Global Harvests, Food and Water Security - 2012

As we enter the first few weeks of September, I have been gleefully informed that Christmas is only one hundred days away. We know that this is a period for global gobbling with the American Thanksgiving feast and Christmas Day. But dare we ask the question, how have the global harvests fared this year?

The Farmer's Weekly harvest round up page notes that, as of today (12th of September 2012):

• The harvest is between 70-80% complete in the South West and has only just started (07/09/12) in Caithness, Scotland.
• This year's conditions have been summarised here and entail droughts in Spring, one of the wettest summers in 100 years and decreased sunshine hours has led to "a poor grain fill" and increased susceptibility to attacks from aphids in autumn 2011 and spring 2012 to disease infestations of brown rust, late fusarium, septoria and yellow rust.
• The Farmer's Weekly reports (11/09/12) that drilling has already started in some parts of the country.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on the 27th of July 2012 that the global harvest predictions would be reduced due to the droughts in the Black Sea region and in the United States of America - the worst since 1956 in the USA - and the export market projections were not looking good for the aforementioned regions but it may spell opportunities for the grain producers who have done well. ABC reported that the world grain harvest for 2012/13 has been reduced to 1,640 million tonnes.

The International Grains Council published a report in August will tell you more.

So what has the global harvest of food got to do with water security? The Stockholm Water Initiative Water Week, that ended on the 31st of August 2012, helped to remind readers that "one third of the world's food is lost or wasted (1.3 billion tonnes per year), which equates to one quarter of global water use for irrigation".

• One litre of milk thrown away is 1,000 litres of water consumed by a cow to produce that milk.
• The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that $1 trillion is needed for investment in irrigation technologies by 2050.

How has the harvest been with you and how are you dealing with either a lack or an excess of water?

Livestock 2012 - Day Two (updated)

Livestock 2012 - Day Two

EBLEX (The organisation for the English Beef and Sheep Industry) in their blog, Beef and Lamb Matters, describe their two days at Livestock 2012 on this page and highlights two of their publications - Better Returns from Pure-Dairy bred Male Calves (BRP 10) and Balancing the Market.

Farmer's Weekly have released a statement from Jim Paice MP at losing his position as the Minister of Agriculture and Food, this statement can be found here. The last sentence of the statement is very poignant. "As I have said repeatedly to farmers change should be seen as an opportunity – that applies to me now!"

The Farmer's Weekly highlights a list of top tips for livestock handlers published by NFU Mutual. These are two of the top tips:

• Keep your mobile phone in a chest pocket so you can call for help.
• Always take a moment to consider the risks of a task.

The Farmer's Weekly has published a summary of the Livestock 2012 event with links to the FWi articles under News & Business, Technical and Machinery News

Dairy Crisis Update - 01/08/2012

I have taken the majority of the news from the Farmers 4 Action news website (found here), but news can also be found here with the Farmers Guardian, the Farmers Weekly and the NFU.

On the 27th of July, Farmers For Action published the following press release:

"WISEMAN, MULLER have today rescinded the threatened milk price cut for the 1 August 2012. Farmers For Action welcome this announcement but it does not go far enough to deal with the current crisis faced by the dairy farmers. With announcements this week of major retailers and milk processors either adding money into the industry or with the processors Dairycrest, Arla, and First Milk rescinding their threatened price cuts, David Handley, Chairman of FFA says "this sends a very strong message regarding unity in the dairy industry. The united coalition group together with united dairy farmers, supported by the media and general public, have taken us up the first step toward a sustainable dairy industry, for the future of the next generation of dairy farmers."

On the 1st of August (today), Farmers For Action published another press release:

"Phase Two is well under way. A meeting of the coalition yesterday clearly showed everyone is 110% committed to delivering on the undertaking given at the beginning of the campaign. As everyone should be now aware, Phase Two is all about recovering cuts that were made in the April, May and June. We intend along with our partners, to flush out the money that has obviously gone into someone else's bank account and we will use every available avenue to achieve this by the deadline of September 1st 2012. This will involve going back over old ground so the big 4 retailers and 3 largest processors needn't think they are all off the hook. They need to come clean very quickly and explain where the money from the cuts went and what it was used for. If they have any morals or ethics this should come easily, if not someone's backside will get kicked and hard. To the middle gorund, discounters and food service industry, you too need to come clean very quickly to avoid disruption to your business. Again, we say to you, show us you have morals and ethics and contact members of the coalition as soon as possible. To the Government and all the devolved partners, you too have a responsibility in this dire situation UK dairy farmers are now facing. You have all recently made statements regarding what you intend to do; we hold you all to that".

