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July 30, 2024
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BOOK NOW - 2024 Progressive Dairy Operators Conference
Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwickshire, September 5th.
Kite Consulting and British Dairying are once again holding a 2024 Progressive Dairy Operators Conference.
We'll challenge your thinking on the key drivers in your business from profit to production and answer the question:
"What metrics should I be measuring to move my dairy business forward faster?"
Speakers include: Rob Goodwin - Longlands Farm; Sion Parry, Genetics and Data Analysis - Cogent; Maimie French & Tillie Williams, Kite Consulting; Matt Ryan, Head of Farmer Relationships - Oxbury; Mel Shipley, Senior Agricultural Relationship Manager - Oxbury, Miles Oakley - Oakley Farming
Tickets are £100 + VAT and include all day refreshments and lunch. Limited trade places are available at £200 + VAT
For queries, contact enquiries@kiteconsulting.com
To book your place & for more info, please click here
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UK - Pembrokeshire Creamery launches Blas y Tir Welsh milk brand
As the only BRCGS-accredited liquid milk facility in Wales, it is exclusively producing 100% authentic Welsh milk for retailers in Wales - milk from Welsh cows, fed on Welsh pasture then processed and bottled in Pembrokeshire. The Blas y Tir (Welsh for 'Taste of the Land') brand is owned by sister-business Puffin Produce under which it supplies Welsh produce, such as Pembrokeshire Earlies PGI and Welsh Leeks PGI grown by local farmers and packed in Wales.
The new Blas y Tir Welsh milk will be available in 2 litre, 1 litre and 1 pint bottles with options for skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk for sale in supermarkets throughout Wales. Pembrokeshire Creamery is in discussion with a number of retailers and hopes to see Blas y Tir Welsh milk on supermarket shelves from September this year. The bottle design reflects the strong connection to Wales and the Welsh landscape, featuring cows grazing on coastal pastures, the Red Dragon flag and 'Llaeth Cymraeg', Welsh Milk in Welsh.
Huw Thomas, CEO of Pembrokeshire Creamery and Puffin Produce said: "We are proud to be extending our Blas y Tir brand to another grocery staple, giving consumers in Wales the opportunity to support Welsh farmers and producers. We know from experience with the Blas y Tir brand, that shoppers in Wales are much more likely to put a product in their basket if it has a clear, authentic Welsh provenance.
"Since we opened Pembrokeshire Creamery, Welsh milk is now being produced here in Wales for Welsh supermarkets, instead of being sent over the border to be processed, offering customers a more sustainable option which is authentically 100% Welsh.
Around £20 million has been invested in the new state-of-the-art creamery. The development of Pembrokeshire Creamery was supported by the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council with the development of the Pembrokeshire Food Park site and with additional funding from Welsh Government grants and HSBC.
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UK - Farmers warned of potential risk to livestock posed by fusarium and ergot in grain
Livestock farmers in the UK are being encouraged by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to be familiar with how to spot for signs of ergot and fusarium, as there could be an increased presence of the two types of fungi in grain harvested this summer.
Instances of ergot and fusarium are likely to have increased because of the wetter than average weather during the 2024 growing period.
Although harvested crops being processed through a mill will be thoroughly checked, the risk remains where grain is being used directly on farm to feed livestock.
Ergot, which can affect wheat, barley, rye, triticale and oats, is particularly toxic and has the potential to make humans and livestock seriously ill. It can constrict blood vessels and damage the nervous system, resulting in seizures, loss of muscle strength, poor co-ordination and in the most severe cases, death. Lameness is often the first sign, followed by an increase in temperature and respiratory rate.
Ollie Johnson, AHDB Head of Farming Systems and Agronomy, says: "At harvest, ergot can be found as a hard, black mass in place of the grain and can be mistaken in a heap for rodent faeces. The only effective way to remove it from a pile is by using a colour sorter which can be sourced through many mobile seed treatment companies.
"In the field, there is no easy solution to remove ergot other than to use an appropriate seed treatment at drilling, though managing grassweeds and good rotations can help - unfortunately this is much too late for harvest 24."
Fusarium can affect all the major cereal crops (wheat, barley, oats), as well as maize. It releases mycotoxins and is particularly dangerous to both humans and livestock. In cattle, fusarium poisoning can reduce feed intake by reduced appetite, hamper immune system health, and cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Extensive rainfall during the flowering period, which is around late May and early June, as was the case in many areas of the UK this year, increases the risk of this infection.
