Farming

Eustice turns in a useless performance

Published

5 years ago

November 19, 2020

GEORGE EUSTICE has all the qualifications to be DEFRA Secretary of State in the Westminster Government.
He owns a pair of green wellingtons, corduroy trousers, a smart tweed jacket and a wax jacket.
He must be very good at his job. He’s been a Minister in DEFRA for most of the last six years.

CAR CRASH INTERVIEW

Which makes his catastrophically ignorant performance on Sunday’s Andrew Marr programme all the more baffling.
After six years as a Government minister, four of which have come after the result of the 2016 Referendum and ten months of which have come after Boris Johnson ‘got Brexit done’, Mr Eustice appears to have little or no grasp of the realities of agricultural production and food processing.
His nonsensical remarks about sheep farming – which he has sought to clarity – have received a lot of attention.
Of equally worthy attention is how George Eustice regards the interaction between markets.
In Eustice World ™, tariffs will have no effect on the UK’s dairy industry because tariffs will also be applied to EU goods coming into the UK. Which would be an interesting take if in the last reported year the UK didn’t operate a surplus of dairy trade with the EU. In short, EU countries buy more of ours than we do of theirs.
No doubt the gap in exports will be taken up by exporting blue cheese to the notoriously lactose-intolerant population of Japan.

ARLA RESPOND WITH HUMOUR

As an illustration of the Eustice Doctrine the DEFRA Secretary claimed that if producers like Arla wanted to continue to trade in the UK, they would have to relocate their production of Lurpak to the UK.
Arla explained in a subsequent tweet, doubtless to George Eustice’s amazement after only six years in DEFRA, Lurpak is subject to legal origin protections. Those mean that Arla can only produce Lurpak® in Denmark with Danish milk. It can’t be produced in the UK.
Arla helpfully added: “Don’t panic, whatever happens with Brexit, we’re sure we’ll be able to find a way to keep Lurpak coming into the UK.”
Dairy production was only a small part of George Eustice’s monumental achievements during his interview.
He went on to anger sheep farmers with a crass assertion so wrong-headed that even his subsequent attempted gloss on his words rubbed salt into their wounds.

FEELING THE HEAT OVER SHEEP MEAT

Andrew Marr asked George Eustice about the effect on sheep farmers. In a no-deal Brexit, red meat exporters face tariff barriers to trade with their largest export market. Over 40% of sheep meat is exported to the EU and that accounts for 90% of all UK sheepmeat exports. The largest market for British sheep meat in the EU is France, which takes around half of all exports.
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the tariffs on lamb exports would make UK production uncompetitive in the EU market. Worse, the prospect of a trade deal with New Zealand raises the dual prospect of imports carving UK farmersout of their home markets.
Mr Eustice blithely asserted that UK sheep farmers would face only short term price drops and farmers who farmed sheep and cattle together could diversify into beef as imports from Ireland and the EU would fall due to increased tariffs affecting imports to the UK.
He subsequently clarified: “In my comments on the Andrew Marr Show, I did not say that all sheep farmers should diversify into beef. I said that if tariffs were applied then some mixed beef and sheep enterprises might choose to diversify more into beef because Irish beef would become subject to tariffs, creating new opportunities for British producers.”
That is not what Mr Eustice said. He said mixed cattle and sheep farms could diversify.
Mr Eustice’s suggestion would only have force if he thought most sheep farmers farmed cattle. Otherwise, his answer on sheep tariffs would make no sense in context.
On the latter point, farming organisations expressed dismay and bemusement at Mr Eustice’s ignorance.

