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Nyhedsbrev nr. 52
Juni 2013
En forsommer med megen og positiv medieomtale
Maj måned har budt på udsædvanligt meget medieomtale af danske landbrugsprojekter i udlandet. Vi har i Danish Farmers Abroad haft rigtig mange henvendelser fra såvel dagspresse
som den landbrugsfaglige presse, hvilket også gælder for flere af foreningens medlemmer.
Det er der kommet en række artikler ud af med store overskrifter, som alle har haft det til fælles, at de har været meget positive.
Det er rigtig gode regnskabsresultater for 2012 i de omtalte selskaber, som har givet den gode
omtale.
Vi ser det i foreningen som en væsentlig opgave at have et godt forhold til pressen og har derfor spillet positivt med ved disse artikler. Det er vort ønske og mål, at den gode omtale også
når frem til danske finasieringskilder, så man her fra vil gå mere positivt ind i medfinansieringen af opbygning samt udbygning af danske landbrugsprojekter i udlandet.
Med ønsket om en god sommer
Venlig hilsen
Erik Jantzen, formand DFA
Aktiviteter i Danish Farmers Abroad:
Medlemskredsen har aktiviteter i 31 lande
Som nævnt af formanden ovenfor har der været meget pressemæssig fokus på danske landbrugsvirksomheder i udlandet.
Ud over stor fokus på selskabernes indtjening, har der også været stor interesse for, hvor stor
en del af den danske landbrugsproduktion, der efterhånden er flyttet udenfor landets grænser,
og hvad der er investeret her.
Vi ved, at DFAs medlemskreds har aktivister i mere end 31 lande med Rumænien, Polen, Slovakiet og Letland som de lande, hvor flest sig. Dette fremgår af nedenstående oversigt.
Danish Farmers Abroad
Nr. Lande med aktivitet
1
Rumænien
2
Polen
3
Slovakiet
4
Letland
5
Rusland
6
Litauen
7
Frankrig
Antal
(aktiviteter)
23
9
9
8
6
4
3
Nr.
17
18
19
20
21
22
Danish Farmers Abroad
Antal
Lande med aktivitet
(aktiviteter)
England
Kina
Ungarn
Bulgarien
Paraguay
Canada
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Australien
Uganda
Ukraine
Brasilien
Argentina
Uruguay
USA
Estland
New Zealand
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Venezuela
Øst Tyskland
Chile
Peru
Panama
Cambodja
Mozambique
Irland
Tjekkiet
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Vi har tidligere her i DFAs medlemsnyt oplyst vores estimat på produktionsomfanget i medlemmernes selskaber. Den omfatter bl.a. 375.000 hektar agerjord, 140.000 årssøer samt 3,9
mio. slagtesvin produceret pr. år – se i øvrigt tallene i medlemsnyt nr. 50.
Vi har estimeret, at den samlede investering i landbrug og landbrugsrelaterede aktiviteter
udenfor Danmarks grænser beløber sig til ca. 24 mia. kr.
Konference i Danish Farmers Abroad
Dato:
Torsdag 20. juni 2013
Sted:
Hotel Pejsegården, Søndergade 112, 8740 Brædstrup
www.pejsegaarden.dk
Emne:
“Hvor bevæger landbrugs- og fødevare produktionen sig hen?”
Program for konferencen:
Kl.
09:15- 9:30
09:30
10:00
11:00
12:10
13:00
14:00
Ankomst og kaffe
Velkomst samt en kort orientering om DFA´s aktiviteter
– herunder bl.a.:
- Studietur til Rusland i oktober
- Opstart af hold 5 af FPM uddannelsen
- ERFA og benchmarking aktiviteter
v. Formand Erik Jantzen
Hvordan sammensættes og struktureres effektivt bestyrelsesarbejde i et
udenlandsk produktions selskab
v. Kasper Svarrer, Maj Invest.- Equity International
Muligheder og udfordringer i landbrugs sektoren i EU's nye medlemsland - Kroatien
v. Kresimir Kuterovac, CEO i Agrokor´s landbrugs division
(Agrokor er Balkans største fødevare producent)
Frokost og networking
Drift af landbrug samt fødevareproduktion i Venezuela før, under og efter
Hugo Chavez
v. Frederik Guldager Madsen, Vice President i Plumrose Latinoamericana
C.A, Venezuela
Alpcot Farming, Russia
- Finansiering, organisering samt drift af 180.000 hektar agerjord i Rusland
2
15:00
15:30
16:30
16:45
med produktion og afsætning af kornafgrøder og oliefrø
v. Jens Peter Aabyen, managing director, Alpcot Russia
Kaffepause og networking
Hvor bevæger fødevareforbrug og -produktion sig hen i de næste 25
år??
v. Henning Otte Hansen, Seniorrådgiver ved Institut for Fødevare- og ressource økonomi --- Production, trade and policy – København
Afslutning
”Get together”
Jyden Bur er vært med en forfriskning og lidt snack ved en lejlighed
Pris for deltagelse inklusiv fortæring 1.300 kr. Faktura fremsendes elektronisk.
Tilmelding til DFA´s sekretariat [email protected] eller +45 2424 2770 senest
Fredag den 12. juni.
Indlederne ved konferencen:
Kasper Svarrer:
Har siden 2009 været ansat som Senior Investment Manager i Maj Invest Equity.
