Dyson buys ex-RAF base

Dyson to increase UK base tenfold as it buys ex-RAF base to satisfy expansion plans

'Sir James Dyson - who has already invested £250m into the company’s global base in Malmesbury, Wiltshire - has bought a nearby World War II airfield is developing it into a new technical centre.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/28/dyson-increase-uk-base-tenfold-buys-ex-raf-base-satisfy-expansion/

Dyson shrugs off Brexit fears with massive UK expansion plan

'Technology group to open new 210-hectare campus as part of £2.5bn investment and plans to double workforce.'

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/28/dyson-shrugs-off-brexit-fears-with-massive-uk-expansion-plan

Nocton Hall and RAF Hospital

When I first saw the headlines above, my heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, I thought that Sir James just might have bought the old RAF hospital site, to create a northern high-tech R & D centre perhaps. This wasn't to be the case, unfortunately.

Dreams aside, Dyson's new expansion is good news for the UK in general and a real vote of confidence for the economic future after Brexit.

Nocton Dairies Ltd

I still recall our intensive campaign against plans for a mega dairy on Nocton Heath and our relief when Sir James Dyson and Beeswax Farming purchased the Nocton Estate as a long-term investment for his family.

It now appears the milk industry are finally starting to wake up to the environmental implications of intensive dairying... with the public perception that these huge facilities are not necessarily the best for animal welfare.

Following all my research for the campaign, I no longer drink any milk that comes from intensively farmed cows. I decided to support those farmers who graze their stock on pasture for a significant part of the year, providing an organic diet and high welfare standards for their cows. Waitrose were one of the first supermarket chains to guarantee that all the cows providing milk and cream had access to grazing. Now it seems Associated Dairies are taking this a step further with their minimum guarantee of six months grazing.

Asda to become the first major UK retailer to sell 'free-range milk'

'The milk will carry a ‘Pasture Promos’ logo, which guarantees that it comes from cows grazed for at least six months and shows that farmers were offered a fair price for the produce.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/asda-free-range-milk-uk-supermarket-chain-pasture-promos-cows-a7603141.html

Long may this continue.

Peter pops up again

Remember the campaign?

If you were around during the time of the campaign against plans for an 8,100 cow intensive dairy farm located on the Heath, you will certainly remember one of the main protagonists.

The huge amount of waste produced by this facility would have been spread on land surrounding Nocton and Dunston. I am still proud to have been part of the local campaign group which lobbied long and hard to overturn the various planning applications.

Nocton Dairies Ltd never managed to get the relevant permissions to construct their cow factory in Lincolnshire. We are very fortunate indeed, as it seems Peter is still upsetting his Devon neighbours with heavy slurry operations.

Wealthy Londoner sparks row after setting up a campaign against farmers muckspreading

The main target of Mr Roe's anger is Peter Willes.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4040730/Wealthy-second-homeowner-moved-London-Devon-countryside-sparks-row-new-neighbours-waging-war-against-farmers-muckspreading.html

Too Much Slurry Campaign

'A significant step in the industrialisation of farming is the move to intensive dairy farming.'

http://toomuchslurry.co.uk/

Nocton Dairies Controversy

Local people formed a campaign group named CAFFO (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations). Animal welfare charities and campaigners, and vegan and vegetarian groups also joined to support the case against the dairy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocton_Dairies_controversy

Campaign material in Nocton

Working with partners - World Society for the Protection of Animals

Working with partners - Compassion in World Farming

Campaign in Dunston

 

CAFFO were presented with a copy award
 for working in partnership with CIWF

Cows belong in fields

Waitrose's latest TV advert... filmed by a cow called Mo

Whilst not specifically mentioned in this particular article about Waitrose, I truly believe CAFFO's vigorous campaign against 'zero-grazing' and factory farms, was instrumental in raising public awareness about how our milk is produced. The 8,000 cow mega dairy in Nocton was to be the first of its kind in the UK.

With support from many organisations, not least the Environment Agency, WSPA and CiWF, the two year fight by the campaign team was worth all the effort as the plans were finally withdrawn. A great deal of campaign material is still contained within these blog pages - just use the search function and type in 'Nocton Dairies'. We should be rightly proud of what we achieved.

Not surprisingly, I now only consume organic milk from... cows which belong in fields!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3535068/Waitrose-s-latest-TV-advert-filmed-cow-called-Mo-Supermarket-straps-camera-animal-bid-shop-shoppers-cares-welfare.html

Mega-farms... the debate continues

Factory Farming?

Given our raw experience with fighting the 'super-dairy' campaign here in Nocton, with proposals for a large dairy unit in Leighton, nr Welshpool, Powys and now a huge piggery in Foston, Derbyshire, I am not surprised this passionate debate rumbles on today.