FARMERS RESPOND TO USELESS DISPLAY

Phil Stocker, CEO of the National Sheep said: “Mr Eustice’s comments will have angered many of our nation’s sheep farmers, failing to identify the unique and varied nature of sheep enterprises across the country.
“To begin with, to suggest that many of our sheep farmers are mixed farmers is wrong. This assumption will enrage sheep farmers across the UK who have structured their farms to focus on sheep, and it will particularly antagonise our devolved nations where the landscape includes more remote areas of countryside, especially suited to sheep, and where buildings, machinery and farminfrastructure simply would not suit a sudden switch to cattle farming.
“The fact we have many sheep farmers, especially younger farmers and new entrants to the sector who run their sheep on arable farms and on short term grass lets was completely ignored – simply switching to cattle would be impossible for them.
“I find it hard to think that George Eustice really believes what he said This interview leaves us thinking his comments could either be part of creating a ‘we don’t care’ attitude to bolster trade negotiations, or, and this would be highly concerning, it exposes an underlying willingness to see our sheep industry go through a restructure to reduce its size, scale and diversity.”
FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The reality is that failure to reach a trade deal would have a catastrophic impact for our key agricultural sectors that would hit home very quickly, with the sheep industry likely to feel the impact most acutely.
“It would also cause untold disruption to food and other supply chains and complete anarchy at our ports.”
Mr Roberts said that such a failure would also have devastating impacts for EU businesses and that it was therefore in both the EU and UK’s interest to ‘pull out all the stops’ to reach a deal.
Mr Roberts also rebuffed claims by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the UK ‘will prosper’ without an EU trade deal.
“You cannot cut yourself off from the worlds biggest economy and trading block in the height of a global pandemic, the worst recession for a century and having borrowed a quarter of a trillion to cope and think it’s going to go well.
“Not only would this amount to catastrophic self -harm from an economic point of view, but also at a practical level the country is woefully unprepared to cope with the flow of goods over our borders and all the paperwork and checks that this requires.”
Mr Roberts said that while EU ports facing the UK had undertaken significant changes to prepare for different Brexit scenarios, many UK ports were still in the early stages of planning new infrastructure and would not be prepared to cope with the movement of goods until at least July next year.
“Even if a deal is reached, we are facing significant additional costs and disruption as a result of non-tariff barriers due to the UK’s decision to leave the Single Market and customs union.
“A no-deal will severely escalate these and must be avoided at all costs,” he added.
NFU Cymru President John Davies said: “Ahead of the EU Referendum and ever since, NFU Cymru has been consistent in its messaging that a ‘No deal’ Brexit outcome, which would see the UK trading with the EU on WTO terms, would be a catastrophic position for Welsh farming. The reason for our strong position is that the EU market has been – and remains – the nearest, largest and most lucrative export market for many Welsh products. It is a marketplace where our customers recognise and value the Welsh brand and the high standards it represents.
“Only a year ago the industry was told that the odds of a ‘No deal’ Brexit were ‘a million to one against’ and there was an ‘oven-ready deal’, yet here we are only weeks before the end of the transition period, facing the prospect of ‘No deal’ and high tariffs on our exports.
“The comments made by Secretary of State George Eustice serve to further underline why it is so important to Welsh agriculture that UK Government agrees on a deal that secures access to the EU without tariff barriers and with minimal friction.
“The Secretary of State’s view that Welsh sheep farmers could diversify into beef production to offset the impact of a ‘non-negotiated outcome’ will be of major concern to our sheep farmers, who are some of the most efficient and innovative in the world producing a quality product. The reality is that changing production methods involves long-term production cycles and for many, the significant investment required makes it an unviable option.
“The Minister’s comments on the dairy sector are also concerning and do not account for the fact that we are net exporters of some dairy commodities and that the profitability of some domestic sectors, like liquid milk, is tied closely to the timely export of high-value co-products to the EU, like cream. The idea that many of the major EU dairy processors will have to relocate their operations to the UK is fraught with difficulties and is, in many cases, unviable.
“Being priced out of our nearest and most important export markets for even a short amount of time would have severe consequences for the food and farming sector in Wales.”
TFA National Chair Mark Coulman said: “To suggest that dairy farmers will be saved by forcing Arla to produce its popular Lurpak brand in the UK when it is legally bound to keep its production in Denmark and that dedicated and successful sheep farmers should consider diversifying into beef production, if export markets for our high-quality lamb become closed to us, were not helpful, to say the least. The farming community was hoping for much better than this.
“Somehow, we need to use the short time available to garner the strength to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. This will require a concerted effort with the Government and the farming industry working together to achieve that. Although late in the day, the TFA is committed to engaging in that work,” Mr Coulman concluded.

Farming

Bluetongue control measures in Wales

Published

2 days ago

June 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has outlined the measures which will be in place for the active transmission period of Bluetongue.

