* The UK has paused trade talks with Canada following the UK’s refusal to relax a ban on hormone-treated beef. Canada has also been under pressure from domestic cheese producers with higher Canadian tariffs on imports of British cheese having been implemented at the beginning of January.
* Defra has announced updates to farming schemes for 2024.The average value of agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Schemes has increased by 10% with uplifts automatically applied to existing agreements.
* All fully certified organic farmers in Wales are now able to apply for funding to aid the transition to the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
* The Welsh Government has set up a pilot scheme for the Animal Health Improvement Cycle whereby a group of vets will deliver regular preventative medicine veterinary visits to achieve improvements in the health and productivity of livestock on farms.
* Between 2019 and 2020, the UK’s carbon footprint is estimated to have fallen by 13%.
* Results of the 2022 survey of seasonal workers have been published.There were 4290 responses,a 12.4% response.73.8% of survey respondents were from Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.92% stated that they were happy with their pay.
* The UK milk price,in the most recent reports, improved further.The UK average all milk price for November,reported in January,was 37.81 pence per litre,0.78 above the Oct average but 13.44 p/l below the price a year earlier.The EU average for November was 39.52 p/l,10.95 p/l below the price a year earlier.
* APHA has announced that the use of new PCR tests to confirm bovine TB infection will be expanded following successful trials whereby test results could be released after three weeks rather than up to 22 weeks as was previously the case.
* Changes have been made to bovine TB testing in Wales.Pre-movement testing of cattle located in the Low TB area will be re-introduced.All cattle which move into herds in the Intermediate TB areas from the High TB areas and the High Risk area of England will need a post movement test.
* Further cases of blue tongue serotype 3 have been reported in Kent and Norfolk but there appears to have been a reduction in midge activity reducing the risk of onward transmission.
* The Agricultural Price Index for November shows increases of 4.4% for cattle and calves,compared to a year earlier,9.1% for pigs,6.4% for sheep,6% for poultry and 24.8% for eggs but a fall of 27.7% for milk.
* Latest data from NMR’s Key Performance Indicator report, based on data from 500 Holstein Frisian herds in the year to Aug 2023, shows that 70% of herds had a somatic cell count below 200,000,up from 44% in 2010.In 2023,52% of all cows in the sample completed lactations without recording a single somatic cell count above 200,000 cells per ml,up from 35% in 2010.
* Exports of milk powder in the 3 months to Sept rose by 48.3%,compared to a year earlier,while imports rose only by 2.1%.Cheese exports rose by 3.6% but imports rose by 4%.Butter exports were stable but imports rose by 14.7%
* NFU Scotland has appointed an independent research firm to visit 73 stores of Tesco,Asda,Morrisons,Sainsbury’s,Co-op,Marks & Spencer,Lidl and Aldi studying beef,lamb,pork,chicken,soft fruit,vegetables and dairy products to review prices and the country of origin.
* In the 2 weeks pre Christmas,volume sales of cows’ dairy products increased by 3% compared to a year earlier and made up 94% of total dairy volume sales,up by 2%.While fresh cream fell by 1.2% and butter by 0.6%,sales of yoghurt increased by 13.8%,cheese by 3.7% and milk by 1.6%.Sales of plant dairy products fell by 11.2%.
* Arla is to undertake a review of its speciality cheese site at Melton Mowbray.
* The NFU and AHDB have announced an independent review of farm to fork assurance to ensure that all farm assurance schemes are fit for purpose.
Tim Brigstocke
Policy Director,RABDF