United Kingdom

$390,000 Cheddar Theft: Six Arrested in London Artisanal Cheese Fraud

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:41:03 GMT

Last October, Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of Britain’s top artisanal cheese suppliers, fell victim to a sophisticated scam in which more than 24 tons of high-end cheddar cheese wheels were stolen. Authorities have now arrested six men in connection with the case.

In 2024, the London-based company delivered 950 wheels of cloth-bound cheddar believing the order came from a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer. In reality, the company had been tricked by fraudsters posing as genuine buyers. The scam was discovered only after payment failed to arrive and the cheeses, sourced from three different artisan producers, were already in the hands of the criminals. The stolen stock was valued at approximately $390,000.

In an Instagram update last fall, Neal’s Yard Dairy stated:

“Neal’s Yard Dairy has been the victim of a theft resulting in the loss of over 22 tonnes (24.25 tons) of clothbound cheddar. Over 950 wheels of Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar were delivered before the fraud was discovered. Despite the significant financial blow, we have honored our commitment to our small-scale suppliers and paid all three artisan cheesemakers in full.”

The investigation began shortly after the theft, with a 63-year-old man initially arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. Further arrests followed in the new year, including a 37-year-old man in January on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods. Additional arrests involved men aged 45, 54, 57 and 63, with a 50-year-old also interviewed under caution. All six men have been released under investigation while detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command continue inquiries.

Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy in Somerset and producer of some of the stolen cheese, said in an interview with the Independent that he was “hugely distressed” by the theft.

“It is ridiculous, out of all the things to steal in the world, 24 tons of cheese,” Calver said. “What it does show, which I am amazed about, is the value people put on these amazing artisan foods.”

Patrick Holden, owner of Holden Farm Dairy, revealed that 2.5 tons of his Hafod Welsh cheddar were also part of the stolen stock.

“It was the biggest order we ever had, so it was quite a shock,” Holden said. “Our cheese is limited in quantity, but we had it in storage, and we worked out it was the most we could spare.”

Neal’s Yard Dairy has confirmed that all three artisanal cheesemakers were paid in full, ensuring they did not bear any financial loss. The company continues to work with police to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen cheese.

Dairy Drives Food Inflation in June

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Milk and dairy product prices have been a driving force behind food inflation, and high dairy product prices appear to be impacting demand, at least marginally. But milk and dairy product prices could moderate soon without hurting milk production if farm margins remain decent as expected, said Monica Ganley, analyst with the Daily Dairy Report and principal of Quarterra, an agricultural consulting firm in Buenos Aires.

In June, robust butter prices were a main factor driving the Dairy Price Index (DPI) up again. Reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the DPI rose 0.5% from May levels to hit 154.4 points.

“The index has been moving higher almost continuously since late 2023 and now sits just 3.8 points shy of the record high notched in June 2022,” Ganley said. “While butter prices were the main culprit behind the increase in the dairy index, appreciating cheese prices also played a role. And while whole milk powder and skim milk powder values fell in June, the declines were insufficient to offset the price increases posted for the other dairy products.”

Dairy Inflation

(Fran Howard)

June’s overall Food Price Index (FPI) rose 0.5% to 128 points after dipping modestly in May. According to the index, food prices in June were 5.8% more expensive than a year ago, but they remain well below 2022’s record highs. Meat and cooking oil prices were also up, while sugar and cereal prices fell.

“Although higher food and dairy prices have the potential to negatively impact consumer demand, lower values could be on the horizon,” Ganley noted. “Milk volumes have risen across the world’s key milk-producing and exporting regions as favorable weather and margins have encouraged production growth. At the same time, geopolitical conflict and U.S. trade policy uncertainly could keep demand subdued over the balance of the year.”

While year-to-date milk collections in the EU-27 and the United Kingdom were up only 0.2% in the first four months of this year, output in the United States and New Zealand has been strong, and production in many South American countries has been making a comeback.

“Significant risks to the price outlook persist, but global dairy prices appear poised to at least moderate in the coming weeks and months, especially if consumers continue to cut back on spending.”

Global Cheese Appetite is Powering Growth for U.S. Dairy

Wed, 21 May 2025 19:27:56 GMT

William Loux, senior vice president of global economic affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), says the dairy industry is finally turning a corner. After years of market volatility, he sees growing stability on the farm and rising international demand, especially for cheese and dairy proteins, as encouraging signs of progress.

