BPEX Weekly: December 4 2009

Marketing News

Glorious Gammon Latest

See Anthea Turner video on how to cook gammon, click here

Gammon Sarnie drop

Gammon sandwiches will be delivered to the major London radio stations on Weds 9th Dec, to the following breakfast shows/presenters to raise awareness of the campaign even further. They will receive a ‘DIY’ gammon sandwich ‘kit’ with a bread roll, chunks of gammon and a pot of mustard. That way the presenters can save this for when they get off air or eat it then.

Listen out for any mentions. 

Wake Up to Wogan (Radio 2)

Capital Breakfast with Johnny Vaughan and Lisa Snowdon

Sarah Kennedy on BBC Radio 2 (6.30am)

Ian Camfield No Nonsense Breakfast Show XFM

Breakfast with James Cannon & Erika North on Gold FM

Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott (8am)

LBC Nick Ferrari 1152 AM  / 97.4 FM

The Christian O’Connell Show on Absolute Radio (best between 7 and 8am)

The Breakfast Show on Magic 105.4 (Presenter – Neil Fox)

Advertising

As part of the BPEX sponsorship for MTJ’s Butchers Shop of the Year, for more info click here and to support further the Gammon campaign an advert will feature in the winners round up pages to be featured in the MTJ supplement, MTJ Extra, dated 11th December.

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For a quick update and some general information points on marketing activities the Autumn/Winter update is now available to download by clicking here.

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Large public sector account looking for manufacturers of frozen sausage rolls and frozen black pudding. Sausage rolls are required in cases of 60 x 4.5" (3,041 cases every 3 months) and also as cases of individually wrapped rolls in cases of 35 x 150gm (4,639 cases every 3 months).  Black pudding must be Quick frozen and in packs of 10 x 1 x 1.3Kg (870 cases every 3 months).  Please register your interest by e-mailing tony.goodger@bpex.org.uk

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Despite claims by major retailers following pressure from BPEX there has been little movement in visibility of British/QSM on pork in the latest period. This is very disappointing given the strong on–going demand from consumers not only for pork and pork products but also for provenance and British/QSM.

See the full statistics by clicking here.

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South West Winter Fair

The South West Winter Fair is on this weekend, December 7th. It is at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Bridgwater, Deveon and for the first time they are running a Sausage Competition, which BPEX are sponsoring.  For further information click here.

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Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week: NVZ Reminder

For holdings in an NVZ area newly designated in the 2008 regulations, the NVZ rules will commence from 1st January 2010.

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It is that time of year again… The BPEX 2010 wall planner has hopefully landed on your doorsteps this week. Produced by the Knowledge Transfer (KT) team, the large wall planner has a new feature this year providing space to track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as well as contact information and photos of the regional KT managers.

Plus, there are monthly reminders and important dates for the diary next year, including the second annual BPEX KT conference for producers on 16th March and the British Pig and Poultry Fair in May.

Miriam Drewett of BPEX said: “Many producers look forward to receiving the new BPEX planner and copies get snapped up in no time every year! Routine planning on a pig unit is very important and, with space to write on and a due to farrow calendar, I’m sure this year will be no different.

“There are also practical tips and timely reminders, making it a useful addition to any farm office or staffroom. The BPEX wall planner remains very popular on farm.

“Don’t forget producers are welcome to contact the KT team for further advice on any area of practical production throughout the year.”

If anyone has not yet received a copy of the planner in the post, they can ask their Regional KT Manager for a copy, pick one up at any of the regional BPEX events or e-mail: kt@bpex.org.uk to request one.

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Pig producers are set to reap the returns from renewable energy under a new ‘feed-in tariff’. To help producers identify their best option for investment, BPEX has produced four new factsheets covering:

• wind turbines
• solar heat and electricity
• heat pumps (ground and air)
• biomass (woodchip and pellets)

The energy industry has proposed changes to the way farmers are paid for producing renewable energy, with the ‘feed-in tariff’ due to come in next April.

Under the proposals, farmers will be paid for all the renewable energy they generate including what is used on farm. Plus, as well as saving the cost of buying in energy, they may also be paid extra for renewable energy they export to the National Grid – a win-win situation.

Under the new system the net payment farmers receive for a kWh of energy produced may be as much as 36.5p compared with the current 4.5p, depending on the technology used.

All of these technologies can be adopted on pig farms to replace the need to purchase fuel. As an example, an 11kW wind turbine could pay back on the investment in as little as eight years, without support from outside grants or funding.

More information on grant funding is available on the factsheets.

To download the factsheets visit the BPEX Environment Hub. For further independent advice contact Charles Baines, BPEX, on 02476 478798.

