new way to preserve rural America

Joint 10,000gn for rams bred in Aberdeenshire

Suffolk ram lamb Birness Cracker sold for 10,000gn at the Stockton dispersal sale.

A joint top price of 10,000gn was paid for two Aberdeenshire-bred rams at the dispersal sale of the Stockton flock of pedigree Suffolk sheep.

Government must stop cheap post-Brexit food imports threatening UK farmers, MPs warn

Government must stop cheap post-Brexit food imports threatening UK farmers, MPs warn

Foreign food imports must be held to Britain’s high standards after Brexit or the nation’s farming community will be devastated, MPs have warned.

Australia's drought: The cancer eating away at farms

Australia's drought:

The worst drought in living memory is sweeping parts of eastern Australia, leaving farmers struggling to cope and asking questions about the future

Rice farming up to twice as bad for climate change as previously thought, study reveals

Rice is a vital crop that provides people with more calories in total than any other food

Levels of overlooked greenhouse gas are up to 45 times higher in fields that are only flooded intermittently.

How satellites could help farmers deal with the risk of drought

Only the most drought-prone farms in Australia take out cover

The emergence of 'big data' collected from satellites and internet-enabled devices promises to revolutionize farm production and risk management – helping governments and insurers understand drought and protecting farmers.

Statisticians call for accurate data’s

Statisticians

Statisticians in the country have requested that stakeholders in Nigeria give out accurate data to help develop the various sectors as it is urgent to better preposition the country in the area of food productivity and food security across the country.

SEE- map with the BSE risk status zones in Europe can be seen below:

NGO task fg on increased budgetary allocations

 

Group picture 

The Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative (FYBIN) has urged the Federal Government to increase its funding to the agricultural sector, especially for women and youth farmers to increase their yields and attain food sufficiency.

FG tasks food transporters, reiterates ban on multiple tax

Coordinating Director of the Service, Dr. Vincent Isegbe 

As part of the plans of the Federal Government (FG) to reduce  food poisons in circulation, the National Agricultural Quarantine Services  (NASQ) has urged transporters to ensure compliance with officers on the highway.

FG releases two new BT transgenic hybrid cotton

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh 

The federal government has released two new biotechnology transgenic hybrids cotton as a step to improving the quality yield produced in the country. This was made known during a press conference held in Abuja.

Organization calls for subsidy in agriculture

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has called for subsidies in agriculture in Nigeria in order to achieve food security. Lead specialist of FARA, Prof. Oluwole Fatumbi made the call during the closing ceremony of a four-day training programme held in Abuja.

Ministry contractors cry for job payment

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture

Contractors who worked for Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) towards ensuring efficient commercial agriculture and food security have appealed to the management to save them from untimely death by paying their long overdue debts owed them just as one of them has been reported dead.

Young farmers have their skills put to the test

Angus Brims and John Forbes -winners of the prime lamb dressing contest.

Young farmers from across the north flocked to the Caithness Livestock Centre at Quoybrae for a series of competitions.

FAO strengthens stakeholders’ capacity to conduct disease outbreak investigation in Nigeria using One Health Approach.

FAO strengthens stakeholders’ capacity to conduct disease outbreak investigation in Nigeria using One Health Approach.

In 2006, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) otherwise called bird flu outbreak threatened the poultry sector in Africa and nearly crippled the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers in Nigeria. Within the last three years, reports of a more lethal sequence reportedly reemerged with the risk of spreading rapidly.

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will chair activities of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum’s meeting in Sokoto state today.

R-L-- Kenton Drs Atta-Krah and Dashiell in Sokoto

The two-day meeting in Sokoto, which begins on Wednesday, will afford participating states in Nigeria the opportunity to peer review one another, particularly on achievements and steps taken so far since 2016 to bring about zero hunger.

Images speak at the 4th Nigerian Rice Investment Forum held in Sheraton Hotel Abuja

Group picture at the 4th Nigerian Rice Investment Forum held in Sheraton Hotel Abuja

Images speak at the 4th Nigerian Rice Investment Forum held in Sheraton Hotel Abuja.. see more images below

SEE Video- SHARK FARMER: CHANGING TRENDS

 Shark Farmer, Rob Sharkey

The Shark Farmer, Rob Sharkey, discusses the changing trends in purchasing farm equipment.  See video below

Images speak at the annual national forum of small scale women farmers' organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) organized by the Actionaid

 Images speaks at the annual national forum of small scale women farmers' organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) organized by the Actionaid

 Images speaks at the annual national forum of small scale women farmers' organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) organized by the Actionaid.... see more images below

More images speak as FG releases two new BT transgenic hybrid cotton

More images as FG releases two new BT transgenic hybrid cotton

More images as FG releases two new BT transgenic hybrid cotton... se more images below

'Ireland should push for a free-trade agreement with Indonesia to compete in region'

Bord Bia's Tara McCarthy and Thomas Darmawan of Kadin Indoesian Chamber of Commerce at a dairy seminar Jakarta

Ireland must push for a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia if it wants to successfully compete in the South-East Asian market, Head of Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) Conor Mulvihill has urged.

