The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the launch of the ‘Gwaredu Scab’ project, which aims to combat sheep scab outbreaks across Wales by offering funding to diagnose and treat infected sheep.

Gwaredu Scab is funded by the Welsh Government, with £1.5 million committed each year for a minimum of two years.  The project, which is led by Coleg Sir Gâr, offers a completely free service from diagnosis through to whole flock treatment.

The FUW has eagerly awaited the launch of the Gwaredu Scab project ever since funding for such a project was announced by the Minister for Rural Affairs in January 2019.

Sheep scab is an extremely contagious disease which has significant welfare and economic consequences for affected farms and reducing the prevalence of this disease in Wales will be of tremendous benefit to the industry.

Sheep scab is caused by the parasitic mite Psoroptes ovis and is easily transmitted between flocks.  Clinical signs of infection include mild to excessive scratching and itching, loss of wool, skin lesions, weight loss and, in extreme cases, mortality. However, clinical signs alone are not sufficient to diagnose this disease and confirmation of disease can only be undertaken by skin scraping or antibody blood tests.

European Commission adopts exceptional and temporary measures over Ukraine Imports

The European Commission has adopted exceptional and temporary measures over imports of four agricultural products (wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed) which originate in Ukraine and exported to 5 neighbouring countries. 

The Commission is aiming to alleviate logistical bottlenecks concerning these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The measures came into force on 2 May and will last until 5 June, however the measures could be extended beyond this date if the situation continues.

Exports from the Ukraine of the 4 products can continue to the rest of the EU. As a result of the measures Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have lifted their ban on wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed and any other products coming from Ukraine.

Promising signs for Welsh beef sector

A report released by Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) has pointed towards a cause for optimism amongst Welsh Beef producers.

The average price in England and Wales for beef was £4.85 per kilo at the end of March. This is 17% higher than the levels seen in 2022, and 33% higher than the 5-year average for the time of year. 

Despite major challenges, such as higher input and the cost of living crisis which has seen the proportion of cheaper mince products increasing by 54%, the outlook for the next 12 months looks positive.

Exports of Welsh beef rose by 20% in 2022 due to high worldwide demand for beef. The report expects this demand to continue in the near future.

European Commission approves Dutch plans to buy out livestock farms

The European Commission (EC) has approved plans by the Dutch government to use €1.47 billion to buy out livestock farmers to reduce nitrogen pollution.

The EC said that the plan is permissible under state aid rules. The Dutch ruling coalition wants to cut emissions, predominantly nitrogen oxide and ammonia, by 50 per cent nationwide by 2030. 

Farmers in the Netherlands have been staging protests over emissions reduction targets since October 2019. This led to a pro-agriculture political party winning Dutch provincial elections in March.

A project, known as ‘Gwaredu Scab’, which aims to combat sheep scab outbreaks across Wales by offering funding to diagnose and treat infected sheep has been launched this month.  It is the first nationwide ‘test and treat’ programme of its kind. 

Gwaredu Scab is funded by the Welsh Government, with £1.5 million committed each year for a minimum of two years.  The project, which is led by Coleg Sir Gâr, offers a completely free service from diagnosis through to whole flock treatment.

Sheep scab is an extremely contagious disease caused by the parasitic mite Psoroptes ovis and is easily transmitted between flocks.  Clinical signs of infection include mild to excessive scratching and itching, loss of wool, skin lesions, weight loss and, in extreme cases, mortality. However, clinical signs alone are not sufficient to diagnose this disease and confirmation of disease can only be undertaken by skin scraping or antibody blood tests.

Farmers are being warned of the potential risk of poisoning that common sycamore (Acer pseudolatanus) seeds and seedlings have on horses after a bumper crop of sycamore seeds last autumn. 

The common sycamore seed contains a toxin called Hypoglycin A, which remains at high concentrations in seedlings and saplings. Their consumption can potentially be fatal to horses, resulting in muscle damage, a condition called atypical myopathy. Despite severe equine sensitivity, evidence suggests that ruminants possess a resistance to the toxin.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), representing horse vets across the UK, is therefore warning farmers of the additional dangers this year of cutting hay from pastures contaminated with sycamore seedlings and saplings.

While there are herbicides available on the market for targeted use on these saplings, research shows that the plant retains the toxin after wilting. Physical removal of seeds and plant growth from grassland or if practical fencing off areas with high densities of seedling growth is advised as good practice, and farmers are being asked to bear such risks in mind given the particular risks that winter feed contaminated with sycamore growth can have on horses, especially now, when closing off hay fields intended for equine consumption.