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Counties along the south and east coasts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex, are considered 'most likely to be impacted'

Future proofing this show season and those in the future was the main topic at the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations Welsh conference

In this week’s Íæż½ã½ã podcast, head of livestock, Katie Jones, talks to Wiltshire vet, Mel McPherson about the threat posed by Schmallenberg and bluetongue this year

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) have announced that the two cattle Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will now be presented at the Royal Three Counties Show rather than at the Royal Norfolk Show as originally planned.

That was the message from new livestock board chair and Gloucestershire beef suckler farmer David Barton, who added the ‘unpredictability' of this strain of bluetongue was worrying

Over 100 cases of the virus have been detected on farms in Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk since November 2023

55 farms in Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk have confirmed 99 cases of the virus

The Animal and Plant Health Agency said 70 cases of the virus had been reported on 43 farms in Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk since November 11

NFU deputy president, Tom Bradshaw said the industry was ‘seeing austerity in action', adding APHA were doing everything it could within its budget, but Government must give them better resources

Cases of bluetongue continue to be identified in the south eastern counties, and long-term predictions suggest there could be an issue in the spring and summer of this year. Ellie Layton reports.