The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has shortlisted three veterinary professionals for the 2023 BVA Young Vet of the Year Award.

Early career vets Rebecca Hampson, Henry Lamb and Camilla Church are all competing for the Zoetis-sponsored award, which celebrates vets in the first stages of their professional career making a significant impact.

The winner of the BVA Young Vet of the Year Award for 2023 will be announced on November 16, 2023, at the association’s Gala Dinner which takes place during London Vet Show.

They will receive a prize package which includes £1,000, a year’s free BVA membership, a mentoring/engagement opportunity with sponsor Zoetis and career development opportunities.

The award’s judging panel includes:

• BVA president, Anna Judson;
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) president, Sue Paterson;
• National veterinary lead ruminant and equine at Zoetis UK, Ally Ward;
• Last year’s award winner Hannah Hunt.

Finalists are selected based on their work which includes supporting clients and colleagues; providing outstanding and consistent care for patients; inspiring others and giving back to their community; championing causes in the profession; and going above and beyond the normal call of duty.

On behalf of the judges, BVA president Anna Judson said: “BVA’s Young Vet of the Year showcases exceptional vets from across the UK making an invaluable contribution to the profession.

“This year we have been blown away by all the incredible nominations, but these three young vets really stood out for their contribution to their fields and their commitment to their unique causes and passions.

“Congratulations to all of the finalists, you are a credit to the veterinary profession and we know you have bright futures ahead of you.”

Finalists

Rebecca Hampson

Hampson was nominated for her work co-founding Veterinary Education Malawi.

The animal welfare charity provides free veterinary services to low-income communities, as well as practical tuition and educational support to the first and only vet school in Malawi – the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), and to para-vets who currently provide the majority of veterinary care in country.

Hampson graduated from the University of Bristol in 2015 and after two years in small animal practice completed an MSc in international animal welfare, ethics and law.

This enabled her to volunteer in Malawi – a trip that would inspire her to set up Veterinary Education Malawi.

Hampson, who now splits her time between West Sussex and Malawi, secured funding to develop a clinical skills lab at LUANAR.

She has also implemented an annual equine teaching week for third and fourth year vet students. She has treated more than 700 dogs and donkeys in Malawi since 2021.

On being shortlisted for the 2023 BVA Young Vet of the Year Award, Hampson said: “I am so excited to have been shortlisted, it has been an incredibly busy but rewarding few years so this is a really welcome surprise.

“I really hope it will help to raise awareness of our mission in Malawi and encourage other vets to consider using their degree and skills to volunteer abroad.”

Henry Lamb

Commercial poultry and gamebird veterinarian Henry Lamb was nominated for the award for his work tackling outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) and encouraging other young vets to take up roles in the poultry industry. 

After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2018, Lamb began working at Crowshall Veterinary Services, Norfolk.

This has seen him working through the recent bird flu outbreaks, holding multiple Official Veterinarian/OV panels, and preparing for export changes associated with Brexit.

Lamb is also a European College of Poultry Veterinary Science resident, mental health first aider and trustee of regional rural mental health charity You Are Not Alone (YANA), co-lead of his practice green group and deputy rotation lead for the new RVC poultry rotation, which takes its first students in 2024.

In his role as external lecturer for the RVC, Henry provides opportunities to engage with avian population medicine for new members of the profession.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been nominated, let alone be shortlisted as a finalist, especially knowing the outstanding level of commitment and skill so many different members of the profession bring across clinical practice, research sectors, and beyond,” Lamb said.

“I hope to live up to the finalist title and deliver the best possible support to our agricultural communities, alongside my incredibly dedicated colleagues and peers.”

Camilla Church

Equine vet Camilla Church was nominated for her dedication to promoting the veterinary profession, equine welfare, and for her work setting up the ambulatory equine practice, Perth Equine Vets.

Church, who lives in Perthshire, is a graduate of Glasgow Vet School and worked mainly with horses in a mixed and small animal/equine practices before setting up her own practice in 2020.

Perth Equine Vets is now a team of three vets and three part-time admin staff.

Church organises frequent events, most recently a ‘get into vet school’ day for upcoming vet students.

She also regularly creates blogs and videos on the practice social media accounts which helps horse owners learn essential skills, as well as attending regular equine weight management clinics with her team.

On being shortlisted for the BVA Young Vet of the Year Award, Church said: “It was an absolute honour to be nominated, but I am completely astounded and humbled to make the final three. 

“Congratulations to everyone, and I look forward to meeting the other two finalists at the BVA Gala Dinner. 

“I hope to continue to champion the veterinary profession in any way I can – and to continue to grow a practice which has its staff, owners and horses at its centre.”

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Two lambs have been killed in a suspected dog attack in the Llanyre area of Radnorshire, Powys, Wales.

Dyfed Powys Police’s rural crime team said the incident of livestock worrying took place between October 8 and 9.

The team urged anyone with any information on the incident to come forward.

Livestock worrying

Dyfed Powys Police said livestock worrying is a criminal offence and comes under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

The definition of ‘worrying’ is where a dog attacks or chases livestock causing injury or suffering.

“This isn’t just a threat to a farmer or land owner’s livelihood, it’s also a dangerous situation for the animals involved, and could lead to more risk if the animals get onto the road,” the force said.

“A farmer is allowed to kill the dog if it’s worrying their livestock.”

Dyfed Powys Police urged dog owners to keep their dogs under control around other animals and to report any incidences of dogs on the loose worrying animals.

Livestock theft

On livestock theft, Dyfed Powys Police said farmers can implement preventative measures to reduce the risk of their livestock being taken.

These steps include:

• Make regular checks of the fields where animals are kept to check that fences haven’t been breached and that no one else is in the field with them;
• Use ear tags, horn brands, freeze marking or tattooing to make your animals more easily identifiable;
• Keep your hedges, fences and gates in good repair: field gate hinges should have capping hinges so they can’t be removed easily; cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when they’re not in use; use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards;
• Consider installing CCTV.

The force said farmers should check their livestock and the security of boundary fencing regularly.

“If they’re making more noise than usual this could mean something has disturbed them,” it said.

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The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) is seeking the next winners of its Farm Health Management Awards.

The awards, which are sponsored by Volac, are now open to applications from vet and agriculture university students.

The RABDF awards aim to demonstrate an understanding of, and test student’s knowledge of, proactive farm health management.

The prize is £500, which three winners will receive under three different categories, and the deadline for entries is December 8, 2024.

RABDF Farm Health Management Awards

The competition is split into three categories: students at agricultural colleges, agricultural universities and vet schools, and is open to students in all year groups.

A 1,500-word essay on the subject of proactive farm health management must be submitted by students, with a winner for each category taking home the £500 prize.

Essays are judged by a panel of industry experts, including a representative of RABDF and award sponsor Volac.

A shortlist of entries will be invited to attend Dairy-Tech at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on February 7, 2024, where the winners will be announced.

Managing director at RABDF, Matthew Knight, said: “Farm Health Management is an integral part of running a productive and profitable farm as well as being an integral in delivering health and welfare improvements as part of Defra’s (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

“We can’t wait to see what this year’s entrants decide to focus on in their essays and how it links with Defra’s recommendations for higher welfare throughout the industry.”

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A food processing company has been fined £20,000 after a worker’s arm was drawn into machinery and seriously injured.

58-year-old Piotr Zielinski from Nottinghamshire was working for the company, Belwood Foods Limited, when his right arm was drawn into a poultry processing machinery while cleaning it.

The incident, which led to Zielinksi’s skin and muscle being removed in his right arm and his wrist being crushed, took place on November 22, 2019, at Belwood Foods’ site at Lowmoor Business Park, Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Zielinski had been removing debris that was trapped on the hinges of an open access panel door at the base of a hopper machine.

The door had been opened to allow the debris to drain from the auger.

While removing the debris however, the auger was still in operation and caught the worker’s right arm, drawing it into the machine up to the elbow.

‘Easily preventable’

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the access panel door was able to be opened freely whilst the auger was in motion.

There were no controls in place to prevent the panel from being opened while the auger was moving.

It was not locked or interlocked, and there was no safe isolation procedure for this weekly cleaning task.

HSE inspector Lee Greatorex said: “This injury was easily preventable.

“Employers have a responsibility to properly assess the risks from all aspects of their operations, including cleaning and maintenance, and implement effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.

“HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all that they should to keep people safe.”

Belwood Foods Limited, of the Henley Building, Newtown Road, Henley-on-Thames,  Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974).

The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,839.21 in costs at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on October 9, 2023.

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Welsh Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths has issued a reminder that the use of snares and glue traps will be illegal in Wales from next Tuesday (October 17).

“There is now a week to go before the use of snares and glue traps are banned in Wales,” she said in a statement today (Tuesday, October 10).

Anyone found guilty of using a snare or glue trap in Wales from next Tuesday could face imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both.

The ban on the use of snares and glue traps in Wales was introduced last month following the passing of the Agriculture (Wales) Act, which included the provision, into law this summer.

Wales is the first UK nation to introduce a total ban on these traps.

Both snares and glue traps are indiscriminate as they can trap and harm species they are not intended for, causing pain and suffering.

“This will bring an end to suffering and pain to many animals, often those which were not the intended target of the trap,” Minister Griffiths said in her statement today.

“The aim of the ban is to stop an inhumane method of predator and rodent control. Other more humane methods exist and are widely used.

“The use of snares and glue traps are not compatible with the high animal welfare standards we strive for here in Wales. I’m pleased we are leading the way on this issue.”

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The Welsh branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU Cymru) and NFU Mutual are seeking this year’s Livestock Champion, who will go on to work within the agricultural industry in Wales.

The ninth winner of the Welsh Livestock Champion of the Year award will receive £500 and a Welsh Royal Crystal trophy.

The closing date for entries is Monday, October 30, and the winner will be announced at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells on Monday, November 27, 2023.

The award seeks to highlight the dedicated, committed an enthusiastic livestock people from all across Wales.

Chair of NFU Cymru’s livestock board, Rob Lewis, said: “In Wales we have some of the best quality beef and sheep in the world, produced to the highest animal health and welfare standards.

“This award aims to celebrate excellence amongst Welsh livestock producers.

“We want to recognise the key role an exceptional livestock person can make to a livestock farm, and to the Welsh livestock industry as a whole.”

Lewis said potential winners will be judged on:

• Management of the flock/herd;
• Animal health planning;
• Breeding programme;
• Stock handling skills;
• How health and safety is incorporated into day-to-day activities on-farm;
• Vision for the future of the industry.

NFU Mutual group secretary, Mike Thomas, said: “Welsh farmers are amongst the best stockpeople across the world and this competition does a great job in showcasing and celebrating their skills.

“During challenging times for livestock farmers, it’s vital that these skills are maintained and are able to thrive for future generations, and, as the leading rural insurer in Wales, NFU Mutual is delighted to be sponsoring the award again.”  

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Former Scotland rugby captain and livestock farmer Rob Wainwright will join the Stirling Bull Sales this month for an event focussed on rugby, farming, and motor neuron disease (MND).

Insights with Rob Wainwright: Rugby, Farming and MND will take place the morning of Monday, October 23.

The Stirling Bull Sales take place from Sunday, October 22, to Monday, October 23, at the United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre where 629 pedigree cattle will be put forward for show and sale.

Wainwright will share his personal take on the Rugby World Cup in France, his own career, his farming life on the island of Coll and his ambassadorial work fighting to find a cure for MND.

The 45-minute conversation will be co-hosted by United Auctions and the Bull Sales sponsor – Scottish independent property consultancy, Galbraith. 

While the event is free to attend, donations to the MND charity ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ are encouraged, and collection buckets will be available at the agricultural centre.

Following the conversation, Wainwright will present a championship prize in the pre-sale show of Limousins before attending the judges’ lunch.

Managing director of United Auctions, George Purves, said: “The farming and rugby communities are deeply interconnected.

“We’re pleased to co-host Rob, a familiar face at our sheep sales, as a distinguished guest.

“With the Rugby World Cup in focus, we anticipate that our customers and rugby enthusiasts will eagerly engage in the conversation.”

Partner at Galbraith, Alistair Christie, said the property consultancy is thrilled to welcome Wainwright and have the opportunity to see his insights and experience as “a rugby star farmer and MND ambassador”.

“It’s also a great platform to highlight his up-and-coming ‘All Roads Lead to Rome’ challenge for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in March 2024,” he said.

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Dorset Police is appealing for witnesses after a man in his 20s died following a collision between a car and a tractor.

Officers received a report at 9:15p.m on Friday, September 29, 2023, of a collision involving a tractor and a blue Audi A3 on Mapperton Hill, Milton on Stour.

The male driver of the Audi, who was from Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the tractor did not sustain any physical injuries, Dorset Police said.

At the time, officers put a road closure in place to allow emergency services to safely deal with the incident and for a thorough examination to be carried out.

PC Tracey Downer of Dorset Police’s roads policing team said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the man who has very sadly died in this collision.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident and I would urge any witnesses to please contact us.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have captured anything relevant on dashcam footage.”

Dorset rural crime

Officers from Dorset Police’s rural crime team took part in a week of events last week to help tackle crime in rural communities.

The National Rural Crime Week of Action, which started on Monday, September 18, 2023, saw officers patrol rural transport routes, provide enhanced visibility to residents and target vehicles carrying suspicious loads.

As well as this, officers engaged with the next generation of farmers in order to raise awareness of rural crimes, provide reassurance to communities and deter those looking to commit crime in the county.

Chief Insp Andy Edwards from the Dorset County local policing area said: “The team works hard to prevent crime in rural communities and disrupt serious organised acquisitive crime across the southwest region.

“This week provided an opportunity for us to highlight the work of the team and give the public an insight into the improvements we have made as a result of Uplift.”

On Monday, September 18, 2023, Dorset Police’s rural crime team was recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council for ‘most innovative partnership to tackle serious and organised acquisitive crime’.

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Commercial greenhouse supplier Tomtech has supplied and installed new ventilation motors in greenhouses at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for veterans of the British Army to grow crops.

Home to the Chelsea Pensioners, the Royal Hospital Chelsea houses nearly 300 retired veterans and is located in central London.

Tomtech said one of the favourite pastimes for many of the Chelsea Pensioners is gardening and growing plants and, therefore, having an efficient control system within their greenhouses is essential.

“Having access to gardening is essential for the Chelsea Pensioners and a way to help maintain their health and wellbeing,” the company said.

“As well as improving growing conditions, appropriate ventilation ensures the environment within the greenhouse is comfortable for the residents.

“Prior to the installation, the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s greenhouse motors – which automate and control ventilation, screens and other glasshouse infrastructure – were becoming increasingly unreliable.”

Tomtech has now installed new Huima gear motors, which are designed specifically for use in greenhouses to efficiently automate the control of ventilation and air quality.

New motors

Tomtech said the new motors are more dependable than the existing motors and have double limit switches to prevent overrunning.

“This ensures that vents are always opened and closed correctly, providing plants with the air flow they need to thrive,” it said.

Krzysztof Hernik of Tomtech said the company was delighted to have supplied and installed new motors in the greenhouses at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

“We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible greenhouse equipment, whether it is for commercial produce or recreational enjoyment,” he said.

“We’re thrilled that our ventilation systems are being used to help the Chelsea Pensioners grow beautiful plants, in an environment which is both comfortable for the veterans and provides the perfect growing conditions.”

Since 1986, Tomtech has been a provider of commercial greenhouse monitoring and control systems.

Tomtech’s systems are used to monitor and regulate light, heat, ventilation, fertigation and nutrient dosing.

The company’s complete control systems aim to help grow bigger, better and faster crops.

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Director of trade and business strategy for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Nick von Westenholz, has raised over £12,000 for farming charity Farm Africa.

Von Westenholz raised the funds after completing the Mahale Mountains Challenge – a physical challenge of resilience over six days involving navigating across 80km of the remote national park in western Tanzania.

He completed the challenge alongside 11 other professionals from the food and farming sector. Together, #TeamMahale has raised over £215,000 for Farm Africa so far.

Head of partnerships for Farm Africa, Anissa Msallem, said: “Farmers across eastern Africa continue to face unprecedented challenges. Conflict and climate change threaten to push farming communities further into poverty.

“Eastern Africa is experiencing the worst drought in at least 40 years, decimating lives and livelihoods.

“By raising funds for Farm Africa, Team Mahale will help transform the lives of farmers in eastern Africa and protect important natural habitats, and we’re very grateful for their support.”

Mahale Mountain Challenge

The Mahale Mountains Challenge took place from 16 – 21 September, 2023, and involved an 80km hike in temperature reaching 35°.

The journey led the team through mixed woodland, bamboo forests and rolling plains in a landscape very rarely visited by humans, the NFU said.

After six days, the team finished on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, before returning to Tanzania’s main city, Dar es Salaam, where they met with a number of food producers and businesses to hear how they are benefitting from Farm Africa’s projects in the country.

Von Westenholz thanked everyone who has donated to the cause, saying that he has raised more than double his initial target.

“I’d also like to thank the rest of the team and say a massive well done. Our extraordinary journey, while at times challenging and tiring, has reinforced the importance of addressing the shared challenges we face in farming and producing food across the world,” he said.

“Farming in the UK and Tanzania have many obvious differences, but challenges such as climate change, volatile supply chains and food security are universal concerns and it is more crucial than ever that we stand together to drive positive change.”

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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has elected Dr Anna Judson, a GP vet, as its new president for 2023-2024.

