Farming UK Knowledge RSS

Evidence of GMO harm in pig study

GM-fed females had on average a 25% heavier uterus than non-GM-fed females, a possible indicator of disease that requires further investigation. Also, the level of severe inflammation in stomachs was markedly higher in pigs fed on the GM diet. The research results were striking and statistically significant.

Milk production figures released – May

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has received details from milk purchasers of the amount of milk produced for delivery in May 2013. The United Kingdom wholesale milk deliveries totalled 1,229.4 litres in May, the second month of the new milk year. The cumulative total for the year is now 2,341 litres. The wholesale delivery figures have not been adjusted for butterfat content and all figures are provisional. RPA relies on individual purchasers to provide the data, which is supplied ‘subject to confirmation’ and may be amended. Two purchasers failed to submit a return.

Feeding the Future

Innovation requirements for primary food production in the UK to 2030. This document is the result of UK primary producers coming together to identify their research and development priorities for the next 20 years.

Blowfly report

A new survey amongst the UK and Ireland’s sheep producing community has highlighted the blowfly strike season could be getting longer.

This, on top of the high liver fluke challenge, schmallenberg and extremely bad weather conditions, adds to the list of serious welfare and productivity issues facing sheep farmers today, for these reasons, Novartis has brought together some of the leading experts in flock health to discuss the key issues around blowfly control and what can be done to better manage the condition.

Poultry Highlights

Poultry Highlights is written by the NFU Poultry Team on a weekly basis. Please remember to quote the NFU as the source of the information if this email is forwarded on.

Poultry Business Bulletin

Market intelligence this week, has indicated that the egg market has firmed up a touch. This is down to the early flock depletions which have been undertaken as a result of oversupply within the market. The Sepra report predicts that prices will be moving up shortly. China (the largest importer of soyabeans) experienced a contraction in its manufacturing sector in May, the first time since October 2012, which could have implications for longterm soyabean demand. US soyabean planting progress remains behind average but given good conditions farmers are able to plant quickly and so the delays are not yet significant for the market.

Launch of Survey Results - NSA

Results from the Farming Against Wormer Resistance (FAWR) survey (created by Novartis Animal Health and supported by NSA and SCOPS) have given valuable insight into the reality of anthelmintic resistance for the UK sheep farming industry.

Rabobank Poultry Quarterly 2013 Q2

A new report from Rabobank finds that the positive outlook for the global poultry industry is highly dependent on the continuation of several trends. These include a balance in local supply and demand, falling feed costs and ongoing high prices for competitive meats, such as pork and beef. Key wildcards for the rest of the year will be global trade developments (which were very weak in Q1 2013) and the impact of avian influenza virus H7N9 (bird flu) on the Chinese poultry industry.

EFSA assesses risks to bees from fipronil

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to perform a risk assessment for the active substance fipronil and provide conclusions as regards the risk to bees. In this context the conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the risk assessment for bees for the active substance fipronil are reported. The context of the evaluation was that required by the European Commission in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 to review the approval of active substances in light of new scientific and technical knowledge and monitoring data. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the currently authorised uses of fipronil applied on a variety of crops in Europe. The reliable endpoints concluded as being appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, derived from the submitted studies and scientific publications including data available at EU and national level, are presented. Missing information identified as being required to allow for a complete risk assessment is listed. Concerns are identified.

Processing of meats and cardiovascular risk: time to focus on preservatives

Dietary guidelines emphasize selecting lean (low-fat) meats to reduce saturated fat and cholesterol, but growing evidence suggests that health effects may relate to other ingredients, such as sodium, heme iron, or L-carnitine. Understanding how meats influence health, and on which nutrients this relationship depends, is essential to advise consumer choices, set guidelines, and inform food reformulations. A recent study published in BMC Medicine involving 448,568 participants in 10 European countries, provides important evidence in this regard. After multivariate adjustment, intake of unprocessed red meat was not significantly associated with total or cause-specific mortality; conversely, intake of processed meat was associated with a 30% higher rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (per 50g/day, relative risk 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.45) and also higher cancer mortality. These findings are consistent with our previous meta-analysis, based on smaller studies, showing strong associations of processed meats, but not unprocessed meats, with CVD. Preservatives are the notable difference; the calculated blood-pressure effects of sodium differences (around 400% higher in processed meats) explain most of the observed higher risk. Although unprocessed red meats seem to be relatively neutral for CVD, healthier choices are available, including fish, nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Public-health guidance should prioritize avoidance of processed meats, including the low-fat deli meats currently marketed as healthy choices, and the food industry should substantially reduce sodium and other preservatives in processed meats.