Han varetager selskabets internationale forretningsområde.
Kasper har tidligere været ansat i IFU/ IØ samt Verdensbanken med fokus på investeringer i
udviklingslande henholdsvis Asien.
Han er uddannet Forstkandidat (cand. silv.) og executive MBA fra Henley Business School,
Reading University, UK
Kresimir Kuterovac:
Har siden 2010 været direktør for Agrokors landbrugsproduktion, som består af:
Ca. 32.000 hektar agerjord, 15.000 årssøer, 340.000 slagtesvin pr år, 4.600 malkekøer samt
17.000 stude / kødkvæg pr. år. Der ud over har landbrugssektionen, der beskæftiger 3.200
medarbejdere, en større produktion af vin.
Agrokor er på bare 30 år vokset fra at være en lille familiejet forretning til i dag at være Kroatiens største privatejede virksomhed med mere end 40.000 ansatte og en omsætning på 29
mia. kr. Virksomhedens hovedbeskæftigelse er produktion og salg af fødevarer.
Frederik Guldager Madsen:
Har været ansat i ØK´s Food Division, Plumrose i Venezuela siden 2006. Han har i den mellemliggende periode arbejdet i Plumrosegruppens forskellige afdelinger -- så som svineproduktion, fodermølle, slagteri og forædlingsfabrik.
I perioden 2009-2011 var Frederik ansat i logistikafdelingen med ansvar for specielle projekter
samt ”Inbound and Primary Distributuion”:
Siden 2012 har han været ”Vice President of Strategic Planning” på Plumroses hovedkontor i
Caracas.
Frederik er uddannet HA-IB på Copenhagen Business School og har efterfølgende taget en
MBA fra IMD i Schweiz.
Plumrose er Venezuelas største fødevareproducent med slagteri og forædling samt en landbrugsproduktion med 14.400 årssøer, 2.700 stk. kødkvæg og 5.000 hektar agerjord.
Jens Peter Aabyen:
Har opholdt sig i Rusland i mange år og har som følge heraf stor erfaring og indsigt i finansiering, ledelse og løbende drift af virksomheder i landet.
3
Jens Peter har siden 2009 været adm. direktør for Alpcots russiske landbrugsaktiviteter.
Alpcot ejer og driver i Rusland og Ukraine samlet 250.000 hektar.
Jens Peter Aabyen har i øvrigt en baggrund som advokat.
Henning Otte Hansen:
Er ansat som seniorrådgiver på Institut for Fødevare- og Ressourceøkonomi, der er en del af
Københavns Universitet. Afdelingen forsker blandt andet i de øgede krav til fødevareforsyningen samt det heraf følgende øgede pres på naturens ressourcer.
Henning forsker blandt andet i Agro business økonomi, globalisering og fødevare markedet.
Han er cand. agro. i økonomi, har en Ph.d. i landbrugspolitik og en MSc i ”Commercial Science” fra CBS.
FPM hold 3 afsluttet – vi gør klar til opstart af hold 5
Med et seminar hos Halychyna Zahid i Ukraine den 23.-25. maj afsluttede det tredje hold af
Farm Poroduction Managers deres 1,5 års kursusforløb.
11 deltagere gennemførte hele kurset, der blev afsluttet med, at hver af deltagerne præsenterede sit IIA (Individual Implementation Assignment) for alle kursusdeltagere samt kursus koordinatorerne Povl Nørgaard og Henrik Detlefsen fra JU.
Hver af deltagerne modtager herefter et ”Certificate of Participation” med individuelle kommentarer fra kursus koordinatorerne som et bevis på, at de har deltaget i og gennemført FPM kurset.
Efter afslutningen på kurset har de 11 deltagere enkeltvis evalueret kursusforløbet og kursets
indhold. Som det fremgår af evalueringsskemaet nedenfor, har der generelt været med en
meget stor tilfredshed blandt deltagerne.
Evaluation – sammenskrivning af deltagernes vurderinger
(11 ud af 11 deltagere)
Issue / Paricipant
1
2
3
4
5
Overall rating of this seminar*
5
5
5
5
5
Your overall benefit of FPM
5
4
5
5
4
Your satisfaction with IIA report
5
4
5
5
4
Your satisfaction with your
4
4
5
5
4
presentation of IIA in the class
Your satisfaction with your learn4
4
5
4
4
ing in making the IIA
Your involvement of your superior
in the process of making the IIA
4
4
6
5
4
4
7
5
4
3
8
4
4
9
5
4
5
10
5
4
4
11
5
4
4
4
5
4
5
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
3
4
Relations to fellow students
5
5
5
Excursions at seminar 4
5
4
5
Course Venue
4
4
4
Hotel accomodation /food
4
5
5
1= Poor, 2=average, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=Excellent
*Overall Rating: 4=Above average, 5=Excellent
4
4
4
4
5
4
2
4
4
5
3
4
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
Som nævnt i Medlemsnyt nr. 51 vil vi forsøge at etablere en fortsættende ERFA gruppe for
managers indenfor såvel planteavl som svineproduktion. For at kunne blive 8-10 deltagere pr.
hold, vil vi åbne op for, at der suppleres med deltagere fra tidligere hold eller eventuelt andre af
medlemmernes udenlandske medarbejdere. Der arbejdes p.t. på at finde koordinatorer til dette.
