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Comments on the reintroduction of wolves in the Scottish Highlands. Wolf population in Norway in the mid-1990s; Confidence of Ben Panaman, founder and director of the Wolf Trust, in the defeat of local opposition; Role of wolves in the ecosystem according to Martin Gorman, curator of the Zoology Museum at the University of Aberdeen. INSET: Landowners lead the wolf campaign.

Provides information on a report published by the Parliamentary All Party Group in January 2005, which contains evidence for the ban on organophosphate (OP)-based sheep dip products in Great Britain. Purpose of the demonstration for the link between exposure to OP and ill-health; Views of chairman of the group Paul Tyler on the status of sheep-dipping in the country.

Focuses on the issues related to the farm-scale evaluations (FSE) of genetically modified (GM) crops released in Great Britain on October 16, 2003. Discussion of FSE results; Significance of FSE in the history of GM crops; Overview of the arguments between pro- and anti-GM industry.

Presents the views of several agricultural executives on the return of the 2005 Royal Show in Stoneleigh, England from July 2 to 6, 2005. David Handley, chairman of Farmers For Action, on the need for the show's organisers to focus its theme on agriculture; Remarks of Peter Arthur, marketing manager of Semex, on the show; Dominique Loral, managing director of show organiser Haymarket Land Events, on the efforts of the show to evolve in line with changes facing the farming industry.

Presents information on recipients from the agriculture industry of several awards from Queen Elizabeth II in 2005. Neil Cutler, spokesman for the animal health and welfare of the National Farmers Union (NFU); Shaun Leavey, former NFU regional director; David Walters, CEO of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

Focuses on sustainable farming projects initiated by farmers involved in the Farming and Rural Issues Group in Southeast England. Financial grants provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the South England Development Agency for the schemes; Role of arable farmers in the production of green fuel from oilseed rape; Ways to increase the volume of English apples and pears sold in wholesale markets. INSET: What is the group?.

Presents the results of a survey on the preference of consumers for food quality and taste over low prices, conducted by the British Market Research Bureau. Percentage of respondents who avoid products with artificial colouring or additives; Importance of foods with high animal welfare standards to consumers; Support for organic farming by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Reports on the impact of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill on farmers who have no intention of damaging wildlife in Great Britain. Provisions of the legislation that are intended for people who use pesticides to kill wild birds or animals; Authority of inspectors to enter premises and seize substances for evidential purposes; Comments from public law adviser Christopher Price on the proposed law.

Report on the demand of farmworkers in England and Wales for a wage increase to be discussed at a meeting of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) and the Agricultural Wages Board. Suggestion of the T&G on the payment for intermediate grade workers; Reasons behind the need for wage increase as pointed out by Chris Kaufman, national secretary for the T&G's agricultural section; Other demands of the group.

Reports on the call of Tim Bennett, president of the National Farmers Union, for the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to conduct more research on the link between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease. Findings of the Geoparkinson study on the occupational risk of Parkinson's disease conducted by Anthony Seaton's team of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland; Shortcomings of the study according to David Coggon, chairman of the government's Advisory Committee on Pesticides; Reasons behind the need for further investigations on the issue.

Reports on the forecasts of consultant ADAS regarding farming in Great Britain in 2040. Decline in farm businesses; Comments of Brian Angell, head of policy and economics at ADAS, on the predictions; Possible challenges for arable farming; Increase in the significance of the responsiveness of the livestock industry to consumer demand.

Focuses on the plan of livestock industry representatives to review the performance of the National Fallen Stock Company in a bid to improve the collection service in Great Britain. Organizations involved in the review; Problems of the sheep industry; Warning issued by the Farmers Union of Wales regarding the outcome of the review.

Reports that Devon, England-based Clinton Devon Estates has been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise under the sustainable development category. Summary of the award citation; Business operations of the estate; Other business initiatives.

Reports on the results of a survey conducted by the British Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology Commission regarding non-food agriculture in Great Britain as of April 15, 2005. Remarks from commission chairman Malcolm Grant on the use of genetically modified crops in agriculture; Reason behind the public acceptance of a non-food cropping; Reaction of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council to the results of the survey.

Reports on the relaunching of the Red Tractor logo that includes the British flag and text, Assured Food Standard in 2005. Implication of changes in the logo and text for the Red Tractor assurance system; Concern about the sources of food products carrying the Red Tractor label; Attitude of consumers toward food standards.

Reports on the lack of emphasis placed by the British government on the safe and sustainable land use of pesticides initiative, according to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in 2005. Lack of progress in crop protection and for water quality management plans; Efforts to reduce pesticides in water; Recommendation for water catchment projects and professional training among farmers.