Judson was elected at the association’s Members’ Day in Glasgow yesterday (Thursday, September 28).

Speaking on her appointment, Judson said she wishes to build a “thriving” veterinary profession in the UK.

“We must ask ourselves difficult questions about what we could be doing differently to bring about positive change,” she said.

“Creating good veterinary workplaces is vital to the future of the profession, which in turn is good for animal welfare and sustainability.

“I am confident that together we can continue to build a modern, accessible profession for everyone.

“One that cares about and advocates for good animal welfare, that provides a rewarding career for all those who seek to be part of it, and one that takes action to protect the planet and its incredible ecosystem that makes this all possible.”

Anna Judson

Judson was a graduate of Liverpool Vet School in 1987 and her veterinary career has included ownership of both mixed and small animal practices in rural mid Wales.

She is a past president of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS), has an MSc in nature conservation and has led veterinary sustainability initiatives.

During her first speech as president yesterday, Judson announced her presidential theme for the duration of her term: ‘A profession for everyone’.

“We need to build a thriving profession, we need one that attracts and holds onto our people, one that provides the right care at the right time to our patients, and one that contributes positively, rather than impacting on, the planet we share with other animals,” she said.

“BVA’s Good Veterinary Workplace initiative is already helping practices to build a more flexible, inclusive and sustainable profession of which we can all be proud.

“My theme will accelerate that progress, with BVA taking practical steps to support vet teams to build workplaces where everyone can thrive.”

Judson said she is also aiming to ensure BVA members’ voices are heard as part of the recently launched Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) review.

Earlier this month, the CMA launched a review into the veterinary services market for household pets. The aim of the review is to explore how well the market is working for pet owners who are paying for veterinary services.

Judson urged vets to share their inputs directly with the BVA and the CMA.

“It’s important for us all to recognise that the outcome may have far-reaching consequences, not just for companion animal vet teams but across the profession more broadly,” she said.

“Although undoubtedly challenging, we see the review as an opportunity to shine a light on the highly skilled and compassionate work that vets and vet teams deliver day in, day out for animals and their clients across the UK.

“It’s a chance to demonstrate our value and reset the damaging narrative in the media around costs of veterinary care, something that BVA has been tirelessly challenging over the last twelve months since the cost-of-living crisis took hold.” 

Outgoing president and other roles

Outgoing BVA president and equine vet Dr Malcolm Morley will now step into the post of BVA senior vice president.

During his presidential year, Morley focused on the theme of ‘Investing in people’ to help both veterinary employers and employees build positive, inclusive workplaces and a supporting culture.

Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux has been elected as the new BVA junior vice president.

An RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) recognised specialist in wildlife medicine, Mullineaux juggles roles as a locum small animal vet in Edinburgh; invited tutor on wildlife and conservation medicine courses at universities in England, Scotland and Italy; and scientific advisor to Secret World Wildlife Rescue. 

She is also past president of the British Veterinary Zoological Society.

BVA awards

At the BVA Members’ Day, the association unveiled the winners of its veterinary achievement awards.

The awards aim to recognise the exceptional commitment, work and achievements of vets from across the profession.

This year’s awards and winners are:

• BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award (Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal): Dr Richard Sibley (Dick Sibley);
• BVA Outstanding Service Award (Chiron Award): Dr Jane Ladlow;
• BVA Council Impact Award (John Bleby Cup): Dr Elysé Summerfield-Smith;
• BVA Research Travel Scholarship (Harry Steele-Bodger Scholarship): Dr Kimberly Tam;
• BVA Animal Health and Welfare Overseas Award (J. Trevor Blackburn Award):  Dr Luke Gamble;
• Vet Record Impact Award: Angela Heeley, Dave Brodbelt, Dan O’Neill, David Church and Lucy Davison.

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Four out of five UK adults (79%) think children should have access to free or subsidised milk at schools and nurseries, according to recent polling.

The School and Nursery Milk Alliance (SNMA) commissioned a poll of 2,156 adults across the UK to understand opinion on the importance of school milk provision to coincide with World School Milk Day today (Wednesday, September 27).

While support for milk in school spread nationwide, it is particularly strong in Wales, with 89% believing the government should continue to provide free or subsidised milk for kids at school and nurseries.

Pupils in key stage one (ages 5-7) in Wales already have access to free milk in education through the school milk subsidy scheme, whereas milk is just subsidised in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Plant-based milks are not covered by this scheme.

According to the SNMA, uptake of school milk schemes post-Covid-19 is low.

Jon Thornes, chair of SNMA, is encouraging “all UK nations” to follow Wales and do more to ensure that as many children as possible are able to drink healthy milk at schools or nursery.

“We urge the government to do all it can to ensure that as many education settings are signed up to the available milk schemes so that as many children as possible are able to drink healthy milk at school or nursery,” he added.

Supporting this drive and World School Milk Day, TV doctor and author Hilary Jones added:

“World School Milk Day 2023 is the perfect opportunity for the government to ensure that schools and nurseries across the UK are aware of the different schemes that exist.

“The government must encourage them to sign up to ensure that millions of children across the country can drink free healthy milk when at school. “

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A nine-year-old girl has died in a crash involving a tractor and a trailer in Scotland, police have said.

The girl was on a bicycle when the crash happened on Castle Place, New Cumnock yesterday afternoon (Monday, September 18), Police Scotland added.

She was pronounced dead on the scene.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.35p.m on Monday, September 18, 2023, we received a report of a crash involving a tractor towing a trailer and a nine-year-old female on her bicycle on Castle Place, New Cumnock.

“Emergency services attended but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

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A man has been fined for allowing his company to dump 20t of abestos-contaminated waste on farmland in Stocksfield.

35-year-old Grant Brown of Brampton Gardens, Throckley, Newcastle, trading as GB Waste Management, was ordered to pay compensation of more than £7,000 to the landowner, who was left to clear up the mess.

In total it cost the landowner more than £32,000 to clear the waste, £7,000 of which was not covered by insurance.

The Environment Agency was able to trace the waste on the farm back to Brown’s company as it contained personal identifiable items, as well as construction and domestic waste.

Abestos was found while the waste was being cleared, which was traced back to the clearance of a Newcastle City Centre Council property.

During the Environment Agency’s investigation it asked for all waste transfer notes for the company produced during 2021, but only those created by other companies were produced.

Brown’s company also did not have an environmental permit.

Brown pleaded guilty to allowing his company to cause waste to be dumped on farmland in Stocksfield, failing to comply with duty of care legislation, and failing to produce waste transfer notes.

He was also ordered to pay costs of over £4,000 and banned from being a company director for three years.

Gary Wallace, area environment manager for the Environment Agency in the North East, commented:

“Waste criminals target property and land to dump waste they’ve illegally collected and disappear, leaving a huge clean-up bill for landowners, and dumped waste causes contamination and is a major fire risk.

“In this case we were able to trace the waste back to Brown’s company and after an Environment Agency investigation he’s been put before the courts for his offending.”

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A “rarely available” combination of a derelict farmhouse, mixed outbuildings and land on 8ac outside Falkirk has been brought to the market by DM Hall Chartered Surveyors.

Broadside Farm is being marketed at offers over £250,000 and anyone interested in taking up the “unique opportunity” is urged to contact the head of rural agency, Jennifer Campbell.

The rural branch of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors said Broadside Farm, which is situated to the northeast of Denny and south of River Carron, has “beautiful views of the countryside within the Carron Valley”.

This area, it said, is ideal for outdoor pursuits with hacking routes as it has countryside walks and cycling routes nearby.

Head of rural agency at DM Hall Chartered Surveyors Jennifer Campbell, said: “This property has huge potential and is a fantastic redevelopment project in the heart of central Scotland, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

“It has glorious panoramic views as well as 7.9ac of predominantly south facing grazing land.

“There has always been demand for rural redevelopment projects and this is a fantastic accessible location with a manageable parcel of land, shown on the Hutton Institute land capability for agriculture plans (partial cover) as being of Class 4.2 in quality. The grazing paddocks extend to approximately 2.6 Ha (6.4 Acres) in all.”

Campbell said the site was a “much-loved” family farm for many years and that it would be fantastic for its potential to be realised.

“There is already significant interest in the property and a closing date is likely to be set, viewings should be arranged by appointment,” she said.

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Police in Scotland are appealing for any information on a fatal crash involving a car, van and a tractor on the A93 in Perthshire.

Police said the incident happened around 11:40a.m yesterday (Wednesday, September 13) on the A93 near Meikleour.

It involved a Ford Transit Connect van, a Mercedes car towing a caravan, and a Fendt tractor and trailer.

The driver of the car, a 69-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in the car, a 69-year-old woman, and the driver of the van, a 29-year-old man, were taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment to minor injuries, Police added.

Appealing for information, Road Policing Sgt. David Farr said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who died and our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area and saw what happened to contact us as your information could be vital.

“I would also ask anyone with any dash-cam or CCTV footage that could help with our investigation to get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on; 101, quoting incident number 1348 of Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

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Meat Business Women has today (Thursday, September 7) launched a campaign aimed at driving inclusivity in the meat industry.

‘The Power of You‘ campaign has been launched as a follow up to the organisation’s ‘She Looks Like Me‘ campaign.

The Power of You campaign will see stories shared from people who work within the industry, the showcasing of inclusivity best practice and will ultimately aim to foster empowerment and confidence within women at every career stage, Meat Business Women said.

The campaign will run across social and digital channels including LinkedIn, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) throughout the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024.

The campaign is launched as a direct result of Meat Business Women’s 2023 Global Gender Representation report which revealed that 53% of people working in the industry believe that inclusion has moved up the agenda since 2020.

“There has been an increase in women at board level, director and CEO level roles however, the number of women in the total global meat workforce has dropped overall, and progress is stagnant at more junior levels,” Meat Business Women said.

“Although the industry is making progress, there is still more to be done. To really shift the dial, the report findings tell us that all genders need to work together to create a more inclusive future.”

‘The Power of You’

The Power of You campaign aims to highlight role models in the industry, and encourage individuals to do three things: 

• Recognise their key strengths and skills;
• Respond, by amplifying their voices and taking action;
• Reciprocate, by sharing their experiences and paying their skills and knowledge forward to others. 

Global chair of Meat Business Women, Laura Ryan, said: “The data tells us that inclusion is no longer a “nice-to-have”, but rather a necessity if the meat industry is to thrive in the years to come. 

“If we want to continue making positive change by building an inclusive and supportive sector then we have to come together to make it happen.

“The Power of You aims to inspire and empower individuals, but also encourage the industry to come together as a collective to take action and drive forward positive change.” 

The launch of the campaign today has been marked with the release of a launch video featuring members and strategic partners of Meat Business Women. 

This will be followed by a series of episodes, each sharing a different career story. The first video will tell the story of Kepak’s senior customer marketing manager, Monisha Singh, and will be released on Tuesday, September 12.

“I think another person’s belief in me gave me the confidence I needed to go for things that I wouldn’t normally go for,” Singh said.

“They can see a value in me that I hadn’t recognised. In doing so, they entrench the idea that I have a unique skillset, I add value to the business with that particular skillset, and they encouraged me to go off and utilise it.

“I think that encouragement and belief from another person totally embodies what The Power Of You campaign is all about.”

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A bus driver has died in a road collision involving a crop sprayer on the A52 in the Boston area of Lincolnshire.

The collision happened between Dobbies Garden Centre and Haltoft End sometime around 4:39p.m yesterday (Wednesday, September 5).

The driver of the triple-decker bus, a man in his 50s from the Skegness area, was pronounced dead at the scene, Lincolnshire Police said.

The driver of the crop sprayer was taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, it was added.

Police are appealing for any information and/or dashcam footage of the collision.

“We are now seeking anyone who saw the collision, or who has dashcam footage, to contact us,” Lincolnshire Police said.

Anyone with information can call; 01522 212316 and quote Incident 328 of September 5, or email; [email protected] and quote the same reference.

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A train carrying 40 passengers and a tractor collided at a level crossing earlier today (Tuesday, September 5), British Transport Police (BTP) Lancashire has said.

BTP Lancashire were notified about the incident, which occurred on the Ormskirk Line near Lostock Hall railway station, at 10:22a.m.

No injuries have been reported and after inspection, the train was able to continue.

“Officers attended the scene and thankfully there were no reported injuries. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing,” BTP Lancashire said in a statement.

All lines have since reopened.

“Disruption caused by a collision at a level crossing earlier today between Preston and Ormskirk has now ended,” National Rail has confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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The Pembrokeshire County Show awards acknowledge people in Pembrokeshire, Wales, working in agriculture across a variety of categories.

Th awards coincide with Pembrokeshire County Show, which this year took place near the end of August.

This year, Mark and Caroline Davies of Little Newcastle, Haverfordwest, took home the Baron de Rutzen Award.

This award recognises Pembrokeshire farmers under 45 who can demonstrate the use of the latest techonological advancements to promote progressive and sustainable agriculture on their farm.

The Davies milk 230 pedigree Holsteins through a fully automated system. They rear their own replacements and also have a small beef enterprise.

The farm is all grassland and they follow a strict reseeding and liming policy to optimise the yield from their multi-cut silage system. The couple place significant emphasis on animal health, husbandry and breeding to maximise the efficiency of their system. 

The Student Bursary Award was awarded to Lottie Wilson from Hayscastle.

The £1,000 bursary is open annually to all qualifying students studying agriculture, veterinary science, agricultural engineering, food technology, forestry or other subjects clearly allied to agriculture.

Lottie studies agriculture at the University of Nottingham and is a general dairy farm worker when at home. She is also a lambing hand and a calving beef-herd assistant, and was the top agriculture student at Hartpury College in 2021.

There were two recipients of the Long Service Award: Darran Davies (pictured top) from Scleddau, Fishguard and Richard Davies from Treffgarn Owen, Haverfordwest.

This award recognises farm and estate workers in Pembrokeshire who have been employed on the land for 25 years or more.

During the Pembrokeshire County Show the role of Ambassador for 2024 was also given to Ffion Edwards, a nurse from Maenclochog.

As ambassador Ffion will help support officeholders in promoting and meeting the aims of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

Ffion has been a member of Llysyfran Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) for 15 years.

The 2024 event is set to take place at Pembrokeshire County Showground in Haverfordwest on August 14-15.

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The organisers of Future Farming Expo Scotland have released the line-up of speakers for the event – which takes place from October 10-11, 2023.

The free-to-attend event will be held at Aberdeen’s P&J Live venue with speakers covering topics across eight ‘hubs’ chosen to spark discussion and provide practical solutions for farmers.

The eight hubs are: business and personal resilience; carbon and soils; arable; livestock; renewables and energy; diversification; horticulture and vertical farming; and robotics. 

The confirmed line-up of speakers for the event include: 

• Adam Christie, managing director – Scottish Agronomy;
• Ailbhe Palmer, national sales manager – Sykes Holiday Cottages;
• Carol McLaren, chief executive – Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI);
• Cammy Wilson, farmer and influencer – The Sheep Game;
• Clive Blacker, Precision agriculture specialist;
• Dr. Harry Kamilaris, senior business development consultant, Agricarbon UK;
• John Scott, chair –  Farmstrong;
• Josh Riddet, chief executive – Easy Crypto Hunter;
• Jane Craigie, founder – Jane Craigie Marketing;
• Jim Booth, head of co-operative development – SAOS; 
• Liz Bowles, chief executive – Farm Carbon Toolkit;
• Lyn White, forestry and farming development officer – Scottish Forestry;
• Mark Horler, chair, and Johnny Stormonth-Darling, technical director – UK Urban AgriTech;
• Nathan Critchlow-Watton, head of water and planning – Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA);
• Neil White, Borders arable farmer and strip till specialist – Greenknowe Farm;
• Niels Corfield – independent farm advisor;
• Peter Cook, head of food, drink and agriculture team – Opportunity North East (ONE);
• Rachael Ramsey, head of science and research – Agrecalc;
• Robert Young, partner – EQ Accountants.

Centred around a series of in-depth panel sessions and practical speakers, and featuring over 70 exhibitors, the Future Farming Expo aims to cover an extensive range of topics within the overarching hubs.

The debate and discussion sessions will afford “ample time” for Q&As with speakers, allowing the chance to ask questions relevant to visitors’ own situations, organisers said.

Event producer of the Future Farming Expo, Cheryl Waterman, said: “This event is unique in that attendees will not be sitting through a series of lectures – participation and discussion are core elements of what we seek to achieve with the Future Farming Expo. 

“Guests will go home with practical advice from sector experts with lived experience in their fields, feeling inspired and positive about tackling the challenges in farming.

“The sessions will be forward-thinking with a focus on actionable tips that people take to make their business more successful.” 

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Food inflation has dropped to 11.5% in August, down 13.4% in July, meaning it is now at its lowest point since September 2022.

This is according to the latest inflation figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) which also showed that shop price growth is at its lowest since October 2022.

Shop price annual inflation decelerated to 6.9% in August – down from 7.6% in July. This is below the three-month average rate of 7.7%.

Fresh food inflation slowed further in August, to 11.6%, down from 14.3% in July. This is below the 3-month average rate of 13.8% and is at its lowest since August 2022.

Chief executive of the BRC, Helen Dickinson, said the changes bring “better news” for consumers, but that supply chain risks may see a rise in food inflation again.

“Better news for consumers as shop price inflation in August eased to its lowest level since October 2022. This was driven by falling food inflation, particularly for products such as meat, potatoes and some cooking oils,” she said.