FPM hold 5 forventes startet op til november
Som vi også annoncerede i sidste nummer af medlemsnyt, forventes startet et nyt hold FPMer
til november.
For nærmere oplysninger og tilmelding – kontakt kursus koordinator Povl Nørgaard på
+45 3172 0145 eller [email protected] - eller eventuelt til DFAs sekretariat.
Studietur til Rusland i oktober
Som nævnt på generalforsamlingen i DFA den 17. januar og i Medlemsnyt nr. 51 planlægges
en studietur til Rusland for alle foreningens medlemmer. Turen er planlagt til at løbe af stabelen den 6-12. oktober.
Programmet for turen er tæt på at være færdigt og vil blive udsendt særskilt en af de nærmeste dage. Der henvises derfor til denne udsendelse.
Landenyt:
EU:
Spørgsmål til EU-kravet om løsgående drægtige søer
Jens Rohde stiller spørgsmål til EU-kommissionen
På opfordring har den danske EU parlamentariker Jens Rohde stillet spørgsmål til EU Kommissionen angående den manglende overholdelse af lovkravet om løsgående drægtige søer i
en række medlemslande.
Jens Rohde spurgte endvidere, hvad Kommissionen havde tænkt sig at gøre ved det,
5
Svar fra EU-Kommissionen:
DA
E-003275/2013
Svar afgivet på Kommissionens vegne
af Tonio Borg
(15.5.2013)
For så vidt angår kravet om flokopstaldning af drægtige søer og gylte er der i øjeblikket tolv
medlemsstater, som opfylder kravet. Kommissionen indledte den 21. januar traktatbrudsprocedurer mod følgende medlemsstater: Belgien, Cypern, Danmark, Frankrig, Tyskland,
Grækenland, Irland, Polen og Portugal. For seks medlemsstater er spørgsmålet stadig åbent,
mens Kommissionen vurderer deres sager.
Det er endvidere medlemsstaternes ansvar at iværksætte de nødvendige håndhævelsesforanstaltninger og/eller sanktioner, jf. artikel 54 og 55 i forordning (EF) nr. 882/20041 om
offentlig kontrol, for at rette op på sitiuationen. Sådanne nationale foranstaltninger kan omfatte
delvis lukning af avlssteder samt begrænsning af adgangen til markederne for dyr eller
produkter fra enkelte erhvervsdrivende, som ikke overholder reglerne.
DFAs kommentar:
Som det fremgår af svaret, vil overholdelse af loven blive overladt til de enkelte medlemslande,
hvilket næppe vil komme til at flytte meget i de sydeuropæiske lande.
Bemærkelsesværdigt er det i øvrigt, at Danmark figurerer i gruppen af lovovertrædere - sammen med bl.a. Grækenland og Portugal.
Men tak til Jens Rohde for at tage kampen op.
Polen:
Polen mest attraktiv i Central-/Østeuropa for investorer
For første gang nogensinde har Polen indtaget førstepladsen på ranglisten over mest tiltrækkende for investeringer. 16 lande fra Central- og Østeuropa er på listen, der er udarbejdet af
det polsk-tyske handels- og industrikammer (AHK Polska). Polen opnåede 3,99 point på en 6punkts skala, efterfulgt af Tjekkiet (3,96) og Estland (3,81).
Investorer havde en positiv opfattelse af polske ansattes evner, kvaliteten af universitetsuddannelserne og adgang til kvalificeret arbejdskraft. Bureaukrati og et kompliceret skattesystem
nævnes som Polens største ulemper.
Ifølge Michael Kern, Formand for AHK Polska, skyldes Polens succes landets fortsatte og stabile udvikling over de seneste år.
Næsten 38 pct. af virksomhederne i undersøgelsen planlægger at øge investeringer i Polen i
2013.
6
Kilde:
Polish News Bulletin, 29-05-2013
(Poul Jacob Erikstrup Danish Embassey, Warszwa)
Taiwan accepterer polsk svinekød
Polen vil, som det første EU-land i ti år, eksportere svinekød til Taiwan, da myndighederne her
har tildelt tilladelser til samarbejde til over 20 polske kødforarbejdningsvirksomheder. Beslutningen gælder specifikke virksomheder og producenter. Indtil videre har 21 virksomheder fået
en invitation til samarbejde,, og det tal skal vokse til 23 på længere sigt. Før beslutningen blev
truffet, havde taiwaneserne besøgt polske slagterier.
Polsk-taiwansk handel har en værdi på næsten EUR 1 mia., hvoraf polsk eksport udgør EUR
130 mio.
Kilde: PAP, 28-05-2013
(Poul Jacob Erikstrup Danish Embassey, Warszwa)
Rumænien:
Regeringen foreslår kraftige restriktioner for dem som vil købe landbrugsjord
Den rumænske regering rumsterer stadig med forslag om at pålægge betydelige restriktioner
ved fremtidig køb af landbrugsjord. Det fremgår af en artikel i ”The National Courier Newspaper den 29. maj.
