The Food Standards Agency in Belfast has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that it has no objection to the beef industry in Northern Ireland pursuing a case for negligible risk (NR) BSE status.
The case must be made to the World Health Organisation or the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Our understanding is that NI could make a case separately from other regions within the UK. Currently, NI has controlled risk status, which means that a range of controls must be in place to protect consumers.
However, we potentially qualify for NR status as the last confirmed case (in 2012) was in a cow born more than 11 years ago. Even if NR status is achieved, a number of the controls must remain in place, including the removal of the spinal cord in slaughtered cattle. However, other parts of the carcase, such as the stomach could enter the food chain, which should mean an end to waste disposal costs imposed on farmers by factories.
However, perhaps the biggest benefit from NR status is that it sends a positive message to potential new customers about beef from NI.
On enquiry, a spokesperson from DARD confirmed that they are investigating the possibility of applying for NR BSE status on a regionalised basis. However, they maintained that no final decision has yet been taken.
Some of that caution perhaps comes from the recent BSE case in the Republic of Ireland in June, which came just after it had obtained NR status. The Republic of Ireland is now back to a controlled risk status. There is a risk that the same thing might happen here, but surely it is a risk worth taking.
Fri 24 July
Farm families’ health check van, 10.30am to 4pm, Ballymena mart.Easycare performance recorded sheep open evening at Campbell Tweed’s, Ballycoose Road, Ballygally, from 4.30pm. Details Campbell TN 07802 835 355.Sat 25 July
Antrim show at Shane’s Castle Estate, with Limousin club championships.Mon 27 July
Farm families’ health check van, Gortin mart, 6.30pm to 10.30pm.Charollais sheep Premier sale, 173 head, show 10am, sale 1pm, Dungannon mart.Dorset sheep Premier sale, 142 head, show 1.30pm, sale 6pm, Ballymena mart.Tues 28 July
All breeds dairy sale, Kilrea mart, 11.30am.Wed 29 July
Clogher Valley show, Charolais championships final, with farm families’ health check van, 10am to 6pmFri 31 July
Clearance sale Knocknamuckley Simmentals For D Riley, Ballymena mart, starting at 11am.Beltex sheep carcase competition at Dunbia, Dungannon. Open evening at the Palmer farm, Glenarm. Details, entries to John Harbinson TN 07843 957718.Sat 1 August
Breeding sheep sale, Suffolk Cheviots, Continental X ewes, hoggets and ewe lambs,
Ballymena mart, starting at 11am.United Dairy Farmers has reported a group operating profit of £3.55m on turnover of £421m for the year to 31 March 2015. The 50% reduction in operating profit confirms that the co-op paid out all it could reasonably afford to members for milk supplies. Ex-farm milk prices fell from 32.4p/litre in April 2014 to 21.4p/l in March this year.
The turnover was down by 5% on the previous year, reflecting the effect of lower milk prices paid to producers and of lower prices for feed supplied by United Feeds. The volume of feed was also down against the previous record year. This report comes ahead of detailed accounts, which will be available prior to the AGM.
According to these figures, United’s dairy processing and marketing business, Dale Farm, handled a record volume of milk and increased sales turnover by 10% to £320m. This was driven by a 27% growth in consumer sales, with packed cheese sales volumes up 53% and packed butter sales up 30%.
Strong organic growth in consumer cheese sales was boosted by the effect of the previous year’s acquisition of the Ash Manor Cheese business in Wales and the purchase of the Fivemiletown speciality cheese business in spring 2014. The valuation of cheese stocks held at the year end is pertinent to the 2014-15 figures and the prospects for 2015.
At the end of March, United reached agreement with the NILGOSC pension scheme to withdraw from the scheme and cap its liabilities, eliminating any future risk of exposure. This resulted in a one-off exceptional net book charge of £1.9m, which will come out of profits.
United Group chief executive David Dobbin said that market returns were depressed, especially for powder exports. Returns were made worse by adverse exchange rates with the pound sterling gathering strength versus the euro as the year progressed. “The volatility in dairy markets and milk prices reinforces the rationale behind our strategy to grow in added-value consumer products and deliver a more competitive and stable milk price to our farmers. Dale Farm delivered another year of strong growth,” Dobbin said.
“The outlook for the current year remains difficult with dairy markets continuing to decline as the result of the ongoing global oversupply situation exacerbated by the ending of EU dairy quotas in April 2015, which has led to increased output.”
