FARMINGUK M A R C H 2 0 1 3 In this edition: BACK ISSUES • Badger cull “will not stop TB in cattle” says new research scan the code • Stop overfishing: MEPs vote for reform • EU farm reforms as voted by the Committee • Plus much, much more! NEWS MARKET REPORTS PROPERTIES CLASSIFIEDS JOBS RURAL ACCOMMODATION spray one step ahead of E. coli Help stop disease before it stops you. Poulvac E. coli is the only commercially available modifi ed live vaccine that helps prevent disease caused by E. coli in chickens. Help your birds before they need it with Poulvac E. coli. Integrated solutions for healthy poultry production For further information please contact your veterinary surgeon or Pfi zer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7NS. Poulvac E.coli contains Live aroA gene deleted Escherichia coli, type 078, strain EC34195 Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). POM-V AH916/12 P11 Stop overfishing: MEPs vote for reform P34 EU farm reforms as voted by the Committee P23 Police raid slaughterhou se on eve of EU meeting P04 Badger cull “will not stop TB in cattle” says new research LAMMA 2013: P09 Maize 'still the most cost P31 Arable farmers continue to P50 Farmers opt for euro subsidy payment as sterling falls effective feed' move to minimum tillage crop s P15 Running an agri business P41 supermarkets adopted P57 RsPCA seeks hearing over live T 'becoming increasingly 'bullying culture' says Mallon exports decision N complex' e P47 Local butchers see trade P61 Oilseed rape exports benefit T P27 Rural 3G Broadband servers increase amid horse meat scandal from sterling's weakness N Farminguk advertising and editorial enquiries O PO Box 75, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 3SD Tel: 01484 400666 email: [email protected] C MARCH 2013 FARMINGuk 3 Badger cull “will not stop TB in cattle” says new research New research conducted by conclusion is that their impact over available to us. Now, in the next Durham university has claimed the decades has been far less than few months, we will ensure that a 'widespread badger cull' will suggested" said Atkins. the pilot culls can be implemented have no impact in solving the effectively, in the best possible problem of tuberculosis in cattle. "Very carefully arranged culling may conditions, with the right resources" have a part to play alongside other Paterson said. It has been claimed that controlling measures in areas of particular badger numbers would reduce the prevalence such as South West "Having looked at all the evidence risk of TB in cattle and a cull is due England and South Wales, but my over many years, I am utterly to begin in the summer after the research suggests that extending the convinced that badger control is government announced a policy elsewhere may neither be the right thing to do, and indeed temporary ban in October. justified nor particularly effective. It the higher than expected badger certainly won't be a panacea." numbers only serve to underline Professor Peter Atkins, from the need for urgent action. I remain Durham University's Institute of After the October ban, the NFU fully committed to working with Hazard, Risk and Resilience has wrote to the Environment Secretary the farming industry to ensure investigated the spread of the Owen Paterson to request a that the pilot culls can be delivered disease in new research. commencement in the summer. effectively, safely and humanely next summer." "Badgers almost certainly play a part "The Government is determined to in spreading the disease, but my tackle bovine TB by all the means BTut AItkiTns claLimedE that 'no one' and join other badger groups, which The search for an adequate TB has yet proved which direction spreads the disease." vaccine for cattle continues, but the infection travels between badgers can be vaccinated now to Fspiresct ies and that the disease is a Following 2001's foot and mouth help prevent the spread of TB as an 'spillover' from cattle rather than crisis, different parts of the country alternative to culling. Banu lek ndemic condition. He also were restocked with cattle from claimed a cull could even the southwest, a traditional New government-backed research 'exacerbate the problem'. breeding area and that this has revealed that vaccinating badgers been a factor in the spread of bTB can reduce the level of TB within an "The Randomised Badger to regions that had previously had infected colony by 54%. Culling Trial, which ran from low incidence of it. 1998-2006 indicated complex, The results, which are from a interwoven patterns of infection A likely solution to the problem was four year study by the Food and and concluded badger culling said to lie in vaccination, but Environment Research Agency was unlikely to be effective for inoculating cattle for TB is forbidden (FERA), conflict the view that the future control of bTB." by EU rules as it would render culling badgers is the only testing for the disease as ineffective, method to stop the disease. s "When badgers are disturbed, they because all vaccinated cattle would seem to perceive they are being test positive for it. "This report must be the final nail W attacked and move from their in the coffin of the plan to cull e original area by a kilometre or more badgers" said Philip Mansbridge, }} N MARCH 2013 FARMINGuk 5 4pe Systems Ltd Exclusive agent for SANOVO and STAALKAT products in the UK www.sanovogroup.com / www.4pe.