WIN A TAFE TRACTOR FOR A YEAR

>Contact Editor Chris Lyddon
>Read the latest industry blogs

click here for A-Z industry contacts

markets

BeefLambMilkPigmeatPotatoes

 

WheatOilseedsBarleyPoultryMaize

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

<<

>>

 

Take5

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

PAPERS

After setting out the business plan behind what will be the biggest dairy farm in the UK, one of the farmers behind the project expressed his frustration at the lack of knowledge coming from those who are opposing it. Peter Willes said the whole discussion on the planning application for the super dairy had been "dragged down by vegetarians and activists each with their own agenda". These people were talking with little knowledge about dairy farming or animalwelfare and they paid little attention to the details of the proposal which could see a 3,770 cow dairy herd located on a site at Nocton, Lincolnshire, he said. "Sadly some of the objectors tend to get personal but I am more concerned that some people do not want to understand." In his address to a dairy conference in Glasgow, Willes said he was encouraged by the UK coalition government’s more positive attitude to food security but he was also critical of some politicians who he described as having a disappointingly poor understanding of modern dairy farming. Even within the dairy sector there has been a division on how very large dairy farms will impact on the industry. For the project, Willes - who already milks more than 2,000 cows from his base in Devon - has linked up with Lancashire-based David Barnes, who also milks in excess of 2,000 cattle. Their chosen site in the east of England is far from the traditional dairy heartland which is in the wetter west. Part of the rationale for the location is that it is easier to bring the cattle to where the food is grown rather than vice versa.

Farming is the most dangerous occupation in the Irish economy and for those who don’t accept this assertion, then the figures from the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) annual report should convince them. According to the HSA report for last year, 47 workplace deaths were reported. Sadly, 25 of these were in agriculture. This was an increase of 14 from 2009 when there were 11 agricultural workplace deaths. However, statistics hide the individual heartache that accompanied each of these accidents. Families and communities have been touched by every one of these deaths. However, the focus for the farming sector has to be in cutting the number of farm accidents and making farms a safer place to work. Farmers must therefore become more safety conscious in order to achieve this goal. Farming is a dangerous business and there will always be accidents that cannot be prevented, but most can be avoided and it is by concentrating on prevention that improvements can be made. However, the first thing to alter is the attitude of farmers to workplace safety. Mention health and safety concerns to a group of farmers and, within a few seconds, you will see many of them completely switch off. A lot of it has to do with both attitude and education. The education part is no problem; it’s the attitude that needs the discipline.