In this week’s edition:
- NFU relieved atter Defra announces two badger control areas to tackle TB
- Paice’s CAP pledge on agri-environment schemes
- Don’t forget the new cross compliance regulations on ‘no spread zones’
- Forsake your margin and secure dairy supply chain
- Fly-tipping on private land still a major concern
- Our Greatest Lobbying Asset – You!
- BCMS Opening Hours
- North West representatives needed up tenancy & upland policy forums
- Don’t forget your Soil Protection Review
- FAO Sees "No Alternative" to Livestock Intensification
- Lower Alt with Crossens Pumped Drainage Flood Risk Management Strategic Plan
- New Website for Lancashire Rural Development Grants
- Have your say on the election of NFU officeholders
- WHAT’S ON?
NFU relieved after Defra announces two badger control areas to tackle TB
NFU President Peter Kendall has said this week’s decision from Defra to commit to two pilot areas for badger controls as part of its plan to tackle bovine TB is the right way forward. Mr Kendall expressed his relief on behalf of the farming industry after Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman said she had listened to all of the evidence put before her during the lengthy consultation into a government-led TB Eradication Programme. And she had now concluded that a carefully managed and science-led policy of badger controls would be introduced. NFU President Peter Kendall called it “another massive step forward in achieving our end goal of a healthy countryside – both for badgers and for cattle”. “This has never been about eradicating badgers; this is about eradicating disease “, he stressed, “and there are some serious challenges ahead. But we take this issue extremely seriously and we remain committed to working with Defra and Natural England to deliver an effective TB control plan. This has never been and will not be a quick fix and we’re fully prepared for that. Controlling TB in the areas that have high and persistent disease levels will help to save cattle and reduce the risk of TB in other areas of the country that are currently without TB. That has to be in everyone’s best interests.”
Paice’s CAP pledge on agri-environment schemes
Defra Farming Minister, Jim Paice, in a ministerial statement, has pledged to make sure that English farmers who are thinking about entering or renewing agri-environment agreements could choose to opt out without penalty if they had to make changes to their agreements as a result of CAP greening. In the announcement, he pledged to make sure that English farmers who are thinking about entering or renewing agri-environment agreements could choose to opt out without penalty if they had to make changes to their agreements as a result of CAP greening. Mr Paice also announced details of a consultation Defra is launching to get the views of farming and other relevant stakeholder groups on the proposed CAP reforms. Interested parties will be able to answer questions in an online questionnaire which will help determine the UK’s negotiating position.The European Commission published proposals to reform the CAP two months ago, marking the beginning of at least 18 months of negotiations between the 27 member states.
Don’t forget the new cross compliance regulations on ‘no spread zones’
New cross compliance regulations to protect water from pollution by fertilisers and manures will come into effect from 1 January 2012. The Rural Payments Agency is taking the step of highlighting the changes to farmers now, so they can consider the changes while planning the next season’s crops. This will help them to comply with the cross compliance regulations. The regulations mean that:
- Inorganic fertiliser must not be applied within two metres of surface waters.
- Organic manure must not be applied within 10 metres of surface waters, except on land managed for breeding wader birds, or as species rich semi-natural grassland and under certain other restrictions.
- Organic manure must also not be applied within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole.
