Europe Intelligence Wire articles from January 2004

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from January 2004

TB reactor delays 'are not acceptable'.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY CURRENT delays in collection of TB reactors from farms are "totally unacceptable'', the Ulster Farmers' Union said yesterday. The Union's Animal Health Committee met this week and its...

Brussels Notebook: Organic farmers under pressure.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: RICHARD WRIGHT IF radio programmes like the Archers or the London based broadsheet newspapers were a true reflection of life demand for organic food would be rocketing. Instead many farmers who took up...

Farming Briefs: Midlands move with the times.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE increasing number of part-time farmers, has prompted Midland & Western Livestock Improvement Society to move its shows and sale from midweek to a Saturday. The events are staged at Carrick-on-Shannon and the...

Farming Briefs: Germans eat more meat.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) TOTAL German per capita meat consumption during 2003 is estimated to have increased by more than one per cent, or 800 grammes, on year-earlier levels, to 60.8kg per head. Of the total, pigmeat consumption increased...

Share farming has plenty to offer.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) LEADING Cork tillage farmer, Martin O'Regan, has no regrets about becoming a farmer, writes DAVID McCOY. "There is nothing to beat starting with a bare field in the spring and harvesting a high yielding crop in the...

Farming Briefs: NewsLines.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) l AFTER a two-week delay caused by the BSE outbreak in the USA, an American beef lobby group has finally launched a national pounds 3 million (pounds 1.6 million) TV advertising campaign. l NO food can now be...

RUAS directors go in cost-cutting bid.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY TWO directors with the Royal Ulster Agriculture Society were offered redundancy packages this week as part of a major shake-up in the organisation. Commercial director, Philip Rees, and...

Producer/supermarket relations hightlighted.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE importance of maintaining a good relationship between suppliers and supermarkets was highlighted by Farmers' Union of Wales president, Gareth Vaughan, during a meal to celebrate the best of Welsh farm produce in the...

Welcome for rise in UK farm incomes.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) NEWS that farm incomes have increased during 2003 has been welcomed by Ian Paisley Jnr. But the DUP North Antrim MLA believes that further significant increases are needed before the income of farmers meet the...

People & Places: Now its cows with cinnamon breath.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: AGNES CRAWFORD COWS could soon be chewing on cinnamon-flavoured cuds, I am told. With a European Union ban on antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed from 2006, alternatives need to be found urgently....

Farming comment: How the times change.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: David McCoy SOME years ago, I overheard a conversation between two leading Northern Ireland pig producers. They were reflecting on the poor state of the industry. One said things were so bad "I have to...

People & Places: Ireland targets beef buyers.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: Agnes Crawford UP to 200 buyers of Irish meat and journalists will arrive in Dublin in May for the two-day European Meat Forum. It will start with a day-long conference, followed by farm and factory...

People & Places: Commons touch for top food.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: Agnes Crawford BRITAIN'S finest food is set to stalk the corridors of power, as part of a new initiative at the Houses of Parliament. Members of Heart of England Fine Foods kicked off the regional food...

Disease decision is welcomed.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Scottish Executive's aim to rationalise and simplify disease compensation schemes and its firm commitment to fair compensation for producers with affected livestock have been welcomed by NFU Scotland. However,...

People & Places: Cornflakes packs get makeover.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: Agnes Crawford MANY of you will, I am sure, have a box of cornflakes on the breakfast table this morning. Now, US-based cereal giant, Kellogg's, is to launch new-style packaging for its popular...

Fintona machinery show goes from strength to strength.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Next week's Spring Farm Machinery Show, taking place in Fintona's Ecclesville Centre, promises to be the most prestigious of the 5 similar events held to date at the Co Tyrone venue. "A total of 75 companies will be...

Make a Date Diary.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) SATURDAY, January 31: Country Market, Market House, Hillsborough (2pm-4pm); Country Market, Coagh Road, Cookstown (9am-2pm); Garvagh Clydesdale & Vintage Vehicle Club annual vintage tractor and horse ploughing match...

EU standards are flawed: Nicholson.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID MCCOY AN Ulster MEP has accused the European Commission of being seriously flawed in its policy towards poultry imports into the EU from Thailand and other countries. Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim...

Roger returns.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Jersey Cattle Society of the United Kingdom has appointed Roger Trewhella field services manager. Mr Trewhella is pictured with members of the Ulster Jersey Cattle Club at last month's Royal Ulster Winter Fair....

Scots event to pack 'em in.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) PLANS are well-advanced for Scotland's biennial national sheep event - Scotsheep 2004 - which is to be held on Willie Davidson's 2000- acre upland farm of Poldean, Moffat, Dumfriesshire on Friday, May 28, 2004. ...