Dairy Co has a very good summary of what has happened, have a look at their website.

We await the new movements on the dairy industry with renewed vigour.

Dairy Crisis Update - 13th of July 2012 - what can you do?

So as we gather on the 13th of July 2012, or Friday the 13th, some of the blog readers have asked what can be done? This advice is by no means definitive but only from what I have read online and from the twitter stream of @eurolinkseas. I did ask a question on my twitter feed:

"Now that public is getting behind #sosdairy, @NFUSouthEast @FARMERS4ACTION @FarmersWeekly @FarmersGuardian what do we tell them to do?"

I have yet to hear from any of them, but they are all busy.

So onto the advice...

• The NFU tweet is "Here's our poster in case you haven't seen it yet - It's time to back our dairy farmers ! #SOSdairy (Please click on the link)

•  Olivia Midgley (@FGoliviamidgley) from The Farmer's Guardian reports that "Scotland lays down dairy SOS action plan" here "@RichardLochhead @NFUStweets #sosdairy " - she continues in her article that the Scottish Government unveiled a 5 point action plan on the 12th of July and Rural Affairs minister Richard Lochead also called for his Welsh and English counterparts to meet up before Royal Welsh Show. The five points are as follows:
• Ministerial Summit
• Agree on a voluntary code of practice
• Demand clarity from the retailers for the consumers about how much the producers receive.
• Long term strategic report needed for where the dairy sector is going in the next 10 years and how it will get there.
• Ensure that the Scottish Agriculutural Organisation Society have sufficient resources to speed up the work on producer organisations and co-operatives. 
• More information can be found at the Farmer's Guardian Dairy Crisis micro-site that is found here.
• ‏@FARMERS4ACTION report that the e petition has 10,745 signatures at quarter to five on Friday afternoon with 134 signed in the last hour. If you haven't signed it, this is another thing that you can do. 
• Johann Tasker of the Farmer's Weekly writes about how the RSPCA backs farmers on milk prices (by me 4 @FarmersWeekly) he writes, "The RSPCA is urging shoppers to avoid cut-price milk sold by supermarkets, warning that it could have a knock-on effect on cow welfare" more can be read at Johann's article found here.  #SOSdairy
• So if you wish to do something, when choosing to buy your milk and other dairy products, look for either your local dairy and support the local shop or when buying from a supermarket choose the ones who support the dairy sector - these are M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose are praised for paying above the cost of production.
• The Farmer's Weekly have a dedicated micro website for the dairy crisis and this can be found here. 
•  Alistair Driver from the Farmer's Guardian reports in his blog that Jim Paice MP was ridiculed publicly but #SOSdairy lines up bigger targets for August, have a read of Alistair's blog if you didn't catch the summary.

What else can you do:

• Follow the  #SOSdairy on comments in Twitter.
• Print off the poster prints from the NFU and stick on a car window if it doesn't obliterate the driver's vision or put it up on your wall on Facebook, the print can be found here - 
• Buy your milk from local dairies or from M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco, or Waitrose.
• Write to your MP, the dairy produce processor and the supermarkets - the Farmer's Guardian does a very good page on what to write and who to write to but you may have to give your email and subscribe (freely, I think), the page link can be found here.

Have a good rest of the Friday the 13th.

Dairy Crisis Update - 11th of July 2012

Not an exhaustive summary of the information from the Dairy Crisis Summit - 11th of July 2012. The information below is taken from my Facebook account, the Twitter stream of @Eurolinkseas and linked publications.

