While in attendance at the Sommet de l’Élevage agricultural show which took place in France earlier this month, Agriland met a French-based machinery importer who is sourcing slurry systems built in Co. Armagh.

Luc Jeannerot is the boss of the French machinery importer Agro Jeannerot which is based near Switzerland in a region known as Franche-Comté.

He explained he first saw the slurry-systems which are built in Co. Armagh at the National Ploughing Championships and saw an opportunity for the machinery in the French market.

Speaking to Agriland, Luc said: “I buy SlurryKat equipment and sell it to French dealers. We then go out to the farm to set up the machines along with the farmer.”

He explained that the umbilical slurry-spreading system in France was “not that popular” but noted that biogas companies in France have growing volumes of slurry to spread and said “the umbilical system is the best way to increase output”.

“I first discovered SlurryKat at the National Ploughing Championships in Ireland. I said ‘this is something we need to introduce in France’.”

He said that most slurry is spread by tankers in France due to fields being “dispersed” but believes that with growing farm sizes and expanding biogas companies, the umbilical systems will be more common in the future.

Also at the stand was the SlurryKat European sales manager, Niall O’Neill who said the product is gaining traction in the French market now because of “forward vision”.

He explained that from 2025 onwards, the spreading of slurry with splash-plates will be phased out in France and the future of the slurry-system market in France will be for low emission slurry spreading (LESS).

Luc said the umbilical LESS systems can handle “big volumes of slurry” with trucks bringing slurry to the field and an umbilical system spreading in the field.

Niall said that machinery cooperatives known as CUMAs have a strong influence and that the company has been working to raise awareness of its range in these cooperatives.

SlurryKat is based outside Portadown in Co. Armagh and Luc said that machinery produced on the island of Ireland is associated with being “heavy duty” in the French market due to the tough conditions in Ireland.

The post Video: French machinery importer buying plant built in Armagh appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

As part of the farm-tours section of the Sommet de l’Élevage livestock show which took place in France earlier this month, Agriland travelled to a dairy farm that is milking 250 Alpine goats, located to the north of Clermont Ferrand.

The farm is owned by Carole Neyrial who is the sole employee of the 40ha enterprise. The goat’s milk is sold for cheese processing.

The current milk price is 90c/L (78p/L) but milk prices generally vary from €0.80-1.00/L (70p/L-87p/L).

The price paid depends on both markets and milk constituents. Milk is stored in a cooler tank and is collected by the processor every second day.

Carole explained that prices tend to be higher during the winter months which is why she has selected this system.

Goats are milk recorded and the average production is 860L/goat milking from September to June. Some of the top-performing goats are producing in excess of 1,000L/year.

The average fat content of the milk produced on the farm is 4.17% and the average protein content is 3.54%.

Goats are fed grass and clover silage as well as lucerne hay and meadow hay. The concentrate ration includes ingredients such as maize, bran, soya pulp, sainfoin and extruded linseed.

Goats kid from September onwards and milking continues until June with goats dried-off for July and August.

Breeding generally commences in April and every year, 50 of the top-performing goats are selected for breeding with artificial insemination (AI) and the remainder are served naturally with the use of 10 Alpine bucks.

Goats kid at 12 months-of-age and enter the milking herd then. When giving birth, goats can produce anywhere from 2-5 kids generally.

The AI-bred female kids are used as replacements. The AI-bred male kids are used for breeding also and the remainder of the kids are sold for either meat production or to other dairy herds for replacements.

Goats are seasonal breeders and naturally come into season when the daylight hours become shorter. Because of this, the breeding herd is kept in a shed where the lighting is controlled.

The shed used is a converted pig shed with open plan pens and a straw-bedded floor. The milking parlour is located to the rear of the shed.

Goats are milked twice-a-day and the milking parlour is a 24-24 rapid exit BouMatic goat-milking parlour with automatic cluster removers (ACRs).

Goats enter the parlour from the side and receive concentrate feed which is delivered through an auger system.

Once milking is complete, the front of the parlour lifts up and the goats can then exit.

There is no shortage of machinery on the farm (see images below).

The farm is located 250m above sea level and has a sandy-loam soil type. The farm generally receives an annual rainfall of 650mm.

Land in the region trades at €4,000/ha (£3,5000/ha) approximately.

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The Scottish government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French region of Brittany relating to the offshore renewables industry.

The cooperation agreement aims to strengthen Scotland’s position as a “leader” in Europe’s offshore renewables industry, the government said.

The MoU, which is the first of its kind for Scotland with a region in France, will provide Scottish companies with opportunities to share best practices on the expansion of offshore wind projects off the coast of Brittany.

The Scottish government said the MoU will also instigate a programme of actions that will cover institutional relations, culture and heritage, education and research, fisheries and diaspora.

Attending the first ever Celtic Forum today in Brittany, Deputy First Minister Shona Robinson said: “Scotland is working with our partners in Europe and this MoU…will help us collaborate across a range of topics.

“The people of Scotland resoundingly rejected Brexit, yet it has caused significant adverse impacts to our economy and trade relations.

“In spite of this, the Scottish government remains firmly committed to developing partnerships with our European neighbours.”

Robinson said the Scottish government is keen to maximise opportunities for Scottish companies to learn from their “Celtic partners” as the country looks towards a future with cleaner and greener energy.

“Scotland’s rich renewables endowment means we can not only generate enough cheap green electricity to power Scotland’s economy, but can also export electricity to our neighbours, supporting jobs here in Scotland and the decarbonisation ambitions of our partners,” she said.

Businesses development director of offshore energy company Swift Anchors, Michael Hook, said the company is keen to capitalise on the opportunities it expects to see from the deployment of floating offshore wind in Brittany waters.

“We applaud the steps being taken by the Scottish government and Brittany’s regional government to establish closer economic and cultural ties,” he said.

“With the help of Scottish Development International, we have established good links within Brittany following a series of joint initiatives including Swift Anchors’ attendance at the Bretagne Ocean Power event in Rennes earlier this year, where the quality of engagement and depth of interest in our anchoring solutions and potential collaboration were evident.

“Today’s agreement between the two governments gives us further encouragement to our business efforts in Brittany.”

The post Scotland signs MoU with Brittany for offshore renewables appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Welsh food and drink companies will visit Paris, France, next week as they hope to strengthen and build ties with prospective partners and investors.

During the Welsh government’s Food and Drink Wales Trade Development Visit to the Paris taking place from April 24-27, 2023, seven companies will showcase their products to retailers.

The Welsh companies taking part in the trade development visit include:

• Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits;
• Cwmfarm Charcuterie Products;
• Hensol Castle Distillery;
• In the Welsh Wind;
• Meridian Foods;
• Sims Foods Limited – SamosaCo;
• and Tŷ Nant.

Speaking on the visit, the Welsh minister for rural affairs Lesley Griffiths said it was great for Welsh companies to have the opportunity to secure new business in the French capital.

“Exports for the sector have grown in the past decade and we are supporting companies in Wales to see this continue,” she said.

“Our export support programme is available to all food and drink businesses and helps aspiring, new and established exporters.

“It’s great Welsh companies have this opportunity to showcase their fantastic products and to build new working relationships in France ahead of the Rugby World Cup.”

France is the second largest export market for Welsh food and drink, the government said, with the value reaching £100 million in 2021, up from £72 million in 2020.

The highest value export category was meat and meat products at £68 million, followed by cereals and cereal preparations at £9 million. The UK exported £2.3 billion of food and drink goods to France in 2021.

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A new deal signed today (Friday, March 10) by the UK and French governments will bring “more energy security and independence to the United Kingdom and France”, according to Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Grant Shapps.

Under the new deal signed by Shapps and France’s energy minister Agnes Pannier Runacher, the UK and France have committed to further cooperation on civil nuclear, to capitalise on both countries ambitions to significantly grow their sectors.

It also commits France and the UK to work together, along with other G7, leaders, to take action to cut reliance on civil nuclear and related goods from Russia.

Today’s agreement could also have the potential to support an increase in electricity interconnection with France by up to two-thirds, subject to regulatory approval. 

Shapps said he hopes the agreement will help lower energy bills for consumers, and boost the availability of clean renewable energy between both countries. 

“Successful economies need plentiful and reliable energy. Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated that energy security can only be achieved by working with our international friends,” he said.

“We are already partnering with France through these energy interconnectors, but we share the ambition to go much further.

“Today’s agreement could lead to two-thirds boost in our interconnected power bringing more energy security and independence to the United Kingdom and France.”

The agreement will also see both countries both work to tackle barriers to deploying fast-developing low-carbon technologies, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCUS), helping create tens of thousands of jobs in the UK.

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According to the WOAH report published on Monday (March 6), three foxes were found dead in a nature reserve near Meaux, which is around 54km northeast of Paris.

The foxes were found in an area where gulls had also died.

One of the foxes was collected and tested by authorities which confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The case follows confirmed cases of bird flu in other mammals including seals, otters and mink.

Bird flu

Since October 2021, the WOAH said that there has been “an unprecedented number of outbreaks” of bird flu reported in regions across the world.

While it primarily affects poultry and wild birds, avian influenza can occasionally be transmitted to mammals, including humans.

In recent weeks, the disease was detected for the first time in Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay.

Authorities in Cambodia also confirmed cases of humans being infected with the virus from birds, which resulted in the death of an 11-year-old girl.

“A rising number of H5N1 avian influenza cases has been reported in several mammalian animals both terrestrial and aquatic, causing morbidity and mortality.

“This sparks growing concern about the threat for the health of domestic and wild animals, biodiversity, and potentially for public health,” the WOAH said.

The agency warned that the current situation highlights the risk that the virus could become better adapted to mammals and “spill over to humans and other animals”.

Meanwhile, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated that bird flu still poses little threat to humans.

However, in its latest technical briefing on the disease the agency warned it will remain vigilant as “viruses constantly evolve”.

Although high levels of transmission in wild birds present a constant risk, the UKHSA said that there is no evidence so far that the virus is “getting better at infecting humans or other mammals“.

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French sugar beet farmers will be in line for aid following a tractor protest in Paris last week.

The protest was in response to a decision by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in January which overturned a derogation given by the French government to beet growers allowing them to use seeds treated with neonicotinoids.

These products are said to be toxic to bees. However, beet farmers in France believe the use of these products is necessary for their sector.

According to French farming organisations, some 800 tractors and as many as 4,000 farmers descended on the capital last Wednesday (February 8), where they gathered at Les Invalides, one of France’s most recognisable landmarks.

The protest had the backing of the country’s leading farm organisation, the FNSEA, as well as organisations representing the sugar beet producing sector.

The protesters used the slogan “no bans without solutions”, in reference to the CJEU’s ruling, and farmers, tractors and vehicles could be seen carrying signs and banners with those words in French (“pas d’interdiction sans solutions”).

Following the protest, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty announced the deployment of an action plan to support beet growers.

The aim of the plan is to guarantee sufficient beet production in France in 2023.

As part of the plan, an aid programme will be established for growers in the event of yield losses from beet diseases related to the lack of neonicotinoids.

The French government will request the activation of a European crisis measure, and is working with the European Commission to roll-out the aid system.

Other parts of the action plan include ensuring that the CJEU’s decision applies equally across the EU so that products treated with neonicotinoids cannot be imported into France.

New crop protection measures to replace neonicotinoid-based products will also be developed.

Furthermore, solutions that are already available will be deployed and accelerated.

As part of that, a monitoring mechanism for the management of viral reservoirs will be finalised by the beginning of March.

The post French sugar beet farmers to receive aid following protest appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Three environmental groups – ClientEarth, Zero Waste France and SurfRider Foundation Europe – are jointly taking the food giant Danone to court over its use of plastic.

The three organisations claim that Danone “does not respect legal obligations under French law. It is urgent that it deplastifies its activity”. 

They have also claimed that it’s the first time a food company is being sued in France for its plastic use, throughout its whole supply chain, based on the the 2017 French Duty of Vigilance law.

Danone

The main bone of contention expressed by the environmental groups is that they claim Danone’s 2021 Vigilance Plan does not identify the use of plastics as a major risk in its operations.

“By not mentioning plastic in its plan, or explaining how the company intends to mitigate the risks related to plastic, we believe that Danone is not complying with its legal obligations,” the organisations claimed.

“In its vigilance plan, we expect from Danone a complete assessment of its plastic use. This includes mapping the impacts its use of plastics has on the environment, climate, health and human rights from production to end-of-life.

“We also ask for a deplastification plan based on the plastics assessment with quantified and dated objectives.”

In a statement to Agriland, Danone said: “We are very surprised by this accusation, which we strongly refute. Danone has long been recognised as a pioneer in environmental risk management, and we remain fully committed and determined to act responsibly.

“We are implementing a comprehensive framework of actions aimed at reducing the use of plastic, developing reuse, strengthening collection and recycling schemes, and developing alternative materials.

“We have already made significant progress on each of these fronts, particularly on plastic reduction, with -12% at global level (-60,000t) between 2018 and 2021,” the company stated.

Danone also acknowledged that putting an end to plastic pollution cannot come from one single company and requires the mobilisation of all stakeholders, while respecting the requirements food safety.

“This is why we support the adoption, under the aegis of the United Nations, of a legally binding international treaty,” Danone added.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Danone, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, visited the company’s Irish plant in Co. Wexford last last year, as part of a new global energy excellence programme.

The Re-Fuel programme aims to improve energy efficiency by 30% by 2025 within the food and drink business.

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The ministry’s agricultural census, which is carried out every ten years, has shown that between 2010 and 2020, the number of farms in France decreased by 64,000, 13,000 of which were dairy farms.

According to the French livestock farming institute (IDELE), in 2020 there were approximately 3.6 million dairy cows and 736,000 heifers in France, this was 82% and 15% fewer than 2015 respectively.

This trend has been particularly prevalent in certain regions of the country including the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where cattle numbers fell by 45% between 2000 and 2019, compared to a 19% decline nationally.

The number of producers in this region has also plummeted, from 8,700 in 2001 to 2,500 in 2019.

Furthermore, this trend is expected to continue as IDELE forecasts a further decrease of 441,000 dairy cows by 2030.

The European Milk Board (EMB) has called the national situation “particularly alarming”, and noted a pattern in the age dynamics of these farmers.

