The latest Milk Price Indicator (MPI) published by the UFU has recorded a significant increase of 0.86p/l to 29.8p/l.
The UFU points to the continued strengthening in commodity markets as last week’s New Zealand GDT auction increased by 1.8%, the fifth time the index has increased in succession. European markets are also improving. At this week’s DDB event, butter, skim milk powder (SMP) and whole milk powder (WMP) all recorded a €40/t price increase.
After a slump during the summer, butter has recovered to €3,590/t and is on par with prices in late June.
At €2,570/t, SMP is at its highest price for five years. WMP has also risen, and at a price of €3,100/t, is at its highest level since September 2017.
Goat disease appears in NI
DAERA chief vet Dr Robert Huey has urged farmers to remain vigilant following the first confirmed case in NI of the goat disease, Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), found on a farm in Co Derry.
The main clinical sign of CAE is lameness caused by arthritis in the older animal. If anyone suspects that their goats are showing signs of the disease they should immediately report it to their local DAERA Direct Office.
CAFRE host post-tupping event
To raise awareness of some of the practical steps that farmers can take to manage ewe condition during pregnancy, CAFRE is holding an event on Tuesday 10 December at the Hill Farm Development Centre, Glenwherry.
Topics covered include assessing ewe body condition score, feeding options, management of housed ewes and animal health pre- and post-lambing. An afternoon session takes place from 2-4pm; and an evening session from 7-9pm.
For further information email eileen.mccloskey@daera-ni.gov.uk.
NSA welcomes Waitrose plan
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed the commitment by British supermarket chain Waitrose to source all its fresh and frozen lamb from UK producers by the summer of 2021.
“Our NZ counterparts will see this as an unfavourable move but there is no denying that the sustainability agenda is driving a change in attitude, with many nations seeking to protect their own interests and to localise trade where it makes sense,” commented NSA chief executive Phil Stocker.
Representatives from Farmers For Action (FFA) in NI have raised a number of concerns in a meeting with senior staff from the NI Environment Agency (NIEA).
Topics covered included the blunt slurry spreading restrictions in NI which rely on calendar dates and the large tonnage of imported grains into NI which are used mainly in intensive pig and poultry production.
To partially solve issues around ammonia, FFA suggests that once boats from south America discharge their grain in NI, they should then be filled with surplus manure from here.
“Brazil clearly needs the organic fertiliser, as it is clearly wasting far too much of its vast land resource already in production by poor farming practices, resulting in the assault on the Amazon Rainforest,” maintains FFA.
UK tractor registrations fall
The number of new tractors over 50hp registered in the UK from May to October 2019 is down 100 on the same period in 2018.
However, a strong start to 2019 means that the total number registered in the first 10 months of the year is actually up 5% on 2018 levels.
In total, 11,118 tractors have been registered for the year to date.
Read more
Watch: tackling lameness in a dairy herd
Irish cheddar at centre of health-enhancing food drive
The latest Milk Price Indicator (MPI) published by the UFU has recorded a significant increase of 0.86p/l to 29.8p/l.
The UFU points to the continued strengthening in commodity markets as last week’s New Zealand GDT auction increased by 1.8%, the fifth time the index has increased in succession. European markets are also improving. At this week’s DDB event, butter, skim milk powder (SMP) and whole milk powder (WMP) all recorded a €40/t price increase.
After a slump during the summer, butter has recovered to €3,590/t and is on par with prices in late June.
At €2,570/t, SMP is at its highest price for five years. WMP has also risen, and at a price of €3,100/t, is at its highest level since September 2017.
Goat disease appears in NI
DAERA chief vet Dr Robert Huey has urged farmers to remain vigilant following the first confirmed case in NI of the goat disease, Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), found on a farm in Co Derry.
The main clinical sign of CAE is lameness caused by arthritis in the older animal. If anyone suspects that their goats are showing signs of the disease they should immediately report it to their local DAERA Direct Office.
CAFRE host post-tupping event
To raise awareness of some of the practical steps that farmers can take to manage ewe condition during pregnancy, CAFRE is holding an event on Tuesday 10 December at the Hill Farm Development Centre, Glenwherry.
Topics covered include assessing ewe body condition score, feeding options, management of housed ewes and animal health pre- and post-lambing. An afternoon session takes place from 2-4pm; and an evening session from 7-9pm.
For further information email eileen.mccloskey@daera-ni.gov.uk.
NSA welcomes Waitrose plan
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed the commitment by British supermarket chain Waitrose to source all its fresh and frozen lamb from UK producers by the summer of 2021.
“Our NZ counterparts will see this as an unfavourable move but there is no denying that the sustainability agenda is driving a change in attitude, with many nations seeking to protect their own interests and to localise trade where it makes sense,” commented NSA chief executive Phil Stocker.
Representatives from Farmers For Action (FFA) in NI have raised a number of concerns in a meeting with senior staff from the NI Environment Agency (NIEA).
Topics covered included the blunt slurry spreading restrictions in NI which rely on calendar dates and the large tonnage of imported grains into NI which are used mainly in intensive pig and poultry production.
To partially solve issues around ammonia, FFA suggests that once boats from south America discharge their grain in NI, they should then be filled with surplus manure from here.
“Brazil clearly needs the organic fertiliser, as it is clearly wasting far too much of its vast land resource already in production by poor farming practices, resulting in the assault on the Amazon Rainforest,” maintains FFA.
UK tractor registrations fall
The number of new tractors over 50hp registered in the UK from May to October 2019 is down 100 on the same period in 2018.
However, a strong start to 2019 means that the total number registered in the first 10 months of the year is actually up 5% on 2018 levels.
In total, 11,118 tractors have been registered for the year to date.
Read more
Watch: tackling lameness in a dairy herd
Irish cheddar at centre of health-enhancing food drive
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