Campaigners warn against rise of the 'mega-farms': Could massive pig, fish and dairy units harm the environment?

'Farming in the British Isles is on the verge of a dramatic step towards industrialisation with the establishment of "mega-farms"...'

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/campaigners-warn-against-rise-of-the-megafarms-could-massive-pig-fish-and-dairy-units-harm-the-environment-8612471.html

Editorial: Who needs mega-farms?

'We eat too much of the wrong sort of food. More cheap meat is no solution.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-who-needs-megafarms-8612309.html

There Is Nothing Gentle or Gradual About Building a New 25,000 Unit Mega Pig Farm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-worcester/there-is-nothing-gentle-o_b_3253630.html

Powys 'mega dairy': Public inquiry over Leighton plan

'A public inquiry has begun into Powys council's decision to refuse planning for a major expansion to a dairy farm housing 1,000 cattle next to a village primary school.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-21656072

Foston pig farm given extra time on proposals

'A firm behind plans to build a farm in Derbyshire with more than 25,000 pigs has been given until May to answer Environment Agency questions.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-21410820

Forget badgers. If we really care about animal welfare, it's time to put a stop to mega-farms

'Proposals for what are called mega-farms have been rejected in the past, but now a significant change of attitude seems to be taking place.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/forget-badgers-if-we-really-care-about-animal-welfare-its-time-to-put-a-stop-to-megafarms-8614160.html

Ag-Gag laws seek to put factory farms off-limits to whistle-blowers

It seems the UK Government has signalled its backing for large-scale farms only yesterday... let's hope they aren't too intent on following US practice. With the relaxation of planning law, there is a major risk to our countryside if inappropriate development takes place, particularly if we don't have the protection of tried and tested legislation developed over decades. It is no good trying to enforce restrictions once permissions have been granted and the mega-farms are operating!

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/298569-ag-gag-laws-seek-to-put-factory-farms-off-limits-to-whistle-blowers-

Taping of Farm Cruelty Is Becoming the Crime

'Critics call them “Ag-Gag” bills.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/us/taping-of-farm-cruelty-is-becoming-the-crime.html

Step in the right direction

Voluntary code of best practice agreed for dairy contracts

'THE voluntary code of practice which should ensure fairer and more transparent contracts for dairy farmers has finally been approved today (Wednesday).'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/hot-topics/dairy-industry-crisis/voluntary-code-of-best-practice-agreed-for-dairy-contracts/50172.article

When fighting the mega-dairy planning application for Nocton, CAFFO continuously argued that the the solution to the decline in UK dairy farming rested firmly within the dairy industry itself. Hopefully we can hold out the prospect that the new voluntary code will help reverse some of that decline... putting into reverse the 'bigger is better' mantra.

Dairy and other issues

I still find it hard not to look at the farming press, even though the Mega-dairy campaign is over. The following may be of interest if you were sympathetic to the CAFFO stance.

Farmer seeks support for Free Range Dairy project

'A SOMERSET farmer is seeking the support of like-minded producers to push forward a Free Range Dairy initiative to promote the benefits of pasture-based dairy herds.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/farmer-seeks-support-for-free-range-dairy-project/43571.article

EU rules to give power back to dairy farmers

'European MPs have agreed rules to give dairy farmers more power to negotiate fairer prices for their milk.'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/06/12/2011/130414/EU-rules-to-give-power-back-to-dairy-farmers.htm

Spelman: Attitudes to water usage must change

'Britain faces a future of water shortages and lasting environmental damage with some rivers running dry....'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/08/12/2011/130463/Spelman-Attitudes-to-water-usage-must-change.htm

Business, Innovation and Skills: Water White Paper

Stephen Phillips comments.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2011-12-08a.406.2

What your local MP is doing for you

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_phillips/sleaford_and_north_hykeham

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CAFFO Reunion

The local team (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations - www.caffo.co.uk) who successfully campaigned against the Nocton Dairies Ltd planning application, had a reunion last night. Meeting at The Chequers for a meal and a few drinks, it was nice to catch up with old friends and acquantances alike, though unfortunately a couple of the original team could not make the event.

Guest of Honour was Pat Thomas from Compassion in World Farming, who brought along a surprise gift for the team.  Philip Lymbery (Chief Executive) had publicly declared that CiWF wanted to share their Observer Ethical Award for Campaigner of the Year with the local CAFFO group... and Pat had kindly gone to the trouble of obtaining a duplicate award for us to retain for posterity. A nice memento for all the hard work that went into the campaign by everyone nationwide.

http://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/compassion_news/compassion_crowned_campaigner_of_the_year.aspx

Moooooooo!
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