Maybes, Ifs and Buts
For the first time in the past 16 months MAYBE pig producers will have sold pigs for more than they cost to produce during September. This will be the case only IF they have purchased feed on the spot market during September. BUT given losses so far, if this modest level of return is maintained it will take more than a year to repay them. The rest of the pigmeat supply chain is also experiencing severe pressures in the current economic climate.

Knowledge Transfer
Tip of the Week - PRDC
Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) results from a combination of infectious agents and environmental stressors and challenges, affecting the health of the pig and resulting in reduced performance, increased medication costs and increased mortality. When PRDC breaks out on a unit typically 30-70% of pigs will be affected, with a mortality rate of 4-6%, or more depending on the secondary infections. If you haven’t already, why not sign up to the BPEX Pig Health Scheme (BPHS) which provides information over time of the levels of lung damage seen at the abattoir that can be used as a tool for health planning and managing PRDC.
BPEX have also just produced an Action for Productivity sheet on this topic, download it here or contact BPEX to receive a copy.

Climate Change Forum
The Rural Climate Change Forum (RCCF) has been reappointed up to March 2011, to continue advising Government how the agriculture, forestry, and land management sector can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The existing Chair and members of the RCCF have all been asked to remain in their roles, while three new members from the agricultural sector have been invited to join the Forum.

Announcing the reappointments, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, said: “Over the past three years the Rural Climate Change Forum has provided valuable support and advice to Defra. I’m delighted to extend the Forum’s term, reappoint the existing members with John Gilliland as Chair, and invite the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board, the Agricultural Industries Confederation, and the Soil Association to join. The Forum will play a vital role in shaping policy as we work with the farming, forestry and land management sectors to achieve greenhouse gas reductions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.” 

Call for Soil Research
RASE has published a report on the current status of soil and water management in England. The report talks about the increased attention focused on soil and water issues at farm level in the last few years such as the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative and options within agri-environment schemes. However, as the report points out, their remit is on environmental matters alone and there needs to be an integrated approach with specialist expertise to encourage productive farming while meeting environmental requirements. It also talks about the unique challenges faced by agriculture in the 21st century to increase yields and reduce inputs and goes onto say that most research tends to focus on environmental issues, rather than growing food.

We need science to do this and this echoes the Why Science Matters to Farming campaign messages:

• we need research to help understand our resources and inputs and how to manage them;
• funding has gone down and the pipeline to applied research is broken; 
• there aren't enough young scientists coming through and some areas are in serious danger of falling below a critical mass (e.g. soil, weeds, pests). 
• This is largely due to reduction in funding so this isn't seen as a secure career.

Avoid Performance Drop
Performance of the 2nd parity sow can be disappointing and badly affect the breeding herd performance average. This can lead to high return rates and subsequently early culling of young sows. This will affect the profitability of a herd with a decrease in output and an increase in gilt expenses as well as influencing the general staff morale. BPEX is this autumn running a series of open workshops aimed at producers and stock people focusing on management of the 1st and 2nd parity sow with the team from ABN/ Primary Diets presenting the latest information on feeding strategies. All meetings are PIPR registered. Workshops start at 6pm and finish at 8.30pm.

• Tuesday 18th November 2008, The Crown Hotel, Horsefair, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, YO51 9LB
• Wednesday 19th November 2008 The Feathers Hotel, 56 Market Place, Pocklington, East Riding Of Yorkshire, YO42 2AH
• Tueday 25th November The Croft Hotel, Croft On Tees, Darlington, North Yorkshire, DL2 2ST.

Refreshments will be provided. To register contact Lis Ravn: phone: 0789 165 6784; Email: lisbeth.ravn@bpex.org.uk

Marketing News
Inconvenient Trough Launched
The DVD called, An Inconvenient Trough, which outlines the crisis in the pig industry was launched at the David Black Awards, Weds 29th Oct.  Produced by a range of pig farmers it contains 3 short films. Part one, launched today, focuses on the supply chain from farm to supermarkets and butchers.  Part two, which looks at the food service sector and part three, which covers public sector purchasing of pork and pork products will be released on www.pigsareworthit.com next month.   Along with the farmers it also features Richard Bacon MP, Lord Hoyle of Warrington and TV Chef Phil Vickery.  Following this launch a summary of the coverage generated to date is that there have been seven pieces of TV coverage (ITV 1 Yorkshire (x2), BBC1 West (x2), ITV1 Central East, ITV 1 Anglia West & BBC1 East) – with another expected to appear on Sunday with BBC 1 East.  24 items of radio coverage have also been generated, along with nine onlines.  This adds to the one TV and 14 regional print media pieces covered during the Summer when filming.

To read more about it or to see the film online go to http://www.pigsareworthit.com/trough.html

Sausage Week Latest
To be launched on Monday at the S&M (Sausage & Mash!!) Café in Spitalfields market. Attending will be invited press along with the Manufacturer and Retailer winners, who will be presented with their Banger Awards.  There will also be judging of the 5 London finalists by the BSAS team, LIPs, Dickie Bird and Lord Brockett. The morning will be rounded off by a Sausage & Mash lunch for all.  Look out for sausage promotions in all major retailers and independent butchers, plus many pubs and restaurants are offering sausage specials on their menus. For more info visit www.britishsausageweek.com or call 0207 861 3149 for media enquiries.

