Evidence of GMO harm in pig study GM-fed females had on average a 25% heavier uterus than non-GM-fed females, a possible indicator of disease that requires further investigation. Also, the level of severe inflammation in stomachs was markedly higher in pigs fed on the GM diet. The research results were striking and statistically significant. Blowfly report A new survey amongst the UK and Ireland’s sheep producing community has highlighted the blowfly strike season could be getting longer.   This, on top of the high liver fluke challenge, schmallenberg and extremely bad weather conditions, adds to the list of serious welfare and productivity issues facing sheep farmers today, for these reasons, Novartis has brought together some of the leading experts in flock health to discuss the key issues around blowfly control and what can be done to better manage the condition. Poultry Highlights Poultry Highlights is written by the NFU Poultry Team on a  weekly basis. Please remember to quote the NFU as the source of the information if this email is forwarded on. Poultry Business Bulletin Market  intelligence this week, has indicated that the egg market has firmed up a touch. This is down to the early flock depletions which have been undertaken as a result of oversupply within the market. The Sepra report predicts that prices will be moving up shortly. China (the largest importer of soyabeans) experienced a contraction in its manufacturing sector in May, the first time since October 2012, which could have implications for longterm soyabean demand. US soyabean planting progress remains behind average but given good conditions farmers are able to plant quickly and so the delays are not yet significant for the market. Rabobank Poultry Quarterly 2013 Q2 A new report from Rabobank finds that the positive outlook for the global poultry industry is highly dependent on the continuation of several trends. These include a balance in local supply and demand, falling feed costs and ongoing high prices for competitive meats, such as pork and beef. Key wildcards for the rest of the year will be global trade developments (which were very weak in Q1 2013) and the impact of avian influenza virus H7N9 (bird flu) on the Chinese poultry industry. EFSA assesses risks to bees from fipronil The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to perform a risk assessment for the active substance fipronil and provide conclusions as regards the risk to bees. In this context the conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the risk assessment for bees for the active substance fipronil are reported. The context of the evaluation was that required by the European Commission in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 to review the approval of active substances in light of new scientific and technical knowledge and monitoring data. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the currently authorised uses of fipronil applied on a variety of crops in Europe. The reliable endpoints concluded as being appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, derived from the submitted studies and scientific publications including data available at EU and national level, are presented. Missing information identified as being required to allow for a complete risk assessment is listed. Concerns are identified. BASF announces investments for Asia Pacific Today BASF’s Crop Protection division presented its solutions for the future of food availability and quality of life in Asia Pacific. BASF aims to address these challenges by introducing new technologies, broadening farmer education and co-creation initiatives, increasing investments in production capacity and R&D as well as collaborating with food value chain partners. These initiatives will enable BASF to support growers in Asia Pacific more efficiently and broadly. SEPRA Market Report - 10th May 2013 SEPRA Market Report - 10th May 2013 Chesterton Humberts Landplan In my introduction to the last edition of Landplan, I wrote about the impact of the disastrous 2012 harvest and the effects that the wet summer had had on the industry following two years of previously good results. Sadly, since that time the position has only got worse. SEPRA Market Report for 26th April 2013 SEPRA Market Report for 26th April 2013