Outlines the results of the last phase of the Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically-modified (GM) crops in Great Britain in March 2005. Importance of GM winter oilseed rape cultivation leaves to insects and birds; Comparison between GM and conventional crops; Impact of glufosinate-ammonium on GM herbicide-tolerant crops; Implications of the study for commercial growing of the GM oilseed rape.

Reports on the proposal by the British National Farmers Union (NFU) regarding the use of red diesel on roads. Factor that contributed to the decision by the NFU to adopt a new proposal; View of the NFU regarding red diesel use on agricultural vehicles.

Reports on the plan of the National Farmers Union to establish an expanded Voluntary Initiative (VI) on animal feeds and fertilizers in Great Britain. Need for the agriculture industry to discuss diffuse pollution; Benefit of the expanded VI to farmers.

Focuses on the information produced by Flycapture, a fly-tipping database established by several government agencies, regarding the illegal disposal of waste in Great Britain. Cost incurred by the government in clearing the rubbish; Importance of Flycapture in resolving waste fly-tipping offenses; Features of Flycapture, according to Barbara Young, CEO of the Environment Agency.

Reports on an advertising campaign for the English Beef and Lamb Executive in Great Britain in 2005. Budget allocated for the campaign; Features of the campaign; Participation of cricketers Ian Botham and Allan Lamb in the campaign.

Reports on the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in Great Britain in 2005. Impact of the directive on agriculture; Potential implications of the directive for farmers; Consequences of diffuse pollution from agriculture and horticulture to water quality; Possible measures under the directive.

Reports on the effect of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments on pioneering organic farmers and organic dairy farmers in Great Britain. Information on an agri-environment scheme implemented by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Arguments of Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association (SA), on the decision of DEFRA; Concerns of SA on the CAP outcome of organic dairy farmers.

Reports that the British government wants farmers to dig on-farm reservoirs to safeguard water supplies in 2005. Factors that threaten water supplies in the country; Role of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the reservoir program.

Reports on a joint call issued by the National Beef Association and the Tenant Farmers' Association in 2005 asking money from the British government to fund a marketing strategy for British farming and food. Objective of the marketing strategy; Statement issued by Sir Donald Curry regarding the call of the associations.

Reports on a possible compliance of farmers with new rules on red diesel use once an ongoing government consultation is concluded, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU), as of February 2005. Background on the consultation being conducted by the British Customs and Excise Department; Reaction of the NFU on a change based on speed; Way for the agricultural industry to keep its status quo on red diesel use.

Reports on a survey which showed the willingness of consumers in Northern Ireland to pay extra for food if it will improve the welfare of pigs. Objective of the survey; Significance of the results of the survey to a need for clearer labeling; Percentage of extra payment that respondents are willing to pay to improve conditions for pigs.

Reports on a list of pesticides issued by the Co-op supermarket to its suppliers worldwide that were recommended for discontinued use, as of February 2005. Active ingredients included in the list; Background on a pesticide assessment test developed by the Co-op; Views of Peter Sanguinetti, chief executive of the Crop Protection Association, on the initiative taken by the Co-op.

Focuses on the advertising campaign launched by the British Pig Executive informing customers that many imported pigmeat does not meet animal welfare standards and would be illegal to produce in the country. Objective of the effort; Criticisms raised by Dutch and Danish pig producers against the campaign; Various comments on the matter. INSET: Backing British.

Reports on the claims of scientists Arpad Pusztai and Ignacio Chapela at the annual conference of the Soil Association in Newcastle, England in January 2005 that they have been undermined by the biotechnology industry upon publishing the negative effects of genetically modified (GM) organisms. Findings of Pusztai on the effects of GM potatoes on rats; Impact of an article published by Chapela on the alleged contamination of indigenous maize by GM maize in Mexico; Reaction of Andrew Stirling, a member of the GM Science Advisory Panel of the British government, to the issue.

Reports on the importance of investment and a united effort to promote British food and farming industry, according to Guy Smith, a farmer and member of the National Farmers Union in 2005. Reason for the decline in the farming sector; Changes in communication strategies.

Reports on the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy reform for farmers in Great Britain in 2005. Expected increase in the emphasis on the environment and rural development beyond 2012; Information on a proposed compensation scheme that would break the link between support and the land by Alan Swinbank, director of the Centre For Agricultural Strategy at the University of Reading in England.

Reports on the proposal of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that national waste management controls must be extended to agriculture in Great Britain. Cost of compliance on the proposal to individual farms; Effect of the proposal on farm wastes; Punishment for failure to comply.

Focuses on a joint consultation paper issued by the Customs and Excise with the Treasury which suggests that tractors should be restricted in roads in Great Britain. Effect of tractors on traffic flow of roads; Reason behind the use of tractors in hauling agricultural products; Suggestion of the agencies regarding the use of roads by tractors.

