Summer's rain boosts region's strawberry crops
They're the last thing you'd expect to flourish in the dismal summer, but the region's strawberry growers are enjoying bumper crops.
West Country milk producers being forced out of business
West Country farmers will be in Westminster today to join a summit meeting about falling milk prices.
Day One of Devon County Show looks like a record-breaker
Cattle and other livestock from across the west country are at the Devon County Show, which drew in the crowds on its first day
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Dairy farmers crisis meeting
A crisis meeting is being held in Devon tonight for dairy farmers across the region, to discuss the problems facing the industry.
Several hundred people are expected to attend to discuss issues such as the rising cost of feed, the price paid for milk, and the recent bad weather.
Bob Cruwys reports:
Farm crime: full report
Devon and Cornwall Police say that reducing rural crime is one of the top priorities for the force. Thefts of machinery and livestock costs many millions of pounds each year and pushes up insurance premiums.
Police and landowners met today to identify crime trends and find solutions. Our Exeter correspondent Seth Conway reports.
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Agriculture Minister responds to call for lantern ban
Preparations underway for Dorset County Show
The final preparations for the Dorset County Show are underway.
The two day show starts tomorrow and is the county's biggest agricultural event.
Thousands of people attend each year, to see the livestock and farm produce on display.
Farming minister's funding news
Farming minister Jim Paice gives details of how some of the funding will be invested locally...
High animal feed prices hurting pig farmers
The rising cost of animal feed is threatening the livelihood of many pig farmers in the West Country.
That's according to the National Pig Association (NPA) which says poor weather across the globe has impacted on crop growth.
The knock-on effect has seen a hike in feed prices by 25% in the last year. This is pushing up the cost of production.
The NPA says that if the cost of feed continues to rise, one in ten pig farmers in the South West could be forced out of business by Christmas.
In a survey, 10 per cent of farmers said they were struggling to cover the extra costs, a situation made worse by supermarkets reluctant to pay more for pork products.
The Association says it hopes public support will help keep farmers in business in the year ahead.
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Summer's rain boosts region's strawberry crops
by Steve Hardy
They're the last thing you'd expect to flourish in the dismal summer, but the region's strawberry growers are enjoying bumper crops.
Read the full storyWestcountry farmers fear they'll go out of business
The Government has announced new help for dairy farmers as they battle to survive after cuts in the money they get from milk processors. The National Farmers' Union is warning the average farmer will lose around forty thousand pounds in income each year as a result.
Hundreds of farmers from the South West travelled to London to join a national lobby demanding more support. Among them was Mark Oliver who has a five hundred strong herd at Lan-hydrock near Bodmin. Our Cornwall Correspondent Steve Hardy reports.
West Country milk producers being forced out of business
West Country farmers will be in Westminster today to join a summit meeting about falling milk prices.
Read the full storyFalling milk prices forcing farmers to close
West Country farmers will be in Westminster today to join a summit meeting about falling milk prices.
It's been called by the National Farmers' Union, which says milk producers are being forced out of business as big dairy companies cut costs.
The NFU says it costs farmers 30p to produce a litre of milk. With the latest cuts, farmers will only be paid 24.73p a litre - a loss of over 5p per litre of milk.
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