THE Government could improve the relationship between farmers and their bank managers by a simple adjustment of the Single Payment system, according to a business consultant.

"Defra could relieve the huge pressure on farmers caused by the delay in issuing Single Payment entitlements by extending the deadlines on entitlement transfers," said Richard White of farm business consultants Strutt and Parker.

"There is a tight deadline for establishing entitlements, and an even tighter one for people who wish to trade.

"Relaxing the trading deadlines would be a small token that would make farmers' lives easier after the huge problems caused by the late payments."

Defra wants six weeks to process transfer forms which, under EU rules, must be in by May 15. Under that timetable applications to transfer entitlements must therefore be submitted by April 2.

That is a Sunday, Richard points out, meaning the actual deadline for submission is March 31.

Hen club is proving a real success

HEREFORD Poultry Society, set up by Leominster Conservative MP and farmer Bill Wiggin, is going from strength to strength.

The friendly club already has several meetings behind it and is being hailed as a roaring success.

With meeting topics ranging from showing your poultry, feeding and health, there's something to interest every poultry keeper.

"We have a varied membership as diverse as experienced breeders, college lecturers, and even some people with just one or two hens as pets," said Mr Wiggin.

"Everybody is welcome. We have some exciting talks coming up ranging from advanced genetics to vetinary ailments. At the next meeting we are meeting a poultry food representative and we are hoping to encourage members to show birds at Longtown show this year."

The club meets in a private room at The Volunteer pub, in Marden, near Hereford. The next meeting is on Wednesday, February 22, at 7pm. For any further details please ring Carolyn on 0774 0537 736.

Best bangers from the home of the slaughterhouse

TUCKED away near the pretty Worcestershire village of Suckley is a 50-acre, 200-year-old farm with a unique history.

The great-great grandmother of the present owner, Andrew Dobson, was the first person in this country to get a licence to open and run a slaughterhouse on a farm.

Today, Andrew, a member of Worcestershire Farmers' Markets Group, runs the well-known meat company Parsons Nose from the same farm and, although they no longer operate a slaughterhouse, they still breed pedigree Hereford cattle, Gloucester Old Spots, wild boar and white-faced sheep.

Regular visitors to farmers' markets will know Parsons Nose for its wide range of sausages, burgers, prime meat and meat pies.

Andrew boasts a range of more than 60 varieties of sausage - including Russian, German and Polish, which all have a more dense texture not always popular with his English customers. "Our pork and sun-dried tomato sausage, which was recently voted one of the top 10 bangers in Britain by The Independent newspaper, is one of our best sellers, while a lot of our customers prefer the exotic sounding pork,wild garlic and nettle," said Andrew.

"Our business succeeds on one simple principle. Quality of product and traceability of our own meat.

"All of our sausage contains a minimum of 75 per cent prime meat, while some supermarket-packed sausage can contain as little as 35 per cent.

"Because we breed all of the meat we need and mix and produce all of our meat products, our customers can be assured of a very tasty sausage however they cook it."

Everyone at Parsons Nose is excited about the company's new Spit Hog roast which will be at many events in Worcestershire this year.

According to Andrew, by using a combination of charcoal and applewood chips, the meat has a very succulent and unique flavour.

Parsons Nose has, in the past, used its own shops but now finds that its business is much more successful by taking its products to its customers allowing more customers access to what have been called the "best-ever sausage".