Price Watch
Reports on a meeting with other European farming groups to look at developing closer working links
FROM the Beeston Review, w/c April 21 CATTLE Best clean raced away to 236p/ kg for a smart beast from John Gate. A powerful model from a Cheshire “gentleman farmer” weighing 665kg made 220p/kg to gross £1,463 – the day’s top price in the lump. Prime quality was all comfortably 190-200p and it was great to see a few old friends returning to Beeston – remember, it’s stock and trade that brings the buyers. Bull trade very firm once again, a couple of handy continentals to 193 and 191 more needed. Angus x to 174, Herefords to 170 and some good black and whites, the best of which sold to 174p/kg grossing £1,226 for Mark Eden. POULTRY No poultry sales currently taking place at Beeston. PIGS Porkers average £130.75, Cutters average £ 125.12, Baconer average £135.22. More on offer met another fantastic trade, don’t miss the boat, sell some culls. Best sows over 80p to a top of 88p/kg and even a Tamworth at 82p. 1 boar ave 58 - 9 sows 64 - 86 ave 78.61 SHEEP Overall average: new season 278.9p/kg - old season 180.1p/kg
An excellent entry of new season lambs provoked a great reaction from all our regular buyers with several butchers happy to pay a premium price for a premium product. Claire Tomlinson saw her 42.5kg texel crosses top of the day, heading to Tony Boons meat emporium in Chelford. With Mark Hazlehurst’s best pen making 336p/kg to Leek butchers Meakin & Son. EGGS Free Range medium eggs 90p, free range small eggs 50p, goose eggs £1.00, duck £2.20, turkey 80p, bantam eggs 60p POTATOES Melody £6.00, Melody 12.5kg £2.50 FRUIT & VEG Leeks x 10Ib £2.50, red onions x 5kg £2.00, onions x 10kg £2.00,rhubarb x 6kg £5.00, dirty parsnip x 10ib £2.00. PRODUCE Winter barley straw £92 per tonne, small baled hay £122, £111, £110 per tonne, small baled meadow hay £3.20 per bale, round bale cattle hay £22 per bale, round bale cattle haylage £39 per tonne, big bale winter wheat straw £76 per tonne.
IWAS part of an National Farmers Union group who met recently with representatives from farming organisations in France, Germany and Spain in Frankfurt to discuss crop protection issues.
The issues raised during the discussions resonated with all parties.
We all have the same concerns with the European regulatory system for authorising active ingredients in pesticides.
The overwhelming concern for everyone present was the increasing politicisation of the regulatory system.
Although we have concerns with the hazard-based approach of the European Commission there is a system in place which allows the authorisation of active substances.
But increasingly this system is being undermined by non-govermnental organisations (NGOs) and members of the European Parliament. The reapproval of glyphosate highlights the flaws in the system.
Germany, as the rapporteur member state (ie that which reports on meetings), the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), and the commission all recommended full reapproval of glyphosate for 15 years last year.
However, NGOs were able to prevent this happening by airing concerns over glyphosate’s possible carcinogenicity.
While it is clear glyphosate has become a lightning rod for wider issues, including GM crops and the influence of agri-chemical companies, the system should never have been allowed to be hijacked in this manner.
During the discussions I was able to present to the group all the work the NFU has been doing on glyphosate.
By engaging with MPs and MEPs, farmers have been able to get their voices heard in Brussels and influence the wider public debate.
Farmers in France, Germany and Spain can now follow our example so the messages about the importance and safety of glyphosate get to MEPs from several states, not just the UK.
The day’s discussions were wideranging – including the commission’s proposed endocrine disruptor definition; neonicotinoids and the proposed extension of the ban to non-flowering crops; buffer zones and bystander exposure; banning the use of plant protection products in Ecological Focus areas; the upcoming European elections; and MEPs tabling motions to discuss these issues.
As well as sharing problems, we talked about solutions and how other member states are lobbying to ensure farming’s voice is heard.
We came away from the meeting with lots of ideas on how we can work more collaboratively as a group.
We realise we need to be more active with MEPs and, as a group, we plan to co-ordinate our approaches to politicians in Europe from now on.
So, although we didn’t come up with any magic bullets, we did come away with ideas on how we can co-operate better to achieve a common goal.