Images speak at the world press conference on the newly released MRC7377 BGII MAHYCO c 567 BGII and MRC 7361 Transgenic cotton hybrid varieties in Nigeria

Group picture at the world press conference on the newly released MRC7377 BGII MAHYCO c 567 BGII and MRC 7361 Transgenic cotton hybrid varieties in Nigeria

Images speak at the world press conference on the newly released MRC7377 BGII MAHYCO C 567 BGII and MRC 7361 Transgenic cotton hybrid varieties in Nigeria

Prices static as kill figure still topping 38,600 head

Ballymote Mart Weanlings. Lot Number 636. Weight 296Kg. DOB 13/3/18 Breed CHX. Heifer. Price €720. Photo Brian Farrell

They say no news is good news, except, I expect, when you’re expecting news. Two months ago as factory kill numbers started to climb, few could have foreseen the current reality that as we head into November weekly average kill numbers over the last two months have remained stubbornly over 38,600.

Beef farmers can make €105/ha extra net profit with proper grazing management - Teagasc

 Beef farmers

Irish farmers are only seeing 50-60pc of their grass growth potential and are not realising the full benefits of the cheapest form of feed – grazed grass, according to Teagasc.

Key data on Nitrates and Phosphorus now available online

 Key data on Nitrates and Phosphorus now available online

The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine has announced that interim Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements for the period January to September 2018 and are now available online at agfood.ie

IITA Director General, Dr Sanginga addresses presidential delegation from Sudan seeking collaboration on cassava transformation

…As Sudan and IITA sign MoU

The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga 

The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga said today that a collaboration between IITA and Sudan will put smiles on the faces of farmers in the northern African country.

Soil fertility - can you afford to ignore it?

Taking soil samples is essential to establish baseline fertility

Albert Einstein once said “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result”.

female farmer decries presidential fertilizer distribution

Mrs Comfort Sunday

A woman farmer in the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs Comfort Sunday has called on the attention of government over the insincerity displayed on the distribution and sales of fertilizers as against the promises made to the farmers on easy accessibility and affordability especially through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme created to aid increase in productivity.

NGO emphasizes role of extension services in agric

Meeting cross session

A non-governmental organisation, Action Aid of Nigeria has lamented the absence of extension agents in the agricultural sector in the country. This was disclosed during the dissemination of assessment of government expenditure on agriculture/community score cards on smallholder farmers’ access to extension services held in Abuja.

NASC,PERL-Advocacy group partner to enhance seeds’quality

group picture

 The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learning (PERL) advocacy group have agreed to work together in principle towards ensuring formulation of appropriate policies and effective performance to make the sub sector work efficiently for national food security.

Watch: Maggots on calves - more hardship for farmers from the drought

 Maggots on calves

The extremely dry weather during the summer has tested farmers in many ways, including bringing new animal health problems to the farm.

New Zealand to cull 120,000 cows and spend €522m in bid to eradicate cattle disease

Cows

New Zealand, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, will spend more than NZ$880 million (€522 million) in a bid to eradicate the mycoplasma bovis cattle disease, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.

Aphicides aren't what they used to be and are wiping out the good guys

Aphicides

It seems that many growers have put their faith in winter crops this year. There is hardly a stubble field left in places, such is the amount of progress made.

Press Release-- Jigawa Govt, farmers agree there are challenges in seed supply system

Group picture

Both the government and farmers in Jigawa State have agreed that there were problems with the seed processing and supply system with regards to quality, quantity and timeliness of availability, in the state.

Pictures speak today @ the opening ceremony, 25th regular meeting of the National Council on waterresources where 2018 action papers will be presented to the members for approval and implementation to achieving “ increased investment for accelerated coverage of water supply and sanitation in Nigeria”

Pictures speak today @ the opening ceremony, 25th regular meeting of the National Council on waterresources where 2018 action papers will be presented to the members for approval and implementation to achieving “ increased investment for accelerated coverage of water supply and sanitation in Nigeria”

 Pictures speak today @ the opening ceremony, 25th regular meeting of the National Council on water resources where 2018 action papers will be presented to the members for approval and implementation to achieving “ increased investment for accelerated coverage of water supply and sanitation in Nigeria”

Warning over garden clippings being dumped in grazing pasture after sheep poisoning

Into the wild: Rhododendrons grow wild at the foot of Benbulben in Sligo.