"For cereal crops out in the field, farmers should be looking for 'white heads', which are ears that appear to have gone white while the rest of the plants appear greener," adds Mr Johnson.
"Once harvested, contaminated grains will appear shrivelled with pink tips and/or black patches and are impractical to be removed."
Maize grown in a continuous rotation, and wheat after maize is particularly high risk. Wheat crops that didn't receive a fusarium active fungicide, such as Prothioconazole or Pydiflumetafen, at or before flowering should be closely investigated ahead
AHDB
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Lely helping farmers realise potential for profit
Flexible feeding requirements and future innovation with Lely Vector.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL_v51gBy0c
Healthy resilient soil
Jade Prince of the Hutchinson Soil health team demonstrates soil structure, chemistry and biology in the soil pit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1vdJumY-ww
Eco Feed Beef on Dairy
Text: Explaining a new trait that encompasses the genetic aspects behind feed efficiency due to progress with genetic selection which can make a massive difference to milk revenues
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VOofy7U4Dc
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Global - Foreign milk production strong in Australia, down in Argentina
USDA's Foreign Ag Service says two of the top five exporters had a drop in milk production. Argentina's production fell 7.4% and New Zealand was down seven-tenths of a percent. Meanwhile, Australia's production rose 3.3% while the European Union was up one-tenth of a percent and the U.S. rose two-tenths of a percent. The EU still produces the most milk with 102.9 million tons projected this year.
Favourable weather and good pasture conditions are leading to Australia's increased production. USDA expects them to produce 8.8 million tons of milk, all while adopting technology and feed management practices to become more efficient. Although the EU dominates cheese exports, sixth-place Australia's cheese exports are expected to jump 28% this year.
In Argentina, the Foreign Ag Service says their dairy industry is grappling with challenges brought on by the country's economic crisis. Along with the 7.4% year-over-year decline in milk production, the country has seen a 13% reduction just since January when compared to the first six months of 2013. Domestic consumption is down, but their exports are more competitive after Argentina's currency was devalued.
In the butter market, exports are falling in three of the top five exporting markets, with the United Kingdom dropping 21%. The US and Belarus increased butter exports by 3%. USDA expects China will be importing more butter this year due to higher domestic consumption, with most of that demand being met by New Zealand and the EU.
BrownfieldAgNews
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UK - Cheese retail market on the rise
New research from The Knowledge Bank has revealed that British consumers have extended their love of cheese, developing a taste for new artisan products, and finding new ways to enjoy the household staple. In some cases, viral trends on TikTok have boosted varieties to their highest level of sales in 40 years.
Some 80% of shoppers enjoy cheese as a weekly household staple, and cheddar remains the nation's favourite variety - with 69% having enjoyed it in the last three months. However, innovative artisan producers have shown that there are other routes for growth in the market - with speciality cheeses enjoying a popularity boom that has translated to a 12% rise in sales across all GB grocery channels. The soft cheese retail market has also experienced some interesting trends, as a decades-old favourite has returned to prominence.
The product in question has harnessed the power of social media to challenge consumer perception and boost sales. The stinky staple, cottage cheese, has seen its popularity surge among younger, health-conscious consumers. Its creamy texture, alongside nutritional benefits such as a high protein content, have hit home with TikTok and Instagram users, where there is a growing trend among food influencers to transform it into almost anything, from cookies to ice cream.
Anne-Laure Farrar, UK Market Insight Manager from The Knowledge Bank, explained: "The importance of viral trends cannot not be denied, and witnessing some varieties blow up in popularity thanks to TikTok and Instagram is brilliant as it can breathe new life into long-established products which have been able to capture a new audience." Sales in Scotland reflect this, where cottage cheese has outperformed other soft cheese varieties in growth - representing 14.1% in sales and 12.7% in volume respectively. Since May last year, Stirlingshire-based Graham's Family Dairy noted a 40% rise in cottage cheese sales - to levels not seen since the 1980s - and attributed them to this rise in demand for high-protein products, retro trends, and viral social media posts.
Changing consumer preferences have also been noted by Paul Grant, Chairman of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board (SDGB), as Scottish cheese brands benefit from harsher and costlier conditions on imports. He said: "We are very encouraged by the response to our homegrown companies and the growth they are achieving. This is part of a journey we are on - there's no doubt a role for Scottish cheese in UK and international markets, and the results so far have been very encouraging and indeed, transformative, for some companies."
