Environment

News in brief

North Korea culls birds to prevent flu spreading

22-May-2013 - North Korea has culled more than 100,000 birds in a bid to prevent bird flu from spreading, according to the country’s state media.

Emissions claims too simplistic on meat, politicians claim

21-May-2013 - A lack of robust scientific measurement of livestock emissions means the "eat less meat to save the planet" claim lacks credibility, UK politicians have claimed.

Bird flu outbreaks in Mexico and Tibet

15-May-2013 - Outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu have been reported on farms in Mexico and Tibet.

Canada biomass plant alleviates carcase costs

14-May-2013 - Canada’s government has opened a new biomass boiler plant in Quebec to help cattle farmers and processors in the region reduce carcase disposal and handling costs.

NI cattle deaths rise in bad weather

10-May-2013 - Northern Irish beef farmers lost an estimated £3.1m last month and supply shortages are expected later in the year, after adverse weather conditions pushed fallen cattle numbers up by 113%.

Irish farmers in plea for help as fodder crisis mounts

08-May-2013 - Ireland has appealed for EC support to help tackle its animal fodder crisis, as well as an extension of current subsidies for beleaguered cattle farmers.

US meat groups slam Renewable Fuels Standard

03-May-2013 - US meat processors and producers have strongly criticised the effects of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) on agricultural production in a government review.

US turkey sector disputes bacteria report findings

02-May-2013 - The US turkey industry has hit back at a report which claimed that ground turkey on sale in supermarkets was rife with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Dangerous bacteria found in US ground turkey

01-May-2013 - The majority of ground turkey products on sale in the US – including organic and antibiotic-free products – are contaminated with dangerous bacteria, a new report has claimed.

Canadian retailers commit to sow stall removal

01-May-2013 - Canada’s eight largest supermarket chains have made a commitment to phase out sow gestation stalls over the next nine years.

Poor weather hits UK lamb levels

30-Apr-2013 - UK lamb slaughterings are likely to be around 7% lower in the coming 2013/14 season, due to adverse weather conditions hitting production hard, forecasters have warned.

Chinese Premier urges caution on bird flu

29-Apr-2013 - China’s Premier has called for vigilance against the outbreak of H7N9 bird flu spreading across the country, as authorities and experts point to poultry markets as the most likely source.

US body condemns livestock antibiotic report

26-Apr-2013 - The American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) has hit back at a recent report which blamed the use of antibiotics in livestock for the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

UFU highlights CAP issues to be resolved

24-Apr-2013 - The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said there are still a number of “crucial” issues to be addressed in order to ensure a workable CAP for Northern Ireland.

North American pork bodies discuss common issues

24-Apr-2013 - US, Canadian and Mexican pork industry representatives have met to discuss common issues affecting the North American sector.

India plans disaster rescue unit for livestock

22-Apr-2013 - The Indian government is to create a national Veterinary Emergency Response Unit, charged with protecting the country’s huge livestock population during natural disasters, such as floods, fires, droughts and earthquakes, a New Delhi conference has heard.

News in brief

McDonald’s switches to Freedom Food pork

19-Apr-2013 - The UK arm of McDonald’s will switch to serve 100% Freedom Food pork from British RSPCA farms in a bid to secure quality, sourcing and meet consumer preferences.

New Zealand stages environmental forum for farmers

16-Apr-2013 - Sheep and beef farming leaders from across New Zealand will attend the first-ever major industry event that focuses on the environment and farming.

New production unit in Amazon promotes sustainability

08-Apr-2013 - One of the world’s largest food producers, Marfrig Group, has opened a new production unit in the Amazon region, promoting sustainable cattle production.

Feature

Focus on New Zealand: Carbon commitment

18-Mar-2013 - New Zealand’s agriculture sector has sidestepped the country’s Emissions Trading Scheme, but farmers are clearly committed to working on their carbon footprint, with some good results achieved to date.

Food security institute opened in Northern Ireland

18-Mar-2013 - A new £33m ‘food fortress’ aimed at improving sustainable, safe and secure global supplies of quality food, was officially opened by Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke in Belfast last week (14 March).

US outrage over farmer data leak

22-Feb-2013 - Worry has been struck up amongst US pig, cattle and poultry farmers as a result of the actions carried out by an environment protection agency, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has said.

Russia looks to align with EU on US-approved meat firms

07-Feb-2013 - Russia might only re-open its markets to US companies authorised to export meat and meat products to the EU, officials have revealed.

Cows produce more methane while nursing calves, says report

05-Feb-2013 - A new study in the US has found that, in grain-fed beef systems, the greatest amount of methane is created when cows are nursing their calves.

UK veterinary college to tackle world hunger issue

18-Jan-2013 - UK vets have established a new department dedicated to tackling the issue of meeting the growing global hunger problems in a sustainable and ethical way.