The farm uses a good dry-cow management plan and maintains a healthy herd to help reduce the use of antibiotics
At Markus Hubers’ dairy farm in the North Rhine Westphalia region of Germany near Rees, it’s all about tight management and paying attention to detail. His farm, the Lima Holstein herd of 325 dairy cows, is in the top three percent of the largest dairy herds in Germany and has been in the family for […] Read moreStories by Chris McCullough
Mastitis test reduces antibiotic use on dairy farms
A new test to detect clinical mastitis has been launched in Germany in a bid to reduce the use of antibiotics in a dairy herd. While the use of antibiotics on farms to treat livestock continues to be scrutinized, farmers are being urged to move away from the tradition of blanket treatments. Mastitis, for example, […] Read more
Scoring cows for mobility can help save farmers money
About 60 percent of dairy farmers in Europe fail to recognize lameness in their cows and do not understand how much it costs in lost production, said a dairy cattle expert. Dr. Alastair Boyle, a dairy technologist at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise in Greenmount, Northern Ireland, said the average cost of […] Read more
World’s first floating dairy farm being built
The operation in the Dutch city of Rotterdam will supply urban residents with milk and showcase agriculture
It has taken a lot of time to get the green light, but construction of the world’s first floating dairy farm is finally underway in the Netherlands. This innovative farm is being built at Rotterdam and will be home to 40 dairy cows when completed. The idea is that the farm will supply the city […] Read more
British farmer makes a move — to Canada
Andrew Evans of Northern Ireland is unimpressed with the subsidy farming that is commonplace in the European Union
A farmer from Northern Ireland has decided to sell his dairy farm that has been in his family for three generations and move to Canada. Andrew Evans, 42, plans to start a new life in Dauphin, Man., with wife, Sandra, and their children Daniel, Adam, Rhoda, Ruth and Jordan, who range from nine to 16 […] Read more
Norway upgrading international seed vault
The Arctic facility stores and safeguards the world’s crops and plants from global natural or man-made disaster
A giant vault in Norway that holds seeds from around the world is set for a $12.5 million upgrade in order to further protect global food supplies. The work includes a new concrete-built access tunnel, a service building to house emergency power and refrigerating units, and waterproof walls to prepare for a warmer future. Built […] Read more
Neonic risk to bees found
A food safety group in Europe says most uses of neonicotinoid pesticides represent a risk to wild bees and honeybees. The European Food Safety Authority has updated its risk assessment of three neonicotinoids: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The three pesticides are currently subject to restrictions in the EU because of the threats they pose to […] Read more
European Union floats 30 percent cut in ag subsidies
A controversy has erupted in Europe after details emerged of a plan to slash farm subsidies by 30 percent to compensate for the $20.3 billion shortfall after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. The U.K. voted to leave the EU in 2016 and has a deadline to quit the union by March 2019. With […] Read more
Third of consumers say willing to eat lab-grown meat
Almost 30 percent of consumers in the United States and United Kingdom interviewed for a survey said they would eat meat grown in a lab. Sixty percent of vegans also said they would give the lab meat a go. The results were obtained from an online survey of 1,000 U.K. and U.S. consumers conducted by […] Read more
Tasmania’s largest farm is on the auction block
Interest in the 54,000 acre farm is thought to be high among overseas investors; price is expected to top $70 million
A massive farm extending to 54,000 acres is up for sale in Tasmania after it was put on the market by its New Zealand owner. Rushy Lagoon is the biggest farm in Tasmania, an Australian island state south of the Australian mainland. It is owned by Alan Pye, who bought it in 1996. Interest is […] Read more