The SDGB is financed by the Scottish Government, supporting the growth of Scottish cheese (and dairy) in UK and International markets. In 2021, it set a target of £200m additional sales of Scottish cheeses by 2030, of which more than £50m has already been reached.
The full details of The Knowledge Bank cheese category report are available via their website which provides access to a range of market research, data analysis and consumer insights to the Scotland Food & Drink industry.
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UK - It's getting hot out there…
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Bonanza Calf Nutrition's recent heat stress survey which ran online and at farm walks and events.
"With the dreadful spring weather, we did wonder how sensible it was to run the survey but, if you think of it in terms of weather-related stress, 2024 was just the year to run it!" says Bonanza's Mollie Phipps. "After the wet, cold spring, then overcast warmer days and now regular sunny days with temperatures in the mid-high 20'Cs, all of us, including calves have had to adapt."
Just under 200 people responded to the survey which aimed to establish how well people understand how to spot heat stress and what to do to prevent it.
Heat stress is assessed by calculating the THI - the temperature index felt by the calf. This is determined by temperature against relative humidity. As humidity in the UK is relatively high, this raises the critical THI. Therefore, British calves can experience signs heat stress at much lower temperatures compared to the rest of Europe.
The survey asked what the main symptoms of heat stress are:
"Providing shade, getting the air moving and ensuring plentiful clean water are all helpful," Mollie adds. "Using a feed such as Shine Heiferstart also supports calves at times of high temperatures as it contains an additive which trials have shown helps reduce its impact."
Work in Italy, in conjunction with the University of Milan over two years, showed the Bonanza Heat Stress additive reduced respiration rates by seven-eight breaths/minute, and rectal temperatures (0.5'C) for any given THI. Weight gain improved by as much as 30% during this period and calf health treatments fell by a third when fed Shine Heiferstart with Bonanza's Heat Stress additive.
What are people doing on-farm to reduce the impact of heat stress?
Go to calfchat.com/heat-stress-in-calves/13/09/2023/ to find out more.
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UK - Time to change attitudes to farm health and safety
Farm health and safety is not a box-ticking exercise; it needs to be taken seriously. That's according to James Harris, Recruitment Director at staff specialist REAL Success. "People still think health and safety is imposed upon them, but we have to cross the bridge between compliance and culture. As long as it's a box-ticking exercise it's not true farm safety," says Harris.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, the agricultural sector has a fatal injury rate 18 times higher than the average across all industries. In the past year alone, 34 people lost their lives on UK farms, while countless others suffered severe injuries. "These statistics highlight a critical need for change in how health and safety is approached on farms," he says.
"Most accidents are as a result of habit, haste, fatigue or improperly maintained machinery. Safety shouldn't be an afterthought, it should be a forethought - we often fit an alarm on our houses after being burgled." Currently, the attitude towards health and safety is often one of compliance rather than culture. "Compliance implies following rules because they are required, not valued. In contrast, a health and safety culture integrates these practices into daily operations, making them as important as tending to livestock or maintaining equipment."
And changing these attitudes poses a significant challenge. "Farming is often seen as inherently risky, with accidents viewed as part of the job. This attitude needs to shift towards a proactive approach to safety," says Harris. "Training and education are essential in this effort, providing farmers and workers with the skills to identify and mitigate risks. Farm safety is also about how hard you're expecting people to work - accidents happen when people are tired."
Health and safety must be a continuous effort. "Regular risk assessments, safety drills, and the use of protective equipment must become routine. Leadership is crucial - farm owners and managers must set an example by showing that safety is a core value." A robust health and safety culture benefits farms beyond reducing accidents. "It can increase productivity by minimising disruptions caused by injuries, and enhance farming's reputation, therefore making it more appealing to potential recruits. In a time when many sectors struggle to attract talent, this could be a significant advantage."
REAL-success.
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Canada - Dairy industry receives CAD8.5 million earmarked for traceability and quality assurance
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced CAD8.5 million for two projects led by Dairy Farmers of Canada. "Dairy farms are at the heart of so many communities across the country, and I know just how hard our dairy farmers work to provide us with top-quality products while caring for their animals and the environment. Today's investment is about giving Dairy Farmers of Canada the support they need to help farmers adopt sustainable practices to lower emissions, and improve the traceability and safety of dairy products."
