Latest news from Farming The World

[Ireland] New REPS 4 payment arrangements .....

30/03/2008 19:40:40

worrying for New Entrants

Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley has expressed her concern over the EU Commissions new regulations governing REPS 4, stating that the new applications and payment arrangements could discourage new farmers from joining the scheme.

Ms Buckley pointed out that the changes announced for REPS 4 will particularly affect new entrants to farming, who if having made the decision to enter REPS 4, on or after the 15th of May could effectively be waiting up to 18 months for payment. The setting of the May 15th deadline for the submission of REPS plans and later payment dates has caused this scenario.

Ms Buckley believes the EU Commission has shown no flexibility in the payment system for new entrants who have committed their future to farming and are now being made to wait up to 18 months for payments because of a 'technicality'.

REPS is a very important scheme for Irish farmers and benefits both the rural environment and economy, however, farmers must get a fair deal for the loss of agricultural activity and the compliance burden for entering REPS. 'Young farmers often have considerable financial obligations associated with the REPS scheme compliance costs and therefore their cash flow circumstances will be affected by the new payment arrangements' Ms Buckley said.

[Ireland] Minister seriously missed opportunity .....

30/03/2008 19:39:29

to readdress industry age profile - Macra

Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley has expressed her disappointment with the allocation of the 2% increase in milk quota stating “it was a lost opportunity by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to bring about real restructuring to the industry”.

Ms Buckley pointed out that “we are constantly reminded of the poor age structure of the dairy industry by all involved, yet when the Minster is given a golden opportunity to readdress the issue and target a portion of the quota increase to new entrants, she chooses to instead allocate quota through a mechanism that favours larger and more established producers”.

Macra na Feirme had called for the targeting of a portion of the 2% increase in national milk quota to young farmers who want to enter dairying, but who are currently unable to do so by traditional routes such as inheritance or partnership. Ms Buckley said that “the real benefit of quota increases to the industry would have been realised if this approach was taken”.

Instead Ms Buckley says, “larger and long established producers are the real winners, while new entrants are ruled out from what has become a closed industry unless you have deep pockets to purchase quota to enter the industry”.

[United Kingdom] Northern Ireland - UFU call for tougher .....

30/03/2008 19:38:09

Bluetongue controls

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called for tighter restrictions on the importation of Bluetongue susceptible animals. The Union’s comments were made in advance of a meeting of the EU Commission Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health SCoFCAH, where EU control measures for the disease will be discussed.

The UFU and Irish Farmers’ Association have requested a joint meeting with Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew and DARD officials to discuss the disease threat posed by Bluetongue. Last week the UFU and IFA held similar discussions with Republic of Ireland Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan in Dublin.

Union President Kenneth Sharkey said; “The UFU and IFA are very concerned about the potential introduction of Bluetongue and the very serious trade, financial and practical impact which an outbreak would have on the islands agricultural industry. The UFU and IFA have held regular discussions about Bluetongue. Given the uncertainty surrounding the transmission routes for this disease which have now emerged, both organisations have agreed that a ban on the importation of all susceptible animals which have resided in a bluetongue restricted zone at any time since 1 August 2006 is necessary. That is our objective and that is the proposal which we are putting to our respective Agriculture Ministers”.

The EU Commission has proposed further amendments to bluetongue controls throughout the European Union and this is to be discussed at a SCoFCAH meeting on Monday 31 March.

[Canada] Railways making excessive revenue .....

30/03/2008 19:36:17

Railways making excessive revenue at farmers’ expense

(WINNIPEG) – The big railway companies are making over $100 million a year in unreasonably excessive returns at the expense of Canadian farmers. That is one of the key findings of an independent study commissioned by the Canadian Wheat Board, released today by Canadian farm organizations at a grain elevator near Winnipeg. Farmers are asking that the federal government now conduct a full rail costing review – something that has not been done since 1992.

“We’re not against the railways making a profit. Everyone – farmers and rail businesses – needs to make profits to be sustainable. But one’s profit should not come at the other’s very large expense,” said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “At a time when the soaring cost of production is still interfering with the ability of farmers to profit from high commodity prices, $100 million in revenue lost on a runaway train is a big problem.”

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), the National Farmers Union (NFU), Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (WRAP) and the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) today held a joint press conference to call for a review and release the results of the report conducted by respected rail analyst John Edsforth.

