UK Slaughter Statistics - March 2009
UK - Defra's (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) latest figures reveal that the overall production of pig meat in the UK dropped only very slightly.

Move to Raise Levy Gets Ministerial Approval
UK - A move to restore the levy paid to BPEX by pig producers and processors to £1.05p has been given ministerial approval.

Euro Surge Should Boost Farm Prices
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union has highlighted the recent surge in the value of the Euro against Sterling and has called on food processors to take full advantage of the competitive position...

Shortage of Pigs Drives Prices to 150p for Some
UK - Pig sellers enjoyed another day of rising prices as Friday wore on and rather like the winner of the Gold Cup today, finished on an uphill note, writes Peter Crichton.

'Produce of EU' Label Gathers Momentum
UK - Pig meat products carrying a British country of origin label earn a significant premium and some would argue it is the presence of such a label—usually the Quality Standard Mark or the Red Tractor—that...

Livestock Market Visits 2009 Announced
UK - Defra's livestock market visits are underway again, starting in Exeter and Hexham, on 13 March 2009. Defra’s representative team will visit 73 livestock markets across England during March – May...

Black Hole Gets Bigger
UK - Although one or two of the smaller fresh meat wholesalers were hoping they might have been able to drop their prices by a penny or two, as it turned out the black hole in pig supplies is continuing...

Cautious Optimism over English Pig Numbers
ENGLAND, UK - Recently released December 2008 pig survey results suggest there may be grounds for some cautious optimism about the fortunes of the English pig industry, with an expansion in the breeding...

Farm Survey Shows Need for Urgent Action
SCOTLAND, UK - The Scottish government’s farm survey figures show a decline across every main sector in Scotland and must serve as a wake-up call to politicians and the supply chain on the shrinkage taking...

More Imports in the Months to Come?
UK - Producers took the brunt of the cost-price squeeze in 2007 and this year it will be the processors' turn, predicts NPA chairman Stewart Houston.

MEP's Back UFU Red Tape Fight on IPPC
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The future of the IPPC Directive (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control measures) is currently being reviewed in Brussels.

A Pause for Breath
UK - Since the start of the year the DAPP has gone up from 131.23p to 138.05p, but like people of a certain age there is a need to pause for breath after such a long climb from the ground floor to the...

Dramatic Rise in Pork Exports Compared to 2008
UK - Pork exports have shown a dramatic rise over the last year according to new figures from BPEX.

Pork Exports Hit £160 Million
UK - Pork exports have shown a dramatic rise over the last year according to new figures from BPEX.

There'll be More Good Days Like This, Euro Willing
UK - Another good day for sellers although prices tended to be closer to stand on than push on and in horse racing terms some of yesterday’s front runners tended to be back on the bridle today with the...

UK Slaughter Statistics - February 2009
UK - According to the latest figures from the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the number of clean pigs sent for slaughter rose only very slightly in January.

Good Performance by Cranswick
UK - British pig meat manufacturer, Cranswick has performed well despite the challenges of currency fluctuations and the weak economy.

NFU AGM REPORT - New Task Force for Pig Industry
UK - The British government is to set up a new task force aimed at securing the future of the UK's pig meat industry.

Pork Popularity Gains Momentum in Scotland
SCOTLAND - More Scots have been picking pork in the New Year, with strong growth shown in both volume and value sales.

NFU AGM REPORT - Agriculture Must Produce More
UK - The UK agriculture industry has to start producing more while at the same time taking care of the environment.

Prices Surge Ahead
UK - Friday the 13^th has certainly proved to be a lucky rather than an unlucky day for pig sellers, writes Peter Crichton in his Traffic Lights commentary.

NFU Conference Calls for New Farming Agenda
UK - Farming should sit at the core of economic thinking, with food production having an equal footing with the environment in Government policy as agriculture rises to the challenge of producing more...

Breeding Pigs and Pork Full of Eastern Promise
UK - A major push by BPEX and the British Pig Association is under way to get breeding pigs and pork into Far Eastern markets.

NFU Steps Up Fight on IPPC with MEPs
UK - NFU President Peter Kendall will be taking the fight on IPPC direct to MEPS in Brussels to keep unnecessary red tape and costs out of agriculture.

Environmental Genetics vs Economic Genetics
UK - A recently announced Defra research project project may give pig producers cause for unease.