Friday May 14, 2010

Prices moving upward

TRAFFIC LIGHTS COMMENTARY

Prices followed the upward trend set at a buoyant Pig Fair. All signals seemed to be on green as far as sellers were concerned, except in the cull sow market.

DAPP took a significant upward step again this week and now stands at 144.58p and the Tulip base price also gained ground to 146p.

As a result most spot buyers had to offer in excess of 147p to find the numbers they wanted but these are still thin on the ground.

All the signs are that there is something of a black hole opening up in the supply chain and this could put prices under further upward pressure in the weeks ahead, although most industry pundits would prefer to see a steady rise rather than the more volatile movements we saw in 2009, which unfortunately led to a mini slump in August/September.

Another note of caution is that now we have our "Little and Large" government coalition at Number 10, sterling has gained in value against a weaker euro and this has the effect of cheapening foreign imports and also cuts the value of British cull sow exports.

However it is not just the value of the euro that is hitting demand for cull sows, with reports from Europe that cold stores are full and product is still hard to move in the face of cheap competition from outside the European Union. Continued.

Hey, you might as well use it for this page

"It's quite difficult sometimes, with a group as active as NPA, to faithfully report everything it does, because there's rather more happening than one person can get out and about and report, especially for the NPA website," said Pig World publisher Digby Scott when he presented NPA's Zoe Davies with a camera at the association's tenth anniversary party at Pig Fair.

"Ever since Zoe joined us at NPA, she's been an absolute star because at all the events that I can't get to, Zoe will take photographs for me — kind of iffy photographs, but photographs nevertheless — and give me a good write-up for the web and for Pig World.

"So there is a certain amount of self-interest in this present for Zoe.

"Every time you see a professional photographer who's got a big sod-off camera – he will also be carrying a compact digital SLR camera as a back-up.

"And every one carries this particular make — a Canon G11 — which I'm hoping will be small enough for your handbag, Zoe, and which, by strange coincidence, has already been set up to produce pictures of publishable quality.

"If you leave NPA tomorrow, it is a present to you Zoe, but whilst you are still at NPA, hey, you might as well use it."

Members area

The NPA members' area has been updated today.

Farmex mug shot

Farmex celebrated its 30th anniversary at British Pig and Poultry Fair by giving away hundreds of smart mugs to mark the occasion. Hugh Crabtree (right), seen here on the Farmex stand with fellow director Nick Bird, said they were going like hot, erm, mugs. Cheers.

Nutrient management plans

A new nutrient management plan is available to help farmers and growers plan their fertiliser and manure use, meet increasing regualtory demands and protect the environment. Details here: http://www.nutrientmanagement.org.

Memorable Pig Fair

"I haven't missed a Pig Fair since it started more years ago than I care to remember, but this one has to be one of the most memorable. Smiling faces, full order books and a buzz like I have seldom experienced — absolutely fantastic. What a superb industry we have, thanks to the people who are in it. Innovations abounded, many from farmers themselves originally. Put a farmer in a situation where he needs to do something to solve a problem and it will always be a safe bet that he or she will deliver the goods." — Sam Walton.

• Read more in June Pig World.

Check you are still in an NVZ

The NFU is urging members to check if they still remain in an NVZ now Defra has issued revised maps showing a nine percent reduction in NVZ farmland. NFU lobbied hard for a review of NVZ areas. Read more about the change to designations here.

Anaerobic digestion

BPEX has produced an excellent six-page factsheet explaining anaerobic digestion. To view it, go here.

Robust, intelligent lobbying

By Digby Scott

"Over the last ten years we've built a reputation for robust, intelligent lobbing, respected by a range of organisations from Defra to retail," said Stewart Houston (pictured above), at NPA's tenth anniversary party at British Pig and Poultry Fair this week.

"We are unique among trade organisations in that we represent much of the chain – including breeding companies, marketing groups and the allied industries, whose support allows us to punch well above our weight."

He told a hundred or so members that NPA's success had been achieved through 'super' staff – past and present – and a host of producers and company representatives who had been prepared to subject themselves to election and give up their time to add their experience to the professional staff.

"It was the events of 1999 which accelerated the marriage of the BPA commercial producers committee and the NFU pigs committee to form the NPA ten years ago.

"Before the NPA we were a fragmented industry. But we've demonstrated what can be achieved by working together — together as industry colleagues, together with NFU and Pig Veterinary Society, and especially with BPEX," said Stewart Houston, who is chairman of both NPA and BPEX.