The study estimates that the railways in 2006-07 made $175 million (or $6.25 a tonne) more than what was considered fair and reasonable compensation for moving grain under the previous Western Grain Transportation Act, also know as the “Crow Rate” (repealed in 1996). This year, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) found the railways had been allowed to earn revenue that was triple their actual costs for rail car maintenance and reduced the revenue cap for grain by about $72 million per year. A gap of at least $100 million remains, while the railways appeal aspects of the CTA ruling.

“This study is setting off all the alarm bells for farmers. These results clearly show that something is not right with the revenue cap and the freight rates farmers are paying,” said Ian Wishart, KAP President. “Mechanisms like the revenue cap were meant to protect farmers. We need the government to step in, run the numbers and see if those mechanisms are serving farmers or if they need fixing.”

CWB elected director Ian McCreary called the study results “shocking”.

"It shows the railways earn far above what they would in a competitive rail market. As shippers, we need timely rail service, but we also require that the cost for that service is reasonable since we face greater distances to port than all the other grain exporters in the world."

[Ireland] ICSA � Ombudsman agrees to examine .....

23/08/2007 20:22:04

EU Brazilian beef imports

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson has announced that the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforus Diamandouras, has agreed to examine the complaint made to him in early August by ICSA and other members of Fairness for Farmers in Europe (FFE).

The compliant alleges that the European Commission failed to ban beef imports into the European Union by Brazil, notwithstanding evidence that such imports pose a risk to human and animal health.

“Although this is a positive step,” said Mr Thompson, “It should be borne in mind that it is also just a first step in a long process.”

[Ireland] ICSA � Nitrates Penalties not Equitable

23/08/2007 20:20:19

ICSA has attacked the announcement by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, TD of massive increases in penalties for farmers under the nitrates directive. “The penalties, which include a maximum fine of €500,000 and a year in jail, are totally disproportionate to the offence,” said Malcolm Thompson, ICSA president. “If the Minster believes that this is equitable, then I am calling on him to immediately announce fines of €500,000 for local authorities that cause pollution and jail sentences of 1 year for county managers who must take responsibility.”

“The recent water pollution case in Galway shows that the focus is wrongly on farmers and should be switched to local authorities,” continued Mr Thompson. “A fine of €500,000 is not appropriate to a farmer who in, most cases, earns less than the average industrial wage. On the other hand, the fact that pollution occurred because a local authority could not get its act together to spend available government funding is a disgrace. Too often, farmers are being scapegoated in order to hide the deficiencies of public bodies. “

“In any event, a €500,000 fine on a small farmer is clearly out of line with the fines on indictable offences imposed on large scale industry or construction companies. The typical penalty here is of the order of €100,000 where a fatality to a worker has occurred. While such a fine is not small, it usually applies to a limited liability company with a turnover of perhaps millions of euros. Compared this with a farmer whose annual turnover might be €50,000, for an offence in which there are no human fatalities involved. The announcement by the Minister sends a very clear signal that the government values the life of a fish higher than the life of a human being.”

[Australia] Drought support for irrigators and dryland farmers

23/08/2007 20:18:47

If you have been affected by reduced water allocations and the drought, you’re not alone. Support is available to irrigators and dryland farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin. If your situation has changed due to reduced water allocations, call and find out more about drought support.

EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES (EC) ASSISTANCE:
All farmers, including irrigators, living in Exceptional Circumstances (EC) declared areas are eligible to apply for income support and interest rate subsidies.

MORE RURAL FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL COUNSELLING:
There are now more social workers, psychologists, specialist Centrelink Rural Service Officers and Rural Financial Counsellors available

DROUGHT BUS:
Assistance is coming on wheels with the Drought Bus visiting your region. Staff on board can help you apply for drought assistance.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND PLANNING GRANTS:
Grants of up to $5500 may be available to eligible farm businesses. The grants can be used to obtain business and planning advice, from a suitably qualified professional of your choice, to help you manage the impact of the drought on your business.

If you need assistance phone the Drought Assistance line on 13 2316
the Murray-Darling Basin Assistance and Referral Line on 1800 050 015 or
the Farmer Assistance Line on 1800 050 585.

[Canada] SPP Summit undermines food sovereignty, says NFU

23/08/2007 20:14:51

The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) summit slated for Montebello, Quebec early next week is aimed at undermining food sovereignty in Canada, says Colleen Ross, Women’s President of the National Farmers Union (NFU).

