October 8, 2005
No.8724 Vol.113
£1.80S c o t t i s h M a g a z i n e o f t h e Ye a r
On the way out?
■
Walker issue
went to the wire
on Thursday
By Douglas MacSkimmingAS THE Scottish Farmer went to press on Wednesday, it was looking more likely that the writing was on the wall for Quality Meat Scotland chairman, Jim Walker.
An unprecedented number of telephone calls to this newspaper on Wednesday morning from farmers the length and breadth of the country (see page 3) indicated it was time for Mr Walker to step aside. It appeared to be an orchestrated campaign.
It was understood that representatives of the three owners of QMS — NFUS, SAMW and MLC — met with rural minister, Ross Finnie, on Wednesday afternoon, where the decision to remove Mr Walker was likely to be taken.
The decision of the meeting would be announced following the re-convened QMS board meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The same board had met on Monday, when a marathon session lasted from 9.30am until after 6pm. Mr Walker had given a 45-minute presentation explaining why he
thought the appraisal of his
performance as QMS chairman, reported by The SF last week, was ‘flawed’. He then left the meeting.
It is understood that before that meeting broke up, a vote was taken, which indicated an 8 to 4 vote in favour of Mr Walker remaining in office.
But a source close to the QMS board told The SF: “If Jim took a step back from this war he is waging, for just a minute, he would realise he could destroy the reputation of QMS here, and abroad, if he carries on.
“He is dragging the whole industry through the mire to try and win another three years in the job. How could anyone live with another three years after this?
“Few will forget what he did during foot-and-mouth, but if he carries on with this one-man war he will only be remembered for going out the QMS door kicking and screaming.
“Even his loyal supporters are now telling him enough is enough. He is
never going to agree with the decision and everyone knows how Jim reacts when he doesn’t get his way.
“But for once, he needs to realise the greater good and try and salvage some of his dignity by leaving now and letting everyone get on with the real work ahead.
“If he doesn’t leave, he will have to be removed. This industry will always be bigger than any one man.”
But Mr Walker was not for turning. He said: “To remove a director of a company requires a major resolution which can take up to two to three weeks.
“I intend to fulfil the full term of my office until the agm in August, 2006.
“At a time of such uncertainty — problems in the beef and sheep sectors, coupled with issues in the pig sector, we should be concentrating on trying to help the situation for the Scottish farming industry. This total
distraction is completely
unnecessary.”
FORMER NFUS president and industry ‘elder statesman’, John Cameron, told The Scottish Farmer, this week: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of the current dispute, it is now high time that all those involved take time to stand back and reflect on the damage that is currently being inflicted on one of the industry’s most important organisations.
“It really is time that the staff of QMS were given wholehearted endorsement for their work and left to get on with it backed by a period of stability in their board of directors.
“Perhaps this could best be achieved by allowing the present chairman to finish his term of office and in the intervening period for all those involved, ie the stakeholders, the other organisations represented on the board, but also the producer levy payers — who contribute 75% of the necessary funding — to have a ‘fresh look’ at the actual process of electing the QMS chairman to make sure it is sufficiently flexible and democratic to prevent this current difficulty from happening again.
“There is too much at stake — too much risk to the quality of meat for our consumers, for us as an industry to dissipate our energies in this present manner.
“Surely it cannot be too difficult to initiate an adequate consultation process which satisfies stakeholders, industry organisations and producer levy payers, which will allow them to reach consensus on who the industry as a whole deems suitable and acceptable to head up our valuable and essential meat production organisation — maybe some guidance from an extremely able minister, Ross Finnie, might just be the catalyst to achieving this.”
Euro rate
gets set
THE EURO/POUND exchange rate of the first Single Farm Payment will be ¤1 = £0.68195p according to the European Central Bank.
NFUS vice-president, Bob Howat, said: “Farmers can calculate the sterling value of their Single Farm Payment. However, everyone needs to be aware that the estimates of payments sent out by the Scottish Executive are subject to reductions for the national reserve, modulation and the beef national envelope.
“Farmers should bear in mind that in that estimate the example exchange rate used was 0.70p. Therefore, payments will be lower than forecast. “Because the rate is set on one day, as opposed to an average across a full month as it used to be, there is the worry that freak events in a 24-hour period could have a huge effect on the value.However, this year, it has worked out OK”
HIGHLAND CATTLE breed stalwart and commentator at the recent Glasgow Highland Cattle Show, Angus MacKay, finds out what the audience think at the recent event held by Glasgow City Council, in Pollok Estate, right in the heart of the city last weekend. There were 8000 spectators at the event
‘Och
aye’
says
MacKay
Highland
bonanza
IN THIS ISSUEJunior title
for Jennifer
Plus 14 pages
of the best buys
in farming
Page 12
Starts on Page 28
Page 44
Page 16
Lairg record
breaker
Telehandlers
— 16-page
pull out
supplement
Cameron calls for calm
See Walker under attack
— Page 3
pre-calver
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■
Calls grow
for him to ‘go
gracefully’
By Douglas MacSkimming
FEARS WERE growing that the Jim Walker issue was threatening to tear apart the Scottish livestock sector
leading to long-lasting
repercussions.
NFU Scotland chief executive, Andy Robertson, took issue with the claims made by Institute of Auctioneers’ chief Robin Anderson — reported in last week’s The Scottish Farmer.
Said Mr Robertson: “Robin Anderson’s letter to me, which accused NFUS, SAMW and MLC of misrepresenting the views of the auctioneers, was written after he received a telephone call from Mr Walker.
“I spoke to Mr Anderson on the day I received his letter to confirm that the views of IASS were represented fairly both in the official assessment and to QMS vice-chairman, David Nicolson.
“This is a position confirmed by Mr Nicolson and accepted by Mr Anderson, who is, understandably, bitterly disappointed that private correspondence has been leaked in
this manner.”
“Had The Scottish Farmer offered me the right of reply, the truth could have been shared with your readers. Instead, a smokescreen of spin has been reported based on unfounded accusations.”
Jim Robertson, a past president of SAMW, said: “I am appalled at the total misrepresentation which has been given concerning the meat sector ’s stance on the Scotch premium.
“The premium is a long-standing and valued part of our business, which we support and which we will continue to seek to employ to maximum benefit for everyone
involved in the production,
processing and marketing of Scotch meat.
“To suggest otherwise is, at best, misleading and, at worst, an attempt to manipulate producer opinion — which actually shows little regard for the truth.”
