Scottish beef farmers frustrated by lack of detail on calf scheme reform

The Scottish government has been urged to release more details on its reform of the suckler beef support scheme, as farmers raise frustration with the lack of detail.

The Scottish government recently confirmed that the scheme (SSBSS), currently worth £40 million, will be a feature of future support arrangements in Scotland.

Payments to eligible calves under the current scheme year are imminent, but proposed changes to the scheme rules for 2025 and beyond, including the introduction of calving interval rules, have yet to be shared.

The SSBSS is seen as invaluable to Scotland’s red meat sector as it ensures farmers are encouraged to keep producing beef calves to underpin the production of Scotch Beef.

However, NFU Scotland has criticised the Scottish government for not sharing enough detail with the beef sector on its proposed reform.

The union seeks a reformed SSBSS to retain the budget and continue to be delivered in the same cyclical manner.

Split payments between meeting existing eligibility criteria and new conditionality is needed, the union said, as well as a mechanism for recognition of pre-registration of stillborn calves.

And a ‘force majeure’ option should also be available for any producers affected by unforeseen or exceptional circumstances.

Any eligible beef calf born after 2 December 2023 will fall under the scheme reform. NFU Scotland said it understands that the existing 30-day retention period will remain as part of the reform.

Farming UK Team

PGI Welsh Lamb campaign “a major success”, says HCC

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has reported that its multi-platform consumer campaign, ‘Uniquely Welsh. Experts in their field’, has resulted in a “considerable uplift” in brand awareness.

The campaign, which aimed to increase brand awareness of PGI Welsh Lamb, featured stories from Welsh farmers focusing on farming heritage and dedication to producing quality, nutritious food.

The farmers taking part in the campaign were Emily Jones of Ceredigion, Alwyn Phillips from Bethel and Ben Williams of Pentyrch. A TV advert was also filmed at Ken and Lisa Markham’s farm in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant in North Wales.

HCC said the stories told by the farmers had a “particular focus” on the work they are doing to become more sustainable, whilst farming “in harmony” with their natural surroundings. Ben Williams, who farms Garth Farm just outside Cardiff with his brother Ethan, said: “Sustainably farming and taking care of the ground, the land around us, pays back in the long run. It’s a small investment for a very long-term reward.”

The campaign highlighted that the brothers were still in their twenties and represented the “future of the industry”, stating that the pair believed a “greater connection with the consumer is very important”.

Ben Williams said: “I think the thing I enjoy most about farming is improving our production of food year-on-year – and in a sustainable way. These two things should always go hand in hand.

“I believe there needs to be a greater connection between the farmer and the consumer. I think farmers should be able to tell their story – there is a lot to tell – so that people can appreciate the link between meat production, sustainability and community. I truly believe farming has a bright future.”

Meat Management Team

NCB provides butchers with legal advice in Trading Standards Manual

National Craft Butchers (NCB) has launched its Trading Standards Manual, which it said provides “comprehensive legally backed advice” for retail, catering and wholesale butchers.

The manual was produced after NCB contacted East Sussex Council to investigate forming a “coordinated partnership” to offer Assured Trading Standards Advice to its members. The partnership was approved by the Secretary of State in late 2022 and work on the advice started in 2023.

Developed with its Primary Authority partners East Sussex Council, as well as NCB member advice service Safer Food Scores, the manual is intended as a “one-stop reference guide” for members and their teams. NCB said it would provide the guidance to ensure that if correctly followed, both compliance and best practice standards are achieved in a business.

David Gigli, NCB president, said: “This is essential information for NCB members and butchers throughout England. Assured Advice provides peace of mind and helps ensure your business is legally compliant. It offers protection and will help you train your team.”

Eleanor O’Brien, managing director, added: “Having formed one of the first coordinated partnerships in the country back in 2013 it has been a delight to extend this and embark on this new coordinated partnership with East Sussex Council. NCB’s assured advice will now cover Trading Standards, Food Safety and Health and Safety, and is an essential benefit to any craft butcher.”

NCB highlighted that in a recent Food Standards Agency (FSA) report on Natasha’s Law, around 450 businesses said that new labelling requirements had increased costs while almost 300 felt they “needed more information” to comply with the new legislation.

Meat Management Team

Ongoing poor weather ‘placing farmers under serious pressure’

St Patrick’s Day is seen as a turning point in the farming calendar, but ground is saturated due to wet conditions that stretch back to the middle of last year.