National News:
David Black Winner
Ian Campbell, MBE, is a modest man and says of himself he hasn’t done badly for a chocolate salesman! But once he got out of selling chocolate and came into the pig industry, he really made his mark and it was his hard work and dedication which led judges to make him this year’s recipient of the David Black Award. He was presented with his award by Food and Farming Minister Jane Kennedy at an industry breakfast held at the House of Lords.

He said: “I am genuinely thrilled to win the David Black Award. It is an accolade which I appreciate because it is from my peers. There are many people out there who are not as noisy as some about their achievements but are doing fantastic jobs without attracting attention.”

He was chosen by a panel of judges chaired by BPEX Chief Executive Mick Sloyan who said: “Ian has worked tirelessly for individuals and family farm businesses particularly during animal disease outbreaks. He has made a significant contribution to the pig sector above all through his ability to communicate not only with producers but also with partners in the supply chain, welfare groups, government officials, international organisations and many others.”

Farmers Weekly Awards
Devon producer Andrew Freemantle has taken the title pig farmer of the year in the Farmers Weekly awards while Staffordshire arable and pig farmer Roger Mercer took the title of Diversification Farmer of the Year. For more about both, click here.

Chance of Nuffield Award
Don’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime -  take part in the unique ‘Nuffield experience’ that can bring benefits to your business or career, as well as your own personal development.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) is seeking applications from people, aged between 22 and 45 years old, who believe there is a bright, exciting future in farming, food and rural industries, and who hold a deep passion for their area of work. The diary date to remember is 15th November - the closing date for Nuffield 2009 Award applications.  Scholars require no pre-requisite qualifications other than vision, enthusiasm and a determination to study a subject they feel passionate about. You are eligible for the Scholarship if you are a UK resident aged between 22 and 45 years old (inclusive), if you have been engaged for at least two years in the industry, working in agriculture and its associated industries, or the rural community.

Individual application forms for a Scholarship can be downloaded from the Nuffield website at www.nuffieldscholar.org. Individuals interested in applying, but requiring further information, are also invited to contact the NFST Director, John Stones, on Tel. 01858 555544 (Email. nuffielddirector@aol.com).

Welfare Improving
A new RSPCA review of the EU’s rural development programmes (RDPs), that provide funds to farmers for animal welfare improvements, has highlighted reductions in animal health and welfare problems. The RSPCA said it hopes the findings will help to highlight the benefits of animal welfare programmes to other countries, and encourage them to take up the scheme.

Gordon Brown on Bacon
Ian Cawsey MP said: This morning, together with other hon. Members, I attended the David Black award, which is a celebration of the British pig industry and quality standard charter marks. They support farmers who are committed to high animal welfare, quality control and traceability of their products. Does the Prime Minister share my concern that Government procurement figures show that 76 per cent. of bacon products and 39 per cent. of pork products do not come from quality pork standard mark suppliers? As my right hon. Friend helps out different sectors of industry, will he ensure that procurement supports British farmers? If the Government do not stand up for them, why should anybody else?

The Prime Minister: I thank my hon. Friend for campaigning on behalf of that industry. Everybody knows that British bacon is best.

Sow Feed Usage Report
BPEX Senior Economic Analyst Tony Fowler has produced a short paper on sow feed usage as a predictor of the breeding herd. To see the report, click here.

New CEO for RASE
The Royal Agricultural Society of England has appointed Brian Warren OBE as its new Chief Executive. Mr Warren will take up his appointment early in 2009.

International News:
Maple Leaf Losses
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. on Wednesday posted a loss of nearly C$13 million in fiscal third quarter earnings, largely due to the recall of hundreds of meat products linked to an outbreak of listeriosis that led to the deaths of 20 people in Canada. The Toronto-based deli meat giant said the company suffered a net loss of C$12.9 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a profit of C$220.4 million, or C$1.67 per share, in the same quarter in 2007. (The current exchange rate is US$1="C$1.23).

North American Production Declines
New data on reductions in Canadian hog breeding inventory and sow farrowings during September point to future declines in North American hog production, according to a joint report by USDA and Statistics Canada. Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs on Oct. 1, 2008, at 12.8 million head, was down 11 percent from a year ago. The breeding inventory, at 1.42 million head, was down 8 percent from last year, and Canadian market hog inventory, at 11.4 million head, was down 11 percent from last year. The Canadian pig crop, at 7.58 million head, was down 2 percent from 2007. Sows farrowed during this period totalled 770,700 head, down 3 percent from last year.

Danish Pig Herd Figures
The results of the Danish pig census from 1 October show a decrease compared to a year ago at 7.8% for the total pig herd and 3.8% for in-pig sows. Compared with the latest pig census from 1 July the total herd in October has increased by 4.8% and in-pig sows 2.2%. Full details will be carried next week in the European Weekly from AHDBMS Economics.

Export Bulletin
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International Prices
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