PCV2 Voucher Scheme Launched

The £1.5million vaccine voucher research project being run by BPEX is now up and running. The scheme will provide vouchers for PCV2 vaccines and is open to all English producers.

The project is open to producers already using a Circovirus vaccine as well as to new users and vouchers will be supplied monthly and will only be valid for one month - the first voucher will be valid until the end of May for vaccine purchased in April 2008.

BPEX Director of Pig Industry Development Mark Wilson said: “The BPEX board is supporting this project because PMWS and PDNS remain the greatest health challenge to the English pig industry leading to continued poor physical performance and increased production costs. In tackling this challenge the aim is to build a more sustainable and competitive industry for the future.”

The objective of the research project is to measure the effects of PCV2 vaccination of sows or piglets on herd health, welfare, mortality and physical performance by unit, region and on a national scale.

BPEX, veterinary practices and the pharmaceutical companies involved will then be able to offer clear scientifically-based advice on the cost benefits of using Circovirus vaccines. This is a research project and, in return for providing vouchers, BPEX will need information from producers on pre- and post-vaccination performance.  Summary details of the previous month’s breeding and feeding herd key performance indicators will have to be supplied with the application for each voucher. The pre-vaccination performance details will be collected by questionnaire at a later date.

The application form for the project is being posted to all assured farms. Further copies can be downloaded from the BPEX website, www.bpex.org.uk and applications can also be made online through this website. The online application route is preferred.

EWA Bespoke Communications will manage the logistics of the scheme on behalf of BPEX and they will be processing all the application forms.

Mark said: “The funding allocated to this project from levy reserves is limited to £1.5 million. Depending on the uptake this might last for up to nine months but it may be far shorter!
“Please get in touch with the BPEX Knowledge Transfer managers for further information or clarification, if required. Contact details are available on the BPEX website.”

Marketing News

Pigs Are Worth It

Rooker Backs Pig Industry

In an exchange in the House of Lords Food and Farming Minister Lord Rooker was extremely supportive of the pig industry.

He said: “If the supermarkets want to see the end of English pork production, they are going exactly the right way about it. We fully support the claims of the industry that it should get a fairer share of the price, but we cannot interfere on that. It is true that we have the highest welfare standards in the world. Some other countries in Europe—Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany—certainly have high standards. However, the real issue is that World Trade Organisation rules do not allow welfare standards to be raised as part of the deals, which we are pressing in the European Union to get on to the WTO agenda.”

On the subject of labelling, he said: “Labelling for food shows where the product underwent its last significant process as opposed to where the food was grown or reared. This is something we are dealing with through the European Union, and the Food Standards Agency is undertaking consultation on better labelling proposals. But what underlies the noble Lord’s question is the need to get the message across to British consumers. We need to make it clear that extra costs on farmers are reflected in the price. That has got to be genuine information. So it is no good when we have what happened a week ago in the other place. The Leader of the Opposition chided the Prime Minister over the increase in the price of milk, but for the past 18 months Tory MPs have been queuing up at my office and demanding that I get more money to our dairy farmers. Doing that has had an effect on the price of milk, and the same argument applies to the price of meat.”

Petition

Earlier this week, it reached more than 17000 registered supporters and the pigometer is now standing at £111m.

The Pigsareworthit website has been updated with the Pig Issue tour, the underground advertising and the support from MPs, click here to see more.

The Pig Issue Tour

Three little pigs toured England this week to continue to raise awareness of the pig farming crisis.  At each of the 10 towns and cities a number of farmers joined the demonstration to provide spokespeople and support to the campaign.  To date media coverage obtained has been really positive with 4 TV interviews with BBC Look North, ITV Calendar (Yorkshire), BBC Bristol & BBC Look East.  17 radio interviews (3 of which have played SBYH) and 13 pieces of print.
Example of an interview

PIG FARMERS PROTESTING AGAINST UNFAIR PRICES

BBC Radio Nottingham DRIVETIME - 01-Apr-2008 17:10:00 pig farmers came to Nottingham today protesting against what they feel are unfair prices for their produce as part of a National Pig Association campaign. PHIL BRADY, TOUR ORGANISER - we are trying to publicise current difficulties British pig farmers are facing. With seed prices doubling they say it's now too expensive to produce pigs unless supermarkets raise their prices. NOTTINGHAM - a lot of people just choose the cheapest product / I can sympathise with their situation. STEVE, WEST BRIDGFORD PIG FARMER - we are looking at a very serious situation. PRESENTER - Radio Nottingham contacted DEFRA about today's protest and the ministry said it supports reform of the cereals regime as part of a CAP health check.