Regeringen er fremkommet med et lovforslag, som har til formål at regulere markedet for jordhandel og begrænse spekulation. Tanken er, at der oprettes et statsligt organ, som skal være
den førende aktør
Ifølge artiklen skal enkeltpersoner ikke kunne købe landbrugsjord, hvis de ikke har en landbrugsmæssig uddannelse eller praktiske erfaringer med landbrug i minimum 5 år. Desuden
skal de landbrugsarealer, som erhverves, ikke kunne videresælges i de første 10 år efter købet. Endelig skal det areal, som kan købes eller lejes, maximeres i størrelse. Den maximale
størrelse på dette ejerskab er ikke i forslag endnu.
Naboer vil få forkøbs- eller ejeret, med mindre den fastsatte max. grænse for landbrugsareal er
nået eller overskredet.
Kilde: The National Corier Newspaper – 29. maj 2013
USA:
Kinesisk selskab erhverver Smithfield Foods
Som det er fremgået af den faglige presse, og som det i øvrigt også vil kunne læses i DFAs
Nyhedsklip, er det kinesiske selskab Shuanghui International i færd med at overtage verdens
største svineproducent, slagteri- og kødforædlingsvirksomheden -- Smithfield Foods, USA.
Dette selskab har alene over 1 mio. årssøer, hvilket altså er på niveau med antallet af søer i
Danmark.
Selskabet har, ud over produktion og forædling i USA, aktiviteter i en række lande.
Vi har bedt vort medlem i USA, Hans Henrik Stein (professor ved University of Illinois) om at
give en kommentar til, hvordan amerikanerne har taget i mod den nyhed.
”Hej DFA Medlemsnyt.
Jeg tror ikke, det får den store indflydelse på kort sigt. Det er forventningen, at kineserne vil
lade Smithfield fortsætte nogenlunde uændret og ikke blande sig i produktionen af grise eller i
slagteridriften. De fleste amerikanere mener, at det er Smithfield, der har den bedste knowhow
7
på begge områder, og at der ikke er så meget, de kan lære af kineserne. Men hvis kineserne
vil importere en større del af Smithfields produkter, så betyder det, at der bliver plads til, at
andre firmaer kan ekspandere og udfylde noget af efterspørgselen.
På længere sigt er det højst tænkeligt, at kineserne vil prøve at overføre den knowhow, som
Smithfield har, til Kina – men det vil formentligt få en større effekt i Kina end i USA.
Jeg medsender en artikel, jeg så i går - den er skrevet af Steve Myer. Han er en meget anerkendt økonom og analytiker i branchen. Han summerer det vist meget godt op”.
(kan læses i vedhæftede Nyhedsklip 52)
Med venlig hilsen
Hans Henrik Stein
Endnu en kvægtur til USA:
Managers studerede large scale management og leadership
Igen i april var “Managers Study tour” i Wisconsin for at studere ledelse, management og stalde. De otte deltagere kom fra Slovakiet, Tyskland og Ukraine.
Deltagerne fortalte, at de fik mange ting med hjem – både indtryk til refleksion og helt konkrete
ideer, der allerede er gennemført.
People first
Når vi gik gennem staldene hos MilkSource, var det tydeligt, at der var en anden stemning end
på så mange andre farme. Direktør for sikkerhed og rekruttering Juan Quezada holdt to workshops for os. Ordet respekt gik igen og igen i hans præsentationer.
 Respekt for folk
 Respekt for dyr
 Respekt for firmaet
 Respekt for samfundet
For fire år siden valgte MilkSource en ny retning. De havde i mange år optimeret på management, dyrevelfærd, stalde osv., men var nået frem til, at fremgangen var stagneret. De skiftede
derfor over til først og fremmest at sætte fokus på mennesker. Respekt for mennesker og at få
mennesker til at vokse på alle niveauer i organisationen. Så steg fremgangen igen.
Det er spændende at få kendskab til deres metoder, og vi valgte derfor at invitere Juan Quezada til Danmark, hvor vi holdt tre møder med ham som indleder.
Malke på mexicansk
Malkerne på farmene også i Wisconsin er primært hispanic. Arbejdet foregår hurtigt og rationelt. Mange danske landmænd har været imponeret over den måde, de sætter fire pattekopper
på en gang. Vi har taget både foto og video, men det er ikke lykkedes at implementere metoden i Danmark.
Da Juan Quezada var i Danmark, havde Christien Bas, Danace arrangeret, at han på tre gårde
skulle lære medarbejderne at malke på mexicansk. Det er ingen hemmelighed, at folkene var
skeptiske, men på bare en ½ time kunne alle gøre det. I løbet af en malkning på 2 timer reducerede de påsætningstiden fra 7 sekunder til 3 sekunder. Samtidig var det mere skånsomt ved
skuldrene, da de ikke holdt sættet så længe. Det gav en kraftig stigning i kapaciteten.
Juan er nu inviteret til Slovakiet, hvor han kommer senere på året for at træne malkerne på en
af de danske farme.
8
Figur 1. Træning og ledelse er også sjovt! Juan Quezada står i midten.
Vi rejser igen til oktober
Der er tusind ting at fortælle, for turene er meget intense og på et meget højt fagligt niveau. Vi
kører dem med meget små hold (8-12) for at holde det faglige niveau højt, og er også altid to
konsulenter med, der har kompetencer indenfor både ledelse, management og stalde. Danish
Farmers Abroad er medarrangør igen. Vi har lavet en hjemmeside, hvor man kan læse mere
om turene www.managersstudytour.com
Af Susanne Pejstrup, Lean Farming.