If farmers do apply organic manure, they will be asked to keep a map of all surface waters on the holding and land within 10 metres of them; all springs, wells and boreholes on the holding, and within 50 metres of the boundary of the holding, and land within 50 metres of them. This new Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) has been introduced as part of the CAP Health Check. It is based on existing rules included in the nitrate regulations, therefore farmers who are meeting the Statutory Management Requirement (SMR) 4 Nitrate Vulnerable Zone requirements will already be meeting the new regulations. Further details are available at: www.rpa.defra.gov.uk/crosscompliance/farmerguidance
Forsake your margin and secure dairy supply chain
NFU Dairy Board Chairman, Mansel Raymond, visited the North West this week and challenged the major supermarkets to ensure that if price wars are fought on milk and dairy, then it must be at the expense of their own margins and not farmers or the supply chain. Speaking at Cheshire-based Reaseheath College’s Dairy Sustainability Conference, Asda’s buying manager, Debra Lees, said “milk is important for Asda, because if shoppers choose to but their milk from their supermarket, it has a ‘halo’ effect with the customer more likely to do the rest of their shop in the store. “To secure seven billion litres of milk every year supermarkets will have to pay a decent price to dairy farmers,” said Mr Raymond. “Surely it would be in the supermarkets’ own interests to secure a supply of milk from the UK. The responsibility is with the larger supermarkets to help make sure the supply chain works. Their margin doesn’t matter. They’ll make enough money just by getting shoppers into their store. In the entire world, only New Zealand, California, the mid-west of America and Ireland are more efficient at milk production than the UK. It was a scandal and disgrace that we were placed at the bottom of the EU price league during the summer. Producers must have confidence to invest. If prices don’t rise within our shores, then farmers and processors will have to look outside of our shores if we’re going to add value and make dairying profitable. I want to see an exciting and growing industry which will give the next generation the confidence to invest.” Mr Raymond also warned that Asda’s dedicated processor (Arla) won’t fill their new £150m dairy in Aylesbury if they fail to pay a fair farm gate milk price. NFU Cheshire County Chairman, Rob Ford, added: “We will have to use the export markets to ensure that you will pay us a fair price.”
Fly-tipping on private land still a major concern
Fly-tipping incidents on private land remain a serious issue for farming, says the NFU, despite new government figures revealing a decline in fly-tipping and an increase in enforcement action in the last year. The annual Defra fly-tipping in England statistics, released this week, showed a 13.5 per cent decrease in the number of incidents dealt with by local authorities in the last year compared to 2009/10. They also showed a 5.8 per cent increase in enforcement action to prevent, detect or take action against fly tipping. However, the NFU is concerned that an increase in action on public land may well have the knock-on effect of increasing fly-tipping incidents on private land where people are less likely to be punished, and of which there are no official statistics. NFU environment policy adviser Nicola Dunn said “Fly-tipping is still a major issue for our members, but one for which no official figures exist. That's why we are continuing to ask our members to fill in our online survey when they are fly-tipped. We need to be able to show government the true extent of the problem and to monitor trends. Without this data we're only getting half the picture”. Whenever you experience fly-tipping on your own land let us know about it by phoning in the details to 0870 840 0686 or by completing our online survey at http://www.nfuonline.com/Our-work/Environment/Waste/Fly-tipping-on-your-land-/
Our greatest lobbying asset – You!
Our Westminster team has published the first edition of a new member briefing, which should help you make the case for farming with your MP. The NFU’s broad membership is our greatest asset and one of the main weapons in our armoury that makes sure our voice is heard across the vast range of policy issues that can impact on farming. MPs take heed of what their constituents say – they rely on them for their job after all – so it’s vital that members take every opportunity to meet with their MPs and discuss the topical issues that, for better or for worse, are going to affect the way you run your businesses in future. Our new Political Lobbying Brief provides a monthly summary of current political developments and the key lobbying priorities for the organisation, giving guidance on the points you should be asking your representatives to follow up in Westminster, perhaps by writing to the relevant minister or tabling a debate in the House of Commons. Get all hold of all you need to get lobbying at NFU Online: http://www.nfuonline.com/News/Our-greatest-lobbying-asset--You
BCMS Opening Hours
The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) have released their Christmas and New Year opening hours. They are as follows…..
Friday December 23 Open as normal
Saturday December 24 Open as normal
Sunday December 25 Closed
Monday December 26 Closed
Tuesday December 27 Closed
Wednesday December 28 Open as normal
Thursday December 29 Open as normal
Friday December 30 Open as normal
Saturday December 31 Open as normal
Sunday January 1 Closed
Monday January 2 Closed
Tuesday January 3 onwards Open as normal
North West representatives needed up tenancy & upland policy forums
Keen to make your voice heard? Want to help shape our policies? The NFU is seeking applicants for its tenancy forum and its upland issues policy forum. For more information or for an application form contact Adam Briggs on 01695 554 912 or email adam.briggs@nfu.org.uk. The newly constituted forums will meet in early March after the 2012 NFU AGM
Don’t forget your Soil Protection Review
A reminder to SPS claimants that at least once every year they must review their Soil Protection Review 2010 version, for 2011, by 31 December 2011, with the exception of Part 4, Access to Waterlogged Land, which must have started to be completed from 1 January 2011. Farmers must carry out the measures that were identified in the Soil Protection Review 2010 version last year from 1 January 2011, this needs to be covered in the Review as required. When completing, updating and implementing the Soil Protection Review 2010 version farmers must do so in accordance with the instructions given in the Soil Protection Review 2010 version and the Cross Compliance Guidance for Soil Management 2010 edition. Use either the Soil Protection Review 2010 version template or give the same information in a similar format. The Soil Protection Review 2010 should not be returned to the Rural Payments Agency or Defra, but should kept on the farm in case of inspection. It forms an essential part of the cross compliance requirements which mean farmers can qualify for their payments. More information is available at www.rpa.gov.uk/crosscompliance/farmerguidance or from the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777.
