Increased NZ Lamb imports affect UK Lamb trade
An increase in New Zealand frozen lamb imports of 11% for 2022 has led to UK lamb prices falling to a two month low. The drop in prices has come at a time where lambs are mostly fattened on concentrates which have increased sharply in price by around 30% in the past year.
Coupled with a tougher retail environment due to the cost of living crisis, the drop in both live and deadweight prices as well as store lamb prices at a time when prices historically increased is causing concern within the sheep sector.
Final CAP Strategic Plans approved
On 13 December, the European Commission approved the last national Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) Strategic Plan. The Dutch Strategic Plan was the final one of the 27 EU member states to gain approval which will run from 1st January 2023 to the end of 2027. Last month, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans of Romania and Bulgaria were approved.
The total public budget dedicated to farmers and rural communities will be €307 billion for the five-year period. €98 billion will be dedicated to delivering beneficial actions for climate, biodiversity, water quality, soil, air and animal welfare. In addition, 24% of all direct payments will be devoted to eco-schemes, while 48% of rural development spending will support environmental and climate goals.
Within all the strategic plans, one of the key objectives is to support viable farm income and the resilience of the agricultural sector across the EU, in order to enhance long-term food security and agricultural diversity, as well as to ensure the economic sustainability of agricultural production.
DPJ Foundation celebrates 5th anniversary
The DPJ Foundation has celebrated the fifth anniversary of its ‘Share the Load’ helpline. Organisers stressed the importance that this crucial support lifeline offers to Welsh farmers.
The DPJ Foundation was established just over six years ago by Emma Picton-Jones following the death of her husband Daniel, by suicide. Since then it has set up a service to cover Wales and provide support 24/7 to the people that need it the most.
The charity offers mental health awareness training for free; the three-and-a-half hour session allows people to learn how they can support others in the farming community and recognise the signs of someone with poor mental health. They also run free bereavement and grief awareness sessions.
Further information can be found on their website: https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/
Hungary extends food price capping to try and curb inflation
In February 2022 the Hungarian government put a cap on the price of milk, sugar, flour, sunflower oil, pork leg and chicken breast to try to shield households from soaring costs, while fuel prices and mortgage rates were also capped. At the end of 2022 the price cap was extended to a price freeze on fresh eggs and potatoes until the end of 2023.
The move means that the gross retail price for these two products cannot be higher than the gross retail price applied by the trader on 30th September 2022 for the products sold in shops, supermarkets or by mail order. The measure would reduce the price of eggs by 25% and that of potatoes by 10%.
Official figures show the prices of food products in Hungary in November were up 43.8% year on year. There are split opinions on whether the price caps will work or make inflation worse where retailers increase prices on other products to compensate for losses on these staple products.