Finding Latest Feed Info
In the latest report from Strategie Grains, the estimates for EU 2008/09 grain production, as well as the forecasts for 2009/10 grain production, remain relatively unchanged. For 2008/09, wheat production is estimated at 140Mt, with maize production estimated at 62.3Mt. The predictions for 2009/10 production levels are also unchanged from previous estimates, with wheat seen at 130.6Mt (down 9.4Mt from 08/09), and maize at 58.6Mt.  Click here for more feed information. You may have to log in but this is a simple one-off process.

Marketing News
British Sandwich Week
Organised by The British Sandwich Association it is aimed at increasing sales of sandwiches. This year the focus is on the ‘The Great British Hammie’ – a classic and much loved sandwich filling and sandwich producer Mark Arnold has created three new ‘Hammie’ fillings especially for the Week.

• Gammon ham with cream cheese, chives and cucumber on white bread
• Gammon ham with English mustard mayonnaise and lettuce on malted bread
• Gammon ham with free range egg and watercress on malted bread

For further information about British Sandwich Week and ideas on how to get involved, visit www.sandwich.org.uk or call 01291 636338.

Pork Butchery Training
Delivered by ADAS the course is aimed at meat producers and farmers already selling or considering selling/processing their own meat. From practical exercises to developing a HACCP template the day will cover all the key elements of meat hygiene and safety.  For further information contact ADAS Leeds on 0113 2321630 or email Deborah.hare@o2.co.uk.  The flyer can be downloaded by clicking here. 

Robin Hood Sausage and Pie Championship
Sponsored by BPEX this year’s Robin Hood Championship organised by the Notts Council of Retail Meat Traders is looking for entries from all butchers who produce Traditional or Speciality Pork Sausages, Traditional or Speciality Pork Pies or Savoury Pies or Pasties.  To take place at the Newark & Notts County Show on Sunday 10th May 2009, this is the fifteenth year this event has taken place, and is open to any butcher from around the country.  If entries are received before 2nd May admission to the County show will be free. For an entry form and more information click here.

Hello! Magazine
Featured 3 pages of the Jamie Oliver inspired recipes in their magazine this week.  This was pitched to the publication in January around the launch time of the ‘Jamie Saves Our Bacon’ programme and the magazine has now featured within their cookery section all three of the recipes, Pan Fried Collar Steaks, Stuffed and Rolled Roast Shoulder and Roast Belly.

Knowledge Transfer

Train to Gain
Train to Gain is the national skills service that supports employers to improve the skills of employees as a route to improving business performance. Organising and implementing training can be challenging and time-consuming so why not make use of your local skills broker? Skills brokers identify training and skills strategies that will drive businesses forward. They will identify reliable training providers and, if appropriate, source local providers who can work on site. Considerable support is available to help finance training, or there are offers of additional advice. There is a specific aim to increase the numbers of smaller, sector specific, qualifications that can be eligible for funding, support for leadership and management for those businesses employing fewer than five people. For more information contact Madge Moore Tel 02476 858402 Email madge.moore@lantra.co.uk

VLA Surveillance Report
The latest issue of the VLA monthly surveillance report for pigs is now on the BPEX website. Highlights from March include:
· Erysipelas causes problems manifesting as sudden death and lameness in pigs.

• Evidence of circulating swine influenza H1N2
• Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae associated with severe respiratory pathology
• Clostridial disease responsible for the sudden death of a boar
• Highlights
• Erysipelas causes problems manifesting as sudden death and lameness in pigs
• Evidence of circulating swine influenza H1N2
• Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae associated with severe respiratory pathology
• Clostridial disease responsible for the sudden death of a boar.

Innovation Fund Update
Shane Worger, unit manager of Piggy Green Ltd. used to keep sow data in his head, now all three of the people on the unit have all the records of each sow at their fingertips - at the touch of a wand. They all now know exactly where the sows are, their vaccination details, pregnancy testing and all the background data to improve performance. It will also help eliminate the problem of lost tags; if the main tag falls out, they will be able to search for it via the electronic tag and the sow’s information won’t be lost. The presence of the pocket PC handheld computer ensures that data can be input beside the sow as the event occurs, it also gives the user access to all individual sow records and the ability to view action lists on the screen (sows to farrow, wean, PD etc). All records collected are then synchronised with the computer and automatically updated thus making the data collection task a part of the stockman's daily routine, rather than a weekly session sat in front of the computer. For information on this or any of the other innovation fund projects click here.

IPPC Latest
Nigel Penlington writes: We now have draft template permit applications based on the Environment Agency new EPR Forms.  These are still under development, but if you are making a permit application or variation please contact me on 01908 844276.

NVZ Reminder - by 30 April you must have recorded the size of your farm and calculated and recorded you manure storage capacity requirements.  The calculations must follow the format and guidance as laid out in Defra NVZ Leaflet No.4.  If you do not have the NVZ leaflets, copies can be ordered by calling; 0845 955 6000 or downloaded by clicking here.