Positive outlook for prices.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY HIGHER world populations and changes in dietary patterns, especially in many emerging economies, is leading to a steady increase in food demand which will impact positively on world grain prices,...

Nicholson rounds on supermarkets.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: RICHARD HALLORAN CURRENT supermarket buying practices have been condemned by an Ulster MEP. Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, claimed they put local farmers in a position where they could not compete...

Ulster Lamb Groups look to future.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) NORMAN Fulton, from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, updated members on the possible impact of the Mid-term Review on the sheep sector within Northern Ireland at a meeting of the Ulster Lamb Groups...

Walsh introduces poultry legislation.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) IRISH Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, has implemented new legislation to provide for more information to be made available at the point of sale to consumers of poultrymeat, writes DAVID McCOY. The new...

Petteril Herd is tops.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Petteril Herd of S & A Morley, Petteril Bank, Southwaite, Carlisle, has won the major prize in Border & Lakeland Holstein Club's Winter Holstein Classic competition. The Boustead Memorial Trophy, for the best 10...

Students charity quiz is big hit.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Greenmount Association continues to support student activities. This takes the form of sponsorship for various student competitions throughout the year, and prizes relating to student performance on courses. ...

Forestry under review.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) IRISH Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, has announced his intention to "revaluate and reassess the strategy for forestry.'' Speaking at a forestry symposium in Bandon, Co Cork, Mr Walsh (left) said that...

Don't overdo it!
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Government is to be urged to "not overdo UK regulations'' when it formulates the rules for cross-compliance for the United Kingdom from 2005. The European Commission is due to unveil the basic framework for...

Suppliers in line for pounds 40 bonus.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) A BONUS of pounds 40 per head! That's the level of premium that could be available to suppliers of cross-bred Beef Shorthorn cattle if ongoing discussions between local breed enthusiasts and a leading supermarket come...

Full house at Stormont.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) MEMBERS of the various industry groups represented on the Animal Health and Welfare Subgroup of the Rural Stakeholders Forum have visited DARD's Veterinary Sciences Division Laboratories at Stormont. Representatives...

Safeway boost for Quinfresh.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) LOCAL supplier, Quinfresh, has extended its contract with Northern Ireland's second largest food retailer, Safeway. Quinfresh, which is based in Coalisland, now supplies Safeway NI with an additional four lines of...

EU set to reduce poultrymeat testing.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE European Union is to reduce the 100 per cent testing requirement for imports of poultrymeat from Brazil to 20 per cent, writes DAVID McCOY. Since October 2002, all consignments of poultrymeat and poultrymeat...

Better year - but all's not rosy!
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) FARMERS' incomes in the United Kingdom are at their highest level since 1997, following the third annual increase in a row. Total UK income from farming rose by 32 per cent in 2003 to pounds 3.2 billion compared to...

Cautious welcome.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE National Farmers' Union gave a cautious welcome to the final income figures for the calendar year 2003, and the estimated net farm income figures for the year ending February 2004, released by the Department for...

Scots optimistic on future.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) NFU Scotland welcomed the confirmation from the Scottish Executive of a significant rise in Scottish farming income. Total income from farming is estimated at pounds 471 million over the last year. The average...

Diversification pays dividends.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) A NEW report released this week shows that, in England, more farmers than ever are turning to pastures new, yielding important extra income. Among the studies published by Department for Environment, Food and...

Largest-ever poultry show set for Balmoral.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE biggest ever entry of turkeys, geese, ducks and hens will be on display in the newly-refurbished Harberton Hall complex at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Showgrounds on Saturday (February 7). More than 1,100...

Countryside Alliance Ireland: Local politicians should not be side-tracked.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) WHILE local politicians try to agree on a future system of Government, it is frightening to think that Direct Rule Minister John Spellar could decide to substantially downgrade our railway infrastructure. Before...

NewsLines.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) o SOIL management is the key to sustainable agriculture in the United Kingdom, according to National Soil Resources Institute. o KRAFT Foods is to axe 6,000 jobs - six per cent of its work force - and close 20...

Farming briefs.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) o FOUR regional meetings of IFA County Executive Officers will take place over the next two weeks to examine the implications for farming of measures included in the draft Nitrates Directive Action Programme, published...

'Low risk' of bird flu spread to UK.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY THE risk of the lethal avian flu epidemic in Asia spreading to United Kingdom poultry flocks is low, the Government has stressed. Animal Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said the virus was...

Young growers get into shape!
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: GRAEME CROSS Top Fruit Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise JANUARY is a busy time in the Bramley's seedling orchards of Armagh. During the dormant...

Increase in US cattle.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THERE were 11.248 million cattle in US feedlots as at January 1, 2004, an increase of six per cent compared to a year ago. These figures do not reflect the lot feeding sector's response to the BSE announcement made...

