Kategorie: News

Ireland had in June 2021 a number of 1604500 dairy cows which was 36800 head or 2.4 percent more than one year before.

The Irish dairy cooperative Lakeland stops accepting new milk suppliers in 2023 and later. To bring the milk supply more in balance with the processing capacity, Lakeland introduces in 2023 a penalty payment during the months April, May and June of 4 eurocent per litre on the volume of milk that is produced more than in 2021. However: for extra milk supplied in January 2023 compared to January 2022 the dairy will pay a bonus of 4 eurocent per litre.

In Ireland a group of experts that has to advise the government about how to attack climate change advices among others a reduction of the use of chemical nitrogen by 35 percent, on pastures the substitution of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) with protected urea, the use of low emission slurry spreading and the use of clover in pastures, all by the end of 2025 .

In Finland the dairy cooperative Valio and the private meat and food company Atria have during 12 weeks with 400 cows at three different dairy farms tested the Bovaer feed additive that is aimed to reduce methane emissions from cows by around 30 percent. During the pilot period, the cows’ milk production remained normal and no changes were detected in the composition of the milk. Nor was anything unusual detected in the cows’ behaviour and welfare. Based on the results of the pilot, the additive can be safely added to the cow feed, according to Valio.

Finland’s largest dairy cooperative Valio and the energy company St1 have set up a joint venture to produce renewable biogas from dairy manure and agricultural by-products as a transport fuel. Joint venture, called Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, is planning to build Finland’s largest biogas and liquefaction plant in Northern Savonia.

Finland is now officially free from cattle disease BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea). The EU Commission has officially granted Finland the status of a BVD-free country with an amendment to the regulation dated 17 February 2022. In addition to Finland, Sweden and Austria were recognized as BVD-free, as were some parts of Germany.

In Finland in 2021 was 80 percent of the dairy cows and almost 80 percent of the dairy farms was in milk recording. Three percent of the milk recorded cows belong to organic herds. Average herd size was 53,3 cows, which was 2,8 cows more than year 2020. Average milk yield per cow was 10704 kg ECM (energy corrected milk).

In Norway the dairy cooperative Tine has opened a modernized cheese plant from which cheese will be exported to South Korea.

In Switzerland the private dairies Emmi and Nestlé together with the dairy cooperative Aaremilch and the Central Switzerland Milk Producers Cooperative (ZMP), four major players in the Swiss dairy industry, have launched the “KlimaStaR Milk” resource project. This to gain scientifically based insights, in order to make the Swiss dairy industry more competitive and sustainable with respect to climate protection and resource efficiency. Around 300 farms are to be involved in the project and supported by research and milk processors. With a tailored mix of measures, the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural milk production by 20 percent on average. “KlimaStaR Milk” aims to create a common basis for a more sustainable, resource-saving and land-appropriate Swiss dairy industry and thus position it for long-term success.

The European Union housed in December 2021 a number of 20.22 million dairy cows which was 317000 or 3.4 percent less than one year before. Main decrease had France with 2.5 percent to a total of 3.32 million cows, followed by Germany with a decrease of 2.3 percent to a total number of 3.83 million cows. In Poland the number of dairy cows decreased 90.500 head or 4.2 percent to a total number of 2.04 million cows. On the other hand: in Ireland the number of dairy cows increased 3.4 percent to a total number of 1.51 million head. A small increase in dairy cow numbers had the Czech republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Austria.

In France, the discounter Aldi has made an agreement about a guaranteed farmers price for organic milk with the private dairy Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel (LSDH) and the dairy cooperative Herbauges of 49.2 eurocent per litre that with bonuses can increase to 50.7 eurocent per litre during a three year period. According to Aldi in its 1300 French supermarkets it sells only milk of French origin.

Austria had ultimo 2021 a number of 23868 milk supplying dairy farms. This was 777 farms or three percent less than in 2020. Ten years ago Austria had still 36460 milk supplying farms 12592 or 35 percent more than ultimo 2021.

In Austria the dairy cooperatives SalzburgMilch GmbH and Gmundner Molkerei have started negotiations about a possible cooperation. A possible merger would make the new dairy the second largest milk processor in Austria.

In Germany in February compared to January 2022 the raw material or compound value of milk at farm increased 2.0 eurocent to 56.3 eurocent per kilogram milk with 4.0 percent fat and 3.4 percent protein (exclusive VAT). This is 23.4 eurocent more than in the same month one year before. The highest future price of milk for the next 18 months on the Kieler Börsenmilchwert European Energy Exchange is the price for May 2022 at 63.7 eurocent. The lowest future price is the price for September 2023 at 57.8 eurocent.

In Germany the southern state Bavaria has increased the subvention for converting tied barns to a loose house housing system for cows from 30 to 40 percent of the investment.

The Germany headquartered European Energy Exchange (EEX) that offers among others trading in agricultural futures has agreed a strategic partnership with New Zealand’s dairy cooperative Fonterra and New Zealand’s Exchange (NZX) to each take one third ownership stakes in Global Dairy Trade (GDT).

A German start-up company is no longer allowed to use the made-up word „Milck“ to advertise its alternative milk products made from hemp seeds. The advertising is anti-competitive and violates the protection of designations for dairy products in the EU, according to a court.

In the Belgian northern part Flanders, the main dairy part of Belgium, dairy farmers can get a subsidy from the government when they feed methane reducing feed.

Belgian dairy farms must reduce their ammonia emissions by 24 percent by 2030. Half of the effort should be achieved by early 2026. Farms with high emissions close to vulnerable nature areas can be obliged to stop farming and can be bought out by the government.

In Holland, research by Wageningen University & Research shows that the volume of methane that cows produce when digesting grass silage is determined by the proportion of cell walls or NDF (neutral detergent fibre). The more NDF the higher the emission. With maize silages also the starch content is important. The less starch the lower the emission.