The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Agricultural museum jibe backfires
The claim by the Trump administration ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnston, that the EU is an “agricultural museum” and that the UK’S future lay in accepting US standards seems to have backfired.
He claimed the future of agriculture lies in controversial products such as chlorine-washed chicken and hormonetreated beef, but this has renewed pressure for the government to commit to maintaining European and UK standards.
The US claims that accepting their standards would be central to a trade deal, but this would effectively close the UK out of the EU 27 because of concerns there about import substitution.
The government’s suggestions that it would use reduced tariffs to keep down food prices after a no-deal Brexit has also triggered criticism from the farming lobby. The RSPCA has demanded assurances that animal welfare standards will be part of future trade deals.
Meanwhile, Ireland has continued to seek further details of the commitment from the EU that farm incomes will be protected there if it loses out from the impact of Brexit on its biggest food export market in the UK.
Signs of stability in dairy markets
The latest figures from the EU Milk Market Observatory point to stable conditions on dairy markets.
Prices eased slightly in January, the latest month for which figures are available, but only by around 1.4% against December.
World prices are generally stable, with the latest Global Dairy Trade auction in New Zealand showing an increase for most commodities.
The market has been helped by the EU all but disposing of its stockpile of milk powder from the 2015-16 dairy crisis.
EU milk production for the full year of 2018 was up by a modest 0.9%, partly because of the impact of the drought.
On the cost side, feed prices remain static but energy costs have risen significantly for dairy farms.
Macron launching green crusade
French president Emmanuel Macron has sought to launch a green crusade. In a bid to put France at the centre of the climate-change debate he is calling for Europe to commit to zero carbon by 2050 and to a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2025.
He claims in his open letter to “European citizens” that climate must guide all European policy, from the Central Bank to the CAP.
He is also calling for a European food safety force, although it is hard to see how that would differ from the European Food Safety Authority which has been in existence for some time.
It is difficult to understand Macron’s motives, although,with falling poll numbers and the yellow vest protests, he has become something of a lameduck president.