One of the best places to learn about the latest developments in farm animal care – including what they mean for producers and industry – is the 2012 Livestock Care Conference, 21-22 March in Red Deer, Alberta.

The annual event is hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC), the organization representing all major livestock producer organizations in the province.

"Farm animal care today is unquestionably a top issue internationally, with many implications from the farm level to the consumer level," says Heini Hehli, a dairy producer from the Rimbey, Alberta, area and Chair of AFAC. "It represents significant challenges but also major opportunities for those who are knowledgeable, progressive and innovative on this issue. As producers, that’s the category we want to be in."

The Livestock Care Conference was one of the first events of its kind designed to help producers, industry and other stakeholders keep at the forefront, says Lorna Baird, AFAC Executive Director. This role has never been more important, as farm animal care has risen to become a focus of new thinking and new expectations at many levels.

Themed Defining the Future, the 2012 Livestock Care Conference will showcase the latest developments, progress, challenges and opportunities. The conference is anchored by a dynamic agenda featuring leading speakers – both local and international – and cutting-edge topics.

"The conference theme this year is about taking charge," says Ms Baird. "A goal of the conference program is to not only inform on the latest developments, but provide valuable perspective on what they mean, what the opportunities are and how to capture them."

Farm animal care is a fundamental of management and innovation at the farm level. It’s an area of increasing focus and rising expectations among retailers and consumers. It’s at the centre of new standards and agreements ranging from codes of practice to international trade. The Livestock Care Conference covers each of these areas.

Examples of featured speakers include Charlie Arnot of the US-based Centre for Food Integrity who will set the scene; Kansas State University’s Glynn Tonsor on consumer expectations and their economic impact; and Gene Gregory of United Egg Producers on opportunities through their recent partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Among additional topics, the conference will highlight the EU phase out of sow stalls and implications for producers, provide lessons from market research, and offer insight on the retail perspective and how that impacts producers. The event also includes a session on Progressive Industry Leaders, which will showcase innovative Alberta producers who stand as examples for industry, along with the presentation of the annual AFAC Awards of Distinction.

The two-day agenda includes an evening reception and student poster session on Wednesday, 21 March, with the main speaker agenda running from 8:15 to 4:30 on Thursday, 22 March. Full conference agenda is available at www.afac.ab.ca/lcc. Livestock producers, industry representatives and others interested can register for this event online at the AFAC website or by calling 403-662-8050.

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To be legal and comply with the Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Orders (PRIMO) 2011, pig movements must be reported through the eAML2 system, either by setting up the movement themselves online or by contacting the eAML2 Bureau Service.

"Pig keepers do not need to worry if they have not got a computer or internet access," said Dorothea Schiemann of BPEX. They can contact the Bureau Service by telephone, fax or post and they will set up the online movement on pig keepers’ behalf. There will also be third party providers such as the British Pig Association or marketing groups.

"Abattoirs without computer access may also use the FSA Official Veterinarian to confirm movements have been completed on their behalf."

The current carbon copy AML2 paper form will no longer be a valid form of pig movement reporting with effect from 1 April 2012.

The eAML2 system provides for pre-notification of all types of movement and integration with the Scottish system will also be ready for April. All pig keepers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the electronic system and register with the service.

Keepers without a computer will need to keep a printed-out paper copy of the haulier summary for their records. They can contact the eAML2 Bureau Service for help with this.

Keepers who have access to a computer on-farm do not need to keep a paper version of their holding movement record. If the movement records are kept on the corporate farm office miles away from the actual unit, a paper holding movement record must still be maintained.

Go to www.eaml2.org.uk for more information and to register for the service.

The eAML2 Bureau Service helpline number is 0844 335 8400. The fax number is 0247 669 2405 and the address is MLCSL, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2TL.

The industry will know exactly where all the pigs are more or less instantaneously because the central database is updated so quickly, which will be invaluable in the event of any future disease outbreaks.

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This represents a change to the Position Statement on the 'Inclusion of gilts in intensive farming regulation' issued in June 2011, which stated that all gilts would be counted as production pigs.

For the purposes of calculating pig places and determining whether a farm is operating over the IPPC Directive/Environmental Permitting Regulation threshold, the definition of sow will now include:

- a female pig that has had her first litter
- a female pig that has been serviced but not yet had a litter
- All other pigs weighing over 30kg will be counted as production pigs.

The Environment Agency will communicate this position to existing permit holders who will need to inform about any subsequent increases in permitted pig places.

This clarification of the term sow may mean that some operators currently operating without a permit are in fact over the threshold. In these circumstances, operators must apply for a permit without delay.

The Agency will encourage farmers who now require a permit to apply without delay via communications with the National Pig Association (NPA) and BPEX.

What this means in terms of increased ammonia emissions will be calculated:

If it represents less than 10 per cent increase in ammonia, the Agency will carry out a non-chargeable permit variation to change the number of sows and/or production pigs in the permit to the new value.