 

We pay more for a bottle of water than a pint of milk. Stop UK dairy farmers becoming extinct by supporting fair UK trade #sosdairy

The summit is packed and overflowing with dairy farmers... therefore a short delay to the start of the meeting while we find rooms for people

Only 22% of people know the price of milk - you're in the majority, Meurig quips to farm minister Jim Paice #sosdairy

One farmer's story is highlighted here - http://www.farmersguardian.com/news/livestock/dairy-farmers-descend-on-london-united-in-protest/48248.article #sosdairy

Sainsburys, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose praised for paying above the cost of production #sosdair 

Asda, Morrisons and the Co-op pointed out by Meurig for paying below the cost of production #sosdairy  

The above photo shows Nick Everington of @theRABDF explaining who gets the cream from your milk.

A clearer picture of the previous photo, with thanks to Twitter and Malc Parr ‏@tractorman07

and @peter_levy "I'm not a dairy farmer but think this picture sums up the problem of milk and food in general."

Retailers must stop buying milk from processors who pay less than the costs of production to dairy farmers - MR #sosdairy




We want consumers to ask those that are buying the milk: Are you paying a fair price? #sosdairy 

"The buy one get one free government" #SOSDairy


Turning grass into milk - a BBC report - and lose money doing it.


‎"I believe the dairy industry has a huge amount to offer the British economy" - Jim Paice #sosdairy


Minister Jim Paice: Voluntary Code of Practice better than compulsory contract under EU reg. Also gives chance for review. 
But he is now being heckled...#sosdairy

Jim Paice has just made himself very unpopular. Questioning that dairy farmers have not done enough to control their input costs! #sosdairy


Jim Paice asks 'Are you sure, you have done everything to reduce production costs?', the comment was not popular #sosdairy

Jim Paice - every part of dairy chain has responsibility to take advantage of opportunities #sosdairy

FLASH: Jim Paice confirms that government will "make money available" to help farmers create producer organisations. #SOSdairy

Wisemans p'ship(?) board member says must negotiate fair price and set minimum or less responsible retailers will depress price #SOSdairy

Derbyshire's Barry Smith, agriculture is the life and soul of this country. If it is doing badly the whole country is doing badly #sosdairy

#SOSdairy Questions - why does Germany have 190 producer organisations and we have how many? Are we missing a trick and profit?

Scottish view: If you're not happy resign from your processor and don't sign any more silly contracts. #SOSdairy

#SOSdairy Don't sign with a processor who does not adhere to code of practice.

Farm minister Jim Paice: voluntary code means can't set statutory minimum price. Can't answer questions on retailer margins but supermarkets are taking bigger and bigger shares.

"It isn't going to happen overnight," Jim Paice tells farmer who asked how long he would have to work all hours. But hopes today could speed things along

#SOSdairy W Sussex #NFU's Gwyn Jones: least you can do is legislate immediately unless this vol code is sorted very soon - hours not days

Huge cheer for Gwyn Jones as he attacks dairy execs and compares events in banking sector with those in dairy industry. #sosdairy

"How do you want to be remembered Minister? As the doctor who made things better (in #ag) or the undertaker?" #SOSDairy

Minister challenged on timescale for code, reminded that code is a great start but will it deliver Code of Practice at least? #sosdairy

#SOSdairy Minister Jim Paice: committed to consult chain on EU dairy package and power to impose compulsory contracts, but not his preferred option

#SOSdairy Jim Paice says content of vol code up to farmers, price mechanism will be part of it, groups of farmers should work together

VIDEO: Farmers explain what they hope to achieve from attending milk summit #sosdairy

#SOSdairy William Westacott from #Kent - we have 20 days, we need some guidance on how to reverse these cuts

View from floor: we must convince the consumer to back the farmer. Praise for dedicated contracts #SOSdairy

Many views - but farmers mean business. what sanctions will be imposed on processors and retailers if code not agreed? #SOSdairy

#SOSdairy Trending HIGH in the UK. People do care where the milk for there brew comes from! Good news! Keep caring!

