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Bluetongue virus – what you need to know
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Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) has been identified in Norfolk and Suffolk. Bluetongue is a viral disease of ruminants transmitted by biting midges; it can have a devastating impact on livestock. It does not represent a risk to human health; however, it is a notifiable animal disease.
Find out more about bluetongue virus, including signs to look out for
Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been classified as Restricted Zones. Farms with land within this zone, or straddling the boundary, are classified as being within the Restricted Zone. Movement of animals from within the restricted zone is tightly controlled. Please only move animals when necessary.
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Check the interactive bluetongue virus map
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Be prepared – should your farm require an investigation, you will be required to provide details of all recent animal movements. The quicker you can provide these, the quicker any investigation can be concluded, which is in the interest of our national herd and flock.
Please remain vigilant and, as a legal requirement, report any suspicious signs of the disease in livestock to Defra promptly.
Join our webinar at 3pm today (Wednesday 4 September) for an update on the latest situation.
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Register for the bluetongue webinar
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If you have questions and would like to speak to someone about bluetongue, call the AHDB hotline on 024 7771 0386.
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BBC Two’s ‘Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers and Me’
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We are disappointed that despite speaking to the programme makers to share concerns about a number of inaccuracies in the preview version we had seen, the BBC’s recent documentary was still missing key evidence that would have helped to inform viewers on the facts about bovine TB.
Read our response to the programme
We have also released a statement following the Government's announcement that it intends to end badger culling and replace it with a new bovine TB eradication strategy.
Read our statement
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Sector council ratification vote 2024
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We are asking levy payers to vote to ratify new members for our Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy, and Pork Sector Councils.
This vote is for levy payers to be able to agree, or not, on the appointment of these new sector council members. Any candidate who does not receive majority support will not be appointed.
Register to vote, or check your details are correct, by visiting our Preference Centre. Registration closes on 4 October, while voting will take place online from 21 October to 1 November.
Read more
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Laser focus on levy payers as new AHDB leadership team takes shape
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A fresh approach to AHDB's leadership structure with a "laser focus" on levy payers is taking shape with the appointment of two new Sector Directors.
The appointments mean the Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sectors now all have representatives at an executive level in CEO Graham Wilkinson’s newly formed team.
Read more
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Let’s Eat Balanced marketing campaign returns
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Our consumer marketing campaign promoting a balanced diet that includes lean meat and dairy has returned.
The campaign will champion the naturally delicious taste and flavours of British meat and dairy, highlighting their nutritional benefits, such as protein and vitamin B12 when consumed as part of a balanced diet. It will also promote the environmentally friendlier practices of some British farmers, showing their dedication to producing food of world-class standard.
The campaign is running throughout September and includes collaborations with influential personalities such manager, conservationist and author Jake Fiennes.
Find out how you can get involved and help share the message
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Educating tomorrow’s consumers is crucial for the long-term sustainability of our food and farming industry. Our levy-funded education work increases children's understanding of where their food comes from and builds their confidence in cooking and knowledge of nutrition.
We’ve partnered with the Food Teachers Centre and its campaign TeachFood to promote teaching food in English secondary schools. The campaign aims to recruit new teachers as well as retain existing staff. We’ll be promoting TeachFood via our social media channels each month.
Learn more about our education work
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Baselining: Driving change through accurate on-farm environmental data
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We are addressing the intense pressure faced by farmers to deliver on environmental targets through our baselining pilot. The first stage of the on-farm work will start in November, and those selected will gain a full understanding of their individual farm’s environmental performance.
We had a great response to the launch, receiving 509 expressions of interest to take part in the project, of which 296 have beef cattle and 245 lamb.
Learn more about the project and next steps
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Join the Crop Nutrient Management Partnership
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We're looking for farmer members to join the steering groups and technical working groups of the Nutrient Management Guide (RB209).
Do you have a passion for nutrient management and the evidence that underpins it? If so, you might like to consider joining one of our nutrient management partnership groups:
Applications must be submitted by 30 September.
Find out more about the opportunities to get involved
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Practical support and guidance
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Guidance for sheep farmers faced with enzootic abortion (EAE) vaccine supply issues
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Production issues affecting the supply of two of the three enzootic abortion (EAE) vaccines this year are likely to significantly impact farmers and flocks who rely on these vaccines to control disease.
To minimise the potential impact, farmers are encouraged to explore with their vet alternative means of safeguarding the health of their flocks. This includes risk assessing the most appropriate option for individual farm circumstances and implementing robust biosecurity measures, including keeping pregnant ewes from different sources separate until after lambing wherever possible.
Enzovax® (MSD Animal Health UK Ltd) and Cevac® Chlamydia (Ceva Animal Health Ltd) are both unavailable this year. The Inmeva (Hipra) vaccine, may be an appropriate alternative for some flocks but the administration of this vaccine differs as it requires three doses of the vaccine. An initial dose at least five-weeks pre-tupping, a second dose three-weeks later, plus a single booster within one year of the initial dose.
Practical guidance on what you can do if you are affected by the vaccine supply disruption has been provided by The Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS) and Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG).