Former QMS director, Ian Duncan Miller, said: “Jim Walker was brought in to raise the profile of QMS, which he did. But it is now time to move on. “I fully support what the owners of QMS are trying to do. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. I’m not saying Jim has done a bad job, but it’s time for a different style of leadership.”
Bill Arnott, of Kilmux Farm, Leven said: “I’ve never believed Jim to be a team player. He is out for
himself. I believe he has shot his bolt and gone too far.”
Chris Walton, from Berwickshire, said: “Jim has to accept the democratic process of electing or re-electing a new chairman. He was fantastic during foot-and-mouth but I don’t believe he is the person to take QMS forward.”
Jamie Smart, immediate past chairman of NFU Scotland’s Bathgate and West Calder branch, said: “The 12 members who attended Monday’s meeting were unanimous that Jim can no longer hold his position after the way he has acted.” But the union’s Stewartry branch was adamant that Mr Walker stays.
After hearing NFUS president, John Kinnaird, address Monday’s branch meeting, chairman, Jim Neil, said: “With regard to the decision taken by the stakeholders of QMS not to recommend Jim Walker be re-appointed chairman, the Stewartry branch urge NFUS to reverse this decision.”
Further support came for Mr Walker from Brian Dickie, Spango, Sanquhar. “I was at Lanark calf sale on Tuesday and I didn’t meet one farmer who thought that Jim should leave with work undone at QMS. From Aberdeenshire, to Fife and to the Borders, all the views I canvassed showed that all supported him. We all appreciate that with someone as abrasive as Jim that we will agree with him all the time, but he’s been a great guy to have on our side.”
ROUND
up
Vet suicides
THE SUICIDE rate among Britain’s vets has topped the national average, four-fold, coming in at double that of dentists and doctors. According to the British Veterinary Association’s journal, lethal injections were the most common method of suicide, and could be related to the stress of putting animals down. “When they are suffering themselves from emotional problems due to the stress, they may more readily take their own life because they are used to euthanising animals who are suffering,” said veterinary surgeon, Professor Halliwell.
City farm ransacked
FOLLOWING COVERAGE on the popular TV makeover show, DIY SOS, Bath City Farm was ransacked by thieves. Shortly after the project was featured on television on BBC 1, gaining a complete facelift, the farmhouse was broken into. Staff believe thieves had taken the idea after watching the television broadcast 24 hours before the break in. The farm, which runs projects for children and families, is managed on a shoestring budget.
Estate sale
WARDS ESTATE, on the southern shore of Loch Lomond, owned by Sir Raymond Johnstone, former chairman of investment company, Murray Johnstone, has sold for more than £2.65m.
The 660-acre estate, which features a nine-bedroom mansion and is two-thirds protected as a nature reserve, was on the market for less than a month.
Quota penalty
TEN EUROPEAN governments were fined £248m, this week, after exceeding annual milk production quotas.
The biggest penalties imposed by the European Commission were on Italy, which has been ordered to pay £96m, Germany £93m and the Netherlands £16m.
Although the UK milk production was under quota, Britain was fined £883,000 as direct sales to consumers was exceeded by 3895 tonnes.
Royal organics
THE PRINCE of Wales has applied for official organic status for his Birkhall estate, near Balmoral.
The Soil Association welcomed the move saying “We are delighted and hope others in Scotland will follow his example”. The Prince has been a long-time supporter of organic farming, and owns an organic herd of Ayrshire cattle, kept at his Highgrove estate.
Orkney’s farming future
CAP REFORM, rising costs including fuel, and pessimistic price signals from the marketplace culminated in an uncertain summer for farmers and crofters on Orkney. Consequently, NFU Scotland and the Scottish Agricultural College are providing a forum for delivering information to assist producers in Orkney in making decisions. The first workshop, to be held on bull management, will take place at Garston Farm, Sandwick, Stromness, on October 14. Latter workshops will focus on cow management and feeding for the marketplace.
Milk
dance!
SAC back
on track
SCHOOL GIRLSJade Lezar (far right) and Laura McMonagle (next right), from the cast of theBBC soap, River City, join three pupils from Holyrood Academy, Glasgow, to highlight Dance Revolution — an initiative by the Milk Development Council — aimed at encouraging consumption of milk amongst teenage girls. A survey has shown one in five teenage girls don’t get enough calcium in their diets
PLUS: 16-page telehandlers special
CLEAR THINKING and determination have paid off for the Scottish Agricultural College, according to its top team, which this week claimed that their controversial restructuring of the organisation has pulled it out of its financial nosedive.
Unveiling the SAC’s 2004/2005 accounts, chief executive, Professor Bill McKelvey, admitted that there had been ‘dark days’ when even he doubted the wisdom of the radical business restructuring he was championing. However, with the accounts showing a positive operating margin for the second year running, Prof McKelvey felt confident that the organisation was now well on the road to financial recovery.
“Yes, it was hard, and morale suffered, but our finances have stabilised and we can afford to look ahead,” said Prof McKelvey, who delivered his report in what he admitted was an uncharacteristically ‘upbeat’ pink and cerise tie. “Looking at these figures, I hope you can agree that the difficult period is behind us — we have improved vastly in a number of areas — and I can only praise the commitment and hard work of all our staff.”
Despite a further 10% cut in its support from the Scottish Executive, the SAC returned a larger operating surplus than it did in the previous year, which itself was the first year it had shown a surplus since 1995/96.
At the same time, the organisation had been able, after a decade of declining numbers, to increase its farm advisory staff, with 15 ‘enthusiastic new guys’ taking the total staff available to answer farmer queries up to 90.
Against national trends for student numbers, the SAC would also be taking in a larger first year of entrants than it did last year, noted Prof McKelvey, whilst the research and development side of the business was booming.
“Contrary to what people might presume, most of our research income does not now come from SEERAD — it is from competitive tenders we have won with other organisations, who are coming to us more and more for our expertise,” he added.
However, Prof McKelvey took the opportunity to ‘put down a marker’ regarding government funding of agricultural research, saying bluntly that now was not the time to scrimp on such work.
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DNA tests
‘catch’ out
Brazilian beef
THE FARMERS Union of Wales claimed this week it had confirmed Brazilian ‘fresh beef’, bought at a Tesco store in Carmarthen, was from a species of cattle generally accepted as being of inferior eating quality than Welsh beef.
The FUW commissioned DNA tests by Dublin-based IdentiGEN Genetic Testing Services, on five rump steaks bought two days before a union-organised protest by 50 demonstrators at the store on September 14.
All tested positive under ‘Zebu’ diagnostic DNA tests, proving they contained genes from a tropical cattle variety notorious for its tough meat and poor eating quality.
