FARMERFOCUS
FARMERFOCUS
Richard Longthorp
Richard Longthorp farms
720ha (1800 acres)
near Howden, East Yorks.
As well as arable, the
farm has 2500 outdoor
breeding sows with progeny
taken through to bacon. He
is also chairman of the
National Pig Association
DRIFT of skilled staff from the land; minimum cultivations to cut costs; misunderstanding between urban and rural populations; individual animal ID; environmental regulations.
Does this sound familiar? These are just some of the issues, picked up from the Australian farming Press, taxing the countrys producers.
Currently in Australia, I must report its producers are experiencing something of a mini-boom. Wheat yields and prices are good, as are cattle, sheep and wool prices. But what really turns my eyes green with envy is the booming pig price – 112p/kg deadweight with a 70p/kg production cost.
Having just got all the communication tools geared up for operating in Oz, a technical problem with e-mail back in the UK reminded me of our dependence on modern communication methods. Fortunately, it was resolved before too much mail had been missed and I am now fully back in touch with the UK.
Having had the chance to travel to Australia it is, however, even more galling to read Elliott Morleys comments in Hansard in relation to illegal meat import controls. He claimed that when he travelled to Australia, he noticed no difference between Australian and UK standards.
At best, Mr Morley is being disingenuous, at worst, deliberately misleading. Was he asleep during the compulsory in-flight video before landing? Was he not required to read and sign the immigration form regarding his last visit to a farm? Did he go through a special VIP channel at customs and avoid the luggage searches, x-rays and washing/disinfection of footwear?
Reports from home indicate that, hopefully, the variable performance of pigs during the past six months has turned the corner and settled at a level close to target. If only we could make a breakthrough with the ravages of PMWS then we could perhaps start to face the future with more confidence.
The combined effects of a strong £, unilateral welfare and food safety legislation and disease problems stemming from swine fever and foot-and-mouth, mean we are at a cost disadvantage of some 30% compared with our European counterparts. *