Midland Farmer - September 2023

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 MIDLAND FARMER September 2023 Price of dairy products down by 17% over 12 months Producer prices for dairy products dropped by more than 17% in the year to July 2023, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The Wholesale Price Index for June 2023, published on Tuesday, August 22, shows that producer prices in the food products index dropped by 2.8% in the month to July 2023 and this overall index was 8.1% lower than in July 2022. Producer prices for meat and meat products were back 2% in a year, while grain milling, starches, and animal feeds decreased by 1.2%. Vegetable and animal oils and fats were down by 9% in the year and prices for other food products decreased by 10.7%. Several food categories were higher compared with July 2022, including fruit and vegetables, (+14.9%), fish and fish products (+1.4%), and baking and starch products (+0.9%). The CSO data also shows that wholesale electricity prices decreased by almost 18% in June and were 64% lower in July 2023 when compared with July 2022. Petrol prices were unchanged from June but were down 14.4% when compared to July 2022. The price of diesel rose by 3% month-onmonth but was back almost 19% on a year ago. Domestic producer prices for manufactured goods were on average 0.2% higher in July 2023 compared with a year earlier, while producer prices for exported goods fell by 5.4%. Overall, manufacturing producer prices were 5.2% lower in the year. Wholesale prices for construction products decreased by 0.4% in the month to June 2023 but rose by 2.2% in the 12 months since July 2022. Lakeland Dairies launches campaign on shareholding gender balance Lakeland Dairies, the island’s largest cross border dairy co-operative, has launched a targeted campaign to encourage more women and other family members to become involved as shareholders in the co-op. Currently some 12% of herd owners in the country are women but this does not reflect the huge, often unseen, work carried out in farm businesses by women. Across Europe, the co-operative movement in general has struggled to encourage women to become involved at representative and Board levels. Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Lakeland Dairies’ chairman Niall Matthews outlined the benefits of becoming involved in co-op shareholding. “This is one of the most transformative times in the history of the co-operative movement. We are seeing considerable change coming to farming and with change comes opportunity. I’m a firm believer that having as many voices as possible from diverse backgrounds within our co-operative helps continually to foster progressive ideas and strategies.” “Becoming involved in your local co-op is hugely rewarding. It is your co-op, it is your business and, in many instances, it is your livelihood. I believe it’s important to have a say in the running of your co-op and this is done by becoming a shareholder and getting involved in the democratic processes that decide the overall direction of the business. “Lakeland Dairies is a progressive, modern and sustainable co-operative, producing food to the highest standards, while supporting the wellbeing of our farm families and rural communities. We want to sustain that in every way possible for the future and having greater diversity throughout our shareholder base is a key part of that process.” “We are now rolling out this campaign across Pictured at the Lakeland Dairies launch of a targeted campaign to encourage more women and other family members to become involved as shareholders in the co-op, are Susan Casey, Lakeland Dairies Teagasc Joint Programme; Niall Matthews, Chair and Sinéad Brady Lakeland Agri. our membership base over the coming weeks and months. We have information for those who want to learn more about the process including how to have shares in joint names and how to have the milk account in joint names.” Lakeland Dairies has a dedicated channel to support women who want to become shareholders in Lakeland Dairies. The co-operative has written to all shareholders encouraging joint shareholding among family members. Lakeland Dairies welcomes more female and family participation in the life and in the governance structures of Lakeland Dairies cooperative and is encouraging wives, spouses, partners, family members and young farmers to become joint shareholders as a way of further improving the overall vibrancy and success of their co-op. ● 30 years experience in the Transport Sector, over 10 of which working at the Michieletto Srl in Treviso, Italy. ● Certified aluminium and steel welding. ● Direct contact with top Italian livestock trailers’ manufacturers – quick supply of original spare parts. ● Maintenance and service of HGV Fleet, Agricultural Machinery. Specialised in Livestock Trailers Dublin Road, Granard, Co. Longford N39 DD30 Email: info@makool.ie T: 043 668 6342 | 087 429 5619 Located on the N52 at CloghanCross, Mullingar, the workshop is easy to be found. Cloghan, Mullingar Co. Westmeath N91R24D Tel: + 353 44 9331687 + 353 85 8556404 E: marco.bertolo@alltrepairs.com Our Services Include: • DeLaval Milking & Feeding • Cow Brushes & Cow Mats • Farm Clothing • Automatic Yard Scrapers • Farm Supply & Hygiene Products • Detergents & Acids • Water Pumps & Water Heaters David Nulty: 087 336 5008 E: sales@marronfarmservices.ie Co. Monaghan & Co. Westmeath
