ENGLAND is at the forefront of a recovery in the sheep breeding flock.

It has expanded by more than two per cent on the year to 16.43 million head, according to Defra's December survey.

In fact, nearly the entire post -FMD recovery in the active breeding flock was in England, which last year accounted for 43pc of the total UK sheep population.

While the active ewe breeding population rose by 6.5pc on the year, the total number of ewe lamb retentions from the 2002 crop was up a massive 30pc.

That figure undoubtedly contains animals which would otherwise have entered the slaughter chain.

The annual census figures are broadly in line with the MLC's forecast, together with its prediction for a substantial number of ewe lambs to have been retained but not put to the ram for breeding purposes, said Jane Connor, the MLC's senior economic analyst.

The UK-wide figure for ewe lamb retentions was 3.57 million, an increase of 9.8pc on the year.

In Wales where FMD led to an eight per cent reduction in flock size, there was virtually no growth in breeding sheep numbers last year. Ewe lamb retentions were also down.

A similar scenario emerged in Scotland where there was in fact a small reduction in the breeding sheep population.

Both in Wales and Scotland the trend in declining numbers had become well established prior to FMD.

The breeding flock in Northern Ireland, which was largely unaffected by FMD, continued its five year downward trend falling by another four per cent.

Ewe lamb retentions were high, however the majority of these animals were held and remain barren.

The high level of ewe lamb retentions in both England and Northern Ireland does not necessarily reflect a future substantial rise in the active sheep breeding population.

Producers were keen to have sufficient females to cover their quota rights for the 2003 SAP application and a large number of these ewe lambs have yet to enter the breeding flock.

The overall trend will not be confirmed until after the autumn sales when producers should indicate their full intentions either way.

Dairies merger announced

EXPRESS Dairies yesterday announced its intention to merge with Arla Foods, part of Europe's largest farmer-owned co-operative.

The merger is conditional upon Express Dairies shareholder approval and certain regulatory consents.

Arla Foods UK Ltd would instantly become a UK market leader in milk and cream. It would also aim to be a major supplier of speciality cheese and flavoured milk alongside butter, spreads and margarine.

Arla Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arla amba which is owned by 13,600 farmers.

It supplies fresh milk and dairy products including Lurpak butter. It also distributes Anchor butter.

The merger is expected to result in significant cost savings and improved operational efficiencies.

Sir David Naish, chairman of Express Dairies, said the merger would benefit shareholders, milk producers, employees, customers and consumers.

Agronomy

seminars

Farmers from across Yorkshire and the North East will come together in three open seminars next week hosted by agronomy companies BCS Agriculture, Fieldcare (North) Limited and May and Dawson Crop Protection.

In an unprecedented bid to continue to promote the industry-wide Voluntary Initiative, the seminars will complement the series of highly successful winter sprayer operator workshops, that provided in-depth training on LERAP's and avoiding spray drift to more than 200 sprayer operators.

The seminars are at Scotch Corner Hotel on Thursday at 10am; the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Skelton near York, at 7pm the same day; and at Driffield Rugby Club on Friday, April 4, at 10am. Further information is available on 01845 578668.

CAP reform

REJUVENATE holds a meeting on the mid-term CAP reforms in The Pantry, Hawes, on Monday, March 31, at 7.45pm.

New option

HEAVY duty tines are now available as an option with the full range of front-mounted cultivation machines made by Flexi-coil of Seaton Ross, York