Latest news with #AHDB
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
US audits to ensure UK red meat market access
With international trade increasingly making headlines, an industry expert has reiterated the importance of safeguarding market access for the UK red meat sector. Ouafa Doxon, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) head of market access, said maintaining UK meat export approvals was more essential than ever in ensuring continued trade in a wide portfolio of markets. Her comments followed an audit by the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the UK veterinary system in late March 2025 as part of the UK's ongoing access arrangements for pork, lamb, and beef exports to the US market. Simultaneous site visits that look at UK official meat controls took place across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with AHDB and the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) hosting pre-audit preparation sessions for the businesses involved on what to expect. UK red meat access The US audit followed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) food safety audit looking at UK pork, lamb, beef, and poultry facilities in September. Over two weeks, around 20 sites including abattoirs, cold stores, and processing plants were assessed to ensure compliance with export standards. Following the audit, AHDB and UKECP worked closely with Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and industry stakeholders to compile key documents for review. Defra has confirmed it is now finalising its formal response to CFIA's recommendations. Last year total UK red meat exports were worth £1.77 billion. The value of beef, lamb, and pig meat exports in 2024 as a whole increased 3.3% on year earlier levels. Ouafa Doxon, AHDB head of market access Doxon said: 'Market access is about securing new opportunities, strengthening existing arrangements, and ensuring continued access into established markets. 'AHDB, working in close partnership with UKECP, DEFRA, and other UK government departments, remains committed to supporting UK meat exports and facilitating international trade. 'The final US audit report is pending, but trade continues uninterrupted marking steady progress in market access and regulatory collaboration. 'Similarly, the final Canadian audit report is pending, but trade continues uninterrupted,' she added. The AHDB has stressed that with international trade very much in the spotlight currently, expanding global opportunities while safeguarding continued access to key markets is of paramount importance. 'AHDB's market access team continues to work behind the scenes with industry and government to help ensure our red meat export businesses are in the strongest position possible to maximise the opportunities presented,' Doxon concluded.
Agriland
21-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
New chair appointed to AHDB
Emily Norton has been appointed by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ministers as the new Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Norton who has 25 years of experience in the food and farming sector, will take on the role for three years from June 1, 2025. She will succeed Nicholas Saphir, who is stepping down after more than five years in the role. Appointments to the AHDB Board are made by Defra ministers, with the approval of ministers in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments. Norton will be supported by board member Stephen Briggs, who has been appointed as deputy chair. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: 'Emily Norton's leadership and extensive experience in a diverse range of sectors will bring fresh perspective and strategic insight to AHDB. 'I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to champion our world-class farmers and food producers – driving rural economic growth and strengthening food security. 'I would also like to express my gratitude to Nicholas Saphir for his dedication, drive and expertise throughout his tenure.' Outgoing AHDB chair Nicholas Saphir said: 'I have served as AHDB chair for the last five years, during which time it has been an honour and a pleasure to have worked with some amazingly dedicated and knowledgeable board members and staff. 'Together we have delivered a significant change in the way in which AHDB serves our levy payers. 'I leave AHDB, the board, and team well-positioned to play their part in providing 'the key that unlocks the future of British agriculture'. 'I'm delighted that Emily Norton will be stepping into the role as chair of AHDB. Emily brings a wealth of experience through her background in running a family farming business as well as her work as a highly respected strategic and policy advisor.' Emily Norton, new AHDB chair, said: 'I am proud to take on the role of chair at such a pivotal time for British agriculture. 'My professional focus has always been on strengthening the resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of the UK's food and farming sectors. 'I look forward to working with stakeholders across the industry to deliver on that mission as part of the AHDB.' New chair Emily Norton Norton is a partner in an 80ha arable farm in Norfolk and owner and founder of Farm Foresight Ltd., a strategic advisory service for the rural sector. She has previously held several executive roles including head of rural research at Savills UK and was chair of the Oxford Farming Conference in 2023. Norton has extensive board-level experience, with positions at the Soil Association Exchange, the Environmental Markets Board, and the Duchy of Lancaster. She is a member of the national policy committee of the Country Land and Business Association, a trustee at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, and a member of the Farming Leadership Group of the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission. AHDB AHDB is a statutory levy board funded by around 100,000 farmers and other businesses in the food supply chain. It states that its purpose is to unlock the success of British agriculture, to help improve business performance, allowing levy payers to be competitive and share good practice. To achieve this, AHDB designs easy-to-use products, tools and services to help equip levy payers to make informed on-farm decisions. This work is underpinned by marketing activity for meat and dairy in the UK and other countries with an international team developing exports opportunities in markets including the Middle East and the Americas, as well as Europe. Established in 2008 and classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body, AHDB supports production of beef, lamb and pork in England, dairy in Great Britain, and cereals and oilseeds in the UK.