FAO Sees "No Alternative" to Livestock Intensification
Intensive livestock production will play a key role in addressing global food security challenges over the coming decades, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said this week. But major gains in the efficiency of these systems will be needed as production is ramped up to meet rising global demand for animal protein, the FAO says in its 'World Livestock 2011' report. By 2050 global demand for animal protein will be two thirds higher than it is today - fuelled by rising populations and income growth in developing countries. Meat consumption is projected to rise nearly 73% by 2050; while dairy consumption will grow 58% over current levels. The report says much of this demand - particular in the world's burgeoning cities - will be met by large-scale, intensive animal-rearing operations. "As it stands, there are no technically or economically viable alternatives to intensive production for providing the bulk of the livestock food supply for growing cities," the report says.
Lower Alt with Crossens Pumped Drainage Flood Risk Management Strategic Plan
The Environment Agency (EA) has put together a Strategic Plan for the Alt with Crossens Review which sets out how water should be managed in the future. This is a consultation document and the EA are looking for feedback from farmers & growers. This could have a serious effect on the farmers and growers in the West Lancashire area. The consultation has been extended to the 31st January 2012. The NFU will be holding further meetings in the near future. Visit https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/re/nw/flood/alt/lower_alt_and_crossens_consultation to read the consultation and complete the feedback form. Alternatively there are hard copies available at the regional NFU office in Skelmersdale. For more info call Richard Potts on 01695 554 917.
New Website for Lancashire Rural Development Grants
A new website has been launched with information on rural grants in Lancashire. It contains relevant information on Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grants and the application process. It can be found at www.lancashire.gov.uk/ruralgrants
Have your say on the election of NFU officeholders
The NFU AGM in Birmingham in February will see the County Chairman and Council Delegates vote in the election of the NFU President, Vice President and Deputy President for the next two years. Your regional representatives are very keen to discuss the election with members so they can take a mandate from their respective counties when they make their vote at the AGM. With this in mind we have organised 3 regional county meetings where the election of officeholders will be top of the agenda. There will also be an update on the latest issues affecting the various farming sectors across the region as well as the most up to date information on CAP reform. The meetings have been arranged as follows:-
- Lancashire - Wednesday 4th January – The Swallow Hotel, Preston New Road, Samlesbury, Preston, Lancashire PR5 0UL, at 7.30pm
- Cheshire - Thursday 5th January – Brindley Hall Farm, Brindley, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8JA. Time to be confirmed
- Cumbria - Friday 6th January – The Crooklands Hotel, Crooklands, Kendal, Cumbria, LA7 7NW, at 12.30pm
These meetings will give you the chance to have a say in who should shape NFU policy over the next two years. All members are welcome to attend but we would ask you to confirm your attendance by contacting the NFU regional office on 01695 554 900.
WHAT’S ON?
Commercial Egg Producers Training Programme; 18th January – 21st March, Cheshire
Reaseheath College is once again running its hugely successful commercial egg producers training course. The course consists of 10 training sessions covering all matters relating to livestock, housing and egg production in either free range, barn or colony systems. Training takes place 1pm to 5pm on Wednesdays from 18th January to 21st March 2012 at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire. Training is subsidised by 70% RDPE funding at a cost of £45 per session. Funding is subject to post code eligibility. For more information or to book a place, contact Lisa Forbes – Tel: 01270 613195; Email: lisaforbes@reaseheath.ac.uk
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