The SPP was officially launched by the leaders of the US, Canada and Mexico in March, 2005. Even though it deals with such important issues as food, water, trade, energy, and security, the public has been effectively shut out of the process. The key advisory body in the SPP is the North American Competitiveness Council, composed of 30 Chief Executive Officers from the largest corporations in Canada, the US and Mexico. The SPP aims to accelerate the corporate goal of continental economic integration by linking it to US government security demands.

A two-day summit on the SPP is scheduled for August 20 and 21 between Prime Minister Harper, US President Bush, and Mexican President Calderon. A National Day of Protest is being organized across Canada on August 20 to focus on the issue.

“Big business has been moving quickly to establish a continental resource pact, a North American security perimeter, and common agricultural and other health, safety and environmental policies,” noted Ross. “Even our elected MPs have been out of the loop with regard to these discussions.” She noted the SPP is already having an impact. Earlier this year, an SPP priority aimed at harmonizing rules on pesticide residues resulted in Canada allowing higher levels of pesticides in the food we eat. In addition, the five-fold increase in tar sands production will make it impossible for Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ross said the SPP will curtail Canada’s ability to implement policies aimed at making food sovereignty a reality. “The current food system, which is heavily dependent on massive energy inputs, is aimed at boosting exports. Canadian farmers’ incomes haven’t gone up as a result of increased exports, and that policy has also hurt producers in other countries. It’s time to re-examine the causes of hunger and poverty, and implement policies that make sense, like food sovereignty – the ability of a nation to determine its own policies with regard to food and farming.”

[United Kingdom] Northern Ireland - UFU calls on Badger .....

23/08/2007 20:13:07

Stakeholder group to report conclusions immediately

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called on the Badger / TB Stakeholder Group in Northern Ireland to report its conclusions immediately so that progress can be made in reducing the incidence of bovine TB. UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said that while DARD has repeatedly failed to help the industry make progress on TB, the stress and financial cost to farmers has been enormous.

The UFU has highlighted that the Badger Stakeholder Group was established in May 2004 and was tasked with making recommendations to the Agriculture Minister in November 2004. The Union said it was totally unacceptable that three years later the Group has still made no recommendations or conclusions.

UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said; “TB is having a disastrous impact on thousands of local farms. Every time we raise the issue with Government we are told that the issue is being dealt with by the Badger Stakeholder Group. Absolutely no progress is being made and the industry is not prepared to wait any longer on this process. The Stakeholder Group must report its findings immediately so that we can move this issue forward”.

Newly elected UFU Animal Health and Welfare Chairman Cyril Millar said farmers were completely convinced that the TB problem could not be successfully eradicated unless the reservoir of TB in wildlife is addressed.

Mr Millar said; “It makes no sense to repeatedly remove TB infected bovine animals from farms, only to see the disease re-emerge because it has remained on the farm in wildlife. This has to be addressed to end the hardship which so many farms are facing. Removing diseased wild animals from the countryside would also be an animal welfare friendly initiative”.

[Canada] CFA welcomes new Minister

23/08/2007 20:10:37

(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is extending a warm welcome to Gerry Ritz, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. CFA is also offering sincere thanks to Chuck Strahl for his work and accomplishments as Minister over the past year and a half.

“CFA has worked with Mr. Ritz extensively in the past when he was an agriculture critic and a Chair of the Agriculture Committee. He knows the issues and will do great job,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “Mr. Ritz is also fortunate in that Minister Strahl has left him a solid foundation of accomplishments to build upon.”

Since being appointed Minister in January 2006 Strahl has made important contributions to the sector including: making much-needed overhauls to business risk management programs, launching the process to develop a new national agriculture policy framework, taking action against dairy protein imports, beginning trade action against U.S. corn subsidies, and helping defend the Canadian position in WTO negotiations.

“Minister Strahl has made some real progress for our industry and I want to offer my thanks for that,” said Friesen. “We may not always have seen eye-to-eye on all issues, but I think he was always willing to listen to industry.”

Coming into the portfolio Gerry Ritz will face a number of key challenges. He will have to take up the process of the next generation of agriculture policy development, working with industry and the provinces to put the meat on the bones of the ‘Growing Forward’ framework. The Doha Round of WTO negotiations continue to progress slowly, so Ritz will need to get involved and look for ways to move talks forward while defending the Canadian position. And in the days to come farm groups will be looking even harder at developing a national “Canadian Grown” food labeling system.“

As Mr. Ritz takes up the challenges before him I would like to offer the support and resources of the CFA,” said Friesen. “The agriculture sector has always been a strong partnership between industry and governments and I look forward to working with him in the months to come.”