Foyle to close Cookstown plant

Omagh-headquartered Foyle Food Group is to close its processing facility (Foyle Hilton) based in Derryloran Industrial Estate in Cookstown by the end of August.

At present, up to 82 people are employed at Foyle Hilton, which de-bones quarters of beef processed at other Foyle sites.

The company said that it hopes to redeploy staff to other facilities where possible, and that the decision to close the business in Cookstown is part of a plan to rationalise processing to other larger and more modern sites within the group.

At present, Foyle operates two abattoirs in NI (Omagh and Campsie), plus has a site in Donegal and two in England (Gloucester and Melton Mowbray).

UK public wants same-standard food imports

A survey has found that 86% of the public believe that post-Brexit trade deals must ensure that imported food is produced to the same standards as in the UK.

The survey of 2,000 adults in England and Wales was conducted by OnePoll and found that 69% of the public had a favourable view of UK farmers in 2019, which equals a record high.

“[The] figures send a clear message to the Government and our future Prime Minister just how strongly the public feel about not sacrificing British farmers in a future trade deal,” said National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters.

Cheap food

She maintained that food security and domestic food production should not be surrendered by the government for imports of cheap food.

“A no-deal Brexit or a bad trade deal puts all that in danger and I urge the government to recognise this as we enter the pivotal months ahead,” Batters said.

Sheep farmers urged to use abortion vaccine

Less than a third of national sheep flock in the UK are vaccinated for Enzootic Abortion of Ewes, according to independent sheep consultant Dr Fiona Lovatt.

The Teesdale-based vet said that EAE is responsible for over 35% of all abortions in sheep, but only one million of the 3.5 million replacement ewes in the national flock are vaccinated against it each year.

A new campaign has been launched ahead of tupping to get more farmers vaccinating for EAE to avoid the use of antibiotics.

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