Plant scientists at the Norwich Research Park are leading the quest to find the perfect pea in a £1.5m project announced today.
And the world-famous collection of about 3,500 pea varieties at the John Innes Centre, Colney, will play a key role in the investigation.
LIE OF THE LAND ONLINE
A large company and probably a record crowd of 131 members and guests gathered at Downham Market's Town Hall for the 80th anniversary dinner of Stoke Ferry Agricultural Society last (Friday, March 5) night.
A one-off opportunity to apply for an official permit to dispose of diluted sprays on farmland ends next month.
New environmental permits - replacing groundwater authoris-ations - will come into force next month, but you must apply before-hand to qualify.
Farmers' leader Peter Kendall has taken personal charge of the industry's campaign to press the government for tougher action to combat bovine TB.
Mid-Norfolk farmer Roger Long, who attended a TB summit at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, welcomed the decision by the National Farmers' Union president to spearhead an industry-wide solution.
One of the earliest trailed combined harvesters in the country is going under the hammer at a Norfolk machinery sale this month.
The 1932 International 31T combine is being sold by farmer and agricultural engineer Lewis Harrison.
Precision farming has taken another step forward across the eastern counties with an investment of more than £100,000 by harvesting and tractor specialist Claas.
Beet growers are in the final stages of the annual campaign as the region's factories prepare to slice out next week. On lighter soils, growers and contractors have been able to lift as the land has allowed harvesters to move more easily after a week of heavy rain that left fields sodden.
Water resources are under severe pressure in many parts of England, farmers' leader Peter Kendall has warned.
And the National Farmers' Union president has urged delegates at an industry conference to respond by coming up with smarter ways of farming.
Two events to encourage farmers in Norfolk to support the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) will be launched later this month.
They are taking place on Tuesday, March 23, at Beeches Farm, Downham, near Wymondham, by invitation of Robert Barnard.
"The past decade has witnessed a profound alteration in the outlook of official bodies in this country in regard to the eradication of bovine tuberculosis.
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A box of Smarties certainly left visitors to the latest Norfolk farming Conference with the right take-home message. As the throng of about 400 delegates left the John Innes Centre, David Moar and Helen Bibby, of Anglian Farmers, were handing out newsletters and boxes of Smarties, which were certainly proving popular as several asked, somewhat cheekily, for a second or even a third box to take home.
Award-winning dairy farmer Stephen Temple's home-grown farm energy system in North Norfolk is ready to start generating electricity for the national grid.
Retired Norfolk insurance agent Stafford Eales is the oldest policy- holder of the country's leading mutual rural insurer.
In the centenary year of the NFU Mutal, Mr Eales was honoured at a presentation by his North Walsham successors to mark his 100th year.
Top Norfolk dairy farmer Ken Proctor is hoping that final test results will clear his high-flying pedigree herd of bovine tuberculosis.
He highlighted the practical impact of bovine TB disease on the family's Norfolk farm and asked the panel of political speakers at the eighth annual Norfolk Farming Conference about tackling the increasingly-costly problem.
A switch of breeds has also produced benefits for the herd and also the cheese-making business, said dairy and arable farmer Mr Temple.
His business, which was 2009 reserve champion in the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association's Norfolk Farm Business competition, was also a best local producer in last year's Food Heroes.
A new recovery and demonstration project for wild grey partridges has been started by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust following a successful project in the eastern counties.
Research from the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) has shown that lambs born to bluetongue vaccinated ewes have at least 14 weeks immunity.
IAH undertook the research in response to questions of immunity in lambs asked at farmers' meetings.
Dairy farmer Ken Proctor asked panellists at the Norfolk Farming Conference why TB strategy was not being led by science.
With about 40,000 cattle each year slaughtered at a cost to taxpayers of about £80m, his question touched a nerve among the 400-strong farming audience at the John Innes Centre, Colney.
A simple change to the watering regime in farrowing houses has enabled a Suffolk farmer to
rear more than an extra piglet
in each litter and reduce vet bills.
Milk producers should share the European Union's £25m dairy aid package, said the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
"Every single dairy farmer was adversely effected by the global downturn in market prices, therefore they should each receive an equal share of the fund based upon production between October 2008 and September 2009 - a figure that works out at a flat rate of 0.