It stated that of French milk producers, 32% were over 50 years of age in 2010, compared to 48% now. This is even more concerning as the replacement rate for dairy farmers is only 45%.

Reason for decline

In their 2022 review, the EMB stated that recently published French national accounts confirmed that 2020 was a difficult year for dairy farmers as input, labour and maintenance costs all rose by 1.2%, 12.1% and 10.7% respectively.

In addition, farmers’ social security contributions also rose by 12% that year, while their net income fell by 6.8% to an average of €26,052.

The accounts showed that when the overall characteristics of dairy farms were analysed in 2020, it was observed that their self-financing capacity dropped by 3.7%, while their fixed assets increased by 2.6% and were funded by debt, also up by 3.1%.

These challenge were then exacerbated further by an upward trend in raw material costs throughout 2021, which has not been matched by an increase in farm-gate milk prices.

The post French dairy herd to decline by 441,000 head by 2030 appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

And this principle extends well beyond weed control; it also includes the optimal use of land on which to grow crops.

A recent, Lemken-hosted visit to France by a group of Irish cereal and potato growers included a stop-off at the farm of the Rousselat family.

The father and son team, Jean Cristoph and Arnaud, grow a mix of wheat, sugar beet, sunflowers, soya and alfalfa close to the village on Neully in the Yonne region.

They are committed to organic production practices. However, they recognise the need to trial and introduce new crop management practices, in order to maintain the sustainability of their business.

French organic farmers

The land they are working features soils with very high clay contents. Limestone comes very close to the surface across all of the farm.

Soil pH values are very high, in the region of 8.4. As a consequence, soil available phosphate levels are very low.

Effective crop rotation is at the very heart of the Rousselat business model.

From a crop management perspective, effective mechanical weed control is critically important.

For the most part this is achieved using a precision hoeing system, manufactured by Steketee.

Making this work in a cereal setting requires crop row width to be extended to 25cm.

However, this degree of spacing allows for alfalafa and soya to be planted out between the rows of wheat during the months of April and May.

To make this happen, Jean Cristoph and Arnaud have specifically attached a seed drill to the Steketee hoe. This then delivers a combination of weed control and the establishment of the additional crop at the same time.

Water availability

Water availability for crops is a constant challenge for farmers in the Yonne region of eastern France.

In the case of Jean Cristoph and Arnaud Rousselat, they are currently trialling the use of active charcoal pellets as a way of retaining moisture throughout the growing season.

They are also allowed to use poultry litter pellets as a fertiliser source. These are sourced from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Another feature of the Rousselats’ approach to crop production is their use of microorganism-based spray solutions to stimulate both crop growth and enhance inherent levels of disease resistance.

This year has seen Jean Cristoph and Arnaud Rousselat achieving organic wheat yields of 3t/ha.

Their soya crops came in at 0.4t/ha. These figures are well down on projected levels, as a result of the extreme drought conditions that gripped their region for most of the 2022 growing season.

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This has been brought about by two main drivers: A decline in suckler cow numbers, which for the five-year period 2016-2021 contracted by over 9%; and a corresponding fall-off in dairy cow numbers in the region of 7% during the same period.

LMC’s chief executive Ian Stevenson told Agriland: “It looks as if this contraction in overall cattle numbers has continued into 2022.

“These changes have been brought about by a combination of factors. They include a reduction in the overall profitability of French livestock production and an aging farmer population.

“France has always been a strong market for both beef and lamb, produced here in Northern Ireland,” he added.

“And given the changes now taking place within that country’s red meat sector, the opportunity for locally produced red meat to build on its existing presence in France seems very positive.

“While overall cow numbers in France have declined, the good news is that French consumers continue to enjoy high quality beef and lamb in their diets.”

SIAL focus on beef output

Stevenson attended the 2022 SIAL Food Fair, held in Paris. The event rotates on an annual basis with Cologne’s ANUGA event, in providing a key focus for the global food and drink sectors.   

SIAL 2020 did not happen because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the return of the event to Paris, following a four-year absence, created a positive atmosphere in the French capital over a five-day period.

SIAL 2022 attracted 7,200 food exhibitors from around the world with over 310,000 food and drink industry professionals taking in the event.

“SIAL is a truly global gathering, which showcases the food and drink industry and its products to customers and potential customers from every part of the world,” Stevenson continued.

“Food fairs like this are a key part of developing new and cementing exiting business relationships.”

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) hosted a major ‘Quality Meat from Britain’ showcase at SIAL in Paris.

At its heart was the involvement of 11 UK beef, lamb and pork exporting businesses.  Some of these businesses have major processing facilities in Northern Ireland, including the Foyle Food Group.

“Companies using this dedicated space had the opportunity to meet international buyers while also enabling them to sample excellent quality UK beef lamb and pork, which was being prepared and served on the stand,” Stevenson said.

“LMC works in partnership with AHDB and other UK levy bodies to open new market access opportunities for UK exporters.

“SIAL provides LMC with an opportunity to liaise closely with other levy-funded bodies from across the UK, Ireland and farther afield on key issues and developments relating to the global meat and wider food industry sectors.”

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New prevention measures have been introduced following further outbreaks of bird flu which requires all poultry throughout France to be housed.

French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Marc Fesneau, highlighted that as of Tuesday (November 8), 49 outbreaks of bird flu have been confirmed in France.

The French government said that cases in farmyards and in wildlife are also numerous and increasing.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty in France today ordered the:

•  Sheltering of all poultry throughout the metropolitan territory.
• Prohibition of gatherings of poultry throughout the metropolitan territory.
• Obligation to cover trucks transporting waterfowl older than 3 days.

Fesneau stressed that it was essential to strengthen preventive measures to avoid the spreading of the disease on poultry farms.

For all birdkeepers in the sector, the government advised vigilance in ensuring the strictest application of biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from entering farms and to stop its spread between farms. 

The same recommendations apply to private owners of backyard and ornamental birds, it said.

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty said the move to a high risk level had been introduced after consultation with ANSES, (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety) and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), which observed active flows of migratory birds and an unusually high number of outbreaks for the period.

The ministry has advised that its department will carry out checks on compliance and that to ensure that applicable measures are being followed due to the increased level of risk. 

It has also warned that any breeder who is non-compliant with the new rules that have come into force will face a reduction in possible compensation levels.

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And this principle extends well beyond weed control; it also includes the optimal use of land on which to grow crops.

A recent, Lemken-hosted visit to France by a group of Irish cereal and potato growers included a stop-off at the farm of the Rousselat family.

The father and son team, Jean Cristoph and Arnaud, grow a mix of wheat, sugar beet, sunflowers, soya and alfalfa close to the village of Neully in the Yonne region.

They are committed to organic production practices. However, they recognise the need to trial and introduce new crop management practices, in order to maintain the sustainability of their business.

French organic farming

The land the organic farmers are working features soils with very high clay contents. Limestone comes very close to the surface across all of the farm.

Soil pH values are very high, in the region of 8.4. As a consequence, soil available phosphate levels are very low.

Good crop rotation is at the very heart of the Rousselat business model.

From a crop management perspective, effective, mechanical weed control is critically important.

For the most part this is achieved using a precision hoeing system, manufactured by the Steketee company.

Achieving this in a cereal setting requires the crop row width to be extended to 25cm.

However, this degree of spacing allows for alfalafa and soya to be planted out between the rows of wheat during the months of April and May.

To make this happen, Jean Cristoph and Arnaud have specifically attached a seed drill to the Steketee hoe. This then delivers a combination of weed control and the establishment of the additional crop at the same time.

Water availability

Water availability to crops is a constant challenge for farmers in the Yonne region of eastern France.

In the case of Jean Cristoph and Arnaud Rousselat, they are currently trialling the use of active charcoal pellets as a way of retaining moisture throughout the growing season.

They also use poultry litter pellets as a fertiliser source. These are sourced from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Another feature of the Rousselat approach to crop production is their use of microorganism-based spray solutions to stimulate both crop growth and enhance inherent levels of disease resistance.

This year has seen Jean Cristoph and Arnaud Rousselat achieving organic wheat yields of 3t/ha.

Their soya crops came in at 0.4t/ha. These figures are well down on projected levels, as a result of the extreme drought conditions that gripped the region for most of the 2022 growing season.

The post French organic farmers continue to break new boundaries appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

The hot dry conditions across much of the region has meant that the cereal harvest is progressing quickly.

While the weather has enabled combines to keep rolling, there are questions over the quality and quantity of wheat crops in some of the key growing countries due to these somewhat extreme conditions.

Weather conditions for harvest

With the hot and dry conditions in France, the country’s wheat harvest started about two weeks earlier than usual this year.

As at the end of last week, 50% of the total soft wheat area has been cut, compared with just 3% at the same point in 2021.

Another week has now passed and with favourable harvest conditions remaining in France, the grain harvest will continue at pace.

According to the French cooperative Axereal, the winter cereal harvest is nearly complete (Refinitiv).

In terms of the quality of the crop and yields, the extreme dry and hot conditions are likely to have had some impact.

Axereal has also reported that, from initial results, general grain quality is good with satisfactory protein levels.

In its latest report, Strategie Grains pegged soft wheat yields for France at 6.95t/ha for 2022, down from 7.12t/ha in 2021.

While it is expected that yields in the south of the country will have been impacted by the hot and dry conditions, yields in the north of France have, reportedly, held up better.

US and Russian crops

AHDB analysts are confirming that the impact of drought and heat on the US winter wheat crop has been influencing markets for months.

While the weather may have had an impact on crop conditions, similar to in Europe, it has allowed harvest to start and progress well.

As at July 17, 70% of the US winter wheat crop had been harvested according to the latest USDA crop conditions report.

While the harvest had been progressing quicker than average up to this point, it is now broadly in line with the average pace for this time of year (a 71% completion figure for the period 2017-2021 average).

Russia is set to have a bumper wheat crop this year, which is expected to lead to a very large exportable surplus.

As of July 14, Russia had cut 3.7 million hectares of wheat, 600,000 more than the same point in 2021.

Furthermore, yields are averaging at 4.2t/ha, up from 3.4t/ha at the same point last year.

As the harvest progresses across Russia more information will come forward over the coming days regarding the actual size of its crop.

The post Harvest 2022: Northern hemisphere roundup appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Julien Denormandie, French Minister for Agriculture and Food, enforced these preventative measures in a statement released today, Friday, November 5.

The evolution of the avian influenza epidemic in Europe leads us today to raise the level of risk and take the necessary measures to ensure the protection of our industries,” Denormandie said.

“I therefore appeal to everyone’s responsibility.”

The measures include:

• Sheltering all commercial poultry and putting backyards under netting;
• Prohibiting the organisation and participation of gatherings involving poultry in the areas of concern; and
• Reinforced conditions for transport and caging for wild game.

There are also procedures in place for zoos and pigeon racing.

The French government notes that this does not call into question the ‘avian influenza-free’ status of France.

Bird flu

Since the beginning of August, according the French government, 130 cases or outbreaks of bird flu have been detected in wildlife or in farms in Europe, including France.

The outbreaks are believed to be caused by migrating wild birds carrying the disease as they travel across countries.

Yesterday (November 4), an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was put in place across the whole of Great Britain, following a number of identified cases in both captive and wild birds here at home.

Under the AIPZ, all bird keepers in Great Britain must legally follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flock from avian influenza (avian flu) – commonly known as bird flu.

Other countries with identified cases include Italy; Germany; the Netherlands; Estonia; Poland; and Denmark.

Nearby in the Republic of Ireland, a highly pathogenic case of bird flu was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in a wild bird in the west of the country.

While bird flu is a zoonotic disease – meaning it can be spread between animals and humans – this is extremely rare, and the risk of this is currently low.

The post France moves to shelter and confine all poultry as bird flu spreads appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Shortages causing supply headaches

Raw materials rocket

A situation which gives rise to very strong concerns about the production and delivery capacity of agricultural equipment. Axema, May 2021

Looking ahead

Market dynamics remain strong at the start of 2021 and lead professionals in the sector to anticipate further market growth of + 5% to + 7% in terms of value. Nevertheless, the uncontrolled inflation of production costs and especially the growing unavailability of certain essential industrial inputs, raises real questions. Axema 2021

The post Axema report mixed fortunes appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Videos shared online show tractors ramming down lamp posts in streets covered in manure with rubble burning.

Situation tendue aux abords de la préfecture. Arrivée de CRS en renfort #manifestation #agriculture #egalim #clermontFerrand pic.twitter.com/anEdBpqpiR

— mdelecluse (@martdelecluse) March 25, 2021

The country’s new Climate and Resilience Bill proposes what farmers are describing as a “punitive and unfair” nitrogen royalty.

A study carried out last year for France’s Ministry of Agriculture showed that organic fertilisers could not meet all of the industry’s needs, even just to support a nitrogen-free strategy in France.

Why are farmers protesting?

The protest was coordinated by the FNSEA, France’s largest farmers’ union, with Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers) and other agricultural professional bodies also opposing the new legislation, warning it “stigmatised” the use of chemical fertilisers without providing alternatives.

The union said it ignored changes that were already occurring in farmers’ practices and said the measures would drastically reduce farm incomes without providing a “real response” to current climate issues.

A spokesperson for FNSEA said: “The arguments put forward by the FNSEA and JA to request the deletion of this article did not resonate with the parliamentarians of the Special Commission. The Bill paves the way to reduce the ‘overuse’ of mineral fertilisers in France.

Can we really talk of the ‘overfertilization’ of crops when we know that nitrogen deliveries have decreased by 20% since 1990 while yields in cereals increased by 30% at the same time?

“Indeed, the work carried out by both public and private research bodies have significantly improved fertilisation management over the past few decades (through soil assessment, decision-making tools, and providing information on choice selection, etc.).”

Efforts to reduce fertiliser use

At the same time, low emission slurry spreading technology has improved, making it possible to reduce the share of mineral fertilisers as well as nitrogen surpluses.

“These efforts have been made across all agricultural sectors: For example, in dairy farms in the west, the nitrogen balance decreased by 35% between 1995 and 2010 and the use of mineral fertilizers, by 50%,” the spokesperson added.

“The Bill, by allowing for the implementation of this tax, sweeps away all the efforts made by the agricultural profession.