The Pig Cuts Ad

This has been revamped slightly, in a vertical format with a slightly different sign off line, for use in the trade press.  MTJ 11th April issue, along side a bacon feature.  And The Grocer 19th April issue, alongside a meat and fish supplement.

Campaign promotional material is now available which includes an information leaflet with the pig cuts ad, a red car sticker and a 1metre long banner detailing the website, all available to order from 01908 844194. 

Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week – Get Ready for Summer

Start preparing for summer now in order to reduce the risk of heat stress and sunburn (see Action for Productivity 3 and 4).

Getting to Grips With IPPC

BPEX would like to invite you to the forthcoming spring workshop: understanding and complying with an IPPC Permit.  We intend to focus on the following areas:

• Environment Agency visits

• Understanding Permit conditions

• The Pollution Inventory

• Improvement Plans

• What is BAT?

This is a great opportunity for all those involved in ensuring permit conditions are complied with, to meet, discuss issues and ask questions.

It is on Thursday 10th April 2008, starting at 7.30pm prompt and aiming to finished at about 9.30pm, at The White Swan, Main St, Minskip, Yorkshire YO51 9JF. The workshop will be led by Nigel Penlington, BPEX, and is for operating pig farms within the IPPC regime. The format is flexible to allow  for questions to improve understanding.

To register and help plan catering, please contact Michelle Horan (01908 844734) or email nigel.penlington@bpex.org.uk.

Cashing In On Great Ideas

A pot of £200,000 has been set aside by BPEX to help producers and processors develop new ideas. The Innovation Fund has already given grants to half a dozen projects and new ones are now being sought. The aim is to provide pump-priming money rather than cash for capital investment which will allow ideas to be tested and developed. The idea is the whole industry would be able to benefit from successfully developed projects.

The ideas do not have to be wholly original. If somebody has seen something that works abroad, then it could be adapted to work here with a bit of development. The closing date for the current round of applications is 30 April 2008. For further information click here or contact a KT Manager. Information will also be available on the BPEX stand at the Pig & Poultry fair on 13-14 May.

Importance of Being a Teacher

You maybe competent at a job, but can you show somebody else how to be just as good? Passing on practical instruction is an important role of most supervisors or managers. This event will help to create the ability to design and deliver practical instruction that they will remember. Best practice for common tasks can be established and consistent instruction used to set and maintain work standards.

The one day practical course includes: benefits of effective training; effective instruction; use of questions; correcting errors; breaking down the skill; learning methods ; defining the objective; plan of instruction; instruction practice and feedback

Taking part in this course will help you:

• List the benefits of effective training

• Identify the key steps in a practical skill

• Prepare an instruction plan from which to conduct a training session

• Give an effective piece of practical instruction

It takes place on April 24 at Swindon, exact location to be confirmed. Anybody who would like to attend should contact Helen Thoday (0797 3701202) or Tess Howe (0777 9321078).

Environmental Permits

On April 6 the Environmental Permitting Regulations will take effect. These Regulations will amalgamate the Waste Management Licensing Regulations and the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations. This is part of a Defra regulatory simplification programme and it aims to streamline the processes of making an application, varying or transferring permits.

Existing PPC permit holders do not have to re-apply for their permits and should not notice any changes - only that their permit will be known as an Environmental Permit (in name) instead of a PPC permit. Those that may notice a change will be new applicants, those who want to vary their permit or those who want to make an application for a substantial change. We understand that there are about 25 or so of these types of application in a year. 

Although the new Regulations take effect on the 6th of April, the new application forms and guidance are still being prepared. 

The old-style PPC forms will be replaced by the new EP forms, when available. In the meantime, anyone who would like to make an application for a new permit, a variation to their permit or a substantial change should use the forms and guidance on the Environment Agency’s website. 

International News:

Canadian Pork Producer Trouble

A major Saskatchewan pork producer is in financial trouble as the industry struggles with lower prices and higher feed costs. Stomp Pork Farm Ltd has filed for bankruptcy protection. The company is the province's second-largest pork producer and has about 25,000 sows and produces about 20 per cent of Saskatchewan's hogs.

Danish Pig Meat Export

Exports of Danish pig meat to eastern European countries are developing in a very positive way. The two new EU-countries, Bulgaria and Romania, have shown great interest in buying Danish pig meat since their accession to the EU. Increasing demand from these countries has also increased Danish exports, says Jens Haven Christiansen, Danish Crown divisional director.

International Prices

Click here for the latest international prices

Award Winner

The pig cuts advertisement, highlighting the crisis in the industry, has been picked out as the best of the week in Campaign, an advertising industry magazine.