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Latest news from the beef and lamb industry
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Bluetongue cases continue to rise
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Bluetongue virus (BTV) continues to pose a risk to livestock across GB, and more than 750 cases have been confirmed in England, Wales and Scotland.
Make sure you’re familiar with the clinical signs and if you suspect disease, report it immediately to the APHA. Reporting is a legal requirement and helps support disease surveillance and protect the wider industry.
Vaccination remains an important tool – speak to your vet and order your vaccine sooner rather than later.
Useful links:
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How has bluetongue virus affected your farm?
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We want to better understand how BTV has impacted flocks and herds around the country – whether it's been confirmed in your livestock or not.
We’re also interested to hear your views on vaccinating against BTV so the industry can support and prepare for the disease’s ongoing impact.
Complete the short survey
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Let’s Eat Balanced is back
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Our Let's Eat Balanced consumer marketing campaign is back.
Throughout September, we’ll be reminding millions of consumers that British beef, lamb and dairy are packed with nutrients and high-quality proteins and farmed alongside nature.
The campaign aims to engage Gen Z by building positive views of British farming and connecting the consumers of tomorrow with the people who produce their food.
Look out for our ads on TV, in-store and on social media – where we’ll also be sharing real farmer stories to help build trust and confidence in British food production.
Find out more about our Let’s Eat balanced campaign
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Love Lamb Week – Make it Lamb
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The UK’s red meat industry is once again joining forces for Love Lamb Week, taking place from 1–7 September 2026, to celebrate the farmers, landscapes and food at the heart of lamb production.
Find out how to get involved with Love Lamb Week
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How has this year’s drought affected farming?
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While weather has always influenced farming, this year’s exceptionally dry summer has highlighted just how vulnerable agricultural businesses can be to climate extremes and the need to plan for them.
From crop production and livestock management to fire prevention and disease risks, many farmers are feeling the effects of the drought first-hand.
We’ve looked at some of the issues facing farmers
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How do cattle carcase prices affect supermarket prices, and what does that means for farmers?
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Price changes at the farmgate take a long time to reach the supermarket shelves.
We’ve looked at analysis that measures how long that delay is and how much of the change in retail prices can be linked to changes in carcase price.
Read more on this topic
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Suckler beef: Stronger herds for stronger returns
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Suckler beef plays a part in the future of the UK beef.
Our ‘stronger herds for stronger returns’ campaign brings the industry together to champion suckler beef, share practical knowledge and support farmers in building more sustainable and profitable businesses.
Find an event near you to get involved
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Could you be a GREATsoils case study farmer?
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We're looking for 10 beef and lamb farmers to share their soil journeys over the next 10 months.
We'll follow your goals, soil assessments, decision making, on-farm changes and results, helping bring soil health to life through real farmer experiences.
Interested? Get in touch with katie.evans@ahdb.org.uk for more information and check out our soils resources online.
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Practical support and guidance
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Warm weather impacts the risk of Barber’s pole worm
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Outbreaks of haemonchosis (Barber’s pole worm) have been increasing in recent years in the UK. APHA is warning farmers to be on the lookout for signs of infection in areas with rainfall following the recent heatwaves.
There is little immunity to this parasite in lambs, and immunity in adults can be overwhelmed by a large number of worms.
Learn more about the risk and what to look out for
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Why multi-species swards matter in 2026
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As farmers look for practical ways to improve resilience, interest in multi-species swards and herbal leys continues to grow.
While no grassland system is drought-proof, years of research and on-farm experience suggest that diverse swards can help businesses cope better with increasingly variable weather conditions.
Read more about the benefits of multi-species swards
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Managing grass and livestock after drought
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We’ve got a wealth of information and resources on our website to help you manage different weather conditions.
Explore our weather hub
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50% discount on herbal leys and multi-species swards BASIS course
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Don’t miss your opportunity to get 50% off a new digital training course on herbal leys and multi-species swards.
Boost your confidence in grassland management so you can make informed, commercially sound decisions about introducing and managing diverse swards.
Find out more about the course
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What do you want your soil to deliver?
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Every farm relies on its soil, but when was the last time you asked yourself a simple question: what do I want my soil to deliver for my business?
Through a new series of webinars, events and practical resources, we’ll help you identify what you want your soil to deliver and the steps to take to improve productivity, efficiency and resilience.
Find out more about the series
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Stacking options for SFI 2026
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What’s the economic impact of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) on your farm business?
We’ve calculated the likely effect of stacking SFI actions over a three-year period ahead of the second SFI application window opening in September.
Check out the main findings
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Climate resilience on-farm action planner
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Bluetongue vaccine update
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With bluetongue cases continuing to rise this season, The AG Show team's focus is on South West England, one of the hardest-hit parts of the country, to find out what it's really like on the ground.
We catch up with a Cornish beef, sheep and arable farmer whose livestock have been affected, and hear from a Devon-based vet about just how busy things have been, plus the latest on vaccination efforts.
Listen to (or watch) the podcast
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Love Lamb Week: Bake Off star Mike Wilkins on farming, TV and British lamb
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Autumn's arrived and to mark Love Lamb Week we're catching up with a familiar face from The Great British Bake Off who's flying the flag for British lamb.
Mike Wilkins is a sheep farmer with first-hand experience of what TV can do for farming's image. He explains why shows like Bake Off can help tell farming's story to a much wider audience, and why he's backing the long-running Make It Lamb campaign.
Listen to (or watch) the podcast
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Right start, right carcase, right market – Lamb
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Improve efficiency, reduce losses and increase profitability across your lamb enterprise.
This practical roadshow brings together expertise from animal health, market analysis, genetics and butchery to help you make better decisions from farm to final product.
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Monday
7 Sept 2026
1:00pm–5:00pm
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Somerset
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Multi-species swards – From seed to feed roadshow
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Tuesday 15 Sep 2026 | 10:00am–2:30pm | North Yorkshire
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If you’re thinking of drilling or overseeding a sward but aren’t sure what mix will work best for your livestock system, join our upcoming event and we’ll help you review the options.
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Flock foundations - Early decisions, lasting gains
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Find out how you can apply the findings from our seven-year Challenge Sheep project to improve the performance of your flock at our ‘Flock foundations’ roadshow.
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Tuesday
15 Sep 2026
1:00pm–4:00pm
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Cumbria
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Your soil, your business, your goals
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Tuesday 27 Oct 2026 | 7:00pm | Online
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Learn how soil function supports business performance and decide how you want it to deliver for your business.
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