If it represents more than 10 per cent increase in ammonia, then the Agency will inform the operator that there will be a variation charge of £370. The Agency will also revisit the original modelling to confirm any allowable increase in ammonia emissions before impacts on a nature conservation site are likely, otherwise known as the 'available headroom'.

If the increase is less than the available headroom, the Agency will carry out the permit variation to change the number of sows and/or production pigs in the permit to the new value.

If the increase is greater than the available headroom, the Agency will consider the need for an ammonia improvement programme and change the number of sows and/or production pigs in the permit to the new value.
Local wildlife sites in any re-assessment of the original modelling will not be included.

At this stage, the Agency is unable to confirm whether operators will be required to carry out any further ammonia emissions modelling as a result of an increase in pig places. However, a reasonable and proportionate approach will be taken to this issue. Operators will be informed before any costs are incurred to give them the opportunity to take alternative action such as reducing the number of gilts held.

The Environment Agency will ensure that the Pig and Poultry Assurance Scheme inspectors are informed about the increase in permitted pig places. Operators will need to ensure that the increase in permitted numbers is reflected in their Pollution Inventory returns.

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The first accounts to be finalised indicate that in 2011, pig farms returned to profitability, according to BPEX, citing a report in Landbrugsavisen.

The first 61 accounts for all types of pig farms from LandboNord, LandboSyd and LROE show an average operating result of €10,000. Compared to 2010, this represents an improvement of €35,000. The pig farms improved their operating results by approximately €19,000 after modest increases of capacity costs. Interest costs increased slightly due to higher debt and higher interest on debts to banks.

The forecast for 2012 indicates an improvement of €65,000 in average gross margin.

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The change in direction from the commissioner will mean that farmers currently employing best practices to encourage biodiversity on their farms will not be penalised.

Commissioner Ciolos said: "The CAP reform aims at strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of agriculture and maintaining its presence in all regions.

"We cannot talk about sustainability without taking our responsibility for the protection of the environment and management of natural resources."

He said that 30 per cent of direct payments received by farmers will be linked to respecting certain agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment.

"We put forward three agricultural practices that are both simple and efficient, while having a clear and positive environmental impact across the European Union," he said.

The three practices include:

- crop diversification with its beneficial effects on soil quality, retention of water and organic matter, fighting erosion and the reduction in the need for inputs;
- maintaining permanent pasture, with good carbon sequestration, bioidiversity and water management;
- maintaining an ecological focus area of at least seven per cent of farmland excluding permanent grassland.

Commissioner Ciolos calmed the fears of the UK farmers that they would be penalised for their current farming methods that include most of the three practices by telling them: "We are not going to penalise the champions."

He added: "We do not want you to do less and we are not going to disregard your efforts.

"We will find appropriate ways to recognise efforts made under your agro-environmental schemes, where they genuinely contribute to greening, while not removing the incentives to do more or better in the second pillar."

He said that the CAP reforms are a long-term investment in a sustainable competitiveness, but he said that this competitiveness will only be achieved through research and innovation.

To this end, the EU budget has put forward proposals for a €4.02 billion investment in research and development between 2014 and 2020.

"Fostering innovation and a knowledge-based agriculture is at the core of the new Rural Development Policy," said Commissioner Ciolos.

"This does not just mean funding laboratory work. We need to develop the technologies that are most relevant for farmers and can be easily transferred into farming practices."

Earlier, the NFU president Peter Kendall called on the Commissioner to take four elements into consideration in the reforms of the CAP - food security through competitiveness and sustainable management of resources, a focus on research and development to unblock the rural development package and to strengthen the farmer's role in the supply chain.

Mr Kendall also raised concerns about the proposal for putting seven per cent of agricultural land to biodiversity measures and he feared that this would reduce productivity.

He called for a reduction in restrictive proposals in the reforms which he said he feared could damage competitiveness.

"I hope we can convince you to drop some of the more restrictive proposals and keep the ones that will take us in the direction of your overarching vision," Mr Kendall told the Commissioner.

The Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman also called on the agriculture commissioner to create simplicity and more freedom for farmers in the reforms of the CAP.

"To feed a hungry world, its farmers must be free to innovate and develop their commercial acumen," Mrs Spelman said.

"They need a Common Agricultural Policy that gives them that freedom as well as support."

She added: The CAP must be simplified and must be flexible. Above all it must be looking forward, not backward and it must reward farmers who are doing the same.

"Competitive farming needs open markets."

She also called on the commission to recognise the differences in farming systems in different farming regions and asked that the reforms be flexible to recognise these variations.

Commissioner Ciolos echoed the call for simplification.

"In all the measures and tools that we are proposing with the new CAP, we take into account the need to simplify the application of this policy," he said.

