ALMOST 70 farmers braved heavy snow to attend a Farmers Forum held by Rishi Sunak, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Richmond, at Northallerton Auction Mart.

He organised the event to hear from farmers about the issues facing their industry and discuss what he could do to help, if elected. Discussions covered milk prices, badger culling, tagging, CAP reform, burdensome EU regulation, food labelling and the lack of broadband in rural areas.

Mr Sunak said: "This was a great opportunity for me to sit down with an engaged group of farmers and figure out how we can work together to ensure the industry can thrive. Farming is an integral part of this local economy and I will fight hard for farmers."

Ian Robson, livestock and arable farmer from Great Ayton, said: “We were all quite impressed, he seemed to have got to grips with the issues facing the farming industry in some depth – I was very happy with it."

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CARRS Billington Agriculture has been announced as the major sponsor of NSA North Sheep 2015.

The biennial event will bring together competitions, demonstrations, seminars and around 200 trade stands at Neil and Sally Marston’s Millstone Moor Farm, near Cockermouth, on June 3.

With its head office in Carlisle, Carrs Billington is at the forefront of innovation in the supply of products such as compound and blended animal feeds, straights, fertilizers, seeds, animal health products, and agrochemicals, as well as services to sheep farmers. Renowned throughout the North, this Cumbrian company has a network of 26 Country Stores, together with professional teams of sales specialists and advisors to support farmers.

Ian Oliver, Carrs Billington divisional sales manager, said: "Mr Marston is one of our customers, and Cumbria is one of our main trading areas, where we have a large market share of the business. Sponsoring this event gives us the opportunity to give something back to our customers and to thank them for their support. It is also an opportunity to highlight the range and of products and services we offer to a wider audience."

Around 7,000 visitors are expected at the event and tours of the Marston’s farm – home to the well-known North of England Mule-producing Highberries Crossing Blue-Faced Leicester flock – will also be available.

The event will also host the 2015 Young Shepherd of the Year contest and the North of England inter-county shearing competition. A series of seminars will focus on issues such as CAP reform in the uplands and maintaining sheep health.

A number of sponsorship packages and trade stand space is still available. E-mail Julie Sedgewick at jas@nationalsheep.org.uk before February 27.

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LIMAGRAIN has published a new Essential Guide to Forage Crops containing the latest variety trial data and advice on crop rotations and on choosing the right crop for the system.

Martin Titley, marketing director, said: “As an industry, we don’t have national recommended lists for fodder crop varieties but this guide provides trial data comparisons on the main varieties grown in the UK. Producers can see how these varieties compare for a range of agronomic and feed value criteria such as height of the crop, dry matter yields and digestibility. We also provide a comprehensive guide to growing and feeding a range of crops such as fodder beet, kale and stubble turnips."

Copies are available from Emily Short on 01472 370117, email Emily.short@limagrain.co.uk or download from limagrain.co.uk/products/forage-crops

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