Vaccine supply issues impact all our sectors and can increase antibiotic use. We are working with other organisations to take a cross-sector approach to achieving long-term solutions. Supply issues and concerns have been raised with the Chief Veterinary Officer.
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Discuss the Undiscussabull™
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Most farming businesses know they need to talk about tough issues; they just don’t know how or where to get started. Join our Roots to Resilience workshops next month to discover 10 tools that will help you address the communication issues affecting your farm.
Find out more about the events
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Herbal leys trial opens doors to investment opportunities
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Tenant farmers Justine and Graham Worsey aim to reduce costs and maintain production by offering investment into their herd for one of their team and putting their entire grazing platform into the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) SAM3 herbal leys option.
Read about the trial and results to date
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Breeding decisions: More than just choosing a breed
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If you’re choosing your next bull by just his breed or looks, you’re missing out on a lot of information.
We have just published the latest results from our National Beef Evaluations (NBEs) and, for the first time, results for all beef breeds will be comparable. This means you can now compare the genetic potential of an Angus bull with a Charolais, enabling you to select the best bull for your system, rather than needing to choose a breed first.
Read more
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Selecting the most profitable terminal sire
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Despite the importance often placed on the look of a ram, the only influence it has upon the performance of its progeny is through its genes.
It is vital that commercial buyers assess the genetic merit of the sires they intend to buy. This is easier said than done because so many factors influence an animal’s appearance – including its age, whether it was reared as a single or twin and, most importantly, the amount it was fed.
Find out how you can select the most profitable terminal sire
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Do you know how to find a performance-recorded flock near you? Signet's Flock Finder Service can help you locate your nearest flocks and rank them by Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).
Explore the Flock Finder service
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Tick-borne disease survey
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Are you a livestock farmer or vet? If so, we’d appreciate it if you could spare 10–15 minutes to complete an online survey or interview that will help develop tailored interventions and future policy on tick control.
This Defra–UKRI-funded project aims to understand and reduce the impact of tick-borne diseases in UK farmland. The research is focused on the following priority diseases, which are transmitted by the sheep or deer tick:
Complete the farmer survey
Complete the vet survey
Take part in an interview
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Have your say on lamb production, husbandry and management methods
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The NFU wants to hear about your lamb production and husbandry management methods to help inform discussions with the Government on potential new restrictions.
The findings from their farmer survey will provide the NFU with a comprehensive understanding of practices within the sector and the necessary information and data to highlight the detrimental impact of introducing restrictions on these routine management procedures.
Complete the survey by 26 September
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Agonomics with David and Jack
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In this podcast, AHDB economists David Eudall and Jack Watts examine the stories behind the numbers from the world of agriculture.
As agri-food markets become more uncertain, driven by changing weather, geopolitics, energy costs and changing consumer demands, David and Jack track the latest trends and explain what it all means for levy payers and what impact it has on consumers.
Listen to Agonomics with David and Jack
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NSA South East Region Field Day – Sittingbourne
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At this meeting on Wednesday 18 September, we will discuss grazing systems and the best welfare practices for your flock; it will be followed by networking and a barbecue.
Find out more and register
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Youngstock and beef grazing
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Join AHDB and AF Group on Thursday 19 September as we discuss how Dillington Farms can better manage the grazing of dairy youngstock and beef within their mixed farming system.
Find out more and register
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Talking Leaders: Sexy soils
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Prepare for an enlightening chat about sustainable soil management and agricultural innovation as we're joined by Victor Campos. During this broadcast on Friday 20 September, we'll be delving into Victor's journey from agricultural engineering to spearheading soil health initiatives.
Register for the webinar
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Right carcase – right market
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Join us, Carr's Billington and Farm Gate Vets on Monday 30 September to find out how to make better decisions on how, when and where to market your stock for the best returns available and achieve more in-specification animals.
Find out more and book your place
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Bluetongue virus – October update
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During this webinar on Wednesday 2 October, experts will discuss the latest updates regarding bluetongue virus.
Register for the webinar
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Retail and Consumer Insight conference 2024
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Get the latest on key consumer and retail trends and their impact on farmers, processors and the wider industry at our conference on Thursday 17 October.
Hosted by our Retail and Consumer Insight team, the morning will explore four themes: consumer trust in food and farming, in-home eating habits, insight into action, and reinventing retail, while the afternoon sessions will bring key trends in the meat and dairy sectors to life.
Find out more and book your place
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Roots to Resilience: Discuss the Undiscussabull™
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In many farm kitchens there’s a bull in the middle of the room – what Elaine Froese, a farm family coach, has termed as the “Undiscussabull” – the thing no one is willing to talk about.
Next month, Elaine is coming to the UK to facilitate a series of regional workshops around communication and planning transitions for farming businesses. She’ll share simple, practical and actionable tools to help your team work together in harmony.
When and where:
21 October, Carlisle
23 October, Harrogate
25 October, Telford
28 October, Huntingdon
30 October, Exeter
Find out more about the events and book your place today
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