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Agribusiness News February 2025
Posted: Friday, 31 January 2025
Welcome to the February edition of Agribusiness News. If you prefer to download this document click the download button.
N e w s i n b r i e f
In she blows…
2025 has not come in quietly so far both weatherwise, politically and economically. We have already seen extreme weather events in the form of snow and wind causing disruptions and challenging conditions for outwintered livestock. Politically, while a cease fire has been negotiated between Gaza and Israel; the war in Ukraine continues ongoing market disruption in the cereal and oilseed sectors.
Across the pond, the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has already made waves, as he starts to make good on his election promise to bring rapid and sweeping changes including signing an executive order to seek to withdraw from the World Health Organisation and the Paris Climate Agreement. The US is responsible for ~ 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the second biggest polluter behind China. While he hopes to have a positive impact on bringing the war in the Ukraine to an end, he has plans to stage his own coup with the planned renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, the desire to take over the Panama canal and to make Canada the 51st State of America and Greenland the 52nd State.
Economically, while 2025 started off with UK Government borrowing at a four year record of £17.8 bn (£10.1bn more than in December 2023) piling more pressure on the UK’s finances; the inflation rate dropped by 0.1% to 2.5% giving fresh hope of a cut in the bank base rate.
In this month’s edition, our Policy article highlights that for some Scottish farmers and crofters, Big Brother will be watching you with the introduction of the Area Monitoring pilot in four areas across Scotland and our Management Matters article looks at how Whole Farm Plans will affect landlords who claim BPS.
While this month’s Cereal update looks at market bears and bulls; our Sector focus articles are just talking bull and everything porcine. And finally, our input and pig articles highlight the benefits of co-operating from farm to fork and our milk article highlights the preventative health benefits from drinking milk.
Next Month
- An update from Down Under
- Wills and Power of Attorney
This month’s editor – Christine Beaton
Key Economic Data