Ongoing weather conditions are placing farmers under “serious pressure and adding to stress levels for families”, the Irish Farmers’ Association has warned.

IFA deputy president Alice Doyle said that the level of rainfall “has made it impossible to move livestock; planting and sowing is way behind; and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work”.

St Patrick’s Day is seen as a turning point in the farming calendar, but ground is saturated due to wet conditions that stretch back to the middle of last year, Ms Doyle said.

She has appealed to everybody in the sector who interacts with farmers to take this into account and to give whatever support they can.

“For the Department of Agriculture, it could mean stepping down inspections for the moment and also redoubling their efforts to ensure the timely payment of funds from farm schemes. Any change to terms and conditions that allows maximum flexibility should also be considered,” Ms Doyle continued.

Processors and banks also have a role to play, she said.

“Every cent that’s in the marketplace has to make its way back to farmers. Banks should apply leniency for anybody who’s battling to meet repayments,” Ms Doyle added.

Kathleen O’Sullivan | Irish Examiner

Defra looks at greater use of electronic tags for pig identification

The government has promised to work with the pig industry on any future changes to pig identification, including the possible greater use of electronic tags.

Defra has now responded to a 2022 report by AHDB into pig movements, identification and traceability, commenting on all 48 recommendations made.

This report was commissioned by Defra in the context of the ongoing transition from the “aged and separate” livestock movement recording systems – eAML2 for pigs – to the multi-species Livestock Information Service (LIS).

Pigs will be the third species to make the move, but the department confirmed it would not be for some time yet.

Sheep movement reporting transitioned onto LIS in 2022, with cattle moving on to the service by the end of 2024, “to be followed later by pigs”, Defra said.

The National Pig Association (NPA) said it was vital that identification and traceability systems were used to accurately record pig movements due to the threat of diseases, such as African swine fever.

The new LIS service may have the capacity to either interlink or feed data across to update other relevant services.

Defra said it will “look into creating a consistent approach” to the registration process, but has not yet determined whether LIS will be the future system for registration.

Farming UK Team

Lamb roast sales and exports on the rise in 2024

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has predicted that traditional roast lamb sales in 2024 will increase on the year through Easter, Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, as HCC predicts boost in Welsh sheep exports.

The trade body reported that in 2023, British shoppers bought 80,000 tonnes of lamb from supermarkets according to AHDB/Kantar data, and said that the market was worth £852 million, up 4% year-on-year. AHDB anticipates that for 2024, retailers will continue to “strongly promote” lamb through the coming holidays, and expects to see increased demand from shoppers as a result.

According to Kantar research analysed by AHDB, lamb roasting joints saw a 25.5% increase in volume sales in 2023 compared to 2022 (Kantar, 2 w/e 9 April 2023). Of this, leg roasting joints accounted for almost 93% of all lamb roasting joints sold last Easter, and 62% of all lamb sold for the period.

AHDB said that Easter marketing both online and instore for many retailers featured imagery of Easter lunch with roasting joints front and centre. Lamb also saw a 17.3% YoY rise in volumes over Christmas, which all came from fresh lamb, specifically roasting joints (Kantar, 2 w/e 24 December 2023) – AHDB said that perhaps lamb popularity may continue to increase across all special occasions.

However, during non-event periods, AHDB predicted that as food inflation continues to impact shopper behaviour, many will continue to switch to cheaper proteins, such as chicken and pork, and will save cuts like lamb legs for holiday occasions. In 2024, AHDB expect overall lamb volume sales in retail and foodservice to be down 2%.

Grace Randall, AHDB retail insight manager, said: “The lamb trade has seen incredible strength lately, with AHDB’s deadweight sheep SQQ currently sitting at 722p/kg for the week ending 2nd March. The price is now sitting 217p above figures seen for the same week last year. The export market continues to support, along with key demand events including Ramadan, an early Easter and Eid Al-Fitr landing early April.

Meat Management Team

Interest in meat-free products “waning”, says AHDB

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has revealed that in January 2024, meat-free products experienced less demand compared to last year.

The trade body said that in January 2023, it saw “poor performance” for both meat-free and dairy-free products compared to January 2022. It also said that a result of this was that retailers had attempted to “position plant-based products with health-focused messaging” within stores in 2024, rather than promoting Veganuary as a “standalone occasion” (IGD).

AHDB highlighted that cost-of-living concerns could be attributed to a “large proportion” of the 12.8% year-on-year (YoY) volume decline for meat-free products (Kantar, 3 w/e 21 Jan 2024), reasoning that it was a result of meat-free products being 3.3% more expensive than their animal product competitors.