"We've dealt with three exotic disease outbreaks, convinced ministers that muck was not waste, persuaded retailers to support the industry through a surge of price and cost crisis, raised the importance of training, released an internationally-acclaimed song, and lobbied in Brussels for a fairer deal for United Kingdom pig farmers.

"One area where we can be most proud is the introduction of Young NPA."

NPA had not achieved all of this alone, he stressed. Credit must be given to BPEX, itself ten years old this year.

BPEX's support sometimes took the organisation to the edge of it's remit. "Indeed, when I look back at some of the hairy stuff we collectively did over the last ten years, I shake my head."

NFU had continued to support NPA both physically and financially, and NPA's relationship with Defra had helped deliver many of our wins.

"Numbers here today are testimony to the success of NPA and its supporters over the last ten years."

Sponsor-a-pig plan could help reconnect consumers with their food

By Digby Scott

Producers who invite the public to sponsor a pig will be helping reconnect consumers with farming, and if the exercise is costed carefully, they will be assuring themselves of a fair return for their pigs.

This is the marketing idea put forward by student and pig producer's son Tom Martindale (pictured above). His idea made it to the finals of the ABN Innovation Award, against stiff competition.

In addition to helping educate consumers about how there food is produced, the scheme will provide complete carcase balance, as the sponsor of each pig would receive the whole carcase when the pig was slaughtered, butchered to his or her requirements.

And having committed to growing their own pig, and ensured their supply of British pork, they would be far less likely to succumb to the temptations of cheaper imported pork on supermarket shelves.

The attractions of sponsoring a pig might be felt most by people who already grow their own vegetables and would like to raise their own livestock of they had the land and money.

And whilst as a marketing idea it wouldn't be suitable for all pig farms, it would help those who embrace the idea to plan their business better as they would know in advance exactly what return they would be getting.

In addition to educating consumers about their food, it might also help attract new blood into the industry, Tom Martindale told the ABN Innovation Award judges.

A student at Harper Adams, he put together his entry for the award from experience gained on the family farm which has a 90-sow free-range unit in Hampshire, with some of the progeny going for direct sales.

"Cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with the public has shown us how a proportion of customers are interested in where their food comes from and how it is produced," he said.

"I am keen to follow this through as a way of getting people onto farms to have a look at how food is produced."

His basic costings for Sponsor-a-Pig show consumers will need to pay around £4.49 a kilo.

"This is good value. But I must stress that it is a ball-park figure and the costs must be known right through, including the cost of marketing and farm visits."

His scheme would involve tagging the sponsored pigs and inviting sponsors to two two-hour visits, one shortly after weaning, and the other towards slaughter date.

"It is an opportunity for the person sponsoring the pig to come and see exactly what we do and how the pigs are reared."

He envisages giving sponsors a booklet with them with recipe ideas, including ideas for preparing and cooking the parts of the carcase they might not be familiar with.

There would also be a members' website where sponsors can be updated on the progress of their pig "because you couldn't have people ringing up and asking to come and see their pig today, because it just wouldn't be practical."

He envisaged that any producer taking up the scheme would be able to attract the necessary publicity, and it might even be used as a promotion tool for the industry in general.

It would be a good opportunity to promote British agriculture, and British pig farming in particular, and perhaps to attract more people into the industry.

"It is reconnecting people with farming and the food they eat.

"But it is not for everybody. Not everybody wants people coming to their farm and some farms would be unsuitable because of time and practicalities."

Tom plans to return to the family farm after Harper Adams, when he hopes to further develop the direct processing part of the business.

Thursday May 13, 2010

Traffic Lights

Traffic Lights base is up tuppence to 147p tonight.

Shoulder should be rebranded as the hog roast joint

By Digby Scott

Let's rebrand British pork shoulder as the hog-roast joint.

This is the idea from East Anglia producer Alastair Butler which yesterday won him the £1,000 ABN Innovation Award at British Pig and Poultry Fair.

Home-cooked hog-roast pork is cheap and simple, he said. A successful rebranding will significantly improve carcase balance which in turn will drive up prices to producers.

People know and love hog-roasts when they eat out, and producers could piggy-back off this by introducing Red Tractor hog-roast pork at retail, he said.

Above: Rebranding pork shoulder as the 'hog-roast joint', could have a huge impact on carcase balance, says Alastair Butler.

