Pig industry leaders called on the UK government to protect the sector after Spain confirmed its first case of African swine fever (ASF) since 1994. The disease was confirmed in two wild boar – found dead approximately 1km apart – near the Autonomous University of Barcelona in November. Further... Read more

Meat inspectors are being urged to ensure lamb carcases are clean after French officials rejected £650,000 of exported UK sheepmeat. The incident last month saw four lorryloads of British lamb returned to the UK from Calais after they were held at a French border control post because wool had... Read more

As 2026 beckons, one thing is clear: the past 12 months was a year of extremes – and we can’t be certain that this season will be any less predictable, writes Nerys Wright. Last year started with dry, warm conditions that stretched into regions of the UK unaccustomed to... Read more

Plant breeder Strube is offering three varieties for the UK fodder and energy beet markets for 2026: Clemens, Degas and Gahan. For early planting and on colder soils, Clemens comes with the added benefit of seed priming advancement; although Degas and Gahan have consistently proved themselves over the past... Read more

A 21,000-litre tandem axle unit featuring a new contactless forced steering system for the rear axle will be exhibited by Bauer at LAMMA 2026. The high-specification poly-tanker will be a key attraction at the two-day machinery event, which takes place on 14-15 January at the NEC Birmingham. Bauer’s tankers... Read more

New options for slurry tankers and trailers will be exhibited by Hi-Spec Engineering at this month’s Lamma event. They will include the Fad Sidra hydraulic axle system for Hi-Spec’s range of tandem and tridem axle Kompactor trailers and tankers. The company has introduced the option of an electric steering... Read more

Farmers are urged to ensure they abide by Farming Rules for Water when it comes to slurry storage this winter. It follows a clampdown by Environment Agency on inadequate slurry and manure storage, including convictions and fines relating to water pollution and the illegal disposal of organic waste. Silage,... Read more

October was a whirlwind month as I headed to Australia—a trip packed with learning, connections, and a few surprises along the way, writes Nerys Wright. I flew into Melbourne first, where I spent some precious time with family before diving into the sheep world. From there, I travelled to... Read more

The government must do more to prepare for a severe animal disease outbreak, MPs have warned. In a report on resilience to animal diseases such as bird flu, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that government would find responding to such outbreaks would be extremely stretching. Defra had worked... Read more

A rise in swine dysentery cases has triggered calls for better biosecurity on UK pig farms. Confirmed cases of swine dysentery have increased from just eight in 2021 to 54 in 2024 – with numbers rising year-on-year, according to the GB Pig Surveillance Dashboard, run by the Animal and... Read more