Focuses on the criticisms made by Tim Bennett, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), against several retailers and dairy companies in Great Britain that justify the proposed milk price reduction in 2005. Objectives of the proposed fair trade charter by NFU; Issues raised by Bennett to support the establishment of the fair trade charter.

Reports on the appointment of the Office of Fair Trading to conduct an investigation into the performance of supermarkets in the grocery market in Great Britain as of December 9, 2004. Supermarkets involved in the investigation; Impact of market concentration on small stores, farmers and consumer choice; Claims of supermarket campaigners on the domination of the grocery market.

Discusses the findings of the BRIGHT project funded by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the use of genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant crops for weed control. Effect of GM crops on biodiversity; Comparison of weed populations in field areas using GM and non-GM crops; Benefits of growing GM herbicide-tolerant crops for farmers.

Reports on a proposal published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow the mixing of human food crops and experimental genetically modified (GM) crops grown in test sites. Implication of the proposal for food and feed consumed in Europe and elsewhere, according to the Friends of the Earth organization; Components of the proposal; Reason for the possibility for GM crops to enter the U.S. market-place without having been reviewed in terms of their potential health impacts. INSET: BPC and Soil Association clash.

Reports on the sales of organic food in Great Britain in 2004. Value of organic retail sales; Percentage of decline in the imports of organic food; Factor that contributed to the sales of organic food according to Soil Association's director Patrick Holden; Food companies that buy organic food from farmers in Great Britain; Sales from farmers' markets across Great Britain.

Reports on the regulations of the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs regarding the harvesting of agricultural and horticultural crops. Overview of harvesting conditions included in the regulations; Intention of the regulation; Exceptions to the rules.

Reports on a joint strategy launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry in Great Britain as of November 2004, to create more demand for renewable raw materials made from non-food crops. Objectives of the project; Amount of funds allotted for non-food crops research; Approach that is needed to build links between science, agriculture, and industry according to Trade and Industry Minister Nigel Griffiths.

Reports on the demands of the consumers of Tesco to make public its profit margins on milk after misleading them with a wrong figure in the letters distributed by the company on October 22, 2004 as part of its Farm's Just Milk campaign. Content of the letter that was wrongly stated by the company; Average price margin on milk for retailers according to the statistics of the Milk Development Council for 2003; Reason behind the suggestion that the company should make its profit margins public according to farm coordinator Robert Alderson.

Reports on the request by the National Beef Association for the closure of inefficient slaughterhouses in November 2004 to enhance the beef industry in Great Britain. Impact of such inefficiency on overhead costs; Availability of cattle after the introduction of the single farm payment; Encouragement for supermarkets to start business with small slaughterhouses.

Focuses on the implications of the Common Agricultural Policy reform and communication issues for farmers discussed during the National Farmers' Union Council meeting from October 25 to 26, 2004. Criticism of Peter Gadd, council member for Notts, on the failure of the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to interpret set of rules surrounding the single farm payment (SFP); Suggestion of Cumbria's county chairman Alistair Mackintosh on the approach to the revised set-aside rules needed for SFP.

Reports on the financial assistance for compensation payments to businesses affected by Sudden Oak Death offered by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Arguments of the Committee of Public Accounts on the compensation arrangements of DEFRA for arable and livestock farmers; Criticism by members of parliament on the inspection performance of DEFRA.

Discusses a scientific review conducted by English Nature and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds regarding the comparison between organic and conventional farming for wildlife. Information on worldwide biodiversity; Comment of Peter Kendall of the National Farmers Union on the study; Findings of the study.

Reports on the application filed by anti-pesticide campaigner Georgina Downs for a judicial review with the courts of the government's decision not to introduce measures to protect the public from exposure to pesticides near farm fields. Claims of Downs regarding the British government's science; Statement of Downs about the bystander exposure model in assessing the risk to people in the countryside; Recommendation of Vyvyen Howard, a scientist from the University of Liverpool regarding the models.

Reports on the relationship between farmers and the supermarkets in Great Britain which was discussed at the Lib-Dem Party conference organised by the National Farmers' Union in Bournemouth, England on September 20, 2004. Imbalance of power between producers and buyers in the food supply chain; Factors to consider in addressing the conflict between supermarkets and farmers.

Reports on the launch of the Dairy UK dairy industry body at the Dairy Event in Great Britain on September 23, 2004. Benefits of the industry group for milk producers; Claims of detractors on the ability of the organization to improve milk prices; Organizations to be replaced by the group.

Reports on the plan of the National Farmers Association (NFU) for a campaign to boost the status of the Little Red Tractor logo in Great Britain in 2004. Participation of farmers in the campaign; Competition launched for those farming under the Assured Food Standards initiative; Importance of the campaign according to NFU president Tim Bennet.