Farming Category
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CAP policy deals stuck
The UK has struck a number of deals to keep the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on its path of reform. In response to pressure, the Agriculture Council has provided reassurance that each of the four UK countries can continue to implement CAP regionally. Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, comments: “A one size fits all approach to CAP just doesn’t work. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales must be allowed the freedom to deliver outcomes tailored to their own ...
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Chief Medical Officer highlights veterinary use of antibiotics
In a new report, the Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, highlights the threat of infections increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. The study notes that antibiotic use is not limited to humans, as a large quantity of antimicrobials are used every year in veterinary practice and in the fishing and farming industries. Currently, evidence suggests that this is not a major cause of resistance in bacteria that affect human health (at least in the UK), ...
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Tesco commits to UK sourced meat
Speaking at the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference yesterday, Tesco chief executive, Philip Clarke, admitted "customers don’t like what they’ve been hearing about how some of the meat they put on their plates is produced". Mr Clarke went on to say that he wants to create a supply chain that customers can understand, and set out the vision of a "bright future" for British agriculture with the promise of a "sincere commitment" to source meat closer ...
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Call for new research on E.coli
A report published today by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland recommends investigating the use of feed additives and cattle vaccines in the control of E.coli O157 on UK farms. This serious gastrointestinal pathogen can be transmitted from cattle faeces to humans via the environment or through the food chain and the research identifies three control strategies worthy or further investigation as follows: the use of probiotics in feed the vaccination of animals measures for improving biosecurity on farms However, ...
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NFU launches “Buy British” campaign
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has launched a "Buy British" campaign in response to the scandal of horse meat being passed off as beef, which has highlighted the complexity of the food chain in some imported products. Adverts encouraging consumers to buy British are running across the national press, with the tag "Great British Farmers produce Great British food". With shopper confidence leading the agenda, Brits are being reminded to look out for the farm assurance logo ...
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New money for workforce training
Businesses across all sectors and of all sizes can now apply for a share of up to £240 million of government money to create training programmes that address their skills needs. The Employer Ownership Pilot (EOP) has already committed around £90 million to projects ranging from helping young people into work by delivering pre-employment training, to extending apprenticeships and training to supply chains. Applications are now open for the second round and will close on 28th March. Skills ...
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Health and Safety overhaul well underway
The Government has declared that it is making rapid progress in restoring common sense to health and safety regulations, saving businesses millions of pounds every year. Progress made so far includes: By April 2013, one in 10 sets of health and safety regulations will have been scrapped. 200 sets of outdated guidelines have already been scrapped - one fifth of all health and safety publications. Proactive health and safety inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been cut ...
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Groceries Code Adjudicator appointed
The Government has appointed Christine Tacon to the newly created role of Groceries Code Adjudicator. Ms Tacon will be responsible for enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, which regulates interactions between the ten largest supermarkets and their direct suppliers. She will have the power to launch investigations into suspected breaches of the Code, including those arising from confidential complaints from any source. Where there is evidence of a breach, the Adjudicator can make recommendations against a supermarket, ...
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EFSA identifies risks to bees from neonicotinoids
Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have identified a number of risks posed to bees by three neonicotinoid insecticides. The Authority was asked by the European Commission to assess the risks associated with the use of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam as seed treatment or as granules, with particular regard to: their acute and chronic effects on bee colony survival and development; their effects on bee larvae and bee behaviour; and the risks posed by ...
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Lamb prices lowest for three years
New figures from The National Farmers' Union (NFU) show that farmers are losing on average £29 for every lamb they sell at market, farm-gate prices having dropped by almost a fifth in the past year. With lamb prices at their lowest for three years, the NFU points out that the situation for farmers has been made worse by rising production costs due to the extreme weather in 2012. In addition, impacts from the new lamb-deforming disease Schmallenberg ...