The Food Standards Agency in Belfast has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that it has no objection to the beef industry in Northern Ireland pursuing a case for negligible risk (NR) BSE status.
The case must be made to the World Health Organisation or the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Our understanding is that NI could make a case separately from other regions within the UK. Currently, NI has controlled risk status, which means that a range of controls must be in place to protect consumers.
However, we potentially qualify for NR status as the last confirmed case (in 2012) was in a cow born more than 11 years ago. Even if NR status is achieved, a number of the controls must remain in place, including the removal of the spinal cord in slaughtered cattle. However, other parts of the carcase, such as the stomach could enter the food chain, which should mean an end to waste disposal costs imposed on farmers by factories.
However, perhaps the biggest benefit from NR status is that it sends a positive message to potential new customers about beef from NI.
On enquiry, a spokesperson from DARD confirmed that they are investigating the possibility of applying for NR BSE status on a regionalised basis. However, they maintained that no final decision has yet been taken.
Some of that caution perhaps comes from the recent BSE case in the Republic of Ireland in June, which came just after it had obtained NR status. The Republic of Ireland is now back to a controlled risk status. There is a risk that the same thing might happen here, but surely it is a risk worth taking.
Fri 24 July
Farm families’ health check van, 10.30am to 4pm, Ballymena mart.Easycare performance recorded sheep open evening at Campbell Tweed’s, Ballycoose Road, Ballygally, from 4.30pm. Details Campbell TN 07802 835 355.Sat 25 July
Antrim show at Shane’s Castle Estate, with Limousin club championships.Mon 27 July
Farm families’ health check van, Gortin mart, 6.30pm to 10.30pm.Charollais sheep Premier sale, 173 head, show 10am, sale 1pm, Dungannon mart.Dorset sheep Premier sale, 142 head, show 1.30pm, sale 6pm, Ballymena mart.Tues 28 July
All breeds dairy sale, Kilrea mart, 11.30am.Wed 29 July
Clogher Valley show, Charolais championships final, with farm families’ health check van, 10am to 6pmFri 31 July
Clearance sale Knocknamuckley Simmentals For D Riley, Ballymena mart, starting at 11am.Beltex sheep carcase competition at Dunbia, Dungannon. Open evening at the Palmer farm, Glenarm. Details, entries to John Harbinson TN 07843 957718.Sat 1 August
Breeding sheep sale, Suffolk Cheviots, Continental X ewes, hoggets and ewe lambs,
Ballymena mart, starting at 11am.United Dairy Farmers has reported a group operating profit of £3.55m on turnover of £421m for the year to 31 March 2015. The 50% reduction in operating profit confirms that the co-op paid out all it could reasonably afford to members for milk supplies. Ex-farm milk prices fell from 32.4p/litre in April 2014 to 21.4p/l in March this year.
The turnover was down by 5% on the previous year, reflecting the effect of lower milk prices paid to producers and of lower prices for feed supplied by United Feeds. The volume of feed was also down against the previous record year. This report comes ahead of detailed accounts, which will be available prior to the AGM.
According to these figures, United’s dairy processing and marketing business, Dale Farm, handled a record volume of milk and increased sales turnover by 10% to £320m. This was driven by a 27% growth in consumer sales, with packed cheese sales volumes up 53% and packed butter sales up 30%.
Strong organic growth in consumer cheese sales was boosted by the effect of the previous year’s acquisition of the Ash Manor Cheese business in Wales and the purchase of the Fivemiletown speciality cheese business in spring 2014. The valuation of cheese stocks held at the year end is pertinent to the 2014-15 figures and the prospects for 2015.
At the end of March, United reached agreement with the NILGOSC pension scheme to withdraw from the scheme and cap its liabilities, eliminating any future risk of exposure. This resulted in a one-off exceptional net book charge of £1.9m, which will come out of profits.
United Group chief executive David Dobbin said that market returns were depressed, especially for powder exports. Returns were made worse by adverse exchange rates with the pound sterling gathering strength versus the euro as the year progressed. “The volatility in dairy markets and milk prices reinforces the rationale behind our strategy to grow in added-value consumer products and deliver a more competitive and stable milk price to our farmers. Dale Farm delivered another year of strong growth,” Dobbin said.
“The outlook for the current year remains difficult with dairy markets continuing to decline as the result of the ongoing global oversupply situation exacerbated by the ending of EU dairy quotas in April 2015, which has led to increased output.”
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