NewsLines . . .
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) l EXPORTS of Australian goatmeat in 2003 reached 15,938 tonnes (slaughter weight), two per cent above 2002 shipments, and fell just one per cent short of the previous record of 16,137 tonnes (sw) set in 1994. l...

Armagh County UFU.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) ARMAGH County Committee of the Ulster Farmers' Union has raised pounds 410 for charity. Money donated by those who attended the UFU annual dinner dance, held in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry, was divided between two...

Biofuel strategy lashed.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY DISAPPOINTMENT that the Government's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on biofuels "fails to address the main areas of criticism" has been expressed by the...

William takes champion of field award.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) NEWTOWNARDS Young Farmers' Club held its annual ploughing match on Saturday on the lands of Campbell Nixon, Groomsport. A match committee spokesman thanked all those involved in the successful organising of the...

Limousin Club elects new team.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE NI Limousin Cattle Club held their 24th Annual General Meeting in Dungannon Rugby Club on Thursday evening. Outgoing Chairman John Adams reported on the Clubs packed calendar of events over the past year...

NewsLines.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) o TAPPING into Scottish farming's potential to provide renewable raw materials for green road fuel and electricity generation could go a long way to meeting the country's commitments to tackling climate change,...

Bru test plan unveiled.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY A CONSULTATION document on brucellosis testing in Northern Ireland was launched yesterday. It is understood the consultionat proposes mandatory testing of all cattle moved from farm-to-farm...

Gill stands down.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE annual conference and AGM of the National Farmers' Union takes place in Birmingham next month, writes DAVID McCOY. Speakers on the opening day, Monday, February 16, include Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State...

NewsLines . . .
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) l THE Government's programme to improve public access to the English countryside took a step forward this week when Rural Affairs Minister, Alun Michael, launched guidance for land managers on how to dedicate land...

Milk Link buy Tanner Foods.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY MILK Link's acquisition of Tanner Foods Ltd and Express Dairies UHT (long life) business, made the Plymouth-based company the United Kingdom's largest processor of long life milk products. ...

Greenisland venue for Group.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) BALLYCLARE Group of the Ulster Farmers' Union is holding a dinner and cabaret evening in Knockagh Lodge, Greenisland, on Friday (February 6), at 8pm. Music is by the three-piece band, The Cousins, and entertainment...

Forbes urges quota caution.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY ANXIETY over quota is pushing prices ever upwards, so, before you leap into the market, assess your own position and watch the national position very carefully, urges independent dairy...

IFA chairman to meet co-ops on CAP.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY IRISH Farmers' Association National Dairy Committee chairman, Michael Murphy, is to meet with the main co-ops' chairmen and management in the coming weeks. He said that, although 2004 would...

UFU Watch: CAP information meetings planned.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE UFU is making plans to explain CAP reform decoupling directly to farmers, at a series of open meetings across Northern Ireland. Over three thousand farmers attended CAP information meetings last Autumn as the...

UFU Watch: Union backing for Operation Lapwing.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) OVER the last 30 years, big changes have come to our countryside. Alterations to grassland management, especially through drainage and re-seeding, are the single biggest development. At individual farm level, this...

UFU Watch: Don't forget.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) l OTMS rates Applicable for January 2004: Exchange Rate of 1 Euro = 70.4p p/kg Livewt. p/kg Deadwt. pounds /Head at 560kg LW Cows 45.11p/kg 90.22p/kg pounds 252.60 Other cattle 58.50p/kg 99.45p/kg...

UFU Watch: Commodity watch: Enhanced ID system for export of sheep?
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE UFU has concerns that a sheep tagging system, similar to the tagging system required in the Republic of Ireland, may need to be introduced in Northern Ireland, in order to allow for the continuation of exports of...

UFU Watch: Union team attends Plant Breeders' meeting.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) UFU Seeds and Cereals Chairman Graham Furey and Vice Chairman Tim McClelland travelled to Scotland last week to meet their counterparts in NFU Scotland and to attend a meeting with the British Society of Plant Breeders...

UFU Watch: Group focus: South West Down.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE South West Down Group of the Ulster Farmer's Union's January meeting focused on the topic of 'Farm Vehicles on the Road'. Around 50 members packed into the Belmont Hotel to listen to Bill Holden of the P.S.N.I. Road...

UFU Watch: UFU this week.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Monday 2 February 2004 o Meeting with NI Grain Trade Association at 11.30 am. o Quality assured cereals meeting with DARD. o South Derry Group Poultry meeting. Gardiners, Magherafelt at 8.00pm. o...