"The shoulder is a quarter of the carcase and if we rebrand it the hog-roast joint, it will have a significant affect on carcase balance," he said.

In promoting pork shoulder as hog-roast pork, producers will be capitalising on the excellent Jamie Oliver Save Our Bacon programme broadcast in January last year.

"He educated two million viewers on how to slow-roast a shoulder of pork and sales spiked for about a month," he said.

The reasons were clear — pork shoulder is a great value for money, especially during a recession, it is tasty, and it is very simple to prepare.

He applauded Jamie for educating the public about slow-cooking shoulder pork.

"We can't tell people to cook shoulder in two hours and expect them to buy it again," he said. "If we persuade consumers to do what Jamie did, home-made hog-roast will be a great success."

Jamie's hog-roast pork with apple sauce ticked all the boxes for modern consumers, he pointed out. It was simple, it didn't need vegetables, and there was hardly any washing-up to do afterwards.

"The general public know what hog-roast is. They know what to expect," he said.

Above: Alastair Butler makes his successful bid the for £1,000 ABN Innovation Award.

It was already very successful in foodservice and at events such as weddings and big parties. "We need to implement that into a retail scenario so that we can move more pork shoulders."

Some of the key selling points of home-made hog-roast were its short preparation time — ten minutes — and its short list of ingredients... pork shoulder, two tablespoons of oil, one tablespoon of fennel seed, and salt.

"I would like to see the packaging show just how simple it is so that people realise how easy it will be for them to do a hog-roast for the whole family or for a dinner party. It is a very simple way to cater.

"The key is to implement it at retail, but I don't think we should stop there. If it is successful, there is more we can do to increase sales in foodservice."

Alastair Butler has persuaded a cafe in Norwich to put hog-roast on its menu. The cost of each hog-roast bun is £1.56 and it sells for £4, a profit of over one hundred percent.

"In a restaurant you could add a bit of salad and some kettle chips and easily charge another pound."

"My strategy involves minimal risk for potentially a massive return," he said. "But at present we don't have the marketing budget for the launch. BPEX's marketing budget this year will be only £3m, and that has to cover everything it does in marketing." © Pig World.

More visitors, more exhibitors

Visitors up ten percent, and more exhibitors too... there were 9,768 visitors to this year's British Pig and Poultry Fair — 5,409 on day one and 4,359 on day two. This compares with 8,943 visitors in 2008. Exhibitor numbers were up from 262 in 2008 to 280 this year.

During the course of this morning some of the highlights of British Pig and Poultry Fair 2010 will be covered on this page, with full reports to follow in June Pig World.

New environment chief

Caroline Spelman (52) — who is steeped in agriculture — has been appointed secretary of state at Defra.

"The department is responsible for many of the things that are vital to our quality of life — the food we eat, the air we breathe and how we manage the land we live on and the seas that surround our shores," she said today.

A grammar school girl, she has a first in European studies from University of London. She was sugar beet commodity secretary for the National Farmers Union in 1981-1984.

She was deputy director of the International Confederation of European Beetgrowers, Paris, in 1984-1989.

She was a research fellow at the Centre for European Agricultural Studies, 1989-1993. She is a director of Spelman, Cormack and Associates, food and biotechnology consultancy.

She has been the MP for Meriden since May 1997. She was a Conservative whip June 1998 to June 1999, and party spokesman on health and women's issues, June 1999 to September 2001.

She was shadow secretary of state for international development and shadow minister for women, September 2001-2003.

She was shadow secretary of state for the environment and shadow minister for women 2003-2004.

Caroline Spelperson (as The Spectator calls her) has also been shadow secretary of state for communities and local government.

She was chairman of the Conservative Party from 2007 until last year, during which period she was also shadow secretary of state for communities and local government.

At British Pig and Poultry Fair...

(Reports to follow in June Pig World.)

Above: Alastair Butler (29) won the ABN Innovation Award against stiff competition from student Tom Martindale, a pig producer's son, and freelance public relations consultant, graphic designer and copywriter Kerri Worrall. Alastair's idea for marketing more British pork is so simple, so achievable and yet so audacious, that I am relishing writing up the details later on and splashing them on this page. — D.S.

Above and below: At its tenth anniversary party, NPA presented Glenda Montgomery of Ladies in Pigs with a lifetime achievement award.

One of life's constants

"Every now and again you get an opportunity to do something really special and I've been given the honour of doing something really special this evening,' said Hugh Crabtree, when he presented NPA's lifetime achievement award to Glenda Montgomery, the inspiration behind Ladies in Pigs.

