Author Posts: Sarah Kidby

British Sugar’s Wissington factory opened its doors to press at the end of November, providing an update on this year’s campaign and work being done to tackle virus yellows and carbon emissions – as well as answering questions on next year’s beet contracts. Sarah Kidby reports.

Farmers up and down the country have begun the annual Christmas tractor runs, bringing festive cheer and raising large sums for various charities. We took a look at some of the recent events…

Routine surveillance has identified two cases of bluetongue in cattle on a farm near Cantley, Broadland in Norfolk.

Intense negotiations between British Sugar and NFU Sugar over next year’s beet contract have reached an impasse, meaning they will now move to arbitration.

A pair of “calculated criminals” has been jailed after stealing more than £200,000 worth of farming equipment from across Yorkshire.

Allowing tariff-free access to sugar from any country would undercut the UK’s sugar beet sector, NFU warns.

The NFU has appointed consultants Campbell Tickell to complete the independent review into Red Tractor’s governance.

Farmers urged to be vigilant as further cases identified through additional surveillance.

A recent Defra webinar on funding for grassland and livestock saw farmers question the funding available for low input grassland, species rich grassland and good quality semi-improved grassland options under the SFI.

Negotiations between British Sugar and NFU Sugar will now recommence after reaching an impasse earlier this month.

Farmers in and around the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), can now access and call a dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation.

The first specific vaccine for protecting cattle against respiratory coronavirus will soon be available to UK farmers, and follows recent research suggesting BCoV plays a bigger role in BRD than previously accepted. Sarah Kidby reports.