It also risks distorting differences in the competitive market already existing between French farmers and those in other countries. For example, in 2020, an American farmer pays 65c/kg N for urea against 92c/kg for a French farmer.

“This distortion has also been accentuated at a European level: From 2014 to 2020, around 20 member states, including northern European countries, have introduced aid schemes to support agricultural investments aimed at reducing emissions – as a result, some farmers have benefited from subsidies covering up to 90% of the investments made.”

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Trucks have been left stranded across the UK and mainland Europe as the closure of the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover has brought the haulage industry to a standstill.

Ian Wright, CEO of Food and Drink Federation, said:

“36 hours after the French border was closed to accompanied freight, and with 1,500 lorries stranded in Kent, it is imperative that a solution is found, today, to this issue.

“UK shoppers need have no concerns about food supplies over Christmas, but impacts on local on-shelf availability of certain fresh foods look likely from next week unless we can swiftly restore this link.

“The government is right that 80% of trade is unaccompanied, but roll-on, roll-off, accompanied trucks is by far the preferred mode of transport for fresh food. Around half of all our food is imported at this time of year.

We must also recognise the terrible toll being taken on UK food exporters and on hauliers. Lorry loads worth millions of pounds are being spoiled.

“For most, insurance will not cover these losses which must be compensated.”

What caused the closure of the border?

The ban on travel comes after London and parts of south-east England were placed into a new “Tier 4” lockdown, due to fears about a rapidly spreading new strain of Covid-19 in those areas.

This has prompted over 20 countries including Ireland and Germany to impose a total ban of passengers arriving from the UK.

Unlike in France, freight and exports will still be allowed travel from the UK into Ireland, but those measures are set to be reviewed at a meeting of the Irish government today (December 22).

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The French Ministry for Agriculture said recently that the creation of value around glyphosate-free agriculture is integral to sustainability and requires concrete measures.

For this reason, French senators have adopted an amendment allowing the introduction of a temporary tax credit of €2,500 to support agricultural enterprises that declare in 2021 and/or 2022 that they no longer use phytopharmaceuticals containing the active substance glyphosate.

In addition, there will be the introduction of tax credits for organic farming and farming with high environmental value.

The ministry said that this credit targets the sectors most economically impacted by their consumption of glyphosate, which is the case in particular for permanent crops (viticulture, arboriculture) and large crops.

In addition to this tax credit, the state will invest an additional €80 million for the conversion of agricultural equipment.

Julien Denormandie, German Minister of Agriculture and Food, said: “The creation of this tax credit and the release of an additional €80 million for the conversion of agro-equipment [is] the result of a strong government’s desire to support farmers.

“Any transition has a cost and must therefore be financed.”

Sale, distribution and use of Roundup product banned in France

In 2019, French authorities banned the sale, distribution and use of a Roundup product following a court decision.

The French agency for food, environmental and occupational health and safety, ANSES, explained that the decision to cancel the marketing authorisation of Roundup Pro 360 had been taken by the Lyon Administrative Court.

“ANSES has taken note of the decision of the Administrative Court of Lyon on the cancellation of the marketing authorization for Roundup Pro 360 and will examine it carefully.

As the decision has immediate effect, the marketing authorisation for Roundup Pro 360 is cancelled. As a result, the sale, distribution and use of Roundup Pro 360 are prohibited from this day.

In a follow-up statement on social media, ANSES stressed that the ban on the sale and use of the product was effective immediately.

French authorities had set a plan to ban the use of glyphosate in agricultural practices by the end of this year.

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In a statement on the matter in light of Covid-19, organisers of the livestock show confirmed:

“Given the latest French government announcements, we can confirm that the Sommet de l’Elevage, Europe’s leading livestock show, will be open for business, October 7, 8 and 9, in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

While continuing to monitor the situation, we note the recent progress in the fight to overcome the Covid-19 epidemic in France. As a result of which, the Sommet de l’Elevage will be held on its scheduled dates.

The organisers stressed that they are currently “working hard and hand in hand” with the local and national authorities on the measures that will need to be put in place “to guarantee the health and safety of all our participants”.

“Though these conditions are not final at this point in time, we will, as soon as possible, be informing all our exhibitors and visitors.

“The Sommet will be one of the very few farm shows to be held in Europe this year.

“And this explains why, since the end of the lockdown period, we are taking, every day, more and more stand bookings from new exhibitors,” the Sommet organisers concluded.

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French dairy sector representative group CNIEL warned that peak season – which it says will see an increase of 16 million litres per week – is putting pressure on the sector.

As a result, the group last week set about deploying “interprofessional measures allowing for the smoothing of milk production”, first seeking permission from Europe to enact it.

Using its own funds, CNIEL established a €10 million exceptional solidarity fund to compensate suppliers who limit production.

This aid, it said, “would be calculated on the entire volume not produced – for a reduction from 2 to 5% – based on production in April 2019”. This it says will allow for a milk price set at a maximum of 32c/L.

The representative group, in a statement dated Tuesday, March 31, urged the authorities to accept its proposals for exceptional measures and called on the European Commission for help, stating:

“We also reiterate the urgent need to release aid for private storage of cheeses, butters and powders.”

It also urged French public authorities to strengthen support systems for companies in difficulty, referencing specific support requests at regional levels.

“The balance of our whole industry is at stake… Let us be more united than ever in this crisis. Unity will be the strength of our sector,” the French group concluded.

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Members of the Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles (FDSEA) farm organisation held the demonstration at the Reims Court of Appeal in support of Jean-Louis Leroux.

Leroux, according to the BBC, is being investigated for attempted murder, and purportedly admits firing a shotgun at people he believed were trying to steal fuel from his farm.

A 19-year-old was hit and is reported to be “in a coma in hospital but now out of danger”.

In a statement on the matter ahead of the march, which took place this morning, Thursday, February 13, the FDSEA highlighted that Leroux has been a “victim of dozens of thefts since 2015” prior to the incident, which took place on the night of Friday, January 31.

The FDSEA statement said: “Our thoughts are with the two families concerned and their loved ones who are living in a terrible situation. We extend our sincere wishes for recovery to the injured young man.

Image source: FDSEA de la Marne Facebook

“Jean-Louis Leroux is currently in pre-trial detention at Châlons-en-Champagne prison. His lawyer appeals this decision and requests a provisional release pending the trial.

“The FDSEA 51 and the Young Farmers of the Marne call all the stakeholders of the rural world to participate in a support walk for Jean-Louis Leroux and his family, a calm walk in respect for people and property.

The insecurity in our rural territories is no longer bearable.

“We all face malicious acts: farmers; winegrowers; local elected officials; entrepreneurs; individuals.

“Is it up to Jean-Louis to bear sole responsibility for it?” the farm organisation asked.

“The public authorities must act to reassure the population and ensure their security,” the FDSEA statement concluded.

Following the demonstration today, this evening it was revealed that Leroux was released and is now free until his trial.

Describing the news as “a huge relief for him, his family and everyone who supported him”, the farm group thanked all who participated and supported the march, stating:

“We will continue to accompany him – the investigation of the case has just begun.”

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The news was revealed yesterday, Monday, January 20, by Martin Richenhagen, chairman, president and CEO of AGCO at the Choose France summit, led by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The expansion is in line with AGCO’s intention to ramp up the site’s production volumes to 18,000 tractors/year.

Announcing the news, Richenhagen said: “We are delighted to keep our promise, made exactly one year ago at the Beauvais 3 Logistic Centre opening event, to announce the acquisition of the 15.7ha of the next door ex-Froneri site…to consolidate our presence in Beauvais.

With this new acquisition, we are now looking at investing an additional €40 million as we develop a cutting-edge industry 4.0 site.

“This will add 200 new sustainable jobs to the already 100-plus jobs created with Beauvais 3, back in September 2018.

“At the end of this new investment programme, AGCO will have created 300 new jobs for its local Beauvais community as we intend Beauvais to become the global home of the Massey Ferguson brand,” the AGCO CEO said.

The acquisition of the 15.7ha ex-Froneri site, which includes 4.5ha of buildings, signals AGCO’s “strong appetite for continued investment”, which will enable Massey Ferguson to “meet growing demand” for its equipment, according to the global machinery giant.

The expansion will include: a tractor customisation workshop; an additive manufacturing facility; in-house production of hydraulic pipes; and gearbox manufacturing.

The unified Beauvais campus will encompass the full design, build, testing and manufacture of new models, and it is the company’s intention to ramp up the site’s production volumes to 18,000 tractors/year to meet market demand, AGCO says.

“After refurbishment, the newly-created and unified Massey Ferguson Centre of Excellence for Engineering and Manufacturing will cover a total area of 54ha and employ up to 2,500 people,” Richenhagen concluded.

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According to a report by international news agency Reuters, France has already had to implement restrictions on water use in 73 of the 96 administrative departments in the country.

Didier Guillaume, France’s agriculture minister, told national newspaper Le Parisien: “We need to help struggling farmers on this difficult course, especially those who are struggling to feed animals or are already using hay stocks that were kept for this autumn winter.”

Guillaume is calling this his “plan of general mobilisation” for farmers who are facing difficulties in feeding animals.

He added that the practice of selling straw at “exorbitant rates” – which occurred last summer in France – is “not permissible”.

He argued that French farmers would need finance to restock after the summer, and said he would ask for 70% of France’s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) allocation to be paid out in October.

Schemes will also be put in place to deal with the situation, according to Le Parisien, as well as a consultation with farmers, banks and insurance groups.

Guillaume says that he is aiming to establish “pooled insurance” in the event that farmers lose their harvest.

France will also pilot an improved system of rainwater collection and storage.

Live export ban extended

The current European heatwave is having a range of effects on agriculture across the continent, including the UK and Ireland, where the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced yesterday, Monday, July 22, that the ban on moving ruminants to Europe would be extended for a further 48 hours.

The ban was originally announced on Friday, July 19, and introduced the following day.

In a statement, the department said: “In view of the forecasts of another severe heatwave, road transport of live ruminants to/through continental Europe is prohibited as and from tomorrow morning, Saturday, July 20, 2019, until further notice.”

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A total of 15 sheep have been registered at a French primary school as part of a novel bid to save classes at risk of closure.

According to an article published on Sky News, Jules-Ferry in Crets en Belledonne, a small town located at the base of the Alps with a population of less than 4,000 people, had been told that as a result of falling pupil numbers, it would have to “scale back” its lessons.

Currently, a total of 261 children are attending the school.

Image source: France Bleau

In an effort to boost the numbers, the children have now been joined by over a dozen sheep in what has been described as a “symbolic move” to tackle what parents have described as a “miserable situation”.

According to the publication, the sheep were ‘sent to school’ by a local herder, Michel Girerd.

With the help of his trusty sheepdog, he escorted the school’s newest pupils along to see them officially signed up with their birth certificates.

The names added to the register during a ceremony that was witnessed by parents, teachers and children were ‘Baa-bete’ and ‘Saute-Mouton’.

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The incident is believed to have happened on the farm of the agricultural school Gros-Chene in north-west France.

Students in the school on their morning rounds found the body of the fox in the corner of the school’s hen coop, apparently having sustained peck injuries to its neck.

Breaking into a coop containing thousands of hens through an automatic hatch door, a young fox was apparently mobbed by the angry occupants and subsequently pecked to death.

“There, in the corner, we found this dead fox,” Pascal Daniel, head of farming at the school, told French media channel the AFP. “There was a herd instinct and they attacked him with their beaks.”

Elaborating to Ouest France, Daniel added: “It is a juvenile of five or six months; about 60cm long. He did not seem sick and in any case, he did not have scabies.

“The hens would have arrived en masse and the fox, surprised, could have panicked in front of the number.

They can be quite tenacious when they are in a pack.

“The hens have been there since July, so for more than seven months and have probably learned to defend themselves,” he added.

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The French Agency for Food Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) made the announcement of its intentions earlier today (Monday, November 5).

Following the substance’s approval at European level, ANSES reassessed the dossiers and notified the industrial companies concerned of its intention to withdraw all marketing authorisations for metam-sodium products.

ANSES also urged professional users to report any adverse effects on humans or the environment involving a plant protection product.

Metam-sodium is an active substance found in plant protection products used to control pests such as soil fungi or nematodes – soil-dwelling worms, some of which attack crops.

These products are used to disinfect the soil before a crop is planted, mainly on market gardening crops such as lamb’s lettuce and tomatoes, and in horticulture.

Although these products are applied to small areas in open fields or greenhouses, they need to be used in large quantities to be effective.

They are therefore applied at a rate of between 300L and 1,200L/ha – meaning that nearly 700t of the pesticide are used in France each year, according to the agency.

Following the active substance’s approval at European level, ANSES reviewed all the marketing authorisations for products containing metam-sodium in France.

It assessed the risks to human health and the environment associated with each use of the products, considering their conditions of use.

After reassessment, ANSES concluded that all of these uses represented a risk to human health and the environment.

The agency subsequently notified the industrial companies concerned of its intention to withdraw the marketing authorisations for all metam-sodium products.

Moreover, recent poisoning events involving local residents and professionals have demonstrated the importance of reporting any adverse events related to the use of plant protection products, the authority added.

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The outbreak of the disease is being reported in the French department of Haute-Alpes, in the south-east of the country, and has been ongoing since June, according to French publication AFP.

The disease has killed cattle, sheep and horses so far.

The first cases in animals were discovered in Montgardin, about 15km east of Gap, where six cows were found dead on June 28.

Caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, and transmitted by spores, the disease can cause sudden death in animals; anthrax is transmissible to humans and potentially fatal in its rarest forms.

Animals on the affected farms are being vaccinated for anthrax, authorities confirmed to AFP, and production is being locked up for at least 21 days, with milk from the farms being dumped for safety while cleaning and disinfection procedures get underway.

Described by AFP as “rare but not exceptional”, more than one hundred outbreaks have been recorded in France since 1999, with up to 10 cases reported per year on average.

It apparently occurs more frequently during hot summers that follow periods of heavy rains.

In 2008, 23 outbreaks were recorded, with 21 the following year. The last known case in the Hautes-Alpes dates back to 1992.

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Police purportedly used tear gas or pepper spray to disperse the protesters – accidentally spraying some of the competing cyclists in the process.

