Heat stress and feed supplements The summer temperatures have also forced European livestock farmers to focus afresh on the effects of heat stress on stock and the potential role which certain feed supplements might be able to play in helping to combat the production and health problems which often follow when the mercury starts to rise. Also on the feed supplement front, the industry is having to cope


with a reported ‘shortage of sodium bicarbonate’ which is forcing farmers to look for other buffering agents to maintain rumen health this winter.


According to Robert Jones from UFAC-UK, feed manufacturers


and farmers are already struggling to source sodium bicarbonate due to tightening supplies globally. This is due, apparently, to the major UK manufacturer being forced to declare force majeure on sodium bicarbonate contracts as a consequence of the carbon dioxide shortage at a time when supplies were also disrupted in Europe and China. Furthermore, two new production lines which were expected to come into production in Turkey, have been delayed. “It is classic bad timing that the squeezed bicarbonate supplies


have coincided with the difficult forage season,” said Mr Jones. “Many grass silages have high acid loading combined with a low fibre index which will reduce natural buffering of the rumen. Low stocks, meanwhile, may mean forage intakes are reduced, increasing the proportion of cereals in the diet which will put further pressure on rumen health and maintaining an optimal pH.” All in all, therefore, we’re experiencing a difficult time as an industry


with so many challenges arriving all at the same time. Classic bad timing, indeed. On reflection, if you’re a farmer or a feed supplier and you’re


lying on a beach at present, then make the most of it and enjoy the moment. There’s certainly plenty waiting for you to do when you get back to work.


US & EU in harmony At least we can look forward to the autumn with the prospect of greater harmony surrounding trade relations between the EU and the US than seemed likely less than a couple months ago. The late July meeting in Washington between US President,


Donald Trump, and European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, was immediately declared by both as the launch of a new phase in the relationship between the US and the EU. Going even further, they added that the meeting marked a new


phase of ‘close friendship and of strong trade relations in which both of us will win’. All of which means, working together towards zero tariffs, zero


non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods. It also means working to reduce barriers and increase trade in services, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical products, as well as soybeans. Only time will tell if these positive words are as good as they sound. Hopefully they are. The joint EU/US statement certainly drew a prompt and enthusiastic welcome from FEFAC, who described it as a ‘pragmatic approach’ that


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