In response to increased risk of Bluetongue, including temperatures that are consistent with the active transmission period, some measures are being introduced from 20th June in relation to the current Restricted Zone in England.

However:

There is no ban on movements of livestock from England and there is no hard border. (All livestock can be moved subject to licenses, qualifying vaccination for cattle and pre-movement testing as appropriate)
Livestock movements within Wales are not subject to Bluetongue restrictions.
Livestock moves from Wales to the Restricted Zone in England are not subject to Bluetongue restrictions.

From today (Friday, June 20), all animals that need to move from the current Restricted Zone in England to live in Wales, will need a movement licence issued by APHA which confirms the animals have:

a valid pre-movement test
vaccination with the Boehringer Bultavo-3 vaccine (for cattle only)
have no clinical signs of illness

The Welsh Government will allow cattle fully vaccinated with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Bultavo-3 vaccine, to move under licence, from a Restricted Zone to Wales without a pre-movement test.

This applies from 20th June and is based on the latest information from vaccine manufacturers regarding the prevention of viraemia by available vaccine products.

All sheep must be pre-movement tested and require an accompanying licence to move into Wales to live from the RZ in England, as no vaccine products currently meet the requirements for protecting sheep from BTV-3 to allow them to move out of the RZ.

Arrangements will also be put in place to allow livestock to move to and from shows and sales in the RZ from 20 June, subject to meeting licencing conditions that are set out online at Bluetongue virus (BTV) | GOV.WALES .

These policies will continue to apply after 1 July when the England-wide RZ comes into effect.

Moves direct to slaughter can continue from 20th June and these livestock moves do not require a pre-movement test.

There will be an additional requirement from 1 July when receiving abattoirs in Wales must be designated and meet appropriate licencing conditions to handle Bluetongue-susceptible animals.

Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “My goal at this stage remains to keep Bluetongue out of Wales for the benefit of our animals and those who keep them.

“The economic and farmer wellbeing concerns caused by dealing with severe Bluetongue are first and foremost in my mind.

“I also want to allow more time to observe the severity of the disease in England, and for keepers to vaccinate their herds and flocks.

“I have made clear the thinking behind my decision in the Senedd this week, but I want to keep it under review. Should the evidence change, and we need to alter the policy, we will revisit and review this in a dynamic way.

“Our shared priority over the coming weeks is to promote vaccine take-up. All representatives at the Roundtable I recently convened were unanimous in their support for vaccination as the best method of protecting livestock and reducing the impacts of Bluetongue.”

“I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales, but we are prepared to adapt to the evolving disease situation.”

Farming

‘Total chaos and havoc’: Senedd Members lambast bluetongue response

Published

5 days ago

June 19, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

SENEDD Members denounced the Welsh Government’s response to bluetongue, with limits on moving livestock, warning the approach will cause total chaos and havoc for farmers.

Samuel Kurtz, who is from a farming family, expressed deep concern about the Welsh Government’s handling of the disease, saying it “falls far short of what farmers deserve”.

The Conservatives’ economy secretary said Senedd Members received no briefing from the Deputy First Minister nor the chief veterinary office on the science behind the decision.

Mr Kurtz warned: “There has been no economic impact assessment despite the far-reaching consequences for our rural community.

“And perhaps most troubling of all, the decision was issued via a written statement on a Thursday afternoon – just after the Senedd week had ended, ensuring no scrutiny, no questions and no answers until today.”

He told the Senedd: “We all understand the importance of protecting Welsh livestock from bluetongue but the measures imposed are not only excessive, they’re unworkable.”

“Requiring pre-movement testing for all live imports, even vaccinated animals, might look reasonable on paper but – in the real world of Welsh farming – it’s chaos.

“I’ve spoken with a farmer in mid Wales now facing a bill of at least £18,000 just to bring their own sheep back from England – a field that is only five miles down the road. That cost covers testing, transport delays, logistical headaches, and that is not an isolated incident.”

Mr Kurtz said already under-strain livestock markets now face collapsing confidence, with movement restrictions “sowing uncertainty” at the height of the trading season. “This isn’t protecting the industry; it’s paralysing it,” he warned.