Flockowners and gardeners need to be aware of the danger of sheep gaining access to gardens or of garden clippings being dumped in grazing pasture.

'Minister in Denial': Some Sligo farmers at a loss of up to €40k over burnt land says TD

Sligo County Council is counting the cost of a spate of gorse fires last year

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed face more questions in the Dail last week relating to the delay in payments to farmers who are part of a commonage at Killerry in Ballintogher, County Sligo.

Rural road safety appeal as silage season in full swing

Agricultural machinery has got bigger over the years

With the silage season almost in full swing, the state's dairy farmer organisation has appealed for all rural road users to be aware and concentrate over the next six weeks or so.

Farmers and car buyers win from EU-Japan deal

Farmers and car buyers win from EU-Japan deal

Irish farmers and food processors stand to be among the main winners from an agreement signed between the EU and Japan to scrap tariffs on much of their bilateral trade which is expected to come into effect next year.

Goodman's ABP seals deal to sell beef online in China

Beef

Larry Goodman's ABP Food Group has entered an agreement with Beijing Hopewise to sell Irish beef on a Chinese ecommerce website.

FAO commissions solar-powered boreholes to enhance rural access to water in 3 arid states

FAO Country Representative in Nigeria H.E. Suffyan Koroma

As part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has commissioned solar-powered boreholes in three (3) arid states of Northern Nigeria, to boost access to water for domestic use and agricultural practice.

Dairy Firm Glanbia Posts 6.7% Increase In Volumes In First Nine Months

Dairy Firm Glanbia

Irish dairy and sports nutrition firm Glanbia has posted volume growth of 6.7% in the first nine months of its financial year, at its wholly-owned continuing operations.

We are combating land grabbers with infrastructure- FCA provost

Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina

The Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina has said that his management has embarked on infrastructural provision to reclaim the Institute’s land from grabbers.

Proposals to set maximum EU farm payments at €100,000 but loopholes exist

* Future CAP plans aim to support younger farmers.

farm

A cap on the level of direct EU supports to farms across Europe will be set at a maximum of €100,000, with Member States able to set a national cap of between €60,000 and €100,000.

'Arghh the ignorance!' Vegan daughter slams her own mother after she voiced her support for dairy farmers and said their cows looked 'healthy and happy'

'Arghh the ignorance!' Vegan daughter slams her own mother after she voiced her support for dairy farmers and said their cows looked 'healthy and happy'

• A daughter has taken aim at her mother for supporting Australian dairy farmers
• Ms Kayte, 35, who became vegan three months ago, called her mother 'ignorant'
• Her mother Debbie Kalnins admires Australian dairy farmers for their hard work

A vegan woman has publicly slammed her own mother online for supporting for Australian dairy farmers.

Jon Danielsen Aarhus and the architecture of rural Norway

Jon Danielsen Aarhus and the architecture of rural Norway

Patrick Kingsland speaks to the Oslo-based rising architectural star Jon Danielsen Aarhus about his traditional-looking rural cabins and views on the rapidly developing Norwegian capital.

Uzbek deputy PM sacked in ditch row

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Zoyir Mirzayev 

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Zoyir Mirzayev has been dismissed over a scandal involving the public humiliation of a group of farmers.

World Food Day: How IITA is addressing food security in Africa, by IITA Boss

Sanginga

Research outputs by Africa Food Prize winner, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and its national partners are helping farmers to come out of poverty, creating jobs and demonstrating the possibility of having a prosperous African continent, says the Director general of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga today.

Meet the finalists of the Zurich/Farming Independent Farmer of the Year competition

Farmer George Finlay pictured with finacee Hannah Sheerin (far left) and sister and chef Amanda Finlay with some of the East Friesland sheep on the family farm near the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow. Photo: Frank McGrath

Storm Powell profiles the shortlisted candidates in the Dairy, Tillage, Beef and Sheep categories for the Zurich Farm Insurance/ Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards 2018

Four More Cows Culled in Scotland to Test for BSE

Mad cow disease

Testing is underway to determine if four more cows might be infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on a Scottish farm. ( Multimedia Graphic Network, Inc. )

How 19 drystock farmers are contract rearing over 2,000 dairy heifers and making up to €1,400/ha

The contract rearer needs to be technically efficient, an excellent grassland manager and aware if the benefits of reaching target weights.

In November 2015, some 19 drystock farmers in Sligo and Leitrim came together to investigate the potential of contract rearing dairy heifers as a means of increasing stocking rate and increasing the profitability of their farms.