Thursday 17 June 2010

E.Coli at Open Farms

Having just read a report on the E-Coli out break at an open farm in Godstone, Surrey last year it does make me really angry how governing bodies such as the HPA and DEFRA dont talk to each other on hygiene when it comes to open farms.

The transfer of diseases is rife in our countryside and especially farms and unfortunately childrens immune systems are weaker than an adults to deal with such infections.

I have been promoting good hygiene for the past 3 years, in the press, at high profile shows such as the CLA Game Fair and others, yet everyone seems to see it as "Not Required" with comments like "I never get ill from being out side" or "A bit of dirt never hurt anybody" well just goes to prove how wrong they are.

We supply a full range of high level disinfectant as approved by DEFRA which is suitable for use by children and safe around animals and is very cost effective due to it woking long after application.

Our products WILL fight against E.coli, Bovine TB, Avian Influenza H5N1, Norovirus, TB, Hepatitis B, C.Diff. MRSA and even blood contaminated with HIV (AIDS virus).

Perhaps now places will start taking notice that there is a concern that needs addressing, just a shame HPA and DEFRA didnt talk sooner.

Find out more here at field and moor or call me 01234 870545

Thanks

Phil
Field and Moor

Friday 11 June 2010

Badger Cull Bovine TB

The Badger Cull in Wales has been delayed due to an fresh legal appeal later this month (June 2010) I fell this is a good thing as i would like to hear what other measures have been tried prior to allow a mass cull.

What i find strange is that Pigeons and rabbits cause many thousands of pounds worth of damage to land and the loss in crops and therfore income to the farmers, it has to be proved that other measures have been tried prior to allow vermin control with guns is allowed, which is a very effective way of controlling this problem.

With this in mind i would like to know how many cattle farmers have looked at there Bio-Security ie using high level disinfectants which have been designed to controll Bovine TB, Foot and Mouth and Bird Flu to name a few and these products are DEFRA Approved.



The TB virus is spread via urine and saliva from the infected animal so using an approved long lasting product such as Agrigene will certainly help against the spread of this awfull disease.

All the farmers need to do is to self mix the disinfectant into a sprayer and spray over feeders and around cattle sheds to kill of the virus.

Agrigene is a long lasting product even when mixed and will remain active upto 6 months outside (subject to weather conditions) and can be used as boot and vehicle dips if ramers are worried about outside people coming in to there farms.

I wonder how many cattle farmers have been informed about this alternative method?? none i feel.

Vermin control is an important part of farming and the countryside but am still not convinced about a mass cull of Badgers.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment.

Phil
Field and Moor
Farmers weekly Blog

Thursday 10 June 2010

Lead Shot Ban Another story

Have to say the lead shot ban is set to continue for some time yet.

The other week i was up at a friends house who owns a large Grouse shoot and one day i went to meet up with the game keeper to find out how things where going.

As with most keepers they always think the worse for the season ahead, guess they do this to cover there arses if it is a bad one then they can say " I told you so" however i think they are in for a good season again this year as the keeper has found birds in area's not seen before as well as all the normal breeding spots so fingers crossed for them.

Anyway that was not the reason for this blog.
We got talking about the lead shot ban controversy and we wondered why if they have been shooting over the moors for...lets say...100 years, just how many tons of lead have been deposited over the ground???

A very important part of Grouse moor management is the correct movement of sheep to keep the tick numbers down. The sheep certainly eat a vast amount of food on the moor. Also why? with all the lead shot up there is the water so pure, clean and refreshing?? after all water companies adverts they always say about the benefits of mountain water being so good!!

Surely if there is any truth to lead contamination, this water would be infected too! and we would be finding dead sheep, rabbits and grouse laying around everywhere?? but guess what i have never seen any yet.

Have your say!!

Phil
Field and Moor

Dont Wear Jeans in the Cold Weather

Having attended many business meeting and done talks on country clothing, Deerhunter, Jack Pyke and Hoggs and there design, warmth, waterproof effectiveness it always amazes me that people seem to think that "Jeans" are a suitable item of clothing to wear out on a cold wintery day.....Wrong!!! but Why?

Jeans are made from what is classed as an "open cell material" which if looked at closely you can see that there are spaces between the weave which on a cold day fill with water molicules which then freeze making you feel colder, therefore encasing your legs in an ice blanket! so while Jeans are a excellent fashion item they are no use in keeping you warm on a cold day / evening. Hence you can wear jeans in the middle of the summer and still feel cool, not ideal!

This is why cold weather clothing does not have to be thick and heavy but made of many thin tightly woven material to keep the wind and cold from penetrating the material, its hardly rocket science.......

It is much the same as wearing the right boots and socks, if your boots are too tight and you wear 2 pairs of socks there is a higher chance of having cold feet, due to the lack of circulation of air around your feet, so wear a good quality boot and just one pair of socks so as the warmth from your feet warm the air circulating around the inside of your boot.

With the start shooting season only weeks away, 4 at time of writing this, now is the time to start looking for those all important warm clothing especially if you are going to venture out on the Grouse Moors.

Here at Field and Moor we have a vast range clothing to suit all budgets from the cost effective Jack Pyke to the other end quality Deerhunter products all designed for both ladies and gents especially with the all new 2010 season of Deerhunter DXO Shooting Tweeds.

Take at look at our site for more details on all our shooting related products.

Look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Reagrds

Phil
Field and Moor

DEFRA Priority, Lead or Disease Prevention?

Well the Lead Shot saga is now in full swing, with post after post and they said this and they will do that arguments!!

It does however really annoy me what DEFRA decides it will and wont get involved with and does make me somewhat think that this must be a money making excercise for them! although not sure how, but will have to give it more thought, ha ha! perhaps they are holding mountains of steel!??

I am convinced that there are far more inportant issues that DEFRA could get involved with, like the way Game and Deer are treated after they are shot then transported and stored at the shoot and more importantly the way they are collected by the game dealer / restaurant!! and the potential threats of transfering of Diseases such as Bird Flu, Wiel's Disease TB etc etc.

Both BASC and DEFRA only seem to be interested in the "Hatch and Despatch" and are not bothered what happens to the animal after that, hence they will not promote good hygiene practice was the animal has left the shoot and make ALL Deerstalkers and vermin controllers abide by a common Hygiene Practice and Bio-Security instead of them just paying lip service just to obtain there certificates!!!.

Yes i do feel very strongly about this areaespecially having spoken to many deerstalkers and they all seem not to give a damn about it and say there is nothing to worry about! and seem to think it is very macho to get covered in blood!

Think i better stop now as will get on my soap box, but i do wish the likes of DEFRA and BASC would take this on board.

Leave a comment, or if your a magazine editor contact me and use this articel in your magazine.

Regards

Phil

Thursday 3 June 2010

Stock Aid get high praise from Shooting Times

We recently took the plunge and decided to give Shooting Times magazine one of our All New Stock Aid's for them to review. After approximately 6 weeks, well am guessing they are busy, a call came into the Field and Moor office asking for hi resolution pictures as it was being featured the following week!!! Pictures supplied and now the nervous wait for the outcome, especially as they are totally independant in their views and yes they will give a low score and review if the product is not upto scratch.

The next week i was away in Cumbria in a very bad phone signal area. While out walking the dogs in the middle of a 100acre woodland, much to my surprise my phone rang!! it was a very good shooting friend of mine in West Sussex who had just picked up his copy and read the article, all i mamaged to hear from him was;

"Score of 9/10 and Pick of the Week! hope you have got lots of".......................and the phone went dead, now Paul, to say the least is quite a joker! so was not sure if he was telling the truth so had to wait till i could get to the shop and see for myself.

Well as you may be aware he wasn't joking, a fantastic review by Alalstair Balmain, Editor with comments like:

  • "A well-made and clever solution to a tiring problem"
  • "Field and Moor has come up with this ingenious and simple device"
  • "Beautifully made using high-quality leather"

When you get this type of review it does make all the hard work and expense that much more worth while.
Need to know more and see better pictures look at Field and Moor

Many thanks and please feel free to leave a comment.

 Phil