“Zebu cattle are adapted to hot climates and they have been bred to give improved heat resistance,” said FUW’s Carmarthenshire county executive officer, Peter Davies.
IdentiGEN managing director, Ciaran Meghen, said six Zebu diagnostic genetic markers (12 alleles) were examined for each of the five samples submitted. Out of a possible 12 Zebu alleles for each sample, three detected 10 alleles and two detected seven alleles.
“IdentiGEN will normally report a sample positive for Zebu if one out of 12 alleles is positive for Zebu. The high proportion of Zebu alleles for the FUW samples is consistent with the source cattle having a highly Zebu phenotype,” said Mr Meghen.
The DNA tests arranged by the FUW followed a similar exercise in Scotland where Quality Meat Scotland took three samples of Brazilian beef from three supermarkets and all tested positive for Zebu bloodlines.
“Reports in the Scottish press described the meat as being from a tropical cattle variety notorious for its tough meat and poor eating quality,” said Mr Davies.
“This further confirms the disgraceful hypocrisy and double standards of UK supermarkets,” Mr Davies added.
ABP move on
OTM cattle
ANGLO BEEF Processors will accept OTM cattle simultaneously at plants covering all four home countries from day one when the OTM ban is lifted on November 7. ABP is allocating its plants in Perth, Newry and Lurgan in Northern Ireland, and Shrewsbury, which is in the Welsh Marches covering England and Wales, as pathfinders in the new OTM marketplace.
ABPs other plants at York and Ellesmere in Shropshire will follow. A spokesman for ABP said: “It is vital that all dairy farmers wishing to sell cows directly to plants check that their current dairy assurance has the necessary accreditation to carry out the additional audits. If they do not, they should consider joining a recognised beef scheme such as FABBL/EFSIS.
“Initial market values will be influenced by the volume and quality of cattle offered; demand; and when the export market re-opens for hindquarter meat. This is vital if the home market is to be balanced.
“Quality cows will attract prices well in excess of those operating under the OTMS.”
Fastrac
goes
to war!
IT’S A Fastrac Jim, but not as we know it. British construction equipment giant JCB has received its biggest ever order after landing a contract — expected to be worth up to $140m — to build a unique high-speed digger for the American armed forces.
Based on the popular high-speed farm tractor, it is the biggest, fastest and most expensive backhoe loader to ever go into production.
The 12-tonne machine will have a top speed of 57 mph, so it is fast enough to travel by road in a military convoy and is designed to be airlifted by a Hercules C-130 to wherever it is needed.
The High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) is powered by a 5.9 diesel engine, can lift more than two tonnes and dig to a depth of almost four meters. It will be built by JCB in Savannah, Georgia.
■
Humans and
animals both at risk
By Vic Robertson
THE THREAT of increasing global disease outbreaks involving humans and animals as a result of nature or bioterrorism cannot be over-estimated, Britain’s veterinary profession has been warned.
“The only difference between a naturally occurring epidemic and one that has arisen through bioterrorism is motive,” Professor Paul Gibbs, of the University of Florida, told delegates to the British Veterinary Association annual congress, in London.
As well as pointing out the possibility that bioterrorism could arise through a recombinant virus, he said that the main factors promoting an increased number of epidemics related to speed of movement.
These included accelerated global trading and tourism patterns, which could promote pathogens as “hitchhikers”, travelling at speeds in excess of incubation times; exposure to new pathogens; and intensification and monoculture farming leading to viral amplification.
“While there is no evidence to believe that the recent epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK was caused by bioterrorism, the extent of the epidemic indicates that FMD can be a powerful weapon for bioterrorists to cause widespread disease in livestock and economic disruption for the targeted country,” he said.
The same could be said about SARS flu pandemic of 2003, not to mention the latest warnings of an avian flu pandemic spreading to humans, with predictions of several hundred millions dead and an economic cost of several hundred million US dollars.
“Whether the virus will be introduced to Europe remains to be seen, but European countries are wise to prepare,” he warned.
While Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan had been the architects of the downfall of
communism, their policies had also led to the under-funding of animal and public health services and inadequate support for developing countries to promote animal health.
An agenda for action to control and prevent emerging diseases demanded a far wider multidisciplinary and timely approach. There was a need to inform and educate at all levels and, with the results of the damage created by hurricane Katrina in the US, there was a need to try harder.
Professor Gibbs’ message was powerfully endorsed by Dr Bob McCracken, BVA president. “We must never forget that pathogens are also frequent fliers and this demands that the medical and veterinary professions work more closely together than ever before,” he said.
“We may not be able to stop disease in its tracks, but by working closer together we can restrict the causes and mitigate the outcomes.
“The reality is that diseases such as foot-and-mouth and avian flu will gain access to the UK. Our role must be to minimise the impact on our susceptible animal population.”
Glo
b
al disease
threat warning
MAINSTREAM SLAUGHTERERS have been told they must not drop the price of prime cattle again.
In a strongly worded message to the processing sector, and also to major retailers, the National Beef Association has warned that yet another price fall will demonstrate beyond doubt that they hold beef farmers in contempt.
“The time has come to draw a line. Market prices are 9% lower than this time last year and income from male cattle is down by at least £200, or 25%, per head if the now defunct Slaughter Premium and Beef Special Premium claims are also taken into account,” explained NBA chairman, Duff Burrell. He continued: “Finishers are at their wits end because of the losses they are making, breeders are in dread of calf prices at this autumn’s sales and large parts of the production sector are already in dire danger of being dismantled.
“The word on farms, and at markets, is that if slaughterers pull down finished
Beef processors given price warning
‘The
cattle prices by another penny it will be taken as confirmation that home produced beef cattle are no longer wanted.”
The NBA has no doubt beef cattle numbers are already contracting. In-calf heifer numbers are down by as much as 22% in some regions, cow and calf units are being bought by finishers with an eye on the OTM rule change and not by breeders, and the dairy beef bull sector is moving closer to shut down.
Mr Burrell added: “The desperate mood among finishers and breeders must be taken seriously. They feel that their efforts to stick with beef cattle after decoupling are being mocked by the recent, regular price falls that have driven them into serious levels of loss.
“Over the last 12 months, cattle buyers and beef retailers have ignored repeated warnings that farmers will not accept negative prices and another drop last week was very clearly a step too far.
“If the trade is serious about maintaining UK supplies it must show
that is the case by resisting pressure, from whatever source, to drop purchase prices again.