"Greening measures have been designed in such a way that their implementation must make rational sense."

However, he said that the reforms are also being driven by the needs and desires of the European consumers, who back the policy but want to ensure value for money.

"We have to keep our capacity to explain to taxpayers what they are paying for: concrete, measurable results of this policy," he concluded.

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Mr Kendall said the country needs growth to provide long-term food security.

The NFU president called on the British government and the European Commission for positive action rather than just rhetoric.

"Achieving growth is, first and foremost, a challenge for us - farmers and growers," Mr Kendall said.

"But it is also a huge challenge for our industry's scientists."

Mr Kendall applauded the UK government for their actions in moving forward on pilot cull areas for badgers in the fight against bovine TB and the moves to unblock the planning system to ease regulations for farmers.

However, Mr Kendall added that the messages coming out of the G20 and the UN mean that government has to deliver policies with a view to food security.

However, he hit out at the UK government's lack of progress in ensuring a Groceries Adjudicator was in place to ensure that the code of practice established two years ago to ensure fairness in the market between retailers, process ors and producers.

He said that not having a Groceries Adjudicator is "antibusiness".

"I continue to hear of suppliers - particularly in fresh produce - being squeezed by supermarkets in a was which, if brought to light, would really shock consumers," he said.

Mr Kendal also hit out at the fact that the UK government has failed to agree the EU dairy package.

In her speech to the conference, the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said that the government is determine to "forge a new partnership between government and farming".

She sid the government's Green Food Project represents a partnership between the government and the industry.

"To answer the question, 'How do you produce more food, at les cost to nature?' - To identify actions that are realistic as well as ambitious," she said.

Mrs Spelman add that the government wants to banish the myth that increased food production and environmental protection are incompatible.

She said the government is determined to help farmers grow more food more sustainably.

"We also want to help them to export more, to boost their own businesses, to help boost the recovery and to take their share of the emerging markets across the world."

She said that to help do this the government launched the food exports action plan last month - a government and industry partnership.

She said the centre of the export boost was the Made in Britain brand.

"That's why we've been working hard for country of origin labelling. That's why we are encouraging more protected food names," said Mrs Spelman.

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Last December the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled that the 3,700 chickens and the sheds they were housed in were illegal.

According to ABC, no development application was lodged with the local council.

The court ordered the owner to remove the sheds but the owner hasn't complied.

Tweed Shire Council Mayor, Barry Longland, says the Council wants the sheds gone.

"I think they need to understand that Council has a duty of care to its ratepayers. That there are planning rules and those that want to engage in activities like this need to abide by the rules," he said.

"Council sent a strong message yesterday that it would stand behind the removal of these sheds so I'd say that would happen within days."

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Egg prices dropped 1.8 per cent from one week earlier, marking the seventh consecutive week of decline. The prices were down 4.2 per cent cumulatively from early January, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Pork, mutton and chicken prices retreated by 1.3 per cent, 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent last week, respectively, while the wholesale prices of eight types of aquatic products edged up by 0.1 per cent.

The fall in farm produce prices may help ease domestic inflationary pressures as food prices have a one-third weighting in the calculation of China's consumer price index (CPI).

The CPI rebounded to 4.5 per cent in January after easing to a 15-month low of 4.1 per cent in December.

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Yelena Skrynnik also presented on issues related to Russia’s WTO accession, on the proposed targets of the State Agricultural Program 2013-2020, and on the preparation of Russian agriculture for the spring grain sowing campaign.

During the last several years the Ministry of Agriculture has regularly reported to the Duma on the status and outlook of Russian agricultural.

Minister Skrynnik reported that 2011 was a landmark year for Russian agriculture. Russia overcame the consequences of abnormal drought in 2010 and Russian farmers harvested a good grain crop, almost 94 million metric ton (MMT), and Russia rebuilt its export potential.

The industry had expected to be fully compliant when the new EU welfare legislation came into effect on 1 January 2012. But DEFRA told the EU Commission in early January that there were still some 32 UK producers using the old-style cages, housing over 400,000 birds.

Even though this amounted to just 1% of national production, technically it put the UK in the same position as 13 other member states which had failed to fully convert to enriched cages.

Farming minister Jim Paice expressed his anger and embarassment at the time and called on Trading Standards to take action against the illegal operators. But DEFRA has now confirmed that the barren cages have been taken out.

According to the EU Commission, there are still around 47 million hens, out of 330 million, in conventional cages in the EU. On 26 January it sent "letters of formal notice" to 13 member states - Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain - giving them two months in which to justify their non-compliance, or face further legal sanction.

Since then, Bulgaria has indicated that it will be compliant with the new rules by the end of May.
Meanwhile, welfare group Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is urging people to email the new Italian health minister, demanding that he provides accurate figures on the number of illegal hens in his country, and that he produce an action plan detailing how he will rectify the huge level of non-compliance.

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