"In life there are constants. We've all got people who we've known and loved for years and years. They're always there, they're always a delight to be with – they are constants.

"She is one of my constants and I suspect she's probably one of your constants too.

"They'll tell you she's a bit of a mother hen sometimes. They'll tell you that she has to have it done right. And they'll tell you that she sometimes nags them.

"But they'll also tell you that they love her dearly, as I do.

"This very special NPA award is an innovation for NPA. It's a lifetime achievement award, and I'm privileged to present it to my dear friend Glenda Montgomery."

Above: Not a dry eye in the house as Glenda thanks Hugh for her award.

Above: If this Pig Fair belonged to anyone, it was Genesis, with its 360° Farrower which attracted a stream of would-be freedom-farrowers, over both days. Boss Martin Barker is pictured above receiving the Best Stand Award from best stand judge Stewart Houston, chairman of BPEX and NPA.

The 360° Farrower won a Highly Commended from Best New Product judge Phil Stephenson. "If it had been a 'best innovation' award, it would have won without question," he said. He chose as his overall winner, Boehringer Ingelheim's PMWS vaccine Circoflex, new since last Pig Fair.

Below: The Genesis team at British Pig and Poultry Fair.

Above: Technijet's robot washer won a Highly Commended in the New Product Awards. Overheard nearby... "It's going to put you out of a job Dave." Reply... "Good."

Above: Ladies in Pigs chairman Sue Woodall receives a surprise award from Mick Sloyan and Tina Mulholland of BPEX, for Ladies in Pigs' contribution to Bacon Connoisseurs' Week, when LIPS delivered hot bacon rolls to radio stations around the country, and captured shed-loads of airtime as a result.

Above: Seeing as how he's chairman of BPEX an all, Best Stand judge Stewart Houston was in two minds about giving a Highly Commended to BPEX... "But the stand just has such a buzz about it," he said. "So damn it, I will." He is pictured here with the BPEX people responsible for making the stand happen — Claire Holland, Helen Brothwell, and Miriam Drewitt.

Above: Merial won a Highly Commended for its busy, welcoming stand.

Chris Brant Award 2010

By Digby Scott

This year’s Chris Brant Award winner is Nigel Penlington, who helps steer English producers through increasingly labyrinthine environmental regulations.

“Without his intervention in the debacle that is IPPC, there would be many whose investment plans would have been thwarted by impenetrable red-tape,” said chairman of judges Richard Longthorp.

“With his direct help, these businesses have managed to push forward and not, yet, be suffocated by IPPC.”

The award was presented this morning at British Pig and Poultry Fair, by television farming presenter Adam Henson.

In his citation as chairman of judges, Richard Longthorp said, “The Chris Brant Award — formerly known as the Pig Industry Service Award — is made to someone who has gone the 'extra mile' on behalf of the pig industry.

“Many past winners of this award could be termed pig industry ‘lifers’. This year's winner is not a pig industry lifer but, although a relative newcomer to our industry, his impact on the industry has been massive.

“His ability to critically analyse Environment Agency technospeak and challenge both questionable science and also Britain’s interpretation of European Union law — and then present the facts in a fashion we can all understand — is now legend.

'Even Environment Agency staff recognise his ability to help them interact more effectively with producers.”

He said BPEX environmental programme manager Nigel Penlington, was highly competent in analytical and communication skills, which he had turned to exceptional use to the benefit of pig producers.

“He is always available to give practical one-to-one advice and this has been much appreciated by many recipients,” said Richard Longthorp.

He said the English pig industry had suffered a lack of investment for over a decade and even now, after a reasonable period of sustained profitability, for many there would still be nagging doubts about investing in a new grower or finisher house, were it not for Nigel Penlington’s help with environmental regulation.

“He is a well-known and respected member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers. Not bad really, for an oily rag and spanner man who is happiest when restoring old tractors or replacing malfunctioning parts on his slightly disreputable old Land-Rover.”

The Chris Brant Award is an annual reward. The winner is chosen from industry nominations. This year there were 20 nominations from producers and the allied trades.

The award is organised by Pig World in association with the National Pig Association and the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and is sponsored by Richard Longthorp, pig producer and chairman of Lantra’s National Council for England.

