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Conservatives urged to set 'positive farming agenda'
Badger
"We are also urging the Government to make an announcement as soon as possible on further roll-out of badger culling to areas where TB in endemic."

NFU eager to start working with new government

The National Farmers Union (NFU) are calling on the new government to set a 'positive farming agenda'.

The organisation say that they are looking forward to working with the Conservatives to form and put into effect their farming and food manifesto pledges.

The Conservative's manifesto for agriculture sets out a long-term vision for the future of British farming, stating that the party will work with industry to develop a 25-year plan to 'grow more, buy more and sell more British food'.

NFU president, Meurig Raymond, said: “We welcome the fact the election has delivered a stable government and we hope this will mean that crucial farming issues are dealt with rapidly from the outset."

"Central to the new government’s goals will be an ambitious plan for ‘British farming with plans to grow more, buy more and sell more British food at home and abroad’. The NFU and farmers share this ambition. We have already argued strongly that we need such a plan to reverse long- term declines in farming productivity and the nation’s self-sufficiency. So we are eager to begin working as soon as possible with the Secretary of State to begin this task."

The NFU say that the government must also ensure that focus is kept on fixing problems and issues surrounding the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).


“We are also urging the government to make an announcement as soon as possible on further roll-out of badger culling to areas where TB in endemic and to implement the 25-year TB Eradication Strategy in full as quickly as possible," Meurig added.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.