AHDB Food & Farming

Given maintaining a positive reputation of dairy is crucial to underpinning the future success of the industry, Knowledge Exchange Manager James Hague looks at how AHDB works with retailers to promote milk and its products in the aisles. Joining James is Senior Account Manager (Domestic Marketing), Stasha Napior-Kowska, to discuss her role in campaigns such as Let's Eat Balanced and more besides....

Following a wet start to the grazing season, AHDB Dairy Knowledge Exchange Manager Daisy Green looks at the impact this has had on grass quality and milk production at the mid-point and how careful management is essential for a successful close to the round. Joining Daisy is pasture-to-profit consultant Bess Jowsey and AHDB Forage for Knowledge farmer Richard Tucker to discuss what they’re seeing...

Milk Every Moment is a new milk-focused marketing campaign we've launched in collaboration with British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS). AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager Jess White finds out more about the push to empower the next generation from some of those involved. Useful links Milk Every Moment | AHDB Empowering the next generation with the Milk Every Moment campaign | AHDB BUCS Britis...

John Bates lifts the lid on what AHDB's doing to educate the next generation about the origins of their food. From school farm visits to getting ingredients into schools, John and our Head of Education, Roz Reynolds discuss these initiatives in detail with the help of teachers and a beef farmer who've been involved. Useful links Education | AHDB School farm visits support programme for farmers (En...

Following a difficult winter, AHDB Beef and Lamb Engagement Manager Emma Steele looks at how sustainable forages like lucerne can help us adapt to changing weather patterns, balance soil health, improve livestock performance and increase profitability. Joining Emma is Monitor Farmer and Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year, Ian Farrant, and Paul Morgan, Germinal Sales Manager and forage guru. Us...

We mark 80 years of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) which has been delivering trusted, independent variety information since 1944. Join presenter Carolyn Smith for a potted history, with contributions from some of those who have helped shape the RL, and others who have relied on the guide. Useful links Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) | AHDB A brief history of th...

In this simulcast to promote AHDB's brand new podcast series, Agonomics with David & Jack, economists David Eudall and Jack Watts look at why pork market prices have been stable so far this calendar year. Could an extended run for Gareth Southgate's squad at Euro 2024 create a spike in demand? And while it's all quiet on the pig front, the same can't be said for the grain markets as we enter a...

We bring you some of the highlights from the British Pig & Poultry Fair that took place at the NEC, where contingency planning for African Swine Fever (ASF) was among the topics of AHDB's theatre sessions. Reporter Martin Winch catches up with our Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Dr Mandy Nevel, to talk more about ASF, as well as getting word from recently appointed Pork Sector Council Chair...

We have launched a multi-million-pound project to address the intense pressure faced by farmers to deliver on environmental targets by showcasing the importance of on-farm environmental baselining. Joining Lisa Bray to talk about pilot that will help demonstrate the real environmental impact of British agricultural products is AHDB's CEO, Graham Wilkinson, and Livestock Science and Environment Dir...

Johne's disease is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract of cattle and other ruminants and is most commonly acquired in young animals. In this episode knowledge exchange manager James Hague is joined by Pete Orpin from the Action Group for Johne’s, Sarah Tomlinson, AHDB’s lead veterinary science expert, and farmer Caroline Williams to discuss the importance of detectio...

Lifting the lid on the world of dairy genomics is AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager Alan McFadzean. Alan's joined by strategic dairy farmer John Bailey and veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Eastham to find out what they have achieved by embracing tools like the Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI). Useful links Dairy breeding and genetics | AHDB Breeding indexes and traits | AHDB Profitable Lifetime Index £PLI...

Using genetics, rather than selecting animals purely on their visual characteristics, is likely to lead to a more productive and profitable suckler herd. So why do so few beef farmers use them? AHDB's Beef and Lamb team caught up with our Lead Animal Genetics Expert, Harriet Bunning, and suckler farmer James Dixon to discuss what factors should be considered when choosing your best breeding animal...

Using clover can give your farm an environmental boost, but where do you start? AHDB's Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager, Stephen West, has been to see dairy farmer Wil Armitage who uses clover as part of his organic system at Keythorpe Lakes Farm in Leicestershire. Useful links Curious about clover? | AHDB Establishing and growing clover | AHDB AHDB Food & Farming / Cultivating clover: Practi...

