DAERA to host no-deal Brexit events

A series of information events will be held by DAERA to help the NI agri-food sector prepare for a potential no-deal Brexit. The sessions aim to help business understand the changes and new regulations that they could face after 31 October 2019.

Each event will be held from 10am to 4pm, and will include information stands and a series of presentations which will run at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 3pm. Areas to be covered include imports/exports, plant health, export health certificates and food hygiene, standards and labelling. Dates and venues are Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena on 12 and 24 September, Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh on 17 September and Lough Neagh Discovery Centre in Craigavon on 1 October. Registration is advised by emailing EUExit@daera-ni.gov.uk

PETA advert banned

The Advertising Standards Agency has banned advertisements from animal welfare group PETA, which suggested that it is cruel to shear wool from sheep.

The decision has been welcomed by the National Sheep Association, with the organisation’s chief executive Phil Stocker stating that the claims by PETA were misleading the public and damaging farmers’ reputations.

“The simple undeniable fact is that removing wool from sheep is necessary for their health and welfare.

It does not harm them, and it does not exploit them. Wool is a by-product of their existence,” he said.

Mixed trade at dairy commodity auctions

Tuesday’s GDT auction saw a 0.4% drop in the index price to US $3,202/t, the second negative auction in succession.

Butter prices were unchanged on $4,029/t with cheddar price down 0.8% to $3,202/t.

Skim milk powder rose by 0.7% to $2,500/t, whereas whole milk powder fell 0.8% to $3,076/t.

However, the downward price moves at the GDT had little impact on the weekly Dutch Dairy Board auction, where key commodities increased in value.

Following a €20/t price rise last week, butter prices were up by €10/t this week and now stand at €3,400/t.

Skim milk powder rose by €40/t to €2,150/t, while whole milk powder is also on an upward price curve, increasing by €30 to reach €2,810/t.

Texel rams sell to 5,000gns at Ballymena

The Texel Sheep Society’s NI national sale in Ballymena Mart last week was topped at 5,000 guineas (gns) by a ram lamb exhibited by Andrew Fyffe from Omagh.

Fairywater Columbo is sired by Mullan Armani and is out of a dam by Knock Trident.

The ram lamb was placed reserve champion in last week’s pre-sale show, and was bought by the Mullan family for the Blue Gates flock.

The next highest priced ram lamb was the 2,400gns Brague Caesar offered by Robert Mulligan from Banbridge.

The same price was also paid to Brian Hanthorn from Tynan for Mullan Charisma.

Close behind that was 2,200gns for Paramor Craftsman, exhibited by Eamonn Conway from Plumbridge.

Sean McCloskey from Claudy had the highest-priced shearling ram when Glenroe Bacardi sold for 4,500gns.

Top price in the gimmers was the 3,400gns paid for the female champion sold by Jack and Beth Gault from Newtownabbey.

Overall, 130 ram lambs averaged £608, 56 shearling rams sold for £697 and 37 gimmers made an average price of £681.

RUAS beef and lamb event to return

The Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships will return for a second year at the end of November.

The event incorporates the long-standing Allams beef fatstock championship and includes additional show classes for sheep and young handlers.

The championships, which includes an evening sale of all livestock on show, are sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

This year’s event will take place on Tuesday 26 November 2019 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Balmoral Park near Lisburn.

Showing will commence at 11am and the auction starts at 6pm.

Commission needed for UK food standards

A trade commission should be established in the UK to ensure the standards of domestic food production are not undermined by imports after Brexit, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said.

The NFU has written to Defra Secretary of State Theresa Villiers on the matter after her predecessor, Michael Gove, agreed in February to setting up the commission.

“British farmers, and indeed the British public, need assurance that the UK’s high welfare and environmental standards will not be undermined by the UK’s post-Brexit trade policy,” said NFU president Minette Batters.

“While the government has consistently said it has no intention of allowing the UK’s high standards of production to be undermined in future trade deals, there has been little detail about how it will back up this commitment,” she added.