AN agricultural expert is warning South West walkers and farmers to stay vigilant in the vicinity of livestock and their young this summer, to avoid endangering lives and jeopardising livelihoods.
Charlie Higson, of rural insurance broker Lycetts, is urging the public and farmers to take steps to protect themselves, ramblers and livestock, as the trend for countryside walking sets to continue post-lockdown.
Government figures show that by summer 2020, 39 per cent of people were walking more than before the pandemic struck – with 94 per cent claiming they would continue...
HRH The Queen is undoubtedly the most famous horse owner to compete at this year’s Devon County Show taking place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 18-20) at Westpoint, Exeter.
The Queen is entering a Highland pony and a Riding Horse in two classes within a packed equine programme which starts at 7am on Thursday morning.
The Show also has judging royalty including Mary Low MBE, a former international event rider, who will be judging on Thursday and former jockey Joe Tizzard.
Mary Lowe (then Mary Gordon-Watson) represented the winning British eventing team for...
Police are reminding dog owners of their responsibilities following reports of attacks on livestock in the region, caused by dogs being walked off the lead.
Last year there we over 150 crimes recorded across Devon and Cornwall linked to livestock worrying offences; the number of these incidents also usually increase during the lambing season as we exit winter.
PC Phil Johnson from the Teignmouth Crime Hub, said: “We are currently investigating a particularly nasty dog attack on a pregnant yew this week near Holne in Dartmoor, which led to the animal having to be put down...
Thundering-hooved Shetland ponies, motorcycle acrobatics and the giant Devon Eye swung the county’s largest annual event into thrilling action.
Crowds turned out in their thousands to savour the best of the South West’s food and farming on the first day of the Devon County Show.
EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and Environment Secretary Liz Truss, along with NFU president Meurig Raymond and CLA president Ross Murray, met farmers at the curtain-raiser for the South West agricultural show season.
The crowds on the first of the three spectacular days were treated to a mouth-...
One fire appliance from Witheridge, two from Tiverton and the Water Bowser from Exeter were sent to a report of a barn on fire at Pennymoor, Tiverton.
On arrival crews confirmed that the barn, which was being used as a workshop, was well alight. Livestock from an adjacent building were evacuated. The workshop also contained gas cylinders believed to be acetylene, argon and butane.
To deal with the incident crews are using compressed air foam monitors, two main jets and a thermal image camera.
The workshop contained vehicles, cylinders and workshop tools all of which...
TOP honours in the cattle judging at the 34th Exeter and District Christmas show held at Exeter Livestock market went to a Limousin cross British Blue steer named Clean Bandit which realised 300p/kg (652 kilos, £1,956), exhibited by Lewis Cook from Higher Yeo Farm, Ivybridge.
Judge was Rodney Cleave who placed the steer, born on April 19, 2014, ahead of a Limousin cross heifer exhibited by Jess Maynard of Caseberry Farm, Bradninch, Exeter.
Jess Maynard's heifer, Kieza, made to 310p/kg (698 kilos kilos, £2,163.80) and was born on January 3, 2014.
Join Layland and Gill Branfield on a 2 hour walk round Moorlands Farm, near Two Bridges. Hear about the life of a Dartmoor farmer and see the livestock, farming systems, habitats and historic features on this traditional high Dartmoor Farm. The tour includes seeing the remains of a unique early 20th century cableway used for moving timber. Booking is essential for these popular farm walks. Sorry no dogs.
This event is run by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project and farmers Layland and Gill Branfield. Due to the presence of livestock on the farm...
A bespoke Cowsignals® workshop organised by Haines Watts Rural Business LLP attracted 50 dairy farmers from across Devon and Cornwall. The basis of Cowsignals® is observing the cow’s body language and translating it to management. It lays a solid foundation for the management of farms and helps to demonstrate how to monitor and improve management to ensure that farmers and cows are achieving optimum health, performance and welfare on farms.
The special training day sponsored by Cornish Mutual and Harpers Home Mix Ltd with funding accessed via Healthy Livestock, was held at Shernick...
Devon County Antiques Fairs are holding their next antiques and collectors fair at The Matford Centre on Saturday 14 December.
There will be a huge selection of quality antiques of all sorts, silver, jewellery, furniture of all periods, retro items, vintage clothing, collectables of every sort, home furnishings, books, postcards, pictures, prints, coins, medals, toys on offer.
Admission: 9am-10am £4, 10am-4.30pm £3. Accompanied children under 16 free.
The RSPCA has confirmed it will not call for farmers involved in the badger cull to be named following a complaint by the NFU to the Charity Commission.
The NFU raised a number of concerns with the Charity Commission about the RSPCA’s campaigns on the badger cull and its activities relating to live animal exports. The concerns included the RSPCA’s Chief Executive calling for farmers involved in the badger cull to be named and for a boycott of milk from farmers in badger cull areas.
NFU President Peter Kendall said he was pleased with the outcome of the Charity Commission’s...
