Dear readers,

Let’s get some good news:

• More and more people start to study in the field of agriculture and life sciences. Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University have welcomed record-breaking large classes .Texas A&M’s incoming class is, 40% larger than in previous years, while CSU has a 10% increase over last year.
• Until 2 years ago, there was one item produced in a larger number in Wolfsburg, than the WV cars. This was the currywurst. In august 2021 the company decided to go vegan. Now, under the pressure of the union, the company pulls back and start tom produce the meatwurst again.
• Brazilian meatpacking giant Marfrig sells 16 slaughterhouses to Minerva for $1.54 billion, reshaping focus on processed meat as Minerva strengthens slaughtering operations across Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Strategic shift impacts 40% of Marfrig’s sales. This shift underscores the company’s resolute aim to realign its focus towards the production of processed meat products

Events calendar

• The  Austrian Rieder Messe will take place on 4 days from Thursday, 07. September to Sunday, 10. September 2023 in Ried im Innkreis. Attendees have the unique opportunity to directly compare, experience, and buy products. Among the event’s highlights are the „Innovation Farm Live,” which foregrounds sustainable and visionary agricultural practices, and the „Live Free-Range Barn,” a showcase of the latest in automation technologies.

If I Could Turn Back Time…

It is more and more harder to find some reasons for optimism in our industry.

Numbers are coming up from main pig producer countries, and the evolution is always negative.

In Poland, last year, 1.8 million fewer pigs were slaughtered than in 2021 and the forecast is 1 million fewer pigs this year than in 2022. A decrease of 2.8 million animals within a two-year period. In the past four years, almost half of Polish farmers stopped their pig business.

But what if the farmers don’t stop voluntarily? Than you determine them to do so. In order to reduce nitrogen emissions from the agricultural sector, the PAS concept note of 23 February 2022 and the programmatic approach to nitrogen (PAS) of 10 March 2023 also included the objective of reducing the Belgian pig population by 30 percent by 2030. Stimulating measures have been provided for this by the Flemish government, such as granting cessation payments and demolition payments. Some selection criteria have been modified, in order to include approximately 2,700 additional agricultural operations with pigs, that will have the opportunity to “voluntarily” close their pig barns and receive compensation for this. For the first call, which ran from April 3 to June 17, 2023, approximately 900 companies were eligible.

In the last month I had the opportunity to meet some longtime friends and acquaintances from the industry.

We remember times when there was no African Swine Fever in the region.

We remember times when the authorities in Eastern Europe were able to handle pig diseases, like the Classical Swine Fever.

We remember times when pig and meat were not public enemies.

We remember times when politics supported the pig industry by introducing private storage aid, for instance.

We remember time when the European meat industry was able to survive even without exporting the “fifth quarter” to Asian markets.

We remember times when all the players were making 7-10% margin on the production and sales chain, not only the market chains taking all.

Which are your memories?

How far would you turn back time?

If I could turn back time…

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

COUNTRY	PIG(EUR)	TREND	PIGLET(EUR)	TREND	OBSERVATION
GERMANY	2,30 HW		80/25 kg
NETHERLANDS	2,05-2,32 HW		63/25 kg
BELGIUM	1,62 L		58/20 kg
DANEMARK	1,79 HW		76,5/25 kg
FRANCE	2,05 HW
ITALY	1,94-1,96L 115kg, 2,26-2,28 L 60kg, DOC		131,2 kg
SPAIN	1,9 -1,92 L		72-81/20kg
PORTUGAL	2,65 HW
AUSTRIA	2,27 HW		95/25 kg
POLAND	1,56-1,85 L		78-115/20-30 kg		Partner info; no quotation
CROATIA	2,05-2,25 HW		110 / 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
SERBIA	2,40 L		110-131/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
CZECH R.	2,28 – 2,33 HW		75,5-81,5/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
SLOVAKIA	1,9 -1,96 L		100-105/25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
HUNGARY	1,90 – 2,01 L		100-105/ 25 kg		Partner info; no quotation
ROMANIA	1,90 – 2,06 L		100-105/25kg		Partner info; no quotation