The official Tour de France Twitter page confirmed the protest and resulting delay of about 10 minutes, tweeting: “The peloton has been slowed down by protesters. The race is temporarily neutralized.”

– 187 km
The peloton has been slowed down by protesters. The race is temporarily neutralized.
Le peloton a été ralenti par des manifestants. La course est momentanément neutralisée. #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/o3ScD9SHZJ

— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 24, 2018

Follow-up tweets added: “187 km. The race will resume shortly.” and “185 km. The race has resumed!”

According to news giant Reuters, the protest staged by local farmers brought stage 16 of the Tour de France to a stop, with bales of hay flung onto the road on the route from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

The publication adds that, according to competing cycling teams and French media, police used tear gas to disperse the protesters – but it ended up blowing in the face of the riders, which led to the race being stopped at the 187 km-to-go point.

Tour de France stage 16 has been stopped following a farmers protest! Looks like pepper spray used by French police on farmers protesting at #TDF2018 has affected the peloton. pic.twitter.com/5y1GOoGcpR

— KA VED (@Fiston07) July 24, 2018

[yes-app]

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The race continued after the brief hiatus, Reuters says.

According to sporting publication AP Sports, former winner Chris Froome was among the cyclists treated for the gas or spray used:

“Four-time champion Chris Froome is among several riders who have had their eyes treated for tear gas or pepper spray sprayed on the peloton when a farmer’s protest interrupted the 16th stage of the Tour de France.”

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Dino is guided by RTK (real-time kinetic) GPS and cameras to mechanically weed and hoe vegetables, going in as close as possible without damaging the crop. Advertised as a ‘multi-functional straddling robot’, the contraption can also be used for sowing.

Designed to be more sustainable and environmentally-friendly than current farming methods, Dino will “reduce the need for chemical sprays, while also cutting down on tractor use, saving both on diesel and hours”.

According to Naio, the electric robot can operate for up to eight hours on one charge and is autonomous. On its website, the company says: “The robot will weed one bed after another by itself without human supervision.” The robot will then send a text to the farmer when the work is finished.

Toulouse-based Naio Technologies, which specialises in developing and marketing robots for viticulture and agriculture, created Dino with a ‘scalable’ and ‘flexible’ design, allowing customers to adapt the robot for their individual needs.

Dino weighs just 800kg – in order to reduce soil compaction. It can go at a speed of 3-4kph and can get through between 3 and 5ha of work per day. Its operating width is from 1.2 to 1.6m.

Dino was created as a bigger version of the established Oz robot, which was designed for small farm enterprises. The robot can cater for vegetable farms of 24ac (10ha) or more, which Naio claims is a first for robotic operation.

In terms of tools and accessories, the machine can be equipped with inter-row plough-shares, spring harrows, comb harrows and specific shares for in-row weeding.

First launched in June 2016, Dino has since undergone several tests, which are ongoing this year. Lionel Montchalin, Naio Technologies’ Product Manager, recently spoke of plans for 2017, stating: “This year, Naio Technologies will market 10 Dino robots as part of its partnerships with different agricultural players in France and Denmark.

“Lettuce is the first crop on our list this year. Trials will also be conducted on other types of vegetables as well as on-field crops.”

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The farmer in question, Remi Gervais, a winegrower from Montagnac, Herault (a region in southern France), disputed this saying that his tractor “does not go faster than 30kph…even downhill”.

I think I’d have more chance of winning the lottery than reaching that speed.

Gervais added: “You have to laugh. Maybe my tractor can get into the record books.”

Gervais also said that he has never been to Belgium, which is over 1,000km from where he lives, and has contacted Belgian police to clarify the situation. He has provided photographic evidence to the police of his innocence and hopes to have the matter resolved quickly.

According to the French publication The Connexion, it is believed that the incident was either a case of mistaken identity or fake licence plates being used fraudulently.

In a somewhat related matter, the actual Guinness World Record for tractor speed was set in 2015 by four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen on an airfield in Finland driving a ‘specially-tuned’ Valtra T234. The tractor was fitted with special Nokian tyres and the feat can be viewed below.

Kankkunen clocked a top speed of just over 130kph. Unless, of course, we now have a new record – courtesy of Mr Gervais?

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The event is among Europe’s, if the world’s, biggest international agricultural trade shows.

Figures filed by the organisers show that 232,000 people attended; 23% of whom travelled there from outside France. This was 3% lower than the attendance figure for the previous 2015 event. 1,770 exhibitors partook, from 42 different countries dotted around the globe.

In spite of, what the organisers describe as, a challenging economic environment for the machinery industry, it says that “professionals from the farming sector came together with the firm intention of looking towards the future with a realistic and optimistic philosophy”.

Yoann Marchand, Communications and Sales Promotion Manager at Massey Ferguson, France, said: “It was a satisfactory atmosphere, which was unexpected at this complicated time. Visitors came in search of technological solutions.”

Practically all of the major tractor and machinery manufacturers were present. Many Irish machinery companies were there; either in their own right or represented by French distributors.

It wasn’t just about machinery, however. Harold Korte, an online cattle trader from Brazil, commented: “It is an excellent opportunity to meet all the people that matter in one place”. The SIMAGENA event, which was part of the overall show, featured cattle auctions and breeding competitions.

Upcoming machinery events

Those with an interest in overseas machinery events might also consider events such as Cereals UK (June 14 and 15) and the AEA-organised Tillage-Live (September 14). Both events will be held in Lincolnshire, albeit in different locations.

Situated on a working farm, Cereals UK incorporates demonstration areas for manufacturers, distributors and dealers of cultivation equipment. A ‘Sprays and Sprayers’ arena is dedicated to sprayer demonstrations. There are also crop plots, to enable seed companies and chemical products manufacturers to show their wares.

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In January 2015, Ireland was the first Member State to gain approval to the US market. Since then it has been joined by the Netherlands, Lithuania and now, France.

A statement today, January 16, from the European Commission said that the US has announced the lifting of the embargo on imports of beef from France.

The Commission welcomes this decision which it says represents a new stage in reopening a closed market since the crisis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the 90s.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, has said that after similar decisions taken for Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands, the Commission welcomes the decision of the United States to authorise imports of beef from France.

This is excellent news for French producers and the Commission continues to work with all parties concerned to ensure that in the near future all Member States will have equal access to the US market.

“This decision of the United States clearly demonstrates what we can achieve by having an open and constructive relationship with one of our most important trading partners,” he said.

The US market was closed to beef from the EU since January 1998, when the US introduced restrictions on imports of beef, sheep and goats, following the BSE crisis.

The volume of Irish beef shipped to the US market, as of early December, stood in the region of 3,800t since the market opened to exports in January 2015.

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed said an estimated 1,800t of Irish beef was exported in 2015, valued at €14m.

“This trade will be surpassed in 2016 because 2,000t have already been exported so far this year.

“Sales are expected to increase as the trade becomes more established and trading relationships become bedded down.”

Ireland received the green light to export manufacturing beef (mince) to the US market in July 2016, however no such product has been exported yet. A number of processors are seeking to be approved to export to the market.

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In August of last year, France cleared the way for the introduction of the labelling measures.

This measure is being implemented initially on an experimental basis for two years, following discussions successfully conducted by Stéphane Le Foll, the French Minister for Agriculture, with the European Commission.

The French Ministry for Agriculture has said that this is a major opportunity to ensure the recognition of the quality of agricultural and agri-food products.

Under the new rules, consumers will see on the packaging of milk and meat products the countries of birth, breeding and slaughtering of animals for meat or collecting and packaging or processing for milk.

If the birth, breeding and slaughter have taken place in the same country, the only indication needed is ‘origin: (name of the country concerned)’ on the label, according to the French government.

Furthermore, the presence of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in one of the ingredients must also be obligatorily mentioned under the new labelling rules.

Under the new rules, it is mandatory to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of a food when, in the absence of such information, the consumer could be misled as to the country of origin or actual provenance of the product.

The labelling of the origin of fresh meat is already mandatory in France and it has a special label for meats that originate in France since 2014.

This label guarantees origin and traceability in order to enhance the products for consumers.

The French government said that the label, ‘Viandes de France’, is a concrete expression of the commitment of the players in the sector (pork, poultry, rabbit, beef, horse, sheep and goat) for a food of trust based on origin, know-how and good practices .

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The AHDB says that Irish exports of fresh and frozen sheepmeat have been above year earlier levels for eight of the nine months in the first three quarters of 2016, with the volume shipped sitting at 35,500t – an increase of 13% on the same period in 2015.

Looking at the volumes of Irish sheepmeat shipped to France, the AHDB says Ireland has been particularly successful in this market, with volumes up 21% during the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same time last year.

This, it says, is notable as France has been importing less sheepmeat overall this year, while the volume of UK shipments has also declined.

Moving on to the UK, it also indicates that the volume of Irish product shipped to our nearest trading partner has climbed in 2016.

Between January and September, it says, Irish exporters shipped 8,260t of product across the Irish sea, an increase of 5% on the same time in 2015.

Meanwhile, it says the value of these exports increased ahead of volume, reaching €36.3m, due to price rises for fresh/chilled bone in cuts.

Why have Irish sheepmeat exports increased

According to the AHDB, lower sheepmeat production in the UK required additional supplies of Irish sheepmeat, despite the weaker Sterling reducing competitiveness.

However, it says, the Irish lamb reference price has remained below the UK price in Sterling terms, suggesting that prices have continued to be reasonable attractive on the UK market.

Falling New Zealand and Australian lamb supplies are also likely to have helped Irish exports in making gains on the UK market, it says.

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This brings the total number of outbreaks reported in the country for last month to 392, while outbreaks continue to include between one to three infected animals.

In total there was just over 19,500 animals susceptible to the disease with exactly 140 cases of the disease confirmed.

Generally the disease affects cattle, with recent outbreaks reported in herds varying in size from 26-661 head.

However, during last month an outbreak occurred within a flock of 580 sheep, with only one sheep was found to be infected.

All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance and as part of pre-movement testing, while one animal was reported to have died from the disease.

Recent outbreaks of the disease were found mostly in the central regions of the country, with no outbreaks reported in the north of France.

Heat map of recent Bluetongue outbreaks in France Source: OIE

As a result of outbreaks during the month of November, the extent of the restriction zone changed and is now just reaching the northern coast of France.

However the zone still remains a significant distance from the UK coast, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Risk Level in the UK

DEFRA recently decided to lowers its risk level status for the Bluetongue disease, despite the restriction zone being the closest it has been to the UK this season.

The decision was taken due to Met Office predictions suggesting that average temperatures in the UK and northern France are dropping.

Falling temperatures and a change in wind direction has lessened the likelihood of midges being blown across the English Channel, leading DEFRA to reduce the UK’s risk level from medium to low.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of the disease have also been reported in a number of European countries such as Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Serbia during the month of November.

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This brings the total number of outbreaks in France to 621, with outbreaks generally consisting of between one to four infected animals.

Out of the 143 new outbreaks there was only one related to a flock of sheep, with the rest relating to cattle in herds ranging in size from five to 484, the report shows.

In total there was 18,120 cattle susceptible to the disease, with just 160 animals testing positive, the OIE report shows.

Meanwhile, Bluetongue was also detected in a flock of eight sheep with only one of the animals testing positive.

All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance and as part of pre-movement testing, while none of the infected animals died from the disease or had to be destroyed/slaughtered because of it.

The risk level in the UK for the disease has remained at medium for this time of year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has stated.

The extent of the restriction zone has not changed as a result of these new cases and has been the same since April of this year, according to DEFRA.

The latest Bluetongue outbreaks in France Source: OIE

The outbreaks have been detected mainly in the Allier, Aveyron, Drôme, Loire, Haute Loire, Puy de Dôme, and Rhône regions of France, with a total of 473 outbreaks reported this year alone.

French authorities are continuing to carry out sample tests of herds along the boundary of the restriction zone to limit the spread of the disease, DEFRA has said.

Risk Level In The UK

Factors such as midge activity, weather conditions and the level of disease in northern France affect how the risk level changes in the UK.

DEFRA advised that the risk level in the UK cannot be changed at the moment due to the temperatures remaining mild enough for midge activity.

However, DEFRA expects the risk level for the disease will probably decrease in the coming weeks.

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This brings the total number of outbreaks up to 478, with most of the recent outbreaks reporting cases of between one and eight animals in herd varying in size between nine and 314 animals.

In total there was 10,537 cattle susceptible to the disease, while just 164 cases of Bluetongue were confirmed, OIE reports show.

Meanwhile, there was also an outbreak of the disease reported in a flock of 13 sheep with two cases being confirmed.

All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance and as part of pre-movement testing, while none of the infected animals died from the disease or had to be destroyed/slaughtered because of it, the report shows.

The reported outbreaks of the disease occurred mainly in the centre of France, with the Allier, Puy-De-Dome and Loire regions of the country most affected.

Heatmap of recent Bluetongue outbreaks Source: OIE

The extent of the restriction zone in France has not changed as a result of these cases and has been the same since April 2016.

Risk level in the UK

The risk level in the UK has remained at medium following the latest disease intelligence, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Factors such as midge activity, weather conditions and the level of disease in northern France affect how the risk level changes in the UK.

The midge season is normally from March to September, with midges preferring warmer temperatures, DEFRA has said.

Clinical Signs of the Disease

Cattle are the main carriers of Bluetongue with infected cattle generally not showing any signs of the disease, but occasionally signs can include:

• Swelling and ulcers in the mouth.
• Nasal discharge.
• Red skin and eyes as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface.
• Swollen teats.
• Tiredness

Meanwhile, in sheep the main signs of Bluetongue are:

• Ulcers in the mouth.
• Discharge of mucus and drooling from mouth and nose.
• Swelling of the mouth, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot).
• Red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface.
• Fever.
• Lameness.
• Breathing problems.

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This brings the total number of outbreaks of Bluetongue in France to 385, with most of the outbreaks reporting cases of between one and six animals.

In total 10,734 cattle were susceptible the disease, with herds varying in size from from as small as 56 to as large as 4,000.

Out of these susceptible animals, 92 positive cases of Bluetongue were detected. Meanwhile, there was also a positive outbreak of the disease reported in a flock of 54 sheep, with 18 of the animals testing positive.

