Summary of newspapers of the previous days – 28.12. – 3.1.2010

More silage corn in Europe

European farmers grow silage corn still more and more. While development of grain corn changes every year according to the situation on market, the silage corn curve still increases in most countries. In Denmark, cultivation areas of silage corn grow continually already for ten years. In 2009, they reached 180 000 ha. Also more silage corn is grown in Great Britain. Cultivation areas in Belgium are constantly maintained about 250 000 ha, however, the share of silage corn increases.

Veterinary administrations and institutes did not proceed always in accordance with law in property management

An aim of inspectors of the Supreme Control Office (NKÚ) was to examine management of financial means determined for activity of veterinary administrations and institutes, especially expenditures in the area of animal health care, and further to examine management and treatment with the state property. In the NKÚ check it was found out that the Ministry of Agriculture (MZe) and veterinary administrations and institutes did not always proceed in accordance with the hold regulations. They checked management of the state property and financial means of the state budget in the MZe and in selected veterinary administrations and institutes.

Public notice amendment about animal protection

The public notice No. 464/2009 Col. which changes the public notice No. 208/2004 Col. on minimal standards for farm animal protection, in a version of public notice Bo. 424/2005 Col. was published in the Collection on the December 23, 2009. The public notice amendment comes in force on the 1.1.2010. From view-point of meat cattle breeders, this legislative material does not contain any fundamental changes. However, for some breeders a deletion of sentence about an express ban of use of barbet wire, for which we very struggled for and advocated it for several times, can be a significant shift.

Sugar still strengthens

Sugar price created new maximums on New York stock market ICE Futures on Thursday and moves still on top levels over the last twenty eight years. The reason is fears regarding a height of world-wide production deficit in comparison with strengthening demand. Since the beginning of the year the sugar price has grown more than double owing to worse production in Brazil and India and also owing to weak American dollar. The sugar contract with a delivery term in March reformed by 0,58 cents (2,2 %) to 27,08 cents for pound on Friday, an intradent maximum was on the value 27,10 cents, the highest since February 1981.