“While inflation is on course to continue to fall thanks to retailers’ efforts, there are supply chain risks for retailers to navigate.

“Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities, as well as poor harvests across Europe and beyond, could serve as potential roadblocks to lower inflation.”

Head of retailer and business insight at NielsenIQ, Mike Watkins, said: “The unpredictable weather of recent weeks has dampened consumer demand with some high street retailers increasing promotional activity and food retailers continuing to extend price cuts, as the inflationary pressure coming from supply chains continues to lessen.

“Looking ahead, a NIQ survey shows that 60% of households expect to be severely or moderately impacted by rising household costs in the coming months so once back from summer holidays, we expect consumers to remain cautious about discretionary spend even as inflation decelerates.”

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A farm has been fined £60,000 following the the death of a man who was electrocuted on the site while operating a tipper lorry.

Patrick Rice died after being electrocuted by an overhead power line whilst operating the lorry at VB Farms LLP’s Littlecombe Farm in Credition, Devon.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident, which occurred on May 13, 2021, found that VB Farms LLP failed to carry out an assessment of how the work could be completed safely.

The company did not consider the dangers involved with working near an overhead power line, Britain’s workplace regulator said.

Rice’s mother, Fran Rice, said her family have been “traumatised and deeply shocked” since the 43-year-old lost his life from the incident.

The father of three was employed by Langford Plant Hire and was delivering stone to be used for farm track repair, when the hydraulic arm of the tipper lorry came into contact with an 11kV overhead power line.

Rice was electrocuted after exiting the lorry.

HSE inspector James Collins said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident – another sad reminder of the dangers of overhead powerlines. 

“Paddy’s death could easily have been prevented if VB Farms LLP had acted to manage the risks involved and put in place a safe system of work.”

VB Farms LLP, of Love Street, Chester, was found guilty of breaching Regulations 3(1) and 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 following a trial at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.

The company was ordered to pay costs of £11,715 as well as the fine of £60,000.

Patrick Rice

Fran Rice said in a statement presented in court that her son was “an extremely practical person” who was very popular and had loads of friends.

“Since the loss of Paddy, we are all traumatised and deeply shocked. It has all been hazy,” she said.

“We find it difficult to talk about what happened, Gordon, Paddy’s dad, does not talk a lot about it.

“We are living in a life that is carrying on and ours isn’t, we are not fitting in, we go out and want to enjoy what we do but it is never quite there.”

Patrick Rice’s partner, Michele Webber, said in her personal victim statement: “When the accident happened, I was off work for about five months.

“My memory is terrible since it happened and I am stuck on the day of the accident. I feel like I have no purpose or joy and no future.”

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Gwent Police has issued an appeal for information after a man died following a road traffic collision with an agricultural vehicle.

The incident occurred on Sunday (August 20) between 1:00p.m and 2:00p.m on the A449 northbound between The Coldra and Usk in South Wales.

Police said the collision involved a van and an agricultural vehicle.

The driver of the van, a 27-year-old man, was taken to hospital where he later died.

“Officers attended, along with personnel from the Welsh Ambulance Service, Welsh Air Ambulance and South Wales Fire and Rescue,” Gwent Police said.

“His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.”

The force is urging any motorists who were travelling on the A449 who witnessed the collision or have dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

Cornwall tractor crash

A 19-year-old has sustained “potentially life-changing injuries” following a crash between a car and a tractor, Devon & Cornwall Police has said.

The collision happened at approximately 8:30a.m on Monday (August 21) and police were called to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the old A30 close to Innis Downs, Cornwall.

Devon & Cornwall Police said the collision involved a black coloured 1 Series BMW and a green Fendt tractor, which was pulling a trailer.

The teenaged driver of the BMW, who is from the St. Austell area, sustained potentially life-changing injuries to both of his legs following the collision with the tractor, according to police.

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The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that extreme weather is the “new normal” and in some countries temperatures have “reached new heights”.

The WMO said today (Tuesday, August 22) that “high impact” weather will continue through August.

Alvaro Silva, a climate expert with WMO, said: “The frequency and intensity of many extremes, such as heatwaves and heavy precipitation, has increased in recent decades.

“There is high confidence that human-induced climate change from greenhouse emissions is the main driver.

“This gives us the long-term context for the increasing occurrence and severity of such extreme weather and extreme events.”

Extreme weather

The WMO has previously warned that soaring global temperatures will have “far-reaching repercussions” for food security.

According to Silva, the behaviour of the jet stream has been a contributing factor.

“There are several studies suggesting a connection between rapid warming and changes in the Arctic, due to human-induced climate change, and midlatitude weather patterns, including in atmospheric dynamics such as the jet stream, but further in depth research is needed to fully understand and explain the extremes occurring this summer,” he added.

The WMO’s climate expert pointed to a number of severe heat warnings which are currently in place across Europe from Switzerland, which is under level three amber alert to red alerts in parts of Italy, Croatia and Portugal.

According to the organisation, in Norway, where there has been prolonged heavy rainfall, floods and landslides, there is also a top-level red alert for rain in place in the southern part of the country.

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UK-wide industry group, Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W), is accepting applications for a new chair.

The new chair will replace the group’s inaugural chair, Nigel Miller, who retired from the role earlier this summer.

Applications for the position close on August 31, 2023, and more information on the role can be found on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) website.

The successful applicant will be tasked with providing strong strategic leadership for RH&W’s small officer team, the group said, and ensuring the group is the “go to place” for governments across the four nations of the UK, industry, and the media when looking for advice and input on ruminant health and welfare.

RH&W said the new chair must be a “passionate advocate” for the UK farmed ruminant sector, who will provide leadership for the group and bring the four nations together.

“They must have a proven ability to drive industry change, alongside a strong background in ruminant health and welfare.

“The new chairperson will be joining the group at an exciting time – RH&W launched the UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy for 2023-2028 in June, and a welfare strategy for the sheep sector will launch later this year.”

The chair role is advertised by AHDB, which will fund the role as well as providing a secretary for support of the chosen candidate.

It is offered initially as a position with a two-year term from November 1, 2023, with the option for two re-appointments of up to two years.

A non-pensionable remuneration of £328 a day is offered with a minimum time commitment of 24 days/year, or two days/month.

However, during the first six months it is envisaged that up to four days/month may be required, RH&W said.

RH&W, formed in April 2020, aims to co-ordinate and focus the UK farming industry’s efforts to eradicate and control damaging cattle, sheep and goat diseases.

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A 19-year-old has sustained “potentially life-changing injuries” following a crash between a car and a tractor, Devon & Cornwall Police has said.

The collision happened at approximately 8:30a.m yesterday (Monday, August 21) and police were called to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the old A30 close to Innis Downs, Cornwall.

Devon & Cornwall Police said the collision involved a black coloured 1 Series BMW and a green Fendt tractor, which was pulling a trailer.

The teenaged driver of the BMW, who is from the St. Austell area, sustained potentially life-changing injuries to both of his legs following the collision with the tractor, according to police.

Response officers, South West Ambulance Service, Cornwall Fire and Rescue, Cornwall Air Ambulance mobile crew along with officers from the Roads Policing Team attended the scene.

“Officers would like to thank those members of public who had stopped and assisted at the scene,” Devon & Cornwall Police said.

“Police are appealing for witnesses and would like to speak with anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision.”

Police urged anyone with dashcam footage that may assist the enquiry to get in contact.

Suffolk

Earlier this month, a man was airlifted to hospital for treatment of serious injuries following a crash between a tractor and a lorry in Suffolk.

The incident, which occurred on August 2, involved two men both aged in their 30s.

Suffolk Constabulary issued an appeal for witnesses of the tractor crash shortly afterwards.

Police, ambulance crew and an air ambulance were all in attendance to the incident, which occurred near the A1120 and Angel Hill junctions in Little Stonham.

The driver of the tractor was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s hospital following the incident, and the driver of the lorry was taken to Ipswich hospital for treatment of his injuries.

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The UK Met Office has issued Status Yellow thunderstorm and wind warnings for parts of the country tomorrow (Friday, August 18).

The thunderstorm warning will impact the southeast of the country and into the midlands, as well as east Wales.

This warning comes into effect at 6:00a.m tomorrow morning and will remain in place until 12:00p.m.

The Met Office said the thunderstorm could cause some localised disruption during Friday morning.

The Status Yellow wind warning will effect the northern and western coastal areas of Wales and will come into force at midnight tonight and last until 6:00p.m tomorrow.

The Met Office said a period of strong easterly winds is expected which will be sufficient to cause some impacts to travel and tourism.

The national weather forecaster warned that the country will experience heavy rain as active weather fronts move from the southwest to the northeast, clearing northern Scotland on Saturday afternoon (August 19).

Deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Steven Keates, said Friday evening has the potential for “intense thunderstorms” to break out over parts of England.

These may bring a lot of rain in a short period of time, he said, along with a risk of hail and frequent lightning.

“At the same time heavy rain, initially arriving into the southwest, will fairly steadily move northeast, potentially bringing some substantial rainfall totals to parts of Northern Ireland and eastern Scotland in particular,” he said.

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Hartpury College is set to receive a total of £2.4 million for the development of facilities and the purchase of equipment to facilitate three new post-GSCE agriculture courses.

Hartpury College will launch its agricultural T Levels for the 2024/25 academic year, with workshop refurbishment due to complete before the arrival of the first cohort of students.

T Level programmes are technical qualifications that offer a two-year option for students after their GSCEs.

The funding will refurbish two agricultural engineering workshops at Hartpury’s Gloucestershire campus.

The three new T Levels to be offered by the college are:

• Land-Based Engineering;
• Crop Production;
• Livestock Production.

Hartpury College has said T Levels in animal management, animal science and equine subjects will follow after the initial three.

T Levels blend theory with practice and work-based training, with students expected to participate in at least 45 days of practical training each year.

Deputy principal of Hartpury College, Claire Whitworth, said: “We’re grateful for the government’s recognition of our expertise and commitment to advancing vocational training and are delighted to have been successful in securing a share of this UK-wide T Level investment funding. 

“By using the funding to refurbish two agricultural engineering workshops, it’ll help us to deliver unparalleled technical education to our students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to forge successful careers and meet the many challenges faced by the agricultural industry.

“They will also provide opportunities for industry use outside of term time.”

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon, said: “This boost of over £100 million (across the sector) is our latest investment in T Levels.

“These are robust, high-quality technical qualifications providing a unique ladder of opportunity for students to gain both classroom knowledge and on-the-job experience.”

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Highland cattle have been brought in to trim the vegetation on the nesting grounds of lapwing at Arundel Wetland Centre in West Sussex.

Arundel Wetland Centre is one of 10 wetland centres across the UK managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) conservation charity.

Four Highland heifers were brought to the wetland nature reserve on August 2, and will graze the wet grassland for two months.

The aim of using the cattle to graze is to knock back the vegetation more sustainably than machinery. An added benefit, WWT said, is the beetles and worms that the cows’ dung attracts, which provides rich feeding grounds for nesting lapwing in springtime.

Reserve Manager Suzi Lanaway said: “These lovely girls will help keep vegetation in check in the summer months.

“Birds and wildlife aren’t bothered by the livestock – in fact the cattle egrets will enjoy the flies the heifers attract.”

According to the WWT, which runs Arundel, the land where the Highland cattle will be grazing was traditionally grazing marsh.

The cattle will be visible from the Ramsar Wildlife hide and the Lapwing Wildlife hide at the wetland centre.

WWT maintains thousands of hectares of wetland across its reserves with the purpose of supporting and protecting endangered species – the lapwing being one of these.

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The Scottish government has today (Friday, August 11) published a new response plan to deal with the issues posed by avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds.

The Scottish Wild Bird Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Response Plan sets out the multi-agency approach to monitoring and mitigating the spread of the disease.

The plan provides guidance to regulators, the public, those involved in animal rescue, researchers and environmental bodies on issues relating to bird flu in wild birds.

Scotland’s Environment Minister, Gillian Martin, thanked the country’s organisations and partners today for their efforts to respond to the ongoing bird flu outbreak in wild birds.

Martin said the last two years have been some of the most challenging on record for wild bird populations and the people who care for them.

“The avian flu outbreak in wild bird populations across the globe is extremely sad and has been difficult for us all to witness,” she said.

“In most cases there is no alternative but to let the disease run its course, however the effectiveness of our multi-agency response in monitoring the spread of the virus can build our understanding of the outbreak and what mitigation measures might be helpful. The publication of this plan is designed to support this.

“Our understanding of the outbreak in wild birds is also important in helping us to minimise the impact on kept birds and poultry, who we cannot forget have also been significantly affected by this virus.”

In the year to September 30, 2022, surveillance data showed bird flu was present in 34 wild bird species in Scotland.

In the spring and summer of 2022, a total of approximately 20,500 seabird deaths across 160 locations were reported to NatureScot.

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The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is seeking three new directors to “help shape the future of the organisation”.

The OFC, which takes place annually every January, is run by a group of voluntary directors.

The new appointments will serve a three-year term starting from January 2024, and will be expected to attend the conference themed ‘The Power of Diversity’ taking place January 3-5, 2024.

Following a skills audit, the OFC Council said it would be pleased to receive applications from those with “scientific and research knowledge, and farmers across all sectors”.

OFC 2024 chair, Will Evans, said the board is inclusive to all and applications from anyone with a passion for agriculture should apply.

Evans said the agricultural industry is continuing to face unprecedented change but “where there are great challenges there are also huge opportunities”.

“OFC provides a unique opportunity for the industry to discuss, debate and develop ideas and solutions so we can collaborate to be resilient for the future.

“This starts with ensuring our board of Directors has a wide breadth of skills and experience, and is representative of many different areas within agriculture.”

The current OFC board includes people of backgrounds within dairy, livestock, arable, horticulture, regenerative agriculture, environmental support, policy, veterinary, marketing, PR, finance, mental health and wellbeing and international leadership.

“Together we aim to develop a programme of speakers and sessions that responds to both industry and consumer demands, ensuring that hundreds of delegates receive valuable insights to help them shape their businesses, and more widely, the industry,” Evans said.

The OFC directors are supported by a range of contractors on a part-time basis including event logistics, marketing and PR, partnerships and sponsorship, financial administration and general secretariat.

The roles are voluntary with expenses paid, including full conference attendance. Individuals are expected to have attended at least one event, ether in person or online.

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The project will be led by research and development company Vertical Future and result in the development of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility – or ‘vertical farm’ – to be used in future space exploration missions.

Vertical Future will work in partnership with both plant biology and space technology companies including Axiom Space, Saber Astronautics, the University of Southern Queensland and its Plants for Space (P4S) research partners from the University of Adelaide and the University of Cambridge.

As a result of its involvement in the UK Space Agency project, Vertical Future will be the first UK-based company working in the agri-space sector.

Chief scientific officer at Vertical Future, Dr. Jennifer Bromley, said the company was excited to have the opportunity to work alongside global experts in both plant biology and space technology to develop “life-changing technology”.

“Several studies have shown that having access to high-quality fresh produce is important not just for one’s nutrition but also their mental well-being,” she said.

“Astronauts typically lack access to a varied diet whilst in space which this project is working to solve, by providing a wide variety of high-quality produce that can be grown on a space vessel.

“While this project may sound like the plotline of The Martian, it is important to develop new and innovative ways for astronauts to survive and thrive in their ventures to not just the Moon but also Mars and beyond.”

Bromley said many other technological advances have come from the space industry and that the findings of the project and its research can be applied on Earth.

Chief executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr. Paul Bate, said: “Projects like this, which will see Vertical Future work with the University of Cambridge and partners in Australia and the US to develop the use of autonomous agriculture technology for space exploration, highlight the many ways in which we can collaborate with the global space community to help humanity push the boundaries of space innovation and unlock commercial opportunities that will benefit our economy now and in the future.”

The project

The first phase of the project will focus on researching the design requirements for a fully autonomous agriculture system that can be monitored and operated remotely or through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

This will then be used to support space explorations, including future Moon-to-Mars Artemis missions, Vertical Future said.

A workshop will be hosted in NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre where the project team will research and develop the specifications for a CEA facility that can adapt to the conditions of deep space.

The second phase of the project will focus on the implementation of the CEA system on the International Space Station (ISS) – the largest modular space station in low-Earth orbit.

It will also be implemented in the world’s first commercial space station, which is currently in development by project partner Axiom Space.

Back down to Earth

Vertical Future said the research carried out throughout the project will “benefit us here on Earth” and will be used to support the development of more efficient CEA systems/vertical farms.

“By incorporating the project’s research, CEA systems on Earth will be able to continue to evolve and become more efficient and effective,” it said.

“Vertical farming can already produce a wide variety of higher quality fresh produce that will keep prices down for consumers and offer a more reliable source due to the lack of effect caused by extreme weather conditions or disruptions to the supply chain.

“These facilities can produce fresh produce in urban or degraded environments, minimising the need for labour and resource inputs such as water, energy, fertiliser, and pesticides, while maximising yields, reducing reliance on imports, keeping costs down for consumers, and combatting supply chain issues.”

Executive vice-president for in-space solutions at Axiom Space, Christian Maender, said international collaborations, like the Vertical Future project, are an “important component of a future robust space economy” as well as the future of agriculture on Earth.

“This unique collaboration, supported by the UK Space Agency, stands to provide agricultural innovation that will benefit life on Earth and contribute to sustaining a human presence on other planets as part of continued exploration goals,” he said.

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has reiterated and republished prevention advice and legal information regarding livestock worrying.