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] STAALKAT Farmpacker 24000 Tel.: 07801565860 • 67 cases / hour (24.000 eggs / hour) • Perfect egg point down • Gentle transfer of eggs • Easy switching between settertray and 30 egg tray • High capacity denester - up to 75 trays. • Easy to adapt to different tray types • Easy access to eggs • Integrated control panel • Easy cleanable • High safety For other Packing and Grading solutions please contact us CEO of wildlife charity Care for the Wild. "Pro-cull supporters claim that the disease can only be stopped if the so-called reservoir of disease within wildlife is reduced – this study shows that vaccination can achieve this." But farming groups claim that a vaccine to help control TB in the future 'remains many years away'. Unions such as the NFU have admitted a vaccine should be part of a package of measures to help control the disease but said that measure alone would not be enough to combat it. "We need a package of measures to tackle TB and yes, cattle vaccine Adrian Reynolds: must be one of them. But as Defra’s Managing Partner at Duncan & Toplis chief vet Nigel Gibbens said cattle vaccine, and the tests and Kendall upbeat over regulations needed to put it in place across Europe, ‘may take years’. In farming future the meantime, the spread of TB is doubling every nine years" said NFU NFu President Peter kendall They also heard Andy Severn, Head President Peter Kendall. described uk agriculture as 'a of Tax at Duncan & Toplis, speak modern, exciting and high-tech about the need for farmers not to Professor Atkins has concluded industry' but he acknowledged the ignore inheritance tax. that the government should sector faced many challenges. take a more comprehensive "There is a very real need for approach to controlling TB: "The "There are many challenges farmers to review their particular assumption that badgers are facing agriculture as it grapples circumstances, to get their always responsible for this disease to improve food security, feed an housekeeping in order with regard in cattle has to be reviewed." ever increasing population and deal to the presentation of their accounts with changing weather patterns, as well as the partnership "If our analysis showing the market volatility caused by the agreement reflecting what the lack of disease persistence in supply and demand of commodities family operation actually does," medium and low density badger globally, political influences and the Severn said, stressing the populations is correct, the activities of speculators" he said. importance of seeking appropriate improvement of cattle controls professional advice. including improved testing, "There is a need for Common tighter movement controls Agricultural Policy reform but Adrian Reynolds, Managing and, eventually, a useable volatility in farm incomes needs Partner at Duncan & Toplis, vaccine should be enough to to be managed, and reform commented: "I was delighted to halt the spread. We should should not be to the detriment see so many people from the continue to investigate, and of the UK farmer compared to East Midlands agricultural sector cooperate with farmers over others elsewhere in Europe." at these events, and I'm sure that this problem." n they all took away some valuable More than 250 delegates information and insights." attended the two events, which were held at Greetham Valley near "I was especially pleased to be Oakham and the Petwood Hotel in able to welcome such a prestigious s Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire figure as Peter Kendall to be our keynote speaker." n W e N MARCH 2013 FARMINGuk 7 Maize 'still the most cost effective feed' Maize is still the most economic One of the biggest differences is "Maize is still the most consistent forage, according to a new analysis grass’s requirement for fertiliser and performer. Grass silage making in of Maize Growers Association nutrients which for a typical 300kg the wet conditions last year was (MGA) data carried out by N, 80kg P and 280Kg dressing per virtually impossible and compaction Grainseed Ltd. hectare accounts for over £700/ha. caused by the heavy forage And as fertiliser and input prices harvesters and trailers on soft Despite all last year’s problems, the continue to rise, this difference can ground and damage to field costings suggest maize is still the only grow, he says.