AHDB Food & Farming

Our Arable Market Intelligence team take a look at what's happening in cereals and oilseeds markets. They discuss the impact of coronavirus in the short and long term, both domestically and globally.

As the world wrestles with Coronavirus and the scientists seek a COVID-19 vaccine the farming and food industries, for a host of reasons have come into sharp focus – not least as they deal with the consequences of the changes imposed by Government on people’s day to day lives.

In this episode, our guest, Jane King the Chief Executive of AHDB, will talk about the new normal, the information and support which is available to help farmers, growers and the supply chain cope with the increasing pressures and inevitable angst this new threat brings to societies health.

For further support and guidance, visit our dedicated page on Coronavirus.

If you have a question you'd like answered, please email: [email protected] or call our help desk: 024 7601 9361

As if anyone needed reminding an important element of the economy is the multi-million-pound exports trade Britain has with the rest of the world.

Vietnam is an emerging market and in this podcast John Bates speaks to AHDB experts about key markets and the efforts made throughout the year to gain access to countries and grow trade, so that farmers goods from here at home can be sold to almost every corner of the globe. 

We hear how AHDB identifies opportunities, analyses diet and meal trends as well as shoppers buying behaviours and works with exporters to attend trade shows to do deals that matter. 

In this podcast you will hear from: Jonathan Eckley (AHDB's Head of Asia Pacific Exports) , Steve Evans (AHDB's Senior Consumer Insight Manager) and Zoe Avison (AHDB's Retail Insight Analyst).

Following on from AHDB's Microbials event this past February, our latest Horticulture podcast focuses on the latest knowledge and best practice to keep fresh produce safe to eat, delivered by the experts.

In the summer of 2019 there was an increased number of reports of issues related to Potato Virus Y, in this episode we look at the industry response and the two main test methods for seed potato virus.

In this episode we will speak with:

Find out more about potato viruses here:

https://ahdb.org.uk/aphid-forecasts

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/aphmon/

Other links:

https://ahdb.org.uk/potatoes 

In this episode, we hear about swine dysentery from Lauren Dimmack, one of our Health and Welfare Scientists. We also find out how coronavirus is impacting pork markets.

In 2019 we saw a spike in cases of swine dysentery and we have seen a couple more this year as well. A new challenge we’re facing is that recent cases haven’t shown the typical clinical signs i.e. bloody diarrhoea, so it’s more difficult for producers to identify and it’s not always being picked up as early as it may have been previously.

We encourage producers to be extra vigilant and if they see any kind of unusual diarrhoea, particularly if it’s twinned with wasting, to call their vet and get it checked out. If you do have an outbreak, make sure you restrict all visitors and movement while undergoing treatment; this applies to shows and events as well.

Sign up to the Charter through the Producer or Corporate section of your Pig Hub account at www.pighub.org.uk or find out more here. If you have any queries or need help to access your account, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or contact Cheryl Barker, Health Coordinator at [email protected] or telephone 024 7647 8893.

 

Biosecurity on pig farms: Reducing the spread of disease helps maintain the health of your pig unit, reduces the costs of disease and maintains productivity.

In response to the heightened risk of African swine fever (ASF) reaching the UK, pig producers, processors and hauliers are being reminded that all vehicles must be properly cleaned through the #MuckFreeTruck campaign.

Find out more and get your cab sticker

Find out more about African swine fever 

 

Pork Talk market update videos

AHDB Brexit hub

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode Samantha Charlton, AHDB Beef & Lamb regional manager, speaks to Challenge Sheep farmer, James Drummond, who farms at Lemmington Hill Head in Northumberland about his lambing system and how he collects his data.

 For more information: 

Lambing ewe lambs

https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/lambing-ewe-lambs

 Challenge Sheep project

http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/returns/project-farms/challenge-sheep/

In this episode Knowledge Exchange Manager Emily talks to dairy farmer Keith Davis about how he adapted his grazing and silage practices and the impact this had on his yield from forage. With feed prices on the rise, increasing the yield from home-grown forage becomes ever more important.

 

For the latest research and advice on grass, forage and soil management to help improve grassland productivity on livestock farms, visit our Grass webpage.

 

Get the latest grass growth measurements straight from farms to your inbox by signing up to our Forage For Knowledge weekly updates.

 

Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.

It's Careers Week, so we've been speaking to industry expert Richard Longthorp about recruitment and retention challenges. We also chat to AHDB Skills Manager Amie Burke about the work AHDB is doing to provide training and development opportunities, with two farmers giving their thoughts on a recent leadership and management training course.

For more information on the work of the AHDB Skills team, please visit www.ahdb.org.uk/skills

AHDB also runs a variety of skills-related workshops. You can find out more about these events, and other meetings, at www.ahdb.org.uk/events

In this podcast we hear from high profile chefs about the versatility and varieties which make potatoes great to work with.

At the Lensbury Hotel in Middlesex guests enjoy a special dinner including the #MonsterFries speciality and John Bates speaks to the great chefs who have got together to prepare an eight-course dinner.

The key ingredient at every course is the once humble potato, as a part of the canapes, the starter, main course and even the dessert. 

The purpose of the event is to showcase the great flavour and flexibility of potatoes, they will be a main ingredient, at the heart of each course.

 

Top chefs taking part in the event included:

Rob Kennedy – Gold Medallist at the International Culinary Olympics, broadcaster and executive head chef of The Lensbury Hotel and chef for the Royal family, on numerous occasions

Adam Lestrelle – Head chef at the Roehampton Club and stars in the film for the #MonsterFries innovation

 

Louisa Ellis – A private chef and MasterChef professional finalist – 2017 (youngest female to make a finals week)

Chris Wheeler – is ambassador chef for Quality Standard Mark 

 

Hari Ghotra – Internet sensation of the Indian Spice World, Private chef and Tutor

Freddie Innes – Senior sous chef, Ockendon Manor Hotel and MasterChef semi-finalist

Ririn Briggs – Head pastry chef, The Lensbury Hotel

Marc Petit – chef at the Lensbury Hotel