Thousands of Welsh farmers will take part in a protest in Cardiff this afternoon over heightening concerns at the Welsh government’s vision for the industry.

Up to 10,000 farmers are expected to make their way to the Welsh capital in a show of anger centred on a series of issues they say are threatening their industry.

One of them is the Welsh government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) proposals, which has received huge backlash from farmers in recent weeks.

South Wales Police said it was aware of a planned protest being held in Cardiff Bay from 12:30pm today (28 February), but it urged farmers not to bring tractors to it due to safety concerns.

In its current, the SFS, Wales’ post-Brexit system of support, stipulates that farmers must have at least 10% tree cover on their land.

However, a recent impact assessment commissioned by the government found that the SFS risked reducing 122,000 livestock units, representing a ‘shocking’ 11% fall.

In response, farmers have conducted go-slow tractor protests across Wales, and unions and organisations have held dozens of events and discussions, with some attracting thousands of participants.

Earlier this month, dozens of farmers protested outside Lesley Griffiths’ – Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister – own office in Wrexham.

Today’s protest, which will begin at 12.30pm, is expected to attract thousands of farmers and may also involve slow-moving traffic on routes to Cardiff Bay and across the wider South Wales road network.

Farming UK Team

The quality bonus, worth 10-20c/kg, only adds to the shine for Irish lamb producers, writes Martin Ryan.

It is sunshine all the way under blue skies for the lamb trade as the price ‘take off’ continues to deliver for producers supplying the factories for this week.

The quoted prices have increased by 30-40c/kg to range 740-750c/kg, with the quality bonus, worth 10-20c/kg, only adding to the shine.

Building on the momentum of the last three years and having successfully achieved its overall turnover and profit targets in the previous year, TRANSAVIA, Romania’s chicken market leader, announces its Solid Growth Acceleration Plan for the next 3 years, with a doubling of turnover and profit by 2026.

After the best year in the company’s almost 33-year history, with revenues of more than 1 billion lei ( 1 RON lei = 0,20 EUR) and a record profit for the sector, with a positive evolution compared to the previous year, the largest company in the poultry sector in the country expects top results for the near future, as a natural continuation of the sustained investments and success so far.

“We always do what we say and say what we do. In recent years, when we have all faced immense pressure caused by the pandemic, unprecedented inflation and a global multi-crisis, we have managed to significantly increase our turnover and achieve record profits in the sector. And we have achieved this top performance because we have a team of professionals who always do things exactly as they should with very good results, proven by market share and export success. We have products that Romanians and consumers everywhere trust, being natural, safe and of the highest quality, with relevant, prestigious international certifications. We have discipline, proven efficiency and we have what many lack: vision, courage and the resources needed due to healthy profits, growing year after year. We are probably the only company in the industry that is debt-free and able to invest heavily from our own funds. Our plan reflects our vision and strength, and the results we have achieved so far support our ambition to double our business in the next 3 years,” says Dr. Eng. Ioan Popa, Chairman and Founder of TRANSAVIA.

It’s time for Romania’s poultry industry leader to aim higher!

The top performance in the food industry recorded by the poultry industry leader is based on a disciplined approach that prioritizes customer trust and respect in the industry, massive and sustained investment, innovation and honest communication and marketing. With 100% integration of the entire production chain, from grain to fork, the company completely controls the safety and quality of the products offered, as well as the cost of production being the only producer in the region that exclusively raises, slaughters and processes chickens from owned facilities. This strong differentiator gives the TRANSAVIA business a distinct competitive advantage in the local and international chicken meat market, which has stimulated the consolidation of its position as market leader in the country and the increase in exports, currently standing at about 30% of production.

Euro Meat Team

This year’s Meat Management Industry Awards, the sector’s biggest, longest-established and most successful awards initiative, is set for a record number of product entries – according to organisers.

Culminating in the much-anticipated black-tie dinner and awards ceremony on Thursday 19th September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, the awards’ product nomination process for 2024 has exceeded all expectations so far, with this year’s promotion welcoming entries and voting across 21 categories.

New for this year is the Best Charcuterie Product category which is set to reveal some brilliant products for the first time at the Awards.

The popular and prestigious annual initiative recognises the best manufacturers and producers, products, suppliers, retailers, individuals and organisations across the UK meat industry.

The Meat Management Industry Awards is once again set to be the event of the year. Presented by celebrity guest host Martin Bayfield, the awards’ black-tie dinner and ceremony offer guests a unique opportunity to network and celebrate in style.

Both the voting and product nominations processes are now open for readers of Meat Management magazine and meatmanagement.com plus the wider industry. Everyone is invited to go online to nominate products across a range of categories and to vote for their industry choices.

Check out the 2024 MM Meat Industry Awards voting and nominations pages for more information on how to vote, or nominate products for entry.

Meat Management

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced that red meat exports from the UK in 2023 were worth £1.7 billion, which it said was “largely driven by strong demand for UK lamb” on international markets.

Full year figures from HMRC showed that in 2023 red meat exports, including offal, achieved a similar level in value to the “record year” of 2022. AHDB said that this was underpinned by the performance of exports of sheep meat, particularly to the EU.

