What is Great British Beef Week?

Great British Beef Week (GBBW) is a nationwide campaign in the UK that celebrates the versatility and exceptional taste of British beef.

It also highlights the commitment and dedication of British beef farmers to sustainable practices.

The 14th annual GBBW is set to begin on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, and aims to inspire families to enjoy British beef in various dishes, from traditional Sunday roasts to innovative recipes incorporating global flavors1.

The campaign is supported by various organizations, including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and features collaborations with food influencers, sharing of farmer stories, and promotional events to raise awareness of British beef’s quality and sustainability.

Scottish government changes farming payments from 2025

New details about the actions Scotland’s farmers and crofters will have to take to receive agricultural support payments from 2025 have been unveiled.

From next year, farmers and crofters will have to deliver new things in return for basic payments, the Scottish government explained in a new update.

It said the new criteria for support aimed to help farmers produce food more sustainably while working to protect nature.

It is the latest update to the Agricultural Reform route map – a guide to help farmers prepare for the gradual transition to the new support framework, which will start in 2027.

Numerous changes will start from 2025, including changes to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS), which underpins Scotland’s iconic beef sector.

This will include a new calving interval of 410 days measured on an individual animal basis to help cut emissions intensity and make beef production more efficient.

The government will also introduce the first Whole Farm Plan conditions which require farmers to complete two baselining activities from a list of options including carbon audits, biodiversity audits, soil analysis, the creation of animal health and welfare plans or integrated pest management plans.

From 2025, there will also be new conditions for peatlands and wetlands under Good Agricultural Environmental Conditions (GAEC) 6 of Cross Compliance to help protect carbon stores.

Farming UK Team

Pig producers must consider ‘very real threat’ of African swine fever

Pig producers have been warned to consider the ‘very real threat’ of African swine fever (ASF) in the UK as the virus continues to spread in Europe.

In new guidance, the National Pig Association (NPA) has urged farmers to consider whether they are doing everything they can to prevent and prepare for ASF.

It follows a ‘marked increase’ in domestic pig outbreaks across Europe last year, with 1,000 recorded over the summer, the highest figure in recent years, driven by rapid spread in the Balkans.

ASF was reported in domestic pigs in 13 European countries between May 2023 and January 2024, and in wild boar in 17 European countries over the period.

Whilst ASF doesn’t affect humans, it is a highly contagious and fatal notifiable disease that is also present in parts of Asia and Africa.

The NPA has urged farmers to spend some time over Easter familiarising themselves with its guidance, covering everything about the virus and a possible outbreak.

The 26-page document includes information on how the virus spreads, as well as biosecurity advice and clinical signs.

It also looks at what happens if the disease is confirmed on the farm, and the the different zones and restrictions that would be in put in place in the event of an outbreak.

Farming UK Team

NSA urges new Welsh First Minister to rethink SFS

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has continued to urge Welsh Government to rethink Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) as the new Welsh First Minister is appointed.

Vaughan Gething was appointed First Minister following a vote in Welsh Parliament, which NSA commented was a “vital opportunity” to rethink SFS.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “The appointment of Vaughan Gething is a welcome opportunity to reset and get farming policy right for Wales. NSA is continuing to urge Welsh Government to rethink its proposals and take notice of the prominent industry backlash.

“NSA continue to advocate for Welsh primary produce, renowned for its high environmental, welfare and health standards, with a huge number of these standards being entrenched in law, to be at the heart of any future food, trade, health and environmental and farming policy.”

Stocker continued: “It is incredibly worrying that the current modelling shows a significant contraction of the Welsh Agricultural industry, resulting in a significant drop in breeding sheep, equivalent to the total throughput in one of the country’s major abattoirs.

“The economic impact will be far reaching and significant across the wider supply chain and will have a severe impact on rural and urban communities across the nation. This is the perfect opportunity for Welsh Government to have a fundamental rethink of farming policy and how rural communities can thrive during volatile economic turbulence.”

NSA said that Gething, who replaced Mark Drakeford as leader of Welsh Labour, faces “increasing industry backlash” over the SFS.

Meat Management Team

Government response to Australia meat export barrier is “disappointing”- BMPA

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has expressed disappointment with Government response to its letter regarding Australian meat exports.

The organisation said that it had recently written to Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch MP regarding meat export opportunities to Australia. The letter asked Badenoch to address the news that as part of the Border Target Operating Model, the UK (which cannot export beef or sheep meat to Australia without a protracted approval process) requires no health certificate for Australian lamb exports and needs only a simplified health certificate for Australian beef exports.

It also highlighted that the UK had granted these export measures “without requiring that Australia go through any sort of country or site approval process and without any attempt at trying to secure reciprocity”.

In the letter, BMPA urged Government to request that Australia reciprocates and allows the import of UK beef and lamb without preconditions, saying: “We feel UK farmers would be deeply concerned if it emerged that we are prepared to import Australian meat and meat products without restriction but are unable to export to that market despite there being an FTA.”

Rather than receiving a reply from Badenoch, Farming Minister Mark Spencer issued a response.

BMPA said: “So, we were disappointed to receive a reply that failed to take seriously the issues we’d raised, and which came from a completely different department that is not responsible for signing trade deals. Instead of taking on our industry’s concerns, Mrs Badenoch had punted them to the Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries.

“The reply reminded us of the point we’ve been raising, that ‘market access negotiations to agree an EHC (Export Health Certificate) with a third country take an average of three to five years’.

Meat Management Team

Over 100 tractors rally outside parliament as concern over policy grows

More than 100 tractors rallied outside the Houses of Parliament as part of the industry’s latest protest against the direction of government policy.