All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance and as part of pre-movement testing, while none of the infected animals died from the disease or had to be destroyed/slaughtered because of it, the report indicates.

Bluetongue is a viral disease which affects ruminant animals, the disease is not contagious and is carried by a midge which is mostly found in warm climates.

Controls such as screening, surveillance, disinfection and the control of disease transmitting midges have been put in place to deal with the outbreaks, according to the OIE.

The reported outbreaks of the disease occurred mainly in the centre of France, with the Allier and Puy-De-Dome regions of the country most affected.

Heatmap of recent Bluetongue outbreaks Source: OIE

The extent of the restriction zone has not changed as a result of these cases and has been the same since April 2016.

Risk level in the UK

The risk level in the UK remains medium for this time of year, but could increase if an outbreak is detected in the north of France, according to the latest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) report.

The temperature in the UK has dropped over the last week but not enough to prevent midge activity, the DEFRA report outlines.

French authorities are carrying out monthly sentinel surveillance in the disease free regions along the north coast, as well as the regions on the border of the restriction zone.

BTV-8 vaccine has been available for the UK market since mid-July, and the decision to vaccinate should be taken by the farmer, in consultation with their private veterinary surgeon, the report suggests.

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All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance of herds having as little as four cattle to well over 400, with only one outbreak of the disease reporting more than one animal infected.

In a total of 2,754 susceptible cattle, 22 positive cases of Bluetongue were detected. However, no animal died from the disease or had to be destroyed/slaughtered because of it, according to the OIE.

The reported outbreaks of the disease occurred mainly in the centre of France, with the Allier and Puy-De-Dome regions of the country most affected.

Most outbreaks were resolved in a matter of days, but there are still two cases on-going which were detected in August and four cases still continuing which were reported in September.

Bluetongue is a viral disease which affects ruminant animals, the disease is not contagious and is carried by a midge which is mostly found in warm climates.

Controls such as screening, surveillance, disinfection and the control of disease transmitting midges have been put in place to deal with the outbreaks, the OIE said.

The extent of the restriction zones have not changed as a result of these cases and have been the same since April 2016. Voluntary vaccination is also underway in France with a free provision of doses by the state.

The risk of Bluetongue spreading to the UK is highest this month, September, and at the moment the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has no reason to change their risk level.

DEFRA’s risk level remains at medium for this time of year and it has not increased the risk level to high as there are no reports of disease from either northern France or other countries in northwest Europe.

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The processor is expected to ensure an average of around 27.5c/L is paid for milk supplied during 2016.

To achieve this, it is understood Lactalis will need to increase its price to nearly 29c/L for milk supplied between August and December.

The decision by the processor comes in the wake of significant farmer protest in recent weeks over the milk price paid by Lactalis.

Thousands of farmers have protested outside the family-owned firm’s headquarters in Laval, northwestern France, bringing hundreds of tractors, cows and trailers.

Farmers also carried out protests in supermarkets and called on consumers to boycott Lactalis products.

French Milk Reduction Scheme

The French Government has provided extra funding to incentivise its dairy farmers to cut milk production in the coming months.

France received €49.9m in EU funding for the measure and this week its Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll confirmed that the French Government would double that amount.

Le Foll says this matching contribution will strengthen the European measure of output reduction by providing an additional 10 cents per kilo unproduced.

To avoid a spike in the slaughtering of dairy cows and a destabilization of the meat market theFrench Government has said the national supplement will be limited to the first 5% of production cut by farmers.

In this way, under the French scheme for the first 5% of production cutbacks, producers reducing their production will receive a compensation of 24 cents per kilo. Beyond this limit, the compensation will be 14 euro cents per kilo.

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The Arion 460 Panoramic is made up of almost 800,000 bricks, including 388 different parts and took almost 3,500 working hours to build, according to Claas.

The impressive model was built by the only certified lego builder in France, from the company Sarl ERC Briques, it said.

The 3.5t Claas lego tractor has been named ‘TractoBrick’ and was placed on display in the museum’s machine hall, next to almost a dozen other genuine tractors detailing the history of the motorisation of agriculture.

Full-scale lego model of Claas 460 

The project was originally meant to be a ‘mascot’ for the new permanent exhibition at the museum.

The museum, renowned for its first-class exhibitions, is located in Chartres, about 80 km from Paris. It documents the history of agriculture and agricultural engineering, and attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year.

The project was financed by public and private organisations, including the French Claas company and Claas Tractor. In addition, there was a successful fundraising campaign, according to Claas.

The museum are also organising a hackathon early in December 2016, where software developers will have 48 hours to try and breathe digital life into ‘TractoBrick’, the company said.

‘TractoBrick’ will also be exhibited at the French young farmers’ festival in September as well as at the Claas headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany, in the coming months.

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French dairy farmers demanded a significant milk price rise however after 10 hours of negotiations between farmer union leaders, the processor and the French farm minister’s mediator the talks ended with no resolution.

Family-owned Lactalis agreed on Tuesday to renegotiate the price paid to its suppliers after some 400 French dairy farmers blockaded the roads around a Lactalis plant in Laval in protest against low milk prices.

The farmers took over the roundabout in front of Lactalis and brought cows and tractors to the demonstration.

It has been reported that the French Farmers Union FNSEA has asked its members to protest for the whole week outside Lactalis.

The protesting farmers are also reported to have re-baptised the roundabout outside Lactalis, calling it the “roundabout of milk disgrace”.

Following the failure of the mediation between Lactalis and producers on the milk price, the Minister for Agriculture in France has called for the resumption of negotiations and has asked all stakeholders to demonstrate a spirit of responsibility.

“The price paid to producers by Lactalis, the world leader on the market can’t remain the lowest in the market, a step is essential.”

The Minister noted the declarations this morning Lactalis and invites everyone to resume as soon as the negotiations.

The Minister thanked the mediator of trade relations of efforts to find a point of consensus and praised the quality of his work. He asks her to pursue with determination its mission.

In June, raw milk prices paid to producers in France stood at 27.70 euros per 100kg in France, compared to 23.22 euros/100 kg in top producer Germany, 25.12 euros/100 kg in the UK and 25.00 euros/100 kg in the Netherlands, European Commission data showed.

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The farmers have taken over the roundabout in front of Lactalis and have brought cows and tractors to the demonstration.

It has been reported by Ruptly that FNSEA, the French farmers union, has asked its members to protest for the whole week outside Lactalis.

The protesting farmers are also reported to have re-baptised the roundabout outside Lactalis, calling it the “roundabout of milk disgrace”.

Local news company France Bleu Mayenne tweeted this video of the first protesters arriving outside the Lactalis plant.

VIDÉO: les premiers agriculteurs arrivent pour le blocage du site de Lactalis #Laval #Mayenne pic.twitter.com/lblL2LFdj1

— France Bleu Mayenne (@bleumayenne) August 22, 2016

Sonia Denis, one of the protesting farmers tweeted these images of the protest, saying “we are ready! Defence of our profession, breeders, our families!”

@fdsea53 @FNSEA On est prêt! Défense de notre métier, des éleveurs, de nos familles! @Agri_53 pic.twitter.com/RCol7li8k5

— Sonia Denis (@soniadenis053) August 22, 2016

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The hashtag #Crisedulait, meaning ‘milk crisis’, was used throughout the protest with Agri53, a weekly agriculture journal, tweeting images of the demonstration throughout the day.

#Crisedulait les #agriculteurs se rassemblent #Lactalis #Laval pic.twitter.com/gv4ibbQ3Be

— Agri53 (@Agri_53) August 22, 2016

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The FDSEA Finistere branch has tweeted t stop the downward spiral of milk prices, with an image of its members in a lorry at the protest.

Le Finistère renforcera les équipes du mouvement #tousalaval demain : stop à la spirale à la baisse du prix du lait! pic.twitter.com/lX8abq5A6f

— FDSEA du Finistère (@FDSEA_Finistere) August 23, 2016

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Speaking to the local media, FDSEA President Philippe Jehan said that no Lactalis lorry will be allowed out of the factory until their views have been heard.

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In the latest case, 11 cattle were found to be susceptible to the disease and the outbreak is continuing, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) has said.

As with previous cases of bluetongue, movement controls have been put in place in the country by the French authorities.

A total of 290 outbreaks of the strain of the disease have been reported to OIE, with the last outbreak before this latest case involving a day old calf in southern France.

Currently, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said that its risk level of the disease hitting the UK remains the same at medium for this time of year.

However, if daily average temperatures increase in mainland France and the disease starts to circulate towards the north or northeast of the country, DEFRA’s risk level will start to increase.

Earlier this year, the Belgian Authorities made available 2.1m doses of BTV-8 vaccine in April, with a further 1.4m doses for cattle and 300,000 for sheep in June and then 1.4m for cattle in July, according to DEFRA.

In Germany the situation depends upon the individual State, however it said that in general several vaccines for BTV-8 are available and producers may vaccinate animals with any approved vaccine on the basis of an FLI risk assessment and provided the authorities are notified.

Spain has been vaccinating in the area south of Pyrenees bordering France, where there are an estimated 1m cattle and 2m small ruminants, the Ministerio de Agricultura there said this year.

DEFRA will continue to monitor the current situation in France and the decision to vaccinate, which farmers can avail of, should be with the farmer, in consultation with their private veterinary surgeon.

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The footage was posted to the Loagri- JDmoitrack HD YouTube account where it has amassed almost 20,000 views.

It also shows two Valtra tractors, a black S374 model and red T213 model towing Leboulch trailers.

The great video shows the harvest in full swing in France; harvesting the crop and putting it into the trailers.

Meanwhile, the weather this weekend is forecast to be very warm and humid on Saturday and it will be a mainly dry day.

According to Met Eireann, there will be spells of sunshine also, though south and southwest coasts may become dull.

Temperatures look set to rise to values between 19 and 25 degrees. However, Saturday night will see a band of rain crossing the country from the west, with southerly winds veering westerly by Sunday morning.

These westerly breezes are forecast to bring fresher but mainly dry and bright conditions for Sunday, while temperatures will fall back again to values between 16 and 20 degrees.

Current indications from Met Eireann suggest that the early days of next week will see a return to changeable weather.

Rain is forecast to develop during Monday then clearing to relatively cool and showery weather for Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be good dry and sunny spells on both days as well, it said.

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The poor weather conditions observed in late May in France continued in June with substantial rainfall, exceptionally low sunshine.

Overly wet conditions led to saturated soils. Consequently, yield forecasts have been revised downwards.

The country’s wheat is in the worst condition in at least five years, with just 40 percent receiving the top ratings, crops office FranceAgriMer said last week.

Output of soft wheat, used for bread and chicken feed, will total 28.2 million metric tons this year a level not seen since the 1980s, according to an Offre & Demande Agricole report.

Rainfall was greatly above average in the northern half of the country during the first half of June, and slightly below average in the southernmost regions. ChampagneArdenne, Centre, Ile de France, Picardie, and Bourgogne received twice the average rainfall for May and June.

In the northern half of the country, conditions for nearly all crops continued to deteriorate.

Winter cereals became partly lodged, and crops were exposed to increased disease pressure. The yields of soft wheat, winter and spring barley (the most impacted crops) have been revised downwards, and are now close to the five-year average and greatly below last year’s yields.

The prolonged humid conditions have also had an effect on the quality of grains, and a lower protein level of cereals is expected. Durum wheat is less impacted as conditions were better in the southernmost regions.

The French Government has announced a number of measures to assist farmers in the face of difficulties in the tillage sector.

The measures include increased access to credit to elevate cashflow problems, tax payment delays and VAT refunds.

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This year is proving to be a difficult one for the French sheep meat industry, with producer lamb prices falling to their lowest in four years.

Production in the first five months of 2016 has been 8% above the level seen in the same period in 2015, the highest level of production for this period since 2011, according to the AHDB report.

This came as a result of an increase in the slaughtering of both lambs and adult sheep, which were both consistently up during the first five months of 2016, with the exception of April.

This increase in production came despite a decline in the breeding flock recorded in the December census, but the availability of Lacaune lambs in the south of France has been high so far this year, according to the report.

Overall French import volumes were lower during this period but the average unit value dropped by 3%. This left the overall value of sheep meat imports, into France, in the first five months of the year down by 13%, at a value of €189.1m.

The AHDB report outlined that Irish sheep meat exports to France were down by 5%, dropping to 5,700t, in the first half of 2016, while the UK still remained the largest supplier of sheep meat to France with a market share of 39%.

This drop of sheep meat exports to France follows a total decline of around 12% in 2015. The UK and France were the core markets for Irish sheepmeat in 2015, accounting for 63% of total export volumes according to a Bord Bia report.

As overall sheep supplies have been falling in France so far this year, there has also been a decline in the volume of household sheep meat purchases.

According to data from Kantar Worldpanel, the global expert in shoppers’ behaviour, purchases in the year to June 12 were down by 4% compared to the same period in 2015. However, there was a slight rise of 1% in the average price paid during this period.

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The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said that its risk level remains the same at medium for this time of year.

However, if daily average temperatures increase in mainland France and the disease starts to circulate towards the north or northeast of the country, DEFRA’s risk level will start to increase.

A total of 286 outbreaks of the strain of the disease have been reported to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), with just one new outbreak since June 8 – a day old calf in southern France.

The calf died and tested positive for the disease, according to DEFRA, despite the mother being clinically well.

DEFRA has said that it is without doubt a case of transplacental transmission and not active transmission directly to the calf itself.

Precautionary measures

Meanwhile, the Belgian Authorities made available 2.1m doses of BTV-8 vaccine in April, with a further 1.4m doses for cattle and 300,000 for sheep in June and then 1.4m for cattle in July, according to DEFRA.

In Germany the situation depends upon the individual State, however it said that in general several vaccines for BTV-8 are available and producers may vaccinate animals with any approved vaccine on the basis of an FLI risk assessment and provided the authorities are notified.

Spain has been vaccinating in the area south of Pyrenees bordering France, where there are an estimated 1m cattle and 2m small ruminants, the Ministerio de Agricultura there said this year.

DEFRA confirmed that it will continue to monitor the current situation in France and that a vaccine will be available for the British market from mid-July onwards, but the decision to vaccinate should be with the farmer, in consultation with their private veterinary surgeon.