The union said livestock worrying remains a “serious cause for concern for many farmers” as it has a devastating impact on those affected.

As a result, the NFU has compiled a “guide on action” for farmers to take if an incident occurs and steps to help prevent against the crime of livestock worrying.

Livestock worrying

The union has declared the definition of livestock worrying as when a dog or dogs attack or chase livestock on agricultural land.

The union’s insurance branch, NFU Mutual, published its rural crime report for 2023 yesterday (Tuesday, August 1) which revealed that UK farm animals worth an estimated £1.8 million were killed or injured by dogs in 2022.

Rural business policy advisor at NFU Scotland, Rhianna Montgomery, said spring of this year saw a “constant stream of reports of cattle and sheep being attacked by dogs”.

In the event of an incident of livestock worrying, the NFU has advised farmers to document evidence by either getting somebody to film or taking photographs themselves of what is happening and taking note of identifying details.

These can include checking to see in the person responsible gets into a car and then taking notes of the vehicle’s details.

The union said those affected should then speak to their insurer to see if it is able to offer additional help or advice.

Prevention measures

The NFU said there are simple steps that farmers can take to help prevent dog attacks happening on their land.

These include:

• Putting up signs to encourage dog walkers to keep their dog on a lead around livestock;
• Reporting any incident of worrying to the police, even if the animals are not directly attacked or killed;
• Helping to educate the local community by engaging with relevant groups like local dog training classes;
• Using social media and taking part in events to spread awareness and encourage responsible dog ownership in the area to help prevent livestock worrying.

Legal information

The union has encouraged farmers to be aware of the laws regarding livestock worrying.

It is currently an offence to allow a dog to worry livestock and the offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000 to those found guilty.

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill introduced to parliament on June 8, 2021, included new measures aimed at cracking down on dog attacks on livestock.

“Improved police powers should enable them to respond to livestock worrying incidents more effectively,” the NFU said.

“This can make it easier for them to collect evidence and in the most serious cases seize and detain dogs to reduce the risk of further incidents.”

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A new video aimed at raising awareness of sepsis and its symptoms in farming and rural communities has been launched by rural insurer NFU Mutual in collaboration with the UK Sepsis Trust (UKST).

The six-minute long video features NFU Mutual’s rural affairs specialist, Hannah Binns, and the founder of UKST, Dr. Ron Daniels.

In the video, the discussion is centered around on-farm scenarios where farmers, employees and family members could cut, fall or injure themselves which can then put them at risk of developing sepsis.

NFU Mutual highlighted that farmers are at an increased risk of developing the disease, which claims the lives of five people in the UK every hour, “due to the nature of their work”.

The launch of the video follows the legacy of 26-year-old Hannah Brown, who was a Cumbrian livestock farmer. She died in March of 2021, two days after developing sepsis.

Binns said farmers are fantastic at looking after the health and welfare of their animals, but are less conscious and aware when it comes to their own health.

“However, the very nature of farming means farmers can be more prone to grazes, cuts, falls and injuries that can become infected and potentially lead to sepsis,” she warned.

“Living and working in rural and often isolated settings, means farmers cannot always get medical attention as quickly as they should. 

“This video highlights the real risks of contracting sepsis on a farm. By watching it, we hope farmers learn important information that can potentially save lives and livelihoods.

“I’m really proud that the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is supporting The UK Sepsis Trust’s important work to raise awareness of the condition within the farming community.” 

Sepsis

Also known as blood poisoning, sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. If it isn’t treated immediately, it can result in organ failure and death, NFU Mutual said.

Dr. Ron Daniels described the new video as a “life-saving film”, and said that the UKST is “incredibly grateful” for the support of NFU Mutual’s Charitable Trust.

“While anyone can get sepsis at any time, and it’s not exclusively obtained through infected cuts and scrapes, farmers are one of the key demographics that our charity wanted to help educate following the tragic death of Hannah Brown,” he said.

“I hope that this new film will help further Hannah’s life-saving legacy, and ensure the farming community doesn’t have to experience any more unimaginable tragedies caused by preventable deaths from sepsis.”   

In September last year, UKST delivered their first campaign to try and grow awareness of sepsis among farmers. The campaign included a film in memory of Hannah Brown.  

The new video forms part of the £70,000 donated to UKST by the NFU Mutual’s Charitable Trust in 2022 to support the charity’s work in raising awareness of the risks of sepsis within the rural community. 

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Suffolk Constabulary has issued an appeal for witnesses following a road traffic collision involving a tractor and a lorry.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday (August 2), resulted in a man being airlifted to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

As well as issuing an appeal for witnesses of the tractor crash, police have also released more information on the incident, confirming that the two men involved in the collision are both aged in their 30s.

Police, ambulance crew and an air ambulance were all in attendance to the incident, which occurred near the A1120 and Angel Hill junctions in Little Stonham.

The driver of the tractor was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s hospital following the incident, and the driver of the lorry was taken to Ipswich hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The road was blocked in both directions, between the Coddenham Crossroads and Mendlesham, whilst emergency services attended to the collision and a scene investigation was carried out, Suffolk Constabulary said. The road reopened at approximately 11:50p.m.

“Police are keen to hear from any witnesses to the collision, any motorists with dash cam footage and anybody who witnessed the manner of driving of the vehicles involved,” the force said.

Officers from Suffolk Constabulary were originally called to the scene of the incident on the A140 Norwich Road just before 12:40p.m on Wednesday.

Vehicle safety inspections

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been today (Friday, August 4) reminded of upcoming vehicle inspections to be carried out by the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI).

These inspections are part of the farming transport inspection scheme, which was announced on July 31.

The eight-month long programme will continue until March 2024 and, ahead of the inspecting period, deputy president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) William Irvine has urged farmers to be prepared.

Irvine encouraged farmers to ensure their farm vehicles are adequately maintained and that they hold the correct licenses/training certificates for vehicles in use, as the HSENI will be reviewing these.

UFU deputy president William Irvine said: “Certain vehicles require specific training such as telescopic handlers and all-terrain vehicles.

“Any person operating such vehicles on the farm whether in a field, yard or road during a work activity, must be adequately trained to do so. This is a legal requirement under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (NI) 1999.

“Inspectors will provide information and advice during their inspections, which will include instructions to complete training courses if the driver does not hold the relevant certificate to operate a piece of machinery.”

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A man has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a two-vehicle collision involving a tractor and a lorry, Suffolk Constabulary has said.

The incident occurred today (Wednesday, August 2) in Little Stonham and emergency services attended the scene.

Police were called to the scene just before 12:40p.m to reports of a serious traffic collision on the A140 Norwich Road.

Police, ambulance crew and an air ambulance have all been in attendance to the incident, Suffolk Constabulary said, which occurred near Angel Hill.

The force confirmed that a man has been airlifted to hospital following the incident and that the A140 Norwich Road is now blocked in both directions, between the Coddenham Crossroads and Mendlesham.

“Motorists are advised to find alternative routes,” Suffolk Constabulary said.

Farm accident

Last week, a man died in an incident on a farm in Malvern, Worcestershire. The incident occurred on Friday (July 28) on a farm off the B4220 near Cradley.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the scene at 10:38a.m where crew found the man trapped between vehicles.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said he was in “critical condition” when the two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham arrived.

“Staff immediately began administering advanced life support,” the spokesperson added.

“Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

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A man has died in a incident on a farm in Malvern, Worcestershire this morning (Friday, July 28).

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a farm off the B4220 near Cradley at 10:38a.m today where they found the man trapped between vehicles.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said he was in “critical condition” when the two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham arrived.

“Staff immediately began administering advanced life support,” the spokesperson added.

“Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

It supplied no further information on the detail of the incident.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show that of the 27 people killed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in Great Britain in 2022/2023, three were as a result of being struck by a moving vehicle and three were as a result of contact with machinery.

Struck by a moving vehicle was the most common cause of death in the sector over the five-year period (2018/19-2022/23).

The other main causes of farm deaths in 2022/2023 were injury by an animal (8), fall from height (4), struck by an object (4) and ‘other’ (5).

Being injured by an animal (cattle) caused most deaths.

Agriculture has the worst rate of worker fatal injury (per 100,000 workers) of all the main industry sectors, with the annual average injury rate over the last five years around 21 times as high as the all-industry rate.

The 11th annual Farm Safety Week took place earlier this month (beginning Monday, July 17), during which farmers were encouraged to review their farm safety measures.

“By doing this, you are not only actively working to keep yourself safe, but you are also protecting the farm business and most importantly your family, from the devastating experience of losing a loved one,” Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president William Irvine said.

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Alex Parkinson, farm manager for RBOrganic (part of Burgess Farms), one of the largest organic carrot growers in the UK, has been crowned winner of the Organic Research Centre’s (ORC) Young Organic Farmer/ Grower of the Year (YOFY) Award 2022/2023.

He was publicly announced as winner at the National Organic Conference (NOC) this week, however the Norfolk farmer was not present due to work commitments.

Because of this he received his prize of £1,500 and a selection of books on organic and agroecological farming worth over £500 on an earlier date. 

He was however represented at the conference by Andrew Burgess, agricultural director for Burgess Farms, who said:

“Alex arrived with us as a young man without a farming background and settled in very quickly to the farm. He’s a quick learner, hungry for knowledge and a hard worker with a great personality.

“We’ve just watched him grow and develop over his 10 years with us, taking on more and more responsibility and building his knowledge base.

“In organic farming – and horticulture in particular – attention to detail is the difference between making it or not, and he has got that.”

Young Organic Farmer of the Year 

This year’s awards judges said that Parkinson stood out for his “wide vision for organic farming, the way he has learnt on the job, and his influence on larger producers to think organic”.

Donald Peck chair of ORC’s board of trustees, visited Alex with the other judges and said: “What came across was his enthusiasm, technical knowledge – much of it picked up on the job – and willingness to experiment.

“His success should show how feasible and sensible it is for larger producers to think organic.”

Parkinson was one of three finalists for the awards, the others being vegetable producers Adam Payne and Dee Butterley from Pembrokeshire, and dairy farmers Sophie and Tom Gregory from Dorset.

Lucy MacLennan, ORC CEO, said the quality of entrants for this year’s award was extremely high and all finalists shared a passion for organic farming and demonstrated all the skills required to make a success of their business.

“As the need to embrace organic farming methods becomes ever more evident if we are to combat climate change and address biodiversity loss, we are so proud of our finalists for the difference they are making,” she said.

The 2023/24 Young Organic Farmer/Grower of the Year award is anticipated to open for applications in October.

The award aims to highlight the achievements of young organic farmers and growers who are passionate about implementing organic principles.

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Speaking to Agriland, Adrian Fitzsimons said he hopes his near-death experience will serve as a reminder for all farmers to exercise extreme caution when working with slurry.

The part-time suckler farmer said the freak accident occurred while he was filling a tanker with slurry on Saturday afternoon (June 24).

“I was doing no different than I was doing with every other load of slurry,” he explained.

“I went to walk across the pipe, the tank lid was open and I had safety mesh down and I don’t know did it [the safety mesh] move, but I fell down in a shot into the tank.

“I fell down and the next place I found myself…..was below, on my hands and knees at the bottom of the tank and completely submerged with slurry,” he said.

“The tank was over three-quarters full. When I was standing up in it, [the slurry] was up to my mouth.

“So I swung round quick and found the pipe. The pipe at this stage was still connected to the tanker because I never even got to close down the sluice or do anything like that, it happened as I was going across to do that.

“I got a hold of the pipe and got myself fished up out of the slurry. I pulled myself up and got my head and shoulders and mouth above the slurry.

“I held on to the pipe. My eyes, my ears and my mouth were all full of slurry. I thought if I got a second, I would be able to climb up the pipe and get out,” he continued.

“I pulled and tried and pulled but I could only get up a few inches. I could not get up, I could not get myself out.

“I held onto the pipe as hard as I could because with the muck and everything I tried to just keep my mouth above the slurry, trying to get just a gasp of the fresh air from the manhole above.

“I thought I was gone. The emotion of it, the smell, the ammonia, it was out and out unreal. It was absolutely the scariest thing. I started dehydrating in the tank with the roaring and the shouting and with the slurry.

“I put my hand up and my lips were rock hard. I have a moustache and it was solid with the slurry that was on it and my mouth was dry because when I was submerged down in the slurry, it was up my nose and in my mouth. I was trying to spit it out and my mouth went dry.

“When I was below in the tank, I was slipping because the slurry was coming back up over my shoulders. The pain in my head was unnatural.”

Adrian was in the slurry pit for two and a half hours, from roughly 2:20p.m until 4:50p.m when a friend came.

“I had arranged to meet a friend later on that evening. My phone was in the tractor and he had rang and text several times wondering why I wasn’t replying back,” Adrian explained.

“He just by an off chance landed into the yard and he heard me shouting below in the tank and he got me.

“It’s one of these things you don’t expect to happen but it can happen very, very handy.

“There’s not too many that get the chance to tell the tale. If my story will stop a farmer from taking a chance, well then I’m a happy man.”

Adrian said the slurry tank has been closed and will not be reopened until all safety covers have been fixed.

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What the agents are calling a “first-class arable and livestock farm” in Northumberland is on the market guiding at £6.75 million as a whole, or in three lots.

Branton East Side Farm in Powburn, Alnwick comprises approximately 565ac in total and comes with a five-bedroom house, one-bedroom annex and four cottages.

It lies around 11 miles northwest of Alnwick and the A1 and under a mile from the A697 at Powburn. Alnmouth train station is on the East Coast Main Line providing regular services to Edinburgh, Newcastle and London.

The majority of the farm (350ac) is designated to arable farming, with 175ac as pasture and 33ac of woodland. The land is predominantly assessed as Grade 3 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

It is also currently entered into a Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Scheme, due to run until 2028.

The farm’s buildings have the capacity to house 500 cattle, 1,000 ewes, silage clamps holding 1,800t and storage for 700t of grain. There is also a range of machinery and general storage facilities.

John Coleman, head of farm sales at GSC Grays, which has brought the property to market, said: “This is an exceptional commercial farm in a most attractive location and is already attracting strong interest from buyers across the UK.”

The current owners are retiring, having had the farm in their family for the last two generations.

Northumberland farm

Also for sale in Northumberland is Birdhope Farm, in Northumberland National Park. This approximately 364ac farm is on the market for offers of over £1.2 million.

It comes with a two-storey farmhouse, woodland, permanent pasture, upland grazing and wildlife habitats.

The farm buildings comprise mainly traditional buildings which have been restored, including a range of stables, a distinctive timber hay-barn with slate roof, a workshop and a separate former byre.

Alistair Cochrane said selling agent Galbraith expects a “great deal of interest” in the property.

“The sale of Birdhope Farm offers an outstanding opportunity to acquire a delightful mixed landholding in the heart of the National Park, amidst some of the most striking scenery in England,” Cochrane said.

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Land managers in Scotland have been given more power to help control the deer population, including the use of ‘night sights’ to cull deer in the dark.

Updated rules will also allow authorised land managers to cull male deer across a longer period of the year and use ammunition which is less damaging to venison products.

Biodiversity minister Lorna Slater has said these changes will allow deer to be managed in a way that is “beneficial to our environment and the rural economies that rely upon deer”.

“The changes to rules on ammunition will also boost Scotland’s venison sector,” she added.

“Lead is toxic to humans and its presence can spoil venison products. That’s why we are now allowing land managers to use different types of ammunition. This will make more venison available to both foreign and domestic markets.”

Mike Daniels, vice-convenor of Scottish Environment LINK Deer Group, commented: “We strongly support the Scottish Government’s proposals to improve the flexibility of deer management, based on the independent scrutiny of the Deer Working Group and its final recommendations.

“More than ever we need to make all of the tools available to Scotland’s skilled and experienced deer managers to deliver the urgent changes required for nature and for all of us.”

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor has said he is on the look out for Belgian Blue bulls.

The Mixed Martial art (MMA) fighter, nicknamed ‘The Notorious’, took to Twitter on Thursday evening (June 22) seeking assistance in finding suitable cattle.

The 34-year-old Dubliner did not specify the number of bulls he was seeking but said the cattle would be going “to a good home” in “Ireland”.

McGregor, who has 10 million followers on the social media platform, added that the cattle will have “ample green land for them to roam” .

The post from McGregor read: “Hey guys, I’m in the market for some Belgian Blue Bulls if anyone could direct me. To a good home, Ireland. Ample green land for them to roam. Thanks.”

Unsurprisingly, the request has attracted the attention of Belgian Blue breeders and farmers across the island, with many offering to help McGregor to find the perfect animal.

€52,000 Belgian Blue bull

While the MMA fighter did not make it clear what his budget is for Belgian Blue bulls, last December, a Co. Longford farmer secured €52,000 for a Belgian Blue bull which he sold in an on-farm timed auction.

The January 2022-born bull Fatherson Quest (372 2144752 1 4713), or Rainbows End as he was referred to in the online sale catalogue, was owned by the McGee family and was the highest-priced bull ever sold at an auction in Ireland.

The bull was bought by Co. Limerick-based artificial insemination (AI) firm Bova AI.

The sale was a timed auction and took place on the MartEye ELITE app in association with Mid Tipperary Co Operative Livestock Mart (Thurles Mart).

For comparison purposes, the record for the highest-priced bull at a society sale is understood to be held by Co. Laois man Garrett Behan, for his Simmental bull Lucky Explorer who sold for €52,000 at the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s October Premier Show and Sale in Co. Roscommon in 2020.

