Author Posts: Sarah Kidby

As the UK marks its first tumultuous year outside of the EU, Farmers Guide reflects on the current situation – the outstanding threats, opportunities and what the future may hold for British farmers as a result.

A number of farming organisations have called on the government to support British farmers in 2022 after a year of extraordinary challenges.

New cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in Lincolnshire, Cumbria and Berkshire so far this month, as well as a number of new confirmed cases over Christmas and New Year.

As recent research suggests lameness-related issues and endemic infectious disease continue to be the key factors affecting production efficiency on cattle and sheep farms, livestock editor Sarah Kidby spoke to farm vets for their views on health trends from 2021, and advice for the coming year.

Last year, Adrian Bland of Ninezergh Farm began taking steps to tackle increasingly high somatic cell counts in his 120-cow milking herd. Just over a year on, he took part in a recent AHDB webinar to explain the farm’s progress.

Thousands of people turned out to support the tour, which aimed to bring the farming community together and raise money for Garden House Hospice Care in Letchworth.

The UK is facing its most significant avian influenza risk to date.

The LAMMA Show has confirmed it will move its dates from 11-12th January to 4-5th May in response to the escalating Omicron situation.

A grant is available for award-winning ozone disinfection technology that promises to offer a safer, more effective and more environmentally friendly solution – with benefits for milk quality, mastitis rates and money-saving.

UK farming organisations have hit out at the deal, claiming there is “extremely little” to benefit British farmers.

The AHDB board has said it is ‘no longer appropriate’ to continue providing annual seed corn funding now that Red Tractor is financially established and self-sustaining.

With the highest septoria resistance rating for a milling wheat, Mayflower shows serious promise, says independent seed breeder Elsoms Seeds.