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The first BPEX producer study tour was a big success. A group of 10 producers from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset travelled to Holland. The question was: what ideas, systems or techniques could they apply at home to help close the physical performance gap between Great Britain and Holland?

BPEX Knowledge Transfer Manager Helen Thoday led the two day tour, visiting three different farms near Eindhoven in the south. Sterksel Research Centre, part of Wageningen University, was the first stop. It is both a student centre and modern pig farm with 300 sows and 2,400 finishing pigs.

Next was Provimi Research Farm, where the group saw a new innovation about to enter the UK industry being used: the ‘rescue deck’ is a new concept to help deal with improved born alive figures, space requirements and protecting health.

The study tour’s final visit was to commercial pig producer Maarten Rooijakkers. Maarten runs a straw-based public farm - the unit is open 7 days a week and is observed through large glass panels. Maarten produces over 28 pigs per sow per year in large sow groups on straw.

Producer Nick Dymond and his team are now aiming for his 750 sows to be housed in large groups in a building like Maarten’s in three years from now. Nick said: “I believe we can equal Dutch performance, but not only that with our health advantage, we can better it.” Robert Lasseter added: “My thanks to Helen and BPEX for organising an excellent tour. It has convinced me that we need to invest in training ourselves up, and invest more in our buildings. We have already started to implement our version of Sterksel's fostering policy.”

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A date in last week's item on NVZs was incorrect. These are the correct dates together with further information. Calculation of manure N farm limit – April 2010 (2011 in new NVZs), Storage calculations – April 2009 (2010 in new NVZs), Risk Map with temporary manure storage sites marked (January 2010). For free and independent NVZ advice in the Thames and Southern region visit www.crosscompliance.org.uk/cms/nvz or call 0845 345 1302.

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'The Dash for Gas' – a practical look at anaerobic digestion.

Britain is facing the prospect of 80% of its gas having to come from overseas by 2015. This will cause a massive increase in the cost of gas and fuel poverty for millions of people.

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association’s (ADBA) First National Conference on 16th December will put anaerobic digestion on the map and demonstrate why it is light years ahead in the race for renewable energy and a carbon free future.

The conference’s key note speakers will highlight the value of anaerobic digestion in terms of energy security, the benefits of AD, waste management and meeting renewable energy targets, while industry experts will address issues with funding, regulation and standards and the types of AD plant suitable for various feedstocks.

To register for this event or for more information, email Louise Wallace louise.wallace@adbiogas.co.uk or visit http://www.adbiogas.co.uk/.

Venue: One Great George Street, Westminster, London.

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National News:

Latest BPHS Dates

Please be advised that the planned assessment day at Tulip Ashton on 1st December has been postponed until 22nd December. We apologise for any inconvenience

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Environmental Impact

The environmental impact and carbon footprint of English pig production are completely interwoven and the industry is seeking to begin to tackle both at the same time.

Two reports were launched this week looking at the carbon footprint of pig production together with the sustainability of the industry.

They pose many challenges but the industry is already seeking and introducing ways to tackle those challenges.

There is no magic bullet to solve all the problems in one fell swoop, the answer will be 1000s of small improvements which will end up having a much greater impact.

The first report was Scoping Life Cycle Assessment of Pork Production, estimating the environmental impact of pork production and identifying opportunities for improvement.

The second was Pigs and the Environment, which looks at how BPEX can work to enhance the environmental sustainability of pork production.

Like all economic activity, pork production causes environmental impacts; these are primarily climate change, air pollution, water pollution and loss of biodiversity. These impacts tend to be lower for pork products than for beef and lamb, but higher than for poultry.

BPEX Head of Marketing Chris Lamb said: "The English pig industry has already taken major steps to improve efficiency and, as a consequence, cut CO2 and other environmental impacts.

"As the industry has a comparatively small number of producers, positive changes are relatively easier to introduce and this has been part of the reason for the excellent response.

"The pig industry is determined to participate fully in the environmental debate and play its part in reducing GHG emissions.

"The launch of the two reports is only the start and we are looking forward to tackling the challenges of engaging this subject and cutting the industry's impact on the environment."

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Sir Paul McCartney didn't have it all his own way when he went to Brussels to advocate his Meat-Free Mondays campaign.

But Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness said: "We were told (at school) to give up meat on Friday to save our soul, and now we are being told to give up meat on Monday to save our planet and, frankly, neither will work."

"I believe agriculture and livestock are part of the problem, but they are not the problem.

"European agriculture has made huge efforts with success to reduce emissions and research is pointing us in the direction of further improvements."

