Daily Post

Dead Fox Provocation Disowned

HUNT supporters have distanced themselves from a stand- off in Denbigh in which a dead fox was brandished at anti-hunt protesters. Six women members of Denbighshire Animal Rights (DAR) were staging a peaceful demonstration outside the town's library on Saturday when three locals took exception.

Hunt Film 'Bias' Fury

FURIOUS hunts men feel betrayed by media coverage of an apparent "expose" by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS). The Plas Machynlleth Foxhounds (PMFH) say broadcasters"significantly misportrayed" secretly filmed video footage which led to the group's suspension by the Federation of Welsh Packs (FWP)last week.

Silver Lapwing to Reward Conservation's High Fliers

FARMERS in Wales are being invited to enter the 26th farm care FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards 2004, launched on Monday at Tegwyn Jones' Talyglannau Farm,Mallwyd,Meirionnydd -a finalist last year. The awards -revamped this year ahead of new cross-compliance demands -go to farmers who encourage wildlife on their holdings.

Windfall Tax Anger ; Rules 'a Huge Blow to Diversification'

FARMERS face a government double whammy which could hit diversification plans and force them to sell off assets. New compulsory purchase powers,combined with a proposed new Development Gain Tax (DGT), could see farmers facing crushing financial and regulatory powers, say unions.

No Gm Crops for Five Years in Uk ; Makers Drop Plans for Sole Approved Strain

GM CROP protesters have claimed victory in the fight to keep Wales GM- free for the time being. Bayer CropScience has abandoned plans to cultivate herbicide resistant maize Chardon LL,blaming Government constraints.

Mobile Farriery Clinches Livewire Business Award

TRADITIONAL images of farriery -nails,furnaces and hot,grimy bodies -are no longer the staple of the modern practitioner. These days the job is just as like to involve glue guns, ready made shoes and Health & Safety. Gareth Williams set up a mobile farriery business six months ago at Carmel, Llanerchymedd,Anglesey.

Dairy Woe Confirmed

A DETAILED health check of the state of Welsh farming has reaffirmed the contrasting fortunes of the country's farmers. While sheep and beef producers witnessed a dramatic improvement last year, the survey confirmed what dairy farmers already know - their returns are under severe pressure.

Meat Rule Blocked

Live Journey Cut

Payments Hedged

Turbines Warning

Disease All-Clear

Welsh Stroganoff

Best in Their Field

It was another big week for ploughing in North Wales when competitors gathered at Maes Mynan Fields, Afonwen,for the Flintshire Farmers Ploughing Society annual match. Photographer Robert Parry Jones was there to capture the action

Step Forward

Emlyn Roberts, 37 Beef and sheep producer who farms in partnership with his father,Trebor,at Esgairgawr,Rhydymain,Dolgellau. Last month he won planning consent to build a hydro-electricity scheme supplying 1.3 million kilowatt hours a year to the National Grid by 2005. He was also chosen by NFU Cymru to be one of the faces of its new Thank A Farmer campaign trailer, which will be touring Wales this year. Married to Catrin, they have twochildren, Dafydd,four, and Llio,18 months. Describe yours...

Out and About

Riders delighted with Wynnstay aid CLWYD Special Riding Centre has welcomed its latest sponsorship - a pounds 1,000 donation from agricultural suppliers Wynnstay plc.

Tackle Talk

Llyn y Gors,Anglesey Anglesey match star Paul Jones smashed fishery records when he weighed in more than 140lb after a six-hour purplepatch. The haul -the biggest ever on the fishery's Match Lake -included 120lb of carp and a further 20lb mix of barb el and golden orfe.

Junior Jockey Hunt ; Pony Racing Aims to Halt British Decline

THERE'S been a shortage for many years now in the UK of youngsters wishing to train as jockeys: despite the formation of the British Racing School at Newmarket and other satellite training units, the shortfall continues. But now, thanks to the Pony Club, things are about to change. In conjunction with the RHT (Racehorse Holdings Trust),a pilot scheme is being introduced to bring Pony Racing to the UK.

Bittersweet Day at Point-to-Point Meet

TRAGEDY marred an otherwise superb day's point-to-point racing at Eaton Hall when a riderless horse had to be destroyed after falling. Vets took the decision after Along The Lawn tumbled at the fourth fence at the Flint & Denbigh Hunt meeting near Chester. The horse bolted,crashing into a gate and breaking his pelvis. Jockey Alistair Crowe was knocked unconscious but was given the all-clear by doctors after arriving at hospital.

At the Heart of the Country: Black Beauty Must Learn to Sit Up and Beg

NOTHING amuses and annoys in equal measure more than the bureaucratic myopia that regularly afflicts agriculture and the countryside. Two prime examples have surfaced this week. The first is courtesy of Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Tories, who revealed the tortuous thinking behind the EU Animal By-Products Regulation 2002.