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TAKE THE PLUNGE …………NOT A SHOWER
SCOPS is launching a campaign today to remind sheep farmers, contractors and prescribers that an Organophosphate (OP) can only be used as a plunge dip. “As we go into autumn and winter the number of cases of sheep scab will increase. We must make sure that when OP is used it is fully effective, and the only way to achieve that is with a plunge dip” says Lesley Stubbings of SCOPS.  
 In 2018 cases of resistance in sheep scab mites to the injectable products were confirmed. Since then we have seen an increase in the number of flocks using OP and used correctly this will remove resistant...

AgriSearch publish booklet on the use of locally grown protein crops in dairy cow diets
AgriSearch have published a booklet summarising the results of six studies on the use of home-grown proteins in dairy cow diets. The studies were carried out by AFBI and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and AgriSearch. Protein sources such as soya beans and rapeseed meal have traditionally been incorporated in the diet of dairy cattle in Northern Ireland. Such sources, however, have to be imported to Northern Ireland and as a result are subject to price fluctuation and, in the case of soya beans, increasing environmental concern. As a result, a...

PREPARING FOR SPRING IS THEME OF FINAL GRASSCHECK PODCAST FOR 2020
The eighth and final GrassCheck podcast of the 2020 grazing season focuses on how farmers can prepare their grazing platform for spring turnout.   Jason Rankin from AgriSearch was joined by Dr Kat Huson (AFBI), Conail Keown (CAFRE) and GrassCheck dairy farmer Ryan Carr, who farms near Downpatrick.
GrassCheck dairy farmer Ryan Carr contributed to the latest podcast
Kat Huson led this podcast by giving an update on the grass growths of plots and GrassCheck farms during this late stage in the season, stating how growth is currently performing in comparison to the seasonal norm. Providing...

FOCUS ON FARMERS WEBINAR SERIES ENDS ON A HIGH
The successful EIT 'Focus on Farmers' Virtual Farm Walk and Discussion Series came to a conclusion on Monday 19th October with the sixth and final event focusing on the eating quality of beef and approaches to measuring quality. Regular farmer ambassador James Evans, Shropshire, opened the evening discussing his thoughts on the current beef grading systems and the differences he has found between producing beef for a speciality butcher and large processors.
He was followed by Professor Nigel Scollan, Director for the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast,...

SIXTH EVENT IN THE FOCUS ON FARMERS WEBINAR SERIES TO FOCUS ON EATING QUALITY OF BEEF AND APPROACHES TO MEASURING QUALITY
“Lost on the journey – does eating quality of beef matter?” is the title of a virtual farm walk taking place on Monday 19th October at 8pm.  This is the sixth online event in the successful series hosted by AgriSearch for the European Innovation Initiative (EIT) partners.  The partners are ABP and John Deere along with Queen’s University and the University of Reading.  
Prof. Nigel Scollan, QUB
The guest speaker for this session is Nigel Scollan, Director of the Institute for Global Food Security and a Professor of Animal Science at Queen’s University, Belfast.  His career journey has...