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
AHDB: UK-US trade deal could be good news for British beef sector
New trade agreements agreed between the UK and the US could see increased quantities of British beef heading across the Atlantic. Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) analysts have identified the key opportunities and threats associated with the new UK-US Comprehensive Prosperity Deal. According to the AHDB, on the upside, the UK will be able to export up to 13,000t of beef to the US, tariff-free, following changes to an existing tariff rate quota (TRQ). The US has a TRQ for beef imports, within which there are country-specific quotas for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Uruguay. British beef The UK, along with Brazil, has access to the US TRQ under the 'Other Countries' allocation, which is 65,005t. In practical terms, however, it has been challenging for the UK to make use of this TRQ for British beef for as Brazil often uses the entire allocation. In 2024, Brazil had made use of the 'Other Countries' allocation by March 28 (it opened on January 1, 2024). This year, the 'Other Countries' allocation was spent in just 17 days after opening at the start of the calendar year, the AHDB said. The proximity of Brazil to the US has also put the UK at a disadvantage in this respect, according to the board. UK beef exporters would be wary of risking sending shipments of beef across the Atlantic only to find upon arrival that the quota allocation has been used up and they would face full tariff rates for British beef to cross the US border. The new UK-US trade deal removes this risk, as the UK would have its own TRQ allocation. But this will not all be one-way traffic. Currently, the US has a 1,000t quota for exporting beef to the UK, which is subject to a 20% tariff. Under the prosperity deal, the 20% tariff will be removed and the US will have a preferential beef TRQ of 13,000t. However, US beef imports will have to meet UK food standards, so the Westminster government's red line on this aspect remains intact. While the quantity of beef imports from the US matches that of beef exports from the UK, there are concerns over the value of imported US beef. Imports of high value, premium cuts – such as strip loins – could potentially have a considerable impact on the UK domestic market. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) estimates that the UK produces around 3,900t of strip loins which is just under a third of the beef TRQ for the US. Northern Ireland is the best-placed region in the UK to avail of new British beef export opportunities to the US. This is due to Northern Ireland's focus on grass-based beef production systems, which differentiate from US systems. Adding to this is the fact that the deal comes as cattle prices have already reached record highs.
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Scotch whisky sector welcomes ‘transformational' UK-India trade deal
The Scotch Whisky Association has welcomed what it regards as the 'transformational' trade deal confirmed between the UK and India. Mark Kent, chief executive of the association said that the free trade agreement is a once-in-a-generation deal and a landmark moment for Scotch whisky's access to the world's largest whisky market. Kent said: 'The reduction of the current 150% tariff on Scotch whisky will be transformational for the industry. 'The deal has the potential to increase Scotch whisky exports to India by £1bn over the next five years and create 1,200 jobs across the UK.' Meanwhile, the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) is pointing out that, for some time, the narrative around UK malting barley demand has been somewhat lacklustre. The trend of fewer younger people drinking has capped growth in usage by the brewing, malting, and distilling (BMD) sector. Demand for barley Human and industrial (H&I) usage (mainly made up of BMD demand) of barley in 2024/25 is expected to fall for the second consecutive year, according to the most recent UK cereal supply and demand estimates. At 1.782Mt, barley H&I usage this season is 7% down year-on-year and 4% on the previous five-year average. AHDB analysts also point out that while it is likely that US President Donald Trump's tariffs may impact UK whisky trade, the new deal with India has the potential to outweigh any possible drop in demand from the US. The UK-India trade deal also has the potential to bolster UK malting demand at a time when trends are pointing to a reduced domestic demand. Figures produced by AHDB indicate a total UK barley availability figure of 8.484Mt in 2024/25. This is up 50Kt year-on-year. The estimate of full season barley imports remains at 175Kt, down 26Kt year-on-year but well above the five-year average. From July 2024 to January 2025, the UK imported 124Kt of barley, with the pace expected to slow throughout the remainder of the season. H&I barley usage is estimated at 1.782 Mt, down 56Kt from January's estimate and 128kt lower on the year. The decline year-on year and from January is driven by sluggish BMD demand, which can be partly attributed to the increase in the cost of living. At 4.374Mt, usage of barley in animal feed is relatively unchanged from the previous estimate, but 189Kt higher than in 2023/24. Due to its relative availability and competitive price to wheat this season, barley is featuring in compound feed rations at a higher rate in 2024/25. However, the increase is largely due to a rise in fed-on-farm usage, again, due to its price relative to wheat and pressure on malting barley premiums.
Agriland
07-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
AHDB publishes latest crop development report
The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has just published its latest crop development report for the UK and it makes pretty good reading for growers. This has been one of the best recent years for spring planting; drilling of spring wheat, barley, and oats was completed during March and April. However, challenges have been noted with spring oilseed rape drilling, and areas not yet planted are likely to be switched to other crops. Crop development report Overall, disease pressure for all crops remains low. However, the dry conditions are beginning to affect crop development. Some spring barley and spring oat crops also needed to be re-drilled in some areas. Meanwhile, winter oilseed rape has been replaced with spring linseed in some areas of severe pigeon damage. From March to early April, conditions were dry, with UK average rainfall below the long-term average. Eastern England had just 6mm of rain in March, making it extremely dry. April rain By mid-April, rainfall returned, although there were substantial regional differences with the south-west experiencing higher levels, while the west midlands saw comparatively little. Prior to the mid-April rainfall, crop growth had stalled. However, since the rainfall, crops that received rain have begun to develop, and some winter barley is now well ahead of its usual growth stage. In the west midlands, following 10-20mm of rainfall, nitrogen is now being taken up and crops are showing signs of recovery. In the far north of north-east England, conditions remain very dry with no recent rainfall and crops are showing signs of stress. Meanwhile, in the east midlands, barley has been irrigated where water resources are available. Parts of Scotland also received less than 10mm in April. It is also worth noting that the withdrawal of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in England to new applicants has led to an increase in the retention of very poor crops, according to the AHDB. These crops would otherwise have been taken off production and the land entered into the scheme. In contrast, tillage farmers across the island of Ireland have enjoyed a favourable spring so far, with approximately 60mm of rainfall recorded during the second fortnight of April. Disease levels within Irish crops remain low. However, the growing threat of yellow rust in many parts of the island is giving considerable cause for concern, as is the first confirmation of glyphosate resistance within an Italian ryegrass population.