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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a heat-health alert for seven regions in England this weekend.

The Status Yellow alert is currently in place from 9:00a.m tomorrow (Friday, June 23) to 9:00a.m on Monday (June 26).

The regions included in the alert are:

• London;
• South East;
• South West;
• East Midlands;
• West Midlands;
• East of England;
• Yorkshire and the Humber.

A heat-health alert is mainly aimed at those affected by and dealing with the health implications of high temperatures.

Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, is urging everyone in these regions to take precautions for the coming weather.

“This heat-health alert means that in the coming days we are likely to experience another sustained period of hot weather, so it’s important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun,” he said.

“Forecasted temperatures this week could primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions.

“If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.”

As farmers and farm workers often work outside it is paramount to take precaution: Apply sunscreen regularly and drink plenty of fluids.

Farmers should also take precautions for livestock by ensuring there is an adequate working water supply in troughs.

On a really hot day, cows can drink anywhere up to 110L/day, at a potential rate of 14L/min.

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UK grocery inflation has fallen to its lowest level since 2022, the latest data from Kantar shows.

It now stands at 16.5% for the four weeks to June 11, which is the lowest level for 2023 so far.

However, it is still the sixth-highest monthly figure in the past 15 years and, according to the market researcher, the price of groceries is the most significant concern for consumers after the price of energy bills.

Nearly 70% of households are either ‘extremely’ or ‘very worried’ about food and drink inflation, Kantar said.

“The ongoing squeeze is clearly weighing on the nation’s mind,” Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said.

In its latest survey of public opinions and social trends in Great Britain, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that an increase in the price of food shopping, at 97%, was the most commonly reported reason among adults for a rise in their cost of living.

Shortly after this was an increase in gas or electricity at 64%; an increase in the price of fuel at 39%; and an increase in rent or mortgage costs at 23%.

Grocery habits

According to its grocery inflation report published today (Tuesday, June 20), Kantar said that the recent heat has shifted consumer buying patterns.

Volume sales of ice cream and mineral water were up by 25% and 8% respectively last month.

However, prices for these items have also risen, as have barbecue items.

Fresh sausage prices have risen by 16% while fresh burgers increased by 13%. Kantar said that this shows grocery price inflation is “continuing to hurt consumers at the till”.

Further insight into general inflation in the UK will come available tomorrow (Wednesday, June 21) as the ONS publishes its next update.

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The herbicide asulox (asulam) has been approved via Emergency Authorisation for bracken control in England in 2023.

Application of the chemical will be authorised from July 1, until September 11, after which spraying cannot take place.

However, to avoid interaction with breeding birds, it is recommend that application take place after August 1, or as late in July as possible.

The deadline for storage and disposal of stocks is October 27, after which it will be illegal to hold stocks of asulox; unopened containers will be accepted by distributors.

Emergency authorisation

Aerial application using low-drift nozzles has been included in the authorisation, subject to an aerial spraying permit. An Aerial Spray Permit is required for each job and application forms can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) website.

Ground-based application has been authorised for conservation areas only, which have a statutory conservation designation.

There is no change to the no-spray buffer zones included in previous authorisations. Further drift trails will take place in 2023.

Further details on application specification can be obtained from the Bracken Control Group – the Emergency Authorisation holder.

The full Emergency Authorisation will be published on the website of the Chemicals Regulation Division of the HSE.

Bracken control

This Emergency Authorisation is for England only; a decision as to its allowed use in the rest of the UK has yet to be announced.

Just last week Scottish farming and land organisations called on the Scottish government to “urgently” approve the chemical for bracken control.

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf had recently emphasised that Scotland was waiting on other governments to respond to the HSE before it could issue a UK-wide authorisation.

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Birdhope Farm, extending to around 364.32ac (147.44ha) in the heart of Northumberland National Park, is coming to market for offers over £1.2 million.

The farm rests in Redesdale, but is convenient for access to local facilities including at Rochester (two miles) and Otterburn (six miles) while the city of Newcastle is just 37 miles, and Newcastle Airport is 32 miles.

It comes with a two-storey farmhouse, woodland, permanent pasture, upland grazing and wildlife habitats.

The farmhouse is believed to be mainly of 19th century construction and is faced in dressed sandstone, understood to be from the Blaxter Quarry, renowned for its high-quality stone. It is double-glazed.

It includes a living room, incorporating Coalbrookdale stove; dining room; kitchen incorporating with a Jotul woodburning stove; shower room; pantry/utility room and further pantry; two double bedrooms; a single bedroom; and a family bathroom.

The farm buildings, which are close to the house, comprise a range of mainly traditional buildings which have been restored, including a range of stables, a distinctive timber hay-barn with slate roof, a workshop and a separate former byre.

It includes around 19ac of mowable land adjacent to the River Rede, as well as about 26ac of enclosed, permanent pasture. Further to the southwest, as the land rises, the fell grazing extends to about 302ac.

The farm also comes with bank fishing rights on 1,500m of the River Rede, which has a resident population of brown trout.

Alistair Cochrane said selling agent Galbraith expects a “great deal of interest” in the Northumberland property.

“The sale of Birdhope Farm offers an outstanding opportunity to acquire a delightful mixed landholding in the heart of the National Park, amidst some of the most striking scenery in England,” Cochrane said.

“The purchaser will be able to continue the well-established livestock enterprise and there may be potential to develop a further rural or tourism business if desired, making use of some of the wonderful traditional farm buildings, subject to planning consent.

“There is also scope for further tree planting or other natural capital projects.

“The house is of great character, has beautiful views over the surrounding countryside and has been tastefully restored to provide a superb family home,” he added.

“The landholding is a fascinating mix of flower-rich meadow land, permanent pasture, native woodland and fell grazing. The fishing rights on the River Rede further add to the amenity value of the property.

“Given its glorious location and versatility, we expect a great deal of interest.”

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The weekend of the coronation of King Charles at the beginning of May saw a large increase in the consumption of meat across the country, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has said.

The uptake of meat over the coronation weekend was predicted by the AHDB early in May, as previous Royal Family events, such as Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, showed a significant increase in the consumption of meat.

The most popular choice of meat over the weekend was pork, but the public enjoyed a wide range of goods, including beef, lamb, and many dairy and poultry products.

Meat consumption

Pork pies and cooked sausages were firm favourites of the weekend, as sales rose by 20% and 16%

Sausage rolls saw a 22% uplift during the coronation, when compared with the last two weeks of April 2023.

Sliced beef-based cooked meats saw a rise, which the AHDB said was “perhaps due to increased patriotism for quintessential British flavours such as roast beef and horseradish sandwiches”.

As a roast rack of lamb was one of the official coronation dishes, AHDB head of marketing Carrie McDermid said the dish “highlights the important role British livestock farmers play in sustainable food production.”

Other sectors

Other farming sectors also profited from the coronation, as the dairy industry saw fresh cream sales rise by 80%, with the public eager to make homemade deserts and baked goods, including the coronation quiche.

The coronation quiche, which was personally chosen by the King and Camilla, no doubt contributed to the consumption of dairy products, as the ingredients include cream, cheese, butter, and milk.

Grocery sales went up 16% during the week of the coronation when compared with the average two-week period.

The coronation caused sales of scotch eggs to go up by 31%, as the poultry sector saw a rise in the use of their produce across the weekend.

Charlotte Forkes-Rees, an analyst at AHDB said: “This latest data shows the importance of key events for food consumption habits.

“The nation loves to celebrate, so even ad hoc events such as the King’s Coronation provides an excellent opportunity to boost sales of both red meat and dairy.”

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The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has paid tribute to its former deputy general secretary and legal advisor, Labour Peer Baron Morris of Aberavon.

Morris died aged 91 earlier this week, and the FUW has since credited him with being “instrumental” in the establishing of the union.

He founded and edited the union’s newspaper ‘Y Tir’, which continues to be published monthly, and set up union branches across the country to give legal advice to farmers throughout Wales.

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “The FUW, Welsh farming and Wales as a whole have lost a great friend and advocate.

“We will always remain indebted to Lord Morris for his early work in helping establish the FUW and for remaining a close friend of the union to the end.”  

Before his death on June 5, 2023, Morris was the last surviving member of Harold Wilson’s 1974–76 cabinet, and the longest-serving privy counsellor.

Lord Morris

Morris served as FUW deputy secretary general and legal advisor between 1955 and 1957 which he described as “..two of the most demanding years of my life, I promised to stay in Wales for three months, three months became a year, and a year became two”.

After its conception, the union was given three months to live by some critics, FUW said, and Morris stated: “It gave me a lot of pleasure to attend the 50 years celebrations at Newtown in 2005, a rather longer life than the three months envisaged in 1955.”

He then went on to be elected as the Labour MP for Aberavon in Glamorgan at the 1959 general election.

Roberts said that Morris continued to communicate with the FUW on agricultural matters that arose in the Houses of Parliament throughout his political life.

Morris referred to a meeting at Chwilog Market in his book ‘Fifty years in Politics and the Law’. He recalls hundreds of farmers gathering for a huge debate regarding establishing an independent agricultural Union for Welsh farmers, and stated that he was proud to have organised it.

Glyn Roberts recalled a conversation with Morris a number of years later when he said that in all his political and legal career the most exciting time was the meeting with potential members at Chwilog.

In 1978, while serving as Secretary of State for Wales, Morris secured the FUW’s formal recognition by government as independently representing the interests of farmers in Wales.

John Morris was Member of Parliament for Aberavon from 1959 to 2001 and held positions in the governments of James Callaghan, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair.

From 1974 to 1979 he served as Secretary of State for Wales and was attorney general from 1997 and 1999. He was made a life peer in 2001.

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Nomination are now open for the 2023 Young Farmer Club Achiever Awards – defined as a “special celebration of the achievements of rural young people”.

Set up by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Club (NFYFC), the awards are sponsored by Kärcher UK and aim to celebrate the achievements of young farmers.

The awards ceremony for the 2023 Achiever Awards will be held in Birmingham at the National Conference Centre (NCC) on November 3, 2023.

The NFYFC said the awards are a way of recognising and rewarding members of YFCs for the work they do in the community, for enterprising initiatives and for helping to develop other rural young people.

The judges for the awards include:

• Lizzie Mclaughlin – one half of the Becca and Lizzie podcast;
• Welsh farmer and TV presenter Gareth Wyn Jones; and
• Farmer and star of TV documentary ‘Born Mucky’, Ally Hunter Blair.

The awards will be presented by NFYFC’s president Nigel Owens.

“I am delighted to be involved in the YFC Achiever Awards 2023, which celebrate the amazing young people involved in this organisation,” Owens said.

“The commitment to their rural communities, the entrepreneurship that benefits our rural economy and the dedication to supporting the development of other young people deserves to be recognised.  

“There are many unsung heroes among the YFC community, and I’m urging everyone to get their nominations in now so we can thank those special people at our impressive awards ceremony in November.” 

Nominations can be made online at the NFYFC website and must be submitted before the deadline of July 17, 2023.

Award categories

Club of the Year

A new award for this year is the NFYFC Club of the Year award, which is sponsored by agricultural machinery company CFMOTO.

The award aims to celebrate YFCs who have demonstrated how well they can operate. Judges will be looking for examples of their programming, budgeting and a general demonstration of how a good YFC should be run.

Livestock and farming fine art illustrator, Kate Simpson, will be judging this category alongside the chief executive of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), Robert Sheasby, and the NFYFC chair, Rosie Bennett.

“We have introduced the Club of the Year category into the YFC Achiever Awards this year as we want to celebrate the achievements of our club committees,” Bennett said.

“These teams of volunteers put together the club programmes, manage the budgets, handle the recruitment and organise all the competitions and events.

“This award aims to champion those clubs that are running their charities to a high standard and raising the bar for YFC.”

Young Farmer of the Year

The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) is sponsoring the 2023 Young Farmer of the Year award category, which seeks to reward someone who promotes best practice in the industry.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Sponsored by Kuhn, the entrepreneur of the year award aims to award enterprising young people.

The judges include hoof trimmer Ant Thomas, who launched the @Keepingcowsmoovin social media account, who will be looking for new rural and farming initiatives that YFC members have launched.

Aspiring Rural Leader

The Aspiring Rural Leader award is supported by Savills and hopes to fund examples of young rural people who are “making their mark”.

The award aims to reward YFC members for leadership in their clubs and counties.

Heart of YFC

The NFYFC has said that one of the most popular awards is where the winner is chosen by the YFC membership in an online poll.

The Heart of YFC Award, sponsored by headline sponsor Kärcher UK, is presented to the person that YFC members believe represents the true spirit of YFC.  

The remaining award categories consist of:

• The Community Spirit Award – sponsored by Tama;
• The New Member of the Year Award – sponsored by Eternit; and
• The YFC Supporter of the Year Award.

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The university has labelled the method as “potentially game-changing” and said that it has the potential to be applied across the global food supply chain.

The study findings, published today (Thursday, June 8) in the Nature Communications journal, found that fusing the data from two different food testing methods combined with the use of artificial intelligence can result in more accurate results than any single method alone.

The study used salmon as a case study, sourcing over 500 samples from both farmed and wild productions, from Alaska, Norway, Iceland and Scotland.

Researchers were keen to overcome the struggles in fish authenticity testing as fish products can be vulnerable to food fraud.

Lead author of the study, PhD student Yunhe Hong, said the research has greatly improved the ability to correctly identify where fish are from and has sparked hope that it will be able to be applied to other produce.

“This innovative approach has the potential to be applied to many other food-authenticity applications, a very exciting thought,” she said.

“During this project, we also uncovered many other important aspects of food security which we hope to further explore.”

Co-author, Prof. Chris Elliot, added: “The problem with much of the food we eat is that if travels across complex, multinational food chains and the opportunities for fraud are substantial.

“In the fight against global food fraud, science will play an increasingly important role to deter criminals and detect fraud.

“This study is the latest innovation from our team at IGFS and we are proud to help protect businesses and consumers from potential food safety and fraud risks.”

Methods and findings

The IGFS measured the lipid fingerprint of the fish used in the research, as well as the elemental fingerprint, and fused this together into a single ‘data lake’.

After this, the team used high-powered data analytics to produce a diagnostic tool to determine the geographical origins of the fish and the method of production (farmed or wild).

Towards the end of the project, further samples of salmon from UK supermarkets were tested using the new method to compare results.

Researchers again found there was 100% correlation between information provided by the retailers and what they had found in the lab when testing.

The study took three years in total and researchers believe the results will be “very reassuring to the UK consumer”.

The authors of the study also said the findings have significant potential for use in other foods to better ensure authenticity and combat fraud.

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The first heat-health alert has been issued and applies to six regions of England.

The UK’s Met Office and the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) launched the new heat-health alerting (HHA) service last week to focus more specifically on the health impacts that high temperatures could have on the health of the population.

The six regions included in the first-ever heat-health alert are as follows:

• London;
• East Midlands;
• West Midlands;
• East of England;
• South East;
• South West.

These regions will be under a status yellow heat-health alert from 9:00a.m on Friday (June 9) until Monday (June 12).

The UKHSA and the Met Office have said that a yellow alert covers a range of situations and will be issued during periods of heat/cold which would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable.

The partnership warned that, if current forecasted temperatures are reached, it is likely that there could be “some impacts across the health and social care sector”.

The Met Office has forecasted temperatures as high as 30° during the course of the status yellow heat-health alert.

According to the national weather forecaster predictions, Saturday (June 10) will see the warmest temperatures.

Hot weather

Head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, Dr. Agostinho Sousa, said England is likely to experience its “first sustained period of hot weather of the year so far” over the coming days.

Deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Dan Harris, said: “Temperatures will rise later this week and into the weekend, with a plume of warm air being drawn in from the south.

“Temperatures over the weekend could peak around 30° in some parts of England and remain well above average overnight through the weekend.”

Coupled with the rise in temperatures is an increase in the likelihood of some potentially heavy and thundery showers, Harris warned.

These could bring some “localised disruption” for some from late on Friday and into the weekend, he said.

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Marks & Spencer (M&S) has removed the use-by dates across its Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Assured Select Farms British and organic fresh milk.

The change, which will see the ‘use-by’ dates replaced with ‘best-before’ dates, is being rolled out across all its UK stores from this week as part of the grocer’s commitment to halving food waste by 2030.

M&S started stocking RSPCA Assured milk back in 2017 and has slowly grown the range it offers of the assured products – which meet the RSPCA’s animal welfare standards.

Director of collaboration and change at Waste & Resources Action programme (WRAP), Catherine David, said milk is the third most-wasted food in the home, with around 490 million pints poured down the drain every year.

This milk, she said, is worth £270 million and equates to 18 and a half per household every year. According to David, the reason this milk is wasted is because of the use of use-by dates instead of best-before dates.

“The main reason is not drinking before the use-by date,” she said.

“By changing its British and organic fresh milk to a best-before date, M&S is instantly helping its customers save money and cut waste by giving them more time to consume the milk they buy,” she said.

“WRAP’s joint best practice with the Food Standards Agency, Defra (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Dairy UK states to only apply a use-by date when required for food safety reasons, and it’s fantastic to see M&S – a Courtauld 2030 signatory – making this switch.

“This type of change to labelling is fundamental in helping people reduce household food waste, which currently tops more than 6.6 million tonnes each year across the UK.”

Food waste

M&S has said it is targeting a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030, with 100% of edible surplus to be redistributed by 2025 as part of its roadmap to net zero.