Work to find a vaccine for the BTV-3 strain of bluetongue continues after cases were confirmed in cows and sheep in England. Veterinary vaccine consultant Professor Andy Peters, Dr Carrie Batten from The Pirbright Institute, and AHDB's Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Dr Mandy Nevel, join host John Bates to discuss how much progress has been made. Useful links Bluetongue virus | AHDB Bluetongue...

It's one thing to talk about improving ecosystems while maintaining productivity on farm, but how can you actually achieve it? As part of AHDB's Roots to Resilience programme, our Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager for Beef and Lamb, Amy Hughes, caught up with three farmers who have already put the theory into practice. Useful links Ian's journey: https://youtu.be/FD4MNYt29-Y Silas' journey: https:...

Graham Wilkinson has taken up the reins at AHDB. But who is the new CEO? And what does it mean for levy payers and those in the wider supply chain? Our Head of Engagement for Beef and Lamb, Sam Charlton, caught up with Graham to find out the answers and discover more about his ambitions for AHDB. Useful links Graham Wilkinson to join AHDB as new CEO | AHDB Funding and structure | AHDB News | AHDB...

Strong winter grass growth followed by a wet start to the year has made it tricky to get dairy herds out for grazing. AHDB Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager Jamie McCoy explores ways to make the most of the conditions by heading to a farm in Wales as well as catching up with pasture to profit consultant Piers Badnell. Useful links Benefits of on/off grazing cows in autumn | AHDB Forage for Knowled...

Mental and physical wellbeing, as well as sexism in the workplace, are on the agenda as AHDB reporter Alice Perry chats with Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, a chartered clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. The pair met at the recent Agrileader Forum in Manchester, where Stephanie was invited to speak about the key mental health issues of today. Useful links Support for farmers - mental health | A...

As part of AHDB's Roots To Resilience programme, our national specialist for grass forage and soil, Katie Evans, is joined by Jason Rowntree to discuss how we could improve ecosystems while maintaining productivity on farm.  Jason is a professor of animal science at Michigan State University and director of MSU Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Useful links Roots to Resilience | AHDB Roots to R...

We discuss the water regulation guidelines, the cab cards developed by the Environment Agency, and how outdoor pig producers can minimise the risk of pollution. AHDB's Knowledge Exchange Relationship Manager Andrew Palmer is joined by the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) Advisor Helen Blower and Farming Rules for Water lead, Jackie Vale. Useful links Water regulations for farmers | AHDB...

We examine the role of the EFRA Committee and how AHDB can feed into its scrutiny of topics such as the UK's agri-food trade policy. John Bates is joined by the select committee's chair, Sir Robert Goodwill MP, and our International Trade Development Director, Dr Phil Hadley. Useful links Market access prioritisation report 2023 | AHDB Beyond Borders: working together for your export success | AHD...

Let's Eat Balanced is AHDB's latest marketing campaign with three brand new TV adverts showcasing British beef, lamb and dairy. Our reporter Dami Oyinlola has been finding out more about this, that, and comedian Richard Ayoade. Useful links AHDB launches brand new Let’s Eat Balanced campaign | AHDB Feed your family for less with British pork | AHDB Marketing | AHDB Feedback We'd love to know what...

Joel Williams, an independent plant and soil health educator and consultant, talks about diversity, productivity versus profitability, as well as suggesting future research areas for AHDB in the second part of our interview. Laura Awdry (Dairy) and Ana Reynolds (Cereals & Oilseeds) caught up with Joel during a recent series of AHDB events that took place across England and Scotland. Useful lin...

Dozens of Nuffield farming scholars, who have been studying a wide range of agricultural topics, recently presented their findings at a 'super conference' sponsored by AHDB. Alice Perry, from our media relations team, went along to catch up with some of them. Useful links AHDB sponsors Nuffield Farming ‘Super Conference’ in Devon | AHDB AgriLeader | AHDB 2023 Nuffield Farming Conference - YouTube...

Joel Williams, an independent plant and soil health educator and consultant, talks about systems approaches, measurement of soil and plant health, and nutrition.   Ana Reynolds (Cereals & Oilseeds) and Laura Awdry (Dairy) caught up with Joel during a recent series of AHDB events that took place across England and Scotland. Useful links Learn about soil secrets with Joel Williams in our recent...