Dairy
What is happening with ex-farm milk haulage?
We would recommend the following is considered:
- It is important to keep in contact with your milk buyer/haulier to ensure you are clear on any contingency plan they may implement going forward.
- We would ask that you are clear on any liability issues if your milk is not uplifted, i.e. specific buyer protocol, insurance cover etc. This may vary depending on who buys your milk and your specific insurance cover.
- It is important you follow government advice on social distancing when tanker drivers are on farm making collections. Ensuring dedicated hand washing facilities for tanker drivers are well maintained will also be helpful.
For guidance on Milk Recording
https://www.thecis.co.uk/news/coronavirus
Looking for Specific Dairy Help?
The Scottish Dairy Hub is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
www.scottishdairyhub.org.uk
Dairy Producer Guidance for land application of uncollected milk in Scotland
Multi-agency regulatory guidance
Multi-agency guidance has been prepared for Dairy Producers in Scotland whose milk is uncollected during the Covid-19 pandemic and where, unfortunately, disposal by land application at the farm where it was produced becomes necessary. Disposing of milk to land is subject to Animal By-Products legislation enforced by the APHA. SEPA has included pollution prevention measures alongside precautions set out by the APHA. SGRPID has offered advice to farmers on meeting Nitrate Vulnerable Zone requirements.
It has
been identified that the National Emergency for the Coronavirus pandemic
could lead to raw milk remaining uncollected on farms in Scotland and
that this may mean that such milk may require to be disposed of.
If such unfortunate circumstances were to arise, the following guidance is in place:
- It
is vital that milk is not allowed to directly discharge to a surface
water drainage system or watercourse. This is because the presence of
milk will strip out oxygen from the watercourse, seriously impacting its
ecology, including causing fish deaths.
- SEPA, Scottish
Government, SGRPID and APHA have taken the position that raw milk may be
applied to land as an organic fertiliser/soil improver without
processing.
What should I do with my uncollected milk?
In
the case where milk cannot be collected from your farm, and you need to
empty your bulk tank you should take action as follows:
- Drain your bulk tank to the farm slurry storage system.
- The slurry/milk mixture may be applied to land in accordance with GBR18 of the Controlled Activities Regulations.
- If in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, spread within the limits of the action programme and/or farm nutrient management plan.
- The slurry/milk mixture may be applied in a single application at a maximum rate of 30m3/ha.
- No repeat applications to the same parcel of land within three weeks.
- Following land application no livestock are allowed on that land for at least 21 days.
If you are unable to comply with this guidance please contact nationalrural@sepa.org.uk before applying milk to land.
A series of contingency plan documents to help guide stand-in or relief staff in some of the routine, daily tasks.
https://www.fas.scot/livestock/dairy-cattle/employing-people-on-the-dairy-farm/
Animal feed
Are Feed supplies affected?
The
feed industry has experienced a knock-on effect from the closure of
distilleries, mainly caused by staff shortages. These closures are
likely to make draff, and other moist or wet by-products, along with
distillers dark gains harder to source.
Haulage for now is
managing however it is getting harder to source as time goes on. Mainly
due to staff shortages being an issue, but also with the closure of
quarries, sawmills etc. lorries are not getting loads to collection
points or return loads after deliveries which is now pushing up their
rates. This could become a problem for fertiliser delivery.
Actions
to take now are to speak with your feed suppliers and ensure orders are
placed well ahead of time due to both seasonal demand and the
availability of delivery drivers. Forward planning also allows suppliers
to have the best opportunity to source the product required or
alternatives if necessary.
In terms of changing diets, if your
usual diet ingredients are not available, try to transition them
gradually introducing the new feed over 2 weeks. This Feed Advisory
Service (FAS) sheet may also help https://www.fas.scot/downloads/feeding-beef-cattle-sheep-practical-guide/
The
key message from the feed industry is not to panic! Although there has
been a sudden increase in the price of raw materials (soya +£100,
rapeseed meal +£40, distillers +£30, grain +£10-15), the medium to long
term picture is better. The global supply of soya, wheat, maize and
barley looks good which should therefore temper prices. Communication
with shippers and home producers suggest they are continuing to function
as normal.