If they ignore this it will be interpreted by farmers as a clear message that they should get off the beef production treadmill before their reserves and their labour are even more blatantly exploited. “The association’s view is that if processors and retailers cannot support home produced beef then farmers are mugs to stick with it.
There is none of the much vaunted
partnership in current trading
arrangements because producers are the only ones not making money.
“Farmers are telling us that no one with any business sense stays with an enterprise that is clearly losing money.
“They are no longer prepared to subsidise consumers, retailers and
slaughterers by carrying losses
themselves and both slaughterers and supermarkets should take this message seriously.”
Land
transfer
initiative
LEADING SCOTTISH law firm, Anderson Strathern notched up a first earlier this month when the Scottish Executive gave the green light to the firm’s first transfer of Single Farm Payments with land from one farmer to another.
While the reform of how farmers receive state financial support was agreed by EU farm ministers back in June, 2003, the new system of income support for farmers has only been active since January 1, 2005. Furthermore, there has been some reluctance on the part of farmers to engage in land sales until they knew how the SFP would transfer with the land.
Anderson Strathern
pioneered a new whole holdings transfer form which the executive has accepted to speed up the transfer of a Highland estate with SFPs.
Where a farmer’s entire holding is changing hands, use of the new form means that land can be sold together with SFPs at any time of year.
Sellers do not have to worry about what has become known in farming circles as “the 10 month rule” — a rule which otherwise stops a farmer transferring land with SFPs unless he has remained in occupation for at least 10 months in a 12 month period.
Senior solicitor, John Leyshon, who carried out the first approved Scottish transfer said: “It is great to be part of the Anderson Strathern team which brought about the first executive-approved transfer of land with SFPs.
Johne’s disease fear
5
October 8, 2005
NEWS
TIMES ARE tough in the countryside with farm incomes on the floor and the entire rural economy coming under an ever increasing burden of bureaucracy and regulation.
However, there is a healthy future, provided the community is willing to engage in some radical thinking and then follow up that process with action.
That was the clear message to emerge from the annual meeting in Edinburgh of the Scottish Estates Business Group (SEBG), which threw up some very positive messages and did a great deal to dispel the commonly held view that there is a vast gulf of understanding between landowners, who are worth a fortune on paper, and the rest of rural Scotland.
The Earl of Seafield, who chaired the meeting, set the tone. He said: “It is in everyone’s interest for Scotland to enjoy a vibrant rural sector. In the era of CAP reform and extremely challenging economic circumstances it is vital that every avenue is explored to ensure that we achieve that common objective.”
Maitland Mackie, who runs a large agri-business in Aberdeenshire, was, as ever, provocative. While conceding that times were difficult in the farming world it was time to take a different approach.
He said: “The world has changed and farming also has to change. I get embarrassed at some of my colleagues picketing outside supermarkets demanding higher prices. They would be better staying at home back on the ranch looking at their costs instead of protesting for an extra half pence
on their milk.”
Mr Mackie is convinced that Scottish farmers can compete with up to 60% of the world’s agricultural industry and that the demand for food is growing all the time. There was, he added, no need for despondency and that the future lay in the hands of both farmers and landowners.
He added: “Our skill levels are second to none and we also have the best advisory service in the world, but we need to move on. I see great scope for landlords and tenants coming together in developing farming companies. It can be a win win situation all round.”
The Mackie vision is one where a group of tenants — specialists and doers — would form a farming company. The landlord would agree to erect new buildings suited to the modern era on a central site.
The tenants in turn would surrender their old, and frequently obsolete buildings to the landlord, who would then be free to sell them off for conversion into housing or business premises.
He is convinced that a legal framework could be drawn to safeguard the rights of tenants.
Bob Howat, vice-president of NFU Scotland, said: “I tend to agree with Maitland’s concept. Things have to change because we simply cannot go the way we are and that has to be recognised.” Ross Finnie, the rural development minister, in his keynote address announced that the executive plans to hold three seminars during the winter months to discuss the concept of promoting new rural businesses.
Mackie calls for new approach
F O L L O W I N G CONSULTATION with a range of stakeholder organisations, the board of Quality Meat Scotland has agreed to include beef from clean heifers and steers of all ages in the definition of the Scotch beef brand in preparation for the return of beef from older cattle to the food chain.
The board decided that as far as over 30 month cattle are concerned, clean heifers and steers of all ages will be acceptable within the brand as long as they meet the other PGI requirements:
■Cattle are born and reared on an assured farm in Scotland; ■Cattle are slaughtered in an assured Scottish abattoir in
accordance with QMS
Assurance Standards; Beef from older cattle must also meet the carcase specifications 2, 3, 4L, 4H or 5L for fatness and E, U, R, O+ for conformation.
Cow beef will not be permitted in the Scotch beef brand.
The board agreed that it is prepared to renew this decision in future in light of market decisions once the cow beef market at home and abroad settles down.
Meanwhile, QMS says it will continue to work with the Scottish industry to develop profitable markets for cow beef in the UK and on the continent when export markets resume, a date still expected to be early in 2006.
The recent government announcement that the OTM is to be replaced with a testing system means that beef from older cattle will come back on sale in the UK food chain from November 7.
In a separate move, QMS has published the new cattle and sheep standards for the 2005/2006 year. They will come into force at the beginning of next month.
Following deliberation by the farmer led Standard Setting Body which reviews the standards annually, a small number of adjustments have been made to shift the focus of assessments from paperwork to practical husbandry.
The body has also given careful consideration to how the standards can help farmers avoid unnecessary duplication of record keeping.
Introducing the standards for the year beginning November 1, 2005, running to October 31, 2006, the chairman of the Standards Setting Body, John Cameron, said: “As always the challenge of assurance is to find a balance so that we can meet consumer’s expectations whilst minimising the burden on the industry by setting practical and sensible standards.
“I am satisfied we are continuing to achieve the right blend, developing a manageable scheme for farmers and crofters and one which continues to offer us an opportunity to highlight the industry’s reputation for world class production standards.”
QMS
move on
new
standards
FARMERS AND landowners across Scotland could develop major new income streams and enhance their properties, while at the same time helping tackle the crisis in rural housing supply.
That was the rallying call given at this week’s Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) conference, held in Edinburgh.
With a package of grant funding available to bring redundant farm buildings back into use, with moves
afoot to help develop new affordable
rented housing, and with
Communities Scotland making it clear that it was prepared to listen to private sector proposals for greater involvement, the case for this particular form of diversification may be strong.
Keith Arbuthnott, chairman of the SRPBA said that, although issues remain to be addressed, the opportunities were clear.