He put the cost of vaccinating all livestock in Wales at £32m – £6 a cow and £3 for every sheep or goat – placing a “staggering financial” burden on a struggling industry.

During a statement on the Welsh Government’s approach to bluetongue on June 17, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said policy will be kept under regular review.

“If the evidence changes on the ground, we can revisit this,” he said, claiming it was not feasible to conduct an economic impact assessment.

Mr Irranca-Davies, who is responsible for rural affairs, told Senedd Members it was a finely balanced decision taken because “we think there is a fighting chance here to hold this back”.

The former MP and Defra minister clarified that testing requirements will not apply for movements to and from land within a farm’s combined holding.

He said the Welsh Government has successfully kept bluetongue out of Wales this year but an all-England restriction zone obliged Welsh ministers to review their own approach.

“I cannot and will not in good conscience simply invite bluetongue into Wales,” he stressed.

But Llŷr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s shadow rural affairs secretary, said: “You’ve explained to us that part of this rationale is to buy time but I have to say: where have you been? We’ve known for months and months, if not years, that bluetongue is on its way.”

Mr Gruffydd added: “I really fear that your decision and your policy decision this week will bring even more worry, even more disruption and even more concern in its wake.”

He advocated instead “getting ready for the inevitable” vaccination and managing of bluetongue rather than “ploughing” scant resources into costly testing and licensing.

The politician warned: “It’s going to disrupt the functionality of the whole agricultural ecosystem and that in itself could be more damaging than dealing with bluetongue.”

Calling for clarity on plans, he asked: “Will you incrementally be moving the restriction zone further into Wales or, if it does happen, will you then immediately move to an all-Wales restricted zone, which, frankly, is what I think you should’ve done in the first place?”

Mr Irranca-Davies reiterated the policy will be under live review before hitting back: “Where have we been?’ We’ve been keeping the disease out of Wales.”

He said: “It is not inevitable, as you and Sam seem to be saying, that the disease will walk in the door. What we are trying to do is keep that door as firmly shut as we can…. but it is a heightened possibility as soon as the border is snapped out to the England-Wales border.”

Labour’s Lesley Griffiths, a former rural affairs minister who represents the border constituency of Wrexham, echoed concerns centred on testing and lab capacity.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said: “For farms on the border, many of which I represent, and I know others here do, there is severe concern, severe stress on farmers.

“The mental health weight on them is already considerable, and this is another thing on top.”

Jane Dodds MS, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats

Farming

New for Farmers: Managing Breeding Bulls workshop with Farming Connect

Published

5 days ago

June 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

FARMING CONNET is offering a fully funded, Lantra-accredited animal health and welfare training workshop – ‘Managing Breeding Bulls’. It will be delivered by approved local vet practices across Wales and is designed to support farmers to enhance their herd’s performance and ensure the well-being of their bulls on farm.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of choosing the right bull for your herd’s performance and productivity. The workshop will also provide insight into the key factors to consider when assessing a bull’s suitability for breeding, including Body Condition Scoring.

It will give an opportunity to learn about the various reasons for bull infertility and discover effective strategies for its prevention and control. The vital role of pre-breeding fertility testing in ensuring a successful breeding season will also be explored.

The workshop will help you become aware of the essential routine treatments and nutritional considerations for preparing bulls before breeding as well as learning to identify and manage the biosecurity risks associated with introducing new bulls from other herds.

Finally, the workshop will look into some of the traits that can be assessed via Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and how to use them to aid in making the best bull selection for your herd.

This workshop is designed to equip you with practical knowledge to enhance your herd’s health and productivity.

‘The bull plays a pivotal role in the fertility of herds and getting it right/wrong has a significant impact on the productivity of the upcoming year. Making sure bulls are fit for purpose is one of the first steps to ensure a successful breeding and calving season.’ Shares Clara Valderamma, Farm First Vets who is one of the approved vets delivering the new training workshop.

Workshop attendance will be logged on the attendee’s ‘Storfa Sgiliau’ CPD record along with a Lantra Awards ‘certificate of attendance’.

The training workshops are fully funded but to qualify for that funding, all attendees must be registered with Farming Connect and complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP).

For dates and details of upcoming workshops visit the Farming Connect website https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/ or contact your local development officer to find out more.