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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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