“I’m pretty optimistic about [the state of the dairy industry],” Loux says. “I’m not always the optimistic person as the numbers guy, I kind of give the ‘real’ talk, but in general, profitability on the farm looks good, and we’ve got a situation where demand, especially internationally, is starting to recover.”

He shared these insights in a recent appearance on “AgriTalk” where he discussed the current state of U.S. dairy and what is driving renewed optimism across export markets.

Cheese is Leading the Charge
While domestic cheese sales remain soft, global cheese demand is accelerating rapidly. Much of that growth is coming from international restaurant menus that are incorporating cheese in new and creative ways.

“I think a lot of that goes to work that the export council has done,” Loux says. “We have a whole cheese marketing program as part of that group internationally. And you can look at [these restaurants] adapting their menus to local tastes, but I think the big success that we’ve also had, for example in Korea, is looking at traditional restaurants, like Korean barbecue, that now has cheese dips as offerings at many of those restaurants. So it’s not just the U.S. coming in and saying, ‘here’s our [restaurant] companies, how do you adapt it.’ It’s the local companies that are also seeing opportunities [to add dairy].”

Loux says this growth in demand is broad-based and happening faster than before the pandemic.

“Over the last 12 months, 12 out of the top 13 global cheese markets have all increased their demand, and that is unusual,” he says. “We are growing at twice the speed we were pre-COVID. The U.S. is the one benefiting here first and foremost, we are growing faster than any other exporter in the world, but we aren’t the only ones. New Zealand and Australia both had record years, Europe is growing, too, so the competition isn’t evading. But at the same time, this demand is a bright spot for global dairy prices. We are seeing good cheese demand [internationally], which we desperately need right now, and that is a positive signal for dairy.”

Beyond cheese, other dairy products are gaining traction in international markets as well. Whey proteins and milk proteins, in particular, are seeing increased demand across Asia. Still, Loux acknowledges the market is mixed.

“When you look outside of the cheese market at everything else, non-fat is a little soft; dry whey — we have some trade issues with China,” he says. “But I look at this market and say, hey, we are finally starting to turn the corner on some of this global demand. There are plenty of risks ahead, but I look at the state of the industry and say that we’ve weathered through some pretty tough times, especially in 2023 and into 2024, and now I think with the capacity, there is a great opportunity for U.S. dairy moving forward.”

Exports as a Balancing Act
Exports play a crucial role in stabilizing and expanding the U.S. dairy industry. Loux points to two key advantages that exports provide.

“First off, it brings balance to your milk check,” he says. “Fundamentally, even as we see higher butterfat in our components, we’re not making pure cream out of the cow. So, we have to find opportunities to grow our skimmed side, and that’s our proteins and caseins. And internationally, folks are demanding more of that and are asking for it — 75% of our nonfat dry milk and 50% of our dry whey goes overseas. And we fundamentally need that to keep our prices balanced.”

Loux also sees exports as a vital engine for long-term industry growth.

“Over the last number of years, the U.S. has increased its cheese exports more than we have increased our domestic cheese consumption,” he adds. “Mexico in particular has been an incredibly strong cheese market for us over the last number of years, but even as they’ve slowed down, because we’ve emphasized being in multiple markets, particularly in Asia and elsewhere, U.S. cheese exports are still on pace for another record year.”

Much of this momentum is tied to protein’s growing popularity worldwide. Once limited to sports nutrition and infant formula, dairy proteins are now appearing in everyday products such as cookies and soups in Japan, signaling a broader shift in consumer demand across global markets.

Expanding Access into the UK
Following the recent announcement of a trade agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, there is cautious hope for increased dairy exports to the region. But Loux urges a measured outlook.

“Right now, not a whole lot has actually been completed,” he says. “When we look at reading the fine print, it really looks like they’ve only agreed to keep talking, and I think they’ve avoided some of the tariffs within the reciprocal agreement. So, we aren’t seeing much access for dairy yet.”

Despite the lack of movement, Loux points out the UK does present significant potential for U.S. dairy exports, as it is the largest cheese-importing country in the world. However, roughly 90% of those imports come from European suppliers.

