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May 28w
Former Blur guitarist to promote pig industry's cause
Radio and Press interviews with former Blur bass guitarist turned pig farmer Alex James are being organised by the Pigs Are Worth it Campaign. James famously gave up vegetarianism in 2006 when he bought his farm and began rearing animals for meat. He writes for The Independent and The Observer. He is a supporter of the Pigs Are Worth It Campaign and is fully aware of the issues pig farmers are currently facing.
Better prices on the way
Stronger, more stable live pig prices towards the end of the year are predicted by Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op. Live pig prices have iimproved over the past few weeks.
May 27
Daily Mail accuses supermarkets of profiteering
Daily Mail readers were in for a treat when they opened Saturday's paper and read the two-page spread "Save Our Bacon" by Robert Hardman. He outlined the industry's plight accurately and robustly, stressing that pig-keepers are unsubsidised and are not whingers. Read the article here.
Not all farmers are "raking it in"
Following an article headlined "Our supermarkets are worth every penny" by Tracy Corrigan in today's Daily Telegraph, BPEX and NPA chairman Stewart Houston is to write to Alistair Darling to remind him that not all farmers are "raking it in".
In her article, Corrigan says: "Last week, Alistair Darling summoned the big food retailers to Downing Street to find out what they can do about food price inflation. They must have been tempted to remind him of the repeated investigations by the competition authorities into allegations that they used their combined muscle to squeeze suppliers and competitors. A couple of British supermarkets cannot control the vagaries of the global commodities market. So farmers are doing well. I heard several of them admit as much on Radio 4, which means they must be raking it in. Good for them, but it does rather destroy the myth that they were being systematically victimised by the supermarkets."
Political lobbyists employed by the BPEX/NPA Pigs Are worth It campaign team says constant highlighting of the pig industry's plight in Parliament means Darling is already well aware of the problems facing pig farmers — but Stewart Houston's letter will act as a timely reminder.
I'll champion pigs, says Britain's favourite chef
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has pledged to make being a "champion for pigs" his next worthy cause.
Oliver, who has already championed free-range chickens in his television documentary Fowl Dinners, was speaking at the annual literary festival in Hay-on-Wye, mid Wales.
He said he had considered concentrating on beef or milk, but went with the popular choice of pigs after asking his audience."
Survey
THE FEED COVER SURVEY
This is the last day of the survey.
NPA, BPEX, and the joint Pigs Are Worth It Campaign are continuing their drive to lift the scales from the eyes of retailers and, increasingly, processors. To this end a snapshot is needed of how much cover pig producers have taken on feed costs. (The indications to date are that few producers are prepared to lock into loss-making costs.)
Please take part in this survey — in confidence.
l NPA Trade Directory l Mechanical data l National Pig Association l Defra l BBC weather l
l Environment Agency l Food Standards Agency l Quality Meat Scotland l Scottish Executive l
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