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May 20, 2025
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UK - GB milk deliveries: April volumes soar to record high to start the new season
GB milk deliveries are estimated to have totalled 1,141 million litres in April, up 6.0% compared to the same month last year. Daily deliveries averaged 38.03 million litres.
Incentives for dairy producers have remained strong into April, resulting in a significant volume increase compared to the previous season. Daily deliveries have continued to climb into May.
Favourable dairy economics have encouraged year-on-year growth in deliveries since September. The milk to feed price ratio remains firmly in the expansion zone, almost at a 20 year high. However, lack of rainfall raises some concern to forage availability in the coming months.
Recent milk price announcements for May have mostly held firm, as lower volumes on the continent continue to support commodity prices.
AHDB
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UK - MPs call on Government to delay changes to inheritance tax reforms until 2027
A report by the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Friday 16 May) calls on the Government to delay announcing its final agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) reforms until October 2026, to come into effect in April 2027, saying a pause in the implementation of the reforms "would allow for better formulation of tax policy and provide the Government with an opportunity to convey a positive long-term vision for farming." It would also protect vulnerable farmers who would have "more time to seek appropriate professional advice".
MPs note the difficult economic and geopolitical circumstances and praise the Government's commitments to backing British produce and supporting farmers, but are concerned that "high-profile policies have been announced prior to the completion and publication of the strategies and reviews that Defra says will inform and guide its vision."
They raise concerns that changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 were made without adequate consultation, impact assessment or affordability assessment. This means that the impact of the changes "on family farms, land values, tenant farmers, food security and farmers in the devolved administrations" is "disputed and unclear" with a risk of producing unintended consequences. MPs say that "reforms threaten to affect the most vulnerable." They want the Government to consider alternative reforms before justifying its final approach.
The report refers to a March 2025 survey of UK farmers that found that before the Autumn Budget 70% felt optimistic about the future of their rural businesses, but that number fell to 12% after the Budget. The survey also said that 84% of farmers sampled feel that their mental health has been affected by the Autumn Budget with farmers citing the Sustainable Farming Incentive closure and changes to inheritance tax reliefs as the common areas creating concern.
The Committee supports the government's aim of reforming APR and BPR to close the loophole which allows wealthy investors to buy agricultural land to avoid inheritance tax, but notes that stakeholders and experts have proposed several alternative ways to reform these taxes so as to achieve this objective without harming small family farms, and asks the Government to consult on these proposals before publishing its Finance Bill in 2026.
The EFRA Committee calls on the Government to publish its evaluation of and rationale for following or not following alternative policy measures presented by stakeholders such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the National Farmers Union.
The Committee warns that the Government's sudden closing of the SFI "affected trust in the Government" and "left many farmers without the funding they expected and at risk of becoming unviable in the period before the next scheme is introduced". The Government has since announced it will allow SFI applications that were in progress within 2 months of 11 March to progress with restrictions.
The Committee calls for an alternative funding mechanism to be put in place no later than September 2025, to fill the gap in funding for those who missed out on the SFI24. MPs say the Government should set out, in their response to this report, what the next iteration of SFI will look like and the date it will be open for applications.
The full report published here
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UK - Rising paromomycin resistance forces rethink in calf scours management
Vets are being urged to reassess their approach to managing neonatal calf diarrhoea, following new evidence showing an alarming rise in resistance to paromomycin, a commonly used antibiotic for treating E.coli K99 infections.
The March 2025 Cattle Highlights Report from the Royal GD in the Netherlands reveals a concerning trend in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), showing that the proportion of paromomycin-resistant isolates has jumped from 48% in 2021 to 72% in 2024-indicating a significant shift in AMR patterns.
The report also highlights an increase in the detection of cryptosporidiosis in calves up to 14 days of age. While it is unclear whether paromomycin is being used to treat E.coli or cryptosporidiosis, the rising use of the antibiotic could be contributing to greater exposure and increased resistance in E.coli K99.
Dr Kat Baxter-Smith a vet advisor at biopharmaceutical and technology solutions provider MSD Animal Health, says that while paromomycin is often used as a matter of routine, when it is used extensively and routinely- especially when applied across the youngstock in whole herds-it could exacerbate the issue of AMR.
"What we need now is a mindset shift-moving away from routine antibiotic use and towards a more robust, preventative management strategy," she says. "It's not about eliminating treatment altogether but using it only when it is really needed."
She stresses that a proactive, preventative approach to managing neonatal calf diarrhoea alongside vaccination is the most effective way to control it in calves.
"Vaccination, clean pens, and ensuring that every calf receives the right volume and quality of colostrum are the real cornerstones of effective scour control.
"Using vaccines such as Bovilis Rotavec Corona for rotavirus, coronavirus, and E.coli and Bovilis Cryptium for Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most effective ways to reduce the incidence of neonatal diarrhoea. By vaccinating the dam, we ensure the calf has the best possible immunity at birth by ingesting the fortified colostrum and transition milk in the first days of life, which significantly reduces reliance on antibiotics and minimises disease risks.