This year’s judges, in addition to Richard Longthorp, were Hugh Crabtree, who was last year's winner, and John Cusson, who along with the late Chris Brant, won the PIPS Enterprise Award (the forerunner of the Pig Industry Service Award) in 1999.

Two tonne target for English producers

BPEX launched its Two Tonne Sow project at the British Pig and Poultry Fair. It has set English pig producers the challenging target of achieving an industry average of 2,000kg of pigmeat per sow per year by 2012.

Although physical performance continues to improve, there remains a significant productivity gap between the English pig industry and its major European competitors, said Mike Varley (pictured), BPEX knowledge transfer research and development manager.

Latest available figures show the average carcase weight per sow per year for Great Britain is 1,608kg compared with the European Union average of 2,000kg.

Closing this performance gap is crucial to ensure the long term competitiveness of the English pig sector. Producers need to ensure they are in strong position to sustain profitability during periods when the marketplace and exchange rates are less favourable, he said.

"The pig industry is currently making money and we want to improve profitability further through technical advancement. We should not rest on our laurels. Raising sow productivity will also help to reduce the environmental impact of pig production for every kilogram of meat produced.

"Different businesses will take different routes towards improved performance and a number of factors will be important including litter size, farrowing index, carcase weight and reducing mortality. I am positive the English pig industry can achieve the 2TS target. We have the technology and we have the people to apply that technology."

The BPEX knowledge transfer team will work with producers, providing information, advice and support on six main areas: breeding, finishing, health, nutrition, buildings and training.

BPEX has developed a sow productivity calculator for producers to work out where their output of pig meat per sow per year currently stands. The figures will help them benchmark their business against the English industry average and other businesses and pinpoint which areas of performance to prioritise to achieve the 2,000kg annual target.

Producers can access the calculator at www.2TS.org.uk.

Friday May 7, 2010

Red Tractor Pork marketing fund?
Yes or No?

PIG LEVY-PAYERS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THIS POLL

This is a poll about ideas. Voting 'yes' or 'no' doesn't commit levy-payers to any particular course of action.

But your response will help guide NPA. In particular it will show NPA whether it is worth asking BPEX to devote time and energy to working up ideas for a marketing campaign for Red Tractor Pork.

The question we are asking is this...

• During this window of relative prosperity, should producers be investing in their future by paying a special marketing levy to promote Red Tractor Pork, Bacon and Ham?

The idea was posed by producer Jimmy Butler two months ago. He developed his theme, to general acclaim, at a recent NPA regional meeting in East Anglia.

He fears the industry is not doing nearly enough to protect its premium, which is currently nearly 30p, and points out that 80p a pig would soon raise an impressive £10m marketing pot.

Here are some thoughts to consider before voting.

• Successful brands have significant annual marketing budgets.

• To sponsor a television series such as "Come dine with me" would cost us around £1m.

• To recruit a top-notch celebrity chef to be the face of the English pig industry would cost us £1m upwards (but the cost of adverts featuring the chef would be extra).

• In its 2010-2011 financial year, BPEX has earmarked £3m for its total marketing spend for Red Tractor Pork (including staff etc.).

• Sue Woodall, chairman of Ladies in Pigs, says the change to the Red Tractor is proving to be of major benefit. She says shoppers really do recognise the Red Tractor and many have a good general idea of what it stands for.

• A voluntary marketing levy, collected via processors, would mean no legal restriction on directly promoting "British". On the other hand, pig-keepers could choose to opt out of paying the levy if they wished. The industry would determine how the money would be spent. It might ask BPEX to act as its advertising agent — ie. to create a suitable campaign and place the adverts and press releases in appropriate media.

• A statutory bolt-on levy, approved by government and collected by BPEX, would restrict the campaign to promoting the Red Tractor as the industry brand, rather than "British". But would this matter, as the Red Tractor is well recognised, and carries the Union Flag anyway?

• Currently the BPEX marketing team is increasing its use of the internet as a means of promoting pork, partly because it cannot afford big television and press campaigns any more. But if a new pot of money became available it may well look at "old media" (television, radio and Press).

If you are a pig levy-payer, please take part in the following poll.

Feast of Fiddles CD

The new Feast of Fiddles CD Walk before you fly can now be bought on-line.

New faces at BPEX

Two new members of staff have joined BPEX, both with a remit involving pig health. Ross Lake is regional health co-ordinator working on the Eastern Health Project, funded by the East of England Development Agency. Manda Sach is health database co-ordinator, replacing Veronica Wright, who has left BPEX.