“As we look at opportunities, the UK buys, imports and eats a lot of cheese,” Loux states. “But they also need proteins, and that’s what the UK wants. And the U.S. is the fastest growing exporter of that product.”

Loux says that if a formal agreement can be reached, the U.S. dairy industry stands to benefit. Still, it all depends on the final details.

“We need to wait to see the fine print and figure out what this deal actually looks like,” he adds.

Tariffs: Short-Term Pain or Long-Term Gain?
When it comes to tariffs, Loux sees them as a necessary part of the conversation, but not a long-term solution.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m a free trader,” he says. “I’m a fan of exports, but I’m also a fan of consumer choice. At least as it comes to within the U.S. and everything else, I’m fine with Kerrygold or whatever being on the shelves. But I also want the U.S. [dairy] to have access to Irish shelves, right?”

Lack of reciprocal trade, particularly with Europe, remains a major concern for Loux. In some cases, such as retaliatory tariffs on European butter and cheese, there might be justification. But Loux warns that blanket tariffs can have unintended consequences on consumer behavior and the broader economy.

“Ten percent tariffs certainly do have an inflationary aspect to them, and I think that is the risk,” he says. “I’m not going to get too much into the macro side, but if you see U.S. consumers stop going out to eat as much because they’re just in a worse financial position, that’s a risk for dairy markets.”

Rather than more tariffs, Loux advocates for trade agreements that promote open access and growth.

“What we’ve always advocated for in international markets is twofold,” he states. “When we go and have agreements with places like Korea or Japan or Central America, our argument is usually that lower tariffs actually can grow demand overall and benefit both the local industry as well as U.S. dairy exports. And as we look at this internationally, that’s where I’d like to see lower tariffs, not more tariffs. I want more demand and consumption for everybody.”

For Loux, the goal is simple.

“From an economic perspective, I kind of want more demand and more consumption for everybody,” he says.

Trade to India Remains Out of Reach
Recently, India has dominated the conversation when it comes to global trade. However, Loux believes U.S. dairy trade with the country will likely remain out of reach.

“It comes up in every trade conversation, and I think it is probably the most asked question, or most asked country I get asked about,” Loux says. “It’s the biggest dairy consumer in the world. It would make sense as an opportunity for U.S. dairy.”

But despite the sheer scale of potential demand, the barriers remain firmly in place.

“Between the non-tariff barriers and the political sensitivity around dairy, I have no expectations that we’re getting any sort of real access into India,” he explains.

This isn’t a new struggle.

“We have tried for 20 to 30 odd years to get access into India,” Loux adds. “The Kiwis have tried for 20 to 30 years to get access into India. Canadians, too. So far, no one has.”

He remains skeptical about any breakthroughs on the horizon.

U.S. Dairy Remains in a Strong Position
While dairy has certainly seen its fair share of challenges throughout 2025, Loux is encouraged by where U.S. dairy stands today. After years of volatility, he sees signs of recovery, especially as global demand for cheese and proteins gains momentum.

While hurdles like tariffs and trade barriers remain, Loux believes U.S. dairy is well-positioned for growth. He points to recent export success, expanding opportunities in markets like the UK, and the industry’s ability to adapt to shifting global demand.

Challenges with countries like India persist, but Loux is confident that with continued focus and smart trade strategy, U.S. dairy can keep gaining ground worldwide.

Your Next Read: An Incredible Birdseye Look at the State of the Dairy Industry

UK Processor Mandate Yields Green Light for Social Calf Housing

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:50:32 GMT

The largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom has made social housing of preweaned dairy calves a requirement for its contracted supplier dairy herds.

In 2018, Hertfordshire, England-based Tesco plc mandated that preweaned calves would have to be housed in pair or group housing in its Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) herds as a part of its Livestock Code of Practice and Tesco Welfare Approved (TWA) standards. Producers were given one year to achieve compliance.

At the time, some producers resisted the mandate, and veterinarians were concerned about the potential for increased disease pressure for young calves.

Tesco acknowledged the new standard was a bow to consumer activists critical of the dairy industry’s practice of removing babies from their mothers and placing them in isolation. But the company also noted a large body of research outcomes supporting the benefits of social housing, including:

Improved cognitive development and adaptability to novel situations.
Greater ability to withstand stress, particularly during weaning.
Higher social dominance rank as adult dairy cows.
Increased starter grain intake.
Higher average daily gain.