Plan A, launched in 2007, has seen the retailer promise to commit to tackling issues like food waste, plastic packaging and maintaining animal welfare standards.

Director of corporate affairs at M&S, Victoria McKenzie-Gould, said: “Since we launched Plan A in 2007, we’ve been taking action on our roadmap to net zero and on the issues that matter most to our customers.

“It’s never a job done but over the past year our colleagues have done a fantastic job – from being first to market on higher welfare chicken to removing 75m units of plastic packaging.

“We know tackling food waste is a priority for our customers and we’re confident that these small changes to the packaging of our RSPCA Assured fresh milk, will make a big difference – as seen when we led the way in the removal of best before dates on our fruit and vegetables.”

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Nearly 40 Nuffield Farming scholars will present their findings at this year’s Nuffield Farming ‘Super Conference’ held in November.

The conference will take place at Sandy Park in Exeter, Devon, from November 14-16, 2023.

Director of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, Mike Vacher, said the event is open to all and will features a diverse range of titles and studies from the scholars.

“Tickets to our conference are not restricted just to scholars, and Nuffield welcomes anyone who wishes to attend,” he said.

“With study titles spanning a huge range of topics and sectors, this year’s event is not to be missed for anyone who works within the food, farming, rural and land-based industries in the UK.

“We look forward to hearing from our 2020, 2021 and 2022 Scholars about net zero agendas, public perceptions, plant breeding, livestock management, aquaculture, viticulture, deer management, robotics, data monitoring, water – the list goes on.”

The three-day event will include a welcome buffet, a formal annual dinner, two days of scholar presentations and pre-conference farm visit to Wastenage Farms – where Pete and Di Wastenage milk 2,700 cows.

Tickets are available now and can be purchased at a discounted early bird price until August 31, organisers said.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) is a registered charity that awards scholarships annually in the UK to young people between the ages of 22 and 45 from across the agricultural industry.

Applications for 2024 Nuffield Farming Scholarships are currently open until July 31, 2023.

The trust said it looks to unlock an individual’s potential and broaden horizons through study and travel overseas with the support of its sponsors.

Scholars are selected with a view to developing tomorrow’s leaders within their individual business and the industry as a whole.

The charity awards approximately 20 individuals each year with the opportunity to research topics of interest in farming, food, horticulture, forestry or any other countryside and ancillary industry.

Scholars are able to travel anywhere in the world for a period of no less than eight weeks to further their knowledge and understanding of their chosen study topic.

A bursary of approximately £7,500 will be given towards the scholars travel and subsistence expenses.

In addition, the trust and the individual award sponsor will meet their travel and expenses in relation to the pre-study briefing and Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC). The total value of a scholarship is in excess of £13,000, the charity said.

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A new heat alert system is set to help farmers and rural communities prepare for very high temperatures .

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today (Thursday, June 1) launched a new heat-health alerting (HHA) service in partnership with the Met Office.

The new system will focus more specifically on the health impacts that high temperatures could have on the health of the population.

Any HHAs will contain the following information when issued:

• Headline weather conditions expected in the coming days;
• An outline of what impacts might be expected;
• A brief overview of the regional impact assessment;
• Links to additional information, advice and guidance.

During the “core alerting season”, which is in place between June 1 and September 30, the UKHSA and the Met Office will monitor the weather forecasts.

Where episodes of hot weather are identified, a joint dynamic risk assessment will be carried out and the appropriate alert issued.

Head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, Dr. Agostinho Sousa, said: “Our heat-health alerting system plays a vital role in notifying professionals and the public of forecasted high temperatures that can affect the health of those most at risk, particularly individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.

“Last year saw record high temperatures across England and evidence shows that heatwaves are likely to occur more often, be more intense and last longer in the years and decades ahead.

“It is important we are able to quantify the likely impacts of these heatwaves before they arrive to prevent illness and reduce the number of deaths.”

Sousa said the UKHSA is looking forward to collaborating with the Met Office to “provide evidence-based advice to professionals and the public, to ensure they are well-equipped to respond to these events”.

Met Office

In order to align with the Met Office’s current warning system, UKHSA alerts will be given a colour (yellow, amber or red) based on the combination of the impact the weather conditions could have, and the likelihood of those impacts being reached.

The four alerts are:

• Green (preparedness): no alert will be issued as the conditions are likely to have minimal impact on health; business as usual and summer/winter planning and preparedness activities;
• Yellow (response): these alerts cover a range of situations; yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat/cold which would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable;
• Amber (enhanced response): an amber alert indicates that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, and at this level some health impacts may be seen across the wider population, not just the most vulnerable; non-health sectors may also start to observe impacts and a more significant coordinated response may be required;
• Red (emergency response): a red alert indicates significant risk to life for even the healthy population; severe impacts would be expected across all sectors with a coordinated response essential.

Head of situational awareness at the Met Office, Will Lang, said: “We are looking forward to working even more closely with UKHSA following the changes to the heat-health alerting system, which builds on the work we have already been doing together.

“The effects of human-induced climate change are already being felt on UK summers with an increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events over recent decades and temperatures in excess of 40°C recorded for the first time last summer.”

Lang said the updated health alerts will be complementary to, and run alongside, the Met Office’s national severe weather warnings.

They will play a “pivotal role in helping save lives, protect property and the economy as we all work to tackle adverse weather and climate change going forward”, he said.

“It is only by working in close partnership with organisations like UKHSA that effective action can be taken when it matters,” he said.

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The National Farmers’ Union of Wales (NFU Cymru) will stream two food and farming lessons to schools across Wales next month, with the option of delivery in the Welsh language.

The lessons will be available in both the English and Welsh languages, and are designed for children between the ages of seven and 11 years old.

In collaboration with NFU Education, the two live lessons will be streamed on Wednesday, June 21, as part of the union’s annual Welsh Farming Week.

To enhance the learning experience, NFU Cymru said, curriculum-aligned, bilingual resources will also be made available to schools. Cross-curricular tasks will also be provided, with the aim of providing an extension to the live lesson learning.

NFU Cymru deputy president, Abi Reader, said the union wants to “bring the farmyard to the classroom” and provide an opportunity for every school in Wales to join the learning in “an interactive way”.

“The aim of the lessons will be about re-engaging pupils with Welsh food and farming and giving them an insight into what happens on a working farm – all while helping teachers to deliver the new curriculum for Wales,” she said.

“We are hoping to engage with thousands of pupils through this initiative and help further promote the Welsh language by having a dedicated Welsh language lesson in the afternoon.”

Lessons

The live lesson taught through the English language will be streamed at 11.00am on the day, with the lesson in the Welsh language being streamed at 2.00pm.

The lessons will be hosted by two former Welsh NFU Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors, Erin McNaught and Sioned Davies.

They will teach for approximately 45 minutes and will provide insights into various farming practices – such as lambing, shearing and rounding-up sheep.

There will also be a live on-farm presentation, as well as a 15-minute question and answer session, answering all the questions pupils may have from the classroom, NFU Cymru said.

The union is hoping to build on its “hugely popular” Science Farm Live initiative, which saw over 4,500 participating schools.

NFU Cyrmu said it is “hoping to harness the expertise of NFU Education and provide a bespoke offering in Wales, making the learning experience inclusive to every pupil whether in an English or Welsh speaking class”.

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This year’s Groundswell Festival will feature over 100 sessions and 200 speakers, organisers have announced.

The regenerative agriculture-focused event aims to answer some of the questions raised by industry relating to regenerative agriculture.

The event, which will take place at Lannock Manor Farm in Hertfordshire on June 28-29, will include discussions of a variety of topics including soil health, water systems, fibre farming, nutrition, supply chains and landscape-scale regeneration.

Organisers said the discussions will answer industry questions through “open discussion and shared experiences”.

This includes linking soil health and vegetable production, establishing agroforestry systems, landscape recovery, integrated pest and disease management and governmental policies.

A list of the discussion topics include:

• ‘Is it time to certify regenerative agriculture?’;
• ‘What Your Food Ate’;
• ‘Why Won’t the UK State Take Food – Not Just Farming – Seriously?’;
• ‘Human Scale Regenerative Farming’.

Discussions will also be held around issues concerning livestock. These will include ‘Climate Friendly Sheep Farming’; ‘An Introduction to Pasture for Life’; ‘Mob Grazing’; ‘Regenerative Grazing for Dairy‘; ‘Mobile Abattoir Demo’; ‘Pastured Poultry Profits’; and ‘Integrating Animals into Arable Systems’.

Tickets are available via the Groundswell Festival website and those interested are urged to order tickets as soon as possible, as they are on a first-come basis and the event has sold out for the last two years consecutively, organisers warned.

Key discussions

Journalist and publisher Rosie Boycott will host the discussion on the certification of regenerative agriculture. Her panel will debate and discuss options for the future.

The panel will include chief executive of the Soil Association, Helen Browning; farm manager at Whitbread Farms in Bedfordshire, Mike Purnell; biochemist and deputy chair of the Environment Agency, Judith Batchelar OBE; and ecology, social and governance advisor, Catherine Chong.

‘What Your Food Ate’ will be hosted by Anne Bikle at the main stage located in festival marquee, the ‘Big Top’.

The panel discussion will be centred around how the roots of good health start on farms. Bikle will explore the long-running partnership through which crops and soil life nourish on another.

Prof. Tim Lang at University of London’s centre for food policy will discuss ‘Why Won’t the UK State Take Food – Not Just Farming – Seriously?’.

The discussion aims to explore UK food resilience and security, food politics and whether the UK can grow more food from its own resources.

‘Human Scale Regenerative Farming’, hosted by Richard Perkins of Ridgedale Farm, will focus on his approach to land planning, economics and management.

A ‘form of collaboration’

“When we first launched Groundswell Festival, seven years ago, we only hoped we would be bringing together over 200 speakers and 100 sessions, most of which have been self-designed by the speakers and organisations,” a spokesperson for the festival said.

“This form of collaboration is what makes Groundswell Festival so special, ensuring it continues to remain a farming-led event, encompassing all aspects of regenerative agriculture.

“With even more people planning to stay for the full two days and camp, we have looked at the programme to ensure we have something on offer from 6:00a.m to 10:00p.m covering a wide range of topics.”

One of the highlights, they said, is “watching everyone in the evening enjoying the entertainment and embracing the festival experience”.

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The current cost-of-living crisis across the UK has been replaced by a cost-of-greed crisis, according to Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Stephen Flynn.

Speaking during Prime Minister Question’s in the House of Commons today (Wednesday, May 24), the Westminster leader of the SNP asked Rishi Sunak if he believes retailers could be doing more to alleviate cost pressures for consumers as inflation remains at a “near-45-year high”.

Citing the latest figures on consumer price inflation published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, he said:

“We learned today that the prices of milk, cheese and eggs are up 29%. The price of pasta is up 27%. The price of a loaf of bread [by] 18%.

“Does the Prime Minister agree that this is no longer just a cost-of-living crisis, this is a cost-of-greed crisis?”

In his response, Sunak told Flynn that he was “right to highlight the impact of food inflation” as it is “too high”.

And while he welcomed today’s ONS headline was that food inflation had fallen to 8.7%, he reiterated Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt’s, statements on Twitter earlier today that it does not mean “we should not get complacent”.

Today’s fall in inflation to 8.7% – the lowest rate in over a year – shows we’re on the right track, but there is no room for complacency.

The IMF said yesterday we have acted decisively to tame inflation, but there is still work to be done – especially on food prices.

(1/3)

— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) May 24, 2023

Sunak highlighted Hunt’s recent meeting with members of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address what retailers can do to help ease inflationary prices for consumers, concluding that the government is “doing everything we can to manage the challenges of the cost of living”.

Hunt confirmed yesterday (Tuesday, May 23) following the meeting with the CMA that the government stands ready to update pricing rules and guidance on the back of the CMA’s review of unit pricing.

Food inflation

Chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Helen Dickinson, has said that government should avoid “creating unnecessary new regulatory burdens” that would make food inflation worse.

“From new packaging costs and a deposit return scheme, to new Windsor Framework labelling and food advertising regulations, the government would do well to minimise the cost-impact of new policy initiatives,” she said.

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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called for Scotland to provide “adequate long-term funding” for its veterinary education courses.

President of the BVA, Malcolm Morley, said Scotland has “long been at the forefront of veterinary education”, but that the “impressive work” of its vet schools need government support to remain sustainable.

“Scotland has long been at the forefront of veterinary education and is home to two of the oldest veterinary schools in the UK,” he said.

“The exciting development of SRUC’s School of Veterinary Medicine is timely, offering a new model and aiming to increase access to the profession and encourage graduates to stay in rural areas once qualified — complementing the impressive work already underway in Scotland’s existing vet schools.

“However, more than ever, it’s crucial that the Scottish Funding Council provides the necessary financial support.

“The reality is that current funding per Scottish vet student doesn’t meet the cost of providing this education — and while the vet schools have been increasingly resourceful in implementing innovative models, the future of veterinary education in Scotland sits on a precipice if sustainable long-term funding is not assured.”

Morley also said the Scottish government should invest in people and infrastructure of public sector veterinary services.

Veterinary Surgeons Act

Morley also called for the Scottish government to join the BVA in lobbying the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for urgent legislative reform of the “outdated” Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Morley said the act “doesn’t recognise these important roles or enable us to embrace the full potential of the wider veterinary team”.

On the agricultural transition in Scotland, Morley said veterinary engagement will be key to its successful development and that it must support animal health and welfare and sustainability.

“The new agricultural policy offers the opportunity to harness the unique and trusted relationship which exists between vets and farmers, empowering collaboration to drive positive outcomes on all levels,” he said.

“Central to this is developing sustainable agricultural practices that minimise environmental impact and prioritise animal health and welfare.

“To enable this, we must ensure there is veterinary engagement and representation on key bodies such as the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board, AREOB, and safeguard animal health and welfare as a central component of agricultural transition — alongside our custodianship of the land.”

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Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s Student Bursary Award 2023 is now open for applications for qualifying students.

The £1,000 bursary is open to students studying agriculture, veterinary science, agricultural engineering, food technology, forestry or other subjects clearly allied to agriculture.

Applications are now open and will close on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

The award aims to financially help anyone from the UK who is currently studying, or has been accepted to start their studies.

The tax-free bursary will be awarded to the student who, in the opinion of a panel of judges, has submitted the best dissertation on how the bursary will assist them to complete their course of study, the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society said.

President of the society, Brian Jones, said: “I would urge all Pembrokeshire students who study subjects that are clearly aligned to agriculture to apply for this bursary as it won’t only assist with your studies but will also give you great experiences such as undertaking an interview which is a key employment skill.

“It will also assist in your future career within the agriculture industry.”

Applications

Qualifying students must not have won the student bursary on a previous occasion and must be studying, or been accepted to study, any of the allied agriculture subjects at a UK college or university at A-Level or higher.

The applicants’ family home must also be in Pembrokeshire for them to qualify to apply for the bursary.

To enter, students must submit a dissertation of 1,000 words entitled: “How the bursary will assist my career progression”.

Chair of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s bursary committee, Will James, said: “A panel of independent judges, chaired by a representative of the society, will draw up a short list of candidates who will be interviewed and the winning candidate will be asked to give a short presentation at a future meeting of the society’s show council.

“The standard of applications has always been exceptional which gives a lot of heart that there are a lot of very talented young people in our community.

“We are very much looking forward to receiving applications for this year’s bursary and hearing from the younger generation.”

Last year’s winner of the award was Rebecca Roberts from Camrose, Haverfordwest, who studied at Harper Adams University between 2019 and 2021. She is currently studying at Harper & Keele Veterinary School.

Further details on the bursary and the entry form can be found on the Pembrokeshire County Show website.

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The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has launched a consultation on proposals to change the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) for importing, batch testing, and batch release of veterinary medicines.

These proposals would apply to Great Britain and their aim, the VMD said, is to reduce “unnecessary regulatory burdens on industry”.

The consultation will run for four weeks until the closing date of June 15.

Veterinary medicines

Batch testing is the process that every veterinary medicine must go through to confirm it has the correct composition. It helps to ensure that medicines are high quality and have the desired therapeutic effect.

This consultation proposes recognising the batch testing and batch release of veterinary medicines in countries with equivalent regulatory standards, therefore eliminating the need for repeat batch testing and release when imported into Great Britain.

VMD head of inspections and enforcement division, John Millward, said: “I am pleased to see the launch of this consultation, which focuses on very important requirements of our legislation.

“We have listened to the views of our stakeholders over the last few years and we believe the resulting proposals balance their views, which are to reduce regulatory burden and enable them to cost-effectively import and release veterinary medicines with our responsibility to appropriately regulate those products being placed on the Great Britain market.”

This consultation relates to Great Britain only as the current arrangements for batch testing and release for products supplied to Northern Ireland, set out in the Windsor Framework, will continue through to 2025.

The public can share their views on the proposals directly through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Citizen Space.

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Agricultural universities across the UK have announced that they are teaming up to help “strengthen the difference they make on the ground” through a joint research strategy.

Their plans include working with farming networks to get a sector-wide picture of research priorities, coordinating how they share evidence and training the next generation of scientists to research farming systems.

Launched today (Thursday, May 18) at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) Swindon campus, the new research strategy aims to respond to the major challenges and changes facing agriculture.

