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Suckler farms sought by CAFRE
As part of the project to establish technology demonstration farms across dairy, beef, sheep and pig farms in NI, CAFRE has invited suckler farmers to apply.
Initially two suckler farms will be selected. They must already be doing pre-breeding health checks, have systems in place that allow an accurate prediction of calving dates, pregnancy-diagnose cows, follow a health plan and use performance-recorded bulls.
Selected farms will be expected to host between eight and 12 visits for groups of between five and 25 farmers, receiving a payment of £600 for each visit. For more information, visit the CAFRE website. Farmers have until 4pm on Monday 14 October to apply.
NIAPA to attend beef crisis meeting
Representatives of the NI Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) have confirmed that they will join Farmers For Action (FFA) and the National Beef Association (NBA) in hosting a beef crisis meeting, taking place at the Glenavon House Hotel on Tuesday 1 October at 8pm.
All farmers and farming organisations with an interest in beef production are invited to attend.
Irish beef dominant supplier to UK
The latest official import figures published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for the year to the end of July 2019 show that the Republic of Ireland is the dominant supplier of fresh and frozen beef to the UK market.
Over the period it has imported 111,262t of beef, which accounts for over 77% of all UK beef imports.
The next largest supplier is the Netherlands with 10,509t, or 7.3% of the total, followed by Poland with 8,967t.
The amount coming from South America is very small, with Uruguay on 986t, Brazil on 975t and Argentina on 278t. Those totals are roughly half what they were in the same period in 2018, and across all three countries they add up to just 1.6% of all UK beef imports.
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