The theme of this year’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Livestock Conference will be ‘Sustainable livestock production, Fit for the future’, AHDB has said.
The conference will take place on Thursday, February 2, at the Rural Auction Centre in Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
AHDB has said that the conference will feature a range of speakers including farmers, researchers and industry specialists to provide expertise from across the red meat supply chain.
“Throughout the day, we will focus on sustainable livestock production, as well as looking at the future of farming,” AHDB said.
“Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss the latest thinking with experts from across the red meat supply chain.”
Speakers at the conference will include:
- Tom Bradshaw – NFU;
- Tim Farron MP;
- Phil Bicknell – Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL);
- Carrie McDermid – AHDB;
- James McCuaghern – Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC);
- Richard Findlay – NFU.
More speakers will be at the event and those interested in attending are encouraged to book their space by contacting the NFU’s North West Regional office.
Big Farmland Bird Count
The NFU is also calling on its members to consider participating in the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) Big Farmland Bird Count.
The annual nationwide survey, organised by the GWCT and sponsored by the NFU, aims to provide a vital snapshot of the health of the UK’s farmland birds.
The count takes place between February 3 and February 19, 2023, and this year marks its tenth year.
Since the first count in 2014, more than 11,000 counts have been carried out by people working on the land, the NFU said.
NFU President, Minette Batters, said: “The Big Farmland Bird Count, which the NFU is proud to sponsor, provides a fantastic snapshot of the huge amount of work being carried out on the nation’s farms to encourage wildlife.
“Not only are farmers across the country producing sustainable climate-friendly food, they are also maintaining and protecting the great British countryside, creating habitats for biodiversity to flourish and additional feeding for farmland birds.
“I would encourage all farmers to get involved in the count.”