The group is comprised of the following agricultural universities:

• Aberystwyth University;
• Cranfield University;
• Harper Adams University;
• Hartpury University;
• Newcastle University;
• Queens University Belfast;
• RAU;
• Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC);
• University of Edinburgh;
• University of Hertfordshire;
• University of Leeds;
• University of Lincoln;
• University of Nottingham;
• University of Reading;
• University of Warwick;
• Writtle University College.

Chair of rural policy and strategy at the RAU, and lead author of the report, Prof. Tom MacMillan, said: “A good deal of time, money and thought goes into agricultural research, but is it achieving as much as it should?

“This strategy is about focusing that effort to make it more useful on the ground at a time when farmers and the environment are under huge pressure.

“This kind of joined-up working has proved tricky over the years because, rightly, research is independent and decentralised.

“What I hope is refreshing about this strategy is that the universities have recognised we have a shared responsibility and we’re teaming up and taking the initiative where we can.”

Importance of research

Executive chair of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Melanie Welham, said research and innovations can provides solutions to “many of the global challenges we face today”.

“To realise its full potential, we need a research and innovation system that is connected and engaged, allowing us to maximise opportunities for new discoveries and ways to deliver impact.

“The commitments and actions set out within the AUC Joint Research Strategy reflect these ambitions and are very much welcomed by BBSRC.”

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters echoed the sentiments of Welham and the BBSRC, highlighting that science and research play a “vital role” in enabling farmers and growers to be part of the solutions to the issues facing the food system.

The important role of science and research, Batters said, is seen through providing on-farm decision makers with robust evidence of what works, informing and analysing regulation and ensuring that change leads to sustainable benefits for all.

“I’m very pleased that the leading universities also recognise their responsibilities and the opportunities to increase their value to farming through a coordinated research strategy,” she said.

A ‘highly timely initiative’

Prof. Sir Charles Godfray of Oxford University said the joint research strategy is “a highly timely initiative”.

“It is to the great credit of the network of universities with expertise in agriculture that they have come together to form the Agricultural Universities Council (AUC) and to examine critically how research in this area needs to evolve and strengthen.

“The UK government recently published a Science and Technology Framework with a ten-point plan to make the UK a Science and Technology Superpower.

“This report, and future work planned by the AUC, will help ensure that agricultural research, interpreted broadly, is part of this vision.”

Henry Dimbleby of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it is “so welcome” to see scientists join forces in this way.

“This is the kind of strategic leadership called for by the deep and urgent crises in our food and farming.”

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Midlothian veterinary surgeon Gareth Hateley has been named as the new president of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Scottish branch.

According to the BVA, Hately, who is an expert in cattle disease surveillance, will bring almost 40 years of experience from a “rich and varied” career to the role, spanning from farm animal practice, veterinary pathology, disease surveillance and veterinary leadership.

Commenting on his appointment, Hateley said it was a big honour for him and that he is looking forward to serving BVA members in Scotland.

“I look forward to championing the voice of vets on priority issues affecting animal health and welfare and the veterinary profession.

“This includes climate change, a topic that I’m passionate about. I hope to be able to contribute to the Scottish government’s agricultural transition development as well as provide some leadership to the profession on this pressing issue,” he said.

Gareth Hateley

Hateley qualified from the University of Cambridge in 1986 and worked in private mixed-practice for 18 years, with a special focus on farm animal medicine.

During this time, he became partner of an Oxfordshire practice, alongside introducing clinical auditing and herd health planning.

Hateley moved into the civil service in 2005, where he held a number of roles including veterinary pathology, policy development and leadership of the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA’s) UK-wide Cattle Expert Group, before retiring in August 2021.

He was president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association in 2013 and has served for many years on groups such as Ruminant Health and Welfare and Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS).

He now serves on the boards of BVDFree England and Livestock Health Scotland.

Gareth has lived in Scotland for nearly seven years and has been a member of the BVA Scottish Branch Council for four years. He succeeds wildlife vet Romain Pizzi as BVA Scottish Branch president.

Speaking on Hateley’s appointment, BVA president Malcolm Morley said: “On behalf of everyone at BVA, I am delighted to welcome Gareth as the new Scottish branch president.

“Gareth’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable in championing the veterinary voice in Scotland to government, industry, farmers and our other partners.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Romain Pizzi for all he has done for the Branch during his term as president.”

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The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) is looking to appoint four new members, including a new chair.

The VPC advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on veterinary medicinal products and animal feed additives.

The committee is looking for a new chair as well as a parasitologist for food animal species, a toxicologist and a physician/clinical microbiologist.

Those interested in any of the available positions are urged to apply before the application closing date of 12:00p.m on Monday, June 5.

Members receive £148 for each meeting they attend, and an additional £76 for preparation time.

Committee meetings are either held at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) offices in Surrey or online.

The VPC schedules three regular meetings a year, in February, May or June and October, and occasional ad hoc meetings.

Further information on the VPC and the positions is available via its website.

Veterinary Products Committee

The VMD is also actively seeking to recruit pharmaceutical assessor for its quality team, one of three specialist teams within the pharmaceuticals section, part of the Authorisations Division.

The closing date for applications for this position is May 22. The salary stands at £33,827-36,606 per annum with Pension Scheme.

The main role of the quality team is to assess quality data submitted by companies in support of their applications for marketing authorisations for veterinary medicines, and applications to vary or renew these authorisations.

The team also plays a role in the delivery of the VMD’s regulatory science strategy, development of regulatory and scientific guidelines aimed at the pharmaceutical industry and supporting the delivery of VMD`s international activities, which includes training other veterinary medicine regulators.

Experience of pharmaceutical practice within the human or veterinary pharmaceutical (or closely related) industry and/or of authorisation processes for medicinal products is required for the role.

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The British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) has appointed Prof. Elizabeth Magowan as its new president.

The animal scientist and academic is set to bring a “wealth of experience to the role” and is expected to lead the society towards success in evidencing the role of livestock and advancing the field of animal science, the society said.

Magowan will take over the role from the outgoing president, Kim Matthews, who has served in the role for the past three years.

Speaking on her appointment, Magowan said she was “honoured and excited” to take on the role of president for BSAS.

“The society plays a critical role in providing a forum for animal scientists across the UK and Ireland and beyond to come together as a community with a key goal of advancing animal science and disseminating the state of the art knowledge with regard to animal sciences,” she said.

“I am looking forward to working with the members and partners of BSAS to further these important objectives.”

BSAS chief executive, Maggie Mitchell, said: “We are delighted to have Elizabeth Magowan as our new president.

“She is an outstanding leader in the field of animal science and is passionate about fostering the society to drive impact for a wide range of stakeholders.

“We look forward to working with her to further advance the mission of the society.”

Elizabeth Magowan

Magowan is currently the director of sustainable agri-food sciences division at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and has over 20 years’ experience in the field of animal science.

She has been a member of BSAS for several years and has held key positions in the organisation before, including vice president and chair of the society’s finance and governance committee.

She was also awarded the Hammond award in 2017 in recognition of her scientific work and its impact on the industry, BSAS said.

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A new bursary for those looking to establish a career in agriculture has been launched at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) by Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper.

The annual bursary will provide £3,000 to support a student exploring different paths into the agricultural industry.

The student will also have the opportunity to partake in a work placement with Cooper, or one of his industry partners, either during the course of their university studies or as a gap-year placement.

The 24-year-old from Oxfordshire plays a central advisory role to Jeremy Clarkson in the Amazon Prime TV series Clarkson’s Farm.

Launching the bursary at the RAU today (Thursday, May 11), Cooper, an agricultural entrepreneur and farm contractor, said: “Farming is who I am. Encouraging the younger generation into agriculture has always been so important to me.

“I feel lucky that I knew my path from such an early age and want to help spread that passion and drive.

“Launching this bursary means so much, as it can support students who want to pursue an agricultural career or who might be struggling to get into farming.”

The bursary is open to RAU undergraduate students who are living in the UK. It will open for applications in September of this year with the first student receiving their award in early 2024.

Speaking on the bursary launch, RAU vice-chancellor Prof. Peter McCaffery said: “We are delighted that Kaleb has chosen to support RAU students through this bursary.

“His passion for farming comes through loud and clear in his appearances on Clarkson’s Farm and he has definitely helped bring farming and agriculture even more into the public eye.”

Pursuing agri dreams

Cooper and the RAU said the bursary is for those who have a “genuine and demonstrable interest in agriculture”.

The university said Cooper is keen to encourage applicants who are not from a farming/agricultural background and who can demonstrate hardship or financial need.

“Having come from a non-farming background myself, I believe agriculture can be for anybody,” Cooper said.

“I know there’s so much potential for young people to have brilliant careers in agriculture.

“It should be open to all and if you have financial difficulties or you’re completely new to farming, please do apply.”

Vice-chancellor McCaffrey said the bursary will “help to give the successful applicant the chance to follow their dreams and pursue a career in agriculture as Kaleb himself did”.

“We are very excited to be working with him,” he added.

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Tesco has announced a drop in the price of its own-brand bread and butter products across its stores and online, following in the footsteps of Sainsbury’s.

Across the UK, the price of several Tesco own-brand products will drop in price from today (Wednesday, May 10).

Tesco thick toastie white bread 800g; Tesco white bread 800g; Tesco wholemeal medium bread 800g; and Tesco thick toastie wholemeal bread 800g, are now 75p, down from 85p.

Tesco British unsalted butter 250g and Tesco British salted block butter 250g will also see a reduction of 10p – down to £1.89 from £1.99.

The retailer said its customers will benefit from the price cut, and it will continue to work closely with its supplier to manage any further volatility.

Tesco Group chief product officer, Ashwin Prasad, said: “As families continue to watch their weekly spend and budget carefully, we’re pleased to be able to pass on price reductions where we can, and to help with everyday essentials like bread and butter.”

Sainsbury’s announced yesterday (Tuesday, May 9) that it would be cutting down the prices of its own-brand bread and butter prices.

Food commercial director at Sainsbury’s, Rhian Bartlett, said Sainsbury’s wants to pass on savings it makes at processor level to its customers.

“We know that our customers are always looking for help with the cost of living which is why we are constantly considering ways to keep prices low,” she said.

Sainsbury’s has said that the reduction in prices for its own-brand bread and butter products will not impact how much it pays its farmers

Meanwhile, across the pond in Ireland, retailers Tesco Ireland, Aldi, Supervalu and Lidl all reduced the price of their own-brand butter last week.

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Two South West farmers have been banned from keeping animals following separate investigations by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) into animal welfare cases.

Timothy Dean Harris of St. Tudy, Cornwall was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court and received a 20-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, on April 25, this year.

He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge and was banned from ever owning farm animals again.

In response to a complaint, APHA inspectors visited his stock in May 2022 and detected unnecessary suffering in beef cattle.

A follow-up visit in June 2022 showed that whilst improvements had occurred, non-compliances continued to be detected. The APHA received further complaints which were inspected in November 2022 and February 2023.

The court heard that Harris took responsibility for what happened, but Magistrates said the case showed prolonged neglect with Harris ignoring warnings and advice. They said this resulted in high harm to the animals, including death.

South West farmers

The APHA also brought forward the prosecution of Diana Swabey, New House Farm, Devon, who had already pleaded guilty to 16 charges relating to animal welfare.

When Swabey’s premises was visited by the APHA in March 2022, inspectors found numerous animals in poor conditions including cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry.

On April 26, 2023, the Devon farmer was sentenced with a 16-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work on each of her four unnecessary suffering charges.

She was also been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Head of field delivery England, APHA, Aled Edwards, said: “APHA takes potential breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously and investigates all allegations.

“These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement processes, and the effective collaboration between ourselves and local authorities.

“I welcome these sentences from the courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others.”

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Sainsbury’s has lowered the prices of its own-brand bread and butter products as it said it has seen “commodity prices starting to fall for wheat and butter”.

The retailer is reducing its Sainsbury’s 800g soft white medium, wholemeal medium, wholemeal thick and toastie white loaves of bread to 75p – down by 11%.

It also announced a cut to the price of Sainsbury’s salted and unsalted butter to £1.89 for 250g – a 5% reduction.

Food commercial director at Sainsbury’s, Rhian Bartlett, said Sainsbury’s wants to pass on savings it makes at processor level to its customers.

“We know that our customers are always looking for help with the cost of living which is why we are constantly considering ways to keep prices low,” she said.

“We have been battling hard to beat inflation and whenever we are paying less for the products we buy from our suppliers, we will pass those savings on to customers.

“We are committed to offering our customers the best value possible so they can be confident that they are getting a great deal on their everyday essentials when they shop with us. “

Farmer suppliers

Sainsbury’s has said that the reduction in prices for its own-brand bread and butter products will not impact how much it pays its farmers.

The retailer said it works closely with its farmers to help them navigate cost pressures while continuing to invest in keeping prices as low for its customers as possible.

Sainsbury’s said, in the last two years, it has have delivered more than £900 million of cost savings and has “consistently passed on less price inflation to customers than our competitors”.

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The Status Yellow thunderstorm warning in place for Northern Ireland has been extended to cover more of Scotland until 11:00p.m tonight (Monday, May 8).

The south and west of Scotland is mostly affected by the warning, encompassing the regions of Glasgow, Greenock and Dumfries.

The Status Yellow warning came into effect at 12:00p.m for Northern Ireland and in Scotland at 5:00p.m.

Northern Ireland’s warning will remain in place until 9:00p.m.

What to expect

The UK’s national weather forecaster said the Status Yellow thunderstorm warnings mean heavy showers and thunderstorms may cause localised disruptions in the affected areas.

As a result of the conditions, the people in these areas can expect:

• Some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes;
• Some flooding of a few homes and business likely leading to some damage to buildings or structures;
• A good chances of impacted driving conditions in the form of spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus;
• Delays to train services are possible;
• Some short-term loss of power and other services is likely.

The Met Office has described today and tomorrow’s (Tuesday, May 10) conditions as unsettled and showery.

There will be spells of heavy rain over southern parts of the UK and there may be some thunder in parts of southern Scotland and northwest England.

Temperatures will be mild and remain mostly consistent over the next few days, ranging from 13° to 18° across the UK.

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The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) it is looking to recruit around 30 animal owners and keepers for a new Public Advisory Group (PAG).

The RCVS said the group, which will initially be set up for a 12-month trial period, will support it in its mission to “uphold and advance the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses”.

Those interested in joining the PAG are urged to submit their applications by the deadline of 5:00p.m on June 7, 2023. More information can be found via the RCVS website.

The PAG will aim to better gauge public opinion about the activities of the RCVS and will ensure the college and regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and nurses learns more about the experiences of veterinary service users.

RCVS council member and chair of the PAG, Louise Allum, said: “The UK veterinary and veterinary nursing professions are small, but mighty.

“There is a lot of responsibility resting on our shoulders to ensure that we uphold animal health and welfare and public health effectively, but we cannot do this alone.

“Animal owners and keepers play an essential role in supporting animal welfare, and it is therefore not only right, but necessary, that we actively seek to inform the public of our activities and take their opinion into account when making wide-reaching decisions.”

Allum said the college is inviting animal owners and keepers from all backgrounds – from companion animal, to equine and farm – to be part of the PAG.

“We also hope that, by involving animal owners and keepers in our work, we can improve the ways in which we communicate our messages to veterinary service users,” she said.

“When working towards a collective goal, it is vital that everyone has a chance to be a part of the conversation.”

Anyone interested in joining the RCVS PAG should be able to attend two or three online meetings across the year, be prepared to read paperwork ahead of time, and contribute in a clear, courteous and confident manner, the college said.

PAG members must also be comfortable with maintaining confidentiality, as some of the issues discussed will be early in their development.

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An investigation into a fatal plane crash on a farm in Somerset has identified shortcomings in the system in place in the UK to provide emergency support to aircraft in distress.

The incident, which occurred in August of 2021 on Watchford Farm, Somerset, resulted in the deaths of both the 69-year-old pilot and his passenger.

Shortly afterwards, the UK government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) began an investigation into the plane crash.

As a result of its investigation, the AAIB made seven safety recommendations. Five were made to the Civil Aviation Authority and two were made to the Department for Transport.

Fatal injuries

The AAIB said the pilot found himself stuck above cloud during a cross-country flight under Visual Flight Rules.

The pilot contacted Dunkeswell Radio asking about the weather conditions at the airfield as he felt unable to land at Watchford Farm as he was stuck above cloud.

He contacted the Distress & Diversion Cell for assistance and was transferred to the radar frequency of a nearby airport, at which the cloud base was below the minimum required for the approach offered.

The pilot was not qualified to fly in cloud and lost control of the aircraft during the subsequent descent.

The aircraft was destroyed when it hit a tree and both occupants were fatally injured.

The AAIB said its investigation found that air traffic service providers did not obtain or exchange sufficient information about the aircraft and its pilot to enable adequate assistance to be provided.

It was concluded that there was an “absence of active decision making” by the air traffic service providers and there was uncertainty between units about their respective roles and responsibilities.

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The UK government has invited people across the UK and the Commonwealth to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort over the weekend starting today (Saturday, May 6) and finishing up on a new bank holiday in honour of the event on Monday (May 8).

The government said the event is a time for celebration across the nation and will feature a weekend of special events, some of which will star farmers and others from agricultural backgrounds.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has predicted agricultural benefits from the coronation earlier this week in the form of a “surge” in sales of red meat and dairy products.

AHDB analysts expect an increase in food spend this weekend as street parties and barbeques are hosted to celebrate the coronation after the pattern was seen during and after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The King’s coronation is not the only thing which has and will impact the farming sector, as King Charles III himself is known for his interest in agriculture.