Samarbejdspartnere søges:
Rumænien:
Nyt projekt til +350 malkekøer og 400 kwh biogas anlæg.
- Firma navn: Agricola Berceni S.R.L.
- 1.200 hektar agerjord
- P.t. 300 malkekøer
- Beliggende 6 km syd for Bukarest ringvejen
- Bygge- og miljøtilladelse er opnået
- EU tilskud på 1,15 mio. EURO er bevilget
- 50 pct. medejerskab tilbydes
Nærmere information kan fås ved henvendelse til John Kongsgaard, Jyden Bur
Tlf.
+45 9748 8324
Mobil
+45 2082 83243,
E-mail
[email protected]
9
NYHEDSKLIP 52
EU:
Wet weather benefits some EU crops but raises concerns for others
Monday June 03 2013
Rains across Europe last week came as a mixed blessing with some member state crops benefitting from a welcome increase in moisture levels, while others had concerns over excess
wetness exacerbated. In the US, wet weather once again slowed the planting of key crops.
Rains increased across France, southern parts of the UK, Germany, Poland, northern Italy and northern Romania last week. While the rains in southern UK and northern Romania were beneficial in improving moisture, the rains in France, Germany, Italy, and Poland
increased wetness concerns.
Additional rains across southern Germany and southern Poland this week will maintain wet
conditions. The continued dry pattern in much of Spain will favour wheat harvesting there.
In the former Soviet Union, showers increased across northern and western Ukraine, Belarusand in the Central Region of Russia last week, which further improved
moisture there for heading wheat. However, dryness does continue across far southern and
eastern Ukraine and the North Caucasus.
Rains this week should further improve moisture in southwestern Volga Valley and will maintain moisture in northern and western Ukraine and Central Region. However, rains will remain
quite limited in the drier areas.
MDA Earthsat Weather has adjusted its estimates for 2013/14 US maize production down
600 000 tonnes from last week to 338.6 million tonnes, due to acreage adjustments, with soyabean output up 120 000t to just shy of 85mt.
The recent rains were back again again last week, further delaying planting of the maize crop,
in particular, which is still running behind the five-year average. Abundant rains early this
week in west central areas of the country should keep planting slow and will increase wetness
concerns. The wetness will maintain good moisture for early growth and germination of the
crops already in the ground, however.
In Canada, rains increased across south central Alberta, far southern Saskatchewan and central Manitoba last week, which improved moisture there for spring wheat early growth. However, dryness continues across northern belt areas. Rains should continue in the same areas this
week and dryness will continue across northern belt areas.
Rains were rather limited across Australia last week with a few scattered showers noted
across western portions of Western Australia and southeastern Queensland. However, rains
should pick up this week across southern Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New
South Wales. The upturn in rains will further improve moisture for winter wheat growth.
In China, showers have increased across North China Plain in the past seven days and also
remained abundant across Yangtze Valley. The rains in North China Plain further eased dryness and improved moisture for maize and soyabean growth.
Rains should favour southern and western Yangtze Valley and western portions of Northeast
China this week, but should return to northwestern North China Plain the following week. Maize and soya conditions should continue to improve.
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Foto: Store oversvømmelse i bl.a. Tjekkiet
The wet weather increased across east central and southern areas of Brazil last week. The
rains improved moisture for safrinha maize growth, but slowed first crop harvesting. Rains
should remain abundant across central areas this week, which will slow first crop maize and
soyabean harvesting, but will further improve moisture for late growth of safrinha corn. However, some wetness may develop across Sao Paulo.
Showers returned to eastern areas of Argentina last week but resulted in only minor harvest
delays for the soyabean crop. Drier weather is expected in the region this week, which will allow harvesting to progress very well.
Showers also increased across central, eastern, and southeastern areas of Mexico, which
improved moisture there for early maize crop growth. Rains in southeastern areas from Tropical Storm Barbara will improve moisture there for germination and early growth, although no
notable damage is expected. Meanwhile, some dryness will linger in far western portions of the
belt.
Source: Agrar Europe
OECD:
Big is better, OECD farm survey finds
Wednesday May 29 2013
An OECD survey of farm economic performance has found that larger output farms tend to be
the best performers although other factors including farmer age and education are also important.
The OECD study, Cross Country Analysis of Farm Economic Performance, found that farm
size is a key driver of high performance for most farm types in most countries with some exceptions.
When examining farm size, the report adds that output scale rather than land area is crucial to
performance.
Output value is particularly important to farm performance in the US, England and Australia,
the report states.
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In the US, the top 25% of farms account for more than half of production value.
Output value was less important in Australia and Estonia, however, where higher levels of
cash expenditure were found to lower farm performance relative to smaller more efficient
farms.
The report adds that the highest performers do not necessarily use more land. "This implies
that high performers generate higher output of land with similar sizes of land and labour input
because of their higher maintenance capacity (eg efficient use of cash input, marketing skills
and so on) rather than large input use. In many types of farms, low performers have a larger
average land size than high performers," the report states.
Source: Agrar Europe
Spain:
Campofrio future uncertain after Smithfield deal
Monday June 03 2013
Spanish meat processor Campofrio has seen its share price rise sharply since last week's announcement that its biggest shareholder Smithfield Foods is to be taken over by China'sShuanghui International.
