The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2018 - Issue 56 | Page 14

14 FARM NEWS
APR/MAY 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
The Prince’s Countryside Fund announces new
pilot scheme to mentor next generation of farmers
The Prince’s Countryside Fund, with Bishop Burton College, has launched a pilot scheme providing
mentoring to participants in the college’s popular Farm Business Management Programme.
RECOGNISING the importance and
benefits of peer-to-peer learning, the Fund
is pairing delegates from the course with
farmers who supply to Jordans Cereals,
long term supporters of The Prince’s Coun-
tryside Fund. This activity forms part of the
Jordans Farm Partnership.
Since 2015 Bishop Burton College has re-
ceived two grants from the Fund, to support
a residential programme providing training
in effective farm management practices.
The course is open to new entrants working
in agriculture across the UK and is delivered
at Bishop Burton College’s Riseholme Show-
ground campus.
The delegates complete a two-week
residential course and are actively working
in a management role on a family farm or
commercial enterprise. Following comple-
tion of the course there is an opportunity
for delegates to receive accreditation from
the Royal Agricultural University for an
assignment.
The Jordans Farm Partnership is a unique
collaboration of Jordans farmers, the Wildlife
Trusts, LEAF and The Prince’s Countryside
Fund, working together to bring an innova-
tive blend of expertise to benefit the British
countryside.
The mentoring will take place over the next
12 months and focus on the development
needs of the delegates – this could range from
managing cash flow and budgeting, to people
management, best farm practice, setting busi-
ness objectives and strategic planning.
www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk
Action needed on antibiotics to
future-proof UK cattle industry
VOLUNTARY reductions in the use of
Critically Important Antibiotics (CIAs) must
be accelerated to future-proof the UK cattle
industry against the threat of legislation and
regulation.
This was the message from Professor
David Barrett, speaking at the MSD Animal
Health sponsored National Mastitis Panel,
who said that more widespread under-
standing of the issues is urgently required
particularly amongst farmers and cattle
vets if real progress is to be made.
Professor Barrett quoted the British Cattle
Veterinary Association (BCVA) position on
the responsible use of medicines, which
includes the recommendation of minimal
use of third and fourth generation cephalo-
sporins, fluoroquinalones and colistin, with
these CIAs being limited to use where it has
been demonstrated by sensitivity testing
that they are the only suitable option to
avoid unnecessary suffering.
“There has been agreement on this
position amongst the veterinary associa-
tions, farmer organisations and milk buyers,
but there needs to be more widespread
awareness at producer level, particularly
within the vet and farmer relationship,” he
added.
“Farms with a robust herd health plan,
where challenges are reduced, will be in
the best position to minimise use of CIAs.
This takes time and is most effective where
there is good co-operation between the
farm and its veterinary practice.
“Achieving a significant reduction in
the use of CIAs voluntarily will not only
minimise the likelihood of disruptive and
potentially punitive legislation but will put
our cattle industry on the front foot and
strengthen its position in global markets.”
www.msd-animal-health.com
NFU Mutual welcomes police report into dog attacks
as cost of livestock worrying claims rockets 67%
Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has welcomed a report by the National Police Chief’s
Council, which calls for legislation to make livestock worrying a recordable offence.
UNDER current rules, dog owners are
not required to report their dog if it attacks
a livestock animal yet livestock worrying
causes horrific injuries and, according to
NFU Mutual, costs UK agriculture an esti-
mated £1.6m a year.
NFU Mutual recently launched a cam-
paign urging dog owners to keep their
pets under control whenever farm animals
could be nearby.
Between January and April 2017, when
pregnant ewes and new born lambs are
often grazing on low-lying pasture in areas
more accessible to walkers, the average
cost of claims to NFU Mutual more than
doubled compared to the rest of the year.
The campaign follows data which
shows that livestock worrying costs have
increased by 67 per cent in the last two
years (2015-2017) with an estimated cost to
agriculture of £1.6m.
New research1 by the insurer has revealed
that over 80 per cent of dog owners exer-
cise their pets in the countryside, with over
60 per cent letting them roam off the lead.
Almost 7 per cent of owners admitted that
their pets had chased livestock in the past.
NFU Mutual is advising farmers to check
their stock regularly, put up warning signs
and to ask local people to report any sight-
ings of out-of-control dogs to a local farmer
or the police.
‘ livestock worrying
costs have increased by
67 per cent in the last
two years (2015-2017)
with an estimated cost
to agriculture of £1.6m
’
www.nfumutual.co.uk