One of the largest on-farm milk cooling systems in the UK has been installed at a dairy farm.
The Dent Company farm near Penrith is now cooling and storing its milk in a Mueller direct expansion tank with a capacity for 28,700 litres.
Farmer Thomas Dent said: "We had considered installing an outside silo to store the milk, but this option would have been a lot more expensive."

n Cheddar fun
A farmer has recruited one of his cows to promote Cheddar cheese to young children.
Tom Clothier of Wyke Farms, Somerset, has produced a fun and informative six page leaflet that features a cow explaining how Cheddar is made. The leaflet, aimed at children in primary and first-year secondary schools, covers information such as breeding, milk production, cheese making and the maturation process.

n collection job
Dairy Crest has appointed leading supply chain company Wincanton to manage its ex-farm milk collection operation.
Based at Severnside, more than 300 litres of milk will be collected per year for the five-year contract.
Gordon Scott, Wincanton's managing director of the tanker division, said: "Our long history and experience in the field of milk collection and excellent working relationship with Dairy Crest have resulted in this business win.
"The partnership will bring considerable benefits, both in terms of cost and overall business efficiency."

n PINK reduced
Early reports from Alaska suggest that the salmon red pack will be similar to last year.
However, UK importers feel there will be a switch away from freezing due to a weak Japanese market.
If this is the case, the overall canned pack will be ahead of last season with prices slightly lower. A weak dollar could result in sterling costs being lower, allowing for ongoing promotions of red 213g in the run-up to Christmas.
Canners point out that there are no carryover stocks, so price weakness will be resisted.
Pink salmon production will be reduced irrespective of the fish available. "We cannot have another season of overproduction, it nearly crippled us last year," a canner commented. An importer added: "Without the support of the US government's purchasing programme, the industry would have enough pink 418g to last until 2004."

n cheese festival
Food from Britain is set to sponsor this year's British Cheese Awards and Great British Cheese Festival for the first time.
The festival takes place in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, from September 26 to 28, and attracts around 15,000 visitors.
Organiser Juliet Harbutt said: "We are delighted to have Food from Britain on board as our main sponsor.
"This year's festival looks to be bigger and better than ever and will once again raise awareness of the fantastic and diverse range of British cheeses."

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