Penn State University researcher Dr. Melissa Cantor discussed the situation on a recent episode of The Dairy Podcast Show . “Tesco was saying, ‘Hey, all this literature is coming out that shows pair housing helps calves, but none of it is showing a benefit to individual housing over paired, including health,’” she stated.

“So, they decided, ‘We’re going to mandate this,’” noted Cantor. “Obviously, the veterinary community was super worried. But now we’ve got all this data coming in from Europe that shows this [social housing] actually can work if we plan it out right.”

Cantor stressed that successful social housing is dependent on excellent management of calf-rearing fundamentals, including colostrum delivery, nutrition, hygiene, ventilation, resting space allocation, and bedding material and maintenance.

Her research also has shown that cross-sucking – a major concern related to social housing – can be significantly minimized when calves receive abundant daily milk allocations of at least 8 quarts/head/day.

Although some Tesco patrons were reluctant to make the switch, producer feedback in the ensuing years indicated many were pleasantly surprised by the results. Among their observations were improved calf vitality; calves snuggling together to rest and stay warm; greater feed competition and intake; increased social and play behavior; and improved natural behavioral development.

The Royal Veterinary College in London conducted a survey of UK dairy farmers about calf management practices that was published in the Journal of Dairy Science in 2022. Feedback from 216 dairy farmers showed that individual calf housing had dropped from about 60% in 2010 to 38% in the current survey.

Only about 12% of the farms in the survey that used pair or group housing reported issues with cross-sucking. And some of the farms in the UK that have recently adopted pair or group housing have done so even though they do not sell milk to Tesco.

Tesco officials noted that their TSDG herds – which initially totaled around 700 in 2018 but now number about 400 – are paid a premium price for their milk via long-term contracts, “providing stability for farmers and allowing them to make long-term investments to become industry leading in animal health and welfare and environmental sustainability.”

Since the social rearing policy was adopted, the company’s market share in the UK grocery landscape has grown every year. As of December 2024, Tesco held 28.1% of the UK grocery market share, its highest in 7 years.

Tesco also received the “ Good Dairy Calf Award ” from Compassion in World Farming in recognition of the company’s efforts to improve socialization in calf rearing.

In addition to social housing, TWA standards include requirements that animals travel no more than 8 hours from farm to slaughter, and that all food animals must be pre-stunned prior to slaughter. Tesco also requires dairies to perform surveillance and quarterly reporting of lactating-herd data on mobility/lameness; Johnes disease incidence; assisted calvings; hock lesions; and body condition scores.

Your Next Read: Navigating 2025: What Lies Ahead for the U.S. Dairy Industry?

Oatly Loses Legal Dispute Against Dairy UK Over 'Milk' Trademark

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:59:48 GMT

Judges in the United Kingdom (UK) have officially ruled that Oatly, a popular plant-based dairy alternative beverage, cannot use the word “milk” in its trademark ‘Post Milk Generation’ marketing, according to Yahoo Finance.
Earlier in November, the UK Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Dairy UK, stating that the use of the word “milk” was deceptive and should only be used for products of mammalian secretion, as specified in the EU Regulation No. 1308/2013 and the UK Trade Marks Act 1994.

The ruling marks the end of a long-standing legal battle that began in 2019, when Dairy UK, a trade body representing the UK dairy industry, challenged Oatly’s use of the term “milk” in its marketing. Dairy UK argued that Oatly’s use of the term was misleading to consumers and violated both UK and European Union regulations that protect dairy terminology.

In 2023, the case initially favored Oatly; however, the Court of Appeal’s November decision reversed this outcome, affirming the argument that terms like “milk” must be reserved for animal-derived products.

Judith Bryans, CEO of Dairy UK, praised the decision, stating, “This unanimous decision reinstates the Intellectual Property Office’s original ruling, which declared the trademark invalid for oat-based products. The ruling ensures the legal protection of dairy terms, which is vital for transparency and consumer trust.”

Your Next Read: Butter and Cheese Consumption Hit Sensational Highs Last Year

A Look Inside the Late Queen Elizabeth’s Dairy Farm

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:10:11 GMT

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. Her reign on the throne lasted 70 years.