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The two-year trial period is expected to come into force on January 1, 2017 after the relevant sectors are consulted on the labelling rules this summer.

However, the decision by the Commission to allow the trial has been met with criticism from those within the industry.

FoodDrinkEurope, the body representing Europe’s food and drink manufacturing industry, has said that it “deeply regrets” the Commission’s decision.

A statement from the body said that while the initiative is framed as a “test” and applies only to France, it is a mandatory measure which will have an immediate market impact, with considerable negative consequences for producers and for consumers, namely burdensome changes in the supply chain, difficulties in the labelling process and higher prices.

Moreover, of crucial importance in today’s context for Europe, this protectionist measure also sets an irreversible precedent for the fragmentation of the EU Single Market for foods and drinks, it said.

Mella Frewen, Director General of FoodDrinkEurope, said that by accepting the pilot proposed by France, the Commission implicitly accepts that there is a quality difference between French produce and, for example, Belgian, German, Italian, and Spanish produce, even if sourced only a few kilometres across the border.

This blatantly ignores the market reality that food supply chains do not stop at country borders but are for the greatest part European, so that a steady quality and availability can be guaranteed for the best possible price for over 500 million consumers every day.

FoodDrinkEurope urgently calls on political leaders at national and European level to promote the high quality of European foods and drinks globally rather than creating obstacles and supply chain inefficiencies within the Single Market.

Meanwhile, the European Dairy Association (EDA), the voice of the European dairy processors, stands against the introduction of national rules on mandatory origin labelling for milk and dairy products and firmly supports the European legislation on voluntary origin labelling.

Alexander Anton, EDA Secretary General, said that the European Commission clearly failed to protect the single market principle, which is from a political point of view a worst case scenario for the Union.

We have seen the French proposal going viral across Europe – the Italian government has already notified a draft decree, and others will certainly follow the French example. This translates as the end of the single market principle for milk and dairy products.

Anton also said that the Commission is allowing France to test the end of the single market, knowing that once the supply chain is adapted to this regime, the single market is over.

However, a Eurobarometer survey from 2013 (the most up to date survey) found that;

• 84% of EU citizens consider it necessary to indicate the origin of milk,
• 88% consider such labelling necessary for meat (other than beef, swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat, which are already covered), and
• More than 90% consider such labelling important for processed foods.

In March, MEPs in Brussels reiterated calls for mandatory labelling and said it would help maintain consumer confidence in food products by making the food supply chain more transparent.

MEPs added that this labelling should also be made mandatory for meat other than that of bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and poultry meat, for milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products, for unprocessed foods, single-ingredient products and for ingredients that make up more than 50% of a food.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said that this has been caused by improving daily temperatures across mainland France and the UK.

Earlier this year, a DEFRA report in the UK showed that there is an 80% chance that UK farms will suffer a bluetongue outbreak before the end of the summer.

The disease will most likely be spread by midges that are blown over from disease-outbreak regions in France, the report found.

However, this predicted outbreak is highly dependent on the level of disease on the continent, the proximity of the disease to the UK and the weather conditions.

Bluetongue outbreaks in France

According to DEFRA, there have been a total of 285 disease outbreaks reported in France.

It also shows that a further 13 new cases have been identified in France since May 13, 2016, with all of the recent outbreaks occurring on cattle farms.

However, there has been no increase in the spread if the disease towards the north coast of France, but cases have been detected towards the northerly area of the restriction zone.

Outbreaks in France

Source: DEFRA

Irish cattle exports to Turkey hinge on Bluetongue-free status

Live cattle exports to Turkey depend on Ireland maintaining its Bluetongue-free status, according to Bord Bia.

Turkey’s live cattle market opened to Irish live cattle exports in March, with the middle eastern state expected to import more than 500,000 live cattle this year.

The opening of the Turkish export market was welcomed by farming organisations, but an outbreak of Bluetongue in Ireland could scupper live exports of Irish cattle to Turkey.

Earlier this year, Bord Bia said that Ireland’s Bluetongue-free status is one of the main reasons why Turkish buyers are interested in Irish cattle.

But, a bluetongue outbreak in Ireland could see Turkish buyers lose interest in the Irish market.

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Speaking to France Info Radio, she said that the French President Francois Hollande said clearly during the last environmental conference that glyphosate would not be authorised in France.

“Regardless of debates around whether it causes cancer or not, the studies we have show it’s an endocrine disruptor,” she said.

The French Health Minister’s comments come as MEPs from EU Member States vote this week on the continued use of glyphosate in weed killers.

Earlier this week, a UN committee of FAO and WHO experts found that the chemical is unlikely to pose carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet.

A joint meeting of representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) was held at WHO Headquarters, Geneva (Switzerland), from May 9 to 13, 2016.

The report comes following an European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report in November which also found that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans.

This was in contrast to an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in March last year, which found that glyphosate probably has the potential to cause cancer in humans.

Earlier this year, a poll by the international market research firm YouGov found that two-thirds of Europeans want the chemical banned.

According to the survey of more than 7,000 people across the EU’s five biggest states, the banning of glyphosate was supported by 75% of Italians, 70% of Germans, 60% of French and 56% of Britons.

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There has been a total of 272 outbreaks of the disease in the country so far, after the first outbreak was declared in September last year.

Earlier this year, a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report in the UK said that there is an 80% chance that UK farms will suffer a bluetongue outbreak before the end of the summer.

The disease will most likely be spread by midges that are blown over from disease-outbreak regions in France, the report found.

However, this predicted outbreak is highly dependent on the level of disease on the continent, the proximity of the disease to the UK and the weather conditions.

Last week DEFRA said that vector activity would be expected to increase now the temperatures are rising.

All the recent outbreaks except one are in cattle holdings, detected by surveillance activities; however one new report, in Nievre region (Central France) was from an abortion investigation in cattle (1 out of 374 animals was affected), it said.

Despite these increased outbreaks, DEFRA confirmed that its risk level remains the same and that it will continue to monitor the current situation in France and report any further updates from the French Authorities, particularly about the winter surveillance which is still to be analysed.

In addition, as the season progresses it will start to use meteorological information to inform our risk assessment, it said.

Irish cattle exports to Turkey hinge on Bluetongue-free status – Bord Bia

Live cattle exports to Turkey depend on Ireland maintaining its Bluetongue-free status, according to Bord Bia’s Joe Burke.

Turkey’s live cattle market opened to Irish live cattle exports in March, with the middle eastern state expected to import more than 500,000 live cattle this year.

The opening of the Turkish export market was welcomed by farming organisations, but an outbreak of Bluetongue in Ireland could scupper live exports of Irish cattle to Turkey.

Earlier this year, the Bord Bia Beef and Livestock Sector Manager said that Ireland’s Bluetongue-free status is one of the main reasons why Turkish buyers are interested in Irish cattle.

“Turkish buyers are looking for 300kg beef-bred bulls under 12 months of age and they are willing to pay for these animals,” he said.

But, he said that a bluetongue outbreak in Ireland could see Turkish buyers lose interest in the Irish market.

Burke also said that if bluetongue spreads to the UK, there is a possibility that the disease would spread to Ireland.

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EU Regulations provide that Member States, third countries or regions thereof are to be classified according to their BSE status into one of three categories: negligible BSE risk, controlled BSE risk and undetermined BSE risk.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) plays a leading role in the categorisation of countries or regions according to their BSE risk.

On 24 March 2016, France notified the Commission, the other Member States and the OIE of the detection of a case of classical BSE, in a bovine animal in France that was born in April 2011.

According to EU regulations, one of the conditions for granting and maintaining the ‘negligible BSE risk status’ of a country is that, if there has been a classical BSE indigenous case in the country, every classical BSE indigenous cases was born more than 11 years ago.

Therefore, following the notification by France confirming a case of classical BSE in a 5-year-old bovine animal, the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases suspended the negligible BSE risk status of France, as recognised by Resolution No 21, and reinstated France’s previous status as a country with a controlled BSE risk, with effect from 25 March 2016.

In June of last year the Department of Agriculture here in Ireland announced the identification of a suspected BSE case in county Louth.

The case was identified through the Department’s on-going surveillance system on fallen animals (that is animals which die on farm). The animal was not presented for slaughter and did not enter the food chain.

The animal involved is a five year old cow on a dairy farm in county Louth. Ireland’s BSE risk status is now also ‘controlled risk’.

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Four more outbreaks have been confirmed in France, with a further five cases confirmed and 521 cattle susceptible to the disease.

In response, the NFU is urging farmers to talk to their vets as there is currently no vaccine available for UK farmers.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed there is an 80% risk of it reaching the UK by September this year.

The NFU has confirmed that it is working with DEFRA and industry to secure vaccine stocks.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said that there is quite strong evidence that Bluetongue could move to southern parts of the UK by late summer, not dissimilar to the way it moved into East Anglia back in 2007.

“As livestock farmers we should be talking to our vets now about the disease and considering our business options including vaccination which would be a voluntary, protective measure.

“It’s also imperative that we all remain vigilant and look out for any signs of Bluetongue and report any suspicions to our vets immediately.

“The health and welfare of the herd or flock should remain a top priority,” he said.

Bluetongue has been a constant in France since last summer and the disease, caused by midges, continues to affect the country.

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According to the Ministry, there are 263 abattoirs (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses) in France with a total annual production of 305m tonnes in France.

The French Minister for Agriculture, Stephane Le Foll has asked the prefect (the State’s representative in a department or region) to suspend activity in the abattoirs.

The video of the abattoir in Pays de Soule, Mauleon shows animals being slaughtered inappropriately with incidents of stun gun failures and animals being suspended and being decapitated before they are dead yet found.

Despite the strengthening of inspections in the field of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, it is the third video revealing such acts of cruelty to animals, according to the ministry.

In November 2015, Le Foll instructed the prefects to ensure the prevention of all acts of abuse during the slaughter and recalled the responsibility of operators in the field of food safety and animal welfare.

In these circumstances, the Minister asked the prefects to achieve, within a month, specific inspections on animal protection in all beef slaughterhouses nationwide.

Stephane Le Foll demanded, in the case of wrongs proved during these inspections that, without delay, approval [to slaughter animals] was to be withdrawn for each abattoir in the wrong and a report established.

Please Be Advised That The Footage In The Below Video Contains Disturbing Images.

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The cow died prematurely on a farm in the Ardennes region.

The EU’s reference laboratory confirmed that the animal died from BSE. France has reported the isolated case to the European Commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

This is the third single case of BSE detected in Europe since 2015, according to the ministry.

The ministry has said that the detection of this case of BSE does not pose any risks for the consumer.

The Director Generals of Food are to meet Friday, March 25 where members of the National Advisory Board of animal and plant health policy (CNOPSAV) will introduce management measures to be implemented.

The ministry has said that the detection of this isolated case demonstrates the effectiveness of France’s monitoring system that is in place throughout the food chain.

French Agriculture Minister, Stéphane Le Foll, will ask the European Commission to question the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in connection with the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) to better understand the origin and the cause of those isolated cases in cattle.

France is currently also suffering from both bluetongue and avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks.

Bluetongue outbreaks are continuing in France, six months on from when the first outbreak was reported. Earlier this month, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) reported eight further outbreaks of the disease in the country.

Meanwhile, over 60 cases of bird flu have been confirmed in France. The first case was confirmed in late November by the ministry.

Thousands of ducks, geese and hens were all affected by the bird flu.

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The suspected case was detected in a Saler cow in the Ardennes region.

According to the ministry, the suspicion was established on March 17 by the National Reference Laboratory of the National Agency for Health Safety (ANSES).

Samples were taken from the animal and were sent to the reference laboratory of the European Union in order to have a confirmation of the result of the analysis.

It is expected that the result of the sample should be available within eight to 10 days.

Furthermore, an epidemiological investigation has also been launched to gather information to better understand the origin of the disease if it was confirmed.

The herd which the cow belonged to is now under surveillance, the ministry said.

France is currently also suffering from both bluetongue and avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks.

Bluetongue outbreaks are continuing in France, six months on from when the first outbreak was reported. Earlier this month, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) reported eight further outbreaks of the disease in the country.

Of the 2,268 cattle susceptible in the latest bout of outbreaks, 19 cases were identified, according to the OIE.

These eight outbreaks were found in central France and as with previous outbreaks certain control measures have been applied.

Movement controls in the country, screening and vaccination in response to bluetongue.

Meanwhile, over 60 cases of bird flu have been confirmed in France. The first case was confirmed in late November by the ministry.

Thousands of ducks, geese and hens were all affected by the bird flu.

Severe forms result in a significant impairment of general condition of the birds, especially in chickens and turkeys, ducks and geese express few symptoms, according to the ministry.

Like bluetongue, control measures were put in place to limit the spread of the disease.

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Last week, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) reported eight further outbreaks of the disease in the country.

Of the 2,268 cattle susceptible in the latest bout of outbreaks, 19 cases were identified, according to the OIE.

These eight outbreaks were found in central France and as with previous outbreaks certain control measures have been applied.

Movement controls in the country, screening and vaccination in response to bluetongue.

While there have been no warnings from the Irish Department of Agriculture, the UK equivalent, DEFRA has said that there is an 80% chance that UK farms will suffer a bluetongue outbreak before the end of the summer.

The report found that the disease will disease will most likely be spread by midges that are blown over from disease-outbreak regions in France.

However, it also said that this predicted outbreak is highly dependent on the level of disease on the continent, the proximity of the disease to the UK and the weather conditions.

Furthermore, the spread of bluetongue is also highly dependent on the French authorities ability to control this disease over the winter and early spring.

Risk of a bluetongue outbreak:

• Cool spring – 12-15%.
• Late summer – 33-60%.
• End of summer – 60-80%.

While the French government has put movement controls in place, in an unusually hot year may this not slow down the spread of bluetongue, as there would be greater midge activity.

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French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls made the announcement yesterday in response to widespread protests by French farmers over huge falls in farmgate prices over the past year.

He said the Government will help French breeders and livestock sectors through what he called an ‘extraordinary crisis’ in terms of ‘intensity and duration’.

Faced with this crisis resulting from extremely low prices, especially for milk and pork but also beef and grains, the Prime Minister Valls says his Government has moved ‘relentlessly’.