“Retailers’ efforts to try and increase the pick-up of meat-free products during this health-focused months weren’t very successful”, said AHDB, reporting that the percentage of baskets with meat-free products fell 0.4% to 4.1% (Kantar, 3 w/e 21 Jan 2024). It said that this indicates that consumers’ interest in meat-free products “is waning despite attempts to market them as healthy following the indulgent Christmas period”.

Tom Price, retail and consumer insight analyst at AHDB, said: “Media coverage has recently focused in on the negative nutritional values of ultra-processed foods, which is putting many consumers off eating these products. This, alongside slowing inflation and the potential for real wages to grow in 2024, means health is becoming more of a priority for consumers.

Meat Management Team

Farm to fork Assurance Review officially launched

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) have announced that an industry wide review of farm to fork assurance has been officially launched.

The independent review has been jointly commissioned by the NFU and AHDB along with NFU Cymru, The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) and NFU Scotland (NFUS), who will all form part of the Assurance Review steering group, which has overall responsibility for its delivery.

The review aims to examine:

  • How farm assurance can deliver value back to scheme members
  • How standards are developed to meet the evolving needs of members, the markets they serve, sector diversity and in appreciation of the global marketplace
  • How assurance members are engaged with (including the development of standards), inspected and how technology is used in assurance now and in future
  • How assurance schemes can and should fit with regulation and Government schemes to best serve members.

    Seeking feedback to ensure a farming future

    AHDB said that the group was in the process of appointing four commissioners who will be responsible for setting the terms of reference and a timeline to ensure the process provides “clear outcomes” to the industry.

    Three commissioners have been appointed, consisting of:

    • Dr David Llewellyn CBE (lead commissioner) – former vice chancellor of Harper Adams University
    • James Withers – former chief executive officer of Scotland Food and Drink
    • Mark Suthern – chairman of trustees of the Farming Community Network (FCN).

Meat Management Team

LMC sees drop in NI calf registrations for January 2024

The Livestock and Meat Commission in Northern Ireland (LMC NI) has reported a 6.9% year-on-year decrease in calf registrations in January 2024.

Using data from the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAS), LMC confirmed that a total of 40,587 calves were registered in January 2024, back 6.9% from the corresponding month last year.

LMC agricultural market analyst Claire McAnearney said: “Calf registrations are down across the board for all breed categories, but what we have seen is that Aberdeen Angus is likely to remain a clear top choice of sire selection going into 2024.”

McAnearney referred to registration statistics that point to a marginal decline of 2.2% year-on-year for Aberdeen Angus (AA) sired calves registered for the month of January in NI.

She said: “The second most popular calf breed in the opening month of this year was Limousine, followed closely by Charolais. Early indications show that we are unlikely to see any major shake up to these leaders for sire choice in the early part of 2024.”

LMC stated that like the beef sector, the dairy sector also recorded a decline in calf registrations during the aforementioned period. It said that January had totalled 25,733 head of beef sired calves, a drop of 7% from January 2023, and 14,584 head of dairy sired calves, back 6.7% from January 2023.

McAnearney concluded: “The opening month for 2021, 2022 and 2023 recorded year-on-year increases in the number of calf birth registrations, making 2024 the first change up for books in some time.”

Claire McAnearney | Meat Management

New U.S. meat labelling rules causing Canadian cattle industry concern

New meat labelling rules in the United States could have an impact on the ability of Canadian beef producers to move their product into its largest consumer market.

The changes are part of a decade-long battle between Canada and the U.S. over country-of-origin labelling (COOL).

Right now, ranchers in Canada can raise cattle and ship them to the U.S. for slaughter and still have them labelled as a product of that country.

That will change under the new rules, which were announced last week.

Once they take effect in 2026, only animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States will be able to sport the “product of USA” or “made in the USA” labels.

Canadian Cattle Association CEO Nathan Phinney says that will hurt producers and consumers on both sides of the border.

“Our concern is the U.S. is 70 per cent of our trading partners. We’ve worked diligently to harmonize our systems, whether it’s our food safety system or growing systems,” Phinney said.

“So, it’s everything that we stand for, and what we work on. Prescriptive measures like this could potentially hinder it or break it down.”

Retailers of the meat will not be required to place any labels on their product, but if they do, those labels will have to follow the more restrictive measures.

Kevin Green | CTV News Calgary

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