Duchy College is to offer a new course in game-keeping and wildlife management, following its success in running apprenticeships in game-keeping for the past three years.

The BTEC Diploma Level 2, which will start in September, will offer students the potential to become well-rounded gamekeepers by teaching them to maintain and improve game populations and habitats. They will also gain skills in retaining and repairing structures and surfaces and enforcing appropriate predator surveys and controls. For further details contact 01579 372233.

Festive seasons sees hike in beef sales

Beef sales were up 12.7 per cent over the Christmas period as consumers looked for alternatives to turkey over the festive season, according to new figures from the English Beef & Lamb Executive.

In the four weeks to December 26, fresh meat volume sales overall were up nearly 13 per cent on the same period in 2009, at 28,548 tonnes, with expenditure up 11.3 per cent. Roasting joint volume sales were up 6.3 per cent, to 10,583 tonnes, while mince was up 15.6 per cent by volume. Over the four-week period in the run-up to Christmas, £167.3 million was spent on fresh beef.

Cross-compliance awareness day

The Bodmin Moor Livestock Initiative is holding a cross-compliance awareness day on Thursday of next week, February 3, at Trebartha Barton, North Hill. The event will demonstrate and clarify existing and new cross-compliance requirements. A farm walk will emphasise compliance failures, livestock ID and registration, animal welfare, the Soil Protection Review, NVZ, and plant protection products. Places are limited. More details are available on 01208 892803.

Farmer John writes autobiography

John Greenslade – "Farmer John" of Radio Devon – has written his autobiography. "Twas A Proper Job" (Ryelands, £12.99) tells of his life at Way Farm in the Exe Valley, his involvement in the Young Farmers' movement, his time as a magistrate, helping with the Mid Devon Show, ploughing matches and his involvement with the Silvanus Trust. It is lavishly illustrated with photographs and includes a section of poetry by his sister Margaret.

Open Farm Sunday

A vital date for the diary this summer: Open Farm Sunday will be on June 12. Last year the annual event, organised by LEAF, saw 184,000 visitors to farms – up 31 per cent.