Dear readers, some good news:

• USDA provides up to $125 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain.
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding $2.29 million through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Farm Bill program to advance APHIS’ animal health preparedness, as part of an overall strategy to prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the United States and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions.

Events calendar:

• Hotel Arts Barcelona is hosting the World Retail Congress between 25-27 of April. As retail has a major impact on the profitability of the pig industry, we should hope the return of the fair share from their side.
• Carnexpo Grill Fest is taking place in Constanta, Romania, on the long weekend of  29 of April – 1 of May. The Romanian meat industry is starting the grill season.
• Lowland Livestock Breeding and Farmer Days 2023 is organized in Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary,  May 4 – 6, 2023. The event is one of the most significant agricultural events of the spring, the largest professional meeting and fair of Hungarian agriculture presents the sectors and activities of livestock breeding. Come and see us there!

Missed opportunity

       In the last couple of weeks I had the opportunity to meet many pig farmers in Hungary and Romania. While they start to be a bit more optimistic about the near future of our industry, I also hear about a lot of empty farms and barns.

            But this is not only in my neighborhood. The Family Butchers, one of Germany’s largest sausage manufacturers, is to close a domestic facility putting 290 jobs at risk. The company is planning to shut its factory in Vörden by 2025 and has cited declining sales in the sector as one of the reasons behind its decision. I would consider also the lowering supply of German pork also a reason, while political pressure has to contribute also to the transformation of the company into one producing vegan options, trough The Plantly Butcher brand. By the way, should it still be “butcher” and “sausage”?

Who is deciding on the meat business? New York City Mayor Eric Adams released this week the city’s first integrated greenhouse gas inventory, which incorporates emissions from the production and consumption of food. Those emissions represent 20% of New York City’s overall emissions — the third largest source, behind buildings (35%) and transportation (21%). The inventory — developed by the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) — includes emissions involved in the production of goods and services New Yorkers consume, whether or not that production occurs in New York City. In response to the new inventory, Mayor Adams also announced that the city will reduce absolut carbon emissions from food purchases across the city by 33% by 2030. So, not from buildings, not from transportation…would it be a surprise, if I tell you that the Major is vegan?

During an extraordinary meeting last week, the Danish Crown Board of Directors took the decision to close one of Denmark’s six pig slaughterhouses. Eight hundred workers at the Sæby slaughterhouse are now at risk of losing their jobs, while 450 new workers will be needed at Danish Crown’s other slaughterhouses in Horsens, Ringsted and Blans in the next six months. Rising pig prices in the neighboring Germany put pressure on the Danish price, as well. Danish pig farmers are pushing for increase of the purchasing price on the slaughterhouses and even more piglets are exported, on an unprecedented price level.

We are going through a period characterized by many short weeks. Less working days in the slaughterhouses are balancing the supply/demand with the pigs. While pork traders have increased their prices for the deliveries of the long weekend including Labor Day, the farmers in Germany did not increase the quotation of the pigs. This is a missed opportunity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHd84mloIYk

European pig and piglet prices: HW= Hot weight; L= live weight;

COUNTRY	PIG(EUR)	TREND	PIGLET(EUR)	TREND	OBSERVATION
GERMANY	2,33 HW		84,5/25 kg
NETHERLANDS	2,13-2,35 HW		75,50/25 kg
BELGIUM	1,7 L		74/20 kg
DANEMARK	1,85 HW		90/25 kg
FRANCE	2,3 HW
ITALY	1,92 L- 115 kg, 2,23 L- 160 kg, DOC		137/30 kg
SPAIN	2,02-2,05 L		101-111/20kg
PORTUGAL	2,8 HW
AUSTRIA	2,29 HW		97,5 /25 kg
POLAND	1,9-2,26 L		95 -142/20-30 kg		Partner info; no quotation
CROATIA	2-2,50 HW		100-110/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
SERBIA	2,2 L		99-113,5/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
CZECH R.	2,31-2,35 HW		76-82/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
SLOVAKIA	1,9-1,95 L		100-106,5/25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
HUNGARY	1,89-2,02 L		100-110,5/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
ROMANIA	1,78 -1,92 L		100-110,5/25kg		Partner info; no quotation