"By embracing these proactive strategies, vets and farmers can take a crucial step towards safeguarding calf health, reducing reliance on antibiotics, and combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance."
View the full report here Highlights report cattle-March 2025 by Royal GD - Issuu
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DEADLINE APPROACHES... - Cream Awards entries - please send your entry by 31st May...
Put yourself forward, or nominate someone you know. www.creamawards.UK
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UK - What will the new UK-India Trade Deal mean for red meat and dairy?
A UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was announced on 6 May 2025. The AHDB outlines what is known about the deal and discusses the implications for red meat and dairy.
Background
The UK Government believes building closer links with India will boost the economy by providing opportunities for exports of goods and services. Forecasts suggest that population and economic growth in India are leading to a surge of Indian middle-class consumers with more disposable income. This means that, by 2030, India is expected to grow to be the third-largest economy in the world (World Economic Outlook, IMF).
Key aspects of the agreement include:
- Tariff reductions - with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on 90% of UK exports and the UK eliminating tariffs on 99% of Indian exports. We are waiting for the detail of how specific agricultural and food products will be impacted.
- Maintained food standards - the UK Government has stated that there is nothing in this agreement that will compromise the UK's high food standards and imports will still have to meet the same UK food safety and biosecurity standards.
- Labour mobility - there are provisions to ease visa regulations for Indian professionals.
Current UK-India Trade
India takes a protectionist stance to its domestic agriculture industry. As we outlined in our Growth Prospects for Agri-Food Exports study there are substantive tariff barriers including a 30% tariff on fresh/frozen beef, lamb and pork. Dairy tariffs are even higher at 42% for milk powders, 40% for butter and 32% on cheese.
These tariffs restrict trade between the UK and India. The graph below shows that current UK exports to India are very small accounting for just 196 tonnes of cheese. 178 tonnes of milk powders and limited volumes of butter and pork.
Figure 1. Current UK red meat and dairy exports to India (2024)
Source: Trade Data Monitor based on UK HMRC data
Continue reading this analysis about opportunities for UK red meat and dairy on AHDB's website.
AHDB
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UK - West farmers warn they need a month of wet weather
Farmers in the West have said they are concerned over recent low rainfall and "really need about a month of wet weather." It follows the Environment Agency's confirmation it has been the driest start to spring for nearly 70 years.
Across the region, water companies have said they currently have no supply concerns but Thames Water said it was "not confident we won't have to restrict usage," if the prolonged dry weather continues.
Bath dairy farmer Hugh Padfield said grass he feeds his cows has dried up, adding: "We have to hope and pray that the heavens open." The Met Office previously confirmed April 2025 saw the most sunshine in the UK since records began 115 years ago - with 47% more hours than the long-term average.
Mr Padfield, who runs the Bath Soft Cheese Company, said it has been such "incredibly dry weather . . . We're having to send the cows out to outlying fields which we were going to cut for silage." He said the clay soil on his land was "quite good at retaining the water" but once it dried out it needed a lot of rain to absorb water again. "What we're really needing is about a month of wet weather in the summer," he added.
The dry weather follows England's wettest 18-month period between October 2022 and March 2024, which caused damage to the soil, according the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs.
Angela Terry, a local environmental scientist and founder of the charity One Home, blames global warming for the increasing extreme weather. "We've gone from talking about what the impacts of what global warming might be to seeing them every season," she said. "We're just boomeranging from too much rain to too little rain and it has real implications for all of us."
Water company bosses and the National Farmers' Union are calling on the government to do more to ensure the driest parts of the UK have secure water supplies.
BBC
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UK - Get to grips with cattle genetics at upcoming Dumfriesshire Monitor Farm meeting
Find out more about making the most of advances in beef cattle genetics and how they can help your herd at the Dumfriesshire Monitor Farm summer meeting, now open for booking.
The open meeting, to which all are welcome, is on Tuesday 3 June, starting at 3pm at Barnbackle Farm, Lochfoot. During a tour to see the farm's cattle at grass, Monitor Farmer Richard McCornick will talk about his stock, including his Charolais herd which is known for producing bulls for local farmers. Besides the pedigree herd, Barnbackle runs 150 spring and autumn calving Sim-Luings, a small number of store cattle and 700 ewes.
During the afternoon, expert speakers will be discussing different areas of 'Getting to grips with genetics'. SRUC cattle production specialist Jillian Gordon will be discussing learnings from dairy beef and how these can be implemented in the suckler herd.
EBVs and Breeding Indexes will also be covered, including a discussion about what they are, how to interpret them, SNP keys or genomic breeding values and their role, and balancing traits when selecting breeding stock. The final piece of the puzzle, bull selection, will be discussed by James Hudson, Charolais Society secretary who will cover how to evaluate bulls, and some of the financials involved.
Booking is essential for catering purposes. No dogs or children under 16 permitted, and car parking is limited, so car share if possible. For biosecurity please ensure vehicles, clothing and footwear are clean before attending. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy/waterproof footwear.