According to AHDB, the total value of red meat shipments to the EU during the period was up 2% on the year at £1.3 billion while volumes fell by 12% on the year. Within this, AHDB said that sheep meat exports to France – the UK’s largest market – was the “standout” with shipments increasing by 23% in value to £292 million and 23% in volume on the year to 45,000 tonnes.

AHDB said that elsewhere, shipments to Germany made a “notable increase” – up in value by 15% to £108 million and in volume by 12%. This supported the overall value of total sheep meat exports, increasing by 11.7% to £562 million.

Sheep meat exports to non-EU markets were also up 10% in volume but down 15% in value, with shipments to Ghana “leading the way”. Exports to Ghana experienced a year-on-year increase in volume of 11% at around 1,200 tonnes and in value by 12% to £1.4 million.

Jonathon Eckley, AHDB head of international trade development, said: “Sheep meat exports were undoubtedly the standout success of 2023, driven by demand from high-value markets in Europe like France and evolving markets in West Africa.

Meat Management

The IPCVA participates together with 13 exporting companies in the most important food fair in the Arab countries.

With a large influx of people, the Gulfood Dubai fair began with a notable presence of Argentine Beef.

During the day, the 13 exporting companies that participate together with the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute (IPCVA) held business meetings with buyers not only from the United Arab Emirates but also from other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq and Libya among others. The presence of buyers from China was also notable.

On the other hand, Mario Ravettino, Councilor of the IPCVA and President of the ABC Consortium, held a meeting with the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Argentine, Saeed Abdulla Saif Joula Alqemzi, in which they discussed new opportunities for Argentine meat. In this context, not only the interest of Argentine exporters was ratified but also the growing opportunities presented by the Arab market, which until now was “niche” (small volumes of very high value) but which could become volume market, given the large number of immigrants who work in construction and other sectors of the economy and who increasingly demand more proteins of animal origin.

The companies that accompany the Institute are the following: Frimsa, Frigorífico General Pico, Azul Natura Beef, Frigorífico Rioplatense, Offal Exp, Compañía Bernal, Catter Meat, Abuelo Julio, Frigorífico Gorina, Friar, Santa Giulia, Logros and Arrebeef.

Euro Meat Team

The Interprofessional of the White Coated Pig (INTERPORC) participates and supports, since its creation, the training of specialists in the pig sector taught in the Master in Pig Health and Production organized by the University of Lleida, the University of Zaragoza and the University of Madrid.

In it, in which nearly 400 students have already participated, the director of INTERPORC has highlighted the attractions and opportunities that the pig sector offers for the youngest. In fact, 98% of the students of this master’s degree currently work in the pig sector, more than 50% in production companies, 20% in nutrition , 15% in consulting, and another 15% in health.

Spanish pork is “a world leader and a strategic sector for the Spanish economy, it creates employment and contributes to structuring the national territory by offering opportunities to young people in rural areas”, Herranz explained.

In addition, he added the main challenges that “they will have to face in the coming years and that will be related to sustainability, animal welfare, health, communication and the international market”.

During his speech, Herranz also showed the students the importance of the Interprofessional as representatives of the entire value chain of the white pork sector. He described some of the actions developed in its little more than ten years of operation and made available to the students all the technical documentation prepared since its launch.

Euro Meat Team

Sainsbury’s has added a ‘buy British’ section to its website in a move to better champion and profile British grown food.

It becomes the largest supermarket to launch a dedicated ‘Best of British’ page on its groceries website following a campaign push by farmers and MPs.

The new page spotlights over 450 British-sourced grocery products, including meat, dairy, eggs and chilled food.

Sainsbury’s, which is the UK’s second largest supermarket chain after Tesco, works with over 15,000 British farmers sourcing £2bn worth of produce every year.

It becomes the third retailer to add such a page following in the footsteps of Aldi and Morrisons.

Simon Roberts, CEO at Sainsbury’s, said: “Many of our customers want to support British suppliers and make more conscious choices when doing their food shop, and our new Buy British webpage helps them to do just that.

“We recognise the pressures that British farmers are facing and the importance of supporting them to maintain a resilient UK food system for the long term.

“Our relationships with farmers and suppliers are incredibly important to us and we remain committed to sourcing British as much as we can, now and in the future.”

Farming UK Team

The red meat industry has questioned the inclusion of environmental impact, accessibility, and food affordability as considerations in new official dietary advice.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is reviewing guidelines about what Australians should eat to meet nutritional requirements.

During its background work, the independent statutory agency identified dietary patterns, processed foods, nutrition needs at different times of life, and protein-rich foods as priority areas for research.

It also identified sustainable diets, which it defined as accessible, affordable and equitable with low environmental impacts, as a very high priority for consideration.

But some farmers, such as Australian Beef Sustainability Framework chairman Mark Davie, want more information about how that sustainability will be measured.

The central Queensland grazier said the current Australian Dietary Guidelines, which had been in place since 2013, acknowledged the complexities of sustainability.

But he was not confident the review would do the same.

Megan Hughes | ABC Rural

Farmers have been extremely exposed to high input costs, poor returns, and the threat of disease to their flocks.

The poultry industry has been “too volatile” in the last couple of years with producers questioning their futures, as they are just about “keeping the bills paid on a very small margin”.

Farmers have been extremely exposed to high input costs, poor returns, and the threat of disease to their flocks.