BASF announces investments for Asia Pacific

Today BASF’s Crop Protection division presented its solutions for the future of food availability and quality of life in Asia Pacific. BASF aims to address these challenges by introducing new technologies, broadening farmer education and co-creation initiatives, increasing investments in production capacity and R&D as well as collaborating with food value chain partners. These initiatives will enable BASF to support growers in Asia Pacific more efficiently and broadly.

SEPRA Market Report - 10th May 2013

Chesterton Humberts Landplan

In my introduction to the last edition of Landplan, I wrote about the impact of the disastrous 2012 harvest and the effects that the wet summer had had on the industry following two years of previously good results. Sadly, since that time the position has only got worse.

SEPRA Market Report for 26th April 2013

Rabo on Renewables Q2: Strong signals of support continue, but EU 2020 target unlikely to be met

The continued slow pace of new investments in renewable energy around the world seen in Q1 this year, masks some strong signals of support according to the quarterly report from Rabobank. In the US, the role shale gas production will play in the energy mix may dominate the agenda of the new administration, but there remains a clear commitment to renewable projects. China also looks set to expand its renewable energy base, with solar PV and wind both expected to continue growing strongly through to 2015 and beyond. In contrast, the overall outlook for renewables in Europe is less positive. Progress is lagging the targets of many EU Member States, and it now looks unlikely that the EU 2020 target for 20 percent renewables will be achieved.

SEPRA Market Report - 26/04/2013

Prices / not good news ,after 14 months we have had to reduce the SEPRA prices, it is not over supply of home produced eggs, it is simply lack of demand, and it is liable to get worse, May is always a poor month demand wise, ( the change of eating habits from winter to summer) plus there will be new Free Range flocks coming into production, price wise Medium appear to be the weakest and we have heard of English produced on offer at 48p and 46p which is suicidal with the current cost of production.

Commitment of Traders Report - 30th April 2013

The S&P Agri Index fell 2.1% as speculator selling countered industry and index fund buying; For US markets non-commercials increased their net short position by 20,680 contracts to 157,023 while Index traders and commercials increased their net long position by 5,605 contracts and 7,153 contracts respectively.

SCOPS launches regional Nematodirus warning system

The rapid increase in temperatures in recent days is expected to result in a mass, synchronised hatch of Nematodirus larvae. To help sheep producers assess the risk to their lambs, SCOPS has today launched a regional warning.

Schmallenberg virus – updated testing results

This table includes additional serology results provided by laboratories at Liverpool University and Scotland’s Rural College. Although results from Scotland are listed by county, all cases outside of Dumfries and Galloway relate to animals introduced into Scotland from English counties where Schmallenberg virus has been reported.

Rabobank Commitment of Traders Report

The S&P Agri Index rose 0.2% as managed money’s net long position in agri commodities rose by 45,993 contracts to 105,576 contracts.

CME Feeder Cattle prices fell 3.1% as managed money increased its net short position 1,466 contracts to 2,219 contracts

CBOT Corn rose 2.1% as Producer/Merchant/Processor/End Users reduced their net short position by 4,796 contracts to 269,400 contracts. Managed money also increased its net long position from 50,977 contracts to 52,388 contracts.

Ice Cocoa prices rose prices rose 3.7% as managed money increased its net long position 8,063 contracts to a three-month high of 21,128 contracts. Producer/Merchant/Processor/End Users also increased their net short position 8,562 contracts to 36,651 contracts.

Liffe Sugar prices rose 2.9% despite an increase in managed money’s net short position by 1,549 contracts to 2,490 contracts.