TheBeefSite Newsletter - 12 October 2011

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Wednesday 12th October 2011

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: CAP Focuses On Greener Arable Land, But Lacks Welfare Incentives

This morning's proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy focus heavily on supporting arable farmers in becoming more environmentally and economically competitive.

Called the "greening" element, in addition to the basic payment, it has been proposed that an extra payment per holding will be rewarded for respecting certain agricultural practices.

This includes the maintenance of permanent pasture, crop diversification and maintaining an ecological focus area (a sort of setaside) of at least seven per cent farmland.

Many farm organisations are outraged at this proposal of setaside, particularly with the political pressure to increase farm production in the face of future food security.

Irish MEP, Jim Nicholson said that the setaside proposal was a step backwards, particularly when considering the high prices that European livestock farmers pay for imported grain.

With the focus on arable production, there was disappointment for animal welfare groups.

The welfare of animals got no mention in today's proposals, and although still an obligation of cross compliance, the reform offers no rewards for farmers, who correctly apply animal welfare related directives and provides no sanction that is sufficiently dissuasive to those who fail to respect the European law.

A huge positive of the proposals is increased support for young farmers. With a vast majority of farmers in European countries over the age of 50, it is increasingly important for the future of European agriculture that new entrants into farming are encouraged.

With this in mind, the proposals support incentives and funding for young farmers setting up farming and diversified enterprises in the EU.

The debate and consultations on these proposals have begun and due to the large geographical and social differences between member states it will take time to find a happy medium.

With two and half years until the reform is formally introduced, a lot can change.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

CAP Proposals: Changes To Your Direct Payments
Commissioner Dacian Ciolos set out European Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) today. TheCattleSite looks at what changes are been proposed to farmers' direct payments.

A Genomic Approach To Developing A Tick Vaccine
The Australian cattle industry incurs losses of A$175 million each year due to the impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases and costs of treatment to ensure compliance with regulatory protocols for interstate and international livestock movement.

Maximise Value Of 2011 Calf Crop
Producers soon will be weaning calves and finalising marketing decisions. North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist, Carl Dahlen, discusses how producers can capture the most value from their calf crop.

New Computer Models Help Concentrated Animal Producers Reduce Odours
Some call it the smell of money, but Teng Teeh Lim thinks that smell does not have to be so bad. The University of Missouri Extension researcher wants to give large, concentrated animal operations an economical way to lessen those troubling smells.

Brazil - Livestock and Products Annual 2011
Post forecasts beef and pork production to increase by two per cent in 2012 and pork production to increase by less than one per cent in 2012, respectively, supported mostly by the domestic market, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Company News

New Series Takes Viewers Inside America's Barns
US - The work of farm vets is featured in the new reality series Veterinarians On Call, which premieres this autumn.

Biomin's Recognition For Environmental Management
AUSTRIA - Animal health and nutrition company, Biomin, was recently recognised for its efforts related to environmental sustainability through the award of the internationally recognised ISO 14040 certification.

Global Beef Cattle Industry News