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Government launches Farming Advice Service
Service to come online in New Year.

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has announced the launch of a new service designed to collate all of the advice commonly required by farmers in one convenient source and remove the need to consult numerous organisations before achieving the desired result.

Defra's new Farming Advice Service will provide a single easy-to-use source for farmers needing information on subjects such as nutrition management, competitiveness, cross compliance, climate change adaptation and mitigation. The previous cross compliance advice programme will be replaced by the new Service. A central contact point to assist farmers in finding specialist advice on improving environmental and economic performance will also be available.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Paice said: “The current array of advice from numerous organisations is bewildering and this more integrated service will make access to help both faster and less complicated.”


The service will launch on 3rd January 2012. The helpline number for technical matters is 0845 345 1302 and the website will be accessible here.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.