The late queen, who was immensely popular throughout the world, was well-known for her soft spot for animals. While her love for her famed corgis was most recognizable, the queen also admired farm animals such as horses, pigs, sheep and even registered Jersey cows.

In 2001, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, came up with the idea of selling high-quality goods from the Royal Estates and other small local suppliers. Its aim was to support the smaller businesses in the area while also providing the customers with the best quality products Britain had to offer.

The farm consists of 200 registered Jersey cows, a Sussex beef herd, 140 breeding sows, 1,500 Lohmann Brown hens, 1,000 acres of arable land and 2,000 acres of grassland mainly used to feed the livestock.

According to the farm’s website , the late queen’s Jersey herd is based at Prince Consort Farm in The Home Park. The original farm was designed by Prince Albert in the late 1850s. The original buildings were extended with new winter housing for the cows, and they now feature robotic technology. Additionally, the farm features automatic cow brushes as well as waterbeds for the royal herd to lay on.

While it remains unknown as to what will become of the royal farm, the milk is currently being sold to produce Windsor Castle ice cream.

Track Star Dairy Farmer Sets New Race Record Just One Year After Giving Birth

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:38:59 GMT

Elle Purrier St. Pierre, a Vermont dairy farmer turned track star, has done it again. Just weeks after breaking her own record for the U.S. women’s indoor mile, Purrier St. Pierre won the women’s 3,000-meter race at the World Athletics Indoor Championship in Glasgow, Scotland.

Not only did Purrier St. Pierre win the race, but she also broke records for both the North American and championship times with her new event time of 8 minutes and 20.87 seconds, taking nearly 5 seconds off her personal best.

In 2020, Purrier St. Pierre finished 10th in the women’s 1,500-meter race at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. The Olympian has been training to compete in the 2024 season ever since she gave birth to her son, Ivan, almost one year ago to the day from her race in Scotland.

Purrier St. Pierre grew up on a 40-cow operation in Vermont, but never left the farm, as she and her husband still live on a dairy farm today. The runner married her high-school sweetheart, Jamie St. Pierre, and would compete against him at 4-H events growing up. Jamie studied dairy management at Cornell, is a dairy farmer, and works on his family’s dairy farm also located in Vermont.

For more industry news, read:

Milk Production in Europe Continues to Fall: Here are Two Big Reasons Why

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:08:16 GMT

The ongoing implementation of environmental regulations, called the European Green Deal, and low agricultural commodity prices have sparked numerous farmer protests across Europe. Dairy has not been immune as new regulations weigh on milk production. November EU milk collections fell to levels not seen in years, according to Betty Berning, analyst with the Daily Dairy Report.

Approved in 2020, the European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives designed to help the trading blocreduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The initiatives extend to many different sectors of the economy, including construction, biodiversity, energy, transportation, and food and agriculture.

“The protests occurring across the continent underscore farmers’ frustration with low revenues and increased restrictions,” Berning said. “While governments seem to be listening, it’s unclear whether meaningful action will be taken. Moreover, with environmental limits already in place in Ireland and the Netherlands, change could come too late to cause a significant shift in the trajectory of the EU dairy sector.”

November milk production in the European Union and the United Kingdom fell 2.5%, compared to a year earlier, to 26.6 billion pounds, based on preliminary data and estimates from Eurostat, CLAL, and the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). November milk production was the lowest for any November since 2018 and the fourth month in a row that volumes declined on a year-over-year basis. Ireland’s November milk collections plunged 20%, or 218.3 million pounds, to 882.4 million pounds vs. November 2022, as the country headed into its seasonal low.

“Ongoing environmental restrictions have been pushing production lower across Europe, and November’s production loss highlights the continent’s ongoing reduction in milk flows,” Berning said.

Through November 2023, annual year-over-year milk production was up a marginal 0.1%, with losses beginning in August. According to USDA’s October estimates, Europe’s trend toward declining output will continue into this year, with 2024 milk volumes forecast to drop 0.14% from 2023 levels to 320 billion pounds.

“German farmers took to the streets of Berlin in late January to protest rising taxes and a lack of subsidies,” Berning noted. “The demonstrations were part of ongoing farmer protests as Germany rolls out austerity measures to cover holes in its budget.”

