The UK's National Farmers Union is concerned that the European Parliament is setting a "dangerous precedent" for EU legislation by ignoring scientific advice on genetically modified crop varieties.
Members of Parliament have backed a report, based on proposals from the European Commission, which would allow Europe’s Member States to disregard advice from the European Food Safety Authority and ban the cultivation of GM crops for non-scientific reasons.
“Farmers need all the tools available to them to contribute to ‘sustainable intensification’," said Dr. Helen Ferrier, NFU chief science and regulatory affairs adviser. "With the world population set to grow to 9 billion by 2050, Europe must be in a position to contribute towards global food security. We believe a common authorization procedure with common health and environmental safety will best serve EU farmers, consumers and the environment.”
Thursday, July 7, 2011
US egg products up 3% from 2010
To date, the cumulative total of edible products from U.S. eggs broken in 2011 is 1.103 billion pounds, up 3% from 2010, according to the latest Food Safety and Inspection Service report.
U.S. shell eggs broken totaled 175 million dozen during May 2011, up 2% from May 2010 and 7% above the 164 million broken in April. During the calendar year 2011 through May, shell eggs broken totaled 844 million dozen, up 3% from the comparable period in 2010.
U.S. shell eggs broken totaled 175 million dozen during May 2011, up 2% from May 2010 and 7% above the 164 million broken in April. During the calendar year 2011 through May, shell eggs broken totaled 844 million dozen, up 3% from the comparable period in 2010.
Alabama calls for drought disaster declaration
Corn farmers and others in the agriculture industry covering 93% of Alabama have been affected by a drought that has led the state's Agriculture Commissioner to call for the declaration of a federal emergency.
Crops are predicted to produce "poor to very poor" harvests in the 2011-2012 season, said Commissioner John McMillan, and corn is particularly hard-hit. Rainfall for the area is nearly 20 inches below normal in Mobile and south Alabama, according to the National Weather Service, and 5.31 inches below normal in Montgomery.
The rain couldn't have stopped falling at a worse time, because commodity prices are up and farmers had been hoping to make a profit on their crops, said Alabama corn and cotton grower Steve Dunn. When the rain stopped falling in May, he lost his corn crop, and the survival of his cotton crop will depend on the weather to come. "I've never seen it dry this early," he said.
The declaration of a disaster state would allow farmers to seek federal assistance for drought-related losses.
Crops are predicted to produce "poor to very poor" harvests in the 2011-2012 season, said Commissioner John McMillan, and corn is particularly hard-hit. Rainfall for the area is nearly 20 inches below normal in Mobile and south Alabama, according to the National Weather Service, and 5.31 inches below normal in Montgomery.
The rain couldn't have stopped falling at a worse time, because commodity prices are up and farmers had been hoping to make a profit on their crops, said Alabama corn and cotton grower Steve Dunn. When the rain stopped falling in May, he lost his corn crop, and the survival of his cotton crop will depend on the weather to come. "I've never seen it dry this early," he said.
The declaration of a disaster state would allow farmers to seek federal assistance for drought-related losses.
Ceva donates to poultry company tornado relief fund
Ceva Animal Health donated $2,500 to Alabama-based poultry partner Wayne Farms after Wayne Farms employees were affected by recent tornadoes in the area.
The money went to Wayne Farms’ Tornado Relief Fund, and will be used to help Wayne Farms’ employees throughout northern Alabama most impacted by the storms. “We are very thankful to our parent company, our employees and key partners such as Ceva Animal Health, who have donated to our Tornado Relief Fund which has grown to $84,000,” said David Malfitano, vice president of human resources for Wayne Farms. “Through their generosity, we are able to help a number of our employees to begin rebuilding their homes and their lives.”
Ceva also presented a check for $2,500 to Wayne Farms for the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association to assist others in the poultry industry affected by the storms.
The money went to Wayne Farms’ Tornado Relief Fund, and will be used to help Wayne Farms’ employees throughout northern Alabama most impacted by the storms. “We are very thankful to our parent company, our employees and key partners such as Ceva Animal Health, who have donated to our Tornado Relief Fund which has grown to $84,000,” said David Malfitano, vice president of human resources for Wayne Farms. “Through their generosity, we are able to help a number of our employees to begin rebuilding their homes and their lives.”
Ceva also presented a check for $2,500 to Wayne Farms for the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association to assist others in the poultry industry affected by the storms.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
UK poultry producer invests in biogas production
Great Ynys Farm, a 90,000-head broiler farm in the UK will use anaerobic digestion to convert chicken litter into biogas for renewable energy and heat generation.
