Editorial – Ever More Red Tape Ties up Poultry Industry
Over–regulation may be limiting US food production. Cutting red-tape and reducing regulatory burdens are common themes that producers are eager to see put into practice. However, in reality, the industry is ever more tied down by red tape. A new report from the United Soybean Board suggests that over–regulation is becoming a threat to US livestock production.
Laws and regulations imposed by federal, state and local governments can make domestic farmers and ranchers uncompetitive with overseas competitors and drive them out of business, says the report.
It adds that the regulatory areas most likely to generate increased costs for US producers in the near term are animal housing, environmental regulations, the use of antimicrobials and other drugs, livestock trading and labour regulations.
The red tape issue is not confined to the US. At a high-level debate on the future CAP held by European Parliament, the EU farmers’ association, Copa-Cogeca, warned of excessive red-tape governing the EU Commission proposals on the CAP post-2013. The group stressed this will hinder competitiveness and threaten the economic viability of farmers, cooperatives and small businesses.
Staying with the EU, measures that were introduced by the European Commission to support the poultry and egg industries at the height of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) crisis in 2006 were too little and too late, according to a new report for the European Commission.
If you think maize and soybean prices and markets have been volatile, you have not seen anything yet, said Jim Wiesemeyer, senior vice president of Informa Economics.
He said: “After the November 6th elections, Washington better have a leader from both the House and Senate, and definitely the White House. Because if we don’t, we’re going to be on a rocky road. What’s happening in Europe will happen here, and that will translate into a Farm Bill. If they don’t get the Farm Bill done this year, it’s not going to get any better short term.”
Mr Wiesemeyer explained there is no confidence in the US or in Europe that the leaders are getting their act together, which is causing the uncertainty in the world. The US is all deficits and debt, he said, noting that all debt is the annual accumulations of deficits. Both political parties have overspent, and it is getting worse, not better.
And finally, turning to bird flu news, reports of new outbreaks in poultry in the last week have come from Nepal, Taiwan, South Korea and Israel.
Jackie Linden
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GLOBAL POULTRY TRENDS – Dried Product Exports are Growth Area for the Americas
Exports of dried egg from the Americas more than doubled between 2000 and 2009, when the annual quantity represented one–third of the global total, according to Terry Evans in the second part of his analysis of the trends in the egg industry in the Americas.
GB Emerging Threats Report – Avian Diseases – October - December (Q4) 2011 and Annual
Gizzard erosion (ventriculitis) with suspected viral involvement investigated in free-range layer flocks, Listeriosis, Aspergillosis, Salmonella Pullorum and Heterakis isolonche in pheasant, duck and backyard flocks and an unusual Newcastle disease outbreak in Europe are among the highlights of this latest report from the AHVLA.
Effect of Holding Temperature, Shackling, Sex and Age on Broiler Breast Meat Quality
Temperature and handling before slaughter affected the colour and texture of the breast muscle in an experiment in Alberta, Canada, but researchers commented that the differences may not be significant commercially. Differences in the muscle quality attributable to gender of the bird may be more important than previously thought.
Biosecurity Basics for Poultry Growers
Useful tips from Dan L. Cunningham and Brian D. Fairchild of the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia, who outline how microorganisms are spread and how to recognise symptoms of disease.
Australian Agricultural Commodities Report – March 2012
Australian poultry production is forecast to increase by two per cent in 2012–13 to a little over 1.1 million tonnes and by a further two per cent annually to 1.21 million tonnes by 2016–17, according to the Agricultural Commodities report for the March 2012 quarter from the Australian Government.
Benefits of Single-Stage Incubation to Food Safety
Typically, papers on single-stage incubation focus on the benefits of all-in-all-out incubator management from the points of hatchability (number of chicks) and uniformity (chick quality), writes Marleen Boerjan from Pas Reform.
Aviagen Appoints New Global Head of Technical Systems
GLOBAL - Aviagen has announced the promotion of Dr Nick French, currently Incubation Specialist, to Global Head of Technical Systems. Dr French is scheduled to commence his new position on April 30, replacing Dr John Ralph, who has assumed a new role at Aviagen Turkeys.
Danisco Appoints New Business Manager
EU - Danisco Animal Nutrition has announced that in January 2012, former regional technical manager, Armin Vikari (PhD) took up the position of business manager covering Germany, Serbia and Ukraine.
Cobb Officially Opens New US Research Complex
US - The latest US Cobb-Vantress, Inc research complex, built in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, at a $22 million investment to increase its pedigree breeding activities, has been officially opened. Several guests spoke at a ribbon cutting ceremony including Jerry Moye, president of Cobb, Donnie Smith, president of Tyson Foods, and Bill Haslam, Governor of Tennessee.
New Poultry House for Free Range Egg Production
GERMANY - Mathias Hoppe from Melle in Lower Saxony (Germany) decided to start egg production on his farm. The young farmer continues his parents Barbara and Hubert Hoppe's farm, which is also into pig finishing. Construction has just been completed of a new poultry house from Big Dutchman.