The Human Imprint

Schmallenberg virus spread continues to slow

There are now 256 UK farms reporting SBV: 36 in cattle and 220 in sheep. This is an increase of one farm in cattle and one in sheep. All farms are within the recognized risk counties in England. The decline in the numbers of reporting farms is in line with all EU Member States, where the sheep reports have declined as lambing in ‘at risk’ sheep (those at a critical time of gestation when infection can impact on the foetus) draws to an end. This is also in line with Defra’s own predictions considering UK farming practices and estimated time of infection occurring in the UK. We continue to expect to see cases in cattle into early summer.

Source: AHVLA

Argentina drought leads to 40 percent crop losses

The six-week drought in December 2011 and January 2012 that hit Argentina's crop fields led to losses of up to 40 percent in some areas, according to the country's government. In key corn-growing area Bragado, Buenos Aires province, early-planted fields are being harvested with yields coming in at 2,000 to 5,000 kilos per hectare, said Argentina's weekly crop report. Nearly half of Bragado's 2011–2012 corn has been collected at an average yield of 4,500 kilo per hectare. Some early-planted corn fields in Rio Cuarto, Cordoba province, are so thin that farmers have decided not to harvest them. The province's late-planted corn is developing normally, except in western Rio Cuarto, which was affected by frost in early April. The current total 2011–2012 corn crop estimate is at 20.8 million metric tons, according to the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange.

Source: WattAgNet

Increase in Schmallenberg cases is halting

There are now 249 UK farms reporting SBV: 32 in cattle and 217 in sheep. This is an increase of two farms in cattle and two farms in sheep. All farms are within the recognised risk counties in England.

Source: Defra

New global assessment on soil biodiversity

The Department for Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems at BBSRC-funded Rothamsted Research is launching a new Global Scientific Assessment on Soil Biodiversity as a result of an international meeting organized by the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI in London, England, March 2012).

At the meeting, scientists and policy makers agreed that advances in understanding of the living organisms in soil and what they do for people and society can be used to help manage and sustain soils for the future. These provisions include clean air, pure water, nutrients for crops, sequestration of carbon, and regulation of pests and disease; therefore a Global Soil Biodiversity Assessment (GSBA) will gather data and examples of how soil biodiversity and its services can be measured and will be the core of GSBI's future action plan that will be presented at Rio+20.

Auditors deal setback to EU agricultural reform

The European Court of Auditors today (17 April) dealt a blow to the European Commission’s overhaul of agricultural policies, saying in an opinion that the proposals are “too complex” and expose the EU to possible abuse in its direct payments scheme. Follow the link to read the full article.

Source: Euractiv.com

Solar power in Chile

Check out this article in BBC News

Almost a third of Australian “free range” eggs in breach of industry code

Ausfoodnews reports that almost a third of eggs labelled as “free range” in Australia are produced in conditions that breach the egg industry’s own regulations, according to new figures published by the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL). Follow the link to read more.

Schmallenberg virus: further update on GB testing results

There are now 243 UK farms reporting SBV: 28 in cattle and 215 in sheep. This is an increase of only four farms since before the Easter break. All farms are within the recognised risk counties in England. Follow the link for more details.

Source: AHVLA

Agencies warn poor rains threaten Somalia's recovery

Follow this link to BBC News to find out more on these concerning predictions.

UK donates $25 million to improve agricultural statistics

The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has signed an agreement with FAO to donate £16 million ($25 million) to support an innovative new global partnership that will improve the agricultural statistics available to governments and farmers around the world.

The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics builds capacity of developing countries to produce and use agricultural and rural statistics for more effective food security, sustainable agricultural and rural development policies and helps makes the information available to farmers when and where they need it. 

Source: FAO Media Centre