Said Mr Arbuthnott: “There is a
lot of positive guidance coming from the Scottish Executive on planning for development in the countryside. However, our delegates made it clear that this simply isn’t being reflected at a local level by planning authorities.
“Planning remains one of the main constraints to rural housing development and must be addressed as quickly as possible.
“There is a huge untapped resource that, under the right
circumstances, can be made available for the benefit of our communities. Even one or two houses in a country area can help source the future of a rural community.
“With the potential for small scale development out with villages, and options available which allow supplying much needed housing while at the same time adding a great deal of value to their business.”
Diversification housing grant on offer
KEITH ARBUTHNOTT
■
Millions of
pounds being lost
By Philippa Stephen
JOHNE’S DISEASE costs money. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Talk to your vet now.
That’s the latest theme for the Johne’s Disease Initiative, launched recently at the Dairy Event, and aimed at curbing the disease which currently affects as many as one-in-five cattle, costing the beef industry and dairy farmers millions of pounds each year.
“Johne’s disease is an infectious wasting
condition of cattle which is closely related to the organism causing TB. Infection results in weight loss, reduced milk yield, infertility and early culling. The disease is known world-wide and the incidence in the UK in increasing as herds become larger and stocking densities increase,” said Keith Redpath, chairman of the initiative’s steering committee.
“Livestock farmers can no longer ignore a disease which is costing them individually thousands of pounds a year.”
The campaign, a joint industry-Government initiative, initially proposed by the National BeefAssociation, is strongly supported by Defra and the partnership includes representatives of the cattle industry, veterinary profession and auctioneers. Expert advice has also been provided by the Scottish Agricultural College.
“This is an important initiative which will help the industry get rid of a disease which we know is costing farmers millions of pounds a year,” said Mr Redpath.
“But it will depend on farmers recognising that it is in their interest and the long-term interest of the industry to start working with their vets, to identify what they can do work towards eliminating the disease in their own herds.”
“Our advice is that farmers and their vets should seriously consider testing their herds to establish whether the disease is present,” said Keith Cutler, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association.
“An animal should be culled immediately if it gives a positive test. Progress in eradication will be rapid in herds with low incidence of the disease. Progress will be slower in herds
where the initial incidence of infection is high. “But, looking to the long-term, it is well worth doing. The challenge lies in reducing levels of the disease be avoiding spread and thus increasing confidence in breeding replacements, which are free from infection.” NFU Scotland’s communication director, James Withers, added: “Tackling Johne’s has been identified as a priority in the various animal health conferences recently. Part of the problem is that the industry doesn’t have a good handle on how widespread the problem is — that must be a first step.
“We suspect it is a growing problem and we look forward to Scotland being closely involved in the development of Johne’s control, in which this campaign can play a part.”
Charity boost
CASHING IN a grand prize draw, organised by Harrison and Hetherington’s social committee, raised £4100 for two local charities. The money was divided between the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Great North Air Ambulance Pride of Cumbria. The Motor Neurone money was further boosted to £3654 — the proceeds of a sponsored walk carried out by H and H staff and friends earlier this year. Pictured, left to right are: Jan Hawkins, senior co-ordinator, Great Air Ambulance Pride of Cumbria; H and H staff — Carolyn Mark, Anne Strong, Gillian Skelton, Cathy McCleary; Motor Neurone Disease Association North Cumbria branch chair, Mary Stebbings and Jen Roper
By Patsy Hunter
CONTRARY TO popular belief, Jaagsiekte, or ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), is not confined to the Blackface sheep breed, nor is it restricted to an area North of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Instead, this debilitating contagious disease, produced by a tumour in the lungs and caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), has been found in all breeds and crosses of sheep and throughout the length and breadth of the country.
“Jaagsiekte is not a new disease, it has been reported in all sheep rearing countries with the exception of Iceland, Australia and New Zealand,” explained Dr Chris Cousens, who has been investigating the disease at the Moredun Institute, Edinburgh, for a number of years now.
Speaking prior to a sheep health meeting in Bannockburn, on Tuesday, Dr Cousens said she had seen the disease in Texels, Charollais, Leicesters, Blackfaces, Finn Dorsets and numerous cross-breds.
She also said that she had received numerous enquiries about the disease
from as far a field as Kent and Wales, right up to Caithness.
“The disease affects all breeds and it can be found anywhere there are sheep. There is no way of knowing if certain sheep have the disease, except in cases that do produce large amounts of lung fluid. The only way to confirm Jaagsiekte is to do a post mortem,” added Dr Cousens, pointing out that the Moredun had received 80 individual cases of the disease over the past year. On a more positive note, one test flock thought to have high infection levels with up to 78% of ewes producing positive JSRV blood tests over the three years of the study, lost fewer sheep than expected. Dr Cousens said that 30 animals from this study flock had been tested for the OPA over the past three weeks and only one showed positive signs of the disease with 27 actually appearing free of the disease.
“Sheep can produce a positive test to the virus, but a lot of these sheep will never develop full blown Jaagsieke. Most become carriers of the disease,” concluded Dr Cousens, pointing out that it may be many years before a test for individual sheep or a vaccine will be available on the market.
Bull sales ‘tester’
RON MCHATTIE took over aschief executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society in 1997 after many years spent representing SAOS in the north of Scotland. He is the third son of a 50-acre tenanted farm in Morayshire and, as he put it, “had to get a job that paid.” With the Perth Bull Sales just two weeks away, Douglas MacSkimming met him Face-to-Face.
DMacS — Optimistic or
pessimistic for the forthcoming bull sales?
RMcH —It will be a testing time for all concerned, due to the uncertainty in the industry with regard to the Single Farm Payment and the effect of the recent run of poor beef prices. But it’s not all doom and gloom, and, hopefully, we will have a clearer picture come February.
DMacS —Will the Lindertis Evulse breed record of 60,000gns in 1963 ever be beaten? RMcH —In real terms no, but it is possible we could see a figure in that region in the future. DMacS — What’s been the highlight of your career so far? RMcH —Nothing really stands out. I’m proud of what has been achieved since I took up office, but its not just down to me, it’s a team effort. Registrations are up 60%, membership up 70% and the balance sheet up £364,000, so we must be doing something right. DMacS — And the biggest disappointment?
RMcH —One I don’t really want to go into again — the fact we had to cancel our World Forum because of foot-and-mouth in 2001, with more than 900 disappointed delegates and the hit we took for not being insured.
DMacS —Is there still too many ‘poor’ bulls coming to the likes of
Perth?
RMcH —I can safely say the
standard has dramatically
improved. It used to be you looked for the good ones amongst the bad, now it’s the opposite. Today’s breeders know poor quality will not find a home.