But Spanish unions say they are concerned by a 'lack of transparency' over the deal, suggesting it could pose a threat to jobs and working conditions.
If the Smithfield Foods takeover is approved by US authorities, its 37% stake in Campofrio
would initially be transferred to Shuanghui.
The Chinese company has not yet indicated what it plans to do with this stake, but one potential outcome would involve a 100% buyout -either by Shuanghui itself or by another of the
world's big meat industry players.
Smithfield itself ditched a bid to take full control of Campofrio in 2011 citing tough economic
conditions in European markets.
Shares in the Spanish firm, one of Europe's largest meat processors, stood at €5.50 on June 3
- some 15% up on the level before the Smithfield/Shuanghui deal was announced.
If it were to end up under the control of Chinese owners, Campofrio could potentially benefit
from new opportunities to export to China's fast growing market for meat products.
Source: Agrar Europe
Croatia:
Gavrilović, Croatia ready to cover the European market
June 3 - 2013
With Croatia estimated to join the European Union in mid-2013, it is interesting to have a look
at what the country has to offer, pig-wise. Well known for its winter salami is the 320 year old
family company Gavrilović. The company is in full speed of development.
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Gavrilović headquarters, with a sausage on its roof, in Petrinja, Croatia.
There is plenty of history in the Gavrilović company. It was 1690 when the first ancestors of the
Gavrilović family came from Bosnia to the area of current-day Petrinja, around 50 km south of
the Croatian capital Zagreb. Daska Domljan, head of communications explains, “The first Gavrilović was a meat trader and the Gavrilović family is among the oldest families doing business
in Europe.” Petrinja at that time was a strategic city, at the border of the Turkish and AustrianHungarian empires. The military forces in place at that time needed to be fed. The first factory
was built in 1821 by Ivan Gavrilović. As it was not possible to find skilled workers in Croatia at
that time, Gavrilović went to Udine in Italy and brought around 50 people to start the company.
These Italian families stayed in the company for generations until 1967, bringing their
knowledge and their know-how in producing winter salami, the flagship product of Gavrilović.
More than 150 products
Gavrilović has a ‘farm-to-fork’ organisation scheme, with production farms and a feed industry
unit. Domljan explains, winter salami has been the company’s flagship product since 1883.
The name ‘winter salami’ is a reminder of times when fridges did not exist and when production could only be made in winter.
Included in the 150 plus products existing in the company’s range, they also count dry-cured
salami, cured salami, pork liver pâtés, cooked sausages and Frankfurters, cooked hams and
so on.
More exports
For the moment, Bosnia and Slovenia are the leading export markets for Gavrilović, says
Stanojević. In Slovenia, the company has 30% of the pâté market.
The goal is to have an agent or an importer in each European country.” He points to markets
such as Germany, Austria and Scandinavia, having large numbers of ethnic Croatians. Last
November, the company received a thumbs up to export again to the European Union.
Source:
Pig Progress
Czech Republic:
Czech Republic: Pig meat production marginally down on year in Jan. to Apr.
2013
June 04, 2013
The Czech national statistics office reports that pig meat production amounted to 78,000 t in
January to April 2013 which is marginally down from the 80,000 t produced in the same period
of last year. Poultry meat production remained unchanged at 47,000 (47,000) t as well as that
of beef at 22,000 (22,000) t.
Source:
Pig Progress
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Russia + Ukraine:
Black Sea farmers shift acreage from sugar to grains
Friday May 31 2013
Russia's plan to be self-sufficient in sugar is facing setbacks as struggling farmers shift towards planting more profitable grains such as wheat. This means increased sugar imports are
likely, much of it from Brazil.
Last year's drought in Russia led many farmers to switch away from sugar, hampering progress towards Moscow's stated aim of producing 80% of domestic consumption.
A decade ago, Russia was the world's biggest raw sugar importer, but has steadily reduced its
requirement.
The ISO expects Russia's net raw sugar imports to reach more than 1m tonnes in 2013/14, up
from net imports of some 700 000 tonnes in 2012/13.
Russia is expected to import no more than 200 000t of duty-free white sugar from Belarus under Customs Union rules in 2012/13. However, analysts said Belarus does not tend to stick to
its annual quota and was likely to supply more than this.
Ukraine shift
Ukrainian farmers, facing huge sugar stocks and low profits in the domestic industry, are also
switching out of sugar sowings into grains, but Ukraine will not require sugar imports.
Ukraine's Farm Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk said last week that white sugar output was likely
to fall to around 1.45mt in 2013 from 2.23mt due to a drop in the planted area, caused by
overproduction in 2011 and 2012.
According to the ministry's data, farms have sown a bit more than 300 000 hectares of sugar
beet this year versus 450 000ha in 2012 and 516 000ha in 2011.
Source:
Black Sea News
Ukraine:
Farmers have finished spring sowing
June 05, 2013
Domestic farmers have finally finished the spring field works. Thus, they have planted 8.189
million hectares. The total area of 2013 harvest is 27.6 million hectares that is 0.4% more than
last year. 16.2 million hectares or 58,8% are under grain, so farmers can expect a high yield. .
This year weather conditions led farmers to carry out sowing in a short time. However, farmers
completed the spring field works in the agro technical terms. As of today, the sowing has been
finished in all regions of the country.
