THE British Free Range Egg Producers’ Association (BFREPA) is to host a series of meetings across the UK to discuss challenges such as avian influenza, egg prices and production costs.

Contract reform, production cost data, and avian influenza will be the main topics tackled at the meetings, which take place from January to March.

See also: Noble Foods joins water stewardship programme

Bfrepa chief executive Robert Gooch said the meetings aim to bring the industry closer together in a bid to find ways in which the “dire situation farmers are facing” could be overcome.

“The turmoil experienced by the free-range egg industry last year highlighted how important robust contracts and access to accurate data really are,” said Mr Gooch.

“An understanding of the costs of production is more essential than ever before and should be the basis upon which new agreements with packers should be signed.

Risks and rewards

“We will be sharing our data and asking for feedback on how it can be improved to help farmers understand the risks and rewards.”

The BFREPA costings, compiled independently by ADAS, are increasingly being used by government, retailers and packers in monitoring the egg supply chain and in developing improved egg supply agreements.

“ADAS will present how it calculates these monthly figures and debate with members how they can be improved,” said Mr Gooch.

“Additionally, I will update members on Defra’s informal review of contracts in the egg supply chain and recent progress on improving producer contracts.

Egg supply agreements

“With the launch of a ‘bed and breakfast’ contract from one packer and more looking at cost of production contracts, BFREPA would like to hear from members on their preferred types of egg supply agreements.”

Information on bird flu and over-stickering will also be presented and discussed at the meetings, where all egg producers will be welcome.

“Those egg producers who aren’t BFREPA members can find out more about the organisation, and why they should consider joining – as an organisation, more members means an even stronger force for lobbying and industry support in the future,” added Mr Gooch.

Meeting dates and venues 

All meetings start at 6 pm with tea/coffee and sandwiches provided.

Region: East Anglia

Date: 26 January

Time: 6 pm

 Chair: Trevor Sellers

 Venue: Park Hotel, 29 Denmark Street, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4LE 

 Tel: 01379 642244

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: South East

Date: 1 February 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: Martin Humphrey

 Venue: South of England Event Centre, Selsfield Rd, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TL 

 Tel: 01444 892 048

Registration Link: Click here

Region: South West

Date: 2 February 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: Exeter Golf and Country Club, Countess Wear, Exeter, EX2 7AE

 Tel: 01392 873328

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: West Midlands

Date: 7 February 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

Venue: Albright Hussey Manor Hotel,. Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF

 Tel: 01939 290571

Registration Link: Click here

Region: East Midlands 

 Date: 16 February

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: Best Western Plus Bentley Hotel, Newark Rd, South Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 9NH 

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: North West 

 Date: 22 February 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: Westmoreland Showground, Lane Farm, Milnthorpe, LA7 7NH 

 Tel: 015395 67804

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: North East

Date: 23 February 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: Scotch Corner Hotel, Darlington, Richmond, DL10 6NR

 Tel: 01748 850900

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: Wales 

 Date: 2 March 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

Venue: Metropole, Llandindrod Wells, Ld1 5DY

 Tel: 01597 828 539

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: Scotland (south)

 Date: 8 March 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: The Lodge at Carfraemill, Lauder, TD2 6RA

 Tel: 01578 750750

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: Scotland (north)  

Date: 9 March 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, AB51 5XZ 

 Tel: 01467 623867

 Registration Link: Click here

Region: N Ireland

 Date: 15 March 

 Time: 6 pm

 Chair: James Baxter

 Venue: TBC 

 Registration Link: Click here