September 2023 Production of milk increased in EU in first half of 2023 A European Commission report shows that the production of raw milk increased in the EU by 0.8% in the first six months of this year. The latest milk market situation report published by the commission highlights that total collections of milk in the EU also increased by 0.8%. According to the report from January to June the production of dairy products – with the exception of whole milk powder (WMP) – increased across the board in the EU. Although WMP dropped by 2.7% the production of cheese for example was up by 1.2%, butter by 1.7% and skimmed milk powder by 3% year on year in 2023. But while collections may have increased across the EU milk prices have not followed the same trajectory with average prices falling in the first six months of 2023 below corresponding 2022 prices. According to Noel Murphy, chair of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) dairy committee, the “direction of travel” in relation to milk prices is a concern for dairy farmers. Murphy said the latest prices confirmed by processors in Ireland for July supplies has left many farmers “disillusioned”. “We are in a very difficult space, farmers are producing at a loss and the fact that demand is so negative is not creating any confidence. “Irish farmers are getting paid prices below the EU average, we need to ask why that is happening and find out if processors are just protecting their own margins?” Murphy added. He believes the key issue that needs to be addressed urgently is one of supply and demand. “We hear a lot about sustainability issues when it comes to dairy farmers these days – and that is something farmers are very aware Graph showing the change in milk prices throughout the EU for June 2022 and June 2023. of but we also need to be looking at economic sustainability because there are farmers who are really in a bad position now.” “There are farmers who have no choice but to cancel planned investments – there are new sheds and milking parlours that were planned and are no longer getting built.” “What we need is to look at how farmers can be supported at this time,” Murphy added. The ICMSA has put forward a proposal that an EU supply reduction scheme is one way that the current imbalance between supply and demand could be addressed. “We need the EU and the Irish government to get on board with this, demand is negative but supply is still there so we need to deal with that,” he added. MIDLAND FARMER 5 Straw Shortage Must Drive Change To Organics Scheme ICSA Organics chair Fergal Byrne has said consideration must be given to changing the Organics Scheme requirements around housing winter cattle so that housing in existing slatted sheds can be facilitated. “We have lots of ambition when it comes to targets for organic farming but there are barriers to making that transition and these barriers need to be addressed,” he said. “For livestock farmers one of the biggest barriers is the fact that cattle cannot housed in slatted sheds and that straw must be used as bedding. This is a real impediment for many due to the scarcity of straw and massive cost associated to converting yards and sheds to suit the Organics Scheme. Mr Byrne said the shortage of straw predicted for later in the year needs to focus minds on these challenges. “Weather conditions have been very unfavourable leading to lower yields, so we know straw is going to be in short supply and it is likely to be expensive too. We also know that many cattle and sheep farmers are in dire straits financially due to high input costs and relentless processor price cuts so it makes sense to do everything we can to make switching to organics that bit more achievable.” “While there are limitations on what we can do because of EU regulations on organic production there is the scope at a national level to make these changes. We need more farmers choosing to farm organically and removing the obstacles that are preventing farmers from switching must be a priority.”
Page 1 and 2: MIDLAND FREE FARMER SEPTEMBER 2023
Page 3: September 2023 MIDLAND FARMER 3 Fin
Page 7 and 8: September 2023 MIDLAND FARMER 7 CSO
Page 9 and 10: September 2023 Rugby star Ringrose
Page 11 and 12: September 2023 MIDLAND FARMER 11 SK
Page 13 and 14: September 2023 MIDLAND FARMER 13 Ag
Page 15 and 16: September 2023 Farming ‘bureaucra
Page 17 and 18: September 2023 43% of pig producers
Page 19 and 20: September 2023 Over 90% of Irish ho
Page 21 and 22: September 2023 Number of students i
Page 23 and 24: September 2023 Children in rural ar

Midland Farmer - September 2023

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?