Current condition of crops is mostly good and satisfactory. However, the high temperatures
and lack of rains, especially in the southern regions, have a negative impact on growth and
development of the plants.
Source:
Black Sea News
Rabobank: Russian meat industry to change
June 3 - 2013
Over the last ten years, the Russian meat industry has grown at an extremely fast rate.
However, according to a new report by Rabobank, fundamental changes including lower
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projected domestic consumption growth and Russia’s recently acquired World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership will drive the industry towards a phase of lower growth over
the next ten years.
These developments are likely to compel Russian and international companies with exposure in Russia to alter their strategies. Attractive opportunities for companies exist, but
action is required to capitalise on them. In the coming decade, the industry’s market focus
will shift from volume to value. Rabobank expects value chain models to change and the
importance of achieving improved efficiency to grow.
Source:
Pig Progress
Africa:
Algeria invites foreign farming investment
Friday May 31 2013
Algeria is opening its farm sector to foreign investors in a bid to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on food imports.
Kamel Chadi, chairman of government agency SGP-Proda, said 16 pilot farms schemes focused on grains, vegetables, fruit trees and cattle breeding would be offered to investors, Reutersreported.
"This tender is intended for both Algerian private investors and foreigners," Chadi said.
"The invitation stipulates creating joint ventures for managing and operating farms. The land is
not for sale."
Foreign investors are currently limited to a 49% minority stake in agricultural joint ventures with
food imports accounting for around 20% of an annual US$45 billion (€35bn) import bill.
Algeria's main food imports include wheat, barley, milk and meat due to a lack of domestic
production. Algeria was the world's third largest importer of wheat in 2012 with 6.3 million
tonnes, according to customs data.
The North African country accounts for around one quarter of EU wheat shipments in revenue terms.
Source:
Agrar Europe
Australia:
Robot tractors lead Australian high tech revolution
Wednesday May 29 2013
Australia is aiming to launch driverless robot tractors on its farms as part of a high tech revolution designed to boost the country's global competitiveness.
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Australia sees high-tech innovation as key to increasing efficiency as it targets a 45% hike in
farm exports by 2025 as part of its National Food Plan.
Paul Meibusch, manager of commercial farm technology for the Grains Research and Development Corporation, told ABC News: "If you look at what it costs at the moment to have a
skilled driver sit in that machine day in day out when you probably only want it for eight weeks
of the year, you're paying a lot to get casual labour in to do those jobs, so the savings could be
phenomenal."
The robot tractor revolution looks set to get into full swing in 2014 with US developer Autonomous Tractor Corporation and Germany's Fendt hoping to begin production
Research developments include developing multi-functional tractors capable of complex tasks
such as watering and harvesting crops.
In another development unmanned air vehicles are being developed at the University of Sydneyto use satellite positioning software to allow farmers to map out land and soil to optimise
inputs.
Source:
Agrar Europe
South America:
Brazil:
Tougher forestry rules to boost Brazilian trade with EU
Thursday May 23 2013
Brazilian farmers are now subject to stricter rules designed to ensure long-term sustainability
and avoid destruction of the valuable Amazonian rainforests and Cerrado (savannah lands).
In recent years, livestock farming, soya and grains production and logging have been the main
drivers of illegal clearing of the forests, writes Alan Bullion.
Agricultural production has expanded rapidly over the past 20 years in Brazil, with grains output alone expected to reach a bumper 183 million tonnes in 2013, including 81.5mt of soybeans, 78mt of maize, and 5.14mt of wheat, according to state agency Conab.
Both Brazilian Senators Jorge Viana and Luiz Henrique da Silveira played an instrumental role
in framing and passing the path-breaking legislation last year, formally known as Law
No.12 651.
As a result, this revised law specifies much clearer rules for land use in both urban and rural
areas. Brazilian farmers have long pushed for changes, more particularly since the Rio Summit
on climate change in June 2012, arguing that uncertainty over the legislation has undermined
investment in the agriculture sector, which accounts for more than 5% of domestic GDP.
Some 61% of Brazil's land area is occupied by forestry, equivalent to 519.7 million hectares.
Source:
Agrar Europe
North America:
USA:
World Pork Expo expects 20,000 visitors
June 1 - 2013
Organisers of the upcoming World Pork Expo expect in the region of 20,000 pork producers and industry representatives from 39 countries to attend the trade show.
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The doors of the world’s largest pork-specific trade show will open on the 5 of June until
the 7th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, with over 400 commercial exhibits.
The trade show now celebrating its 25th anniversary will feature 310,000 square feet of
exhibits, an increase on 2012 show.
New this year is the addition of the Agriculture Building to the exhibit space, which will feature the International Visitors Center and the America’s Best Genetics display, as well as a
display of World Pork Expo memorabilia from the past 25 years.
Source:
Pig Progress
Shuanghui International acquires Smithfield Foods
June 1 - 2013
One of the largest pork producers in the US, Smithfield Foods, agreed to be bought for $4.72
(without debt) billion by Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd, China’s biggest meat processor.
This will be the largest Chinese takeover of a US company.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Shuanghui International Holdings Limited announced that they have
entered into a definitive merger agreement that values Smithfield at approximately US$7.1
billion, including the assumption of Smithfield's net debt. With 138.8 million outstanding shares,
the value of the takeover, without debt, is $4.7 billion.