She said livestock was crucial in the developing world, where nutrition from meat products and milk was vitally important:

"Sir Paul McCartney is not advocating taking meat away from the diet altogether and I welcome that. Those who do say that, I disagree with that perception."

Earlier Tory MEP and agriculture spokesman Richard Ashworth commented: "Cheap gimmicks like this will harm our attempts to deal with the problem. The farming industry is truly sustainable and could easily become carbon neutral in the near future."

Mr Ashworth added: "By his slogan 'Less Meat = Less Heat' Sir Paul is deflecting public attention away from the really big issues of climate change and onto an issue that will have little to no impact. That's why I say he is muddled, misleading and wrong."

Fellow Tory MEP Robert Sturdy commented: "Focusing on a single issue as a way of saving the planet is irresponsible and will be counterproductive in the long run. It is likely that we will become more dependant on other imported sources of protein, such as soya, which will lead to an increase in the amount of rainforest felled to make way for cultivation."

The European Farmers' organisation COPA also attacked the plan as an assault on the industry.

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BPEX is inviting everyone who works in the allied industry to a BPEX Update. All are welcome to come and find out what BPEX has in store for pig industry organisations and their customers over the next three years.

The BPEX Update is a brand new initiative with three free events scheduled for January 2010:

12th - Ramada Inn, Wetherby; 13th - Brome Grange, Nr Eye; 14th - Holiday Inn, Swindon

The afternoon will give attendees opportunity to meet the local BPEX team, find out what is happening in their region and learn more about the funding opportunities available to help them support their customers.

Agenda

14:00 Working together - funding and opportunities available

14:40 Knowledge Transfer Team - what are we up to in your area?

15:20 BPEX Strategy - what does it mean to you?

16:00 Feedback/discussion

To register a place at this free event please call Tess Howe on 07779 321078 or email: tess.howe@bpex.org.uk

(Full details of the venue will be sent out when you register)

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Energy for young pigs sucking their mothers is supplied in the form of milk sugar (lactose) and milk fat, the latter being a more concentrated source of mega joules.

The fat content of milk through lactation is a direct reflection of:-

a) The body condition of the sow throughout lactation – the more body fat the greater the fat content of the milk

b) The fat content of the diet

While high milk fat levels might not necessarily be reflected in the weaning weights of the piglets, a higher fat reserve in the piglets will assist post-weaning establishment.

In addition to attending to body condition at farrowing, producers should discuss the fat requirements for lactating sows with their nutritional advisor.

See BPEX Action for Productivity sheet 20, Condition Scoring of Sows.

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International News:

Climate Change Survey

A special Eurobarometer survey, commissioned by the European Commission, has just been published (The interviews were conducted in August-September 2009 among 26,719 citizens in the 27 EU Member States.)

Here are the main findings:

- 63% of citizens consider climate change as a very serious problem and 24% a fairly serious problem. 47% of respondents consider climate change to be one of the two most serious problems facing the world today. Only poverty scores higher, being placed in the top two by 69%.

- Most Europeans (62%) believe climate change is not unstoppable.

- Almost two-thirds of citizens think that fighting climate change can have a positive impact on the European economy.

- Only 19% think that corporations and industry are doing about the right amount to fight climate change, against 30% in the case of the EU.

- 49% of citizens polled say they would be prepared to pay more for energy produced from sources that emit less greenhouse gases while 27% would not.

The full report is available at by clicking here.

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The European Commission authorised today a French scheme with an approximate budget of € 700 million, which aims at supporting farmers who encounter difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis.

Aid under this new scheme can be granted until 31 December 2010 and will take the form of direct grants, interest rate subsidies and subsidised loans as well as aid towards the payment of social security contributions. The French scheme is open to farmers in all sub-sectors of primary agricultural production, provided they were not already in difficulty on 1 July 2008 (i.e. before the beginning of the crisis). It is limited in time until 31 December 2010 and complements other crisis measures already put in place by France in application of the Temporary Crisis Framework.

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The European Commission adopted today a Decision authorising genetically modified (GM) maize MIR604 for food and feed use and import and processing. MIR604 maize received a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and underwent the full authorisation procedure set out in the EU legislation.

As Member States failed to return a qualified majority decision for or against this authorisation in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), and then in the Council, the dossier was sent back to the Commission for adoption.

The authorisation is valid for 10 years, and any products produced from MIR604 maize will be subject to the EU's labelling and traceability rules.

It is now hoped that soya import from the US could resume.

For more information, click here.

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Croatia has now opened its market to British pork.
For further information please contact Jean-Pierre Garnier on jean-pierre.garnier@ahdbms.org.uk or 02476 478 617.

To read the full Export Report click here.

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For the Latest EU price, click here.

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