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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

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PAPERS

The power of supermarkets, farming income and the difficulties faced by young people wanting to become farmers were among subjects discussed when farmers and Fylde Council got together last week. More than 30 people attended a “farming forum” at the town hall chaired by Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Fylde Council Cabinet member for Environment and Partnerships, as a health check on the state of Fylde’s rural economy. Sixty per cent of Fylde is farming land, so farming remains a vital part of the area’s economy. The issues raised, which also included inadequate drainage, high fuel prices, low prices for produce and low incomes for farmers, EU bureaucracy and the labelling of imported food as “British”, have been passed to Fylde MP Mark Menzies who will pass Fylde farmers’ issues directly to the Ministry of Agriculture. Councillor Threlfall said: “Some issues were local, some national and some international: all were valid and Fylde Council will add its voice to the debate. There is one way that people locally can help and that is by supporting Fylde farmers by buying local produce whenever possible. We should Keep the Fylde Farming. What is really of concern is the power of supermarkets which, farmers say, take all the profit for themselves and leave nothing for the farmer. The supermarkets’ prices are very unstable and farmers can’t plan ahead and invest on that basis."

Local authority sales of tenancy farms are making it more difficult for young people to become farmers, Labour peer Lord Harrison has warned. At Lords questions on 22 March 2011, Lord Harrison said that many budding farmers were "brimming with new ideas for innovation in the farm industry". He asked farming minister Lord Henley if he was "alarmed" by the rising number of sales of farm tenancies by local authorities, which he said was "depriving new entrants coming into the farm industry". The minister replied that he agreed there had been "considerable sales particularly in the last ten years" but said he "would not want to go so far as to say that I am alarmed". It was "entirely a matter for local authorities and central government does not have any power to intervene in these matters", he said. He added that:"Obviously county farms can be a useful way of entering the farming profession but there are a number of other ways, one of which is making sure there are sufficient tenancies from the private sector coming online." Crossbencher peer and farmer, the Countess of Mar, pointed to the example of Gloucestershire County Council which had consulted farming organisations and come to the conclusion that "bringing young farmers into the industry and food production is more important than selling off their land to get the capital from it". She asked: "Can you hold that up as a good example of what should be done by local authorities because without food we have no cities?"