Falklands : Falklands AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT FOR 16 FEBRUARY 2009
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 21.02.2009 (Article Archived on 07.03.2009)
A meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee took place in the Department of Agriculture library at 1400hrs on Monday, 16 February 2009.
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT FOR 16 FEBRUARY 2009
A meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee took place in the Department of Agriculture library at 1400hrs on Monday, 16 February 2009. Present were Cllr Ian Hansen (Chair), Cllr Mike Summers, Cllr John Birmingham, Mrs Phyl Rendell (DOA), Bobby Short (RBA Rep), John Ferguson (FIMCO), Ian McPhee (Farmers’ Rep), Steve Pointing (SVO), Mac Macarthur (Senior Agricultural Advisor) and Katrina Stephenson (Minutes). Apologies came from Cllr Janet Robertson.
After declarations of interest and confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2008, Mrs Rendell gave an extensive report on what the Department of agriculture was doing since the last Advisory Committee meeting.
Progress with Farm Improvement Programme activities - Reseeds
This season has been very dry not only with low rainfall, but also high winds and sunshine. This has led to some problems with farms getting areas burnt and also in some instances the success of crops. DOA staff have soil tested 56 reseeds in late December and January across East and West Falkland. This is a key part of the work evaluating the successes/failures of reseeded pasture to date. The agronomist noted that results are mixed, ranging from very poor to excellent (particularly in the more recently sown reseeds, which hopefully indicates progress in this area). Over the next month the work will continue with a pasture composition assessment to determine what has established, what has not and what weed species have established. Soil left over after sending farm samples away for testing will be utilised to run a pot trial looking at establishment and plant vigour grown with individual farm soils in one environment. There will be a Wool Press article next month describing what Andy Pollard perceives as in general being the best crop/pasture rotation for farmers in the Islands.
Whether trials concluded
The whether trial was concluded with the last animals slaughtered on Tuesday 27th of January. A total of 159 animals from the original 180 (90 animals per site) were slaughtered. The individual site numbers were 83 (Goose Green) and 76 (Stony Ridge). Prior to slaughter the sheep at Goose Green had an average live-weight of 35.7 kg and an average body fat score (FS) of 1.5. Their average carcass weight was 13.97 kg giving an average dressing percentage of 39%. The sheep at Stony Ridge had an average live-weight of 31.8 kg and FS of 1.3. Their average carcass weight was 12.55 kg giving an average dressing percentage of 39%. More detailed information for both groups will be available in next months Wool Press.
Sale of Falklands wool
The wool industry is depressed worldwide as a result of the Global Economic Crisis. As an exporting country the weak value of the £ to the US$ is helping the market to not be as dire as it could otherwise be. Fluctuations in exchange rate do have a critical effect on price.
The implication of this is that farm incomes will be significantly less. There could also be cash flow issues as wool may take longer to sell. There is no indication of how long this will continue but impacts are obviously cumulative.
Whilst stronger wools have suffered a lower percentage drop, the premium for finer wools is still present and genetic goals should be maintained.
Ironically lower markets become more fickle and it is a time to concentrate on the quality and reputation of Falkland Island wool. It is very white, well prepared, objectively defined, comes from unmulesed sheep and in many cases farms are undergoing organic certification. We will be recommending people hold their nerve on all these issues.
Cattle ET/AI Programme
The department took advantage of geneticist Frans Jooste returning to the Falklands on holiday, where he was willing to carry out a week of embryo transfer work on cattle and some artificial insemination on the same farms. The department had some frozen genetic material left from a previous cattle genetic programme and it was an ideal opportunity to utilise the embryos. A number of farmers responded to an advertisement in the Wool Press and synchronised their cows for insemination. The programme, coordinated by Tony Mills, was concluded successfully during the week of 26 January.
Mac McArthur and his staff are working with farmers who want to supply beef to the abattoir in order to improve their breeding stock and manage their herds successfully to provide a consistently high quality product for the domestic market. Any significant export market is some years away but a solid genetic base needs to be established in preparation for exports.
Permits to burn land in the closed season (16 September – 31 May)
Applications for burning white grass camps have been reducing over the years and those farms that believe the practice is beneficial to their grazing programme have been either burning before the start of the closed season when a permit is not required under the Grass Fires Ordinance or early on in the spring.
This season it has been more problematic for farmers who wanted to burn off trash before planting fodder crops, grasses etc due to the very dry conditions in late November and December. The department works closely with the Chief Fire Officer when approving applications and, due to the dry conditions it became necessary to cease burning in December. This ban on permits inconvenienced some farmers and as a result they have been unable to plant crops.
The guidelines for burning re-seeds have not been reviewed for some years and it has been agreed that a meeting of those involved in permitting and advising on burning activities will be held in March to review the guidelines.
Farmers wanting to grow crops etc have no option than to burn off the trash after working up the ground due to very slow decomposition rates in the Falklands. The DoA wants to assist farmers, however, the practice needs to be very well managed.
Bio-security
The department has been involved with the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project (SAISP) that has been in operation for over a year. The project funded a training course in border and quarantine procedures in November, led by trainer Mr. Bon Ikin and coordinated by the DoA. Customs officers and DoA staff took part. Mr. Ikin is expected to return to the Islands to present a second course in May. He has also offered to undertake some de-risking of fruit and vegetables that are imported into the Islands, that do not cause any threat to the environment. He will undertake this work on a consultancy basis and pass on his knowledge to the agronomist and bio-security officer to enable them to continue the work. It is intended that low risk fruits etc will be permitted into the Islands without the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate. This will be a welcome step for importers.
The DoA has taken a lead role in bio-security in relation to the importation of animal and plant products but has limited resources. The SAISP intend drawing up action plans for the South Atlantic Islands including the Falkland Islands. This is welcome but it is anticipated from interim reports that more resources beyond those available to the DoA and additional legislation will be required to meet the recommendations.
Veterinary Section
Steve Pointing (SVO) and Zoe Luxton (VO) successfully recruited an Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) and Meat Hygiene Inspector (MHI) for the export season starting in early January.
The SVO as the Competent Authority for the export of meat and the licensing of the abattoir, has worked with the manager John Ferguson, to ensure compliance following building work, before the export programme started in early January.
The SVO and DoA staff undertook a review of the reindeer herd on West Falkland in mid-January. His report is an agenda item for this meeting.
The VO, with colleagues, has followed through on the details of a volutary scheme for double tagging cattle and has a comprehensive article on the subject in this month’s Wool Press.
Staff Matters
Agricultural Assistant, Jim Robins, left the department in December and following a review of staff activities, he has not been replaced. This will result in a saving on the salaries budget, however cover for staff leave may be required.
Natalie Finn has joined the Mineral Resources Department and also carries out clerical functions for the DoA.
Laura Ceballos has been employed as OVS for the export season and Nigel Eaton as Meat Hygiene Inspector.
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