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In week ended 5th January, the deadweight prime cattle average price levelled on the week at 365.0p/kg. read more

As domestic lamb continues to compete with increased volumes of cheaper imports and demand remains subdued, DW lamb prices eased in week ended 5th January. read more

World prices eased back towards the end of 2012 although remained at levels comparable to the same period in 2011. read more

Having shot to record levels during September and October, GB finished pig prices continued to rise in November and early December, albeit more slowly. read more

The GB weekly average price rose by £4.63/t to £227.93/t and the free-buy average fell by £4.45/t to £330.74/t. read more

Mid-January saw the release of much-anticipated information from the USDA in the form of world supply and demand estimates, US winter wheat plantings, final 2012 production estimates and quarterly stocks. read more

The USDA data set a bearish tone for oilseed markets with upward revisions to US and Brazilian crops. read more

UK malting barley export prices are at €245/t FOB (spring, South Coast) w/e 11th April. read more

The latest National Statistics produced by Defra on the activity of UK hatcheries and poultry slaughterhouses. read more

USDA’s latest quarterly stocks report, released on 28th September, estimated US maize stocks (at 1st September) at 25.1m t, down 12% on the same point in 2011 and the lowest since 2004. read more

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PAPERS

A Chinese dairy farm is installing the world’s largest system to turn steaming cow pats into enough electricity to power thousands of homes, it was reported Tuesday. The device at the Huishan Dairy is 10 times bigger than similar systems and will take the excrement from 60,000 cows and capture methane from the fermenting pats, according to Technology Review magazine. It will generate almost six megawatts of electricity - enough power for 3,500 American-size households but could service many more Chinese ones, which consume less energy. The dairy, based in Liaoning province, northeast China, imports 3,000 cows from Australia every month just to sustain its massive stock of 250,000 cows - about double the number of dairy cows in the entire state of Florida. The project could draw attention to the possibilities of biogas, the magazine quoted Ann Wilkie, professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Florida, as saying. "It shows this is not a phantom technology we have to wait for in the future," she said. "It’s something we can do now to deal with existing waste, and garner renewable energy." China’s rapidly growing dairy farming industry is a major new source of greenhouse-gas emissions. But Huishan’s new system will prevent methane, which is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, from reaching the atmosphere, according to Technology Review

Farmers have welcomed a pledge by Weetabix to get all its wheat from local farmers. Weetabix, which is based in Burton Latimer and has a site in Corby, has announced 100 per cent of the wheat that goes into its breakfast cereal biscuits is now grown by farmers within a 50-mile radius.Weetabix made the pledge after a survey carried out on its behalf in August showed:

70% of shoppers choose foods that support local farmers
60% want to know where their food comes from
47% are motivated to buy locally sourced produce
30% believe that locally sourced food tastes better
79% would like to see supermarkets and large retailers do more to support British farmers
68% would like to see large food companies play a larger role in supporting British farmers
53% check the label on the foods they buy to ensure it is British

Austin Clarke, of West Hill Farm in Gretton, who supplies wheat to the firm, said: "That’s fantastic news."Obviously as a local farmer it’s going to be beneficial." Another supplier, David Letts, of Poplar Lodge Farm in Finedon, said: "It’s very good. It saves on the carbon footprint."