• Reduce impact of climate change • Major welfare benefits promised • Herd health set for improvements A new generation of livestock buildings and digital tools could reduce the impact of heat stress on housed dairy herds. Two companies – Galebreaker and Smartbell – have been awarded a second... Read more

Think beyond sustainable farming  payments Livestock producers growing herbal leys simply for Sustainable Farming Incentive payments could be missing out on wider benefits. Not all SAM3 herbal ley mixtures  are the same – and choosing the cheapest option for the SFI payment could be a false economy, suggests Agrii... Read more

• Ultra early varieties increasingly popular • Optimum resilience in variable conditions • Rotational benefits for farm enterprises A warmer UK climate is creating opportunities for farmers to grow earlier maize varieties, say plant breeders. Maize requires a minimum of 1200 Maize Heat Units (MHU) between May and September... Read more

• Concern over outbreak in Germany • Reminder to maintain biosecurity • Talk to friends and family Sheep producers are being urged to remain vigilant and maintain on-farm biosecurity following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. UK imports of sheep, cattle and pigs were swiftly banned following the discovery... Read more

Pork exports to China have received a boost after a big push by producers, government officials and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.                 Two more sites have received export approval after a delegation from the China Meat Association visited the UK... Read more

• Helps optimise egg production • Data on flock health and welfare • Good for birds and farm income Acoustic sensors could help boost the health and welfare of laying hens – saving money and optimising egg production. The project uses state-of-the-art sensors to monitor birds through novel sound... Read more

• Cases rise after wet autumn • Keep on top of testing regime • Take action where necessary More cases of liver fluke are being reported following the wet autumn – with farmers reminded to keep a close eye on livestock. The number of positive liver fluke cases is... Read more

It is important to investigate ewes empty at scanning time, says Nerys Wright. I remember seeing a report, written in 1983, which said pregnancy scanning at 50p/ewe was unlikely to be economically viable for most commercial sheep flocks. Fast forward to 2024 and 50p/ewe would be tremendously good value.... Read more