UFU Watch: Brussels brief: Cross compliance on UFU agenda.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) AGRICULTURE Minister Ian Pearson's decision on the model of decoupling to be introduced in Northern Ireland will be revealed in the coming weeks. The attention of the industry has been almost entirely focused on...

Potato markets still in the doldrums . . .
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY IN a season where potato production in the five main Northern European producing countries is only 30 million tonnes, five million tonnes, or 14 per cent below that of 2002, markets have remained...

Irish Grain and Feed Association Annual Dinner.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) MARKET prices of grain and feed materials had escalated to a level last year which could not have been predicted, David Bolger, president of the Irish Grain and Feed Association, told members and guests at the IGFA...

UK could be 255m litres over quota.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY MILK production will have to fall by, on average, 15 million litres a week between now and the end of March if the United Kingdom is to be under quota. Provisional production figures for the...

Farming briefs: New low-cost air seeder from OPICO.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) A new low-cost air seeder has been launched by OPICO to fit its grass harrow for precise over-seeding or re-seeding of pastures with grass, clover and other small seeds. The new Air Control, which can be fitted to...

High intervention prices.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: David McCoy o THE United Kingdom currently accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the European Union skimmed milk powder (SMP) Intervention stock, writes DAVID McCOY. At the end of 2003, the UK had...

Farming briefs: Details on GB dairy conference.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has announced details of its 2004 National Dairy Conference, writes DAVID McCOY. Entitled 'British Dairying - The Next Three Years', the conference will be held at the...

Egyptian exports lagging behind.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: DAVID McCOY EXPORTS of potatoes from Egypt to Europe are behind this date last year. Arrivals in Great Britain, accounted for by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs plant health...

Farming briefs: Potato stocks hit record highs.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) POTATO stocks in Canada reached a record high for early January, according to the latest government figures. Canada held 78 million hundredweight of potatoes in storage on January 1, the most ever for that date. ...

Big bale deal wrapped up.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) BIG bale wrapping system pioneer, Volac International, has announced a seven-year agreement with Trioplast AB, the leading Swedish supplier of agri-stretch film in Europe. Trioplast will manufacture and supply a...

Prevention is cheaper that the cure.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) The cost of a serious outbreak of digital dermatitis verses the cost of preventing the problem is presented below. Foot Infection Costs The pain of foot infections will restrict movement, food-intake and heat...

Beef cattle on slats 'dirtier' on average.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) BEEF cattle on slats were, on average, dirtier than those in well- bedded straw systems, but poorly-managed, straw-bedded units produced very dirty cattle, a new report has found. 'Factors affecting the cleanliness...

McCauley Trailers builds on 50 years of experience.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) MCCAULEY Trailers, established for over 50 years, has extensive experience in the production of trailers to both the Agricultural and Commercial Markets. Operating from our premises in County Antrim, we have the...

Bales become first choice for high quality forage.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE benefits of wrapped bales add-up to an economic and highly flexible system of producing good quality silage in comparison to bulk storage. Bales now account for nearly 30% of the total grass silage production in the...

X-Tend systems a huge success in NI.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) OVER the past 10 years the expansion in the area of forage maize grown in Northern Ireland has been remarkable. In 1991 eight to ten farmers grew just over 100 acres while in 2002 over 5,000 acres were grown. ...

Versatile Alpine tractor makes its mark at show.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) THE Alpine tractor is one of the most versatile machines on the market. Manufactured by BCS-Pasquali of Italy they come in over 20 different formats. Traditional compact 26-35hp,Alpine forward driving ,...

Slurry spreading - not on frozen ground.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) Byline: BRIAN FINCH, Countryside Management Adviser, DARD SNOW covered or frozen ground should not be seen as an opportunity to spread slurry. Why? There are three very good reasons: There is a high risk of...

Herbst Machinery makes mark at Fintona show.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) HERBST Machinery are proud to say that they celebrated 20 years in Business last May and their Product Range is now exported across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Scandinavia & Iceland. Herbst manufacture a full range of...

Special offers available from Provita for readers.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) OMAGH based natural animal health company Provita, is offering Farming Life readers a special deal on Provita Protect. Readers can call the company on 02882252352 to obtain a special authorisation code that will...

Clean-up with new rotary brush.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) IT IS a well-known fact that clean and healthy animals are more productive and, therefore, more profitable for their owners. With this in mind, Robert A Duncan & Co, Crumlin, is now marketing the Agricow Rotary...

New skills earn more money.
January 31, 2004... (From Newsletter) SIXTY BTEC Diplomas recognising the achievements of dairy farmers from West Down, Co Armagh and South Tyrone, who completed the Greenmount Grass & Business Challenge Programmes, were presented by Roy McClenaghan, Deputy...