Family dairy farmer from #Devon thanks #NFU for organising and challenges Minister to toughen the code asap

Question from the floor: where is the representative of the supermarkets today? #sosdairy

Minister Jim Paice: Voluntary code must happen soon. Will consult on compulsory code in EU package, allowing Purchasing Organistaions to have 1/3 of production in member state

Meurig Raymond thanks 2,500 for giving strong message to retailers, processors and consumers. We cannot afford to lose UK industry #SOSdairy

M Raymond: #NFU will do all it can to reverse cuts and will leave no stone unturned. Reps must take this message back to processors.

M Raymond hopes the "Voluntary Code can come soon but reserves the right to demand legislation. Urges folk to sign Producer Organisation forms #SOSdairy

Red Tractor Dairy farmer's across the UK, gather at Westminster today to demand a fairer price for milk. Ensure you support them by looking out for the Red Tractor logo with the Union Jack on your milk, cheese, cream and yogurts!

The Speech by Meurig Raymond at Dairy Summit 11th July 2012 can be found here.  

Farmer's Weekly have a gallery from the day's proceedings here.

@FARMERS4ACTION

Disappointed that attendees at Summit not invited to question panel and no concrete plans for 1 Aug

Paice under fire as industry unites in anger | News | Farmers Guardian: http://bit.ly/O6Df3J #sosdairy

Thanks to all the people and groups I follow on Twitter, these can be found here.

Dairy Crisis Update - 6th of July 2012

An article from the FWi website records that the Farm Minister Jim Paice MP said that he was a proposed to get processors and the industry to find a future for the dairy industry. During Defra Parliamentary question time,  Mr. Paice MP said "I am concerned, but ministers can't set prices" and continued to say that Defra would hold "a consultation on a compulsory dairy package put forward by the European Union".

Mr. Paice MP said that the "Processors also needed to target growing dairy markets in countries like China so they could do more to support British producers and avoid having to make price cuts".

It is stated by FWi that the latest cuts to the dairy industry would slash as much as £50,000 off the average dairy farm income.

Comments from Dairy Farmers can be seen here.

A video of the meeting at Staffordshire Show Ground and comments from Dairy Farmers can be seen here:

I received a text from the NFU, it reads "Important message to NFU members: I want to give you the heads up that next Wednesday the NFU is holding a large meeting in London to highlight the devastation dairy farmers face due to the recent and proposed price cuts. I hope many farmers in more fortunate sectors than dairy will show support. Please contact your regional office for details on how you could help with support on the day. Many thanks, Peter Kendall"

A link to the regional office for the NFU can be found here. The Farmers Guardian reports that the event is, indeed, taking place on Wednesday with  "exact timing and venue are yet to be finalised. 
Farmers will be invited to turn up in large numbers to demonstrate to politicians, the food chain and the wider public the strength of feeling over the price cuts imposed in the past week by the major UK milk buyers". The article continues to report that the "NFU president  Peter Kendall said the union was planning to stage a ‘very large gathering’ in London next week to raise the profile of the crisis.
“I have never known in all my time in the NFU such strength of feeling and anger among our members,”".


More information to come when it is published and keep an eye on the Farmers Guardian, the Farmers Weekly, the NFU and Ian Potter Associates. There is also a new Facebook page that has arisen in the last day.

Where do you get your farming news?

With the advent of the Internet, there has been a reduction of noise of mail falling through the letter box of the door, although there has been an increase of electronic mail coming through to your email in box. But as a farmer or a rural practitioner, how do you find out the news with regard to your industry? 

I have put forward a few links, below, that are useful to farmers and rural practitioners for getting news on their industry. Some of the weblinks may ask you to register or become members with them. Please note that these websites are outside the control of this Blog and whilst we've done our best to make sure it's suitable for you to visit, we remind you that we're not responsible for non Eurolink web content. 

Can you add anymore, add to the comments below.

Country Land & Business Association

Defra 

The Farmers Guardian  

The Farmers Weekly 

The National Farmer's Union

NetRegs, a website that deals with efficiency and environmental guidelines is going through a structural change and is being split up into the countries England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales and the information is being disseminated between the Business Link and the Environment Agency websites (things are not always easy).

Rural Payments Agency

South East Farmer

South of England Agricultural Society

On asking a farming friend in Canada, I was told they read The Western Producer

As I asked, can anyone add their own useful websites? Use the comment box below.