DMacS — What’s been the biggest influence on the Angus in recent years?
RMcH — Without a doubt, consumer demand. The High St retailers have built their strategy around the Angus brand, although, they are not just selling Angus beef. The more demand for Angus, the more bulls are required. DMacS —There’s been criticism of the ABRI scheme, which provides the mechanism to predict the genetic potential of a bull, how do you see it?
RMcH —Let’s put the criticism into context. The number of recorded herds has jumped 25% in one year. We looked long and hard at this, as we were frustrated by the lack of development with the old Signet-based system. When you move to something completely different, you get people who don’t understand — that’s not criticism. The scheme we are using is a world-wide system, another five UK breed societies have taken it up and others are set to follow. DMacS —On the question of QMS, what do you make of the
latest rumpus and criticism of Jim Walker?
RMcH —It’s a shame it’s gone so far, as there can be no winners come out of this. It should have been kept out of the public domain. If damage to the industry comes from this and the premium is threatened, it would be a disaster. We have spent a lot of time and effort in getting a premium for Angus beef. The thing beef farmers in general need is a guaranteed market and a premium. We can’t lose that.
DMacS —Re: the NBA and its problems, will it survive and will the Angus and other breed societies support it?
RMcH —I know of no society which doesn’t back the concept of the NBA. It has been instrumental on national issues and we would be taking a backward step if it was fragmented or regionalised. What was annoying ourselves and other breeds was the fact we were being marginalised. We have now said we will make a reasonable donation and this has been accepted and, hopefully, that’s the end of the matter.
DMacS —As a breed, will you ever overcome the abuse of the Aberdeen-Angus brand name? RMcH —I suspect my answer has to be ‘no’. Having said, that we are today in more control of the situation both from a legislative
and scientific point of view. But there will always be those willing to cheat the system for personal gain. DMacS —What effect will the flood of OTM cattle have for the beef sector?
RMcH —It will depend on how it’s managed. We have been given the assurance it will displace imports into the catering and processing sector. If this is done, then the impact will not be as bad as some people fear. A problem could arise if good cow beef comes onto the market at a reasonable
price, which could cause
displacement in other areas and be of no benefit to beef producers in general.
DMacS —It’s nice to win prizes in the showring, but is it not time to streamline things and cut out the plethera of cups at the likes of the Highland and Royal?
RMcH —I agree there needs to be rationalisation on the show circuit. We have a small number of breeders competing for the same trophies and this doesn’t encourage new exhibitors. We held our first national A-A show, at Westmorland, where there was £3000 prize money and one trophy. We are doing something similar at the Winter Fair, with £5000 up for grabs and one trophy. I believe this is the way forward. DMacS —Would you agree that you can get a tasty, tender piece of beef from any breed or cross provided its handled and fed well? RMcH —Yes. You can get good beef from a variety of management practices providing the genetics are right. In some cases, a good vet could get the beast back to life so short has its hanging period been DMacS —What’s your favourite meal, and don’t say an Angus steak? RMcH —I do eat a lot of beef and not necessarily Aberdeen-Angus, although, it is the best! I like Scotch salmon and trying to catch them, which is not always easy!
FACE
toface:
with Douglas MacSkimming
‘The standard
has dramatically
improved. It used
to be you looked
for the good ones
amongst the bad,
now it’s the
opposite’
RON McHATTIE
is in the hot seat this week
Beating the boss
EVER
green:
The Raider takes another look behind the scenes in the world of farming
A prickly nose
!
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Taking to drink
IT’S OFFICIAL.Beef farmers have turned to drink in an effort to stave off thoughts about the current state of the beef industry.
Our sister newspaper, The Herald, reported this week the headline news ‘NBA (NationalBeef Association) fears last straw for beer producers.’
The Raider would like to point out that there is no connection whatsoever with the fact that the article was written by the ag-hack pack’s favourite bon vivour, Dan Buglass.
Crashing to the sale
CARLISLE’S Hunter Smith, Wileysike, Gilsland, Carlise, is in the habit of givingfellow BF breeders, Ewan and Willie Bennie, Merkins, Gartocharn, a loan of his lorry to take their annual tup consignment to Stirling.
However, this year, such was the alacrity with which they set off, that they knocked ‘half the hoose doon’ according to Hunter. Despite the dent in the lorry and the chagrin it caused at Merkins, Hunter accepts it is as just par for the course. He does expect, though, that the Bennies will stick some bids in for his own consignment ofBlackies.
However, theBennies had every right to get excited. They had a grand trade at a rather dour Stirling sale, selling to £2800 and averaging £975 for eight off the main stock and to £1000 off their Westside hirsel.
COULD THIS be a reprieve from the hunting with dogs ban? Scottish Natural Heritage’s plans to shoot hedgehogs in the Outer Hebrides to protect ground-nesting birds, have been shelved.
SNH says this is to allow an investigation into “alternative legal routes” to see if it might be acceptable to use dogs to hunt the hedgehogs, which might secure the live capture of the hedgehogs without having to shoot them dead afterwards.
The annual cull on North Uist and
Benbecula begins shortly — but, somehow, I don’t see packs of highly trained fox hounds followed by a veritable host of red-coated huntsmen from throughout Scotland galloping across the Hebrides.
I’ve got aBorder Terrier with a good nose which might help, though!
IT’S NOT often you wake up in the morning to the news that you have even out-earned your multi-million pound boss. But that’s what
happened this week when 42-year-old poultry man, Andrew McAllister, scooped £4.2m on the lottery.
But, despite being unveiled as Scotland’s latest lottery millionaire, after taking a share of last Friday’s Lottery Euromillions £17m draw jackpot, Andrew — who works at
John Campbell’s Glenrath Farms — says he has no plans to give up his job, which he enjoys too much.
Instead, whilst rising at dawn to tend to 200,000 chickens for an average of 50 hours a week, he will have the security of a bank balance that will notch up £11,000 a month in interest. His only plans are to purchase his council home and upgrade his 1989 Peugeot 205 to a ‘small Mercedes’.
Scottish
agri-politics will never
be the same again
THERE HAVE been a few people caught between a rock and a very hard place this past week, with regard to the attempt to oust Jim Walker from his leading role at Quality Meat Scotland.None more so, this week, than The Scottish Farmer. So you can sympathise with the fact that by the time you read this, the issue will have been decided by QMS’ owners, its board and by the political mandarins … or will it?