The French Government has also looked for increased EU supports to improve market prices for dairy and pigmeat products in particular.

It says structural responses are needed at EU level, given the European dimension of the crisis.

The French proposals include an increase in the floor price at which producers can sell into public storage, an export credit facility, and crucially aid for farmers who cut output when prices fall.

French farmer protest have included blocking roads and dumping manure, straw and earth in front of public buildings and supermarkets.

European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan will meet with the French Prime Minister and his Minister for Agriculture next week with discussions likely to center around the French proposals.

Commissioner has said that EU Member states have until February 26, to come up with solutions to the current market difficulties but warned that proposals must fit within the legal framework of the CAP and within the resources of the Commission.

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The French Government has submitted proposals ahead of a meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers later this month.

Recent weeks have seen extensive protests by farmers across France over falling incomes due to ongoing weakness in agricultural markets particularly dairy and pigmeat.

Image: Marc Jalabert (Twitter)

According to reports from Reuters this morning, in the dairy sector, the French proposals include an increase in the floor price at which producers can sell into public storage, an export credit facility, and crucially aid for farmers who cut output when prices fall.

On March 31, of last year, EU milk quotas were abolished. Data from the EU Milk Market Observatory shows that EU milk deliveries between January and November were up 2.2%.

Continued strong milk production comes as milk prices remain weak across the EU. Currently, if dairy product values were expressed in a milk price they would equate to between 20c-21c/L.

Phil Hogan.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan has been clear all the way through the current dairy market downturn that he is against raising intervention prices.

He doesn’t believe that such a measure is the right response to what is expected to be a relatively short-term market imbalance, recalling that the co-legislators reconfirmed the intervention price level as recently as 2013.

Hogan said it would send a wrong signal to the marketplace, as operators would not be encouraged to reduce milk production.

According to the Commission even a relatively small increase would bring intervention prices close to the average ‘operating costs’ for some EU dairy farmers, hence creating an additional outlet for their production and moving away from the market orientation that has underpinned the CAP reform process since the 1990s.

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The move, which was first passed by the French Parliament in May 2015 has now been signed into law. The move means that supermarkets larger than 400 square meters (4,300 square feet) can no longer throw away unsold food.

France is the first nation in the world to take such a move, which began as a petition with campaigners now hoping the move will be taken up at EU level.

Under the new law, which came into force last Wednesday, France is the first nation in the world to bring in such a ban.

Now, supermarkets in France will have to sign donation contracts with charities, with penalties of up to €75,000 or imprisonment in place for those who breach the legislation. The new law will also stop supermarkets from destroying food.

In France, food banks and charities will be responsible for collecting and storing the food and there are rules governing how the food can be distributed – it cannot be handed out on the street, but must be distributed through designated food centres.

The food must also be given out at a proper center, and not simply handed out on the street.

France wastes an estimated 7.1m tonnes of food annually, however only a small minority of this is by shops. Estimates by Stop Food Waste put Irish food waste at 1m tonnes a year, costing households €700m a year.

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It comes after farmers hosted several other protests in 2015.

A roadblock of tractors was set up on the RN12 motorway between Rennes and Brest in the northwest of the country last week.

The farmers also lit tyres in protest and are demanding more financial help.

French farmer union the FDSEA organised the protest which saw around 100 farmers out in protest.

In 2015, the French minister for agriculture, Stephane Le Foll said that 23,000 French farmers face bankruptcy and his government then introduced a €600m aid package.

Earlier this year protesting farmers sent live pigs running around supermarkets; dumped slurry outside supermarket doors and set pyres of tyres on fire.

According to reports from The Local protests are also happening in parts of France again today (January 25).

Photos of the protest soon began to surface on Twitter:

Jean-Sebastien Evrard, a photographer with AFP Press, tweeted these photos of the protest, after the farmers had set the bales on fire.

https://twitter.com/JSEvrard/status/691518917987176449

[yes-app]

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The FNSEA and FDSEA (National and Departmental farmers’ unions in France), were both tweeting about the protest.

The FNSEA tweet this photo with the caption “Mmes & Mrs les élus, quand allez-vous vous décider à sauver la Ferme France & ses paysans qui nourrissent le monde?”.

Translated it reads “Those elected, when will you decide to save the French farm and its farmers who feed the world?”.

Mmes & Mrs les élus, quand allez-vous vous décider à sauver la Ferme France & ses paysans qui nourrissent le monde ? pic.twitter.com/MbyD2qjx6D

— La FNSEA (@FNSEA) January 21, 2016

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This video from Russia Today also made an appearance on Twitter. It shows police officers with shields moving around the protest site.

French farmers block highway in falling food prices protest (VIDEO) https://t.co/iTw4Qh81Ae pic.twitter.com/yFpcUy7Qhz

— RT (@RT_com) January 22, 2016

The Press Association’s photo account on Twitter also published these great images of the protest.

French Farmers protest block the RN12 road near Guingamp, western France https://t.co/TsKTqHkBjr #News pic.twitter.com/coZfCkohSg

— Alamy Editorial (@Alamy_Editorial) January 22, 2016

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The farmers have taken to western France today (January 25) and have blocked roads there and set more tyres on fire.

This AFP photo was tweeted off the BHIVE Paris account earlier today.

https://twitter.com/Parisblogger12/status/691608403538546693

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Following initial growth in 2015 (up 2.5% compared to 2014), French beef production is expected to continue to increase by just over 1% in 2016 to 1.52m tonnes, according to the French Livestock Institute.

The economic downturn in the dairy sector led to increased culling in 2015, Byrne has stated, with the dairy herd declining by just over 1% for the year.

The French Livestock Institute has said that the pace of cow culling should be maintained in 2016 with a minimum of 35,000 additional cows slaughtered.

Byrne notes that the suckler cow herd expanded in 2015 recording a 1.5% increase on 2014 in the December livestock survey reflecting the new suckler beef premium, good autumn feed conditions and a more difficult economic climate.

Overall, it is expected that female slaughterings are estimated to increase by 3% this year to reach 824,000t with the majority of additional volumes expected in the second half of the year.

The increase in suckler cow carcass weights across all breeds is also expected to continue, she said.

Overall in France, Bord Bia expects young bull production to decline but the decrease will be partially offset by an increase in average carcass weights.

Exports of finished animals are expected to be stable in spite of strong competition from Spain, Eastern Europe and Brazil.

Byrne said that despite the outbreak of Bluetongue from September, French weanling exports grew strongly in 2015 thanks to increased disposals and the re-opening of the Turkish market, recording 6% growth compared to 2014.

According to the Institute, “store cattle exports are estimated to increase by 2% and Turkish customers are ready to source French weanlings as soon as the sanitary barriers are lifted”.

French beef consumption is forecast to decline by 1% in 2016 due to declining retail sales, Byrne stated.

The higher availability of cow beef is then expected to lead to a decline in meat imports.

Less young bull beef will be used on the home market increasing the availability for export particularly to the Germany market, she said.

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French business daily Les Echos has reported that the investigation is into possible breaches of competition law during the crisis talks.

According to Les Echos the investigation is on the “alleged anti-competitive behaviour” at the pork, beef and dairy talks.

The Commission has stated that according to the information available, the behaviour of professional organisations such as the FNSEA, JA or Coop de France, as well as all others in the industry could constitute infringements of Article 101 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

This, it stated, is due to the conclusion of one or more agreements on prices and restrictions on imports.

All roundtable participants, which Les Echos said included unions to retail chains through the companies (co-op or private), are summoned to respond to the Commission by mid-February.

They must provide the agendas of meetings, names of participants in the discussions, the documents presented at the meetings, equity notes, records and communications that they have made, it reports.

If the investigation finds against the talks that were held, the website has stated that it can lead to very heavy fines.

A comment from the FNSEA, France’s largest farming group, to Les Echos, said it was “ready to cooperate”.

Its president, Xavier Beulin, denies having ever “announced a price which companies or distribution would have incurred”.

“My role is to seek and obtain resources to improve farmers’ incomes.”

He also told Les Echos that “the European market management tools in a crisis have virtually disappeared”.

The investigation by the European Commission could last, as often in this kind of procedure, almost two years, according to the business daily.

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A total of 254 cattle were susceptible to the outbreaks, its latest figures show.

Control measures, including movement controls inside the country, screening and zoning were applied to the areas affected.

There has also been cases of the disease identified in Slovenia, Austria and Turkey.

Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to bluetongue and mainland France has been free from the disease since 2012.

‘Farmers need to remain vigilant against threat of bluetongue’

Farmers need to remain vigilant against the threat of bluetongue disease, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) at the Department of Agriculture in the North has said.

Robert Huey has urged farmers not to import cattle from affected countries.

“Unfortunately in recent weeks there have been isolated incidents of farmers importing cattle from European countries affected by bluetongue.

There are inherent risks associated with this and I would urge farmers not to import cattle from affected countries.

“The potential cost to the agri-food industry of a bluetongue outbreak has previously been estimated at as much as £25m per year.

“Responsible sourcing of livestock is critical to the maintenance of our high animal health status and ability to trade,” he said.

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The first case was confirmed in late November by the ministry.

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety has confirmed that the H5N1 strain is not dangerous to humans.

Thousands of ducks, geese and hens were all affected by the bird flu.

Severe forms result in a significant impairment of general condition of the birds, especially in chickens and turkeys, ducks and geese express few symptoms, according to the ministry.

Respiratory symptoms, digestive or nervous, may be involved and in case of lost productivity or abnormal mortality, even low, farmers should contact their veterinarian, it stated.

Control measures are defined at European level and the ministry has said that they provide the following:

• In case of suspicion, the surveillance of the operation, development of samples for analysis, conducting an epidemiological investigation.
• If confirmed, slaughter and destruction on site of all poultry and egg operations, cleaning and disinfection of holdings followed by a crawl space of 21 days.
• The establishment of zones protection (3km radius) and surveillance (10km radius) around the farm, the implementation of these measures in suspected holdings identified during the epidemiological investigation.

The ministry has said that the great variety of the influenza virus limits the scope for preventive vaccination.

In France, bird flu vaccination is currently prohibited and the ministry has said that it can only be authorized in exceptional cases and for one-time vaccination programs, such as zoos, and after informing the Commission.

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Hens, ducks, turkeys and geese were destroyed, according to the organisation.

The flock consisted of 9,500 laying hens, 2,000 ducks, 100 turkeys and 1,500 free-range geese, according to the OIE.

It stated that all poultry has been destroyed and safely disposed of and the holding is under restriction since December 4, 2015.

No poultry, poultry meat and eggs have been moved to other regions in Germany, EU Member States or third countries, it said.

According to the OIE, the following measures were applied; screening, disinfection/disinfestation, stamping out, zoning, vaccination prohibited and there was no treatment of the affected animals.

This culling of birds in Germany follows on from a case of ‘highly pathogenic’ bird flu in France.

The case in France was confirmed in late November after an abnormal death, the French ministry of agriculture said.

Stéphane le Foll, the French minister of agriculture, food and forestry, immediately instructed services to enable the national health emergency response plan to the case of bird flu in accordance with European and international rules.

A protection zone of 3km and a surveillance zone of 10km were put in place and monitoring will be strengthened not only in farming but also in wildlife, the ministry stated.

Measures of protection and management against bird flu were applied and the ministry stated that the speed of the implementation of management measures is a prerequisite to limit the spread and consequences of disease, especially for export.

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It says this market is important as France is the largest producer of cow beef in Europe and it looks set to have higher on-going production for the remainder of the year.

It says that the French market has been characterised by an increase in domestic supplies but disappointing demand, both on its domestic market and its main export markets.

France is the key driver of the EU cow beef market as it is the largest producer, importer and consumer of cow beef while domestically it accounts for over 50% of its total beef output, says the AHDB.

According to the AHDB, the numbers of cows slaughtered in France during the first nine months of 2015 increased by 60,000 which resulted in a subsequent 5% increase in cow beef production.

It says that the increased cow cull mainly reflects increasing culling of dairy cows due to the difficult milk market recently.

As a result, beef and veal imports in the first 9 months of the year were back by 6% on the year, with lower shipments from most of its major suppliers – the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Italy.

However, despite the reduction in total imports, beef coming from Poland continues to increase with shipments up by over 20% in 2015.

Irish beef cow price has dropped

There has been little change in the quotes being offered for prime beef with the majority of procurement managers still quoting 390c/kg for base steers this week.

Furthermore, the trade for heifers has remained relatively stable with most processors securing heifers at 400c/kg base price.

However, the prices paid for cull cows has taken a further fall in some plants. There is a large amount of variation in the prices available with plants offering 300-330c/kg for R grade cull cows.

Prices quoted for O grade culls cows were mostly between a range of 290-320c/kg while the poorer quality P types are currently being quoted at 280-300/kg.

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It has stated that samples have been taken for analysis by the Departmental Directorate of Protecting Populations.

The confirmation of the bird flu case was established Tuesday evening (November 24) by the National Agency Risk Assessment (ANSES) and a strain of the virus was identified.

This is a highly pathogenic H5N1 in poultry, the ministry has announced.

The sequencing of the strain is underway but it seems to be of a strain already detected in Europe, it states.

Stéphane le Foll, the French minister of agriculture, food and forestry, immediately instructed services to enable the national health emergency response plan to the case of bird flu in accordance with European and international rules.

A protection zone of 3km and a surveillance zone of 10km have been put in place and monitoring will be strengthened not only in farming but also in wildlife, the ministry stated.

Measures of protection and management against bird flu are to be applied and the ministry has stated that the speed of the implementation of management measures is a prerequisite to limit the spread and consequences of disease, especially for export.

Furthermore, it should be recalled that avian influenza is not transmissible to humans through the consumption of meat, eggs, foie gras and more generally any food product, the ministry stated.

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Last week there was five new outbreaks of the disease in French cattle herds, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has said.

In the five herds, there were six cases of the disease and a total of 808 animals are susceptible to bluetongue.

Control measures have been put in place, such as movement control in the country, vaccination and zoning.

In Slovenia, there has been one outbreak of bluetongue in one herd, with two cases of the disease identified. A total of 42 cattle are susceptible.

According to the OIE, samples were taken in the frame of the national bluetongue monitoring programme and no clinical signs were observed in animals.