Tractors taking part in the go-slow protest on Monday evening (25 March) made their way through central London’s streets to Westminster.

Some were flying the Union Jack flags, others were carrying signs with phrases such as ‘Save British farming’ and ‘no farming, no food, no future’.

Organised by campaign groups Fairness For Farmers and Save British Farming, the industry’s latest protest surrounded three key demands.

These include a ban on substandard food imports, a ban on ‘dishonest’ labelling and more measures to boost British food security.

Save British Farming warned that farmers across the country were ‘fed up of the substandard imports pouring into Britain’.

The group said: “We have signed such bad trade deals which really need to be ditched and we need to rid the trade barriers with our nearest neighbours to allow UK farmers access to markets.

“What we are asking for is a government plan on food and a fairer marketplace – whether that is with other countries or supermarkets.”

 

Farming UK

NFU Scotland welcomes mandatory legislation to tackle Avian Influenza

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland has welcomed the announcement of new legislation requiring all bird keepers to register their flocks.

The mandatory requirement follows a long-running campaign driven by the “continued threat” of Avian Influenza to Scottish poultry, and orders all bird keepers, large or small, to ensure they have registered their flocks.

NFUS said it had long been calling for the UK and Scottish Governments to review the current poultry register and make it “fit for purpose”. Currently only flocks of more than 50 birds are required to be registered, whilst many much smaller backyard flocks exist and have potential impacts on disease control.

From 1st September 2024, anyone, even if they only have one bird outdoors, will need to register.

Robert Thompson, NFU Scotland’s Poultry Working Group chair, said: “The unprecedented Avian Influenza outbreak in October 2021, and year-on-year cases since then highlighted the importance of a proper poultry register. We are delighted that Scottish and UK Governments have committed to implementing a register that all bird keepers must keep updated.

“The new register will be online and will be simple for all keepers, including those with commercial poultry flocks, to keep records up to date. By registering, owners will receive crucial updates and guidance for bird care, including any disease alerts and depending on the threat from Avian Influenza, potentially housing orders.”

Thompson continued: “During previous Avian Influenza outbreaks, it has been very difficult for official vets to communicate directly with small backyard keepers to make them aware of temporary heightened disease control measures designed to protect public and animal health and the wider economy.”

Meat Management Team

UK Halal sector expected to be worth £13.5bn by 2028

The Halal Monitoring Committee has published a report on the halal sector, which looks at the importance of the halal market to UK farming and to the UK economy.

Research conducted by Dr Awal Fuseini, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) halal sector senior manager; Dr John Lever and Dr Shabbir Dastgir at the University of Huddersfield was compiled and presented in the report, titled ‘The value of the halal sector to the UK economy from farm to fork‘.

The report found that the value of the halal meat and poultry sector at slaughter is approximately £1.7 billion out of an overall UK total of £11 billion, equating to about 15% of the overall value. It is stated that if the halal market remains constant at 15% over the next five years, this figure will rise to almost £2 billion by 2028, with the sector reaching £13.5 billion.

Included in the report is an analysis of the halal meat and poultry sector, the halal supply chain, halal certification, sustainability and potential opportunities or challenges that the sector may face.

The data obtained was collected using formal interviews with key individuals in the halal supply chain, and the researchers also visited livestock markets throughout the Midlands and North of England to conduct observations and informal interviews. Data from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on slaughter and animal stunning was also used.

Meat Management Team

AIMS announces speakers for its 2nd Annual Luncheon

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has announced the speakers attending its Annual Luncheon on Friday 12th April at Butcher’s Hall in London.

The luncheon will commence with a short address from the Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, Chris Wood.

Tony Goodger, membership communications lead at AIMS, said: “This year we will hear from FSA’s Head of Operations Junior Johnson on the new tender process and how that will embrace a move from the current monopoly inspection system to one that is more competitive system. He will also discuss the 5% and OV role issue.”

Following Johnson’s address, delegates will hear from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) retail insight manager Grace Randall, as well as AHDB’s head of international trade development Jonathon Eckley and the Institute of Export’s Kevin Shakespeare.

Goodger said: “We are delighted that Grace will be attending. She will be speaking about the work she and her team have done on improved pack labelling and their current work on meat designations.

“The Institute of Export’s Kevin Shakespeare and AHDB’s head of international trade development Jonathan Eckley will look at existing market access and the development of new markets for British products” said Goodger. “The UK produces a wide range products that global markets wish to buy and also has the manufacturing ability to make market specific products and we know that our industry’s profitable growth depends on exporting”.

Meat Management Team

New NI TB compensation proposals gains largest ever farmer feedback

Nearly 5,000 Northern Irish farmers have responded to a consultation proposing to cut the compensation rate for cattle removed under the bTB programme.

This is the largest number of responses to date on a bovine TB consultation proposal in Northern Ireland.

The controversial proposal, unveiled by the Department of Agriculture (DAERA), seeks to slash compensation by up to 25 percent over a period of 2 years.

Presently, farmers in the region receive 100% of the market value of their stock.

Figures show that in Northern Ireland, 1,500 cattle are culled every month due to bovine TB.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), which called the proposals ‘barbaric’, said the levels of response from farmers ‘is to be commended’.

The union added that it sends a strong message to the DAERA Minister on farmers’ feelings on this subject.

UFU president David Brown said: “The UFU would like to thank all farmers who took the time to make their voice heard and respond to DAERA’s TB consultation.

“Whilst we will have to await the official publication of the summary of responses, our members can take some comfort that in a previous consultation in 2021, 94.77% of respondents were opposed to the proposed amendments.

Farming UK Team

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