Our phone lines have been red hot with support for NFU Scotland’s stance as one of the tri-partite owners of QMS which has opted to have Mr Walker replaced. Supporters for Mr Walker, to be fair, have also made themselves known, both by letter and telephone.
But, whatever the machinations, this has been a sorry, highly damaging debacle for the industry. We have, however, escaped the ignominy of being reduced to a laughing stock amongst our peers south of the Border and on both sides of the divide that is Ireland. Rather, there is a deep sense of pity and shock that it should have come to this.
It is a view we wholeheartedly share.
If there is a positive to come out of this, it is that it is abundantly clear that the procedural governance and the shaky two-tier administration of QMS (ie, its board of management in competition with its stakeholders) is farcical. When a board of directors votes to back its chairman by eight votes to four (as it did on Monday) and then the three owners (NFUS, the Scottish Assotiation of Meat Wholesalers and MLC) continue to go against that decision, then something is not right.
We are being told that it will all come out in the wash. But, so far, the dirty linen has been such that even a whitewash job will not work in this case.
One thing is certain, this industry’s agri-politics will never be the same again.
DAN
scythe:
Small, weak, or lion hearted?
7
October 8, 2005
OPINION
■
Smart
money backs
public view
IT IS probably just a sheer coincidence, but only a week after the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution published its critical report on the use of agro-chemicals one of the multinational crop protection groups took space in at least one national daily to state its case.
“Today, agriculture is about more than just producing food for a steadily increasing world population, it also preserves landscapes and contributes to rural development,” said Bayer Cropscience.
The advert, which included a colourful picture of happy Oriental farm workers harvesting rice, went on to explain briefly why this balance was so vital and how they were making a valuable contribution to both sides.
The cynical may draw
comparisons with one of the big oil multinationals which tried to reinvent itself as a friend of the environment a few years back. This may or may not have been connected with the odd oil spill. It is debatable whether it succeeded, even with the adoption of bright shiny green and yellow logo. But at least it tried, just as the NFU is trying with its green campaign.
But, as in any battle for hearts and minds carried out through
the media, the underdog
generally gets a better crack of the whip, particularly if headed up by attractive and articulate presenters such as Georgina Downs and supported by groups like the Soil Association.
Compassion in World Farming tried the same trick a while back with Joanna Lumley and for a while Jane Fonda took on the whole US administration as an opponent of the Vietnam war. Eventually, the US withdraw; coincidence or what?
Those watching the Queen Elizabeth rerun on the box will be aware of the strong appeal of someone who claims that though she has the body of a small, weak woman she has the heart of a lion, or something.
The farming and
agro-chemicals industries have to go with the science arguments. But, on the basis of the effectiveness of the GM debate — at least in Europe — the industries may have to accept that unless they step up their game the smart money will go with public emotion.
Talking about Blondes — well, apart from Good Queen Bess — Leicestershire farmer Eddie Herrick related a cautionary tale about his problems in this area when he spoke to the BVA Congress.
Anxious to build up his beef sucklers — which he started with some Gelbviehs in 1987 — he elected to change to Blondes a few years later but, found difficulty in sourcing animals free of Johnne’s disease and BVD.
Even “verbal assurances” given by suppliers were found to be less than the paper they weren’t printed on, as Sam
Goldwyn pointed out a few decades earlier. One farmer who gave such an assurance later remembered he had also bought into his “closed” herd at some time in the past.
“Biosecurity is difficult to work on your own,” said Mr Herrick ruefully. “We need more farmers to get into herd schemes.”
Which is why beef producers should turn serious attention to
the Johne’s Disease Awareness Initiative launched at the Dairy Event. As Keith Redpath, chairman of the relevant steering committee, remarked: “Livestock farmers can no longer bury their
heads in the sand and ignore a disease which is costing them individually thousands of pounds a year.”
The same is true of many diseases, such as TB, and the
claim that some cattle are moved from “hot” areas in south-west England to “cooler” areas before being sold on again is a significant
threat to the concept of
biosecurity.
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Mad and stupid
to be rid of Walker
SIR, — As a lowland livestock producer and a Sassenach, it is maybe dangerous for me to enter a Scottish argument over meat quality. In Hampshire we retail all our cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens through a farm butchers shop and it works. Why? It is about real quality, adding value and service.
I am amazed that there can be any question about Walker’s position or the job he does. What sort of idiocy is it when Scotland has so effectively differentiated their beef — Scottish beef, Aberdeen-Angus or even Scottish Aberdeen-Angus, they are trying to give it away. The fact is that Scotland gives that advantage away at their peril.
UK beef producers do not produce a single animal which can compete with imported product. We should beware doing anything that gives importers any assistance; in fact, we should do anything and everything to make their life difficult.
If you ditch the chairman of QMS; you are both mad and stupid — but we will have him in England, we need all the help we can get.
HR Oliver-Bellasis Wootton House Wootton St Lawrence Basingstoke
EURO
notebook:
B
y Roger Taylor
YOUR VIEW
This is your page, to air your views
and find out what farmers around the
country think.
Write to: The Editor, The Scottish
Farmer, 200 Renfield Street,
Glasgow G2 3Q
B
Gate dilemma
SIR, — I pose a puzzling question for your readers — can anyone help! I farm at the end of a “no through road”, county maintained single track roadway which, thereafter, leads to a private dwelling accessed by a private track owned by the forestry.
At the beginning and mid-way on my land across the roadway are two county gates to control the stock adjoining open grazing. These gates have been in existence for well over 300 years and are known as “March” gates and fencing. They are used for about six weeks of the year.
My problem is that the owners of the private dwelling (a house) leave the gates open wilfully allowing the stock to stray into the surrounding forest or down on to the main road, causing injury to themselves and others.
But, the local constabulary state that leaving a farmer’s gate open is not a criminal offence but would prosecute the livestock owner if the animals cause injury or damage to others.
Do any of your readers have a solution to this problem that they might like to share?
Sue Easton
SIR, — I wish to congratulate the
team at QMS under the
chairmanship of Jim Walker for the excellent job they are doing on our behalf for the beef, lamb and pork industry. Our meat produce has been brought to the consumers attention like never before and the food industry and farmers made very much aware of the commitment to the ‘Scotch assured’ sign.
You lose 5p/kg for a non-assured beast and a further 10p/kg for a non-Scottish born beast and that equates to a lot of money on a 380kg carcase.
So just why NFUS, Kinnaird et al, have decided to put the knife into one of our own is just beyond belief!
Margaret Kinghan, Lochill, New Abbey, Dumfries
SIR, — We really don’t need a crisis at QMS and it is astonishing to read that bruised egos and the infantile settling of old scores form the basis for a decision not to re-appoint the QMS chairman when his contract ends.