In Austria, there have been three outbreaks with four cases identified. Some 205 cattle are susceptible to the disease.

In September, the French Agricultural Ministry increased the number of vaccines available from 1.3m to 2.2m.

The ministry said that beyond the protection of infected flocks, priority would be given vaccination animals intended for trade and exports as well as breeding animals intended for breeding programmes breeds (cattle, sheep, goats).

In accordance with European regulations, management measures are implemented: restriction of movement of animals, regrouping ban, active surveillance and so on, the French government said at the time.

Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to bluetongue and mainland France has been free from the disease since 2012.

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Comté, a pièce de résistance in the region, is estimated to be worth in excess of €40,000.

The speciality can sell for up to €40/kg.

The owner of the dairy alerted the police on Monday and it has been reported that the robbers cut through barbed wire before forcing a back door of the building with a crowbar.

Comté is a protected cheese in the region and Montbéliarde et Simmental cows are the only breed that produce the milk to make the speciality.

It is believed that the stolen cheese will be sold on the black market.

A 2011 study by the Centre for Retail Research found that cheese is the most stolen food item in the world.

It surveyed 1,187 retailers representing more than 250,000 retail outlets across 43 countries and it found that 4% of cheese went missing from shop shelves.

Other food that is commonly stolen includes fresh meat, chocolate and infant formula, the study found.

Glanbia announces plans to expand its US cheese plant

Glanbia, together with its joint venture partners in Southwest Cheese, has announced that it is in advanced discussions for a $140m expansion of their cheese and whey production plant in Clovis, New Mexico.

The expansion, which is expected to be completed in two years, will increase milk processing capacity by almost 30% and create an additional 50 jobs.

Glanbia says the plant will supply some of the world’s leading food companies and meet cheese and whey demand both domestically and internationally.

This expansion will increase Southwest Cheese employee numbers to more than 400 in Clovis.

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However, the opposition to the French government has said that this amount is insufficient.

Thierry Benoit, of the Union of Democrats and Independents group, said that much remains to be done in Europe.

“The measures announced at the end of the last extraordinary Council of Agriculture Ministers are clearly disappointing.

“Farmers are right when they say they do not want to ‘lessen Europe‘ but to ‘better Europe’,” he said.

He said that far from being an outdated activity, agriculture is a promising bet.

France deserves the best policy, one that will allow the country to reconnect with the competitiveness, growth and employment and to respond to the enormous challenge of feeding nine billion people by 2050, he said.

Antoine Herth, from the Republicans, said that farmers want a blank year for borrowing costs and social contributions.

They want to know whether the €62m that Europe will give them much to cover these debts, allowing them to keep their heads above water..

Figures have already been mentioned in France that more than 1m agricultural jobs have been lost over the last 20 years and almost a daily farmer suicide, according to Benoit.

“In 40 years, the share of agriculture in our GDP has continued to decline, the number of farms has been divided by four and the share of agricultural workers has been declining for today to 3% of the workforce.

“Farmers are also the social category most affected by suicide. The agricultural areas continue to decline in favor of urbanization and land abandonment,” Michèle Bonneton, Ecologist group, said.

Food patriotism 

Jacques Krabal of the radical, republican, democrat and progressive group said that traceability requirement is a must.

“The consumer has the right to know the origin of the meat used in the composition of the dishes and to be informed of the presence of GMOs.

“Traceability, labeling: these battles that we must carry out relentlessly. Growing the food patriotism. This is not a jingoistic reflex relative to other products, but a way to maintain an economic and social heritage,” he said.

Herth said that farmers in France have lost patience. They need to be listened to and to be helped, they want fair prices for their work is well worth a fair wage, he said.

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Of the 88 cases, some 79 cases are cattle and nine are sheep.

The disease, which is transferred by insects such as midges, is not transmissible to humans and does not affect the quality of food.

Some 28 farms have been infected by bluetongue, the OIE has confirmed.

In response to the increased number of cases of the disease, the French agricultural ministry has increased the number of vaccines available from 1.3m to 2.2m.

The ministry said that beyond the protection of infected flocks, priority would be given vaccination animals intended for trade and exports as well as breeding animals intended for breeding programmes breeds (cattle, sheep, goats).

A protection zone and surveillance of 150km radius around the affected farm has been set.

In this area and in accordance with European regulations, management measures are implemented: restriction of movement of animals, regrouping ban, active surveillance and so on, the French government said.

Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to bluetongue and mainland France has been free from the disease since 2012.

The French agricultural minister Stephane Le Foll has contacted the European Commissioners for health and agriculture to inform them of the health situation and management measures implemented by France.

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The disease, which is transferred by insects such as midges, is not transmissible to humans and does not affect the quality of food.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), of the 147 cattle on the farm 27 tested positive for the disease.

Of the 208 sheep, six tested positive for bluetongue and one sheep has been destroyed. Only one sheep out of the 208 sheep and 147 cattle was showing clinical signs, it said.

The French minister for agriculture Stephane Le Foll, has put in place measures to prevent any risk of spread of the disease.

The livestock on the farm with the outbreak was placed under enhanced surveillance and the movements of animals were blocked in operation.

In addition, a protection zone and surveillance of 150km radius around the affected farm has been set.

In this area and in accordance with European regulations, management measures are implemented: restriction of movement of animals, regrouping ban, active surveillance and so on, the French government said.

Starting next week, 1.3m doses of vaccine will be available, Le Foll has announced.

Le Foll will contact the European Commissioners for health and agriculture from the beginning of next week to inform them of the health situation and management measures implemented by France.

Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to bluetongue and mainland France has been free from the disease since 2012.

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The organisation for the English beef and sheep industry (AHDB) said that in contrast imports from the Netherlands, which is France’s number one supplier, were up 3% which was largely on the back of increased shipments of bone-in-forequarters.

Shipments from Poland continued to increase to the French market with shipments up almost a quarter on the year, it said.

This, according to AHDB, gave Poland 8% of the market share compared to as recently as 2011 when it was only 2%.

While the UK is a small supplier, with a market share of 4%, AHDB said that trade was up over 26% in the first six months of 2015, despite the strength of Sterling.

It said that growth was mainly in frozen product, although the chilled boneless trade was also higher in the first half of 2015, it said.

In France itself, total beef and veal production in the first half of 2015 was up by over 1% on the year earlier with France being the key driver of the EU cow beef market, AHDB said.

Cow beef accounts for just over 50% of beef output in France and according to AHDB in the first half of this year cow beef production was up over 4% year-on-year.

It said that this is mainly a reflection of increased culling of dairy cows and the end of capitalisation of the dairy herd, given the difficult milk market of recent months.

On March 1, it said that the dairy herd was marginally below that of a year earlier, after increasing slowly in 2013 and much of 2014.

French exports have increased by just less than 1% compared with the first six months 2014, however in order to maintain volumes prices have been subdued, it said.

The French beef market, AHDB says in both in terms of production and consumption, is the largest in the EU, so developments there inevitably have consequences for the EU beef market, especially in the case of cow beef as a whole, as well as the UK.

The outlook in France for cow beef is on-going higher production in the remainder of this year which could add to the already difficult trading conditions given the strength of Sterling against the euro, it said.

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In its latest crop update it said that the harvest is almost completed in al regions in France and is running ahead of other years.

It also says that the harvest has took place in generally good conditions.

FranceAgriMer forecast is up some 3% on 2014 and it says that the finding is consistent in all French regions thanks to good conditions for crop development and enhancement of nitrogen inputs generally favourable.

It says concerns over drought has ultimately not impacted crops, as it rain intervened in the critical flowering period.

English wheat area down 6%

The English wheat area in 2015 is provisionally estimated 6% lower year on year, according to figures released by the UK Department of Agriculture this morning.

The drop is bigger that previous estimates by the AHDB. Furthermore, Defra estimates the provisional 2015 English oilseed rape (OSR) area down 3% on the year, compared with an 8% drop suggested by the AHDB Planting Survey.

Defra’s provisional figures also show a fall in the wheat area across all English regions, ranging between 4-8% and with the biggest percentage drop expected in the West Midlands. At 1.69mha, the estimated wheat area is slightly lower than the previous five year average (1.75mha).

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The French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll has declared an agricultural crisis and has said that figures collected by his department show that some 23,000 French farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Earlier this week over 1,000 French farmers set up road blocks on six roads between Germany and France and another 100 blocked a road on the Spanish border preventing trucks bringing food into the country.

French farmers, hauliers and people who are affected by the protests have been tweeting their views of the protest.

Jon Kelly is one such person and at the time he tweeted this picture he was three and a half hours on a motorway stuck behind French farmers and he said he would miss the crossing back to the UK.

You gotta to love French farmers. #3.5hoursI’llnevergetback. #CalaisNextpic.twitter.com/I2k5jyELxZ

— JonK411 (@JonKelly411) July 28, 2015

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A video by Russia Today is being shared a lot on Twitter. It shows pyres of tyres on fire, with more tyres being dumped for burning.

The video shows pyres being burnt outside Lactel, the French-owned company by Lactalis.

Franck Sander, president of the local branch of the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions (FDSEA) said that they made a truck carrying Babybel [cheese] turn back.

“Consumers think this is French, but the cheese comes from Slovakia,” he said.

The news website Telesur has tweeted an image which was sure to be commonplace at border roads in France over the past number of days.

French farmers block German border against cheap imports http://t.co/Jgp5yC9OnDpic.twitter.com/NpKDhZqeHI

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 28, 2015

Some of the farmers have ransacked trucks, destroying the produce onboard destined for French supermarkets.

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Farmers have extended their blockade to Luxembourg, with one Twitter user saying that there is 13km of stationary traffic and at least two hours delays due to framers blocking the A31 from France to Luxembourg.

De la viande déversée devant le magasin Metro #Poitiers pic.twitter.com/nGoc5Ts6nh

— France Bleu Poitou (@Bleu_Poitou) July 23, 2015

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The road runs from Luxembourg between Thionville and Metz in France.

13 km stationary traffic and at least two hours delay due to framers blocking A31 #France#Luxembourg#Metz

— VagabondGal (@BravoRomeoHotel) July 28, 2015

French A31 motorway between Metz & Thionville now totally blocked by farmers http://t.co/rKT6ECfnOc – @DriveEuropepic.twitter.com/OWvsIl0s2f

— Luxemburger Wort EN (@Wort_EN) July 28, 2015

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French farmers are warning that there will be further protests. Sander has also said that from now until the end of August, things will be happening.

A #Poitiers Nord du lait venant d espagne finit au caniveau . Du cailé de lait pour faire des protéines. pic.twitter.com/zTL8nn5eyw

— France Bleu Poitou (@Bleu_Poitou) July 22, 2015

One French farmer has put a sign up on his tractor which translated says “Hollande, you are going to kill us”. While others have signs which say “farmers in anger”.

Agriculteur réaliste et en colère pic.twitter.com/HubSX83RMC

— ❦ Lady Ariel ❦ (@justefrancaise) July 23, 2015

Twitter user Brice Bachon said that pig farmers dropped their pigs off in a supermarket in Agen.

He said that they repeated this in three supermarkets in the area.

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Farmers have also let pigs loose in supermarkets in protest against low pork prices they are receiving.

Ils vt répéter l’opé dans 3 supermarchés de la région, lâché de cochons/remplissage d’une 50ène de caddies @itele#LTpic.twitter.com/1prr9rD0VE

— Brice Bach’ (@BriceBachon) July 22, 2015

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This is the latest act in protest against against the low prices they are receiving for their produce.

French farmers set up roadblocks on six roads between Germany and France on Sunday night and reports say that up to 100 farmers blocked a road on the Spanish border from importing food.

Franck Sander, president of the local branch of the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions (FDSEA) said that they are letting the cars and everything that comes from France pass.

He told the media that they have already held back between 200 and 300 trucks.

“For example, we made a truck carrying Babybel [cheese] turn back. Consumers think this is French, but the cheese comes from Slovakia,” Sander said.

Last week, the French government launched an emergency package of approximately €600m in tax relief and loan guarentees to help farmers, however farmers claim that it doesn’t meet the needs of their agricultural sector.

Sander said that the measures announced by the government don’t deal with the distortion of competition [from farmers abroad].

Gridlock

Last week farmers caused total gridlock in northwestern France by blocking the roads with their tractors and machinery.

French farmers also put live pigs running around supermarkets; dumped slurry outside supermarket doors and set pyres of tyres on fire.

The French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll, has said that there is an agricultural crisis and 23,000 French farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Le Foll said that the crisis is primarily for milk, a global crisis related to the butter market, the milk powder at the end of quotas and contraction of larger markets, especially China.

The Russian embargo and competition from other EU countries are other reasons for the low producer prices.

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The protest happened on the same day that Arla Foods cut their UK milk price for the third consecutive month in a row by 1c/kg.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said it was not affiliated with the protest and that between 30-40 tractors took part in the protest.

NFU Dairy Board Chairman Rob Harrison said that dairy farmers across the UK are struggling after months of milk price cuts, the latest from Arla today.

“We know that there’s no respite in the short term but taking direct action in this way is not going to help overcome current market issues.

“Instead we’re working with Farmers For Action (FFA) and Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) to identify and publicise bad practice in the supply chain, increase consumer support for British dairy products and provide short term support to those that need it.

“While this is a global downturn in dairy markets, there’s much more that can be done in the UK dairy supply chain to ensure fairer returns to our hard working farmers,” Harrison said.

Farmers for Action (FFA), a group representing UK farmers, said that it feels the protest will not benefit their cause in the short term.

“Although we understand the frustration and anger of those who today have been protesting on the A50, we feel very strongly this will not benefit our cause in the short term.

“The last people we should be dragging into our argument with retailers, food service industry, milk processors and the government is the general public, who at the end of the day are our consumers who put the money in the tills that comes down the supply chain to pay for our marvellous products,” it said.

France

The UK protest came only days after French farmers blocked roads in northwestern France in protest against the low prices they are receiving for their produce.

The blockade began on Sunday (July 19) evening with farmers across Normandy blocking the roads in the town of Caen.

The French Minister for Agriculture, Stephane Le Foll, has said that there is an agricultural crisis in the beef, pork and dairy sectors in France.

Since the start of the year, he said that figures collected by his department show that some 23,000 French farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy.

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