The electricity generated will power the poultry houses and the AD system, with a 90% surplus sold to the power company National Grid. The captured waste heat will provide warmth for the chicken houses, displacing fuel oil and propane gas. Generation is scheduled to start on August 1.
The AD system will have the capacity to process 700 metric tons of poultry litter and 1,000 metric tons of cattle slurry, mixed with 3,000 metric tons of maize silage per annum. Use of maize reduces the nitrogen levels in the digestion process and prevents the buildup of high concentrations of ammonia that would arrest biogas production.
Plans are in place to convert the heating system in the farm’s broiler houses within the next few months, to utilize heat from the biogas generation process. This is expected to achieve payback on investment within one year, according to the farm.
The digestion process also produces a residue of 5,000 cubic meters of odorless organic liquid fertilizer that will be injected into the soil to provide an enhanced nutrient source for the maize crop. The farm currently uses its poultry litter as a fertilizer, but by digesting it methane losses to the environment during spreading will be eliminated. A new poultry litter store has been created to protect the AD feedstock from the elements and to prevent the risk of nitrate run-off.
The electricity generated will power the poultry houses and the AD system, with a 90% surplus sold to the power company National Grid. The captured waste heat will provide warmth for the chicken houses, displacing fuel oil and propane gas. Generation is scheduled to start on August 1.
The AD system will have the capacity to process 700 metric tons of poultry litter and 1,000 metric tons of cattle slurry, mixed with 3,000 metric tons of maize silage per annum. Use of maize reduces the nitrogen levels in the digestion process and prevents the buildup of high concentrations of ammonia that would arrest biogas production.
Plans are in place to convert the heating system in the farm’s broiler houses within the next few months, to utilize heat from the biogas generation process. This is expected to achieve payback on investment within one year, according to the farm.
The digestion process also produces a residue of 5,000 cubic meters of odorless organic liquid fertilizer that will be injected into the soil to provide an enhanced nutrient source for the maize crop. The farm currently uses its poultry litter as a fertilizer, but by digesting it methane losses to the environment during spreading will be eliminated. A new poultry litter store has been created to protect the AD feedstock from the elements and to prevent the risk of nitrate run-off.
South Africa poultry producers face import competition
South African poultry producers are under increasing pressure from imports that is likely to continue as production slows and prices rise, according to reports.
The country's imports from October 2010 to January 2011 were 33% higher than for the prior comparable period, and for December 2010 alone they were 42% higher than in December 2009, according to Chris Schutte, CEO of Astral Foods. Imports have been a concern for the industry over the last decade, said Schutte, and with the strength of the Rand imports are set to increase.
Earlier in 2011, Schutte predicted that from December 2010 to April 2011, local production was anticipated to remain lower, and while prices were also expected to remain low, they were, nevertheless, expected to be slightly higher than in 2010 and more-or-less in line with 2008 levels.
The country's imports from October 2010 to January 2011 were 33% higher than for the prior comparable period, and for December 2010 alone they were 42% higher than in December 2009, according to Chris Schutte, CEO of Astral Foods. Imports have been a concern for the industry over the last decade, said Schutte, and with the strength of the Rand imports are set to increase.
Earlier in 2011, Schutte predicted that from December 2010 to April 2011, local production was anticipated to remain lower, and while prices were also expected to remain low, they were, nevertheless, expected to be slightly higher than in 2010 and more-or-less in line with 2008 levels.
US corn planted second-highest acreage since 1944
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| Corn harvested in the US is expected to be up, while soybeans are expected to be down, according to the USDA's latest report. |
USDA numbers have sent corn futures, which were previously working on the prediction that inclement weather had limited corn farmers to 90.7 million acres of planting, dropping significantly. As of July 1, corn futures for July dropped 9.9% to $6.29 per bushel, while December futures fell by 30 cents to $6.205 per bushel and are expected to drop further.
Soybean planted area for 2011 is estimated at 75.2 million acres, down 3% from 2010, according to the USDA report. Area for harvest, at 74.3 million acres, is also down 3%. All wheat planted area is estimated at 56.4 million acres, up 5% from 2010 numbers. The 2011 winter wheat planted area, at 41.1 million acres, is up 10%, while area planted to other spring wheat for 2011 is estimated at 13.6 million acres, down 1% from 2010.
The drop in corn futures has caused soybean and wheat futures to drop, as well, according to reports. Soybeans for July fell 2.1%, to $13.0625 per bushel, while July wheat dropped 8.8% to $5.8475 per bushel.
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