The European Commission has released its latest proposals for a revised IPPC Directive.  Pig and poultry number thresholds are still amongst the proposed revisions.  The concept of a new threshold for farms with both sows and finisher pigs (30kg+) is included, no longer are nitrogen excretion equivalents offered, but a new system counting up the number of pig places.  For a farm with 210 sow places and 7 finisher places for each sow place, the proposed calculation works as follows;

• Divide 210 sow spaces by 750="0.28 
•  The number of finisher spaces will be 210 x 7="1,470 
• Divide the finisher spaces of 1,470 by 2000="0.735 
• Add 0.28 + 0.735="1.015" - this is >1 so a permit will be required under the proposed new system.
  Therefore a small farrow to finish producer, would need to have fewer than 200 sow places to feel sure that they stay below the new proposed threshold.
  
  Other proposals could catch liquid feeders even if they don't meet the animal place criteria.  The NPA and NFU continue to lobby MEPs and within Brussels.  For more information contact Nigel Penlington or the NPA.

National News:

Pig Farmer of the Year
Do you know someone in the farming sector who has a business enterprise that impresses you? Or are you a producer who works hard, is innovative and committed to the future of agriculture?

If this sounds like you or someone you know then may be the Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year Award is something worth considering entering. But with entries closing on April 30th, time is running out. Farmers Weekly is looking for positive producers seeking a way forward in a currently challenging industry. And success through to market will definitely be something independent pig judge, Ian Campbell will be looking for.

“A key component in pig production is the marriage between production efficiency and creating a product that is branded correctly to the market and this is what I will be looking for. Efficient production as well as having a product that is distinctive and competitive is essential,” says Mr Campbell.”

If you want to enter or nominate someone the closing date for applications is 30 April 2009. Entry forms can be downloaded by clicking here. Send your entry to Farmers Weekly Awards, Quadrant House, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS. For further information contact Marion Phillips on 020 8652 4081 or email marion.phillips@rbi.co.uk

Budget 1
The NFU has given an initial positive reaction to the budget announcement by the Chancellor Alistair Darling, claiming a number of wins for NFU lobbying.

NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said the NFU was pleased that the Chancellor had heeded the NFU's call to extend Agricultural Property Relief to agricultural property in other EU States, following a request from the EU Commission.

Other key successes include:

• Increases in the first-year rate of capital allowances for new investments
• The creation of a new strategic investment fund for advanced technologies including green technology and R&D
• And proposals to deliver universal broadband access by 2012 which will benefit farmers and rural inhabitants
  For more, click here.

Budget 2
The PTF has highlighted the introduction in the budget of a short-term trade credit insurance top-up scheme backdated to 1st April. Details may be found on the Business Link website – click here for more.

Food Fraud Unit Launched
The UK Food Standards Agency has announced the launch of a new advisory resource to support local authorities in their work to tackle food fraud.

The Food Fraud Advisory Unit (FFAU) is a group of 16 officials with extensive skills and experience in carrying out food fraud investigations, most of whom are practicing local authority enforcement officers. The FFAU members have agreed, with the support of their employers, to provide advice, on request, to any UK local authority involved in investigating food fraud. This could include any illegal activity relating to food or feed.

Food fraud is committed when food is deliberately placed on the market, for financial gain, with the intention of deceiving the consumer. This could include the sale of food that is unfit and potentially harmful, such as recycling of animal by-products back into the food chain, or packing and selling of beef and poultry with an unknown origin. This could also include making false statements about the source of ingredients, i.e. their geographic, plant or animal origin.

The FFAU represents the latest development in a series of resources the Agency is making available to help combat food fraud.

International News

Dutch Results
Pig farmers with Topigs sows achieved an average of 27.3 weaned piglets per sow per year in 2008. This is an increase of 0.9 piglets compared to 2007. This conclusion has been drawn from the technical results of 1006 farms with a total of almost 415,000 sows.

The top 25% of farms achieved 29.7 weaned piglets per sow in 2008 and the top 10% of farms managed an impressive 30.7 piglets per sow. In 2008, 80 farms weaned more than 30 piglets per sow per year. The absolute top weaned more than 32.5 piglets per sow per year.

For comparison: two years ago, in 2006, just 9 farms exceeded the boundary of 30 piglets. The increased production is due to an increased litter size. In 2007 this was still 12.8 whereas in 2008 this was 13.1. The litter index remained the same.

The results were compiled on the basis of overviews from the sow management system sent in by Dutch farmers. Farms with their own breeding units linked to the TOPIGS Pigbase system also provided information that was included in the overview.

Export Bulletin
For the latest Export Bulletin, click here.

International Prices
For the latest international prices, click here.

Tailpiece: Out of the Mouths . . .
"Everyone thinks I'm nuts. The meat industry hate me, the dairy industry hate me, the Beatle industry hate me, the landmine industry... I have a lot of enemies out there" - Heather Mills.