Who remembers or cares what was said at the Highland Show, or who said it? Portfolios of carefully-preserved petty grievances have yielded a list of minor sins and omissions committed by Walker. They really must have precious little to occupy their time at NFUS, SAMW and MLC.
It is alleged that he is
anti-Conflict of personal interests
is real problem at QMS
auctioneer, a claim which has been denied and roundly condemned by Robin Anderson.
Then Jimbo’s occasional column in The Farmer supposedly creates a conflict of interest. Conflict of interest? Give us a break! The real conflict of interests lies on the fault-line which runs right through QMS, where the interests of its owners collide with those of the producers who fund it and the board which governs it.
If this isn’t sorted, every chairman of QMS is destined to be squeezed between a rock and a hard place. Unless, of course the job is filled by a biddable ‘team player’ in the pocket of the owner organisations. ‘Team players’ seldom make effective leaders and the prospect of a compliant jelly baby in the QMS chair working to the agenda of SAMW and MLC doesn’t bear thinking about.
Walker’s three-year contract has nearly run its course and there should be no need for a financial package to persuade him to go quietly, since he has no God-given right to remain in the job. On the other hand, it is widely reported that this suitably-qualified and experienced candidate was informed that he would be unlikely to be re-appointed to the post he already occupies.
Multi-national corporations can’t get away with this type of behaviour,
so what on earth made NFUS and co think that they could? It indicates a monumental degree of mind-blowing incompetence and stupidity, if not negligence, on the part of QMS-owning bodies since it was bound to result in a foreseeable, hefty compensation claim.
The QMS board played no part in this shambles and levy-payers ought to be entitled to assurances that every last penny of any compensation package will be paid from the coffers of the perpetrators, and not from QMS funds.
If NFUS and co get their way, sometime in 2006, a rookie QMS chairman will be learning the ropes just when the beef sector could be reaching make or break point.
Meanwhile, Ross Finnie has been tooting his wee trumpet about his feeble efforts to talk up the beef sector. Yet he’s prepared to do no more than stand on the sidelines wringing his hands at the latest turn of events.
He created QMS and handed it over to SAMW, NFUS and MLC, and what Finnie giveth, he can surely take away.
Isn’t it time he did just that, or at the very least rounded up NFUS and co, banged heads together and sent them homeward to think again?
Mrs Mamie Paterson, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane
Reglone concern
SIR, — I read with concern the article on page 28 of The SF, October 1, praising the benefits of spraying Reglone instead of sulphuric acid to desiccate potato crops.
I attended the excellent Potatoes in Practice open day recently on the outskirts of Dundee. The take home message was for potato farmers to lobby for a derogation to the proposed ban on sulphuric acid beyond 2007.
This was because some varieties sprayed with Reglone had a level of green regrowth that was unacceptable. Furthermore, when the soil is too dry at the desiccation date, then Reglone may not be used, whilst there are no such problems with sulphuric acid.
Finally, the amount of acid applied to spuds will not acidify the soil by any measurable means, so the cost of additional lime is a red herring. Indeed, sulphuric acid provides useful sulphur to the following wheat crop.
Gordon Rennie, Stenton Farm, St Monans, Fife THE EUROPEAN Commission
recently made much of its announcement that it was scrapping a number of new regulations. Its message was that this was part of a brave new world to make the EU more competitive and business friendly.
The media duly reported the story as a victory against red tape, forgetting that while a few new regulations will be dropped there are still tens of thousands of pages of rules being enforced.
For farming there was little to celebrate in this announcement — except perhaps the dropping of unworkable restrictions on people covering up when working in the sun. Given the rise in rates of skin cancer this makes sound sense, but as with many regulations, it is not something that Brussels can sensibly enforce over 25 member states.
Big problems for the farming
industry remain, in the shape of tougher environmental regulations through the Water Frameworks Directive and new restrictions on soil quality and erosion. In short, what has been dropped are the minor pieces of legislation — and what we have been left with are the costly rules, from which it seems there will not escape.
There was, however, one comment from the commission which should be written on the wall of every government department and local authority in the UK. This was that member states should not seek to gold plate legislation from Brussels. The commission message was that member states should enforce regulations, and not try to slip in even tougher controls while
blaming Brussels.
If this advice is heeded — and that is a big if — this will certainly be good news. For years farming has been the victim of successive governments and generations of civil servants who find it impossible to resist gilding regulations.
They then go further than the commission intended when it comes to enforcement, while in other member states lip service is paid to rules and farmers are left to get on with their business.
The next time the farming lobby sees any evidence of attempts to do this — for example by going over the minimum cross compliance standards in the CAP regulations — they should point to what was said by the commission.
For the UK the problem seems to lie with the ethos of the public sector, and a prime example is the implementation of state aid rules. These prevent member states distorting the Single European Market by giving incentives to make businesses more competitive through lower costs.
This is sensible thinking, but the UK seems to start from the premise that the case needs to be 110% before it can go to Brussels. The detail of every marketing campaign by, for example, QMS needs state aid approval. The UK is rarely criticised for acting without full approval, and civil servants view this as good administration.
From the rarefied position of classic public service training this
may indeed be the case — but farmers and others would prefer officials prepared to take a few risks to win the day in Brussels.
France and Ireland are good examples of member states that take on the commission, fight hard and even bend the rules. They challenge the commission to do something about it, knowing that in most cases this is unlikely and that even if funds are clawed back it will be along way down the road — long after the problem has been solved.
This approach would be an anathema to UK civil servants, and this is probably why the claim is made that we are playing by different rules. In reality everyone is playing by the same rules, it is just that other member states seem more willing to
take on the commission, even relishing the fight.
Recent examples are the French decision to respond to higher fuel costs with special tax rebates for farmers, and the battle by Ireland to secure EU compensation for beef special premium clawbacks in 2004. The Irish had won this battle before the UK even entered it — and at the end of the day walked away with a better deal, despite having a smaller industry and a lower percentage clawback.
Changing the UK approach would demand an enormous change of culture. However, adopting two simple mission statements at every level would be simple — no more gold-plating of EU regulations because the commission does not want it — and when it comes to state aid and other policies, view Brussels as a challenge to be beaten and not as a master to be served.
For further details of courses please contact:
Dr Philip Cain, (p.j.cain@ncl.ac.uk) Tel: 0191 222 6921 or see our website: www.newcastle.ac.uk/afrd
Land-based BSc
Food and Human Nutrition MarketingRural Studies
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