The continued fine weather has been a great boost for everyone working on a farm. It’s always a benefit to wake up and get on with everyday chores undeterred by what nature can punish us with. Let’s hope we get a kind run into Christmas and New Year.

For those who didn’t know, the 12 October is celebrated each year as world egg day. This is a fantastic recognition of the importance of one of nature’s highest quality sources of protein, which also provides key ingredients that prevent diseases and contribute to general human well-being.

But at present this quality product is being price squeezed for producers across the UK and Ireland. Egg prices have reduced from an average £1 per dozen, to 81 pence per dozen, over the last few years. With feed costs now up 20-30% because of extended drought conditions in the UK and Europe this summer, producer margins are currently under pressure.

Also, Brexit uncertainty is a major factor. It is therefore welcome that both the British Free Range Egg Producers Association and the Ulster Farmers’ Union have called for a price increase across the egg sector. Producers are currently finding it very difficult to make ends meet and achieve a return for the major capital costs incurred at farm level. Our major retailers must work with these leaders to make this increase a reality.

Ammonia

The environmental side of the poultry business is a major issue faced by all poultry and egg producers.

Agriculture is a significant source of ammonia and reducing emissions is an important target for government. All new poultry housing is now under huge scrutiny to adhere to strict regulations when it comes to manure / litter, land spreading, storage and ventilation.

These regulations are set out at planning stage and are part of the wider package requested by the environmental governing bodies such as the NI Environment Agency.

Whilst I agree fully for the need to reduce ammonia levels and adhere to the agreement to reduce levels here in NI, there is a bit of overkill on some of these issues. It seems like three steps forward and two back, as on one hand we are encouraged to expand and produce quality food like eggs, milk, beef, etc and on the other we are repeatedly held back from exactly this, by legislation and red tape.

Surely there must be more dialogue between these governing bodies and the producer to expand if required, but also, to farm in an environmentally friendly way and enhance productivity, without extra legislative costs and long delays in planning.

Home farm

We are currently putting plans in place to clean out and wash the egg houses after recently de-populating the flocks.

The last flocks had been producing for a 13-month term and we will inevitably have a few busy weeks ahead to get housing ready for new point of lay pullets.

Hopefully by then the egg price will have turned the corner and producers will start to see light at the end of the tunnel.

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