Shuanghui International is the majority shareholder of Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co. which is China's largest meat processing enterprise and China's largest publicly
traded meat products company as measured by market capitalization.
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of
directors of both companies, Shuanghui will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Smithfield
for US$34.00 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of approximately
31% over Smithfield's closing stock price on May 28, 2013, the last trading day prior to today's
announcement.
Source:
Pig Progress
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How will Smithfield Foods Sale Impact the U.S. Pork Industry?
Jun. 3, 2013 By Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics, Inc., Adel, IA
It was quite a shock, first due to its enormity and second due to its surprise. When the largest
company, by far, in any industry sells, it is news. When it sells to a foreign company, it is big
news. When the company is from China, it is really big news. And when word of the transaction is successfully kept under wraps, it qualifies as shocking. All of those descriptions apply to
last week’s news that Smithfield Foods will be purchased by Henan Shuanghui of China.
I’m reasonably well connected, and I know some people who are much better connected in the
finance world than I am, but I haven’t talked to anyone who saw this coming. The rumblings
from Continental Grain, one of Smithfield’s largest stockholders, to break up the company to
capture more value for shareholders, were certainly a pain in the neck for Smithfield management. Most thought that the pressure would cause changes, but sell to a foreign company?
Smithfield’s zeal for removing ractopamine from its company-owned farms has struck me as
odd all spring. Perhaps this explains it. What better way to position the company positively for
a Chinese suitor than to get as much of the product as you can in a position to serve that market?
Now that nearly a week has passed, we can look at this bombshell with a bit more detachment.
The reactions of a few U.S. lawmakers, anti-meat groups and food safety zealots were predictable. After bashing the U.S. meat industry in general and the pork industry in particular,
they now decry that a foreign firm would buy such an “important” U.S. company.
I’m not sure why it is a surprise that someone else might find more value in Smithfield than do
domestic investors given how those same groups have vilified the industry and the company at
every opportunity. These actions and the press coverage that have followed them have negatively impacted animal protein company values for many years, in my opinion. There is an absolutely certain way to prevent foreign companies or investors from buying U.S. companies:
Pay more for them! If anyone wants this company to remain American-owned, gather up your
pennies and put in a bid. My guess is that Smithfield CEO Larry Pope and the other directors
at Smithfield would be glad to talk to you provided you actually have that many pennies!
How will this affect the U.S. pork industry?
First, it changes nothing in terms of industry structure. Smithfield/Henan Shuanghui will have
the exact same market share as did Smithfield Foods. The total market share held by the top
four or top eight firms will be the same after this sale is completed. There will be exactly the
same number of packer buyers in the U.S. market after the sale as there was before the sale.
If you want to argue that that number is too small, you can, but this sale doesn’t change it!
Second, the amount of vertical integration in the U.S. pork industry does not change. There is
simply someone else who owns Smithfield’s sows (970,000 or so) to go along with its eight
packing plants.
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Third, I see no reason that this sale will compromise anything about the U.S. pork industry’s
impeccable food safety record. China’s situation is indeed abysmal, but this merger is not
about bringing Chinese pork to the United States. The purchase does not change the fact that
the United States has a comparative advantage in pork production. Larry Pope’s characterization of Chinese pork to the United States being the same as “shipping ice to Eskimos” is absolutely correct. And the purchase does not change the fact that China has pretty much every
swine disease known to man, including foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever –
two biggies on the list of trade-restricting diseases. We aren’t taking any pork from China that
is not cooked, regardless of a Chinese company owning Smithfield or any other U.S. meat
company. Further, the acquisition is in the United States and will remain here. Smithfield’s operations, even if owned by a Chinese firm, will still be subject to U.S. laws, regulations, inspections, etc.
Fourth, I see no risks to long-term food supply or costs as a result of this merger, provided
laws and regulations do not preclude U.S. pork producers and processors from growing. If all
of Smithfield’s production eventually goes to China, prices will rise and other producers will
capitalize on them by increasing output. The same holds for packers. And should Shuanghui
decide that every Smithfield pig should be exported as a half-carcass instead of value-added
product, other U.S. processors will expand processing to go along with the expanded production in order to supply Americans with the value-added products we want. Pork prices will rise
only if input costs rise as a result of more hogs being raised – and input costs will rise only if
production of inputs like grain, steel and cement do not rise. Bottom line: Let the markets work
and we’ll be fine.
Two Key Questions
There are two legitimate questions: Is it a bad thing that our largest pork company is owned by
a foreign investor? Is it worse since that investor is Chinese? The latter question is probably
politically incorrect, but it is a question nonetheless. The answers to those must be arrived at
collectively as a country. This is really nothing new. Many feared the Arabs were going to own
the country in the ’70s. Same for the Japanese in the ’80s. They actually bought Pebble
Beach!
Cooler heads appear to be prevailing. That’s a good thing. The deal is not done yet, though, as
some other suitors have been rumored. Let’s all take deep breaths and consider the facts, unless, of course, a Chinese company makes a play for Pebble Beach or Augusta National.
Some things are indeed sacred.
Source:
Jun. 3, 2013 - By Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics, Inc., Adel, IA
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Firmamedlemmer:
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