THE Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group looks at oilseed rape as a biofuel next month.

It holds a guided tour at Veg Oil Services, Storwood Manor, Storwood, near York, on Wednesday, May 14, at 6.30pm.

Peter Rhodes, who will lead the event, has diversified from a successful mobile feed-milling business into crushing oilseeds, and also acts as agent for KEK oil presses of Germany.

The oil can be converted to bio-diesel or burnt directly in suitably modified diesel engines.

Bio-fuel production is having a big influence on crop production and prices worldwide and, with a 2,500 litre tax-free allowance as road fuel, plus the opportunity for fuel selfsufficiency, small-scale crushing could be attractive to farmers.

Mr Rhodes' organic beef herd will also be on show. Turn south off the B1228 between Sutton on Derwent and Melbourne and look for the FWAG signs.

New member on panel

RICHARD Brown has been appointed to the panel of recommended professionals by the Tenant Farmers' Association.

Mr Brown, of Hexham & Northern Rural, is only the seventh chartered surveyor on their North-Eastern list, which covers Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire.

Based at Hexham mart, he is also involved with his family's tenanted farm near Alnwick.

George Dunn, TFA chief executive, said they wanted to ensure members had access to good quality, professional advice.

He said: "Our regional panels of recommended professionals, which are overseen by our regional committees, are therefore very important to us and I am pleased to welcome Richard to the team."

Beef event highlights

MORE than 300 cattle and 22 beef cattle breed societies are expected at Beef Expo 2008 at Perth Agricultural Centre on Wednesday, May 21.

Organised by the National Beef Association, the event is held at a different venue each year and attracts thousands of beef farmers and industry representatives from the UK, Ireland, and overseas.

Other features include more than 100 trade stands, technical demonstrations, vehicles, stockjudging competitions and seminar programme.