Reuters and other news outlets reported that similar demonstrations have been occurring in other countries since late last year. Farmers in France, for example, have blocked roads around Paris as they call for “urgent action on low farmgate prices, green regulation, and free-trade policies,” according to Reuters.

Some headway could be occurring in France, where Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said he will not reduce tax breaks for diesel fuel destined for agricultural use, one of the farmers’ chief grievances. He also said the government will distribute emergency funds more quickly and levy substantial fines on corporations that do not follow price negotiation rules.

“Farmers in Poland have voiced concerns over agricultural imports from Ukraine as well as over the European Green Deal,” Berning said. “Agricultural products from Ukraine have reportedly been flooding Poland’s market as demand remains low in the war-torn nation, causing Polish farm revenue to drop.”

For more industry news, read:

Which Foreign Country Owns the Most Farmland in the U.S.? Hint: It's Not China

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:24:37 GMT

Controversy continues to grow across the U.S., and China is the primary target of the new rules. However, China doesn’t own the most farmland in the U.S., according to a new USDA report. It’s actually Canada, which accounts for 32%, or 14.2 million acres.

Rounding out the top five are the Netherlands at 12%, Italy at 6%, the United Kingdom at 6% and Germany at 5%. Together, citizens in those countries hold 13 million acres, or 29%, of the foreign-held acres in the U.S. China owns less than 1%, or 349,442 acres.

(Farm Journal)

All told, 43.4 million acres of forest and farmland in the U.S., or 3.4% of all ag land, is foreign owned as of Dec. 31, 2022. Roughly 30 million of those acres are reported as foreign-owned, with the remainder primarily under a 10-year-or-longer lease. Of the 30 million, 66% is owner-operated, 14% has a tenant or sharecropper as the producer and 12% report a manager other than the owner or a tenant/sharecropper as producer. The remaining 7% are “NA.”

USDA says the two biggest Chinese-owned companies with land holdings in the U.S. are Brazos Highland and Murphy Brown LLC, which owns Smithfield Foods. Brazos Highland reported owning 102,345 acres, and Smithfield owns 97,975 acres.

(Farm Journal)

The top five states with the largest Chinese holdings are:

Texas at 162,167 acres
North Carolina at 44,776 acres
Missouri at 43,071 acres
Utah at 32,447 acres
Virginia at 14,382 acres

USDA reports those five states combined account for 85% of China’s farmland ownership. In Texas, USDA reports China has long-term leases associated with wind energy, and in North Carolina and Missouri, ownership is tied to Smithfield and producers who contract for pork production.

More States to Take Up Possible Bans in 2024

Foreign-held farmland has become a hot button topic on Capitol Hill. Farm Journal Washington correspondent Jim Wiesemeyer thinks it will continue to gain momentum in 2024 as a political ploy used by candidates.

“It’s an emotional issue, and it’s not a simple issue either,” Wiesemeyer says. “I was recently in Missouri, and some commodity leaders worry about the negative consequences of going too far. No one’s saying China should not be watched relative to buying farmland near airports, national security is involved in that case, but more than a few farmers are looking at the potential downsides for pork producers who contract with Smithfield and the number of acres they own.”

One of those unintended consequences is playing out in Arkansas.

“I’m announcing Syngenta, a Chinese state-owned agrichemical company, must give up its landing holdings in Arkansas,” says Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, referencing a 160-acre research site owned by Northrup King Seed, a Syngenta subsidiary.

Eric Boeck, president of Syngenta Seeds North America, told Farm Journal editor Clinton Griffiths: “EPA and USDA many times require us to do work and permitting right in the same state as we’re going to sell products. One of the first things we have to make sure we figure out is how we work with the local community to make sure we’re still getting products tested in their backyard, so we have the ability to sell those products.”

(Farm Journal)

Syngenta argues if they sell that particular farm, Arkansas farmers will be at a disadvantage because research can’t be done in the same weather and soil conditions.

“We’re heavy in the soybean market in Arkansas, some of those maturity zones, we have a very significant market share and savings,” Boeck says. “We want to make sure we’re protecting those farmers’ abilities to be able to use our products.”

Wiesemeyer says the bigger issue for U.S. farmland might be solar panels, with farmers in states like Missouri reporting companies have offered to pay more than $1,000 per acre cash rent to put solar panels on their farm. At such a high price, he says it’s eating up acres of farmland, with the potential to grow even more in 2024.