'Getting to grips with genetics' is on Tuesday 3 June, 3-6.30pm at Barnbackle Farm, Lochfoot, DG2 8NX. Book here
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UK - Mooo-ve over oat milk, the coffee crowd's coming back around to dairy
Telegraph newspaper columnist Ed Cummings writes: When Oatly, the Swedish oat milk company, launched on the stock market in 2021, it was the herald of a new non-dairy dawn. Shares began trading at $22.20 per cent over their listing price, valuing the company - briefly - at USD15 billion. The company had celebrity cheerleaders, including Oprah Winfrey and Jay-Z. It advertised during the Super Bowl. There had already been signs of what was coming: in 2018, baristas up and down the UK were left twirling their moustaches in frustration at an oat-milk shortage. We presume the boring old dairy cows and their milkers watched their Nasdaq trackers with envy and deepening gloom, the hand-weavers of the nouvelle oat cuisine.
How times change. Oatly's advertising today comes with more than a whiff of lacto-free desperation. "I love Oatly in coffee if I don't know it's Oatly," pleads one advert I've seen on Tubes and buses. In another promotion the company has given away thousands of flat whites through the coffee shop Grind.
More than other alternative milks, oat milks - and Oatly in particular - were always marketed as archly superior ambassadors from a future in which the world had given up its cow-loving ways. "You'll join us one day," they seemed to say.
The change of tone to "begging for mercy" reflects a business that has spent years in decline. The value has fallen more than 97% since its peak after the IPO. Oatly has been buffeted by slowing sales, production problems and increased competition.
Oat milk makers may find a drop of consolation in the fact that the total oat milk market continues to grow. But it is slower than they hoped. And a large enemy has arisen from slumber. The usual joke is that it is young people who take their coffee order like their romantic partners: complicated, skinny, weak and vegan-friendly. But research shows that that most unglamorous of products, cow's milk, is enjoying a renaissance.
Sales of whole milk in the US rose 3.2% last year, only the second increase since the 1970s. Younger customers are wary of processed foods and high prices, and keen on fats and proteins. Put down the oat milk Grandad, it's not 2019. Investors will not be so quick to bet against the cow next time. In a coffee shop you are never far from a herd mentality.
Telegraph
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UK - EnviroSystems celebrates dual award win for sustainability and business leadership
The Business of the Year award was presented at the National Women in Agriculture Awards, this month. Sponsored by the National Farmers' Union, the award celebrates a female-led agricultural business that demonstrates consistent year-on-year growth, operational efficiency, financial strength, and a forward-thinking approach to technology and innovation.
Later in the same week, EnviroSystems received The Green Award at the North-West Family Business Awards, recognising family businesses that show outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability.
Founded by Liz Russell in 2001, EnviroSystems has grown steadily over the past two decades. Today, it employs a diverse team who continue to lead and drive the business forward. The company is best known for its award-winning product, EnviroBed a hygienic, sustainable bedding made from 100% recycled paper crumble - an environmentally friendly, low-carbon alternative to traditional bedding. The innovation has also earned EnviroSystems a Queen's Award for Enterprise, recognising its significant contribution to sustainable agriculture.
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UK - High-tech risk management app
In a unique new partnership, Geo Underwriting and Merit Advantage have teamed up to provide Geo customers with a discount on a state-of-the-art risk management app, designed specifically to meet the needs of farmers and estate managers.
The app works via QR codes, with each and every asset on the farm or estate, such as a tractor, combine harvester, building, fuel tank or power tool being given an individual QR code which allows farmers and estate managers and their staff to scan and quickly run a check before using it, or upload service and inspections records such as fire safety checks or annual servicing.
The app allows team members to log any issues or repairs on the system, so that when the QR code is next scanned it advises users where any rectifications or repairs are needed, as well as providing access to asset service history, risk assessments and a range of useful information about using farm equipment safely.
Once the farmer or estate manager has subscribed to the service, unlimited users are available so that their full team can access Merit Advantage and MeritAgCheck, which provides support with Health & Safety policy, risk and fire risk assessments, safe working practices, contractor management and COSHH requirements.
Merit Advantage has 6,500 users and over £1billion of assets currently under management.
www.meritcheck.co.uk/meritagcheck/
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UK - Bel UK Adds Protein Variant To Babybel Range
Bel UK has introduced Mini Babybel Protein, a new addition to its cheese snack line, in response to the increasing consumer interest in protein-rich diets. Mini Babybel Protein contains 5.2 grams of natural protein per portion and retains the nutritional benefits of the original Babybel, made from real cheese.
The brand noted the product is designed for on-the-go consumption, eliminating the need for preparation or artificial additives that are common in many protein products. Oliver Richmond, Marketing Manager for snacks, spreads and Ireland at Bel UK, said: "Protein cheese is still a relatively untapped category and presents a big opportunity, particularly when it comes to younger adults, particularly men." The product is rolling out in a six-net format in Tesco and Morrisons, with broader distribution planned for June and July. Additionally, a two-pack format will be introduced in the same recyclable packaging.
KamCity
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