Sheep days...

THE National Trust is organising three half-day sheep management events to inform farmers about the full range of treatments and options that are available to control the ectoparasite. The courses, funded by the Vocational Training Scheme and organised by The National Trust, will be led by independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings with presentations from the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive. The courses will be held at Bulley Barn, Rydal Hall, on Tuesday, November 23, at 10am; the Quaker's Meeting Room, Keswick, on November 23 at 2:30pm; and at the Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness, on November 24, at 10 am. Booking is essential, contact Mabel Laird at The National Trust on 015394-63854.

Euro successes...

SISTERS Sandra and Kathryn Butterfield, of the Burton-in-Lonsdale Young Farmers' Club, know good dairy beasts when they see them. Both women competed in the final of the National Federation of Young Farmers in the Intermediate Dairy Judging final at the European Dairy Farming event at Stoneleigh. Eighteen-year-old Kathryn won the Yorkshire Dairy finals in order to represent Yorkshire at the national where she won first place in the individual event and third place in the team event. Sandra, 23, qualified in third place in the Yorkshire Dairy finals in the senior dairy judging and in the nationals came fifth in the individual event and first place in the team event.

New adviser...

A NEW pair of hands has been hired to offer farmers guidance on complex agri-enviornment schemes. Bunty Wright has just become the third farm conservation adviser at the Cumbria Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, which is coping with an increased workload as farmers seek help on the Entry Level and Higher Level schemes. Ms Wright is from Mallerstang and has spent ten years shepherding and lambing. She has a diploma in Hill and Marginal Farming from Newton Rigg and a masters degree from Bangor University.

Expo 2004 date...

THE cream of the country's Holstein bloodlines will be competing at the Northern Expo 2004 in Carlisle next week. The show is a qualifying fixture for Holstein UK breeders' points and offers prizes of £500 for the Grand Champion and £250 for Reserve champion. Entries close today (Friday) and the event takes place at the Borderway Mart on Friday, October 29. For details, contact Jenni Wharton on 01228-792352.