World Milk Production Begins New Year Weak

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:43:12 GMT

Declining world milk supplies have tightened global dairy markets and contributed to some recent price gains, such as the recent rise in the Global Dairy Trade index. According to Monica Ganley, analyst with the Daily Dairy Report and principal of Quarterra, an agricultural consulting firm in Buenos Aries, “Milk production has been slipping across the world’s main dairy-exporting regions and countries as margin pressures, weather challenges, and regulatory burdens weigh on volumes.”

In October, combined output across the world’s top-five dairy exporters fell 1.2% below year-earlier levels, marking the third consecutive month of contraction and the deepest year-over-year loss since May 2022. The most severe absolute losses occurred in Europe, Ganley said. In the European Union and United Kingdom combined, milk production tumbled 1.7% in October, a drop of 224,000 metric tons (MT).

“The reduction in the EU and UK milk supply represented 70% of the total decline seen across all the key exporters. Industry stakeholders suggest that falling milk prices this past autumn undermined profitability, and as expectations intensified for an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment in Europe, many producers chose to exit the business permanently,” Ganley said.

Losses were also seen across the Atlantic. For example, in the United States, thin margins and a declining milk herd pushed year-over-year production down 0.7% or 61,000 MT. Milk output slipped another 0.6% in November, compared to the prior year, marking the fifth straight month of year-over-year declines in the United States. In November, the U.S. milk-cow herd shrunk to a three- year low, setting the stage for sustained contraction in U.S. milk output.

Meanwhile, in Argentina, where a new government has created an economic shock, output fell 4.3%, or 49,000 MT. Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, has promised to restore the country’s ailing economy by slashing government spending and implementing sweeping reforms. Many of the proposed reforms have profound implications for the agricultural and dairy sectors, Ganley reported. In the first week following his inauguration, Milei announced a more than 50% devaluation of the official exchange rate, which will have multiple impacts for the dairy industry, she said.

“For exporters, it will increase the amount of money that hits their bank accounts, since exports are paid at the official rate. However, it will also make dollar-denominated inputs more expensive for the sector in peso terms,” she said. “Another key initiative is the implementation of a 15% export tax across nearly all products. However, Argentina’s dairy sector was successful in securing an exemption from this rule. As a result, Argentina’s dairy exports will become more competitive in international markets as export taxes will be 0% as opposed to the 4.5% to 9% levied in recent years.”

In Oceania, New Zealand production dipped a modest 0.3% in October, while in Australia, the only key exporter to see volumes rise, output rose 2.1% vs. the same month last year, adding about 19,000 MT of milk to the global total.

“Looking forward, the situation remains precarious,” Ganley said. “Even though most of the factors that have been pressuring milk production lower are likely to persist, global demand remains weak, suggesting that further milk production losses could be necessary before milk and dairy product prices are able to move much higher.”

For more on milk prices, read:

Oatly Ads Banned in UK for ‘Misleading’ Environmental Claims

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:21:13 GMT

The popular plant-based beverage, Oatly, has recently been told to not repeat some of its advertisements in the United Kingdom after complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) were upheld, according to BBC News.

Over the past year, the company has run a series of advertisements that have compared the carbon footprint of meat and dairy to Oatly’s plant-based beverage. The bold claims generated attention from the public and the campaign group, A Greener World. After the advertisements ran, more than 100 separate complaints began to trickle in, leading the ASA to its current investigation.

Two television commercials, which portrayed children questioning their father’s decision to drink cow’s milk, claimed that, “Oatly generates 73% less C02e vs. milk, calculated from grower to grocer.”

According to BBC News, the ASA said the television ad was misleading because Oatly based the claim on comparing one of its products, Oatly Barista Edition, with full cream milk. The ASA said consumers would understand the claim to include all of Oatly’s products instead of this specific product.

“It’s clear that we could have been more specific in the way we described some of the scientific data,” said Oatly spokesman Tim Knight.

To add to the fire, a social media ad campaign from the company stated that, “The dairy and meat industries emit more CO2e than all the world’s planes, trains, cars, boats, etc., combined.”