The King has had farming and forestry-related gifts and properties bestowed upon him in lieu of the coronation and this weekend, and his subsequent reign, will likely see these themes highlighted by the King more than once.

King Charles III and farming

Ahead of the coronation, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey described King Charles III as a “dedicated champion” of nature in the UK.

Coffey credited the King with initiating and promoting efforts to move towards different farming techniques that would protect the environment.

“He spearheaded efforts to move to more environmentally friendly farming techniques and through his Prince’s Foundation has sought to highlight how education can foster responsible stewardship towards the planet and the natural environment,” she said.

The King’s coronation also features others from farming backgrounds playing prominent ceremonial roles in the celebrations.

Petty officer Amy Taylor will be the first woman to bear the Jewelled Sword of Offering into the Abbey. She has been selected to represent Service men and women, as a Royal Navy Petty Officer, a tribute to His Majesty’s military career.

Taylor said she was honoured to pay tribute to King Charles III through her role in he coronation, as she admires his advocacy for the agriculture community of which she grew up in.

“Having served most of my senior career as an aircraft engineer on 845 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton where His Majesty originally trained and served as a pilot, I am deeply honoured and humbled to play my part in this historic event,” she said.

“Coming from a farming family His Majesty has always been such a great advocate for our community and someone I have admired growing up.”

Lincolnshire farmer and landowner Francis Dymoke will carry The Royal Standard after his claim to undertake the role was upheld by the Coronation Claims Office.

The title of King or Queen’s Champion has been held by the Dymoke family since the Middle Ages. The King’s Champion would previously ride on horseback into the Coronation Banquet and challenge any who doubted the right of The King or Queen to the throne.

Dymoke is also a former director of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. He was in the role for over a year between 2004 and 2005.

There has not been a Coronation Banquet since that held by King George IV in 1821 so the Champion has instead undertaken a different role since, usually bearing a flag or Standard.

Recent contributions

Last month, King Charles III gifted seven heifers, originally given to Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, to a Jersey dairy farmer who lost over 100 cattle in December 2022.

The in calf heifers were given to Charlie Le Boutillier of Woodlands Farm to assist with the re-stocking programme and in support of the Jersey dairy farming community.

Over 100 of Le Boutillier’s cows fell ill and died over a period of a few days in December last year. After laboratory testing, Jersey’s chief veterinary officer concluded that the most likely cause of death was botulism.

The Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) and the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB) arranged to present the seven heifers to Queen Elizabeth II last year.

The group of maiden heifers represent a cross section of breeding from the leading herds in Jersey and remained in Jersey to be bred with the view to creating a lasting legacy within the Windsor herd of a breeding line that traces back into the heritage of the Jersey Herd Book and the origins of the Jersey breed. 

Following the accession to the throne of King Charles III, arrangements were in hand for the shipping of the animals to Windsor, but the King decided to gift the cows to the island after the loss of cattle at Woodlands Farm.

The heifers were presented to the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, Jerry Kyd, who, on behalf of the King, gifted them to the Le Boutillier family.

Jersey Dairy said the progeny of these animals will be recorded within the Jersey Herd Book with the affix ‘Platinum’ to their pedigree name to mark the deep links between the Sovereign and the Jersey breed in the Island.

King’s Series of National Nature Reserves

Natural England is aiming to leave a “lasting public legacy” for people and nature by creating a King’s Series of National Nature Reserves to celebrate the coronation.

The Defra-sponsored public body said as Prince of Wales, King Charles II expressed a “deep love and concern” for England’s wildlife, natural and rural places.

To show appreciation for this, Natural England has decided to commit to naming five major National Nature Reserves every year for the next five years (25 in total) under the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves.

The first one – the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve – will be declared by Natural England in the summer.

The remaining four nature reserves for 2023/2024 will be confirmed at a later date, Natural England said.

Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, said: “For more than five decades our King has been at the forefront of thinking about the need to restore our depleted natural world.

He has highlighted the vital importance of sustainable agriculture, questions of water security, solutions to climate change and the urgency of moving to a circular economy inspired by nature.

“He’s helped make progress on all these and other subjects while having people’s wellbeing at the centre of his ideas.”

Juniper said the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves was a fitting way to mark King Charles III’s coronation and the start of a “new era of nature recovery”.

“The National Nature Reserves are the jewels in the crown of England’s nature and they are there for wildlife and people alike,” he said.

“The first one in this new series will be a very substantial area of protected habitat on the Lincolnshire coast, through which a section of the England Coast Path will soon be opened by Natural England.”

Forestry England and the ‘Coronation Woods’

Forestry England has announced a large-scale woodland creation to commemorate the coronation – the “Coronation Woods”.

The plans will see the development of the Coronation Woods, with Forestry England creating new woodland and planting trees between between last month and March 2025, specifically created to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has pledged to provide up to £2.5 million of funding for communities in England to plant trees as a permanent reminder of the coronation to their local areas.

The department said the funding will support local authorities, parish councils and housing associations to deliver local planting inititatives.

Forestry England’s chief executive, Mike Seddon, said the organisation is “immensely proud” to be responsible for planting Coronation Woods over the next two years to mark the event.

“The nation’s forests have traditionally marked coronations, including tree planting for King George VI and renaming a forest for Queen Elizabeth II.

“The new Coronation Woods will be timeless reminders of the King’s Coronation and reflect his passion for the environment, encouraging access to the countryside and a thriving rural economy.”

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Police Scotland has named Alan Cameron of Inveraray as the victim of a single-vehicle crash on the A83, between Ardgenavan and Clachan, last weekend.

The 19-year-old apprentice agricultural engineer was named today (Wednesday, May 3) as the victim of the crash.

Police Scotland said Cameron died after his black Renault Clio crashed on the A83 road around 9.00pm on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

In a statement, his family said: “We are all absolutely devastated by Alan’s death. He was a lovely son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.

“Alan was studying,working as an apprentice agricultural engineer.

“His passion was agriculture and he had a keen interest in farming.

“Ourselves, family, friends and colleagues respectfully request our privacy at this very difficult time.”

Sgt. Brian Simpson of the Dumbarton road policing unit said the force’s thoughts are with Cameron’s family at “this very distressing time”.

“Enquiries to establish the full circumstances of the crash are ongoing and we would again appeal to any witnesses, who have not already come forward, to get in touch with police,” he said.

“I would also ask anyone who was in the area around the time who may have dash-cam footage which could assist to contact us.”

Police Scotland have asked for anyone with any information to contact it via 101 quoting incident 3618 of April 30, 2023.

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A new Minecraft game launched last week aims to engage young people on flood risk, climate change, farming and biodiversity.

Rivercraft 2, produced by a partnership of the Environment Agency, Microsoft and developer BlockBuilders, follows on from the original game rolled out in April of 2022 and based on the £54.7 million flood risk management scheme in Preston and South Ribble.

The in-game Preston world represented the first use of artificial intelligence to map a region and convert it into an interactive Minecraft map.

Rivercraft 2 is a continuation of this project, now based in generic urban and rural worlds rather than a specific location with the aim of making it applicable to all.

The suite comprises the following three games: 

• Game 1 – Nature-based solutions, where the player has to use natural methods to reduce flood risk, including by restoring rivers, building ponds and helping beavers to build their dam;  
• Game 2 – Farming, irrigation and drought, where the player has to find the right balance of water use, leafy crops and cover crops for a successful harvest and to ensure wildlife survives during a drought;  
• Game 3 – Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and water efficiency in the home, where the player has to construct sustainable urban drainage features to reduce surface water flooding and complete tasks around a typical home to reduce water use. 

John Curtin, Environment Agency chief executive, said the game is an “amazing opportunity” for young people to learn about flooding, the environment and climate resilience in a “really fun and interactive way”.

“We know that climate anxiety is a real issue for young people, so we hope these games not only help to educate but also inspire, by providing them with the skills and knowledge to take action and make a difference,” he said.

“We hope these games drive new interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as introducing the next generation to the brilliant career opportunities we have in the Environment Agency.

“Their creativity and talent are very much needed in our race for climate resilience. We can’t wait to see these games land, excite young people and connect them with their environment in new dynamic ways.” 

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A north Shropshire calf dealer has been prosecuted by Shropshire Council for breaches of animal welfare and identification charges.

The calf dealer has been fined over £11,000 and banned from owning cattle for five years after he admitted to charges relating to the failure to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals.

Derek Whittall, who previously traded under Oaklands Livestock Centre, while it was in operation, admitted to two charges of being the responsible person for animals when he failed to take steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering to calves and one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal that he kicked himself.

Shropshire Council had alleged that one of Whittall’s employees repeatedly kicked, pushed and threw calves down a ramp when they were being unloaded.

Whittall also admitted to three charges of removing or replacing cattle ear tags without the permission of the competent authority, in breach of the Cattle Identification Regulations (2007). The offences occurred between November 2020 and February 2021.

He was sentenced to an 18-month community order with requirements to attend 10 rehabilitation days and undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay costs totalling £11,855.34 within 12 months and was charged a victim surcharge of £95.

He was also disqualified from owing, keeping or being party to and arrangement etc. of bovines for five years at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Monday (April 24).

Richard Marshall, a cabinet member of Shropshire Council: “This has been a sensitive but successful prosecution to ensure that farmers employ the highest standards of welfare in their business to protect the food chain and ensure adequate control of disease.

“Shropshire Council’s animal health team strive to support good performing businesses to ensure healthy people and a healthy economy across the county.”

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A farmer from St Bernard in Cornwall has been banned from keeping farmed animals for life after failing to provide adequate care for sheep and cattle and failing to dispose of carcasses.

Timothy Dean Harris of St Bernard, Cornwall, also received a 20-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

 Harris was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates Court.

Inspectors from both Cornwall Council’s animal health team and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) had inspected Harris’ stock in May 2022 in response to a complaint and found cattle in “poor body condition” as well as two lame cows.

Sheep were also discovered with access to lose fencing and trailing barbed wire. After further complaints were made, visits were made in June and July during which officers found multiple carcasses incorrectly stored or left in fields.

A lamb with a severe skin infection following flystrike was also found by officers.

Prolonged neglect

Harris pleaded guilty to five offences relating to animal welfare and animal by-products at Bodmin Magistrates Court.

Harris told the court he took responsibility for what has happened, and would not be keeping stock again.

The court heard that Harris’s father who used to help care for the animals had been taken ill some months before and Harris took sole ownership of the animals and was helping to care for his grandmother too at the time.

The court said the case showed prolonged neglect with ignored warnings and advice which resulted in high harm to the animals involved, including death.

The lifetime ban handed down by the court may not be appealed for 10 years and is effective immediately.

Trading standards manager for Cornwall Council, Jane Tomlinson, said the case was bought after inspectors had given Harris advice and guidance on “many occasions”.

“Mr Harris clearly did not take on board this advice which lead to the welfare issues with his cattle and sheep and a disregard for the legislation concerning the disposal of carcasses,” she said.

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “Where officers find non-compliance or a complete disregard for farm animal welfare, the council will not hesitate to take formal action.

“Allowing sheep access to hazards and failing to treat them for flystrike infection, failing to treat lame cattle and provide them with a suitable diet, and leaving carcasses to rot in fields is completely unacceptable.

“I welcome the court’s decision to protect animals and the reputation of the Cornish farming industry.”

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A shepherd from the Witney area in Oxfordshire has pleaded guilty to 13 animal welfare and farming standards offences, including offences relating to the disposal of dead sheep in a muck heap.

Jonathon Simpson (38) – who trades as Jon’s Shepherding of Hunters Close Farm, Middletown, Hailey, near Witney – pleaded guilty to the offences at Oxford Magistrates Court following a prosecution brought by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.

The offences occurred between 2017 and 2022.

Simpson was sentenced to a 12 month community order, including completion of a 15 day rehabilitation requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £2,000 towards the prosecution’s costs, as well as already paying thousands of pounds for the removal of the muck heap and animal by-products.

Oxford Magistrates Court heard that Simpson had failed to comply with the restrictions on animal by-products, by disposing of a large number of dead sheep by burying them in a muck heap to rot and decay on land in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council said Simpson also failed to keep adequate records that included a “failure to keep an up to date register of animals, a failure to record animal movements and a failure to maintain a record of veterinary medicines, detailing when they were purchased, administered, or disposed of”.

He also moved livestock without being an authorised and competent transporter.

Oxfordshire County Council’s head of trading standards, Jody Kerman, said: “We fully support our farming community and all those who work in it. The vast majority work to the highest standards.

“Those who seek to bypass the rules not only put the integrity of the food chain at risk but also gain an unfair advantage over hardworking farmers.”

Kerman said animal welfare legislation is “there for a very good reason” and its purpose is to control disease, protect animals and ensure the safety of the wider food chain.

“These offences put all that at risk. The lack of processes Simpson had in place risked the spread of disease, while also hindering traceability and attempts to contain any such outbreak.

“As the most rural county in the southeast of England, an uncontrolled animal disease outbreak would have a hugely damaging impact on peoples’ lives and on our local economy,” Kerman added.

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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has announced the finalists of its 2023 Veterinary Photographer of the Year competition.

The competition, now in its eighth year, aims to showcase the day-to-day lives of vets, their colleagues, the animals they care for and the wildlife they encounter.

There were three categories for entries – ‘Vets at work’, ‘All creatures great and small’, and ‘Happy pets that make us smile’ – with three finalists chosen in each category.

The finalists’ photographs will be displayed at this year’s BVA Live event in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on May 11 and 12.

The BVA said the winners of each category will be unveiled at a “special prizegiving” to which each finalist has been invited to and received a ticket to attend. Winners will be eligible for £250 John Lewis vouchers.

The finalists for the ‘Vets at work‘ category are:

• ‘A Gentle Touch’ – Sam Price. A Ring-tailed Lemur gently grasps the vet’s finger while recovering from an anaesthetic;
• ‘Mopping the Brow’ – Justyn Loveridge. The picture shows some light relief after a long procedure;
• ‘#Colostrumisgold’ – Sophie Aylett. The image captures the moment a young calf was up and on the teat before the cow’s muscle layers were even sutured up following a c-section. 

The finalists for the ‘All creatures great and small‘ category featured ‘Roe Buck Running’ by Jenny Grewal, who snapped a photograph of a roe buck running through mustard flowers in the fields of an estate on the Wiltshire-Hampshire border.

As well as Grewal’s entry, ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’ by Katherine Edmondson was also named as a finalist in this category. Her image, taken at sunrise at Kwantu Game Reserve in South Africa, shows three red-billed oxpeckers hunting for insects on the back of a young giraffe.

The third finalist in this category is Lilia Silva with her entry ‘Cheeky Munch’, which consists of a squirrel snacking on some berries.

The finalists for the ‘Happy pets that make us smile’ category are:

• ‘Jumping for Joy’ by Sam Price. This photo features dog Winnie, who loves nothing more than a beach day.
• ‘Snow Focused’ by Alice Watson. Rusty the dog on a snowy day in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds is seen in the photo.
• ‘Sheep-a-Doodle Do!’ by Charlotte Clough. The photo stars a car boot overflowing with six 12-week-old puppies, in a vet surgery car park.

Speaking on the competition and its finalists, BVA president Malcolm Morley said: “Judging this competition has been genuinely both extremely enjoyable and really difficult.

“The entries this year have absolutely surpassed expectations and the level of talent on display is amazing. However, the photographs we have chosen are all well worthy of being finalists.

“From photos that made us laugh out loud, to others that made some of us feel close to tears, they evoked a range of emotions, but we were also impressed by the quality of the images, the creativity of the photographers and the composition of the photos, as well as the stories behind the lens.”

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A Bodmin dairy farm has been fined over £60,000 after one of its workers sustained injuries when he fell more than 20ft through a roof of a shed onto a concrete floor.

In 2021, 18-year-old Mike Rossiter was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth after the shed roof he was clearing gutters from on the dairy farm gave way.

Although the employees of C.P. Button Limited clearing the gutters on the grain and silage pit shed roofs were using crawling boards, Rossiter had stood on a fragile rooflight, which failed under his weight, causing him to fall.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company failed to control the risk of falls and “failed to adequately assess the risks and did not have a safe system of work”.

C.P. Button Limited, of St. Tudy, Bodmin, Cornwall, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 after failing to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health and safety and welfare at work of all its employees against the risk of falling when carrying out the planned maintenance task of clearing gutters.

The company was fined £63,466 and ordered to pay £4,223.50 in costs at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on April 20, 2023.

Commenting, HM inspector of health and safety, James Hole, said: “This was a wholly avoidable incident which resulted in life changing injuries.

“Roughly half the deaths and serious injuries caused by falls in agriculture involve work on fragile roofs.

“Any work on roofs should be adequately planned and suitable protection should be provided which will normally include a combination of coverings, guard rails, safety nets and safety harnesses.”

‘Permanent damage’

Now 20 years old, Rossiter said he has been left with “permanent damage” in his arm and no longer has full movement.

“I’m unable to lift and carry heavy things,” he said.

As well as rupturing his spleen and liver in the incident, Rossiter also suffered from several fractured vertebrae. An additional fracture to his left elbow required surgery and a permanent plate in his arm.

Rossiter said, despite being back in work and fully supported by his current employer, he fears for his long-term future in the agriculture industry.

“I don’t know how much longer I will be able to keep working in the farming industry as a result of my injuries,” he said.

“I am hoping this will not be the case as I enjoy what I am doing and would not like to leave the profession.”

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