The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2018 - Issue 58 | Page 22

22 FARM NEWS
AUG/SEP 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
British Wool launches new website
BRITISH Wool has launched a
new website, designed specifical-
ly to meet the needs of its farming
community.
The new site includes an in-
teractive depot network feature,
allowing producers to quickly and
easily locate their nearest depot,
along with transport options for
wool delivery. A range of infor-
mation specifically designed for
farmers is also featured, including
best practice, advice, and access
to the latest news, events and
blogs. Shearing training can also
be booked online, receiving an
exclusive 10% saving across the full
course catalogue.
Graham Clark, Head of Mar-
keting, commented “Our new
website is designed to provide
easy access to a range of relevant
information. The new search fa-
cility on the website makes it easy
for producers to find their nearest
and most cost-effective options”
The new format and design
ensures all information is quick
and easy to find, supported by a
site-wide search facility. A dedicat-
ed section for consumers has also
been launched, supporting British
Wool’s new approach to marketing
which aims to increase consumer
demand for British wool.
‘ easy access to a
range of relevant
information ’
www.britishwool.org.uk
Countryside
Post-drought patience
Alliance Supports
Agriculture GCSE will pay longer term
On the 2nd July the Royal Agricultural
University hosted its second annual
Teacher and Adviser Conference,
with the Countryside Alliance
providing the keynote speaker.
THE event was supported by a
partnership between the Royal
Agricultural University (RAU), Ap-
plied Inspiration and the School
Farms Network (SFN), and
brought together teachers and
advisers from across the country
with a view to raising awareness
of the educational and career
opportunities in the land-based
sector.
The Alliance’s Liam Stokes
used the keynote address to
call for greater collaboration
between colleges, schools and
universities to make land-based
subjects available to all young
people who might benefit from
them. Drawing on his experi-
ence of land-based education
systems from all over the world,
Liam told the conference that
making this sort of learning an
option for all students would
tap into the potential of children
who do not do well in traditional
classroom environments, as
well as boosting our land-based
industries.
www.countryside-alliance.org
forage dividends
KEEPING stock off pastures until
grass is as close as possible to the
optimum three-leaf stage will be
the best way to overcome forage
shortfalls following recent drought
conditions.
This is the advice of Germinal’s
Ben Wixey, who says turning stock
onto recovering grassland too
quickly could prove counter-pro-
ductive.
“If grazed before they reach the
optimum growth stage, regrowth
of grassland swards will be
stunted and that will mean less
grazing later in the season,” he
points out. “If grazing is critically
short, it will be better to select a
sacrifice area to use as a platform
for feeding supplementary silage
until the better-performing grazing
fields have reached the optimum
growth stage.
“One benefit of the heatwave is
that soils may well stay warmer
for longer into the autumn. This
will offer the potential for late sea-
son growth and extended grazing,
so it is worth looking after leys
during the period of recovery.”
British Wool strengthens depot network
BRITISH Wool has increased its network of local collec-
tion centres across England, ensuring convenience and
accessibility for producers delivering their clip.
A new intermediate depot has been opened by kind
permission of John Errington, located at Ladyswood House,
Roundthorn, Penrith operating until the end of September.
From October, the Penrith intermediate depot will operate
from David Gillett’s site at Crown Farm, Unthank, Skelton until
April 2019. 4 new collection centres further strengthen British
Wool’s service offering, supporting producers across Cum-
bria, Bedfordshire, Wiltshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.
A depot search facility, part of the new British Wool web-
site, supports the expanded network, allowing producers
to locate their nearest depot, collection centre or haulier
via a postcode look up facility.
Andrew Hogley, British Wool’s Head of Business Devel-
opment and Producer Services said “We’re committed to
continually improving our service to producers.”
Producers wishing to deliver their 2018 clip or request
empty wool sheets should contact their local grading de-
pot, intermediate depot or collection centre directly.
www.britishwool.org.uk