However, the ASA said this was not a fair comparison. The company compared the full lifecycle of the meat and dairy industry , which included emissions from producing feed, using fertilizers, and transporting the food, with figures from the transport industry which only reflected emissions coming directly from the vehicles.

Furthermore, two Oatly advertisements published in newspapers stated that, “Today, more than 25% of the world’s greenhouse gases are generated by the food industry, and meat and dairy account for more than half of that.”

Once again, the ASA did not support this claim, saying that it was misleading because Oatly held meat and dairy to include fish and eggs, whereas consumers might assume it referred to a narrower definition. Oatly said it has no plans to repeat the claim and has removed posts making similar claims from its own social media channels.

According to BBC News, the ASA has it made clear it will take a tougher stance on firms making environmental statements. The regulating body said last year it would be scrutinizing such claims closely and has already ruled against a Lipton tea ad which claimed its plastic bottles were “100% recycled plastic” while the small print explained that did not include the lid or label.

U.K. Farmer Heartbroken as More Cows to be Killed After BSE Case

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:53:41 GMT

Officials in the United Kingdom plan to euthanize more cows on a farm in Scotland where Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered.

The finding of BSE, also known as mad cow disease, has left the farm owner Thomas Jackson feeling devastated and heartbroken.

Officials from the U.K. revealed that a five-year old beef cow on Jackson’s farm near Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, had been positively confirmed to be a carrier of classical BSE . This was the first discovery of BSE in the U.K. in three years.

Through a statement with National Farmers Union Scotland , Jackson says, “This has been a very difficult time for myself and my wife and we have found the situation personally devastating.”

The Scottish farm expresses that he has taken great pride in breeding close herd for many years while doing things correctly.

“To find through the surveillance system in place that one of our cows has BSE has been heartbreaking,” Jackson says. “Since this has happened we have been fully cooperating with all the parties involved and will continue to do so as we, like everyone, want to move forward and clear up this matter.”

Four more cows on the farm could be euthanized and tested for the disease according to Scotland’s chief veterinarian Sheila Voas. The farm has also been quarantined. Additional tests could take months to determine how the BSE was transmitted, according to an interview Voas did with BBC .

“All the information we have is this is under control, there’s no reason for people to panic. It’s not the start of an outbreak, it’s a single isolated case that won’t affect the food chain,” Voas says.

BSE was first discovered in the U.K. in 1986, by 1995 the first recorded human death occurred. After that time a total of 178 people were believed to have died in the U.K. related to BSE. There were an estimated 180,000 cattle infected and it forced the slaughter of 4.4 million cattle total to further eradicate the disease.

Cases of BSE have fallen drastically in the U.K. with 16 occurring since 2011. Prior to the recent case, Scotland had been free of BSE since 2009.

Livestock experts like Jude Capper, an animal scientist from the U.K., points to improvements made in surveillance and making it illegal to feed animal derived proteins to ruminants .

“Unfortunate that a single (rare) BSE case confirmed, but, on the positive side, great to see that modern disease surveillance systems allow for quick detection and control, and that food safety is unaffected. Some valuable lessons were learned 30 years ago,” Capper says on Twitter .

Unfortunate that a single (rare) #BSE case confirmed, but, on the positive side, great to see that modern disease surveillance systems allow for quick detection and control, and that food safety is unaffected. Some valuable lessons were learned 30 years ago! #cattle https://t.co/Gfq7kzrXrA
— Prof. Jude Capper 🐄🐂🐑 (@Bovidiva) October 18, 2018

The discovery of BSE in Scotland has not impacted any trade deals at this point. However, British beef just reentered China following a ban on trade because of BSE. It is unclear how the latest BSE case will impact the U.K. and China’s trade deal on beef .

Portions of the U.K., including England and Wales, were already deemed as “controlled BSE risk status” by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) . It is likely that OIE will change Scotland’s risk status since the last update was made in May 2017.

The “classical” or “typical” form of BSE has been shown to be derived from cattle fed contaminated feed. There have been no cattle born in the U.S. to show the “classical” form, but there have been several “atypical” cases including a recent case in Florida discovered in August . Atypical BSE is different than classical BSE, and it generally occurs in older cattle and seems to arise rarely and spontaneously in all cattle populations.

A map of the BSE risk status areas in the U.K. can be found below: