The supply chain disruption caused by the snow has resulted in empty shelves in our shops, highlighting the need to have strong supply chains to keep the nation fed. The near-hysteria about the lack of bread and milk just shows how the supply chain is expected to deliver 24 hours a day. Sadly this is something which may be more common in the future unless we invest in local processing and ensure Brexit doesn’t expose the UK to too much imported product. It will do politicians no harm to be reminded of the public wrath if fresh produce is not available to them.

Empty shelves were on the front page of most daily papers on Saturday morning, not long after KFC hit the headlines with how it suffered restaurant closures due to chicken shortages.

There is a degree of complacency in the food sector, which is due largely to years of successful delivery of consistent and high-quality produce. But stretched food chains, particularly for fresh produce, over increasing distances are more exposed to disruption. We are at a crossroads in building a UK food policy thanks to exiting the EU. Hopefully the recent disruption makes politicians think twice before doing trade deals which undermine our producers.

Swinging cattle pendulum

Beef finishers are optimistic about the trade this backend. While finished prices seem to be sliding, with farmers quoted not much over £3.60 base price this week, the store ring saw 400kg continental young cattle typically making £1,100/head. Finishers seem to be chasing fewer cattle coming into the ring.

However at the other end, the annual glut of cattle coming to slaughter this time of year is largely due to over 65% of calf registrations recorded between March and May. These prices are needed to keep the suckler producer in a job, as calving cows is expensive and hard work. This backend, finishers will be looking for at least a £4/kg base price, so that their £1,100 investment can get back £1,500. But if we see stronger prices in the second half of the year, will the pendulum swing back further in spring? Is it time to look at the seasonality of beef?

Great ad for farming

Well done to all the farmers who helped pull people out of snow drifts and cleared roads across Scotland. These efforts will help to keep farmers held in high regard by the public. Heading out into the rain and sleet this week may make producing food feel like a thankless task, however, the public has a special place in their hearts for farmers.

Those of us who went the extra mile to help out in the snow have done the sector proud and done their bit to keep shoppers buying Scottish and British produce.

However, this cannot be used as an easy option for councils to cut funding for gritters and snow ploughs.

Welcome Emily Smith and farewell – for now – to Odile Evans

We have a new reporter on the Farmers Journal Scotland team called Emily Smith, who will continue to build the momentum in the paper.

Emily comes from Aberdeenshire and previously worked in weekly papers before joining the Farmers Journal.

Meanwhile, after nine months of fantastic work, I am sorry to see Odile heading back to the Dublin office.

Odile worked tirelessly to get the paper off to its flying start. She has travelled from Shetland to Stranraer, getting the inside story on Scottish farming.

We wish her continued success in Ireland.