The funding is geared at helping to improve existing producer support tools, such as the national dairy cattle traceability program, DairyTrace, and the related proAction quality assurance program, which provides a framework for high standards of farming. DFC President David Wiens says the AAFC investments will help the Canadian dairy industry find long-term success in safety and sustainability.
DFC will be receiving up to CAD5,000,000 over five years to advance sustainability and public trust in the dairy industry, leveraging the proAction quality assurance program. The proAction program ensures Canadian dairy farms maintain high standards in terms of environmental impact, food safety, animal care, and more.
CentralAlbertaOnline
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UK - LAA initiatives making the mart and farming environment a safer place
As part of its on-going initiative to promote health and safety in the livestock market and wider farming environment, the Livestock Auctioneers' Association (LAA) has launched MartSafe 3.0, the third year of curriculum for its in-person training programme for livestock market staff.
The MartSafe Training programme addresses the key requirements and responsibilities within livestock markets, providing specialist advice, training and information on best practice through engaging and interactive exercises, practical tasks and relevant video, delivered in-person by an LAA trainer.
Originally launched in 2022, the bespoke health and safety training programme has been met with high praise from across industry and government, with the LAA delivering sessions to over 2,000 participants within the first two years. "Since launching the initiative, we have developed the curriculum, year-on-year, incorporating recaps of core topics from previous sessions, whilst adding new and relevant content to the programme, all based around the four key pillars of animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour and animal welfare," explains Zanna Dennis, LAA Development Officer.
"This year, we are pleased to be working with the DPJ Foundation to include a specialist training unit based around mental health and suicide awareness for market staff, recognising the growing industry crisis and important role market staff play in engaging with and supporting our farming communities," she adds.
Designed to support market staff to recognise and address the signs of poor mental health or suicide, and provide signposts to further professional support, this new module is a key addition. "Our livestock markets are proven to be a crucial touchpoint for the farming community. Quite often the auctioneer, or market staff, are the shoulder to lean on, or the only ear for farmers to share their concerns or anxieties, and often these are concerns hidden from family and colleagues," continues Dennis. "To provide training for our market staff to identify and be aware of issues that may well manifest into something more serious, we feel is a very welcome addition to our training programme," she says.
"It also lends itself to the wider issue of safety in the workplace, and looking after yourself. We all know that if you are not 100% focussed on the job in hand, and your attention is drawn to wider concerns, this is when accidents are more likely to happen."
Kate Miles, charity manager of the DPJ Foundation, who are kindly supporting this new training unit, says, "The livestock market is a vital hub for livestock farmers and is more than simply a place to trade stock. It provides a chance to connect, share concerns and update on the industry. Market staff play a vital role as familiar and trusted faces and are really well placed to notice if someone is not themselves."
"When the LAA asked to work with us on creating their MartSafe module, we jumped at the chance as this is a key way to build confidence amongst market staff and reach more people within the industry," she adds.
LivestockAuctioneersAssociation
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UK - Sweet spot for ice cream - what are the opportunities?
In the last year, spending on ice cream has grown significantly by 6.9% in the retail sector, a trend observed across many food and drink categories. Kim Heath, AHDB Lead Retail Insight Lead, analyses opportunities to boost ice cream sales and discusses the current state of the market, identifying potential growth areas despite challenges such as price inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Here is a summary of the key points:
- Inflation Impact: While spending on ice cream has increased by 6.9% YoY, due to inflation, as unit sales are down by 4.4% (Kantar, 52 w/e 9 June 2024) due to the cost-of-living crisis.
- At-home Socialising: Ice cream is often eaten as a dessert but there are opportunities to link it more to at home socialising such as 'movie nights' or when hosting friends. This can be done through promoting evening meal deals and tapping into different formats such as snacking and sharing products.
- Indulgent Flavours: Retailers can also tap in with indulgence through producing exciting, experimental flavours to link in with out-of-home trends to increase shopper penetration.
- Sustainability and Quality: Cost-of-living is easing for some consumers as inflation slows and wages grow, reputational factors will rise the consumer agenda. Highlighting sustainability credentials and promoting high-quality British products on packs could help boost sales to more environmentally conscious consumers
Read the full analysis here
AHDB
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